Wisconsin Archives - Midwest Travel Network

Posted on August 16, 2018 by Sara — Leave a comment

Explore Delafield Lake Country, Wisconsin: Guest Blogger Janet Frost, of Go Learn Things

We enjoy stories of hometowns and we love how Janet of Go Learn Things makes time to explore in her own backyard. We hope you enjoy learning about Janet’s hometown of Delafield Lake Country- Delafield, Wisconsin, as we do. Janet’s backyard not only consists of Wisconsin, but the great state of Michigan is a hop, skip and a jump for her, as well.

In the Our Town series I am taking a new look at familiar places. The catalyst for the series really started as I looked around the beautiful town I live in and realized it rarely gets mentioned as a tourist destination. Many of my friends and readers have visited Milwaukee, Kenosha, Janesville and Beloit but you have missed a true gem in the Delafield Lake Country. Delafield, Wisconsin is located 25 miles west of downtown Milwaukee. Lake Country loosely refers to the Northwest corner of Waukesha County and includes these communities:
Pewaukee, Delafield, Hartland, Merton, Nashotah, Chenequa, Okauchee Lake, Oconomowoc, Summit, and Lac La Belle. These communities are covered with inland lakes, parks and trails that are perfect for year round outdoor recreation. Delafield is centrally positioned for a weekend getaway of hiking, biking, watersports, shopping and dining. Come visit me and share in the beautiful town I call home.

Let’s go learn things about Delafield, Wisconsin…..

Delafield Lake Country

To showcase a place called Lake Country, I need to start with the lakes.

Nagawicka Lake

The quaint downtown village of Delafield sits on the western edge of Nagawicka Lake. Nagawicka Lake is 980 acres of clear water and recreation. Naga-Waukee Park stretches from the eastern shore of Nagawicka Lake to the western shore of neighboring Pewaukee Lake.

Pewaukee Lake

The western half of Pewaukee Lake is Delafield and the eastern half is Pewaukee. Downtown Pewaukee is another cute little village of shops and dining. This is a beach town with shops that flow out onto the walk. On a beautiful summer day the village is full of beachgoers, paddlers, fishers, walkers, bikers and diners. I love to head out on my kayak on quiet Sunday mornings when the locals run their sailboat regattas across the lake. This lake is over 2,400 acres and very popular for fisherman and recreationers alike.

Midwest Finds For Spring/Summer 2017

We have been on the road on and off this spring and summer experiencing a lot of fresh food, midwest history and adventure for years to come. The midwest holds many treasures with stories that are untold. We are working on finding as many stories as we can. Here are some of the highlights we have stumbled on the past few months.

EISENHOWER PARK & ROSE GARDEN: ABILENE, KANSAS

When you visit Abilene, Kansas, be sure to swing over to the rose garden. The garden area was peaceful and offered beauty that will be imprinted in your mind for quite some time.

I have no doubt that you can visit any time of year, and find a time of reflection. There’s something magical about a garden when it’s located in an area that showcases one of America’s presidents.

OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS: ARBORETUM & BOTANICAL GARDENS

Overland Park is home to an arboretum and botanical gardens that embraces train enthusiasts. Be prepared to walk and explore this beautiful area, as you can stroll all the way to an area for train lovers.

FUN CHARACTERS IN ELGIN, ILLINOIS

Who knew that Elgin, Illinois had so many fun characters? Trust us, as you walk into any coffee shop in Elgin, you will have a new friend or two. The Blue Box Cafe is where you will embrace Dr. Who and a laugh or two.

What’s not to like about being served a hot breakfast, a smile with a little Dr. Who in the area?

STEAK AT FRANCHESCO’S RISTORANTE: ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS

A nice dinner with live music was what we found at Franchesco’s Ristorante in Rockford, Illinois. Sara’s ears perked up when our waiter said, “Iowa grass fed beef.” When she hears her home state of Iowa, she pays attention quite quickly. How does this steak look?

Cooked to perfection with delicious sides. We both are counting the days until we return.

VISIT KENOSHA, WISCONSIN: MIKE’S CHICKEN & DONUTS

If you follow the two of us on our travels, you know that we enjoy a donut now and then.

Mike’s Donuts & Chicken is not to be missed when visiting Kenosha, Wisconsin.

FENELON PLACE ELEVATOR: DUBUQUE, IOWA

The Fenelon Place Elevator prides itself on being the steepest and shortest scenic railway, 296 feet to be exact.

Board the elevator for a view of historic Dubuque, the Mississippi River and three states. Tip: Visit different times of the year to get a different view. Iowa prides itself on the fact that they do have four distinct season.

This is a glimpse of where we have been this spring and summer. We continue to fill our calendars with more midwest destinations. The beauty of the midwest is that we have a variety of experiences to offer.. 24 hours is usually not enough time to explore a community. Several of these destinations warrant a 2nd or 3rd visit, as there’s so much to do.

Where have your 2017 spring and summer travels taken you? We’d love to hear about your travel experiences in the midwest.

Posted on December 5, 2016May 23, 2017 by Sara — Leave a comment

Join Us In Milwaukee April 21-23, 2017 For #WITS17

We are excited that Midwest Travel Bloggers is a Media Partner for the Women In Travel Summit. The summit is in Milwaukee April 21-23, 2017. We would love to see you at the conference and get to know each of you on a more personal level.

If you have never attended an event like this, we have put together our reasons as to why we think you would benefit from attending.

Blogging can be lonely, as we bloggers often work from home. A conference like this offers an opportunity to network with others with the same interests as you.
An educational experience is offered throughout the conference. You can attend sessions such as creating an editorial calendar, turning your drab blog to fab, how to create stellar photography and video, learn tips on being successful as a midlife travel blogger and more.
Meet representatives of destinations and vendors that offer products in the travel space.
An opportunity to meet bloggers from all around the world.

It’s fair to say that we were very excited to learn that #WITS17 was headed for Milwaukee.

Use this discount code when purchasing your ticket: MTB10

The beauty of blogging is the fact that every blogger is in the space for different reasons. Some enjoy it as a hobby and others want to build a business. We firmly believe that there is a place for everyone in the blogging space, as everyone has their own voice. The Women In Travel Summit offers you the opportunity to be professional and learn alongside bloggers that have the same interests as you.

WITS Opening Party — Photo Credit: SocialPhoto.Com for Women In Travel Summit by Wanderful

We hope to see you in Milwaukee and connect in real life. Those real life connections do matter. Without a phone call and a meeting in person, MidwestTravelBloggers would not exist.

We want each of you to be successful and proud of the content that you produce. Thank you for being a part of this wonderful community. We look forward to seeing you at the Women In Travel Summit.

Tickets are limited so join us and make sure to register today. Use code MTB10 to get your special Midwest Travel Bloggers discount.