5643. Go to Parson’s Indian Trading Post and Museum in Wisconsin Dells

 Since I was visiting Wisconsin Dells in the offseason, I had limited options of what I could knock off the bucket list, especially things that were open early. I got hot chocolate, checked the root beer museum, and still had some time to kill before I headed to the zoo, so I stopped at Parson’s Indian Trading Post and Museum. 

Parson’s Indian Trading Post and Museum is located just off the strip on Wisconsin Dells Parkway as you head towards Lake Dalton and Baraboo. It is open 9-5 daily. There is a parking lot. It has been around since 1918.

The building looks run down compared to most of the shiny new buildings of the Dells but it adds to the charm of the place. It does look like an Indian Trading Post you would see in the Southwest. 

Inside is dimly lit but not dark and dingy. It is full of artifacts and souvenirs. I really wanted to check out the artifacts but since I was the only one in there at the moment, I just kind of browsed. The owner was very friendly and I had a nice, brief chat with him.

I did not buy anything but hopefully one day I'll take the hubby in Parson’s Indian Trading Post and Museum. He'll love all the arrowheads. I would love a silver ring.  

If you are looking for an unique souvenir or some Native American jewelry, check out Parson’s Indian Trading Post and Museum. It is worth the visit. 

Tall Ships Come to Port

 When I saw that Port Washington was having a Tall Ships Festival, I wanted to go. I usually don't get to see them but seeing there were going to see in Port and I figured mom and dad could use my help with some stuff, I decided to go check them out. Ideally I wanted to go to EAA and Tall Ships on back to back days so I didn't mess up my week at work but it didn't work out that way but either way, I made it work.

Tall Ships are large traditional-rigged sailing vessels such as topsail schooners. They are really just modern pirate ships. 

Tall Ships were in Port for 3 days before they headed up Lake Michigan towards Door County. They actually reached out to Port for safe harbor and Port figured they could do something to draw people down to see them. Working together, the Port Visitor Center and the sailing ships put together daily sails and tours of the ships. The sails were $70-$95 depending time of day. Sails were 1.5-2 hours depending on the time of day. I kind of regret not spending the money to do a sail. I think I will save my pennies and do a sail next time I get to see Tall Ships.

I had the opportunity to volunteer at Tall Ships. I spent a couple of hours answering questions and booking sails on the ships. It let me watch the ships come into the harbor, dock, set sail, and just watch ships. It was actually a good time even though I wasn't sure what I was going to get into. I picked a time slot where there wasn't a lot going on. 

Tours of the ships were once a day around 4 pm due to the Lake level. They could only board at Rotary Park even though they docked at Coal Dock Park. Each day one of the ships would dock at Rotary Park and open up for free tours. 

Due to some miscommunications (and a late departing ship), the tour on Friday was on the Appledore. The Appledore home port is Bay City, MI. The ship is not the big. It's only 85' in length. We were free to explore the top deck of the schooner. 

You could see the itty bitty galley.

And peek down the stairs to see the living quarters. 

I was disappointed that while docked, the sails are down so they weren't as magnificent looking as they are when the sails are bellowing in the wind while out on the open water.

I was able to watch the Liberty Clipper come back after their sail with their sails bellowing in the wind as I walked back to my car. 

Even though you could only tour the shops once a day, you could view them any time while they were docked at Coal Dock Park. You could look down into them and if crew was around talk to them. 

I am glad I was took a day off to go check out the Tall Ships. I think I would have been kicking myself if I didn't. I hope you can some time be able to see Tall Ships and maybe even take a sail on one of them. 

Brenda Novak Road Trip Adventure -- Year 2

 Brenda Novak has another new release The Summer That Changed Everything. She challenged us to take a picture with the book. Since summer is for adventures, what is more fun than taking your book on an adventure with you.

This year's adventure takes us to Two Rivers, Wisconsin. A quick 90 minute drive up I-43 from Milwaukee and an hour or so east of Appleton and the Fox Valley, it made a perfect day trip for Stacy and I. We already had the trip planned and on a whim, I grabbed my book to include it in our adventure. Some people bring trolls, stuffed animals, or other toys, I bring a book on my adventures.

Stop #1 -- Sputnik crash site

Our first stop was not in Two Rivers but in Manitowoc. On September 5, 1962 a piece of the Russian Spacecraft Sputnik crashed in the middle of the street in Manitowoc. Being weird enough, it was something I wanted to visit. We actually missed the actual circle in the street but saw the sign and a monument plaza in front of the art museum. Inside the  Rahr-West Art Museum, is the piece that crashed outside. We did not go view it but one day I will.

Stop #2 -- Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum

Two Rivers was big in the printing press industry. The Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of the printing press. They still produce signs and posters to this day. It was amazing to see they went from printing presses to washing machines. It was a perfect place to explore especially with a book being printed material. 

Stop #3 -- Roger Street Fishing Village

Before the printing industry came to Two Rivers, fishing was the way of life in the early days. Being on Lake Michigan and two rivers, the water was a great source of income. The Fishing Village is a small museum complex that explains the history of the fishing industry in Two Rivers as well as the Coast Guard and the famous Christmas Tree ship that went down in the waters outside of Two Rivers. There is a wonderful audio tour that allows to learn about everything the buildings. 

Stop #4 -- Cool City Brewing Company

After our history filled morning, it was time for lunch. We opted to go to Cool City Brewing since it was near the Fishing Village and the Washington House. Even if you are not in to beer, the also have coffee. The menu is small but it does have plenty of healthy options and not to so healthy options. We split 3 different flights -- a cheese curd flight, a taco flight, and a flatbread flight. All were wonderful but it was a lot of food for 2 people. The beer was good too. 

Stop #5 -- Washington House

Even though we were full from lunch, we headed to the Washington House which is the home of the Ice Cream Sundae. It is also a treasure chest of days gone by. Besides having an ice cream parlor it is also a museum. Each of the rooms in the former boarding house and bar, depicts history of Two Rivers. We were even lucky enough to have an accordion player entertain us. After the browsing the museum, we each got a dish of ice cream. I have been here a few years ago and indulged in an ice cream sundae then. 

Stop #6 -- Spirit of the Rivers

Our second to the last stop of the day was an impromptu stop at a statue along the lake. We saw a sign for the Spirit of the Rivers and decided to check it out. It is a statue that honors the birch bark canoe which was a vital part of the Native American history in Wisconsin and the Great Lakes. 

Stop #7 -- Mariner Trail/Lake Michigan

On our way back to my car, Stacy mentioned we should check out the giant rocking chair. She just knew it was a in park by her friend's house. The park was Lighthouse Park in Manitowoc along the shores of Lake Michigan. The rocking char is not huge but it does give you a good view of the lake and a place to rest when walking the 6 mile Mariner Trail that connects Two Rivers and Manitowoc.  

If it was a nice day out, we probably would have enjoyed the beach but it was cold and windy. But it was still nice to take a few minutes to read on the beach. 

Overall it was a fun filled day. There is plenty more to see and do in Two Rivers/Manitowoc that we did not hit including the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. So if you ever find yourself in the definitely take a day to explore the history of Two Rivers and Manitowoc.

Stay tune in 2026 to see where my Brenda Novak Road Trip Adventure will take me next. 

5962. Go to Rogers Street Fishing Village in Two Rivers

 The other museum I really wanted to check out in Two Rivers was Rogers Street Fishing Village. I found this when the hubby had a softball tournament in Two Rivers a few years back and it looked really interesting. I just didn't want to explore by myself.

Rogers Street Fishing Village is open seasonally 10-4 Weekdays and 12-4 weekends but are closed on Tuesdays. Cost is $4/adult and $2/children to visit. There is street parking and a small parking lot. You can opt for a free audio tour that will tell you everything in the village. There is also a binder you can read to tell you the history of everything. We opted for the audio tour. 

You start out in the visitor center and learn a little history of the fishing in the area as well as the history of the Christmas Tree Ship. Both you will learn more about throughout the tour. The guide here was very informative.

Armed with our audio tour gadgets, we headed out to the first stop which was a model of the fishing vessels they used. Here we learned about the fisherman that called Two Rivers home, the boats their used, and how they got started fishing. It was quite fascinating. Growing up in Port I never thought about other fishing communities along the shores of Lake Michigan.

Our next stop was the fish shed where we learned the history of harvesting and preserving the fish along with the types of nets they used. I never really thought how they caught their fish. I just assumed it was with a pole or something. Nets make a whole lot more sense.

We then saw the engine building that allowed them to go further out into the lake and catch more fish. 

There was a building that was set up as how the fisherman would have lived back in the 1800s.

Finally we climbed to the lighthouse. It is not in service anymore but we could still go in the main floor. You couldn't go up to the light itself.

A short walk across the street to us to the final stop on the tour. A museum dedicated to the history of the Coast Guard, Native Cultures, and the Christmas Tree Ship. It was all very fascinating but by this time I was getting hangry and needed food. I didn't explore as much as I would have liked.

I did end up buying the lighthouse passport and got my first stamp. Just what I need another passport to collect stamps in. I definitely need to get back to Door County to collect many stamps from up there.  

If you never have been to the Rogers Street Fishing Village, it s definitely worth the stop. It is a perfect stop on the way to Door County along 43. There is so much history and the museum does a really good job explaining it. Opt for audio tour. It definitely helps to enjoy the museum.  I am so glad Two Rivers keeps their history alive through the Roger Street Fishing Village.