July 13th: the Big Muddy, a little nirvana, and culture shock

We are waking this morning from an all night rain here in western Wisconsin (just across the St. Croix River from Minneapolis).  The portions of Wisconsin we drove through on our way west were very parched so this is badly needed.  General goal for the day is a drive down along the scenic river by-way and then working eastward somewhere into the middle of the state.  No reservations at a campsite for tonight (a Friday) so we're winging it.  State Parks are First Come/First Served less than 48 hours in advance and we're not likely to find a spot on a Friday.  WalMart parking lot anyone?  Maybe we'll head for the Dells and hope to find something in a commercial campground.

We do have state park reservations for Saturday (on the beach on Lake Michigan), Sunday through Tuesday (in Door County peninsula) and Wednesday (Kettle Morraine area) before heading to Warren Dunes SP in southwest Michigan for the Mac Race.

Update:
We drove along the Missippi today on the Great River Road.  Stumbled across Stockholm, WI, a town of 60, that had their marketing dialed in a whole lot better than Alladin, WY did.  Almost every building in town was a shop of some sort and they were basically all different plus they presented beautifully from the street.  A pleasure wandering and even spending some of our money.  I'd tell you what we got Eddie but it's just too embarassing.

Next stop along the river was Alma, WI where we drove up to the city park at the top of the bluff for spectacular views of the river, a lock and the river traffic.

And, yeah, we ended up at Wisconsin Dells in a commercial campground.  More money and definitely less interesting than the state and national parks we have been staying in up til now.

Wisconsin Dells:  waterpark, mini golf, go cart track, mini golf, waterpark, waterpark, go cart track, mini golf, waterpark...  It goes on and on and on.  This is just like Vegas except for families.  Did I mention waterparks and mini golf?