Whew! Over here in the States we enjoyed a three day weekend thanks to celebrating Labor Day, did you get a three day weekend too? Since we had the opportunity, our little family of five packed up our car and we were off to enjoy what we like to call an Adventure Weekend. What’s an Adventure Weekend? Oh, it’s just what we call road tripping it with really no major plans, we get there when we get there and we leave when we leave. We just go and enjoy each other and make some memories 🙂
Before we left though I had to hit up one of my favorite places for some fun girl’s time. I scored a major deal with all these vintage blue Ball mason jars…love!
They are all washed and dried and ready to be filled with some pretties. Ahhh, looking at them is like stress relief, I just can’t help but to smile 🙂
The first place we decided to visit was the Milwaukee Zoo, how have I never been here before? It was such a nice place, we all got in lots of miles of walking, running (the kids) and chasing (Mr. Smashed Peas and I). Little Eloise really got her finger-pointing down too. She loved seeing all the animals and sometimes even seemed downright amazed by them, they were all out and very visible which was a nice treat.
I mean seriously, look at these bears. It’s like the are posing for us.
This giggly little girl gave her momma a good work-out. I caught her…but not for long.
All the kids loved climbing on the fencing…this one, thank goodness, is not enclosing animals!
The zoo had the neatest thing I had never seen before, a Sky Safari…
It is like a ski lift but without the snow and hills. It gives you a nice overview of some of the zoo…can you see Mr. Smashed Peas with Noah and Penelope up there on the left? Those two loved it and were not scared at all. Unlike their momma who couldn’t believe the only thing holding you in was one teeny metal bar, such adrenaline junkies I have.
The kids were dying to do these weird foot massage machines. I think we are the only people in the world who’ve actually ever used them, really do you ever see anyone using these things? It only cost 25 cents, such a simple way to make their day.
After our zoo adventure we headed to the Mars Cheese Castle. Somewhat of a Wisconsin tourist trap but we love cheese so it was right up our alley.
Building in the shape of a castle, check! We stocked up on some awesome crazy cheese varieties which are already half gone. They had some good ones like Buffalo Hot Wings Cheddar, Morel and Leek White Cheddar, and Olive Cheese Curds. Only in Wisconsin peeps.
We ventured into Lake Geneva too. This place is so idyllic. The day we visited was the most beautiful and perfect crisp fall feeling day. Lots and lots of boats were out on the lake which we had fun counting.
The kids loved the beach and the park near the beach…
I loved listening to the water lap up against the rocks. What a soothing sound, I could listen to that all day.
Afterward we headed over to the Elegant Farmer. These guys were on Thrown Down with Bobby Flay on the Food Network because of their award winning brown bag apple pies…we just had to see what the fuss was all about. And wouldn’t you know, it was just our luck that they had a Grand Champion Cheese Tasting this weekend as well, oh the cheese! I sure do love visiting Wisconsin.
Okay, seriously. Check out all these pies…8 different varieties of ginormous homemade pies! I can see why there was a Throw Down here.
If you saw my Facebook post yesterday you know we indulged in a Carmel Apple pie which was ridiculously good. (We also took home an Original Apple and a Blueberry Apple too…hey they are for company this week!)
This wall of pies is downright amazing. All I can say is it makes me so excited for Fall! Apple pies, cool weather, hoodies, my boots and crunching on leaves…I love it so.
Okay okay, since I know you are dying to see, here’s a peek at this Carmel Apple pie. This is considered their 4 inch pie…really!?
Yeah, this pie would easily feed four. 4 inches? Maybe the pie tin is 4 inches but the pie is definitely way more than that…which is probably partly why these pies are so good, you get so much!
I hope you enjoyed some pictures from a few of the places that we visited during our latest Adventure Weekend. Did you do anything fun? Do any of you do Adventure Weekends or some variation of them? I’d love to hear about it. And of course you know the best thing about a 3-day weekend is that there are only 4 more days until another one…Woo Hoo!
Talk to you soon!
XOXO,
Great find! I have several of the blue jars too I use in my sewing room but not those awesome vintage lids, love! Great pictures looks like a fun time 🙂
Wow Maggie…..that was one fantastic weekend! I love fall, too, for the same reasons you mentioned. And those pies look amazing! Yum! Your kids look like they had the best time, too! Yay for fun filled weekends!
I love your blog. Love the things you do with your kids and the way you write about them.
Is it freaky and stalker-ish that I’m so excited you were in Milwaukee (which just happens to be where I live!!)? Elegant Farmer is lots of fun and they have great fall activities for kids. Sounds like you hit some of the highlights of the area. And had a great time!! Wahoo!
Cheese Curds and Kimchi
What a fun time!! Can’t believe I never made it into the cheese castle. We sure laughed about it enough times. 🙂 LOVE the pictures- and especially that you’re in one! PS Ansley has the same shirt Penelope does in the last picture.
my mouth is watering. What heavenly delicious-ness. Love the leggings and tutus. My daughter would wear one every single day if she could.
LOVE the blue mason jars! What a pretty shade of blue. 🙂
Those jars are FREAKING AWESOME!!! I feel less stressed looking at them too, and they arent mine!
Love the jars. I collect Mason jars and would love to how you plan on using them!
Pie baked in a a paper bag? How was it… like what was it like.. how did they do it…. well I mean like why? lol
Looks like a great trip!
It was so exciting to see this post because you were practically in our back yard! We live in Elkhorn which happens to be between Lake Geneva & The Elegant Farmer. And of course we’ve been to the Milwaukee Co. Zoo a bazillion times! YEAH for Wisconsin!