🇺🇸 Family Road Trip Around Chicago | Midwest Mini Loop – Days 3-4

With a 6-year-old and a 1-year-old, we kept it slow, flexible, and full of fun—mixing outdoor adventures and indoor relaxation 🚙💨 🗺️ Route: Chicago West Suburbs ➡️ Rockford ➡️ Galena (Dubuque) ➡️ Madison (➡️ Milwaukee) ➡️ Back to Chicago Heavy morning rain slowed us down ☔, but our hotel’s pool and hot tub saved the day! After the rain, we grabbed coffee at Galena Roasters ☕ (try their rich cortado if you like strong coffee!). Then we headed to: 📍 Fenelon Place Elevator (Dubuque, IA) A 20-minute drive brought us to this unique cable car—known as the shortest and steepest in the world! 🚡 Originally built in the 19th century so a banker could zip home for lunch and a nap 🥸. Open daily from 8 AM. Tickets: $2 one-way / $4 round-trip (adults), half-price for ages 5–12, free under 5. 💵 Cash only – buy tickets at the top. Ring the bell 🔔, and the ride begins! In under 2 minutes, you reach the summit with panoramic views of three states and the Mississippi River. Perfect for photos! 📸 🥞 If it’s Sunday, don’t miss the famous Sunday Brunch Buffet at Timmerman’s Supper Club! 🥓 We then drove toward Madison and stopped at Senjoy Chinese Cuisine near UW–Madison for a tasty Chinese lunch box – simple but satisfying! 🥢 After naptime, we headed to: FREE entry 🆓! Small but well-designed – one of the best compact zoos (reminded me of Lincoln Park Zoo!). From 2–4 PM, the animals were active – we saw lions, tigers, rhinos, and polar bears up close! 🐯🦏 Also enjoyed a mini train ride 🚂 and carousel. Nearby Vilas Park Playground is great for extra playtime. A relaxing stop before heading home! The outdoor gardens are free and beautifully bloomed 🌸🌿. Hidden among the greenery is a stunning Thai pavilion 🏯. The tropical greenhouse costs $6 (free Wed & Sat 10 AM–12 PM). The kids loved their ice cream coupons 🍦 – a sweet ending to the trip! Had we more time, we’d have added Milwaukee to the loop… next time! 😉 #Milwaukee #ChicagoDayTrip #FamilyTravel #Wisconsin #MidwestAdventure #ZooAndGardens #RoadTripWithKids