I was listening to the latest episode of The Travel Architect’s podcast last week, and she and her husband (who conveniently goes by The Husband on the pod) were discussing their recent camping trip along the Great River Road.
If you’ve never been, the Great River Road is a 3,000-mile National Scenic Byway that runs from Louisiana to Minnesota. It’s been named the “Best Scenic Drive in America,” so that’s saying a lot. Tara and I have been on the Wisconsin segment a couple of times. It’s a great drive that runs parallel to the Mississippi River, through the picturesque bluffs and valleys of the Driftless Area. The region is stunning.
On the podcast, TTA and TH were talking about how they’ve lived in Minnesota for many years and, despite the fact that the Great River Road is practically in their backyayd, had just discovered it. “Very few people explore their local attractions,” TH said, and he gave those folks a name: door-steppers. People who make it a point to visit places in close proximity to their front doors. As far as I can tell, he made this word up. I like it.
And then TTA said, “I can name one door-stepper who excels at this: Midwest Mark.”
First off, it’s always fun to get an unexpected podcast shout-out. Also: she’s not wrong. People are always telling me how impressed they are that I get out and explore my surroundings. Regardless of where I’ve lived (and I’ve lived a lot of places!), I have always done this. I embrace my town, my county, my state. Fairs, festivals, shops, hikes, all are ripe for exploration. I like to know what’s around me and take full advantage.
I’m fortunate A) to have a willing partner (the Tar to my Mar), and B) that Wisconsin has a lot to offer. America’s Dairyland isn’t lacking in things to do and places to go.
A lot of my friends are the opposite. Their adventures take them far and wide. Like The Travel Architect and The Husband: they are global explorers in the truest sense of the word, always jetting off to some new country. The same goes for Justin and Kelly, Jess and Joe, and countless others. Even my parents have seen a good chunk of the world. They’ve all got dozens of stamps in their passports. Me? My adventures are more of the near and narrow variety. I don’t even have a passport. I always think, well, someday I’ll visit Europe. Maybe I will…but if I never make it over there, I’m okay with that, too. I won’t be all woe-is-me-I’m-George-Bailey-and-I’ve-never-seen-the-world-WAAH. International travel has its appeal, but so does the World’s Largest Muskie Sculpture in Hayward, Wisconsin.
There are some serious advantages to doorstepping, too. Mainly financial. Let’s say I wanted to go to Switzerland, for example. Here’s (conservatively) what I’d pay:
- Roundtrip airfare: $1,086
- Lodging: $265/night
- Meals: $100/day
- Rental car: $75/day
- Incidentals: $100/day
And keep in mind there are two of us! A weeklong vacation in Switzerland would damn near bankrupt us.
However, we just happen to be an easy one-hour drive from New Glarus, Wisconsin…a/k/a America’s Little Switzerland. It’s definitely got the vibe!
A Saturday in New Glarus, versus actual Glarus, Switzerland? Thousands of dollars cheaper and no TSA pat downs. Sounds like a doorstepping win to me!
I did a bit of doorstepping over the weekend, as a matter of fact. Tara was laid up with a cold, but the weather was about as ideal as one could ask for this time of year–low 70s, no humidity, nice breeze, puffy cumulus clouds dotting an otherwise perfectly blue sky–so I decided to check out Adam Birding Conservancy. Up until a couple of weeks ago, I had no idea there was a nature preserve just a short 10-minute drive from home. I only discovered it because I was checking out Zillow listings in my town (a fun pastime; do you do this?) and saw ABC listed on Google Maps.
So, I drove out there Sunday morning. What a cool hidden gem! There are four miles of trails meandering through fields, woods, and marshes. I stuck mostly to the Inner Peace Trail, with a few side jaunts. Lots of cool things to check out!
“Old Abe” was named after our 16th president, who was stationed nearby during the Blackhawk War of 1832. Sadly, he was the victim of horse thievery, and had to march 236 miles back home to Illinois on foot. Pretty badass, when you think about it…but you couldn’t exactly order up an Uber back then.
Another attraction is Big Foot. Not the hairy Sasquatch (too bad!), but a giant boulder that was deposited by a wayward glacier during the last Ice Age. I think you really have to use your imagination to see any resemblance to a foot, but it’s still interesting to see a giant rock in the middle of the woods.
Ironically, the one thing I didn’t see a lot of was birds. According to ABC’s website, peak viewing season is September to July. Which means I visited during the one month I was least likely to spot birds! Geez Louise, Mark. Great planning.
All in all though, birds or not, it was a great way to spend a Sunday morning!
Are you a doorstepper? Do you enjoy international travel? What’s one place you would visit if money were no object?
Mark My Words 
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