The Explore All 50 States Project
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Michigan is such a dynamic state with a strong and resilient spirit. It's no secret that times have been tough here. Michigan is the home of the American Auto Industry and Detroit is at it's center. Detroit was built around the success of the American automobile and it's even reflected in it's nickname, The Motor City, also known as Motown. Driving around we saw the iconic GM building, a gleaming edifice … [Read more...]
You don't want to miss The Ford Rouge Factory Tour so be sure to get here early as it's is quite popular. We got there nice and early so we could be on the first tour, and boy was it ever worth it. We took a shuttle bus to the original factory that Henry Ford built on the Rouge River. There is an incredible short film about the factory’s history and the story of Henry Ford that you shouldn't miss. It tells the … [Read more...]
The Henry Ford Museum is an enormous museum which covers the history of transportation and car culture. Inside we traced the evolution of the automobile and saw some of Henry Ford’s earliest attempts at the motorcar. It was crazy to look at these amazing contraptions and realize these were the visionary inventions that led to the cars we drive today. Looking at the "Quadricycle" the kids and I discussed what … [Read more...]
So who doesn't have a dream to strike it rich? It's that spirit that propelled the huge gold rush that's a very important part of Alaska's and in particular Fairbanks' history. People have been mining here since the early 1900's and though techniques have changed over time, gold mining is still big business on the outskirts of this city in Alaska's northern interior. Gold Dredge 8 is a really great place to learn … [Read more...]
My kids and I had discovered BD's Mongolian Grill on Trip #10 in Milwaukee and could not wait to try it again. We were thrilled to discover a location in Dearborn right near our hotel and could not wait to see what our travel buddies Yvonne, Abigail and Jacob thought about it. When we arrived it was absolutely packed with a 35-45 minute wait for dinner. This place is incredibly popular and for good reason so … [Read more...]
The Detroit Historical Museum was the perfect museum to give everyone a nice introduction to Motor City. It's not too big and gives a broad history of the various things Detroit is famous for. The kids and I enjoyed the interesting displays, but they did look a little dated. Detroit is a city that has faced some really difficult times so it wasn't a surprise to find the museum in the condition that it was in. … [Read more...]
The Motown Museum, the home of Hitsville USA is a treasure trove of musical history. Hopefully you’ve added some Motown hits on your soundtrack that you’ve been listening to on the road—some Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye , Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5—the list could to one and on. There were so many fabulous artists that emerged under the guidance of Berry Gordy and his visionary Motown label. … [Read more...]
Pewabic Pottery is a neat little stop if your group enjoys arts and crafts. Part art gallery, part store, part studio and part museum, this is a great place to learn about the art of pottery making and how the city of Detroit inspired some of Pewabic's historical work. This studio has been working continuously since 1903 and is listed as a National Historic Landmark. Walking around the gallery, we really … [Read more...]
Reading all the reviews of the dining options in Fairbanks we were a little disheartened by the lack of overwhelmingly positive experiences. I combed through Yelp, Tripadvisor, and Urban Spoon searching desperately for a good dining option. There was so much negative, from rude service, to tasteless food, and way too expensive. The only place that had consistent positive reviews no matter where we checked was … [Read more...]
Minnesota is a lovely place and I really wish we'd had more time to explore it instead of just racing through it so quickly. From the Mall of America in Bloomington to the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota feels very cosmopolitan and yet very down to earth and unpretentious. There is a sophisticated yet friendly air about the place. There are many immigrant communities particularly scandinavian … [Read more...]
