family trips - Dad of Divas

Hendersonville Team ECCO Ocean Center & Aquarium – Fun Learning For the Whole Family

June 25, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

As you visit Henderson County you also want to make sure that you spend time exploring Hendersonville as well. One of the places that my family and I visited was the Team ECCO Ocean Center & Aquarium.

The minute that you enter the Team ECCO Ocean Center & Aquarium you know you are in for something special. Everyone is overly welcoming and while the space is not mammoth, it is the right size for all of the species of fish, turtles and more that reside under its’ roof. This aquarium started in 2001 as a learning program in the kitchen of the owners’ home. Their original and current goal is to reach and teach students of all ages about the ocean.

In 2005, the first Team ECCO classroom was established. What started out as a simple 800-square foot room grew in two more years to a public aquarium. In 2011, Team ECCO opened the doors of the first inland aquarium in North Carolina- The Team ECCO Ocean Center & Aquarium on Main Street in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

In 2017 their marine research progressed under funding from the NC Science Museum Grant program, the Community Foundation of Henderson County, and the Henderson County TDA. This support allowed us to reach out even further. With their re-branding they became the Aquarium & Shark Lab of Team ECCO. Stepping up, they renovated many existing displays and added our new 2,000 gallon shark study tank. They enter this tank twice daily to feed and monitor the behavior and development of our 3 sharks. Also, this is the new holding tank for our shark hatching and development study.

Team ECCO Ocean Center & Aquarium

Their Aquarium is home to dozens of species of tropical ocean fish and invertebrates. They house a reptile collection that includes frogs, lizards, geckoes, turtles and tortoises, which are kept under strict guidelines and permit from NCDNR.

They are the only ocean education lab and hands-in marine study center in Western North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. Their programs include but are not limited to fish ID, marine adaptations, reef/mangrove/grass bed ecology, water quality, turtle rescue, local reptile education and marine bio diversity.

They train and incorporate student interns and volunteers into daily care and maintenance. The Executive Director shares her passion for teaching with her love of the ocean as a volunteer. Team ECCO has 3 part time paid position: front desk/bookkeeping; Lead Intern; &Assistant Director.Those involved take such pride in the work that they perform. Even on days when we are not open , we are there dedicated to making sure that our animals are taken care of.

Team ECCO Ocean Center & Aquarium

Team ECCO encourages minds and bodies with custom field exploration trips to local and distant points of environmental interest. These areas of interest include manatees, aquifers, coral reef development, sea turtles, shark research and mangrove recovery.

My Take on the Team ECCO Ocean Center and Aquarium

As someone that loves the ocean and all it does to sustain our ecosystem. I loved exploring the Aquarium & Shark Lab of Team ECCO. As I walked through the small aquarium I found that I was drawn to the student volunteers as I found that they had such a wealth of knowledge to share with anyone that was there.

I found that as I interacted with the volunteers they were informing me about things I never knew and I was meeting many new species of fish that I had never seen before as well. I spoke with one of the volunteers that told me that she first learned about the Aquarium a few years back and once she visited two times she was hooked. She informed me that her mother was a Biology teacher and while she is only a Sophomore in high school she knows that she wants to study Marine Biology at UNC Wilmington.

The volunteers at this great location really know the fish and other animals and if you ask them about them they will tell you their stories (as well as their names). You will see them feeding the animals which is a ton of fun too.

One last piece of advice, make sure to say hello to Michelangelo and Alice the two tortoises that they have when you first walk in. When we last saw them, Alice was about to lay eggs, but we were informed that they had not had luck as of yet to have a live birth. While we only met them once, we left wishing them all the luck in having a baby tortoise i

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Visiting Henderson County North Carolina Starts With Hendersonville

June 24, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

My family and I visited Henderson County North Carolina for the past few days and we have been exploring a number of the sights thanks to the Hendersonville Visitor Center.

The first stop on our visit was exploring the downtown area of Hendersonville itself. Hendersonville, North Carolina is a very quaint downtown with a little bit of everything for everyone. There are some great restaurants, coffee shops and many specialty shops too.

The day that we explored Hendersonville, they also had a vintage on-street fair with so many booths of antique items for people to explore. This made the whole downtown very busy (in a good way). We ended up walking up and down one side and then we came back up the other side of the street. There were so many things to see and do. Some of our favorite stops while in town included:

The Mast General Store – an amazing store that has items that not only celebrate Hendersonville, but really offers a little bit of everything including candy, popcorn, clothes, footwear, home goods and other unique items!

Beehive – A Resale Shop – My family loves resale shop and this is an upscale resale shop that has a bit of everything for women. I did not see any clothes for men, but I know that the ladies in my family found some fun finds!

Dancing Bear Toys – This toy store had so many unique items that I have not seen in other stores. Unique plush items, games and the employees are so knowledgeable of the toys that they have in stock. They even give you a ton of recommendations based on the things that you say they you like.

Wine Sage & Gourmet – If you are looking for unique kitchen items this is the shop that you will want to stop within. The employees know kitchens and have a ton of ideas to help you find the right item for your own home or for a gift! While you are here though you will want to go into the basement where they have a HUGE variety of wine and also do cooking classes. Stop in for a wine tasting with experts that really know their wines.

There are so many other places to explore. Check out a full list of stores

While the whole list of stores is above, also check out all of the restaurants. We had lunch at the Mountain Deli and the sandwiches were HUGE (the sandwich you see above is only half of what we received)!

This is a great town with a little bit of everything for anyone. If you have never explored this great town, I highly recommend it to everyone!

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The Perfect Short Breaks for Dads and Daughters

April 23, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Bringing up daughters, every day can be an adventure, and every day can bring new joys for all the members of the household. The simplest of things can be a pleasure, such as watching a film together or baking cakes, but getting out of the home for a short family break offers even more opportunities for all concerned to have a wonderful time. With the warmer weather on its way, here are three perfect short breaks for dads and daughters.

Sprinkle Some Disney Stardust

Few people have done more to make childhood magical in the last century than Walt Disney. His films delight youngsters and adults alike, and his theme parks are guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of any child: girl or boy. With Disney parks now located across the globe, they’re more affordable than ever before, and easier to reach. It’s now possible to travel from Birmingham Airport to Disneyland Paris in an hour and three quarters, including the transport from Charles de Gaulle Airport. With regular flights and cheap Birmingham airport parking available, including a Birmingham Airport meet and greet service found at birminghamparking.com, you and your family could soon be having an exciting break in Disney’s magical kingdom.

Camping in Style and Comfort

If you were taken camping as a child, you probably remember a cold, draughty tent with little space to turn around in, or a caravan with dated décor. Thankfully things have changed and there are a number of luxury camping, or glamping, options available that are perfect for dads and their daughters. A camping break allows you to experience the wonders that your own country has to offer, from its stunning and contrasting countryside to exciting historical sites. A glamping break can be a great bonding opportunity for parents and children, as well as educational, and the best thing of all is that you no longer have to go without the luxuries that you love.

Soccer and Much More

The days of sporting stereotypes are gone, and now girls are as likely to love football as boys, so if you have a daughter who loves football then a weekend in Barcelona is a perfect break. Even if you can’t get a match day ticket to see Lionel Messi and his team mates, stadium tours of the world famous Camp Nou are sure to delight lovers of the beautiful game of all ages. Barcelona also has some of the world’s best shopping, centred around Las Ramblas, and is home to beautiful, golden beaches. It’s a city that has it all, including frequent flights to it from Birmingham Airport and beyond.

Short family breaks don’t have to cost a lot, even if you fly to exciting cities like Paris or Barcelona. They may last only a few days, but they can linger a lifetime in the memories of your daughters, and so make a perfect birthday present. A short break is also a great way to congratulate your children on a special achievement, such as an exam result, and whether you take one at home or abroad you’re sure to be able to find one that perfectly matches your daughter’s tastes.

Fun Family Activities for a Camping Trip

December 5, 2017 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Camping is one of the best outdoor activities for the whole family to do together. Not only is it a mini-vacation, it’s also a wonderful educational experience for little ones, and an excellent chance to spend some time together as a family and bond with each other. Taking some time away from home and all the distractions such as TV and the internet will be good for the whole family, and you’ll come back feeling refreshed and revitalized from the experience. If you’re planning your first family camping trip, we’ve put together some ideas for outdoor activities that are sure to keep you all entertained.

#1. Fishing:

If you’re going to be camping at a site that has a lake or a river nearby, then fishing could be the perfect relaxing activity to kick off your camping experience. Fishing is fun for the whole family, and it’s easy to pick up, meaning that even the youngest of kids can have a go. You might even be able to find a campsite where you’re able to fish and then cook your catch of the day, making for a great family meal!

If you’d like to carve some time for yourself and enjoy hunting you can try and see if there is a hunting location nearby as well. Head over to woodburyoutfitters.com where you can find all the hunting, fishing and camping gear that you need.

#2. Stories Around the Campfire:

No camping trip would be complete without telling stories around the campfire! Don’t forget to pack plenty of marshmallows for roasting and making s’mores, and take along a box of matches to keep your fire going. Spend the day as a family collecting dry wood to create a traditional campfire, then in the evening, you can all gather round the fire together. You could even make it into a fun game by starting a story and having everybody add to it after a certain number of minutes – who knows where the story will go!

#3. Arts and Crafts:

If your little ones love to be creative, then incorporating arts and crafts into your camping trip is a fun idea. For example, there are several things that they can create out of twigs and sticks, such as rustic vases, pictures, or even decorations for your tent or camper! Don’t forget to take along craft supplies such as paper, paints and glue to keep them occupied for hours on end. You could even go on an adventure to find craft supplies to take back home, such as colorful leaves, flowers for pressing, sticks, and unusual pebbles and stones.

#4. Scavenger Hunts:

Scavenger hunts can be a fun way to keep your little ones occupied at the campsite, and there are so many great things that they can look for. You can even hide candy and other treats along the way to make it even more exciting for them. Some fun ideas to look for on a camping scavenger hunt include bird feathers, pine cones, smooth rocks, water from a stream, maple leaves, or even animal footprints. Don’t include anything on the list that shouldn’t be moved, such as birds’ nests, and ensure that your kids are aware of the boundaries of the hunt and have a cell phone or whistle in case of emergencies.

Enjoy your camping trip!

Learning So Much At the Springfield Museums in Springfield, Massachusetts

June 27, 2016 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

On our recent trip to Springfield, Massachusetts we had the opportunity to visit the Springfield Museums to explore everything from Seuss to Science and more.

When you come into the Springfield Museums you are entering the Science museum and this museum has everything from aquariums to natural history, dinosaurs, and even a special exhibit on “The Scoop on Poop” which my girls loved and brought forth numerous jokes later too.

You have the ability to select any of the 3 other museums to explore. Our time was a bit limited so we chose to go to the fine arts museum as both my daughters are artists and they truly enjoyed seeing and experiencing artwork that ranged from pieces from the 1500’s to closer to present day. My oldest was excited to see a Picasso that was on display, while my wife and I were interested in seeing that the Springfield Museums had a special Kandinsky drawings exhibit that was currently on display.

One of the Springfield Museums that I found the most interesting was the one that was all about the history of Springfield, Massachusetts itself. I could have spent many more hours there reading and learning if we had the time. I had no clue that Springfield was such a hub for so much. From being the place where Milton Bradley started to having many well known munitions companies there along with the Springfield Armory which was the main location making the munitions for the U.S. military for many years. This on top of being the home of Friendly’s Ice Cream, the place where Shay’s Rebellion occurred and the home of Peerless Handcuffs and more. Springfield, Massachusetts was definitely home to many more things that I would have expected.

This included being the place where Dr. Seuss was born and raised for his early years. The last things that we did was visit the Seuss Sculpture Garden. The beautiful sculptures within the garden are ones that you will immediately recognize and are ones that at least for me put a smile on my face. As a family that loves Dr. Seuss, we may just have to come back in 2017 when the Springfield Museums is planning on opening a brand new museum just for Dr. Seuss himself!

The Springfield Museums are hidden gems within Springfield, Massachusetts and definitely worth the time!

Below are a few more thoughts on the Springfield Museums!

My Take on the Springfield Museums

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Going Back In Time At the The Emerson Inn in Rockport, MA

June 27, 2016 by dadofdivas 3 Comments

We had the opportunity to stay at the picturesque Emerson Inn in Rockport, Massachusetts over the past few days and for us they will be days we will never forget. As you drive into Rockport, you are greeted by a beautiful town right on the Atlantic Ocean. There are quaint shops with cool names, fun eateries and more. We decided to drive around the town and even along the coast a bit before going north of town to the Emerson Inn.

The town of Rockport is tucked back in a nice cove, and just south of the town we found some very beautiful homes as well as some great lighthouses. I became intrigued by the history of Thatcher Island which was an island to the south of Rockport that had twin lighthouses that were a bit run down, but still looked pretty amazing.

After taking our drive, we headed north along the ocean for a short distance and came to the turn off for the Emerson Inn. When we came to the Emerson Inn we were amazed at the grandeur and the location right from the first moment that we laid our eyes upon it. The Emerson Inn is an Inn with a long history. It has been standing since the mid 1850’s. While the original hotel was not in the location where it now stands, the Emerson Inn as you see it now in its’ current location has been here since 1871 running consistently.

As you walk into the Emerson Inn you can feel the history all around you. The name of the Inn was adopted in the past century as a tribute to the most famous guest of the Inn, Ralph Waldo Emerson. You can even stay in the same room that he would stay in when he visited and get inspired as he would.

Staying in the Emerson Inn for two days overlooking the Atlantic Ocean I can see how you could be inspired by the location. The room that we were in had a wonderful view and even offered a balcony with a slider that would allow you to sit and look out, relaxing and listening to the waves hitting the rocks.

We were very impressed by the staff of the Emerson Inn. From the moment that we checked in they were attentive to our every need. While they knew that I was reviewing my stay, they surprised us with providing us not only with one of the suites but also two rooms which we were not expecting. This is always nice, especially when you have your kids with you. We also were surprised with a fruit and cheese plate when we arrived in our room. They had placed us on the top floor of the Inn and because we had many things they grabbed a very friendly busboy to help us. He worked with us, was friendly and even spent time helping us get acquainted with the rooms. All of these touches showed us that the staff really cared and this attention continued throughout our stay.

The Emerson Inn was decorated beautifully and on every floor you will find that the Inn has gone through a beautiful renovation over the last year.

The girls wanted to hit the pool right away and that’s what we did, even before we had dinner. While the air was cool the water was comfortable and the kids had a blast. They explored the horseshoe pits and even started taking selfies together (which does not always happen with the two of them). There is just something about this place that brings people together.

The Emerson Inn offers guests an amazing breakfast buffet, but also has a tremendous dinner that is available at different points during the week. We tried a few of the dishes on the menu including the mussels appetizer, burger and streak fritas. All three dishes were prepared to perfection. We were able to eat out on the huge back deck which is overlooking the ocean. It was a very nice evening so sitting outside was nice and there were no bugs until it got dark outside. We were very impressed with the meal and definitely would have eaten there on our second night if it had been open.

The Emerson Inn was an inn that really surpassed all of our expectations and it was definitely worth the 16 hours that it took to drive here and we would have no qualms in doing it again in the future as it was a vacation that truly brought our family together and it will bring yours together too!
Below is a video with a few additional thoughts on the Inn!

About the Emerson Inn

The natural beauty of Pigeon Cove has been a popular destination for summer tourists for more than 160 years. In the 1850s, Rockport businessman William Norwood turned his famous tavern into The Pigeon Cove Inn. Over the years, several local families owned the Inn and gave it many names, including the Hotel Edward. The most recent owners renamed it after Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of the Inn’s most celebrated guests. Open year-round, the Emerson Inn is located at 1 Cathedral Avenue in Rockport. For reservations, please call 1-800-964-5550 or visit www.emersoninnbythesea.com.

About the Rockport Area

From a leisurely stroll through Rockport or nearby Gloucester, to a marine-life adventure, to a hike amidst the fall foliage or along the shores of the Cape Ann area, the Emerson Inn is surrounded by a diversity of summer and winter activities. With four state-designated cultural districts, Cape Ann ranks as one of the premier destinations for the traveler with an interest in art, theater, and culture. With festivals celebrating Cape Ann’s rich maritime and artistic heritage, along with an active fishing fleet and a picturesque seaside village, visitors to the Rockport area will enjoy the allure of Massachusetts’ coastal crown jewel.

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Visiting the The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

June 25, 2016 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

My daughter plays basketball and I grew up loving the sport. This meant that visiting The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was a no-brainer when we knew that we were visiting Springfield, Massachusetts.

I did not realize the connection of Basketball and Springfield, Massachusetts until I explore the Basketball Hall of Fame and learned about the woman from Springfield, Massachusetts who started womens’ basketball after conferring more with Dr. Naismith himself.

As you are driving up the The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame you will note the iconic design of the exterior and it was this initially that placed a smile on Diva-J’s face, but it was the basketball courts that you first walk into that really got her heart pounding.

As I mentioned as you walk into The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame you walk onto a basketball court. The basketball court has displays of all backboards as they had been used in the past including the original basket made of peach baskets too. You could shoot on any of the baskets to try your hand at sinking a shot. They also had hoops of varying sizes set up to allow you to dunk on the hoops too.

Once we were complete with this we went up to the third floor to see all of the inductees within the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Talk about a very cool list of alumni. These are the greats in all of basketball history and they are all looking down on the basketball court action that is occurring below their gazes.

On the second floor was a huge array of memorabilia, games and more. On every floor though there was a ton of learning that could and did take place. I had forgotten that Bill Lanier, a Pistons great, was the basketball player with the largest shoes size, a size 22!

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was an amazing museum that will give you hours of learning and hours of fun for the whole family. Whether you love to play or just love to watch the sport you will leave this experience with a larger love of the sport and the athleticism that surrounds it too.

Our Thoughts on The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

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Setting Off On A Vacation To Remember

June 25, 2016 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Yesterday my family and I packed up the 2016 Kia Sedona that I was provided from my friends at Kia and Driveshop and we started our journey. This is a journey that has been a few months in the making, but it is a vacation that the whole family has been looking forward to immensely.

You see, this past year, my oldest, Diva-J just completed fifth grade. During this year her school explored colonial America. As timing would have it, I had been asked to come and explore Hotel that was making a grand re-opening in May 2016 called the Emerson Inn in Rockport, Massachusetts and with this being so close to Boston and to so many of the important founding places for our American Heritage I could not miss out on this learning moment to reach out and try and plan a vacation.

Long story short, things worked out and this week we are traveling from Michigan to Boston and back in an amazing vehicle, the 2o16 Kia Sedona. Of course Kia would not just provide any vehicle, but they provided us with a top of the line Kia that completely rocked our world and as you can see, the girls were in heaven, especially with the footrests and the reclining seats and DVD player. The amenities in this vehicle really bale a 14.5 hour first day go by very quickly and the vacation go smoothly.

My thoughts on the Kia Sedona

We ended up taking a bit of a longer route to get to our first destination, Springfield, Massachusetts. We could have gone through Canada, but chose to go around the Lake instead which added a bit of time, but that was ok. The Kia Sedona got great gas mileage as we were getting over 24-25 MPG on the highway and I would even try and see what I could do to do even better as we started to get into hills and had more downslopes that I could coast on!

While I have driven in Michigan and Ohio extensively I have to say that I do not have a lot of experience driving through upper-New York and Massachusetts. Talk about beautiful country. The rolling hills and vast expanses that you are afforded are amazing. Unfortunately, much of the trip that we took were on turnpikes so especially in New York this got a bit expensive with having to pay over $15 in all for tolls. Other than that I was surprised to find though that the traffic was relatively light and because the 2016 Kia Sedona was as comfortable as it was, the trip went very well.

When I say very well, I mean it. No fighting between the girls, no complaining about the amount of time it was taking. This is saying a lot when you are on the road for 14.5 hours!

As we finally hit Western Massachusetts, we were amazed at the beauty of the area. The 50+ MIles between the State line and Springfield is mountain-filled which was not expected and so lush with greenery. I have only really been to the Boston area in the past or driving aong the East Coast so this was a nice change.

We are excited about our first day of vacation in Western Massachusetts exploring the Greater Springfield area thanks to the great folks at the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau.

We have the pleasure of staying at the great La Quinta in Springfield which is conveniently located in downtown Springfield close to the The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as well as the Springfield Museums whic are two of the main stops for this trip! We also are excited to see one of the Flagship stores for the Yankee Candle company which is located only about 30 minutes north of Springfield, Massachusetts too.

When we arrived at the LaQunita Inn we were impressed, This was a large facility, and it offered a ton of amenities. The girls immediately gravitated to the fact that it had a pool and game room! J-Mom and I loved the fact that it offered a great breakfast. When we got to our room we were expecting that we would have been placed in a regular sized room but found that we had been given a double sized room with 2 beds and a pull out couch which made our stay even more enjoyable!

As you can probably guess after driving 14.5 hours we were a bit tired, so we crashed but we were excited to get up early the next day to start our grand adventure exploring Springfield, Massachusetts.

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Manitowoc, A Lakeside Town With Hidden Gems

June 13, 2016 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Manitowoc, A Lakeside Town With Hidden Gems

This past weekend my family and I visited Manitowoc, Wisconsin. For those of you that have never been there before, it is about 30 miles south of Green Bay and for us it took about 6.5 hours to drive around the lake to get there.

The Harbor Town Inn in Manitowoc, Wisconsin

We had the opportunity to stay at the Harbor Town Inn while we were here which is one of the Flannery Hotels. We partnered with this great location while we were here, and let me tell you we were really impressed with the facility and the rooms that they offered us. The Harbor Town Inn has a long history in the city of Manitowoc and while it was a Super 8 and a Thrifty Scot over the past years, it was recently renovated and you can tell that the owners put a lot of time and money into the look and feel of the Inn.

The Harbor Town Inn in Manitowoc, Wisconsin

The Harbor Town Inn offers reasonably priced rooms that are well furnished, along with a great breakfast and even some very nice areas for socializing and reconnecting. We found the staff to be very friendly and very willing to offer many suggestions for travelers on things to do, places to eat and more, making the stay even nicer.

The Harbor Town Inn in Manitowoc, Wisconsin

While the Inn is located off of a main road the noise was minimal in the evening and we really found it to be a very comfortable stay and for the price and amenities you cannot go wrong.

The Harbor Town Inn in Manitowoc, Wisconsin

I made a quick video to explore the Harbor Town Inn Even Further. I hope you will give it a glance and see what I am talking about and frequent it when you next come to Manitowoc!

While we were in Manitowoc, we explored the city and found so many amazing things. From the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, which had its own submarine, the USS Cobia, a WWII submarine that you could go in. Just be aware if you do go into this, it is very confined! The museum itself though is so amazing and really allows you to come to a better appreciation of Maritime History.

We also explored the shops and restaurants of downtown Manitowoc. There were a number of great restaurants including the Courthouse Pub (one of our favorites) and a number of others too. We also satisfied our sweet tooth while downtown by visiting Beernsten’s Confectionary, a chocolatier that has been in Manitowoc since 1932. While we did not eat chocolate, we did partake in some ice cream that they are known for as it was a particularly hot day!

Just down the street from Beernsten’s was the Manitowoc Public Library. As many of you know my wife is a librarian, so we had to check out the library. Holy cow, this community must love to read with a library as beautiful as this library was. I can only dream of having a library with so many resources and so many books! The children’s section was so inviting and even my oldest mentioned that she would hang out there instead of in the Teen section! It was such a breath of fresh air to see so much pride being place in a community resource.

The interesting thing that you find when you are visiting the lakeshore on this side of Lake Michigan is that you have a much rockier shore than what you have in Michigan, but it is still a beautiful lake and a beautiful area.

While this town definitely has a blue collar feel, the pride in the town and the friendliness of the people would bring me back in a heartbeat.

This may not be the largest tourist destination in Wisconsin, I would still put it up on a list of places to visit for anyone! Even if you want to have a unique experience, you could drive to Manitowoc and then take the S.S. Badger Car Ferry over to Ludington, Michigan (They have a movie theater on the boat!).

Manitowoc, Wisconsin is a wonderful town that everyone should come to visit!

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