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History Revisited on Route 66
Less than a 2 hour drive from Chicago, the Illinois town of Pontiac preserved an incredible part of American history - the story of Route 66 and the American dream. Pontiac was a stop along the Route that started in Chicago by the Art Institute and went diagonally all the way to LA. It was a one-road concrete highway, so cars going west had to stop to pass the ones going east. Once the country started to expand, a 4-lane highway was built and Route 66 was replaced by larger roadways. If you want to visit this little slice of history, Pontiac is your town. Everything that you would want to visit is within a few blocks, so this makes for an easy walking tour day. We didn't even feel the need for a stroller. Everyone will enjoy the automotive history from the Route 66 Museum and the new Pontiac/Oakland Museum, and kids will especially love the Murals and Art Cars around town. History buffs will like seeing the Lincoln trail exhibits and the scenic Court House. You can end your day in Pontiac with a relaxing stroll through the Chautauqua park and the swinging bridges. But to start, park your car in the free lot across from the Visitor's Center and stop there first to pick up a map and get some restaurant tips. Then off to explore the history of Route 66.
Murals on Main Street
This was by far my kids' favorite in town. While I enjoyed a little slice of history (the murals go back all the way to 1865), the kids enjoyed following the little red footsteps printed around town that lead you from mural to mural. Murals are depicted on the sides of buildings, museums, even a fire-station, and reflect a little bit of history and a lot of pop culture of the day. The largest mural is on the back wall of the Route 66 museum and if you have an antique car, posing by that sign is a must, though any car will do, I guess. Most of the murals were painted by the so called Walldogs - a group of muralists that were in town in June of 2009. When we stopped at the Mural and Sign Museum (right next to the Pontiac museum), we were told that this group of 150 painters finished 18 murals in just 4 days. There is a lot of interesting history on murals and walldogs at the museum. Make sure you ask them about the hidden mural - an old mural found on a side wall during construction.
There were a few murals that stood out the most for me. The Daniels Oil Company Mural depicts a gas station in downtown Pontiac - back when gas stations were full service and people would hang around the station for small chat and some gossip. This mural is so realistic, I almost did a double take. Of course, the Route 66 Mural is unique in that it's large and has been featured in many ads around the world. Palace of Sweets mural is an ode to the 1920s candy store that was a must stop in town for any celebration and a popular soda fountain stop.
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Weekend in Lake Geneva
The little Wisconsin town of Lake Geneva is not surprisingly all about the lake it's situated on. It's an easy drive from both Chicago and Milwaukee (less than 2 hours depending on your location), so a weekend trip is perfect for you if you live or are visiting those areas. In fact, many of the Chicagoans moved here after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. This is why the town was frequently called the Newport of the West (now referred to the Hamptons of the Midwest) and why you can see so many large and beautiful estates belonging to the likes of the Wrigley family and such around the lake.
One of the first things you should do here is take a boat tour to experience the old Chicago grandeur. You can do this on the Geneva Lake Cruise Line (cruises run June through September). This is the oldest continous running mail-boat in the US. They are actually delivering mail around the lake while you are taking in a tour of the surroundings. You can witness some beautiful natural preserves, enjoy the calm of the lake, and be mesmerized by the mansions lining along the water. Many of the Chicago notables had a home or visited here, including the Wrigley family and Al Capone, and in more recent years other celebrities have moved in.
