• 35 miles of walking
• 7 breweries
• 4 museums
• 2 cemeteries
• 1 distillery
• Countless restaurants

The highlights for me were the Art Institute of Chicago, and seeing the U-505 at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.

I think we'll start with our hotel, which was on the corner of Wabash and Harrison. You can clearly see the L-train and Roosevelt University, as well as some street murals.

And then we'll move on to some architecture and street art, as well as a little Picasso (which is actually huge).

Art Institute of Chicago

We spent right around 5 hours at the AIC. I could have spent another 5 hours, but our brains were pretty full and we were hungry. There was a special display of the work of Henri Matisse, and we made sure to get the extra tickets.

It was cool to see so many well known works of art as well as others I'd never even imagined. My absolute favorite, and the one that stopped me in my tracks, was Norman Lewis' 1942 painting "Multitudes." The photograph doesn't do justice to the depth in the colors. The more I stared at it, the more I saw: people, tables, buildings, doors...

Field Museum of Natural History

I didn't take many pictures at the Field Museum -- the exhibits were all so dark. But I did get a couple of good shots.

Griffin Museum of Science & Industry

Our time at the Griffin was limited, but the only thing I really wanted to see was the U-505, a Nazi uboat captured by the American Navy in 1944. It was the only intact uboat captured by the US during WWII. I was a little underwhelmed by the tour, which didn't go into enough depth (pun intended) for me. Still it was a dream come true to be onboard, and to see how the sailors lived in such a small and cramped war machine.

Madison, Wisconsin

Madison was great. I actually liked it better than Chicago. It's clean, friendly, not oversaturated with humans, completely walkable, and I didn't see any rats (saw one in Chicago). I would go back to Mad anytime.

We started at Resurrection Cemetery and Forest Hill Cemetery, which are across the street from each other. Forest Hill is one of the most beautiful cemeteries I've ever been to.

In our walks we saw a lot of fun stuff, and visited the Contemporary Art Museum of Madison, which was probably the oddest museum I've ever been to, and not because of the art. One gallery had pieces enclosed in stained glass boxes, and we both thought the stained glass was more interesting than the art they contained. Another gallery on the lower floor had only two paintings by two different artists. The second floor was in the midst of having a new exhibit installed and was closed to the public. And the top floor open air "sculpture garden" had only one sculpture. All-in-all, Kate said she counted only 21 pieces. It was free admission, but we donated some money anyway in hopes that they will get some more art.

And I'll end with a few random shots from our long hikes.

We had a lot of fun, despite a few traffic jams on the way, and we both look forward to our next adventure together.

Naturally, a trip to such a major city as Kansas City would involve a cemetery stop or two. The first was an early morning trip to Elmwood Cemetery, which was established in 1872. Among the 34,000+ people buried there are your typical assortment of members of Congress, officers who served during the Civil War (because enlisted dudes rarely attain notoriety), sports heroes, and business magnates, the most nationally famous of which would probably be the Armour family who made "the dogs kids love to bite." And speaking of dogs, when we first got out of the car we saw a coyote walking by about 25 yards (23 meters) away from us!

To be honest I was a little underwhelmed by this cemetery. By its size and location, the number of people buried there, and the list of "famous memorials" it boasts, I assumed that it would be more impressive. I pictured someplace more on par with Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, with large, impressive columns and statuary. But Elmwood is very much like so many other Midwestern burial places. Not that it wasn't interesting in its way, or that it didn't offer a surprise or two.

Union Cemetery, Kansas City, MO

Founded in 1857, Union Cemetery is Kansas City's oldest. There are over 24,000 people buried there, and the place just oozes history. Three memorials stuck out most to me: George Caleb Bingham, an artist famous for his paintings of working people, and common events. (I'm reasonably sure that we saw some of his work at the Nelson-Adkins Museum.). Alexander Majors was one of the founders of the Pony Express. The last belonging to not just one person, but to a group of Confederate soldiers who were buried there during the Civil War, and who were later memorialized with a historical marker.

Oakland Cemetery in Little Falls is a favorite of mine. It's just off of Highway 10, but you'd think it was in the middle of nowhere. It is aptly named, with dozens of beautiful oak trees. Again, there is a lot of history here with graves dating back to 1831. I don't know why I wound up in Buffalo, maybe I went there on purpose once I was able to drive again (I was on a post-op 30 ban from driving).

The next morning my hosts suggested a nice back roads way up to Detroit Lakes, and I used that as a jumping off point to turn what would normally be a drive of about an hour into an adventure that took four hours. Of course, that meant stopping at a bunch of cemeteries.

Starting at Pioneer Cemetery just north of Fergus Falls (8 graves, 1880-1890), I started planning my trip by using the Find a Grave app on my iPhone, and picking another cemetery, and then another, with a general direction of "towards Detroit Lakes" as my guide.

On my way I traveled back roads, dirt roads, and even had to hike into one stop. The area is covered by oak forests, open prairies, farmland, and is studded with lakes and ponds like jewels, and the fall colors were amazing. It was quite awesome, and I mean that in its truest sense. I didn't take pictures everywhere I stopped, what follows will be where I did.

East Lida Lake Cemetery, Lida Township, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota.

The cemetery is located near Lake Lida east of Pelican Rapids, MN. According to my GPS I was supposed to park on the road and walk to my destination. I learned that that's not the case later, but had a nice short walk into the woods. The cemetery is very small, and according to the sign at the entrance it is still active, and a grave costs a mere $400. I'm assuming that's pretty cheap, although I really don't know having never priced one out before. I doubt $400 would get you an ashcan in Minneapolis.

East Lida Lake Cemetery has 69 graves and markers dating to 1881.

West Dora Cemetery, Dora Township, Pelican Rapids,

MN

A short ways away is West Dora Cemetery, also known as Claypool Cemetery, is very small with only 22 graves dating to 1892. It is located along a dirt road. Several of the markers show signs of having been recently cleaned and maintained. Whoever did the work did an amazing job.

Dora Catholic Cemetery, Dora Township, Pelican Rapids, MN

Dora Catholic Cemetery is a very small plot with only 14 graves dating to 1880. It's located in a very pretty spot along a crossroad.

St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, Candor Township, Vergas, MN

St. Paul's is a cemetery with 481 graves and markers dating back to 1886. It is at the top of a long sloping hill. I was struck by how the graves were so crowded together, and how treeless the area was. It was simultaneously cramped and lonely. At the top of the hill you are presented with a sweeping vista, with a view that goes for miles across farmland and hills. It was simply beautiful.

I did re-visit Oak Grove Cemetery in Detroit Lakes before I finally called my adventure to a close, but first I went to someplace that wasn't a cemetery at all.

Dunton Locks County Park, Detroit Lakes, MN

Spoiler alert: DL is in Becker County.

Dunton Locks County Park is a 53-acre park nestled on the shores of Muskrat Lake and Lake Sallie just south of Detroit Lakes. I went for an hour-long hike here along the shores of Muskrat Lake through a maple forest that was teeming with color. It also featured something I'd never seen before: a boat tramway. During the summer season you can get your boat moved to either Muskrat Lake or Lake Sallie.

So that's what I'm calling my one-hour-four-hour adventure. I really love autumn, and this trip was worth every mile of dirt road I drove on.