We are going to be in Illinois week after next for the CNC workshop. Any thought about "things to see" on the way home to Connecticut?
I plan to stop at the Air force Museum in Dayton OH but other than that I am open to suggestions.
My wife loves Christmas stores so any tips for those would be great. We visited Bronners Christmas Wonderland while at NAMES in April so that one is covered.
The Auburn, Cord & Dusenberg museum is less than an hour south of 80/90 on I-69. Very cool, not too pricey.
If you like Indian stuff (people, not bikes) there's a little bank in Fremont, Indiana that has what I've seen referred to as the best collection outside of the Smithsonian. It's under ten minutes east of the 80/90 and I-69 junction. They've got some very nice stuff, all first rate, it's not huge but I've spent an hour at a time in there.
First time I was there,SWMBO allowed two hours, next time I went alone and stayed three days - could have stretched it to a week easily. Gerry :-)} London, Canada
If you're going to be near Dayton, Oh, stop at the Picking Copper Kettle factory in Bucyrus, OH. This is a small shop that manufactures solid copper kettles exactly as they were made over 100 years ago, using much of the same equipment. Some of the methods used there would give an OSHA Inspector a heart attack, but they get around that since the factory is classified as a "working museum". They have quite a long backlog for their kettles, most of which are used by candy manufacturers. It's well worth seeing. (I'm gonna have to ga back again one day soon!!)
Not Christmas stuff exactly, but your better half might just be interested in this site.
Drive time about a day from the CNC workshop, in the wrong direction (south-west), and at the wrong time of year (hot!!) of course, but the place has the distinct flavour of Bronners, except it is in the freakin middle of nowhere sort-of, and not in a place like Frankenmuth where there is a lot of other stuff. We got there off I-44, headed from St. Louis to Oklahoma City, and we didn't go into Carthage, so I really can't say what is there. Wasn't Carthage somebodies home town?? Maybe "Mark Twain"??
Hope you have a good show in Illinois, by the way. At least a couple of our MDMC guys will be there, one as a vendor, one as a demonstrator. You would have seen them at NAMES in the past.
Take care.
Brian Lawson, Bothwell, Ontario.
ps....if it CHRISTMAS TREES she likes, we have a REALLY BIG >
Errol Groff wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:
If your planning on taking the southern route through Dayton, your wife might enjoy visiting Longaberger.
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Also in the Columbus, OH. area
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Also along that route you could stop in at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
If you feel inclined to head North for the ride back and you have some time you could check out Rock Island Arsenal:
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A bit out of the way but a place I really like to wander around:
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(Illinois Railway Museum) They have operating steam locomotives and loads of other very cool and rare stuff. Don't miss the machine shop where volunteers machine parts for restorations.
I also like this place a lot
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Most all of the cars are for sale, so the collection changes all of the time. Sometimes the place is packed with rare cars, other times it's barely worth the price of admission. They also have an antique mall on the grounds.
Here is a Christmas shop in Geneva Il.
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Geneva is a nice little town with quite a few little stores and shops.
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If you can take the time you really should visit the city of Chicago. The museums alone are worth the time. Especially the Museum of Science and Industry.
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Then there is the Field, the Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, and the Art Museum. Phew! If you wnat to see a very cool, very large metal sculpture being constructed visit Millenium Park and check out the "bean", actually it's called "Cloud Gate" see it here:
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you want to see what a 1/2 billion dollar city park looks like, make sure you go there.
I would leave the city via I-90 and take the Chicago Skyway into Indiana. It will provide you with a gritty view of all the old steel mills and decrepit factories.
Taking I-80 back to Ct. you could stop at Amish Acres in Nappanee IN.
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Too bad you won't be around for the arts and crafts festival. I've gone to that and it's worth a day.
You might try giving Southbend Lathe Co. a call and see if they will give you a tour.
Eastward from there there is a whole lot of nothing until you get to Toledo. If your timing is right you might catch a Toledo Mud Hens baseball game.
After Toledo the next attraction is Cedar Point:
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you like Roller Coasters you have just found your Mecca.
Onward to Cleveland, there is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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After Cleveland I can't think of too much other than the Little League Museum in Williamsport, PA.
Anyway, I hope you find something to do in all of this. Have a nice trip, drive safe and try not to lose your mind in PA. I've made this trip a bunch of times and PA. always seems endless.
About an hour or less? west of galesburg is John Deere in east moline. You can take a tour of their combine assembly plant. Interesting, and HOT, no AC in the place. In the same area as the RI arsenal. Also large JD pavilion in East Moline. Fish around the net for info. Janesville,WI GM assembly plant tour. Very interesting. Suburbans, yukons, and prolly others built there. Lots O robots. Hurray, before it closes. Cat in peoria. I think they give some sort of tour. I'd pay money for a tour of what used to be Inland Steel in Gary,IN. I worked there for 5 days in 70 or 71. Very interesting. 911 changed everything. Really reduced plant tours. Git the AAA guide & hit the library.
Thaks to all who made suggestions. I have made a compilation of them and will be taking it with us. We are going to try very hard to see the Picking Copper Kettle company in Bucyrus OH. That sounds really interesting!
Small change in travel plans. We will be leaving on Sunday rather that Saturday as my son has invited me to go to the bih local annual airshow on Saturday. He scored VIP passes (complete with catered meal) and we will be seeing the Blue Angles among others.
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