Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Every year Kelli and I road trip to Prairie du Chien with her parents in search of apples, cheese, wine, and leaves. Last year Charly was in Kelli's belly. This year she was out and ready to take in her third state in seven months!

We always start the trip by stopping just past the Mississippi at a little fish and cheese market called Valley Fish & Cheese. The man who owns this place is an expert on smoking fish. The market is actually a smokehouse and the smell of hickory fills the place. The smoked salmon here is incredible and the price of cheese is tough to beat. We tried bragging this place up to my parents and Ashley and Beau but they just weren't impressed. Or maybe we oversold it. Either way, it's the highlight of the trip for me and I always leave happy.

From there, we drive to an apple orchard just outside of Prairie du Chien, Shihata Orchards. 5-6 years ago when we stopped at this place, we swear it wasn't much other than a tin shed with a few arts and crafts inside. This place has grown so much in the last few years. Now there's a pumpkin patch and a petting zoo and hay rides! If it wasn't for the apple donuts at Gays Mills Sunrise Orchards, there would be no reason to drive any further than this place.

But one of Kelli and her mom's highlights each year is visiting the little old lady selling pumpkins in the bank parking lot in Gays Mills. So drive on we did. Last year we were late and stuck with scraps. We still scored some nice pumpkins but this year, we arrived plenty early and got the pick of the litter. I sat in the car and ate cheese curds with a sleeping Charly while the rest of the family shopped.

We couldn't have chosen a better day to visit. The trees hadn't quite changed yet (some had) but the drive was still scenic, nonetheless. Kelli looks forward to this trip every year and this year, it was made extra special by being able to bring Charly along. It was fun to watch her soak in her surroundings. Hopefully it becomes a place she loves to visit too.