Day 18 – Pittsburgh
We arrived into Pittsburgh late yesterday afternoon, so after checking in went out for some dinner.
Today we went for a drive around the town and suburbs. Had the worst coffee ever combined with the driest muffin known to man. The upside was that was near to the best view of Pittsburgh.
Tomorrow we are off early to Columbus, OH. Another new state, and weather permitting, the zoo.
Day 19 – Pittsburgh to Columbus
Nothing to show! It was a wet day, so did not get up to anything exciting.
Day 20 – Cincinnati
Today the weather played nice, and we made the drive from Columbus to Cincinnati. Time for a major bucket list item to be ticked off – visiting Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals. Not only did we get to visit, but we were also able to take a tour of the stadium, and go out onto the field and throw a ball around.
After the stadium we went to the Cincinnati Zoo, home of Fiona the Hippo plus a giraffe that had been born only 4 days prior to our visit.
Day 21 – Columbus to Chicago, then to Milwaukee
This was a day of travelling.
Day 22 – Milwaukee
Looking around Milwaukee including a visit to the “Bronze Fonz” and Miller Park.
Day 23 – Milwaukee
Another day looking around Milwaukee and Elm Grove.
Day 24 – Chicago
Today we went to our first Chicago Cubs game. Then again, it will be our only Cubs game on this trip, but not our only visit to Wrigley Field as we have a tour there later in the week.
Day 25 – Chicago
In what was our first full day in Chicago, we did all of the typical touristy things while the weather was good. Last night at the Cubs game there was a storm pass through before the game, and it was looking to do the same today, so we fitted in as much as we could as early as possible. The weather did turn bad, but we were done by that stage – it did cause a rain delay in tonight’s game, which only delayed the loss for the Cubs.
We started off at the John Hancock building and 360 Chicago Observation Deck before heading to the South Side to find the houses used in the US version of “Shameless“. We finished the day at the Buckingham Fountain (think “Married with Children“), and “Cloud Gate” – or more commonly referred to as “The Bean“
Day 27 – Chicago
Wrigley Field Tour
Day 28 – Rapid City
An early start this morning to get to O’Hare airport to work through the ever present security, then get on our flight to Rapid City. We were of the impression that Rapid City didn’t hold a lot of appeal other than being the gateway for Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. There is a lot more here than you’d think! The place is stunning; green everywhere and so much space! It’s quite large, with a population of only around 75,000!
After checking in at the hotel, we went on the short drive to Mt. Rushmore and then onto Crazy Horse. Mt. Rushmore is just something else! Absolutely amazing. Crazy Horse on the other hand isn’t. It may well be something fantastic, but only once it is closer to completion – much closer!
Day 29 – Rapid City to Devils Tower, Wyoming
Another day, and another State! This time we’ve driven the short drive from Rapid City across the South Dakota border into Wyoming and through to Devils Tower.
If you’re not familiar with Devils Tower, it became more known after Steven Spielberg’s 1977 hit movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind“. It was a famous location long before the movie though, having been named America’s very first National Monument back in 1906. This visit lined up with a visit on the first day of our trip when we visited the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles, VA, where the miniature model of the alien mothership used in the movie is on display.
I’ve included this day in week’s 3 & 4 despite it being day 1 of week 5 as it wraps up Rapid City. Tomorrow we fly to Las Vegas 
