Roadtrip through the area

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by pattermj, Dec 11, 2015.

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  1. pattermj

    pattermj Initiate (0) May 31, 2008 Virginia

    So this is way in advance but I like to plan. The wife and I are planning our 4th of July trip to her parents and we are going from Harrisonburg VA to near Wausau WI (https://goo.gl/maps/xfc6gpdEdAk). It will be a two day trip with the dog, our plan is to stop about 8 hours in on the first day and then finish it off on the second, same on the return. This offers me a few opportunities for beer touristing. I plan on grabbing a bit of central waters BB Stout and BW when in WI but I also want to grab others on the way and stop at least for lunch or dinner at places with good options (food and beer, lunches would preferably have outdoor seating which would be dog friendly). I was hoping to get the forums advice on where to stop. I suspect on the way there we will hit the Dayton OH area for the night and on the way back probably Indianapolis area. Just looking for peoples suggestions of their favorite beer shop or food place around this route so I can look into it and decide where we will be hitting.

    thanks much
     
    #1 pattermj, Dec 11, 2015
  2. Redpac

    Redpac Devotee (347) Aug 27, 2009 Illinois
    Trader

    Belmont party supply in dayton is you beer store in that area
     
    #2 Redpac, Dec 11, 2015
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  3. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Have you considered working your way from your home up to I-80, and then across northern Ohio and northern Indiana or even a bit of a detour into southern Michigan? I think you'll have more interesting choices. (But any trip that is planned around brewery stops will be interesting.)
     
    #3 PapaGoose03, Dec 11, 2015
  4. atone315

    atone315 Initiate (0) Oct 8, 2008 Wisconsin

    Agreed.
     
    #4 atone315, Dec 11, 2015
  5. pattermj

    pattermj Initiate (0) May 31, 2008 Virginia

    Looking at Belmont now, and Mothergoose I think we will be pushing more for speed sadly. I can convince the wife to stop once or twice but adding distance on the drive probably not ideal. What would be awesome would be a place we could grab a fun lunch or dinner AND buy some good beer :slight_smile:. Additionally, cutting on 80 I think brought us to I71 which was a toll road according to google maps I think. I mainly go with trust in the google when traveling.
     
    #5 pattermj, Dec 11, 2015
  6. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Maybe next trip then, but just don't plan it in the winter when you can have snow playing havoc with your planning. (And it would be I-80 in PA, all of OH and most if IN that is a toll road. :slight_smile:)
     
    #6 PapaGoose03, Dec 11, 2015
  7. pattermj

    pattermj Initiate (0) May 31, 2008 Virginia

    Insane that I80 is a toll, I grew up in CA near sac so I know I80 there, just cant see it ever being a toll road.
     
    #7 pattermj, Dec 11, 2015
  8. Tsar_Riga

    Tsar_Riga Grand Pooh-Bah (3,349) Sep 9, 2013 Minnesota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Give thought to this alternative. Cincinnati offers both a number of local breweries, plus Jungle Jim's, which offers basically anything in Ohio distribution. And New Glarus is a fine, fine option, particularly if you use the route on the return.

    My family is from SW Ohio, and while I've heard very good things about the breweries popping up in the Dayton area, my experience is the options are more diverse and robust in Cincy.

    For what it's worth.
     
    #8 Tsar_Riga, Dec 11, 2015
  9. 5thOhio

    5thOhio Pooh-Bah (1,571) May 13, 2007 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    From the OP:
    "I think we will be pushing more for speed sadly. I can convince the wife to stop once or twice but adding distance on the drive probably not ideal"
     
    #9 5thOhio, Dec 11, 2015
  10. Bearshawks85

    Bearshawks85 Initiate (0) Jun 12, 2014 Illinois

    Your gonna go right by 3 Floyds and obviously all of the Chicago breweries.
     
    #10 Bearshawks85, Dec 11, 2015
  11. Tsar_Riga

    Tsar_Riga Grand Pooh-Bah (3,349) Sep 9, 2013 Minnesota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    It may add miles, but as of right now, it adds only about 15 min., and avoids Chicago, which as anyone who has lived there or driven there knows, can turn into a +3 hr. sh*tshow for just about no reason at all.
     
    #11 Tsar_Riga, Dec 11, 2015
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2015
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  12. Bearshawks85

    Bearshawks85 Initiate (0) Jun 12, 2014 Illinois

    Especially July 4th weekend.
     
    #12 Bearshawks85, Dec 11, 2015
  13. gcg49

    gcg49 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2014 Texas

    I can't help you much with day 1. For day 2, if you're going for speed and not going to add any time for the trip the main 3 you're going right by are 18th street, 3 Floyds, and Central Waters. Timing isn't perfect but roughly works out for lunch/dinner. I'm not sure it makes sense to go anywhere else without adding 1+ hours to the journey. Chicago is pretty out of the question as you'll get sucked into bad traffic. You could shoot for lunch near 18th or 3 floyds. Both are open for lunch but not really sure about dog friendly. 3 Floyds is often hard to get into with a long wait. 18th street is much more casual with a very basic food menu - had a sandwich there that was tasty, though. You could just yelp a dog friendly lunch spot and snag some beer to go. Central Waters around dinner makes sense to me - might be a bit early though - again, just snag beer to go and yelp somewhere good in Steven's point. Maybe someone else will be able to point you in the right direction for good lunch/dinner spots in NW Indiana/Stevens Point. I've done the beer tourist thing in these areas and didn't go anywhere that really stood out as good beer/food, dog friendly, and easy in and out for a road trip.
     
    #13 gcg49, Dec 11, 2015
  14. guzzleacoldone

    guzzleacoldone Pooh-Bah (1,898) Feb 3, 2007 Ohio
    Society Pooh-Bah

    In Dayton if you're looking to grab a bite to eat plus do some beer shopping look at Ollie's. It's a craft beer bar with pretty decent food and has a connected retail store with plenty of options. Owned by the same folks who own Belmont Party Supply. Kill two birds with one stone plus not too far off I75.
     
    #14 guzzleacoldone, Dec 11, 2015
  15. 5thOhio

    5thOhio Pooh-Bah (1,571) May 13, 2007 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Not sure what maps you're looking at, but detouring to Cincinnati does nothing to avoid Chicago and adds about a half hour, assuming smooth traffic through Cincy.
     
    #15 5thOhio, Dec 11, 2015
  16. Tsar_Riga

    Tsar_Riga Grand Pooh-Bah (3,349) Sep 9, 2013 Minnesota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    If you clicked through to my link, you'd see that the Google Maps option I proposed not only had them routing through Cincy, but also recommended they take I-74 to I-39, then north to Wisconsin, skipping Chicago.

    BTW - current drive times are almost two hours more for Cincy-New Glarus, so a lot depends on traffic conditions.
     
    #16 Tsar_Riga, Dec 11, 2015
  17. pattermj

    pattermj Initiate (0) May 31, 2008 Virginia

    Thanks for the suggestions, still running them through my mental map. I do like the idea of 3 Floyds since I have never been and we are more than likely hitting central waters simply because I love their BB series of beers (bought 5 cases for my wedding in Seattle....spent more on beer then wine) but I do worry about traffic in Chicago. Current estimates would put us in the area probably early on a saturday, I would assume traffic wouldn't be bad then unless something major is going on correct? And coming back, we would be going through on a saturday again so hoping no major traffic. If this is a poor assumption I definitely appreciate correct from locals.
     
    #17 pattermj, Dec 12, 2015
  18. totalbangover

    totalbangover Initiate (0) Jul 3, 2012 Michigan
    Trader

    If you wanted to be able to head up (or back) through west Michigan you could always take the Badger ferry from Ludington to Manitowoc. I've never made this trip but from what I understand it's about the same price (and time) as driving through and would offer access to some different breweries. Plus a break from driving :slight_smile:
     
    #18 totalbangover, Dec 12, 2015
  19. 5thOhio

    5thOhio Pooh-Bah (1,571) May 13, 2007 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Well, not only did I not click on your link, I didn't even notice you had one. My error.
     
    #19 5thOhio, Dec 12, 2015
  20. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    The crossing is 4 hours, and would run $198 for 2 people and a car. Waiting to load, and unload takes a considerable amount of time on a big ferry.
    http://www.ssbadger.com/schedule-fares/
     
    #20 hopfenunmaltz, Dec 13, 2015
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