Here is our description of the Weekend Trip Report! We took a four day weekend trip up to see my daughter and her family in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The weather was great. The kids and the dogs well in fine shape. We all over-ate quite a bit, and we got home after a 1250 mile ride feeling that we had been around the world !! Really it was a good ride.
The topping on the Sundae was the return trip home, which, instead of heading straight down I-39 thru central Wisconsin and Illinois, we followed I-94 to Milwaukee to shop at the
Usingers Meat Packing 'Store' and enjoyed a fine German lunch with Annie at
Mader's restaurant in Milwaukee.
Friday- Sept. 19--After several un-eventful hours on the interstates we arrived safely in Baraboo, just in time to get-together with my family and head out to a local (Lodi,WI) tavern that has (as many do) a Fish Fry Night on Friday. We enjoyed the fish and chicken in the crowded and 'extremely casual' eating area, with greetings and exchanges of news coming in and going out all thru the meal. I think my Kids met at least 20 folks they knew and swapped "How are ya" greetings with another bunch as large. It's hard to eat and 'greet' at the same time !!
We took the Ferry across the river to get to Lodi. A neat little experience. Free Ferries seem to be disappearing from the American scene ! The Main Street of town was lined with bars, all having 'Fish Fry Night !
Here we are on the Ferry. 
Getting Ready to Unload in Lodi ! 
The Tavern is on a busy street, with many others drawing a large crowd on Friday Nights! 
The Bar Menu Board. Simple but descriptive ! 
SaturdaySeptermber 20, we made a Costco Run with my kids to get their new cards. That afternoon we headed to the
'Green Acres Supper Club' for their Saturday Prime Rib Dinner. I didn't take the camera there....too lazy I guess!
Green Acres is located on US 12 about 20 minutes south of Baraboo. I bother to mention the place because the food was outstanding and really quite reasonable. Leading the menu is the Prime Rib in three sizes for ordering. 12 oz, 14 oz and 18 oz. It was done just as everyone at our table ordered...Medium had a bit of pink, Medium Rare was almost entirely Pink, but not Red-Rare. The potato list included some excellent Hash Browns, done extra crispy. The other sides and Salad Bar were fresh and quite good also. The large cut of Prime Rib was $20, which I thought was a real bargain. It was well-trimmed, the tail and the cap were gone so you could eat the whole thing without waste! The place sits on a huge lawn, like a southern Plantation house. Anyone on US 12 north of Madison can enjoy this place without worry !
Sunday- September 21- We came up to Wisconsin to see one of the granddaughters participate in a church program, so off to church we went Sunday Morning. After, we headed down to a cafe on the Square (a few doors down from MONK's) for a breakfast Omelet and Pancakes !
Then it was time for the Packers Game for the Cheeseheads in the family...and time for the Mayor to nap a bit while others screamed their frustration at the Game.
Another fine dinner was upcoming! We packed up the tribe ( minus the little ones who stayed home with a baby sitter) and headed out to Poynette,WI to our appointment with the Grill-It-Yourself Steak Place that we have come to really enjoy (Hookers Resort on the river).
Here is My daughter Jolene and her Husband Bill, and my youngest son Jason at Hookers 
The fixed price Steak dinners(all cuts are $18.95) include the entree, Baked Potato and lots of bread (to be grilled with your steak). A large bowl of salad is served family style with the dinners. Salmon is also available for grilling. A large glass cooler-case is beside the grilling area. In it the various cuts are displayed wrapped in Saran Wrap. You select your Steak from the case, season it as you wish from the stuff available in large shakers around the grill. Brush on some butter (if you want it) and place it where you want it on the grill. Butter the bread and 'toast it' at the same time.
This is the Ribeye Shelf. There are others for T-Bones, Sirloins and Filets. 
Here is a photo of the grill action. I did the T-Bone and Jan went for the filet. The quality of the steaks are what make the ride out to Hookers well worth the trip. This is really good Beef!
The finished dinner tasted as good as it looks!! 
Next Day, Monday. We left for home about 8 AM, ready to meet with Ann in Milwaukee in time to shop a bit then go to lunch, before trying to beat the traffic rush thru Chicago.
We walked around the block surrounding Usingers and the other specialty shops in that area. 
As Anne said the Cheese Shop was not a big deal. Lots of touristy stuff at high prices. I can't stay in the Spice Shop for more than a few minutes. I don't know what I react to, but I do ! So I sat on the bench out front while Janet shopped around for some Blue-Cheese powder seasoning and Liquid Lemon-Pepper extract. She came out all smiles a bit later after finding what she hoped to find.
We also paid Usingers meats a visit. We love the place since introduced to it by ChiTwnDnr when we came up to Milwaukee last year. The Bargain table was loaded with neat stuff and some of the things we REAL bargains.
Here is Our Take for the Morning, including Applewood Bacon (3 Pkgs) Several Hard Salami Ends, Two different types of Brats, Smoked Pork Chops, Pastrami Ends (3 Pkg). Not pictured is a large bag of 4 lbs of Summer Sausage odd sized cuts.
When the ladies finished shopping, we walked next door to Mader's The fine German Restaurant that anchors that block of cafe's and shops. What a nice place. Our server explained the lunch menu items and let us make our own selections. We all tried different combination plates that gave samples to share easily. In addition Anne and I enjoyed nice salads with dressing full of good bacon. Jan had a bowl of Corn Chowder in place of the salad (she said she would do the salad if she had it to do over).
Maders is in a themed building on Old World Third, in the same block with the other stores we mentioned. 
Anne and Janet get ready for a fine lunch! 
Our Appetizer were some interesting (and tasty) Reuben Rolls with dipping sauces for them 
Mader Salads are fresh and the warm Bacon dressing was delicious! 
The combination lunch plates offered a variety of German dishes with enough to share easily ! 
After much conversation and swapping of "door prizes" described in Annes post above, we loaded up and made our way down I-94 and I-65 to get home about 10 PM last night. We really enjoyed our visit to the kids and seeing Anne again, and introducing her to Janet and the scotties was a fun time !!
