Elroy-Sparta Trail, WI
Bike Rides, Van Life Greg Ott Bike Rides, Van Life Greg Ott

Elroy-Sparta Trail, WI

A long ride on the Elroy-Sparta Trail — the first rail-to-trail conversion in the U.S. — turned into a full-day adventure of tunnels, wildflowers, butterflies, and a minor crash. Along the way, travelers from around the world crossed paths, the Wisconsin landscape rolled by, and a few questions came up about the only state in the country that charges to ride its bike paths.

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Wisconsin State Capitol-Madison
capitals, History & Culture, Van Life Greg Ott capitals, History & Culture, Van Life Greg Ott

Wisconsin State Capitol-Madison

the Wisconsin State Capitol led to a stroll through the Monona Terrace, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and a stop at the iconic Babcock Hall Dairy Store for a scoop of ice cream. Along the way, a conversation with a psychology student moonlighting as a wedding DJ, a hidden plaque honoring a local disability rights advocate, and a Liberty Bell replica added unexpected depth. One five-year-old summed it up best: the ultimate goal is to visit every ice cream shop in the world. Honestly, a goal worth chasing.

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A Day at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
Travel Journal, Photography Greg Ott Travel Journal, Photography Greg Ott

A Day at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is a week-long celebration of aviation, featuring everything from military flyovers and vintage aircraft to hands-on workshops, tech talks, and flight demonstrations. With thousands of planes on display and countless events happening across the grounds, it's a must-see for aviation enthusiasts—even a single day offers a glimpse into the scale and energy of the world’s largest airshow.

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Ride to Gills Rock
Bike Rides Greg Ott Bike Rides Greg Ott

Ride to Gills Rock

I rode my gravel bike from Peninsula State Park up to Gills Rock at the northern tip of Door County. The route hugged the shore of Green Bay, passing through quiet towns, wooded stretches, and scenic farm country. It was mostly a peaceful, rewarding ride with views that kept pulling me off the road to take photos.

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Green Bay Lambeau Field
History & Culture, Van Life Greg Ott History & Culture, Van Life Greg Ott

Green Bay Lambeau Field

After a quiet morning in JD’s backyard, I made my way to Green Bay for a deep dive into Packers history. From a classic Lambeau Field tour and an inspiring Hall of Fame visit to some local road wisdom and a no-frills overnight stop, the day blended football legacy, local flavor, and life on the road.

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Wausau, WI
Travel Journal, photography Greg Ott Travel Journal, photography Greg Ott

Wausau, WI

What started with a dead battery in the quiet woods near Bayfield quickly turned into a full, satisfying day. After a quick jump-start, I found a great coffee shop, explored two standout galleries, wandered downtown Wausau, and ended the day with a cold beer and live bluegrass at a lively local taproom.

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Bayfield: Museum, Restaurant and Trails
Van Life, Travel Journal Greg Ott Van Life, Travel Journal Greg Ott

Bayfield: Museum, Restaurant and Trails

Today was supposed to be a kayaking day around the Apostle Islands, but heavy rain and wind had other plans. I spent the day exploring Bayfield on foot—visiting the Maritime Museum, walking the Big Ravine Trail system, wandering the historic streets, and learning about the town’s roots at the Carnegie Library. A blackened trout lunch, a double chocolate ice cream, and time photographing the trails rounded out a quiet, weather-shifted day. By nightfall, I was back in the woods, falling asleep to the sound of rain on the van roof.

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Cycling Madeline Island
Bike Rides, historic sites Greg Ott Bike Rides, historic sites Greg Ott

Cycling Madeline Island

I started the day in the woods near Bayfield with a maple-syrup-heavy breakfast, caught the ferry to Madeline Island, and biked 33 miles through sun, gravel, and quiet roads. Along the way, I met fellow cyclists, visited sacred Ojibwe sites, explored La Pointe, and ended the day with a black-bean burger, live music, and a sunset ferry ride back to Bayfield. Tired, dusty, and happy, I rolled back to my quiet pull-off in the woods and crashed hard.

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Two Days of Heavy Rain
Van Life Greg Ott Van Life Greg Ott

Two Days of Heavy Rain

After a long day of travel through rain, high winds, and dealing with a slow tire leak, I made the two-hour drive to Duluth to get the tire fixed. I had planned to stay overnight at the local Walmart, but it turns out they don’t allow it—and the place was loud and chaotic anyway. As evening settled in, I headed back toward Bayfield and luckily found a quiet snowmobile trail pull-off just 13 minutes from town. Surrounded by woods and silence, it ended up being the peaceful stop I didn’t know I needed.

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Porcupine Mountains Wilderness
Nature & Outdoors Greg Ott Nature & Outdoors Greg Ott

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness

I spent time exploring the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park — one of the Midwest’s last true wilderness areas. From hiking the rugged trails down to Mirror Lake and spotting wild mushrooms along the way, to scrambling down rocks for a closer look at Nawadaha Falls, it was a day full of solitude, damp forest air, and quiet moments deep in the woods.

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Quincy Copper Mine — Houghton, Michigan
historic sites Greg Ott historic sites Greg Ott

Quincy Copper Mine — Houghton, Michigan

I spent the late afternoon exploring the fascinating Quincy Mine above Hancock, Michigan — a place known as “Old Reliable” for its rich copper deposits and long history. From a quiet morning by Portage Lake to descending deep into Level 7 of the mine, I learned how miners once carved out a life in this dangerous industry, working by candlelight and fighting for better conditions. The old hoist houses, rusted ore cars, and wildflowers tell the story of a bygone boomtown — one you can still feel echoing through the dark tunnels today.

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Marquette: Ore Docks and NMU.
Greg Ott Greg Ott

Marquette: Ore Docks and NMU.

A day exploring Marquette’s iron shipping roots, riding the scenic Lakeshore Bike Path, stopping at quirky local shops, and discovering how much this town’s character is shaped by its history, university vibe, and wild Lake Superior backdrop.

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Kitch-iti-kipi and Manistique, Michigan
parks Greg Ott parks Greg Ott

Kitch-iti-kipi and Manistique, Michigan

After a morning exploring an unusual siphon bridge and an old waterworks in Manistique, I stumbled into a peaceful detour that led to hours of unexpected macro photography with electric-blue damselflies. Eventually, I made it to Kitch-iti-kipi, where crystal-clear waters and lazy trout made for one of the most magical moments of the trip. I finished the day camped by Indian Lake with Starlink streaming under a canopy of trees.

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