Personally, I decided that there was no time for “sacrifices,” and while my plans still included a trip to San Francisco, streetcars should, as they say, come to us. After searching, it turned out that just an hour from Chicago there is a place where you can “stretch your legs” and ride a streetcar from the 50s and 60s. Ready? It’s Kenosha, Wisconsin!
Blowing dust off the convertible that was rooted to the ground, I took the weatherman’s word for it, predicting 75 degrees all day long. After washing the car and preparing for such a “serious” trip (as much as 100 miles round trip), I dropped the roof, persuading the navigator to do without Route 94 in order to enjoy the road.
There is nothing to see along the way, since there is essentially no “way” there.
There is plenty of free parking around the tram loop in the city center where you can leave your car and stroll along the waterfront. Even though the museums and many attractions close early as usual, there is still a sculpture alley, a promenade, lighthouses and a tranquility that Chicagoland lacks. Sometimes there is nothing better to clear your head than enjoying the weather while walking somewhere you have never been before. There is a large playground on the pier where you can let the little ones loose and burn off all that pent-up energy. A pleasant atmosphere of a fairly small city, just a couple of hours and, of course… trams! Or rather, there seem to be only two of them. The entire journey along the loop takes about 15 minutes and that is the interval at which they run. The route is a real sightseeing tour. The price is $1, but “please, no change”. Just a couple of minutes brings back vivid memories, since we have long been unable to be surprised by ice cream or, say, pretzels. Trams and trolleybuses are perhaps what “remained there.”
Everyone has or will have a story about visiting Kenosha. Mine will probably be a fond memory of a streetcar, a sunny day, and pleasant Sunday strolls.
While you’re here, be sure to also check out:
Civil War Museum;
Kenosha Public Museum;
Dinosaur Discovery Museum
(a sea of impressions for children!);
Kenosha History Center;
Southport Light Station Museum.
