Rudy's Drive-In, La Crosse, Wisconsin

When I visited my dad recently in La Crosse, Wis., I made a special request to stop at Rudy's Drive-In, which is only open in the summer. It's an 1950s-style drive-in, where the waitresses wear roller skates to greet the cars.

It was cold and rainy on the day we visited Rudy's, so the waitresses weren't wearing their roller skates.  We ordered pork tenderloin sandwiches, onion rings and root beer floats, served in glass mugs.  It was definitely a highlight of my trip to La Crosse.

It was so much fun to stop at a drive-in.  Next time, I hope to see the waitresses on roller skates!

Granddad Bluff in La Crosse, Wisconsin

My dad lives in La Crosse, Wis., and I love visiting him in the summertime.  There is so much to see and do in La Crosse.  One of our favorite stops is Grandad Bluff, which reopened this summer after some much needed renovations.  The new park is now handicap accessible, and now it's a terrific place to get an amazing view of the city of La Crosse and the Mississippi River.

See the blue Cass Street bridge to the left.  That's where my car crossed the Mississippi River.

My dad enjoying the scenic view.

The new Granddad Bluff visitors center is a popular spot.

In order to reach the top of Granddad Bluff, we drove on a windy road that seems to climb straight up.  It was a beautiful, almost clear day to see the scenery below.  Quite a contrast from the "flatlands" here in central Iowa!