How Well Do You Know Your State (Milwaukee, Green Bay: coupon, crime)

[601halfdozen0theother]

Thought I'd share an experience I had in Wisconsin last month.

I live in MN north of Duluth. After a trip to the Winona, MN area, I decided to hop back north via Wisconsin. Your state is SO beautiful in that area between Winona and Eau Claire!

Well, after enjoying the back roads I got on 53 N. and was going to just cruise it north, but decided to stop to eat just north of Eau Claire. There was major road construction in that area, and I got turned around trying to find a fast food place for which I had a coupon (yes, I'm an old lady ).

I finally stopped at a Wendys somewhere in what I think now was in SW Chippewa Falls.

After ordering, I asked the girl at the counter - "How do I get back on 53?" She didn't know. Lots of people don't know numbers of highways, so I said, "Well, I'm heading up towards Superior, which roads do you take to get to Superior from here?" Blank stare from her. She went off to get the Manager. "Hi, I'm just trying to get back on 53 to get up to Duluth" I said to the manager. Puzzled stare from the manager. "You know, up near Superior?" I said. Puzzled stare. By that time, about 5 of the workers had gathered around the counter. "Oh, she wants to go to Green Bay!" says one. "No," I said, "that's the wrong way. I'm headed to Superior." They all looked confused. The manager apologized for not knowing, and said that she would have to call her husband.

So, I get my food and go sit down. A guy at a the next table told me the local roads to take to get back on 53 N, so all was fine.

Then the Manager came to my table. "I'm sorry," she said. "We can't help you. You should probably ask at the gas station across the road."

At least they were all very nice, and they tried so hard to be helpful. I did appreciate their effort.

But it was so hard to believe that some of them didn't know where Superior Wisconsin was, or how to get to a biggish nearby hwy!!!

How many of you could give directions to another Wisconsin city that is about 150 miles away?

[HyperionGap]

Originally Posted by 601halfdozen0theother

I finally stopped at a Wendys somewhere in what I think now was in SW Chippewa Falls.

I think this is the key point.

[ranger17]

Originally Posted by HyperionGap

I think this is the key point.

our first year here we couldnt find the access road to a large outdoor mall and stopped at a McD's to grab a drink and ask for directions. Girl had no clue on what i was asking for, took another person to give me some pointers. Oh btw, it was a couple blocks behind them.

[Milwaukee City]

I am a map guy and I use street names, hwy names and I know my directions. So I could tell you how to get to anywhere for the most part in the state or country even though I have never been there.

I too have asked directions...once and the younger they are the greater chance they are not going to know where anything is. A lot of people do not even pay attention to street signs or how to get somewhere even if they are not driving.

A lot of clueless people out there.

[HyperionGap]

I wonder how big the effect of widespread GPS use has had on people's navigational ability.

[601halfdozen0theother]

Originally Posted by HyperionGap

I think this is the key point.

Wow, classist much?

I used to live in Milwaukee. Would I have gotten a better answer from someone in a museum on North Prospect Ave.?

[HyperionGap]

Originally Posted by 601halfdozen0theother

I used to live in Milwaukee.

I used to live in Pasadena, what's your point?

Originally Posted by 601halfdozen0theother

Would I have gotten a better answer from someone in a museum on North Prospect Ave.?

About where to find the nearest Alterra, yes.


If you think that the people working at Wendy's are the sharpest pencils in the box, keep asking there for directions. Pro tip, gas stations are much better places to ask for driving directions.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by HyperionGap

I wonder how big the effect of widespread GPS use has had on people's navigational ability.

A lot, unfortunately. I still prefer to use a Gazatteer.

[HyperionGap]

I don't know what that is. When I was growing up I just remember Thomas Guides.

[sholomar]

I have a GPS in my car so I have the confidence to drive absolutely anywhere without worrying about getting lost.

Thing won't die.. it's an old garmin 205 or something like that from like 2007 or 2008.. I download the maps from torrents and update the maps and the battery is long gone but the GPS has survived years of below zero as well as 100+ weather... probably why companies make products that die faster so they can get people to repurchase them.

Aside from not knowing your state, I'd say a lot of people in WI especially along Lake Michigan probably take the area that they live for granted. They don't like the winters and would rather be somewhere else (I know how that feels) Eventually you get used to where you live but I have to say eastern WI in some parts is so pretty, as is the area around Winona, and the part around Baraboo (Devils lake state park) .. out here the economy is good and crime is low with no state income tax but it's boring and flat, and not much to do. I miss eastern WI... I'd rather be living just about anywhere except the fact that blue collar work doesn't pay 20 buck an hour anymore so i'm not leaving.

I couldn't tell you how to get to Superior if I lived in Grafton my whole life... hey that's what the GPS is for.. there's a lot of roads and towns in this state..I might say take highway 60 to highway 94 then take 94 north to whatever but that's because I've driven this route quite a bit.