"Twin Cities to Twin Cities"

Eastern terminus: Marinette County, at the junction with U.S. 41 in Marinette

Western terminus: St. Croix County, on the St. Croix River bridge at the Minnesota State Line (connecting to MN Highway 36 in Stillwater)

Mileage: about 275 miles

Counties along the way: Marinette, Oconto, Langlade, Lincoln, Taylor, Chippewa, Dunn, St. Croix

Sample towns along the way:Marinette, Pound, Mountain, Antigo, Merrill, Medford, Gilman, Bloomer, New Richmond, Somerset, Stillwater, MN

Bypass alternates at: none

Quickie Summary: State “Trunk” Highway 64 is another "coast to coast" highway, connecting the twin cities of Marinette and Menomonee, MI, with the fast-growing northeast suburbs of the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Forests, Main Street USAs, and wide-open rural driving await you in between.

The Drive (East to West): Highway 64 begins in Marinette (pop. 11,749) at U.S. 41, just short of the Michigan state line and Marinette's over-the-river twin city, Menomonee. Marinette's location, where the hard-working Menomonee River flows into Green Bay, made it destined to be a logging town in the 1800's. Named after an early Native American fur trader's common-law wife, Marinette is the county seat of Marinette County, Wisconsin's largest by land area... yet Miller Park at capacity for a Brewers game holds more people than Marinette County has residents. Marinette - the city - has a nice downtown within a few blocks of the river along U.S. 41 just east of where Highway 64 begins and serves up numerous options for boating and fishing.

Highway 64 begins as an offshoot from U.S. 41, about 1/2 mile in from the Michigan state line.

Highway 64 begins about 1/2 mile from Michigan as a western offshoot from U.S. 41. Beginning with a slow push past some residential neighborhoods (Highway 180, which runs along the Menomonee River to Wausaukee, angles off in Marinette's west side) and over the Peshtigo River just outside of town, Highway 64 becomes a straight shot west for about 15 miles before intersecting with the newly-expanded 4-lane U.S. Highway 141 and grazing the northern edge of Pound (pop. 484). Pound is part of the Lena-Coleman-Pound-Crivitz stretch of towns that run along U.S. 141 in central Marinette County. Pound itself is a small burg that was once featured in national commercials for a weight loss company (get it? "Pound"?) where the town's residents lost a collectively sizeable amount of weight. Many have gained it back, though - just an observation. At Pound, Highway 64 ducks south slightly before making another beeline west, over rolling hills into Oconto County and the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

	It's less than an hour to Lambeau Field in this stretch west of Pound along Highway 64, where Packer fans aren't shy about their allegiance. No word on if the mailman ever drop-kicked letters or packages through the uprights.
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest covers wide swaths of northern Wisconsin; Highway 64 travels through parts of it in Oconto, Langlade and Taylor Counties.

Just inside the Forest boundary, Highway 64 has its first curve in about 17 miles right before a junction with Highway 32 and a trip into the town of Mountain. Mountain essentially lies along the road, technically centered around the intersection with County W. It's a popular stretch for stores catering to visitors hunting, fishing and snowmobiling in the area since two major state highways run together here for about six miles. It's a good stop for gas or snacks. Highway 32 breaks away to head north and 64 continues westerly through the forest and into Langlade County.

A TORNADO'S POWER: Taken along Highway 64 in June of 2007 just after a tornado cut a wide swath through parts of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, these show just how strong the winds of a tornado can be. This was solid forest prior to the storm (click on each picture for a larger view).

Just inside the county line, you cross Highway 55 and the crossroads of Langlade (pop. 472), along the Wolf River. A marker at that junction describes the town and county's namesake, Charles Michel de Langlade, as the "Father of Wisconsin" (pictured below). A series of lakes and rivers dot the landscape around Highway 64 continuing westward, past settlements like Elton (not named after the singer, apparently) and Polar, past the Ice Age Trail, picking up Highway 52 and heading towards the county seat, Antigo.

	Langlade County's namesake, Charles Michel de Langlade, is commemorated at Highways 55 & 64 with this marker. Langlade was one of Green Bay's first settlers, fought in several wars and led, among others, a young guy named George Washington.
Between Elton and Antigo, this old schoolhouse just sat along the roadside. For some reason, it's interesting, because it looks like it hasn't been touched in about 30 years.

Neon Heaven. On the north side of Antigo is Northern Signs, which makes neon signs for companies around the U.S. Somewhat visible by day, this building shines in the nighttime, with neon signs from Blatz, Oldsmobile, Rexall Drugs, and even the old Red Owl stores beaming along the roadway. Inside is an incredible collection of neons: some custom, some originals from the 1930s, some great replicas. It's one of the largest neon collections in the world in one area. The owner, Dean Blazek, makes signs and has two sons, one in Seattle and one in Australia, who also make them and send them to destinations around the world.

Just a sample of the phenomenal collection of neon signs Northern has. My mouth rarely hangs open when I look at things, but that was the case looking around here. At right, owner Dean Blazek showed me around and stopped shaping glass long enough to pose for a picture with me.

Highway 64 meets up with U.S. Highway 45 and Highway 47, where you head south into the City of Antigo (pop. 8,560). Sitting atop a plateau about 1,500 feet above sea level, it's been an over 900-foot climb since the start of the route in Marinette. Wisconsin's state soil since 1983 is the Antigo Silt Loam soil, named, of course after the city. Antigo bustled with sawmills 100 years ago and today still hosts a series of industries dealing with lumber, as well as farming, food production, shoes, fertilizer and steel and aluminum products. It's a popular stop for tourists on their way to points north and east in the North Woods, so expect a full variety of restaurants and stores, including a Super Wal-Mart.

Left: This just confused me... KC Bagels are NY style... in Antigo. Right: Large deer are abundant in northern Wisconsin; only a few are plastic and have the patience to hang out atop restaurant signs, though. This is at the corner of Highway 64 where it meets up with U.S. 45 & Highway 47.

	Four highways come together for the ride through Antigo: U.S. 45 and State Trunk Higwhways 47, 52 and 64. Other four-road combos exist in Shawano and Viroqua.
The railroad was important to Antigo, especially because of its logging industry. This train display and museum is just south of Antigo's downtown, along Highways 45 & 47.

Merrill alllll the way west to Stillwater, Minnesota is COMING SOON! Keep watching the site for developments...

Upcoming events in places along Highway 64:
Central Wisconsin Polka Festival, Merrill, June 13-15, 2008

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