August has begun and with it is the final rush to get students ready to enroll for the fall semester. This year we have a situation with a “small” company up the road in a tiny burg called Milwaukee. It seems like this small company with the name of Harley Davidson is celebrating their 105th anniversary the same weekend that we begin school. Hence, all the motels between here and Milwaukee are fully booked! However, a number of Maranatha faculty and staff have opened their homes to families needing lodging. One of the college plumbing contractors runs a Bed and Breakfast in the town of Horicon which is 15 miles north of Watertown. It is a lovely spot, but can only accommodate couples. Nine rooms have been reserved for Maranatha at the Super 8 in Columbus which is 26 miles north.
Some parents have asked if there are any attractions that families may want to see as they drop off their students at Maranatha. Riverside Park in Watertown is a wonderful place to take little ones. It has a large play area that is even fun for young teenagers. Take along a bag of bread and feed the ducks and geese that make the Rock River their home! Don’t forget your ball gloves, bats, and balls so that you can play some baseball at one of the three diamonds. If your family enjoys swimming plan to cool off at the aquatic center that features a zero entry level pool, two waterslides, and a diving board.
Less than one hour away to the west is the capitol building in Madison. There is a huge Goodwill Store, our families’ favorite! Recently my wife and I spent over two hours there. She tried on clothes while I found a book on WW II, a chair, and some uninterrupted reading time. 
2 hours north of Madison is the Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin’s number one tourist attraction. All that is available at the Dells can be seen at www.wisdells.com. If you are wondering what you can do with money left over from paying your child’s school bill, don’t worry, it can easily be spent at the Dells.
Heading east a family can take in a Milwaukee Brewer baseball game; visit the Milwaukee Art Museum or Bradford Beach, a lovely spot just north of downtown Milwaukee along Lake Michigan. It is large enough to find a private place where your family can share a picnic lunch.
Within 30 minutes of Maranatha are 10 of the 60 plus churches our students attend. While you are here you may want to drive to some of those to see where your son or daughter may attend and minister.
If you still have questions about what to do while here, stop at the Welcome Center or send an email about specific things to do.
That’s one parent’s perspective