KENOSHA, Wis. — Tens of thousands of Wisconsinites have already hit the road or are flying the skies to their Thanksgiving Day destination.
According to AAA, nearly 1.6 million Wisconsinites will travel 50 miles or more from their home for the holiday this year. That's a record-breaking number, expected to be 2% higher than last year.
Over 1.4 million Wisconsinites are expected to travel by car to reach their holiday destination. Roughly 133,000 will travel by plane and over 45,000 will take alternate means like a train or bus.
There are also many people who will visit the Badger State for the holiday, including Veronica Farais.
“We’re from San Antonio, Texas, and visiting our family here in the Midwest,” Farais said.
She said so far, traveling have been stress-free.
“Surprisingly we had empty seats,” Farais said. “We flew in on a Monday and it was easy breezy, which was nice. I’m sure the return will be a bit busier.”
For Beau Elliot, his flight from Los Angeles to Chicago didn’t go as smoothly.
“It was a pretty bad experience,” Elliot said. “We had a six hour delay, not going to lie.”
Elliot is visiting family in Chicago for Thanksgiving. He made the trip with his girlfriend Venus Wong. They’re making the most of their time in the Midwest by visiting the Mars Cheese Castle in Kenosha ahead of the holiday.
“It’s something new and unique,” Wong said. “It’s like a supermarket but for cheese.”
Making memories in the Midwest is something Farais looks forward to every year.
“It’s nice being back in the Midwest and having fall-like weather,” Farais said. “It’s a bit chilly and we’re ready and came bundled up. Definitely enjoying and soaking it all in.”