I did it...I finally took the new camera out for a landscape adventure. On a day off from work, I drove about 60 minutes south of La Crosse to visit the Rush Creek State Natural Area. The area overlooks the Mississippi River, and despite the gloom and wind, I got a few photos in with the new camera.
The area is in the heart of the Driftless Area and offers spectacular views of the Mississippi River valley. The hike is strenuous but the views were worth it. This was my first attempt at landscape photography with the new Fuji...and I have plenty to learn more about the camera moving forward.