There were certain attractions that were “must-sees” during our visit to Dubuque, Iowa. Being Iowa’s first city, it is no surprise that there is a river nearby. Of course, this isn’t just any river. Visiting the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium promised to be an adventure on a grand scale. After all, it’s the […]
Nature’s Highways – National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium Read More »
When we planned our visit to Amarillo, there was an unusual stop that we wanted to catch, which lies north of the city. The Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument is the only park in Texas dedicated to preserving the quarries of the native peoples. The admission to the park is FREE and includes the beautiful
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument – Digging The Past Read More »
It never ceases to amaze us, that one specific dish can have so many variations. A prime example of this is pizza. We are sure that images of various versions of this Italian delicacy are floating through your mind. Not only are there a myriad of ingredient combinations, but these days there is an untold
Saint Louis Style Pizza In Kansas City – Leo’s Pizza Read More »
When we are developing an itinerary for a new destination, picking our dining locations is especially important. I got my blogging start by hosting a local restaurant site for five years. When we expanded to our travel blog, it was important that we maintained our roots. Fortunately, locating interesting restaurants is usually easy. When I
Family Tradition At Vinny Vanucchi’s Little Italy Read More »
Too many travelers find Kansas to be just another “fly-over” state. To us, that term also refers to those that just cruise along I-70 on their way to some other place. What many of them do not realize is that by getting off of the interstate, they have an opportunity to enjoy a truly cultural
Calling Kansas Explorers – Check Out Little Sweden USA Read More »
History has a way of sneaking up on you. When we visited Dubuque, we knew we were experiencing Iowa’s first city. The moment that Julien Dubuque first arrived on the western shore of the Mississippi River, was the start of something special. It would be almost 50 years before the city would be officially chartered,
In The Shadow Of Giants At Hotel Julien Read More »
For many of us married folk, dinner and a show is the makings of a great date night. Even when we are on a blogging excursion, we try to make sure our activities are good options for other couples or families. When we planned out our Lindsborg visit, they surprised us with the addition of
Dinner and a Show Under The Stars Read More »
A visit to City Market, in downtown Kansas City, offers a chance to hang with the locals. It is also the place to find locally produced fruits and vegetables, as well as other cooking ingredients. With all of this freshness so close, it’s no wonder that the restaurants in the neighborhood are so popular. While
Getting Our Brunch On At The Farmhouse Read More »
Iowa is known for many things, but underground caves are one that didn’t make it on our list. You can imagine our surprise when we learned that Dubuque is home to Crystal Lake Cave. Located near the Mines of Spain Recreation Area, this underground attraction offered us a chance to satisfy some spelunking urges. Visiting
Spelunking In Dubuque, Iowa Read More »
To this day, we are still amazed at how many fun stories we find in each new destination. A good example of this is Ol Stuga, in Lindsborg, Kansas. From the outside, it looks like just another bar and grill type place. Even the name, which is Swedish for Ale House, suggests that it is
4 Steps For Success At Ol Stuga Read More »
Downtown Dubuque, Iowa is filled with an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants. This walk-able destination is perfect for pedestrian visits. On a day filled with exploring, we found ourselves doing a once-around the downtown space. It started as an adventure to check out some local murals, that are found on the sides of many
Social Hot Spot At L. May Eatery Read More »
One of the best things about visiting a new destination is the chance to immerse yourself in the history of the community. Lindsborg, Kansas has an interesting history tied to the Swedish immigrants who arrived here in the spring of 1869. Even today, around thirty percent of the local population can tie their lineage back
Delving Into History At The Old Mill Museum Read More »
When traveling to a new destination, it is easy to get wrapped up into rushing through sites. Too often, we are trying to pack as much as possible into our time. The idea of missing out on even one attraction leads to a hurried pace. To help prevent us from falling into this mode, I
Slow Your Pace At Dubuque Arboretum Read More »
Let’s see a show of hands for all of our candy lovers out there. You can bet that Crystal and I each have our hands raised. Not every destination we visit gives us a chance to sample some new confectionery. Of course, I am always scoping out the landscape to see if one is available
Sweet Success At Betty Jane Candies Read More »
Perhaps you have seen the little red horses and wondered where they come from. Many years ago, we traveled to Lindsborg, Kansas with our children. During this visit, we stopped at Hemslöjd to check out these fun looking figures. Fast forward to the present, and we once again found ourselves in this quaint Swedish city.
Dala Horse History at Hemslojd Read More »
Recently, we had a chance to experience the “Taste of Central” festival in downtown Kansas City, Kansas. This event offered participants an opportunity to sample dishes from a variety of restaurants that they may overlook on a regular basis. We have to admit that we are just as guilty as others of forgetting to showcase
Backyard Dining At Tacos El Tio Read More »
Dubuque, Iowa sits along a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. Let me clarify that by saying, part of the city sits on a bluff. The oldest portions of the city lie along the flood plain that rests beside the river. Carved out by the changing river patterns, this is home for many of the original
Riding The World’s Shortest Railway in Dubuque Read More »
We enjoy finding businesses that have re-purposed buildings but still retained a tie with the past. In Lindsborg, Kansas, we had an opportunity to enjoy a breakfast stop at Blacksmith Coffee. This homey city, referred to as “Little Sweden”, was founded in 1869. In the early days, it was the task of blacksmiths to keep
Forging The Future At Blacksmith Coffee Read More »
The beginning of Fall is sometimes a moving target, in Kansas City. While the accurate astronomical date for 2019 is September 23rd, the meteorological comes on September 1st. For many parents around the metro, it starts once the kids go back to school. For us, we consider the unofficial beginning to take place when the
Kicking Off Fall Festival Season In Kansas City Read More »
During the late 1800s, Dubuque, Iowa was transitioning from a lead mining leader into an industrial center. The growth of mill-working businesses helped push the city to be one of the 100 largest urban areas in America, between 1860 and 1880. This period saw enormous expansion, as well as a bustling downtown. These days, many
Delicious Start in Dubuque, Iowa Read More »
In every city we visit, we are able to uncover some amazing eats. Springfield, Illinois kicked it up a level by adding the historic aspect to many of our stops. Being the heart of the “Land of Lincoln”, as well as a Route 66 destination, made this city extra special. Our downtown stay gave us
Historic Dining Options In Springfield, Illinois Read More »
Having an opportunity to add a new state to our blog is such a delight. 2019 brought more firsts for us, and our escape to Kenosha was our first Wisconsin city. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, this Upper Midwest city has so much to offer vacationers. When I was choosing our initial Wisconsin
Escape To Kenosha, Wisconsin Read More »
It’s always a thrill for us when we get to visit the capital city of a state. Even though they all have a dome, each is unique in its own way. Our trip to Springfield, Illinois gave us a chance to find history galore, in this twin domed Midwest city. So many historical paths cross
History Galore In Springfield, Illinois Read More »
The shores of Lake Michigan make the perfect destination for some summer time exploring. Our 2019 travels included a visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin. This Upper Midwest city offers visitors a simple to navigate downtown that we found quite easy to walk. Museum lovers, like us, will find plenty of sites to explore, and a bonus
Traveling Through Time At Kenosha’s History Museums Read More »
A visit to Springfield, Illinois is an opportunity to dive into the long history of this Midwestern region. With only three days to soak in as much as possible, we found ourselves bustling between stops. As we approached the end of our visit, we found ourselves facing our final day of exploration. With daylight burning,
An Evening of Horseshoes and Ghost Tales Read More »
Sometimes last minute plans can uncover some interesting destinations. Recently, we were leaving church on a Saturday evening, and decided to find some place nearby for dinner. Since we were in Mission, Kansas, there were plenty of options available. Neither of us wanted to commit to a particular cuisine, so I made the decision to
Getting Our Greek On At Kinzi Mediterranean Restaurant Read More »
What do you get when you revitalize a 100-year old building into a boutique lodging option? For us, it was a chance to stay in the upscale Stella Hotel & Ballroom, just a few blocks from the shores of Lake Michigan. This patch of land held the oldest malting plant in the state, before its
The Stella Hotel & Ballroom – Embracing The Past Read More »
When you travel to Springfield, Illinois, you will find yourself transported to the Land of Lincoln. While he may not have been born in Illinois, much of his formative years were spent in this Midwest state. I have to tell you that I have been fascinated with the life of the 16th President since my
Immersing In History at The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum Read More »
Oklahoma City holds so many great opportunities for couples and families. With tons of attractions, hundreds of dining options, and welcoming residents, this city is just begging for a visit. On this trip, we only had 24 hours in OKC, so we needed to stay close to the action. The Colcord Hotel OKC was the
An OKC First – Colcord Hotel OKC Read More »
Finding the local favorites can lead to some good meals and delightful experiences. In Kenosha, Wisconsin, we dropped by The Coffee Pot to sample one of their hearty breakfasts. This unique diner has more to it than meets the eye. A neon sign had caught our attention, which means it was serving its purpose. We
Dining Old School at The Coffee Pot Read More »
While we are not experts in architectural design, that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate beautiful designs. Springfield’s Dana-Thomas House gave us a chance to see one of the homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Unlike many of the homes Wright built from scratch, this home was a redesign. That small detail will come in play
Springfield’s Dana-Thomas House – A Treasure Saved Read More »
It feels like there is never enough time to do all the things we enjoy. For years, we have made quick trips to Lawrence, Kansas for a variety of reasons. Our daughter worked at the university for four years, which provided us with lots of exploring in this college city. These days, we make the
The Burger Stand at The Casbah – Delicious Lawrence Eats Read More »
When I added a visit to the Civil War Museum, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, I knew that Crystal wouldn’t be as excited as I was. This changed when we met Peggy Gregorski, who would provide us with an amazing tour. While I spent the majority of my time taking photos, Crystal took in the interesting narrative
Civil War Museum in Kenosha – The Upper Midwest’s Contribution Read More »
Traveling to the shores of Lake Michigan, in late Spring, can bring an assortment of weather conditions. Being from the Midwest, we are familiar with the saying “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” Our first day of exploring Kenosha had been filled with a cool breeze and occasional drizzle. While we had
Warming Up To Ashling on the Lough Read More »
One of the benefits of visiting state capital cities is the opportunity to tour the state museums. Most every city and town will have a historical stop that showcases the local history. It is the state museum that will fill out the details on the entire region. In Springfield, we discovered the Illinois State Museum
Illinois State Museum – Piecing Together The Past Read More »
We have had the opportunity to visit a lot of science museums. While some exhibits are commonplace at almost every museum, each one we visit seems to have a few unique displays that intrigue us. Our visit to the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI), in Chicago, blew us away with their sheer volume of
Science Search At Museum of Science and Industry Read More »
A visit to Springfield, Illinois holds something for just about everyone in your travel crew. If you are a fan of road trips, then retracing the Mother Road (Route 66) will lead you straight through the heart of this Midwest city. Along the route, there are a variety of unique stops, like Cozy Dog Drive
The Origin of Corn Dogs – Cozy Dog Drive In Read More »
Wherever we travel, Crystal and I will usually be on the lookout for ice cream. We are fortunate that both of us can agree on this creamy treat as a preferred dessert option. When we planned our latest Chicago visit, it was agreed to make our base camp on the outskirts of the metro. While
Tasty Treats From Oberweis Dairy Read More »
We hear a lot of people say that you can judge a restaurant by the length of time it has been in business. While this may not always be the case, there is certainly something to be said for longevity. During the planning of our visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin, we noticed a landmark eatery that
Massive Plates At Franks’ Diner Read More »
A visit to Springfield, Illinois puts travelers in the heart of the Land of Lincoln. During your visit, you will find that all throughout the city there are reminders of our 16th President of the United States. One of the premier stops is the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. There is no entrance fee for
Explore The Lincoln Home – A Springfield Treasure Read More »
It’s always helpful understanding the early days of a city you are visiting. We dropped by the Kenosha History Center for a trip back in time, to the start of this Lake Michigan city. The museum is located on Simmons Island, which offers great views of the lake. While this upper Midwest area was originally
Kenosha History Center – Growing A City Classroom to Cars Read More »
Each year hundreds of restaurants start and fail. It takes dedication and consistency to build a sustainable dining business. While some of the newcomers have unique menu offerings, we believe that tried and true eateries have developed a taste that appeals to a wide range of diners. Springfield, Illinois is home to a variety of
Maldaner’s Restaurant – Lunch At A Local Landmark Read More »
Over the years we have visited loads of various museums. They come in all sizes and focus on a host of topics. Some of our favorite are the one-off type that feature some unique subject. A newcomer to the Kansas City scene is the Museum of Illusions KC, located in Union Station. We dropped by
Museum Of Illusions KC – The Art Of Forced Perspective Read More »
Traveling can often make us work up an appetite. This is a good thing since we love showing you unique locally-owned spots to dine. Our trip from Chicago to Kenosha, Wisconsin took a little longer than we expected. By the time we arrived for our lunch, we were famished. That was okay because the dining
First Taste Of Kenosha – Boat House Pub & Eatery Read More »
When planning a visit to a new destination, we try to pack our schedule really full. This allows us to write tons of articles on each city, so that you will have more options when planning your own vacation. Even with a full slate of stops planned, we seem to still squeeze in one more
Get Healthy At Kidzeum Read More »
These days it seems that we are constantly seeing specials for Taco Tuesday events. While it’s nice to find a deal on one of our favorite menu items, we think that this delectable cuisine shouldn’t be limited to one day per week. We would like to propose Taco Anyday and KC Taco Company is a
Taco Anyday at KC Taco Company Read More »
Being from the Central Midwest, we don’t often see bodies of water as large as Lake Michigan. Our visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin landed us squarely on the coast of this Great Lake. The sight of lighthouses was a signal that we weren’t in Kansas anymore. Getting the chance to visit the Southport Light Station Museum,
Shine A Light On Kenosha Harbor Read More »
Visiting Springfield, Illinois would not be complete without paying respect at Lincoln’s Tomb. Having a chance to see the final resting place of our 16th president, was high on our list of must do activities. Since our visit to Springfield was focused on the downtown region of this Midwestern city, we decided to make this
Paying Respect At Lincoln’s Tomb Read More »
With so much of the country left to explore, sometimes we struggle finding time to spend in our own backyard. We made a renewed commitment to take a deeper dive into Kansas City culture this year. Zoological parks are one of our favorite diversions, wherever we travel. For years, we have visited the Kansas City
Fresh Look At The Kansas City Zoo Read More »
When we began our Great Smoky Mountain Road Trip, we were welcomed by the remnants of Hurricane Florence. Our itinerary had included a couple of days of indoor activities, so we moved those ahead to save the outdoor fun. Fortunately, the rain moved away in time for us to enjoy more pancakes, mountains and bears.
Smoky Mountain Road Trip Part 2 – Pancakes, and Mountains, and Bears. Oh My! Read More »