Illinois

Breakfast at Kava Diem was one of the medley of meals we enjoyed in St. Charles, Illinois.

Medley Of Meals – St. Charles, Illinois Eateries

Exploring a new destination is certainly a ton of fun, but can also work up quite an appetite. Fortunately, we found a medley of meals during our stay in St. Charles, Illinois. This Midwestern city has a broad selection of eateries, which provide about every cuisine option under the sun. You’ll find opportunities for a …

Medley Of Meals – St. Charles, Illinois Eateries Read More »

An Art Filled Escape In St. Charles, Illinois

Vacations offer a chance to broaden our horizons and expand our lives with new experiences. When we are in the planning phase for upcoming trips, we look for opportunities to include a wide spectrum of activities. Each destination serves up its unique flavor, by presenting a selection of attractions. An excursion to St. Charles, Illinois, …

An Art Filled Escape In St. Charles, Illinois Read More »

Cozy Dog Drive In is an iconic historic dining option in Springfield, Illinois.

Historic Dining Options In Springfield, Illinois

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 »

Dinner at Obed & Isaac's was the beginning of an evening of horseshoes and ghost tales , in downtown Springfield, Illinois.

An Evening of Horseshoes and Ghost Tales

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 »

Abraham Lincoln, as a youth, sits on a stump reading.

Immersing In History at The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum

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 »

Entering Springfield's Dana-Thomas House gave us a wonderful view of the interior.

Springfield’s Dana-Thomas House – A Treasure Saved

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 »

Springfield, illinois is the first capital city that has two domes visible at the same time.

Long Nine Junction – Taste The Colors of Springfield

One of the great things about dining at locally owned restaurants is that you will often find eclectic menus. Since these eateries are managing a supply chain that only needs to cover one or two locations, they can be a lot more flexible with their ingredient choices. They also often carry the most intriguing names, …

Long Nine Junction – Taste The Colors of Springfield Read More »

Buffalo were common creatures in the Illinois region during the days of Native Indian tribes.

Illinois State Museum – Piecing Together The Past

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 »

One of the large space at the Museum of Science and Industry is filled with various modes of transportation.

Science Search At Museum of Science and Industry

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 tray full of scrumptious food reminds us of road trips from our youth.

The Origin of Corn Dogs – Cozy Dog Drive In

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 »

If you want to have a historic visit to Springfield, Illinois, you will want to explore the Lincoln home and surrounding neighborhood.

Explore The Lincoln Home – A Springfield Treasure

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 »

Crystal waits patiently while I get plenty of pictures of our visit to Maldaner's Restaurant.

Maldaner’s Restaurant – Lunch At A Local Landmark

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 »

Wm. Van's Coffee House sits nearby the Lincoln home and offers views of the Illinois capital building.

Historic Break At Wm. Van’s Coffee House

Springfield, Illinois is a Midwestern city filled with historic houses. Being the hometown of the Abraham Lincoln family puts it squarely on the map of vacationers and history buffs alike. While some of the homes are available for tours, others can only be viewed from the outside. We found one that crossed the tourism-only line …

Historic Break At Wm. Van’s Coffee House Read More »

chicago, navy pier, lake michigan, fun, travel, tourist, attractions

See the Sights at Chicago’s Navy Pier

Our last visit to Chicago was eye opening. Our hotel was located just off of Michigan Avenue, which gave us walking access to many great attractions, including Navy Pier. The timing was great, as this was the period where Kansas City was experiencing 100 degree weather. The 90 degree temperatures, in Chicago, felt cool in …

See the Sights at Chicago’s Navy Pier Read More »

chicago, navy pier, lake michigan, fun, travel, tourist, attractions, skyscrapers, downtown, michigan avenue, shopping

Chicago Skyscrapers- Towers of Steel and Glass

There is a huge variation between cities in the Midwest. There are lots of small towns, which are based around the old town square format. As you move up to larger cities, you start to see more multi-story buildings. Then you have the Chicago skyscrapers. By the time you get to a city the size …

Chicago Skyscrapers- Towers of Steel and Glass Read More »

Scroll to Top