If you have stood in awe before the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, then you must make a pilgrimage to Springfield, Illinois — the real Land of Lincoln! Besides its claim as Illinois’ capital city, Springfield is also proud of its connection to Lincoln. Spend a few days here, absorbing all there is to learn […]
Belgian Waffles at the Green Tree Inn
In the tiny town of Elsah, Illinois, tucked between bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, you will discover the world’s best Belgian Waffles. Okay — maybe in Belgium you can find better Belgian Waffles, but for those of us not destined for Belgium in the near future, Elsah is the place! The Green Tree Inn The Green […]
Lewis & Clark State Historic Site
Near Alton, Illinois, the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site — an interactive museum — tells one of the most important stories in American History. If you know Thomas Jefferson, then you know his insatiable curiosity and love for country drove him. He was a thinker who understood that America needed to grow — in […]
Historic Route 66!
Gas prices are the lowest they’ve been in 11 years — and that means the number of people taking road trips is on the rise. If you, like millions of Americans this past Labor Day weekend, are planning a road trip in the near future, why not make it historic — and travel Route 66? […]
An old lady learns to wakeboard!
One of the highlights of our Great Illinois Roadtrip was learning to wakeboard at West Rock Wake Park in Rockford, Illinois. Believe it or not, this highlight almost didn’t happen. Scheduled for day 16 of our trip, Ben was getting tired. He’s not used to the travel writer’s pace. I offered to call our host […]
10 reasons to visit Alton, Illinois
Alton, Illinois…. Where’s that, you ask? Great question! I had not heard of Alton, despite its historical significance, until a few years ago. Alton’s one of those hidden gems — especially for history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts. When I planned Ben’s and my Great Illinois Road Trip earlier this summer, I knew Alton had to […]
Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is a BIG DEAL! According to tradition, the groundhog emerges from his burrow early in the morning of February 2nd to prognosticate about the end of winter. If he sees his shadow, he scurries back to his hole to hibernate for six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t see […]
Haunted Tale: Woodstock Opera House
The Woodstock Opera House, built in 1889, originally housed the library, city council, court, and fire department for the city of Woodstock, Illinois. The Opera House sat above on the second floor. The Opera House was the hub of entertainment for McHenry County and the surrounding area. Besides traveling theater groups, it housed the local farmers’ […]
What’s the Best Japanese Garden in the U.S.?
What’s the most beautiful Japanese garden outside of Japan? Would you, like me, think that maybe there’s a gorgeous Japanese garden in Central Park? After all, they have a zoo! Or maybe in the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco? It turns out that Central Park does not have a Japanese garden at all. And the […]
Hands-on at Discovery Center Museum
On a recent trip to Rockford, Illinois, the kind folks at the Discovery Center Museum provided me a fabulous tour of their TOP 10 children’s museum. Unfortunately, the kids weren’t with me. They would really have enjoyed it. But… since the kids weren’t there, I got a chance to play! Exploring Rockford’s Discovery Center Museum […]