Author: Connie

Vera Bradley Outlet Sale, Fort Wayne, IN: Savings, Reunions and Organized Chaos

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments
Vera Bradley Outlet Sale, Fort Wayne, IN: Savings, Reunions and Organized Chaos

Over 60,000 shoppers swarm to Fort Wayne, Indiana, over five days each April for the annual Vera Bradley Outlet Sale. Shoppers are almost all women, from every state in the union and about a dozen countries. Women come by the busload. Groups of friends or generations of families hold reunions. They often dress in matching t-shirts for the big event. It’s one of the biggest events held at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum each year.  Some shoppers even sleep in tents in front of the door the night before to be first inside.  They often come with lists in hand, lists from families and friends.   Read more

Hotel Julien Dubuque Combines Historic Grandeur with Modern Amenities

Connie Accommodations, Food & Drink, Iowa , , 0 Comment
Hotel Julien Dubuque Combines Historic Grandeur with Modern Amenities

Notorious gangster Al Capone owned the historic Hotel Julien Dubuque in the 1920s—maybe. He did stay there a lot, and although some believe he owned it at one time, it could never be confirmed. Earlier in history, Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain both stayed at the hotel. However, the building that they stayed in was the original building, which burned down in 1913.

Today, the hotel, located along the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa, is a boutique hotel that combines its original grandeur with modern amenities. Read more

Cathedral of Saint Paul – Fascinating Stories of Its History and Architecture

Connie Attractions & Events, Minnesota , , , , , 5 Comments
Cathedral of Saint Paul – Fascinating Stories of Its History and Architecture

During the Cathedral of Saint Paul construction, the local Saint Paul newspaper referred to it as the bishop’s folly. It’s too expensive, too grandiose, too big and will never fill to capacity, the newspaper claimed. However, the cathedral opened on Palm Sunday, 1915, to standing room only at all four masses.

This is one just one of the fascinating stories that kept us engaged during our tour of the Cathedral of Saint Paul, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Read more

Meltdown Ice Festival – Richmond, Indiana

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana , , , , 0 Comment

The Meltdown Ice Festival is Richmond, Indiana’s, biggest event of the year. During the 2019 event, five ice carvers created 50 sculptures made of ice, including interactive sculptures like a slide and a ping-pong table. Evening shows include competitions and the Big Reveal, a huge sculpture created in just 30 minutes by a team of carvers. Read more

Itasca State Park: Mississippi River Headwaters

Connie Attractions & Events, Minnesota, Podcast, Video , , , , 2 Comments

Watch as Connie walks through the Mississippi River. She and Skip are at the Mississippi River headwaters in Itasca State Park, near Bemidji, Minnesota. The 2,552 mile Mississippi River begins here as a small stream flowing from Lake Itasca.

Listen to the podcast:

[powerpress]

Read more