Shop ‘Made in Iowa’ for Unique Gift Ideas

Connie Food & Drink, Illinois, Shopping December 7, 2017Amana Wollen Mill, Bentonsport Artisan Co-op, Bentonsport Historic District, Iowa shopping, Iron & lace, Iron and Lace, Isabel Bloom, Made in Iowa, Mississippi River Distilling, Mississippi River Distilling Company, The Kaleidoscope Factory, unique gift ideas, villages folk school 2 Comments

When it comes to gift giving, some people are just plain impossible to buy for. When you ask for a wish list, they tell you they don’t need a thing. Or maybe you don’t feel comfortable asking for a wish list. We have someone like that in our family. For a while we were exchanging gift cards, which seemed silly. Then one year as we were traveling in early December, browsing through gift shops, I had an idea. Why not fill a basket with goodies produced in the state we were visiting? So that year we gave this person a basket filled with locally-made wines, cheeses, honey and other edible treats. It was a big hit. Since then, I’ve been on the lookout for unique gift ideas whenever I travel. Read more

Illinois Bicentennial Year Kicks Off with Flag Raising Ceremonies

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois December 5, 2017#Illinois200, #IllinoisProud, Illinois Bicentennial, Illinois Bicentennial Flag Raising Ceremony, Springfield IL, Springfield Illinois 0 Comment

At noon on December 4 municipalities across Illinois conducted flag raising ceremonies to mark the beginning of the state’s bicentennial year. What better place to witness the beginning of the state’s 200^th anniversary year than in the state capital? So we hopped in the car and made the two-and-a-half hour drive to Springfield, where the Illinois Bicentennial flag was to be raised atop the Old State Capitol. Read more

Touring the Pettengill-Morron House

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois November 30, 2017historic homes to tour in Peoria, Peoria attractions, Peoria historic houses, Peoria historic houses to tour, Peoria Historical society, peoria museum, Pettengill House, Pettengill-Morron House, Things to do in Peoria 0 Comment

In our travels we often tour historic homes that were originally owned by prominent local residents. Those homes are usually furnished with very few of the original owner’s belongings. Instead, they’re filled mostly with period furniture obtained elsewhere. Not so with the Pettengill-Morron House in Peoria, Illinois. The last Pettengill-Morron House owner, Jean Morron, left the home to the Peoria Historical Society with all of her possessions intact. Entering the home, you feel like you’re stepping into somebody’s current residence. Read more

Where to Eat in Lafayette and West Lafayette, Indiana

Connie Food & Drink, Indiana November 28, 2017Bruno's Big O Sports Room, Bruno's Pizza, Bruno's Pizza Lafayette, Garden Gate Tea House, Garden Gate Tea House Delphi, lafayette, Lafayette-West Lafayette, Red Seven, Red Seven Bar & Grill, Red Seven Lafayette, RedSeven, RedSeven Lafayette, restaurants near Purdue, restaurants near Purdue University, Route 66 Diner, Route 66 Diner Lafayette, Route 66 Diner West Lafayette, Tea house in Delphi IN, Triple XXX Family Restaurant, West Lafayette, Where to eat in Lafayette 2 Comments

You can bet a college town is going to have great places to eat. Lafayette and West Lafayette, Indiana, home of Purdue University, is no exception. Here are six Lafayette-West Lafayette restaurants where we dined during our weekend visit. Read more

Exploring Washington Square: Side Trip from Peoria

Connie Attractions & Events, Food & Drink, Illinois, Shopping November 21, 2017July 2, 2022BlackSmith Restaurant Washinton IL, Blacksmith Washington IL, Cornerstone Inn, Dentons Baking Co, Holland's Caramel Corn, Holland's Caramel Corn Washington IL, Holland's Mercantile, Holland's Mercantile Washington IL, Lori's Kitchen Store Washington IL, Peddler's Way Quilt Co, Peddler's Way Quilt Co Washington IL, Peoria area attractions, Step Back in Time Washington IL, Trinkets and Treasures, Trinkets and Treasures Washington IL, Washington IL hotels, Washington IL restaurants, Washington Illinois, Washington Illinois shops, Washington Square, Washington Square Illinois, Where to shop in Washington IL 0 Comment

Washington’s square was once the bustling hub of this Illinois city’s commerce. However, as Washington grew, its services and main shopping areas moved elsewhere. Although no longer the city center, Washington Square thrives today with antiques and specialty shops, restaurants, and a newly renovated seven-room inn. Read more

Menno-Hof: Learn the Facts of Amish History

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana November 15, 2017November 15, 2017 2 Comments

America’s fascination with Amish culture lures nearly 2 million visitors to Shipshewana, Indiana, each year. Shipshewana is located in LaGrange County, which is the home to over 45,000 Amish. But who exactly are these people who travel by horse and buggy and don’t use electricity, whose women wear long dresses and prayer caps and men wear pants with no outside pockets? What are their roots? Anyone who visits Shipshewana should begin their trip at Menno-Hof. Menno-Hof tells the story of Amish, Mennonites, and Hutterites, three groups who stem from the 16th century Anabaptist movement.
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Midwest Wanderer explores history, nature, and culture through road trips along scenic and historic U.S. highways, byways and trails

Author: Connie