Antique Military Vehicle Convoy on Route 66

Connie Attractions & Events, Missouri, Road Trips September 25, 2017September 25, 2017Antique Military Vehicles, Fort Leonard Wood, Military Vehicle Preservation Association, MVPA, Pulaski County, Pulaski County MO, Pulaski County USA, Route 66, Route 66 Convoy 0 Comment

We aren’t usually lucky. A day late and a dollar short. Murphy’s Law. However, you want to phrase it, that’s us. But not this time. We happened to be in Pulaski County, Missouri, on the day the Military Vehicle Preservation Association convoyed through on Route 66. Better yet, the convoy stopped for the evening at Fort Leonard Wood, located in Pulaski County. Fort Leonard Wood opened the event to the public, and our itinerary was flexible. So off we went to Fort Leonard Wood to see the 42 vehicles that made up this antique military vehicle convoy. Read more

Rising High: Conner Prairie 1859 Balloon Voyage

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana September 18, 2017September 11, 20171859 Balloon Voyage, conner prairie, conner prairie balloon, Conner Prairie hot air balloon, conner prairie hot air balloon rides, Hamilton County IN, Hamilton County Indiana, hot air balloon rides indiana, Living history museum, living history museum Indiana 2 Comments

The year is 1859. Experienced balloonist John Wise attempts to deliver airmail for the first time in U.S. history. He plans to fly his balloon from Lafayette, Indiana, to New York City with a bag of 123 letters. Unfortunately, the wind blows in the wrong direction. Instead of flying northeast, the balloon flies southward. He gives up after 30 miles and lands in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Fast forward to 2017 and the Conner Prairie living history museum where one of the attractions, the 1859 Balloon Voyage, represents Wise’s airmail attempt.

I was excited to ride in the Conner Prairie 1859 Balloon Voyage because despite my fear of heights, a ride in a hot-air balloon is on my bucket list. The 1859 Balloon Voyage isn’t quite the same as a hot-air balloon ride, but it’s a step towards it. Read more

Apple Time at Peake Orchards

Connie Agritourism, Food & Drink, Iowa September 14, 2017September 11, 2017apple orchard in waukon IA, apple orchard near Decorah, apple orchards in Iowa, Northeast Iowa, Peake Orchards, things to do in Winneshiek County Iowa, Winneshiek County 2 Comments

As I toured Peake Orchards in Waukon, Iowa, I bit into a Honeycrisp apple. As fruit goes, apples have never been one of my favorites. But that Honeycrisp was true to its name—a crisp crunch followed by sweet flavor. I’d find out later why the apple tasted so good, but at the moment I was learning about all the work that goes into raising apples. Read more

Exploring Friendship Botanic Gardens

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana September 11, 2017September 8, 2017botanic gardens, Botanic Gardens in Indiana, Botanic Gardens Michigan City, Botanic Gardens Michigan City IN, Friendship Botanic Gardens, Friendship Botanic Gardens Michigan City, gardens, Gardens in Indiana, Gardens in Northwest Indiana, Indiana gardens, International Friendship Gardens, Michigan City IN, Northwest Indiana attractions, Northwest Indiana Gardens, NWI Gardens, things to do in Michigan City, things to do in Michigan City IN, things to do in Northwest Indiana 0 Comment

From the mid-1930s through the 1960s International Friendship Gardens was a popular tourist destination. The gardens in Michigan City, Indiana, represented countries around the world. The venue also hosted musical and theatrical entertainment. The gardens lost popularity from the 1970s to the early 2000s, but have now sprung back. Today people visit the newly named Friendship Botanic Gardens to stroll through rejuvenated gardens, hike forest paths, and even get married. Read more

Redamak’s: A Southwest Michigan Institution

Connie Food & Drink, Michigan September 8, 2017September 5, 2017burger place in New Buffalo MI, New Buffallo MI restaurants, New Buffalo restaurants, Redamak's, Redamak's New Buffalo, Redamak's New Buffalo Michigan, Redamaks New Buffalo MI, where to eat in New Buffalo MI 0 Comment

One of our favorite impromptu day trips is to southwest Michigan, following the Lake Michigan shoreline. Resort towns dot the route with beaches, small shops, galleries, and restaurants. Every time we make the trip, I get a craving for a burger from Redamak’s, an iconic mom-and-pop diner in New Buffalo. But it’s rare that we stop there. Either our meal timing is wrong, or it’s high season with a lot of people waiting outside the door. On our last trip, however, we hit it right—a weekday at 3 p.m. Read more

Howling with Wolves at Wolf Park

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana August 7, 2017August 6, 2017about wolves, fun facts about wolves, Howl Night, interesting facts about wolves, interesting wolf facts, photos of wolves, Things to do in Lafayette, Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette, What to do in Lafayette, Wolf Park, Wolf Park Battle Ground Indiana, wolf park battleground in, wolf park battleground indiana, Wolf Park Howl Night, wolf preserve 5 Comments

Wolf Park docent, Caity, started howling, wolf-style. One by one, Bicho, Fiona, and Kanti tilted their snouts skyward and joined the howl. A few moments later we heard more howling in the distance. This was our greeting to Howl Night at Wolf Park in Battle Ground, Indiana. Read more

Midwest Wanderer explores history, nature, and culture through road trips along scenic and historic U.S. highways, byways and trails

Author: Connie