We passed the giant Cross at the Crossroads dozens of times over the years. Repeatedly, we commented that on one of our trips we should stop to check out the cross that soars into the sky just off the interstate where I-57 and I-70 intersect at Effingham, Illinois. We finally visited recently following our visit to another giant cross in Groom, Texas, the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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A good farmers market is a foodie’s gold mine. Veggies and fruits, organic meats and eggs, artisan breads and organic honey brought to the market directly from the growers and producers are as fresh as you’ll find. The Farmers Market of the Ozarks (FMO) brings all of that, and more, to you each week, year-round. The impressive market opened in April of 2012. Only one year later it was named the number 15 farmers market in the country by The Daily Dish. Read more
Oozing with sweet blackberry filling spread over a layer of cream cheese, the blackberry stuffed French toast was the tastiest I’ve ever eaten. A crispy coating (I’m not sure what it was—they said it was secret) contrasted nicely with the filling. Read more
What is a re:mix? Re:fuel? Re:charge? It’s all jargon used at Aloft Hotels.
I hadn’t heard of the Aloft hotel chain before I stayed at the Aloft Chicago O’Hare in Rosemont. It turns out it’s a fairly new brand of the Starwood hotel group, the same folks who bring you Westin and Sheraton hotels. It’s different, though, from a Westin or Sheraton with its contemporary boutique styling and unique jargon for everything from the hotel lobby to the swimming pool. Read more
It used to be if you didn’t eat dinner before going to an evening show in Branson, you were out of luck. The sidewalks pretty much rolled up just before or as the shows ended. Not so anymore. More restaurants are staying open until at least 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. weekends. Here are three of our favorites located right on the strip, Highway 76, near most of the theaters: Read more
Reptile Gardens seems an oxymoron to me. I think of gardens as plant life, beautiful colorful flowers. The word “reptiles” brings to mind exactly that: snakes, lizards and alligators. How can the two possibly coexist in one attraction? The Reptile Gardens in Rapid City, South Dakota, does it well, combining a botanic garden with the largest collection of reptiles on the planet, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, with 225 species and subspecies, over 1,000 animals altogether. Read more
