Indiana Welcome Center Celebrates ‘A Christmas Story’

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana November 23, 2021December 2, 2023A Christmas Story, Holiday events Indiana, NW Indiana attractions 7 Comments

“You’ll shoot your eye out!” Everyone who has seen the movie, A Christmas Story, knows that line. And with the movie constantly in the top movie picks for the holiday season, who hasn’t seen it—at least once? The movie, released in 1983, is based on author Jean Shepherd’s childhood years in his hometown of Hammond, Indiana. Hammond is once again celebrating the movie during the Christmas season at the Indiana Welcome Center. The 2023 event runs from November 11 through December 30. Read more

Holiday Lights in Illinois 2021

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois November 16, 2021April 4, 2023Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic, Chicago Helicopter Experience, Chicago Helicopter holiday lights, Christmas lights by helicopter, Christmas lights in Illnois, Du Quoin Holiday Lights, East Peoria Christmas lights, East Peoria holiday lights, Folepi's Winter Wonderland, Holiday Lights in Illinois, Illinois holiday lights, Lincoln Park Zoo Lights, Our Lady of the Snows Christmas lights, shrine of our lady of the snows, Way of Lights 8 Comments

Twinkling lights add a bit of magic to the holiday season. Infants to elderly are fascinated by dazzling lights displays. Whether you prefer to enjoy holiday lights on foot or in the warm comfort of your car, you’ll find many impressive and unique holiday lights displays throughout Illinois. Read more

Illumination: Tree Lights at Morton Arboretum

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois, Video November 14, 2021December 14, 2023DuPage County holiday lights, holiday lights at Morton Arboretum, Holiday lights DuPage County, Illinois holiday lights, Illumination, Morton Arboretum holiday lights 0 Comment

Change the color of a tree when you hug it…or sing to it…or press a button near it. These are some of the fun interactive features of Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. Other lights dance to music, and trees light up in a rotating array of colors. Read more

Orphan Train Museum – History of Children Sent West

Connie Attractions & Events, Kansas November 4, 2021November 4, 2021Concordia Kansas Attractions, Concordia Kansas Museums, Concordia KS, Kansas Museums, National Orphan Train Complex, Orphan Train, Orphan Train Museum 2 Comments

From 1854 to 1929 about a quarter million orphaned or abandoned children, some as young as three years old, rode trains west from New York and other large cities to begin new lives. Put up for foster care in rural areas, some siblings never saw each other again. Today, the Orphan Train Museum in Concordia, Kansas, documents this little-known part of American history and relates heart-felt personal stories of orphan train riders. Read more

Love Roadside Attractions? Visit Casey, Illinois

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois, Roadside Attraction July 15, 2021April 4, 2023Big Things in a Small Town, Big Things Small Town, Casey, Casey Illinois, World's Largest 4 Comments

If you’ve ever pulled over for a photo op of a Muffler Man or detoured to get a glimpse of the world’s largest steer, then you must plan a visit to Casey, Illinois. Fair warning: You won’t get away with just a quick stop in Casey. You’ll want to spend several hours there, maybe even all day. You see, Casey is home to the world’s largest wind chime, rocking chair, mailbox, and nine more sculptures that have made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. Read more

Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup: A Close-Up View

Connie Attractions & Events, South Dakota September 24, 2020September 24, 2020buffalo roundup 2015, buffalo roundup custer, buffalo roundup sd, custer state park 7 Comments

It’s time for the Buffalo Roundup in South Dakota’s Customer State Park! And this year you can watch all the action online. This exciting annual event takes place on Friday, September 25, at 10:30 a.m. Central Time.

I had the privilege of being part of the Buffalo Roundup in 2014. Standing in the bed of a pickup truck, I rode alongside the cowboys and cowgirls as they cracked their whips. The ground shook as the thundering herd of 1,300 bison kicked up dust. I felt like I was in the midst of a western movie. The Buffalo Roundup is by far the most memorable experience as a travel writer.

Read on for my close-up encounter in the Buffalo Roundup and to get an idea of what you’ll see when you watch online on September 25. Read more