West Baden Springs Hotel: Touring Historical Opulence

Lee W. Sinclair dubbed his dream hotel “the eighth wonder of the world” when he built it in 1901. The opulent West Baden Springs Hotel’s centerpiece was the dome-topped 200-foot diameter atrium. The rest of the hotel and the surrounding grounds were grandiose, as well. The West Baden Springs Hotel, along with neighboring French Lick Springs Hotel, was the wealthy’s place to go. West Baden Springs was more than a hotel; it was a full resort. The resort included a casino, a velodrome, and a baseball field that professional teams used for spring training. However, West Baden Springs was best known for its mineral springs that had healing powers. We toured the West Baden Hotel during our recent French Lick, Indiana, visit and learned of the hotel’s rise, decline and restoration. Read more

Hershey’s Chocolate World: Chocolate Fun 5 Ways

Connie Attractions & Events, Food & Drink, Pennsylvania February 9, 2017February 8, 2017chocolate hershey, chocolate world, chocolate world hours, hershey, hershey chocolate, hershey chocolate company, hershey chocolate factory, hershey chocolate gifts, hershey factory, hershey pa, hershey store, hershey world, Hershey's Chocolate World, things to do in hershey 2 Comments

Milton S. Hershey built the entire town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, over a hundred years ago to serve his Hershey Chocolate factory and the factory employees. Today, not everyone who lives in Hershey works for the chocolate company or its affiliated enterprises. However, Hershey attractions still dominate. According to TripAdvisor, four of the top seven Hershey attractions are Hersheypark, Hershey Gardens, The Hershey Story (The Museum on Chocolate Avenue) and Hershey’s Chocolate World. Hershey’s Chocolate World itself includes five separate activities. Read more

North Dakota Road Trip Day 5: Bismarck to Dickinson

Connie Attractions & Events, Food & Drink, North Dakota, Road Trips February 1, 2017April 2, 2018Assumption Abbey, Enchanted Highway, Enchanted Highway North Dakota, Fort Sauerkraut, North Dakota, North Dakota road trip, Old Red Old Ten Byway, Old Red Old Ten Scenic Byway, road trip, Salem Sue, Sanfords Grub n Pub, Sanfords Pub and Grub, Worlds largest holstein 0 Comment

On the fifth day of our summer road trip across North Dakota, we took a road trip inside a road trip inside a road trip. Starting at Bismarck, we drove to Mandan. We left the interstate at Mandan and continued west on the Old Red Old Ten Scenic Byway. At Gladstone we detoured south onto the Enchanted Highway, then headed back north to continue on the Old Red Old Ten to its end at Dickinson. Read more

RV-MH Hall of Fame Exhibits Campers of Yesteryear

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana January 17, 2017February 12, 2019Elkhart Indiana attractions, elkhart rv, elkhart rv museum, indiana rv, rv hall of fame and museum, rv museum, rv museum elkhart in, rv museum elkhart indiana, RV-MH Hall of Fame, rv/mh hall of fame and museum, things to do in elkhart in, things to do in Elkhart Indiana, vintage rv 3 Comments

It wasn’t long after automobiles became the mainstay of American society that people began converting them into recreational vehicles or pulling camping trailers behind them. Both the first motorhome and the first travel trailers made their debuts in 1910. Last summer we visited the RV-MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana, where campers dating as far back as the 1916 are on display in the museum, including some once owned by well-known people. Read more

Goldmoor Inn Artists in Residence Teaching January Painting Workshops

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois January 10, 2017April 2, 2018artists in residence galena, artists in residence galena il, artists in residence goldmoor inn, b&b, bed & breakfast, bed and breakfast, bed and breakfast galena il, bed and breakfast illinois, bed and breakfast in galena il, best vacation spots, galena bed and breakfast, galena hotels, Galena IL, galena il bed and breakfast, galena il hotels, galena il resorts, galena il restaurants, galena ill, Galena Illinois, galena illinois hotels, galena resorts, galena restaurants, goldmoor, goldmoor galena, goldmoor inn, goldmoor inn artists in residence, goldmoor inn galena, hotels galena il, irish cottage galena, irish cottage galena il, lodging in galena il, restaurants in galena il, the goldmoor inn, things to do in illinois 6 Comments

I had never touched watercolors in my life—besides the eight-color Crayola® trays that I used in kindergarten. Yet, in only two hours, I created a watercolor painting that I was proud of, during the inaugural session of the Goldmoor Inn Artists in Residence program. The luxury bed-and-breakfast Goldmoor Inn, located in Galena, Illinois, is sponsoring the program for four consecutive weeks during January. Award-winning Chicago watercolor painter Carol Luc taught me and several others basic watercolor techniques during this past weekend’s session. Read more

Midwest Wanderer 2016 Top 10 Posts

Connie Attractions & Events, Food & Drink, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma December 29, 2016March 15, 20242016 Top Ten, american banjo museum, Bowers Harbor Inn Travers City, Carlsbad caverns, DeSoto House Hotel, Eagle Watching Illinois, Hurts Donut, Illinois State Capitol, Palms Grill Cafe, Pierogi Fest, robert wadlow 0 Comment

At Midwest Wanderer we write about a variety of article topics. We like to include a mix of restaurants, attractions, festivals, and accommodations. So I was pleasantly surprised when I ran the list of the Midwest Wanderer 2016 Top 10 (most viewed) posts and the top four were a bakery, an attraction, a hotel, and a festival. Apparently you, our readers, like a variety of topics, too. Here is the list of Midwest Wanderer 2016 Top 10 posts: Read more