2018 Midwest Wanderer Year in Review

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Road Trips January 4, 2019January 4, 2019Alton Audubon Eagle Festival, Great River Road 2 Comments

What a busy year! As we look back on our photos, it’s hard to believe we packed so much into 2018. Besides two month-long trips west, we spent a lot of time touring the Midwest. We traveled the Great River Road from the Mississippi River headwaters near Bemidji, Minnesota, down to the Quad Cities. We also visited southwest Kansas for the first time, with stops in Liberal and Dodge City. As we look at our year in review, we’re sharing a few photo highlights from our 2018 travels, which perhaps will give you inspiration for your 2019 travel plans.
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Eagle Watching on the Mississippi Flyway

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Podcast December 27, 2018January 1, 2019eagle, Eagle watching, Eagle Watching Illinois, eagle watching iowa, eagle watching minnesota 2 Comments

It’s eagle watching season. As the weather becomes colder and bald eagles migrate south down the Mississippi Flyway, people travel to those same places in hopes of catching a glimpse of the national bird. Some of the best places to eagle watch are near locks and dams along the Mississippi River, where water continues to run and eagles can feed on fish

Cities all along the Mississippi River embrace eagle season, celebrating with festivals and welcoming visitors. Read more

Morton Pumpkin Festival Celebrates Pumpkin Capital

Connie Accommodations, Attractions & Events, Food & Drink, Illinois, Podcast September 6, 2018September 5, 2018Midwest Events, Morton Pumpkin Festival, Seasons Gastropub, Things to do around Peoria 0 Comment

Did you know that ninety-five percent of pumpkins for processing in the United States are grown in Illinois? Specifically, they’re grown in and near Morton, a town southeast of Peoria, home to a large Libby’s cannery. Every September, Morton celebrates its pumpkin industry with the Morton Pumpkin Festival. Read more

Exploring Byways and Trails

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Podcast, Road Trips, Wisconsin August 30, 2018August 30, 2018byways, chocolate trail, Great River Road, Iowa Antique Trail, Lincoln Highway, National road, Richmond Indiana, road trips, Route 66 2 Comments

In this podcast, we chat about exploring byways and trails. If you’re a regular Midwest Wanderer reader, you know we do a lot of road trips. Some of our favorite trips are along scenic or historic byways. And then there are trails. What’s the difference? You’ll find out in this podcast. Read more

Podcast: Great River Road Days 9-13

Connie Accommodations, Attractions & Events, Illinois, Iowa, Podcast, Road Trips August 15, 2018September 2, 2018Bix Beiderbecke Museum, Caroline's Restaurant, Colonel Davenport home, Crystal Lake Cave, de Immigrant Windmill, Dubuque, Dubuque Riverwalk, Dubuque Shot Tower, Fenelon Place Elevator, Figge Art Museum, German Heritage Heritage Center, Great River Road, Hotel Julien Dubuque, John Deere Pavilion, Julien Dubuque Memorial, Lagomarcino's, Maid Rite, Mississippi River, National Mississippi River Museum, Quad Cities, Quad Cities River Bandits, Rhythm City Casino, Rock Island Arsenal, Sawmill Museum, Windmill Fulton Illinois 2 Comments

In this podcast, we wrap up our Great River Road adventure. We start in Dubuque, Iowa, and travel south through Fulton, Illinois, and Clinton, Iowa. Then we move on to our last stop, the Quad Cities. Read more

River City Tour Highlights Peoria Fun Facts, History

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois July 17, 2018July 4, 2018Peoria attractions, Peoria fun facts, Peoria Historical society, Peoria history, Peoria history tour, Peoria Illinois, tour of Peoria, what to do in Peoria 0 Comment

In 1910, President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Grandview Drive to be the “world’s most beautiful drive.” That was just one of the Peoria fun facts we learned about the city’s history on the narrated River City Tour conducted by the Peoria Historical Society. Read more