It was 1984 when Dr. Charles Thomas, an OB-GYN, turned his winemaking hobby into a business, opening Chateau Thomas Winery in Plainfield. There were only a handful of wineries in Indiana then, before the big winery boom and before wine trails existed in the Midwest. Read more
I stumbled across a microbrewery a year or so ago, near the shore of Lake Michigan in Michigan City, Indiana, that I liked so well it’s sure to become a regular stop whenever I pass through the area. That it’s popular among locals, packed both times I’ve been there on the weekend, is no wonder, as the brew is good and the food unique and delicious. Read more
2013 was a year of learning for me, a year full of firsts. Fairly new to travel writing, having only begun to write regularly for Examiner.com in the fall of 2012, and having started my own Midwest Wanderer blog in May 2013, I went through the trials and tribulations that new technologies bring, and I’m still learning. Heavens knows I’ve made more than my share of social media blunders and I’m certain there will be more. But most of my firsts have been wonderful experiences in the exciting world of travel and travel writing. Here are some of them:
Stepped out onto the Willis Tower Ledge, with just a piece of glass between my feet and the ground 1,353 feet below, facing my fear of heights
Zip lined, underground no less, at the Louisville Mega Cavern, another challenge to my phobia
Went horseback riding at the Natural Valley Ranch, actually my second time on horseback but the first time in a downpour
Stayed in a bed and breakfast, the Summers Riverview Mansion
Experienced the paranormal (just a whiff of perfume, but it was unmistakable) on the Alton Hauntings Walking Tour
Attended a polo match at the Oak Brook Polo Club
Parasailed on the Mississippi and Kayaked on the Rock River. You’ll find out more about both this spring.
Besides all the firsts, I’ve discovered museums, theaters, shops, markets, parks, restaurants, wineries and more in small towns throughout the Midwest, many towns that I didn’t even know existed. But best of all are the people I’ve met, from tourism bureau reps and fellow travel writers to shop owners, museum curators, other travelers, so many more I’ve crossed paths with, and especially you, my readers.
I’m looking forward to more new experiences in 2014 and to sharing them with you, to help you in your search of great places to wander.
Happy New Year and safe travels.
Connie Reed
Midwest Wanderer
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Most everyone is familiar with the ball dropping at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve in New York’s Times Square. I’ll bet you didn’t know that here in the Midwest, several cities have their own traditions of dropping quirky objects. I didn’t either until I started researching New Year’s Eve events for the Midwest Festivals and Fairs page. Here are some that I found:
In Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, the grand finale of the Carp Fest that runs for several days at the end of the year includes a pyrotechnic show, music, a bonfire and the Droppin’ of the Carp. Kiss Lucky the Carp for a year of good fortune.
Another fish, a 20 foot, 600 pound walleye, drops in Port Clinton, Ohio, during Walleye Madness at Midnight following an evening of festivities with street vendors, raffles, and live entertainment. An early, 6 p.m. edition of the fish drop entertains kids whose bedtime is well before midnight.
Traverse City, Michigan, known for tart cherries, drops an illuminated cherry, called a Cherry T Ball at midnight, with live music beginning at 9:30 p.m. If weather permits, you’ll see fireworks, too. The Cherry T Ball is a charity fundraising event. Suggested admission is $3 or three non-perishable food items.
In Charlevoix, Michigan, the Memorial Draw Bridge will be raised at 11:45 p.m. and then lowered with the countdown to midnight, followed by fireworks and the lighting of the lighthouse. Bridge Drop festivities begin in early afternoon and include a snowman building contest, food trucks and s’mores and hot cocoa.
Watermelon is the thing to drop in Vincennes, Indiana, fourteen of them! Live music, food and spirits begin at 9 p.m.
There are more, too, like The Puck Drops Here celebration in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and like in Times Square, Ludington, Michigan drops a ball.
Do you know of a Midwest town that drops something on New Year’s Eve? Tell us about it in the comments below.
Happy wandering in the New Year.
Thank you for reading Midwest Wanderer. If you enjoyed this post, click on the Subscribe2 button to the left to be notified whenever another post is published. (Be sure to click the link when you get the e-mail asking you to confirm.) Visit the Midwest Wanderer Facebook Page, and check out my Examiner.com page, too, where I’ve had over 80 articles published.
Other posts and articles you may enjoy:
Hammond Indiana Celebrates 30 Years of ‘A Christmas Story’ Movie
Summers Riverview Bed & Breakfast, Metropolis IL: Elegant Comfort
Martinsville Candy Kitchen began making candy canes in 1919. Five owners and three locations later, candy canes are still made right in the store, using original equipment. If you’re lucky enough to be there during production, you can watch the process through the window at the back of the shop and smell the sweet aroma that permeates the air. Read more
It may be a little hard to find since it’s a couple of blocks off of Danville’s square, but the Bread Basket Cafe & Bakery is worth looking for. The welcoming staff of this family business make you feel as comfortable as the warm buttery yellow walls and stone fireplace of the old renovated house that serves as the cafe. And their mission, “…to provide a bite of something local, fresh, and simply decadent,” couldn’t describe the food better. Read more
