11 Delectable Midwest Chocolate Treats

Connie Attractions & Events, Food & Drink, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania January 9, 2018January 26, 2018Askinosie, Askinosie Chocolate, Bartlett's, Bartlett's Gourmet Grill & Tavern, Chocolate, Chocolate Garden, chocolate in the midwest, Chocolate tail in Indiana, Chocolate Trail Richmond Indiana, DeBrand, DeBrand chocolates, DeBrand Fine Chocolates, Eddie Merlot's, hotel vandivort, Hotel Vandivort restaurant, Kakawa Chocolate House, Lagomarcino's, Lagomarcino's Davenport, Lagomarcino's Moline, Midwest chocolate, Octane InterLounge, Richmond Indiana Chocolate Trail, Silver Moon Winery, South Bend Chocolate Cafe, South Bend Chocolates, The Chocolate Garden, the hershey story, The Order, The Order Restaurant Springfield MO, Wayne County Chocolate Trail 6 Comments

Dark chocolate—it’s one treat I can’t pass up. A few years ago on a press trip we were tasting chocolate at a chocolate shop. I was skipping the milk chocolate and going right for the dark. One of my fellow travel writers said, “Even if I never meet you again, I will always connect you with dark chocolate.” Yep, that’s me. I’ve tasted a lot of Midwest chocolate over the past few years, and am sharing with you 11 of my favorites, in no particular order, plus two from beyond the Midwest.

Road Trip: Route 66 through Pulaski County, Missouri

Connie Attractions & Events, Missouri November 9, 2017November 8, 2017Missouri Route 66, Mother Road, Pulaski County, Pulaski County Missouri, Pulaski County MO, Route 66, route 66 missouri, Route 66 MO, Route 66 through Pulaski County Missouri, Saint Robert MO, St Robert Missouri, St Robert MO Saint Robert Missouri, Waynesville Missouri, Waynesville MO 6 Comments

Sandstone bluffs…Devil’s Elbow…W.H. Croaker. We’ve driven almost all of the Mother Road over the years. I can’t believe we missed exploring Route 66 through Pulaski County, Missouri, especially since we drive through Missouri often. When we finally made it to Pulaski County this summer, we followed the auto tour that the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau laid out in a brochure. The route is filled with natural beauty, remnants of Route 66 treasures, and one quirky road side attraction.

Pitch & Putt Golf in Pulaski County, Missouri

Connie Attractions & Events, Missouri October 26, 2017October 25, 2017Golf Course in St Robert MO, MO Pitt N Putt, Pitch & Putt Golf, Pitch and Putt Golf, Pitch N Putt Golf, Pulaski County MO, Pulaski County Pitch N Putt Pulaski County Pitch & Putt, Saint Robert Municipal Golf Course, St Robert Mo Golf Course, St Robert Municipal Golf Course, St Robert Pitch & Putt Golf, Things to do in Pulaski County MO, Things to do in St Robert Missouri, Things to do in St Robert MO 0 Comment

I am not a golfer. My total lifetime golf experience is: Participation in a “best ball” tournament, in which my ball was never best; a 15-minute lesson this spring at Pheasant Run Resort; a few trips to the driving range; and a whole lot of mini golf. So when we were offered the chance play pitch & putt golf at the Saint Robert Municipal Golf Course in Pulaski County, Missouri, of course I said yes. I never miss a chance to embarrass myself for the sake of the blog.

Ruby’s Landing: Kayaking the Gasconade River

Connie Attractions & Events, Missouri October 9, 2017April 2, 2018camprounds Pulaski County MO, kayak trips missouri, Kayak trips MO, Pulaski County MO kayaking, rubys landing, rubys landing resort, rubys landing river resort, RV resort Pulaski County MO, Waynesville MO float trips 0 Comment

The weather was unseasonably warm. Even in the Missouri Ozarks, 90-degree days are uncommon in late September. I’m usually not thrilled with such hot weather. However, considering I got completely wet during our five-mile Ruby’s Landing River Resort kayak trip, the heat was welcome.

Nina and Pinta Replicas Sail the Mississippi, Dock for Tours

Connie Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin September 30, 2017April 30, 2019Columbus ships, Nina and Pinta, Nina and Pinta replicas 1 Comment

We first wrote about the Nina and Pinta replicas in 2013, when we stumbled across the ships in Clinton, Iowa. The Nina and Pinta, replicas of two Columbus’ ships, offer tours to the public. A couple of weeks ago we visited Peoria, Illinois. As we walked down to the Illinois River to board the Spirit of Peoria for a moonlight cruise, we noticed the Nina and Pinta replicas docked there. Checking the schedule, we found the ships were in Peoria through September 24, 2017. Their next stop was Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where they’ll be from September 29 through October 8. Read further for our original experience and descriptions of the Nina and Pinta replicas.

Antique Military Vehicle Convoy on Route 66

Connie Attractions & Events, Missouri, Road Trips September 25, 2017September 25, 2017Antique Military Vehicles, Fort Leonard Wood, Military Vehicle Preservation Association, MVPA, Pulaski County, Pulaski County MO, Pulaski County USA, Route 66, Route 66 Convoy 0 Comment

We aren’t usually lucky. A day late and a dollar short. Murphy’s Law. However, you want to phrase it, that’s us. But not this time. We happened to be in Pulaski County, Missouri, on the day the Military Vehicle Preservation Association convoyed through on Route 66. Better yet, the convoy stopped for the evening at Fort Leonard Wood, located in Pulaski County. Fort Leonard Wood opened the event to the public, and our itinerary was flexible. So off we went to Fort Leonard Wood to see the 42 vehicles that made up this antique military vehicle convoy.