Midwest Zoo Holiday Lights Events

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin December 1, 2021December 14, 2023Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic, Christmas at the Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo, Columbus Zoo, Festival of Lights, Holiday lights, Indianapolis Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo Lights, saint louis zoo, St. Louis Zoo, wild lights, zoo holiday lights, zoo lights 0 Comment

Christmas festivals at zoos have become huge holiday attractions. In the Midwest alone, at least eighteen zoos celebrate with holiday lights, carols, animal shows, and even ice skating rinks. Brookfield Zoo, Chicago’s oldest holiday zoo event, is celebrating its 42nd year in 2023. But the very first zoo holiday lights event in the nation was Indianapolis Zoo’s Christmas at the Zoo, which dates back to 1967!

Many other zoos have hopped aboard the holiday festival train over the years. Here are a few highlights of eighteen Midwest zoo holiday lights events for 2023, listed by state:

Chicago Travel and Adventure Show 2020

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin February 7, 2020March 15, 2024Chicago Travel & Adventure Show 2020, Chicago Travel and Adventure Show, Chicago Travel Show, Travel Show in Rosemont 0 Comment

As Midwest winter winds blow and temperatures drop, we dream about warm weather and sunshine. Turn those dreams into reality by starting your planning at the Chicago Travel and Adventure Show. The popular travel show returns to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, on February 8 and 9, 2020.

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.

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.

12 Fun Facts You May Not Know about the Midwest

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin January 4, 2016March 15, 2024crookedest street in the world, Lincoln's Boyhood Home Indiana, magic capital of the world, Mall of America, mammoth site of hot springs, Midwest trivia, world's largest ball of twine, world's tallest man 40 Comments

One fun part of travel is learning interesting facts about the places you visit. Following are bits of trivia I’ve picked up about each of the Midwest states.

Discover the Romance of Yesteryear’s Carousels at Sandusky’s Merry-Go-Round Museum

Connie Attractions & Events, Ohio March 22, 2015May 18, 2015antique carousels, Carousel museum in Sandusky, Merry-Go-Round Museum, Merry-Go-Round Museum Sandusky Ohio, Sandusky Ohio 9 Comments

One of the first amusement park rides you ever rode as a child was most likely the carousel. You chose the most colorful and bejeweled horse. Your tiny legs sprawled across the saddle, not nearly long enough to reach the stirrups. You squeezed the brass pole, one sweaty hand above the other, excited and nervous at the same time. Mom or dad stood next to you, holding you, reassuring you’d be safe. As the calliope music began and the carousel started to turn, your horse inched forward and at the same time began to rise and glide down again, over and over. The ride picked up the pace until you reached a smooth gallop on the twirling carousel, the world around you passing by in a blur.

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