Last winter we discovered Midwest ice festivals. The Meltdown Winter Ice Festival in Richmond, Indiana, and the Argenta IceFest in Illinois are unlike any festivals we’d been to before. Sure, we’ve seen ice carving demonstrations in the past and plenty of completed ice sculptures on display during events, but during these two festivals, ice carving is the star. Read more
Destinations
Haunted DeSoto House Hotel: Reader Experiences

Six years ago we wrote about the haunted DeSoto House Hotel in Galena, Illinois. Guests feel someone sit on the bed at night. Others smell cigar smoke where there is none. And then there’s the story of The Lady in Black, who makes an appearance and then disappears through walls.
We’re amazed at the number of people who continue to comment on the article, relating their own paranormal experiences in the hotel. Here are some of them:
Read moreReal Haunted Happenings Tour: Spirits Linger in Historic Corydon

Old historic cities are often filled with stories of spirits from days gone by. Corydon, Indiana, is no exception, as we learned on the Real Haunted Happenings Tour. Read more
Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Dorothy’s House and The Land of Oz

When insurance salesman Max Zimmerman attended a convention in California in 1978, he went to dinner with his name tag still on. His waitress told him she had never been to Kansas. Max asked what she might expect to see in the state. She replied, “Dorothy’s house,” referring to the classic movie The Wizard of Oz. So upon his return home to Liberal, Kansas, Max and the community worked to bring Dorothy’s house to Liberal. Today, the attraction includes both Dorothy’s House and The Land of Oz. Read more
The Stella Hotel and Ballroom Blends New with Old

Kenosha, Wisconsin, has a new hotel, the Stella Hotel and Ballroom. The building that houses the downtown hotel started out as the Kenosha Elks Club in 1919. A century later, the building still maintains its early 20th century character but with all of the amenities of a 21st century hotel. Read more
Indianapolis Children’s Museum: Not Just for Kids
We hadn’t been to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum since our kids were young—and they’re now grown with children of their own. It was a great museum then, but its even better now. Four floors of exhibits include everything from dinosaurs to a 1917 carousel. And new added in 2017 is the 7.5 acre outdoor Sports Legends Experience, created for all ages, from preschoolers to adults. Read more

