The Hotel at Kirkwood Center: Full-Service Teaching Hotel Wows Guests

Connie Food & Drink, Iowa June 14, 2016April 2, 2018accommodation in kirkwood, cedar rapids college, cedar rapids iow hotels, cedar rapids restaurants, class act cedar rapids, class act kirkwood, class act restaurant, culinary schools in iowa, hotel at kirkwood, hotel at kirkwood center, hotel kirkwood, hotels cedar rapids, hotels cedar rapids iowa, hotels in cedar rapids iowa, kirkwood accommodations, kirkwood hotel, kirkwood hotel cedar rapids, kirkwood hotel restaurant, kirkwood lodging, kirkwood motel, restaurants in cedar rapids, restaurants in cedar rapids iowa, romantic getaways in iowa, the class act, the class act cedar rapids, the class act restaurant, the class act restaurant cedar rapids, the hotel at kirkwood, The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, the hotel kirkwood, the kirkwood hotel, where to stay in cedar rapids 6 Comments

How many community colleges do you know of that run their own hotel? Not many, I’ll bet, especially a full-service hotel. There are only six in the entire United States, and I had the privilege of staying in one last month during a press trip to Cedar Rapids hosted by Iowa Tourism. The Hotel at Kirkwood Center is part of Kirkwood Community College’s hospitality arts program, which also includes The Class Act restaurant. Read more

Valley City Historic Bridges Tour: Exploring Bridges over the Sheyenne River

Connie Attractions & Events, North Dakota June 10, 2016May 29, 2024Bridges in Valley City, things to do in North Dakota, Valley City, Valley City Historic Bridges Tour, Valley City ND, Valley City North Dakota, what to do in North Dakota, what to do in Valley City ND 10 Comments

At 3,860 feet long and 162 feet above the Sheyenne River, the High Line bridge is one of the longest and highest single track railroad bridges in the United States. The bridge so defines Valley City that the local school teams are named the Hi-Liners. In use since 1908, the High Line is just one of eight bridges that make up the Valley City Historic Bridges Tour.

Marmalade Sky Bed and Breakfast: Home-Like Atmosphere near Downtown Danville

Connie Indiana June 1, 2016April 2, 2018bed and breakfasts hendricks county, danville indiana accommodations, Hendricks County Indiana accommodations, hendricks county indiana B&B, marmalade sky bed and breakfast, marmalde sky B&B, where to stay hendricks county indiana, where to stay in hendricks county in 0 Comment

I’ll let you in on a secret. My stay at the Marmalade Sky Bed and Breakfast in Mayberry Danville, Indiana, was only the second time I’ve stayed in a B&B. As a travel writer, you’d think I stay in them all the time, but it just hasn’t worked out that way. I loved my first B&B stay at Summers Riverview Mansion, so when I found out I would be staying at Marmalade Sky during Danville’s Mayberry in the Midwest festival, I was thrilled. Read more

Old Fort Madison Recalls Rough Life of Early Soldiers

Connie Attractions & Events, Iowa May 27, 2016August 3, 2016fort madison iowa, fort madison iowa attractions, fort madison iowa tourism, ft madison iowa, old fort madison, things to do in fort madison iowa, what to do in iowa 0 Comment

It was considered the “Walmart” of its time. Fort Madison, the first U.S. settlement on the upper Mississippi River, was set up as a trading post, also known as a factory. It was the third highest revenue grossing factory in the country. But by 1813 the post was abandoned and burned. A replica of the post, known as Old Fort Madison, tells the story of the rough life soldiers faced at Fort Madison. Read more

Touring Broken Wagon Bison Ranch

Connie Agritourism, Attractions & Events, Indiana May 19, 2016August 3, 2016Attractions in Indiana, bison meat, bison ranch, broken wagon, broken wagon bison, broken wagon bison ranch, hobart things to do, Indiana attractions, things to do hobart, things to do in hobart, where to buy bison meat 1 Comment

The bison has been named the national mammal of the United States. It’s fitting, since it is estimated that 30 to 60 million bison lived in North America in the 1500s before huge slaughters took place as settlers moved westward. The bison was near extinction, down to about 300 head nationally before a handful of ranchers captured orphaned calves and began raising them. Today the population has grown, with bison found in national and state parks, as well as several private herds being raised for food. I toured the Broken Wagon Bison Ranch in Hobart, Indiana, where I learned more about bison and had a chance to meet the herd up close and personal. Read more

How to Eat Cheaply in Laughlin

Connie Arizona, Nevada May 16, 2016March 20, 2024bullhead city restaurants, laughin nv, laughlin buffets, laughlin dining, laughlin nevada, laughlin nevada restaurants, laughlin nv restaurants, laughlin restaurants, places to eat in laughlin nv, restaurants in laughlin, restaurants in laughlin nevada, restaurants in laughlin nv, restaurants laughlin nevada, restaurants laughlin nv 12 Comments

Some say Laughlin, Nevada, is like the old Las Vegas, with inexpensive hotels and food. It’s true the hotels are inexpensive. The food? Not so much. The 99 cent breakfast no longer exists. Also gone is the $1.50 hot dog with beer or soda. However, there are still lots of ways to save money on food, as we found out during our six-week stay in the area.

Midwest Wanderer explores history, nature, and culture through road trips along scenic and historic U.S. highways, byways and trails

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