Hotel Julien Dubuque Combines Historic Grandeur with Modern Amenities

Connie Accommodations, Food & Drink, Iowa March 13, 2019August 28, 2019Dubuque Iowa, Dubuque Iowa hotels, Hotel Julien Dubuque 0 Comment

Notorious gangster Al Capone owned the historic Hotel Julien Dubuque in the 1920s—maybe. He did stay there a lot, and although some believe he owned it at one time, it could never be confirmed. Earlier in history, Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain both stayed at the hotel. However, the building that they stayed in was the original building, which burned down in 1913.

Today, the hotel, located along the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa, is a boutique hotel that combines its original grandeur with modern amenities. Read more

Morton Pumpkin Festival Celebrates Pumpkin Capital

Connie Accommodations, Attractions & Events, Food & Drink, Illinois, Podcast September 6, 2018September 5, 2018Midwest Events, Morton Pumpkin Festival, Seasons Gastropub, Things to do around Peoria 0 Comment

Did you know that ninety-five percent of pumpkins for processing in the United States are grown in Illinois? Specifically, they’re grown in and near Morton, a town southeast of Peoria, home to a large Libby’s cannery. Every September, Morton celebrates its pumpkin industry with the Morton Pumpkin Festival. Read more

Podcast: Great River Road Days 1-4

Connie Accommodations, Attractions & Events, Food & Drink, Minnesota, Podcast July 27, 2018July 27, 2018Anton's, Bad Habit Brewing Company, Bar 209, Bemidji, Bemidji Minnesota, Bemidji MN, Bemidji Sculpture Walk, Best Western Kelly Inn St Cloud, Best Western Plus Kelly Inn, Bible Gallery, Brigid's Pub, Charles Lindbergh House, Clemens Gardens, Country Inn & Suites Bemidji, Dutch Maid Bakery, Great River Road, Judy Garland Museum, Lake Itasca, Lake Itasca State Park, Minnesota, Mississippi River, Mississippi River headwaters, Munsinger Gardens, Paul Bunyan, St. Cloud ROX, St. John's University, Summertime by George 0 Comment

Welcome to the inaugural Midwest Wanderer podcast! As we traveled the Great River Road from the Mississippi River headwaters in northern Minnesota to the Quad Cities, we summed up our daily activities each night in a podcast. We turned the first two recordings into videos while we traveled and posted them on Facebook. But that required late nights, and after two nights of five or fewer hours of sleep, we decided to record and wait until we got home to publish them. So here we are, with the first four days of our Quad Cities adventures. Rather than videos, we’re presenting them in podcast format. Read more

Pierogi Fest: Whiting , Indiana, Celebrates and Pokes a Little Fun at Their Heritage

Connie Attractions & Events, Food & Drink, Indiana, Video July 25, 2018July 25, 2024festivals in Indiana, Indiana festivals, pierogi, Pierogi Fest, pierogi fest whiting, pierogi festival, pierogi food, pierogi queen, pierogie, whiting pierogi fest 4 Comments

I grew up in Illinois just over the border from Northwest Indiana. Although I no longer live in that immediate area, I have lots of friends and family who do. Over the years I’ve heard talk about Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Indiana. I assumed it was just a small-town festival, no big deal—until I finally went to Pierogi Fest. What a hoot! Read more

8 Council Bluffs Restaurants We Recommend

Connie Food & Drink, Iowa July 3, 2018June 28, 2018712 Eat + Drink, Barley's, Bella's Bakery & Cafe, Council Bluffs, Council Bluffs restaurants, Duncan's Cafe, Mad Ox Bakery, Stay Sweet Nicola's, Tish's, Tish's Restaurant, Toby Jack's Steak House, travel iowa, Where to eat in Council Bluffs 0 Comment

Local flavor, whether at a diner or farm-to-table restaurant, is a big part of every trip we take. On my recent press trip to Council Bluffs, Iowa, our travel group ate at several locally-owned restaurants and bakeries. All of these Council Bluffs restaurants were winners. Read more

Why Fieldhouse was My Clear Lake Restaurant Choice

Connie Food & Drink, Iowa May 22, 2018May 18, 2018Clear Lake Iowa restaurants, Clear Lake restaurants, Fieldhouse, Fieldhouse Clear Lake, Fieldhouse Restaurant, Fieldhouse Restaurant Clear Lake IA, Where to eat in Clear Lake, Where to eat in Clear Lake Iowa 3 Comments

One evening during the Building Community Conference I attended earlier this month in Clear Lake, Iowa, we rode the Main Street Trolley to a restaurant of our choice. I chose Fieldhouse, not only because of its farm-to-table cuisine, but for another reason that’s near and dear to my heart. Read more