Explore Shipshewana’s Off the Beaten Path Trail: Cottage Shops and Countryside

Explore Shipshewana’s Off the Beaten Path Trail: Cottage Shops and Countryside

Have you been to Shipshewana, Indiana? In the third-largest Amish community in the United States, you shared the roads and parking lots with Amish buggies. You probably filled up on huge Amish meals and perhaps browsed Amish-owned shops. But have you explored outside of Shipshewana proper? That’s what Shipshewana’s Off the Beaten Path Trail is all about. We traveled the trail recently during a sponsored Shipshewana visit. As the narrated audio recording directed us through the backroads of LaGrange County, we found Amish cottage shops, barn quilts, parks, and small-town charm.

Normally, we do a trail like this all in one shot. But, because our itinerary included visiting attractions in town each day, we did it piecemeal, which worked just fine. Read more

6 Unique Southwest Michigan Beach Towns You Need to Visit

6 Unique Southwest Michigan Beach Towns You Need to Visit

As you drive up the coast of Southwest Michigan, you pass through beach town after beach town dotting the shore of Lake Michigan. All of these towns have a beach, of course, most have a downtown area filled with shops and eateries, and the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail leads to wineries throughout the region. But, each of these towns has its own personality. In this article we’re taking a look at six unique Southwest Michigan beach towns we visited this summer that we’re sure you’d enjoy, as well.

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Exploring Historic Mills of the Missouri Ozarks

Exploring Historic Mills of the Missouri Ozarks

Road trips are our thing. Add history and nature, toss in a little culture, and it’s a perfect combination. That’s what we found as we explored the historic mills of the Missouri Ozarks. The mills date back as far as the 1800s.

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Exploring the Kansas Gunsmoke Trail

Exploring the Kansas Gunsmoke Trail

Midwest Wanderer Explores… Latest Issue

When the Kansas Gunsmoke Trail launched last year, we couldn’t wait to experience it. The trail is made up of four Kansas cities that were mentioned often in the old radio and television Gunsmoke series— Wichita, Dodge City, Hays, and Abilene—and includes lots of Old West-related attractions.

Our latest Midwest Wanderer Explores e-zine issue, “Kansas Gunsmoke Trail,” includes twelve articles about our experiences on the trail, plus links to related blog posts we’ve published in the past.

  • Discover Dodge City’s Wild West legacy through immersive exhibits at the Boot Hill Museum…
  • Trace the footsteps of frontier defenders at Historic Fort Hays…
  • Ride the oldest operating C.W. Parker carousel and see Wild Bill Hickok’s gun at the Dickinson County Heritage Center and Museum in Abilene…
  • Sip a cold sarsaparilla in the saloon while watching showgirls dance at Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita…

…and so much more.

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Boot Hill Distillery: Soil to Sip in a Historical Location

Boot Hill Distillery: Soil to Sip in a Historical Location

We’ve been to several distilleries in our travels, some of which buy their grains from local farmers. But Boot Hill Distillery in Dodge City, Kansas, is the only distillery we’ve been to that does it all—from farming the grain to bottling the spirits. In addition, the distillery itself is in a historic spot, right atop the former Boot Hill Cemetery.

On our 2018 visit, Director of Sales, Lee Griffith, led us on a tour of the distillery. Along the way, he recounted the history of not only the distillery, but also of the building itself, as well as the initial use of the land beneath the building.

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Home of Stone: The Mueller-Schmidt House – A Living Heritage

Home of Stone: The Mueller-Schmidt House – A Living Heritage

The Mueller-Schmidt House is the only building in Dodge City built of limestone. It’s also the oldest building in the city still on its original foundation. Built from 1879 to 1881, owner John Mueller wanted it to be one of the most impressive homes in the city. Although nowhere near a mansion, many of its unique features stand out as special. Even more special is the story behind the two families who lived in the home—and some of the family members who may still live there in spirit.

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