Redamak’s: A Southwest Michigan Institution

Connie Food & Drink, Michigan September 8, 2017September 5, 2017burger place in New Buffalo MI, New Buffallo MI restaurants, New Buffalo restaurants, Redamak's, Redamak's New Buffalo, Redamak's New Buffalo Michigan, Redamaks New Buffalo MI, where to eat in New Buffalo MI 0 Comment

One of our favorite impromptu day trips is to southwest Michigan, following the Lake Michigan shoreline. Resort towns dot the route with beaches, small shops, galleries, and restaurants. Every time we make the trip, I get a craving for a burger from Redamak’s, an iconic mom-and-pop diner in New Buffalo. But it’s rare that we stop there. Either our meal timing is wrong, or it’s high season with a lot of people waiting outside the door. On our last trip, however, we hit it right—a weekday at 3 p.m. Read more

Exploring Falls of the Ohio Fossil Beds

Vernon Attractions & Events, Indiana September 5, 2017September 3, 2017falls of ohio, Falls of the Ohio, Falls of the Ohio State Park, fossils, fossils in Indiana, fossils in southern indiana, Indiana fossils, Indiana state parks, Jeffersonville IN things to do, state parks in indiana, the falls of the ohio, things to do in southern Indiana 4 Comments

Did you know there are fossil beds in Indiana? They’re some of the the largest, naturally exposed Devonian fossil beds in the world! Last autumn we visited Falls of the Ohio State Park, where the fossil beds are located. Luckily, it was the river’s low time of the year, and it happened to be lower than in most years. That meant more fossils were exposed than usual. Read more

National Czech and Slovak Museum: Stories of Real People

Vernon Attractions & Events, Iowa August 31, 2017attractions in cedar rapids, attractions in cedar rapids iowa, attractions in Iowa, cedar rapids museum, Czech and Slovak Museum, Iowa things to do, museums in cedar rapids, National Czech & Slovak Museum, National Czech and Slovak Museum, National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library 4 Comments

When visiting someplace I haven’t been before, I often tour a historical museum to learn the history and culture of the area. While the general history of an area is interesting, what I find most intriguing are stories of individuals. Hearing stories of real people, especially everyday people, makes the history of a place come alive for me. I was fascinated by several of those stories when I visited the National Czech and Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Read more

Blue Gate Garden Inn, Shipshewana: Beyond Expectations

Vernon Uncategorized August 28, 2017September 5, 2017Blue gate garden inn, blue gate hotel, bluegate garden inn, hotels in shipshewana, hotels in shipshewana indiana, shiphewana in, Shipshewana, shipshewana hotels, shipshewana in hotels, Shipshewana Indiana, shipshewana indiana hotels, the blue gate garden inn 0 Comment

We recently spent a few days in Shipshewana, the heart of Indiana’s Amish country and the state’s most popular tourist destination. During the day we shopped, went to plays, visited museums, toured the Amish countryside, and filled up on Amish country cooking. At night we retreated to the Blue Gate Garden Inn, just a few blocks from downtown Shipshewana. With amenities and activities that go beyond what you’d expect at a mid-range hotel, the Blue Gate Garden Inn made it easy to relax after a busy day. Read more

Dr Ted’s Musical Marvels: Instruments that Play Themselves

Vernon Attractions & Events, Indiana August 25, 2017August 25, 2017attractions in southern indiana, dale indiana, dr teds musical marvels, dubois county, group trip ideas, musical marvels, Santa Claus Indiana, southern indiana attractions, southern indiana things to do, street organs, ted music, things to do in southern Indiana, wurlitzer band organ 0 Comment

As a youth, Dr. Ted Waflart frequented a local Louisville amusement park with his buddies. His favorite ride was the carousel, but he couldn’t let his friends know that. So he rode roller coasters with them. However, whenever Ted passed the carousel, he slowed his pace, for it was the calliope music, rather than riding the carved horses, that really captured his attention. Today Dr Ted’s Musical Marvels, in southern Indiana’s Dubois County, showcases Dr. Ted’s mechanical music instruments that he has collected and restored for over 40 years. Read more

Do Cicadas Chirp During a Solar Eclipse?

Vernon Attractions & Events, Illinois, Road Trips August 22, 2017June 4, 2024nature eclipse, solar eclipse, solar eclipse 2017, Southern Illinois, southern illinois eclipse, total solar eclipse 2 Comments

When I first heard, several months ago, about the total solar eclipse crossing the United States this summer, I knew I wanted to go to a point of totality. It would be cool to watch the moon completely cover the sun and to experience total darkness in the middle of the afternoon.

In the weeks leading up to the eclipse I read several articles about the subject. One article suggested that scientists would be studying the effect of the eclipse on wildlife, including whether cicadas chirp during a total solar eclipse. Odd, I thought. It seems that would be a simple thing to find out. Scientists should already know that. I made a mental note to listen for cicadas myself.