Midwest Wanderer Newsletter – July 15, 2022

Connie Attractions & Events, Campgrounds, Destinations, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Roadside Attraction July 17, 2022April 4, 2023Black Hawk statue, Lowden State Park, Mark Twain Birthplace, Midwest Wanderer Newsletter, Pierogi Fest 0 Comment

I felt guilty, sitting in a chair outside our travel trailer, squandering time. I should be doing something, but what? After a late lunch, we weren’t ready for dinner. Go for a walk? Too wiped out from a busy day. I forgot to pack reading material, and was tired of looking at my phone. Skip joined me, and we both just sat, watching the squirrels scamper up and down trees and robins bob along the ground. Then, a red-headed woodpecker swooped in and landed on a tree trunk just twenty feet or so from where we sat.

Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site: 10 Fascinating Facts

Connie Attractions & Events, Destinations, Missouri July 12, 2022July 12, 2022Florida MO, Mark Twain, Mark Twain Birthplace, Mark Twain Birthplace MO 0 Comment

When you think of Mark Twain’s home, Hannibal, Missouri, comes to mind. It’s true, he grew up in Hannibal, starting at age four. But he was born about 40 miles southwest of Hannibal, in Florida, Missouri. Today, the preserved two-room cabin where the writer was born is on display at the Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site, near Florida.

The home was moved to its current location in 1930. Years later, a building was erected around the cabin to protect and preserve it. The Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site also includes artifacts from the author’s life, and a wealth of information about him.

Here are ten fascinating facts about Mark Twain’s life that we learned during our visit to the state historic site.

Midwest Wanderer Newsletter – July 1, 2022

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma, Roadside Attraction, South Dakota July 4, 2022July 4, 2022Indiana Amish Country, Midwest Wanderer Newsletter, Peoria attractions, quilt gardens, Things to do in Peoria 0 Comment

Are we really starting the second half of 2022? Already? Time sure does fly when you’re having fun! And having fun, we are.

10 Ways to Play in Peoria

Connie Attractions & Events, Destinations, Food & Drink, Illinois July 2, 2022July 2, 2022 2 Comments

Peoria is one of those cities that we can visit again and again and always find new things to do. From scenic drives to ballgames, history museums to a wildlife park, there is plenty going on, whether you spend a weekend or several days. In this slideshow, we suggest 10 ways to play in Peoria and nearby communities.

Where does the term “Will it play in Peoria come from?” See the answer in the last slide.

Midwest Wanderer Newsletter – June 15, 2022

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Road Trips, Roadside Attraction June 18, 2022April 4, 2023Midwest Wanderer Newsletter, North Dakota road trip, world's largest ball of stamps 0 Comment

When you’re driving along and see a sign for a site that makes you curious, what do you do? Do you turn off to see the site now, remember it for a future trip, or ignore it? Unless we’re pinched for time, curiosity wins out for Skip and me.

Experience 1845 Life at the Lincoln Log Cabin

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois June 18, 2022June 18, 2022Central Illinois, Illinois attractions, Lincoln farm, Lincoln Log Cabin 0 Comment

Abraham Lincoln slept here. At least, we assume he did, since he visited often. Today, the 86-acre Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, the last farm Lincoln’s father owned, serves as a living history museum in Central Illinois.