National Historic Cheesemaking Center Keeps Heritage Alive

Connie Attractions & Events, Wisconsin October 14, 2014May 27, 2018Cheese Museum, Cheese museum in Wisconsin, Monroe WI, Monroe Wisc, Monroe Wisconsin, National Historic Cheesemaking Center, Wisconsin, Wisconsin cheese 2 Comments

Swiss immigrants brought eighteen heifers and three calves to New Glarus, Wisconsin, in 1846. That was the beginning of what eventually grew into a rich cheese making heritage in Green County. Once home to 300 cheese factories, the number has dwindled to 12 today. However, Green County is still one of the nation’s leading cheese manufacturers. The National Historic Cheesemaking Center in Monroe, Wisconsin, shares Green County’s cheese making history with visitors. Read more

Bowers Harbor Inn, Traverse City: Two Restaurants and a Ghost

Connie Food & Drink, Michigan October 8, 2014March 22, 2024bower harbor inn, bower hotel, bower house, bower house hotel, bower house inn, bower inn, bowers, Bowers Harbor Inn Travers City, bowers hill inn, bowers house, bowers inn, genevive, Haunted restaurant, Jolly Pumpkin, mission inn restaurant, mission restaurant, Mission Table, Mission Table restaurant, old harbor inn, Old Mission Bay restaurants, old mission inn, peninsula table, table restaurant, the bower, the bower hotel, the bower house, the bower house inn, the bower inn, Traverse City, Traverse City restaurants 9 Comments

Bowers Harbor Inn, built in the 1880s on Traverse City, Michigan’s, Old Mission Peninsula, was the summer home of Chicago lumber baron J.W. Stickney and his wife Genevive. Today the building houses the Jolly Pumpkin, a casual restaurant and brewery, and Mission Table, an upscale restaurant. However, even though the property has passed through several hands since the Stickney’s owned it, some say Genevive hasn’t left.

Chapel in the Hills, Rapid City: Norwegian Serenity

Connie Attractions & Events, South Dakota October 4, 2014June 6, 2015Chapel in Rapid City SD, Chapel in the Hills, Chapel in the Hills Rapid Citty, Norwegian chapel, Rapid City, Rapid City Chapel 2 Comments

Tucked away at the end of a drive through a residential neighborhood, the Chapel in the Hills, like the ponderosa pine that surround it on three sides, rises to the sky, growing narrower as it grows taller. Built completely of Douglas fir, the chapel blends with the natural beauty of South Dakota’s hills and is worth a visit on your Rapid City trip, if not for the spiritual aspect, then for the serenity of the grounds and architecture of the chapel. Read more

Photographing Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio

Connie Attractions & Events, Ohio October 1, 2014cedar park, cedar point park, cedar point sandusky, ohio cedar point, sandusky 0 Comment

When at an amusement park, I’m usually not thinking about taking artistic photographs. I don’t carry my DSLR camera, since I’m there to enjoy the park. I recently attended a conference at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, the country’s second oldest amusement park. I didn’t have much time in the park itself, but on the evening I spent there I snapped a few quick photographs using my smart phone just to document the trip. However, as part of the conference, I also went on the optional sunrise photo walk. What a difference it made.

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My camera phone photos are so-so, good enough for trip keepsakes. I took a shot of Johnny Rockets, a full diner inside the park, where they provided service with a smile.

I photographed Lake Erie at dusk from the Sky Ride.

Since Cedar Point is known as the roller coaster capital of America, I snapped a shot of the Magnum XL-200, the first coaster ever to top 200 feet.

Cedar Point was celebrating the first weekend of HalloWeekends, so Halloween decorations were everywhere.

Zombies lurked in the gardens and in the Dead Ride Cemetery.

The sunrise photo walk the next morning, led by Fashion by Mayhem blogger Angie Keiser and Cedar Point Public Relations Manager, Bryan Edwards, was a completely different photography experience. The walk highlighted popular photo subjects, starting with sunrise on Lake Erie.

At 136 feet, the Ferris wheel is one of the largest in North America.

I can’t stop myself from taking photos of pretty flower beds …

… and birds, especially with wings widespread.

I liked the effect of the color against clouds on this one.

It’s amazing how pieces of roller coasters can look like art.

I’m not a professional photographer by a longshot, but the right light, a decent camera, interesting subjects and helpful hints from others make learning fun, and definitely improve my photos.

Cedar Point, located on the shore of Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, is open late spring through summer and weekends through Halloween. Check the web site for exact schedule and directions.

Disclosure: My ticket to Bloggy Con included a free pass to Cedar Point , but any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Octane InterLounge, Rockford, Illinois: Food Prepared with Passion

Connie Food & Drink, Illinois September 28, 2014January 8, 2018Octane, Octane InterLounge, Restaurants in Rockford, Rockford, Rockford Illinois restaurants 0 Comment

The feature of the day at Octane InterLounge, Shrimp and Corn, came highly recommended by our server. One taste and I understood why. Succulent sautéed shrimp and crisp-tender yellow wax beans, combined with deep-fried sweet corn, created a harmony of taste on my tongue. Lemon beurre blanc sauce prepared with reduced white wine enhanced the dish to an orchestra of flavor. The Shrimp and Corn was the creation of head chef Patrick Alberto, who started out as a dishwasher at Octane. Read more

Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha: A Zoo Lover Must-See

Connie Attractions & Events, Nebraska September 22, 2014May 19, 2017doorly henry doorly, henrly doorly zoo omaha, Henry Doorly Zoo, henry doorly zoo address, henry doorly zoo animals, henry doorly zoo aquarium, henry doorly zoo exhibits, henry zoo, omaha things to do, omaha zoo, omaha's henry doorly zoo, the henry doorly zoo, things to do in Omaha, things to do in omaha today, what to do in omaha 0 Comment

Trip Advisor readers rank Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo as the best zoo in the world. Other rankings and polls consistently rank the zoo at the top or among the top. Of all of the zoos I have visited, I have to agree that Henry Doorly Zoo is the best, taking into consideration mainly the animal exhibits but also other zoo attractions, as well. Read more