Ship Island is Whole Again and Ready for Your Visit – Mississippi Gulf Coast Side Trip

Connie Attractions & Events, Destinations, Mississippi April 27, 2022January 27, 2024Gulf Islands National Seashort, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Mississippi Gulf Coast Things to Do, Ship Island 0 Comment

Twelve miles off the Mississippi Gulf Coast and accessible only by private boat or ferry, Ship Island was a tourist destination for years. And then, in 1969, Hurricane Camille hit. She split the island in half, creating West Ship Island and East Ship Island. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina did even more damage.

Thanks to an Army Corps of Engineers project, the two halves were reconnected in 2019, making the entire island available again via a single ferry ride.

Spend the day exploring Ship Island—or sunbathe all day. The choice is yours. Either way, a Ship Island visit is a highlight on a Gulf Coast itinerary.

3 Gulf Coast State Park Campgrounds with Beach Access

Connie Alabama, Campgrounds, Destinations, Mississippi, RV Life, Texas April 7, 2022January 27, 2024Alabama state parks, Gulf Coast State Park Campgrounds, Mississippi state parks, Texas state parks, Where to stay on the Gulf Coast 0 Comment

A sunny Gulf Coast beach is a welcome sight for Midwesterners during the winter. Most days it’s at least warm enough for a morning stroll along the beach. Listen to the waves lap against the shore, feel the sun warm your face, and your Midwest cabin fever quickly fades. Here are three Gulf Coast state park campgrounds with a beach just steps away and our experience with them. Read more

4 Mississippi Gulf Coast Museums for the History Buff

Connie Attractions & Events, Destinations, Mississippi March 29, 2022January 27, 2024Mississippi, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Mississippi Gulf Coast Museums, Mississippi Museums, Museums in Mississippi, Museums on Mississippi Gulf Coast 0 Comment

Mention the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and you may think of sunning on white sand beaches, deep-sea fishing, or dining al fresco. All of those are great Gulf Coast activities…except when the weather doesn’t cooperate. On the occasional rainy or chilly day, plan to visit one of several Mississippi Gulf Coast museums. Here are four museums that history buffs, especially, will enjoy: Read more

Midwest Zoo Holiday Lights Events

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin December 1, 2021December 14, 2023Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic, Christmas at the Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo, Columbus Zoo, Festival of Lights, Holiday lights, Indianapolis Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo Lights, saint louis zoo, St. Louis Zoo, wild lights, zoo holiday lights, zoo lights 0 Comment

Christmas festivals at zoos have become huge holiday attractions. In the Midwest alone, at least eighteen zoos celebrate with holiday lights, carols, animal shows, and even ice skating rinks. Brookfield Zoo, Chicago’s oldest holiday zoo event, is celebrating its 42nd year in 2023. But the very first zoo holiday lights event in the nation was Indianapolis Zoo’s Christmas at the Zoo, which dates back to 1967!

Many other zoos have hopped aboard the holiday festival train over the years. Here are a few highlights of eighteen Midwest zoo holiday lights events for 2023, listed by state: Read more

Du Quoin Holiday Lights Fair: Drive-Through Lights, Indoor Festival

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois November 27, 2021December 2, 2023best Christmas lights, best holiday lights, Christmas light displays, Christmas lights, Christmas lights outdoor, Christmas outdoor lights, Du Quoin Holiday Lights, Du Quoin Holiday Lights Fair, Du Quoin lights, duquoin fairgrounds, duquoin fairgrounds events, duquoin state fairgrounds, fairgrounds events, Holiday lights, Illinois Christmas lights, Illinois holiday lights, Illinois holiday lights 2015, large outdoor Christmas lights, outdoor Christmas lights, outside Christmas lights, xmas lights 4 Comments

When I was a kid, we had a family tradition of piling into the station wagon during the Christmas season and driving around town, oohing and aahing at houses decked out in lights. We’ve continued the Christmas lights tradition as adults, only now we don’t drive around neighborhoods looking for homes decorated Griswold style. Instead we find one or two big displays put on by zoos, towns or civic organizations. This year we discovered a winner with the Du Quoin Holiday Lights Fair in southern Illinois. Not only does Du Quoin display an awesome drive-through lights show; they include a big indoor fair, as well. Read more

Folepi’s Winter Wonderland, East Peoria IL: Two Miles of Holiday Lights

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois November 26, 2021December 2, 2023East Peoria Festival of Lights, East Peoria holiday lights, Folepi's Winter Wonderland, Holiday Lights in Illinois, Holiday lights in Peoria, Illinois Christmas lights, Illinois holiday lights, Peoria holiday lights 3 Comments

We’ve been so impressed with Folepi’s Winter Wonderland that we’ve gone to it several times. Folepi’s Winter Wonderland is the signature event of the East Peoria Festival of Lights. Read more