Midwest Wanderer explores history, nature, and culture through road trips along scenic and historic U.S. highways, byways and trails

Moonlight Cruise on the Spirit of Peoria

On our recent visit to Peoria, Illinois, we enjoyed a moonlight cruise on the Spirit of Peoria paddlewheel riverboat. What a perfect way to spend a late summer evening after a busy day of sightseeing!

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Midwest Wanderer

The Midwest Wanderer blog focuses on travel and tourism attractions and events throughout the Midwes

Midwest Wanderer is at World's Largest Catsup Bottle.

20 hours ago

Carmela loves water towers, especially unusual ones. We've talked about Brooks Catsup - the World's Largest Catsup Bottle water tower on Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway for years. We finally made it!#route66 ... See MoreSee Less

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Midwest Wanderer

2 days ago

Today we explored a lot of the southern section of Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway. Some highlights.Docs Just Off 66 The Uptown Tavern The Pink Elephant Antique Mall #route66 ... See MoreSee Less

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Midwest Wanderer

2 days ago

We're taking our granddaughter on a mini Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway road trip. A few highlights from Day 1.#route66 ... See MoreSee Less

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Midwest Wanderer

5 days ago

The World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota, had been on my bucket list for years. We finally made it there in the fall of 2019. Although today this is the world’s only corn palace, it wasn’t the first. The first was in Sioux City, Iowa, which opened in 1887. It was so popular that over the next half-century at least 34 grain palaces were built across Midwest towns. However, the only one that lasted into the 21st century is the one in Mitchell, and it’s a-maize-ing to see.Each year the World's Only Corn Palace is redecorated, using at least a dozen natural colors of corn, plus other grains and natural grasses. Travel South Dakota Visit Mitchell! #cornpalace ... See MoreSee Less

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Midwest Wanderer

1 week ago

We’re always excited when we come across a Muffler Man we didn’t know existed. That happened twice on our recent Kansas trip. Skip noticed the first one as we passed Brown's Tire in Wichita. Appropriately, the giant is holding a small tire in one hand.Then, as we were exploring the Dodge City Trail of Fame we came across another one: LaSalsa Man. According to an informational sign near the fiberglass statue, LaSalsa Man was a soda jerk carrying a hamburger before being transformed by artist Bob “Daddy O” Wade. Wade used the hamburger bun top for the sombrero and the bun bottom for the tray.The late actor Dennis Hopper once owned LaSalsa Man. After Hopper’s passing, the 26-foot tall statue was donated to Dodge City, Hopper’s home town. Visit Wichita Dodge City Convention & Visitors Bureau Kansas Tourism #ksmediaevent23 #MufflerMan #ToTheStarsKS ... See MoreSee Less

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