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

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield: Civil War on the Family Farm

Connie Attractions & Events, Missouri July 13, 2016August 1, 2016cilson's creek battle, civil war battles in missouri, creek civil war, missouri facts, missouri national parks, national parks in missouri, Springfield Missouri, Springfield MO, springfield mo tourism, springfield mo tourist attractions, things to do in springfield missouri, things to do in springfield mo, tourist attractions in springfield missouri, tourist attractions in springfield mo, wilson creek, wilson creek battlefield, wilson creek civil war battle, wilson creek national battle4field, wilson's creek battlefield, wilson's creek national battlefield 6 Comments

John Ray stood in his cornfield watching the nightmarish scene unfold before him, the rest of his family crouched in the farmhouse cellar. Cannon booms resonated in the usually quiet setting. Soldiers’ cries pierced the hot, humid summer Ozark air as bloody bodies fell. The Battle of Wilson’s Creek, in which 1,317 Union Soldiers and 1,222 Confederate soldiers lost their lives, is considered the first significant Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River. John Ray’s farmhouse is the only original structure that still stands today. It is one of the eight interpretive stops at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield in Springfield, Missouri.

Hurts Donut: Wackiest Donuts Ever

Connie Food & Drink, Missouri November 17, 2015May 25, 2018bakeries in springfield mo, donut shop in Springfield MO, Hurts Donut, hurts donut company, Hurts Donut Springfield, hurts review, Springfield Missouri, springfield missouri donuts, Springfield MO, Springfield MO doughnuts, wacky donuts 10 Comments

The young man at the Hurts Donut counter in Springfield, Missouri, told us, “When they first started, people were like, people aren’t gonna wait out in a line for a donut.” Yet, two days before our visit, a Sunday morning, there was a line out the door for four hours. What’s all the hype over donuts? One look in the donut cases will tell you. Hurts donuts are the wackiest, most over-the-top donuts I have ever eaten.

Askinosie: Single-Source Beans to Chocolate

Connie Agritourism, Missouri, Shopping July 6, 2015January 8, 2018Askinosie, Askinosie Chocolate, Chocolate, Springfield Missouri, Springfield MO 2 Comments

I’ve tasted artisan dark chocolate candies from shops throughout the Midwest. I’ve savored every bit of every chocolate I’ve nibbled: chocolate infused with flavors like rosemary or chili; beautiful chocolates with a colorful coating painted like artwork; and decadent dark chocolate truffles. But until I discovered Askinosie Chocolate, I had never had an artisan chocolate made completely from scratch, starting with the bean.

Farmers Market of the Ozarks: A Foodie’s Gold Mine

Connie Missouri, Shopping March 31, 2015May 14, 2015Farmers Market of the Ozarks, Missouri attractions, Missouri farmers markets, Missouri tourism, Springfield Missouri, Springfield MO, Springfield MO farmers market 0 Comment

A good farmers market is a foodie’s gold mine. Veggies and fruits, organic meats and eggs, artisan breads and organic honey brought to the market directly from the growers and producers are as fresh as you’ll find. The Farmers Market of the Ozarks (FMO) brings all of that, and more, to you each week, year-round. The impressive market opened in April of 2012. Only one year later it was named the number 15 farmers market in the country by The Daily Dish.

A Nostalgic Stay at the Route 66 Rail Haven Motel in Springfield, Missouri

Connie Missouri February 18, 2015April 2, 2018Best Western Rail Haven, Rail Haven Motel, Route 66 motels, Springfield Missouri, Springfield Missouri motels, Springfield MO 0 Comment

It was 1938, the heyday of The Mother Road, when brothers Elwyn and Lawrence Lippman built eight sandstone cottages on their grandfather’s apple orchard along Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri, and accented the property with a rail fence. By 1946 the motel had grown to 28 rooms. In the early 1950s it became part of the newly formed Best Western chain of motels. The property went through many upgrades from the mid-1950s to the early 1970s, including changing from cottages to a strip motel. However, by the early 1990s, the Rail Haven had started to slip.

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Midwest Wanderer

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

Midwest Wanderer

3 days ago

Have you ever ridden on a canal boat pulled by a mule? It's the way they transported goods—and people—down the Illinois & Michigan Canal from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. Today you can experience a canal boat ride on the I&M Canal in LaSalle, Illinois.I&M Canal National Heritage Area Lock 16 Cafe and Visitor Center Enjoy Illinois ... See MoreSee Less

Ride the Mule-Pulled Illinois and Michigan Canal Boat -

midwestwanderer.com

Experience an Illinois and Michigan Canal Boat ride in LaSalle, Illinois. The boat is pulled by a mule, as they were in the 1800s.

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Midwest Wanderer

4 days ago

On our second (and final) day exploring the southern section of Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, we had big plans. We were heading first thing to the end of the 1930-40 alignment to walk on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. Then, we’d cut over to the 1940-77 alignment to see The World's Largest Catsup Bottle. Finally, we’d work our way back up to several of the places we missed our first day due to lack of time. Best laid plans…After starting our day a little later than planned, we got stuck in construction traffic in Edwardsville. Then, we missed a turn and ended up going over the McKinley Bridge (1926-30 alignment) into St. Louis. That was okay, because we had never crossed that bridge before. But then we got stuck in more construction traffic.It was past noon by the time we arrived at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. Do we just take a quick picture and be on our way? Heck no! We’re here, let’s do it right. So, we walked all the way across the bridge to the Missouri side and back (two miles total).By now, it’s 1:30 p.m., so we’re on our way to the catsup bottle. It took a while to get there, photograph the bottle and start heading back north.A late lunch at @Weezy's Route 66 in Hamel, and then back to The Pink Elephant Antique Mall, our last stop for this trip. (We arrived there after hours the day before, so we went back to browse inside the shop.)There is so much to see and do in the southern section of Illinois Route 66, we didn’t have time for it all in two days. Which means we’ll just have to plan a return trip. ... See MoreSee Less

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