Midwest Wanderer

We've been to many nice drive-thru lights festivals across the Midwest, but the Lights of Joy in Shipshewana, Indiana, tops all we've experienced, in our opinion. The two-mile drive packs in over three million LED lights, creating a truly magicalRead more The post Shipshewana Lights of Joy: The Ultimate Drive-Thru Wonderland appeared first on .

As you drive up the coast of Southwest Michigan, you pass through beach town after beach town dotting the shore of Lake Michigan. All of these towns have a beach, of course, most have a downtown area filled with shopsRead more The post 6 Unique Southwest Michigan Beach Towns You Need to Visit appeared first on .

We've been to a lot of botanic gardens, in the Midwest and other parts of the U.S. So, when we say Botanica, the Wichita Gardens is at the top of our list of favorites, it means a lot. What makesRead more The post Beyond Blooms: The Wonders of Botanica, the Wichita Gardens first appeared on . The post Beyond Blooms: The Wonders of Botanica, the Wichita Gardens appeared first on .

Road trips are our thing. Add history and nature, toss in a little culture, and it's a perfect combination. That's what we found as we explored the historic mills of the Missouri Ozarks. The mills date back as far asRead more The post Exploring Historic Mills of the Missouri Ozarks appeared first on .

Midwest Wanderer Podcast Episode 2 – July 9, 2024 Welcome to the Midwest Wanderer Podcast Episode 2. In this episode we chat about local events, particularly free local summer concerts found throughout the Midwest. If You'd Rather Read… Editor's Note:Read more The post Free Local Summer Concerts appeared first on .

Midwest Wanderer Podcast Episode 1 – July 3, 2024 Welcome to the Midwest Wanderer Podcast Episode 1. In the inaugural episode of our weekly podcast, we start with a talk about weather preparedness. Then, we chat about our recent visitsRead more The post Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park and Hannibal MO appeared first on .

We planned a quick outing to visit sculpture parks in three Chicago suburbs. Instead, we spent the entire day exploring public art and Lake Katherine in Palos Heights, Illinois. In Case You'd Rather Read… Before we left home, I printedRead more The post Palos Heights Public Art and Lake Katherine: A Day of Art and Nature appeared first on .

A while back, the folks at Visit Kenosha asked if Skip and I would like to go on a Kenosha Charter Boat Association fishing excursion on Lake Michigan. My answer was, it sounds like fun but I haven't fished since I was in high school. Even then, someone else baited the hook.  They assured me ... Read more The post Kenosha Charter Boat Fishing Excursion: No Experience Needed appeared first on .

Abilene, Kansas, was the first of the cow towns in the Wild West. Today, Old Abilene Town recreates those days with buildings that simulate the 1870s Abilene and museums that tell the history of the Chisholm trail, cattle drives, andRead more The post Old Abilene Town Recalls Wild West Days appeared first on .

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. The LincolnsRead more The post Experience 1845 Life at the Lincoln Log Cabin appeared first on .

Memorial Day is coming up, marking the beginning of the summer driving season. That means heavier traffic on the roads and greater potential for driving mishaps—or even tragedies. To help ensure you arrive at your destinations safely, follow these 7Read more The post 7 Tips for Driving Safely This Summer appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Colonel George Davenport, founder of Davenport, Iowa, and first white settler in the area, led a family life that today would be fodder for the tabloids. Regardless, as a sutler for the U.S. Army, fur trader, and representative of IndiansRead more The post Colonel Davenport House: History on the Mississippi appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Howard Steamboat Museum in Jeffersonville, Indiana, pays tribute to the Howard family and their steamboat building company. The tour combines a history of the ornate Edmonds and Laura Howard mansion and the shipyard located across the street, which the HowardRead more The post Howard Steamboat Museum Pays Tribute to Early Riverboat Company appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Watch as Connie walks through the Mississippi River. She and Skip are at the Mississippi River headwaters in Itasca State Park, near Bemidji, Minnesota. The 2,552 mile Mississippi River begins here as a small stream flowing from Lake Itasca. ListenRead more The post Itasca State Park: Mississippi River Headwaters appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Aviator Charles Lindbergh gained his fame as the first person to successfully complete a solo transatlantic flight. The Charles Lindbergh Museum in Little Falls, Minnesota, chronicles his life and career with exhibits and films. On a tour of the adjacentRead more The post Charles Lindbergh House and Museum: Childhood Antics appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

It’s eagle watching season. As the weather becomes colder and bald eagles migrate south down the Mississippi Flyway, people travel to those same places in hopes of catching a glimpse of the national bird. Some of the best places toRead more The post Eagle Watching on the Mississippi Flyway appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

The lightweight Beechcraft 35 Bonanza civilian airplane, produced post-World War II, was expensive compared to other personal aircraft. Because of the steep price, mostly professionals, like doctors and lawyers, could afford them. The tail, an unusual V shape, was designedRead more The post Mid-America Air Museum: 100+ Aircraft, Home-Built to Military appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Bar brawls and gunfights were the norm in Dodge City’s early days. Today, it’s a thriving cattle city. On the Dodge City Trolley Tour we learned about both the city’s lawless Old West days, and about today’s thriving cattle industry,Read more The post Dodge City Trolley Tour: Exploring Queen of Cow Towns appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

When we saw people sledding down the sand dunes at White Sands National Monument last spring, I wanted to do it, too. So when we wandered beyond the Midwest again on another trip out west, we detoured back to WhiteRead more The post White Sands National Monument: Sledding and Hiking appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Did you know that ninety-five percent of pumpkins for processing in the United States are grown in Illinois? Specifically, they’re grown in and near Morton, a town southeast of Peoria, home to a large Libby’s cannery. Every September, Morton celebratesRead more The post Morton Pumpkin Festival Celebrates Pumpkin Capital appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

In this podcast, we chat about exploring byways and trails. If you’re a regular Midwest Wanderer reader, you know we do a lot of road trips. Some of our favorite trips are along scenic or historic byways. And then thereRead more The post Exploring Byways and Trails appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Day 13: Quad Cities to home The weather on the last day of our trip was rather gloomy. Since the skies looked like they could open at any time, we skipped traveling on the Channel Cat Water Taxi. Instead, weRead more The post Podcast: Great River Road Day 13 appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Day 12: Quad Cities, Illinois and Iowa Day 12 was museum day for us. We started out at the German American Heritage Center and Museum in Davenport. We went there specifically to see the temporary Steam Circus exhibit, but foundRead more The post Podcast: Great River Road Day 12 appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Day 11: Fulton, Illinois, to Quad Cities Following a breakfast treat at Krumpet’s Bakery in Fulton, we crossed back into Iowa to visit the Sawmill Museum in Clinton. The museum is much larger than we expected it to be, andRead more The post Podcast: Great River Road Days 11 appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Day 10: Dubuque, Iowa, to Fulton, Illinois Our first stop after breakfast was the Julien Dubuque Memorial. The memorial overlooks the Mississippi River—gorgeous views—in the Mines of Spain State Park. Afterward, since I can’t resist a cave, we toured CrystalRead more The post Podcast: Great River Road Day 10 appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Day 9: Exploring Dubuque, Iowa We try to seek out unique attractions on our travels, so we couldn’t miss the Fenelon Place Elevator in Dubuque, the world’s steepest, shortest scenic railway. We then spent the rest of the day atRead more The post Podcast: Great River Road Day 9 appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Day 8: Fountain City, Wisconsin, to Dubuque, Iowa Back on the road, we again crossed back and forth between Wisconsin and Minnesota, stopping for Mass at the Shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse and brunch at theRead more The post Podcast: Great River Road Day 8 appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Day 7: Saint Paul to Fountain City, Wisconsin After picking up a healthy road trip snack food at the Saint Paul Farmers Market, we got back on the road. We passed back and forth between Minnesota and Wisconsin and stoppedRead more The post Podcast: Great River Road Day 7 appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Day 6: Explore more of Saint Paul We try to tour a state capitol whenever we visit a capital city. So, on Day 6 that’s what we did in Saint Paul, followed by historic Fort Snelling. We ended our dayRead more The post Podcast: Great River Road Day 6 appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Day 5: Great River Road through Minnesota: Saint Cloud to Saint Paul Early on Day 5, we left got back on the Great River Road in Saint Cloud and continued to our destination in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where we wouldRead more The post Podcast: Great River Road Day 5 appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Day 4: St. Cloud and St. Joseph From the gorgeous Munsinger and Clemens Gardens to St. John’s University in St. Joseph, and back to St. Cloud for Summertime by George, our day was packed. Don’t miss a Midwest Wanderer post.Read more The post Podcast: Great River Road Day 4 appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Day 3: Bemidji to St. Cloud Starting our day with the Bemidji sculpture walk, we then continued on the Great River Road to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, then went on to St. Cloud, Minnesota, and a St.Read more The post Podcast: Great River Road Day 3 appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Day 2: Mississippi River Headwaters back to Bemidji On Day 2 we drove to Lake Itasca State Park, where the Mississippi River begins, and walked across the river. After exploring more of the state park, we drove the winding GreatRead more The post Podcast: Great River Road Day 2 appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.

Day 1: Traveling to Bemidji We begin the Midwest Wanderer Great River Road adventure at the Lindbergh House in Little Falls, Minnesota. We stopped there on the way up because it wouldn’t be open on the day we passed throughRead more The post Podcast: Great River Road Day 1 appeared first on Midwest Wanderer.