Wine and Spirits Travel

After a big, complimentary breakfast at the Holiday Inn & Suites in Hannibal, Missouri , Brittany, Amanda, and I got ready for a jam-packed day. There was quite a bit to do in the city made famous by Mark Twain , who was known in his hometown under his real name, Samuel Clemens. We had seen some of Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home & Museum the previous day and went back to visit some of the buildings we missed. It was interesting to see Becky Thatcher’s House, the Huckleberry Finn House, and J.M. Clemens Justice of the Peace Office.  Becky and Huck Finn were popular characters in the Mark Twain series , but J.M. Clemens was the actual name of Samuel Clemens father. One of my favorite exhibits within the Boyhood Home buildings was something I’d love for every child to see. It was called “Growing Up to Fast.” Using the examples of Becky, Tom, Huck, and Jim, all growing up in different levels of income, it example

It was my birthday and I planned to spend it enjoying the beauty of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I was staying at the Alger Falls Motel in Munising. The tourism board had arranged a two boat rides for me the day before and I had another one to go. It was a beautiful day for it too. The Pictured Rocks Cruises is the one I was looking forward to the most because it highlights the most beautiful rock formations in this area. I had the tour scheduled for the morning and it did not disappoint. The sites are just breathtaking, from Miners Castle to Painted Coves and Lovers Leap. It reminded me a lot of some of the things I saw in Los Cabos, Mexico . There were kayakers below us seeing Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore from a whole different angle. I have to admit I was a bit jealous that I wasn’t able-bodied enough to join them. After I got off the ship, I decided to take a drive around town. Munising is a fairly small town considering it has one of the most spectacular spots in

My first trip up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was in the wintertime. I took a ride to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and, even in winter, I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.  I vowed to come back and explore this area more and it seemed like an ideal way to spend my birthday. I left Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee and drove through Wisconsin to the UP. I had decided that Munising was a base for me to start and it was the right choice. It was near sunset when I arrived at the Alger Falls Motel . The Munising tourism board had set me up there for two nights. The rooms were large and the location was central.   I was a bit hungry and decided to go for something local. I drove down to Muldoon’s and had my very first Pastie, a local favorite they were known for.   A pasty is a hand pie looks like a cross between a turnover and a calzone, or for those who have been to the U.K., a meat pie. I decided I was not in a beef mood and got one vegetable, and one apple for de

It took us all day to drive up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, but Brittany, Jamie, and I were excited about the trip ahead of us over the Mackinac Bridge. The trip to Sault Ste Marie was a first for all of us. This city on the Lake (Superior) is filled with history and fun and we were ready to experience it. The Sault Ste Marie tourism board arranged for a large suite for us at Superior Place . It is in a good location and quite comfortable, with a pool and gym for use at the Best Western across the parking lot. We got an early start in the morning and headed downtown to find someplace for breakfast. Oh, Crepe immediately caught our eyes and we decided to go in. They have a menu with a little something for everyone. I went for the sweet ( Nutella and banana), while the girls did more savory crepes, with bacon, sausage, and eggs. This year celebrates the 350 th anniversary of Sault Ste Marie , the oldest city in the state of Michigan. Sault Ste

It was a beautiful summer day and my friend Betty and I were heading to St. Louis . We were going to spend the afternoon at the St. Louis Science Center before taking off on a Gateway Arch River Cruise for dinner. We decided to leave the car in the lot by the boat and take an Uber to the museum and back.  The cruises left right below the Gateway Arch and we had quite a view from that spot. The St. Louis Science Center is located within Forest Park. Like the other museums there, it is free to the public. We didn’t realize that the museum closed at 5:00 pm so we couldn’t see it all, but we had enough time to go through the main thing we came for: The King Tut Exhibit . With our tickets we received our recorders for the guided audio tour.  I really didn’t know what to expect since it had been many years since I had seen anything on King Tut.  This exhibit was so much more than I ever expected. It is set up so that you are walking in the