Wine and Spirits Travel

After a good night’s sleep in our spacious suite at the Superior Place in Sault Ste. Marie, Brittany, Jamie, and I got ready for our morning breakfast meeting. We were getting together with Linda Hoath, Executive Director of the Sault Area Convention and Visitors Bureau . She had graciously put together this trip for us last minute after one in a nearby area did not work out. We met Linda at the Lock View Restaurant downtown. It was right across the street from the Soo Locks and you could see both the American and Canadian sides from the building. Everything on the menu looked great, but our host recommended the pancakes and I went for the chocolate chip ones. They were as good as she said. The other ladies had eggs and we were all quite full as we learned more about the area and the plans about other activities on our list. After we finished eating, we walked around town and looked through some more shops. Linda pointed out the Michigan Made sto

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

I couldn’t believe when I looked it up that it had actually been seven years since I was in Louisville, Kentucky . It was one of those places I had looked forward to returning to soon, but never got around to it. When I had the chance to cover the first annual Bourbon & Beyond Festival, I knew it was also a chance to get back to a Kentucky favorite, which happens to be only a few hours away from my home in Champaign. Brittany, Jamie, and I headed out first thing on Friday morning, so we could get to Louisville in time for a full day. The tourism board had helped me arrange some fun and unique things to do. Day one was set downtown and our first stop was someplace none of us had ever been, the  Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory . To say that this place makes baseball bats would be a huge understatement. It is a baseball lover’s must – and I happen to be one. We had a private tour through the museum and factory as we watched t

It was a misty day in Halifax . It seemed fitting for this Nova Scotia city with a very English background. My daughter, Sam, and I were staying at the regal Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites for one night before heading to Fox Harb’r Resort on the other end of the island. We woke up early and ate at the hotel’s breakfast buffet, which was filled with fresh fruit, pastries, eggs, and more. From there we took an Uber to Harbour for Ambassatours Deluxe Halifax City Tour. The tour would be by bus and start in front of the Maritime Museum. The ride was comfortable, and the guide was terrific, filling us in on tons of historical facts as we went through the sites. It had been 30 years since I had been to Nova Scotia , and Sam had never been, so we welcomed the information. We only had a short orientation, but I’d love to come back and see the sites in depth.  The city is filled with historical buildings and churches, and the Victorian Public Gardens, but two