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Showing posts with the label museum

More to See in Joliet, Illinois

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After an exciting night at the Illinois Rock and Roll Hallof Fame Induction , my friend Lisa and I stayed at Harrah’s Joliet hotel. In the morning, we went downtown to explore. With Lisa walking and me in my scooter, the town looked easy to navigate on this beautiful day. We hadn’t eaten since early the previous evening, so we were ready for breakfast at the Route 66 Diner . The diner was decorated to pay tribute to the popular roadway that comes right through this town. There was no doubt as to what I was going to eat as they actually had a dish named “Marcia’s Platter.” No one seemed to know how it got its name, but the plate of scrambled eggs, vegetables, hashbrowns, and cheese was just what I wanted (with a side of pancakes). Lisa chose the Eggs Benedict and we relaxed with our coffee for awhile before heading back on the street. The downtown is quaint with lots of shops. We took a few minutes to stop at Sue Regis Glass to see some of the creations being made. I’m not

A Variety of Chicago in the WInter

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The first time I was every in Chicago was in the winter. It was after the holidays, but many of the decorations were still up.  It was freezing (-12!). I still thought the city was magical. Fourteen years later, I live two hours away and love taking trips to Chicago. I can’t tell you that I know my way around the city because I’m always looking to discover something new, or at least new to me. I went to a different section of the city to a museum I have never heard of before.  Wndr Museum is nothing like any other museum I’ve ever been. It’s fun enough for adults, and perfect for a family outing. It was just Brittany and I on this outing. While the modern art is beautiful, this museum is more about experiencing it than looking at it. Mirrors, music, textures, and shapes help you immerse yourself into the wonders of the Wndr Museum.  At the end, there’s something else for kids of all ages. Instead of the usual hot dog and popcorn snack bar, th

More Cheap Trick, Gardens & Brew in Rockford

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When I planned my trip to Rockford , I heard from quite a few people that I must have breakfast at The Stockholm. I was a bit disappointed when it wasn’t on our (very full) schedule, but a twist of fate brought us there anyway.  The first stop of the day on the Rockford itinerary for Brittany, Amanda, and I was the Anderson Japanese Gardens. We were to have brunch there and then explore.  Since they were also having an event that day, there was no brunch. That opened up our chance to go to The Stockholm. This restaurant is on the Cheap Trick Trail because of the Rick Nielsen connection. He’s a part-owner and full lover of this restaurant.  The menu is huge, reminding me of a New York diner, but Swedish specialties where you would see Greek ones. Due to the breakfast mix-up, we were starving by the time we sat down. I ordered a Swedish Coffee Cake for us to share while we waited.  It was as scrumptious as it looked and certainly whet our appetite for the rest. I alwa

Food, Discovery, and Wakeboarding in Rockford

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The Go Rockford Convention & Visitors Bureau set me up with a full schedule of things to do in Rockford. Fortunately, I had Brittany and Amanda to help me out. One of the facts we were learning about Rockford is about the large Norwegian and Swedish population that came here. There was a direct link from Ellis Island to Rockford, Illinois, because of the industry here and many of those immigrants established   themselves and remained in the area.   Our breakfast was at The Norwegian , known for authentic food, homemade jams, and even their own mocha sauce (delicious in a mocha latte). They also have a stage for music.  We had our first taste of Æbleskiver, Danish pancake balls. They were quite good, as was the omelet and steak & eggs.   After breakfast we drove to Riverfront Museum Campus . We started at the Discover Center Museum. It’s a great family outing as the exhibits appeal to all ages.  There are also plenty of hands-on activities to keep kid

The Last of Hannibal

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Hannibal, Missouri , turned out to be one of those destinations with endless things to do. Although I’m sure we didn’t hit it all, we did squeeze a lot more into the last day. After a delicious complimentary breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites , I was still feeling pretty fatigued, so I sent Brittany and Amanda to check out a few places that required walking through. They were mesmerized by Big River Train Town and Karlocks Kars and Pop Culture . Both places had families having fun and plenty of picture moments. There were also lots more photographs for them to take at Rockcliffe Mansion , an American castle that overlooks the Mississippi River. At the turn of the 20 th century, Mark Twain himself spoke from the staircase that covers the three floors of this perfectly decorated historic building. They told me the pictures only showed some of its beauty. We checked out of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites and stoppe

Literature and History in Hannibal, Missouri

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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