Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts

Thursday, August 12, 2021

A Wildlife Oasis in Illinois You Can Stay At


It wasn’t easy to make the decision to go on my first trip after the pandemic started. I am high risk and had been good about sheltering at home and only staying around people within my pod. I hadn’t even seen my family, with the exception of a few, short, outdoor visits with my mom, who lives nearby in an assisted living.

I was definitely ready to get out for a bit and, when researching outdoor activities in the outskirts of Peoria (I was going there to see my puppy, who wasn’t quite ready to go home), I came across the perfect place for a safe getaway.


Wildlife Prairie Park is in Hanna City, Illinois, about three hours from Chicago. It’s a tremendous 1,800 acres that offers a ton of outdoor activities for all ages and abilities. It also happens to have an unusual selection of accommodations,

My friend, Joan, and I met with Brad Windsor, Volunteer Coordinator, and Sam Himegarner, Director of Hospitality, at our accommodation for the next two nights. We were one of the first to stay in a new Legacy Cabin.

The cabins have everything needed, for a family to stay for a few days, or even a week. There’s a full kitchen, large living room (with flat screen cable tv), two bedrooms, and a full bathroom.

The most special thing about the cabin is the backyard. You can sit on your patio and sip coffee in the morning, or barbecue on the grill in the evening, while watching the bison and elk roam in the pasture.

It’s hard to believe the park has been open since 1978 and it’s not better known.

Brad and Sam took us around in a jeep to get acquainted with the surroundings, which we would explore more over the next two days.

The park has five lakes, most of which you can kayak and/or fish at. There are hiking trails that are accessible (I brought my medical scooter) and others that are for the more experienced.

There’s also disc golf, mountain biking, a 30-foot sliding board, an Adventure Trek behind the scenes tour, and, of course, lots of wildlife.

They try to keep it to wildlife indigenous to the Midwest. Among them are Longhorn bulls, a black bear, bison, elk, owls, eagles, and a groundhog, Gerdie. Brad pointed out that Gerdie has a better record at predicting the weather than Punxsutawney Phil does.

We ended the tour with plans to get together the next day and check out some of the specific areas of the park. Joan and I decided to head to downtown Hanna City and find someplace to eat.

I had read online about Gil’s Supper Club and it sounded like a good place for some comfort food. I was right.

Gil’s has outdoor and indoor (bench) seating and a very big menu. I rarely eat fried food, but when they told me the chicken had its own fryer, it sounded quite good. It was and the portion was huge. I only ate about half, saving it with the rest of my potato and coleslaw.

Joan had the fried shrimp, which she said was delicious. The menu also includes chicken and seafood combos, pork chops, tenderloin, burgers, and more. Even the kids’ menu has a varied selection.

We went back to the Wildlife Prairie Park and relaxed in the cabin before bedtime. We had a big day of exploring, and a visit to Kickapoo Creek Winery, coming up.

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Dosh to Summer Fun and Vacation Deals

Last month, I talked about a new app I’m helping to promote called, Dosh. I was impressed with all the cash back offered when shopping with just a few easy clicks.

I’m back to tell you more about how you can use Dosh to have more fun this summer, whether it’s a staycation or a vacation.

Looking to travel to NY? Great rates at dozens of hotels PLUS up get $50, $100, $150 or more back in cash in your dosh account. You can also get tickets for the Circle Line, the Empire State Building, and a Hop-on, Hop-off bus tour.

These deals are available in most major cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami. If you want to explore on your own, car rental deals with cash back are also on the Dosh App.

Whether you are traveling out of town or enjoying your hometown, Dosh also has cash back offerings at chain restaurants such as Jack in the Box and Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, as well as local restaurants throughout the country.

For the summer, Chuck E. Cheese is giving 5% back to Dosh subscribers on all purchases over $30. Whether you are escaping the heat or the rain, or just looking for something fun to do with the family, stay comfortable while the kids enjoy games and pizza.

The thing I like the most about Dosh is that I don’t even have to remember to use it at all these places. I enter my credit cards securely* in the app (and receive $1 cash for each one I put in). The system takes MasterCard, Visa, and American Express. You can enter as many cards as you’d like.

Every time I use one of those cards at a Dosh participating store, restaurant, hotel, or activity, the cashback is automatically put into my Dosh account. No rebate forms, coupons, or having to remember to click somewhere.  

I can take money out of my Dosh account anytime I reach $15. I can transfer it into PayPal or write into my bank account. I also have the option to use the money to make a donation to over two million charities.

Dosh is available for smartphones and tablet devices at the App Store and at Google Play. Just sign up here. New cash back opportunities are being added daily.

Dosh security information is here.

This is a #sponsored post

Thursday, June 15, 2017

My First Trip to Branson, Missouri

Branson, Missouri has been on my list of places to visit in the Midwest for years. Since it was a bit of a drive (about seven hours) and there is a ton to see and do there, I wanted to make sure there was enough time.

I planned the time and the crew for a perfect five days girls’ getaway, that would end with an extra-special birthday.

Brittany has traveled with me many times, but this was my friend Marsha’s first adventure with us. Marsha and I had actually met on social media when I saw we had mutual friends and a very similar name.

She’s Marsha Lynne and I’m Marcia Lynn. As we became closer, our friends started referring to us as ML1 and ML2. So, this was the first of many trips for ML^.

We picked up Amanda in Alton, Illinois, and decided our lunch stop was going to be our favorite barbecue place in Missouri, SuperSmokers in Eureka.

Their BBQ Nachos, corn chips topped with brisket, chicken, pulled pork, tomatoes, cheese, and baked beans, are not to be matched anywhere.

We over-ordered as usual and took the leftovers to go as we hit the road to Branson.

The trip went smoothly and we checked into our hotel for the next four nights, the Radisson Hotel Branson. It’s a very large hotel and has a lobby welcoming families and groups with seating areas and plenty of information available on everything to do in the area.

We had two adjoining rooms with two beds each (the Radisson is very accommodating to families). We also had refrigerators in the rooms which were perfect for drinks and leftovers.

The hotel is in the center of this resort town, filled with restaurants, hotels, and attractions. It was just a few minutes from our first activity, the Legends in Concert show.

I had only been to one other Legends in Concert show before (on a cruise ship) and this was much better than I expected.

Marsha and I had some fun posing with the Blues Brothers statues inside before grabbing some popcorn and settling into the very large Dick Clark Theater.

Dancers welcomed us first, followed by the impersonators. Each had a chance to do multiple songs.

The Brooks and Dunn singers started were first, looking like the originals and finishing with a wonderful tribute to Vets, with the American Flag in the background.

The Blues Brothers performers were not only right on, but they encouraged audience participation, making for a very funny performance.

Elvis didn’t look much like the Mr. Presley, but he certainly sounded and danced like him.

The Michael Jackson impersonator was a perfect choice in every way, including when it was time to moon walk.

I was disappointed when the Celine Dion came out because she didn’t look anything like her, but when she started belting out the tunes, it didn’t matter.

Every month there is a different additional performer and we were lucky enough to see the Bruno Mars impersonator, who was great at and off the piano.

The show ended with all the performers singing and dancing.

They had one of the Blues Brothers cars, as well as the Car from Cars. Inside the museum they show all 7 cars from Fast & Furious, as well as vehicles from Transformers, and Back to the Future.

Before we left the parking lot, we Looked around at the outside cars from the adjacent Celebrity Car Museum & Attraction.

Since we had a big, late lunch, we never did have dinner. We discovered the one thing Branson doesn’t have is restaurants open late.

It was a good excuse for some Dairy Queen comfort food, before we headed back to the Radisson for a good night’s sleep. It would be a full next day in Branson.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Relaxation and Culinary Theater in Riviera Maya

It was my third day as a guest of Karisma Hotels in Riviera Maya and I couldn’t have been more relaxed.

Every morning my friend Roberta and I had talked about breakfast at one of the Generations or El Dorado restaurants.

The room service options were just so convenient, included in the all-inclusive plan, and offered many delicious choices we couldn’t resist indulging in breakfast in bed.

I started my day with a veggie-filled omelet, fruit, a croissant, and coffee.

Roberta went to explore the El Dorado Riviera Maya properties and do some shopping while I relaxed. I was nursing an ankle injury so I was content to relax on one of the lounge chairs in the water behind our swim-up suite.

When she returned, we ventured out for the short swim to the bar for some drinks. It was a beautiful day and the water felt great in the hot sun.

We didn’t want to leave the pool area so we just ordered lunch from Palms Gourmet Terrace.

I had loved their carnitas tacos on the first day at Generations and we both decided to order them.

After lunch, we decided to head to the beach. Generations, as well as its sister resorts El Dorado Royale and El Dorado Casitas, is located on a great stretch of sand.

For my time down at the beach, I put on a tankini Eco Swim by Aqua Green had sent me. I really loved the fit and style. I was comfortable walking around in it and protected by the built-in SPF.

Eco also sent me a really comfy hooded cover-up to further shield me from the sun as I got comfortable on one of the Bali Beds on the beach.

I wished I could go in the water as I watched Roberta wading in the blue sea, but I couldn’t complain about the view from where I was sitting.

We had a very special dinner for our last night. We were lucky enough to be in town for one of the Culinary Theater Banquets at Fuentes Restaurant at El Dorado Royale, the adults-only resort next door to Generations.

El Dorado Royale invites a guest celebrity chef in for the night to work with one of their partners. In this case, it was Jackson Family Wines.

When we arrived, there was a mariachi band and wine waiting for us.

Inside the tables were formally set with a five wine glasses in front of us, one for each course.

Our guest chef was Eli Kirshstein, the Chef Partner of The Luminary, Atlanta. He was also a participant on Top Chef: Las Vegas.

Working with him as he made and explained every course was Elyse Kudo, Division Vice President for Jackson Family Wines.

While explaining everything, Chef Eli Kirshtein put his photo up on the wall with the other chefs who have put together these unique culinary events.

Here was our menu for the night:

Local Fish Ceviche & Tigers Milk
Avocado Salad*
Freemark Abbey, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, 2012

Beef Tartare with French Onion Dip, Caviar & Chips
Matanzas Creek, Sauvignon Blanc, Helena Bench, 2012**

Spiny Lobster with Sweet & Sour Puree, English Peas
Chicken substituting for lobster*
Gran Moraine Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton 2012

Duck Breast with Beets, Swiss Chard, Pickled Strawberries
Donna Olimpia, 1898, Rosso, Bolgheri, 2010

Cinnamon Panna Cotta with baked fruit cake, honeytuile, and a fruit sorbet
Kendall Jackson Riesling, Vintners Reserve, Monterrey County, 2013

Between courses, Chef Kirshstein and Elyse Kudo were happy to answer audience questions.

It was a fun evening, but we were happy to have an employee take us back to our suite in Generations Riviera Maya when it was done.

When we arrived, my bed was made up with a towel elephants and roses for my final night. I was looking forward to one more night of falling asleep to the sounds of the ocean.


*These items were substituted for me since I have a seafood allergy. 

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Activities, Spa and Food in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

My friend Lisa and I had enjoyed our first day at the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, but day two was filled with more fun – and food.

We were up early for a great yoga class at Osthoff’s AspiraSpa. It was the perfect start to the day.

I was starving by the time we got to breakfast at Otto’s Restaurant, but there was plenty to eat there. I had a fruit smoothie and German Potato Pancakes, while Lisa loved the eggs benedict.

We were both excited to try snowshoeing for the first time and we headed over to Quit Qui Oc Golf Course. Todd Montaba, the owner, helped us both with the equipment and showed us the map of the trails we could take.

Since it was our first time out, we didn’t go that far, but it was a lot of fun and a sport I’m sure I’ll try again.

On the way back to the Osthoff Resort, we passed Road America.

Road Racing started in Elkhart Lake in 1950 with an open race circuit here. The Road America location is still a big attraction, as international events still take place on the 640 acres the center is on, within the Kettle Moraine State Forest.

While racing grew, so did this Wisconsin resort town, with beaches, restaurants and bars. Accommodations from home rentals and inns were built, but the mainstay was and is the three major resorts: Victorian Village, Siebken’s, and the largest, Osthoff Lake Resort.

When we returned we decided to spend the afternoon relaxing in the spa. We spent some time in the meditation room, as well as the whirlpool and the sauna. 

It definitely eased the muscles that had experienced snowshoeing for the first time. We were excited that we would be returning in the morning for treatments at the spa.

Lisa and I showered and dressed for dinner at the Elkhart Inn. 

It was just down the road still and a property of Osthoff Resort.

The Elkhart Inn was quaint and I’d have to say the perfect place for a romantic dinner – or a girls’ getaway meal.

The menu was definitely meat centric and, while this thrilled Lisa, the flexitarian in me still found options which sounded delicious.

We ordered some wine from their extensive wine list and started off with a perfectly roasted brie, served with sautéed mushrooms, as well as some freshly made soup.

After consulting the waiter on the best options, Lisa decided on the Elk Chop and I had the pappardelle pasta. We both agreed they were good choices.

We were full, but took to the suggestion to bring the rest of our dinners back to our suite so we had room for dessert. It was hard to argue and we lingered with coffee, apple caramel crisp and cheesecake.                                                           


It was a long day filled with fun and food and we were more than ready to retire for the night, but decided to have a nightcap at the Elk Room before going to our room. We still had one day left to enjoy the Osthoff Resort