Wine and Spirits Travel

My friend Joan and I had been enjoying Wildlife Prairie Park , just outside of Peoria, Illinois. It was a perfect post-pandemic trip with lots of space in the open air. Brad Windsor, Volunteer Coordinator, and Sam Himegarner, Director of Hospitality, picked us up in the morning for another tour. The property is so big we still hadn’t seen it all between the first day tour and our previous day exploration. Our first stop was to see Mike the bison. The 19-yer-old was once a movie star and now shares his home with Elsa the elk. We took a look at the banquet hall. It can hold up to 200 people and the ability to both have a moonrise and sunrise over an open patio makes it an ideal wedding location. I was impressed with Hazel’s Overlook. Beyond the spectacular views is Native American folklore plaques dedicated to Hazel Rutherford. She and her husband Bill were major benefactors of the park. I was also happy to see the park is set up for accessibility in many areas. I was able

The bison didn’t come out to greet me while I had my morning coffee on the patio, but there was definitely a sense of peacefulness to start my day with.     My friend Joan and I were staying at this hidden gem in Central Illinois. Not only did we get to enjoy this enormous scenic part, but it was filled with (mostly contained) wildlife and we had a brand-new cabin to stay in where the bison roamed in Wildlife Prairie Park .   After breakfast and coffee, we took the car down to the main entrance and boarded the train. It’s a great way to get acquainted with the park. You’ll get a basic overview from the conductor as you pass through the highlights.  There is also a stop at the Pioneer area and butterfly habitat. You can get off to explore and pick up a train later to go back to the station.   We met with Brad and Sam at the Visitors Center. It’s worth a stop as there’s a lot of information on the area, from how it figures into the history of American Agriculture to charts of

I always enjoy my trips to St. Louis. There is always so much to do there. I try to stay over, but sometimes a day trip is better than not going at all. I headed west with my friend Brittany and her brother, Jacob. We picked up Amanda on the way and we were ready to have some fun. The first stop was City Museum . I was a City Museum once before and was extremely impressed. It’s nearly impossible to see everything on one trip, plus they do change some of the exhibits, so I was more than ready to go back. You know at the beginning your in someplace different because the ticket counter was actually a teller’s box from the St. Louis Title Company. I think the Caves at City Museum is my favorite spot. The formations inside are fascinating. You just have to keep track of where you are – and watch your step. I wouldn’t let any small children wonder in there by themselves. The artwork is also fascinating. A lot of it is just pieces of what was

I’ve never been to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago . I confess I’m always the one that goes far away before near to see things.  I lived in New York over 40 years and I never went to the Statue of Liberty (I did take the Circle Line boat ride around it a few times). Two things brought me to finally plan a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo: the opening of the Patio at Café Brauer for the season, and a toddler who I knew would be mesmerized by her first experience with the animals. The drive to Chicago with a toddler was definitely different.  It had been a while since I had a little one on a long car drive and it was her first long car ride, but Brittany and Jessie, Andrea’s mom, helped keep her occupied from the front seat while I entertained her with phone videos.  We also put a few extra stops into the ride that was usually two hours straight. When we arrived at the zoo, I think I was the most excited. I love zoos and couldn’t believe I hadn’t been to t

It was my last day in Washington D.C. and it was going to be a good one. I was able to sleep in at the Embassy Suites Chevy Chase Pavilion and enjoyed their hot, complimentary breakfast. I made up a bowl from the yogurt bar and had a couple of pancakes on the side. My niece, Alea, had some school work to do so we decided to meet directly at the Metro Station beneath the hotel. We took the train to the stop closest to the Smithsonian National Zoo . I love zoos and I was especially excited to see the giant pandas here. This zoo is not only one of the best in the country, but it’s free. The pandas did not disappoint. They were happy to eat and play for the growing audience. We hung around for a while and the kept us laughing and smiling. We walked around and also saw the tigers, lions, and cheetah. I’m always thrilled to see content animals in a zoo.     Alea and I got back on the Metro to head to an interesting spot for lunch. Bayou Bakery is