Wine and Spirits Travel

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

When I first received an email about Ravinia , I have to confess that I had no idea what it was. I had heard of it, but didn’t think of it beyond being a venue in Chicagoland. I was certainly wrong about that. Ravinia is actually the longest running outdoor music festival in North America.  Unlike what you would normally expect from a “festival,” this one lasts for four months and has been taking place for over 50 years. It is also non-profit. Each year, from June-September, Ravinia Festival schedules 140 musical performances, from classical to rock.  Among those for 2018 are Diana Ross , Tony Bennett, and Seal. My friend and photographer, Brittany, and I went through the schedule to decide which event would work best for us.  We decided on the concert with ZZ Top and John Fogerty, neither of which we had ever seen. We drove to see the event. I was not feeling my best and was immediately impressed with their complimentary and easy to find handica

My dad commuted from Eastern Long Island to Brooklyn for 15 years. He used to bring me a cheesecake from Junior’s original location every year for my birthday. I was about 12 when he started and it continued until he retired. He would then still make the trip to get me my favorite cake. After my dad passed away and I moved to the Champaign , my mom started sending one for my birthday, as well as any time I needed cheering-up (like when I had surgery). It’s now come full circle with over 40 years of Junior’s sharing my life. I was in Florida for the newly opened of Junior’s in Boca Raton .   Mom and I will shared Junior’s in a third state, with another milestone -- she’s leaving Florida and moving to Illinois, so we can once again live in the same place. Junior’s in Boca Raton looked just like the ones I was used to, with cheesecakes lining the shelves of the bakery area, red and white stripes everywhere, and walls full of nostalgia. Photos of famous

As the weather warms, it’s always a great time for an outdoor day trip. I had never been to Knights Action Park in nearby Springfield, Illinois , before and I was anxious to check it out. For a small amusement park, Knights Action packs a lot in. They have a waterpark, amusement rides, miniature golf and a golf range, and a racing track. I had a teen and a pre-teen with me who were anxious to hit the long slides, while I am always happy to grab a tube an relax in a lazy river. I enjoyed that for a while and ten hit the wave pool, where I met up with Brittany, Jacob, and  Kyler. We walked around for a while and saw the Seal Bay area for younger kids, as well as the river, where they have paddle boats. Unfortunately, the paddle boats weren’t available the day we where there. It’s something I’d definitely enjoy next time I’m back. There is a snack bar inside at  Knights Action Park , but the consensus was to go outside and take a short drive to Ch