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Our area has a growing winery population. I have made one trip to Vahling Vineyards and the atmosphere was very disappointing to me-but, the wine was wonderful. The owners have built this in a large...
Our area has a growing winery population. I have made one trip to Vahling Vineyards and the atmosphere was very disappointing to me-but, the wine was wonderful. The owners have built this in a large metal building on their farm...and it feels sort of like a church basement to me. It doesn't have the feel of other vineyards I have visited. They are very nice about letting you try all the wines...and they are delicious. My recommendation is to buy the wine to take home, but not to plan this as a place to sit and sip. https://vahlingvineyard.c2.ixwebhosting.com/home.htm
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One of the pleasant surprises in our area is the Ballard Nature Center. The grounds are lovely, picnics are welcome and the trails are easy to walk and beautiful. One of the best things is the...
One of the pleasant surprises in our area is the Ballard Nature Center. The grounds are lovely, picnics are welcome and the trails are easy to walk and beautiful. One of the best things is the interactive area in the main building where kids can get hands on with nature...and it is all free. From the mission statement "The mission of the Ballard Nature Center is to provide high quality environmental education to students, educators, organizations, and individuals through visitor interpretation, educational displays, natural community restoration and management. Environmental education will emphasize the importance of natural communities and their associated ecosystems especially those communities typically found in southeastern Illinois." This is a hidden jewel.
http://www.ballardnaturecenter.org/
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The Cross
Category:
Travel & Transportation
P.O. Box 808
Effingham, Illinois 62401
(217) 347-2846
Before moving to Effingham 3 years ago, we often drove through on our way to Florida. I will never forget the first time we saw "The Cross". We couldn't believe the size of it, had no idea why it...
Before moving to Effingham 3 years ago, we often drove through on our way to Florida. I will never forget the first time we saw "The Cross". We couldn't believe the size of it, had no idea why it was there-and actually thought it was a little odd. Now, we live here. I don't really notice it much anymore, but people do ask about it! What is said about it is: "The Cross Foundation completed a 198 foot Cross at the intersection of Interstates 57 & 70 in Effingham, Illinois. The site is intended to serve as a beacon of hope to the 50,000 travelers estimated to pass the site each day. The Cross Foundation is dedicated to building both faith and family on an ecumenical basis." There are times that there are special sunrise services at the base of the cross. You can see a picture of it here http://www.crossusa.org/internet/home.html
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We stopped for the night at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Muskegon, MI on our way to Northern Michigan. As Platinum Marriott Rewards members we try to stay at Marriotts whenever possible. We have...
We stopped for the night at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Muskegon, MI on our way to Northern Michigan. As Platinum Marriott Rewards members we try to stay at Marriotts whenever possible. We have stayed at Fairfield Inns in many places and this is one of the best! The young man at the desk was really nice. We asked to be upgraded to 2 televisions so we wouldn't fight over Desperate Housewives vs. Football!! Our room was large and very clean. The location is really near a mall and many familiar restaurants. We even took a ride out to the beach. Muskegon is a destination in itself. We will be back!
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We took a side trip to Charlevoix, MI last week when visiting Petoskey. We happened to go into the local Chamber of Commerce office and they told us not to miss going to the Bullfrog Light Company....
We took a side trip to Charlevoix, MI last week when visiting Petoskey. We happened to go into the local Chamber of Commerce office and they told us not to miss going to the Bullfrog Light Company. It was such a fun place! They make and sell candles in an array of designs, shapes, colors and textures for all holidays and home decor. What makes them special is they each have this inner glow that is I haven't seen in other candles. When you burn them, the designs seem to glow from the inside out. It is hard to explain, but it makes you want to buy all of them. Of course, I bought several. Some are for gifts, some are mine! The holiday line is beautiful. They aren't scented which kind of surprised me at first-but, they are so pretty. There is a fun room in the back with discounted candles-check that out too!
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Anytime we are headed into the Chicago area from our location downstate we make a point of stopping at Barnes and Noble in Bourbonnais for a cup of coffee, a great magazine for the rest of the trip...
Anytime we are headed into the Chicago area from our location downstate we make a point of stopping at Barnes and Noble in Bourbonnais for a cup of coffee, a great magazine for the rest of the trip and of course the bathroom break. When driving into Chicago, one never knows if the trip in will take an hour...or 4. Between the traffic, the road construction and the usual accident or 2-a stop before the Chicago traffic hits is a great idea. This is a very typical Barnes and Noble, friendly and clean. It is easy to locate by just pulling off the highway!
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We have been to Bay Harbor, MI twice now, once last week and also last October. For those of you that aren't familiar with the area, there are many great restaurants! Both years we make plans to try...
We have been to Bay Harbor, MI twice now, once last week and also last October. For those of you that aren't familiar with the area, there are many great restaurants! Both years we make plans to try several of the nicer places in the area...and while we generally make it to 1 or 2, most of our meals end up coming from the Galley Gourmet in the Village at Bay Harbor. It is within walking distance of our hotel, we carry the food back to the room and sit on our balcony watching the lake and enjoy. The food is great. Not at all your normal deli or carry out. The desserts are perfect-creme brulee', amazing brownies and tarts...yum. Each day they feature 3 homemade soups. This year I actually had the same soup 2 nights in a row (Salmon with wild rice) it was so good. I enjoyed a white pizza that was the best I have ever had and my husband had a grilled local whitefish sandwich that couldn't have been any better. Prices are reasonable-they do have a counter if you want to eat in, but why would you with the gorgeous views in the area!
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I love tea! Tea made from tea leaves not tea bags! My newest passion is Oolong tea which is not available in my area. We recently took a small vacation to Michigan and before leaving I found an...
I love tea! Tea made from tea leaves not tea bags! My newest passion is Oolong tea which is not available in my area. We recently took a small vacation to Michigan and before leaving I found an article about Oryana Natural Foods Market and it included pictures of jars of tea leaves. Well, needless to say-we made the side trip to find my tea. This is a great shop. It contains everything organic you can imagine. They had produce and meats...canned goods, frozen foods, dairy, coffee beans and yes...they had my tea! I would give anything to have this business in my town. If you care what you are eating-and live or visit near here-stop in! You won't be disappointed.
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On our recent visit to Michigan we decided to stop at one of the local wineries. We picked Black Star Farms because they also made fresh cheese on site. I can't begin to say how impressed we were...
On our recent visit to Michigan we decided to stop at one of the local wineries. We picked Black Star Farms because they also made fresh cheese on site. I can't begin to say how impressed we were with the entire place. As we were driving down the road we saw beautiful buildings to our left. When we found out it was the winery we were looking for, we were so excited. This is much more than a winery. They call it an agricultural destination. They have a gorgeous Inn where you can mix a wonderful hotel experience with wine tastings and horseback riding. The wines are delicious and some of them are very unique to the area. The grounds are so beautiful and peaceful. The cheese was great too. We brought home wine and cheese and took great pictures! This is a must do if you are in the area! We will be going back and next time hope to stay at the Inn.
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If you are in Petoskey, Michigan and want to spend some time browsing in a unique shop...visit Grandpa Shorter's. They carry everything from a large selection of Minnetonka Moccasins to really fun...
If you are in Petoskey, Michigan and want to spend some time browsing in a unique shop...visit Grandpa Shorter's. They carry everything from a large selection of Minnetonka Moccasins to really fun holiday decor. The store was full of Christmas and Halloween merchandise when we were there. They also offer a wide variety of fun signs (look on the website-I don't know how to describe these). I found it a great place to pick up small gifts to bring home to people. Interesting and fun!
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