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Exploring Allerton

By Jody Halsted June 4, 2015

Who's a pretty Fu Dog? Fu Dog Garden at Allerton Park & Retreat Center in Monticello, Illinois. The expansive formal gardens and woodland trails are free to visit and open daily.

I used to love watching America’s Castles on A&E. The grandeur, the extravagance, the undisguised abundance of wealth that the late 19th and early 20th century ‘robber barons’ had to work with was simply unimaginable. One of these ‘robber barons’ in Chicago, a man by the name of Samuel Allerton, made his money by purchasing pork […]

2 Comments · Filed Under: USA · Tagged With: Illinois, Midwest

Exploring the Midwest Episode 1 | Welcome to the Midwest

By Jody Halsted January 6, 2021

Exploring_the_Midwest_vlog_podcast

Watch this episode on YouTube Hello and welcome to Exploring the Midwest! I am Jody Halsted and I will be your navigator as we explore the 13 states that make up the Midwest (as defined by the Midwest Travel Journalists Association). These states are North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, […]

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Travel · Tagged With: Exploring the Midwest, podcast

Camping Gear That Does Double Duty in Your Backyard

By Jody Halsted July 10, 2018

Parachute Hammock- camping gear that does double duty

Winter in the Midwest can be long. Really long. So when warm weather finally arrives we like to spend as much time outdoors as we can. For my family that means a lot of camping. But the girls are getting older and their activities, interests, and desire to spend time with friends, keeps us home […]

1 Comment · Filed Under: Camping & RVing · Tagged With: backyard, camping gear, summer fun

Planning Your First Lake of the Ozarks Vacation

By Jody Halsted August 3, 2020

outdoor dining_ Seven Springs Winery, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

Looking for a fabulous lake getaway in the Midwest? A Lake of the Ozarks vacation offers more activities than you imagine! Lake of the Ozarks plays host to more than 5 million visitors each year, with a large percentage of those travelers planning their trip during the warm summer months and into fall for the […]

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Travel, USA · Tagged With: lake, Midwest, Missouri

Visiting Door County, Wisconsin? Fun Facts for Your Trip

By Jody Halsted May 26, 2020

sunset and storms over Lake Michigan. Door County, Wisconsin

If you live in the Midwest just the mention of Door County, Wisconsin brings visions of towering pines, cool lake breezes, and outdoor adventure of all types. Click Here to pin this to your Midwest Travel board! While the county has long been a getaway for Chicagoans escaping the city for a different view of […]

3 Comments · Filed Under: Travel, USA · Tagged With: Midwest, Wisconsin

Living Like Laura in DeSmet, South Dakota

By Jody Halsted May 19, 2020

I can remember reading the ‘Little House’ books by Laura Ingalls Wilder over and over again as a child growing up in southwest Iowa. I never tired of Laura’s stories of life on the western frontier. And though I knew Laura’s story was (mostly) true it never occurred to me that I could visit the places […]

1 Comment · Filed Under: USA · Tagged With: camping, Children's Museum, family travel, Farm, Fun for Kids, history, South Dakota

Out From Killarney

By Jody Halsted May 5, 2008

Since I had been to Killarney and County Kerry previously I had things in mind that I wanted to share with my family. And, of course, there were many things we didn’t do. These are just a few other activities close to Killarney. Ring of Kerry The Iveraugh peninsula is probably the most traveled area […]

1 Comment · Filed Under: Driving, Ireland · Tagged With: County Kerry, Dingle, Fun for Kids

Chicago With Kids: Visit the City’s Best-Kept Secrets

By Jody Halsted December 10, 2015

Downtown Chicago reflected in the Cloud Gate Sculpture (aka "the bean")

Chicago has its fair share of family attractions- museums, a massive aquarium, miles of beaches, and a mile of fabulous shopping, to name just a few. But Chicago offers more than the ‘known attractions’. The next time you visit Chicago with kids, check out the city’s best kept secrets! Chicago’s Best Kept Secrets for Families […]

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Travel · Tagged With: Chicago, family travel, Illinois, Midwest

Chicago for Couples: Explorations in the Windy City

By Jody Halsted February 14, 2019

Chicago for Couples

As my daughters get older and find their own interests, activities, and life outside my orbit, I’ve been trying to focus more on my relationship with my husband. Too often it is easy to let life roll along, day in and day out, a kiss goodbye in the morning, a brief chat over dinner, but […]

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Travel, USA · Tagged With: Chicago, Couples Getaway, Illinois, Midwest

Bring Your Appetite to Door County, Wisconsin

By Jody Halsted December 4, 2019

Door-County-Wisconsin-restaurants-collage

My too short but food filled trip revealed Door County restaurants by the dozens, with something to please even the pickiest of palates. If you’ve never visited Door County, Wisconsin you may be wondering just what type of food you can expect to find. You might have heard about the Lake Michigan Whitefish or famous […]

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Travel, USA · Tagged With: Midwest, Wisconsin

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