Brookfield Zoo's Boo! at the Zoo for Special Halloween Fun

The last two weekends of October feature Brookfield Zoo's Boo! at the Zoo event sponsored by Ferrara Candy Company and Meijer. The festive family event combines a fun outing visiting the animals at the zoo with a special Halloween celebration. For two weekends this October, children will delight in visiting their favorite animals while trick-or-treating in costume. Talk about heaven!

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Revolutionary War Reenactment at Cantigny Park

Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois is an incredible treasure with magnificent gardens, the First Division Museum honoring the Army's First Division and the Robert R. McCormick Museum. Colonel McCormick served in the First Division during WW1. He would later become an editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. The park and all of its gems are a gift from the Colonel to us!

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Dinosaur Discovery Museum in Kenosha, Wisconsin

On a recent visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin, we wandered into the Dinosaur Discovery Museum. If you have been a long time follower of this blog, you know that I am a big fan of dinosaurs! So, I was happy to find some time to check the museum out.

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Taste of the Town in Wheeling, Illinois 9/28/17

Looking for some evening fun? Taste of the Town is coming to Wheeling on 9/28! The event will include tastings from more than 20 area restaurants, breweries and wineries including Allgauer’s on the Riverfront, Benihana, Big Bowl Chinese & Thai, Bob Chinn’s Crab House, Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant, Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, Liquor Barn, Market Square Restaurant & Catering, Mexcal Mexican Grill and Bar, Pinstripes, RAM Restaurant & Brewery, Rammy’s Sub Contractors, Salata, Saranello’s Ristorante Italiano, Superdawg Drive-In, Tuscany Wheeling, Twin Peaks, Wa-Pa-Ghetti’s Pizza, The Westin Chicago North Shore, and Wildfire.

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Fall at Richardson Adventure Farm in Spring Grove, Illinois

Richardson Adventure Farm in Spring Grove, Illinois is the home of the World's Largest Corn Maze! Each year the corn maze is sculpted into a special design signifying that year. This year's maze celebrates the Cubs! The maze has become a yearly tradition for us and we always have fun each year trying to predict the subject of the next maze.

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Antique Archaeology in Le Claire, Iowa

While we were in the Quad Cities, we were near Le Claire, Iowa which happens to be the home of the American Pickers' Antique Archaeology. So, we had to make a stop! It certainly is a favorite and there quite a few other fans visiting when we arrived.

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Eats in the Quad Cities

When exploring, I always find it best to eat local. Eating local helps you learn so much more about an area and also gives more back to the community thereby keeping it vibrant. On our trip to the Quad Cities, we found a number of great family friendly establishments for you to try on your trip!

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Open House Chicago October 14-15, 2017

Image courtesy of Chicago Architecture Foundation

For two days this fall, over 250 cultural and architectural treasures throughout different Chicago neighborhoods and two suburbs will be open to the public for free during Open House Chicago. The event will give the public behind the scenes looks at repurposed mansions, rarely seen offices, skyscrapers, theaters, industrial facilities, inspirational places of worship and more reflecting the cultural diversity and history of Chicago. Some of the structures featured are among the most iconic in Chicago. Highlights include:

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Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois

We spent the last day of summer break wandering the tranquil environs of Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois. The balance between water features, natural elements, tea houses, foot bridges and sculptures had almost a meditative effect. We had a wonderful morning of reflection.

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Bucktown Center for the Arts and Artists in the Quad Cities {NOW CLOSED}

While exploring the the Quad Cities, we encountered a vibrant artist community. For those with a passion for local art or those curious about creative processes, a visit to the Bucktown Center for the Arts is a must. The Bucktown Center for the Arts is an artist collective where up and coming artists can rent space to create and sell their pieces. (Unfortunately, the center is now closed.)

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Nahant Marsh in Davenport, Iowa

Nahant Marsh in Davenport, Iowa is an ecological success story. Once the site of a sportsman's club, the area had been contaminated with lead due to skeet shooting. The site was declared a Superfund Site. After the lead was cleaned up, the marsh was designated as a nature preserve. Today, we can all witness the amazing recovery of the marsh. The marsh is now the home to over 150 species of birds, over 400 species of plants, some mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects. The preserve provides for a tranquil nature adventure that most of us are not treated to everyday!

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August Degustabox Fun

August was a hectic month so I am a little behind in sharing the goodies from my monthly foodie fun box. But, this was a good one -- so I have to show you what was inside! Here is a look:

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Wednesday Weekend Windup {Oktoberfest, Art in Nature and More}

Art in Nature photo via Forest Preserve District of Cook County

We are fortunate to have a short week this week due to Labor Day! I know a bunch of you are looking forward to the weekend. Here are some local ideas for family fun!

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Sweet Treats and History at Lagomarcino's in Moline, Illinois

If there is a place those with a sweet tooth HAVE to visit in the Quad Cities, it is Lagomarcino's in Moline, Illinois. Sit down for a lunch, stay for a soda fountain treat and leave with some chocolate delights! If you ask locals where to go in Moline, they will no doubt tell you to go to Lago's!

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Bix Beiderbecke Museum in Davenport, Iowa

During our Quad Cities vacation, we visited at the right time to see the new Bix Beiderbecke Museum. I must admit that I did not know much about Bix before my visit. However, our whole family was totally fascinated by the museum and realized that the museum speaks to both jazz aficiondos and those just beginning to learn about jazz. The museum had just opened its doors a couple of weeks before our visit, so we were very lucky to experience this new treasure!

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