Refreshing Meal After a Long Road Trip at Shakespeare and Co. on Lexington, Kentucky

Refreshing Meal After a Long Road Trip at Shakespeare and Co. on Lexington, Kentucky

We arrived in Lexington, Kentucky after a long nine hour drive from Annapolis. So, we were quite tired. We did a quick search of restaurants near our hotel and found that Shakespeare and Co. seemed to be a favorite with a menu featuring cafe selections with a few elements reflecting Middle Eastern flare. We were intrigued and it appeared there would be something refreshing to eat after a long ride. So, we went to check it out.

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Dazzling Water Views While Hiking at Pratt's Wayne Woods in Illinois

Dazzling Water Views Whike Hiking at Pratt's Wayne Woods in Illinois

As the largest forest preserve in DuPage County, Pratt's Wayne Woods offers a variety of natural landscapes including oak savannas, marsh, wetlands and grasslands. Over 12 miles of trails are available for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding. When we arrived, we immediately were drawn to the string of lakes and wetlands. Just mesmerizing:

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Early Spring Tranquility at Old School Forest Preserve in Mettawa, Illinois

Early Spring Tranquility at Old School Forest Preserve in Mettawa, Illinois

Spring is one of my favorite times of the year to hike because it is intriguing to see how nature wakes up a little more each day. Last week, we took advantage of a free afternoon to visit Old School Forest Preserve in Mettawa, IL and quickly noted the songs of the frogs indicating that nature indeed was waking up from its winter slumber!

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Hiking to the Kentucky River at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary Near Lexington

Hiking to the Kentucky River at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary in Lexington, Kentucky

After lingering a couple of days in Maryland, we finished our spring road trip in Lexington, Kentucky. Before our trip, I learned about Raven Run Nature Sanctuary just on the outskirts of Lexington. The preserve featured meadows, woodlands and streams offering an idyllic opportunity to begin our day in Lexington with the tranquility and grace of nature just waking up to spring.

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Comfy, Fancy and Friendly at Palm Court in Arlington Heights

Comfy, Fancy and Friendly -- Dinner at Palm Court in Arlington Heights

**Disclosure: I did receive a complimentary food experience and gift certificate to bring you this review of Palm Court. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Recently, I enjoyed a true foodie adventure exploring the flavors of  Palm Court in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Palm Court has been woven into the fabric of Arlington Heights for 40 years, so it was quite a pleasure to explore a restaurant that has been so meaningful to the community over the years and still is today. In fact, immediately when I shared some pictures from the evening so many of you shared stories of your memories at Palm Court! Palm Court is truly a special part of the Arlington Heights fabric and will remain so for years to come!

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Appreciating Colonial History at the William Paca House in Annapolis

Appreciating Colonial History at the William Paca House in Annapolis

Strolling through Annapolis, one quickly notices threads of colonial history throughout. During our trips to Annapolis, we have enjoyed learning a little more about colonial history each time. On our recent trip, we treated ourselves to a tour of the grand William Paca House and Garden.

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Fresh Seasonal Farm To Table Flavors at Hey Nonny

Fresh Seasonal Farm To Table Flavors at Hey Nonny

**Disclosure: We did receive a complimentary meal in order to bring you an accurate review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights keeps its menu fresh with seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers and producers. Recently, the stylish bistro debuted new seasonally inspired menu items in addition to restaurant favorites. On a recent date night, my husband and I explored Hey Nonny in vibrant downtown Arlington Heights for a little evening adventure. Take a peek:

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Spring Hike to Cascade Falls at Patapsco Valley State Park in Maryland

Spring Hike to Cascade Falls at Patapsco Valley State Park in Maryland

Our spring road trip waterfall hunting continued into Maryland. We were centered in the Annapolis area for a bit and discovered Cascade Falls in Patapsco Valley State Park about 40-45 minutes away. Patapsco Valley State Park contains 16,043 acres of preserve, so it is rather massive. Given the large size of the preserve, you do want to make sure you are heading to the Cascade Falls Loop Trail to see the falls. There are two spots that I know of to access the trail. We ended up parking on the side of Landing Road to access the trail. There is a parking lot on the other side as well. However, we did like the hike from Landing Road. I wouldn't have changed our hike for the day! Just nature bliss!

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Wednesday Weekend Windup {Earth Day, Science, Easter, Art and More}

Earth Day, Easter and more Family Fun in the Chicago Suburbs

Spring is here which means so many of our favorite spring events are happening! Here are my picks for this weekend in the Chicago suburbs:

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Investigating Early Industry at Hopewell Furnace

Investigating Early Industry at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in Pennsylvania

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in Elverson, Pennsylvania provided our family with an afternoon learning about early industry in the United States set inside a scenic nature preserve. When we visited my family in Pennsylvania, we savored beautiful spring weather and went on an exploration of the historic site.

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Discovering Epilogue in Long Grove and an Interview with Rachel Perkal

Epilogue: A Store of Extraordinary Things. Image courtesy of Epilogue.

Discovering Epilogue: A Store of Extraordinary Things

An adventure to Epilogue: A Store of Extraordinary Things located in Long Grove, Illinois touches visitors with inspiration, whimsy, heart, soul, imagination and discovery. On each of my visits to Epilogue, I have found myself delighted, uplifted and amazed by the store's collection of unique handcrafted American art. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with owner Rachel Perkal to learn more about this amazingly unique small business. Welcome to Epilogue:

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Wednesday Weekend Windup {GPS Scavenger Hunt, Glass Making, WWI Reenactment, Escape Room and More}

GPS Scavenger Hunt, Glass Making, WWI Reenactment, Escape Room and More Family Fun in the Chicago Suburbs April 5-7, 2019:

The weekend is almost here! Looking ahead, there are some great family fun opportunities here in the Chicago suburbs. My picks for this weekend:

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Literary Wonderland at Midtown Scholar in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Literary Wonderland at Midtown Scholar in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Our Pennsylvania road trip took us right through Harrisburg where we made a stop at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore. Midtown Scholar Bookstore resides in a former 1920's cinema which became a department store in the 1950's. Talk about history! Plus, they have a cafe. So, how could we not stop?

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