Saturday, June 21, 2014

South Shore Arts hosts Family Arts Festival


From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, South Shore Arts will host a variety of activities at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts as part of the Family Arts Festival, which will include music activities for infants and toddlers, back stage tours, musical performances and more. An artist reception from noon to 3 p.m. also takes place for the center's new art exhibit, Baby Boom or Bust! featuring the work of Brian J. Sullivan. A free photo exhibit will also be on display in the atrium titled "Dunes and Blooms"by Pete Doherty and Joanne Markiewicz. Face painting, theatre games and an ice carving demonstration are also part of the fun. Several of the day's activities are free.

Also enjoy brunch and a performance of The Princess Show. For all the details of the event, go to http://t.e2ma.net/message/35xpk/bwn15c.

The Center for Visual and Performing Arts is located at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, Indiana.

Kenosha Area Convention and Visitors Bureau shares 101 Things to See and Do in Kenosha area!

My friends at the Kenosha Area Convention and Visitors Bureau sent me this extensive list of fun to be had in the Kenosha area this summer. Our family has visited the area many times and there's never a shortage of fun. It's also great that so many of these activities are free. Take a look at the list and pick out some fun for the summer!

101 Things to See & Do for Under $10in the Kenosha Area: Many are FREE!

Located in Southeast Wisconsin on the Lake Michigan shore, the Kenosha Area is gaining a reputation as being the very affordable and fun travel destination that it is. The area is extremely accessible and close to Chicago and Milwaukee, off Interstate-94. Parking is free at Lake Michigan and in Downtown Kenosha. Coupons, military discounts, and hotel packages are available atVisitKenosha.com. On the same website is the very popular FUN101 list: 101 Things to See & Do for Under $10 in the Kenosha Area: Many are FREE!
Updated twice each year, here’s a sampling of this summer’s FUN101 list:
1. Take me out to the ball game! This is the inaugural season for the Kenosha Kingfish baseball team at historic Simmons Field. $8+
2. Enjoy 130+ vendors of organic produce, cheeses, artisan bakery goods, crafts, live music, chef demos, and much more at Kenosha HarborMarket. FREE to browse
3. Bring your favorite 4-legged friend to run and play at Ingram Park Dog ParkCarlisle Family Dog ParkHarris Family Dog Park, or Warren Close Bark Park. $2-5
5. Meet you at the lake! Bring the sunscreen and a beach towel … we have FIVE beaches along Lake Michigan! (no lifeguards on duty) FREE
8. Stop to see live animals and hands-on exhibits inside Richard Bong State Recreation Area’s Visitor Center, then head out birding. $7-10 per vehicle park entrance fee, Center is FREE 
9. Take the kids for a fun pedal boat ride on Lake Andrea! $8-10 
10. Try for an ace or a birdie on the disc golf course at UW-Parkside or Fox River Park. FREE
15. Enjoy a beautiful self-guided tour through Kemper Center's Durkee Mansion, which was built in the 1860’s on the Lake Michigan shore. FREE
16. Take advantage of the Super Twilight rate when walking 9 holes at Petrifying Springs Golf Course or Brighton Dale Links. $10
24. The Transparent Watercolor Society of America presents the 38th Annual National Juried Exhibition at the Kenosha Public Museum, through August 10. FREE
25. Spend Saturday night at the racetrack! On select dates, Wilmot Raceway offers Family Nights, which are a bargain! $10 & under 
28. Splish! Splash! Fly down the 200-foot long water slide at Washington Park Pool or Anderson Park Pool. $5 & under
32. Checkmate! Relax and enjoy one of the chess tables in Petrifying Springs Park and Fox River Park. FREE
34. Nature enthusiasts need to visit Chiwaukee Prairie, which is considered an ecological gem. FREE
35. Let the kids cool off with a visit to HarborPark’s splash pad area. FREE
41. Enjoy amazing stunts on water as the very talented performers of the Aquanut Water Shows do their thing on Lake Mary twice a week. FREE
53. Stand tall! Climb the 72 steps of the 1866 Southport Lighthouse. $10 & under 
60. Listen to live Kenosha Pops concerts under the stars at the Sesquicentennial Bandshell. FREE
61. Watch thrilling bicycle races at the Washington Park Velodrome. FREE
68. It’s a date! Meet your friends at Veterans Memorial Park for the Peanut Butter & Jam Concert Series. Two concerts take place each Thursday, July 10 – August 28. FREE; view more music events here.
71. Enjoy our scenic Lake Michigan shore from the seat of an authentic Electric Streetcar. $1 & under
79. Enjoy a scenic bike ride on the Pike Bike Trail or the Kenosha County Bike Trail. FREE
85. Relax and watch an amazing sunrise over Lake Michigan. FREE 
86. Reflect at the Veteran’s Memorial Fountain and Lone Soldier Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park. FREE
101. Spend your Sunday browsing through the Wilmot Mountain Flea Market. $1 & under
For more information about these places and events and more in the Kenosha Area, log on to VisitKenosha.com or call (262) 654-7307 or (800) 654-7309. Follow Visit Kenosha on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to receive updates about events, specials, and more. Kenosha’s I-94 Visitor Information Center is located at the southeast corner of I-94 and Hwy. 165, while the Downtown Center is located at 812 - 56th Street.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Indianapolis Zoo

Although I live in Chicago where we have two wonderful zoos, I always like to check out zoos when we travel to see something new and see animals in different environments.

We have one zoo that offers quite a bit, but is so massive in size and so spread out that it's almost impossible to get through the whole place in one day. Our other zoo is smaller and much more compact with the advantage of being free, but parking is always a challenge and sometimes it's hard to get around with the large crowds.

The Indianapolis Zoo falls somewhere in between. It's big enough to offer a good variety of exhibits, but not so large that you log a dozen miles on a visit. It's easy to manuever and there's a lot to see and do.

Just outside the entrance is the White River Gardens, which you can visit with your zoo admission. There are some fun opportunities of upgrades you can add to your day, some of which are feeding giraffes, being a Jr. Dolphin Trainer or taking a train ride.

Some of the zoo highlights are the "Race-A-Cheetah" section where you can test your speed against these speedy cats, the Shark Touch Pool, the Dolphin Show and the new International Orangutan Center.

For more information, visit indianapoliszoo.com







Sunday, June 1, 2014

Soldiers and Sailors Monument: Indianapolis, Indiana


Central to downtown Indianapolis is Monument Circle, with the focal point being the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, which was dedicated in 1902. The structure is built on a site originally laid out for the Governor's Mansion, which was completed in 1827. That building was later demolished and during the Civil War it was first suggested that a memorial be built on the site to honor those who were dying while protecting the Union.

The cornerstone was laid in 1889 and completed at a cost of $600,000, built of gray oolitic limestone from the quarries of Owen County, Indiana. The foundation is 30 feet in depth while the height from street level to top of the Victory statue is just 15 feet shorter the Statue of Liberty.

Among the ornate statues that decorate the tower are  bronze statues of James Whitcomb, Indiana's Governor during the Mexican War and Oliver P. Morton, Governor during the Civil War and a statue of George Rogers Clark. Additional limestone figures of a calvary scout and infantryman sit near the entrance.

A beautiful, historic tribute to those who served prior to World War I, the monument beams among the modern buildings that surround the circle.

The circle is a hub of activity where you can catch a ride on horse carriage, watch street performers or pick up a bite from a food truck. The massive steps are a great spot to stop and take in the beauty of the city from this nostalgic backdrop.


I was excited on a visit this year to finally have a chance to head up to the observation deck, 231 feet above ground where you can marvel at the city with an awesome birds-eye view. The deck is enclosed in glass and can be reached by climbing the 331 steps. You can also take the elevator (for a minimal fee), which takes you up near the top. You have to finish the climb on a few narrow steps that spiral toward the top. Admission to the monument is free.

You can also visit the Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum that is housed in the lower level. It highlights Indiana's contributions to the war, giving a sense of the living conditions and sacrifices of Civil War soldiers. There is no entrance fee, but donations are welcome.







Horse carriages often line the circle waiting for riders.


A view from the top.




Prairie Guest House, Fishers Indiana

On a recent media trip in Indianapolis, I spent a little time in Hamilton County, staying at the Prairie Guest House Bed & Breakfast in ...