Kentucky Down Under: Cave City, Kentucky

One of my favorite attractions in all our years of traveling has been to Kentucky Down Under, an Australian themed animal park. You can stroll through the Outback Walkabout where kangaroos lounge beneath trees and you have a chance to pet them. You can hand feed exotic birds in the Walk-in Aviaries. Additional shows let you get up close to more creatures. In the Woolshed area are demonstrations on sheep herding, cow milking and sheep sheering. On one of our trips, my husband got to join the demo and milk a cow. Kids can also do gem mining and there's also the Onyx Cave on the grounds that is open for tours. My kids really enjoy visiting and it's a cool way to get a glimpse of life in Australia while still here in the states. For more info, visit www.kdu.com.

The park is open year round and conveniently located right along I-65 at exit 58 in Horse Cave, Kentucky.

Lansing Historical Society Festival of Lights to open

One of the highlights of the season for me is the Festival of Lights exhibit at the Lansing Historical Society. I'm vice president of the society, which means I am the program director and I always enjoy selecting the program for November when our Festival of Lights exhibits opens. For several of the programs, I have booked musical groups that have performed holiday songs. This year the entertainment comes from veteran actor Terry Lynch, who will perform as St. Nick in "The Legend of St. Nicholas." Following the family-friendly program, the museum will be open for viewing of the trees. The exhibit includes nearly 3 dozen trees and holiday scenes.

The Lansing Historical Museum is located in the lower level of the Lansing Public Library at School Street and Indiana Ave. in Lansing, Illinois. For more information, go to www.lansinghistoricalsociety.org.

Dine with Santa on the Spirit of Chicago

Santa will be trading in his sleigh on December 13 in favor of a cruise ship and he's inviting his young fans to sail along with him on a lunch cruise. A newly designed menu will feature a variety of fresh, organic dishes and kid favorites (like meatballs and mini desserts) on the two-hour tour. Check out the press release below for further details.

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO LAKE MICHIGAN

Enjoy a Special Family Day Aboard the Spirit of Chicago with Santa

CHICAGO, IL (Nov. 20, 2014) - Christmas is coming early to the Spirit of Chicago. On Saturday, December 13, families are welcome aboard the Spirit of Chicago for a day of Christmas fun on the Santa Lunch Cruise. This cruise is the perfect start to a season full of holiday cheer with DJ entertainment and, of course, a visit from the big man in red. Guests can admire breathtaking views of Chicago's skyline on the Spirit of Chicago's climate-controlled ship and children will make lasting memories with a photo opportunity with Santa. 

The Santa Lunch Cruise will feature the newly redesigned Spirit of Chicago lunch menu that incorporates fresh, organic ingredients to satisfy all cruisers. The menu includes tasty starters like Organic Spinach and Kale Salad, as well as a Mediterranean Couscous and Chickpea Salad. Main course options include Roast Salmon & Tilapia, Chicken Parmesan Meatballs and Roast Broccoli. The meal ends on a sweet note with assorted mini desserts and fresh fruit. 

Don't miss out on this festive family activity for the holiday season. Give your children a special memory and reserve the Spirit of Chicago Santa Lunch Cruise today. 

All prices below are per person and do not yet include taxes and other fees; 40% off for children.  Complete menus, photos and further details are available upon request. 

SPIRIT OF CHICAGO SANTA LUNCH CRUISE 

Board 12:30 p.m., Cruise 1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. 

From $42.90 for adults and $25.95 for children (3-12 years)*

*Prices do not include taxes or fees

Reservations are required and can be made by calling 888.957.2634 or by visiting http://www.spiritcruises.com/chicago/cruises/specialty/santa-lunch.

General Information

Odyssey Cruises, Spirit of Chicago, Mystic Blue Cruises, Seadog Cruises and Chicago Elite Cruises are part of Chicago-based Entertainment Cruises.

The Spirit of Chicago, Seadog, and The Odyssey received the Trip Advisor 2014 Excellence Award

The Odyssey received Illinois Meetings + Events magazine's 2013 readers' choice Best of Award.

The Spirit of Chicago and The Odyssey received a 2014 Editor's Choice for Best in Boats from Chicago Traveler.

Entertainment Cruises' fleet was voted as a "Best of Knot Weddings" for 2012, 2013 and 2014.

The Spirit of Chicago received Chicago Parent's Best Places to Flirt in the Best Places for Chicago Parents in 2013.

Seadog Cruises received top ratings and a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor in 2012 and 2013. 

Odyssey was named the "Best Cruise Line in Chicago" by Destination Guide in 2012. 

Seadog Extreme was awarded the "Best Kid-Friendly Thrill" by Time Out Chicago KIDS in 2012.

Entertainment Cruises received the Silver Award from NTA's Courier Magazine in the "Favorite Sightseeing Cruise Line" category in 2012. 

Odyssey was named a 2012 Top Rated Restaurant & received a certificate of recognition from Restaurant.com.

Odyssey was recognized for having a 4 out of 5 stars from Yelp & received the "People Love Us" award in 2012.

The Odyssey was named the Best of Boats/Charters/Cruises by the Illinois Meetings + Events Magazine in 2011 and 2012.

Odyssey was named a "Concierge Favorite" by Concierge Preferred in 2011. 

About The Chicago Elite

The Elite is Chicago's most innovative dining and entertainment experience. The private charter yacht is available as a private event space for parties of up to 150 guests. Featuring two interior salons, an expansive bar and lounge on main deck and a finely appointed dining room on second deck. Top deck features a contemporary roof top style outside lounge with unparalleled waterfront views of Chicago's award winning skyline and architecture. Chicago Elite offers a completely customizable event on a private yacht for a meeting, wedding or unique gathering. For more information, visit www.eliteprivateyachts.com.

About The Odyssey

The Odyssey's 749-passenger ship, the largest cruise vessel to ply the waters of Lake Michigan, is unrivaled in luxury and recipient of Concierge Favorite and Best of The Knot awards in 2012.  The Odyssey, at 200-ft. long and 55-ft. high, is equipped with three climate controlled decks, an outdoor observation deck, three indoor bars, dance floors, and exceptional skyline views from bow to stern.  Odyssey's distinguished service and experiences cater to all tastes and senses. For more information, visit www.odysseycruises.com.

About Spirit of Chicago

Spirit of Chicago's festive, four-story ship has been creating high-energy fun from beginning to end as it cruises along Chicago's lakefront. The 192-ft. ship sails year-round and features a vibrant interior of three climate-controlled dining decks with new bars and dance floors and panoramic windows.  For more information, visit www.spiritofchicago.com. 

About Mystic Blue

Featuring a contemporary décor with sleek, silvery-blue interiors, Mystic Blue boasts an outdoor lounge with modern furniture, and three enclosed decks with the largest picture windows of any dinner boat on Lake Michigan. From parties of two to 600, Mystic Blue is the place for cool music, delicious food and drinks, top-notch service and unbeatable views from every table. For more information, visit www.mysticbluecruises.com. 

About Seadog 

One of the most popular attractions at Navy Pier, Seadog has thrilled over 1,000,000 people. Seadog offers three turbo-charged excursions from a 30-minute Speedboat Lake Tour, a 75-minute Lake and River Architectural Tour, and the most horse-powered vessel on the water, a 30-minute Extreme Thrill Ride. Dogs cruise free (based on availability). Seadog operates April - October, weather permitting. For more information, visit www.seadogcruises.com.

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 Park, Carlisle Family Dog Park, Harris 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.

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

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.