Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa

A sunset over Lake Galena from the inn.

Located within the beautiful Galena Territory, a private 6800-acre community in Northwest Illinois, the Eagle Ridge Resort is a luxury resort offering 80 rooms within its inn and another 200 condos, villas nestled among the wooded and sprawling hillside areas.

The inn is located on Lake Galena with beautiful views, the Woodlands Restaurant & Lounge (and other banquet rooms), a coffee shop, boutique, general store (just off-site), pizza parlor and spa. The resort is a huge draw for golfers as there are four courses, including "The General," which has ranked as No. 41 in Golf Digest's list of America's top 100. The clubhouse at each course offers light meals and snacks. Over 40 miles of trails await hikers who want to make their way through the natural landscape and the Shenandoah Riding Center welcomes visitors for trail rides and riding lessons.

On a recent visit my sister and I visited the spa for a massage, which I highly recommend. The spa offers a number of services and a tranquil relaxation room to linger in either before or after your service.

A spring scene on the grounds just outside the inn at Eagle Ridge Resort.

For a relaxing day of fishing and boating, rental boats are available at the Lake Galena Marina.

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The inn underwent a large renovation project this past winter and the comfortable, cozy rooms are ready for your summer excursions. Rental homes can also accommodate your groups with housing of one up to six bedrooms.

With beautiful scenery at every turn, a visit to the Galena Territory is the perfect way to get away from the hustle and bustle of city and suburban areas to enjoy a peaceful few days enjoying natural surroundings. For more information, visit eagleridge.com.

A shot from a scenic overlook site in the Galena Territory.

Thunderbay Falls in a breathtaking must-see when visiting Eagle Ridge Resort.

Pipe Organ Music Comes with Dinner at Beggar's Pizza in Lansing

Since I am a foodie who also writes a food blog, restaurants are destinations for me - whether I'm on the road or close to home. I love when I can find a restaurant that is more than a place that serves food. Beggar's Pizza in Lansing would be one of those.

Known for their hearty pizza with toppings piled high, the Beggar's Pizza chain has close to two dozen locations in and around Chicago and into Northwest Indiana. The Lansing location is my favorite. Decades ago it was a movie theatre before becoming Pipes and Pizza, a pizzeria that features a pipe organ. When Beggar's took over the building, the owners continued the tradition of live organ music and you can still visit on a Tuesday or Friday night to hear the big pipe organ played.

On a visit you'll hear a lot of Disney songs along with other movie and television themes and nostalgic tunes. And sometimes you'll hear a top 40 song you might not expect. On our most recent visit as I was trying to identify a song, my son said "That's 'All About That Bass' by Meghan Trainor." The organist has a pretty big repertoire of music and can accommodate a lot of requests.

The pizza is pretty awesome and that's reason enough to go, but I'd plan to go when I can have some entertainment while I dine. There aren't many places you can go to hear and see something like this - the organist also controls a number of other instruments while simultaneously playing the organ (symbols, tamborine, xylophone, etc.) Glen Taller, the organist, has been playing there since he was a teen and you'll find him there on Tuesdays from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 5:30 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.

Visit beggarspizza.com for more on their locations and menu.

Shawnee Lodge in Shawnee State Park, West Portsmouth, Ohio

On a recent visit to south-central Ohio, I needed to find lodging for just one night. We were headed to a college campus for a visit and tour with my son and would be out the door early in the morning. I have loved staying at lodges in state parks. The setting is so much more serene and peaceful than a Best Western situated next to an expressway exit.

Unfortunately our drive to Ohio lasted all day and got us there well after dark, so we didn't get much of a chance to see the grounds. I'd love to visit again to spend more time in this beautiful park when the weather is warmer, the days are longer and there's time to explore.

The lodge was renovated in 2012 and has the amenities you'd expect at a family lodge and some that would definitely be absent at a roadside express hotel. The grounds include a restaurant and bar, indoor and outdoor pools, game room, fishing, canoe and paddleboat rentals, tennis, volleyball, basketball and other fun activities.

Originally our trip was planned with 6 of us and trying to find a hotel to accommodate that many people in one room can be difficult. I was happy to find this room that was reasonably priced and had two queen beds and two bunks. We also took advantage of a good grade discount. My son brought his report card along and they gave $10 off for each "A" up to 5.

We did enjoy a hearty breakfast in the lodge before checking out and were able to take in the breathtaking morning view.

The property also includes 25-fully-furnished cottages and the lodge has a total of 50 rooms.

For those who love the outdoors, you'll be in paradise. Just one warning - from someone who spends most of their time driving the very flat terrain around Chicago, I had a bit of a white-knuckle drive through the hilly area in the dark getting to the lodge - which if I had planned better and left in the very early morning would have been much easier to maneuver in daylight when I arrived.

Shawnee Lodge is a perfect place to relax on a rocking chair on the porch as you enjoy nature and escape the hectic pace of everyday life. For more information, visit ShawneeParkLodge.com.

Carew Tower Observation Deck in Cincinnati

I've always been one who enjoys getting a birds eve view whenever I can. I love seeing Chicago from the top of the Willis Tower (Sears Tower to longtime Chicagoans) or the John Hancock Center or the ferris wheel at Navy Pier. I loved flying over Niagra Falls in a helicopter. I enjoyed dining at Nick and Nino's in Springfield from the 30th floor. If there's a tourist destination somewhere up in the sky that gives me a great view, I'm all over it.

So, when I was traveling through Ohio last month and decided to spend a couple days in Cincinnati, I was excited to see that there was an observation deck at the top of the Carew Tower where I could look out at the Cincinnati skyline, the many bridges that cross over the Ohio River and the river towns in Kentucky.

Construction on the building began in January, 1930 and they set a record by setting 15,000 tons of steel framework in only 61 days. The building has beautiful art deco accents, including 23 elevators that shuttle visitors up and down quickly - just 32 seconds to go 574 feet. 

To get to the 49th floor observation deck at the top, you switch elevators and then have to make your last light by way of stairs. The observation deck is outdoors and completely open, something I wasn't expecting. But, since we were visiting on a very unseasonably warm weekend where it hit 70 degrees in February - it couldn't have been a more perfect time to visit. 

If you find yourself in Cincinnati, be sure to take time for a visit. The observation deck is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Also, keep in mind that they take cash only, so be prepared so that you don't have to make your way back down to search for an ATM. Admission is $4 for ages 12 and under, $2 for age 6 - 11 and free for 5 and under.

We were staying at the Residence Inn by Marriott in the historic Phelps Building, which was just a few blocks away. And, as I mentioned, we had perfect weather so it was a great time to take a walk and explore the downtown area. I would highly recommend it for lodging, especially if you are traveling with kids.

Portsmouth, Ohio

I took a recent road trip with two of my boys to Ohio. My 17-year-old will be graduating from high school this spring and was interested visiting Shawnee State University's campus in Portsmouth, Ohio. So, we were there for just a day and spent most of that time touring the campus, but should it be where he ends up going to school the next four years, it's an area I'd love to explore more.

Portsmouth (which I understand is pronounced Portsmith by locals) is situated in the Ohio River Valley in Scioto County in south-central Ohio. The campus sits just along the Ohio River with a pretty view of the Kentucky mountains on the other side. The U.S. Grant Bridge is a beautiful structure that can be seen as you make your way around the downtown area.

The town's Historic Boneyfiddle District is known for its antique shops and dining. The flood wall murals artistically portray the history of Portsmouth and was declared the largest continual work of art by a single artist.

We also paid a visit to Shawnee State Park, which was just about 20 minutes away.

For more information on Portsmouth, visit ohiorivertourism.org.

Looking through town at the U.S. Grant Bridge and into Kentucky.

Heading onto the U.S. Grant Bridge heading into Kentucky.

Coming into Kentucky across the U.S. Grant Bridge from Portsmouth.

My sons on the campus of Shawnee State University with the U.S. Grant Bridge in the background.

Mark your calendars for the Three Oaks Flag Day Celebration

For several years we have been visiting Three Oaks, Michigan in June for their annual Flag Day Parade. The weekend is full of festivities culminating with a long parade on Flag Day that is really just small town Americana at its best. The parade is about two hours of patriotic veterans groups, marching bands and floats with royalty from little towns in Southwest Michigan. As I tuned in to the Inaugural events on Friday, I noticed the Mid-America cowgirls were participating. They are always part of the Three Oaks Flag Day parade, so it reminded me that I now have a 2017 calendar going and its time to add this favorite annual event.

Three Oaks is one of our favorite places for a summer day trip from the Chicago area. With a downtown area full of artsy shops, cute cafes, a local history museum, a distillery, art galleries, a live theater and a theatre that features independent and foreign films, there's plenty to do do and see within just a couple blocks on the main street. Add in summer farmer markets and scenic roads that entice bicyclists and it adds even more reasons to visit. It's also close to many beachside towns that sit along the shores of Lake Michigan and within a few miles of several wineries.

Find updates on the festival and parade on the Facebook page "Three Oaks Flag Day Weekend and Parade." The festival takes place June 9 - 11 with the parade on Sunday, June 11.

Travel and Adventure Show

If you're in the Chicago area or not too far from it, you may want to consider paying a visit to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center where the Travel and Adventure Show continues tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Learn about hundreds of vacation destinations across the country, across the globe or in your own back yard - from Belize to Taiwan to Italy to South Dakota, Florida, Arizona and places as close as Michigan's coastline, Springfield and Milwaukee.

Kids age 16 and under are free, so it's an economical way to have some family fun as you dream together about your next travel adventure. Some of the hand-on fun includes scuba diving, riding a camel and trying out a segway.

On the several stages are speakers and demonstrations, including travel celebrities Rick Steves and Samantha Brown, experts on travel adventures brought to you by AAA and chefs and local food celebs. Take in the Culinary Fight Club at the Taste of Travel Theater at 1:30

If one of your resolutions this new year was to do more traveling, this is the place to be. So many ideas under one roof. For more info and tickets, go to travelshows.com