Tag
Illinois
Right over the border in Illinois, Apple River Canyon State Park is a beautiful valley hidden in some otherwise dull landscape. The Apple River flows through the middle of the park and is bordered by picturesque stone bluffs. The hiking… Continue Reading →
The Chicago Botanic Garden is amazing! There’s something for every plant lover here – Japanese gardens, English cottage gardens, experimental plants, natives, edible, tropical and even artwork made of plants. With nearly 400 acres, wear comfy shoes and plan to… Continue Reading →
The Swedish American Museum in Chicago is a far cry from the grand American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. It still has plenty of charm. The main floor offers a rotating show, featuring a Chicago-related topic. The upstairs has another gallery… Continue Reading →
Woolly Mammoth is a delightfully creepy, or perhaps creepily delightful, curiosity shop in the heart of Chicago. Need a housewarming gift for the Addams Family? This macabre little store is packed to the ceilings with bizarre goodies. Two-headed calf? Check…. Continue Reading →
Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood of Galena on West Street (unsurprisingly), is the West Street Sculpture Park. Artist and blacksmith John Martinson has covered his property with large-scale sculptures. The park is open to the public and you are… Continue Reading →
Galena, IL is a charming little town on the banks of the Mississippi River, and bears many of the architectural hallmarks you see on towns further south. Red brick with cream trim abounds, there porches galore and even the most… Continue Reading →
For all things Chicago, visit the wide-ranging Chicago History Museum. Located a few blocks from the lakeshore, the museum has been in the same location (in various permutations) since the Chicago fire in the 1870s. Displays range from the early… Continue Reading →
Located in a plum location on Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive, the International Museum of Surgical Science is a varied collection. Some of the displays are exceptionally good – trepanned skulls, a huge library of medical books, a recreation of a… Continue Reading →
Like Spring Green, Woodstock is a town you don’t go to specifically for one thing, but instead for the ambiance. Made famous(ish) as the filming location for the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day, this charming little town is a lovely… Continue Reading →
Despite calling itself an “auto museum”, the Volo Auto Museum has an awful lot of things that are not cars. In fact, a large number of displays could be described as “not at all cars. Even a little bit.” This… Continue Reading →
Less than an hour and a half drive from Madison is a gem of a garden. The Anderson Japanese Gardens are worth a visit any time of year. They are a lush, exotic oasis. The gardens surround a large pond,… Continue Reading →
If you are on your way to Chicago and have a few moments, pull off Highway 88 in Aurora and take a quick look at the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple. The gorgeous, intricate building is a private religious center, so… Continue Reading →