I've been back from sunny, delightful Maui for three cold, gray Chicago weeks. Sigh. There's nothing like a Hawaiian vacation to get you dreaming about your next Hawaiian vacation. I was lucky to work in a dolphin research lab in Oahu as a college student. From there, I made weekend trips to Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island of Hawaii. On my recent trip, I dropped into Kauai and spent a week of adventure on Maui. We did not waste a minute. I ... [ Read More ]
Open House Chicago: More Weekend Fun
Chicago Architecture Foundation Save the Date! The details are still coming together, but Open House Chicago is scheduled to take place on October 15 and 16, 2022. Sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Open House Chicago provides behind-the-scenes glimpses and tours of many of Chicago's architectural gems. The free(!) public event runs throughout the weekend. Feeling spontaneous? Great! No reservations are needed. Just ... [ Read More ]
What to Do in Southern Illinois and Shawnee National Forest
My friends and I took an early June trip to southern Illinois figuring we'd see the Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National Forest, hike around, and relax in terrain that's very different than the flatlands of the Chicago area. It turns out there are so many fun things to do in Southern Illinois! With a combination of national forest, national wildlife refuges, state forest, state parks, and nature preserves there are fantastic opportunities for ... [ Read More ]
The Maker Mom Goes West: A 50×50 Bucket List Trip
Late last spring, we took the best Wild West vacation as part of our 50x50 challenge. Our western road trip itinerary was packed with area highlights. This plan worked so well for my family that I wanted to share it with you. How Do You Plan a Trio Out West? This trip to the American West took us to South Dakota, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Note that we paid for everything in full--no blogger discounts or freebies. I'm mentioning what we liked ... [ Read More ]