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7 Must-Try Fort Wayne, Indiana Restaurants
Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Dogs at Coney Island Weiner Stand Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island Weiner Stand “Next table’s open,” a server shouted from the back. “Still need my four cheese dogs,” another called. That’s the typical banter at Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney...
5 Best Restaurants in the Bradenton Gulf Islands
Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant and Pub Located on Long Boat Key, the next island south of Anna Maria Island, the SoCal Radio Wine Dinner at Mar Vista was spectacular, starting with the view. We ate on the covered patio, but they have options for dining under the trees...
Lindsborg, Kansas: A Touch of Sweden in the Middle of America
In 1869, settlers from the Swedish province of Dalarna founded Lindsborg; with a current population of 3,286, it’s a small town big on small-town American charm. While Lindsborg celebrates its Swedish heritage through festivals, food, and folk art, its middle America...
How to Spend One Day in Mason City, Iowa
8:15 a.m. Breakfast at Cabin Coffee For our day trip to Mason City, Iowa, we wanted to explore some of the best things to do there. And we needed some sustenance for the day ahead, so we decided to stop at Cabin Coffee Company before catching up with our guide for the...
Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden in East Lansing
The Pizza Garden in Spring The Pizza Garden One of our favorite gardens at the Michigan 4-H Children's Garden was the Pizza Garden, where we found everything it takes to make pizza. The six feet in diameter garden has a mysteriously missing slice and concrete “crust”...
Burgdorf’s Winery: Award-Winning Wine from a Garage
From Hobby to Business For the Burgdorfs, it all started 30-some years ago as home winemakers, in the Haslett, Michigan countryside east of Lansing, with a bumper crop of wild black raspberries. Dave laughed, “You can only make so many jellies, cobblers, and pies. We...
How to Spend the Perfect Day in Put-in-Bay, Ohio
Should you take your car to Put-in-Bay? You could, but I didn't and was glad. During weekends and holidays, you can't take your vehicle for a day trip. You must show evidence of an overnight stay. Parking is difficult, and some areas are congested. Renting a golf cart...
Top Places for Outdoor Activities in Michigan in 2025
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Waterfalls One of the best outdoor activities in Michigan is chasing waterfalls. While Michigan’s Lower Peninsula has only one waterfall, the Upper Peninsula is the perfect place to chase waterfalls. The UP has over 300 waterfalls. Spend...
The Best Things to Do in Wichita, Kansas
In the 1920s and 1930s, business people and aeronautical engineers established several aircraft manufacturing companies. Lloyd Stearman, Clyde Cessna, and Walter Beech established the Travel Air Manufacturing Company in Wichita on January 26, 1925. Wichita became a...
4 Michigan Children’s Gardens: Move Learning Outdoors
You might be a bit concerned that a garden might leave the kiddos begging for an early departure, but that’s not the case in any of these gardens. While each includes flowers and plants, they also feature a variety of activities to engage the kiddos through...
Traverse City, Michigan: Cherry Capital of the World
Cherry Republic Traverse City Cherry Republic in Traverse City, Michigan Photo Credit: Traverse City Tourism Cherry Republic is an iconic establishment that has become a mecca for cherry enthusiasts seeking a taste of Michigan’s famous Montmorency tart cherry. After...
Olivia’s Chophouse in Jonesville, Michigan
Olivia's Chophouse During Lunch Service Olivia's Chophouse serves upscale gourmet meals that include steak and seafood specialties. That said, you’ll find more casual daily specials like Taco Tuesday and Pizza Thursdays. Be sure to ask about daily specials. We had a...
7 Lansing, Michigan Best Restaurants in 2025
Experience One of Michigan’s Best Scratch Kitchens at Zaytoon Zaytoon, Arabic for olive, is a Mediterranean restaurant focused on the Middle East and some Greek dishes with an American twist. “Fast Food - Cooked Slow” -- it’s a healthy alternative to fast food. They...
10 Things to Do in Lansing, Michigan
Food and Drink Saddleback BBQ Saddleback BBQ (#17) is a hand-crafted, Southern BBQ shop specializing in four types of meat—back ribs, brisket, pulled pork shoulder, and chicken quarters. With this BBQ you could add a fourth C, culinary to the list of things to do in...
Abilene, Kansas: Wild West to White House
In 1867, Abilene became the western end of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, where it met The Chisholm Trail. The town was the wild west in the truest sense, as cowboys herded cattle from Texas to Abilene and boarded them into railroad cars to ship them throughout the...
Deciding Dessert First
Call me crazy, but dessert requires some planning. When cooking at home, it isn’t an afterthought, and it shouldn’t be in a restaurant. I ask to see the dessert menu right upfront. Even more daring is requesting the server to bring the dessert tray before ordering....
While Piper is a lifelong Michigander, she’s had adventures worldwide. Bomb-sniffing dogs chased her in the middle of the night in Bogota (working late), gate agents refused her boarding to Paraguay (wrong visa), and US Marshals announced her seat number on a plane while looking for a murder suspect (she’d traded seats). It’s always an adventure! She even finds exciting activities in her home state of Michigan, where she lives in Lansing with her husband, Ross Dingman, her daughter, Alexis, and two granddaughters.