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Porto’s Bakery & Café in Buena Park, California
A cordoned-off lane made sense of the line, while an employee at the entrance served as a traffic cop, directing customers inside to the bakery or café line—whichever line was shorter. Since this was my first visit to Porto’s Bakery and Café, I followed directions and...
Les Cheneaux Culinary School Restaurant in Hessel, Michigan
I arrived mid-service on a Sunday evening, and while the restaurant was busy, the atmosphere was calm and pleasant, even on my behind-the-scenes kitchen tour. The kitchen was buzzing with activity in a relatively small space, yet collaboration and teamwork were...
9 State Parks in Michigan with Great Beaches
Michigan State Parks offer a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking, and swimming. Many of the parks have trails that wind through forests, around lakes, and along rivers, offering visitors a chance to experience Michigan’s...
The Kansas City Taco Trail: 10 Must-Try Taquerias
Kansas City’s Hispanic heritage began in the early 20th century when Mexican immigrants came to Kansas to help build the railroads. Congress limited the number of European immigrants through the 1918 Foreign Exclusion Act after World War I. As a result, in 1910, 55...
A Foodie’s Guide to the Best Restaurants Near Fairfield, Iowa
Fishback & Stephenson Cider House My foodie fun began when the locals introduced me to Fishback & Stephenson Cider House, one of the best restaurants near Fairfield, Iowa. Their cider flights sparkled like jewels in the afternoon sun. Some of my favorite hard...
The Mitten Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan
The Atmosphere The 120-year-old Mitten Brewing Company building has exposed brick throughout. The baseball theme starts in the lobby with four blue stadium-style seats from the original Detroit Tiger Stadium. An old English D symbolizing the Detroit Tigers adorns one...
10 Grand Rapids Breweries to Throw Back a Cold One
Use the Beer City Ale Trail Map to plan how you will explore Grand Rapid's 50-plus craft breweries. Many of these also offer dining experiences, so you may want to visit those around mealtime. Piper’s Pro Planning: You won’t need to drive to enjoy the Beer...
One Perfect Day in Carmel, Indiana
Breakfast – Eggshell Bistro Asparagus Strata at Eggshell Bistro We started the morning early with breakfast on the City Center’s north side at Eggshell Bistro, where Chef Larry Hanes is creating a Euro-influenced oasis in the middle of Indiana. Eggshell Bistro makes...
Nova Scotia’s Lighthouse Route
Chester Foc's'cle Restaurant in Chester Famous for Lobster Chowder Leaving Halifax, Nova Scotia’s oldest and capital city, my first stop down Nova Scotia's Lighthouse Route was the town of Chester, where wealthy 19th-century American families went for summer getaways....
Year-Round Festivals in Marquette, Michigan
Skiing in Marquette Michigan Photo Courtesy of Travel Marquette Heikki Lunta For an authentic “Yooper” celebration of Finnish heritage, the Heikki Lunta Festival is an annual mythology event created for the fictional Heikki Lunta. This creature would dance to make it...
The 360 Experience Aboard the Discovery Princess
A Cocktail with Blue Curacao at the 360 Experience on the Discovery Princess Like every other foodie, I’m constantly searching for the next over-the-top experience. I look for events like cooking classes where we make fresh squid ink pasta, ocean-to-table lobster...
Community Orchard: A Family Fun Itinerary in Fort Dodge, Iowa
The orchard lies along the beautiful Des Moines River Valley, where the orchard grows over 5,000 trees and includes more than 15 varieties of fresh-from-the-tree-picked apples. They also offer sunflowers in summer and continue through autumn with pumpkins. Denny &...
10 Things to Do in Fort Dodge, Iowa with Grandkids
The Fort Museum and Frontier Village in Fort Dodge, Iowa Explore Fort Museum and Frontier Village It all started in 1835 when mounted infantry called Dragoons scouted the area and chose what is now Fort Dodge as the perfect military post. In 1850, they began building...
15 Fun Facts about the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Dinosaurs Escaping from the Indianapolis Children's Museum The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is the largest in terms of size at just under 500,000 square feet sitting on a 30-acre campus. The museum hosts more than 1.3 million visitors annually. Their...
Lucas, Kansas: The Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas
As I was planning what became my 12 Days of Kansas Road Trip, I mentioned to friends about traveling to the European-inspired towns of Lindsborg, known for its Swedish heritage, and Wilson, the Czech Capital of Kansas. “You have to go about 20 miles north and explore...
Ludington, Michigan: How to Take a Fall Color Tour
Typically when I think of Ludington, Michigan, images of sandy beaches, sunsets, and lighthouses come to mind. It’s my quintessential summer happy place. My favorite season is fall, so I thought I’d get out and explore my happy place during my favorite season and see...