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Summer Fun—-Wild and Wacky Family Friendly Festivals

A couple of years ago I ran through a list of some of the tastiest summer food festivals I’d ever had the pleasure of attending. This year I’m going wild. Wild for wacky adventures waiting to be had at some of the nation’s most unique hometown festivals. If you are looking for summer fun that will keep you smiling well into the winter consider heading north, south, east and west to these family friendly festivals: CALIFORNIA The Horned Toad Derby in Coalinga, California draws hundreds of thousands of BBQ lovers to town during the second to the last weekend in … Continue reading →

Fall Food Festivals—-Celebrating Okra

I grew up in Hilo, Hawaii… a place far removed from the region of the country where okra thrives. Yet, I love the fuzzy green veggie. All thanks to my Texas-born best friend. My pal Erika was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas, but moved to Hawaii when she was 12 and her professor parents accepted jobs teaching at our local university. Erika’s family moved in down the street from me and we became fast friends. Which means I shared many meals at her home. Hence, my introduction to okra. The slimy green pod vegetable was a staple in Erika’s … Continue reading →

Affordable Family-Friendly Festivals

You’ve heard it echoed in neighborhoods, playgroups, offices, grocery stores, even in the doctor’s waiting room. Seems like you just can’t escape “it.” “It” is the insanely high price of gas and nowadays, it’s the topic of conversation wherever you go. Ironically, it was a topic brought up last weekend during a mini-road trip my family took to attend a local Kite Festival. Ironic, because like many families, the skyrocketing price of gas has forced us to eliminate our “big” summer road trip. Instead, we have opted to save gas (and money) by attending a variety of area festivals that … Continue reading →

Antioxidant-Rich Juices

There’s that word again: antioxidants. Those little molecules that bond with free radicals and help protect your body against heart disease, cancer, and more huge health issues. A recent study from UCLA looked at drinks that were chock full of antioxidants. You’ve heard the praise for some of them before — red wine, white tea, and green tea — but you might be surprised about the other seven drinks in the top ten. Fruit juices with the most antioxidants per ounce include: Pomegranate (the highest antioxidant power in a fruit juice) Concord grape Blueberry Black cherry Acai Cranberry Orange One … Continue reading →

Summer Travel: Michigan and Miami

I live in Wisconsin so it’s no surprise that our airwaves have been saturated with summer tourism ads heralding Michigan’s incredible natural wonders. From its spectacular lakes to its amazing waterfalls and beautiful beaches the state is well displayed in the new 2008 Pure Michigan advertising campaign. Tourism officials are hoping the award-winning campaign will draw people like me (who live in nearby states and Canada) to enjoy the state’s beaches, golf courses, fishing spots and bike trails. If you live in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana or Ohio be prepared to be inundated with TV, radio and print ads boasting of … Continue reading →

Rev Up Your Vacation In The Motor City

In just a few days Midwesterners (like me) won’t have to travel to Las Vegas to get a taste of what life is like at a splashy, ultra-luxury resort. Next week, the long awaited, hotly-anticipated $800 million MGM Grand Detroit will open its doors to the public. The resort is the sister property to the famous Las Vegas venue and the first MGM Grand hotel outside of Nevada. The hotel is like nothing we have here in these parts. We’re talking 400 state-of-the-art rooms and suites, celebrity-chef restaurants, a massive casino, and a 20,000-square-foot spa. The new MGM Grand Detroit … Continue reading →

Going (Coco) NUTS In Hawaii

It’s the only food festival in the world where I don’t walk away 5 pounds heavier. If it were not for the fact that I am allergic to the hearty fruit I would eat everything in sight at Kauai’s Coconut Festival. Believe me (I was born and raised in Hawaii); if you find yourself in the “Aloha State” during the month of October this is one event you don’t want to miss. The 11th annual Kauai Coconut Festival takes place this year on October 6th and 7th at Kapaa Beach Park on the lush eastern portion of the Hawaiian Island … Continue reading →

Visiting Mackinac Island

Looking for a way to get over your pain at the pump? Pack up the kids and travel to a place where high gas prices don’t exist… a place where gas stations don’t exist. In fact, not only don’t you have to worry about exorbitant gas prices; you don’t have to fight to find a parking space or stew in bumper-to-bumper traffic either. That’s because on Mackinac Island cars are not allowed. It’s the first thing you notice when you take a trip to this gorgeous northern Michigan haven. I’ve had the opportunity to visit the island a couple of … Continue reading →

Traveling To A Taro Festival

In previous blogs I’ve detailed my adventures traveling around the nation to various food festivals. Right now, on the island of Maui, locals are gearing up for one of Hawaii’s most popular food festivals—the East Maui Taro Festival. (I’ve even considered petitioning the Food Network to send a crew to cover it as an episode on their show “All-American Food Festivals.”) On the last weekend in April, the tight-knit community of Hana hosts this down home bash that attracts more than 5,000 visitors and residents each year. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the festival, which features a number … Continue reading →