Search Results for: blog state natural areas an adventure in nature

Family Fun At The State Fair—A Day Of Pig Races And Deep Fried Pickles

There aren’t too many places on the planet where you can watch a retired NASCAR announcer provide color commentary on a race between four pot-bellied pigs speeding around a sawdust track, and then 2 hours later gnaw unforgivably on a deep fried pork chop-on-a-stick. It happens daily at the Wisconsin State Fair. The annual 10-day event is famous around these parts for deep-fried everything, food-on-a-stick, a giant slide and world-class agricultural venues. What more could you ask for, right? That was my thought when I decided to brave the crowds (more than 800,000 descend on State Fair Park in Milwaukee … Continue reading →

Exploring The Great State of Wisconsin

I’ll be honest; it took me a while to embrace the state of Wisconsin. Can you blame me? I moved to the Dairy State from sun-kissed shores of Hawaii to attend school. I eventually settled in the northeast portion of the state when I accepted a job there and later made it my “home” when I married a Wisconsin native. Whereas, I have blogged about Wisconsin’s many natural attributes I realize I’ve only scratched the surface. My current home state has a ton to offer visitors (many of whom come in droves during the fall and winter to watch their … Continue reading →

Last-Minute Leaf-Peeping Deals

Leaf peepers are in their prime right now, as stunning fall foliage blankets the country from coast-to-coast. Unfortunately, the season’s spectacular colors won’t last long. Currently, the leaves are brightest in parts of New England, the Midwest and the mid-Atlantic. Soon, peak season will hit western and southern states, which means if you are going to take advantage of fall foliage travel deals; there is no time to waste. Travel aggregate sites, such as Travelzoo feature a slew of affordable seasonal getaways that turn the spotlight on Mother Nature’s brilliant leaves. Some of the most popular money-saving deals include: Connecticut: … Continue reading →

Park It

Spring is the perfect time to become one with nature. After a long winter battling cabin fever, now is your chance to bond with family and friends in the great outdoors. The United States is teeming with picturesque parks that make for amazing vacation destinations, including: Shenandoah National Park Located in Virginia, Shenandoah National Park features uncompromising beauty that will take your breath away. Set within one of the country’s most famous natural playgrounds, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park offers a plethora of family-friendly activities, including hiking, biking, fishing and camping. The park is especially noted for its … Continue reading →

Winter Wonderland Vacation

If you didn’t find a plane ticket to Hawaii in your Christmas stocking this morning, then you might as well make the most of your chilly surroundings… or someone else’s frigid environment. Tis the season to travel to the world’s most popular winter festivals. The coldest season of the year brings with it a myriad of outdoor celebrations, which encourage travelers to bundle up, and enjoy Old Man Winter and all his Artic glory. If you are looking for a cool place to spend part of your winter break, check out the following freezing festivals: WISCONSIN They don’t call it … Continue reading →

How Safe is Your City?

I am a sucker for lists. For some reason I can’t resist scanning “Best of” or “Worst of” lists, be it a column itemizing the “World’s Best Ice Cream” or the “Worst Movies of 2009.” So when Men’s Health magazine recently published its list on the “100 Safest American Cities for Kids,” I was drawn to it like mold to moisture. Love the list… and not just because my family lives near the safest city in the United States (according the magazine). Love it because my family spends a ton of time in the top TWO safest cities in the … Continue reading →

Springtime Fun in the Great Outdoors

After two days of near 70-degree temps, reality hit, and our sleepy Wisconsin city got slammed with six inches of snow last week. Fortunately, the snow only stuck around for a couple days. Unfortunately, we got dumped on during my young daughter’s spring break from school. Despite the crazy weather pattern (a.k.a. spring in Wisconsin), we managed to salvage spring break with a few outdoor adventures that got my daughter itching for summer vacation. Spring has sprung in most states, and if you are looking for ways to take advantage of the seasonal temps with your kids, then consider the … Continue reading →

Fun Family Events for Animal Lovers

The end of leaf-peeping season is in sight for most families. However, just because the fiery displays of fall foliage are disappearing doesn’t mean you should start hibernating yet. There are a myriad of outdoor adventures waiting for you and your family during these last weeks of fall and several of them feature kid-friendly companions—-animals. Take a look: New Mexico In Taos, New Mexico you and your family can hook up with a group of lovable llamas as you tour the surrounding countryside. The llamas-for-hire come courtesy of Wild Earth Llama Adventures, which pairs each family member with a gear-carrying … Continue reading →

Wisconsin’s Newest Tourist Hot Spot—Drained Lake

In a previous blog I told you about the unthinkable events that recently took place at tourist hot spot Lake Delton, Wisconsin. Earlier this month the area was deluged with several inches of rain in a 3-hour period. The rain caused flooding that broke through the banks of the 267-acre lake causing the entire lake to drain into the nearby Wisconsin River. The video shot of the chasm that broke massive homes in half and sent them toppling into raging waters was broadcast around the world. One scene of an entire home tumbling into the water and being carried by … Continue reading →

Going Hog Wild in Milwaukee and Revving it up in Philly

The city known for its beer and brats is going hog wild next month when it opens a new Harley-Davidson Museum. The iconic company’s hometown of Milwaukee is the site of a massive building that will house more than 400 bikes. The grand opening takes place on July 12th and will include a slew of festivities that highlight Harleys that once belonged to celebrities like Evel Knievel and Elvis Presley. Also scheduled to be on display is a motorcycle built in 1903. That was the year that two young friends from Milwaukee, William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson, first made … Continue reading →