Gold Star Chili (Cincinnati)

Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky

Apparently if you really want to sample the flavor of Cincinnati, you've got to try Gold Star Chili.  I like chili but I am not a huge fan, however,since this IS the flavor of Cincinnati I figured we just had to try it.  We got the 411 on this place because my boyfriend Jordan's college roommate is the son of one of the Daoud brothers, the founders of what has become a Cincinnati institution.  The Daoud family, … [Read more...]

Wake Nation (Cincinnati)

Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky

In doing my research, I happened upon this most unusual activity that I thought the kids (now in their teens and tweens) would get a huge kick out of and boy was I right.  Wakeboarding on the man made lake at Wake Nation is definitely one of the stranger things we’ve ever done, but everyone agreed was definitely a good time. Similar to water skiing, wakeboarding is what snowboarding is to snow skiing. But at Wake … [Read more...]

William Howard Taft Historic Site (Cincinnati)

Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky

Cincinnati is where you will find the home where the 27th President, William Howard Taft, was born and raised now known as the William Howard Taft Historic Site. As we ventured inside  we found  a treasure trove of information about this very interesting and committed public servant. William Howard Taft is probably most famous for being our nation's heaviest president, and that's usually the only fact most folks … [Read more...]

Melt Bar and Grilled (Cleveland)

Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky

For an over the top original dinner, check out the most amazing grilled cheese restaurant ever…Melt Bar and Grilled! My kids and I are big fans of Adam Richman’s show, Man vs. Food (The Travel Channel). They profiled this restaurant on an episode and it looked so good, we thought we’d try it. Everyone was so excited on the car ride over and I was afraid we'd oversold it to our fellow travelers.  There's no … [Read more...]

Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center (Fairbanks)

Ever have high hopes for an activity and it just doesn't pan out the way you'd hoped?  Sadly that's what happened at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center.  We had read so many great things about this place, in fact on the plane ride to Anchorage I saw an ad that highlighted some of the awesome activities we could partake in.  I was really looking forward to learning about the Athabascans, the Native … [Read more...]

University of Alaska Museum Of The North (Fairbanks)

The University of Alaska in Fairbanks is an amazing campus-where else can you major in Arctic studies? It is also home to a wonderful museum about all things Alaska, The Museum of the North.  It was a rainy day in Fairbanks when we made our way up the hill to the museum which is housed in a wonderful contemporary structure. Once inside we discovered some really interesting exhibits.  After buying our tickets we … [Read more...]

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland)

Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is just the epitome of cool. Walking  in, we were greeted with stage props from U2 and Pink Floyd concerts, just to name a few. I was overwhelmed as I was instantly I was taken back to my late teens watching MTV and VHI remembering the U2 video with those Russian cars.  I had to pinch myself a few times to make sure this was really happening....  Here in front of me floating overhead … [Read more...]

Ohio State Capitol Building (Columbus)

Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky

As state capitol buildings go, the Ohio State Capitol Building is nice, but not spectacular-at least compared to some of the others we've seen. The rotunda is pretty in muted shades of rose and aqua but it just feels like it's missing a little pizzazz-you know what I mean, sugar and spice and everything nice. There is some artwork but nothing to knock your socks off. So after you check out the main floor go … [Read more...]

The Wright Cycle Company Complex (Dayton)

Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky

If you are like me, the only place you would  associate with the Wright Brothers is Kitty Hawk in North Carolina. I had no idea, until I did my research, that the Wright brothers were from Dayton, Ohio, and that they actually started in the bicycle business, and through experimentation, developed their ideas and prototypes for the first airplane. At the Wright Cycle Company Complex we took a tour of the Wright … [Read more...]

Cedar Point Park (Sandusky)

Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky

Cedar Point Park This park bills itself as “the best amusement park in the world.” I don’t know if I’d go that far, but it was a lot of  fun and the kids got their ya-ya’s out on the roller coasters and other rides. Cedar Point’s true claim to fame, though, is that it’s home to some of the tallest, fastest, and longest roller coasters in the world. There is an aerial tram that goes from one end of … [Read more...]