Travel

Red Brick Reunion Porsche Show in Oxford, Ohio

Red Brick Reunion Porsche Show in Oxford, Ohio!  There’s something about a classic car that makes my heart flutter. Don’t ask me why. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been told I possess an “old” soul. Or perhaps it’s because I’m a hopeful romantic. Whatever the reason, I gazed upon this olive green 1950s Porsche Speedster, with its top slicked back, like it was unrequited love. Its muscled body, atop the red brick surface of High Street, alluded to the mental apprehension of power beneath the hood. The live band captivated the crowd playing familiar tunes from the wisteria-covered stage in Oxford’s Memorial Park. What an unexpected pleasure! The next time you come across a car show, take a few minutes to stroll hand-in-hand with someone special. You never know if you’ll run into a good-looking old flame. 

Dining Outside the Home: Carpenter Creek Cellars in Remington, Indiana

Dining Outside the Home: Carpenter Creek Cellars in Remington, Indiana! Carpenter Creek Cellars’ Music Fest is where you find children frolicking on the lawn, against a backdrop of adults sipping Strawberry Wine, guitar music filling the air, and the aromas of BBQ pork smoking on the grill. Life stands still against the rambling brook running along the fence-rowed vineyard in Jasper County, Indiana. 

Dining Outside the Home: Farmhouse Restaurant in Fair Oaks, Indiana

Dining Outside the Home: Farmhouse Restaurant in Fair Oaks, Indiana! Experience a culinary adventure that’s straight off the farm. With ingredients that are raised, produced, and harvested locally, freshness is key. From the moment you are seated, all who gather round the table notice hospitality that knows no bounds. One munch of all-natural cornbread from the bread basket can test willpower that sends self-control reeling. And that’s just the beginning. Portions are generous, so be warned. Whether you choose mile-high sandwiches or hand cut ribeyes, no one walks away hungry or disappointed. And the desserts are phenomenal, I’m told. I wouldn’t know. Honestly, I surrendered to the texture and aroma of the cornbread. 

Dining Outside the Home: Wyldewood Cellars in Saint Joseph, Illinois 

Dining Outside the Home: Wyldewood Cellars in Saint Joseph, Illinois! It’s not every day you come across a winery that specializes exclusively in elderberry wine. This family-owned award-winning winery’s claim to fame rests in the natural health benefits at its very core. Elderberry juice, in its concentrated form, is practically liquid gold. For centuries, Europeans have treasured this knowledge and utilized the accessibility of this native berry. Wyldewood Cellars cultivated the elderberry plant on their family farm in Peck, Kansas strictly for wine and extract production. And then they shared it with others by processing and bottling it locally. Stop by and chat with Tracie. She’ll be happy to share her story with free samples. Every good meal deserves a celebration with wine. 

Dining Outside the Home: Lorena’s Mexican Restaurant Bar & Grill in East Peoria, Illinois

Dining Outside the Home: Lorena’s Mexican Restaurant Bar & Grill in East Peoria, Illinois! Whenever my husband and I travel, we tend to gravitate to places that serve authentic Mexican food, recommended by locals. On a day when the outside temperature was as stifling as the Chihuahuan Desert, nothing sounded better than an ice cold margarita on the rocks. As we slid into a booth at Lorena’s, the air conditioner struggled to keep up. No worries. A smiling waiter offered salsa picante that matched the heat with hot sauce and chilies. One bite, one sip, and our minds were flowing with the mariachi music. “Fiesta Fajitas for Two, por favor.” Moments later, a sizzling platter overflowing with tender meat and roasted vegetables arrived satiating the appetite. Gracias, amigo!

Dining Outside the Home: Ground Round Grill & Bar in Worthington, Minnesota 

Dining Outside the Home: Ground Round Grill & Bar in Worthington, Minnesota! After a long road trip, crossing State lines, having a restaurant within arm’s throw of the hotel is pretty nice. It does a body good to stretch the legs and walk about. And after being in a car all day, dining outside on an open terrace is an added bonus. Although an American franchise, this upscale eatery boasts a varied menu for the health-conscious, gluten-free crowd, and avid sports enthusiast. The Roasted Garlic Chicken Flatbread was truly gourmet. Baked to perfection, it fulfilled my expectation. Its rich ingredients of basil pesto, roasted tomatoes, garlic chicken chunks, and marinated artichokes were crowned with baby arugula drizzled with a sumptuous balsamic glaze. Now doesn’t that sound heavenly?

Dining Outside the Home: Sevens Restaurant and Steakhouse in Clear Lake, Iowa!

Dining Outside the Home: Sevens Restaurant and Steakhouse in Clear Lake, Iowa! In a town that became famous over a tragic event—a plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JP “The Big Bopper” Richardson in 1959—everyone pulled themselves up by the bootstraps and dedicated a monument to these great musicians. Still known as the town where “The Day the Music Died”, Main Street has been revitalized and cultivated as a hub for tourism, art, and music transforming it into an appealing and popular vacation destination. Sevens Restaurant and Steakhouse is a full menu eatery that offers one more reason to stop by. A few steps from one of the biggest lakes in northern Iowa, Sevens makes summer-at-the-lake a memorable and delicious experience.