CHICAGO – A place for all seasons!

I know I am not the only one looking forward to spring.  But for those of us that are not heading to a warm climate this month, there are some cities that offer year round fun.  Chicago is one of my favorite places to visit.  The city offers something for everyone.

 It is close enough to home that you don’t have to fly.  By car it will take you about 4 ½ hours from the Detroit area.  You can also take a train into the city from several surrounding areas.

So what are the main attractions?  If you enjoy history, science, or art, Chicago has a number of places for you. Shedds Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, and Adler Planetarium to name a few, will keep you and your family busy for the better part of a day.  Each of these museums is distinct and will keep you wanting more.

Another favorite place to visit is the Navy Pier.  This attraction is most popular in the summer. Offering unique places to dine, and boat tours that will take you around the city, as well as the Chicago cityscape from Lake Michigan. 

Speaking of Michigan, one of my favorite areas in downtown Chicago is the Magnificent Mile. Located on Michigan Avenue, this area boasts amazing shopping, some of the best restaurants in the country, and skyscraper hotels. 

Below are just a few of my favorite spots within the windy city:

                                          

                                            

 So where are your favorite places to go in Chicago?  Do you have a favorite restaurant?  Favorite museum?  Please share with me your picks when visiting this amazing city.

A Little Closer to Home - Harbor Springs, Michigan

This week’s post keeps me a little closer to home, well at least my home state.  Last summer our family (18 of us) rented two homes in Harbor Springs, Michigan for a week in August.  What an amazing area!  It is nestled on little Traverse Bay, boasting hilly landscape, lavish homes, and a beautiful bluff overlooking the quaint small town.  It is a year round travel spot for both skiers and boaters.

We were able to walk almost everywhere.  Where we could not walk, bikes were our mode of transportation. 

Our days were spent relaxing at the beach, family baseball games, reading books, visiting local shops, and sightseeing.  Our evenings were spent cooking, making s’mores by the fire, and staring at the incredible amount of stars in the clearest sky I have ever seen.  It was a week of reconnecting with family, relaxation, and creating lasting memories. 

One of our favorite places to visit, (and we visited more than once), was Tom's Mom's Cookies.  I guess they are fairly well known and ship their products all over the state, but this was my first experience – but will not be my lastJ!  My favorite was the peanut butter and chocolate chip!

Another place we fell in love with was the Stained Cup Coffee Company.  A unique coffee shop with refreshing daily drink specials and one-of-a-kind sandwich choices.  It was a perfect place to grab lunch and sit outside and enjoy the afternoon.  I would highly recommend this restaurant.

We enjoyed the area so much we are planning to go back their this summer!   If you are interested in visiting this “Pure Michigan” gem, the following website will help you get to know the area, Harbor Springs Chamber.

Isle of Capri, Italy

Before I visited the Isle of Capri, I heard so many wonderful things about it, but nothing could have prepared me for the Isle’s beauty except to experience for myself.

The Isle of Capri is located off the southern shores of Naples, Italy near the Amalfi coast.  It is known for its quaint shops, street side cafes, and magnificent scenery.  You can only visit by boat.

There are two sides to the island, the isle, the most popular side, and Ana Capri which is located on the other side.  You can walk to the other side of the island by walking up many, many, many, many steps.  There is also a train that I understand you can take too! ( I obviously took the stairs) J

Below are some pictures that show the beauty that Capri offers.

Make every day a holiday and find the silver lining!

As we move through this cold and snowy winter and long for spring, I have tried to find a silver lining in it all, making the best of every day.  Don’t get me wrong the two hour drives to work and back is getting a little old (Ok a lot), but with every challenge comes surprising little victories. 

I have been focusing on creating a healthier lifestyle for myself which has given me more energy – victory!  I have committed to organizing my home, my life, etc.; this has reduced my overall stress and has helped me relax a little – victory! 

Most of all I have spent more quality time with my family over the past two months - the silver lining! 

My family is like most, work, school, gym (really trying), dinner, sleep, repeat.  There isn’t a lot of time to catch up, hang out, and just talk.  Over the past two months with all the snow and cold weather, we have all had to slow down a little and have spent a lot more time with each other.  It has been a welcome change.  In between homework assignments and work, we have found time to enjoy our home, play board games and catch up with each other.  We have been planning summer activities and reminiscing about past memories. 

So I have chosen to embrace this cold snowy winter and find the silver lining J

Found this picture on www.celbratingmyblessings.com

Exploring the possibilities…….

I have to say, I am not sad to see January go this year and I love the snow.  I did however get a lot accomplished last month between work, school and home, but I think I am getting a little cabin fever! 

Over these past few weeks my husband and I have been discussing our travel plans for this year.  We really want to go someplace warm the end of March – anyone have an idea?

I think my family needs a little vitamin D…..oh and me too J

So while I was searching for that warm place of refuge I stumbled across some old pictures.  #Caribbean #sun #vacation

Returning to Italy

This year my husband and I are celebrating our 25^th anniversary, and are planning a trip to Italy next spring to celebrate.  This will be our second trip to Italy.  The first time we experienced Italy, we went on a Mediterranean cruise.  This time we are going to visit by land.  We are working with a travel agent to make sure we do it right.  I am looking for any and all comments and suggestions.  Where to visit, what we should not miss, and tourist traps we may want to miss. @trafalgartalk #Italy #Europe www.travelleaders.com/clintontwpmi   

Welcome to my blog

Hi everyone my name is Char.  I have started this blog for a social media class I am taking.  I was asked to find my passion and blog about it.  When I really thought about it, the decision became simple.  I am passionate about enjoying life’s adventures, and sharing them with family and friends.  My life is pretty full and I love every minute of it. From time to time however, I find myself not having enough of those minutes and I need to hit that stop button and rejuvenate.  I have found that throughout the years traveling has given me that much needed recharge and a chance to reconnect with my family away from the daily routine.  It has been a source of inspiration, education, and has given some of my fondest memories.   If you are like me and enjoy a new adventure as often as time and budget permits, please follow my blog.