Eats in the Quad Cities

When exploring, I always find it best to eat local. Eating local helps you learn so much more about an area and also gives more back to the community thereby keeping it vibrant. On our trip to the Quad Cities, we found a number of great family friendly establishments for you to try on your trip!

Open House Chicago October 14-15, 2017

Image courtesy of Chicago Architecture Foundation

For two days this fall, over 250 cultural and architectural treasures throughout different Chicago neighborhoods and two suburbs will be open to the public for free during Open House Chicago. The event will give the public behind the scenes looks at repurposed mansions, rarely seen offices, skyscrapers, theaters, industrial facilities, inspirational places of worship and more reflecting the cultural diversity and history of Chicago. Some of the structures featured are among the most iconic in Chicago. Highlights include:

Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois

We spent the last day of summer break wandering the tranquil environs of Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois. The balance between water features, natural elements, tea houses, foot bridges and sculptures had almost a meditative effect. We had a wonderful morning of reflection.

Wednesday Weekend Windup {Classic Cars, Monarchs and More}

It is Wednesday evening which means we have rounded the corner to the weekend! Here are some fun events for your family!

Bucktown Center for the Arts and Artists in the Quad Cities

While exploring the the Quad Cities, we encountered a vibrant artist community. For those with a passion for local art or those curious about creative processes, a visit to the Bucktown Center for the Arts is a must. The Bucktown Center for the Arts is an artist collective where up and coming artists can rent space to create and sell their pieces.

Nahant Marsh in Davenport, Iowa

Nahant Marsh in Davenport, Iowa is an ecological success story. Once the site of a sportsman's club, the area had been contaminated with lead due to skeet shooting. The site was declared a Superfund Site. After the lead was cleaned up, the marsh was designated as a nature preserve. Today, we can all witness the amazing recovery of the marsh. The marsh is now the home to over 150 species of birds, over 400 species of plants, some mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects. The preserve provides for a tranquil nature adventure that most of us are not treated to everyday!

August Degustabox Fun

August was a hectic month so I am a little behind in sharing the goodies from my monthly foodie fun box. But, this was a good one -- so I have to show you what was inside! Here is a look: