Rock 'n Through Lunch at Rock N Grill in Lake in the Hills

A recent rainy day sent us exploring for a new and unique experience. I had heard good things about a rock 'n roll grill in the area, so our rainy day mission quickly became a visit to Rock N Grill in Lake in the Hills.

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Coffee Time at Coffee Speaks in Highland Park, Illinois

I am always of the lookout for coffee spots in the Chicago suburbs. Well, truthfully I am looking for places that make great mocha lattes. A couple of weekends ago, we decided to spend some time strolling around Highland Park. I figured that it was the perfect opportunity to try Coffee Speaks.

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Deerfield Historic Village

The Chicago suburbs are full of interesting spots of history. One day this month, we took an opportunity to check out Deerfield Historic Village in Deerfield, IL. The village building are open on Sundays during the summer from 2PM-4PM (June - September). However, the village does have some events throughout the year and it is a nice spot for a picnic. There are signs by the buildings, so you can learn about them even when they are not open. We visited briefly on a Saturday and found it interesting.

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Visiting a Viking Ship in Geneva, IL

A Viking ship rests in a simple shelter in Good Templar Park in Geneva, Illinois. Last weekend, we went to explore the Viking ship and learn a little about how it found itself in the Chicago suburbs.

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Wednesday Weekend Windup {Swedish Days, Strawberry Fest, Greek Fest, Summer Fair and More}

Lots of Chicago suburban fairs and fests this weekend plus a chance to see the Viking Ship in Geneva! My picks:

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June Degustabox Treats

We opened our June Degustabox to discover all sorts of goodies. If you are unfamiliar with Degustbox, Degustabox is a mail order box that delivers a surprise selection of foodie goodies every month -- or how ever long you choose. Each month we can't wait to see what is packed inside. Every month we are not only surprised but find items that we love. Here is a peek at June:

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Favorite Hiking Trails of the Midwest Part 2

Hiking season is upon us and I am looking for new spots for incredible scenery and enjoyable trails here in the Midwest! Last year, I published around up of Favorite Midwest Hiking Trails curated from a collection of the favorites submitted by Midwest travel writers. This year we are adding to the list! Enjoy this second collection of cherished hiking trails throughout the Midwest with ideas from some of my favorite Midwest travel writers:

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Fort Snelling: Frontier Fortress on the Mississippi

**Disclosure: Thank you to Visit Roseville for hosting our incredible visit to Roseville, Minnesota! Views are 100% my own.

I first visited Fort Snelling as a child when my grandparents took our family to visit St. Paul. Always the history buff, I was immediately fascinated by the fortification sitting above the Mississippi River. When we decided to visit Roseville, Minnesota for a family weekend, I knew that I had to bring my daughter. The day was sweltering and there is little shade at the fort, so we didn't spend as much time as I would of liked. However, we still learned quite a bit!

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Made in Minnesota Finds Near Roseville, Minnesota

**Disclosure: Thank you to Visit Roseville for hosting our incredible visit to Roseville, Minnesota! Views are 100% my own.

While enjoying the Roseville, Minnesota area, we discovered some wonderful places to pick up a made in Minnesota gift. Finding a little piece of Minnesota to take home with you is not too difficult and you will no doubt love checking out all of the finds made in Minnesota!

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Foodie Finds Near Roseville, Minnesota

**Disclosure: Thank you to Visit Roseville for hosting our incredible visit to Roseville, Minnesota! Views are 100% my own.

During a visit to Roseville, Minnesota, we sure had our share of foodie adventures! I am happy to report that we enjoyed everything we tried! The region is rich with a wide variety of flavors, cuisines and styles all close to our home base location at  the Residence Inn Minneapolis-St. Paul/Roseville. Take a peek at our foodie adventure during our Roseville, Minnesota getaway:

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Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America

**Disclosure: Thank you to Visit Roseville for hosting our incredible visit to Roseville, Minnesota! Views are 100% my own.

Our home base at the Residence Inn Minneapolis-St. Paul/Roseville was a short drive to the Mall of America. On an incredibly hot day during our stay, we were happy to have a little indoors adventure at Nickelodeon Universe inside of the mall. It is certainly a novelty to have an amusement park in a mall. Since it is indoors, it is perfect for exploration all year round.

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Minnehaha Falls and Chain of Lakes Offer Natural Inspiration in Minneapolis

**Disclosure: Thank you to Visit Roseville for hosting our incredible visit to Roseville, Minnesota! Views are 100% my own.

Our weekend adventure in Roseville, Minnesota was not short on breathtaking nature experiences! Despite the above 100 F temperatures, we were able to take advantage of cooler mornings and evenings to explore. We started one morning by visiting stunning Minnehaha Falls.

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Large Scale Art Inspires at Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

**Disclosure: Thank you to Visit Roseville for hosting our incredible visit to Roseville, Minnesota! Views are 100% my own.

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden looked absolutely stunning on our visit during a bright and sunny day. The beautiful skies and intriguing sculptures beckoned for exploration.

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Laughs, Games and Fun at Can Can Wonderland in St. Paul, Minnesota

**Disclosure: Thank you to Visit Roseville for hosting our incredible visit to Roseville, Minnesota! Views are 100% my own.

Boardwalk arcade games and mini golf -- what can be a better way to spend a family evening! Temperatures were pretty steamy during our visit to Roseville, Minnesota, so we were happy to take some evening time out of the sun at the indoor fun venue of Can Can Wonderland in nearby St. Paul.

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Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul, Minnesota

**Disclosure: Thank you to Visit Roseville for hosting our incredible visit to Roseville, Minnesota including providing our hotel stay and admissions to select attractions! Views are 100% my own.

Natural attractions are some of my favorite to visit while on a road trip. So, I definitely had to make a visit to Como Park Conservatory while on our weekend family getaway in Roseville, Minnesota. Como Park Conservatory is located only minutes from Roseville in St. Paul and is part of a larger recreational area including Como Park Zoo and Como Lake. So, you can make a whole day of your visit or you can pick and choose. On the first day of our visit, we visited Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.

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