Learning the Stories Laying the Foundation of Geneva, Illinois at the Geneva History Museum

 

We wandered to the Geneva History Museum this week to experience the new Viking's Voyage exhibit highlighting the ship Viking. Viking was originally part of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago and now calls Geneva home. However, we quickly learned that the museum's main exhibit focusing on Geneva history engages the spirit of discovery. We enjoyed exploring the two galleries and learning about Geneva.

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Weekend Windup: Family Fun in the Chicago Suburbs July 23 - 25, 2021

 

Family Fun in the Chicago Suburbs July 23 - 25, 2021

Another glorious summer weekend is ahead! Here are my picks for family fun in the Chicago suburbs this weekend:

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10 Places to Pick Up Local Craft Brews in Chicago's North and Northwest Suburbs

10 Places to Pick Up Local Craft Brews in Chicago's North and Northwest Suburbs

We are so lucky to have many local craft brewers here in the Chicago suburbs! My husband and I enjoy visiting when we can to try samplers. So much fun to taste a range of beer! If you are looking for a way to support a local small business during this time, our local breweries are offering ways to pick up craft beer to bring home. I put together a list of 10 in the North and Northwest suburbs for you to check out. Please check their websites for further details on availability, times and if you need to order ahead. Here are 10 great local craft breweries to explore:

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9 Chocolate Shops to Know in the Chicago Suburbs

9 Chocolate Shops to Know in the Chicago Suburbs

So I may or may not plan some of our excursions based on our proximity to chocolate shops. Ok, I totally plan out excursions to enjoy chocolate. Here are 9 local chocolate shops that I have discovered during our journeys and I love:

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Fascinated by Clocks and Stained Glass at Halim Time and Glass Museum in Evanston, IL

Fascinated by Clocks and Stained Glass at Halim Time and Glass Museum

Halim Time and Glass Museum in Evanston, Illinois adds quite an intriguing museum option to the Chicago suburban area. The museum combines both the art of stained glass as well as a window into the history and development of keeping time. The museum does seem to be a bit eclectic but I liked how it combined two different art forms in quite a bit of detail under one roof. The museum displays the sizable collections of real estate developer Cameel Halim and his wife Hoda. He began the collection 30 years ago -- so there is quite a bit for the public to enjoy! As you explore the museum, you also gain more appreciation for the intricacies of each art that we often take for granted.

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Coffee on the Fly at The Corner House in Lombard, Illinois

Sipping on locally roasted Tugboat Coffee at The Corner House in Lombard, Illinois

On a recent trip to Naperville, our favorite coffee house was closed due to a burst pipe. So, I did some quick checking and discovered that The Corner House in Lombard would be on our route back home. I had heard good things about The Corner House and they have Tugboat Coffee roasted in nearby Addison, so it seemed to be a great spot to stop.

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Donut Drop in Schaumburg, Illinois: Fresh Baked Donuts With Intriguing Flavors

Donut Drop: Fresh Baked Donuts With Intriguing Flavors 

Fresh and fun donuts with a mix of familiar, intriguing and curious flavors are baked locally every day at Donut Drop in Schaumburg. We first learned about Donut Drop after devouring a delicious donut we picked up at Brewpoint in Elmhurst. The barista at Brewpoint informed us that the donuts were baked locally. Fluffy and fresh donuts from a local small business are the perfect accompaniment for a locally roasted coffee. Since we live closer to Schaumburg than Elmhurst, we were thrilled to have the source of these magnificent baked creations so near to our home! 

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Wednesday Weekend Windup {Carriage Rides, Icicles, Farmhouse Tours and More}

Happy Holidays! There still are opportunities for some happy holiday fun this weekend! Plus, remember to shop small! Here are my picks:

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6 Places for Locally Roasted Coffee in the Chicago Suburbs

6 Places for Locally Roasted Coffee in the Chicago Suburbs

Chicago suburban coffee shops are calling my name in the winter! I especially enjoy local coffee shops with their own locally roasted coffee. Over the past couple of years, my family has been exploring a variety of local coffee shops in the suburbs looking for yummy mochas (my favorite). Here are our favorites local coffee shops that roast their own coffee:

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Wednesday Weekend Windup {Victorian Christmas, Bonfires, Music Fest, Cocoa Crawl and More}

Weekend Family Fun in the Chicago Suburbs December 7-9, 2018 

The weekend is almost here, so time to get ready for family fun! Plenty of experiences this weekend including a variety of holiday fests each with its own flare -- here are my picks:

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10 Places to Look for Fall Colors in the Chicago Suburbs

Fall Colors in the Chicago Suburbs:

Chicago suburban nature preserves are magnificent treasures year round treating us with a wide range of outdoor activities. Fall is particularly spectacular because we benefit from a cascade of changing colors. If you are looking for a fall color adventure, these 10 Chicago suburban preserves provide a selection of natural spaces to enjoy the season:

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Hiking in Paul Douglas Forest Preserve in Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Last week, we hiked a section of Paul Douglas Forest Preserve in Hoffman Estates, IL. This section of the Forest Preserves of Cook County was new to us and we were pleasantly surprised. The section that we hiked abuts near I-90 yet we found the preserve to be quite peaceful.

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Wandering Through Nature at Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens

Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens in Palos Heights, Illinois provided us with a lovely nature escape last week. The landscape at Lake Katherine offers several different nature experiences to the delight of visitors. The setting with a lake, waterfalls and variety of brilliant blooms creates a lovely spot for a variety of functions and some visitors were in fact scoping it out while we were there.

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Ice Cream Treats at Riverbottom Ice Cream

Summer for my family usually means exploring ice cream! A couple of weeks ago, we tried Riverbottom Ice Cream Co. a local shop in Algonquin, Illinois that churns its own ice cream.  In addition to scooping up delicious ice cream, Riverbottom also is a coffee shop and has a whole range of coffee concoctions. I love the ice cream - coffee combo because there is a larger range of temptations depending on mood.

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Wednesday Weekend Windup {Earth Day, Food Trucks, Art & More}

Earth Day is here and there are plenty of events in the Chicago suburbs to help us celebrate! Here are my picks for the weekend including an art adventure and food truck event in addition to Earth Day fun!

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2018 Native Plant Sales in the Chicago Suburbs

Time to plan your gardens! I love to plant natives here in my Chicago suburban home because the attract all sorts of butterflies and birds. Plus, they are pretty easy to take care of! Because they are prairie plants, they are tolerant to skipping a watering here and there. My best friends! Here is a look at some native plants sales in our area. Some do have the option to pre-order which I recommend taking advantage of. Head to the individual websites for more on pre-ordering:

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Wednesday Weekend Windup {Earth Day, Springtime on the Farm and More}

We are making the turn to the weekend! Here are my picks for family fun this weekend:

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Fresh Family Meals at Grill House in Northbrook

**Disclosure: I did receive a complimentary meal in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I explored what has immediately become a local favorite: the Grill House in Northbrook, Illinois. The setting is comfortable, inviting and very welcoming for families. The menu incorporates family favorites and Greek flavors. With such a diverse menu and relaxed surroundings, the Grill House is a perfect places for families to get together and enjoy a meal.

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Wednesday Weekend Windup {Easter Egg Hunts, Legos, Geocache and More}

 

Fun, fun, fun this weekend! Here are my family fun picks in the Chicago suburbs:

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Wednesday Weekend Wind Up {St. Patrick's Day Fun and More}

We have made it half way through the week! Woo hoo! Looking ahead at the weekend, here are my picks for family fun in the Chicago suburbs:

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