History, Opulence and Awe at Glensheen in Duluth, Minnesota

History, Opulence and Awe at Glensheen in Duluth, Minnesota

**Disclosure: I did receive complimentary admission to Glensheen and the Great Lakes Aquarium in partnership with Visit Duluth in order to bring you detailed reviews. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Glensheen stands magnificently perched up above Lake Superior in Duluth. Constructed in 1905-1906, Glensheen was home to Chester Congdon who was a teacher turned lawyer that amassed great wealth in iron mining and banking. Upon entering the grand estate, a sense of awe quickly descended upon us as we measured the incredible landscape and architecture and were engulfed by the treasures of Congdon's wealth. Early one morning, we embarked on the General Tour which was a self-guided tour of 3 floors of the home.

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Tasty Local Bites in Beloit, Wisconsin

Savoring Local Fare and Flare in Beloit, Wisconsin:

**Disclosure: Thank you to Visit Beloit for hosting my family's visit to Beloit.

While exploring Beloit, Wisconsin, we did get a bit hungry. So, we were more than happy to sample a few places for some nibbles. We needed fuel for exploring, right? Beloit has a nice range of restaurants all in the downtown area that are both flavorful and unique. Explore the eateries we added to our adventure:

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A Family Respite at The Residence Inn Minneapolis-St. Paul/Roseville in Minnesota

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

We began our exploration of the Roseville, Minnesota area by checking into our weekend home base at Residence Inn Minneapolis-St.Paul/Roseville. Immediately upon entering, we could tell that it was a place perfect for relaxing. The lobby and breakfast area looked  like a nice place to relax in and of itself. Doesn't this look just like your own living room?

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Hiking Nachusa Grasslands in Illinois

Nachusa Grasslands near Franklin Grove, Illinois is one of the Nature Conservancy's most successful restoration stories. The conservation organization began its Nachusa journey with purchasing 130 acres of land to restore in August of 1986. Over the past 30+ years, Nachusa has expanded from 130 acres to over 4,000 acres. In addition, a herd of bison was welcomed to the prairie in 2014 returning the majestic beasts to the lands in Illinois where they once roamed.

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Bristol 45 Diner: Nostalgic Family Diner in Bristol, Wisconsin

This past weekend we were in the Kenosha area for a volleyball tournament. These tournaments run all day, so a post tournament meal is a very much welcome before hitting the road to come home. I discovered a diner in Bristol, WI that appeared to be fun and have a large menu. So, we popped in to Bristol 45 Diner on our way home. After all, they do craft shakes. Who can resist?

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Dinosaurs, Fossils and Gems at Burpee Museum of Natural History Rockford, IL

The Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford, IL is a true Midwest treasure. Natural exhibits usher visitors on a journey through Rockford's natural history using fossils, dinosaur bones, casts, scenes, rocks and minerals, taxidermy specimens and more. Guests can even peek inside a working lab in the basement. The Burpee Museum provides an ideal excursion for a winter day!

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Stroll on State Kicks Off the Holidays in Rockford, IL

What a wonderful weekend to kick off the holiday season! I love the lighting up of holiday lights all around coloring the cold nights with special sparkle. This weekend, we made a road trip to Rockford, IL to launch our holiday season with the revelry during Stroll on State!

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Our Family Day Trip to Kenosha, Wisconsin

Kenosha is just a short drive from the Chicago area--only about an hour from our home in Arlington Heights. So, the city provides a nice little day trip escape making it easier to fit into your schedule. During our recent day trip, we had a very well-rounded experience but quickly noted there is a lot to experience in Kenosha. Our proximity will certainly make it easy for us to return and enjoy more that is truly Kenosa!

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8 Fall Road Trip Ideas from Chicago

We do have a couple of more weeks of summer to enjoy---and, boy, I will be enjoying them! Yet, fall is right around the corner so you may want to look ahead and plan those fall road trips! Here are a few ideas for a fall getaway!

Spring Grove and McHenry, Illinois

Two of my FAVORITE fall destinations can be found not too far off of 12 as you head north to Wisconsin. Stade's Shades of Autumn Festival is such an old fashioned good time! A fun petting zoo, corn cannons, pumpkin cannon, corn maze, pedal cars, zipline and more will keep your kids busy and smiling! I love that Stade's sells a bracelet for unlimited attractions (with the exception of two). This is great for younger kids!

Spring Grove is home to Richardson Adventure Farm--famous for the World's Largest Corn Maze! The Corn Maze features different designs each year and is a total work of art to behold! Of course, running it is fun and there are different challenges you can accept! There are plenty of exits, so worry not! The Farm is more than the Corn Maze though--all sorts of amusements including my daughter's favorite--the ziplines will make for a wonderful family day!

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