Dixon, Illinois, a small town in Northwest Illinois, is most well known for being the hometown of President Ronald Reagan. In addition to the Reagan house, there are plenty of other historical attractions in town, including: the Memorial Arch, the Lincoln Memorial, and Veterans Memorial Park. The ...

Little Red School House is one of my favorite places to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Located just 20 minutes outside of Chicago, this hiking and nature area is easily accessible for a weekday or weekend outing. There are 2 nicely shaded trails here: The White Oak Trail and the Black ...

Lake Katherine is a scenic nature preserve located in Palos Heights, just a half hour or so from downtown Chicago. This beautiful recreation area includes a walking path, gardens, an arboretum, and a waterfall. Mike & I got up early one morning during our Chicago trip as we knew crowds would ...

Lowden State Park in Oregon, Illinois is most famous for its’ historic 50 foot tall, 100 ton Blackhawk statue. The impressive Blackhawk statue, which is dedicated to all Native Americans, stands as the world’s second largest concrete monolithic statue. We were able to get up close and ...

Castle Rock State Park is a 2000 acre park located on the Rock River, near the small town of Oregon, Illinois. The park is well known for its’ scenic overlook on top of Castle Rock, which provides fantastic views of the river. Castle Rock is made up of St. Peter sandstone, making it one of ...

Cleveland: a great Midwest city with a lot to offer, including an active downtown, several professional sports teams, plentiful outdoor recreation, and an endless variety of unique local restaurants. It is an ideal road trip stop for those traveling between Boston and Chicago. Cleveland is also a ...

The amazing Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath stretches over 80 miles through Cuyahoga, Stark, Summit, and Tuscarawas Counties in Ohio. The trail follows the old Ohio & Erie Canal. This popular biking/walking/jogging path is one of the longest in the state. When fully completed, it will run over ...

Fall River, the 8th largest city in Massachusetts, offers plenty of interesting attractions for history buffs. Located just an hour outside of Boston, and a half hour from Providence, Fall River is the ideal destination for a day trip for those living or traveling near either of these 2 ...

Providence, the largest city in Rhode Island, is the ideal destination for a summer or winter vacation. Located only an hour and a half from Boston, a weekend trip is easily accessible. Great local Italian restaurants, boutique shopping, and a plethora of outdoor recreation opportunities await you ...

Not surprisingly, due to the beautiful natural surroundings and many cultural attractions, there are endless free things to do in Southern California. Even if you are strapped for cash, you are bound to have enough free activities to entertain yourself on your trip. No need to concentrate on ...