PLACES Weekend in Peoria: Top Things to Do in the Sky and on the River Posted on January 7, 2024July 1, 2024 In Peoria, the Illinois River isn’t merely a waterway; it serves as the central thread weaving together a tapestry of experiences. Whether you’re soaring high in the parks, gazing into the cosmos from an observatory, exploring the city’s rich history in museums, or leisurely drifting along the river on a cruise. Read more
TRAVEL EXPERIENCES 30-Day Road Trip Across America in Marriott Hotels Posted on December 26, 2023July 4, 2024 Come along on our big trip across the U.S.! We’re hitting the road after living in South Korea for three years. For the next month, we’re crashing at Marriott Hotels everywhere. We’ll be checking out incredible landmarks, catching up with family, and finally settling down in the cornfields of Illinois. Please stick around for 30 days of stories from our journey, where Marriott is our home away from home at every pit stop. Read more
CULINARY TRAVEL Experience Grand Rapids This Fall: The Ultimate Weekend Guide for Cafes, Culture, and Outdoor Fun Posted on December 23, 2023October 23, 2024 Grand Rapids surprises with its mix of Victorian and Art Deco architecture, cozy cafes, and vibrant murals celebrating local women. Perfect for a weekend escape. Read more
CULINARY TRAVEL Exploring the Charms of Old Oaks Winery in the Quad Cities Posted on December 21, 2023June 22, 2024 Old Oak Winery is a beautiful spot on 400 acres of rolling hills. We just moved here, so we don’t know much about the wine region, Self-described as the Napa Valley winery of the Midwest, the winery prides itself on an array of wines blended with grapes from their own vineyard as well as from Napa Valley. Actually, I had no idea they even had a vibrant wine region here in Illinois. With that said, it turned out to be a great place to learn about Midwest wine and grab something good to eat as well. Read more
CULINARY TRAVEL Tasting Notes: The Story of Lavender Crest Winery in the Quad Cities Posted on December 17, 2023June 18, 2024 Lavender Crest Winery in Colona, Illinois, is a good spot to savor lunch and a glass of wine. However, following my visit, I’m left pondering the winery’s legitimacy. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the wine flight I ordered—it was pretty good. And we discovered a bottle that suited both our palates. The problem occurred when our server seemed less versed in the wines and couldn’t answer any of our questions. She took our order, handed it to the bartender, and left us to our own devices. Having had such a delightful time at Old Oaks Winery in Milan last week, we decided to explore another local winery. Read more
MILITARY RELATED Where to Stay During Your PCS to Rock Island Arsenal Posted on December 11, 2023October 31, 2024 While there are several hotels in the Quad Cities, especially if you are a Bonvoy Marriott member like us, we used our 14 days of permissive TDY to stay at three. As a result, we stayed at the Residence Inn Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois, and the Blackhawk and The Current, both Autograph hotels in Davenport, Iowa. Here are my reviews of all three hotels as a Gold Elite member with the Marriott franchise. However, you might be surprised by which hotel I recommend for relocating to Rock Island Arsenal. Furthermore, one of these hotels might work for you if you are preparing to move to Rock Island. Read more
PLACES Driving Solo Across Canada: Rochester to Grand Rapids Posted on December 6, 2023June 27, 2024 We’re finally on the last leg of our drive across America to visit family. And today, I am driving from Rochester to Buffalo and across Canada to Grand Rapids, Michigan. The drive covers most of southern Ontario, and between today and tomorrow, the drive will take me past 4 of the five great lakes. Today, the drive straddles parts of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Lake Superior is the only lake I won’t see on this road trip because it is the northernmost and westernmost of the Great Lakes of North America. The Peace Bridge is located near the center of downtown Buffalo, New York, and Fort Erie, Ontario, separated by the Niagara River. It was one of the most scenic bridge crossings I’ve ever done. Read more
PLACES A Historic Stay: Experiencing the Hotel Saint Louis Posted on December 2, 2023September 15, 2024 After nearly three years in South Korea, we’re back in the US! Our first stop was picking up our shipped car. We rented a car at O’Hare International Airport and embarked on the 4-hour drive to the distribution center and one of our favorite hotels– the Hotel Saint Louis in downtown St. Louis. As a boutique-style hotel in the Marriott Autograph Collection, it marries beauty and style with the perks Marriott Hotels are renowned for. For us, it’s the perfect blend of luxury, amenities, and convenience. We also love that it is located in a historic building built over a century ago, in 1893. Read more