DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES What You Need to Know About Lavender Crest Wineryl: A Perfect Midwest Getaway Posted on December 17, 2023September 27, 2026 By Stacey A. Peters 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
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES U.S.-to-Canada Road Trip: From New York to Michigan via Ontario Posted on December 6, 2023September 28, 2026 By Stacey A. Peters 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
HOTELS Why Travelers Love a Historic Stay at Hotel St. Louis Posted on December 2, 2023August 14, 2026 By Stacey A. Peters 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
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Scenic Route Bakery: The Ultimate Brunch Cafe in Des Moines Posted on November 25, 2023September 30, 2026 By Stacey A. Peters A quick road trip stop in Des Moines led us somewhere unexpected. Scenic Route Bakery combines fresh pastries, hearty lunches, and quirky Iowa decor. We settled in with coffee, a cherry Danish, and a turkey panini. See why this East Village bakery deserves a place on your Des Moines itinerary. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Winter Swan Cafe: Your New Coffee Hotspot in Rochester Posted on November 19, 2023September 30, 2026 By Stacey A. Peters The first cafe I enjoyed visiting in Rochester was located within a stunning historic building in the heart of East Rochester. This is where I stumbled upon the Winter Swan Cafe, a delightful coffee shop that seamlessly blends the vibrant flavors of Vietnam and Thailand. Tucked within the recently expanded… Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Charlotte Beach and Pier: How to Make the Most of a Fall Visit Posted on November 4, 2023September 29, 2026 By Stacey A. Peters Straddling the tranquil shores of Lake Ontario in Rochester, New York, you’ll find one of my favorite things to do when I come home to Rochester. This 39-acre park contains one of the Great Lakes’ best natural sand beaches. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Ironclad Coffee and Roastery: 100 Year-old Fire Station in Richmond is Really Popular Posted on October 21, 2023October 1, 2026 By Stacey A. Peters Ironclad Coffee is a cafe in a renovated 19th-century firehouse in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom neighborhood, Virginia. I’ve always liked Richmond, and as we contemplate ending our military service, it’s also a potential spot for us to settle down. This leg of the road trip, Charlotte to Baltimore, gives us the… Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES From Scratch with Love: Inside SweetArt Cafe’s Afrocentric Kitchen Posted on October 7, 2023October 2, 2026 By Stacey A. Peters Discover SweetArt Cafe in St. Louis – A Vegan Oasis for Food Lovers! Indulge in delectable vegan treats and more at this from-scratch bakery/cafe. Join us in the Shaw neighborhood near the Missouri Botanical Garden and Tower Grove Park. Owned by Reine Reis, SweetArt has been serving the community for 15 years. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Family-Friendly Outdoor Activities in Topeka You’ll Love Posted on September 24, 2020August 22, 2026 By Stacey A. Peters Topeka is a great city to visit if you are stationed at Fort Riley. It’s only an hour away, and the drive takes you through some of the prettiest rolling hills and grasslands in northeast Kansas. Topeka has played a significant part in American history as well. And if that’s… Read more