Orchid, Missouri Botanical Garden

You hear the word orchid, what comes to mind? Beautiful flowers from warm, tropical islands? A plant grown in a hothouse, to be used as a corsage? Springtime in Missouri? Yes, Missouri. All three of those thoughts are correct, but let’s not stop there. How about vanilla ice cream? The vanilla bean, used as a flavoring in many of your favorite foods, is the fruit from an orchid plant; rum is often flavored by the pods of another orchid species; and the tuberous roots of many orchids are edible (they taste like potatoes).

Getting back to the beautiful flower part, it may surprise you to learn that orchids grow wild throughout Missouri—in fact, 36 species are found in Missouri, while Hawaii (there’s that tropical island thing again) can claim only three native species of orchids. Missouri’s wild orchids, although they don’t always resemble the large, exotic flower that comes to mind, are amazing things of beauty and wonder. Nature lovers who wish to seek out Missouri’s orchids in bloom should head to undisturbed areas in rocky glades, ravines, and along creeks. The showiest species appear in spring and early fall.

Orchids are found in many of Missouri’s State Parks, including some surprising locations, such asCrowder Sate Park in the north-central Missouri, near Trenton. Several native orchid species are found in the 1,912 acres of the park. While searching for the elusive plants, you can enjoy more than 17 miles of hiking, bicycling and equestrian trails. The park offers fishing, boating and swimming opportunities in 18-acre Crowder Lake. The family-oriented campground includes modern restrooms, and shady picnic sites scattered throughout the park.

Although known primarily for its lake and recreational water activities, Harry S. Truman State Park, outside of Warsaw, is home to ample orchid populations for the discerning lover of flora. The plants are found in the park’s oak woodlands, natural grasslands and lakeside areas. The expansive park has a marina, fishing, boating, swimming, hiking trails, picnic areas, campsites, and an abundance of wildlife.

Near the Missouri community of Pittsburg, the 7,800-acre Pomme de Terre State Park offers two hiking trails with many areas to spot native orchids. The lake is a great place for bass, walleye, catfish and crappie fishing. Also, this is the home of Missouri’s big game fish, the muskellunge, more commonly called the muskie, the largest member of the pike family.

While famous for its more than 40 caves, including Fisher Cave, where you can take a tour,Meramec State Park, off of I-44, south of Sullivan, is home to at least 10 species of native orchids, which can be found by exploring the many hiking trails. Canoeing and rafting the Meramec River are very popular in the park. The park’s visitor center holds a large aquarium that shows the diversity of aquatic life found at the park.

You can discover upward of 11 species of Missouri orchids near Troy, in the Cuivre River State Park, which is known for its 11 hiking, backpacking and equestrian trails which meander through prairies and forests. The park has modern campsites, group camps, picnic areas and a lake.

While orchids are widespread throughout the state, they are not common and are rarely abundant. Many species of orchids are tiny and inconspicuous in the landscape, like the crane-fly orchid with its half-inch blossom; but you can spot them if you look closely and know what to look for. The yellow lady-slippers orchid, which blooms in late April, is Missouri’s showiest, often reaching three feet tall. Missouri’s seven species of ladies’-tresses orchid, which bloom from August into November, are the most commonly encountered, especially in parks with glades that have controlled burns.

Let’s not be stingy by limiting our discussion to only Missouri native orchids. The orchid is earth’s second largest family of flowering plants, numbering between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species; more than twice the number of bird species, and about four times the number of mammal species.
The Missouri Botanical Garden, located in St. Louis, maintains one of America’s largest and finest Orchid Collections, including roughly 7,500 plants, of 2,500 species of these fascinating plants. Orchids can be viewed in the Garden’s Visitor Center and in the Climatron conservatory on the grounds, as well as their Shaw Nature Reserve, in Gray Summit, 30 miles outside of St. Louis. The Garden holds an annual Orchid Show from late January through mid-March in their Visitor Center. Founded in 1859, Missouri Botanical Garden is the oldest botanical garden in continuous operation in the United States. It is a National Historic Landmark, with 79 acres of gardens and historic structures.

Another great place to view orchids from around the world is Powell Gardens, located in Kingsville, southeast of Kansas City. Set on 915 acres of lush, rolling hills and meadows, Powell Gardens offers breathtaking display gardens, interesting architecture, a nature trail, plus a year-round calendar of special events and classes for the family. Powell Gardens includes the Island Garden, the Perennial Garden, the Rock and Waterfall Garden, the Wildflower Meadow, a chapel, and the ever changing Terrace Gardens. The 12-acre Heartland Harvest Garden is one of the largest edible landscapes in the nation.

Information on orchids and other native Missouri plants is available through Grow Native, a joint project of the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Department of Agriculture. Contact The Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City for guidelines on growing orchids in your home.

You can get help with gardening from the Missouri Botanical Garden. They offer a Horticultural Answer Service, where master gardeners provide personalized answers to your specific phone-in questions. Call 314–577-5143, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to noon.

To help identify Missouri’s orchids, a guide book, titled “Missouri Orchids,” compiled by Bill Summers, is available through the Missouri Department of Conservation Nature Centers. In his book, Summers gives this reason to protect, and preserve, Missouri’s orchids: “To suddenly come upon a colony of lady-slipper orchids in full bloom is a sight to be remembered always,” he writes. “They will hold you spellbound until you suddenly realize they are real and that nature, once again, is the perfect artist.”

Be very careful in your quest. Orchids are to be admired, not touched. The roots are attached to fungal threads in the soil; if you disturb the roots or dig one up, the orchid will die when those threads are broken. It is illegal in Missouri to dig up or remove any plant from the right-of-way of state or county roadways, state parks or public lands—the penalty can be a year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

Find listings for thousands of Missouri attractions, events and vacation ideas on Official Missouri Travel Guide.”

Photo by photobydave

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2. In search of Missouri’s ‘Best’ — From Cheeseburgers to Scenic Drives
3. Death of the Great Smokies: How air pollution is killing the Great Smoky Mountains

A Day With Family On The Arkansas/Missouri Border

We spent today with our extended family. This happens every two years with this branch of the family, and as usual, it was a good time. Lots of food, conversation, and river play along the Current River. The kids pretty much spent the day in the river, as usual. The grownups kept an eye on the kids and visited with each other. We caught up on what cousins were up to, met new additions to the family, and generally had an enjoyable day.

Day 6, Sunday June 14

The Trip Home: Back To Illinois

Well, it was a fast week, full of adventure, and today we got to take the last leg home. Having done it many times before, we knew it was around ten hours, so we headed out by 9am, as usual. We always say earlier, but it’s hard to manage. This part of the journey is generally uneventful. We were all tired and ready to sleep in our own beds again and normally we decide to make a minimum amount of stops. Today we decided to mix it up a bit, and take a small detour. “Let’s visit Metropolis, home of Superman,” I suggested. Everyone said “OK, why not?”

The Man of Steel in Superman’s Hometown, Metropolis, Illinois

I expected a quiet town on a Sunday. I envisioned a fast group photo with Superman before getting back on the road. Little did we know that we would also meet Batman, Iron Man, Super Girl, the Joker, and many more super heroes! We had no idea that this was the weekend of the Superman Convention in Metropolis Illinois. Wow! We had unknowingly walked into an outdoor carnival, complete with contests for superheroes, villains and monsters. We wandered the town for an hour thoroughly enjoying ourselves. As the kids exclaimed, “It’s like Wizard World (a Chicago area comic book convention we go to every year), for Superman!” And yes, indeed, it was. We all agreed that Mr. Freeze was the best costume. If you’re are out there Mr. Freeze, we voted for you! It made for a fun side trip on a generally unexciting part of our vacation.

A fun whirlwind adventure. Four states: Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky. One more state to mark off our map as visited and explored. One more experience to mark off our list of things to try! One more adventure to add to our memories.

Related posts:

1. The Ghost Town of Cairo: Arkansas Diamond Mining, Day One
2. Fort Massac and the Superhero of Metropolis
3. Hot Springs: Arkansas Diamond Mining Day Four

“Each 1,500-foot-long line is longer than any single line on our existing course, and longer than any single zipline in Ohio,” said Jeff Merhige, Executive Director of YMCA Camp Kern which operates Ozone Zipline Adventures. “When the new lines open in April we will have grown our total zip-tour length to more than a mile and a half, a nearly 50% expansion.”

The first 1,500-foot-long line will start at the top of Ozone Tower, a multilevel platform tower where all tours begin. The zip line will connect to a platform on a designated tree on the Fort Ancient side of the river. From this platform, riders will connect to the second 1,500-foot-long zipline and zip back across the river.

“As you zip out on the new river lines, the canopy will drop away below your feet…within a few seconds you’ll be zipping in 360° of open air with an amazing view of the river and valley,” said Merhige.

The new lines will allow Ozone Zipline Adventures to offer three, hands-free, guided tours beginning April 1, 2011. The “Traditional Tour” will include seven zip lines and seven sky bridges. The new “River Tour” will include nine zip lines, nine sky brides and the nature trail. The new “Extended Tour” will include 11 zip lines, nine sky bridges and the nature trail. Preliminary construction will begin in December and conclude prior to opening on April 1, 2011.

According to Merhige, more than 14,000 riders from 46 states and 11 countries have zipped on Camp Kern’s educational eco-adventure since it opened in July 2009. Almost all of those out-of-town guests have stayed overnight, says Merhige, and added canoeing, Kings Island or other attractions to their vacation.

“Ozone Zipline Adventures is an exhilarating educational experience that combines the thrill of flying with an environmental and historical curriculum,” said Merhige. “With the expansion connecting to Fort Ancient, Ozone Zipline will now include a history of Fort Ancient and information about the federally designated scenic Little Miami River.”

The expansion was made possible through a partnership with YMCA of Greater Dayton the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Ohio Historical Society (OHS) and Fort Ancient.

Additional Tour Details:

• Riders must be at least ten years old and weigh at least 80 lbs. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian
• Reservations are required
• The zipline canopy tour is open seven days a week April 1 through Dec. 12 (weather permitting)

Located just minutes north of Cincinnati, Ozone Zipline Adventures is nestled alongside The Little Miami State and National Scenic River in Southwest Ohio, a hub of outdoor activities such as the Little Miami Bike Trail, Morgan’s Canoe Livery and Fort and world renowned historical sites like Fort Ancient.

For more information visit www.ozonezips.org or call (513) 932‑3756.

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3. Warren County, Ohio — A Mom’s Family Vacation Paradise

Wegner’s Quartz Mine, Mount Ida, Arkansas

The cabins were great for our setup. We all met at Cabin One and made breakfast together. We cooked up a nice meal and enjoyed planning out and discussing what we would find today at the quartz mine. Cabin one had a large table and we almost all fit around it! The kids wanted to eat back outside at the picnic table, so it worked out well. We cleaned up and headed out. This cabin was a little further than our original plan from the Diamond Mine, but we could bring along the dog. It was closer to the quartz mine though, so all in all, it worked out well. That meant that today, we didn’t have far to go for our next round of treasure seeking.

Stare into my crystal… er, rock-like thing

We chose well in Wegner’s Quartz Mine. The people who checked you in were so friendly and helpful, it was great. I am not a rock hound by any means, so I need someone to show me what I am looking for, and how to find it. They were great for me. The kids have been studying minerals and rocks in school, so they already knew some of this; however, they have never found them on their own out of the mine. It is a bit different than studying a sample in school which is already cleaned and polished. The instruction was great. No one at the mine made us feel inferior for asking novice questions. In fact, they took us under their wing and gave us some extra tips on how to be successful. This was great, since the kids soaked up the advice and moved all over the field looking for new “hot spots” for the best finds.

Red dirt rovers; sifting for quartz

This mine was wonderful, in that they gave you buckets and garden shovels to use. We had brought our own, having read up on mining and having friends who are rock hounds guiding us in the gear we should take. We felt pretty well prepared. The mine is really a field of red clay that has been dug to the surface from the underground mine. This is surface mining, and you work your way around the field. Each person found their spot, and began digging away!

Immediately you could hear excited cries of “look at this piece!” and  “I found a great one over here!”; “This one is so pretty!” This continued for hours, as we all filled our buckets with prime samples of quartz. One child proclaimed they had more than they could ever use, so they might sell some of theirs! The great thing about the mine is that you only pay an entrance fee and whatever you find you take home. There is no additional charge, one piece or one bucket full. It’s up to you and the space you have in your car! We went for buckets of course!

The mine had some picnic tables set up in the shade, so we took a break and had a picnic lunch. Next, we moved over to the gemstone sluice. Now, these aren’t gemstones native to Arkansas, so if you’re a purist type of rock hound this won’t appeal to you. But the experience was worthwhile for the kids. Where else can you sit with your bucket of dirt, pour it into a screen and run it through a sluice and work hard to identify all the gemstones you uncover? We had a great time and everyone took home a big bag of gemstones.

Washing off our finds in the sluice

We spent around 4 hours at the mine, and it passed by pretty quickly. Of course, we had kids who love to dig in the dirt, and the excitement of finding lots of treasure. We were hot and sweaty at this point from sitting out in an open field with near 100 degree temps and what felt like 100% humidity, so we decided to go into town for ice cream. There was a great little ice cream shack, the Dairyette, just up the road, and it hit the spot perfectly. We sat outside with our dripping ice cream and tried to eat it before it melted. It tasted pretty good after a hot day at the mine.

Since there was a grocery store right across the street also, so we picked up a few supplies for dinner, including charcoal, and headed back to the cabin. We had another dinner by the fire then spent time wading in the river and enjoying the peacefulness of the river setting. This night the kids decided to sleep inside, which is ironic since it was a beautiful night! Go figure…

Photos by eJourna

For more photos from our Arkansas Diamond Mining adventure, check out the gallery.

Related posts:

1. Sifting for Treasure: Arkansas Diamond Mining Day Two
2. The Ghost Town of Cairo: Arkansas Diamond Mining, Day One
3. Hot Springs: Arkansas Diamond Mining Day Four

I’m from Central Illinois, but my husband was born in northeast Arkansas and still has a lot of family along the Arkansas-Missouri border. We’ve been to Northeast Arkansas and Southern Missouri more times than I can count to visit family on holidays and for family reunions. Despite that, I can’t say that we’ve ever really seen much of Arkansas itself.

I decided that at some point we needed to see more of Arkansas than the 30 or so square miles we’d seen so much of! I mean, there must be more to the state than the soybean fields and the hill my husband’s grandmother lived on, right?

Over last summer, another family reunion in Arkansas  gave me just the excuse I needed to plan an extended family vacation with the intention of exploring more of this great state my family had seen so little of.

The centerpiece of the trip sprung from our neighbors’ passion for mining trips. In casual conversation they happened to mention visiting a diamond mine in central Arkansas. A diamond mine? In Arkansas? Considering that I have two sons who would jump at any chance to dig in dirt, especially if I added the lure of a “get rich quick” scheme, I figured this would be a good thing to center an entire trip around.

I spent countless hours searching for some good old-fashioned cabin-style lodging and other attractions in the area; and spent even more time convincing the in-laws and my husband’s sister and her family to go along with us. Knowing we would spend the last two days of the trip attending my husband’s family reunion, I put together an itinerary for the entire family that included diamond and quartz mining, visiting historic spas, and spending a few nights in a pair of rustic country cabins, complete with campfires and river views.

The evening before the trip was spent with our usual hectic last minute packing. When it was just my husband and I, packing for trips seemed so easy. Adding two sons ages 8 and 10 to the mix tends to make my job a lot harder! After getting the kids all packed, we hustled them into bed, with visions of diamonds the size of their fists and roasting marshmallows dancing in their heads and then hit the sack ourselves.

Day One, Tuesday, June 9

Northern Illinois to Doniphan, Missouri

Finally, day one of the great mining adventure was upon us! The kids were excited to be on the way. Amazingly, everyone managed to get up by 6:30, get dressed and ready to be out the door by 7am. This was a new record for us! Despite our best intentions, and my husband’s increasing frustrations, we typically leave at least an hour later than we originally plan. In fact, its’ a bit of a running joke with family and friends. Such is the life of parents.

We loaded up the rest of the gear, got everything in it’s place, but somehow I managed to misplace the new game I had bought the kids especially for the journey. So much for something new to do on the trip. After wasting time searching fruitlessly for it, we finally gave up and I just hoped it made its way into a bag unnoticed and we would find it for the way home.

We finally headed out, only about an hour later than planned. Ah, I knew it was too good to be true. We struck out along Route 47, a county highway, opting for this more scenic route than the traditional Interstates. By 10am we had only endured one question of “how much longer til we get there?” from the kids. Out of the corner of my eye, I’m pretty sure I saw them grinning as they asked. Maybe it was the countless stories my husband had told the kids about his epic four week grand vacation by car to California and back when he was young, with lines like “back then we didn’t have video games, so my sister and I had fun the old-fashioned way, by picking on each other and asking my parents ‘are we there yet’ over and over and OVER again!” Whatever it was, the kids had obviously figured out exactly how to get under Mom’s skin. I punched my husband in the arm, as just punishment.

We got stuck behind the longest semi I’d ever seen, which was hauling a single windmill blade to a nearby windmill farm. Considering the load, I couldn’t really fault them for moving slowly, and it was interesting to see how big the blades were up close. Despite that, we still made good time.

Route 47 eventually runs into Interstate 72 near Champaign-Urbana, which we took over to Interstate 57 and then continued south. Before we got too far, we stopped for lunch at a rest area just south of Champaign-Urbana. For a change, this one had very clean women’s bathrooms. While that might sound silly, for a female it’s worth noting for future trips. I circled that one on the map!

We assembled sandwiches, ate some grapes and let the kids run around on the playground for a few minutes to siphon off some of that pent-up energy before getting back on the road.

We  stopped for gas in Salem, Illinois and everyone caved in and bought some chocolate. My husband’s eye was caught by a sexy looking retro-style A&W Root Beer Float bottle and just HAD to have it, proclaiming “wow, this is the coolest looking thing EVER! I bet it tastes GREAT!” While it looked interesting, the general consensus was: YUK. We couldn’t even give it to the kids, which should tell you something! Ah well, live and Learn.

Coldest Beer In Town

As luck would have it (or is it a curse?), an old abandoned liquor store overrun by rampant foliage, happened to be sitting on an equally abandoned dead-end road right next store to the gas station. My husband is a sucker for urban decay, so we drove over to it and he jumped out of the car and excitedly took pictures. I happened to steal a glance back at my oldest son and caught him looking at his father and shrugging his shoulders with that “he’s crazy, but we’re used to it” look on his face.

Cairo, Illinois

Speaking of urban decay, our next stop was Cairo, Illinois. More pictures for our photo album of signs. It is amazingly sad how dilapidated this town is. Here it sits, at the junction of two major rivers, and it’s boarded up.

Abandon Hope, All Ye Who Enter

As you come into town, there is a very cool iron gate that rises up into the overpass, a remnant of very old times. We drove through and into the old downtown area. At least ninety percent of the buildings are vacant and boarded up. As the kids looked around, they both exclaimed “Looks like the zombies could show up at any time! Then that iron gate will drop, and we’ll be dinner for sure!” This town should make its next million as a movie set. You could shoot a horror film here without having to build a set; just use the abandoned town.

We took the bridge out of town and within minutes found ourselves in Missouri. Yeah, next state on our journey! Now we just needed to finish the long stretch through the state to make it to our first stop for the night. Our plans called for meeting up with the rest of our party that evening, then forming a caravan for the drive to the diamond mine the next day. Ten hours today, then another six tomorrow, then hope for treasure!

All photos by eJourna

View a complete set of photos of Cairo, Illinois

Related posts:

1. Superman’s Hometown: Arkansas Diamond Mining Day Five and Six
2. A Day In The Quartz Fields: Arkansas Diamond Mining Day Three
3. Sifting for Treasure: Arkansas Diamond Mining Day Two

We rode back through Shawano past the Menominee Casino before hooking a left onto a nice curvy, hilly, tree-lined country road for about 10 miles before reaching a gravel entrance for Shotgun Eddy. On the way, I spotted an Bald Eagle flying gracefully above us.

Shotgun Eddy isn’t much to see. It’s a collection of ramshackle buildings, including a registration area, a few changing “rooms” that had seen better days, a campground and more. Still, we weren’t staying here, and the rafts looked in good shape. The price was also right; we chose to do the slightly shorter “Otter Slide” trip, which they bill as a short version of their full day “Smokey Falls” 6 hour trip. The Otter Slide is supposed to clock in at around 4–1/2 hours, though we ended up doing it in 4.

The Otter Slide is $30.00 per person plus shuttle fee. The shuttle, a later model van, took us to Otter Slide to put in. The driver slid our rafts, two in our case, down the embankment to the water’s edge, handed us all flotation vests, and let us know to head to the left side after the final waterfall to reach the pickup spot.

The Otter Slide is considered Class III-IV: Class III means “strong current, big drops, narrow paths, high whitewater and strong whirlpools.” Class IV is billed as “extreme current, waterfalls, high whitewater and large dips.” I’d say those descriptions were pretty much right on. Minimum age requirements for Otter Slide are 12–18, depending on water level, and parental consent is required. They also recommend previous rafting experience.

Shotgun Eddy does have other trips that aren’t as extreme, for families with kids, or those who just want a more leisurely trip down the Wolf River.

Wolf River, Keshena, Wisconsin

I had forgotten to pack a swimsuit, so I just wore an extra pair of cargo shorts I’d brought, as well as a baseball cap and sunglasses. The only other things I brought with me were a ziplock bag with beef jerky for snacking, and a small tube of sunscreen. Both ended up being good choices.

Since my camera wasn’t waterproof, I didn’t bring it. Afterwards, I really regretted not having a camera, since the scenery was gorgeous and we saw some great wildlife!

I would highly recommend anyone doing a trip like this to pack a swimsuit, towel, good water shoes, sunglasses, sun block and a small cooler with watertight bags or Tupperware containers for food and drink. A good, truly waterproof camera, or maybe an iPhone in a good waterproof, shockproof case would be good too.

Tim and I paired up in one boat, with Mike and Dean in the other, and we set off down the river. It was pretty lazy rafting for a while. We goofed around, practiced synchronizing our paddling and generally enjoyed the view.

We saw some great wildlife, including a handful of large turtles sunning themselves on rocks, a deer that had waded up to its neck in the water, a river otter that thought better of jumping into the river once he’d spotted us pesky humans, and that aforementioned Bald Eagle who swooped down over top of us, skimmed the water and finally settled into the trees at a bend in the river.

Aside from the whitewater and falls themselves, seeing the wildlife was probably the best part of the experience for me.

After we negotiated some rapids, we finally came to the first waterfall, about a four foot drop. You hear the rushing water before you see it. Tim and I didn’t prepare very well. Our first mistake was to leave me, the heavier of the two, in the front of the boat. When we went over the falls, the forward weight kept our nose down and ended up letting a lot of water into the boat. Oops! Still, we didn’t injure ourselves and we didn’t capsize, so it wasn’t all bad!

After we cleared the falls, we landed on some rocks, tipped the boat to empty the water out, and adjusted our position so that we were sitting side by side. This worked better for paddling as well as the rest of the rapids and falls.

We went through a few more sets of rapids that we did a pretty good job of negotiating before the final approach to the Smokey Falls at the end. The Falls are between two steep rock walls, and consist of two sets of falls, the first being about four or five feet and the second set a good six to eight feet. We did ok going over the first falls, keeping the raft fairly straight, if not completely water-free. We bounded down the second falls while still trying to recover from the first, smashing right into a large finger of rock jutting out of the water directly in the middle. This bounced me all over the place, making it hard to steer, and we ended up veering to the right and getting caught in a pretty strong whirlpool that trapped us between the Fall’s undertow and some more rocks. We paddled like mad and after an exhausting effort, finally managed to free ourselves. We still had to paddle hard to the left in order to make the landing spot.

All of this fun and chaos took place with an audience, as there is a foot bridge over the left arm of the river to an island with a wooden observation deck looking over the falls. We were cheered on by a few people above. I’m sure they were having a good laugh at us, but we still had fun.

As I’d never done whitewater rafting before, I’d say my first experience was a lot of fun. I definitely learned a few things about what to do, and more importantly, what to not do!

Our driver arrived just after we did, loading up the rafts. We had a short wait to make sure no other rafters arrived, and then headed back to base camp, where we changed clothes, dried off and headed back out on the road.

By now it was mid-afternoon and we were hungry, so we rode back into Shawano and stopped at Yesterday’s Diner for some well-deserved lunch. The Diner has a big old car set at an angle on the roof, so it’s hard to miss. We chatted with the owner, who recommended their sweetbread, bring some out for us for free even! We all ordered some home made milkshakes and malts, as well as burgers, and feasted like kings.

As a bonus, they even had free Wi-Fi. These small local restaurants and diners know how to compete against the chain restaurants, and we certainly made good use of the internet connection while we were there, posting twitter and facebook updates, checking in on FourSquare, checking email, and looking at route options via Google Maps. Technology has really changed how we travel.

While there we checked on the weather ahead of us, which indicated a pretty nasty storm front moving across from Iowa and Minnesota into Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, our hoped-for destination for the night. We decided to head into Appleton, less than an hour away, and check the weather again there.

After arriving in Appleton and making a stop at a Hardee’s parking lot, we checked the weather again. Not good. Straightline winds and massive rain and lightning were rolling into the Chicago area, with another front of equal intensity due in southern and central Wisconsin a bit later. We consider our options, including riding as far as we could until we rain into the bad weather. I was really hoping to get home that night, but I also didn’t want to risk my life in a really nasty thunderstorm. Best case, we’d end up under an overpass somewhere; worst case, we’d be caught in the open.

We decided we just weren’t going to be able to make it home on Friday. Tim used Google Maps on his iPhone to locate a Holiday Inn Express nearby, and we rode a short distance and decamped for the evening.

Turns out the Holiday Inn was hosting a large wedding reception when we arrived, and they upgraded us to executive level rooms since they were out of regular rooms. Hey, fine with us! We hauled all our crap up to the rooms, took a little breather and then decided to head out to see the new A-TEAM movie, since we were stuck for the evening. The Holiday Inn shuttle driver dropped us off at the nearby theater and picked us up after. Back at the motel, we ordered pizza to be delivered and called it a night after dinner.

Related posts:

1. Lake Michigan Circle Tour by Motorcycle: Day Four
2. Lake Michigan Circle Tour by Motorcycle: Day Three, Part Two
3. Lake Michigan Circle Tour by Motorcycle: Day Two

“From first time riders to experienced thrill-seekers – Ozone Zipline delivers an exhilarating adventure in the trees,” said Zip Tour Director, Chris Addison. “It’s a new way to getaway as you unplug from the rest of the world and just fly! This tour is full of excitement and fun which makes it the perfect weekend getaway for couples, families, nature lovers and adventurists alike.”

Now in its second year of operation, Ozone Zipline Adventures offers two guided tours seven days a week April through December.

The Extended Tour includes all ten ziplines (totaling over 6,000 feet of cable) and covers nearly two miles of land. Ziplines on the Extended Tour range from 250 feet long to more than 1,100 feet long. Wooden platforms in the trees connect the ziplines and provide breathtaking vistas of the forest, valley and National and State Scenic Little Miami River. Platform heights range from 25 feet to 60 feet high. Nine sky bridges suspended above the forest floor connect various points along the tour and range from 10 feet to 75 feet long and 10 feet to 40 feet high. Riders can reach speeds of up to 30 mph along portions of the tour. The tour last approximately four hours.

A Traditional Tour is available which offers an abbreviated version of the Extended Tour. Riders on this course will fly on the first seven lines of the tour and cross seven sky bridges. The Traditional Tour is approximately three hours long. All tours depart from a 45-foot tall multi-level central zipline tower which acts as the “zip hub” and observation deck.

Additional Tour Details:

• Riders must be at least ten years old and weigh at least 80 lbs. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian.
• Reservations required.
• The zipline canopy tour is open seven days a week.

“The broad appeal of this new attraction complements the existing product mix of outdoor adventure, professional sports and family-friendly attractions in Warren County, such as Kings Island, Great Wolf Lodge and The Beach Waterpark” said Phil Smith, President and CEO of the Warren County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “To date Ozone Zipline Adventures has welcomed guests from over 18 states as far away as California and six countries including Canada, England, Germany, India, and Spain.”

Located just minutes north of Cincinnati, Ozone Zipline Adventures is nestled alongside The Little Miami State and National Scenic River in Southwest Ohio, a hub of outdoor activities such as the Little Miami Bike Trail, Morgan’s Canoe Livery and Fort and world renowned historical sites like Fort Ancient.For more information or to reserve your zipline tour, visit www.ozonezips.org or call 513–932-3756.

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Chicago Botanic Garden

Celebrate summer with a weekend of wine tasting, food pairings, and spectacular Garden vistas. The Fourth Annual Chicago Botanic Garden Wine Festival allows novices and experienced oenophiles to develop their palates with seminars and demonstrations conducted by event sponsors, exhibiting wineries, Chicago area chefs, restaurateurs, and specialty food shops.

Wine Festival hours are from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, June 12 and 13. The Chicago Botanic Garden will kick off its summer hours on June 5, staying open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through September 6, to allow visitors to enjoy beautiful sunsets over tranquil lakes and landscapes transformed by dramatic evening lighting.

Staged on the West Meadow behind Evening Island, the Wine Festival grounds are surrounded by lakes and Garden vistas. More than 40 wineries, distributors, and importers will offer samples of more than 250 wines from around the world. Guests can also experience a Belgian Beer Café within the Festival, featuring samplings of Stella Artois, Leffe, and Hoegaarden beers. To complement the wide variety of wines that can be sampled, a selection of Chicago area chefs will conduct cooking demonstrations on the main stage. Wine experts will present seminars about the fine art of pairing food with wine.

A musical stage will feature jazz, blues, and light rock performances. There will be food from local restaurants including Bluegrass, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Caoba, and California Pizza Kitchen, and wine and beer by the glass available for purchase. The Wine Discount Center will be offering a 10 percent discount on all wine orders placed onsite at their booth. Designated trams will be available to transport visitors to and from the West Meadow.

Tickets are $25 in advance; $28 at the door for Garden members; $35 at the door for nonmembers. Tickets include a souvenir wine glass, 10 tasting tickets, wine tasters’ program guide and access to all demonstrations, seminars and musical entertainment. Designated drivers are admitted for $10, including two non-alcoholic drink tickets, program guide and access to all demonstrations, seminars and musical entertainment. Visitors under 21 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Additional tasting tickets, 10 for $5, can be purchased onsite.

Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. The Chicago Botanic Garden Trolley will operate between the Garden and the Glencoe Metra station during event hours. Round-trip tickets are $2; Garden members and children 5 and under ride free.

The Chicago Botanic Garden Wine Festival is presented by Harris and is produced by inPLAY Events of Barrington, Ill. in joint effort with the Chicago Botanic Garden. For more information about the Wine Festival or to purchase tickets, call (847) 835‑5440 or (877) 772‑5425 or visit www.chicagobotanic.org/winefestival.

Photo by cmefish (back in the saddle)

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American Bald Eagle, Illinois

Illinois is home to the largest population of wintering eagles in the continental United States, so dust off the binoculars, lace up the hiking boots, slip on a warm hat and gloves and get ready to embark upon an Illinois winter eagle-watching adventure.

Beginning in early January, Illinois will host more than 2,000 bald eagles that will use the state’s natural river resources to refuel before embarking on their long voyage to Canada for the summer. Bald eagles flock to Illinois’ open, unfrozen waters to satisfy their vast appetite for fish in January and February, when water sources in Canada have frozen solid. Locks and dams along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers throughout the state provide exceptional fishing opportunities for bald eagles, who can consume up to two pounds of fish every day.

Once endangered, the bald eagle population is increasing yearly through conservation efforts. Winter in Illinois is the perfect time for travelers near and far to get a close-up view of America’s majestic national symbol and most-beloved bird. The following eagle-watching events and locations begin in the upper northwestern section of Illinois and continue south along the Mississippi River and encompass the surrounding communities.

Quad Cities

Along the upper part of the Mississippi River, eagle-watching expeditions begin in the quiet, early morning at the Quad Cities’ Lock & Dam #15. Take a leisurely stroll downstream from the dam and watch bald eagles catch their breakfast along the Davenport and Rock Island riverfronts, or look to the sky to find them perched high on the river bluffs. Learn more about eagles at the Mississippi River Visitors Center, located on Arsenal Island in the river between Davenport and Rock Island. Here the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Park Rangers offers educational eagle-watching tours and eagle biology presentations three times a day during January and February. For more information on this program, please call the Mississippi River Visitor’s Center at (309) 794‑5338. Also in the Quad Cities, from January 6–7, the QCCA Expo Center in Rock Island hosts “Bald Eagle Days.” The 16th annual event will feature birds of prey shows, environmental exhibits, wildlife art and outdoor eagle-watching opportunities. Call (309) 788‑5912 for more information on “Bald Eagle Days.”

Utica-Starved Rock State Park

East of the Quad Cities on the Illinois River lies Starved Rock State Park, another nesting ground for eagles. Known for its picturesque landscape filled with bluffs, canyons and ravines, this scenic park provides the perfect backdrop for winter eagle-watching activities. The Starved Rock Visitors Center offers an opportunity for visitors to learn about the area’s geology and history before embarking on a mid-winter eagle expedition ideal for the hiking enthusiast. Climb to the top of one of the several overlooks including Eagle Cliff or Lover’s Leap, where visitors are sure to spot a bird of prey in flight.

For more information, please call (815) 667‑4356. Open to the public, informational sessions at Starved Rock State Park on January 27–28 offer participants a chance to observe eagles in their natural habitat and in flight with the help of “super spotting scopes.” Park rangers will be on-hand throughout the day to answer questions and to help locate these magnificent creatures. For more information on the “Bald Eagle Watch” program, call the Flock to the Rock 2001 hotline at (815) 667‑4356.

Ottawa

Nearby, the town of Ottawa presents their own “Bald Eagle Watch” at the Illinois Waterway Visitors Center three times a day on January 27 and 28. See live eagle demonstrations by Wildlife CPR Rehabilitation Center staffers and learn where to look when scanning for eagles. High-powered “spotting scopes” and Audubon Society volunteers will be on-hand inside and outside to help visitors catch a glimpse of eagles fishing in the waters below the dam. Please call (815) 667‑4054 for more information.

Grafton-Pere Marquette State Park

The Southwestern corner of Illinois is full of eagle-watching activities this season. Spend the day learning about eagles in Grafton from an on-site interpreter at Pere Marquette State Park’s “Eagle Days” throughout January and February. Start the day early at the park’s visitor center, where visitors are invited to attend an informative eagle presentation in which they will learn how to distinguish between immature and mature bald eagles, how bald eagles see and catch their prey, and why Illinois is an ideal location for eagle watching.

Following the presentation, hop aboard the park’s van and come face-to-face with an American Bald Eagle through high-powered “bird-spotting scopes” that are located in different areas throughout Pere Marquette State Park. The park boasts a spectacular view of the bald eagles soaring high above the bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. The Pere Marquette State Lodge will offer a special “Eagle Watchers” package for out-of-town guests traveling to spot the amazing birds. The package is available from January 1 – March 31, 2001 and includes a deluxe room for two, full breakfast for two and an “Eagle Souvenir Kit” for only $79/night. Please call the Lodge at (618) 786‑3323 for more information on their eagle-watching programs or to book accommodations.

Alton

Close to Grafton, the town of Alton is home to many spectacular eagle-watching sites and invites eagle lovers from near and far to venture to “Piasa Country” to explore the region where many eagles feed and rest during the winter.

Begin the expedition at the Melvin Price Lock & Dam #26, located on the Berm Highway, where eagles are often spotted soaring and delving into the open waters to grab a fresh meal. Just a short drive from the dam, bird watchers will find The Blue Pool Quarry on the Great River Road, a great spot to catch eagles perched high in tree limbs around the quarry’s periphery. Following the path of the Mississippi River, plan a final stop along the boundaries of Calhoun County, where bald eagles wait in large trees near the water’s edge, intent on spotting the perfect snack. For further information on eagle watching in Alton, contact the Greater Alton Visitors Bureau at (800) 258‑6645.

Madison

In Madison, the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge provides an excellent vantage point from which to view eagles fishing in the Mississippi River. On January 20–21, “Eagle Days” will feature a variety of activities sure to please any eagle watcher. The World Bird Sanctuary will host live eagle demonstrations and information sessions throughout the day and viewing scopes will be provided to assist visitors viewing eagles in their natural habitat. Please call (618) 874‑8554 for more information.

Columbia, Ellis Grove, Chester

For those seeking bird-watching adventures in Southwestern Illinois and who wish to explore eagle country on their own, the Bluff Road from Columbia (in Monroe County) to Ellis Grove (in Randolph County) may be just the ticket to an eagle-watching expedition to remember. Traveling the scenic Bluff Road, visitors will see towering limestone cliff bluffs on the east and the dramatic expanse of the American Bottoms area, the original Mississippi River bed, on the west. Look for eagles in the places where they have been spotted in previous years: Fults Hill Prairie Nature Preserve, Fort de Chartres State Historic Site, Modoc/St. Genevieve Ferry (which crosses the Mississippi River), the Kaskaskia Lock and Dam and Fort Kaskaskia/Pierre Menard Home State Historic Sites. Continuing south, take Illinois Route 3 into the town of Chester which sits high on the bluffs and provides magnificent views of the Mississippi River and surrounding areas. Be sure to stop at the Turkey Bluffs Fish and Wildlife Area just south of Chester, a place where eagles often frequent.

Marion

Further south, the Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge in Marion offers two guided bald eagle-watching tours on the weekends of January 20–21 and 27–28. Tours depart from the Refuge Visitors Information Center and last approximately 2 1/2 hours, taking visitors through the grounds of the refuge. Space is limited on these tours, please call (618) 997‑3344 ext. 334 for information or to make a reservation.

From family adventures to unique weekend getaways, Illinois offers eagle-watching activities for everyone. For detailed information on these and many other exciting things to do and see throughout Illinois during the winter months, or to plan a customized trip, call an Illinois Travel Counselor at 1–800-2CONNECT (TTY: 1–800-406‑6418) or visit the Illinois Web site at www.enjoyillinois.com.

Photo by Picture Taker 2

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Bald Eagle

Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. – Dress for the weather and get set to watch majestic eagles by land or Lake during the 12th annual Lake of the Ozarks Eagle Days, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 9 and 10 am. – 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 10.  The event will be sponsored by the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitors Bureau, Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and Osage National Golf Club.

Land locations will include Willmore Lodge, off Business Highway 54, just northeast of Bagnell Dam, where high-power scopes on the outer deck will be available for watching eagles in a natural lakeside habitat.  Kids will enjoy making eagle-themed crafts projects provided by Art Xpressions, a non-profit art center for Lake-area residents and visitors.  Wild eagle viewing also will be available at Bagnell Dam Access on the Osage River and at the Bagnell Dam Bait Shop, both located just below the dam.

In addition, the acclaimed World Bird Sanctuary will present eagle programs every hour at Osage National Golf Resort on Osage Hills Road off Highway 54.  Visitors will have the opportunity to see wild eagles in their natural Osage River habitat, as well as up close in the Pavilion Room along with other birds of prey.  Eagle experts from the sanctuary will be on hand to answer questions.

If the weather cooperates, the paddle wheeler Tom Sawyer will offer 30-minute Eagle Watch Cruises at $5 per person, at 11 a.m., 12 noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m., 12 noon and 1 p.m. on Sunday.  Visitors are urged to bring binoculars, cameras and wear warm coats, hats and gloves.  Tickets may be purchased at the Bagnell Dam dock prior to departure.

Eagle Days has become one of the highlights of winter at the Lake of the Ozarks.  The first live eagle program held in 1999 attracted 651 participants.  Last year, more than 3,700 people attended, making it one of the most successful Eagle Days ever.

“We invite everyone to attend this fascinating event and watch the magnificent eagles as they fish at the dam and soar through the air,” says Trisha Creach, executive director of the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.  She adds, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are still available.

For more information about Lake of the Ozarks Eagle Days, please visit www.lakeoftheozarkseagledays.com , and to find out more about Lake-area lodging, dining, shopping, attractions, please call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) FUN-LAKE, or visit www.funlake.com.

Photo by Andrew_N

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