Life can be so busy. Once in a while it helps to “stop and smell the roses”. Most people don’t take the opportunity to truly think about or appreciate flowers, gardens and nature. We are so fortunate to have Botanic Gardens in our area. It’s a refreshing, creative space with beautiful landscapes and a relaxing atmosphere.

After entering through the visitor center, your first site is flowers and a pond with a huge fountain. Being greeted with this site, I immediately felt stress being lifted off of my shoulders and much of the anxiety I felt throughout the busy week washed away. The air was crisp, fresh and there are pathways winding through beautiful arrangements of flowers.

There are so many different spots and sights to see. We wandered through all of the gardens and sights and frequently sat down just take in the visions. One of Reese’s favorite spots was an area that had huge pumpkins. I have never seen pumpkins like this before. There were 100 and 200 pound pumpkins – we felt like we were in Alice and Wonderland when looking at this area, it seemed surreal! Reese also liked seeing the Bee-Line. This was an area that had all sorts of information about bees. It also had a bee home with hundreds of bees busy making honey. We spoke for awhile to a guide there who told us about how the bees live. He explained to us that the bees were missing their queen bee who had recently left them. It was interesting to really get a good look at the bees and how they live without the worry of getting stung!

Throughout the gardens, there are areas with little ponds and fountains, with neat designs. We also saw several wedding parties there taking pictures with the beautiful botanical backgrounds. There are different spots to get a snack, or a bite to eat, as you are walking around. We enjoyed a bag of cinnamon covered nuts which were delicious.

After several hours of wandering about, it was time to leave. I left feeling peaceful and relaxed, with Reese ready for a nap after all of the walking and running around. We highly recommend visiting the Chicago Botanic Garden for a day to truly appreciate nature and enjoy a terrific, peaceful day with friends and family.

[+/-] click to show/hide this post

Besides when I was sixteen years old and trying to impress the ladies, I never really cared much about cars. If someone were to tell me about their new car and all of its exciting features, it would go in one ear and out the other. I’d smile and nod politely, secretly waiting for them to shut up. My idea of an exciting car has always been one that doesn’t break down and gets me to where I’m trying to go. It’s not that I wouldn’t enjoy riding in a sporty, expensive car, it’s just that I would have never cared enough to put the time and energy into finding one. However, I took a little trip the other day that started to change my mind a little bit. With hundreds of pristine cars available from all different decades, not only on display but for sale as well, it was enough to impress even the most stubborn of us.
When I first arrived at the Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Illinois, I found myself in a 50’s-style diner with all types of retro decorations plastered all over the walls. Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Betty Boop were just a few of the vintage faces displayed on t-shirts, posters, and other goodies. Muscle cars were also pictured on several t-shirts, mugs, Frisbees, and plenty of other souvenir items, all of which were available for purchase. Food was available at the diner as well, but there was no time to eat, as I was about to begin the grand tour.
The first room showcased several different cars that had appeared in popular movies over the years. Some notables included the prehistoric-looking vehicle from the Flintstones movie, Cinderella’s coach, and a gigantic metallic-looking contraption from The Cat in the Hat. This room had a very clever setup, each car having a television behind it looping a clip from the movie in which that car appeared. Surprisingly, even the biggest, most awkward-looking cars were all drivable and in working condition, although you probably couldn’t have taken them down the interstate.
We then entered a gigantic car garage with countless vintage vehicles lined up for sale. This included several muscle cars from the 50’s through 70’s, each unique in color scheme, design, and features. I was surprised to see that so many of these cars had barely been driven, showing only a few thousand miles on the odometer. What impressed me most, however, is that all of these cars were in absolutely beautiful condition – and when I say beautiful, I mean perfect. The Auto Museum is clearly very selective about which cars they allow to be showcased, because you could scan just about every inch of any one of those vehicles and not find even the slightest blemish. Despite being in perfect condition and having very few miles on them, all of the cars were also very reasonably priced. While I’ve made it clear that I’m not much of a gear head, you really don’t have to be to see how affordable many of these cars were. Each car looked so unique that I kept thinking about how cool it would be to drive around town in the type of car that you hardly ever see anymore. It would be like owning a piece of history that is in perfect, drivable condition, watching countless heads turn as you cruise it down the street. But I had to stop daydreaming and continue the tour, because there were a lot more cars left to see.
As if the cars could not get any more “vintage”, I came across a separate garage showcasing some of the oldest cars I had ever seen. These included some of the earliest of all different makes and models, once again in pristine, drivable condition, and for sale at a reasonable price. After skewering through all the rows, I started to find myself daydreaming again, so I had to get out of there quick before I started impulse buying. Besides, the tour wasn’t over yet.
As if the hundreds of beautiful cars I had already seen weren’t enough, Volo Auto Museum also maintains a world-class war museum. Several tanks, weapons, and other war vehicles from all different types of wars were on display. Some of the stuff even dated back as far as the civil war, including an unopened backpack previously carried by a United States soldier. From World War II, the cockpit of a German fighter jet was also on display in a separate room, with a video in the background explaining its historical significance. Each war involving the United States was documented, even as recent as the war in Iraq, with the end date yet to be filled in on the glass display case. They clearly took a lot of pride in maintaining the museum and keeping it current.
On the way out the door, just when I thought I had seen everything, some gentlemen pulled up a trailer holding a car shaped like a pink high-heel shoe…which was drivable. At that point, I really thought I had seen it all – But the interesting thing about this place is that I really hadn’t. That’s because the museum hosts a very dynamic environment – cars are constantly being sold and new ones are brought in to take their place, so the displays are always changing. You could make two separate trips to the museum and see two completely different sets of cars. That’s enough to impress even the most unimpressable of people (myself), so if I can have a great time at a place like this, surely anyone can.

[+/-] click to show/hide this post

It seems like just about every day, something new is being built in Lake County. Vacant lots, abandoned buildings, and most importantly, our forests are being transformed into new businesses. Slowly but surely, our trees, shrubs, and grasslands are being replaced by metal and concrete. Because of this construction, there may not be as many untouched natural areas as there used to be in Lake County, but luckily, there are still a few. I was able to visit one of these rarities yesterday at Volo Bog in Ingleside, Illinois. Overflowing with all different types of trees, flowers, and animals, this miracle of nature continues to flourish as it remains untouched.
When I first arrived at Volo Bog, I spoke with a friendly representative who gave me a quick overview of the bog and the different walking trails. For those who don’t know, a bog is a marshy wetland area where characteristic plants and mosses can be found. To get some more information, I watched a quick ten-minute video and was amazed at some of the facts. For example, about 16,000 years ago, Lake County was buried in ice. A section of ice broke free from the glacier and eventually melted, the runoff from which formed Volo Bog. The bog is also constantly changing – through precipitation and water evaporation, the amount of moisture available continues to vary. After learning more about the different plant and animal species that I should be looking for, I decided to hop on the trail and start my search.
When I first got to the wooden bridge to begin the trail, I was surrounded by a beautiful landscape of greenery. Countless trees overshadowed the wooden bridge while ferns and bright flowers swarmed the marsh below. As I began my walk, I was serenaded by the songs of crickets and cicadas while dragonflies zipped through the air. All types of birds perched atop the tree limbs while others soared in search of food. Everything was operating just as mother nature intended – undisturbed. Animals did not have to leave their homes to make way for bulldozers and trees were not being cut down to clear room for any buildings – Everything played its usual role in its natural habitat.
I continued along the bridge until I reached a small, shallow body of water, which was all that remained of the melted glacier from so many years ago. The surface of the water was completely amassed in duckweed, giving it a bright green appearance. Frogs could be seen hopping from one lily pad to the next, while birds continued to sing their song off in the distance. I hung around for a few more minutes to admire all of the scenery, then started the journey back to my car.
Unless you live way out in the middle of nowhere, it’s tough to get away from civilization. We spend just about every day surrounded by tall buildings, highways, and construction, unable to appreciate the beauty of an undisturbed ecosystem. If you ever have an hour to spare on a nice sunny day, I’d strongly recommend a trip to Volo Bog. Take just a little time out of your day to put things in perspective and see how Mother Nature used to be before we took over.

[+/-] click to show/hide this post

The average American spends nearly 90 percent of their lifetime indoors. With the traditional routine of waking up, going to work, coming home, and going to bed, there is not always ample time to get outside and breathe some fresh air. But what about weekends, days off, vacation time, or any other time spent away from work? Even during such precious moments, we often end up indoors anyway. How could we be so lazy? Don’t we know how much there is to see and do outdoors? Perhaps what we need is some motivation – we need a reason to get off our couches, turn off our televisions, and get outside. A couple days ago, I took a trip to Bass Pro Shops in Gurnee Mills Mall and found plenty of motivation to get outdoors. From fishing equipment to bicycles, Bass Pro Shops provides all the tools necessary to get outside and live a little.
When I first walked through front door, I immediately found myself glaring into an endless sea of outdoor equipment…and I mean ENDLESS – I couldn’t believe how large the building was, and the fact that every section was completely filled with merchandise. This was truly an outdoorsman’s paradise – And being the avid outdoorsman that I am, I couldn’t wait to look around.
I started off towards the right side of the store, walking past dozens of speed and fishing boats on display. Continuing along the walkway, I ended up in the fishing section, where I had never seen so many fishing poles and lures in my entire life. I may not be the most experienced fisherman in the world, but if I was, I’m sure I would have been able to find anything I needed here. Right next to all the fishing tackle was a gigantic fish tank, where several large and exotic fish were shooting every which way through the water. I snagged a couple Rapala lures for my upcoming fishing trip to Colorado, and started exploring some of the other sections.
Next, I came across the camping section. All types of tents, rain gear, and even fire pit necessities swarmed this entire area. Continuing on, I came across the hunting section, which showcased an array of stuffed deer, birds, and even bears! Needless to say, all types of guns, ammunition, and anything else necessary for hunting could be found here. They even had a small shooting range for target practice.
Speaking of target practice, if you’d rather aim at a bull’s-eye instead of hunting, the archery section was only a few steps away. And who could forget about outdoor grilling? Several grills filled a nearby section of the store, each varying in price and special features. If all else fails and you’d rather just go on a bike ride, plenty of mountain bikes were available to fulfill any cycling needs.
It would be nearly impossible for me to name everything else that I came across that day, including footwear, jewelry, and endless outdoor apparel, so you’ll just have to check it out for yourself. Instead of spending all your spare time withering away indoors, why not get outside for some fresh air and exercise? Judging from my visit, regardless of which tools you need to make it happen, Bass Pro will provide the motivation necessary to get started.

[+/-] click to show/hide this post