I keep humming the song, “Baby, it’s cold outside!” I guess I know why.

On January 26th, Chicago recorded the coldest day we have seen in 13 years (-18°). Tom Skilling, WGN Meteorologist, has checked the records and only 12 winters have produced a reading lower than the temperature of 18 degrees below zero over the past 138 years. Everyone with me, “I really can’t stay…baby it’s cold outside!”

As my daughter and I snuggled under a comforter on the couch, Mark, my husband walked in and said we needed a vacation! “OK…tell me more!” He said he knew of a close place where it is 86 and sunny all year round. Woo Hoo, I’m goin’ to Hawaii!! Wait a minute. Did he say paradise was close? The last I checked it was at least an 8 hour flight.


He had three words for me – Key Lime Cove. Lake County is home to its own “tropical inspired” indoor water park resort in Gurnee. As the sliding glass doors open, we were greeted by Adirondack chairs of all colors and palm trees AND a wonderful 86 degrees. “Ahhhhhh, I AM in paradise!”


We grabbed a bite to eat at The Crazy Toucan (how can you resist the name?). Food was tasty and the 32 oz. mango Daiquiri was a vacation in a glass!


I ran up to the room to take a bath and relax and Mark and Maggie headed down to the pool to check things out. One of the nicest things? Check-in is at 4:00pm and check-out is at 11:00am; however, you are able to come earlier and use the water park AND stay until 9:00pm, after your check-out time! Ask during the registration process; however this was a great perk!


Mark and Maggie dipped their toes in, played on the water slide, walked around the arcade and explored while I was relaxing in the bubbles! Our room even had the island feel. Light citrus colors for bedding and prints on the wall. Another nice thing was since our daughter has allergies, we need to cart along some specific foods/beverages for her. There was a little refrigerator in our room. I was very thankful for that! I even saw on a t.v. commercial where there is a room with a bunk bed in it! We may have to check that out the next time for Maggie and a friend.


There was so much to do; we couldn’t get it in all in one overnight! There is a spa, multiple restaurants, an arcade, there are multiple shops, a YUMMY confectionary area, a ride on Key Lime Creek (This is a “must see” – Maggie fell asleep for her nap as we rode the current), a Lil’ Limers area focused on the youngest guests, covered slide rides (some that twist out of the building and back in again), an enormous pineapple dump bucket (makes a BIG splash), whirlpool…and too much more to write in this paragraph! You have to experience it.


Enjoy – we did!

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Chinese food is a way of life for our family on the weekends. We usually order take-out from a local Chinese restaurant in a strip mall, but this past weekend we had a taste for something different. We went to Golden Panda in downtown Antioch.
When we arrived at 4:30pm, we were the only customers. We like to eat early with small children. The atmosphere and decor were nice, plenty of booths and a few tables. We were promptly seated and offered tea and water. The tea was very good and a small kettle was left at the table for us. Our server then cam e to our table, introduced himself and took our order. My husband ordered the Spicy Shrimp and Chicken. I ordered the kids Chicken with Mixed Vegetables. It came with white sauce, which isn't popular with my kids. I asked if they could make it in a brown sauce and add some baby corn. Our waiter said it wouldn't be a problem. I ordered the Shrimp with Garlic Sauce and some Fried Crabmeat Rangoon for an appetizer.

By now the restaurant was beginning to get busy. I could see about four or five people picking up take-out orders too. That's a good sign! Our appetizer came out almost right away. A hot mustard and sweet & sour sauce was served with the Crabmeat Rangoons. The Rangoons were big and generously filled with cheese and crab meeat. One bite and I knew these were the best crab rangoons I've had in a very long time - they were excellet! They were crunchy and delicious, the sauces were a great compliment.

The timing could not have been better, just as we finished our appetizer, our maid dish had arrived. The food was served with a large bowl of rice. It smelled so good I couldn't wait to eat! I made the kids a plate of rice and chicken with the mixed vegetables. They loved it - my son said it was the best Chinese Chicken he's ever had. My daughter loved it too, she cleaned her plate and just started eating off the serving plate! My dinner was excellent, I loved it! It was spicy, but not too spicy, and also very flavorful. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, sweet and tender, nothing I hate more than over cooked shrimp. My husband's dinner was just as good, excellent combination of spices and vegetables.

When we were done eating our waiter boxed our lefterovers (enough for lunch the next day!) and added some extra rice. I thought that was a nice touch. He also brought us some fortune cookies and almond cookies. The almond cookies were really good. This is the only Chinese restaurant I have been to where the almond cookies was not stale and hard.

When we left, things were getting busy, obviously a popular place. I overheard a couple discussing what to order. The man said the Egg Rolls were excellent. I'll have to try them at our next visit. We were very pleased with our dinner and the price wasn't bad either, just under $50 for a family of four, and lunch the next day! I would definitely return and highly recommend Golden Panda. Excellent Chinese food that is a step up from the usual strip-mall take-out places.

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Why bother going downtown when we have a great place close by, in Lincolnshire, to see professional musical productions? The theatre is in the round and the actors play to all the angles so there is no bad seat in the house. Marriott has five different play productions each year and you can order individual tickets for any show you’d like to see or you can become a subscriber and pay for the full year in advance which saves you money if you plan on seeing all of the shows.

If you get there early enough, take a walk into the lobby of the Marriott and see the fabulous looking lobby and the bar and restaurant that they have. The gift shop is also fun to look into. The hotel also has a lot of private banquet rooms for rent for business functions or special occasions. As you walk back to the theatre area there are also mini bars where people gather. People are greeting other people that they haven’t seen since the previous performance at the theatre. Everyone around you is excited to be there because they all know they will be seeing a great performance will terrific actors, singers and dancers.

Walking up the stairs to the theatre is a map letting you know which way to get to your seat depending on your section number that is on your ticket and when you arrive at the door there is always one or two ushers handing out Playbill’s and directing you to your seat. They are always very friendly and courteous.

The play I saw there recently was the Bowery Boys which is a rag to riches story that truly takes in all of your emotions. But of course you end with a very happy feeling because the good guy wins out. The cast is large, at least 30 actors, but the stage is never overcrowded. The props change for each scene very quickly. The runways onto the stage are used often by the cast during the play which seems to make the play have a more intimate setting. The costumes for this play were fashioned from the nineteenth century and the music included “Yankee Doodle Dandy”.

I have been to the Marriott Theatre many times and I am always amazed at the talent of each performer. The new line up of plays for this year looks very exciting also. It includes, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, My Fair Lady, and Hair Spray. And knowing how great the talent is at Marriott I am sure that the actor playing the role of the mother in Hairspray will be as convincing in the role as John Travolta was in the movie. I am looking forward to another year of plays.

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Last week, during a break between blizzards, I journeyed out to the Des Plaines River Trail for a trek through the elements. Dressed head to toe in Gore-Tex, I felt warm and toasty despite the foot of standing snow and sub-freezing temperatures. I started out at Gowe Park in Gurnee and headed south, and was immediately struck by the unusual formations of ice and snow covering the trees and rocks along the river. Raised above the snow cover of the forest floor, shelves of ice jutted out parallel to the ground and housed snowy, dome-like coverings. Bare branches were covered with fine layers of frosted ice, giving the scenery the overall quality of a real-life "winter wonderland".Around a bend in the river, a group of mallards floated close to the opposite bank and eyed me with casual interest. The other animals seemed to be hiding, though the snow revealed the footprints of multiple birds and small mamals. Bright red caught my eye as I headed south, and I stopped to admire some plump berries that stood out in sharp contrast to the mostly white and brown surroundings. Overhead, the sun cast a hazy yellow halo through the blue and gray, and I snapped a picture through the treetops before pushing on.
Crossing a wooden foot bridge I was surprised when, looking down, my gaze was met by that of a great blue heron. I had seen herons in the forest fairly infrequently, and usually from a good distance across land or flying high overhead. This one was maybe ten feet below me, perched on a fallen tree in the stream, and didn't seem perticularly bothered by my presence. We watched each other for a few moments, the bird looking at me with what looked like bemused curiosity, and I snapped a couple of pictures before pressing onward.I crossed an open field and watched a hawk float high overhead, scanning the ground. I noticed some sets of small tracks in the snow, but no sign of the creatures that left them. I decided I would press on for another mile or so before doubling back. The buckling and rising of ice n the depressions, coupled with the recently fallen snow, made for some impressive natural sculptures. Ice ledges rose and fell around the bases of tree trunks in accordance with the slopes of the landscape, creating some rare visual treats. I passed a couple pastoral streams, listening for animals but not hearing much through the dampening snow besides the occasional bird chirp. I did, however, notice something on a tree a little further up that I had passed on my out- the bark towards the base was shredded in vertical stripes, the telltale handiwork of a deer's antlers. I reached the parking lot and hopped back in my car, rosy-cheeked, and basking in the appreciation of the beauty that nature exhibits even in the dead of winter.

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