The Chicago Theatre

New York has Time Square and London has Big Ben but Chicago’s iconic landmark is the Chicago Theatre. This historic movie theater with the distinctive “Chicago” Marquee sign sits in the heart of the Loop and is one of the last standing movie palace’s in the country.  If you’ve never entered inside the theater and glided down the vivid red carpet or gazed upon the gold leaf  ceiling fixtures,  the Chicago Theater Marquee Tour should be at the top of your to do list. Read More »

The paintball field at Coconut Bay Resort in St. Lucia

The lush island of St. Lucia is known for its beauty but not many people realize that you can play a game of paintball with all that Caribbean loveliness as a backdrop.   Enjoy this unexpected Caribbean activity on a 11,00 square foot paintball field, complete with fortresses and medieval props.  Located at the Coconut Bay Resort in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia, the industrial-inspired paintball arena is surrounded by coconut palms and vivid tropical blooms. Read More »

Country Ovens, home of cherry De-Lites

I love cherries. I thought I was well versed in the tart or sweet variety of cherry products until I arrived in Door County, Wisconsin.  Not only is the area covered with cherry orchards, but Door County appears to produce every kind of cherry concoction imaginable.  I began my cherry adventures at Country Ovens, home of the devilishly delicious Cherry De-Lite chocolate covered cherries.  A brief tour of the store and genrous sampling reveals a dizzying variety of cherries. There’s the original Cherry De-lite , which are plump, dried Door County cherries, then there’s dark chocolate or milk chocolate covered cherries. Country Ovens also produces Cherry De-Lite sprinkles and morsels, which are tiny cherry pieces that can garnish salads or cereal. Of course, the store also offers cherry juice, preserves and gourmet mixes for cherry pancakes, brownies and scones. Read More »

A view of snow covered dunes at Whitefish Dunes State Park

 If you long for the winter wonders pictured on holiday cards, head to Door County, Wisconsin where snow and fun abound.   I enjoyed an invigorating press trip to  Door County’s  snow-coveredshores, where I witnessed the peninsula’s jaw-dropping  beauty. Start your frosty frolics with a visit to Whitefish Dunes State Park.  An 865 acre nature preserve, Whitefish Dunes State Park boasts the highest sand dunes in Wisconsin and is the original home of eight Native American villages dating from 100 BC to the late 1800s.  The best way to view the park’s  scenic highlights is a snow shoeing hike through  the miles of pristine trails.  Three local shops rent snow shoes according the weight, so don’t be shy about announcing your pounds!  Snow shoeing guarantees a vigorous workout so be prepared to strip off some clothing layers.