Tag: Travel

Comfort Inn & Suites Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date October 28, 2015
1 Comment on Comfort Inn & Suites Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

I was provided a two-night room at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to facilitate my review. All thoughts are 100 % honest and my own.

My room is light and is painted with earth-tone colors. The carpet and the floors are spotless. I have an excellent sofa in my room. I am sitting in a beautiful office chair while writing this post.

The bed in my room is soft and feels exactly like the bed I sleep in at home. I have a variety of soft and firm pillows to sleep on for the perfect night’s sleep. The lighting in my room is perfect. I love that they use large enough light bulbs so that you can easily see to write or put on your makeup in the morning. I have an ample supply of soft towels in my bathroom. Comfort Inn & Suites has supplied my shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion. There is a small refrigerator and a coffee maker in my room. I have a brand new hair dryer in my room.

The receptionist and employees have gone out of their way to visit with you or ask if there was anything else you needed. One of their employees was cleaning the elevator to perfection. She was scrubbing the elevator just like cleaning things in my home.

The control for heating or central air is easy to use and in a handy location. I have been in some hotels where you could not control the heat in your room whatsoever.

I enjoyed my breakfast of scrambled eggs, yogurt, and cranberry juice. They have a wide variety of items to choose from. They have bagels, sausage, oatmeal, juices, toast, and fresh fruit. I was delighted with all of the breakfast items that they offered.

I highly recommend staying at a Comfort Inn & Suites to my family and friends. Everything in my room was sparkling clean and spotless.

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Minnesota National Eagle Center

National Eagle Center located in Wabasha, Minnesota

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date October 14, 2015
3 Comments on National Eagle Center located in Wabasha, Minnesota

I spent a wonderful fall weekend in Minnesota. Wabasha had a fantastic fall festival. They had the largest pumpkin contest. The winning pumpkin came in at 1193 pounds. People were selling their excellent fall harvest produce and lots of craft items.

My friend and I visited the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota. The Eagle Center is located just 80 miles south of the Twin Cities. Their admission is only 8.00 dollars for adults and $6.00 for Senior Citizens, and youth are $5.00, and three and under are free of charge.

I was very impressed with my visit to the Eagle Center. The visit was very informative and educational. Our guide was very knowledgeable. I was taken aback by the size of the Eagle’s nest. The nest is 8 feet wide by 4 feet deep—the Bald Eagle dwarfs most other raptors, including the Turkey Vulture and the Red-Tailed Hawk. The Eagle has a heavy body, a large head, and a long hooked bill. A Bald Eagle in flight holds its broad wings like a board. The female Eagles are 25 % larger than the males. Bald Eagles use forested areas for nesting and roosting. Their nest is located close to the water for good fishing. They scavenge dead animals and steal prey from other raptors if an opportunity presents itself. Their lifespan can be up to 28 years in the wild.

I saw four live Eagles that were living in the center. There were three bald Eagles and one Golden Eagle. The Eagles had been hit by cars or had been shot by hunters. One of the Eagles was blind in one eye. A female Eagle had one wing that was so severely damaged that she could no longer fly. I was surprised by how giant the Eagles were. When you see an Eagle soaring in the air, they do not appear that pretty large. One of the Eagles almost died from lead poisoning. Still, luckily, their veterinarian saved her life—The Eagles naturally were constantly very aware of what was happening around them.

They have a wonderful gift shop. They had calendars with pictures of Eagles, T-Shirts, Sweat Shirts, and many more wonderful gift items or souvenir items.

I would highly recommend attending the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota. Your family will be very impressed with looking at their Eagles and learning about these fine majestic raptors.

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Ireland The Giant's Causeway located in Ireland

Giant’s Causeway located in Ireland

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date September 30, 2015
3 Comments on Giant’s Causeway located in Ireland

The Giant’s Causeway is a unique and wondrous masterpiece of science and nature. The rock formations were formed 60 million years ago by the cooling and shrinking of successive lava flows.

The Giant’s Causeway has a lot of myths and legends that go along with it. The code is that the coast was carved by a mighty giant, Finn MC Cool; he left behind a home full of folklore. The causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a geological masterpiece with over 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. The causeway is the result of lots of volcanic and geological activity. The causeway became known in the late 1700s.

I truly enjoyed looking at all the volcanic formations that formed over the 60 million-year span. I liked looking at the buildings called the onion skins. They were covered with a white color that looked like it was peeling away from the rock formations. The rock formation called Giant Finn rock organ looked like the pipes of a real working organ. Legend has it that you can hear Finn playing his rock organ on a windy day. There is a formation that looks like a camel. One of the rock formations is called the Giant’s boot. It is said that the Giant was running and lost one of his boots.

I was fascinated by the different plant life growing between the rocks on the ground. I took pictures of many other colorful small flowering plants. The bed was very soft and boggy to walk on. Allow at least one hour to look at the rock formations and listen to the guided tour. I enjoyed looking at the rock columns and all the mighty acts of nature, science, and miracles.

I would highly recommend stopping at the Giant’s Causeway located in Ireland. I guarantee you will be impressed with what Mother Nature can form over the years.

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Enchanted Acres Iowa

Enchanted Acres located in Sheffield , Iowa

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date September 18, 2015
4 Comments on Enchanted Acres located in Sheffield , Iowa

I visited Enchanted Acres with some North Iowa Bloggers in Sheffield, Iowa. I love looking at the different varieties of beautiful pumpkins for sale at Enchanted Acres.

There are many things to see and do at Enchanted Acres. I have bought several chickens that were raised at Enchanted Acres. They are corn-fed and are the best chickens that I have ever eaten in my lifetime. I purchased several chickens again this year to enjoy in the late fall and winter. There are many different gift items that you can purchase. I bought a small decorative metal chicken as a decorative accent in my kitchen.

There are many activities for children to do at Enchanted Acres. They can play in the sand or on the tire swings or crawl through the tires. They have storytime for children. Craft classes are available for adults and children.

I love to look at the goats that live at Enchanted Acres. I love the goat named Nibbles. She is a small female Pygmy goat. She is black and white and very friendly. Nibbles will eat corn right out of your hand. The goats are pretty entertaining to watch.

Enchanted Acres is in a beautiful tranquil setting. There are wooden swings that you can sit and relax in. I love the variety of gift items that are always for sale. You can buy Pumpkin, Apple Butter, or other canned items. I like the cloth pumpkins and the pumpkins made out of jar lids along with the real pumpkins.

I highly recommend spending a day at Enchanted Acres in Sheffield, Iowa. There are many fun activities for you and your family to do while visiting Enchanted Acres. I would suggest picking out that perfect fall pumpkin for your porch. I would also recommend buying a pumpkin for that perfect fall pumpkin pie.

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Ireland Irish National Stud and Gardens

Irish National Stud and Gardens

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date September 12, 2015
1 Comment on Irish National Stud and Gardens

I had a tour of the Irish National Stud and Gardens. I was very impressed with the Stallions and fouls and the Japanese Gardens. Horses have been bred and born on the 800-acre site since 1900. The site is called the Irish National Stud.

The best stallion stud fee was $450,000.00, and the lowest price was $5000.00. Their best stallion is insured for 80 million. The mares go back into heat 8 or 9 days after giving birth. The horse stalls are cleaned out thrice daily to ensure good health for the horses. They have bred up to 150 horses a day naturally. The mares have boots on their back feet so they won’t kick the stallion while breeding. They have a miniature stallion from Argentina that they put in with the full-size mares to ensure they are in season. If the mare is pregnant with twins, one egg is removed. Otherwise, the horse will be too miniature for racing. The stud fee must not be paid until the foul is one year old. Their oldest horse lived to be 40 years old. When a horse gets very old or is infertile, it will have them put to sleep.

Over 100 fouls are born at the stud every year, most between March and May. The fouls generally stand within an hour or two and nurse their mother. Most horses begin their racing career at the age of two.

Breeders worldwide send their mares to be mated with the stallions at the Irish National Stud. The price of the stud fee depends on that stallion’s popularity.

A famous racehorse can take in millions of dollars in its lifetime. Some famous horses at the Irish national stud are as follows: Moscow Flyer, Hardy Eustace, Kicking King, Beef or Salmon, and Rites of Passage. They have won essential races. The current stallion Big Bad Bob is making a big impression at the races and has bloodlines that span over 70 years.

The Japanese garden is gorgeous and in a tranquil setting.

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Ireland

Some of the Cats from Ireland

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date September 8, 2015
No Comments on Some of the Cats from Ireland

The first cat I saw in Ireland was a pure white cat. I was leaving my farmhouse for an early morning hunt. I was walking in the ditch next to the field, listening for any movement a mouse might make. My family lives in a lovely stucco house. On my farm, several sheep and barley are growing in the field.

The next cat I saw was a large black and white cat. I am a town cat that lives in an apartment. I was looking out my window at my owner, walking the small fox terrier that shares my house. The houses where I live are older, but they are well-maintained. The area around my apartment is gravel, and my owner has planted beautiful roses around our apartment area.

I am a gray and white cat living in Ireland country. My owners live in a newer large brick home. My owners have a 70-acre corn field and 40 milk cows in the pasture. I was out among the cows hoping to find an early-morning mouse to snack on.

I am a black cat living in a small stucco house in town. I was looking out of my window and noticed rain pouring down. I hung my head in disappointment that I could not see much due to the rain falling. I live in the old linen district of Ireland.

I was a calico cat that always crossed the road for better hunting opportunities every morning. I did not cross the street this morning and was killed by a car. I am in heaven now with my cat ancestors from Ireland.

I am a small black and white farm cat. There are many farm buildings on the farm where I live. My owners had put up barely any straw for the cows living on my farm to eat. I was taking my morning walk down my farm lane. My farm has lush, beautiful green pastures.

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Iowa Democratic Wing Ding 2015

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date September 7, 2015
3 Comments on Iowa Democratic Wing Ding 2015

The Wing Ding was held at the historic Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. Getting inside the Surf Ballroom was a very long and hot wait. Everyone had to go through a security check that took a long time. While I was waiting outside, young people were chanting for Martin O’Malley. There was also a group chanting for Hillary Clinton. They were selling T-Shirts for the candidates outside of the Surf Ballroom.

It was friendly and relaxed when I finally got inside the Surf Ballroom. I entered a line for the food. I had a pulled pork sandwich, potato salad, and melon. My friends had chicken wings, baked beans, and a fruit mixture for their meal. We held our plates on our laps and sat on chairs while eating our food. Some people were standing as there were not enough chairs for everyone to be seated.

Everyone who came to Wing Ding was happy, thrilled, and excited as the candidates spoke. There was a lot of applause and standing ovations.

The candidates addressed income and wealth inequality and fighting big money in politics. The candidates made every effort to differentiate themselves from their competition.

Hillary Clinton started speaking at around 7:00 PM. I was very impressed with her presentation. Mrs. Clinton said about Iran and equal pay for equal work. She wants to help students that are saddled with college debts. She mentioned that we, as hard-working people, had returned from the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes.

I did not get to listen to Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley, or Lincoln Chaffee as I had to leave at 7:30 PM for another appointment.

Attending political events in your area is a beautiful way to meet the candidates running for election. I love to hear their platforms and their stand for individually.

I am not a total democrat or republican. I vote for a candidate based on what they stand for.

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food Wisconsin

Taste of Door County, Wisconsin

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date August 17, 2015
8 Comments on Taste of Door County, Wisconsin

I had excellent ice cream at Wilson’s Restaurant and Ice cream Parlor in Ephraim, Wisconsin. They have been in business since 1906. Going to Wilson’s is like going back to the 1950s. I loved the atmosphere there. I enjoyed looking at the old-fashioned soda fountain and ice cream specialties. They have old jukeboxes that play the classics. They are open from May 14th thru Oct. 19th.

I had an excellent grilled salmon sandwich with fresh vegetables at the Wild Tomato wood-fired Pizza and grille in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. They are open from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Some of my friends had a wood-fired pizza and loved it. I had their hummus and pita bread appetizer that I shared with my friends. The appetizer was delicious. I loved eating outdoors under their umbrella. The Wild Tomato Pizza and Grille is very clean with fast and efficient service. They have a Thai pizza for July. The pizza has chicken, Red peppers, Red Onion, Basil, and cilantro over a Green Curry Cream Cheese Base and topped with fresh Carrots, Pea Shoots, and a Chili Lime Drizzle.

I had an excellent grilled chicken sandwich at Mojo Rosas in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. They are open from 11:00 AM until 12:00 AM. They have live music on Saturday nights starting at 9 PM. They have karaoke on Thursday nights beginning at 9 PM. They make their salsa, Jalapeno Vinaigrette, and more from the new Door County Pantry.

I enjoyed eating a thick turkey sandwich loaded with turkey and lettuce on wheat bread at the Fish Creek Market located in Door County, Wisconsin. The woman behind the counter made the sandwich with all the fresh ingredients. The sandwich was excellent and very reasonable.

I highly recommend the excellent food I ate while visiting Door County, Wisconsin.

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food Sips

Sips North Shore Kitchen and Bar Located in Clear Lake, Iowa

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date July 30, 2015
3 Comments on Sips North Shore Kitchen and Bar Located in Clear Lake, Iowa

I had a wonderful dining experience at Sips with my friends. They are Monday thru Saturday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Sunday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Sips are out of business, and Bread Buttercreme is there now. They are out of business.

I have dined at Sips many times. I especially enjoy their grilled tenderloin sandwich with sweet potato fries. I love their onion rings because they are not greasy and have an excellent flavor.

I have eaten their duck dinner twice, and it melts in my mouth. I ordered sweet potato fries and steamed broccoli with my duck dinner. My friends ordered a french dip sandwich, a hamburger topped with onion rings, a large fancy salad, and a potato with lots of toppings and chicken strips. All of my friends liked their food.

I have had their chicken breast for an evening meal. I had two large, moist, tender chicken breasts served with a baked potato with sour cream and steamed broccoli. I also enjoy eating their salmon dinner. I had onion rings, a lettuce salad, french dressing, and my salmon dinner.

I like eating their chicken sandwich at lunchtime with sweet potato fries and a salad with fresh carrots and ranch dressing. I had their spinach and artichoke appetizer,r and it was awesome.

I have eaten once on a Sunday at Sips. I ordered two eggs over easy and hashed brown potatoes. I had a very generous serving of hash brown potatoes.

I have always had a waitress that was very friendly and attentive to my every need while dining at Sips. Every time my water glass was emptied,y my waitress filled my glass back up quickly.

I enjoy eating outdoors at Sips and looking at their lovely flower arrangements. Generally,y a fancy antique car will drive by in the summer months that I can admire. I would highly recommend eating at Sips for a fine dining experience.

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Harbor Pie Co. Wisc.

Harbor Pie Company Located in Door County, Wisconsin

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date July 15, 2015
3 Comments on Harbor Pie Company Located in Door County, Wisconsin

I went to the Harbor Pie Company in June 2015. I met Sara Zacek, one of the General Managers, in person. I have been watching her on Master Chef. She is one of twelve contestants left as I write this article. I enjoy watching her on Master Chef. She has an excellent personality and a beautiful smile. I love to watch her create new dishes for the chefs to taste every week.

I was very impressed with the pies on display. The pies featured on the menu are as follows:

Door County Cherry Blueberry Strawberry Rhubarb Chocolate Pecan

Caramel Apple Pecan Apple Berry Crumble and other featured pies

They also have savory pies, which are as follows: Veggie Egg, Cheesy Egg with Bacon and

Gravy Tater Tot Chili Chicken, Gravy and Stuffing Pork Tamale with Cornbread Crust

Cottage Topped with Mashed Potatoes

They also have coffee, drinks, cinnamon rolls, and scones.

The pies are made by scratch by Sara. Her fruit pies have over 2 pounds of fruit and no added fillers. The savory pies look mouth-watering also. I was very impressed with the Harbor Pie Company. Their business is neat and clean, and orderly. Harbor Pie Company is bright with a beautiful atmosphere. They serve lunch, dinner, and beverages. They also offer catering and takeout. You can eat indoors or outdoors depending on the weather. Harbor Pie Company is your one-stop store for all of your pie desires. Business hours are Mon.-Tues. 11 AM to 7 PM, Weds. – Thurs. 11 AM to 8 PM, Fri. – Sat. 11 AM – 10 PM, Sunday 9 AM – 6 PM.

My friends and I had a pleasant visit with Sara. Some of my friends took selfies with Sara. I took a picture of her holding her excellent pecan pie. If you are in Door County, Wisconsin, I highly recommend trying a piece of Sara’s perfect pie.

Tags Travel