by Pam | Mar 20, 2019 | Everyday Adventures, Food, parenting, Relationships, Relaxation, restaurant, travel
I recently had the opportunity to visit Chicago with just my son. For school-related reasons my daughter (and therefore husband) couldn’t join us so it became a fun one-on-one trip. Not something we get to do often, so it was very special. We arrived Friday night to our amazing room at the Wyndham Grand – it was the perfect location, easy to get everywhere and with awe-inspiring city views. Once I parked my car, we used Uber or good old-fashioned walking the rest of the weekend – it was lovely to not think about driving, parking, etc. However, I do want to caution everyone to be very careful with valet parking – we ended up with some issues that I’m still dealing with – and this was at a very nice hotel and expensive parking spot. Thanks to our Chicago CityPASS, we knew our Friday night adventure would be the 360 Chicago Observation. After enjoying the views – loved the ice breaking up on the water – we walked across the street to do a little shopping at The Water Tower. I actually remember shopping there as a kid so it was nostalgic to share that experience with MY kid. As we had a full day planned for Saturday, we just grabbed quick salads and “fancy” drinks at The Cheesecake Factory just outside the mall. I rarely do chains when traveling, but that’s what my kid wanted and this was his weekend … The next morning started bright and early with the goal of seeing how many museums we could visit in one day (and still enjoy them!). We also...
by Pam | Dec 11, 2018 | Everyday Adventures, Food, Holidays, Relationships, Relaxation, restaurant, travel
I love visiting college campuses and I also love to eat so I’m always looking for the best places to eat everywhere I go. Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana is a favorite of mine – not just for the campus but also some of my favorite local restaurants. Growing up in West Lafayette, some of these are also quite nostalgic for me and I love that they are still around so many years later. Triple XXX. If you visit Purdue, you must visit Triple XXX. Everyone will tell you to do it and it’s worth it for the kitsch alone. Triple XXX has been in West Lafayette (on the hill but on the level) since 1929 and been serving the area’s best rootbeer since the beginning. Take time to sit on a round stool at the counter that winds around the entire restaurant and soak in the atmosphere while enjoying a frosty mug. Breakfast is great (and served all day long), but my favorite order is a mug of root beer, fries, and a Barney Burger. Triple XXX is well known for some of the more unique burger combinations named after famous locals such as the Duane Purvis (with peanut butter) and the Drew Brees. Guy Fieri has also visited, so if you are a fan, check out episode 44, Knockout Burger Joints. 2 N. Salisbury, West Lafayette, IN; (765) 743-5373 Parthenon. I think we visited the Parthenon once a month for most of my childhood. Four generations of family members have been using their families Greek recipes to ensure that the food is always delicious. The service is...
by Pam | Oct 2, 2018 | Everyday Adventures, Food, moms, parenting, Relationships, Relaxation, restaurant, travel
With sunshine and a slight breeze, Saturday was the perfect weather to enjoy a day full of everyday adventures in Hamilton County Indiana. Hamilton County is a northern suburb of Indianapolis, Indiana and boasts some wonderful towns, lots of interesting things to do and a family-friendly atmosphere. We started our day as every morning should begin with a delicious cup of coffee. Indie Coffee Roasters is a local coffee shop at the edge of Main Street in Carmel with a fun, industrial vibe, friendly baristas, and rich, bold coffee. The shop is located in a converted house with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. We enjoyed sipping our coffee on the large patio as the temperature was perfect for our cappuccino’s and latte’s – crisp air but warm sunshine. I have plans to go back there and work in the near future – it’ll be a nice change of pace from my normal coffee shop! Indie Coffee Roasters also has kombucha on tap as well as decadent hot chocolate for the non-coffee drinkers. This was an excellent way to begin our day of exploring. The shop is open Monday – Saturday from 7 AM – 6 PM and is closed on Sunday. Once we were fueled up, we walked through the Carmel Farmer’s Market to pick up some fresh tomatoes and zucchini for the week. Yum! Our next stop was to pick a pumpkin at Russell Farms in Noblesville, IN. If you are looking for family-friendly fall fun, Russell Farms has you covered. Not only did we find the perfect pumpkin, but we also found a lot of fun!...
by Pam | Aug 29, 2018 | Everyday Adventures, Food, moms, parenting, Relationships, restaurant, travel
Our Saturday started off bright and early with a tasty breakfast at The American Table – it was less than a mile from our hotel and very busy. The breakfasts tended to lean towards huge platters of eggs, meats, and potatoes – they looked delicious, but a little heavy for our tastes. Luckily, the menu is so large, my son and I found the perfect start to our day too. After breakfast, our plan was to head downtown to check out the Cave on the Square. Once we parked, we stumbled across the local farmer’s market. Since I love a good farmer’s market, we took a little detour to pick up some fresh yellow tomatoes and cucumbers. Yum! When we entered the Cave on the Square, we immediately noticed the delicious smell of freshly roasted coffee. In addition to offering a Himalayan Salt Cave, the store had a full-service coffee bar. We grabbed a couple of drinks (coffee for me and a maple steamer for my little guy) and headed into the salt cave. For only $5 each, we were able to enjoy the soothing atmosphere of the cave for an hour. The salt cave was carefully created to simulate an actual salt cave or mine. There are salt rocks all over the walls, the floor is covered in loose salt (which made our feet very soft), comfortable chairs and small tables all around and the cave is lit with soft glowing lights. Soothing music was playing and the air temperature was perfect. We also discovered a foot lamp which was very enjoyable. It was warm and smooth...
by Pam | Aug 28, 2018 | Everyday Adventures, Relaxation, restaurant, travel
Just wanted to quickly share my guest post on The Yums. If you love European Cafes, warm ambiance, and delicious food, Cafe Sante is the restaurant for you. Located in Boyne City, Michigan (near Petoskey and the Boyne Mountain/Highlands ski resorts), it’s fantastic year-round. We make it a point to visit every time we head up to Boyne to ski. Check out my review HERE for more details – and don’t forget to Pin it for your next Michigan trip!...
