Stepping onto a glass floor with hundreds of red poppies below, winding through exhibits of artillery and getting a feel for life in the trenches are part of what makes the National WWI Museum and Memorial a powerful experience and a must-see stop in Kansas City, Missouri. So are museums dedicated to art, jazz, Negro […]
Mary Bohlen
Mary Bohlen is a retired journalism professor who is a regular contributor to Illinois Times. She specializes in writing about interesting places in Illinois and nearby states worthy of day or weekend trips.
Posted inSpecial Issues
The museum based on children’s books
If you’ve ever imagined going down a rabbit hole and emerging into a magical world, then make it come true with a visit to a new museum fashioned as an ode to children’s literature. The entrance to The Rabbit hOle in North Kansas City, Missouri, winds visitors through a grotto-like maze to land amidst dozens […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
The Missouri Springfield. A nice place to visit.
Back in the day when TWA flew out of St. Louis to Springfield, Illinois, and Springfield, Missouri, from side-by-side gates, at least one passenger got on the wrong plane. The potential graduate student was supposed to head to our city for an interview but sheepishly called from the Missouri Springfield to say he had mixed […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Visit covered bridges this fall
We may not need them to sneak a kiss away from prying eyes any more, but covered bridges can still be fun, especially in the fall when surrounded by colorful leaves. Once numbering more than 10,000 in the U.S., covered bridges have dwindled to 750 with the majority in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Vermont, Indiana, New Hampshire […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Wildlife adventures
Oh, give me a home, where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play – along with wolves, elk, bears, cougars, camels, water buffalo and plenty of other animals. Seldom is heard a discouraging word if you are looking for a day trip to see some wildlife this summer. Plenty of options exist […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Dubuque, a must-see can’t-miss destination
Something fishy is going on in Dubuque. Big fish, small fish, red fish, blue fish, ocean fish and river fish are swimming around at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. It is just one of the must-see attractions in this eastern Iowa river town, about 3½ hours north of Springfield. Others include an historic […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Summer in Chicago
Chicago can be a pricey destination any time of the year, but summer is a swell time to seek some savings. Just concentrate on outdoor fun with the family or friends. “As families plan their summer outings, Chicago offers a vibrant array of fun and oftentimes free activities,” says Rich Gamble, interim president and CEO […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The hidden gems in Rockford
Peaches aren’t usually a spring treat but you can find them in Rockford along with some stunning gardens if you head 200 miles north this time of year. You also might encounter old bones and haunted spirits. “Rockford is a little bit of a hidden gem,” says Emily Plumb of the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Don’t forget western Illinois
It turns out Forgottonia isn’t so forgettable after all. Some western Illinois residents claim the region doesn’t get its fair share of funds and attention from the rest of Illinois, thus dubbing their area “The Republic of Forgottonia.” The largely rural landscape situated in the western bulge of Illinois boasts no huge cities or immediately […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Generations traveling together
Ross and Sheila Hodel started with water parks, graduated to ski trips and national parks and this summer upped their muti-generational family trip game with hiking in Switzerland. They say such trips give them quality time with their children and grandchildren. They are not alone. According to several travel magazines and travel agents, family vacations […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Exploring Lebanon, full of surprises
When you travel to Lebanon to experience its history and culture, you don’t need a passport or plane reservations – that is if you head to the town 86 miles south of Springfield, not the Middle East. Like its namesake, Lebanon, Illinois, long has drawn travelers. Since its founding in 1814, the town of 4,250 […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Fall fun at Illinois State Parks
Brightly colored leaves floating through the air, campfire smoke curling into the cool, crisp evening air and such special events as tagging monarch butterflies and dressing in costumes make a perfect time to fall in love with Illinois state parks. Whether you opt to book a room at an historic lodge, set up a tent […]
