Calling All Road Warriors: Essential Gear for Your 2022 Road Trips

Writing travel guides for our readers is one of our favorite things to do!  We love sharing inspiring places for your road trip itineraries. (And, of course, we also have plenty of guides on our blog for how best to prep your car and pack for the drive!)  Today, we’re sharing our picks for must-see midwest sculpture parks for an unforgettable road trip experience. What better way could there be to celebrate the growth and beauty of Springtime than taking gorgeous nature walks through sprawling grounds dotted with larger than life artwork against a scenic backdrop? Exactly. We love that many of these parks are also free and open to the public year round, making them a wonderful option for a budget-friendly road trip stop.  Who says you can’t have fun while watching your wallet? Not us, that’s for sure. more (Image from Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park Website) Here are some of our picks for incredible Midwest Sculpture Parks to visit this Spring and Summer! Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park at University Park in Illinois - Situated in the tallgrass prairie and sprawling across more than 100 acres, 30+ sculptures stand tall and impressive on the grounds of Governors State University.  It’s open 365 days a year with free admission, making it a fantastic destination for families without breaking the bank.  The park also runs a schedule of selected programs, lectures, and workshops for both adults and children focusing on the integration and relationship of art and nature.  The enormous sculptures feature everything from carved stone, sculpted metal, to a 30-foot tall larger than life Paul Bunyan!  It’s absolutely beautiful to behold during the Spring and Autumn seasons especially.  29 of the sculptures are permanent collection pieces, and a variety of limited-viewing and rotating temporary pieces are available to view each year. Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park in Skokie, Illinois - Located just north of Chicago, this park especially highlights local Chicago artists and other creators through four different sections of park area. Artworks here are created from a variety of media including resin, metal, wood, clay, wire, and more.  It’s worth a visit during each season, as the dynamic and aesthetic of the sculptures in its natural environment changes with each season and type of weather!  Hop on a free tour with a volunteer docent, or walk the grounds on your own accord.  Got a pet in tow? Well-mannered and leashed pets are allowed on the property, just remember to clean up after your dog and be respectful of the landscaping, sculptures, and other guests.  It’s a great space as well for picnic lunch, a leisurely bike ride, or a change of pace for your usual running routine!  Be sure to check the calendar of events to find out if there are any hands-on workshops, artistic activities, or guest lectures during your visit.  There are more than 60 large-scale installations and sculptures on display, and the park is divided up into four sections, each about a half-mile long, with different creations in each sector.  Be sure to check out the venue’s “Art in the Park” event if you can! Goldman-Kuenz Sculpture Park in Mount Vernon, Illinois - This sculpture park is one of the largest in the Midwest, with more than 70 sculptures, each lovingly crafted by a variety of both local and regional artists, and placed across the park’s 80 acre grounds.  It provides an immersive experience seamlessly blending nature with art created from bronze, steel, stone, wood, concrete, and mixed media materials.  You can walk through the grounds’ three trail options, or enjoy the unique “Art After Dark” driving tour experience.  The sculpture park is open all year round, and offers an interesting experience with a “Seek and Find” directory of different sculptures to find and identify in Spring/Summer or Fall/Winter through their downloadable materials. It’s a wonderful option to engage with the artwork in a new way!  The garden is open on from 10AM to 5PM Tuesday through Saturday, and Sundays from 1PM to 5PM; it is closed on Mondays and on National Holidays, so be sure to factor that in to your schedule.  Check out their recent calendar of events and you may be able to catch a special guest lecture, hands-on activity, or the Art and Craft fair event. For some smaller-scale but equally beautiful entries into the sculpture parks of Illinois, you may also want to check out The Sculpture Park of Schaumburg, West Street Sculpture Park in Galena, and Scovill Sculpture Park in Decatur, Enos Park Sculpture Garden in Springfield. Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park in Indianapolis, Indiana - This is one of the largest art parks in the US, with 100 acres of wetlands, forests, and beautiful interactive sculptures and public art installations dotting the land around a 35-acre lake, and it’s completely free to visit!  It’s also home to the largest native pollinator meadow in Indianapolis, an impressive sight to see.  The intent of the park is to inspire visitors to explore the relationship between humans, art, and nature.  If you’re looking for an accessible destination, a large portion of the park contains accessible pathways for mobility access, and there is a designated ADA and stroller friendly lot on grounds as well.  Visitors will delight in the fact that they’re encouraged to interact and play with many of the features, including relaxing or sitting on the “Bench Around the Lake” exhibit, or enjoy a game of basketball or free-throws at the incredible “Free Basket” sculpture court.  This summer, three new sculptures will be added as part of the Home Again Exhibit featuring work by Heather Hart, Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood, and local Indianapolis-based artist Anila Quayyum Agha!  It’s the first major activation at the park since 2010, and the first installation of The Hawryluk Sculpture Green outdoor public art installation.  Make sure you add this stop to your next Indiana trip so you can witness this historic art event in person! Minneapolis Sculpture Garden at Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota - This incredible 11-acre garden is filled to the brim with native plants and blossoms, as well as an outstanding amount of stunning sculptures and art installations, and is free to explore and visit from 6AM to midnight!  It’s open 365 days a year, offering visitors a chance to explore more than 40 outdoor sculptures in different weather and seasons.  There’s even a miniature golf course on site featuring yearly updates with artist-designed holes ($10 to play for guests 7 and up, but 6 and under are free with paid adults)  It’s a fantastic place to take the family for an outing, especially during the Springtime and prime picnic weather!  Enjoy a stroll around the grounds and observe how art and nature blend together to create a unique viewing experience for each peace.  It’s the perfect opportunity to learn how art is in the eye of the beholder, as you find new ways to check out the larger than life 3D sculptures from different angles, distances, times of day, and even repeat visits during different seasons!  Plus, with free admission it makes a great family friendly excursion if you’re vacationing on a budget.

Let’s Visit the Mid West Music Fest in Winona Minnesota! We’re getting ready to take the first road trip of the season!  We’re headed out to Winona in Minnesota for the MidWest Music Fest for two jampacked days of incredible music with more than 100 different artists!  It’s the perfect spring celebration for music lovers, because you can enjoy all of your favorite genres from folk to indie rock to funk and more. more While we’re there, we’re also going to make it a little mini getaway trip, just to decompress, destress, and enjoy a little more time away from work.  So come on and join us as we explore Winona on today’s travel blog. Winona is a fantastic destination filled with just about everything you can think of! If you’re into nature and the outdoors, there are plenty of trails to hike or bike, and the gorgeous Great River Bluffs State Park. Enjoy a beautiful low-key stroll or bike ride down the 1.5 mile trail while you do a little bird watching at the Prairie Island Nature Trail. Or give yourself a little challenge by visiting John A. Latsch State Park for some incredible vista points overlooking the Mississippi River Valley.  Adventureseekers will find plenty of thrills with intermediate and challenging trails for both hiking and cycling at Garvin Heights Park. If you love boating and canoeing or kayaking, you’ll definitely want to book a tour with the Broken Paddle Guiding Co. for an incredible guided look at the wilds along the Mississippi River, or bring your own canoe in tow and row through the Mississippi River Water Trails. As you may already have gathered from previous travel guides, we’re also a bunch of history buffs here at Classic!  One of our favorite things to do when we take a road trip is to get to know the local history through museums, historic sites, and cultural touchstones.  Winona is home to the Dakota Nation, and hosts special ceremonies and events such as the Winona Dakota Gathering Homecoming & Powwow”, created to honor and respect the indigenous peoples of the land through the Winona-Dakota Unity Alliance at Unity Park. As you walk through town, you must stop by the historic downtown and explore the historic buildings and architecture like the Pickwick Mill and Bunnell House. And of course, be sure to stop by the Winona County History Center, Watkins Heritage Museum, Kashubian Cultural Institute and Polish Museum, Castlerock Museum, and our personal favorite: The Remlinger Muscle Cars & Event Center! Extend your appreciation of the arts after the music festival and enjoy the beautiful curated collections at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, or take in a live event or film showing at the Winona Arts Center. As for lodging, there are several charming Bed and Breakfast options in the area, such as the Alexander Mansion Historic B&B, the Carriage House Bed & Breakfast, and the Big River Escape Grandview Manse villa.  If you prefer to book with larger hotels, there is a Best Western Plus, the Hampton Inn, and more!

Today is Cinco De Mayo, but aside from promotional events and bottomless margarita specials, how much do you know about the origins of this day in Mexican history?  Today, we wanted to take a moment to share a little bit about the origins of this commemorative holiday, and then of course, a list of local restaurants where you can grab a delicious Mexican dinner with friends and family!  (And of course after reading this blog you can impress them with your knowledge of history and culture while you chow down!) It’s a great day to support your local Mexican and Mexican-American owned local businesses. more Sharing the real, authentic story behind the holiday is a great way to change stereotypes and educate others about the powerful origins of this day in Mexican heritage and history!  So make sure if you’re partaking in the festivities locally, that you remember its importance and talk about it with others.  Supporting Mexican Arts and Mexican Museums is another great way to celebrate!  Embracing the culture, history, and traditions of Mexican artisans through special gallery shows and arts and history museums is an incredible way to connect and honor the culture.  And, of course, exploring the incredibly vast and flavorful authentic meals and recipes from Mexico’s many different regional cuisines.  Whether you’re stopping by a local restaurant or cooking a meal at home for you and your family and friends, it’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with the heritage! Looking for dishes that originated in Puebla specifically? Check out this great list from Isabella’s blog “Let’s Travel to Mexico”! What is Cinco De Mayo? In America it’s become synonymous with unlimited tacos and bottomless margs, but it actually holds significant historic relevance to the country of Mexico.  Contrary to popular belief, its association with a feast of Mexican and Tex Mex foods is a popularly increasing celebratory trend of recent years.   Many people presume that Cinco De Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day, but it actually has other origins. Cinco de Mayo, is actually the Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, a celebration observed in Mexico and parts of the US. The Mexican Army’s achieved victory over the French Empire on May 5th 1862, thanks to General Ignacio Zaragoza, and overtook the French Forces of Napoleon III.  The French later returned with reinforcements, but ultimately were defeated by the Mexican Army who took full control back of the city later in April 1867.  The battle remains a significant day in Mexican history, symbolizing Mexico’s determination to take back their home, and their fortitude in the face of foreign occupation and aggressors.  In Mexico, it’s not really a “holiday” except for the region of Puebla, where it of course is very significant. Mother and daughter talking while preparing food at kitchen counter at home Check out this video from Street Vlogs and take a drive through Puebla from Angelopolis through to the Historic City  Center in gorgeous 4K video! Vlogger Geraldine Glam on YouTube is sharing 20 things to do in Puebla 2023! (En Español) Learn more about the food and history of Puebla Mexico from Tourist to Local on Youtube! Anthony Bourdain A Cooks Tour “Puebla Where the Good Cooks are From” is a nostalgic episode from Season 1 of the late chef’s show celebrating the incredible cuisine, culture, and history of Puebla Mexico! What’s it like driving the Pan American Highway through Mexico? Check out this incredible vlog from Toyota World Runners on YouTube as the document their road trip journey. Daniel Suarez is the first Mexican NASCAR driver, and here’s a little spotlight video from I Am Athlete on YouTube! Great Mexican and TexMex Eateries in the Lake County Illinois and Greater Chicago Area: Toluca’s Restaurant in Waukegan Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant in Waukegan Antojitos Guerrero in Waukegan El FAmous Burrito in Waukegan Taqueria El Charro in Waukegan La Canoa in Waukegan Taqueria Guerrero in Waukegan Golosinas El Encanto in Waukegan El Caporal in Waukegan Tacos El Norte in Waukegan Comales de Waukegan in Waukegan Sazon Cocina Mexicana in Waukegan Three Amigos in Lake Villa Dos Amigos Mexican Restaurant in Libertyville Authentico Mexican Restaurant & Bar in Lake Forest Jalisco Restaurant in Gurnee Momcorn in Gurnee Sofia’s Mexican Restaurant in Island Lake Casa Bonita MExican Restaurant and Tequila Bar Mexican Grill Los Magueyes in Fox Lake