Growing up in the Midwest, it is a rite of passage to fall victim to winter weight gain. With shorter days and frigid temperatures, leisurely strolls to the store turn into short sprints to the bus. Daily activities that help you stay slender tend to hibernate as the common Midwesterner slips into a more sedentary lifestyle. While some people seek relief by flying to warm weather destinations for extended weekend trips, for many people, that's … [Read more...]
Slot Machines Around the World
Slots, puggies, fruit machines, poker machines and one-armed bandits – slot machines go by many names in many different countries around the world. While you may think that slot machines are fairly similar to look at, there are some pretty impressive regional variations you may come across during your travels. Some places, like America, keep slot machines under very tight regulation, whereas their neighbouring Canada only has the most minimal of … [Read more...]
One of the Keys to Happiness is a Bad Memory.
For the past decade, I’ve had this recurring nightmare. It involves concrete apartment structures hundreds and hundreds of stories tall and one city block wide. I’m usually stuck on one of the top floors, which are so high in the sky that small communities complete with little stores and schools have been established up there. Rickety walkways strung from windows connect the buildings so the tenants don’t have to make the journey down and back … [Read more...]
A Drinker’s Guide to Milwaukee
Milwaukee's history is steeped in beer. When German immigrants settled here, they brought with them old country recipes that tasted like home. For decades, Milwaukee was the number one beer-producing city in the world. It was home to the “Big Four” breweries: Blatz, Pabst, Schlitz and Miller. These breweries were major employers to generations of immigrants, and helped build the city's economic foundation. Before my recent visit to Milwaukee, I … [Read more...]
Discover Wisconsin TV introduces four new co-hosts
WISCONSIN – (August 1, 2013) – Producers announced Tuesday that four new faces, and one face familiar with long-time viewers, will host the nation’s longest running tourism program, Discover Wisconsin. This is the first time the show has introduced a multi-host format since 2003. Collin Geraghty, Mariah Haberman, Libby Amato and Eric Paulsen will debut on Discover Wisconsin for its 27th season, which premieres November 2-3, 2013. “We’ve … [Read more...]
Five Fascinating Animals of the Deep in Florida – Guest Post
With news of a giant eyeball washing up on a beach of Florida earlier last week, perhaps it is time to step back and take a look at some of the weird and wonderful animals that live in the beautiful waters of the sunshine state. Although scientists aren’t as yet quite sure as to which species the eyeball originates (the toss up is currently between an oarfish and a squid), the 3 million anglers that visit Florida every year will be happy to … [Read more...]
Norfolk a surprise of food, arts and other delights
For me, the best part of traveling has to be the delight of surprise, finding unexpected pleasures in places you thought you had a handle on, even if you haven't been there before. Norfolk, Virginia, provided that in a great, grand way on a recent trip I took there, as I found it a place with scenes of the culinary, arts and sports stripe. I'd gone thinking, perhaps as a stereotypically snooty Northerner, "Well, old, southern … [Read more...]