The fairy door trail in downtown Dublin, Ohio is a whimsical adventure for all ages. PLUS an 'adults only' trail and tips for visiting from Sara Blatnik, Marketing Director for Visit Dublin, Ohio.

Austin, Minnesota has a really incredible story of how revitalization formed the base of public art in the community. Guest Laura Helle is Executive Director of Austin Area Arts. She shares information about the arts in Austin as well as Austin MN travel tips

The city of Louisville, Kentucky has one of the most encompassing community arts programs you will find in the Midwest. Explore all Louisville has to offer and get Louisville travel tips with Andre Guess, President and CEO of Fund for the Arts.

The Wichita City Arts Council's slogan is "We Make Art Happen". Guest Alisha Gridley, Education Director and Interim Executive Director of CityArts, guides us through public art and CityArts, and offers top tips for a visit to Wichita.

NoCo Arts & Cultural District in Jeffersonville, IN has been specifically planned, zoned & set aside for the arts and art businesses. Learn more about this fun area and get tips for visiting from Emily Dippie, the Public Arts Administrator for Jeffersonville.

After you've found your ancestors and traced them back to your 'homeland' it's natural you will want to visit. Today we're going to talk about a few things you should do before taking a heritage tour. Allison Singleton is Senior Librarian at The Genealogy Center and the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Learn more about The Genealogy Center Discovering the history of Ireland How Much Information Do You Need to Plan a Heritage Tour? Singleton suggests having at least a little bit of family information before taking on an ancestry tour or trip. "You really want to know where your ancestors are from," says Singleton. "So you need to actually be able to find that ancestral village or town, or maybe even the home, and in order to do that, you have to exhaust all the resources in the United States before you can jump the pond. Otherwise you're just going to be wandering around aimlessly." Find everything you can from the United States first before making an overseas trip. Exhaust all of your resources locally and get as much information as you can from your local experts before you go. The Irish Family History Centre in Dublin, Ireland Finding Genealogy Experts in Other Countries When you are planning heritage travel plan to meet with a local historian or genealogist wherever you're visiting. "I 100% recommend always using the knowledge base of the experts when you're doing research like this," says Singleton. "Otherwise you can get frustrated very quickly." One great way to find experts is by using familysearch.org. Go to their research Wiki and find the specific location you're going to. There, you should find a list of archives and libraries. This is an excellent place to start, suggests Singleton. "Another thing that might sound crazy is to get on Facebook," says Singleton. "Find out what research groups are in existence. There are some for every nationality. Ask what other people are using and utilize the resources people recommend." "Genealogy is not a solitary hobby or occupation," says Singleton. "It's very much about communicating with and learning what you can from others." Never take original documents on a genealogy trip Information to Take on an Ancestry Tour When you take that trip to another country, Singleton recommends making sure you have the immigration information with you. She also suggests taking any documentation that gives the specific locations in the home country that you're looking for. "Sometimes these might be in different languages or give a clue that maybe you missed that a local might actually see," says Singleton. Instead of taking hard copies, uploading to the cloud and being able to access the information from a computer, tablet or phone is the best idea. "If you are going to take a hard copy, take a photocopy," says Singleton. "Never take the original." Tips for Avoiding Heritage Travel Disappointment It's easy to "build up" an ancestral visit in your mind. How do you keep from being disappointed by what you do -- or don't -- experience? Go into the trip expecting to learn about the culture and educate yourself about where your family came from.Don't expect to have goosebumps and make that "soul" connection. If you do, great, but just go into it as a learning experience.Don't make it all about "the find." Make it more about experiencing the culture. "Going to those places [the house, the cemetery, etc.] isn't going to give you that immediate connection to your family. It's not going to change anything. It's not going to improve your relationship with those ancestors. It just is a place. It is a record experiencing the place where they're from," says Singleton. "Learning more about the history and the culture -- that's what's really going to connect you to your ancestors. So explore those museums, explore those locations, explore the restaurants and the food and everything else and learn about where you...

No matter where in the US you call home it's likely that your ancestors passed through the Midwest to get there. Guest Allison Singleton, Senior Librarian, Virtual Programming Coordinator, and Acting Genealogy Services Manager in the Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library shares Midwest genealogy tips for tracing your family's migration to and through the Midwest.

The Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana is the 2nd largest family research collection in North America. Genealogy tips for beginners.

This month on the podcast we are preparing for the most colorful time of the year - and the places to visit to make the most of prime 'leaf peeping'. Today we are traveling to central Illinois where elegant gardens and extensive woodlands invite you to discover the treasures within before you settle into a very grand accommodation. Bridget Rose Frerichs is the Associate Director of Advancement at Allerton Park & Retreat Center in Monticello, Illinois. The Mansion at Allerton Park History of Allerton Park Robert Allerton was born in 1873 into a life of privilege, forged by his father Samuel. They lived in Chicago on Prairie Avenue and rubbed elbows with the Marshall Fields family among other rich and successful families. When Robert was born, his dad, who owned land throughout the midwest, put a plot of land in Platt County, Illinois, in Robert's name. Robert went to boarding school and then studied art in Europe, as was common with children from wealthy families at the time. When he returned from Europe, he settled in Platt County. Since it was mostly farmland, he managed the farms and began to build his country estate, modeled after the 17th century Ham House in Surrey, England. After the house was built, Allerton would work on expanding his gardens, beginning with a vegetable garden and growing it from there. When he traveled, he would bring home sculptures for the garden. Sometimes he would have a space in mind for it and other times he would create a garden space around it. He also had artists commission sculptures to add to the gardens. In time, he created a magnificent estate spanning 1500 acres and containing 14 Formal Gardens. In 1946 Allerton donated the estate to the University of Illinois, which still uses it for research and study, and it is also open to the public. Death of the Last Centaur Visiting Allerton Obviously the gardens are spectacular in spring and summer, but fall is incredibly special at Allerton. "We have 14 miles of hiking trails, so the fall colors are just magnificent," says Frerichs. "And a lot of people will describe Allerton as peaceful, magical. The fact that it's here in the middle of the prairie, or what was the prairie, now in the middle of cornfields in the middle of central Illinois, this kind of English-type estate, is really an experience that a lot of us don't get in central Illinois." Explore the 14 Formal Gardens that include artistically designed plantings and over 100 ornaments and sculptures to discover. Join one of the scheduled Friday morning bird hikes from 9-11 a.m. led by managers of the natural areas of the estate. Get a bite to eat at the Greenhouse Cafe, which offers sandwiches, homemade baked goods, unique salads, classic refreshments and more. It is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Normally they would have concerts and other events scheduled, but with COVID-19, things are looking a bit different. Keep an eye on the website at allerton.illinois.edu for updates on events as restrictions loosen. The address is 515 Old Timber Road, Monicello, Illinois. The hours are 8 a.m.-Sunset daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Fu Dog Garden Read about our time Exploring Allerton and our stay in The House in the Woods Accommodations at Allerton Guests can choose from four different accommodation options for an overnight stay at Allerton. The Mansion -- Features 17 guest rooms with antique furnishings, five area common spaces and a basement rec room.The House in the Woods -- Built in 1917 to house Allertons' gardening staff, it is tucked away in an alcove on the property and features 8 guest rooms. The Gate House -- Formerly the Head Gardener's residence, the Gate House has 6 guest rooms, featuring a triple room perfect for families.The Evergreen Lodge -- Built by the University of Illinois in the late 1960s,

In the Driftless Region of southwest Wisconsin the unique cabins at Anaway Place offer an incredible fall escape.

Escape to an Ohio treehouse this fall! Get back in nature at The Mohicans Treehouse Resort and Wedding Venue.

Discover Wisconsin's #1 fruit! Explore the Cranberry Highway in Wisconsin with Meredith Kleker, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Rapids Area CVB.

You won't find any chain shops on the Butler County Donut Trail in Ohio! Tips for tackling this sweet food trail!

data-pin-description="The B-Line in Kentucky - where B means bourbon. Learn more about bourbon, the 'sipping points' along the trail & activities in Northern Kentucky with guest Julie Kirkpatrick, creator of 'the B-Line', and president of Meet NKY."

There are over 50 establishments on the Kansas City Kansas Taco Trail - and they aren't all traditional restaurants! Kansas City Kansas tips

This month on the podcast I am celebrating the taste of the Midwest. Yep- it's all about the FOOD. I really think you can learn a lot about a place by tasting their traditions - which is why I love food trails! So it seemed only right to kick off the month in Indiana - which has 21 food trails!  My guests today are Lindsey Skeen, Marketing and Media Director at the Indiana Foodways Alliance and Amy Howell, Director of Communications for Visit Indiana. Hoosier Pie Food Trails in Indiana Indiana Foodways Alliance is a membership marketing organization that highlights unique and popular foods in Indiana. Approximately 260 locally-owned restaurants are part of the organization, and are marketed through 21 different food trails. The Indiana Foodways Alliance created food trails to highlight foods popular along the I-69 corridor. It expanded to become a statewide organization that shares the best foods across Indiana. A sampling of food trails in Indiana Between the Buns Burger TrailFarm to TableHoosier BrewsHoosier PieSoda-licious TrailTenderloin LoversWinner, Winner, Chicken Dinner Most produce in these restaurants is locally sourced; a 'farm to table' experience, even if it isn't advertised in that way. Tenderloin Lovers Using the Indiana Foodways Alliance Website Instead of 'following a trail' the Indiana Foodways Alliance website is designed to help you find the best local meals for an area you are visiting. Begin on the Culinary Trails page and choose the food you want. Click through that trail and you can preview all the restaurants as well as view their locations on a map. Choose based on your location or plan a trip around a specific restaurant - then use the other culinary trails to round out your culinary journey. Green River and Banana Split The Indiana Culinary Trails Passport Visit Indiana, in partnership with the Indiana Foodways Alliance, has just released the Indiana Culinary Trails Passport. This mobile application can show you all the stops on the food trails in Indiana, offers deals & discounts, and the opportunity to earn some fun Indiana foodie swag! 33 Brick Street Burger Taste Indiana! Get more information about Indiana Foodways Alliance and plan your culinary adventure at IndianaFoodways.com. Plan the rest of you Indiana travel at VisitIndiana.com.

Wrapping up 'State Fair Season' with the final state fair in the Midwest.Kansas State Fair begins after Labor Day - on September 10 in 2021- and runs for 10 days. My guest Ed Burger, Interim General manager for the Kansas State Fair, is going to share the history and highlights of the Kansas State Fair - and hopefully a few 'insider tips' to help you make the most of your visit! Bottle feeding calf The Kansas State Fair The Kansas State Fair takes place in Hutchinson, near the center of the state. It has been running since 1913, only skipping one year (2020). The Kansas State Fair begins the Friday after Labor Day and lasts for 10 days. Pride of Kansas exhibit Famous Features of the Kansas State Fair Everyone has their own 'fair favorites'. On the west side of the fairgrounds you'll find livestock and agriculture. The north side of the fair is where you'll find the displays and judging on everything from cooking to quilts. And throughout the grounds you'll find vendors and commercial displays of all types. Fair Food Leave your diet at the gate. Church groups and service clubs have food booths that have become a tradition. Of course you can get your ProntoPup (corn dog) and the Dairy Association has a popular ice cream stand in the Grandstand. And you'll find plenty of foods on a stick. Entertainment at the Kansas State Fair Midway at night The fair kicks off with 'dirt events' - bull riding, motorcross, and monster trucks - before musical entertainment begins. You'll find a mix of entertainers in the Grandstand, as well as free stages where you can find a variety of acts. Kansas' Largest Classroom The Kansas State Fair is a learning environment. See newborn animals in the birthing center, explore the dairy parlor, examine butterflies and bugs in the pollinator garden, and discover more in the new Education Center. Tips for Attending the Kansas State Fair $4 admission after 4 on Tuesday and Thursday. Enjoy special deals at food vendors on 'Tasting Tuesday'. 'Shop til your drop' on Wednesday with vendor specials. Thursday evening pub crawl to try Kansas craft brewers. The Kansas State Fair has ample free parking and you'll also find shuttles to bring you to the fairgrounds. Get all the information, as well as deals & discounts at KansasStateFair.com

Continuing 'State Fair Season' with the Midwest state fair that runs the longest. The Indiana State Fair takes place from July 30 thru August 22 in 2021 - a grand total of 18 days, a week longer than most state fairs. My guest Sharon Smith, Director of Communications for the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center, is going to share the history and highlights of the Indiana State Fair - and hopefully a few 'insider tips' to help you make the most of your visit! The Indiana State Fair The Indiana State Fair began in 1892, which means 2021 will be the 164th fair. It began in Downtown Indianapolis and moved to different communities throughout the state before returning to midtown Indianapolis at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The fair begins on a Friday at 8:30am with opening ceremonies featuring the governor and other dignitaries. Midway Arch Fun Features of the Indiana State Fair The Indiana State Fair has an annual theme - 2021 is 'Celebrating the Hoosier Spirit'. Iconic locations on the fairgrounds include the Midway Arch and Indiana Farmer's Coliseum. The grandstand, where all types of events from rodeo and demolition derby to bands and cheerleading competitions, is a popular spot. As is Pioneer Village where you take a step back in time. Free Entertainment The free stage at the Indiana State Fair features acts that most state fairs charge extra to see. In 2021 those performers include Babyface, Josh Turner, Vince Neil, and The Beach Boys. You can even take part in a Latino festival. 100 Free Things to Do Free fun abounds at the Indiana State Fair! Use the 100 Free Things guide on the website to help plan your day. Some activities, like fishing at the DNR pond, baby goat petting at Goat Mountain, and the new Bubble Tower are daily. Other events only happen on scheduled days, but the 4-H Performing Arts show, the Deep Fry Dash for Damar, and the Celebrity Milking Competition are just a few activities worth building your schedule around. Miss Piggys Mac Daddy Fruit Twister Paradise Pop Fair Food Studies have proven that food is the #1 reason people visit the Indiana State Fair. Traditional favorites like corn dogs, funnel cakes, elephant ears and buttered corn vie with new fair foods including a Buttermilk Wafflewich, the Winner Winner Chicken Dinner bowl, Miss Piggy's Mac & Cheese, and the Fruit Twister Paradise Pop for your dining dollars. View more new fair foods! Insider Tips for Visiting the Indiana State Fair $3 Thursdays August 5, 12 & 19 get $3 gate admission, $3 Midway rides and $3 food options at each food stand (items are smaller - that just means you can taste more!). Parking & Transportation Gat all the info you need - from directions and parking to transportation options and a venue map on the Indiana State Fair website. The Hoosier Cruiser This "Super Wheel" stands 150 feet tall and has 36 climate controlled gondolas. (Like the High Roller in Las Vegas or the London Eye.) $10 per ride, or $15 for a VIP experience. FYI: Midway wristbands are not valid on the Hoosier Cruiser. Find it on the north side of the fairgrounds in Hoosier Spirit Park next to the Farm Bureau building. Get all the information, safety procedures, as well as deals & discounts at IndianaStateFair.com

I am so excited to kick off 'State Fair Season' with the country's most famous state fair! As the inspiration for the novel “State Fair” by Phil Strong, three motion pictures, a smash Broadway musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, and loads of national accolades, the Iowa State Fair has a lot to recommend it. Mindy Williamson is Marketing Director for the Iowa State Fair. Iowa State Fair Memories About the Iowa State Fair History Iowa is historically an agricultural state and even today is top in many of the commodities and food that people eat. One of the reason the fairs started was to improve genetics and agriculture in the state, which is actually a very innovative and forward-thinking way to solve agricultural issues. Farmers and agricultural leaders saw that the corn wasn't growing any taller or producing any more than it had been, so they thought, let's make it a competition of sorts. That's how it started, and today we still have a tall corn contest, which was part of the very first fairs. This is also true for livestock. Crowds of people at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines The first location for the Iowa State Fair was actually Fairfield, Iowa, where they would get 7,000-8,000 people in wagons attending just through word of mouth. Compare that to today, when the Iowa State Fair, held in Des Moines, brings upwards of 1.1 million people with multiple channels of marketing. A mascot named Fairfield today pays tribute to the history of the Fair. Today, new things are introduced at the Fair, but it's important to keep those traditions alive as well. Ulimately, it's a place for innovation. It's a place where people bring new products, whether that be shammies for your car or feeders for your livestock. The Fair sitll has that today, and they had it in 1854 when it started. When is the Iowa State Fair? At the beginning, the Fair was held in October and hopped around for a while in the September-October range. Eventually, it was moved back to August. It has been held everywhere from 7-11 days, but Fair officials have found that 11 days is the "sweet spot," with two weekends for people to attend. In 2021, the Iowa State Fair will run August 12-22. Famous Features of the Fair The Butter Cow is truly iconic, and it's said if you haven't seen the Butter Cow, there's really no proof that you've been to the Iowa State Fair. Over the history of the Fair, five different sculptors have sculpted these life-sized versions made solely of butter, as well as other butter sculptures. Be prepared to wait in a long line for a close-up view of the butter cow The buildings are also very iconic, dating back to 1886. The Grandstand was built in 1909 and has undergone some renovations but is still used today and is very impressive to guests, especially those from other states and countries who visit the Fair. The Fair covers 450 acres, but roughly 160 of those acres are campgrounds. It started with tents and church groups and exhibitors and has grown to highly sought-out sites which are gifted to family members and currently have a 20-year waitlist. Activities at the Fair The Iowa State Fair appeals to so many people because there is literally something no matter your age, from animal buildings to the Varied Industries Building where you can buy almost anything to the amusement park. Cow and calf in a livestock building Each year, the Fair offers half a million dollars of free entertainment on stages throughout the Fairgrounds featuring nearly every genre, in addition to the amazing Grandstand acts. Each of the 11 nights features a Grandstand act, which sees 15,500 people in there for a sold-out show. These are usually pretty big-name acts, from Christian to country to pop to classic rock. You don't have to look far to find fun competitions to enter in, from bubblegum blowing to cow chip throwing and everything in between. Some you can just show up and join and others you can...

Perhaps the quirkiest museum ever with the most tongue-twisting name is the World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things, housed in the Roadside Sideshow Expo in Lucas, Kansas. Erika Nelson is the artist and creator of this once-traveling but now permanent exhibit. Must see in Lucas Kansas!Click here to add this to your Midwest Travel board on Pinterest! The Roadside Sideshow Expo in Lucas, Kansas The Roadside Sideshow Expo is a new storefront in downtown Lucas, Kansas. In it, you'll find miniature versions of the "world's largest" things found throughout the U.S., such as the iconic "World's Largest Ball of Twine" found in Cawker City, Kansas. Nelson visits the "largest" items, then she makes the "world's smallest" version of the "world's largest" thing. After doing this for 15 years, she has amassed the "World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things." Miniature mini golf - Meta Mini Golf Course The "world's largest" roadside attractions are popular spots for families to break up long road trips. Nelson remembers visiting them as a kid, and when she could drive herself, she felt compelled to visit as many as she could. She began to realize that there was a reason people built these attractions, and the story behind them was either really important to the maker or the town or region. Nelson began creating her own "souvenirs" after visiting each place, a miniature version of it. Then she realized what she was doing was actually a storytelling tool. It was a way to share these communities' stories. So she began gathering them, first in a mobile museum created out of a bus she would drive around, and now in a permanent exhibit in downtown Lucas. Roadside Sideshow Expo About Lucas -- The Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas Lucas, Kansas, is home to fewer than 500 people but was designated the "Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas" in 1996 by the governor because of its folk art displays. The Grassroots Art Center is situated across the street from the Roadside Sideshow Expo and collects stories of the townspeople who weren't necessarily trained in art but are making arts and crafts in town.The Garden of Eden was built by retired schoolteacher S.P. Dinsmore. Built over 22 years beginning in 1907, the garden is made of limestone and 113 tons of concrete and tells the history of the world, beginning with its creation. You can see 150 figures of various forms throughout the garden.Brant's Meat Market is a multi-generational meat market featuring Czech recipes, including sausages and beef jerky.Florence Deeble's Rock Garden contains sculptures from rocks that she collected on her journeys, beginning at age 50 and continuing for nearly 50 years.Don't miss the public restrooms in downtown Lucas called Bowl Plaza, made to look like the world's largest toilet. Circus Wagons Sculpture Learn more about Lucas, Kansas! Read about our visit to this unique Midwest town! Where to Stay You won't find traditional hotels in Lucas, but true to form, you can find a "quirkier" stay in the fascinating town. Stay in one of the Set in Stone cabins right at the edge of Lucas, or rent one of the Airbnb's, one of which is right across from the Garden of Eden. You can even stay at Horseshoe Lodge, a converted old folks' home.