Katy Flint

Great Family Friendly Weekend Getaways to take in the Midwest this Summer!

May 31, 2022June 5, 2022 — Katy Flint4 Comments

The Midwest is a great place to spend time during the summer. It is full of many great family friendly weekend getaways. Sometimes busy families don’t have time to head out on week-long vacations, but that doesn’t mean you can’t explore! We’ve been there in life, so I rounded up some of our favorite family friendly weekend getaways in the Midwest for you and your family to enjoy.

Charles City, Iowa

First in our list of family friendly weekend getaways is Charles City, Iowa. This community of 7300 people offers kayaking, golf, mini golf, delicious eats, history, and bike trails.

Get Outdoors in Charles City, Iowa

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Midwest Travel

Visit Owatonna, MN: 6 Great Stops

May 15, 2022May 17, 2022 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

Located in southern Minnesota, you’ll find Owatonna. It’s a booming community with a lot going for it! From good food, coffee, chocolate, history, shopping, and more….you’ll find plenty to do. If you’re looking for a fund day trip from North Iowa or central Minnesota, we highly suggest planning to Visit Owatonna, MN!

Planning a Trip to Visit Owatonna

We all follow that social media account that makes us want to explore their community, right?! For some time now, it’s been Owatonna for me. So, when I knew I needed a “brain break” from my full-time job and a girls day with my mom, I decided to plan for us to visit Owatonna! We ended up exploring 6 different stops that we think are a must!

Central Park Coffee Co

What great girls day doesn’t start with great coffee?! We headed to Central Park Coffee Co located in downtown Owatonna for ours! This quaint coffee shop offers a variety of seating so whether you need to work at a table or relax in a casual chair to just visit with friends, you’ll be comfy! They not only offer an expansive coffee and espresso menu, but also breakfast and lunch items! We watched a plate loaded with waffles and fruit go by that looked amazing! I chose the White Lavender and it was delicious, white chocolate & lavender flavor! Central Park is a great way to start your adventures!

Casual & comfy seating available at Central Park Coffee in Owatonna

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Iowa

7 Ways to Have a Great Weekend in Cedar Falls, Iowa

February 27, 2022February 27, 2022 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

We all know those communities that we’re familiar with, but never spend time being a tourist in! Thankfully, after a weekend in Cedar Falls, Iowa, we’ve changed that!

I’ve spent my entire life traveling the one hour from our home area to Cedar Falls for shopping purposes, but never spent any time exploring the rest of the community. So, recently, when our friends at Cedar Falls Tourism invited us to spend a weekend exploring, we jumped at the opportunity! And what we found was a pure delight!

Thank you to Cedar Falls Tourism & Visitor’s Bureau and the Black Hawk Hotel for hosting us during our stay. All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and our own. For full details, please see the Disclosure Tab.

Getting There

Getting to Cedar Falls is very easy thanks to its location along Highways 20 and 218. If driving isn’t for you, then you’ll find the Waterloo Regional Airport super handy!

If you’re traveling by car….

Des Moines, Iowa – 1 hour, 54 minute drive time
Minneapolis, Minnesota – 3 hours, 8 minute drive time
Chicago, Illinois – 4 hours, 24 minute drive time
Kansas City, Missouri – 4 hours, 35 minute drive time

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Iowa

Book a Funky Staycation at the Highlander Hotel in Iowa City, IA

January 26, 2022January 26, 2022 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

We are all about staycations, especially in the winter because you never know what the weather is going to do here in the Midwest!! Thankfully, Iowa is full of great staycation destinations including the Highlander Hotel in Iowa City. And with it’s modern funky vibe, it’s extra special!

A special thanks to the Highlander Hotel for hosting us on our staycation. All thoughts & opinions are 100% authentic and my own! For full details, please see the Disclosure Tab.

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Midwest Travel

10 Reasons You Need to Visit Kansas City, KS

December 27, 2021December 27, 2021 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

Looking to take the family on a weekend getaway in the Midwest or even a family vacation, maybe a couples getaway?! I’ve got 10 Reasons You Need to Visit Kansas City, KS. Kansas City is full of great reasons for a visit including being historically rich, lots of entertainment, great food, and wonderful places to stay!

Grinter Place Museum

We love visiting historic homes on our travel and the Grinter Place Museum was no different. The home belonged to Moses & Annie Grinter. It holds a lot of history connecting the Delaware Indian Tribe to the Kansas City area. It is owned by the Kansas State Historical Society who tell the story of the Grinters and the Delaware Indians.

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Iowa

Enjoy Delicious Eats at Teluwut Grille House & Pub: Osage, Iowa

December 13, 2021December 13, 2021 — Katy Flint4 Comments

I love good food! And I love restaurants with good food and great atmosphere. That combination is what I found at Teluwut Grille House & Pub in Osage, Iowa. Local spots that offer good food and great atmosphere are even better.

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Misc.

Win at Suppertime with “Adventures in Meal Planning” by Jenni Ward

December 10, 2021December 5, 2021 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

Suppertime is the epitome of frustration for wives and mothers all over this great world! We are catering to several different food preferences, we are crunched on time, and up against a plethora of other challenges. I don’t know how many times I’ve related to the Facebook post that says “no one told me the hardest part of being a grown-up was deciding what to make for supper!” I’m pretty sure you can all relate too! Thankfully, my friend Jenni, has come up with a super helpful guide to help you win at meal planning with her new book, “Adventures in Meal Planning“.

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Iowa

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Iowa Breweries (and Cideries)

December 7, 2021March 12, 2023 — Katy Flint2 Comments

Micro and local breweries are booming everywhere and Iowa is no different. In fact, there are so many of them that we’ve visited and love. So, I thought it was necessary to create the Ultimate Guide to the Best Iowa Breweries! We threw in a couple cideries too because we love them too! (They are listed alphabetically for organization!)

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Weekend Getaways

Warm Up with a Winter Weekend in the Quad Cities

November 21, 2021November 23, 2021 — Katy Flint4 Comments

Who’s ready for a fun winter weekend getaway right here in the Midwest? Well, we have just the trip for you in the Quad Cites. Whether you’re traveling with kiddos or just headed out for a couples getaway there is plenty to do. Check out our guide to a weekend in the Quad Cities and plan your trip now!

A huge thank you to Visit Quad Cities for hosting our weekend getaway. All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic. For full details, please see the disclosure tab.

The Quad Cities

In case you aren’t familiar with them, the Quad Cities are made up of Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa; and Moline & Rock Island, Illinois. They are split by the Mississippi River, but it’s hard to tell where one of these booming towns ends and the other begins.

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Travel Adventures

Tips for Planning a Family Vacation

October 28, 2021October 28, 2021 — Katy Flint6 Comments

Planning a family vacation can be overwhelming, scary, and expensive without proper planning. We’ve planned our fair share of vacations, so we thought it would help if we shared some tips for planning a family vacation that we follow! Don’t forget to grab the FREE downloadable guide at the end to help you in your planning!

1. Pick the Destination

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