Spring Fever Cure

The start of spring is around the corner and that means it’s time to plan your warm weather adventures. Here are some destination and activity suggestions that will help chase your winter blues away for good.

SALEM - Offering a variety of hand-crafted meads and wines made from elderberries, grapes, aronia berries and heirloom fruit grown on the farm. It is located in the southeaster corner of the state known as the “Storied and Scenic” area.

Mead is a fermented beverage made from honey, water, and yeast. In early England, mead was often infused with herbs and thought to aid in digestion or improve depression. During medieval times, honey wine was an essential part of a new marriage. Some hint the term “honeymoon” comes from mead.

BURLINGTON - Only a little over a half hour away this local landmark constructed in 1894 was to help connect the residential district at the top of the bluff with the commercial district below. Snake

Alley consists of five half-curves, two quarter-curves and drops 58 feet over a distance of 275 feet. Test your driving, walking or bicycling skills on what Ripley’s Believe It or Not! calls “Unbelievably Crooked!” Designated as #1 in Ripley’s Believe It or Not!’s Odd Spots Across America campaign.

FORT MADISON - Step back in time at the Midwest’s oldest American military garrison on the Upper Mississippi. Discover what life was like at a U.S. fur trading post and learn about Iowa’s involvement in the War of 1812. Tours are by appointment only until May 1. Trade at Fort Madison ended in September 1812 when the trading post burned down during the second siege.

Our FREE spring / summer Iowa Travel Guide has you covered with trip ideas, itineraries and all the best places to eat, stay and play across the state.

By Kathy Barnett Managing Editor

If your opinion of Kansas is “flat, plain, straight and narrow nothingness, think again.

For an amazing spring break, head to the midwest state and explore nature, history, hospitality and scenic beauty - all wrapped into one memorable getaway for the whole family.

My first stop was the city of Hays where our group visited the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. This is where I learned Kansas was covered by a series of seas, some deep and others shallow. According to a Kansas geological survey by the University of Kansas, it was during the Pennsylvanian and Permian periods of geologic history,

More than three million paleontology, zoology, and geology specimens that document life and environments in the Great Plains region of North America are housed at this museum. Many items are on permanent display while there are other various temporary exhibits. So you can return to see different items each time.