Local, Near and Far: Our journey of exploring the world.

Author: Rachel (Page 4 of 8)

Notre Dame & The Snite Museum of Art

No visit to South Bend is complete without at least checking out Notre Dame, after all, the top three things to do on TripAdvisor are on campus.  It is full of beautiful architecture, majestic buildings, and the famed Basilica of the Sacred Heart and Golden Dome on top of the Main Building. Listed at #11 and also on the Notre Dame campus is the Snite Museum of Art which next to the Studebaker National Museum, was one of my favorite things on this trip.

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The University of Notre Dame campus was founded in 1842 by a young French priest from the Congregation of the Holy Cross, Edward Sorin, and chartered by the Indiana legislature  in 1844.  A University only in name during the first decades of its existence, it included “religious novitiates, preparatory and grade schools and a manual labor school, but its classical collegiate curriculum never attracted more than a dozen students a year in the early decades.” The University now spans 1250 acres with 143 buildings and is organized into four undergraduate colleges — “Arts and Letters, Science, Engineering, and the Mendoza College of Business — the School of Architecture, the Law School, the Graduate School, and 14 major research institutes. Enrollment for the 2012-13 academic year was 12,126 students overall and 8,475 undergraduates.”

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South Bend, IN Overview

The first year or so of our time in Chicago was HARD. It was challenging physically, emotionally, spiritually; we were in our first year of marriage, I had some health issues that cropped up, and Matt was learning a very demanding job. We frequently (about once a month) took short trips for quick weekend escapes. It was during this time that we felt rested and enjoyed connecting with each other as we explored new places together.

We decided on a whim on a Monday that we would go out of town the following weekend. We didn’t know where or what we would do, we just knew we needed to get away. So, I set to researching! As I started to plan our trip, I checked the forecast and saw we could be in for some snow. But, it was Monday, so I set to planning with the thought in mind that “we won’t go far”.

Looking at a map to determine what “far” meant, I saw South Bend, IN. It wasn’t huge on the map but also not so small that there wouldn’t be things to do there. So, I set to researching to see if I could set an itinerary. Yelp and TripAdvisor (otherwise known as my trip planning BFFs) listed several restaurants we could try as well as things to do. After doing some research, I shared our potential itinerary with Matt. He was initially reluctant because…well, it honestly wasn’t that exciting on paper. But, it was going to be a short trip, and really we just wanted to get away, so we decided to move forward. Matt found a hotel and I worked on getting all the other details together.

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In Case You Missed It…Chicago

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SUE the T-Rex at The Field Museum

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Willis Tower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every couple weeks we’ll be collecting links from past posts grouped together by location; we thought it handy to have everything in one convenient location as you plan your upcoming travels. We just finished a short series on Chicago, so here’s your recap:

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Wrigley Field

Chicago Itinerary: What to do in Chicago with Two or More Days: An itinerary for what to do in Chicago to help you plan out your trip, know what attractions to see and which ones to skip. Includes several tips and recommendations to make your trip truly enjoyable.

Chicago Architecture Cruises: Enjoy architecture? Why not check out all that Chicago has to offer via a river or lake cruise? Two different Chicago architecture cruise options are highlighted here for the architecture lover.

Wrigley Field: If you have time during your visit to Chicago, check out the historic and nostalgic Wrigley Field and take in a Cubs game!

 Willis Tower: No trip to Chicago is complete without a trip to the Willis Tower, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and an iconic building in the Chicago Skyline. This is a guide to help you plan your visit.

Cloud Gate (AKA The Bean)

Cloud Gate (AKA The Bean)

The Field Museum: The Field Museum in Chicago is a fun place to explore, learn about various parts of the world, and soak in some history.

Glazed & Infused: Glazed and Infused is a specialty donut shop serving some of the best donuts in Chicago. A must for any donut and food lover.

Millennium Park: Millennium Park is a beautiful place in the heart of Chicago, full of art, architecture, and immaculate landscaping with many free year-round events.

 

Millennium Park

IMG_0868No trip to Chicago is complete without a stroll through Millennium Park; it is a beautiful place full of various art pieces, interesting architecture, lots of tourists, and immaculate landscaping that provides some green around the city concrete.

I would venture to guess that every trip we made into the city, we would at least stop by Millennium Park. Situated on Michigan Avenue between Randolph Street (to the north) and Monroe Street (to the sought), Millennium Park would always catch my eye on our walks. Its location lends itself for a pass through, and it’s not something we usually “plan” to visit, but I love it for the breath of fresh air, especially if its on your way!

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In Case You Missed It…Houston

Every couple weeks we’ll be collecting links from past posts grouped together by location; we thought it handy to have everything in one convenient location as you plan your upcoming travels. We just finished a short series on Houston, so here’s your recap:

The Menil Collection: Great architecture and artwork awaits discovery in downtown Houston at The Menil Collection. Best of all, the entire experience is free!

Cy Twombley Gallery: As part of The Menil Collection in Houston, the Cy Twombly Gallery is a second structure designed by Renzo Piano filled with massive artworks by Cy Twombly

Sudie’s Catfish House: If you have a catfish hankerin, go nowhere else but Sudie’s Catfish House; you will never want to go anywhere else!

8th Wonder Brewery: 8th Wonder Brewery and their delicious Vietnamese coffee porter, Rocket Fuel, make for a great brewery visit in downtown Houston.

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