Chicago is known for its cold, blustery winters and humid summers. So when the weather breaks, Chicagoans from near and far flock to the beach to dip their feet in frigid Lake Michigan. Ohio Street Beach next to the Navy Pier And on this late March day, the temperatures rose above 60, and tons of Chicagoans came out in droves. They packed the Magnificent Mile and … [Read more...] about Chicago’s Magnificent Shoreline
Great Lakes
Niagara Falls Roaring Back
It's tough to revisit an area that I so thoroughly enjoyed in the past, but is no longer the same. https://chitopeppler.com/niagara-falls-come-to-canada-for-the-views/ Gone are the busloads of tourists. from Asia and everywhere. Gone are the family vacationers making the yearly trek to Canada. Gone are the restaurants still shuttered due to the pandemic. And the few … [Read more...] about Niagara Falls Roaring Back
Stroh’s Tavern on Lake Erie
After five days, I left Niagara awe-inspired, and full of admiration for nature and her glorified beauty. I stayed rent-free, parked minutes away from the natural waterfalls -- I definitely got more than I bargained for. And no one hassled me. There was only one unfinished business left -- plunging into the refreshing lake water. The icy water would relieve my … [Read more...] about Stroh’s Tavern on Lake Erie
Come to Canada for the Views
While it has been 20 years since I last sailed the gargantuan Lakes in my threadbare whites, It's been 30 years since I last journeyed to the great Falls. It was mid-week - I was surprised to find coach-size parking spaces for my truck along the street. The parking machine read "$5 an hour, maximum of 4 hours" I decided to blow off the fee and just take the … [Read more...] about Come to Canada for the Views
Great Lakes Keep Breaking Records
I last visited the Great Lakes 20 summers ago. The Navy was conducting a three-month, 16-port recruiting cruise to showcase the cutting-edge maritime forces and to show the Midwest how their tax dollars were been put to good use. In addition to recruiting and outreach, the deployment of the USS Clark (FFG-11) provided an opportunity to conduct multi-national operations with our … [Read more...] about Great Lakes Keep Breaking Records