Tag Archives: @famtours

Port Edward on the Fox River Algonquin McHenry County Illinois

We dined at Port Edward in Algonquin, guests of Port Edward and McHenry County Visitors Bureau. The nautical themed restaurant and seafood menu has been a fixture of Algonquin and Fox River valley since 1952. It is a favorite fine dining locale for McHenry county residents and visitors alike.

Flat Iron Steak at Port Edward

Try the Flat Iron Steak at Port Edward

Owner Ed Wolowiec is a gracious host involved in all details of the restaurant. His background includes diving the oceans for treasure, classical musician and teacher. Ed designed and supervised the building of Port Edward Restaurant doing much of the work himself. You may see him driving around town in his classic Stutz Bearcat. Ed is active in the community including the Rotary Club.

Here is Ed holding the 1st production Materra Merlot wine.

Ed Wolowiec at Port Edward Restaurant with 1st production Materra Merlot

Ed Wolowiec at Port Edward Restaurant in McHenry County with 1st production Materra Merlot wine

The Friday night international seafood buffet and Sunday champagne brunch are highlights of the week. The selection of seafood treats is like no other you will find in the area. Limited vegetarian selections are on the menu. While known for seafood delights, Ed and Chef Randy have a little secret to share with you.


Diners can customize their experience with a choice of seating options available in the spacious restaurant. The well lit main dining room offers accessibility for all and is perfect for everyone. For a romantic dinner, request a quite table in the Lobster Cove or Secret Room. The Red Room is often used for cabaret shows or special events.

For those who plan ahead, reserve a table aboard the “Porpoise” up to one year in advance. Your party can enjoy a private meal while floating in the koi pond.

Savor scenes that change with the seasons from the Salem Lounge’s over-sized windows overlooking the Fox River. Enjoy cocktails or dinner as the wood bar radiates a warm glow in the sunshine. Evening crowds range from after work business colleagues to girls night out to couples.

Summer time dining dockside on the patio is a favorite for boaters who tie up and come ashore for lunch or dinner. Even dogs have their day with Tuesday evening outside Doggie Dine Out for owners and their pets.

Chicago’s WTTW Check, Please! filmed a segment at the restaurant last year. We were there for the shoot and took video of their video taping. Our favorite was producer David Manilow pretending to dive into the huge dish of paella.

You can keep up with Port Edward on Twitter and Facebook.

PORT EDWARD RESTAURANT
The Fox River and Algonquin Rd. (Rt. 62) in McHenry County
Algonquin, IL 60102
Phone: 847.658.5441 Fax: 847.658.5690

Our visit was sponsored by Port Edward and McHenry County Visitors Bureau.

Port Edward Restaurant on Urbanspoon
Port Edward Restaurant on Foodio54

Spotlight McHenry County Illinois Business

We will highlight selected McHenry County, Illinois businesses on this blog over the next several weeks. Located in northwest Illinois, McHenry County is a diverse blend of retail, wholesale, manufacturing and agricultural business.

Woodstock is the country seat. Housing options range from in-town condominiums to single family homes on large lots to rural homes and farms.

McHenry County includes these Northern Illinois suburbs, cities or villages and unincorporated areas.
* Algonquin
* Barrington Hills
* Cary
* Crystal Lake
* Fox Lake
* Fox River Grove
* Greenwood
* Harvard
* Hebron
* Huntley
* Island Lake
* Johnsburg
* Lake in the Hills
* Lakemoor
* Lakewood
* Marengo
* McHenry
* Oakwood Hills
* Port Barrington
* Prairie Grove
* Richmond
* Ringwood
* Spring Grove
* Trout Valley
* Wonder Lake
* Woodstock
* Unincorporated McHenry county

Adding these cities based on reader input
* Alden
* Big Foot
* Chemung

Follow our tweets on Twitter and Facebook.

*** Additions to the list: Thanks to David for sharing this information:

The 200 or so residents of Alden, Illinois may feel a bit slighted. Alden is at the intersection of Rte 173 and County Hwy 1, between Hebron and Harvard. Big Foot is another McHenry Co. community, at the intersection of State Line Road and route 14 north of Harvard. It is in Wisconsin and Illinois. Chemung is a small community on route 173 west of Harvard.

My apologies to Alden, Big Foot and Chemung for omitting them from the list above. Before writing this article, I contacted the McHenry County Webmaster to be sure I had all the municipalities. This was the response I received.

RE: Cities in McHenry County

Please refer to:

http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/Pages/Links.aspx

Lists all the websites for all the Villages/Cities in McHenry County…Thanks..

I wonder if McHenry County knows you guys are there in Alden, Big Foot and Chemung……

Richardson Corn Maze and Richardson Adventure Farm Spring Grove McHenry County Illinois

The Richardson Family invited us to be their guest and tour the Richardson Adventure Farm in Spring Grove, Illinois including the Richardson Farm World’s Largest Corn Maze. If you think the destination is “just” a corn maze, you will be surprised to find there is something for the whole family to enjoy on their visit and each year a new activity is added.

The 28 acre corn maze with 11 miles of trails is the star attraction. Four of the mazes are connected via bridges celebrate the 100th anniversary of scouting. A fifth maze celebrates the 500 anniversary of the first decorated Christmas tree in Latvia is located near the U Pick Christmas trees. Within the  corn maze are checkpoints and games you can play while you navigate the trails.

Richardson Adventure Farm, Spring Grove, McHenry County, Illinois

Photo Credit: Richardson Farm World's Largest Corn Maze in Spring Grove, McHenry County, Illinois

After the trails, you can gather your group around one of the picnic areas for a snack you purchase or bring with you. As the weather cools, up to 60 campfires will keep visitors toasty warm. Don’t forget your marshmallows.

When you are rested and ready for more adventure, take the kids for a ride down the giant tube slide or to climb the Mulch Mountain. Look “eye to eye” with the goats while feeding them handfuls of food. Then take a spin on the tyke track or play with the buckets and shovels in the corn crib. Teens can race each other on the pedal cart track or go for a wagon ride. Don’t miss the view from the top of the five story observation tower where you can overlook the entire corn maze and Richardson Christmas tree farm. Visitors could easily spend two to four hours with all the activities which are included in the entrance fee.

The Richardson family are fifth and sixth generation owners who plan to bring new attractions to the Richardson farm each year. If you are adventurous, check out two of the latest additions to the farm: zipline and zorbing.

New to the United States, zorbing is a sport where one or two participants are strapped inside a 10 foot diameter ball which is then rolled down a hill. The Richardson’s tell us there are just five zorbing locations in the United States. Click to watch our video as April rides the zorbing ball like a human hamster.

I rode the 700 foot zipline ride, new to the farm last year. I climbed to the top of the five story observation tower and stepped off the platform for a thirty second thrill glide over the corn maze, pumpkin patch and Christmas trees. The ride is exhilarating and you can watch as I take my ride in the video below.

The Richardson Farm corn maze is open until Halloween. The farm reopens after Thanksgiving for You-Cut Christmas tree, wreaths, garlands, wagon rides and hot cocoa.

Admission to Richardson farm includes all activities except zorbing, zipline, reserved picnic tables and concessions, also providing wheeled coolers.

You can find “Richardson “World’s Largest” Corn Maze” on Facebook and Twitter. Follow their updated for the latest weather reports from the farm, updates on special events and news. Learn more about the upcoming Midnight Storytelling event.

The Richardson Adventure Farm is located at 9407 Richardson Road near Spring Grove, IL. in northern McHenry County. It is about one hour northwest of Chicago, one hour southwest of Milwaukee or 15 minutes south of Lake Geneva. For more information call 815-675-9729.

Click on the image below to view this episode of “Where Are You Today?” and see me ride the 700′ zipline across the farm.

Our trip was sponsored by the McHenry County Visitors Bureau and Richardson Corn Maze and Richardson Adventure Farm.

Read more about Richardson’s World’s Largest Corn Maze and Adventure Farm

One Room Schoolhouse at Richardson Farm “World’s Largest” Corn Maze

Zorbing Richardson Corn Maze Adventure Farm Spring Grove McHenry County Illinois

Zipline Richardson Farm and Corn Maze Spring Grove

Kualoa Ranch Honolulu Hawaii Video

Here is video of our visit to Kualoa Ranch on Oahu where we toured ancient fish ponds, gardens and the where location shots for Lost TV show and movie productions were filmed.

You can read more about our visit to the ranch in this previous post.

Click on the image below to view this episode of “Where Are You Today?”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Kualoa Ranch Oahu Hawaii Tours and Hawaii Activities

David Morgan, 6th generation owner, invited us to visit the 4,000 acre Kualoa Ranch cattle ranch and recreation destination.

David is a descendant of Gerrit Judd, who was one of King Kamehameha III cabinet members. Judd purchased the initial land and offshore fishing rights from the king in 1850.

While still an active cattle ranch, the family has diversified operations including vegetable and fruit farming, flower nurseries and producing fish and prawns for local markets. There are a variety of non invasive visitor activities they were happy to show us including hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, concerts, sporting events, education sessions and TV and film production.

After our breakfast orientation meeting, we were off to a tour of the Moli’i fish ponds and gardens. These preserved fish ponds were built 800 years ago using lava rock walls and a series of wooden sluice gates where small fish could enter. Growing as they fed on the alga in the pond, the fish became too large to exit the gates. Photo credit Kualoa Ranch.

Kualoa Ranch Oahu Hawaii fishpond tour on 800-year old ancient pond

Kualoa Ranch Oahu Hawaii fishpond tour on 800-year old ancient pond

Our next stop was the garden where taro, breadfruit, papaya, jack fruit, banana, pineapple, bamboo, sugar cane, coffee and a rainbow of flowers grew. We stopped near the macadamia nut trees seeking out a few overlooked nuts. The effort to required to crack these shells was impressive. By smashing the nut between two stones we were able to taste a few raw nut meat treats.

Kualoa Ranch Oahu Hawaii Stepping in the Footprints from Godzilla’s movie

Kualoa Ranch Oahu Hawaii Stepping in the Footprints from Godzilla’s movie

After our stop for the lunch buffet in the main lodge we were off on our next tour. We chose the movie tour which took us out in a scenic part of the ranch valley. Cowboy, our tour guide took us through the former military bunker which has been used to film Lost and now houses movie relics and posters. As we rounded the bend the valley opened up in front of us. Here is were many movies and television shows are shot including Jurassic Park, George of the Jungle, Fifty First Dates. “@nctrlbst @alohayaling @alohabruce and @noelwilliamsinside one of Godzilla’s footprints. Photo credit April M. Williams”

The sites are marked by signs and our guide Cowboy had a story to tell of each one. Photo credit Kualoa Ranch.

Kualoa Ranch is about an hour drive from Honolulu. The ranch offers shuttle service from Waikiki and The Bus route 55 stops at the entrance to the ranch.

Follow Kualoa Ranch on Twitter.

For more information or to make reservations for a day at the ranch call (808) 237-7321 or email activityinfo@kualoa.com.

Watch video of our trip to the fish ponds, gardens and movie location sites.

Oahu Revealed

Oahu Revealed

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”