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Motor Raceway to USA Gymnastics ~ Midwest Road Trip

By 4chionlifestyle | May 28, 2018

Midwest road trip to the Indy 500 Motor Raceway and USA Gymnastics competition is a great time. The spring has settled in to bring a little warmth, sunshine, and lush greenery for this road trip. It is spectacular time to travel. There are some great food, experiences, and sightseeing this weekend.

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Experiences on Midwest Road Trip

Stopping in Indianapolis for breakfast there was a must to stop at the Indianapolis Speedway. May is the month for the raceway with NASCAR’s largest motor race.

Indy 500

The month is trials, pre-race, practices, qualifiers, and the last Sunday of the month the Indy 500. It was a perfect day to watch the INDYCAR Grand Prix Practice & Qualifying for Indy Lights Race 1. Colton Herta won the race with a hard fight to the finish. It was exhilarating to be so close to the racecars and feel the vibrations as they made their way around the turn. This year Will Power won the 102nd Indy 500 and sweeps the month of May. Love the Indy fashion. We find a gentleman at the raceway that is already for “This Is May.”

‘This is a place to visit anytime you are in Indianapolis. Here are a few other great places to visit while in town:

The Canal Walk a waterside promenade for walkers, runners, bikers, and sightseers. You can rent paddleboats and explore.
Gondola Rides experience the beauty, mystique, and charm of downtown Indianapolis with spectacular canal views.
Fountain Square this funky Indianapolis neighborhood has vintage and antique shops, a world of restaurants.
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art one of only two such museums east of the Mississippi.
Indiana World War Memorial a mausoleum-style limestone and marble memorial pays homage to Hoosiers killed during the war.

This is a beautiful town with many attractions, museums, baseball, and more.

Levi Coffin Home

Down the road about an hour is Fountain City, Indiana. This town houses the Grand Central Home for the Underground Railroad. Levi and Catherine Coffin’s, Quaker and abolitionist, home. This home welcomed slaves seeking refuge while making their way north to Canada. They estimate that he assisted 100 slaves a year to cross the border. The home is strategically built for accommodating Underground Railroad. There is an indoor well, kitchen in the basement, and even a cubbyhole used to hide slaves when their safety was a concern. This is a wonderful place to stop and learn a lot about the underground railroad.

USA Women’s Gymnastics

Cincinnati the final Midwest stop for the weekend brings great sightseeing, food, and USA Women’s Gymnastics National competition. This is an exciting time to see Camie Winger, my niece, compete as one of the youngest gymnasts there. She is a dedicated, hard-working, and focused young woman. Her region took 2nd in the competition. Congrats to all the gymnasts on making a great achievement in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati, Ohio

The afternoon was wonderful with time exploring downtown Cincinnati, “Dream Big and Fly High.” We ventured to the cupcake shop for a little dessert after lunch. It was fun exploring the shop with Camie. The afternoon was great sightseeing downtown Cincinnati. This town is full of great adventures, sports teams, and restaurants.

The riverfront is a great place to really get to know the town and community. The Smale Riverfront Park is situated on the Ohio River center of downtown. They have many activities for an entire day of entertainment. They include:

Anderson Pavilion banquet center on the floor below the carousel is a setting for parties.
Bike Mobility Center serves downtown bike commuters.
Carol Ann’s Carousel displays animals iconic to Cincinnati history.
Castellini Esplanade its design reflects the historic character of the produce industry that at one time was here.
Duke Energy Garden mounded garden at the entrance and oversized swings that offer relaxing views of the River.
Fath Fountain filled with water jets that dance to light and music.
Great Adventure Playground has rock-climbing canyon, log climbers, twin racing slides, a rope bridge and a mist feature.
Gardner Family Grove & Rose Garden plush garden with roses.
Labyrinth a great place for meditation, reflection, and walking.
Ohio River Trail this trail will eventually connect Madison, Indiana, and New Richmond, Ohio. Today it goes to Yeatman’s Cove, Sawyer Point, and Theodore M Berry International Friendship Park.
Pichler Fountains & Plaza The steps aligning with Vine Street are flanked by water cascades, and a plaza containing a fountain, a reflecting pool, water curtains, and glass balconies.
River Play fountains for children.
Schmidlapp Event Lawn & Stage for concerts and sunny days.

Food Stops on Midwest Road Trip

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3 Sisters Cafe

The first food stop of the trip is 3 Sisters Cafe in Indianapolis, Indiana, in business for 20 years. They serve a large choice of elegant breakfasts from sweet to savory and great lunch menu as well.

They have great beverages (no alcohol) with flair. I enjoyed the turmeric and ginger iced tea. It was a great flavor not too sweet or sugary. The brunch was perfect a great hollandaise sauce over Scottish lox, poached eggs, fresh tomato, and locally made English muffins with caviar on top. The English muffin was fresh with a nice sourdough flavor. The hollandaise sauce was perfect with just a little heat. The porridge was a new experience. It was creamy with a hint of cinnamon.

Hebron Grille

The evening meal was a quaint place in Hebron Kentucky called Hebron Grille. The waitress, Brenda, was so friendly and informative. She provides insight into the southern menu. I decide on the Catfish Grand Bayou. This was a meal for two. It was perfect for a later time as well.

The fish was perfectly cooked with Cajun spice, white wine, lemon, capers, diced tomatoes, grilled shrimp, crawfish, angel hair pasta, and grilled asparagus. The capers brought an exceptional flavor and salt to the dish. The crawfish is a wonderful additional treat.

Abby Girl Sweets Cupcakes

Saturday afternoon in Cincinnati Ohio, my niece and I stop by Abby Girl Sweets Cupcakes. This was a delightful find in the lobby of the Hilton Netherlands Hotel lobby. This little shop has a variety of sweet and moist cupcakes. We enjoyed the coconut, black raspberry chip, red velvet, and peanut butter cup. They were perfect after a long of competition at the USA Gymnastics event.

This business is owned and operated by Nathan & Andrea Thompson (husband and wife). The name comes from their daughter, Abby Girl, she is the top taster for the cupcakes. The cupcakes are sweet and well-flavored.

This was a wonderful road trip in the Midwest especially seeing family. It is always good connecting with your brother and his family. They have six fantastic children. Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes With White Tea Extract to the rescue it saved the hotel white towels. It was a wonderful time traveling through the Midwest. There is plenty to see and do from art to culture and outdoor adventures. It is a beautiful part of the country with friendly people.

@4ChionLifestyle