Tonny Kiddow, Author at The Bloomington Star

A date shake doesn't look especially complicated. It's a pale, creamy drink in a cup, often finished with whipped cream. But the first taste explains why the Coachella Valley made it famous.

Travel

Amazing Coachella Valley-area stops where the date shake has been a desert tradition for nearly 100 years

California – There are moments when the desert makes a cold drink feel less like a treat and more like an excellent idea. The...

Tonny Kiddow2 days ago

This is not the snow-covered Christmas scenery found on greeting cards. Hill Country evenings can be cool without being wintry, and a decorated limestone courthouse looks very different from a ski lodge in the mountains. Somehow, that makes the celebration feel even more like Texas.

Travel

8 Texas Hill Country towns that glow with Christmas lights every holiday season

The first display may be a courthouse wrapped in white lights. A few miles later, it might be a town square glowing beneath oak...

Tonny Kiddow2 days ago

That's Florida's winter wildlife season at its most appealing. While visitors farther north are searching for sunshine, manatees are searching for something more specific: water warm enough to help them survive. The animals may gather in remarkable numbers at natural springs or near power stations that release warmer water.

Travel

7 Places in Florida to see manatees this winter, from free viewing decks to spring-fed boardwalks

A cold Florida morning can produce a wonderful surprise. Somewhere beneath water so clear you can see the bottom, broad gray backs begin appearing....

Tonny Kiddow2 days ago

Most visitors arrive in western New York knowing about Buffalo wings. That makes sense. Wings have a famous origin story, a dedicated local culture and enough spicy variations to keep a traveler occupied for days.

Travel

6 Buffalo spots serving beef on weck the old-fashioned way that you won’t regret

Buffalo, New York – The first clue is the roll. Its top is scattered with coarse salt and caraway seeds, so it looks more...

Tonny Kiddow3 days ago

There are old family businesses, Pennsylvania Dutch specialties, Italian pastries, deli counters and food traditions that have been part of Philadelphia for generations. The aisles can be noisy, the lines can be long, and deciding what to eat is considerably harder than finding the entrance.

Travel

8 Reading terminal market stands Philadelphia locals say you can’t skip

The first mistake is arriving without an appetite. The second is thinking you’ll make a quick lap around the market, choose one thing, and...

Tonny Kiddow3 days ago

Lane Southern Orchards sits at 50 Lane Road near Fort Valley, about five minutes west of Interstate 75's Exit 142. That's close enough to work as a travel break for people heading through central Georgia.

Travel

Drivers are pulling off the highway for this tiny Georgia roadside stand and its peach cobbler is the reason

“We weren’t planning to stop.” That’s usually how the best road-trip surprises begin. The next gas station is already marked on the map, passengers...

Tonny KiddowOctober 22, 2026

Panther Creek Falls lies in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southwest Washington, within the broader Columbia River Gorge region. Washington Trails Association describes the approach as approximately 0.16 miles round trip, with about 100 feet of elevation gain. That's barely more than a stroll on paper, although the short path is not the same thing as a perfectly level sidewalk.

Travel

This hidden Washington waterfall is just 10 minutes from the parking lot and most people have no idea it exists

Some waterfalls require hours of hiking, steep climbs and muddy trails before you can finally enjoy the view. Others offer an equally breathtaking experience...

Tonny KiddowOctober 22, 2026