Category Archives: Travel

Where I’m Headed

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Little Saganaga Lake in the Boundary Waters in Minnesota Photo taken on: September 21st, 2012 by Steven Prorak

Little Saganaga Lake in the Boundary Waters in Minnesota
Photo taken on: September 21st, 2012 by Steven Prorak


Beautiful isn’t it? I can’t wait! It’s another road trip, but this time to the North Woods of Minnesota, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

My trip to the North Woods of Minnesota is last minute, and is coming right off the back of my road trip south to Myrtle Beach. So, unfortunately, no “What’s to Like About Rockford” post for the month of June, because basically, I haven’t spent much of June in Rockford. Just unpacking and repacking. By the way, what one takes to the beach is not the same as what one takes to the woods.

I’ll do two “Rockford” posts in July to make up for it though, I promise 🙂

And a post about road trips. I have a lot to say about road trips.

And maybe something cool will happen on my trip North. I’m always open to cool.

Photograph © Steven Prorak

What’s to Like About Rockford: The Chicago Rockford International Airport

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So I took one of my classes on a field trip last week for a behind the scenes look at the Chicago Rockford International Airport.

I’ve flown out of this airport for family vacations to Florida and an occasional trip to Vegas and I have to tell you there is no simpler way to travel. First, there’s free parking mere steps away from the terminal. Security is efficient, respectful, and dare I say, “nice”. And there’s only one baggage carousel on the way back to choose from. You’re definitely not getting lost at this airport. Did I mention the conveniently close free parking?

But during our tour I learned some fascinating history. Like the airport was once home to Camp Grant used in both WWI and WWII, the latter as a POW camp. This is the same Camp Grant that Colonel Potter refers to in several M*A*S*H* episodes.

When we came back from the field trip, one of my students who couldn’t attend, asked me if our tour guide told us about the “ghosts”?

GHOSTS?

Some say parts of the grounds are haunted. Well the writer in me had to follow up on that little tidbit and apparently over 1,000 soldiers died at Camp Grant during the Spanish Influenza Pandemic of 1918. I guess the spirits like to mess with the guys in the firehouse. Or maybe it’s some spirited guys in the firehouse messing around. In either event, sounds like the BONES of a good story, no?

The Chicago Rockford International Airport: a historical gem in our own backyard. With free parking of course 🙂