Congratulations Terri DeWulf!! YOU are the winner of the trip!!!
I am SO excited to share my latest giveaway with you all! I just love giving things to my friends and what better to share than a weekend trip with dinner, lodging and entertainment! I am excited for YOU!
Recently my family and I had the pleasure of visiting The Indiana Dunes area near Chesterton, Indiana. It was a dream trip. No shopping, no tourist traps, just fun in the sun and playing on the beautiful beaches of Lake Michigan. Read more about our trip, and where YOU can go too HERE.
In partnership with the Indiana Dunes Visitors Center I am giving the following ‘Family Getaway’ package to one lucky reader! Entering will be simple with several ways to get your name in the hat! Please read my POST about our trip so you can see all of the pictures I took….This is where YOU will be going too
*One night stay for you and your family at The Inn at Aberdeen in Valparaiso, one of the best B&B’s I have ever stayed in,also has a fantastic breakfast in the morning! AND it’s included!
*1 $50 gift card for dinner at Lucrezia Cafe in Chesterton, really good food, great atmosphere!
*4 passes to TalTree Arboreum and Gardens-home of the COOLEST train garden EVER!!
| 5 minutes after we got there….. |
| After a fun day at the beach we got all dressed up for dinner out! |
| My son’s meaty meatballs at Lucrezia |
| First course of breakfast at Aberdeen |
| Aberdeen, simply beautiful! |
| One of the thematic gardens of TalTree |
| Trains. Too cool, this picture doesn’t do it justice! |
How to enter:Leave a comment below, you must do this for every entry separately. Do any one or all of these daily for more entries, it’s up to you! Please make sure this trip is possible in your future before you enter and please leave a contact email address in your comments so I can find you. You will have 24 hours to respond or I will have to chose someone else
Giveaway runs Tuesday July 10-Sunday July 15th at 9 pm EST!!*Visit one of the websites listed (using the links in their names) and tell me one fact you got from their website. I will check too, so be original! Each comment is an entry.*Tweet the following” @Basilmomma is giving away a family getaway courtesy of










Comments
Frosted Fingers
I learned that Taltree didn’t update their website because when you go to What’s in Bloom it still says Winter
Frosted Fingers
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/frostedfingers/status/222692678150791168
Frosted Fingers
I subscribe to your emails
Renee
Heather! This is so cool!!! We take the commuter train from Chesterton into Chicago all the time and every time we go we say we want to come back to enjoy the dunes and the town and the inns – this is awesome!!!
Pictures of your trip look GREAT!!!
Frosted Fingers
I liked and commented on the Indiana Dunes page
https://www.facebook.com/IndianaDunesTourism/posts/10150912894106456
Frosted Fingers
Liked and commented on Aberdeen Inn
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=367211686678540&id=163116093754768
TerriD
Taltree opened in 1999. dewulf2448 at mchsi dot com
Frosted Fingers
Commented and Liked TalTree
https://www.facebook.com/taltree/posts/421673921209914
Terri D.
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/TerriWulf/status/222694438894448640
dewulf2448 at mchsi dot com
Frosted Fingers
Commented and Liked Lucrezia
https://www.facebook.com/lucreziarestaurants/posts/400334433358275
Terri D.
I subscribe to your emails.
dewulf2448 at mchsi dot com
Frosted Fingers
Shared on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/phunkyrockgal/posts/101637623315444
Kim @ What's That Smell?
The Inn at Aberdeen allows pets under certain circumstances but only in specific rooms and not in the public areas.
We have 2 dogs so this is good to know!
kim@accidentalmommies.com
Kim @ What's That Smell?
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/WhatsThatSmell/status/222696447299162112
kim@accidentalmommies.com
Kim @ What's That Smell?
I liked Indiana Dunes on FB
https://www.facebook.com/IndianaDunesTourism/posts/10150912922731456
kim@accidentalmommies.com
Kim @ What's That Smell?
I liked The Inn at Aberdeen on FB
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=367216643344711&id=163116093754768
kim@accidentalmommies.com
Kim @ What's That Smell?
I’m trying to subscribe by email but I can’t seem to find it…
kim@accidentalmommies.com
Sarah
Wow…would love to get to the Arboretum with my camera in hand and my son with his camera. We always love a great nature walk.
April @ Angel's Homestead
I Tweeted the giveaway. https://twitter.com/AngelsHomestead/status/222701346153955328
angelshomestead@gmail.com
April Tuell Angels Homestead
Liked and commented on Indiana Dunes FB.
angelshomestead@gmail.com
April Tuell Angels Homestead
Liked and commented on Inn at Aberdeen’s FB.
angelshomestead@gmail.com
Sarah
I tweeted it…
https://twitter.com/SadieCass/status/222704079653191681
April Tuell Angels Homestead
Liked and commented on TalTree Arboreum’s FB.
angelshomestead@gmail.com
Lisa Noel
Follow Indiana Dunes on Facebook
Lisa Noel
Follow Inn at Aberdeen on Facebook
April Tuell Angels Homestead
Liked and commented on Lucrezia’s FB.
angelshomestead@gmail.com
Lisa Noel
Follow TalTree Arboreum on Facebook
Lisa Noel
Follow Lucrezia on Facebook
Megan
I tweeted!
https://twitter.com/megmkuhn/status/222705277676433408
Aislinn
I tweeted: @Basilmomma is giving away a family getaway courtesy of
@indianadunes enter HERE,PLZ/RT: http://bit.ly/NXkdfY
aislinnc@msn.com
April Tuell Angels Homestead
Shared your giveaway on my page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Angels-Homestead/393874073962702
angelshomestead@gmail.com
Megan
From the Dunes website…Without fire, there could be no prairie at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Non-prairie plant species would crowd out native prairie grasses. These rare grasslands are maintained through periodic controlled burns.
Aislinn
Basilmomma: a busy mom that likes to cook sent me thanks to a wonderful giveaway to visit the Indiana Dunes!
aislinnc@msn.com
Aislinn
Basilmomma: a busy mom that likes to cook sent me thanks to a wonderful giveaway to stay at the Inn at Aberdeen!
aislinnc@msn.com
Megan
At the Inn at Aberdeen you can design your own gift package that includes room, dinner and activities like golf!
Aislinn
Basilmomma sent me thanks to a wonderful giveaway to visit Taltree Arboretum & Gardens
aislinnc@msn.com
Aislinn
Basilmomma sent me thanks to a wonderful giveaway to try Lucrezia
aislinnc@msn.com
Katie
I learned that part of the train garden is set in limestone. It’s so beautiful!
Ann from Sumptuous Spoonfuls
I shared your giveaway on facebook!
Michele F.
I would love to win a trip here! I live in Indiana and have been to Michigan but not the Dunes. I learned they have an annual Blueberry Social on July 11th and I would love to go to that.
Michele F.
I like Indiana Dunes on FB.
Michele F.
I liked Inn at Aberdeen on FB.
Michele F.
I liked TalTree Arboreum on FB.
Michele F.
I liked Lucrezia on FB.
jmwhite60
What a great family trip! I have fond memories of a childhood trip to Indiana Dunes, and I’m sure your boys will have the same fondness for theirs when they look back. I would love to check out the TalTree Arboretum & Gardens. My father was a HUGE railroad fan. He was one of the original WhiteWater Valley RR crew to clear the tracks for the trains from Metamora to Brookville & Connersville and was a conductor on the run from Metamora to Connersville for several years. I have an awesome picture of him kind of hanging out of the steps of a car in his conductor’s black suit/hat…so a trip to TalTree would be wonderful for me. I love that the landmark was created by stacking the limestone that’s native to this part of the country (my little fact
! Phase 1 would have been a dream for my dad. He was in love with the steam locomotives! Sorry to be so lengthy, but this stuff is near & dear…
4Sisters
At the Inn, evening dessert is included free with your room. LOVE!
Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos
jmwhite60
I “liked” Indiana Dunes on facebook.
jmwhite60
I “liked” the Inn at Aberdeen on facebook.
jmwhite60
I “liked” TalTree Arboreum on facebook
jmwhite60
I “liked” Lucrezia on facebook.
4Sisters
Lucrezia Cafe has recipes for Roasted Lamb Shanks and Stuffed Eggplant on their website.
Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos
4Sisters
The Bluebird Trail is the longest at Taltree.
Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos
4Sisters
The Visitor’s Center is open from 8-6 all summer long.
Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos
jmwhite60
I shared he link on my fb wall, but couldn’t get it to tag you. I even tried under the photo in a comment, but still no luck. Sorry.
judyswitz@gmail.com
asiansplenda
Lucrezia has one of the most unique drinks I’ve ever heard of, the Shroomtini “Vodka, splash of spicy pickled juice, garnished with spicy pickled mushrooms”!
Although I wouldn’t like it, since I don’t like mushrooms!
Dee
dno1@columbia.edu
p.s. I tweeted (@asiansplenda) and did 2 FB posts (tagged you).
Denise
FB Fan of Indiana Dunes
RobertandDenise Wilson
stonemedic76@hotmail.com
Denise
FB Fan of Inn at Aberdeen
RobertandDenise Wilson
stonemedic76@hotmail.com
Denise
FB Fan of TalTree Arboreum
RobertandDenise Wilson
stonemedic76@hotmail.com
Denise
Shared on FB
RobertandDenise Wilson
stonemedic76@hotmail.com
Denise
Indiana Dunes is only closed 3 days a year! Good to know! Might even be fun in the winter with a ton of snow…
stonemedic76@hotmail.com
Denise
The Inn at Aberdeen has a Design Your Own Special Gift Package. That’s pretty cool. You select the number of nights, the number of dinner vouchers, rounds of golf, spa voucher, and Lyn’s Boutique certificate.
stonemedic76@hotmail.com
Denise
While reading through the history of the name of Lucrezia, she was pronounced as a cruel murderess who poisoned her family’s enemies.
Funny that the restaurant is named after someone accused of poison. (Although, she never actually poisoned anyone…)
The food looks spectacular and delicious!!!
stonemedic76@hotmail.com
Denise
My son would LOVE the train garden! It truly does sound like a “magical place”! The landscapes carved into a 2.5 acre area look lovely and exciting for people of all ages! All I can say is “WOW”!
stonemedic76@hotmail.com
Anonymous
Taltree Arboretum has over 300 acres of area for their collection of wetlands, woodlands and gardens!
jsseemeyer@bluemarble.net
Jill
Taltree in the railway garden has more than 500 varieties of plants! Try to remember all of those!
jsseemeyer@bluemarble.net
Angie @ Just Like The Number
I love that the Inn at Aberdeen was featured in Midwest Living – one of my favorite resources for finding great midwest places to visit!
Tammy
At the Lucrezia Cafe in Chesterton you are served complimentary Tuscan Herb E.V.O.O. from their deli “Good to Go by Lucrezia” along with the complimentary bread! Yum!
chazzdeer@yahoo.com
tamma
I learned Native Plant Garden has a new addition that is the Monarch Waystation that showcases plants that play a vital role in the lifecycle of a butterfly!
tamma
I liked Indiana Dunes and told them Basilmomma sent me
tamma
I tweeted! @tamma50
tamma
I shared on facebook here is my email tgcmpbll@aol.com
Jill
There was a sand sculpture contest this weekend at Indiana Dunes! How neat it must be to see that in action!
jsseemeyer@bluemarble.net
Jill
I liked Taltree aboretum on Facebook!
jsseemeyer@bluemarble.net
Michelle@Gotcahbaby
I learned that Taltree existed. I HAD NO IDEA, and my parents live just two exits down on I-94! Can’t wait to visit!
Michelle@Gotcahbaby
I liked Taltree on Facebook!
Michelle@Gotcahbaby
Liked @Taltreehort on Twitter. And OMG, it’s Thomas Month. Seriously, how did I not know this was there?!?!?
Mom for Less
I posted this giveaway on Facebook!
Mom for Less
I liked the Inn at Aberdeen on Facebook.
Mom for Less
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/Mom4Less/status/224659081644867584
Mom for Less
I like the Dunes on Facebook
Mom for Less
I like Taltree on Facebook.
Mom for Less
I like Lucrezia on Facebook!
Chris Cross
Love the pictures! We have always wanted to explore that area, but have not had the chance. Thanks for sharing!
Momma Cluck Hen
I learned that basilmomma posted a recipe for a strawberry buttermilk cake.
nichols.dene@gmail.com