Laurie's Favorite Peoria Links
In Junction City, Cyd's Sensations. Deli, private dining room, catering, bakery, coffee shop, free WiFi, cooking classes and more. Thanks to Cyd's, my husband and I eat dinner at home. www.cyds.bz to check daily specials or order ahead.
Lakeview Museum has major art exhibits, new planetarium with laser light shows, a pre-school, lawn concerts in the summer, a used book store, a gift shop, permanent art collection, and is currently raising funds to build a new museum in downtown Peoria. For schedule of eventsgo to www.lakeview-museum.org.
Rock Island Trail. This is where I ride my bike. It is four miles from Alta (basically North Peoria) to Dunlap. You can park and ride from either Pioneer Parkway or Alta Road. Lots of runners, strollers, walkers. Have breakfast in downtown Dunlap. The trail is built on an old railroad path. www.ritrail.org
Apple Bakery. More than a bakery. Coffee shop, free WiFi, gourmet groceries, wine, great cookies, play cards, healthy lunch, no hurry. You will often see me here working on my computer or meeting clients. www.applesbakery.com
Forest Park Nature Center, bottom of Forest Park Drive off North Prospect. This is where I go to hike. They also have concerts, nature classes, a gift shop with a large selection of bird feeders and bird seed, workshops, nature walks, and it is beautiful. Rather steep climb. You might see wild turkeys, deer, and bald eagles. Yoga on Monday nights.
Springdale Cemetary. Spectacular old cemetary from the 1850's. This is as interesting as any cemetary I have seen anywhere in Europe. There is a large war section with Civil War tombstones, a large Jewish section, a large Catholic section, a Pet Cemetary, a beautiful section overlooking the river from a high bluff. You could spend a day with your camera trying to capture the beauty.www.springdalecemetary.com
My favorite yoga studio in Peoria, and we have some good ones. Heading Om Yoga is in West Peoria located on Heading Avenue in the former Crittenton Home, which has been restored beautifully and sits at the top of a wooded bluff. You can hear birds chirp and see tree tops through the big windows in the studio. Here is a photo of the owners, Lisa Zell and Tammy Mitchell. Below is a photo of the building, so you can find it. Go in the main doors, go left up the stairs, the studio is at the top of the stairs. www.HeadingOm.com .
Java Jolt is in the front parking lot of CarpetWeavers across from Mt. Hawley Country Club Golf Course. Best place to get coffee. 2 locations, North Knoxville or downtown in the FirstBank Building.www.javajolt.com
One World Café is located on Main Street at University right near Bradley University.It is great for lunch, Sunday breakfast, catering, or just a great space to hang around and enjoy coffee.One World supports many local fund raising efforts, along with collaboration with numerous charitable organizations, including Easter Seals and the American Cancer Society. I stop here after going to yoga and have a Sangria in their very cool yogi like bar and wait for dinner to carry home. Close to Bradley University. www.oneworld-cafe.com.
One World strives to be a unique, family operated, independent casual dining establishment, celebrating a global vision while embracing our local flavor. One World is proud to be a Peoria original... a destination location, an ambassador to traveling guests and parents of Bradley University students visiting Peoria.
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For pizza, I go to Firehouse Pizza, 309-693-9111.The owner, Kelly Couri, runs the business with his brother Shane. They are located on Pioneer Parkway, but are expanding into a larger space soon in Northpoint Shopping Center.Kelly is a Peoria Fireman, owns the pizza store, is an EMT, is a licensed Personal Trainer, and in his "spare" time he has a home inspection business call House Detective.The pizza is really good, I normally get the vegetarian.I see lots of "food" people here. Their pizzas have very fresh ingredients and the crust is perfect.
Beyond Nails is where I go for manicures and pedicures. It is located off Pioneer Parkway in the large shopping center off Sommer.
Trefzgers Bakery www.trefzgerbakery.com This is a Peoria institution.Go to their web site and read the history of this shop, it is a wonderful story. I ship coffee cakes to New York for Thanksgiving, they have a chocolate one that is everyone's favorite in our family, and we love the butterscotch one, it tastes more like maple.I have my daughter's friends in Washington, DC, hooked on the cookies.I never had to bake while she was growing up.Our Christmas baking tradition was to take a number and stand in line for their Christmas cookies.I could try for years, and never be able to match these special treats.They bake cookies for all holidays.They also bake wonderful wedding cakes and birthday cakes.
The Sun Foundaton
www.Sunfoundation.org This organization has been in operation since 1973. It has wonderful programs. Check out the web site. My daughter attended Art in the Woods, and The Clean Water Celebrations.
UFS Store
http://www.ufsdeal.com/
This business is so much fun, my daughter brings her East Coast friends here to shop when she is in town. It is full of interesting overstocked personalized items and licensed items. Her last find was a faux rock with a Penn State University logo for her best friend. I buy fun items in bulk for events. They have just about everything and cheap. The inventory changes all of the time. They have large wine department, and according to one of the top wine salesmen in town, sell more wine than anyone else. They are very knowledgeable and helpful.
