For over 60 years Tanners Orchard has been planting, growing and harvesting a wide variety of delicious apples on their 80 acre farm in Speer, Illinois. Thousands of apple lovers visit the farm every season to sample, as well as stock up on the wide variety of ripe, tasty treats. What began with a few apple seeds has become one of the most popular attractions for families in Central Illinois. In this segment of Products & Offers, Upgrade Your Lifestyle features Tanners Orchard, a perfect family destination.
It's no secret that if you are looking for the best tasting, freshly picked apples in Central Illinois, your best bet is Tanners Orchard. However, what many people don't realize is that Tanners has become so much more than just an orchard; it's also an 80-acre, country-themed amusement park, complete with rides and a little adventure. No matter how old you are, Tanners offers something for everyone.
Does playing taxi driver to the little people in your life have you running in circles? Give yourself a break and let the Tanners Ponies do the work for a while on the western themed pony ride.
However, even the youngest among us can get tired of going in circles... That's where Tanner's Barrel Train comes in. They weave in and around the Orchard throughout the weekend and offer the opportunity to tour the farm in the unique and creative comfort...of a barrel.
Is there a budding Indiana Jones in the brood? The Big Bale Maze is the perfect way for your mini explorer to satisfy their desire for adventure. The maze may appear a little daunting to those close to the ground but the taller sets of eyes have no problem keeping an eye out for safety.
Looking for a little more subtle form of adventure...there is always the opportunity to do a little gem mining for precious stones. Many first time prospectors at Tanners have gone home with pockets full of priceless treasures to share with their friends or turn into jewelry.
Whether it's racing to a four alarm fire and battling the blaze with other mini firemen...driving a tractor just like the big folks...or doing battle with the Red Baron from the cockpit of a wooden Sopwith Camel - the Tanner Playground is a virtual wonderland.
The fun doesn't end there. Just a hop, skip and a jump from the playground is an entirely different and equally exciting attraction...The Farm Animal Barn and Billy Goat Bridge.
You don't have to be a child to experience the joy of standing face to face with a smirking lama or furry little bunny...however, don't be surprised if you feel like you are being watched from up above...
Rising above and between the two animal barns a playful bunch of Billy Goats trot back and forth keeping a careful eye out for any two legged creatures who might be hiding a secret stash of Billy Goat treats they are hoping to share with their new furry faced friends.
As the saying goes...one man's art is another man's harvest...Tanners is never short on expressing their artistic side...with a Tanners twist of course...from a distance, Goldilocks and the three bears may seem ordinary enough...however, turn the Tanners artists loose and on closer inspection, they might be better named Gourd-i-locks and the Three Bears.
What began as an Apple Orchard over 60 years ago has become a wonderful and unqiue Central Illinois attraction. A place to shop, eat, browse and to enjoy the beauty of Autumn all by yourself or with those you love. A place to bring the whole family...a family destination...Tanners Orchard is located North on Route 40 in Speer, IL and is open from July to November. For more information visit TannersOrchard.com.
When my daughter became engaged, we embarked on the once-in-a lifetime experience of planning her wedding. It was an amazing time as I watched my little girl prepare to enter the next stage of her life as a young, married woman. Although I teased her about what size tiara I would get to wear as “Mother of the Bride,” I knew this day was really hers and I did everything I could to guide, support and celebrate this milestone in her life and ours as a family.
Even though the average cost for a wedding is reported to be around $30,000, a beautiful wedding can actually cost much less. As with all things financial, the wedding budget can be a sticky subject. Some things are going to cost more than you think and, sadly, very few things will cost less. Try to have a range in mind and help your daughter prioritize what areas she and the groom consider to be essential and which areas are more flexible. In our case, my daughter and her fiance were adamant that they would not cut down their guest list even if it meant having a less elaborate reception. Knowing the priorities ahead of time makes it easier to create a wedding budget that reflects the wishes of the bride and groom. Knowing which expenditures are lower priorities also helps when it is time to make decisions on how the budget will be divided and spent.
When it comes to owning a small business, maintaining accurate and detailed recordkeeping is critical for understanding your business and meeting your tax obligations. There are a few recordkeeping requirements every small business should follow.
For most small businesses, basic recordkeeping involves recording income and expenses in a checkbook. The checkbook is used as a starting point for totaling the business’s income and expenses.
I recently read an advice column in which a mother was singing the praises of wearing helmets when bicycle riding. I smiled with her as she described how happy she was that the helmet was cracked but not her son's head. She said that he would probably be stiff the next day but was otherwise OK.
Did you read this too? And did you say to yourself "How could that child have broken a windshield with his head, however protected, and only be stiff?" I did, and the idea that this child would not even be looked at by an M.D. or Chiropractor gave me a chill.
As the saying goes...one man's art is another man's harvest...Tanners is never short on expressing their artistic side...with a Tanners twist of course...from a distance, Goldilocks and the three bears may seem ordinary enough...however, turn the Tanners artists loose and on closer inspection, they might be better named Gourd-i-locks and the Three Bears.
When my daughter became engaged, we embarked on the once-in-a lifetime experience of planning her wedding. It was an amazing time as I watched my little girl prepare to enter the next stage of her life as a young, married woman. Although I teased her about what size tiara I would get to wear as “Mother of the Bride,” I knew this day was really hers and I did everything I could to guide, support and celebrate this milestone in her life and ours as a family. 
When it comes to owning a small business, maintaining accurate and detailed recordkeeping is critical for understanding your business and meeting your tax obligations. There are a few recordkeeping requirements every small business should follow.
I recently read an advice column in which a mother was singing the praises of wearing helmets when bicycle riding. I smiled with her as she described how happy she was that the helmet was cracked but not her son's head. She said that he would probably be stiff the next day but was otherwise OK.