For a short and interesting side trip when heading south of Frankfurt, Germany on the A5, take the Heddisheim exit and follow the signs to the Vogel Park. That's a Bird Park in German. It's only a couple of miles off the main drag and it's free. You just walk in and enjoy the wonderful variety of rare birds. The experience is great. While there, we saw two nests of young storks waiting for the fruits of their parents hunting excursion. Yes they did show up with the afternoon meal. Just put your donation in the slot when you leave and the park will be sustained and the birds will be cared for. Who says foreign travel has to be expensive.

LuLu reporting with a bird's eye view of the world.

Take highway 60 straight west from the Tampa Florida Airport until you can go no further. You'll discover Clearwater Beach, the white sand playground for people from all corners of the earth every month of the year. Though the water cools off in the winter months, the sand dwellers love it and It's a day you'll never forget. Stroll the beach and enjoy lunch or dinner at the many inviting bistros that are part of the experience; the beach will beckon you to come back for more. Frenchy's is one of the many unique neighborhood establishments that is casual, friendly and well worth exploring by the whole family. The Home Grown Highway crew did just that...grouper sandwich at Frenchy's anyone?

The Home Grown Highway of dreams leads to the corner of Clark Street and Addison Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. It's Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, The Loveable Losers who last won the World Series in 1908. When P. K. Wrigley, the chewing gum magnate, became the owner of the Cubs in 1926, he changed the name of Cubs Park to Wrigley Field, the oldest National League baseball park in use by the Cubs since 1916. We spent time with the Cubs Band, The Loveable Winners. The Cubs Band, a brainchild of its leader Ted Butterman, have been playing the Cubs home games for 32 years. Though the Cubs lost again, the Cubs Band played on to the delight of the loyal, but suffering, fans.