It’s summer in Chicago–and that means plenty of outdoor cooking. Hamburgers, brats, Italian sausage, Polish sausage…but what about hot dogs? Yes! Go ahead, if you like: plop them on grill, hold them on a stick over a campfire. But...
Cahokia Mounds, IL: Prehistoric American City
Cahokia Mounds, in southeastern Illinois, was once a thriving American city…before there was an America. During its peak–about 1100 A.D., the population was larger than London’s at the same time. Until 1800, no other urban area in the United...
Back to the Blog…TravelSmart Woman Returns!
Hey! How’s it going and stuff? It’s been half a year since I last posted on TravelSmart Woman. Now I’m back to the blog, even though the world continues to discourage those of us who used to take our...
Sonoma Plaza: Where California Began
They say a city’s soul lives in its public places. If that’s true, then Northern California’s Sonoma Plaza rivals any of Europe’s grand squares or parks. Only eight acres, it’s still California’s largest plaza. And it’s where California began....
COVID, Cancellations, “Cave” Syndrome…and Return to Travel
COVID, cancellations, “Cave” Syndrome…and return to travel? When? How? I love to travel. Live for it, in fact. That’s what I always said–and did. One trip would barely end before I was planning the next…and the one after that....
American Writers Museum Celebrates Words–of All Kinds!
When the American Writers Museum opened in Chicago in 2017, I wondered, “What took so long?” The only museum that is dedicated to American writers–a category that is expansive–it’s puzzling to think that someone didn’t come up with the...
Anthony Bourdain’s “World Travel” Will Make You Miss Him Even More…
How fitting that Anthony Bourdain’s final book is actually titled “World Travel: An Irreverent Guide.” Isn’t that just like him?!? Unabashedly insolent, even from the grave. I guarantee that “World Travel” will make you miss him even more. Just...
State Parks: Something for Everyone!
State parks, you say? Something for everyone? Really? Not national parks? Sure, America has a dazzling variety of national park sites–423 of them-and that will be a great blog post for another day. But for now, let’s consider those...
Craving Europe? Try These US Destinations!
Are you craving Europe and all its magic? Me, too. But sometimes we can’t get there, whether a pandemic has us confined to our own borders, or the timing simply isn’t right. (Then there’s that dang budget.) Try these...
What to Do While We Wait to Travel: 21 Awesome Ideas
It’s been a year since Covid-19 went from a scary-but-remote sickness to a full-blown shutdown around the world. Even then, I was deliberately stubborn/naive about the possible effect on travel. Now, we still wonder what to do while we...