The Original Brownie Recipe’s “birthplace” may be a surprise for many people. It didn’t come from someone’s sweet grandmother, a quaint bakery, or the home of a chocolatier. No, it was a business decision. First…Chicago gets the Fair. Too...
Orlando Breaks U.S. Tourist Record: Great or Greedy?
Orlando, Florida, is jumping for joy. In 2017, over 72 million tourists came to the city, giving Orlando the title of “Most-Visited U.S. Destination.” Travelers always bring revenue, no matter where they go. Jobs abound: Remember that 1 in...
U.S. Destinations: Something for Everyone!
U.S. destinations…sometimes we focus too much on international travel. Seeing our own country–wherever we live–can seem less exciting or important, compared to an “exotic” place with a different language, older cathedrals, or prettier birds. G.K. Chesterton reminds us, “The...
Puerto Rico Is Still Hurting: How Can We Help? Read on!
Puerto Rico will never forget September 20, 2017. Hurricane Maria ravaged the island with 155 mph winds, taking down 80 percent of the utility poles and leaving 100 percent of the 3.5 million residents without electricity. Over 70,000 homes...
Getty Villa: Ancient Archeology in Modern Malibu
Getty Villa astounds. Nestled in a canyon, right off California’s busy Pacific Coast Highway, in Malibu, and a stone’s throw from the surfers at the famous beach, it’s J. Paul Getty’s gift to anyone who appreciates architecture, art, or history....
Hot Dog Throwdown: Sorry, Quebec City!
A hot dog throwdown? Why would this humble–and often maligned–sausage need to be compared? Especially since everyone knows the best hot dogs come from Chicago. Most of the world agrees, right? Okay, maybe not. And certainly not the good...
Mornings in NOLA: Watching New Orleans Wake Up
Not everyone who goes to New Orleans wakes up with a hangover. That can be a very good thing, especially if you like to observe how a city works. Mornings in NOLA are worth getting up for. Despite its...
Huntsville, Alabama: See the Rockets…and MORE!
Sure, go to Huntsville, Alabama for the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Everyone does, for good reason. It’s a fabulous museum, showing off Huntsville as the birthplace of America’s space program. SO much cooler than being the “Watercress Capital...
Unclaimed Baggage Center: Where Lost Luggage Goes…
Unclaimed Baggage Center lives in the small town of Scottsboro, Alabama. Located 30 miles south of the Tennessee border and 45 miles east of Huntsville, Scottsboro’s population is about 15,000. Ordinarily, you’d drive through town without much thought. Trip...
Amtrak: Is Train Travel Still Fun? Yay and Nay…
Amtrak. America’s very own passenger train system. Is it still a thrill to hop onboard a train and listen to the clickety-clack of the rails? To watch the towns and farms go by? To sleep in a private compartment...