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...
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...
Wisconsin Rustic Roads: Take an Old-Fashioned Drive
Raise your hand if you remember–or have heard of–Sunday drives. Families would pile into the car and set out to…well, just drive. Often, there was no particular destination, just a chance to roll down the windows and see the...
Springfield, IL: Lincoln & Corn Dogs
I promised my eight-year-old grandson, William, a summer adventure. Just him and me. But Covid-19’s tight grip eliminated most options. Finally, in mid-August, we had a half-open window of opportunity: Springfield, Illinois called and we went. Springfield happens to...
Chicago Deep Dish Pizza: The Truth, The History & The Recipe
Anthony Bourdain struggled to call Chicago Deep Dish a “pizza.” For good reason, maybe. The late chef and culinary guru loved many things about Chicago: “…tall towers, hard corners, and sharp elbows. And, of course, food.” But that deep...
Solo Road Trip to Manistique, MI: A Beautiful Bargain
I confess: I was itching to get out again after nearly five months of sheltering-in-place. A solo road trip seemed like a good idea for several reasons: First, solo travel is my jam. Second, one’s own car is the...
Your Road Trip for One: Ready, Set, Drive! (Part 2)
“Road trip!” Magical words, aren’t they? And your road trip for one means you can go, stop, see, and stay as you please. In Part 1, you did the planning and prep work. Now it’s time to pack the...
Road Trip for One? Absolutely! (Part 1: Planning)
Buckle up, Buttercup! A road trip for one might be travel freedom at its finest. YOU set the itinerary, YOU drive when you want, YOU stay at each destination as long as YOU like. Sounds lovely? It is! Jamie...
Casey, Illinois: Tiny Town, BIG Things!
You probably wouldn’t give Casey, Illinois a second thought. It’s a very small town (population 2,635) not conveniently located in the East-Central part of the state. In fact, it’s a hundred miles closer to Indianapolis than Chicago. But Casey...