Luminarias are an important part of New Mexico’s holiday season. For over 300 years–long before it became a state–the rich Spanish/Mexican heritage included luminarias a part of the local culture. Also called “farolitos,” or little lanterns, they are worth...
Christkindlmarket in Chicago: An Old World Tradition
Christkindlemarket in Chicago is only 23 years old…an infant, compared to the market in Nuremberg, Germany. Nuremberg’s was established in 1545 and still serves as the inspiration for Christmas markets around the world. Christkindlmarket translates from German as “baby...
Loretto Chapel: The Miraculous & Mysterious Staircase
Loretto Chapel will make you believe in miracles…or at least consider them. Located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Loretto Chapel itself is an interesting story. Back in 1850, long before the area would become a state in 1909, things...
Hop On-Hop Off Bus: I Always Take One, You Should, Too!
Take a Hop on-Hop off bus? REALLY? I can hear your groans… We’ve all seen them during our travels, those double-decker buses, the upper deck packed with photo-snapping riders who insist on waving to passersby. They look so…touristy. WHY...
Autumn: The Best Season to Travel…and Eat?
Autumn: I adore it, wait for it, celebrate it. Maybe you do, too. As the days get cooler–and shorter–it feels nice to be indoors, eat comfort foods, and start to think about the holidays. It’s a chance for travelers...
The Original Brownie Recipe–From Chicago’s Palmer House Hotel
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....