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...
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...
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...
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...
Meteora, Greece: 5 Things to Do After You’ve Seen the Monasteries
Meteora, Greece: Of course, you go to see the magnificent monasteries built on the tops of stone pillars. A sight you’ll never forget. And after–or in between–those tours? There’s still plenty to do in this area that the Eastern...
Meteora: Monasteries in the Mystical “Stone Forest” of Greece
Meteora, Greece: As soon as I learned about it, I had to go. Monasteries built on the tops of stone peaks? The tallest at 2,011 feet (613 meters)? Over 700 years ago? After spending three weeks in Athens and...
Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, NM: The “Multiverse” Awaits!
Trying to describe a visit to Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, NM, is like trying to describe “red” to a blind person: Impossible. Even the website can’t quite nail it. “Meow Wolf creates immersive and interactive experiences that transport audiences...
TravelSmart Woman’s Best Posts of 2019: Your Favorites!
Here we are, at the end of the year…and about to start a new decade. Before we leap into 2020, I’d like to pause and thank you for your support. There are thousands of you now who take time...
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum: A Woman and Artist Like No Other
I went to Santa Fe in search of Georgia O’Keeffe. As if to prove her own belief that “Colors and shapes make a more definite statement than words,” she created more than 2,000 oil paintings during her 60-year career....
FREE Museum Day: Saturday, September 21, 2019…Yippee!
(Updated 8/15/19) Heads up! The 15th Annual Free Museum Day is coming! It’s a fabulous gift to everyone from Smithsonian Magazine! It’s an annual one-day event (This year, Saturday, September 21, 2019) that encourages us to visit a museum...