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...
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...
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: $500 Solo Resort Getaway
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is a resort town close to the Wisconsin-Illinois border. So close, in fact, that it was where wealthy Chicagoans built summer homes–mansions, really–to get away from the heat and noise of the city. Families like Wrigley,...
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...
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...
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....
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...
10 Amtrak Train Tips: What You Should Know
Yes, you’ll need some Amtrak train tips to get the most out of your adventure. If you’re going to be on the train for more than 18 hours, it’s best to prepare. And then prepare some more. These Amtrak...