North America

Come January, I start booking our favorite campsites for summer. Seem a little early? It’s not, trust me. These are popular campsites near Chicago to book now! Some are in the burbs, while others are farther afield. To me, camping is a quintessential summer activity,…

Cedar Key sits off Florida’s Nature Coast, about an hour west of Gainesville or two hours north of Tampa. It, and its neighboring islands, are Florida’s ‘other keys’. This is not Key West! Or, as one of the locals warned us, ‘This certainly is not…

This year, COVID has ruined enough of my fun plans! Not happening to Christmas! Luckily, there are plenty of socially distanced Christmas activities in Chicagoland. I’ve curated a few of my favorites and hope they’ll inspire you to attend, or find activities in your own…

Bed and Breakfasts are some of my favorite places to stay. They have their own character, and for that matter, far more character than a hotel. The hosts offer local knowledge, and provide amazing homecooked breakfasts. Really, what’s not to like about a B&B? So,…

Growing up in Florida, with only one season of never ending summer, we always took a fall roadtrip to northern Georgia. It’s a place full of childhood memories for me, and somewhere I was thrilled to return to with my husband. We met my family…

So Christmas is over, and now comes months of cold without the holiday cheer. Assuming you’re not into ice fishing, skiing or otherwise freezing your tush off, rejoice, there is more to do!  I’m not going to mention the obvious Chicago landmarks, so don’t look…

I’m far from one of those Californian girls, but I seem to keep landing back in the state, particularly in San Francisco! Thanks to my actual, bill paying job I’ve been to the bay area quite a few times and have collected some ideas for…

I’ve just come back from four days in Iowa at Geode Fest 2019. As I sit here writing, I’m eyeing my finds like Smaug the Dragon guarded his gold and treasures. I guess it’s official- I’ve become a rockhound! So, what is Geode Fest? It’s…

Michigan’s shoreline, along Lake Michigan, is lined with sand dunes. Some small, some gargantuan, but all lovely. When I moved to Chicago from Florida, one of my first camping trips was to Warren Dunes State Park in Sawyer, Michigan. I had never seen anything like…

I look forward to weekend getaways as much as multi-week international trips, and have had the Saugatuck area on my radar for some time. Just about 2.5 hours from Chicago, it’s perfect for a quick escape. We planned our weekend around Holland’s Tulip Time Festival,…