What’s on your bucketlist? Cage diving with sharks had been on mine for as long as I could remember. So, when a business trip took me to Hawaii, I tacked on an extra two weeks of vacation, and as soon as the meetings ended, I…

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…

This year has been a rollercoaster for all of us, especially small businesses and local artisans. With many towns and cities closed to tourism and returning to lockdown this holiday season, some shops have turned to online sales. I wanted to focus on shopping small…

Can you believe we’re approaching the 2020 holiday season?! It’s been a wild year, nothing like I planned it to be- three European trips cancelled, plus several across the US. However, it’s had its perks too- fully remote work and more time with my husband.…

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…

Bergen is a historic yet hip city with easy access to nature, and was the last stop on our journey through Norway. We spent 3.5 days and 3 nights here, after a multi faceted trip from Gudvangen. Arrivals Bergen has an international airport and is…

We spent our first anniversary in Norway and the fjords were definitely the trip highlight! At the risk of sounding like a paperback novel, how about four days of adventure and romance from scenic train journeys, to waterfall hikes, private photo shoots and a Viking…