Welcome to The Local Tourist

The Local Tourist provides inspiration for your next adventure, focusing on road trips, culture, history, the great outdoors, and destinations large and small.

Fel-Pro RRR Conservation Area in McHenry County Illinois. Picture of wooden bridge over pond with lily pads. Trees in background.

What is a Local Tourist?

The Local Tourist has a simple goal:
to help you experience the fascination of a tourist while feeling the comfort of the local, no matter where you are.

How to be a Local Tourist

Please allow me to introduce myself

Hi. My name’s Theresa and I’m The Local Tourist. Have we met? Well, then, please allow me to introduce myself.

My Story

Recently on The Local Tourist

Find travel inspiration and tips with these stories and guides.

Travel Writing

Not only do I write about travel, I can also teach you how to tighten your writing, bring destinations to life, be found by the readers who need you, and get raving fans.

Digital Research Tools: Find accurate, historical details that help you illustrate how a place or person got to be the way they are today. — Digital Research Tools – Free

Finding Your Voice Master Class - How to get raving fans by finding and using your voice — Digital Research Tools – Free

Midwest Road Trip Adventures Second Edition

Explore the Heartland of America

One scenic drive at a time.

Ready to hit the road? Don’t miss this action-packed anthology highlighting the best road trips in the Midwest. Explore storied highways and byways, including Route 66, the Great River Road, Ohio River Scenic Byway, Lincoln Highway, and many more.

From canyons in Kansas to authentic fish boils in Wisconsin to North America’s largest powwow in Nebraska, you’ll be astounded by how many cool things there are to see in these twelve states.

LEARN MORE