How to be a Local Tourist

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

About The Local Tourist

Theresa L. Goodrich

The Local Tourist explores unique destinations, focusing on culture, background, beauty, and sheer awesomeness. Subjects that get nearly equal levels of obsession include, but are not limited to, anything outdoors, anything that can be eaten, art, history, architecture, and anything with an ABV above 3%. There’s no subtlety and no drama, but there is definitely a whole lotta kitsch and unmitigated, unabashed enthusiasm.

Get to Know Harbor Country: Carl Sandburg’s Harbert, Michigan

Boats and grasses on Lake Michigan, Harbert, Michigan - photo credit John Menard
This series covers the gorgeous area of Southwest Michigan known as Harbor Country. Eight towns along Red Arrow Highway come together to create a magical world of food, nature, serenity and history....
Meet The Local Tourists
Travel Tips - Save time, money, and aggravation with these travel tips, designed to make your exploration more fun.
Tips and musings on writing in general and travel writing specifically

Destinations

Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Illinois
Indiana
Be a Local Tourist in Iowa
Michigan is a state in the Midwest that borders four Great Lakes.
Missouri
Nevada, USA
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Utah
Wyoming
 

Recently on TLT

Harbor Country
Boats and grasses on Lake Michigan, Harbert, Michigan - photo credit John Menard

Get to Know Harbor Country: Carl Sandburg’s Harbert, Michigan

Harbert, Michigan, is Harbor Country’s mini slice of Scandinavia. It’s been a secret to many, and if you close your eyes, you might miss the Harbert sign.
Charles City
Red Cedar Lodge - luxury cabins in winter

A Much-Needed Winter Glamping Getaway in North Iowa

Iowa surprises me every time I visit. It shouldn't. I've been to the state often enough to know better.
Missouri
Meet The Local Tourists - Sage Scott of Everyday Wanderer

Meet The Local Tourists: Sage Scott, Everyday Wanderer

One of my favorite things about being a travel writer, besides the whole travel and writing part, is meeting others in my field.
South Dakota
Badlands National Park

One Night in Badlands National Park

See what it's like to experience Badlands National Park in South Dakota in this ​excerpt from my upcoming book, "Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2." 
Jim and Theresa bicycling on the Great River State Trail in Wisconsin

How to take your bicycle on a road trip

When Jim and I planned our Northwest U.S. road trip, we knew our bikes were coming with us.
Wyoming
Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming

Devils Tower is a Clerical Error and 14 Other Things You (Probably) Didn't Know

In the northeast corner of Wyoming in a county called Crook is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the United States.
Iowa
Old Capitol Building and Museum in Iowa City, a UNESCO City of Literature

Iowa City: A Literary Destination in the Heart of the Midwest

Did you know Iowa City is a UNESCO City of Literature in Iowa? Discover why it received this designation, and other reasons to visit the home of University of Iowa.
Vendor at Christkindlmarket in downtown Chicago

Best Christmas Towns in the US

If you're looking for a festive place to celebrate the holidays, check out the best Christmas towns in US. From coast-to-coast, travel writers share their favorite place to spend Christmas.
Road to Great Sand Dunes National Park

Essential Free Road Trip Apps

A seasoned road trip enthusiast shares her essential free road trip apps. From before you go to while you're on the road, these free apps will help your road trip go a lot smoother so you can have more fun.

The Local Tourist Chicago

We've been sharing things to do in Chicago for 16 years, so we know a thing or two about the Windy City.

Adler Planetarium in Chicago, Illinois

Free Days at Adler Planetarium: Chicago's Gateway to the Stars

Learn all about one of Chicago's most famous landmarks, and find out when there are free days at Adler Planetarium for Illinois residents.

Things to do in Chicago

Things To Do in Chicago

There are so many things to do in Chicago, it's hard to know where to start. Click here for ideas on places to go in the Windy City.

The Local Tourist's Guide to Millennium Park

Millennium Park: The Local Tourist's Guide

Millennium Park is an impressive Chicago park that is a destination for both locals and tourists. It's the most popular attraction in the city, and with its great architecture, peaceful gardens, and year-round calendar of events it's easy to see why.
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For your reading enjoyment, by the founder of The Local Tourist:

"If John Steinbeck earned a Nobel Prize in Literature shortly after publishing Travels with Charley, then Theresa should start planning a trip to Oslo, Norway, because Two Lane Gems is every bit the book Travels with Charley was. And then some." ~Amazon review