Beginning in 2002, The Local Tourist quickly became one of the most popular and respected resources for places to go and things to do in Chicago. It was an established go-to source for entertainment options in the Windy City, providing curated content and trustworthy recommendations so that both locals and tourists find it easy to plan their Chicago experience.
In 2016, after a surprising visit to a tiny town in Iowa, I began expanding our reach to help you be a “local tourist” no matter where you are!
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%. (Although, I might draw the line at Malort.)
There’s no subtlety and no drama, but there is definitely a whole lotta kitsch and unmitigated, unabashed enthusiasm.
Who is The Local Tourist?
I’m Theresa Goodrich, and I am The Local Tourist. However, The Local Tourist is not me – she’s got fewer faults!
Here’s who you’ll meet when you read TLT:
The Local Tourist wants to make you happy. She wants you to explore with wide-eyed wonder, to see the beauty in everything from mountain ranges to strip malls. Her goal is to inspire people to learn about a place, about its history, and about its people.
She’s fun, witty, and up for a lark. She’s passionate and believes in kindness. She says “Please” and “Thank You” and it’s her goal to make everyone she interacts with smile. Stories of inequity, bigotry, and hatred make her angry, and she’s disgusted by the gross misuse of power and the greed that drives accumulation over people. She says “Yes” and then figures it out.
She loves the water, being outdoors, hiking, open horizons, valleys and mountains, deserts and forests. She’s enchanted by artisans and activists, people who dedicate their lives to their talents and their beliefs. She loves to eat. She loves to drink. She appreciates art and will cry in front of a Van Gogh. Butterflies, hummingbirds, and frogs make her giggle. Horsies make her giddy. History is her jam. Life is an adventure.
She’s a traveler, a student of humanity, and she wants to know what makes a place unique. There is always a notebook nearby, either digital or old school, and she’ll take a thousand pictures a week. Unearthing connections is her buried treasure.
She knows that everyone, and every place, has a story, and she wants to tell it. She’s fascinated by the complexity and beauty of this world and wants you to be fascinated, too.
The Local Tourist is a Happy Place
If you’ve been on The Local Tourist for any time at all you might have noticed one thing: there are no negative reviews. There’s no drama; there’s no snark; there’s no sarcasm (unless it’s really clever and no one’s hurt), and there’s no negativity.
This is entirely and completely intentional. You see, I believe that there is already enough negativity and snark and drama and sarcasm and bullying to fill a gazillion publications – and it does. You can find negativity almost everywhere.
But not here.
I went to school for Journalism, and I was all geared up to be the next best investigative journalist and right all the wrongs. But as I graduated, I realized that I might have a greater impact by making more rights.
That’s why The Local Tourist is a Happy Place.
This is where you come when you want to find something fun, something to make you smile, something to create memories that make it into the scrapbook or Snapchat or Instagram or whatever social medium you use.
While we do offer some criticism when warranted, it’s more of the “hey, you might want to know this” variety than “what a bunch of bloomin’ idiots” rampage.
You can rest assured that any recommendations you see are the same recommendations I’d give my best friends. Do I go on sponsored and hosted trips? Yes, and I always let you know and I ONLY share places and experiences in which I truly believe. If I wouldn’t do it, go there, eat there, drink there, I won’t recommend that you should, either.
I believe in transparency. I believe in integrity. I believe that everyone needs a drama-free zone with recommendations they can trust and a place that’s just about having fun.
The Local Tourist is a happy place. I hope we make you happy, too!
Experience the fascination of a tourist; Feel the comfort of a local. Be a Local Tourist!