Appearances

Hi there! I’m Theresa Goodrich, founder of The Local Tourist (est. 2002) and Your Chicago Guide (est. 2020). I’m the author and publisher of multiple books, including travel guides and novels. Click here to read my story.

I love sharing my passions for travel and writing, and I’ve been speaking professionally for years. I also enjoy meeting those who share these interests. I get a real kick out of meeting “my people.”

Here are my upcoming appearances. Many of them are public, so come say hi!

If you’re interested in booking me to speak, please see my Presentations page.

2026 Appearances

January 28: Travel Planning and Budgeting; In person and online; Elmhurst Public Library, Elmhurst, IL Register here

February 21 & 22: Planning Your Perfect Road Trip from Chicago; Chicago Travel & Adventure Show, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL Get your free or discounted ticket!

March 7: Planning Your Perfect Road Trip; Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show, Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, CA

April 7: Romantic Wisconsin Getaways; Glenview Public Library, Glenview, IL Register here

April 15: Indiana Amish Country; Vernon Area Public Library, Lincolnshire, IL Register here

April 16: Indiana Amish Country; Edgewater by Del Webb, Elgin, IL Private event

April 26: Kenosha Book Festival; Studio Moonfall, 5031 7th Ave, Kenosha, WI. Click here for info

April 29: Killer Destinations: The Real Places Behind Travel is Murder; Online. Become a Pollinator (free!) to register

June 18: Get Your Kicks: 100 Years of Route 66; Wilmette Public Library, Wilmette, IL

June 23: Day Trips from Chicago; Waukegan Public Library, Waukegan, IL

2025 Appearances

January 11 & 12: Planning Your Perfect Road Trip; Atlanta Travel & Adventure Show, Atlanta, GA

January 31: Travel Inspiration: Indiana Amish Country; Del Webb Sun City, Huntley, IL

February 1 & 2: Planning Your Perfect Road Trip from Chicago; Chicago Travel & Adventure Show, Rosemont, IL

February 22 & 23: Planning Your Perfect Road Trip; Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show, Los Angeles, CA

March 13: A Tour of Five Unique National Parks; West Chicago Public Library, West Chicago, IL

March 18: Think You Know Chicago? Surprising Tales from the City’s Most Beloved Attractions; JCC Chicago – Zoom

March 20: Armchair Travels: Asheville, NC – Now and Then; Wilmette Public Library, Wilmette, IL

April 9: Self-Publishing 101; Carol Stream Public Library, Carol Stream, IL

May 6: Living Landmarks of Chicago; Carol Stream Public Library, Carol Stream, IL

May 13: A Tour of Five Unique National Parks; Vernon Area Public Library, Lincolnshire, IL

May 14: All Aboard the Amtrak Empire Builder; Ela Area Public Library, Lake Zurich, IL

June 12: Chicago Summer Festivals; Elmhurst Public Library, Elmhurst, IL

June 12: Chicago Summer Festivals; Ela Area Public Library, Lake Zurich, IL

June 19: Midwest Road Trips; Northbrook Public Library, Northbrook, IL

July 3: Beyond Bricks & Mortar: Living Landmarks of Chicago; Mensa Annual Gathering, Chicago, IL

July 28: All Aboard the Amtrak Empire Builder; VIRTUAL – Winnetka Public Library, Winnetka, IL

August 13: Self-Publishing 101; Elmhurst Public Library, Elmhurst, IL

August 23: Local Author Fair; Elmhurst Public Library, Elmhurst, IL

August 24: Kenosha Book Festival; Studio Moonfall, Kenosha, WI

September 4: Unique Montana Attractions; Wilmette Public Library, Wilmette, IL

September 25: Beyond Bricks & Mortar: Living Landmarks of Chicago; Morton Grove Library, Morton Grove, IL


Past Appearances

Welcome to Shipshewana sign on a wagon filled with colorful flowers

January 3, 2024, 1:30pm

Travel Inspiration: Indiana Amish Country

Private Event

Shipshewana Mural.

January 4, 2024, 1pm

Travel Inspiration: Indiana Amish Country

Wilmette Public Library
1242 Wilmette Ave, Wilmette, IL

Chicago Travel and Adventure Show

January 13 & 14, 2024

Planning Your Perfect Road Trip from Chicago
Also exhibiting, so come say hi!

Chicago Travel & Adventure Show
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center

Colorful kayaks stacked on their sides on a beach under a tree with Lake Erie in the background. One of my things to do on Kelleys Island Ohio

January 16, 2024, 2pm

Road Trips from Chicago

Private Event

Joshua Tree National Park

January 17, 2024, 11:15am

A Tour of Five Unique National Parks

Private Event

January 20 & 21, 2024

Planning Your Perfect Road Trip
Also exhibiting, so come say hi!

Denver Travel & Adventure Show
Colorado Convention Center

February 3 & 4, 2024

Planning Your Perfect Road Trip
Also exhibiting, so come say hi!

Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show
Los Angeles Convention Center

Grand Prismatic Spring

February 8, 2024, 1pm

A Tour of Five Unique National Parks

Private Event

February 27, 2024, 10am

A Tour of Five Unique National Parks

Private Event

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River

March 4, 2024, 3:30pm

A Tour of Five Unique National Parks

Private Event

Atlanta Travel & Adventure Show

March 9 & 10, 2024

Planning Your Perfect Road Trip
Also exhibiting, so come say hi!

Atlanta Travel & Adventure Show
Cobb Galleria Centre

Glacier National Park

April 11, 2024, 10:30am

A Tour of Five Unique National Parks

Elmhurst Public Library
125 S Prospect Ave, Elmhurst, IL

Unbelievable beauty of Zion National Park

June 3, 2024, 10:30am

A Tour of Five Unique National Parks

Private Event

Badlands National Park - pink and blue sunset

June 12, 2024, 1pm

A Tour of Five Unique National Parks

Hinsdale Public Library

Welcome to Shipshewana sign on a wagon filled with colorful flowers

June 13 – 15, 2024

SEO for Writers

Midwest Travel Network Annual Conference, Shipshewana, IN

Sculpture Garden at Western Spirit in Old Town Scottsdale

June 20, 2024, 1pm

Scottsdale: Arts, Outdoors, and Old West

Wilmette Public Library

Middle Village Lewis & Clark

June 20, 2024, 7pm

Planning Your Perfect Road Trip

Batavia Public Library

Ostrich at Safari Lake Geneva

July 1, 2024, 3:30pm

Travel Lake Geneva

Private Event

Riviera Ballroom and Plaza, one of the many things to do in Lake Geneva

July 15, 2024, 2pm

Travel Lake Geneva

Private Event

Going to the Lake Geneva farmers market with the Lake Geneva School of Cooking. Chef John Bogan checks out the wares

August 7, 2024, 1:30pm

Travel Lake Geneva

Private Event

Amish farmer tilling his field with a horse-drawn plow

August 21, 2024, 11:15am

Indiana Amish Country

Private Event

Yellow mounds of Badlands National Park

November 18, 2024, 2pm

A Tour of Five Unique National Parks

Private Event


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