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The Local Tourist

Experience the fascination of a tourist; Feel the comfort of the local

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  • Travel the U.S.A.
    • The Midwest
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
      • Kansas
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Missouri
      • Nebraska
      • South Dakota
      • Wisconsin
    • The South
      • Arkansas
      • Mississippi
      • North Carolina
      • Oklahoma
      • Texas
    • The West
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Mexico
      • Utah
      • Wyoming
  • Travel Tips
    • Travel Now
  • Road Trips
    • Two Lane Gems
  • Cultural Travel
    • Arts and Culture
    • Attractions
    • Food and Drink
    • History
    • People
    • Roadside Attractions
  • Great Outdoors
    • Camping
    • Hiking and Active Travel
    • U.S. National Parks
  • Shop TLT
    • Travel Two Lane Gems
  • Contact
  • Work with TLT
  • Travel Writing
Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge

Theresa Goodrich

The National Road

50 Tips for Planning an AMAZING Road Trip

Anxious to hit the road? Check out these tips for planning your perfect driving adventure.

50 Tips for Planning an AMAZING Road TripRead More

Driving along the Mississippi River on the Great River Road, one of the many scenic drives featured in Midwest Road Trip Adventures, an upcoming anthology from members of the Midwest Travel Network

A Dozen States, Dozens of Scenic Drives: Announcing Midwest Road Trip Adventures

Explore scenic drives in the heartland of America with experts from the Midwest Travel Network.

A Dozen States, Dozens of Scenic Drives: Announcing Midwest Road Trip AdventuresRead More

Highland Restaurant and Lounge 289 at Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa, photo credit Jim Goodrich

Fresh Air and Fine Feasting at Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa

Need to get away? With delicious dining and lots of great outdoors, Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa fits the bill. We pulled out of the driveway. Suitcases in the trunk. Cooler in the back seat. GPS telling us where to go. Grins plastered on our faces. ROAD TRIP! It had been awhile since Mr. TLT …

Fresh Air and Fine Feasting at Eagle Ridge Resort and SpaRead More

Wayside exhibit and billboard at the Dwight Illinois Visitor Center on Route 66

An Illinois Road Trip Adventure: Route 66

What it’s like to drive the Illinois stretch of the Mother Road solo, and in one day.

An Illinois Road Trip Adventure: Route 66Read More

Hummingbird stopped in flight

Diary of a Cockeyed Optimist: I’m not fine. But I will be.

I went to the doctor for what I thought would be a routine checkup. Not that I would recognize a routine checkup if I saw one. I hadn’t been to a doctor (except for two emergency room visits, one after being mugged and one after falling off a racing camel. Now that’s a story for …

Diary of a Cockeyed Optimist: I’m not fine. But I will be.Read More

Sign marking the beginning of Route 66

An Illinois Road Trip Adventure

When my alarm dinged at five I’d already been up for an hour and a half. Not by choice. I was anxious and excited. That day I would leave to drive four of Illinois’ scenic byways. During a pandemic. I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t even really know how I was going to …

An Illinois Road Trip AdventureRead More

Free Illinois COVID-19 Testing Site in Rolling Meadows

Diary of a Cockeyed Optimist: Why I Got Tested for COVID-19

What it’s like to get tested at a free Illinois COVID-19 Testing Site Since the seriousness of COVID-19 began to hit home mid-March, Mr. TLT and I have been cautious. We’ve limited our outings to grocery shopping, a couple of curbside pickups at Julie Ann’s Frozen Custard, walks on the Prairie Trail and an occasional …

Diary of a Cockeyed Optimist: Why I Got Tested for COVID-19Read More

Must Have List of Road Trip Essentials

Don’t leave home without these necessary items.

Must Have List of Road Trip EssentialsRead More

Governor Dodge State Park

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 35 – Home

Almost. I should say almost home. Technically, we were still in Wisconsin and needed to get to Illinois. If you wanted to get truly technical, we still had no home at all. Whatever. We were close. We took our time breaking down camp that morning. We tried to take a hike, but we got about …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 35 – HomeRead More

TLG Bike Riding and taking a selfie

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 34 – Onalaska to Governor Dodge State Park

Home. That’s what I felt as we rode our bikes on the Great River State Trail. Home. I loved the unrestrained and extreme beauty of the west, the sheer extravagance of the earth’s upheaval, the power of an ever-changing landscape. It was one “wow” after another. But as we rode our bikes along the Mississippi …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 34 – Onalaska to Governor Dodge State ParkRead More

Spam Museum in Austin, MN

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 33 – Eden Prairie to Onalaska

I love the big puffy clouds,” I said, “when they’re not dropping stuff.” I’d officially hit the loopy stage. That’s OK. We were getting closer to “home” with every mile. In two more days we’d be back in Illinois and then we could rest. BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, my. Anyway… Day 33’s agenda was light. We drove …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 33 – Eden Prairie to OnalaskaRead More

World's Largest Buffalo in Jamestown North Dakota

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 32 – Jamestown to Eden Prairie

Everything looks better in the morning. Jim called Hertz and extended our rental. With his mellifluous tones, empathy, and patience, our problem was solved and we had some breathing room. We had to be back by July 3, but that was four days away and those two extra days meant everything. We checked out of …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 32 – Jamestown to Eden PrairieRead More

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