Being a Local Tourist in Elgin Illinois
Straddling the Fox River about 40 miles northwest of Chicago, Elgin is a city rich with history, art, shopping, and the great outdoors. Dining and drinking options abound, and while …
How to Host a Virtual Dinner Party
If you’re missing dining out with your friends, Alan Ortiz has tips – and a checklist! – on how to host a virtual dinner party. Originally published on Your Chicago …
How to “Travel” while you’re safe at home
While we can’t physically go somewhere right now, there are lots of creative ways to travel at home. Here are some ideas & virtual experiences. If you’re like me, wanderlust …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 25 – the Center of the World
I’m a morning person. My grandma loves to tell people that even when I was a baby I’d wake up smiling. A previous roommate had a no-talking rule until she’d …
Yuma Territorial Prison Museum: A High School Full of Criminals
Step inside Yuma Territorial Prison Museum, one of the most feared places in the American Southwest.
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 23 – How to Grow a Date
Dates are incredibly labor-intensive to grow, and we got the scoop at Martha’s Gardens Date Farm in Yuma, Arizona.
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 19 – Ghost Towns and an Enchanting Excursion
All aboard! See what it’s like to ride a heritage excursion train near Sedona, Arizona.
The Singing Road and Stuff Carved Into Rocks
Finding a Route 66 treasure and carvings from long ago.
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 12 – Meeting the Greatest Generation
Previous: Chapter 11 – Camping Should be a Pre-Marriage Requirement The drive into Albuquerque was an endless stream of giant yellow billboards extolling the many virtues of the Flying C …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 10 – Surviving I-40 with Buried Cars, a Blue Hole, and a Big Hunk
Previous: Chapter 9 – Texas is Huge. Canyons are Deep. Turkeys are Jerks. There are no two ways around it: I-40 through the Texas panhandle is a beast. That’s primarily …
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge – Half a Billion Years in the Making
This beautiful, magical place is located in southwestern Oklahoma and is home to bison, Texas long horns, and other wildlife.
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 1: Chapter 5 – Perseverance and Silver Linings
Previous: Chapter 4: Big Cats and Bigger Hearts As we left Bentonville I was a touch trepidatious about the next leg of our journey. It was Sunday. We left Friday. …