Travel microtrend: Creative sabbaticals in tier-2 cities
Forget Paris. Ditch Tulum. A growing tribe of creatives is heading off the beaten track—not to unplug, but to reboot. Enter the creative sabbatical…
Devon Avenue Chicago: A cultural & food Lover’s walk through Little India
Updated April 2025. Chicago is a fascinating city, a true melting pot. And it’s always a shame to me if someone doesn’t experience the diversity of its neighborhoods and local hangouts. I used to conduct neighborhood tours all over the city, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t share some…
AI for personal travel: Smarter getaways, less planning stress
From spontaneous weekend escapes to month-long workcations, artificial intelligence is quietly becoming the go-to for travelers who want flexibility and personalization, without spending hours in browser tabs. Every day I’m finding some new tool to save time creating itineraries, or suggesting great neighborhoods. Here’s how AI is making vacations smoother,…
New Orleans without the beads: Food and voodoo tours
If a city is known for its hard-partying atmosphere, I usually go in the opposite direction: What else is there to do? How’s the food? What do the locals do? I’m rarely disappointed and bonus: No hangovers. As it turns out, doing this in NOLA is pretty easy. Great food…
Life gets in the way – or why I haven’t written in 8 months
So I haven’t written for a hot second – at least that’s what I’m calling the last eight months – and I hate that…
Serendipity, the Women’s Museum and the Liberty Station Public Market crown San Diego trip
So many of my travels end up being serendipitous: There are things I must see, but I always walk a lot and end up finding a city’s charm not found in a guidebook. This was my experience after speaking at Wordcamp San Diego, held at the amazing Liberty Station. Formerly a Naval Training…
8 not-to-be-missed Raleigh, North Carolina spots
I’ve been meaning to get to Raleigh, North Carolina forever. Besides visiting friends in the area, I’ve heard endlessly about their amazing barbecue and southern charm and hospitality. In the end, five days was not enough (is it ever?) and I came back happy (and probably weighing a bit more…).…
Three hours and Ben Franklin: Context Tours Philadelphia
To be honest, I had heard enough about the Revolutionary War and the original colonies back in school. I wasn’t too excited to revisit the birthplace of democracy. I was looking forward to exploring the modern-day foodie and neighborhood haunts of Philadelphia. Enter Context Tours and the Benjamin Franklin Seminar. It’s billed as…
Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market delights every tastebud
I love public markets. Whether it’s Milwaukee’s Public Market or San Diego’s Liberty Station Market or Chicago’s French Market, I’m always ridiculously excited by…
Head off car problems with Good Sam Roadside Assistance
Car breakdowns, blown tires and accidents are always a (dreaded) possibility when you drive. As summer road trips and the inevitability of my driving everywhere ramps up (I am not staying in the house in the summer!), I want better protection in case I have a roadside emergency. I’ve had…