This was a tough list this year, mainly because we didn’t stay in too many spots that warrant being in anyone’s Top 5 list. I tried to save some money in London by staying at a pub, and there were some repeat stays in Las Vegas and Disney World that I didn’t bother to write about this year. That said, there were a few absolutely outstanding stays this year, and I wanted to highlight those three hotels and resorts in…
I’ve done a few reviews of high tea around Chicago and around the world on the blog, as it’s a great way to spend an afternoon while traveling and enjoying local culture. Additionally, my cousins, my mom, and I go to tea in Chicago during the holidays as a tradition that has been going for over 20 years. This year, we decided to try out the Festive Tea at the Ritz Carlton in Chicago in mid-December for a lovely holiday…
2024 was the year of big, big cities. We tackled three of the world’s biggest cities and one of the major goals in each place was to eat really incredible, hyper-local food. I think we succeeded in our quest this year, and it was tough to narrow down the top five best restaurants of the year. While the Chicago list had very few Michelin stars attached to it, our world list has a total of nine stars. I loved each…
We absolutely love food tours when we travel, as it gives us a really great way to check out some local fare, learn some history, and perhaps even explore a neighborhood we might not have otherwise check out. In London, I was keen to check out Borough Market, though felt overwhelmed with the place and decided to book a food tour through the company Eating Europe. Our tour guide was funny and knowledgable, and the tour was jammed with food…
This year, since we’ve eaten so much amazing food, I’ve decided to do two Top Five Restaurant lists – one for Chicago, and one for around the world. This year, the Top Five list for Chicago is going to be really steak heavy, but it’s all leading up to my Top Five Chicago Steakhouses list, which I hope to publish sometime in 2025. We ate really well here in Chicago this year, and I’m looking forward to another year of…
We visited The Louvre museum in Paris on our recent trip in November, 2024. Our main purpose was to see the three Caravaggio paintings housed there, which you can read all about here! Apart from the excitement of checking out these incredible paintings, most of the rest of the museum for me was a massively frustrating, and really made me question tourism, especially over-tourism, in general. I had been to the Louvre before, about 15 years ago, and when I…
Well, as usual, I’ve pretty much got the first half of 2025 all planned out already. I’ve got some Europe, some beach, and some Vegas already planned for the first six months, and I have no clue what will happen after June. More Europe for some Caravaggios? Possibly a trip to New York City? Of course, Disney World is always on the table too. First up in 2025 comes right after the New Year. Brian and I are jetting over…
I’m always looking for tours that are unusual, hyper-local, and private, in order to get the most out of our trips. I wouldn’t be caught dead in a 50-person herd following a young guide around carrying a flag or brightly-colored umbrella to make sure folks don’t get lost. I also don’t like massive commercial companies with pre-arranged impersonal tours that just always go to the same places. “WithLocals” is a European-based tour company (you will always pay in Euros) with…
During our trip to London over the summer of 2024, I really wanted to bring some history to life for the kids, and a good friend of mine suggested a Henry VIII theme which included seeing Six, the musical, and venturing out to Hampton Court Palace the next day for more context. Additionally, you can’t skip The Tower when you’re in London for the first time, so these activities all put together in one short itinerary really made history seem…
Our annual outing for Brian’s birthday usually brings us to a steakhouse in Chicago, and with seemingly zillions to choose from, there’s always something different to try. Also, I’m really trying to hone and curate my top five Chicago steakhouse list before publishing, so they are top of mind right now. We visited RPM Steak in Chicago on November 30, 2024, and were pleased with a lot of the nice, celebratory touches they added to our meal to make it…