Get Your History on Tap

Liz Garibay Creates Authentic Tours to View History Through the Lens of Alcohol Many a successful business originated from a passion project. So what happens when you have two passions—that don’t necessarily seem like they go together—like drinking and history? In the case of Liz Garibay, you create History on Tap. Garibay blended her love…

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The Speakeasy Makes a Comeback | Swordfish Tom’s

The term “speakeasy” is thrown about quite a bit these days. Odd, in a sense, because the meaning of the word represents Prohibition, when speakeasies were secret drinking places, hidden away, offering an illegal chance to partake. So how has the term suddenly become so popular again? Read Jill’s article in Old Liquors Magazine.

6 Places to Get Pickled in Ann Arbor, Michigan

This Food-Conscious City Embraces a Variety of Methods for Fermentation. Between the yogurt commercials promoting a flat belly to the numerous health claims made by physicians and holistic practitioners, you have no doubt heard about probiotics—or the “good” bacteria—found in fermented foods. Some research says that these good bacteria, particularly those in our gut, may…

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A Lesson in the History of Antique Barware

I learn so much on my travels. In Alexandria, Virginia, I was fortunate to get a lesson in antique barware and how you can tell what period a piece is from based on what was going on in the world at the time. Here, Victoria Vergason, owner of The Hour, shares some insights. Read the…

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A Saturday Morning in Kansas City

Spring is the perfect opportunity to get out and explore Kansas City. Thanks to the KC Streetcar, you can spend a Saturday morning with a trolley ride from Union Station to the City Market, enjoy brunch at The Farmhouse, a farm-to-table restaurant, walk and shop the City Market, then return to Union Station for a…

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Want Less Fear, More Joy? Take the Next Step

I stepped off the train into a blizzard. As I stood there trying to figure out where to go, I heard the conductor’s cry of All Aboard!, and knew I would soon be left to fend for myself. Yet fear never entered my consciousness. Instead, fully immersed in the moment and its requirements, I took the next step.

A Lesson in Breeding Mason Bees

It was a vibrant spring morning as Eliza, the owner of Best Kept Secret B&B in Glenwood Springs, CO, brought out containers filled with bamboo canes. Burrowed inside these canes were Mason bees, ready to be released from their cocoons.  Kept in the refrigerator all winter to protect them from predators, and so the bees wouldn’t accidentally get…

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Why Would I Go To New Orleans Alone?

A light rain started as I climbed through the window to the balcony of my room at the Hotel Maison de Ville in New Orleans. I felt like a teenager sneaking out after dark for a secret tryst. The air was thick with humidity and the rain broke some of the day’s heat, if only briefly. There was an overhang on the balcony, so I sat outside, feet propped on a table, drinking a cafĂ© au lait and watching the revelers just one block over on Bourbon Street.

Train Travel: It’s All About The Journey

Life on the train is sleepy; it’s a casual pace that allows for reflection and connection to others. This leisurely pace provides a luxury I rarely enjoy–my biggest choice being whether I lay curled in my seat, gazing out the window, or go to the observation car and meet other travelers. I enjoy both options, but…

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Solo Travel: The First Step is the Hardest

“I think I’m going to throw up.” It was 10 o’clock at night and we had just arrived at the train station. The nerves and excitement that got me through the days of planning and packing for this first journey of the USA by rail had turned to dread. My friend pulled into the circle…

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9 Spectacular Places to Eat in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe is renowned as a food-lovers heaven, with New Mexican cuisine leading as Archangel. The food is spicy, vibrant, flavorful and oh-so-delicious. The quality, whether New Mexican or standard American fare, is outstanding. Could it be the altitude? On my first visit in January, I commented to a friend that the salads tasted alive…

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3 Days in Door County, Wisconsin-Itinerary

Day 1 Check-in Open Hearth Lodge. Start with Breakfast at the White Gull Inn—It could be a story from modern-day Silicon Valley: a middle-aged professional gives up his lucrative practice and moves to a quaint village to become an innkeeper. Except that it happened in 1896. Now owned by Jan and Andy Coulson, The White Gull…

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Texas Hill Country restaurant recognized for its 100 percent Texas wine list

CABERNET GRILL NAMED ONE OF AMERICA’S “100 BEST WINE RESTAURANTS” BY WINE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE One of the first restaurants to feature a 100 percent Texas wine list and currently boasting the nation’s largest selection of Texas wines on a restaurant list, Cabernet Grill has been named one of “America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants for 2018”…

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Glamping experiences around the US for campers who hate roughing it

WHEN IT COMES TO CAMPING, you usually fall into one of two groups: either you love it or you hate it. Those who love it can’t wait to escape to nature, breathe fresh air, and partake in outdoor adventures. If you fall into the other camp, though, the thought of sleeping on the ground, fighting off insects,…

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Take a Tour of Wine Road 290 in Texas Hill Country

The Fredericksburg, Texas, wine region, boasting more than two dozen wineries, is one of the most visited wine areas in the United States. With up to 5 million visitors each year, the area is second only to Napa. The entire Texas Hill Country is home to more than 45 wineries and vineyards, with Fredericksburg as…

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Sports and Outdoor Adventure: Kansas City, Kansas, Itinerary

After back-to-back trips to Fredericksburg, Chattanooga, and Chicago, I was looking forward to some downtime close to home. Fortunately, a chance to explore my own backyard presented itself. June 2-4 I’ll visit Kansas City, KS, and enjoy many activities that, even as a lifelong resident, I’ve never tried. Sporting activities like Kansas City T-Bones, Sporting…

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How to Plan a Road Trip Adventure on a Small Budget

Guest post by Sam Casteris.  We all need a break every now and then. Taking a trip with your favorite people in the world is a perfect way to forget about the stresses of life. We understand that not everyone can afford an off the cuff trip to an exotic island but taking a road trip…

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Chattanooga, Tennessee Itinerary

Here’s a preview of my media visit to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Follow along vicariously, or, use the information to plan your next visit to the city named by Lonely Planet as the “Best in the U.S.” and one of “10 U.S. destinations you need to see in 2018.” Monday, April 30 Depart via Delta from Kansas…

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My New Favorite Travel Accessory

I have a new favorite travel accessory. Around Christmas time, I was reading an article on travel pillows when I came across a review of the Tumi Patrol Packable Travel Puffer Jacket. I’m always on the lookout for the ultimate travel accessory, especially if it has multiple uses and saves luggage space.

The Natural Wine Movement

The Natural Wine Movement: A discussion with Henry Feltmeyer, wine manager of Mike’s Wine & Spirits in Kansas City, Missouri #wine #kansascity #naturalwinemovement