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Chicago, that tippling town
The first rule of business — any business — is this: Do what you do well. And what Chicago does well is drink. Oh, there are...
Get the full story >>Four Seasons unveils a gallerylike makeover
It's easy to mistake the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago's new seventh-floor lobby for a gallery. The off-white walls act like a canvas to pieces...
Get the full story >>Waldorf Astoria preserves Elysian luxury
As they say across the pond, "The King is dead! Long live the King!"
Get the full story >>The I-70 reality behind Missouri's TV darlin'
Truck-stop reality might not strike a lot of people as having TV potential, but when the Travel Channel happened upon a place off Exit 121...
Get the full story >>A Chicago tradition from presidents to gangsters
Chicago is home to many historic hotels, but few may be as storied as the Blackstone. Twelve presidents — from Taft to Carter —...
Get the full story >>Indy tips for Super Bowl visitors
Where to start? Off the plane (about a 15-minute ride to downtown), I'd head to St. Elmo Steak House (127 S. Illinois St.), where the...
Get the full story >>Milwaukee's indoor 'mountain'
If you can ride a two-wheeler, you're qualified to hit the timber and rock "trails" at Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park in Milwaukee. But...
Get the full story >>Chicago fares well in TripAdvisor hotel rankings; Elysian named best in U.S.
There isn't a travel magazine, book series or web site that doesn't release a "best of" or "worst of" list every now and then, and...
Get the full story >>Iowa polishes its Frank Lloyd Wright gem
This town of 28,000 knew it had something special in the world's last standing Frank Lloyd Wright-designed hotel, but it also had a problem....
Get the full story >>Milwaukee mansion doors open wide
At the turn of the 20th century, Milwaukee was in its heyday. Its thriving breweries, tanneries and manufacturers provided good jobs, and...
Get the full story >>Kohler is awash in history, but that's not the best part
If the words "company town" bring to mind mean-spirited, penny-pinching bosses bereft of benevolence, then it's unfair to use that term to...
Get the full story >>The jolly old soul of Pomeroy
As Leonard Olson turned a piece of exotic wood on his lathe, he easily could have been mistaken for Santa Claus, what with that bushy...
Get the full story >>Old World landmark reborn in the Loop
Hotel Burnham possesses an Old World style and grace that could put any modern-day skyscraper to shame. Designed by Daniel Burnham's firm...
Get the full story >>Radisson tries to distinguish itself with style with Blue Aqua Hotel
The first thing you notice when entering the new Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel is what you don't see: a check-in desk. It's there, but it's shoved...
Get the full story >>When in New Glarus, drink New Glarus beer
In this south-central Wisconsin town best known for its namesake brewery, I figured there must be a downtown bar dedicated to late-night...
Get the full story >>A Hyatt boutique
While nowhere as big as its local Hyatt brethren, this upscale boutique hotel oozes cool the moment you step into its dark, mahogany-toned...
Get the full story >>For nonsports fans, Indianapolis has plenty on the ball
At its heart, Indianapolis is a sports town. You can't talk about auto racing without mentioning the Indianapolis 500. The NCAA has its...
Get the full story >>Big suites with a view
Whether you're an executive or a family of four, the Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown-Lakefront has everything you need for a stay in the...
Get the full story >>Detroit's artistic side
Bright lights, big city: An evening view of downtown Detroit from Woodward Avenue. Think you know the city? Think again.
Get the full story >>A grand place on the North Shore of Lake Superior
GRAND MARAIS, Minn. — Sandwiched between the magnificence of Lake Superior and the Sawtooth Mountains, Grand Marais seems ho-hum....
Get the full story >>The Drake Hotel: Slice of classic Chicago
The neon-pink sign beaming above Lake Shore Drive says it all: The Drake. Few hotels are as audacious. And fewer are as storied (it has a...
Get the full story >>Cleopatra's day off in Milwaukee
Unlike previous touring exhibits celebrating the life and lore of Cleopatra VII, the artifacts displayed at "Cleopatra: The Search for the...
Get the full story >>A sojourn in temperance country
With its pastoral setting, the BoatHouse Restaurant makes the perfect place to enjoy lunch or dinner while swans drift by on Winona Lake.
Get the full story >>Off-season at the beach has its appeal
F. Scott Fitzgerald doesn't tell us the time of year when Jim Gatz rows out to Dan Cody's yacht and transforms himself into "The Great...
Get the full story >>Making sense of a deadly inferno in Wisconsin
Was the Great Chicago Fire on the night of Oct. 8, 1871, really caused by one of Kate O'Leary's cows knocking over a lantern? One hundred...
Get the full story >>Hit the road for dashes of color
The Midwest is entering that blaze-of-glory season before throwing on that big white winter blanket. If you're a dedicated leaf viewer or...
Get the full story >>Fall color hot lines
If you're looking to fill your need for fall color, here's where to check out conditions across the Midwest.
Get the full story >>Heavenly solitude off Door County
For someone looking for peace and solitude, the cover of stars and the rhythms of Lake Michigan, this park is a paradise in shoulder seasons...
Get the full story >>A European feel on the Gold Coast
A shimmering prism of glass standing in the heart of the Gold Coast, the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower offers guests a modern hotel with a...
Get the full story >>Michigan cider mill authentic to the core
Dexter Cider Mill has had only three owners. A stone and wooden shack perched on the Huron River, it was founded in 1886 by a Civil War...
Get the full story >>Little Fort Atkinson acts bigger
I've been trying to think of the term for that particular experience of entering a seemingly small space only to discover it's much larger....
Get the full story >>Back to Lincoln's Springfield
This is an excellent time to reprise the family journey, with Lincoln sure to be big on history tests this school year because of the...
Get the full story >>Spring Green, then and now
In September 1984, my boyfriend and I set off by car in a steady, cool rain for a long weekend in Spring Green, Wis. It was our first trip...
Get the full story >>Urban Oasis condo at Trump Chicago tower
HGTV is putting final touches on its latest Urban Oasis home. The condo will be the prize in an HGTV contest through Oct. 7.
Get the full story >>Sheboygan for the weekend
"Of all places for you to go on vacation, why Sheboygan?" my friend asked when I explained that I was planning to take my 5-year-old away...
Get the full story >>Boutique hotel has all the extras
Steps away from the Magnificent Mile sits the Affinia Chicago, but that's not the most attractive trait of this boutique hotel. What's...
Get the full story >>Holiday World to add record-setting water coaster - again
Holiday World's new ride for next year is essentially the same ride the Indiana theme park added last year.
Get the full story >>Dinner with the Indiana Amish
SHIPSHEWANA, Ind. — Like a memorable scene from the movie "Witness," the red and white tractor-trailer rig seems almost alien as it...
Get the full story >>Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Indiana
Every year, Whiting, IN, celebrates Polish heritage and stuffed pastries with a festival drawing nearly 200,000 visitors.
Get the full story >>Palomar goes for luxury
With the Palomar, the latest addition to its Chicago line, Kimpton eschews the chic boutique concept for more luxury than one would expect....
Get the full story >>The great indoors of Missouri
When asked to guess the most popular tourist attraction in Missouri, even non-Midwesterners probably could make some educated guesses.
Get the full story >>What the pros know: Foodie faves
If you're searching for an intriguing getaway with local color and fabulous fare, take your cues from the experts. Here are some tried-and-...
Get the full story >>Celebrity chef, road warrior Anthony Bourdain
The celebrity New York chef travels the world to discover its most exotic dishes. You can catch him on the Travel Channel's "No...
Get the full story >>A prison stay with exit privileges
Travelers with a curiosity about our corrections system can tour cells, see an electric chair and inspect a gas chamber at facilities in...
Get the full story >>Hemingway would have loved this lodge
Even if you're not the outdoorsy type, the natural beauty of the Torstenson lodge and surrounding wildlife can easily lure you in — or...
Get the full story >>Tangled up in Kickapoo
For longtime pals Dave and Rob and I, it is time for the annual guys' weekend, an escape to the illusory wilderness that Wisconsin often...
Get the full story >>Oh, yes, the Peninsula is that good
This River North gem embodies opulence, a hotel that knows how to cater to every need without appearing gaudy or flashy. Starting at 530...
Get the full story >>Fill in the gaps of your family history in Fort Wayne
One of the nation's most complete and important family history research sites, the facility draws visitors from across the country.
Get the full story >>Summer fun in Illinois
Summer travelers can enjoy budget-friendly events and attractions right here in their home state, just a short drive away. Here are some...
Get the full story >>Chicagoland hotels: Fancy and fanciful
Part of a series of hotel reviews: In just five years, The James Chicago has established itself as one of Chicago's most popular hotels,...
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