Hudson: Hot Air Affair for balloonists
People in Hudson have been playing pirate for a few months now. Learning about the life of pirates was a lesson in musical storytelling at […]
Articles by Mary Bergin
EAA museum gains astronaut’s treasures
Encased in glass is a two-page letter, neatly typed and labeled confidential. It was written in the 1960s to explain why it was unwise to […]
Take Twelve: All in good taste for 2018
Lots of us have an appetite for the memorable when away from home, and sometimes we quell it with food. We remember – long after […]
Take Ten: Alluring lodging of 2018
Sleeping around is part of a travel writer’s job, and the end of a year is my time to review the wide variety of places […]
Sip-n-purr: Cat yoga in Milwaukee
Yogis, I know of a place that will deepen your downward dog with a bunch of uppity cats. Uppity, adorable cats. Sip and Purr, on […]
‘150 Bars’ book: unique places to take a swig
Prohibition ended nationwide 85 years ago, as of this month, so now is a particularly appropriate time to hoist that hot toddy. Comfort and familiarity […]
Take Twelve: Holiday light shows
Electrifying: That’s one way to describe this time of year. With the arrival of December and dusk comes stupendous light shows to celebrate this season […]
Ultimate Eats: Savoring food as culture
Food is an easy, on-target introduction to a location’s cultural roots, and a new book latches onto must-try dishes when traveling the world. “Ultimate Eats: […]
New: retreat, fun park, plays, bike trips
Here’s to the new, as in partnerships, transitions, decisions and distinctions in the world of close-to-home travel. — Wild Rice, the fine-dining restaurant near Bayfield, […]
Safe travels: what to know before you go
I register with the U.S. State Department before international travel to an area whose safety status is unknown to me. The free STEP – Smart […]
Reader mail: supper clubs, Itasca, custard
It’s been months since we dipped into the reader mailbag. Time to sift and winnow. — The Goldmoor Inn, near Galena, Ill., has gained loyal […]
Chicago Detours: Get to know the neighborhoods
One way to get to know a city is through its attractions – the monuments, museums, biggest and best local marks of distinction. We seek […]
Take Twelve: Halloween haunts, carnival to saloon
Time for another ghoulishly good time as the approach of Halloween brings out goblins and gore galore. Haunted houses aren’t the only option for scaring […]
Detroit auto tours: from Model T to modern-day robotics
Henry Ford didn’t invent the automobile, but he gets credit for putting the world on wheels and Detroit on the map as a leader in […]
German-born master chef takes over Black Forest, Three Lakes
As most U.S. teens were just learning to drive, 15-year-old Marcel Biro was a world away, navigating culinary school. The year: 1988. The place: East […]
What’s new: arts venue, football show, red panda cub, more
As weather cools and beaches close, there is little reason to stay home and be bored. Check out these enticements for close-to-home travel. — Pablo […]
Archie’s Waeside in Iowa: citadel of American beef cookery
In a modest residential area – near farmland, railroad tracks and tall grain storage silos – is an almost-full parking lot at 5:30 p.m. on […]
Two Take Tens: for Green Bay Packers fans
We are high above ground and just below the signature “G” that looms 40 feet tall and 60 feet wide. No point in Green Bay […]
Coming soon: Great River Road Trips
My nine-part series about Great River Road Trips is being turned into a mini e-book, and I will point you to details when it’s ready. […]
New books: Great Lakes biking, Chicago fun, Iowa food
On my desk is a growing stack of recently released books, and I crave time to delve into them. The arrival of summer should make […]