59 articles tagged with midwest travel
As someone who's tracked disease patterns across five continents, I've developed a knack for spotting valuable resources in unexpected places. Iowa City—a modest Midwestern college town with an outsized cultural footprint—exemplifies this principle perfectly. During a recent academic conference at...
Who would have thought that tucked between Chicago and Milwaukee sits a little lakeside gem that's perfect for families looking for an affordable weekend getaway? Not me, until I stumbled upon Kenosha, Wisconsin last summer! With its gorgeous Lake Michigan...
As someone who's spent decades tracking patterns across different cultures, I've developed a sixth sense for cities with an undercurrent of creativity that runs deeper than their surface reputation. Ann Arbor is precisely that kind of place – a town...
As an anthropologist who has spent decades studying marketplaces from Andean highlands to Moroccan souks, I've developed a particular appreciation for how commercial spaces reflect cultural values and community identities. Columbus, Ohio might seem an unlikely addition to my field...
Kansas City might not top most photographers' bucket lists, but after countless hauls through America's heartland, I've discovered this Midwest gem hides photographic treasures that'll fill your memory cards faster than you can say 'barbecue.' From industrial-chic West Bottoms warehouses...
Wichita sits at the convergence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers, creating a microclimate that's particularly fascinating in fall when the continental air masses begin their seasonal shift. I've tracked weather patterns across 43 states, but Kansas holds a...
There's something deeply restorative about Minnesota's waters—a quality I've come to appreciate after years of chasing architectural wonders across continents. Saint Cloud, nestled along the Mississippi River and surrounded by pristine lakes, offers families a refreshing escape that balances natural...
Indianapolis has long been typecast as merely a convention hub and racing capital, but after five academic conferences here over the past decade, I've discovered a city with surprising cultural depth and understated charm. The compact downtown layout makes it...
Man, I never thought I'd be writing about Brookings, South Dakota, but this little prairie town completely blindsided me with its charm! While passing through on a cross-country fitness workshop tour, what was meant to be a quick overnight turned...
As someone who's scaled Himalayan peaks and danced through Latin American festivals, I never expected to find such charm in the heart of America's breadbasket. Yet here I was in Salina, Kansas—a place most travelers zoom past on I-70—discovering that...
Though my travels typically take me through textile villages in rural India or ancient markets along the Mediterranean coast, last month found me in the heart of America's Midwest—Indianapolis. My sister relocated there with her two children last year, and...
You've probably heard of Mitchell's Corn Palace—that quirky agricultural shrine covered in corn murals that makes it onto those 'America's oddest attractions' lists. But after three decades developing commercial spaces in Buffalo's revival, I've learned that every small city has...
The moment I stepped onto Racine's Main Street, the sweet aroma of butter-layered pastry transported me across the Atlantic to European bakeries I've frequented on business trips. This modest Wisconsin city, nestled along Lake Michigan between Chicago and Milwaukee, harbors...
The Mississippi River stretched before me like a ribbon of copper in the late afternoon sun, its banks aflame with autumn foliage. Standing at the edge of Munsinger Gardens, I took a deep breath of crisp Minnesota air and felt...
The forecast for Independence, Missouri: 100% chance of family fun with historical thunderclaps that'll rumble through your kids' imagination. As someone who traded spreadsheets for cloud patterns at 25, I've found that places with deep historical roots often have the...