Come January in Denver, it’s not uncommon to see spurs, steers, ropes, saddles, and cowboy boots in and around town. Each winter, the city of Denver sheds it’s modern image for a glimpse of its past when the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo takes over the city.

Now in its 107th year, the Stock Show is a long running Denver tradition and the largest event of its kind in the country. In 1906, the event started as just a gathering of stockmen gathering to buy, sell, and trade breeding stock for their herds of cattle. Stockyards were set up, prizes were awarded for the top cattle, and deals were made. From that modest beginning, the event has morphed into a city-wide spectacle, complete with a carnival, parties, and even the surreal sight of a parade of livestock marching through the canyons of the downtown Denver skyscrapers.

Today, most visitors are not coming to buy or sell livestock, but rather to soak in a little Western culture. The stockyards still play a major part in the event, but more and more casual visitors are spending their time in the exhibition halls. The halls are filled with retailers selling art, clothing, leather goods, and handicrafts – all with a Western bent.

And the livestock exhibitions have moved far beyond cattle. Sheep, horses, pigs, goats, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, chinchillas – if it can be domesticated and bred, chances are that it is being showcased at the Stock Show. Children are even encouraged to get in on the action by bringing their livestock raised on their farms for competitions where ‘best-in-show’ is awarded.

Entertainment has also become a major component of the event, with horse shows and a full blown rodeo attracting crowds who pack the nearby Denver Colosseum. Bull riding, bucking broncos, calf roping, and other traditional rodeo events make up one of the largest indoor rodeos in the world. But my personal favorite event is the mutton busting – in which children cling tightly to the wool of sheep and hang on for as long as they can. The event has gained popularity all around the world, but started at the National Western Stock Show in the 1980′s.

The show has become a boon for Denver and the state of Colorado. The show annually attracts well over a half-million visitors, many coming from other states or even internationally to take part in the events. It is a signature event for the city of Denver and the Rocky Mountain region. But perhaps more importantly, the event helps anchor the city in its western roots.

Today, modern steel and glass buildings watch over the stockyards and the residents of Denver are far more occupied with the latest composite ski technology or how the Denver Broncos played the previous Sunday. But for 12 days each Winter, the city pays homage to its heritage. Instead of worrying about the latest pair of skis, leather saddles become the focus. And the only broncos people are concerned with are the ones trying to buck the cowboys off their backs. For 12 days each Winter, the old West lives again in Denver.

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Today, I’m examining Kauai, the garden island, and the northwestern most island in the main Hawaiian chain.

Don’t Be Tied Down

Size wise, Kauai is the smallest of the four major Hawaiian Islands (Big Island, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai). But despite its small size, it can be difficult to get around the island. As the least trafficked of the four major islands, infrastructure on Kauai isn’t quite like the other islands, and ‘highway’ on Kauai might mean a twisting and turning jungle road with a speed limit of 25 mph.

Add to this the absence of a ring road (of which the other major islands all have) and this makes getting around the island difficult. If you don’t plan carefully, you can spend more time in your car getting from place to place than experiencing the island.

Instead, take advantage of Kauai’s dispersed cities and stay in different places each night. One night on the north shore in towns like Princeville or Hanalei, one night in the east coast population center of Kapa’a, and one night south on the beaches of Poipu allow visitors to use the island’s geography to their advantage. Checking in and checking out allows visitors to break the island up into smaller, more manageable chunks. I booked my nights at properties across the island on my favorite vacation rental service, FlipKey.

Plan for Rain

Kauai is one of the wettest places on earth, with some spots on the island receiving over 460 inches of rain on average in some parts of the island. Even during short stays, visitors are likely to encounter a little (or big) rain shower. There’s no doubt that Kauai and Hawaii in general are outdoor destinations. But a little rain shouldn’t damper a Hawaiian vacation – there is still plenty to do in Kauai when the sky opens up.

Many of the botanic gardens provide lush environments covered by dense forest canopy, making them perfect to explore during a light rain. Plus the flatter lighting and water droplets can make for some excellent flower pictures.

There are also plenty of unique shops and art galleries in the small towns ringing Kauai’s coast. Hanapepe is a favorite for visitors. It’s a historic sugar mill town that maintains an old fashioned Hawaiian charm. The Talk Story bookstore in Hanapepe is an excellent place to wait out the rain while browsing through books from local authors or talking to the quirky owner while scratching the resident cat under the chin.

If all other options are exhausted and the rain is still pouring, there’s always the option of surfing, snorkeling, or just playing in the waves. Might as well embrace the water.

Take to the Skies

Helicopter tours are popular on every Hawaiian island, and Kauai is no exception. During my trips to Hawaii, I knew I wanted to take a helicopter tour on one island, and to me Kauai seems like the best place to do it.

The island is small enough that you can see all the highlights in an hour, and there is plenty of dramatic scenery to behold. Plus, the famous Jurassic Park helicopter scenes were filmed on Kauai. If that’s not reason enough to do it, then I don’t know what is!

So much of the island is inaccessible through any other method of transportation, with 90% only visible by air. The chopper took us over secret beaches, mountains covered in verdant rainforest, and into the Waimea Canyon, referred to as ‘the Grand Canyon of the Pacific’. It’s amazing to see the diversity found on such a small island.

The highlight of the tour is soaring along the stunning Na’Pali Coast, a jagged series of jungle-covered ridges arching out into the Pacific Ocean.

Strut With The Locals

It’s always good to meet some of the locals when you travel and in Kauai, it’s nearly impossible not to encounter some of the noisy, feathered locals that call this island home. Wild chickens are everywhere in Kauai – pecking on the side of the road, high-stepping through the sand at the beaches, and causing noise wherever they go with the loud rooster crows that ring through Kauai.

Legend holds that when Hurricane Iniki came through in 1992, it knocked over several chicken coops setting the birds free. They have since flourished on the island and have simultaneously become a symbol of Kauai while being loathed by islanders who are kept up at night by their calls.

Rise for the Sun

Kauai is one of the few Hawaiian Islands that has relatively little development (or even access) to its west coast, which makes catching the beautiful Hawaiian sunset relatively difficult and time consuming for most visitors – especially those with a short time span in which to experience the island. But there is hope – the sunrises in Kauai are just as spectacular, and much easier to experience if you’re willing to get up a little early.

Thankfully for mainland visitors, the Hawaiian timezone is a few hours behind meaning most visitors are up before sunrise until their bodies adjust to the time change. Head out to places like Shipwreck Beach, Lydgate Park, or anywhere along the Coconut Coast to witness the spectacular colors of a Kauai sunrise.

Catch The Birds at Kilauea

An old lighthouse on the northern coast of Kauai now makes for an excellent vantage point for one of the most spectacular wildlife shows on all the Hawaiian Islands. Kilouea Point National Wildlife Refuge is the nesting site for many sea birds who fill the skies above the lighthouse, cruising the thermals out above the vast Pacific Ocean. Albatrosses, boobies, frigate birds, and shearwaters leap off of dramatic cliffs in search of their next meal from the sea below.

On the ground, the Hawaiian Goose or nene is commonly encountered. Nene were recently brought back from the brink of extinction. At their lowest point, only 30 geese remained making them the rarest goose in the world. Human hunting along with introduced predators such as mongooses and cats decimated the populations. Thankfully, a successful breeding program has reintroduced the geese. They’re still quite difficult to see, but a visit to Kauai, (and Kilauea in particular) is an almost guaranteed opportunity to see one.

I’ll be wrapping up my series with a post all about the Big Island next!

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Imagine hurtling down a massive mountain, carving the edge of your skis or snowboard into fresh white powder, negotiating through a field of moguls, or catching air off a rolling hill.

Now imagine that experience set against the starry night Rocky Mountain sky and you can begin to understand the thrill of night skiing at Keystone. Where other resorts shut down their lifts around 4:00 as the sun sets behind the rocky peaks, Keystone turns on the lights and keeps the lifts running until 8:00. And last weekend, I had my first chance to experience snowboarding under the night sky.

With 15 slopes and Keystone’s massive terrain park open for night skiing, there is plenty of variety for all types of skiiers and snowboarders.

The slopes were blissfully empty compared to the relative crush of people that can be found on Keystone’s slopes during the day, especially during the holiday season. The wide open runs provided plenty of room for carving wide, picking up speed, and taking the mountain at my preferred pace – fast.

Lift lines during night skiing are practically non-existant, and when paired with the speed of which I was able to get down the mountain, I was able to cover almost as many vertical feet in two hours of night skiing as I am in a full day of skiing with the crowds.

photo credit Peter Guyan

So what’s the downside to night skiing? Why aren’t more people out there taking advantage of empty runs?

It can be downright frigid.

When I went, the temperature at the base of the mountain was around -3 fahrenheit while temperatures at the summit were closer to -10. And the coldest days of the season can be 10 or 15 degrees cooler. But proper preparation and gear can neglect the effects of the cold.

And Keystone’s River Run gondola (the lift that accesses most of the night runs) provides a warm respite from the alpine elements; a chance to warm fingers and toes before braving the mountain once more.

The Essential Details

Keystone is the only major mountain resort in Colorado that offers night skiing. It’s located just off the I-70 corridor near the other major resorts of Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, and Arapahoe Basin off of Highway 6, 8.5 miles from I-70.

While there is no official ‘beginning’ to night skiing (the lights turn on as it starts to get dark and the lifts keep running) it does end at 8:00 each night in the high season, and is only available Wednesday – Sunday and select Monday holidays.

Visitors don’t need a special lift ticket for night skiing – a standard day ticket to Keystone works just fine. But for those who only want to come for the night skiing, there is the option of purchasing a half day ticket at the resort ticket windows. Just make sure it’s purchased after 12:00 pm.

background photo credit Mike Berenson

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The Savannah Taste Experience’s stated mission is to sample delicious foods from six unique foodie spots surrounding the initial squares built in Savannah while learning about the food, the restaurants, the history, and the culture of Savannah. In other words, showing off all the unique culinary traditions and exciting new directions that the food scene in Savannah is heading – and indulging all along the way.

We started our afternoon off at Bernie’s, a traditional Savannah seafood joint shucking oysters for the masses since 1995.  In addition to raw oysters, we were given fried shrimp stuffed with gooey, melted cheese and traditional hush puppies. While we proceeded to stuff our faces, our tour guide Stu gave us not only a detailed description of what we were eating, but also the history behind the dish and its significance to the Savannah area. I have to confess, most of my food was gone before Stu had a chance to really get into the details, but it was interesting to hear nonetheless.

From Bernie’s, we strolled down River Street – Savannah’s main hub for visitor activity – to the next stop on the tour, Boars Head, a Savannah classic that has been serving up low country cuisine for years. She crab soup is a regional specialty that I had only ever seen on a menu once before when I was working in Virginia Beach, though I’d never had the opportunity to try it.

She crab soup takes its name from the practice of serving the less desirable female crabs (due to the presence of roe in their meat) in soup form to disguise the gender of the crab. It turns out that the soup was an even more delicious way to eat the crab, and she crab soup has been a menu fixture on the south Atlantic coast since. Typically, the soup is served with a shot of sherry, but at Boars Head, the soup is blended with the sherry giving it a pinkish hue when served.

After two savory dishes, it was time for something sweet, and thankfully Mabel Francis Potter’s Cupcake Emporium was next up on our list. The shop serves traditional gourmet cupcakes with a Southern twist. It wasn’t my first time at a unique southern cupcake shop, but I’ll never turn down moist cake with heaps of colorful frosting clinging to the top.

Supposedly there is a proper way to eat a cupcake, but I still haven’t figured it out yet as I awkwardly shoved the frosting into my nose while taking the first bite of the traditional birthday cake cupcake we were served.

As we continued on our tour, we walked through several of the shady, green squares that make up the Savannah historic district, including the four original squares laid out when the city was founded in 1733 by James Ogelthorpe. And while the tour’s primary focus was food, we were also treated to a history of Savannah itself and some of the colorful characters that called it home.

The walk continued onto Savannah’s main commercial thoroughfare playing host to famous international brands and local boutiques alike. The Savannah Bee Company and The Salt Table are two such boutiques focused on offering extremely artisianal, hand crafted products and treating them with the attention and care typically reserved for wine.  At The Savannah Bee Company, the small black and yellow insect is revered for its sweet creation. Honey created with acacia, sourwood, and orange blossom blooms provide unique flavor profiles not found in your typical plastic teddy bear full of the sticky sweet stuff.

At The Salt Table, they’ve given similar reverence to a crusty white mineral. Salt is the focus at this unique store, offering everything from seasoning blends to salt slab cutting boards. Their salts are also infused with flavors such as bacon and ghost pepper, with the latter providing a potent kick with just a single grain placed on the tip of the tongue. Thankfully, The Salt Table also offers four varieties of iced tea to cool the burn down, and we were turned loose with a cup full of ice to create our own custom blends.

Historically, the Scottish have played an important part in the development of the city of Savannah, and at one point, Scotish restaurants were prevalent in the Savannah dining scene. Today, Molly McPhersons is the only Scottish restaurant remaining in the Savannah Historic District, and we finished our tour up at the last stand of the Scots.

A Scotch Egg is a traditional hard boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat and breadcrumbs that is then deep fried. I’m a big fan of all of those components separately, but I was a little apprehensive of biting into my first Scotch Egg – I was unsure how these ingredients would combine.It turns out that Scotch Eggs are simply amazing, and thanks to a vegetarian on our tour, I was able to polish off the entire plate of eggs pictured below.

Sticky Toffee Pudding was served alongside the Scotch egg, providing something sweet to go with the savory egg. The dessert is a thicker, traditional pudding from the British Isles rather than the JELL-O style pudding found across America and was certainly delicious.

After three hours tasting around Savannah, I gained a new appreciation for the diversity of the culinary creations in Savannah. It’s so much more than the southern classics – it’s fresh seafood, artisianal condiments, and modern twists on traditional european immigrant fare.

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While other historic districts have fallen victim to tall buildings, parking garages, and chain restaurants, Charleston’s historic district is unique in just how thoroughly preserved the neighborhoods are. With the exception of one 11 story ‘skyscraper’ built in the early 20th century, the low rise skyline is forever preserved for the steeples and bell towers that distinguish this ‘holy’ city.

One of the best ways to take in all the history found in Charleston is to hit the pavement with Michael Trouche and Charleston Footprints, a seventh-generation Charlestonian who arguably knows the city better than anyone. As a former college history teacher, local television host, and author of two books on Charleston, you’d be hard pressed to find a more authoritative voice on the city. Today, Michael guides walking tours throughout the city he calls home.

On the tour, Trouche shares secrets of the architecture and brings the historic city to life with stories of revolt, revolution, and secession. For history buffs, Charleston has had a front row seat to American history from colonization, the American Revolution, the Civil War, and more. Michael shares Charleston’s role in history through narrative stories and even personal anecdotes of his life growing up in the city.

One of the darker periods in Charleston’s history is housed a rather mundane-looking warehouse with the iron letters spelling ‘MART’ adorning the facade. In 1859, this building was indeed a market -a slave market. After the city outlawed the public sale of slaves on the streets of Charleston, the auctions moved indoors into private markets, and the Old Slave Mart is the only such market still standing in South Carolina.

In the mid-19th century, the market served as the place where families were gut-wrenchingly ripped apart through sales and trades. Today, the building houses a museum focusing on the American slave trade, showcasing artifacts from the era and elements used to break the spirits of slaves.

One of the most spectacular views on the tour comes from the atop the high battery, where the city of Charleston meets the water. Here a fortified wall stands between a row of stately antebellum homes and the Charleston Harbor. From this vantage point, Charleston has had a front row seat to history. Charleston’s residents watched the battle at Sullivan’s Island for freedom in the Revolutionary War, the attack of Fort Sumter that signaled the beginning of the Civil War, and the 567 day siege of warship fire from the harbor that the union troops leveled the city with.

Since the ‘war between the states’ (as it’s called in Charleston), the city has endured a long and at sometimes painful reconstruction but today, Charleston is a modern, vibrant city that puts a focus on maintaining and preserving its storied history.

To feel a more tangible form of that history, we visited the sweetgrass basket weavers along the streets of Charleston. The intricately woven baskets are direct descendants of similarly constructed baskets found in West Africa. The baskets are woven by South Carolina’s Gullah community, descendants of the slaves who were brought over from West Africa and have maintained many of their African traditions while living in the low country area around Charleston.

These baskets have been created for hundreds of years and the process of weaving has changed very little as it has been handed down from generation to generation. The baskets are works of art in their own right and are mostly used decoratively today, fetching high prices for the beautiful designs.

As we wandered the streets of Charleston, I was simply astonished by how much history was in this one (relatively) small city. At one point, Charleston was the richest, most prominent city in the colonies – a London of the new world. And while Charleston may not hold that title anymore, it is still one of the most impressive American cities I’ve ever visited; a Southern charm full of spectacular architecture and decadent food, all strung together with a rich history.

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There is never a lack of quality restaurants for visitors to choose from when dining in Charleston, from the uber-popular Husk (recently named best new restaurant in America) to the more traditional Jestine’s Kitchen (a classic deep-fried-everything joint that has served the likes of Rachel Ray and Anthony Bourdaine), there are restaurants to suit most tastes.

But food alone isn’t the only reason we dine out – the atmosphere and the experience of the restaurant also contribute to the dining experience, and one restaurant in Charleston offers a chilling atmosphere to go with its comfort food.

Poogan’s Porch is a staple in the Charleston dining scene, serving up Southern classics like shrimp and grits, fried chicken, and sweet tea glazed salmon since 1976. Named after the old dog Poogan who would welcome visitors to the restaurant from his favorite resting spot on the porch, the restaurant operates out of an old Victorian house – that also happens to have been named one of the most haunted places in America.

Before it was a restaurant, the house was home to two spinster sisters, Zoe and Elizabeth. After Elizabeth passed away, Zoe began to descend into a declining state of loneliness and depression, and eventually her mental state deteriorated. Zoe did not die in the house, but mysteriously disappeared one day, never returning to her hometown of Charleston again (as a physical being, anyways). Today, employees and visitors claim to have experienced the presence of Zoe in the restaurant.

The owner of the restaurant had an encounter with Zoe one night while trying to close up for the evening. When setting the alarm, she was shocked by heavy wooden stools being flipped over and large doors being slammed . In another encounter, the daytime chef made coffee and left his cup sitting by the stairs while he went to open the back door of the restaurant. When he returned, his coffee cup was gone.Wondering if he really did pour himself a cup, he went to pour another and when he returned he found his mug right where he left it, but with a faint lipstick stain around the rim.

Most accept that Zoe is a harmless spirit, but on one occasion a guest who encountered Zoe in the restroom was sent running and screaming from the restaurant.

In addition to Zoe, guests and employees alike have claimed to see one other spirit at the restaurant. From time to time, people have reported seeing a scruffy dog hanging out on the porch – the ghost of old Poogan himself, eagerly awaiting the next guest to give him a scratch behind his ears.

I settled in for a meal at Poogan’s Porch to do a little spirit hunting myself. The large porch of the restaurant is warm, welcoming, and inviting. Inside, the restaurant still maintains the layout of the house. Despite the renovations made to equip the structure for use as a restaurant, the house still maintains a very historic feel. And while I can’t say I had any spine-tingling experiences while dining at Poogan’s Porch, I did have an amazing serving of a southern classic – shrimp and grits served with a fried egg on top.

A Drinking Town With A History Problem 

Charleston may be known as the Holy City for its history of religious tolerance and prominence of church steeples in its low-rise skyline, but that hasn’t stopped the city from becoming a town that enjoys a drink or three. After all, Charleston is still a port city and for centuries has been a stopover for sailors, privateers, and grog-swilling pirates alike. Today, there are many places to whet your whistle from classic cocktail joints to beer bars featuring walls of taps.

In recent years, a uniquely southern spirit has gained traction out of Charleston. Firefly Distillery is located just outside of town on Wadmalaw Island and has been churning out Sweet Tea Vodka since 2008. The sinful twist on a classic southern beverage has been finding its way into cocktails in the South and beyond since. A new Charleston classic is the John Daly (sweet tea vodka and lemonade), a riff on the lemonade-iced tea concoction drink that golf legend Arnold Palmer made famous.

The distillery is open for tours and tastings and is only a short drive outside of town. Firefly sits on an idyllic piece of charmed rural southern land. Complete with barnyard animals, a produce garden, and other diversions, there is plenty to keep visitors entertained during and after their tastings.

Saddle up to one of Charleston’s famous bars and order one of the many sweet tea concoctions dreamed up in this city, or head over to The Gin Joint and let the classically trained and smartly dressed bar tenders develop a new custom drink to taste. The Gin Joint features a cocktail word bank with descriptors such as ‘herbal’, ‘bitter’, ‘spicy’, ‘strong’, and ‘floral’. Choose two words from the word bank and let the masters behind the bar get to work on creating a custom concoction.

My word combination of ‘smokey’ and ‘unusual’ yielded a drink made with coconut milk and a fiery Mezcal – certainly unusual and smokey, and surprisingly delicious. The Gin Joint is an old-school cocktail bar and the bartenders here are serious about their spirits.

The history in the city is palpable; it hangs thick over Charleston and is lurking around every corner. And while there are many ways to experience the history first hand, the bars and restaurants of Charleston serve it up nightly.

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To get a different perspective on this historic city, I signed up for a photography tour with Charleston History Tours.

Joyce Aungst is a damn Yankee (a Northern visitor who never leaves) and has been guiding her photography tours through Charleston since 2005, helping visitors to the Holy City capture it’s many steeples, columns, and wrought iron from new angles. I put my eye to the view finder and with Joyce’s help, I framed the historic buildings in ways I never would have thought of. I even learned how to creatively hide modern obstructions such as cars (in most shots, anyways) which can give the images a timeless quality. Take a look at some of the shots I captured with Joyce’s guidance:

Of course these shots may have a little post processing (thank you adobe lightroom!) but from a composition standpoint, I was able to find a new way of seeing things while wondering the streets of Charleston and soaking in the rich history of the buildings we were photographing.

I was struck by just how photogenic the city was – the rich architecture alone would be enough to make any photographer swoon, but it’s more than just the stately old buildings that really make this city stand out visually. Much of the beauty of Charleston is also found in the details. Take a look at some of the exquisite details of the historic city:

So much of the photography that I do is solo – I’ve hardly ever worked with another photographer and certainly never had the professional guidance of one so familiar with the subject (in this case, Joyce’s adopted hometown of Charleston.) Even though we had an absence of blue skies, I think we were still able to capture some pretty neat shots.

What do you think? Have you ever been on a photography tour? 

John’s note: I was given complimentary admission to the walking tour courtesy of Charleston History Tours, but all opinions (and desaturated compositions) are my own.

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Name: Pola Henderson
Hometown: Chicago, IL (adopted hometown since 2002)
Website: Jetting Around: City Travel Blog
Twitter: @jettingaround
Facebook: Jetting Around

Pola Henderson is the founder and editor of Jetting Around: City Travel Blog, dedicated to exploring cities and their culture. Her writing and photography showcases European and North American destinations. Pola grew up in Krakow, Poland, lived in North Africa, and has called Chicago home since 2002. Traveling internationally has been a part of her life since she was 3 years old.

Tell us about Chicago.

Chicago is located on the shores of Lake Michigan and is the third biggest city in the country (current population 2.7 million). It’s known for blues music, deep dish pizza, and the Chicago hot dog – and infamous for gangster wars of the 1920s and 1930s.

The city has miles of recreational lakefront and bathing beaches, diverse neighborhoods, and unique architecture – Chicago had to be rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1871 and the first steel skyscraper was constructed here. It’s also a major sports town, passionate about its many teams.

It is not as large as New York or as glamorous as Hollywood and Los Angeles, but it’s certainly worth a visit. Chicago can please many types of travelers: foodies, music lovers, theater goers, sports fans, and families.

What can visitors do to make the most out of a visit there?

I recommend exploring the downtown area – with its skyscrapers, top-notch museums (e.g. the Art Institute and the Museum of Science and Industry), and the beautiful Millennium Park – and also venturing out to various neighborhoods. Some of Chicago’s best restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment venues are located away from the city center, and can be cheaper too.

For example, Wicker Park and Bucktown are hip areas for dining, nightlife, and boutique-shopping; Logan Square is home to an impressive restaurant scene and the Logan Theatre, a movie venue that was recently renovated in the art-deco style. Lakeview, Roscoe Village, Lincoln Square and Andersonville (a former Swedish-American area) also have diverse dining and entertainment. There’s also Chinatown and neighborhoods with large Mexican and Polish populations, each offering a different experience.

What makes Chicago unique?

Chicago combines all the amenities of a metropolis with a small-town feel. Many of the neighborhoods I mentioned are “villages” within the city, have their “Main Streets,” and feel very homey.

When is the best time to visit?

I recommend visiting in the spring when the weather is comfortable. If you don’t mind hot temperatures and humidity, come in the summer to take advantage of our beaches and outdoor events, many of them free.

Are there any unique festivals or celebrations?

There are hundreds of festivals in Chicago every year, e.g. the Taste of Chicago (it gets crowded though), the Chicago Blues Festival, and various neighborhood street fests.

My favorite annual event is the Jazz Club Tour, organized by the Jazz Institute of Chicago. For one low price, you get to visit clubs of your choice scattered all around the city, and travel between them via trolleys. Chicago has a rich jazz tradition, in addition to its blues heritage, and the tour is a great way to experience some of it.

What is the local delicacy?

There are two – deep dish pizza and the Chicago hot dog.

The pizza pie is around 2 inches thick, usually served in a pan, and best eaten with a knife and fork. It was invented in 1943 at Pizzeria Uno downtown, and many restaurants have served their version ever since (e.g. Exchequer and Gino’s East).

If you try a hot dog in this city, don’t ask for ketchup. The traditional hot dog in Chicago comes on a poppy-seed bun and is topped with yellow mustard, green sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomatoes, peppers and salt. Because of the number of vegetable ingredients, it’s often referred to as “dragged through the garden.” Some of the most popular places serving the Chicago dog are located on the north side (Superdawg, Hot Doug’s).

Where is the best place to grab a pint/cocktail/glass of wine?

One of my frequent hangouts is the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge in Uptown, for its 1940s atmosphere, classic cocktails, and excellent jazz seven days a week. For local beer, try Revolution Brewery in Logan Square, and for wine, Webster’s in Lincoln Park, Chicago’s oldest wine bar.

What’s the best way to get around?

Public transportation, especially the subway system. The city is served by Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA) buses and trains, and you can easily and affordably travel on them when you purchase a pass. Several train lines downtown run on elevated tracks and are a great way to see the city from another perspective, literally.

(You may hear Chicagoans refer to the trains as the “L,” short for elevated. The name is sometimes used even for those trains that run underground.)

Are there any good day trips from your town? If so, where/what are they?

The western suburb of Oak Park is the birthplace of Ernest Hemingway and worth a visit for a tour of his childhood home and museum. Oak Park is a walkable town with several shopping and arts districts, perfect for a relaxing afternoon. It also hosts many annual events, including outdoor theater performances.

Chicago is only about 1.5 hours away from the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Country in Southwest Michigan. The area produces many award-winning wines and is close to lakeside towns, such as New Buffalo and St. Joseph.

How much time should a visitor plan on spending there in order to get a good feel for the place?

You can see a lot here in three to four days, but I would add a couple more if you want to explore a good number of neighborhoods.

Where is the most iconic view/vista?

Views from above.

You can go to the Skydeck on the 103^rd floor of the Willis Tower (commonly referred to by its former name, the Sears Tower) and get a 360-degree view of the city. If you dare to step on the Ledge – one of four balconies extending 4 ft. out from the building’s walls – you’ll be able to look down to the street 1,353 ft. below.

Another place for great views is Signature Lounge on the 96^th floor of the John Hancock Center. There is no cover chanrge, which means you get to see the city panorama for the price of a drink.

What is the best aspect of living there?

The metropolis-meets-small-town feel I mentioned before. Chicago is very happening – on any given day, you have an almost overwhelming number of entertainment choices, and there is a lot of energy around. But if you want to unwind, you can do that too in a corner bar or a neighborhood coffee shop.

What is the worst aspect of living there?

Traffic congestion. We’re not far behind LA… I feel like rush hour has significantly expanded in the 10 years that I’ve lived here.

But when I’m stuck in traffic on I-94, all is forgiven as soon as the stunning downtown skyline comes into view…

Thanks again to Pola for her participation in the The Local’s Take. If you’re a travel writer and are interested in participating in a future edition of The Local’s Take, get in touch!

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It’s December, and even though the ski season in Colorado has been officially been open since October 17th, I’ve been on the road in my new nomadic lifestyle unable to take full advantage. But that all changes when I head back home for the holidays this month, and high on my agenda is returning to one of my favorite mountains, Arapahoe Basin.

Nicknamed ‘the legend’, A-Basin is a Colorado ski and snowboard experience unlike any other, and it will be where I make my first turns of the season in just a few short weeks. Looking forward to that, today I’m sharing five things that make Arapahoe Basin, ‘the legend’ that it is.

The Season

Arapahoe Basin didn’t become ‘the legend’ by having the most snow, a glitzy village, or the most advanced terrain. To different skiers and riders, ‘the legend’ can mean many things, but one theme seems to be consistent across the Arapahoe Basin faithful – the ridiculously long ski season the resort maintains. With an above-average altitude for a ski resort and a rare north-to-northeast face, A-Basin takes advantage of its natural features to keep the lifts running longer than just about any other ski resort, earning it legendary status among hardcore mountain enthusiasts. At A-Basin, the first chair lifts are typically started up in mid-October and don’t stop running til July. Yes, it’s possible to be skiing in Colorado while the rest of the country is lighting off fireworks.

Photo Credit Weiglen

The Views

Positioned along the Continental Divide just below Loveland Pass, Arapahoe Basin is uniquely positioned along the greatest ridge of the North American continent. At the top of the lifts, wide open views are found where it’s impossible for trees to grow. Hiking along the ridges to the bowls of A-Basin can yield absolutely breathtaking views. And at 13,000 feet, it’s okay to pause a few minutes to catch your breath – and take in the sweeping vistas below.

Photo Credit Shay Haas

The Beach

The parking lot at Arapahoe Basin is located right next to the mountain providing easy access to vehicles for skiers and snowboarders.  The first row of cars on the side of the lot closest to the base of the lifts is affectionately known as ‘the beach’. Consisting of a limited number of highly-coveted parking spaces complete with their own picnic tables, the atmosphere along the beach is more akin to a college football tailgate party than the glitz and glamour typically associated with the base of a resort. Coolers of drinks, tailgate games, costumes, grills, and dogs playing in the fresh powder all make for an experience that can’t be found at any other ski resort.

Photo Credit Shay Haas

The Vibe

Arapahoe Basin retains the charm of old-school skiing – before $100 lift tickets, slope side condos, posh apres-ski restaurants, and high speed gondolas. A-Basin has largely eschewed the development and expansion that has consumed (and some say destroyed) the other resorts in Summit and Eagle counties. A-Basin is decidedly old-school. What it lacks in modern conveniences and gimmicky technology, it more than makes up for in the simplicity of throwback skiing. No offsite parking, expansive villages, or oppressive lift lines get in the way of what people come here to do – ski and snowboard. This resort style attracts a decidedly different crowd – a relaxed group of people who are passionate about skiing and snowboarding without the headaches of the big resorts.

Photo Credit Weiglen

The Proximity

From the edge of the Denver metropolitan area, skiers and riders can be on the slopes of A-Basin within an hour. But for those looking to make more than a day trip out of a visit to Arapahoe Basin, the surrounding area offers a variety of vacation rentals. The towns of Silverthorne and Dillon are within a 20 minute drive of Arapahoe Basin and the much larger resorts of Keystone, Breckenridge, and Copper Mountain are all nearby as well, providing a variety of accommodation options for those looking to experience a little variety.

Photo Credit Zach Dischner

Have you ever been to Arapahoe Basin or any other ‘legendary’ ski resorts?

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After writing my last post, I also realized that there is a large segment of travelers who are curious about staying in hostels, but still have some fears about taking the plunge. This inspired me to share some tips about how to pick the best hostel for travelers who have never stayed in one before.

Hostels aren’t scary, and choosing one doesn’t have to be either. As I mentioned in my last post, hostels are growing up. Some of the best hostels I’ve stayed at were essentially stripped down bed and breakfasts. Well appointed rooms, clean facilities, convenient locations, and passionate innkeepers all made for excellent hostel experiences.

Here are some tips on what to look for when booking your first stay at a hostel:

Book a Private Room

One of the biggest obstacles for those looking to dip their toes into the hostel experience for the first time is the fear of sharing a room with complete strangers. Many hostels have responded to this fear by offering private rooms in addition to shared accommodations. Some private rooms share bathrooms with the other guests, but the best even offer private ensuite bathrooms – just like hotels but at a fraction of the cost.

photo courtesy of donotlick

Read Reviews

I’ve stayed in some great hostels and I’ve stayed in some downright awful hostels, and I’m quick to share my experiences on hostel review aggregate sites. When booking a place to stay, consider more than just the price and location. For me, hostel reviews are THE most important factor when booking. I’ll pay a couple dollars more and stay a little outside of town if it means I’ll have a fun hostel and a clean, comfortable place to lay my head. Check out sites like hostelbookers.com to read reviews.

Look for a Personality Match

Just like each person you meet while traveling, each hostel you stay in can have a unique personality – usually reflective of the owners and the clientele. Some are party hostels, others cater to serious backpackers, and some target older travelers looking for a quiet place to relax. If you’re a social butterfly, you’ll probably love staying at a place that fosters significant social interaction. If you’re an early-to-bed early-to-rise traveler, you most likely won’t enjoy party hostels and pub-crawling roommates returning at 4am.

Find Newer Hostels

I’ve been known to take some gambles on newer hostels that don’t have an extensive base of reviews, and I’ve almost always been rewarded. What they might lack in operational efficiencies is typically made up for by newer beds, clean bathrooms, and modern spaces.

Consider Bars/Common Areas 

To me, the best aspect of hostels is meeting other travelers. If you book a dorm room, you can always strike up a conversation with your fellow roommates, but most of the friends I’ve made on the road were made in the bars/common areas of my hostels. I typically won’t stay at a place that doesn’t offer some form of a common area – afterall, I’m not staying at the hostel just to save a buck, I’m looking to meet interesting, unique, and fun people to travel with.

Gone are the days when hostels only offered 12 person mixed gender dorms, wafer-thin mattresses, and locker room style showers. As the budget travel category has expanded, so has the diversity in budget-minded accomodations.

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