I finally stepped outside O’Hare and spent a long layover at Chicago’s Navy Pier. We rode the Centennial Wheel, strolled the waterfront, ate deep-dish at Giordano’s, and took an architecture river cruise. It was simple, scenic, and worth it. Chicago proved it’s more than just an airport connection.
Category: DESTINATIONS
Explore DESTINATIONS with DuffelBagSpouse: Master the art of slow travel planning and uncover global adventures. Let your travels inspire joy, create lasting memories, and enrich your journey with carefully curated experiences. Discover the world at your own pace.
DESTINATIONS
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Where to Find The Best Scenic Views in Istanbul
The Best views of Istanbul include the iconic cityscape– mosques, palaces, minarets, and the boats skipping across the waves of the Bosphorus. Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia on the Bosphorus Strait. Its Old City reflects cultural influences of the many empires that once ruled here, making it world-class for history lovers.
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Night Long Layover Night Tour in Istanbul from Turkish Airlines
We land at 4 pm— a half-hour past the free tour offered by Turkish Airlines. That sucks, I’ve taken one of those tours before, and they are pretty good. But we’re not out of luck. There is another night layover tour we’ll catch that’s not free. Watching Istanbul go from…
DESTINATIONS
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Wine Tasting in Sicily and Why Etna Wine is not Italian Wine
Unveiling Etna: A Unique Wine Legacy Beyond Italian Borders Italy’s Mount Etna is young by modern standards for such an old wine region. Bottled wines have only been produced here for a few short decades, yet the rapidly growing interest in the native varieties grown on the slopes of Europe’s…
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How to Fall in Love with Istanbul
It’s so easy to fall in love with Istanbul. The city is so beautiful– so romantic, it resembles the set of an epic love story. Romance in Istanbul is around every corner. You can smell it, hear, feel it with each step. And every street brings you face to face with a…
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Best Things to Do on the European Side of Istanbul
I love Istanbul, Turkey. Apart from its architectural beauty, it’s also the only city in the world that straddles two continents– Europe and Asia. The Asian side does have its share of attractions– especially the food stalls and cafes in Kadiköy Market. However, the majority of the well-known tourist attractions…
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How to Experience Istanbul’s Asian Side Like a Local
Because they visit the more popular areas, most first-time visitors skip the Asian side of Istanbul. That’s a shame, since it’s one of the best places to enjoy authentic Turkish food and drink. While the European side has the big tourist attractions, the Asian side offers a calmer pace, welcoming…
DESTINATIONS
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Visiting Turkey as an American: What You Need to Know
Is Turkey Safe for American Tourists? I hope so. Because we are going there for a couple of days later this month. And I’m really excited to see some of the things I missed on my last trip. But politics in Turkey, like many places around the world, is relatively unstable right now. So, it makes since that we keep vigilant and ask the question before and not after we go.