Review: The Hotel Winneshiek in Decorah, IA
The Perfect Location The Hotel Winneshiek in Decorah, Iowa is a charming and historic hotel that offers a unique, comfortable, Midwest experience. The hotel was constructed in 1905 and is located in the heart of downtown Decorah, within walking distance of local shops, restaurants, breweries, and the beautiful Upper Iowa River. Upon arrival, we were …
Racing the Weekend in Cedar Falls, Iowa
The Fool’s 5K This annual race occurs in adorable Cedar Falls, Iowa on the first Saturday in April, which actually happened to fall on April Fool’s Day this year. In the past, we witnessed most runners dressed up like fools, wearing wigs, hot pink tutus, and inflatable dinosaur costumes. The race organizers blasted high-energy music …
Using Google Maps Lesson #1: The Nearby button
Trip task: Explore around your accommodations Prerequisites: None–well, knowing where you’re going to stay would be helpful! Intro Google Maps is an indispensable tool for any traveler. Best of all, it’s always at your fingertips, and it’s free. It can fetch driving directions, show you nearby restaurants, and help familiarize you with an unfamiliar landscape. …
Using Google Maps Lesson #2: Directions Deep Dive
Trip task: Transportation to your accommodations Prerequisites: Accommodation name or address. Intro Google Maps is WAY more than just driving directions. In the last lesson, we used an American location as an example, and the Google Maps nearby function led us to some delicious frozen custard. Now we’re going to demonstrate a few options in …
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Escape from Kindergarten
I imagine an untold number of escape plans have been thwarted over the years because of one prisoner’s inability to mask their enthusiasm for the outside world. The other guys involved in the scheme are all telling Mr. Excitement to play it cool in order to keep the guards in the dark, but he just …
What is Racing the Weekend?
Luke and I aren’t athletes. We aren’t jocks. We are travelers. More specifically, we are food travelers that really like beer and pie. So why would Luke and I wake up early on a precious Saturday morning to go run 3.1 miles? Because we want the following: Unfortunately, we can’t have our beer and drink …
EFL Stories: Payday in Osaka
Becoming a vampire has its benefits. I’m not referring to your Bram Stokers, Vlad the Impaler, or even the twinkling variety of vampires—I mean being a functional adult while the rest of the city’s sleeping kind of undead. One such benefit is the ability to take advantage of a nearly empty bar while everyone else …
One Amazing Day in Edinburgh: Views, Food, and History
Edinburgh is a traveler’s playground. It’s surprisingly compact, easy to navigate, and brimming with more fascinating history and delicious food than you can shake a bagpipe at. Take one turn, and you’re on a cobbled street lined with curious shops and historic pubs. Take another turn, and you’re facing the massive Edinburgh Castle that glowers …
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Top 5 Best Desserts in Tokyo
When you think of Tokyo, does dessert immediately come to mind? We’d completely understand if it didn’t. Outside of wanting to try some traditional Japanese sweets, Tara and I had all but convinced each other that sugar wasn’t going to be a major player during our trip. A phantom. A myth. Just a fairytale for …
teamLab Planets Tokyo: Immersive Art
Picture this. There’s an attraction or event you’re looking forward to more than anything else during an upcoming vacation. You haven’t been there before or experienced it yet, but in your head, it’s going to be the best part of the trip–you just know it is. Inevitably, the day of your visit to the sought …
Why you should visit Amboise, France
The glitz and sophistication of Paris is undeniable, but a true French gem is only an hour away by high-speed train: Amboise. This charming city in the Loire Valley is an old summer getaway for aristocrats and royalty. Its glittering river banks and pristine forests are infested with fairytale châteaux, vivid gardens, and postcard-worthy views …
Top 5 Hakodate Food Experiences
Hakodate is a harbor city in northern Japan that is quickly becoming a favorite spot for us during any Japanese adventure. Having both the Pacific Ocean and the spit of water separating Honshu and Hokkaido (two of Japan’s four large islands) nearby, makes the seafood found in Hakodate nothing short of euphoric. Furthermore, being located …
EFL Stories: Uranus
I’m not sure where it all came from, but something inside of my head just snapped the moment I was handed the microphone. Do it. No one’s gonna know. There were approximately two dozen of us foreign teachers on a stage looking out into a sea of Korean faces, and it was my turn to …
The Best Travel Purse
When I travel, I need to have the following items safe but easily accessible at all times: I even occasionally have to carry the bottom halves of Luke’s zip-away pant legs! Point is: travelers need space. Actually, travelers need just enough space to avoid lugging around unnecessary junk. Before I reveal the only travel purse …
Five Amazing Places to Eat in Louisville
While Tara and I are not blessed with the most refined palates in the world, we love to explore a new location by way of taste. During these journeys, we are always hoping to experience something different on our respective restaurant plates. Coming to appreciate these differences is part of what makes travel so rewarding …