Rachel is a Chicago-based travel writer who has a passion for discovering new places and sharing her experiences with others. With years of experience writing for several travel blogs, Rachel has developed an expertise in finding the hidden gems of each destination she visits, and bringing them to life through her writing. She writes and edits our content on her home-state Illinois. Rachel's love for travel began at a young age, when she would accompany her family on road trips across the United States.
As a Chicago native, Rachel has a particular affinity for the city and its surrounding areas. She loves exploring the vibrant neighborhoods, sampling the diverse cuisine, and soaking up the rich culture and history of the city. Besides exploring the States she's also traveled often to Europe with her favorite city being Prague.
The seat of Kane County is a delightful city on the Fox River, featuring a downtown area brimming with beautiful Victorian architecture, and enticing independent stores and restaurants. In the early 20th century Geneva was home to the millionaire textile industrialist, George Fabyan, and his estate, Riverbank, is now encompassed by the Fabyan Forest Preserve. Geneva …
By the riverfront and perched on the bluffs, Quincy is a picture perfect city next to the Mississippi River in western Illinois. In the golden age of the Mississippi steamboats this settlement was a hub for commerce and transportation. That status is impossible to ignore on Quincy’s tree lined streets, sophisticated parks and neighborhoods constellated with …
This lively college town shares a sprawling University of Illinois campus with its sister city, Urbana. Champaign and Urbana are contiguous, and together offer a world of history, culture, entertainment and sports action, most of which is connected to the university. Awaiting you are big-hitting art museums and colossal sports venues, all contrasted by Champaign’s convivial …
The state capital of Illinois since 1839, Springfield is the second-largest city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area. It’s impossible to talk about this city without bringing up Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, who lived here from 1837 until 1861 when he left for Washington. You’ll find out all you could want …
Often rated as one of the most livable places in the United States, Schaumburg is a northwestern suburb of Chicago, 30 miles outside the city. Administratively, this is still a village, and beginning in the 1960s was transformed from a small rural community to an economic hub on the Golden Corridor, home to multinational companies like …
In Central Illinois, Bloomington is a city of 80,000 but with a metropolitan population more than double thanks to the presence of the town of Normal, directly next door. Feted for its hospitality and quality of life, this is a charming place to spend some time, endowed with great amenities, a lot of history and super …
The oldest European settlement in the state, Peoria grew up as a port on the Illinois River and continues to be an important manufacturing center. One company established here in 1910 is the heavy machinery maker Caterpillar, and this brand’s Visitors Center is part of a series of inviting attractions along the riverfront. Another is …
The Windy City is the third largest city in the United States and comes with a variety of delights for any visitor. From food and craft beer to architecture and history, the Midwestern metropolis is packed with exciting experiences. There are a variety of great tours run by locals across the city that help you …
Lying on the shores of freezing Lake Michigan the city of Chicago is one of the most iconic cities in the United States of America. The settling for hit musical ‘Chicago’ and epic TV drama series ‘The Good Wife’, Chicago is a versatile and vibrant city that has a lot to explore.Once you have ticked off …
Chicago, the most populated city in the state of Illinois and the Midwestern United States and the third most populated city in the US, is nestled along the Great Lakes shoreline. Well-recognized for its vibrant city life, music scene (especially house music scene), shopping avenue, futuristic architecture, miles of sandy beaches, highly-distinguished colleges and universities, …