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A Beer Lover’s Tour: 29 Chicagoland Brewery Reviews and 11 Must-Visit Breweries Nationwide
An overview of 29 breweries across the Chicagoland area that includes pictures and concise reviews of each brewery. Additionally, I cover 11 of my favorite breweries that I have visited across the United States during my travels.
chrissarcletti
Jul 617 min read


13 Scenic Midwest Road Trips: Lakes, Parks, and Small-Town Adventures in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin
This post covers 13 different two to three day road trips through Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. The locations featured are perfect for the outdoor enthusiast looking to take scenic hikes and walks. Picturesque scenic drives are noted as are state parks, specific hikes and breweries at which to get a craft beer.
chrissarcletti
Jun 137 min read


Four Miles, Two Bridges, and One Perfect New York Day
Take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to experience the best part of Manhattan on foot. This post recaps my experiences making this trek.
chrissarcletti
May 34 min read


Castaway: 44 Songs when All You Have is Music
Check out this list of thoughtful, instrumental cross genre songs you can listen to on repeat...... again and again forEver.
chrissarcletti
Apr 94 min read


Winter in Colorado: An overview of Beaver Creek and Vail
An overview of the ski and apres ski experience at Beaver Creek and Vail.
chrissarcletti
Mar 45 min read


On The Edge of Your Seat: All Time Thriller Films from Masterful Directors
42 Thriller films made over the last 30 years from the best directors of all time. Movie poster images and film reviews included.
chrissarcletti
Feb 1819 min read


Winter in Wisconsin: What to Expect at Wisconsin's Most Popular Ski Spots
An overview of Midwest skiing in Wisconsin and Illinois.
chrissarcletti
Jan 154 min read


20 Quotes for 2025
20 inspirational quotes to take into 2026 to help with resilience when facing challenges and to inspire.
chrissarcletti
Dec 27, 20253 min read


Taste the World: 22 Must-Try Ethnic Dishes
An overview of 22 of the most delicious foods from 22 different cultures with historical overviews and pictures of each dish.
chrissarcletti
Nov 19, 202518 min read


On the Road in Wisconsin: Summer Stops in Madison, Milwaukee & Sheboygan
An overview of top spots to visit in Milwaukee, Madison and Sheboygan.
chrissarcletti
Oct 11, 20258 min read


When the Music Makes the Movie: 20 Songs, 2 Soundtracks, and the Movies That Gave Them Life
This post includes some of the most memorable songs featured in films over the past 20 to 30 years.
chrissarcletti
Sep 13, 20259 min read


A Very Active Week in South Dakota - Part 2 National and State Parks
This is part 2 of a 2 part series about South Dakota focused on State and National Parks.
chrissarcletti
Aug 23, 20256 min read


A Very Active Week in South Dakota - Part 1 National Monuments and Memorials
This post highlights our favorite moments visiting National Monuments and Memorials during our recent trip to South Dakota and Wyoming.
chrissarcletti
Aug 3, 20256 min read


Get your Walking In! DuPage County Forest Preserve Overview
Check out this post for an overview of some of my favorite parks and forest preserves in DuPage County to get out for a walk or hike.
chrissarcletti
Jul 9, 20254 min read


3 Days in Boston
History and food highlights with a primary focus on walking all around Boston during my family's recent 3 Days in Boston.
chrissarcletti
Jun 4, 20255 min read


Where do you get your meat? An overview of 10 Chicagoland Butcher Shops and 1 Fish Smokehouse.
An overview of some of the top butcher shops in the Chicagoland area.
chrissarcletti
May 3, 20256 min read


Music Fun: Hard Rock and an Iconic Album Dissection of Audioslave
Enjoy this post that delves into hard rock music from the 80s and 90s with a particular focus on the amazing 2002 album Audioslave.
chrissarcletti
Apr 2, 20254 min read


Ski Season - A Review of Wisconsin's Cascade
Cascade is well worth an extra hours drive if your considering Wilmot or Alpine Valley for a Midwest ski experience. No offense to those spots, but Cascade is probably a full 2 steps above Alpine/Wilmot and is more closely aligned with the ski experience at Granite Peak or Boyne. Located 2 hours and 40 minutes from Chicago, Cascade is a solid option for beginners, as well as being a really fun place for experienced skiers. This is one of only a few places I've been to in t
chrissarcletti
Feb 23, 20252 min read


Ski Season - A Review of Wisconsin's Granite Peak
It's winter, and that means it's ski season. This post provides an overview of my favorite Midwest ski spot, Granite Peak.
chrissarcletti
Jan 9, 20252 min read


20 Quotes for 2024
Here's my annual post featuring 20 quotes to remember, refer back to, and use as a guide to live by.
chrissarcletti
Dec 29, 20244 min read
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