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Amtrak Station Chicago, originally uploaded by aka Kath.

This past weekend I went to Chicago on the Amtrak. I learned a few things.

When you travel via Amtrak, be sure to follow these tips:

1. Pack light – more than one or two small suitcases and you will regret it.
2. Bring a pillow if you can fit it. I guarantee you will sleep at some point and want one.
3. Pack your own drinks and food – especially if you will want alcohol. A can of beer is $4.50.
4. Don’t wear your glasses while napping. My glasses broke on this trip!
5. Bring a book. You will have loads of uninterrupted reading time.

Top 7 of St. Louis

1. B.B.’s Jazz, Blues & Soups – Incredible blues musicians have come from all parts to play here.  Some musicians have included Billy Peek Band, Henry Townsend, Magic Slim, and Marquise Knox.  B.B.’s has a great selection of beers for those beer lovers out there and delicious food too – the sweet potato fries are a big hit.
2. City Garden – This is the newest feature of St. Louis city and I absolutely love it.  Located downtown, numerous sculptures are found throughout; twisting paths snake around the trees and sculptures; water features add a whimsical touch, and a flat screen displays unique imagery.
3. City Museum – Exceptionally unique and artistic, the City Museum is an experience no other city can offer.  This year the City Museum opened its rooftop theme park.  Several multiple floor slides, recycled items adorn the walls and floors, and a quaint bar called the Cabin Inn is attached and is in fact the relocated cabin of Daniel Boone’s son.
4. Fabulous Fox Theatre – The theatre is a gorgeous, remarkable space and a fantastic venue.  Some outstanding Broadway shows come to this theatre.  Well-known comedians and musicians perform here.
5. Missouri Botanical Gardens – This is a very picturesque setting and is often a peaceful place for reading, thinking, or writing.  Several times a year festivals are held that offer incredible culture and variety to patrons.  Also held here is the Whitaker Music Festival, with local favorites performing here for free concerts every Wednesday throughout the summer months.
6. The Sheldon – This is a perfect, very intimate setting for a great concert.  The modest size allows for up-close viewing of the musicians and a greater acoustic sound throughout.  Musicians including Cowboy Junkies, Herbie Hancock, Suzanne Vega, Wynton Marsalis, and a slew of others have performed in the space.
7. Tivoli Theater – A beautiful, historic theater space, the Tivoli shows interesting and provocative independent films.  What’s more, every November the St. Louis International Film Festival screens some of its films here.

In traveling so much over the past several months, I have learned quite a lot about travel. I would like to share a few travel tips with you, my lovely readers.  If you have any to add, please do in the comments.

• When you go away for the weekend, you only need as much as will fit into a carry-on suitcase if you pack right…
• Girls, pack one skirt, one pair of jeans, and two or three shirts (one long-sleeved, one short-sleeve, and one that will work for an evening out), panties, one pair of dress shoes, and wear a pair of flip flops (especially if traveling by air, saves time when going through security).
• Any toiletries, if flying by air, need to be in bottles, tubes, et cetera that are 3 oz. or less in volume.¬† Pack all toiletries in a zip loc bag, specifically those that are liquids or gels.¬† Pack that zip loc bag in an outside pocket of the carry-on in order to save time going through security.
• Don‚Äôt wear more than one outside layer if traveling by air ‚Äì a hoodie should be enough to ensure warmth in spring, summer, and fall months ‚Äì as you will have to take all jackets off to go through security and the more time you can save the better.
• Carry cash so you can have alcohol on plane, have money for tips, and so forth ‚Äì getting the money out when you‚Äôre still local is best to avoid the atm fees you‚Äôll surely find wherever you‚Äôre visiting.
• Research your travel destination ahead of time to have ideas of where you might like to visit while there.¬† Anyone you are visiting will likely ask what you‚Äôd like to do while visiting and this research will be helpful to them and to you alike.

Sean Hayes (Jack from Will & Grace) is starring in Damn Yankees on Broadway, playing the Devil himself.

If you need a place to stay in Europe while visiting, a site exists listing over 15,000 hostels, budget hotels, campsites, guesthouses, and bed & breakfasts.

The land of Bohemia, a part of my heritage, offers the Bohemia Regent Brewery to quench the beer lover’s thirst.

On the New York Times bestseller list, The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder is #12.  When You Are Engulfed in Flames is #1.

So Mexico… Where to begin? Drew and I spent six nights and seven days in Cozumel. We’d gone for our friends’ wedding (congrats to Todd and Sarah!) that was held the Saturday after we arrived; but stayed to enjoy the island and a much-needed vacation.

We stayed in a hotel that faced the Caribbean coast; our room looked directly onto the Caribbean Sea (for $60/night!). The hotel was in downtown Cozumel and we could not have chosen better. Because we did not choose an all-inclusive or a villa or condo further away we were able to get to know the locals, spend time at their hangouts, and deeply explore the Cozumel culture. We also, of course, drank copious amounts of cerveza and tequila!

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