Amsterdam City of Secrets by Susan Brauer travel writer
Amsterdam

Amsterdam: City of Secrets

Four hundred years before Ann Frank and her family hid in a friend’s home for two years during Amsterdam’s Nazi occupation, another group of people was forced to create secret hideaways of their own. In 1578, a Protestant faction took control of Amsterdam and prohibited Catholics from practicing their faith …

Sea Turtle swimming in the Caribbean
Caribbean Islands Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands: Saving The Turtles

The setting sun on the western horizon lit the sky in fiery pinks, oranges, and purples. My friends and I raised our rum punch-filled glasses to toast another spectacular sunset overlooking the Caribbean Sea from the deck of our condo. My husband and I had made our way to the …

Art Shanty Project Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, MN Uncategorized

Minneapolis: Art on a Lake

What do people in Minneapolis do on winter days when the temperature often doesn’t climb much past zero? They bundle up and look for fun reasons to get outside and walk, skate, or ski on the city’s frozen lakes. For 4 weekends in January- February, that might include wandering out …

Celebrate the Holidays in Chicago
Chicago, IL

Chicago: Holidays in the Windy City

Chicago is beautiful any time of year, but during the holidays, it truly sparkles. Here are three ways you can experience the season Chicago-style. Ice Skate in Millenium Park – There are two options for skating in the park. You can choose The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, near Michigan Avenue in the …

San Franscisco Union Street
San Francisco, CA

San Francisco: Union Street

San Francisco has many fun and iconic neighborhoods that I love to explore every time I go. However, I was determined to find someplace away from the tourist crowds on a recent trip, and for that, Union Street in the Cow Hollow neighborhood definitely fits the bill. Not to be …

New Orleans

New Orleans: Frenchman Street

I have friends who, like me, have been to New Orleans several times. However, unlike me, they pretty much head for Bourbon Street and the French Quarter every time they go. Don’t get me wrong, if you’ve never been to Bourbon Street, by all means, you should go. It’s a …

Orlando, FL

Orlando: South Eola Neighborhood

Because I am in the business of working with clients on trade shows, I end up in Orlando a lot!  I’ve always kind of thought of the city as a cultural wilderness (i.e. lots of chain restaurants and Disney-themed and other touristy shops) So last time I was there, I …

Walking through the Badlands
South Dakota

South Dakota: The Badlands

After driving straight through Nebraska on our way to visit family in CO, my husband and I decided to make our trip back to MN a bit of an old-fashioned roadtrip. We drove through the southern tip of Wyoming and then cut across South Dakota. We spent the night in …

Airport
Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis/St Paul Airport

When it comes to long layovers at an airport, you may not mind if you find yourself “stuck” at one at the Minneapolis/St Paul Airport (MSP). Scattered throughout the terminals are, of course, a plethora of national chain restaurants for every taste, as well as newstands, and coffee shops. However, …