Bison BMW Chicago Colorado Crystal Mill Denver Jazz Motorcycle Review Music Off-Road Prairie Dog R18 Roctane Wildlife
Just northeast of Denver, a former WWII chemical weapons plant is now a 15,000-acre wildlife refuge, and it is free to visit. We drove the 11-mile Wildlife Drive past prairie dog towns, deer and herds of bison, with the Denver skyline and the Rocky Mountains in the background. Here is what to expect on your visit…
Keep readingAt the start of 2026, I bought my first motorcycle after about 15 years without riding: a deep black, Berlin-built BMW R18 Roctane. After more than 10 months and over 1,000 miles together, here’s how it really feels, from its 800+ lb weight and my drag bar swap to city riding, long highway cruises, the saddlebags and that 1,800cc engine…
Keep readingA few weeks ago, in early October, we drove from Chicago to Colorado for a seven-day trip, camping in the White River National Forest. We usually go to Colorado to snowboard, but this time was different: our family’s first off-road adventure. From the little town of Marble, a rocky trail along the cliffs took us 4–5 hours to cover just 9 miles, with views that were beautiful every single second…
Keep readingIn August, we flew from Chicago to Calgary and rented a car for three days in Banff National Park. Our main goals were Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, but we also found Emerald Lake, beautiful waterfalls and the breathtaking Icefields Parkway up to the Athabasca Glacier. Here’s our trip during wildfire season, plus tips on parking, gas and cell signal…
Keep readingOver Labor Day weekend, I dropped by the Chicago Jazz Festival in Millennium Park, completely free and open to everyone. Picnic blankets on the Great Lawn, live jazz floating on the evening breeze from the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, and strangers dancing together with the skyline behind them. It’s the kind of day that shows why Chicago is truly a city of the arts…
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