Nov 21st, 2009 at 9:00AM: If you visited the United States from overseas, you probably hit the ground in one of 15 ports of entry. These top first stops accounted for 84 percent of all entries from overseas in the first eight months of 2009-- up almost 2 percentage points from the same period in 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Traffic through the major ports is becoming slightly more concentrated. This ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
illinois posts
How did international visitors enter the U.S. this year?
Nov 21st, 2009 at 9:00AM: If you visited the United States from overseas, you probably hit the ground in one of 15 ports of entry. These top first stops accounted for 84 percent of all entries from overseas in the first eight months of 2009-- up almost 2 percentage points from the same period in 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Traffic through the major ports is becoming slightly more concentrated. This ...Ground-level intelligence on the top restaurants in the country
Oct 19th, 2009 at 3:00PM: Everybody loves to publish lists, but few have so much data as OpenTable upon which to draw. So, when that site puts out a list of top spots, it's definitely worth a look. The latest, "Fit for Foodies," is the result of 3 million restaurant reviews, which ultimately led to 50 restaurants that are definitely worth your time. Upon quick inspection, I haven't been to any of them (which probably makes ...The Abbey Resort and Spa: A surprise foodie retreat in the Midwest
Oct 16th, 2009 at 11:00AM:
When you stay at a resort like The Abbey Resort and Spa on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, chances are that you'll eat many of your meals at the property's on-site restaurant. This can sometimes mean dining on uninspired dishes like rubbery "hotel chicken" or resigning yourself to the fact that you'll be spending a fortune on each meal in order to avoid heading offsite in search of better or cheaper ...Illinois man works 50 jobs in 50 states
Oct 13th, 2009 at 12:00PM:
tweetmeme_url = 'http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/13/illinois-man-works-50-jobs-in-50-states/'; tweetmeme_source = 'Gadling';
Looking to spice up your work routine? Want to travel the country but don't have the cash to go without a job for an extended period of time? Take a page from Daniel Seddiqui's playbook. Quit your job and contract yourself out to 50 different employers in 50 states over ...Man sues Chicago Hilton for $50,000 after tripping over luggage
Oct 8th, 2009 at 2:30PM:
tweetmeme_url = 'http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/08/man-sues-chicago-hilton-for-50-000-after-tripping-over-luggage/'; tweetmeme_source = 'Gadling';
It seems there's no end to the ridiculous things people will sue over these days. There was the alcoholic who drunkenly fell down the stairs and then sued the hotel for over-serving him, the guy who got electrocuted while trying to sneak onto an ...Metropolis Illinois - the offical home of Superman
Sep 14th, 2009 at 11:00AM: To most people, Metropolis is the fictional city where Clark Kent writes for fictional newspaper "The Daily Planet". To diehard fans, and residents of Metropolis, Illinois, their town is the real, and only home to Superman.
In fact, the Illinois state Legislature passed a resolution back in 1972 declaring Metropolis the "Hometown of Superman", so the law is on their side.
Metropolis is more ...Rise 35 stories above the city on Chicago's new balloon attraction
Sep 7th, 2009 at 12:30PM: Navy Pier, Chicago's biggest tourist trap, is offering visitors a new way to see the city. If riding the elevator to the top of the Sears Willis Tower or relaxing as a giant Ferris wheel slowly inches you skyward doesn't satisfy your thirst for getting airborne, maybe this one will. A 120,000 cubic-foot helium balloon, called the AeroBalloon, promises to float you 350 feet above the ground.
The ...Think local for a low-cost wine-tasting trip
Aug 31st, 2009 at 12:00PM: When most people think of going on a wine-tasting trip, their thoughts tend to head west - to California, Washington, and Oregon. It's not surprising. From Napa Valley in California to Walla Walla in Washington, these states are some of the biggest producers of wine in the US. But if you don't live in one of these states, there's no need to venture far from home for a weekend of swirling and ...Chicago City Provisions organic farm dinners
Aug 25th, 2009 at 11:00AM:
It's Green Travel Month here at Gadling, so to get into the green spirit, I booked a special dinner with Chicago's City Provisions Catering and Events, an eco-friendly catering company. City Provisions works with local farmers and suppliers, sends its organic waste back to farmers for composting, and sources all of its ingredients from organic and sustainable providers. The company offers ...Stay at The Blackstone and explore Chicago by bike
Aug 19th, 2009 at 2:30PM: We've been talking a lot about green travel this month. Well, here's one more way you can do your part to reduce the impact your travels have on the environment. Book a room at The Blackstone in Chicago through October 31, and you'll be given two Strida bikes to use for the duration of your stay.
"Bike Chicago" package prices range from $199 to $269 per night and include overnight accommodations ...Cahokia Mounds - Native American marvel
Aug 17th, 2009 at 10:30AM: We tend to associate ancient civilization with places like the Pyramids in Egypt and the ruins of Italy and Greece. But we happen to have some impressive and scenic ruins of ancient culture right here in the United States. Not far from St. Louis lies Cahokia Mounds, a massive ancient monument that at the peak of its power rivaled the medieval cities of Europe. Not only is Cahokia Mounds one of ...Scenic America: The Great Lakes Circle Tour
Aug 17th, 2009 at 10:00AM: Summer is a fantastic time to enjoy the upper Midwest, the few months where temperatures are warm enough to wear shorts, roll down the windows and even maybe (gasp) go for a swim. And there's no better way to explore the region than on The Great Lakes Circle Tours, a series of lovely drives around the massive inland lakes, visiting coastal towns, drinking in the charming culture and enjoying the ...Hidden midwestern gem - Galena, Illinois
Aug 3rd, 2009 at 12:00PM:
Galena Illinois is one of those real undiscovered and hidden gems. Nestled in the north west corner of the state, it is right across the Mississippi river from Iowa. The National Trust for Historic Preservation added Galena to its 2004 list of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations.
The village is conveniently located "in the middle of nowhere" - about 20 miles from Dubuque, IA and 80 ...The historic village of Long Grove, Illinois
Aug 3rd, 2009 at 10:00AM: A mere 30 minutes from Downtown Chicago, the historic village of Long Grove is a perfect destination for anyone looking to get away from the hussle and bustle of the busy city. The village is about 6 miles off highway 94, and is situated between Buffalo Grove and Vernon Hills. Long Grove is your typical historic village - a quaint "main street", a gorgeous square and many cobblestone roads ...NYC best city for singles (if you own a computer)
Aug 2nd, 2009 at 2:00PM: Looking for love lust on your next vacation? Your next trip should be to New York, which has knocked Atlanta out of the top spot as the best city in the country for singles. And, why wouldn't it? You have more than 8 million people chasing their dreams, so the choices are endless. There's one of everything, so in one night, you could meet every flavor of scumbag available. But, there's an upside ...Say goodbye to Chicago's Sears Tower
Jul 19th, 2009 at 5:30PM:
It's official. As of last week, the Sears Tower no longer exists. The famous skyscraper that dominates Chicago's skyline is still there, it just has a new name. On July 16th, the building was renamed as the Willis Tower, for the Willis Group Holdings company that received the naming rights back in March.
The tower was previously named for Sears Roebuck & Co., which was headquartered there ...See Chicago wieners (and others) on IgoUgo list
Jul 3rd, 2009 at 2:00PM: Chicago makes several appearances on IgoUgo's list of top hotdog establishments, but there are plenty of spots across the country where you can pick up a great hotdog. My favorite apparently made the cut – a shortcoming of the list, I guess. For me, it doesn't get better than Popo's, in Swampscott, MA, and my local shop, Gray's Papaya, is no slouch, either.
And, don't forget that there are ...Flight attendant arrested for touchy situation
Jul 2nd, 2009 at 2:00PM: The next time you complain about the service from flight attendants, consider the opposite extreme. Jaime Daria Samia, an attendant on United Airlines, was arrested in Chicago after (allegedly) he allegedly rubbed the hand and arm of a 16-year-old passenger ... and kicked in a few inappropriate comments to make the situation worse.
The boy's father reportedly told police that this behavior ...The postcard goes 3-D
Jun 30th, 2009 at 1:00PM: Even with all the technical developments like email, Skype and Twitter that help travelers stay in touch, the urge to send postcards never seems to go away. There's something strangely thrilling about sending and receiving one of these decidedly analog pieces of cardboard by snail mail. The physical sense it has traveled vast distances across strange lands to reach you at the mailbox outside your ...Giving up your seat for a voucher? Only on one condition!
May 19th, 2009 at 4:00PM: It's always pretty tempting. You're sitting in the gate area and hear the voice on the loudspeaker, offering travel vouchers and other perks if you'll give up your seat because your flight is oversold. You know the drill ... "if your travel plans are flexible." Well, while en route to the Gadling meet-up in Chicago, I got this opportunity and decided to roll the dice. Along the way, I learned a ...
