The Down Lo - Travel and Food Blog

04/08/2026

Planning a Route 66 road trip for the centennial celebration? Buckle up because the Mother Road turns 100 this year and is still delivering some truly unexpected surprises — including a UNESCO World Heritage Site that most people don't know exists.

Here are the stops worth adding to your itinerary, and a few you'll genuinely regret skipping. 🚗

🚐 Pontiac, IL — Before van life was ever a thing, Bob Waldmire was living it. You can tour the OG artist's double-decker VW "road yacht" and studio at the Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum

🐘 Litchfield, IL — The Pink Elephant Antique Mall is exactly the fever dream it sounds like: kitschy Americana, vintage Route 66 finds, a giant pink elephant that demands a photo op, and ice cream served out of an oversized cone

🏛️ Collinsville, IL — Cahokia Mounds is the largest pre-Columbian city north of Mexico you can tour. Most people drive past it without as much as a second glance.

🫏 Oatman, AZ — A ghost town where wild burros outnumber people and freely roam the streets, don’t miss the daily shootouts.

🥩 Amarillo, TX — Take on the Big Texan's 72-oz live-streamed steak challenge and leave your mark at Cadillac Ranch’s outdoor art installation

Read my latest for Business Insider here >>
https://www.businessinsider.com/best-cities-to-stop-route-66-texas-illinois-arizona-towns-2026-4

04/04/2026

Denver come see me and learn about some weird, wacky and unexpected things to add to your bucket list! ✅👀

03/31/2026

Never heard of Eureka Springs, Arkansas? That's kind of the point. 👀

This quirky 2,000-person Ozarks town is built into a cliff and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in its entirety — one of the only complete cities in the country with that designation.

It's been named one of America's Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has some of the country's most unexpected attractions (working bunnies, cave speakeasies, big cat sanctuaries, haunted hotels), and is consistently ranked one of the most dog-friendly cities in the U.S. 🐶

It's where the Ozarks get weird, the history gets dark, and the bunnies get to work. 🐰

About 5 hours from Oklahoma City, 4.5 from Kansas City, under 7 from Dallas — a surprising getaway hiding in plain sight. Add it to your bucket list and follow for more unexpected adventures.

Full details on the blog >> https://thedownlo.com/north-america-travel/usa-travel/arkansas-travel/things-to-do-eureka-springs-arkansas/

03/13/2026

Having traveled all over the US, state capitals fascinate me. Some are major metropolitan areas, whereas others feel more random — supposedly chosen for historical significance, strategic location, or reasons I may never understand.

If you've already visited the obvious tourist destinations (Phoenix, Denver, and Austin, looking at you), consider this your cue to plan a trip to one of these lesser-known capital cities like:

Cheyenne
Little Rock
Oklahoma City
Providence
Juneau

…that deliver culture, history, and seriously good food without the crowds or inflated price tags. Call it capital gains for your travel bucket list. You're welcome.

My latest for Business Insider here >> Businessinsider.com/best-capital-cities-to-visit-been-to-all-us-states

usa travel, state capitals, american travels, america road trips, trip inspiration, weekend getaway

03/08/2026

BRB taking a tractor to a lighthouse on an island in the middle of the Great Lakes. Nothing to see here. 👀💦

✨ Follow for more unexpected travel experiences close to home and around the globe. And check out my blog for more info on all these spots. 👆🏻



Cana Island | Door County things to do | travel ideas | Midwest vacation | Wisconsin attractions

03/03/2026

Hill I Will Die On…
The World Doesn't Need More Critics or Reviewers

A new restaurant opened down the street from us. Three days in, Karen was already complaining to the manager about the service. Someone else left a one-star review because they accidentally set off the fire alarm. 🤦‍♀️

The fire alarm.

These are real people who spent years and their hard-earned savings to bet on a dream and build something from scratch — and their ratings are being tanked before they've even figured out the POS system.

If you genuinely love your neighborhood and want good things in it, act like it.

Not everything has to be sunshine and rainbows. Constructive feedback has a place. But a one-star review in week for something that has nothing to do with the food one isn't a review. It's ridiculous and says way more about you than them.

If you have nothing nice to say… maybe just say nothing at all. 🤷‍♀️
💬 Am I wrong? Tell me your thoughts.

02/27/2026

Did you know the least visited state in America has a "Save the Best for Last" club?

Things to do in Medora North Dakota. Medora ND Guide - restaurants in Medora, and gateway to Theodore Roosvelt National Park.

02/23/2026

Spring break you say? We have a few ideas. 😎

Kids shouldn't get to have all the fun right? It's time to plan a Myrtle Beach spring break for adults and leave the children behind.

02/20/2026

You look like you could use some fresh air. -- or better, climb mountains.

Hiking Grand Tetons National Park, how to visit Jackson Wyoming, and travel tips for the best hikes, scenic drives, trails, and wildlife.

02/18/2026

It's the last few fleeting cold days here. Make them count with whatever winter means down south.

From holiday lights to spa soaks, find fun things to do in Dallas in winter and unforgettable things to do in Dallas at Christmas.