Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu

Read the latest articles by Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu at Thrillist

Contributor

Chicago

Travel

Explore adventure guides and design a custom itinerary for the destination of your choice in and around the city.

Best Travel Guides, Cool Hotels and Interesting Events - Thrillist

In Chicago there’s no better time to prioritize (or upgrade) your wellness routine than when winter is around the corner.

The Ultimate Wellness Guide to Chicago

Thrillist Event Guides

Thrillist’s city guide to everything you can do this year—from festivals to art exhibits to outdoor activities.

Thrillist Annual Event Guides: Every Event Happening in Your City This Year

Photo by Natasha Moustache/Getty Images

Events

Summers in Chicago are what people flock to the city for.

23 Things You Have to Do in Chicago This Year

Flickr/Michael Kappel

Chicago’s history is reflected in its architecture.

The 10 Most Awe-Inspiring Abandoned Places Near Chicago

Denver

Phoenix

Reasons to Drive

Visit these small and growing cities across the country just hours from major local markets. You may be surprised to find the best restaurants, hikes, beaches, and more are found here.

Reasons to Drive: Travel Guides to Local Cities in the U.S.

A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images

It’s sweater weather in Albuquerque, and nothing marks the change of the season than the city’s marquee event: the International Balloon Fiesta, where from October 5–13 more than 600 hot air balloons take to the sky for a dazzling display of colors.

The Biggest Balloon Festival in the World Is Going Down—or Up, Rather—in Albuquerque

Courtesy Experience Grand Rapids

For a couple of weeks in September at least, Grand Rapids, Michigan isn’t really a city anymore.

The World’s Most Popular Public Art Event Takes Place in Michigan

Photo by Alex Fish, Courtesy of Festival of Nations

For almost a century, St. Louis has celebrated the end of summer with the Festival of Nations, a two-night party featuring the sights, sounds, and flavors from various countries and cultures around the world.

Explore St. Louis's Thriving, Immigrant-Driven Food Scene at the 'Festival of Nations'

Tom Gill/Flickr

Just a jaunt from the Windy City is Starved Rock State Park, a glorious unflat slice of the Midwest with cliffs overlooking the Illinois river and meandering trails that guide you behind lush waterfalls and through canopied forests.

See Frozen Waterfalls at This Otherworldly State Park in Illinois

Cleveland

Courtesy of Cedar Point

Lifestyle

If you’re going to call yourself the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World,” you’d better be able to back up that claim.

Ranking All 18 Roller Coasters at Cedar Point

Courtesy of Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Adventure and timeless beauty awaits on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, the real life train that looks like it could have inspired Disney’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Ride the Rails on North America's Highest and Longest Steam Train

Shutterstock/pics721

For more than 100 years Wrigley Field has welcomed guests to marvel at its ivy-colored brick outfield, snap photos under its iconic red marquee, and delight in its old-school scoreboard (which continues to be hand-turned).

How to Have a Perfect Game Day at Wrigley Field

Two Days Away

Thrillist shares itineraries to some of the best towns and small cities across the United States. Everything you need to know to make the most of your weekend away.

Two Days Away: Small Town Weekend Getaways in the U.S.

Shutterstock/Hansenrobert4

Michigan City, Indiana is such a short drive from Chicago that it doesn’t leave you feeling rushed to get there.

Visit the Indiana City with Famous Dunes on a Majestic Lake

Star Tripping

Thrillist is looking to the night sky in 2024. Here’s where and how to stargaze and catch this year’s total solar eclipse in destinations around the U.S.

Star Tripping: Best Places to Travel for Stargazing

Kattiedid / Shutterstock 

A total solar eclipse will cut a swath of darkness across the US stretching from Maine to Texas on April 8, and the closer you are to the center of that path of totality, the longer the eclipse will last.

Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu

Latest Posts From Ximena

The Ultimate Wellness Guide to Chicago

Here’s how to unwind in the Windy City.

23 Things You Have to Do in Chicago This Year

These are the must-hit festivals, concerts, events, and most fun things to do in Chicago this year.

The 10 Most Awe-Inspiring Abandoned Places Near Chicago

From one of the most haunted locations in the U.S. to the long-forgotten Chicago Freight Tunnels.

The Biggest Balloon Festival in the World Is Going Down—or Up, Rather—in Albuquerque

It’s the view of a lifetime.

The World’s Most Popular Public Art Event Takes Place in Michigan

For two weeks in September, Grand Rapids will transform into ArtPrize—one of the largest art competitions in the world.

Explore St. Louis's Thriving, Immigrant-Driven Food Scene at the 'Festival of Nations'

The Festival of Nations is one of the largest multicultural gatherings in the Midwest.

See Frozen Waterfalls at This Otherworldly State Park in Illinois

Hike one of the 18 canyons and glamp in picturesque campgrounds.

Ranking All 18 Roller Coasters at Cedar Point

From Blue Streak’s historic prowess to Valravn’s death-defying drops.

Ride the Rails on North America's Highest and Longest Steam Train

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad has been featured in more than 20 films.

How to Have a Perfect Game Day at Wrigley Field

Where to eat, the deal with tailgating, and much more.

Visit the Indiana City with Famous Dunes on a Majestic Lake

From windswept dunes and rugged hikes to throwback motels and local beer.

Get a Lakeside View of the Total Solar Eclipse in Bloomington, Indiana

On April 8, 2024, Bloomington will be right in the path of totality for the total solar eclipse.