Taryn Shorr-Mckee

Tucked into northwest Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains, Eureka Springs is a place where contradictions don’t just coexist, they define the destination. It’s a Victorian-era spa town and a paranormal hotspot, a biker mecca and a proudly LGBTQ+ enclave nicknamed “the gayest small town in America.” In the Ozarks, “the place where misfits fit,” Eureka Springs wears that identity especially well, drawing artists, nature lovers, and free spirits of all kinds for over a century.

In travel, the early bird truly does get the worm. While last-minute deals still exist, they often come at the cost of flexibility: fewer flight options, limited lodging and higher prices for whatever happens to be left. Increasingly, booking (way) ahead isn’t just smart, it’s necessary.
Many trips now book 9 months to a year in advance, particularly international destinations, places made famous by social media and travel tied to major events like the World Cup, a solar eclipse or Día de los...

Top 5 Can’t Miss

Soak in Saratoga’s natural hot springs, either the free Hobo Hot Springs dotting the North Platte River or the tipi-covered pools at Saratoga Hot Springs Resort.

Rent snowmobiles or book a beginner-friendly guided tour to ride deep powder and groomed trails in the Snowy Range.

Spend a quiet ski day at Snowy Range Ski Area or splurge on a day at Brush Creek Ranch’s private Green Mountain.

Explore downtown’s Western-inspired shops, including a custom hat bar and boutiques highl...

Sports and history share the spotlight across the Midwest this year, with marquee events tied to America’s 250th birthday and milestones decades in the making. But those themes are just the beginning. Cultural institutions will debut major expansions, cities will welcome global audiences, and comfortably familiar places will reintroduce themselves in meaningful new ways. Whether you’re planning a road trip, a long weekend, or a bucket-list summer journey, these are the Midwest destinations wo...

In case you didn't know already, 2026 is the Centennial year for Route 66. And with this once-in-a-lifetime celebration comes a lot of really cool things to do along the route itself.
Even here at Only In Your State, we've curated a list of fun ways to celebrate Route 66's Centennial. Pair that with a boots-on-the-ground approach, and we have experiences and events that you can savor all year long...starting with the iconic Route 66 Neon Park.

Some holiday movies resonate so deeply that they instantly become one of your go-tos, no matter where or when you grew up. As a ‘90s kid, Home Alone is one of those for me — and, let’s be honest, for just about everyone else who’s seen it. It wasn’t a movie we just watched; we absorbed and memorized (and, in my case at least, admittedly quoted) it, from the chaotic family airport dash and Buzz’s tarantula to Kevin’s triumphant “I made my family disappear!” realization over a bowl of ice cream...

Summer may be prime time for America’s national parks, but winter reveals a completely different, far more idyllic side—one of snow-blanketed trails, frozen waterfalls, and (arguably best of all) zero crowds. Many parks remain at least partially open year-round, offering unexpected cold-weather adventures ranging from underground caroling to chasing the aurora and competing in ski archery.

The day after Thanksgiving, as the final few autumn leaves cling to the bluffs above the snaking Elk River and the Ozarks settle into their winter quiet, something incredible begins in Noel, Missouri. Specifically, inside the tiny town’s post office.
A trickle of envelopes arrives first.
Then dozens. Hundreds. Thousands.
By mid-December, overflowing sacks of mail from as far as Europe and Asia line the post office floor, waiting to be sorted and stamped. These mountains of paper?

Every October, 100,000 visitors descend on Fayetteville, West Virginia, a small town of less than 3,000, for a single-day event unlike anything else. Bridge Day, held annually on the third Saturday in October since 1980, transforms the soaring New River Gorge Bridge into the stage for one of the largest extreme sport gatherings anywhere—and one of the world’s few legal opportunities for BASE jumping.

From extravagant rooftop bars and ice rinks to citywide festivals and hot tub boats, Chicago turns into a full-scale holiday playground come November. Yes, it’s chilly (okay, okay – it’s freezing), but this city knows how to make winter magical, with steaming mugs of cocoa and mulled wine, lights and trees in every direction and 70-some neighborhoods that each celebrate the season their own way.

Some destinations sit on your travel bucket list for literal years, waiting for everything to line up just right to visit finally. For me, riding the historic Skunk Train through the redwoods to Glen Blair Bar was one of those. Ever since the outdoor, accessible-by-train-only bar opened in late 2022, I’d been determined to experience it for myself — but my previous trips to Northern California never aligned with the schedule. So when my husband and I planned a road trip from San Francisco up ...

With unexpectedly vibrant late-season foliage, a flowing creek, and near-total solitude, Aravaipa Canyon proves the desert can do autumn, too.
In most parts of the U.S., fall foliage is gone by November. But in southern Arizona’s Aravaipa Canyon, it’s just getting started. Around two hours from both Phoenix and Tucson, this towering, red-walled gorge, reminiscent of Zion National Park, hides one of the most spectacular—and least-known—leaf-peeping displays in the Southwest.

Each October, the rhythmic pulse of drums draws dancers and spectators from across the country to Rapid City, South Dakota, where the Black Hills Powwow celebrates and honors Lakota culture and community. At its heart is Dew Bad Warrior-Ganje, who has been part of the Wacipi (pronounced wah-chee-pee, it's the Lakota word for powwow and means “they dance”) for over two decades, starting as a volunteer and later serving 17 years on the board and 16 as vice president.

Walk into Dakota Drum Company in downtown Rapid City, South Dakota, and you won’t be greeted by the usual hum of retail chatter. Instead, you might hear the rhythmic scrape of a buffalo h...