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Course Charted: Your Guide to Slow, Sustainable, Savvy Travel

What began as a journey half-way around the world, into the courtroom, and behind a camera has brought me here - helping you chart a course for memorable, meaningful travel...

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costa rica

Proyecto Asis: Volunteer at Costa Rica’s Most Reputable Wildlife Rescue Center

Proyecto Asis Volunteering

Looking to make your travel to Costa Rica more meaningful and memorable? Volunteer at Proyecto Asis – Costa Rica’s most reputable Wildlife Rehabilitation Center! In this article I discuss the importance of voluntourism and why you should consider lending your time to care for the animals at Proyecto Asis.

Categories Central America, Destinations Tags costa rica

Course Charted About Me

Hi! I’m Alana, a Chicago-based attorney turned travel writer, photographer, and travel content creator here to help you travel smarter to Chicago and beyond. Click below to learn how I escaped the 9-5 for the 24/7!

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alanainwanderland

from lantern festivals to free museum days to arti from lantern festivals to free museum days to artisan markets, February in #Chicago is packed with fun things to do around the city! What’s on your must-do list this month??
If you need inspiration to get out of the house, here are my top choices this month:
• Architecture & Design Film Festival | runs through 2/5 at @chiarchitecture
• Chicago Restaurant Week | runs through 2/5 with some of the best Chicago restaurants offering incredible pre fixe menus
• Ravenswood Makers Market | on 2/4 1-6pm, FREE to attend
• Lantern Festival Celebration | on 2/5 12-4pm at @chicagoculturalcenter
• Millennium Park Ice Skating | all month long weather permitting, online res required
• Dining In The Dark | few dates in February still available for this unique culinary experience (6pm and 8:30pm seatings)
• PB&J on Ice Bar | an ice bar and ice sculptures made from over 50,000 pounds of ice is back in the West Loop starting 2/11 at @pbjwestloop
• Free Days at Adler Planetarium | IL residents can enjoy the amazing @adlerplanet for free this month every Wed, online res required
SHARE this list with someone who needs to get out and explore more of Chicago this month!
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 → @alanainwanderland 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲!
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#westloop #chicagorestaurants #thingstodoinchicago #chicagofun #windycity #chicagobar #chicagothingstodo #chicagoevents #chicagoinfluencer #chicagofood #chicagofoodie #westloopchicago #westloopisthebestloop #chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #restaurantweek #chicagoexplore #chicagomuseum #chicagotravel #visitchicago #rivernorthchicago #icebar #chicagolife #rivernorth #travelinfluencer #chicagobloggers #bestdestinations #alanainchicago #chicagoblogger
SAVE this ultra-romantic #Chicago Valentine’s Da SAVE this ultra-romantic #Chicago Valentine’s Date date idea and book a reservation at The Exchange | @theexchangechicago for their 3-course Valentine’s Day tasting menu by the amazing Chef Lee Kuebler! 💕🍽️
Location: 224 S Michigan Ave, Chicago
Aesthetic: absolutely stunning, historic building (the Railway Exchange by legendary architect Daniel Burnham) with a jaw-dropping atrium made of glass, steel, and marble and dotted with olive trees; veryyy romantic and posh
Price: $95 for a 3 course tasting menu (lobster bisque, surf and turf, and a warm raspberry and chocolate chunk cookie with raspberry sorbet)
Reservations: highly recommended, time slots start at 5pm on 2/14
Will you be celebrating Valentine’s Day in Chicago? I’m not big on the commercial side of Valentine’s Day but I do love a nice dinner 😁
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 → @alanainwanderland 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲!
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#valentinesdaydate #chicagorestaurants #thingstodoinchicago #chicagofun #windycity #valentinesdayideas #chicagothingstodo #chicagoevents #chicagoinfluencer #chicagofood #chicagofoodie #chicagoeats #chicagodining #chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #southloop #chicagoexplore #southloopchicago #chicagotravel #visitchicago #chicagolifestyle #chicagoeats #chicagofoodscene #bestrestaurants #travelinfluencer #chicagobloggers #bestdestinations #alanainchicago #chicagoblogger #chicagodatenight
heyyyy February in #Chicago, it’s ice to meet ya heyyyy February in #Chicago, it’s ice to meet ya 🥶
sharing a photographic Jan recap as we head into a (hopefully) warmer February:
📸1: pretending i’m not freezing while shooting on the Chicago riverwalk (my jacket is just out of frame and i quickly put it on right after this shot!)
📸2: heavy snowfall beautifully blanketing Marina Towers
📸3&5: Chicago’s millennium park looking like a winter wonderland
📸4: chilled commuters walking quickly in the Loop as the L wizzes by
📸6: warm tones of Chicago’s Wells Street Bridge framing our icy architecture
What are you looking forward to this month?? Let me know what Chi content you’d love to see and i’ll make it happen! 🤍 // #AlanaInChicago
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‪📍Chicago, USA 🇺🇸‬
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#chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #chicagosnow #windycity #chicagoloop #ThingsToDoInChicago #millenniumpark #chicagoexplore #chicagoriverwalk #travelinfluencer #chicagohome #chicagoevents #chicagolife #chicagofun #chicagoillinois #chicagothingstodo #chicagoinfluencer #visitchicago #chicagotravel #wearetravelgirls #sheisnotlost #snowday❄️ #chicagofoodie ‬#chicagofood #ChicagoLifestyle #ChicagoFun #ChicagoBlogger #chicagowinter
just 6 days left to make the most of #Chicago Rest just 6 days left to make the most of #Chicago Restaurant Week (aka the best time of the year for die-hard Chicago foodies looking to try new restaurants!) so today i’m sharing one my favorite meals from this year’s Restaurant Week offerings: Alapana | @alpanasrestaurant 🍽️
𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄:
Price: $59 for a 3-course meal + bread service (and if you love perfectly baked breads to start a meal, this is definitely for you — the focaccia with sun-dried tomato dip and roasted garlic is insane!)
Location: 831 N State St, Chicago (in the charming Gold Coast neighborhood!)
Menu: (app) crispy polenta and mushrooms, plum salad or burrata and poached pears; (entree) wild mushroom ravioli, faroe islands salmon, or braised short rib; (dessert) au levain chocolate cake, oreo sundae, or salted caramel sundae
What I would order: polenta and mushrooms, faroe islands salmon or wild mushroom ravioli, chocolate cake
Have you been to Alpana Chicago yet?? What restaurants are at the top of your list for Chicago Restaurant Week?
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 → @alanainwanderland 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲!
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#chicagorestaurantweek #chicagorestaurants #thingstodoinchicago #chicagofun #windycity #chicagobar #chicagothingstodo #chicagoevents #chicagoinfluencer #chicagofood #chicagofoodie #chicagoeats #chicagodining #chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #restaurantweek #chicagoexplore #chicagogoldcoast #chicagotravel #visitchicago #chicagolifestyle #goldcoastchicago #chicagofoodscene #bestrestaurants #travelinfluencer #chicagobloggers #bestdestinations #alanainchicago #chicagoblogger
#Chicago weather keeping us guessing ☀️ → ❄️
Some tips if you’re traveling to Chicago in the winter months:
• check the forecast the day of departure (weather may have already changed from the first time you checked!)
• hand and foot warmers are a super useful (i like the rechargeable ones on Amazon!)
• even if snow isn’t in the forecast, the wind chill can make temps colder than they seem so bring a warm, long jacket and thick tights / fleece-lined pants
• scout out indoor spots to pop into and warm up while you’re out exploring (i love coffee shops for this — @intelligentsiacoffee, @caffeumbria, @foxtrotmarket, @bluebottle are some of my favs in the Loop)
What are your best tips for staying warm while out and about during #Chicago winter?? Do you check the forecast 5 times a day like me or just take your chances? 😅
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 → @alanainwanderland 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲!
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#chicagowinter #chicagosnow #thingstodoinchicago #chicagofun #windycity #chicagoarchitecture #chicagothingstodo #chicagoevents #chicagoinfluencer #chicagoweather #chicagofoodie #chicagoloop #rivernorth #chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #rivernorthchicago #chicagoexplore #streeterville #chicagotravel #visitchicago #chicagolifestyle #chicagolife #chicagogram #bestcity #travelinfluencer #chicagobloggers #bestdestinations #alanainchicago #chicagoblogger
the looooongest month of the year in #Chicago is a the looooongest month of the year in #Chicago is almost over and luckily 2 of the remaining 5 days are a weekend 🤍
to help you make the most of the last weekend in January in Chicago, here are the best things to do (in case you’re feeling motivated to swap PJs for some real clothes):
• Chicago Restaurant Week: the biggest foodie fest in Chicago is going on through Feb. 5 (if you need ideas for where to go, check out my prior posts / Reels)
• Lunar New Year Celebrations: Lunar New Year began 1/22 and celebrations are going on all week — my top picks include Argyle Lunar New Year on Sat. Whatand the Lunar New Year Parade in Chicago’s Chinatown on Sun.
• Dumpling Making Dinner: going along with the Lunar New Year celebrations above is the dumpling making dinner at @hingkeerestaurant on Sat. featuring storytelling and lion dances!
• CHICAGO at CIBC Theater: see all that jazz during this musical’s last weekend of performances!
• The Chicago Food Stop Pop-Up: check out this @themagmile pop-up showcasing products from local Chicago businesses!
• Chicago Polar Plunge: see members of @chicagopolarbearclub and other folks crazy enough to jump into frigid Lake Michigan in the winter (for charity!) on Sat. at Oak Street Beach at noon (it’s not too late to register / donate!)
What are your plans this weekend?? 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 this post and give your friends some inspiration to come out of hibernation! 😜
// #AlanaInChicago
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‪📍Chicago, USA 🇺🇸‬
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