After my daughter Emma graduated from the University of Missouri–St. Louis in 2024, she accepted a teaching job in Madrid. Last year was our first holiday season apart, so I planned for my son Oliver and I to join Emma for Christmas in Spain. He’ll travel later in December, but I decided to spend a quiet November in Crete, Greece. It’s the off-season here. Many restaurants are closed, the crowds are gone, and the prices are a fraction of the summer rates, but the air is still warm enough that I work on the terrace in the mornings and swim in the sea in the late afternoons. There’s a calmness to the days that I imagine doesn’t exist in the busy summer months. I overheard a local woman say, “We finally have our island back.” I wanted to thank her for letting me, an outsider, be part of the slower season, but I refrained. Emma flew in from Madrid for the weekend, and we didn’t do much of anything—lingering meals, a bottle of wine on the beach, long conversations over coffee. There’s something undeniably special (and cheaper) about traveling off-season. This week, we’re sharing three European destinations easily reached via nonstop flights to Frankfurt, as well as must-visit literary stops across the Midwest. Winter is an ideal season for quieter, more contemplative travel, no matter the location. Safe travels!
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Travel News You Can Use
Holiday Deals
Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri, has some special offers for the holiday season. On Black Friday, four tickets to Wonder of Wildlife and Dogwood Canyon are $100 off. (Tickets expire one year from date of purchase.) Then, on Cyber Monday, adult memberships are on sale at child prices. And from now through the end of the year, four memberships are available at a discounted rate. For more information, visit the website.
Trekkies Unite
Indianapolis is home to Starbase Indy, a fan-run Star Trek convention that takes place each year during Thanksgiving weekend. The convention provides activities related to Star Trek and STEM. This year’s convention is being held at Indianapolis Marriott East. Badges are available here.
North Pole-Inspired Cocktails
Hotel Emery in Minneapolis is transforming the hotel’s Vault Level into a pop-up bar. Sticking with this year’s theme, “An Explorer’s Guide to the North Pole,” cocktails include The Polar Vortex (a spice rum concoction) and S’more Naughty Than Nice (a vanilla vodka with coffee liquor and, of course, a toasted marshmallow).
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Hannibal: Explore the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum, the Huck Finn House, and other landmarks. If you’re up for an adventure, take a ride on a riverboat, and visit the nearby Mark Twain Cave complex.
Iowa City, Iowa: A UNESCO City of Literature, Iowa City is shaped by the legacy of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Visitors can browse Prairie Lights Bookstore, see the Iowa Literary Walk’s bronze plaques, and explore the Dey House and Glenn Schaeffer Library to learn more about the workshop’s storied history.
Indianapolis, Indiana: The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library celebrates the author’s life, values, and legacy. Around the city, you’ll find murals, themed drinks, and even a restaurant named after the novel Bluebeard.
Brewery Lights marks 40 years of holiday magic at Anheuser-Busch
This year, the beloved event returns with more lights, more cheer, and an exciting lineup of new experiences designed to make the season special.
Travel from St. Louis to these three European cities that are just a short train ride from Frankfurt
If you’re thinking about Europe for the holidays, take advantage of the nonstop flights from St. Louis to Frankfurt.
Amsterdam: Explore Amsterdam by bike or on a canal cruise, and then wander the colorful floating Bloemenmarkt. Don’t miss the Anne Frank House and the world-class art at the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum.
Berlin: Berlin blends a cutting-edge art and nightlife scene with powerful reminders of its past. Visit the East Side Gallery and Holocaust Memorial, and then experience the Berghain and Tempelhofer Field.
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