Amy Tara Koch is an author and journalist who has the unique pleasure of traveling the world for her job. She contributes to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, Vogue, T Magazine, The Daily Beast, Food & Wine, Conde Nast Traveler and Chicago Tribune.
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Nobody has time to get sick. After years of practice, I have tried and true methods to nip a potential cold in the bud. The trick is to catch the illness before it blooms into a full fledged snot fest. The moment I feel the...
We decided to go to Sweden by default. In late September, I still had not planned anything for winter break. A swift online search revealed that all of the predictable spots-skiing in Colorado, Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico-had been already booked by parents more conscientious than me....
A cruise can be an incredible family vacation. The appeal of visiting multiple destinations and unpacking just once is undeniable. But, for many, the mega ship cocktail -endless crowds, bland buffets, forgettable port towns, pools that could double as water parks— is not. That’s why the...
Tulum? Maui? Tokyo? This was my hot list a few weeks ago when I blinked and realized that winter break was breathing down my neck. And, I had planned zilch. Within an hour, I discovered that “sure thing” destinations -ski resorts with perma-powder, foolproof...
Travel is a learning experience. To illuminate this point, I create worksheets for my children to fill out prior to most trips. The sheets entail research--what is special about this place? What are some cultural differences? What type of food is eaten here? What can...
If you are a food lover, you know about Commander's Palace, the home of haute Creole cuisine in New Orleans' Garden District. A new book about Miss Ella Brennan, the 90 year old proprietress and icon of the American Food Movement is out (penned by her...
While j’adore Paris, a recent trip there felt triste, the militia -like police presence, endless sirens and parfum of fear sucking the romantic spirit from the city. Plus, I couldn’t shake the anxiety that a terrorist attack was very much in the realm of possibility...
After conducting a few interviews this week, I had an epiphany: I've been wasting a lot of money on travel. It's not that I had crap experiences. Au contraire. It's that I haven't been doing enough homework on how to best use awards dollars to...
How to eat your way around St. Louis Chef Rick Lewis of Southern and Mike "Pappy" Emerson of Pappy's Smokehouse, both located in St. Louis, talk about their restaurants' specialties. (Amy Tara Koch / Chicago Tribune) Amy Tara Koch for the Chicago Tribune Some cities reveal their charm effortlessly. Walk...
The most difficult thing about becoming a parent is watching the concept of free time evaporate. In the old days, “getting ready” was part of the fun of going out. Two luxurious hours could easily be invested in outfit selection and grooming. Your chart-topping responsibility...
