Mornings with Mark & Sam

I love shopping locally and being able to support local business owners in their dreams. One downtown Main Street shopping area stands out above all others.

I have been lucky that I have never had to deal with bed bugs, but if you travel to one of these three Illinois cities you might want to check that hotel bed.

Have you ever wondered if your house is haunted? The flickering lights, the creaky floors, and doors, the strange smell. Well, if this has happened to you, I hate to say it but...YES, it might be haunted.

Road trips are the best. They are even better when they take you on a trip through the history of America.

One of the oldest operating hotels in Illinois has seen presidents, celebrities, war, and financial trouble but is still in operation today and beautiful to stay at.

Pack your bags, call the grandparents, and hit the road to the most romantic city in Illinois.

Can we all agree that spam calls are just the worst? I get hundreds a month and it's getting so annoying. There's a new warning out of some area codes to avoid answering if you live in Missouri.

Diners are the best. There is just something about walking into a diner to get some of the best food you will eat and Missouri has some of the best diners in the nation.

I'm scratching my head a little bit on this one. Experts say that this city in Chicago is the best to visit in the off-season, but there's no way I would travel there in the winter.

This is another reason why I will not be exploring the rivers and lakes of Missouri.