Hello fellow travelers, I’m Kara aka “Chicago (Chi) Girl Meets World”! Born and raised in Chicago, I’ve always had a passion for travel. Despite working full-time in the corporate world, I’ve made it a priority to explore as much of the world as I can—not waiting until retirement to live out my travel dreams.
My love for international travel began when I visited Kenya with my parents while in grade school. Experiencing life outside of Chicago at such a young age gave me a new perspective on the world, different cultures, and the people who live there. It deepened my understanding and appreciation for global diversity, and since that trip, I’ve made it a point to take at least one international trip every year. From Europe to Africa, Asia to the Americas, each journey has expanded my horizons.
Alongside my love for travel, I’ve always had a passion for cooking. Growing up, I spent countless hours in the kitchen with my mom, learning to recreate dishes from around the world. One of my earliest culinary influences was an Emeril Lagasse cookbook called There’s a Chef in My World, and cooking through those recipes has been a lifelong passion. Today, I continue to combine my love for food and travel by recreating dishes inspired by the places I’ve been.
Since travel isn’t my full-time job, I’ve found ways to satisfy the travel bug even when I’m not on the road. I’ve turned my Chicago home into a travel playground, exploring new restaurants and activities to give me that “travel” feeling—without the time and cost of a trip. It’s been a great way to experience new things while staying local.
In recent years, I’ve embraced solo travel, and it has been one of the most empowering experiences of my life. Traveling solo, especially a life-changing study abroad trip to China during college, gave me the confidence to continue exploring the world on my own terms. I’ve learned to navigate new cultures, languages, and challenges, and I want to inspire other solo female travelers to do the same.
Through this blog, I hope to share my experiences, tips, and insights with you. I want to encourage full-time workers with limited vacation time to still explore the world, and show how it’s possible to travel, even with a busy schedule. I also want to inspire you to be a tourist in your own city, uncovering hidden gems close to home. I love mixing well-planned itineraries with spontaneous adventures, and I’ll share both in my posts. My goal is to empower solo female travelers to feel confident and capable, whether they’re traveling across the globe or around their own city. Along the way, I’ll provide practical advice on everything from planning itineraries to the best restaurants at each destination, and share recipes inspired by my travels to bring global flavors into your kitchen.
I’m excited to share my journey with you and hopefully inspire your own travels! Journey on and happy travels!
