Travel

Olivia Estrada, the on board manager, carries plates of food to the dome car for guests aboard a Patrick Henry Creative Promotions private rail car as it travels from Chicago, Illinois, to St. Louis, Missouri, on May 19, 2026. Private train cars may seem like a relic of the past, but for some rail fans, nothing beats having — or renting — your own sleeper car. (Jamie Kelter Davis/The New York Times)

The quiet allure of private rail

By The New York Times News Service Syndicate

October 2, 2026 at 6:15 p.m.

Private rail cars traveled 429,000 miles on Amtrak in fiscal year 2025, according to the...

Cary Sabados shops for chocolate at Hotel Chocolat in Lakeview on Feb. 12, 2026. This Lakeview location, opened last April, was the first Chicago store. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

Chicago-based Hotel Chocolat going nationwide with airport concessions, grocery stores and new retail markets

By Robert Channick

September 23, 2026 at 12:37 p.m.

This fall, Hotel Chocolat will pop up at 49 airports, hit the shelves at Wegmans,...

UNITE Here Local 1 workers from Cambria Hotel Chicago Magnificent Mile Hotel picket outside of the hotel on Oct. 23, 2018. (José M. Osorio/baiduhai)

Chicago hotel workers vote to strike

By Talia Soglin

September 21, 2026 at 4:15 p.m.

Workers at dozens of downtown Chicago hotels could go on strike at any time, according...

A plane flies over Nashville, Tenn., towing a banner reading “change.org/DollyPartonAirport” as part of an effort to rename the airport after Dolly Parton, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville’s airport would be renamed for Dolly Parton under Tennessee governor’s proposal

By Associated Press

August 28, 2026 at 2:37 p.m.

The airport in Nashville, Tennessee, would be renamed for Dolly Parton under a proposal announced...

The Cubs' Anthony Rizzo is introduced before the Little League Classic against the Pirates on Aug. 18, 2019, at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Chicago Cubs to play in the 2027 Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa., against Toronto Blue Jays

By Meghan Montemurro

August 23, 2026 at 7:16 p.m.

The Chicago Cubs will play the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2027 Little League Classic...

Plane crashed on its second attempt to land in heavy fog in Alaska, killing all 8 aboard

By Becky Bohrer

August 21, 2026 at 3:44 p.m.

Investigators say eight people died when a small plane crashed on its second attempt to...

Nine Chicago-area hikers pose alongside volunteers with the Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team after they were rescued from a steep rock face around 2 a.m. Sunday in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge. (Wolfe County Search & Rescue)

9 Chicago-area hikers rescued on ‘steep, slick rock face’ in Kentucky as thunderstorm approached

By Rebecca Johnson

August 20, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team rescued the group, a task that involved a...

Chris Dever at the Damen Avenue Pink Line station on Aug. 12, 2026. Dever was a full-time Lyft driver until he was priced out due to rising fuel prices. He opts to take public transit more since ending his time with Lyft in the spring. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)

With gas prices back on the rise, some Chicagoans are reconsidering how they get around

By Evgenia Anastasakos

August 15, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Gas prices have surged since late February at the start of the war in Iran....

FILE – American Airlines passenger planes are parked at Miami International Airport, in Miami on July 17, 2015. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)

Planes with same flight number avoid possible disaster thanks to quick-thinking controller

By Josh Funk

August 14, 2026 at 4:01 p.m.

A potential disaster was averted Friday when a Phoenix air traffic controller recognized two American...

FILE – The Ryanair desk is seen, Aug. 10, 2018, at the Barajas airport in Madrid, Spain. (AP Photo/Paul White, File)

Investigators find bird remains inside Ryanair plane engine after passenger almost sucked out of shattered window

By Josh Funk

August 13, 2026 at 3:54 p.m.

Investigators say broken engine parts shattered a window on a Ryanair plane shortly after takeoff...

Gov. JB Pritzker and other state officials unveiled the 2026 Butter Cow sculpture at the Dairy Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield on Aug, 12, 2026. The fairgrounds host the annual Illinois State Fair beginning this week, and this year's theme of the Butter Cow is a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Route 66. (Jeremy Gorner/baiduhai)

Illinois State Fair’s 2026 Butter Cow honors Route 66’s 100th anniversary

By Jeremy Gorner

August 12, 2026 at 6:28 p.m.

The Illinois State Fair opens Thursday and runs through Aug. 23 with various food and...

FILE – A sample of a limited release of a commemorative U.S. passport that celebrates America’s 250th birthday and features a picture of President Donald Trump, is photographed, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick, File)

Trump-branded commemorative passports will become available across the US

By Matthew Lee

July 30, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

Americans outside the nation’s capital will soon be able to get limited-edition U.S. passports that...

FILE – A plane lands at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., Dec. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Going abroad for a summer vacation? Here’s how you can minimize your jet lag.

By Laura Ungar

July 25, 2026 at 6:49 p.m.

Jet lag occurs when your body’s biological clock is out of sync with the time...