Elisa Drake has covered Chicago area travel for more than a decade, including five years as an editor at Where magazine in Chicago. Working on this book gave her the opportunity to venture way beyond the city limits, rediscovering some favorite destinations and finding several new ones. Her work has also appeared in a variety of online and print publications including TimeOut Chicago Kids, Self, the official Illinois Travel Guide, ModernMom.com and Recreation Management. She's a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and lives in Chicago with her husband, dog, and two precocious and precious daughters.