Chao, Italia!

Off-season travel is incredibly underrated. If you’re willing to pack an extra sweater—or do some shopping to supplement a poorly packed suitcase—you’re rewarded with incredible, ethereal photos without the touristy crowds. On a trip to Italy in November 2016, I felt like a character in an international spy thriller. By the end of a long weekend in Venice, the streets were all but empty. Inky waves lapped the edges of the canals and smokers stood under street lamps as they lit cigarettes (really, truly!). When I heard the unmistakable melody of “Sweet Home Chicago” from across the way, I couldn’t help but duck into a jazz bar for a digestivo to honor my home city while abroad.