I’m seriously considering a trip to Texas based on a matchbook I saw on Sub-Studio. This totally awesome design is by Christine Celic Strohl for La Condesa, a Mexican restaurant in Austin. I’m convinced that a restaurant that’s cool enough to have commissioned these matchbooks must be worth a visit. Any Austin readers in the house who can confirm? — Erica P.

Having just returned from a vacation where I boarded four different planes, this idea from the creative director at Squarespace really hit home. Tyler Thompson was so bothered by the design (or lack thereof) of boarding passes, he decided to give it a redesign. Thompson thought about which items on the boarding pass he needed to reference, and used this information to create a clean, user-friendly design. I don’t think I realized how terrible boarding passes were until I saw Thompson’s makeover. Now if only the airlines would get a clue. — Erica P.

I have a long list of standard Chicago experiences handy for when tourists visit: the Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, deep dish pizza, and a visit to the Bleeding Heart Bakery (1955 W. Belmont; 773-327-6934). The organic bakery boasts an overwhelming array of vegan and gluten-free treats, but fear not, stubborn carbovores — there are plenty of scrumptious traditional goodies for you, too. More punk rock than crunchy hippie, BHB features an extravagant array of cupcakes painted with neon frosting in decadent flavors like Mexican hot chocolate, mango chile, dulce de leche, red velvet, and peanut butter bacon. Their cakes have gained some notoriety, too — co-owner Michelle Garcia has appeared on the Food Network’s Extreme Cakes (dummy reproductions of their winning cakes and their medals sit above the door). Visit their website for more information, the latest cupcake flavors, or just to drool. — Katie D.

Ah, the holidays — our favorite time of the year to spend an inordinate number of hours at the airport. Designer Eric De Nijs of Nieuwe Heren addresses this problem with his Suited Case. Like an upholstered Transformer, larger suitcases combine with hand luggage to create a couch built for two. While I’m a fan of classic suitcases, it would be nice to have my own couch to sit on while playing the waiting game this holiday season. View more photos at Dezeen. — Sarah C.

If you’ve seen the new movie Amelia, you know that Amelia Earhart was much more than an aviator and an inspiration to millions. In her far-too-brief 39 years, she authored two books, was an associate editor at Cosmopolitan, became a visiting faculty member at Purdue University (where she planned to return after her ’round-the-world flight) and was actively involved in the manufacture and promotion of several products that bore her name. My favorite? Amelia Earhart luggage, which Earhart insisted be up to the demands of air travel. Perhaps that’s one reason you still find great travel cases, trunks, and suitcases on eBay, like a demure set of three or this bright green, ribbon-trimmed assortment. (We found the vintage ad on eBay, too.) Me? I’ve been stubbornly holding out hopes for years that I’ll find one while antiquing. It’s part of the adventure. — Sarah L.

If you’re visiting Paris, why not go all out and indulge in your fantasy of living in a fabulously chic apartment right on the Seine, a whitewashed attic nook just steps from the Bon Marche, even an opulent mansion near Hotel des Invalides? Yes, I’m already dreaming — a friend recently stayed in this apartment found through Vingt Paris, and all I can say is, je l’aime. I mean, look at that place! Can you really do better at a hotel? Short- and long-term rentals are available at the Vingt Paris site, where I suspect the photos will wow you as they did me. And if you really fall in love with Paris, they sell apartments, too. –Mary T.

A weird yet fond memory from my childhood is the occasional after-dark drives we would take down nearby Sleepy Hollow Road. The name was close enough to “Spooky Hollow” for us, it was wooded and winding, and we loved nothing more than to imagine all the creepy things out just beyond the glow of the headlights — while we were safely in the car, of course. If that sounds appealing, the folks at Drive I-95 have cooked up a whole triptik of spooky stops in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Connecticut, and Maryland. These require getting out of the car, but if you’re traveling in the area and like a good scare, this could be lots of fun. The trip starts at PA Exit 22 for the haunted house at the Eastern State Penitentiary and ends up at MD Exit 85 – Aberdeen for a little something called “Don’t Expect to Enjoy This.” I couldn’t find the list on the Drive I-95 site, so it’s excerpted after the jump. –Mary T. Click for more scares. (Warning: most of the sites load with sound.) (more…)

There is nothing I hate more than traveling. Not the seeing new places, visiting old friends, and having adventures part, but the literal traveling part of getting on a plane and journeying somewhere. The germy airports, the delayed flights, the checked baggage fees — take your pick, I hate them all. The only way I can truly get excited about traveling is by accruing adorable accessories, which is why I’ve fallen hard for the Etsy shop GetReadySetGO. Her thrift store finds and vintage pieces are modernized with sharp ink silhouettes providing “upcycled luggage for the unique and the geek.” The train cases, $60 to $110, my favorites, actually make me want to ride the rails cross country just to show off the luggage. –Katie D.

Related: Are you a good traveler?

At a recent photography exhibition, I was fascinated by this Magda Biernat photo of San Zhi, an oceanside grouping of futuristic structures that were abandoned in Taiwan. (Sadly — though probably good for public safety — San Zhi was recently torn down.) I had to find out more about the pods, which were planned as a luxury resort before being abandoned to the elements and the imagination. My search led to this comprehensive 33-Part Guide to Abandoned Places at WebUrbanist. There are photos and information on abandoned temples, cities, boats, and subway systems worldwide. Like the structures themselves, you could get lost in there for hours. –Mary T.

Photo © Magda Biernat. Her work is available for purchase.

It seems like mobile food carts and trucks are sweeping the nation. I’ve always been a fan of the L.A. taco truck phenomenon, and here in Seattle, in addition to the usual “roach coaches” and hot dog carts, there’s a flood of mobile food options for diners. These trucks and carts run the gamut from my favorite falafel to burgers with bacon jam and cambozola cheese, giving us champagne dinners at beer prices. Cities like Austin, Portland, and New York have their own mobile food explosions, making wonder if the days of brick-and-mortar restaurants are numbered. There’s a great read on high-end “street food” at Time Magazine. Do you have a favorite street treat, or do you tend to shy away from meals on wheels? –Megan B.