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Culture

Jessica Mlinaric walks down Chicago's wood block alley
Architecture, Chicago, Secret Spot

Secret Spot: Chicago’s Wood Block Alley

by Jessica Mlinaric / March 16, 2021January 5, 2024

Chicago’s Gold Coast is hiding some unlikely history.

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"Alley Cats" by artist Kelly Monico in a Denver alley
Arts, Denver

Secret Spot: Denver’s Cat Alley

by Jessica Mlinaric / February 16, 2021March 26, 2021

Have you ever turned a corner in a city and felt like you stepped into a different world? That’s exactly what the Downtown Denver Partnership…

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World's Fair Bison in Humboldt Park
Arts, Chicago

The World’s Fair Bison of Humboldt Park

by Jessica Mlinaric / February 9, 2021December 31, 2023

The Humboldt bison are a curious Chicago story!

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Arts, Italy, Secret Spot

Secret Spot: Italy’s Colorful Chapel of Barolo

by Jessica Mlinaric / January 26, 2021January 28, 2021

A colorful chapel is hidden in the Italian countryside

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Shedd Memorial Chapel at Rosehill Cemetery
Architecture, Chicago, Secret Spot

Secret Spot: Shedd Memorial Chapel at Rosehill Cemetery

by Jessica Mlinaric / January 19, 2021September 28, 2021

Want to admire Tiffany stained glass without the crowds?

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Dirty Projectors by Jason Frank Rothenberg
Culture, Music

Virtual Interviews with Musicians During the Pandemic

by Jessica Mlinaric / December 21, 2020January 7, 2025

Check out my conversations with Fleet Foxes, Dirty Projectors, and more!

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Found object installation at the Heidelberg Project
Arts, Culture, Detroit

The Heidelberg Project Transforms a Detroit Street into an Outdoor Art Gallery

by Jessica Mlinaric / July 24, 2020November 26, 2023

The project aims to enrich Detroit’s McDougall-Hunt community with art.

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Oakland Museum of Contemporary Art
Arts, Chicago, Culture, Secret Spot

Secret Spot: Oakland Museum of Contemporary Art

by Jessica Mlinaric / June 19, 2020November 22, 2020

The free, outdoor museum is dotted with abstract wooden sculptures.

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Author Jessica Mlinaric Appears on WGN Morning News virtually
Chicago, Culture, Media Appearances, My Books

‘Secret Chicago’ Social Distancing on WGN Morning News

by Jessica Mlinaric / May 20, 2020October 12, 2020

WGN Morning News invited me to share secret spots to explore outside.

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Roman amphitheater in Pula, Croatia
Arts, Croatia, Culture, Secret Spot

Secret Spot: A Roman Mosaic Hidden in Pula, Croatia

by Jessica Mlinaric / April 26, 2020August 17, 2020

An ancient Roman mosaic has been hiding in an unlikely spot Pula, Croatia for centuries.

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About Me

Urban Explorer is a travel blog highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems to inspire curious travelers by Jessica Mlinaric, author of 'Secret Chicago' and 'Chicago Scavenger.'
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Newsletter



Buy My Books

Chicago Scavenger book by Jessica Mlinaric
Secret Chicago book by Jessica Mlinaric

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Secret Spots

  • The Secret Chicago book launch party was held at the Drifter
    Discover the Drifter Chicago: A Historic Speakeasy Hidden in River North
    April 15, 2025
  • How Chicago Became the Birthplace of Gospel Music: Inside Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church
    January 14, 2025
  • Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville
    A Hidden Elevator and More Secrets at Asheville’s Omni Grove Park Inn
    January 8, 2025

Media Appearances

  • Jessica Mlinaric and Geoffrey Baer with bicycles at the Illinois-Indiana State Line Boundary Marker
    Exploring Chicago Mysteries with WTTW
    April 23, 2024
  • Downtown Chicago view from Bank of America Tower
    Swapping Chicago Favorites with Peter Greenberg
    February 26, 2022
  • Author Jessica Mlinaric at Oak Woods Cemetery
    Touring Chicago’s Mass Grave with WGN Morning News
    November 16, 2020

Travel Guides

  • Knoxville, TN in spring
    The Big Ears Festival Guide to Knoxville, TN
    March 2, 2025
  • Walls of Ston, Croatia
    How to Spend One Day in Ston, Croatia
    February 11, 2025
  • Sheep at Black Thorn Farms in Asheville
    Two Days in Asheville, North Carolina: Experience Arts, Brews, and Mountain Views
    January 10, 2025
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