Recently in Cultural Travel Category

I'm a stickler for manners. Maybe it was the 24-hour thank you note "rule" my mother imposed on me as a young child (which I still strictly abide by). Or maybe it was my years in the service industry where I saw the good, bad and the ugly of human behavior on a daily basis. The bottom line is that I try to practice kindness, tolerance and patience every day, and especially when I'm traveling.

Over the past few years, I've encountered very diverse populations during my volunteer travels. I've crossed paths with people of different races, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, levels of intelligence, and those faced with unimaginable hardships. Despite our differences, I feel a responsibility as a global ambassador of the United States to put my best face - and manners - forward.

No city does summer better than Chicago. After the brutal winters that keep everyone indoors and hunkered down, the warm, humid summers are a time to head outdoors, walking along the lakeshore and attending one (or many) of the city's famous (and free) festivals.

The City of Light is nothing if not romantic, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy some alone time. Paris has it all: fashion, food, glamour and grace. But none of it means anything if you can't embrace all that Paris offers. On a recent business trip to Paris, I opted to spend a few extra days in one of my favorite cities - a "personal vacation", which I had come to forget even existed. Many heads turned when they would hear I'd be in Paris by myself. "Alone? In Paris? What are you going to do?!" Anything I wanted to do!

The first rule of solo travel: don't rule anything out. While Paris does exude romance, the city does have many other qualities that are perfect for seeding a single woman's soul.