I registered the domain wolfstad.com just over 10 years ago and this blog has been around for about half that time. I haven’t been writing here as much as I used to, but it’s fun to look back at old posts and see what we’ve done over the years. I was just looking at Google Analytics and checked the most popular blog posts over the last 5 years. Here are 10 posts with the most pageviews:

1. Hidden security tags in Old Navy jeans (01/2006)
2. Quechua’s toss-and-go “Seconds” tents (07/2006)
3. Top 10 budget things to do in Chicago (01/2006)
4. The Rat Temple of Rajasthan (04/2006)
5. Did you know there is beef in Pop-Tarts, M&M’s and Mentos? (09/2006)
6. Top 10 things to do in Tunisia (02/2006)
7. Brilliant bar concept at Footsie in Paris (10/2005)
8. 10 Chicago Firsts: Famous Inventions (01/2009)
9. Top 10 things to do in South Florida and the Keys (12/2006)
10. Woodstock, set of Groundhog Day (12/2005)

Chicago is the home of the first African-American President of the United States, but it is also home to many other firsts, such as the world’s first ferris wheel and the world’s first McDonald’s. Here’s a list of ten Chicagoland firsts that you may not know about.

Home Insurance Building by drs2online

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Here are my favorite 5 websites of the year 2008, in random order:

1. Hulu – Free streaming TV shows and movies
2. Mint – Free personal financial planner
3. Netflix – DVD mail service + streaming video
4. Flickr – Online photo management
5. Google Reader – News and RSS aggregator

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In January 2007 we traveled to The Gambia on a 9-day package tour that included flight, transfers and accomodation. We hired a guide to take us on a 5-day upriver birdwatching trip along with three hard-core Finnish birders. We did not travel independently outside of the resort area, and many of these tips are meant for those who will visit The Gambia in a similar fashion. More »

Here are 10 great things you can do on your holiday in South Florida:

1. Take a bike ride at Everglades NP Shark Valley
2. Canoe down Buttonwood Canal at Flamingo
3. Dive or snorkel the coral reefs off Key Largo
4. Drive down the Overseas Highway
5. Walk around Key West
6. Visit Bahia Honda State Park
7. Look for Key Deer at Long Pine Key
8. Feed the Tarpons (or Pelicans) at Robbie’s on Islamorada
9. Visit Hemingway House on Key West
10. Hike the trails in Everglades NP

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Here is the second part of my favorite things to do in the beautiful state of Colorado. This article features Rocky Mountain National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, the Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, the Million Dollar Highway and Ouray. The photos are from our roadtrip in 2004. More »

Here is the first part (of two) of my favorite things to do in the beautiful state of Colorado. This article features Mesa Verde National Park, Pikes Peak, Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Four Corners NM, and Aztec Ruins NM. The photos are from our roadtrip in 2004. More »

In April 2004 we visited Tunisia where we made a road trip through the country’s desserts, salt lakes, rolling hills and beautiful country-side. Here is my top 10 things to do in Tunisia. More »

There are over 7,000 different towns in the Netherlands and some of them have very funny names. Here are some of my favorite ones (in random order). More »

Here is a list of 10 cheap things that you can do on your visit to the Windy City. From walking along Michigan Avenue and seeing the lake from Navy Pier, Chicago is a great city. Here is my list of top free (or cheap) things to do in and around Chicago:

1. Stained Glass Museum, Navy Pier
2. Millennium Park
3. Field Museum of Natural History
4. Eli’s Cheesecake World
5. Magnificent Mile
6. Museum of Science and Industry
7. Illinois Beach State Park (Zion)
8. Shedd Aquarium
9. Chicago Botanic Garden (Glencoe)
10. The Spindle (Berwyn)

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