Tammy Vargas, Author at The Bloomington Star

Even from a distance, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is impossible to mistake for an ordinary tower. It was built to guide ships past one of the Atlantic coast's most dangerous stretches, and its bold pattern still gives the landscape a sense of drama.

Travel

Amazing Outer Banks lighthouses along a coastal drive, and which ones you can still climb

The black-and-white spiral rises above the trees like an enormous warning sign. Even from a distance, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is impossible to mistake for...

Tammy Vargas11 hours ago

A paper bag lands on the counter, warm enough that you can feel the heat through the folded top. Inside are links of boudin, Louisiana's famously comforting mixture of pork, rice, and seasoning tucked into a sausage casing.

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Popular boudin stops in and around Louisiana’s Boudin Capital where the links come hot from the steamer

Lafayette, Louisiana – A paper bag lands on the counter, warm enough that you can feel the heat through the folded top. Inside are...

Tammy Vargas15 hours ago

What is certain is that Nashville's hot chicken tradition grew from the city's Black food culture into a specialty recognized far beyond Tennessee.

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Some of the best Nashville hot chicken joints where the heat comes on white bread with pickles

Nashville, Tennessee – The story begins with a plate of chicken that was supposed to teach somebody a lesson. According to Nashville legend, a...

Tammy Vargas16 hours ago

The first sign that you've arrived in Julian might not be a sign at all. It might be cinnamon. On a cool mountain morning, the little California town east of San Diego seems to offer two competing invitations: wander among the old storefronts, or follow the smell of baking apples until you find yourself standing in front of a pie counter.

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Must-see Julian-area bakeries where the apple pie comes out warm, flaky and piled high

California – The first sign that you’ve arrived in Julian might not be a sign at all. It might be cinnamon. On a cool...

Tammy Vargas3 days ago

Round Top is famous for antiques, but pie has become another powerful reason to visit. The storefronts are modest, the roads pass through open countryside, and the pace outside the big seasonal shows can feel wonderfully unhurried.

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This tiny Texas town has two famous pie shops, and travelers drive hours for a slice

Texas – The porch is a good place to begin. In Round Top, Texas, a slice of pie isn’t always something you rush through...

Tammy Vargas3 days ago

New York loves what is new. A restaurant can become a sensation overnight, and an entire block can change its personality in a few years. That makes the old taverns especially appealing. Some have survived enormous changes in their neighborhoods, an occasional argument about who is truly the oldest, and periods when simply remaining open was an achievement.

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7 Historic NYC bars that have been pouring drinks for more than 130 years

The floorboards have heard more conversations than anyone could count. A glass slides across an old wooden bar, somebody hangs a coat near the...

Tammy Vargas4 days ago

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This Pennsylvania city has called itself Christmas City USA since 1937, and its German-style market opens this month

The stars are the first clue. Not the ones in the sky, but the many-pointed Moravian stars glowing in windows and above doorways. As...

Tammy Vargas4 days ago

There is a particular way to eat an Italian beef sandwich in Chicago. You lean forward, keep a few napkins close, and accept that the bread may have absorbed enough rich meat juice to make your usual sandwich technique completely useless.

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6 Chicago beef stands where the Italian beef comes dipped, juicy and topped with giardiniera

Chicago, Illinois – There is a particular way to eat an Italian beef sandwich in Chicago. You lean forward, keep a few napkins close,...

Tammy Vargas4 days ago

Michigan is full of these delicious little interruptions. Its Great Lakes shorelines are dotted with fishing villages, resort towns, working harbors, and waterfront neighborhoods where the meal can become part of the scenery. One place might have a genuine old dining car.

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12 Michigan waterfront restaurants so good, you’ll want to plan your entire summer road trip around them

With the windows rolled down and a refreshing lake breeze drifting through the car, a waterfront restaurant suddenly catches your attention. You had planned...

Tammy VargasOctober 22, 2026

Travel

This hidden South Carolina island has zero chain restaurants and tourists can’t get enough of it

Imagine arriving at a South Carolina beach destination where dining out means discovering local favorites rather than choosing from the same restaurant chains found...

Tammy VargasOctober 22, 2026