Great Travel School

Nicole Benjamin
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Places & Travel

Each season, we take a deep dive into the stories of art, architecture, history, and culture, one city at a time. Together, we'll uncover the people, ideas, and moments that shaped each city into the place it is today. Whether you're planning your first visit, traveling with your family, exploring from home, or simply love learning about the world, each season is designed to help you experience a city in a richer, more meaningful way.

Episodes

  1. 6d ago

    Wrigley Field: Where History and Baseball Collide

    Send us Mail! You don't have to love baseball to love Wrigley Field. I certainly didn't. In this episode, we're exploring how a little ballpark built more than 100 years ago became the heart of an entire community. Along the way, we'll uncover the surprising history of Wrigley Field, the hand-operated scoreboard, the famous ivy, the Curse of the Billy Goat, and the generations of fans who turned a baseball stadium into one of America's most beloved landmarks. Because this episode isn't really about baseball. It's about history, tradition, and the unexpected ways we fall in love with places. Especially when we experience them through someone who already has. Thanks for joining me on The Great Travel School. If you enjoyed today's episode, I'd love for you to follow the show and leave a review, it really helps other curious travelers find us. I'll see you next time as we continue exploring Chicago, one story at a time.

    Wrigley Field: Where History and Baseball Collide

  2. Jul 16

    The Art Institute of Chicago: The Stories Hidden in Plain Sight

    Send us Mail! If you're only going to visit one museum in Chicago, make it the Art Institute. In this episode, we're exploring how a city that was barely 40 years old built one of the greatest art museums in the world. We'll walk through the museum's fascinating history, stand in front of some of its most famous masterpieces (including A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Nighthawks, and American Gothic) and discover the stories that make them so much more than paintings. Because the best part of visiting the Art Institute isn't trying to see everything. It's learning how to slow down, get curious, and let great art reveal itself. Thanks for joining me on The Great Travel School. If you enjoyed today's episode, I'd love for you to follow the show and leave a review, it really helps other curious travelers find us. I'll see you next time as we continue exploring Chicago, one story at a time.

    The Art Institute of Chicago: The Stories Hidden in Plain Sight

  3. Jul 9

    Chicago Architecture River Tour: Seeing the City Through Time

    Send us Mail! In this episode, we're exploring the history of the Chicago River itself before diving into the buildings we remembered most from the Architecture River Tour. From the birthplace of the skyscraper to icons like Marina City, Tribune Tower, Aqua, and more, you'll discover the stories that unlocked Chicago for us. Thanks for joining me on The Great Travel School. If you enjoyed today's episode, I'd love for you to follow the show and leave a review, it really helps other curious travelers find us. I'll see you next time as we continue exploring Chicago, one story at a time.

    Chicago Architecture River Tour: Seeing the City Through Time

  4. Jul 2

    Chicago's Millennium Park: The Park That Shouldn't Exist

    Send us Mail! Millions of people visit Millennium Park every year to snap a photo with The Bean. But almost nobody knows the extraordinary story hiding beneath their feet. In this episode, we uncover how a stretch of railroad tracks and parking lots became one of the world's most celebrated public spaces. You'll discover why Chicago gambled on a bold vision that transformed downtown and created a park that became the cultural heart of the city. Because Millennium Park isn't just a beautiful place to visit. It's proof that the greatest cities are built by people willing to imagine something better before anyone else can see it. Thanks for joining me on The Great Travel School. If you enjoyed today's episode, I'd love for you to follow the show and leave a review, it really helps other curious travelers find us. I'll see you next time as we continue exploring Chicago, one story at a time.

    Chicago's Millennium Park: The Park That Shouldn't Exist

  5. Jun 25

    Chicago: The City That Engineered the Future

    Send us Mail! Why Chicago? Because every city has a personality. Before we dive into Millennium Park, Wrigley Field, the Art Institute, or deep-dish pizza, I think it's worth asking a bigger question: What makes Chicago...Chicago? In this first episode of The Great Travel School, we're exploring the history, art, architecture, engineering, and people that shaped one of America's most fascinating cities. You'll discover how a city built on a swamp became the birthplace of skyscrapers, reversed the flow of a river, rebuilt itself after disaster, and never stopped imagining what was possible. Whether you're planning a trip, traveling from your living room, or just love learning about the world, my hope is that you'll finish this episode seeing Chicago a little differently. Welcome to Chicago. Thanks for joining me on The Great Travel School. If you enjoyed today's episode, I'd love for you to follow the show and leave a review, it really helps other curious travelers find us. I'll see you next time as we continue exploring Chicago, one story at a time.

    Chicago: The City That Engineered the Future
  • 5 Episodes

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Each season, we take a deep dive into the stories of art, architecture, history, and culture, one city at a time. Together, we'll uncover the people, ideas, and moments that shaped each city into the place it is today. Whether you're planning your first visit, traveling with your family, exploring from home, or simply love learning about the world, each season is designed to help you experience a city in a richer, more meaningful way.

Information

  • Creator
    Nicole Benjamin
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Great Travel School
  • Show Website
    Great Travel School