About us
This group is for LGBT-friendly food lovers and travelers who don’t want to wait on their friends to finally say “yes” to get out to enjoy some good eats, socialize, and see the world. Life is too short and the world is too big!
The food events in this group are member-driven so if you’d like to host a Meetup in your area (i.e. brunch, cooking class, happy hour, a meal out at a new restaurant, etc), feel free to let me know and I'll help you get it set up in the group!
The trips in this group are usually 90% solo travelers but everyone is welcome, female/male, solo/couple/friends, straight/LGBTQIA+! So let’s travel together with fun, like-minded travelers! If you have an open mind and are kind to fellow travelers, you will fit in perfectly on these trips!
NOTE: The people on these trips are from all over the States but you’ll always be connected with people from the same city on a trip so you can meet up face to face and get to know your future travel buddies prior to the trip. You’ll also be connected to the whole group via email prior to the trip so you can virtually get to know those that are from different areas. On average, the people on each trip are 90% solo travelers but it’s hard to predict the exact demographic for each trip so please keep this in mind.
Feel free to join the Facebook group to connect with past travelers on these trips, see pictures, ask questions, funny travel memes, travel-related articles, etc: https://www.facebook.com/groups/613025845523107
The trips in this group are put on by a tour company called Globe Drifters and they focus on small group trips geared towards solo travelers with the mission of giving new meaning to travel by putting the human experience at the heart of their trips. The groups are small, usually with 12 people maximum per trip and about 90% of everyone on each trip are solo travelers so you’re not stuck being the odd man out on trips with mostly couples. You’ll have the best of both worlds, solo travel with the security of a small group of other solo travelers for some company on your adventure! To contact Globe Drifters directly, you can email [info@globe-drifters.com](mailto:info@globe-drifters.com).
Upcoming events
13
🌳🏛️ Lincoln Park Walk: Arlington–Deming District Mansions & Hidden Gems 🏰✨
Theurer-Wrigley House, 2466 N Lakeview Ave., Chicago, IL, US🌳🏛️ Lincoln Park Walk: Arlington–Deming District Mansions & Hidden Gems 🏰✨
Back by popular demand — if you missed last month’s tour, join us for another chance to explore this incredible neighborhood! A few additional stops and stories have been added.
Step into one of Chicago’s most treasured neighborhoods — where merchant princes, immigrant craftsmen, and Gilded Age ambition created some of the city’s most extraordinary architecture!
✨ From grand Queen Anne mansions to Romanesque rowhouses, historic churches, and legendary neighborhood institutions, Lincoln Park tells a fascinating story of wealth, faith, reinvention, and community.
Discover the families, architects, and hidden gems that shaped this iconic neighborhood while exploring streetscapes that still reveal Chicago’s past.
Whether you’re into Gilded Age mansions 🏰, quirky Chicago lore 🧩, historic streetscapes 🏘️, or neighborhood legends 🍺 — this walk brings Lincoln Park’s past and present to life in a fun and engaging way!
🎤 Led by your passionate, ever-curious guide (that’s me!) — perfect for architecture lovers, history buffs, and anyone who enjoys being a tourist in their own city! 😊
📍 QUICK DETAILS
🗓️ Saturday, August 8, 2026
⏰ 11:45 AM – 2:00 PM (~1.5 miles walking)
📍 Start: Theurer-Wrigley House
2466 N. Lakeview Ave.
🏁 End: Chicago Getaway Hostel (Eleanor House)
616 W. Arlington Pl.
💰 Cost: $20 per person
(Due at start of tour. Cash preferred/exact change appreciated; Zelle, Venmo & PayPal accepted)
🌦️ Format: Outdoors | Casual pace | Rain or shine🏛️ ABOUT THE TOUR
Lincoln Park became one of Chicago’s most desirable neighborhoods during the Gilded Age, attracting merchants, industrialists, artists, and influential families.This walk explores the architecture and stories behind the neighborhood — from elegant mansions and preserved rowhouses to historic churches, civic institutions, and hidden corners that reveal how Lincoln Park evolved.
🏰 Architecture Highlights
• Queen Anne mansions
• Romanesque and Italianate buildings
• Historic rowhouse districts
• Grand churches and civic landmarks📜 Stories Behind the Stones
Hear about the families, builders, architects, and organizations that helped shape one of Chicago’s most beloved neighborhoods.🗺️ ROUTE HIGHLIGHTS
(Stops subject to change)
🏰 Theurer-Wrigley House
⛪ The National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
🏠 Sarah Belle Wilson House
🏛️ William C. Groetzinger House
🏰 Deming Manor
🏢 Jerome Soltan Building (4 Plus One)
🏠 Jacob Gross House
🏰 The Wieboldt Mansion
⛪ Saint Clement Church
🏠 Newman Triplets House on Orchard by John Van Osdel
🧱 Brick Row Houses by B.F. McConnell & George Beaumont
🏨 Chicago Getaway Hostel / Arlington House / Eleanor House
🏡 Geneva Terrace Rowhouse District
🏛️ Francis J. Dewes House
🦌 Elks National Memorial and Headquarters🎒 WHAT TO BRING & LOGISTICS
👟 Comfortable walking shoes
💧 Water bottle
📸 Camera or phone for great photo opportunities
🌦️ Weather-appropriate clothing🚗 Parking Tip:
The walk ends about 3 blocks from where we start, so plan parking accordingly. Parking midway may be easiest.
⭐ SpotHero or ParkWhiz may be helpful.🚇 CTA: Brown/Red Line and nearby buses available.
CTA Trip Planner: https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/🍽️ OPTIONAL MEAL AFTER THE TOUR
Continue the fun afterward with lunch or drinks nearby!
🍀 Galway Arms — Irish pub vibes & comfort food
🍻 Gaslight — casual bar & grill with outdoor patio
🍝 Pasta Bowl — hearty Italian favorites
🌮 Lito’s Taco & Empanada House — Latin flavors and local favorite
💵 Please bring cash if possible — some restaurants do not offer separate checks.
Please add 32% to your total:
• 12% Chicago sales tax
• 20% gratuity📱 Lost, running late, or can't find the group?
Call or text Giovina at 312-835-4259⚠️ RSVP Reminder
✔️ Please update your RSVP if your plans change.
✔️ RSVP changes must be made before the event begins.
❌ Three no-shows without updating your RSVP will result in a 3-month RSVP restriction.🌳🏰 Come explore Lincoln Park’s hidden stories — where Gilded Age fortunes built mansions, immigrant craftsmen shaped streetscapes, and Chicago history still lives on every block! 🏙️⛪
13 attendees
🏰🌊 Walk Chicago’s Gilded Gold Coast: Mansions, Millionaires & Legends! ✨
Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL, US🏰🌊 Walk Chicago’s Gilded Gold Coast: Mansions, Millionaires & Legends! ✨
Back by popular demand — now with additional stops and stories added!
Step into Chicago’s Gilded Age on a Saturday morning stroll through the Gold Coast Historic District, one of the city’s most prestigious and architecturally stunning neighborhoods.
Discover magnificent mansions, historic townhomes, luxury apartment buildings, and hidden architectural gems while hearing the stories of the industrialists, entrepreneurs, architects, and families who shaped this legendary lakeside community.
🎤 Led by your passionate, ever-curious guide (that’s me!) — perfect for architecture lovers, history buffs, photographers, and anyone who enjoys being a tourist in their own city! 😊
***
📍 QUICK DETAILS
🗓 Sunday, August 9, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM (~1.8 miles walking)
📍 Start: Chicago History Museum
1601 N. Clark St.
(Meet outside by the water fountain)
🏁 End: Racquet Club of Chicago
1365 N. Dearborn St.
💰 Cost: $20 per person
(Due at start of tour. Cash preferred/exact change appreciated; Zelle, Venmo & PayPal accepted)
🌦️ Format: Outdoors | Casual pace | Rain or shine***
🏰 TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
🏛️ Gilded Age Architecture
Explore Queen Anne, Romanesque, Italianate, Beaux-Arts, and other architectural treasures.
🌳 Iconic Gold Coast Landmarks
Stroll along historic Astor Street and discover the Charnley-Persky House, Patterson-McCormick Mansion, Wooden Alley, and more.
🎭 Famous Names & Hidden Stories
Visit locations connected to Robert Todd Lincoln, Ernest Hemingway, the Original Playboy Mansion, and homes designed by architects George Maher and Howard Van Doren Shaw.
📜 Stories Behind the Stones
Hear about Potter & Bertha Palmer, Chicago’s elite families, and the visionaries who transformed this neighborhood.***
🗺️ ROUTE INCLUDES: (Stops subject to change.)
🏛️ Chicago History Museum
🏰 Madlener House
🏡 McCormick-Blair Home
🏛️ Charnley-Persky House Museum
🏘️ Astor Court & Astor Street
🏨 Ambassador East Hotel
🎉 Original Playboy Mansion
🏠 Ernest Hemingway Apartment
☕ 3 Arts Club Café at RH Chicago
🏛️ Lucius B. Mantonya Flats
🏠 Augustus Warner House
🏛️ Bullock-Folsom House (“The Chicago White House”)
🏛️ Racquet Club of Chicago
**and many more historic stops!⚠️ IMPORTANT PARKING NOTE
The walk ends approximately 4 blocks from the starting point — plan your parking accordingly! Consider parking midway so you're close to both the start and end. 🚗***
🎒 WHAT TO BRING & LOGISTICS
👟 Comfortable walking shoes
💧 Water bottle
🌦️ Weather-ready gear🚗 Parking Tip: The walk ends about 3 blocks from where we start, so plan parking accordingly.
⭐ SpotHero or ParkWhiz may be helpful.
🚇 CTA: Brown Line and nearby bus routes available.
CTA Trip Planner: https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/***
🍽️ OPTIONAL LUNCH AFTER
After the walk, those interested can continue the fun with lunch nearby! 🍴
Possible stops include:
☕ 3 Arts Club Café at RH Chicago
🍻 Woodie’s Flat
🍝 Topo Gigio
🍺 Corcoran’s Grill & Pub
💵 Please bring cash if possible — some restaurants do not offer separate checks.
Please add 32% to your total:
• 12% Chicago sales tax
• 20% gratuity***
📱 Lost, running late, or can't find the group?
Call or text Giovina at 312-835-4259***
⚠️ RSVP Reminder
✔️ Please update your RSVP if your plans change.
✔️ RSVP changes must be made before the event begins.
❌ Three no-shows without updating your RSVP will result in a 3-month RSVP restriction.***
🏰✨ Join us for a beautiful morning exploring Chicago’s Gilded Gold Coast — where architecture, history, and unforgettable stories bring the neighborhood to life! 🌊🏛️
8 attendees
Tuscany/Umbria Slowcation! - Sept 2026
Location not specified yet• Dates: September 18 - 27, 2026 (10 days / 9 nights)
• Cost: $5400 (per person, excluding flights)
• Single supplement: None! *Upgrades available for premium rooms
• Trip details: https://globe-drifters.com/trip/tuscany-umbria-slowcation-sept-2026/Check out pictures from previous trips to see what we do, where we go, and who goes on the trips: ITALY SLOWCATION PHOTOS!
What is a slowcation? Click here to find out: https://globe-drifters.com/slowcations/
If you have any questions, please email info@globe-drifters.com.
Experience small-town Italy like a local on a slowcation… Tuscany conjures up dreams of life at a slower pace where you can soak in the Italian countryside’s culture, food, and picturesque vistas. Stroll through narrow passageways of medieval villages perched on hilltops. Pick out cheese & wine at the market in town and chat with the locals. Tuscany is the dream vacation and now is your chance to go!
Live like a local: Skip the hoards of tourists in Italy’s more popular towns and cities and live the good life in a true Italian village with barely any tourists. If you want to experience the real Italy, this is your chance!
Ideal location: This villa was converted into a hotel in the early 1900s and is situated right in town making it easy to explore. A cafe, grocery store, and many restaurants are just a few steps away from your accommodation.
Discover Italy: Many of Tuscany & Umbria’s most famous towns are only 30 – 45 minutes away from the hotel so you can explore all the best locations in the region without going far.
1 attendee
Past events
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