My new book — Our Diaries, Ourselves: How Diarists Chronicle Their Lives and Document Our World — will be published in February 2026 by Beacon Press. I am also the author of Fun with the Family in Iowa and a contributor to The New York Times 36 Hours in the USA.
I am a freelance writer based in Chicago (after 32 years in Iowa) whose travel stories have appeared in publications including The New York Times, Better Homes and Gardens, Midwest Living, Everyday with Rachel Ray, Family Fun, The Des Moines Register, Delta Sky Magazine, TIME, REAL SIMPLE, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Boston Phoenix, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, The Austin American-Statesman.
Sicily, 2014
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana 2012
Prague, 2013
Berlin, 2013
Bergen, Norway 2018
Lisbon 2015
Tokyo, 2016
Cornwall, 2017
Hawaii’s Big Island, 2012
TakeBetsywithyou 
Hi Betsy,
My name is Alison and I’ve read your blog for a year or more (I don’t think I’ve ever commented, though, so sorry!), and I will be driving through Iowa to Nebraska this coming Saturday. I currently live in Findlay, Ohio, and am moving to Salt Lake City. I am anticipating my boyfriend and I will want dinner somewhere between Iowa City and Des Moines and I was wondering if you could suggest somewhere in either of those cities or somewhere along the way. We’d like it to be casual, not expensive and to have something vegetarian on the menu other than a veggie burger if possible. Thank you for your help and if you want to email me directly, here’s my email: alison.kemp@gmail.com.
Hi Alison,
Thanks for reading my blog. I’d be glad to suggest some restaurants. There are so many in Iowa City and Des Moines that might help if you can tell me a little more about your preferences. Then I’ll blog on it! I gather you want casual, inexpensive, interesting vegetarian entrees. Beyond that any other things you like – ethnic? bbq?
Cheers, betsy
Hi,
My name is Morgan Parker.
Our company has a few websites similar to betsyrubiner.wordpress.com (same page rank, similar content quality and age).
Would you be interested in exchanging links with our websites? (Don’t worry, I checked and we are not competing for the same keywords.)
Let me know, and I will send you a list of our sites. Also, if you have any other websites, send them as well since I have more than one site I can offer you.
Thanks in advance,
Morgan Parker
morgan.j.parker@hotmail.com
Hi Morgan,
Thanks for your email. What is your company? And sure, you can send me a list of your sites.
Cheers, Betsy
Hello, How do I get in touch with you? There is no email or contact info listed .. please advise .. thanks .. Mary. Please contact me maryregency at gmail dot com
you can get in touch with me via my blog. what do you need?
Hi Betsy,
I was looking for a guest post on your blog, or if you are interested then we can go for link exchange partnership. I’ll post your blog link in my website that will get you a huge amount of traffic and i will expect the same from you.
Sounds Fun!
Reply me on my mail, if you are interested in Link Exchange or Guest blogging.
gaurav.hasija@onetravel.com
Thanks
Hi Betsy,
I was going through your blog, “Avoiding the overpriced toll roads into Chicago from Iowa – how I avoided I-88.” Thank you for the information. If you or any of your readers want to know tolls on any route and know a toll-free route, they can use Tollguru Toll calculator. https://tollguru.com/toll-calculator. It is free. And it shows all the toll points on the route along with Tag transponder tolls, cash tolls, and license plate video tolls.
Thank you!
Dear Betsy,
I enjoyed reading about the new hotel in Grinnell. As a biologist, though, I have to note that plants do NOT release oxygen at night, but only during the day using sunlight as an energy source for photosynthesis. At night they respire just as we do, using oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide.
Good to know. Thanks
Hi Betsy, I’m a freelance picture editor and I’m working on a new book about artists and their residence. Can you please let me know if you took this image of Grant Wood’s Studio, or are the rights with The Star Tribune? http://www.startribune.com/midwest-traveler-an-eastern-iowa-art-road-trip-goes-beyond-american-gothic/501036991/ Feel free to contact me on sbell@phaidon.com and I can send further details. With thanks, Sarah
Hi Sarah, I am away from my office until oct 29. Will check on the photo when I return. Betsy