About

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.

I am writing a book about diaries – why people write them and why it matters. 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.

Machu Picchu 2012

Machu Picchu 2012

Angkor Thom, Cambodia 2019

Sicily, 2014

Breaux Bridget, Louisiana 2012

Breaux Bridge, Louisiana 2012

Prague, 2013

Berlin, 2013

Bergen, Norway 2018

IMG_0892

Lisbon 2015

Tokyo, 2016

Cornwall, 2017

Hawaii’s Big Island, 2012

12 responses to “About”

  1. elliewick
    October 23, 2011 at 11:02 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • betsyrubiner
      October 24, 2011 at 1:47 pm

      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

      Reply
  2. Morgan Parker
    March 15, 2012 at 4:31 pm

    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

    Reply
    • betsyrubiner
      March 15, 2012 at 7:02 pm

      Hi Morgan,
      Thanks for your email. What is your company? And sure, you can send me a list of your sites.

      Cheers, Betsy

      Reply
  3. Mary
    June 4, 2012 at 12:50 pm

    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

    Reply
  4. Gaurav
    September 13, 2012 at 1:31 pm

    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

    Reply
  5. Sarah Smith
    December 25, 2017 at 8:52 pm

    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!

    Reply
  6. Mary Caroline Henry
    March 6, 2018 at 3:00 pm

    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.

    Reply
  7. Sarah Bell
    October 22, 2019 at 7:15 pm

    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

    Reply

Leave a comment