Gary Thompson

Des Moines

Senior Editor at Midwest Living

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Articles

See How Michigan Lake Home Says Goodbye to Bland and Hello to Color

2 weeks ago | midwestliving.com | Gary Thompson

A screen door off the kitchen of the Knapp home opens to the patio and lake, just one of the ways the house maximizes an indoor-outdoor feel. Photo: Diana Paulson Fortune favors the bold, an ancient adage claims. You’d get no argument from Elizabeth and Brandon Knapp, who were ready to take some design risks when they built their new home in Portage, Michigan, outside Kalamazoo. “In the past we’ve lived in gray and white houses, so we did not want any gray in this home,” Elizabeth says.
These Are the 25 Hottest Openings in the Midwest, Picked by Editors

1 month ago | midwestliving.com | Julia Sayers |Gary Thompson |Hannah Agran

Glamping spots are a dime a dozen these days, but The Woods stands out from the pack: A-frames and glass houses painted in striking black and decked with contemporary furnishings, oil paintings, shelves of books, vases of flowers and more. Even the bathhouse is Insta-worthy. The adults-only getaway offers 18 accommodation options and is only a five-minute drive from Lake Michigan. Mackinac Island prides itself on a way of life that hearkens to a simpler time.
The 15 Coolest Things Happening in the Midwest in March, Picked by Travel Writers

1 month ago | midwestliving.com | Gary Thompson |Julia Sayers

Our travel writers, editors and contributors to Midwest Living are always on the pulse of the latest and greatest things happening in the Midwest. This March, we're excited about a new arts center, several restaurant openings in Chicago and Minneapolis, and an annual butterfly exhibit. Here are the 15 things our team is buzzing about this month. The Country's Largest Butterfly Exhibit Admire thousands of butterflies up close at the annual "Butterflies are Blooming" exhibit.
Stunning Ice Castles, Affordable Tasting Menus and Nordic-inspired Rooftop Dining—Here's What We're Into This Month

Jan 8, 2025 | midwestliving.com | Julia Sayers |Gary Thompson

Our travel writers, editors and contributors to Midwest Living are always on the pulse of the latest and greatest things happening in the Midwest. This January, we're excited about some fun Chicago restaurant offerings (the city's first Australian cafe! A steal-of-a-deal tasting menu!), a couple of hygge-inducing pop-ups, and unique ways to socialize this winter that don't involve braving the outdoors. Here are the 15 things our team is buzzing about this month.
Bold Color Blocking Gives This Lakeside Home Unexpected Pops of Personality

Nov 26, 2024 | midwestliving.com | Gary Thompson

Leafy grain (Sherwin Williams Arugula) "was the perfect color for [kitchen] cabinets in such an open-space layout and for a vacation home,” says interior designer Gabriela LaBoy. Photo: Spacecrafting The pull of family is powerful, even from a continent away.
Check Out This Ranch-Style Home That was Completely Transformed by DIY

Nov 21, 2024 | midwestliving.com | Gary Thompson

An elongated keyhole shape separates the living room and the kitchen/dining area—one of many DIY projects in Brit Arnesen's home. Photo: Austin Day How sweet would it be if Brit Arnesen channeled Linus from A Charlie Brown Christmas and said of her home in Kokomo, Indiana: “I never thought it was such a bad little house.” Truth is, she always did.
20 Romantic Getaways in Iowa

Mar 11, 2024 | midwestliving.com | Gary Thompson

Historic hotels, stylish small-town stays, bed-and-breakfasts, and sophisticated city hotels make up the best romantic getaways in Iowa.
3 Hidden-Gem Michigan Fall Road Trips

Jul 16, 2023 | midwestliving.com | Gary Thompson

Midwest Living Travel Michigan Looking for Something Different in Michigan This Fall? Try a Road Trip to Escanaba, Alpena or Kalamazoo Escanaba, Alpena and Kalamazoo may keep low profiles, but they earn high marks for art, history and outdoor fun. Advertisement Pin FB Tweet Email Send Text Message Print Michigan's fall color is legendary—road trips along the M-22, to the Keweenaw Peninsula, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Saugatuck and more.
5 Clever Tips for Repurposing a Potting Bench as a Bar Cart

May 30, 2023 | midwestliving.com | Gary Thompson

With smart accessorizing, a potting bench becomes a celebration station for summer soirees. By Gary Thompson May 10, 2022 Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. With the right mix of storage and accessories, a well-appointed potting bench can pull double duty as entertainment central. Use these ideas to amplify your space and host your crew in style this summer. 1.
Flint Hills Forays

May 21, 2023 | travelks.com | Gary Thompson

"The unspoiled, nearly treeless expanses of the Flint Hills represent a natural beauty not found anywhere else." Photography by Blaine Moats Feel the wind in your face and watch smoke from a prairie fire drift across the floor of the 4-D immersive-experience theater at Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan. Interactive exhibits focus on the science, history and culture of the region’s bluestem grass ecosystem—the world’s last major stand of unbroken tallgrass prairie.