Travel Smarts is no stranger to the Loop. Several entries have mentioned this oldest downtown district of Chicago, but not a single one has covered the West Loop. And it’s a shame, too - the West Loop has a whole lot to see, experience and enjoy.

But now the Professor is here to rectify this injustice - along with the travesty of high hotel rates. Choose Orbitz for your reservations and land the guaranteed lowest rate every time. Plus, book with your Orbitz coupons and take an additional 10% off your stay.

With such a hefty discount, feel free to indulge in a vacation at some of the finest Chicago West Loop hotels:

• Crowne Plaza Hotel Chicago Metro - Stylish & classy suites with sweeping city views
• Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown - Top-value accommodations with plenty of luxurious extras
• W Chicago City Center - Pure modern elegance from top to bottom

But classy hotels aren’t the only upside to visiting this glamorous downtown neighborhood. The list of attractions stretches longer than the Magnificent Mile, but here’s just a few:

• Oprah’s Couch - Pay a visit to Harpo Studios
• City’s Hottest Restaurants - Choose from all sorts of fusion cuisine & ethnic fine dining
• House That Jordan Built - Check out the United Center for a Bulls or Blackhawks game

Tell Me What’s Going On

Oprah Winfrey Show at Harpo Studios (Now Filming)

It can be tough to get tickets, but if you call early enough, then a spot in Oprah’s audience is all yours. If you love to watch the show on TV, wait until you see it live. Plus, you may even walk away with free gifts - Ms. Winfrey once gave a free car to every audience member!

Chances are that if you’re an avid fan of Oprah Winfrey’s show, then you’re probably an honorary member of Oprah’s Book Club. Search for all Ms. Winfrey’s latest recommendations at Borders. Spend more than $25 and get free shipping with Borders coupons.

Okay, so you miss the warmth of the sun, but one of these days, you’re just going to have to face the fact that fall weather is upon us. And remember that having to dress weather-appropriately doesn’t mean that you have to lose all stylish sense.

Head to ShopBop by September 29 and get 20% off regular-priced jackets and sweaters with the free ShopBop coupons!

These are some of the beauties they’ve got in store right now:

• Catherine Malandrino Bell Sleeve Knit Top - This cashmere sweater is the definition of luxury except for the affordable price point
• Theory Roland Cashmere Sweater - It doesn’t get any more chic than a top with a draped scarf for artistic flavor
• Falke Striggings Scarf with Sleeves - Get more bang for your buck with garments that can be worn 2 different ways (i.e. as a scarf & as a shrug)

And here are the hot jackets they offer:

• Prps Leather Motorcycle Jacket - Be cute & rebellious at the same time in this cropped number that would make James Dean weak in the knees
• Whitley Kros William Jacket - Umm…green, herringbone, and military-inspired horizontal button closures? Have I died & gone to heaven?
• Free People Boiled Wool Jacket - Has the silhouette of a blazer, but is casual enough to be paired with dark vintage jeans

Purchase the styles of tomorrow when you hit up ShopBop - your reliable and affordable source for clothes that look like they’re straight from the runway.

For the past few years, more and more people seem to be embracing green philosophies. It has even become trendy with more organic products being bought and sold. This time, jumping on the bandwagon is the cool thing to do, and I’m all for it!

And when you want to find all the best earth-friendly cleaners and clothes in one spot, check out what’s hot at Gaiam. You’ve come at a good time, too, because there are free Gaiam coupons valid until October 15:

• Free Shipping on Orders of $45 or More
• $15 off Orders of $100 or More
• $30 off Orders of $200 or More

Here are some easy ways that you can make a difference along with a few product suggestions that make the ideas more tangible.

Just Say, “No!” to Most Disposable Products

Product to Try: Fast Charger - Invest in rechargeable batteries, since they can be charged up hundreds of times without having to be thrown away.

If only everybody stopped buying and using plastic utensils, Styrofoam cups, disposable moist cloths, and single-use cameras, we could greatly reduce the amount of litter in our landfills. Less garbage means cleaner air, cleaner water, and less wasteful behavior. Reuse whenever possible.

Go Organic

Product to Try: Women’s Organic Ribbed Sweater - Keep toasty this fall in a stylish turtleneck that has a fitted, flattering silhouette

Food that’s free of pesticides often even tastes fresher, and your body will derive more nutrients from it. When it comes to garments, opt for organic cotton since it hasn’t been sprayed with harsh chemicals that could not only irritate your skin, but can destroy ecological environments.

For more great products and ideas for how you can save the environment one step at a time, head to Gaiam today!

September 24th - It was on this day in history in 1845 that the first baseball team was organized. I remember when we’d play baseball for gym in grade school.  For once in my life I wasn’t the last girl picked! My older brother taught me how to swing a bat in a way that was guaranteed to make contact with the ball and send it flying. I was known to hit grand slams and homeruns on a consistent basis. So, when we played baseball for gym, not only was I not picked last, but I was picked first! I just had to share that happy childhood story with you. But now I’m gonna share some smokin’ coupons with you. For baseball equipment like helmets, gloves and baseball bats, head over to Dicks Sporting Goods and redeem free Dicks Sporting Goods coupons for 15% off your entire order.

1895 - 1st Around-the-World Trip by a Woman on a Bicycle - This milestone took about 15 months to accomplish. To be able to say that you took a ride around the world on a bike, well, you’re a superhero in my books.  She must have used more than one bike though. With all the different types of terrains from forests to mountains to roads and more, one bike couldn’t withstand all that! Maybe you won’t take a trip around the world on your bike, but you may want to take a ride on the different routes that nature offers. So, take a cruise over to Sierra Trading Post where you’ll discover an array of brand name mountain bikes & road bikes for less. Plus, get an additional 35-70% off by redeeming exclusive Sierra Trading Post coupons!

Famous Birthday

Jim Henson, 71 - He was the beloved creator of The Muppet’s. I used to loooove that show. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, those two other guys in the opera house balcony….aaaaaah memories. The best part about that show was it was something that could entertain both my parents and me. Both adults and children get a kick out of the wacky characters and funny jokes.  Over the years, there were also many Muppet movies that came out. If you’d like to add them to your collection of DVDs, head over to Sony Style. Use our exclusive Sony Style coupons to enjoy a discount on all DVDs or electronics to play them!

National Punctuation Day - Today, we are celebrating National Punctuation Day. The founder of today’s holiday is Jeff Rubin, and he stresses the importance of using proper punctuation. He has a point. Nowadays, people are sooo busy that they speak in incomplete sentences and leave their sentences hanging. And don’t get me started on text messaging, emailing and instant messaging. Aren’t these tools supposed to enhance our communication and bring people closer together? It seems to me that these devices are just drawing us further and further apart. Pay attention to some of your messages that you send back and forth today. You’ll notice that they are just one long run on sentence. If you’re in the business world, bad punctuation or grammar can really hurt your career, and there’s no doubt there will be some major misunderstandings. Today, if you want to get your message across, start adding those periods, commas, exclamation points or question marks at the end of every sentence. If you want to really shock someone today, head over to PersonalCreations.com and personalize your message. Save 20% on discount personalized bracelets, pencils, note pads, candles and towels when you take advantage of PersonalCreations.com coupons.

National Women’s Health and Fitness Day - I know what you women must be thinking, “Who has time to work out and watch what you eat?” Well, nowadays, no matter how busy your lifestyle may be or how long your days are, your health should be your first priority because without your health, how are you supposed to tackle your other obligations? Girls, stop being stubborn and start taking control of your health. Perhaps start today on National Women’s Health and Fitness Day. It is a day which promotes health and well being in women of all ages. This event takes places across the U.S. in hospitals and community centers. If you know about a particular event going on in your community, make an effort to learn about their health programs for women and pick up some information on diet and eating right. Nowadays, everyone wants to look like the hottest new celebrity without doing the work. The only way you’ll see and feel results both internally and externally is to actually do the work by exercising, eating right and taking your vitamins. Speaking of which, take the initiative to start living a healthy life by checking out Puritans Pride. Save 10% on multiple vitamins, supplements and minerals when you use Puritans Pride coupons.