Following is a list of some of the best links to U.S. travel news for October 11-23, 2012. There are links to news sources, my writing on this site, blog posts I found particularly funny or inspiring, and compelling photos related to the weeks U.S. travel news. Follow me on Twitter for up-to-the-minute USA travel links.

10 Chicago Suburbs That Don't Suck. Visiting America's Second City? If so, and you want to dig a little deeper, consider some of these suburbs suggested by writer Dave Seminara for Gadling. Oak Park, La Grange, Lake Forest, and Highland Park are just a few of the Chicago suburbs that don't suck.

Detroit boosters say they're putting the mo' back in Motown. A renaissance is happening in Detroit, Michigan, right now. Read more about local efforts to revitalize the Midwest city.

One Year Ago Today, This Louisiana Ghost Story Scared Me to Death. I couldn't help but share one of the scariest stories I've ever read about a ghost encounter in an Antebellum mansion-cum-hotel in Louisiana. It was written by Andrew Evans, National Geographic's Digital Nomad, and will send chills up your spine.

Longform’s guide to Pittsburgh: football, robber barons, Mr. Rogers, and more football. Here's a very cool new feature from Slate, in which the online magazine prepares a round-up of longform content around a certain subject. In this recent installment, Slate provides links to thoughtful articles on Pittsburgh, the culture and the personalities that have shaped it. Learn more about everything from the Pittsburgh Steelers to Andrew Carnegie.

In Colorado, Switchbacks and ‘The Shining’. New York Times' Overnighter column goes to the The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, the spooky hotel that was the inspiration for Stephen King's "The Shining." By the way, The Stanley is among one of the places on my Spookiest Sites in the USA list.

7 Manhattan Hotel Rooms for $150, More or Less. The rooms are about the size of a matchbox (read: cozy), but they do offer budget travelers a great deal in a city that has very few of them. Thanks to New York Times' Frugal Traveler Seth Kugel for rounding these up.

The Eater Heatmap to Oxford, Mississippi. It's not often that one reads about Oxford, MS, in the national press. But the Mississippi city was recently home to the Southern Foodways Alliance's annual symposium, an 15-year-old conference for Southern foodies. In this article, Eater shows us what's good to eat in Oxford, from barbecue to baked goods.

Uncover the Secret Oases of San Francisco. Urban gardens, roof terraces, and other quiet oases are unveiled in this Atlantic Cities article. A handy round-up for San Franciscans or visitors looking for a free place to chill.

Friendly Texas Icon Turns Into Terrifying Colossal Flame Monster As It Is Destroyed. One of Texas's most enduring icons, Big Tex, who stood guard outside the Texas State Fair for more than 50 years, burned to the ground recently. Texas says they will rebuild Big Tex in time for next year's fair.

20 Most Expensive Hotels in America. These posh hotel rooms rent for "$767 per night to a mind-boggling $2,279."

Free U.S. Museums. National Geographic introduces us to 20 museums in the U.S. that are free to visitors. I already knew about the Smithsonian, but I had no idea that other world-class institutions, such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Getty Museum (in L.A.), and the Tenement Museum in New York City were free to see as well.

Grand Canyon Railway Adds Historic Dome Rail Car to its Passenger Service. The Grand Canyon Railway, one of the best ways to see the entire expanse of the Grand Canyon, has added a luxury dome rail car, which will give passengers an even better view of the breathtaking landscape.