JESSICA MLINARIC is a writer and photographer based in Chicago.
She is the author of Secret Chicago: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure (2018) and Chicago Scavenger (2022), published by Reedy Press.
Jessica’s work covering arts, travel, history, and music has ranged from major music festival coverage like Lollapalooza to all the fried food at the Iowa State Fair and hidden tunnels under Zagreb. She contributed to the 2022 and 2025 editions of the Fodor’s Chicago guidebook and the 2025 edition of Fodor’s The Complete Guide to the National Parks of the USA. Her writing and photography has recently appeared in Condé Nast Traveller, GQ, Chicago magazine, Midwest Living, Architect’s Newspaper, Thrillist, Consequence of Sound, Flood Magazine, Do312, Chicagoist, DNAinfo, Third Coast Review, and elsewhere. Her photography was recognized as a convention photo contest winner by the Society of American Travel Writers.
Jessica founded urbnexplorer.com in 2010 to share stories about culturally curious travel.
Originally from Cleveland, Jessica has lived in Chicago for over a decade and has never stopped exploring. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Miami University. She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Chicago Writers Association.
Jessica has more than 15 years of experience in corporate marketing and communications.
Jessica is available as an on-air subject matter expert and event speaker. Contact her at hello@jessicamlinaric.com.
