Practical travel information for practical travelers
One of the rich traditions of the Mardi Gras season is the King Cake, and with only a couple day left until Fat Tuesday, bakeries are madly trying to fill the last orders before the Lenten season begins. The history of the King Cake dates back to the celebrations of Epiphany, the 12 days after [...]
How did I miss this? I keep up on the latest in museums and exhibitions around the country, and somehow managed to miss that a Bruce Springsteen exhibition opens tomorrow, February 17th – but this somehow passed me by until just now. Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center, a preeminent history museum, is hosting (and is the [...]
Located in the highlands of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Balmoral Castle is a large estate house best known as one of the residences of the Royal Family. It was originally purchased by Queen Victoria, who razed the home and rebuilt it from the ground up, and has been owned by successive monarchs since that time. The [...]
Fans of the offbeat, quirky museums, and industrial history, may enjoy London’s Kew Bridge Steam Museum, home to a collection of water pumping steam engines. While it may sound a bit dull at first thought, Victorian era London produced some of the finest waterworks around, and it’s on display here. Located on the River Thames [...]
In springtime the Welsh countryside is surely one of the most beautiful in the world. There is a lush greenness unmatched anywhere in Europe and it’s very easy to see why the daffodil is the region’s official flower. They are everywhere, from the planted beds in suburban public parks to wild outcrops by the roadsides. [...]
Kendal is a small town located in the Lakes District of Cumbria with a rich history that attracts tourists. Located on the River Kent, it was once known as Kirkby in Kendal, but now is referred to as simply Kendal. It’s historically been a popular spot for visitors in the Lakes District, both because of [...]
Taking a two year old on holiday is always a little daunting, even for the experienced traveler. No matter whether you are staying close to home or going long haul, successful holidays with pre-schoolers take precision planning. For our first holiday as a family, we decided to push the limits and go long haul, [...]
Presiding proudly over the city of St. Louis, the Gateway Arch is the most recognizable building in the city’s skyline. It’s that iconic symbol, often photographed, that helps identify the city to millions of people who have never, and perhaps will never, visit. The Gateway Arch is located in the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, near [...]
While most of us will still stay in regular hotels when we go on holiday or travel on business, there’s an increasingly large range of other alternatives available, from house swaps and couch surfing to serviced apartments. Nowhere has more choices than London, so I recently had a look into what’s available – particularly since [...]
Spokane, the second largest city in Washington, is about 275 miles east of Seattle. But to many of us, it might as well be a million miles away, another country even. Those of us on the west side of the Cascades tend to forget that Spokane is coming into its own, creating a vibrant food, [...]
In addition to traveling, Mary Jo likes lingering over a cup of coffee, wandering in a museum, sipping wine at a cafe, enjoying a relaxing massage, and sharing it all with friends and readers.
Her most recent travels were to Portugal and Italy.
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