Christmas day 1492, a clumsy cargo ship runs aground on the north coast of present-day Haiti. Emerging from the Santa Maria was Italian-born explorer, Christopher Columbus. Not exactly the Orient he was in search of, but nevertheless this “beautiful island paradise” would please his benefactors. After receiving a generous welcome from the native Taínos, Columbus promptly claimed the island for [...]
Two hours south of Paris is the ancient and storied region of the Loire Valley. For hundreds of years, medieval kings journeyed with their courts to hunting lodges deep in the royal forests along France’s longest river. So, it comes as no surprise that the Renaissance royals chose the same Vallée de la Loire to build resplendent [...]
One of the best ways to explore Paris is by mouth! Some of our favorite food tours through the City of Light are conducted by Paris By Mouth - a locally owned and operated company focused on all things food an drink.Their incredibly comprehensive Website is continuously updated with reliable reviews, themed lists, and foodie events. Looking [...]
Avignon: Kingdom of the Popes “All roads lead to Avignon” or so went the saying when, in 1305, Pope Clement V moved the papacy from strife-torn Rome to a peaceful, Provencal town in southern France. This political move shifted the center of Christendom from the Eternal City to the small, papal enclave of Avignon for [...]
A Tasty Trip, indeed! A month or so ago, we were happy to host a writer from Columbus City Scene Magazine in our Taste of Travel class, "Recipes from a French Farmhouse" taught at Upper Arlington's Lifelong Learning program. This class featured dishes and food traditions that one might find in the Burgundy region: Beef Bourgignon, Tartiflette, and Pear Flaugnarde. We were [...]
The Scout Guide is a series of city guides that highlight the best of "local" in each location, showcasing each town’s homegrown and independently owned businesses in a variety of ways with beautiful print publication, carefully curated blogs, and regularly updated social media pages. This colorful collection of beautifully illustrated books are our latest go-to guides whenever [...]
© A version of this original article by Shawnie Kelley was published in Renaissance Magazine, issue #64. Please do not reproduce any content without permission. On the Grail Trail Christian tradition says the Holy Grail was a cup or bowl used during the Last Supper by Jesus Christ and which, after the crucifixion, held his blood. [...]
If you encounter problems while on the road, take a moment to tweet directly at the source. According to the Perrin Report by Wendy Perrin in Condé Nast Traveler Magazine, "Tweeting directly to an airline or hotel - sometimes even a car rental company or cruise line - can be the fastest and easiest way to get results." Tweet [...]
In honor of National Castle Month, our Got Wanderlust image is of a most dramatic and evocative shot of Dunnottar Castle clinging precariously to the cliffs near Stone Haven in northeastern Scotland. This craggy outcrop has been inhabited since Pictish times (5000 BC to 700 AD) although an exact date is not known. In the 5th Century St Ninian brought Christianity [...]
In celebration of National Castle Month, today's Got Wanderlust picture is of Château Chenonceau in the Loire Valley, France. The lush rolling river valley, just two hours south of Paris was once nicknamed the Playground of the Kings, as many of France's Renaissance kings and queens built sumptuous, over-the-top castles along the Loire and Cher [...]
Looking for a last minute Valentine's gift? Or just want to spend some time with your sweetie? Surprise your Valentine with the gift of time together! Join our Monday Night Gourmet cooking class at Whole Foods Market Dublin, Columbus, Ohio. Join guest chef Shawnie Kelley in our Salud Kitchen on Monday, February 17 as you learn to [...]
It's time to make like a 1950s Hollywood starlet and head to Palm Springs for Modernism Week - a twice annual celebration of all things mid-century. Each February and October, more than 40,000 fans of desert architecture, mid-century design and modernism culture flock to the sunny Coachella Valley for eleven days of cocktail parties, exhibitions, lectures, films, expos, [...]
