Chamonix, France – Everyone was excited about Paris, but I felt certain my twin-agers would soon grow weary of the city’s palaces and gardens and fabulous art museums. And I was right. Don’t get me wrong, I wish we had…
Best for Last
Paris, France – We saved the best for last in Paris. At least that’s what the twin-agers thought. I’m glad the Eiffel Tower lived up to the hype because it was not easy to get tickets. The on-line ticketing system…
The Dropsical Woman
Paris, France – Anyone who read The Tsarina’s Lost Treasure knows that the Dropsical Woman – masterpiece by Gerrit Dou – used to hang in the Louvre in the Salon Carré alongside the Mona Lisa. Also, we never knew that…
Versailles Palace
Versailles, France – We are struggling with jetlag. This is the first time we have traveled to Europe (as a family) for less than a month, and we don’t have time to hang out and adjust to the time change.…
Paris Catacombs
Paris, France – I advised the twin-agers to try to sleep on the overnight flight from Boston to Paris, but they did not heed my advice. They watched movies. So here we are in the taxi from the airport to…
The Best Lakes for a Vacation
Lonely Planet writers compiled a list of the best lakes for a vacation in the USA, and of course it includes Lake Michigan! (It’s no coincidence that we had a wonderful getaway to Lake Michigan just last summer, which explains…
Children’s Lit Tour
Springfield and Amherst, Mass – There must be something in the Pioneer Valley water that fosters creativity and playfulness. Or maybe it’s just a coincidence that two of America’s most celebrated kids’ lit author-illustrators lived in this region. Today they…
Boston’s Best Cycling Routes
This spring I have been busy updating Lonely Planet’s Boston city guide, as well as the Massachusetts chapters for Lonely Planet’s New England (both new editions forthcoming in 2025). LP has taken some excerpts from the Boston guide to create…
Offbeat Destinations and EV Road Trips
Here are a few interesting new titles by Lonely Planet (with contributions by yours truly!). These books both fall in the category of “inspirational” travel books. That means they are filled with unique ideas and gorgeous photographs to inspire readers…
The Most Beautiful Flowers in the World
Sandwich, Mass – Lonely Planet made a list of the best places to see the most beautiful flowers in the world, and Heritage Museum and Gardens in Cape Cod made the list. (It was my suggestion. It’s also on my…