Lyon, France – We came to Lyon because Daddio was attending a conference, but then I noticed that travel writers (ahem) have been touting Lyon as an offbeat, affordable alternative to Paris–and also the culinary capital of France! I asked…
Frescoes in Lyon
Lyon, France – Here’s a cool thing in Lyon: a series of public murals that depict various elements of Lyonnais history and culture. Several of these are painted as trompe-l’oeil, so it’s hard to tell where the painting stops and…
Lake Annecy Loop
Annecy, France – I didn’t get to cycle around the parks of Versailles or along the banks of the Seine, but I did get to cycle around the Lake Annecy loop. It’s hard to imagine a prettier place for a…
Aiguille du Midi
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. Now, the Dropsical Woman is…
Mohican History of Stockbridge
Stockbridge, Mass – It’s not my first trip to the Berkshires (read about some of our previous trips here). And I am a travel writer, a so-called expert in New England and its history. But I still learned something while…
Exploring Dogtown
Gloucester, Mass – Much of the interior of Cape Ann is wild and undeveloped, partially protected by reservations, but mostly left to the whims of nature and history. This vast territory is known as Dogtown. Little remains from the Colonial-era…
How to Celebrate Patriots’ Day
Lexington, Mass – An official holiday in Massachusetts, Patriots’ Day commemorates the start of the Revolutionary War. On the third Monday in April, Bay Staters celebrate with historical reenactments, patriotic parades and pancake breakfasts. Events take place in Boston, Lexington,…
Staycation
Somerville, Mass – The grandparents didn’t winter in Florida this year, which meant we could not go visit them during the twins’ February break, like we usually do. We made the best of it with a staycation right here in…