Boston, Mass – Lots to see at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library. I have been there many times, but I always learn something new. Exhibits address nearly every aspect of the JFK presidency, including an excellent overview of the…
World War II History in Kodiak
Kodiak, Alaska – Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park is a 221-acre state park expanse of peaceful forested trails, expansive views and surprising historical artifacts from World War II. I feel like I should have known about this. Apparently, during WWII,…
Where Cultures Meet & Mingle
Kodiak, Alaska – I always love the places where cultures meet and mingle. Kodiak Island is the ancestral homeland of the Native Alutiiq and site of the first Russian settlement in Alaska. Lots of cool history here (which of course…
Gold Rush Boom Town
Skagway, Alaska – Skagway has a wild story. When gold was discovered in the Klondike in 1896, tens of thousands of stampeders set out to strike it rich, traveling over land and sea to reach the remote Canadian territory. The…
Ketchikan for Cruisers
Ketchikan, Alaska – When we were in Ketchikan three years ago, we were doing research for Last Stand of the Raven Clan. We visited every totem park and totem museum in the city (which is a lot), learning much about…
Return to Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres, Mexico – What a treat to return to Isla Mujeres, a sweet island off the coast of Cancún that we visited 12 years ago. That was an all-out intergenerational family vacation, with toddlers and grandparents. This visit was…
Weekend in Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina – Wilmington is the grooviest little city that you never heard of – an eclectic blend of historic charm and contemporary cool. Who knew? I had a blast in this dynamic and diverse city. Here’s how you…
Beauteous Beaufort
Beaufort, North Carolina – Beaufort was the best surprise of my trip to North Carolina. I fell in love with this picture-perfect town, with its white-washed Bahamian-style houses (including one where Blackbeard lived!) and its wildflower-strewn, pony-dotted offshore islands. Welcome…
The Lost Colony
Manteo, North Carolina – Here’s a little piece of history that I didn’t know about: the “Lost Colony” of Roanoke Island. Here was the FIRST English settlement in the Americas, dating from 1585 (more than 20 years before Jamestown!). The…
The Best Things to Do in Salem
Salem, Mass – Halloween is coming! In honor of the spooky season, we have a new article about the best things to do in Salem. “It was 1692 – a dark time indeed – when the residents of Salem village…