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…
Traboules of Vieux Lyon
Lyon, France – I took myself on a tour of the traboules of Vieux Lyon. They are “secret” covered passageways that connect streets, buildings and courtyards, often on different levels. I read they were built as far back as the…
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…
The Rock of Rockport
Rockport, Massachusetts – Rockport takes its name from its industrial past: its 19th-century role as a shipping center for granite cut from the local quarries. While updating the Lonely Planet guide to New England, I decided to investigate this history–to…
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,…
Boston’s Hidden History at BBC Travel
Some travellers come to Boston to follow The Freedom Trail past famous sights from the US’ colonial and Revolutionary history. Others wander around the hallowed halls of the Boston Public Library and the red-brick buildings of Harvard University. But Boston’s hidden history is rich and…
Boston’s North End on BBC Travel
A small peninsula jutting into the harbor, Boston’s North End is one of the city’s oldest and most storied neighbourhoods. Puritans from England settled the area, followed by waves of other European immigrants whose red-brick homes still crowd the narrow,…
Alexander Hamilton’s Nevis
Charlestown, Nevis – I took myself on a tour of Alexander Hamilton’s Nevis. And then I had the Hamilton! soundtrack in my head for the rest of the day. (Not a bad thing.) Anyone who has seen the musical Hamilton!…
Driving Tour through St Kitts History
Basseterre, St Kitts – I made up a driving tour through St Kitts history. The tour skirts the northern perimeter of island, taking in the most interesting historical sights. The first stop is the ruins of the Wingfield Estate, a…