Boston, Mass – We used to be regulars at the Museum of Fine Arts. You know, back when the twins didn’t go to school and I was always looking for things to do with them. (Read about some of our…
Takashi Murakami at the MFA
Boston, Mass – We don’t get to the Museum of Fine Arts as much as we used to. But as soon as I learned we could see the whimsical flowers created by Takashi Murakami at the MFA, I knew I…
Last Hurrah
St Clair Shores, Michigan – Our annual trip to Michigan is always the last hurrah of summer. For two weeks, we escape from the city and bask in the attentions of the grandparents. There’s always a trip to the Henry…
Heidelberg Project
Detroit, Michigan – Sometimes, out of poverty and desperation comes creativity and inspiration. This idea is at the foundation of the revitalization of Detroit. And no place embodies it more than Heidelberg, a devastated street on the city’s east side.…
Bonk Museum
Uusikaupunki, Finland – Bonk Museum is clever, but definitely one of the oddest museums I have been to. It details the history of the fictitious Finnish company, Bonk Inc, from its early days producing the hallucinogen Garum from anchovy relish,…
Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova
Turku, Finland – Old artefacts & new art at the exceptional Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova museum in Turku. Aboa Vetus (Old Turku) draws you underground to Turku’s medieval streets, showcasing some of the 37,000 artefacts unearthed from the site.…
Turku Castle
Turku, Finland – The star attraction of Turku is the 1280 Turun Linna, or Turku Castle. It’s a fantastic medieval fortress (the largest in Finland), with dungeons, banquet halls and plenty of nooks and crannies.
Mariehamn Maritime Quarter
Mariehamn, Finland – The capital of Åland, Mariehamn is a seafarer’s paradise. The waterside Mariehamn Maritime Quarter has long been a center of boat building. Nowadays, the atmospheric quay has ship-building workshops alongside art galleries, cafes and local boutiques. You…
Kastelholm & Bomarsund
Åland, Finland – We had an amazing day with our “Finnish cousins”, taking in all the Åland highlights, including Kastelholm & Bomarsund. Our first stop was the 14th-century Kastelholm castle. The second stop on Åland was the picturesque Jan Karlsgården…
Maritime Museum of Finland
Kotka, Finland – Some of the few artifacts excavated from the Vrouw Maria shipwreck (subject of our next book!). These are on display at Vellamo Maritime Center. This is our second visit to the Maritime Museum of Finland — and…