I’m far from one of those Californian girls, but I seem to keep landing back in the state, particularly in San Francisco! Thanks to my actual, bill paying job I’ve been to the bay area quite a few times and have collected some ideas for…
I’ve just come back from four days in Iowa at Geode Fest 2019. As I sit here writing, I’m eyeing my finds like Smaug the Dragon guarded his gold and treasures. I guess it’s official- I’ve become a rockhound! So, what is Geode Fest? It’s…
Michigan’s shoreline, along Lake Michigan, is lined with sand dunes. Some small, some gargantuan, but all lovely. When I moved to Chicago from Florida, one of my first camping trips was to Warren Dunes State Park in Sawyer, Michigan. I had never seen anything like…
I am no fashionista and you’re probably not going to ask me what’s the most stylish thing to wear. So this is not a ‘how to look like a celebrity’ packing guide, but practical advice on what you really should take to Italy for your…
Everyone has heard of Sicily, but Sardinia is often overlooked. Roughly the same size as Sicily, Sardinia is within sight of Corsica and is about as close to Africa as it is to mainland Italy. It has a vivid history, sitting at the crossroads between…
I’ve spent the last couple weeks writing about ancient Roman sites in the modern city of Rome, and then all about the Vatican. Now, I want to focus on Rome beyond those two subjects- the food, the other sites, and practical traveler information! So yes,…
Visiting the Vatican can be an exercise in frustration, or it can be an interesting, educational, or religious experience. Here are some tips to assist in making your trip pleasant, plus insight on a so-called ‘secret’ tour, in other words- how to actually visit the…
My bachelor’s degree is in History, focused on medieval Europe, but ancient Rome was a close runner up. I love the history of Rome! So, I write this with great glee as visiting these sites was like living history to me. This is certainly not…
Naples, Italy is famous for its pizza, and as the gateway to Pompeii, Sorrento and the rest of the Amalfi Coast. It’s home to the National Archaeological Museum, which contains many of the Pompeiian treasure. The city has also been called rough, dirty and dangerous.…
Pompeii is one of the most famous ancient landmarks, with it’s often overlooked sister, Herculaneum (Ercolano). In preparing for my visit, I assumed doing both in one day was too much, plus I wanted to climb Mt. Vesuvius. Well, my planned day turned into quite…