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Glamis Castle: Birthplace and Residence of British Royalty (and Some Spooky Ghosts!) in Scotland

Glamis Castle was the childhood home of the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and the birthplace of Her Royal Highness the late Princess Margaret. The Queen Mother’s parents were both Lord and Lady Glamis and Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Glamis Castle has been the seat of the Lyon Family since 1372, and many larger than life figures have stayed at the castle, including…

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#castle

Hadrian's Wall: The Extraordinary Remains of Roman Life in Britain

Hadrian’s Wall: The Extraordinary Remains of Roman Life in Britain

I’m on Hadrian’s Wall to defend Roman Britain from the barbarians in the north!! Actually, I’m at Housesteads Fort on Hadrian’s Wall in the far north of England. Why visit Housesteads and Hadrian’s Wall, in general? Well, to experience ancient Rome, you don’t need to travel all the way to Italy. Housesteads Roman Fort is the most complete of all the forts along Hadrian’s Wall. Who doesn’t…

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#Britain #Roman

The Eiffel Tower: Avoiding Lines, Viewing Levels, and Seeing It at Night

View from the Tower

The Eiffel Tower . . . when most people are asked to close their eyes and think of an image of Paris, it’s what they’ll imagine. So why am I listing it as an odd and distinct destination? Well, before going to Paris, I had never been a huge fan of the immense tower of steel. To be completely honest, I just don’t think it’s an attractive structure. However, everything…

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Les Invalides: Napoleon's Spectacular Tomb and French Army Museum

Les Invalides: Napoleon’s Spectacular Tomb and French Army Museum

Les Invalides , also known as the Hotel Nationale des Invalides, is a complex housing museums and monuments about the military history of France in a former hospital and retirement home for veterans. If that wasn’t enough to make it a distinct destination, it contains the tomb of Napoleon. Yes, that Napoleon . . . the Emperor of the French and one of the most brilliant military strategists in…

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#cathedral #Les Invalides #museum #Napoleon #Napoleon&039;s Tomb

The Luxembourg Gardens: Not Just a Garden A.K.A. the Outdoor Living Room of Parisians

Originally part of the palace that was built for Marie de Medici in the early 1600’s, the Luxembourg Gardens are from from just a garden. They are the outdoor living space and playground for Parisians and their families. The 25 hectare (62 acre) gardens features many activities for the entire family. One of my favorite parts was a huge basin of water surrounded by gorgeous flower beds and…

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#gardens #palace

Notre Dame: Understanding Big Architecture, Finding Little Known Relics, and Avoiding Large Crowds

Notre Dame in Paris is one of the world’s most famous and recognizable cathedrals. Everyone goes to see it, but most don’t know what to look for. Allow me to guide you through understanding the big architecture, finding the little known relics, and avoiding the large crowds at the cathedral.

Let’s start with that you can’t miss: the monumental architecture. It’s best observed from the…

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#architecture #cathedral #church #medieval

Versailles: What to See that Most Travelers Miss and (Bonus) How and When to Go and

Versailles is one of the largest and most spectacular tourist destinations that I’ve ever been to. Most people take a tour bus out of Paris, see the chateau, walk around the gardens immediately outside, and then head back to Paris. However, those people see only a fraction of what Versailles has to offer. Let me show you not only highlights of the most incredible and lesser known parts of…

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#gardens #palace

Pittsburgh: My Top Six Things to Do in the Steel City

My first trip to Pittsburgh was a surprise, and when presented with tickets at the airport that stated our destination, my initial reaction was “Pittsburgh?!?”. Now, having visited the Steel City, I adore it. Located at the confluence of the Ohio, Alleghany, and Monogahela Rivers, and dominated by Mt. Washington in the south, the setting of the city of Pittsburgh, is, in itself, spectacular. …

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The Crowninshield-Bentley House was built in 1727 for fish merchant and ship captain John Crowninshield. What an interesting last name! This Georgian home is owned by the Peabody Essex Museum, and you can take a tour of it and three other homes to show the changes in architectural styles in Salem from 16:00 to 1900. It’s a fascinating tour and free with admission. (at Crownshield-Bentley House) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9AnBGFhk_w/?igshid=nzx9bqpdmcle

The Vikings are raiding Salem!! You’d think so from the look on my face 🤣. I’m actuality, the fearsome Viking is the mascot of local Salem State University, who sponsored this ice sculpture for the Salem So Sweet Festival. Phew! My booty is safe from plunder. (at Salem, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8huBDJBHLo/?igshid=13z8i85od6i2s

We often go far away in an attempt to discover new experiences. But try taking a closer look at the towns and places closest to you, and you’ll discover new things. I came across the statue of Nathaniel Hawthorne that I’d passed dozens of times in Salem but never took the time to actually see who it actually was. Hawthorne wrote: “Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” (at Salem, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8KiKcwhsUR/?igshid=ls1i8cctemts

#tbt to when we were on the top of the world, or at least the Zugspitze! (at Zugspitze Mountain) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7roJ4eBFCF/?igshid=9eec6sh36lsq

#tbt

I received a gift of international food this Christmas. Each month I’ll be receiving a box full of desserts, snacks, and candies from a particular country. They’re accompanied by a booklet full of information about each treat and about the country in general. This month it’s Poland! 🇵🇱 Here are the votes for my favorites in the Poland box. I’m eager to see what next month will bring! I’m in no way affiliated with this company; I just think @universalyums is a terrific gift! (at Peabody, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7pGd4NhS_8/?igshid=1sxg1nqw2l2yt

The Biltmore Estate: How to See It at Christmas and All Year Long

Ever since I was young and my mother and I watched the TV special “Christmas at Biltmore”, I’ve wanted to visit the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. As an early gift for my birthday, my fiancé surprised me with a trip to Christmas at Biltmore. In this blog post, I’ll fill you in on how to get the most out of your time at the Biltmore Estate during the holidays and the remainder of…

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#mansion

Did you know that the first Thanksgiving wasn’t the pilgrims at Plimoth Plantation? A few years ago, I was lucky enough to visit Berkeley Plantation in Virginia which was the site of the first official Thanksgiving in 1619. (at Berkeley Plantation) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqfy_KaFzsW/?igshid=1jz8a3c8ox5wg

The Paper House and all of its furniture and contents are made out of . . . you guessed it . . . newspapers! In 1922, Elis Stenman, a mechanical engineer, began constructing the cottage, as a hobby, for his family in the town of Rockport, Massachusetts. The paper house was completed in 1924, and the Stenman family used it as a summer cottage until 1930. In 1942, after Elis’ death, the home was opened as a type of museum for visitors, who continue to visit today. For more about Rockport and what to do in the area, visit my blog by clicking through my profile. (at Paper House) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5JoOLFhkak/?igshid=nh44xfwbu5g

Can you guess where I am? I’ll give you a few hints.... The town is located on the tip of Cape Ann and is surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean. Tune in later this week (or head to my blog via my profile) to find out more about this New England seaside destination. https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ERPK5BYtl/?igshid=ldbyvcw47sf4

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