Historic Site

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Rene in front of the Fort Matanzas National Monument

Visiting St. Augustine, Florida; America’s Oldest City

There’s a lot of flash in St. Augustine, Florida. There’s music playing from seaside cafes and long haired retirees driving by on trikes and bikes. There are oodles of people wearing swimsuits with subtle coverups, and the scent of suntan oil wafts on the breeze. Local shops sell brightly colored swimwear and kitschy souvenirs that say things like “Life is better at the beach,” while children are chased by their parents as they cross the brick-lined streets. It’s loud, busy,...

Oak Alley Plantation, New Orleans

Two New Orleans Plantations Worth Visiting

Hundreds of New Orleans plantations used to line the Mississippi River throughout Louisiana. Now there are few, mostly preserved as historical landmarks and educational centers, lest we forget our grim but important past. New Orleans, overall, is a place that keeps the past close. History is so intertwined with every day that it’s often like walking around a historical re-enactment site. I grew up in Detroit, where we have the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. There, Ford reconstructed an...

Old Tombstone sign

Ghost towns? Visit Tombstone and Bisbee, Arizona

Imagine that you create a town where thousands of people live and work at the mine and associated businesses. Then, one day, the mine runs dry, and everyone leaves. Boom. Ghost town. There are a lot of ghost towns in the southwest, even those that don’t officially call themselves one yet, but none are more famous than Tombstone. America’s Famous Tombstone Ghost Town Tombstone, Arizona, is way down in southeast Arizona and is home to some of our favorite wild...

Frida's journal with pen drawings

Going Inside Frida Kahlo’s House in Mexico

Frida Kahlo’s house is the brightest medium blue and maroon colors. It is immediately recognizable if you’ve ever read or watched anything about Frida. She was born, lived most of her life, and died in this house. Much of her work was created here, so of course, it’s a mecca for lovers of the artist. People often ask me how I decide where to travel; this is a good example. I knew one thing about Mexico City before I decided...

Bones in the Paris Catacombs

What It’s Like Exploring the Paris Catacombs Alone

Visiting the Paris France Catacombs is likely among the most morbid and scary tours you will ever go on. I had no idea what I was in for – especially because I did it alone – which I do not recommend. The Paris, France Catacombs are an ossuary created in the tunnels of former quarries in the late seventeen hundreds outside of Paris. Fun fact: An ossuary is a container or room to place the bones of dead people. This...