As its name suggests, the park’s main feature and the reason for its historic popularity are its numerous hot springs. Known as the “Valley of Vapors” by Native Americans, who had been visiting the area for thousands of years to bathe in its healing waters, modern development began when the thermal waters were federally protected in the 19th century.
They embody everything that’s great about nature in America, but national parks aren’t necessarily impossibly remote or difficult to get around in. Often, it’s the contrary, in fact. Although they are the epitome of natural beauty and wildness, most of them are surprisingly accessible.
Set in the heart of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Staunton (pronounced STAN-ton) is chock-full with architectural highlights. From columned porches to colorful storefronts and cone-shaped turrets, if you look up and …
As the only presidential home in the United States that’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello is without question the crown jewel of all the attractions in and …
The eastern Rivièra of Liguria, on the northwestern coast of Italy, features some of Mediterranean Europe’s most spectacular coastlines. The absolute star attraction of this dramatic stretch of coastline is …
Ireland. The island of legends and leprechauns, of ruined castles and abandoned abbeys, of trad music and pubs, of clovers and St. Patrick. There can be no denying that Ireland …
After a handful of blog posts (see below), I think I’ve made it clear that I’m quite fond of Slovenia. We spent a week in that gloriously diverse southeastern European …
I’ve said it before—no other country has ever surprised me in a more positive way than Slovenia did last summer. Visiting it was like taking a breath of fresh air …
You could dedicate one afternoon to visiting Cinque Terre National Park, but you could just as easily choose it as a destination for a two-week vacation. I suggest going for …
I’ve noticed that I’m beginning to focus more and more on UNESCO World Heritage Sites when I travel. Those places are all unique on their own way, whether it’s because …
People who haven’t ventured past it will think that I’m crazy for saying this, but when you’re visiting Slovenia, you can skip Lake Bled. Sure, if the weather is nice, …
Slovenia is definitely a country less traveled. When I was invited by the Slovenian Tourist Board to spend a handful of days in the country, I wanted to grasp that …
It was in Istria that we got our first taste of Croatia and immediately fell in love with it. A triangular peninsula in northwestern Croatia, Istria (Istra in Croatian) might …
When you think about Ireland, you immediately think about drinking Guinness in cozy pubs, leprechauns, St Paddy’s Day, wild coastlines and trad music, don’t you? But do you also think …