Fall 2016

At the center of the small town of Chartres, a ninety-minute train ride away from Paris, sits a towering cathedral. This edifice, completed in the thirteenth century, has been the center of controversy because of a decision made in 2009 to renovate it. This is not the simple, patchwork maintenance performed on many old monuments; the cathedral’s once gloomy interior, blackened by centuries of use, is currently being painted a sunny, pale yellow. The paint job is part of a monumental attempt to restore the cathedral to its medieval appearance. But the renovation has inspired polemical responses.

Travelers have long since sought out places associated with classic artists: Stratford to visit Shakespeare’s hometown, Giverny to tour Monet’s house, and Salzburg to bask where Mozart composed his music.

There are no troubled waters in the mountain paradise of Glenwood Springs, Colorado—the town boasts the world’s largest hot springs pool, a waterfall splashing into a turquoise lake, and a stretch of the rapid Colorado River.

“You have to taste a culture to understand it,” according to travel writer Deborah Cater, and she’s quite right. After all, what is travel without experiencing new tantalizing tastes? What is a visit to Philadelphia without a Philly cheesesteak? Or to Maryland without crab cakes? Internationally, one simply must taste gyros in Greece, Peking duck in China, and massaman curry in Thailand.

When most people dream about a vacation in the Caribbean, they imagine cruising from port to port in an elegant ship with nonstop buffets, or sitting in a lounge chair on a well-manicured beach being served a cold drink at an all-inclusive resort. There is, however, another alternative that is economical, environmentally friendly, and definitely more adventurous. Campers and beach lovers can spice up their time at Cinnamon Bay in the US Virgin Islands by camping overnight just a minute away from the waves and sand.

Cave tubing is a unique way to take in the beauty and history of Belize’s river caves.

Traveling with kids can be difficult and stressful, so travel magazines and blogs give a variety of tips to help parents plan for the unexpected and control the uncontrollable. But catastrophes can always happen when traveling with kids, no matter how well planned the trip is. The trick is to know how to alleviate tension and diffuse the situation when those unavoidable catastrophes explode.

America is unique in many ways and heralded by many to be “America the Beautiful.” But one of the most striking differences is the diversity of the physical environment and geography found from coast to coast.

Kenya is a land of vast natural beauty. However, the country’s magnificent landscape is marred by the trash that washes up on beaches and flows out of landfills. In the last two decades, entrepreneurial individuals have found ways to recycle certain kinds of waste into beautiful products.

An obstructed view could change the way you travel.

Losing a tooth is a highly anticipated milestone for young kids. Not only does it mean that they are growing, but the event may also involve an exciting cultural tradition.

People watch animal documentaries because, as human beings, we find animal behavior absolutely fascinating. There’s something about seeing the rawness of nature in wildlife that intrigues us, since people are typically far removed from anything wild. We may take it a step beyond watching a documentary, or maybe we go to the zoo to see these animals up close. However, nothing compares to seeing these majestic, exotic creatures interacting in their natural habitats. To protect both the creatures and their habitats from uncontrolled intrusions, many organizations around the world have created preservation centers and wildlife parks. Touring these protected natural sites can give visitors the best look into the eyes of a truly wild animal.

If carrying around a fancy camera is a drag but your Instagram gallery needs some spicing up, then look into buying a lens attachment for your smartphone. This gadget is a good optionfor travelers who want professional grade photos without investing in (or lugging around) an expensive camera. The three most talked-about brands for lens attachments are Olloclip, iPro Lens system, and Moment. Models from each brand have their perks, which are outlined here.