When I was younger, I went on a lot of cruises. I mean, A LOT of cruises. (Here’s my take on cruises.) At this point in my life, and at this point in my travels, I’d be less likely to take one based on a number of factors. But there are a couple of large…
Editor’s note: I first visited Yosemite as a child, and have been back close to a dozen times, including three since starting The Royal Tour. It is a place unlike anywhere I’ve ever visited, a place of dreams. (Also a place of crowds, but such is the trade off.) Here, Jackie adds her own experiences…
Editor’s note: in the earliest days of The Royal Tour, I went to Arkansas to see Hot Springs National Park. I spent a single night in Little Rock, saw Central High School, wrote nothing about it, and moved on. I am so glad that writer Sam Spector spent a weekend there now to right this…
Editor’s note: I’ve never seen an episode of Ozark, but I’m still always game for a beautiful lake and some cool caves. Our resident rock hound. Morgan, offers even more in this awesome glimpse at a place most of us have heard of, but few have visited. For more of Morgan’s writing, click here to…
There is a nostalgia here. Like other iconic places in my hometown of Los Angeles, the Original Farmers Market has a strong association with my childhood, of being something special to be done with family or friends. I remember visiting every year or two, and being treated to something new: a smell, a taste, a…
In the 1930s, the great age of American railways was coming to an end, as with the end of World War Two, automobile dominance would become ascendant, never to look back. While most major American cities already had their monumental rail stations constructed by this point, a couple stragglers made it in under the wire,…
A couple years back, I wrote a story about William Henry Harrison, the shortest serving president in US history. I visited his mausoleum and a monument to the man outside of Cincinnati, and had a grand time learning and writing about this basically forgotten president outside of trivia contests. (Read the story here.) And then,…
Simon Meiners is a man on a mission. As the Communications and Research Specialist at Louisville’s Frazier Museum, he is tasked with sifting through the history of Kentucky and sharing it with the public. After the first five minutes speaking with him, it is clear that this mission is more than just a profession for…
The chances are that if I offered you a fill in the blank starting with Kentucky ____, the top three in some order would be derby, fried chicken, and bourbon. Well, I’ve never been to the Kentucky Derby (and didn’t visit Churchill Downs while in Louisville) and I’ve had good fried chicken all over the…
Editor’s note: Who doesn’t like a good volcano, right? For visitors to California, Lassen Volcanic National Park is off the beaten path, but just as awesome as any place this side of Yosemite. Like our resident geology buff Morgan, I love this gem of a park and recommend it to everyone I know! For more…