Today, the Dublin Castle in Ireland is a government building used for official ceremonies, dinners, presidential inaugurations, and other state affairs. Historically, however, it has had a varied past and was once called home by the Vikings, Normans, English, and British. Through most of its history, it has served as the administrative seat for English and British rule in Ireland. In 1922, it was finally handed back to the people of its country and has served them ever since.
Aït Benhaddou is a fortified city in Morocco that is located along the old caravan route between Marrakech and the Sahara Desert. This UNESCO World Heritage site served as an important trading post in the old trade route that passed all the way from Morocco on the west coast of Africa, to Sudan on the east coast.
Old Québec City is the original old town historic neighborhood in Québec, Canada, that was first settled in 1608. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the only city in North America north of Mexico that still has a city wall. Visiting Old Québec City allows travelers to step back in time and visit an early North American settlement.
Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, is one of the most iconic buildings in Moscow. Located in Red Square, it faces off of other mighty architectural giants, such as the Kremlin, Lenin’s mausoleum, the State Historical Museum, and the GUM shopping center, and quite easily holds its own.
When one thinks of the Sahara Desert (myself included), they think of Egypt and the beautiful imagery of the pyramids against the golden sands. However, the Sahara Desert is much more expansive, stretching across the entirety of northern Africa from Morocco to Egypt. The Erg Chigaga dunes in Morocco offers travelers easy access to this wide expanse giving them a taste of the beauty and immensity of this desert.
The Temple of Jupiter in Split, Croatia is a small, ancient Roman sanctuary located within the walls of Diocletian’s Palace. This marvelous little building is nestled in one of the most beautiful places in Croatia and is well worth the visit.
We visited Cupsogue Beach on the west end of Westhampton Island on a warm day in February for a lovely afternoon of ocean, sand, and seals. I’ve lived in New York State my entire life and when I want to go to the beach, I never think of Long Island. That was a mistake I will not be repeating.
Xunantunich is an ancient Mayan city located in Belize in Central America. Belize is a wonderful country to visit that really does a lot to preserve their Mayan ruins and make them as accessible as possible to the public. We spent a glorious day at this city in the jungles of western Belize.
We visited Olana State Historic Site, the estate of artist Frederic Edwin Church, on the most perfect fall day. It was the exact moment of the fall season where the colors were the brightest, and we had such beautiful weather. We hiked along the Lake Road up to the top of Crown Hill, then from the farm to the main house via the Farm Road and North Road. Olana and Clermont have always been personal favorites of mine. Our family has visited these sites so many times over the past several decades. And in the fall, it is the best place for leaf peeping in Upstate New York.
We stopped by Newspaper Rock State Historical Monument, a large rock face containing hundreds of petroglyphs, on our way from the Needles sections of Canyonlands National Park down to the Goosenecks State Park on our drive through Utah. We had no idea how impressive it was until we saw it in the flesh. It is larger than we imagined and absolutely worth a visit.