byLeslie Carbone
I’ve never been so glad to come home from a trip. Travel experts are predicting a sold-out summer of stressful vacations–long lines, high costs, delays and cancellations. And if my recent trip to New York and New Jersey is any indication, the experts are right. I had a great time (more on the sites to…
byLeslie Carbone
For the first time in nearly 50 years, the Washington, D.C., Latter-Day Saints Temple in Kensington, Maryland, is holding an Open House for the general public. The gleaming building of Alabama white marble sits on hilltop grounds covering nearly 60 acres. Colorful garden beds lead up to a sparkling central fountain. The Temple reaches nearly…
byLeslie Carbone
“To Frank and desert nights, Ava” So reads the inscription on the gold watch given by his second wife Ava Gardner to her third husband Frank Sinatra. The “desert nights” is most likely a reference to their time at his home in Palm Springs, California. Two things are surprising about the gift and the sentiment: …
byLeslie Carbone
Travel offers adventure, stimulation, and a spirit of freedom. History gives us inspiration, comfort, and a sense of connection. When you put them together, it’s magic. That’s why it’s so rewarding to discover a new place through its past. Unique culture, human stories, and quirks and charms come to life through centuries-old architecture, inspiring monuments…
byLeslie Carbone
Governments have long used masks to control their subjects. WARNING: The images that follow are disturbing. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, click here. The Medieval Torture Museum in Saint Augustine, Florida, features an unsettling display of these devices, whose purpose was to subject the wearer public ridicule. They were typically used to…
byLeslie Carbone
Florida boasts unique history. And Saint Augustine’s Castillo de San Marcos reflects much of the originally Spanish colony’s uniqueness. It is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. It has witnessed centuries of political and cultural conflict. And it was built with a rare seashell-limestone that can alternately absorb and deflect cannonballs. Founded…
byLeslie Carbone
The surf splashed up in jagged clouds of white as it pounded the black shoreline. Birds soared above. I tried to keep my balance as I climbed along the rough rocks. Behind me, small huts boasted Mexican snacks, cold drinks in coconut shells, and rope swings. Cozumel is both raw and resort-y. This post contains…
byLeslie Carbone
Flames rose from the old black metal drum grill. Herbs and spices melded together in a rich and zesty aroma. The beautiful blue Caribbean Sea sparkled beyond the lush green lawn and gardens. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, click here. Yaaman Adventure Park, just outside Ocho Rios, Jamaica, boasts a “secret river”, a…