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Read more about the article Festive Fall Days: A Tour of Festivities, History, and Seasonal Fun in Massachusetts
Apple Picking in Concord

Festive Fall Days: A Tour of Festivities, History, and Seasonal Fun in Massachusetts

As the cool air of fall cuts into the fading warmth of summer, it’s time to enjoy all that comes with the season.  October approaches, and with it comes opportunity for leaf peeping, apple picking, festive fairs, and more - and what better place to do it than in the New England towns of Massachusetts?  Enjoy autumn in an area riddled with history and folklore for a trip of festive fall days in Salem, Boston, & Concord. 

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Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland

A Weekend in the Orkney Islands of Scotland

Located off the north coast of mainland Scotland, the Orkney Islands offer some of the best preserved ancient sites in all of the U.K. From 5,000-year-old villages to World War Two era sunken ships poking out of the lochs, Orkney is like stepping back in time. Orkney is a place of constant discovery, with archaeologists are flocking here every summer to discover some new Neolithic period artifacts.

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Read more about the article Burgundy by Barge: The Right Way to Wine

Burgundy by Barge: The Right Way to Wine

You’ve decided to take a holiday in France, in the region of Burgundy to be exact. It is a land known for its rich history, quaint villages, castles, churches, lakes and forests, and rolling hillsides swathed in vineyards. Burgundy is probably most famous for its wines of the same name, though the countryside of east-central France has that and more to occupy many fulfilling adventures.

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Thorang-La Pass
Thorang-La Pass, Nepal

Packing List for Trekking in Nepal

Despite the sense of wonder and adventure associated with a trek through the Himalayas, the journey does not have to be as rough as you would think. Surprisingly, trekking in Nepal does not have to involve any camping. Due to the frequency of small villages and "tea houses" along many popular hiking paths, most visitors and trekkers stay the night in small hotels or guest houses which provide a comfortable stay, meals, and even toilets. So, if we're not camping, then what do we need? Some basic outdoor equipment is necessary, as are good shoes and clothing for multiple climates. We're talking about the Himalayas, where high altitudes can mean cold weather and rain (but not always). Food and water are also readily available, but a reusable water bottle and water purifiers can save you some cash along the way, too.

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Huangshan
An overlook on top of Huangshan

China on the Cheap

We arrived in China almost two weeks ago. The country has made a good impression so far. This is actually our second trip to China, our first being five years ago to the south (from Hong Kong to the Yunnan). After five years, this behemoth of a country is advancing in leaps and bounds. Economic growth can be witnessed everywhere. At the same time, ancient culture and personal experiences await around every corner. After arriving in Beijing late in the evening, we found our hotel down one of Beijing’s many Hutong alleyways. These microcosms of Chinese culture, where locals live in close proximity to one another and share a tight-knit neighborhood, are slowly being torn apart and replaced with towering skyscrapers. Beijing as a whole is impressive. It’s huge and modern in some parts, but ancient and cultural in others. We visited Beihai park, where crowds perform Tai Chi in unison along the shore of an ancient lake with a modern skyline as a backdrop.

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