After the morning rain, the afternoon sun struggles to push its way out of the thick fog covering the mountains. My sister and I, umbrella in hand, walk side by side, jumping occasionally to dodge the puddles in the road.
Beth Santos is founder and CEO of Wanderful, a global network for adventurous, independent women travelers. She is a recently transplant to Boston from Chicago and can be swayed to do pretty much anything if offered chocolate peanut butter ice cream.
In The Best Things in Life are Free: The Ultimate Money-Saving Travel Guide, the travel experts at Lonely Planet collected the most priceless experiences they've discovered from over 40 years of on-the-ground research into one essential resource. Packed with money-saving tips, tricks and recommendations, The Best Things in Life are Free features 884 free (or almost free) sights and experiences in 60 major cities around the world from Boston to Bangkok.
Sonoma County, California is primarily an agricultural area - food is treated with the reverence and respect it deserves. From olive groves to dairy farms, vineyards to the bounty of the sea, Sonoma County is a place to savor.

As the Rio Olympic Games get underway, I reminisce about the London Olympics just 4 short years ago. Although while studying abroad in London I missed seeing the Olympics by just a year, I was able to get a sneak peek during the summer of 2011 at the park during construction. Our group went on a walking tour and was able to see and learn about the construction. Being able to see it in person and then watch it a year later made it even more special. I can’t wait to revisit the area and see the transformation.
Florida Culture for the Week of August 7, 2016 by Josh Garrick
A Bar Mitzvah is an integral component and rite of passage for any young Jewish boy - or preferably man. It is the culmination of months - some may argue years - of preparation and a day that most young men will remember and cherish for the rest of their lives. A Bar mitzvah in Israel undeniably provides a young man with the catalyst to form an unbreakable bond with his Jewish heritage while simultaneously making unforgettable memories with his family.
Kyle Carey has lived in Alaska, New England, Cape Breton, Ireland, Scotland, and New York. From these experiences, she is forging music she calls Gaelic Americana, a mix that draws on music of the Appalachian south and wider American folk story as much as it does on musical traditions of Ireland and, especially, Scotland.
Whether you’re trading homes for a joint sabbatical (genius!), or pursuing a house swap for your travels, there are many things you can do to put your mind at ease – and welcome your guests into your home as if it was theirs. There are also some things you can do to make their experience even better – and maybe your home swap will be an annual event, if you love it at their home!
Just look at our artist of the month this month – she exudes joy, both in writing and in her art. Born in 1963 in Faro, Portugal, Manuela Martins-Karman (Manny) is honing her skills as a visual artist in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Manny graduated from Red River Community College, where she majored in Graphic Design and minored in life drawing. There, she developed her acute attention to form and spatial analysis.