Texas may be known for its barbecue but you’re missing a lot of its others eats if that’s all you have while visiting. On a recent trip to Houston, which skirts the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, I was surprised by the variety of cuisines offered within the city and its surrounding areas.

That’s right, Houston is a foodie town.

Sure, I expected plenty of Tex-Mex joints and barbecue dives, but what I didn’t plan on is a world of flavors tucked around nearly every corner.

The large island of Chiloé is a wonderful place. We are in Castro, which was founded in 1576, and it is Chile’s third oldest city in continued existence. 1000 km south of Santiago, this place brims with culture, from the wool weavings of local artisans to the wooden purple and yellow church of Castro. We pass by the front of this remarkable church on our way to eat lunch.

I'm always inspired whenever I look at Instagram, but some photographers seem to have that extra SOMETHING that makes their photos stand out from the 737 photos that are uploaded every second (!!). One such photographer is our Photographer of the Month, Greg Viau, a Michigan photographer that truly shares the beauty in this world, photo by photo.

Last year we took a two week vacation to Italy to visit friends and to go to Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre has long been on my list to visit and I always meant to go when I lived there but somehow I never got around to it and then when I wanted to go, it was too late as I was moving away.

Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, is a place in the far north of Atlantic Canada where mountain meets forest meets sea. Over the centuries, it has also become a place where cultures meet and mix and respect each other. The Mi'kmaq people came first, to fish the waters and live in the forests.

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.

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.

It was only my second time on the continent of Asia when I stepped off the plane in Bangkok, Thailand. The excitement of something new mixed with that slight trepidation of the unknown was palpable. I’d heard great things, researched as much as I possibly could without my eyes falling out of my head, and of course, as is with all things new, had to leap a little. Sometimes, I think, it’s better not to prepare to a fault and leave a bit of room for spontaneity, surprise, and to find a way to embrace the unknown. That’s true about life plans, as well. 

This spring my mom came to visit me in May, and as usual we decided to get away for a long weekend.  We have a tradition of leaving the Sweden every time she comes to visit me, and this year we decided to go to Alghero, Italy! It had been almost a year since I had been to Italy, so I was itching to go back.

Disney World is fun, exciting, exhausting, and expensive entertainment. It is even more exhausting for the One Day Park Hopper. Whether your visit to Disney World is just a stop along the way or a big planned vacation, follow these Disney World tips to help create memories you’ll want to remember.