For some reason, as a teenager, I dreamt of Prague. I’d heard tell of it in movies and books, and I really wanted to go. Maybe it was all those fairytales from my childhood that made me want to visit, or perhaps it was the history of my roots I knew attached; either way, I was intrigued. That’s the type of interest teachers wish for their students. Some have that innate desire to stand in the places of history or check out the culinary wonders of a new world.

This is the most beautiful book I have ever read. It’s at once a memoir, an ode to favorite literature, a glimpse into teaching – and writing. Joelle Renstrom’s new book, Closing the book: Travels in Life, Loss, and Literature, is a work of art. 

Nestled in the northeastern region of Pennsylvania is a lovely four-season destination called The Pocono Mountains. Rolling mountain terrain and breathtaking views and waterfalls encompass an area of 2,400 miles and four counties. I’ve lived in Pennsylvania almost my whole life and never visited this area before. I’ve heard it called the old “Honeymoon Capital of the World” and after a romantic getaway with my husband, I understood why!

Get ready and fasten your seatbelts! We’re about to embark on an Epic Canadian Road Trip, driving from our home in Kalamazoo, Michigan all the way out to St. John’s, Newfoundland (yes, a ferry will be involved). Why? Well, I’m the co-founder of Writing Walking Women, and we chose St.

I love Lonely Planet: Istanbul. When I was in Istanbul, Turkey this May, with Turkish Airlines and our White House Travel Bloggers group, it provided great inspiration, airplane reading, and help navigating the big city.

Where are we, Phineas?

“Haven’t the foggiest,” I retorted in the best of literary fashion, “but looking at the GPS I think that we are going around the Blue Mountains in 80 kilometres.”

Morning mist in Broke, Australia

As the economy rebounds, business people have begun to travel again. A little more money to spare and a wider base of interested clients have sent business travelers back to the skies, making new connections all over the world. The New York Times reported that travel spending is up 4.3 percent, for an annual total of $273.3 billion.

Florida Culture for the Week of July 13, 2015 by Josh Garrick

July 13 & 14 -- An Historic Literary Event from Harper Lee 

Charlotte Chen was born in New York. Growing up, she embraced both Chinese and American culture through her living and learning experiences in both countries. She is a rising senior studying computer science at the University of Pittsburgh. Currently she is interning as a programmer in Washington, DC. Charlotte is passionate about arts and exploring international culture. She recently studied abroad in France.