Museums and historical sites are not the only places where you can appreciate history. During a recent road trip to Moab, Utah, history came alive while exploring Arches National Park and trekking in the Grandstaff Canyon.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect people throughout the world, it is not possible to predict when it will be safe to travel again. In the meantime, I can take time to reflect on past adventures and recall what I learned at each destination. After visiting Peru, I remain fascinated by the Incas who built Machu Picchu, and by Hiram Bingham III who brought this civilization to the attention of the western world.

Like many other city museums around the world, Montréal’s Pointe-à-Callière (the Montréal Archeology and History Complex) is temporarily closed, but not forgotten. Stories like this one share tips and information for future adventures. If you are planning to visit Montréal and love history, I recommend including Pointe-à-Callière, the largest and most visited museum in Montréal, in your future travel plans.

As the Big Island's top attraction, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is the perfect place to learn about the geological history of the Hawaiian Islands. Two volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea, can be visited inside approximately 500 square miles of a natural environment. About 90 percent of Hawaii's trees, plants, and flowers are endemic. They cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The remaining species are either indigenous (in Hawaii and elsewhere) or non-native (introduced by mankind). 

On March 1, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston opens a blockbuster traveling exhibition focusing exclusively on a comprehensive selection of Spanish artworks from the New York-based Hispanic Society of America. 

The Glory of Spain: Treasures from the Hispanic Society Museum & Library exhibition marks the first time the unparalleled collection of some 200 artworks–spanning more than 4,000 years of Spanish history–will be on display. 

With an easy 35-minute drive to and from Salt Lake International Airport, skiers, boarders, and outdoor enthusiasts select Park City for their year-round destination. I considered this convenience when I contemplated where to ski in January 2020. Like many other ski areas in the western part of the United States, mining is part of the area’s history. Gold, silver, and other precious metals lured people to seek their fortune. A select few, like William Randolph Hearst, became millionaires.

To get acquainted with Tokyo’s history, with which I am unfamiliar, I started my journey at the city’s history museum, the Edo-Tokyo Museum. From the early 17th century until the mid 19th century, the Tokugawa shogunate ruled Japan from this city. By touring the permanent exhibit filled with artifacts and replicas, we learned about the 400 years of history from the Edo period to the present.