Things to do in Oak Park & west of Chicago
The greatest concentration of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings is in Oak Park, Illinois. The architect established an independent practice there in 1893.
Places to visit
Art exhibitions in the Netherlands in 2026
Stuart Forster provides an overview of major art exhibitions in the Netherlands in 2026. Disclosure: Some of the links below and banners are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. During an event at the Dutch Ambassador’s residence in London on...
Places to visit in Northumberland
Alnwick Castle is the modern-day family home of the Dukes of Northumberland. Sculpted stone figures depicting medieval soldiers top the crenallated tower above the castle’s bailey. Many visitors recognise the castle from the films Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It has been used by filmmakers as sets in numerous movies, as well as Brancaster Castle in special editions of the popular Downton Abbey television series.
Experiencing the Scottish Highlands
Staying with a family in Inverness, Isabella Sampson, from South Australia, experienced the Scottish Highlands like a local. She shares highlights of her time in the Highlands of Scotland. Disclosure: Some of the links below and banners are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through...
Things to do in Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Looking for reasons to visit Harrogate, North Yorkshire? The spa town was once a destination of choice among members of European high society. Royalty, nobles and people of influence enjoyed lengthy stays to 'take the waters', which were believed be beneficial to health, and spent time socialising.
Visiting Maldives local islands: Huraa Island
Bleached coral crunches under the soles of my sliders as I step along the beach on Huraa Island. Tiny pieces tinkle like glass breaking as I move towards the shoreline. The finger-long chunks of coral look like a cross between pitted, sun-dried bones and white-painted tree branches.
West End Star for a Day in London
The 90-minute session was hilarious. Yet it provided a tremendous insight into what it takes to learn a choreographed dance routine and be an entertainer in one of London’s West End shows.
Visiting the World Rugby Museum at Twickenham
While at the World Rugby Museum I learnt that the codified sport now played by three million people around the world was preceded by games known as tsu chu in China, harpastum in the Roman Empire and episkyros in Ancient Greece.One of the walls debunks the popular notion that William Webb Ellis invented the game, though the cup presented to world champions New Zealand on 31 October still bears his name. You can see a replica of the trophy in the museum.
Jetboat Interlaken in Switzerland
Spray is kicking up from the surface of Lake Brienz in Switzerland. I'm combining sightseeing with an adrenalin burst during a trip jet boat tour with Jetboat Interlaken.
Visiting the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament
The Cincinnati Open was first played in 1899. That makes it the second-oldest tennis tournament in the USA, behind the U.S. Open.