Kathy’s European Travel articles
I’ve always enjoyed sharing our travel experiences and helping other travelers. Here are links to my internet articles, trip reports, and blogs. Some of my writing tells about our family’s travels. I’ve written several articles for the Slow Travel website, and the Slow Europe website. These days I regularly post articles on the Slow Travel Tours blog.
Travel articles and stories
Packing for a European Vacation and How to Dress for a European Vacation: These articles from the Slow Travel Tours blog include tips from several experienced European travelers.
These articles on the Slow Travel Tours blog focus on one of my favorite subjects: Provence!
Nature’s Paintbrush: May and June in the Luberon
Enjoying the Markets of Provence
Shopping at the Markets of Provence
Experiencing a Village: Bonnieux
Alpine Adventures in the Mountains of Germany and Austria: I wrote this article for Slow Europe, focusing on the Salzkammergut and the Bavarian Alps as wonderful destinations for a “slow” vacations of a week or more.
You CAN Afford Europe this Year!: This article should be very helpful in today’s economic times. I co-authored this article with Pauline Kenny, founder of Slow Travel and Slow Europe in March 2008, drawing on a variety of ideas for cost-effective travel posted by Slow Travel members. Our article was referenced in the New York Times in October 2008.
Your First Trip to Europe: Advice from Experienced Travelers: This article on the Slow Travel website also draws on advice from many Slow Travel members. Although it’s directed to first-time European travelers, most of the suggestions are valuable to people who have visited Europe many times.
Enjoying Europe with Young Children: We made our first trip to Europe when our daughter was only 14 months old. Many people feel it’s too difficult to travel internationally with a child. We think it only enriches the experience. This article discusses some approaches that will help ensure a positive trip for children and their parents.
Activities for Children and Families in Provence: Provence is a wonderful vacation destination for families. This article includes suggestions of places and activities in Provence that children will especially enjoy.
Food for Children and Families in Provence: Dealing with foreign food is often a challenge for American families. This article provides suggestions for family-oriented dining and menu choices in Provence.
Hiking in the Luberon: I’m biased, but I think this article is the best resource on the internet about the great hiking in the Luberon area of Provence. I also provide detailed directions for four of our favorite hikes.
Saturday at the Apt Market: We love the Saturday outdoor market in the town of Apt in the Luberon (Provence, France). The market is large even in the off-season. This story describes a typical winter day at the market during the time we lived in Provence.
An American Thanksgiving in Provence: In November 2004 we celebrated this special American holiday with other expatriate families at the farmhouse where we were living in Provence. We had some interesting experiences getting ready to host this traditional meal.
Our Day with Diva: Our family had a wonderful day taking a cooking class with Divina Cucina in Florence, Italy.
Trip Reports
My trip reports have focused on our family’s long distance walks in Europe. We’ve now done seven of these walks: two in England, one in Ireland, three in France, and one in Switzerland. We’ve seen some amazing scenery, met wonderful people, and definitely have had some adventures!
A Family trip to England: This two week trip included a 50+ mile walk in the Cotswolds. We also visited London, Bath, and the Brecon Beacons in Wales. (May 2002)
Alsace in Slow Motion: Our family’s walking tour in the mountains, vineyards and villages of Alsace. (May 2003)
England in Slow Motion: Our 16-day, 190-mile trek across England on the famous Coast-to-Coast walk. (July/August 2004)
Switzerland in Slow Motion: Our family’s 14-day, 100-mile hike through the Swiss Alps on the Alpine Pass route. (July/August 2005)
Travel Blogs
Our Grand Tour of Europe: The detailed journal of our family’s 14-month trip in Europe (June 2004-August 2005), including 11 weeks in the United Kingdom; 7-1/2 months in France; 11 weeks in Italy; and 6 weeks in the Alpine countries.
The Trail’s our Thing: I’ve used this site to blog about some of our other travels and experiences, including extended trips to Europe in the summers of 2006 and 2007. There are lots of photos. These trips included a long-distance walk in Ireland, housesitting both summers in Provence, and my first experience attending a French language school in Aix-en-Provence. Many posts relate to the Luberon.
Slow Travel Tours blog: We’re one of the founders of Slow Travel Tours, an informal affiliation of people like us who lead small group tours in Europe. Each week a different member of our group posts to our blog, so you’ll find me posting here on a regular basis. All of us have a real passion for our own special places in Europe and a deep commitment to the benefits of a more extended stay in one place. I really look forward to these weekly posts.
