World Footprints
World Footprints

Europe’s Best-Kept Secret? Serbia, Where Cuisine and Community Share the Spirit of the Balkans

Sometimes, I can’t pinpoint a place’s resounding sense until the end of a trip. But on my first night in Serbia, I discover its song immediately. I’m having dinner at Restoran Velika Skadarlija, a traditional tavern—known as a Serbian “kafana”—that’s deceivingly spacious, with white tablecloths and a bright interior. As I settle in for dinner, the folk band Tamburica 5 forms a semi-circle around my table, and I hear Serbia’s trademark tamburica before I learn its name.

By |2026-05-01T18:04:25-04:00May 1, 2026|Cultural Heritage, Europe, Food & Drink|Comments Off on Europe’s Best-Kept Secret? Serbia, Where Cuisine and Community Share the Spirit of the Balkans

A Zapotec-Led Tour Company in Oaxaca Putting Its People First

I met Lily one early January morning at a donut shop off the highway, about a 30-minute drive from Oaxaca City. Lily introduced herself to our small tour group — me and a family of four from Minnesota. She would be leading us for the day, as we visited some of the "must-sees" of Oaxaca. This included the scenic mineral springs and waterfalls of Hierve el Agua, the Zapotec archaeological site of Mitla, lunch at a local spot for memelas, and a visit to a locally owned and run mezcal distillery.

By |2026-04-29T13:32:24-04:00April 28, 2026|Cultural Heritage, Indigenous, Mexico|Comments Off on A Zapotec-Led Tour Company in Oaxaca Putting Its People First

Historic Places that Shaped the Life of Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry delivered his iconic “Give me liberty or give me death” speech at the Second Virginia Revolutionary Convention at St. John’s Church in Richmond on March 23, 1775, igniting a spark that fueled the American Revolution. While living in Scotchtown, his only surviving original residence, Henry composed this famous address. The home offers insight into both the historical figure and Patrick Henry's daily life, while a tour of the St. John’s Church in Richmond takes you back to the day the famed speech was delivered.

By |2026-04-25T13:21:47-04:00April 25, 2026|History, North America, United States|Comments Off on Historic Places that Shaped the Life of Patrick Henry

Dancing in the Streets: A History of the Second Line

Explore the history of New Orleans Second Line parades, Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs, and jazz funeral traditions. Discover the cultural roots behind the music with World Footprints podcast.

By |2026-04-23T15:38:07-04:00April 23, 2026|Events & Festivals, History, New Orleans, Podcast|0 Comments

Grand Junction, Colorado – Where the West is Still Wild

Aaron Kellum gestured toward the Colorado River sliding past the banks of Camp Eddy, a collection of vintage Airstreams and custom tiny homes perched on the water's edge in Grand Junction, Colorado. The general manager and former raft guide could have been describing the whole Western Slope when he said, "To be in a place where we get to share that with other people is something I'm never going to take for granted."

By |2026-04-22T23:27:33-04:00April 22, 2026|Nature & Outdoors, North America, United States|Comments Off on Grand Junction, Colorado – Where the West is Still Wild

Discover Lanzarote – The Popular Spanish Island Designed by One Artist With Nature at the Forefront

You can barely see the roads within Lanzarote's Timanfaya National Park—and that's intentional. When local architect and artist César Manriche designed projects for Lanzarote, one of Spain’s eight Canary Islands, in the 1960s, he homed in on nature, with a clear aim to preserve the island’s landscapes.

By |2026-04-20T09:10:20-04:00April 19, 2026|Europe, Spain, Sustainable Travel|Comments Off on Discover Lanzarote – The Popular Spanish Island Designed by One Artist With Nature at the Forefront

The Art of Taking It Slow in Chiang Mai

The red on the thermometer crept past 30°C. In Chiang Mai, temperatures remain volatile, chilly in the morning and sweltering by afternoon. I was in an air-conditioned restaurant and had a bowl of khao soi before me, its turmeric-gold broth steaming a rich coconut bisque. The chanting of monks from the nearby temples, fading in and out in an ethereal cadence, was backdropped by the tinkle of the wind chimes.

By |2026-04-16T13:11:11-04:00April 16, 2026|Asia, Compass|Comments Off on The Art of Taking It Slow in Chiang Mai

The Philippines Visayan Islands – Joyful and Hassle-Free

America has a heartland. So does the Philippines. It has 7,600 islands organized into three major island groups, with the midlands comprising the welcoming Visayas region. My ninth trip there delivered an adventurous medley of down-to-earth pensions, a luxe island resort, and a perfect lifestyle mix of everything in between. I explored six different islands where one tune always sings true: this getaway means hospitality on steroids.

By |2026-04-13T16:31:39-04:00April 13, 2026|Asia, Compass, Sustainable Travel|Comments Off on The Philippines Visayan Islands – Joyful and Hassle-Free

The Travel Doctor is IN

Meet The Travel Doctor . Broken bones. Skin rashes. Travelers diarrhea. COVID and… There are many accidents, illnesses and medical mishaps that happen when we’re traveling and now we have COVID to add to the list. So what should travelers do to remain healthy and safe? Get expert travel health advice from Dr. Yvette McQueen on staying safe, preventing illness, and navigating travel in a post-COVID world.

By |2026-04-12T20:36:17-04:00April 12, 2026|Health & Wellness, North America, Podcast, United States|Comments Off on The Travel Doctor is IN

Bread as Spoon: A Casablanca Lunch That Changed How I Think About Hospitality

The tagine lid lifted with a soft clink. Steam rose up in slow, fragrant ribbons of salt, citrus, and warm spice. After a morning of shopping at the market and cooking side-by-side with Chamsi in her Casablanca home, I tasted more than a great meal. I tasted how Moroccan hospitality works. I chase culture through real experiences as a seasoned travel writer and photographer. I’ll show you what this Casablanca cooking class taught me about flavor, table manners, and belonging.

By |2026-04-13T17:03:07-04:00April 10, 2026|Cultural Heritage, Food & Drink|Comments Off on Bread as Spoon: A Casablanca Lunch That Changed How I Think About Hospitality
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