Compass
The natural beauty of the mountains of North Carolina has beckoned travelers for decades. When autumn arrives and vibrant shades of gold, orange, yellow, and red paint the landscape, even more visitors arrive. Residents and business owners eagerly anticipate the fall season and welcome travelers with a smile. But in September 2024, in the midst of the colorful season an unwelcome guest arrived…Hurricane Helene. The horrific storm caused significant damage to many mountain towns in the North Carolina mountains, and some have still not recovered. Lives, businesses, and property were lost to the storm.
Explore how travel supports peacebuilding in post-conflict nations with Gary Knight of VII Foundation’s Imagine: Reflections on Peace project.
The sleepy village of Licin is situated in the Banyuwangi regency of East Java, Indonesia. It’s a 30-minute drive from the town of Banyuwangi – Java’s easternmost tip – and an hour from the slopes of Kawah Ijen, the legendary volcano famous for its electric blue flames. It’s often used as a base for hiking the world’s most fascinating crater, and foreigners usually pass through it. But during my travels in Indonesia last November, I was instantly drawn to Licin’s wild beauty and tranquility, making it my home for the remaining two weeks of my stay in the country.
“Watch us come back with a dog,” I joked to my partner as we packed our things for four months on Mexico’s Pacific coast. As it turned out, it was less of a joke than I thought. When you think of Mexico, street dogs probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. But outside of the resorts and villas that most tourists associate with Mexico, things are different. The country has the largest number of Mexican street dogs in Latin America. The National Institute of Statistics and Geography estimates that about 70 percent of the 18 million dogs in Mexico live on the street, born as strays or simply abandoned. It’s a statistic that becomes overwhelmingly evident as you walk around.
Hear about RV travel, the joys of multi-generational family travel. and traveling across the country as people of color.
IIn the last century, Thailand has lost roughly 92 percent of its elephant population. Factors such as illegal wildlife trade, deforestation, and human-animal conflict have led the Asian elephant to the pages of Thailand’s endangered species list. The future of the surviving eight percent remains uncertain — but we know that humans have as much a role to play in their survival as they have had in their decline.
Award-winning artist and sculptor Tyree Guyton started The Heidelberg Project in 1986 as a political protest after he returned to his old Detroit neighborhood, the Heidelberg area in the McDougall-Hunt Neighborhood, and found dereliction and debris. Drugs and crime made the neighborhood unsafe to walk even in the daytime. He began cleaning up vacant lots with the help of his grandfather, Sam Mackey. Then he took the first step in what became known as the Heidelberg Project; he painted his mother's house with brightly colored polka dots as a statement that we are all different but should all be treated equally. It became known as the Dotty Wotty House, sometimes called the People's House.
In my broken Thai, I pointed toward the water and looked at the boatman. “Bua?” I asked. "Bua" means lotus in Thai. I tried to mimic the local accent and used a hand gesture, hoping he would understand and take me to see the flowers. He nodded and smiled, mumbled a string of words that I could not understand, and steered the boat into the open water, still shrouded in morning fog. The boat slowly pierced through the dissipating mist, eerily silent, like something out of a sci-fi movie. Before us, a sea of pink lotuses started to unfold, bit by bit, like a watercolor painting coming to life with each brushstroke. It was surreal, almost like a dream, yet it was real. My jaw dropped in awe when the scene finally unfolded in its entirety.
Join us for this immersive audio journey through Kansas City’s African American heritage. Whether you're a cultural traveler, a history lover, or someone seeking deeper truth, this episode offers a window into the resilience, brilliance, and legacy of Black Kansas City. 🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts: [Apple Podcasts] • [Spotify] • [iHeartRadio] • [WorldFootprints.com]
Plan a culturally rich Southern road trip through Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina with this guide to 24 must-see museums showcasing Southern heritage, art, science, and architecture. Discover iconic landmarks and cultural treasures perfect for itineraries through the Carolinas and Georgia or family outings in the Southeast.
When you hear the term astrotourism, you might think about famous figures like William Shatner taking a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket to the edge of space. But astrotourism isn't about going to outer space; it’s about enjoying outer space from good old planet Earth. It's a type of ecotourism centered around dark skies and celestial events such as eclipses, meteor showers, comets, and auroras.
In this special commemorative episode of World Footprints, we reflect on the courage, grief, and resilience that define the American spirit—from the families of fallen soldiers to the enduring legacy of President John F. Kennedy, and the heroism of World War II veterans. This evergreen tribute episode honors those who served and those who continue to carry their memories forward.
