Travel By Design

Hear about RV travel, the joys of multi-generational family travel. and traveling across the country as people of color.

To some people, a passport is a piece of paper gathering dust in the bottom kitchen drawer. For others, it opens doors, opportunities, and experiences. Several years ago, van life was the epitome of packing up the family and hitting the road. They went wherever the map led them. The excitement of waking up in a different place was hard to quench.

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.

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.

Femicide refers to the intentional killing of a woman because she is a woman. This isn’t a case of wrong-place-wrong-time. This is about power, patriarchy, and impunity. It’s the most brutal expression of a world where women’s lives are often undervalued or reduced to cautionary tales.

Explore the world’s most unforgettable destinations and awaken your inner explorer with bestselling author Patricia Schultz and publishing trailblazer Grace Fujimoto in this inspiring episode of the World Footprints podcast. Travel is more than a checklist—it’s a transformational experience. In this vibrant conversation, we dive into the newest editions of two iconic travel books that celebrate the beauty, culture, and diversity of our planet: the Deluxe edition of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz and Wanderlust: A Traveler’s Guide to the Globe from Avalon Travel. Patricia Schultz: Reimagining a Travel Classic Patricia Schultz’s groundbreaking travel book, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, has inspired millions since it first landed on bestseller lists. Now, she’s raised the bar again with a stunning Deluxe edition, fully redesigned for the visual era. Featuring 1,000 jaw-dropping photographs and 100% new content, this coffee-table keepsake brings the world to life [...]

Viewing a solar eclipse had been a goal since childhood, but after experiencing one, I knew that one would never be enough. I had joined the ranks of the umbraphiles—eclipse-chasers, literally, “shadow lovers.”

Traveling with Pomegranates A Mother’s Day Celebration of Bonding, Reinvention, and the Transformational Power of Women’s Journeys Just in time for Mother’s Day, this special episode of World Footprints honors the enduring power of mother-daughter relationships and the life-changing experiences women share through travel. Whether you're seeking inspiration for a Mother’s Day getaway, planning a female retreat, or navigating your own journey of reinvention, this episode is a heartfelt celebration of the bonds that shape us—and the places that help us grow. We are joined by Sue Monk Kidd, the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees, and her daughter Ann Kidd Taylor, for a powerful conversation about their co-authored memoir, Traveling with Pomegranates: A Mother-Daughter Story. The book chronicles a transformative trip through Greece and France, taken at a time when both women were facing deep personal questions: Sue was working through early ideas [...]

Travelers to Southeast Asia are no strangers to Siem Reap. The city's world-class wonder, Angkor Wat, attracts curious tourists from all over the world. This beautiful destination continues to increase in popularity. And with this boom, opportunities to flourish emerge.

Expanding America's historical narrative to include enslaved and Indigenous people and their contributions to the country.