Travel Past 50

10/27/2026

Why are Palermo's old medieval streets ABOVE the main avenue?

Walk Corso Vittorio Emanuele and you'll notice the side streets sit higher than the street itself. We got the answer from our instructor, Giuseppe Ferrarella, on a week-long Elective Study Abroad course, "The Evolution of the City." Learning to read the "bones" of the city changed how we saw everything, from Norman mosaics to Kalsa's street art to a plate of caponata.

Our new Palermo travel guide is part visitor guide, part study report: Arab-Norman sights, a cemetery and a burnt saint's bones (yes, really), street food, where we ate and stayed, and answers to the questions we had before we went.

Read it here: https://travelpast50.com/palermo-travel-guide/

Thanks to Elective Study Abroad for a course that made us look harder at a city we thought we knew a little. Have you been to Palermo? Tell us your favorite spot or dish in the comments!

10/19/2026

A garden-setting paella cooking class in Valencia. Learn the original recipe and authentic method from Carlos.

10/13/2026

For a map freak like me, tracing the evolution of Palermo, Sicily, starts with finding the streets that cover former rivers. Stay tuned for images of the city that is ancient and modern, renovated and in ruins, attracting pilgrims and bachelor parties. Study abroad for max enjoyment!

10/03/2026

All images are details from the Villa Romana del Casale just outside the village of Piazza Armerina in Sicily. The enormous villa has the world’s largest display of in situ mosaics. Most from around 200 AD.

07/31/2026

We're heading to Sicily this October — and we'd love for you to join us (readers save $250 with code TP502026). Also in this week's newsletter: the Bayeux Tapestry makes its first-ever trip outside France, the D-Day beaches earn UNESCO status, and what we're reading this summer. Full post here:

Since 2010, we've traveled to more than 80 countries. Our goal for our newsletter is to help you travel more, better, and for less money. We do that through our travel tips posts and destination guides. Sign up to see how we can help you achieve your travel goals.

07/15/2026

Alaska is too big for one story. 🐋⛰️
We just published our take on sailing the Inner Passage aboard a small ship — the American Constitution — and why going small changed everything: closer wildlife encounters, tighter fjords the big ships can't touch, and onboard naturalists and Tlingit cultural interpreters who turned sightseeing into something deeper.
Glacier Bay, Sitka's totem poles, a jet-boat run to LeConte Glacier, humpbacks, bears, and a lot of really good salmon — it's all in the post, plus what to pack and when to go. American Cruise Lines
📖 Read it here:

Curious what a small-ship Alaska cruise is really like? Here's the ship, crew, food, and Inner Passage itinerary from our trip with American Cruise Lines.

07/07/2026

In 1794, Glacier Bay was buried under ice 4,000 feet thick. Today that ice has retreated over 65 miles — and left behind one of the most fascinating parks in Alaska. Here's why it belongs on your list:

Kris spent 36 hours in Glacier Bay — and came away astonished. Her guide covers the glaciers, the Huna Tlingit history, the wildlife, and how to visit by cruise or on your own.

06/24/2026

Ever heard of Jerez de la Frontera? It's one of those Spanish cities that quietly holds an extraordinary amount of culture — sherry bodegas, Carthusian horses, deep-rooted flamenco, and now: Spain's Gastronomic Capital of 2026. 🍷🐎

I just did a radio segment on Jerez and I loved every minute of the conversation. We wandered through Andalucía, talked trains across Spain, and eventually landed on what makes this city so special and so underrated.

🎧 Give it a listen: https://on.soundcloud.com/XBwB7Uzp7TdVcfBmXr

And there's more coming — a follow-up interview is in the works focused entirely on the food scene and the chefs putting Jerez on the culinary map.

Have you been to Jerez? Drop a comment — I'd love to hear your experiences! 👇

Our US-based correspondent, Kristin Henning visits southern Spain and enjoys the city of Jerez del la Frontera in Cádiz province. Jerez was just named Spain's Gastronomic Capital of 2026. So food – a

06/15/2026

Sitka National Historical Park is Alaska's oldest federally designated park, best known for its remarkable collection of Tlingit and Haida totem poles displayed along a mile-long trail through a coastal rainforest. The park also preserves the site of the 1804 Battle of Sitka between the Tlingit Kiks.ádi clan and Russian colonial forces, and houses a cultural center where Alaska Native artists demonstrate traditional carving, weaving, and beading. Click through to the post for photos and a practical guide for visiting this Sitka attraction.

A complete guide to Sitka National Historical Park — totem poles, Tlingit history, the visitor center, and practical tips for cruise and independent travelers.

06/11/2026

Wildlife in Alaska, so far. Sea otter, sea lions, bald eagle, and mountain goat. Not including sightings of brown bear, humpback and orca whales, and all sorts of birds.