This homecoming is not a high school dance (though you could dance to live music throughout the weekend). Rather, it is a century old, free, community festival held annually in southern Geauga County in Ohio. According to local historians, Troy Homecoming started in 1911 when the township celebrated its 100th birthday.
Read MoreRegularly, I spend time at dinner tables that are not my own and vacation with people who love me. A couple of years ago, I traveled across country with my friend Grace and her five boys. Now, I am again blessed to travel across country, this time with my niece and nephew. I relish every minute that God has given me to love and be loved! It is wonderful to be present when children experience new things and are introduced to landscapes they have never seen before.
Read MoreWhile in New Orleans, my traveling companions suggested going to Preservation Hall. I was rather elated about the notion and struggled to wait patiently for the treat.
Read MoreNorthern Ireland is beautiful. I am a northerner and convinced that the further north you go, the prettier the world becomes. I had initially visited Belfast, Northern Ireland over a decade ago. At the time, there was still political strife and the air in Belfast was thick with tension. Fast forward 16 years, Belfast is renewed. People were out an about, walking the streets, shopping, mingling, exchanging welcoming glances. It is beautiful. My heart is glad for this city.
Read MoreOkinawa is known as the “Japanese Caribbean”. The seawater is clear blue and warm, ideal for scuba diving. We dove in Blue Cave, an underwater cave, as well as Kerama National Park.
Read MoreSkijoring is a combination of Montana’s favorite things: snow, skis and horses. There is a long course where the horse and rider run straight down the middle while pulling a skier behind with a rope. The skier maneuvers through obstacles. The object of the game is to go as fast as you can through the course. It is a thrill to watch. Many of the horses and riders are dressed in their finest cowboy frills. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly.
Read MoreThe diligence and skill of the folks rolling cigars at Cigar Factory New Orleans is captivating. They do not falter in their performance, even while being interrupted with admiration by observers. The warm, brown interior of the shop indicates years of producing and savoring a delectable leaf that has been enjoyed by countless people through history. The thick, spicy musk of unburnt tobacco mingles with the humidity of New Orleans and makes me smile.
Read MoreWe flew into Heraklion on Crete, rented a car and drove a relatively short distance to the preserved historical site of Knossos. Sections are roped off for its protection, but you can still get an up-close look at the ancient ruins. Some of the ruins have been restored to give onlookers a vibrant notion of what Knossos looked like at its peak.
Read MoreA short ferry ride from downtown New Orleans, across the Mississippi River will take you to Algiers Point. Algiers Point is refreshingly quiet and full of pleasant experiences, such as the Rosetree Blow Glass Studio and Gallery. The studio is housed in an old Art Deco movie house. You can watch the artists in action and even purchase a one-of-a-kind, hand-made glass item.
Read MoreKrakow, I found, is amazingly rich in the history, architecture and culture I crave. Main Market Square on a Saturday night is alive with activity and food to tempt, even on a full stomach. Unparalleled street food, less tourists and more people from the countryside, are what you will find on a Saturday night in the Main Market Square.
Read MoreDuring my visit to Krakow, Poland I wanted to tour Auschwitz and Birkenau. I felt compelled to visit Auschwitz and Birkenau, in order to remember and reinforce my awareness of the horror and inhumanity, the unfathomable capacity of humankind . . . lest we never forget. There are no words to describe the experience.
Read MoreFlossenbürg is a small town in eastern Bavaria near the Czech border. There is a small castle ruins here and the Flossenbürg Concentration Camp; where the remaining members of the Valkyrie plot to kill Hitler were executed just two weeks before the camp was liberated. One of these men was Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Read MoreThe Bainbridge Swing Dance in northeast Ohio is a well-established dance that averages 180 people every first Friday of the month. New and seasoned dancers, from all generations, gather each month to hear a live band play Big Band, Swing, and/or Blues music. Attending the Bainbridge Swing Dance is like watching an old movie. It is, unquestionably and consistently, one of my favorite dances. The atmosphere is welcoming. No partner is required and there is an hour long dance lesson before the band begins.
Read MoreInformation is a powerful tool for traveling safely through the world. Learn about a new app that will keep you apprise, in real time, of crimes, weather, biohazards and active criminal groups.
Read MoreWe drove into Heraklion, from our apartment in Ligaria, just about every day of our trip to Crete. On Christmas Eve we toured the outdoor markets in Heraklion. The fish market was stocked with a variety of local catches. A little further, there was a young lady making Turkish coffee and giving it away as a gift to passersby. Crete was a treat.
Read MorePrior to leaving for our scuba diving trip near Cairns in Australia, we bought a living aboard package which allowed us to explore more remote areas of the Great Barrier Reef. We dove four to five times each day, saw and even fed sharks. We highly recommend this trip.
Read MoreI toured Hellisheidarvirkjun (Hellisheidi for short) Geothermal Power Station on Hengill Volcano in south Iceland, about 20 minutes southeast of Reykjavik. The tour was an engineer's nirvana. The plant uses the hot water from directly out of the ground to generate electricity. The excess hot water is then circulated throughout the countryside.
Read MoreFor the ultimate in relaxation, visitors to southern Cambodia need look no further than the Kampot River. Running through the middle of charming French-colonial Kampot, the riverway is actually part of an estuary, mixing fresh and saltwater depending on the tide. It is easy to take in the ambiance from a comfy chair at any of the riverside guesthouses, but best experienced through a leisurely float.
Read MoreOberammergau, Germany is famous for its production of a Passion Play, which was first performed in 1634, and its woodcarvers. The Oberammergau Passion Play is the result of a vow made by the inhabitants of the village when God spared them from the effects of the bubonic plague. The village is also known as the home of a long tradition of woodcarving; the Bavarian State Woodcarving School is located there. The streets of central Oberammergau are home to dozens of woodcarver shops, with pieces ranging from religious subjects, to toys, to humorous portraits.
Read MoreStirling, in central Scotland, has maintained its historical significance. Strategically established and valued for centuries, you can still imagine where warriors marched and royalty was anointed.
Read MoreBeyond Road Signs is an avenue for sharing the beautiful aspects of our existence with each other. It is not enough to just read the road signs. Watch where people go, investigate those places for yourself, then tell your story.
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Beyond Road Signs is the place to share unique travel experiences. Watch where people go. Investigate places for yourself. Tell your story.
Copyright Jenny Hershberger www.JHersh.com / www.BeyondRoadSigns.com Est. 2017
