Susan Spano

The 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2013

From the blues to the big top, we’ve picked the most intriguing small towns to enjoy arts and smarts

March 31, 2013

Hey, Travelers, Got Any Spare Change?

Now I know what to do with my jar of Turkish liras, Cambodian riels and Irish 50-pence pieces

July 23, 2012

Mesa Verde’s Mary Jane Colter Collection (But Don’t Call it That)

Among the treasures that will be on display when the park's new museum opens later this year are 30 pieces donated by the legendary architect

July 18, 2012

A Treasure Trove of Old Maps at Your Fingertips

Soon, all of the United States Geographical Survey's old topographical maps will be available online

July 16, 2012

A Short Walking Tour of New York’s Lower East Side

Known as Klein Deutschland circa the 1860's, the Lower East Side had the 5th largest German-speaking population among cities in the world at the time

July 11, 2012

Flower Children on the North Shore of Kauai

In the late 1960s, a gorgeous stretch of beach in Ha’ena State Park was the site of a hippy haven called Taylor Camp

July 9, 2012

The Louvre Museum Is Having a Baby!

This December the French town of Lens will be welcoming a new branch museum of the Louvre

July 5, 2012

A Trio of French Colonial Sites in Hanoi

In Vietnam's capital you can still find many examples of French colonial architecture, including St. Joseph's Cathedral and the luxurious Hotel Metropole

July 3, 2012

The Greatest Globe on Earth

Now kept at the American Geographical Society in New York, the globe is precious not for its age or beauty, but for the explorers who signed it

June 25, 2012

For a Happy Hotel Experience, Take the Middle Road

Neither too luxurious nor too austere, mid-range inns are often a great choice for travelers. Here are some of my favorites in Europe, Mexico and Morocco

June 18, 2012

A Toast to the Astoria Hotel in St. Petersburg, Russia

A Russian icon in the Art Nouveau style on St. Isaac‘s Square near the Neva River, the Astoria evokes a Belle Époque world gone by

June 13, 2012

Prospero’s Island in the South Pacific

Was it Bermuda—or the dreamy French Polynesian island of Huahine—that inspired the setting for Shakespeare's The Tempest?

June 11, 2012

Jaipur via The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

A delightful new film takes viewers to India’s picturesque western state of Rajasthan

June 7, 2012

Summer Vacation on Campus

Looking for unique, fun, inexpensive lodging? Stay in a university dorm

June 4, 2012

Passion in the Poconos

Home of the heart-shaped tub, the Pennsylvania mountains once rivaled Niagara Falls as a honeymoon destination

June 1, 2012

Travelers’ Tales in Utah’s Canyonlands

The trail is rough and hard to follow, marked chiefly by cairns; water is intermittent; and if something bad happens help is not at hand

May 30, 2012

Take a Vacation on Volvo

Once you get your car you’re free to hit the road along the west coast of Sweden with its fishing villages, traditional folkways and islands

May 23, 2012

A Medieval Castle in the Making

The construction of a medieval fortress in France is answering important questions about 13th-century building techniques

May 21, 2012

There's No Place Like Naples for Pizza

May 18, 2012

There’s No Place Like Naples for Pizza

Forget Chicago deep-dish, Roman pizza bianca and Domino's. For the best, most authentic pizza, go to Napoli

May 18, 2012