Birmingham surprised me as a culinary destination. Sure I was familiar with Southern cuisine, but I was pleasantly surprised by the range and depth of Birmingham’s contribution to it. As a former history teacher, I taught the Civil Rights Movement year after year. Somewhere along the way, Birmingham became frozen in my mind at that…
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There is something special about traveling somewhere that feels completely different but doesn’t require you to navigate completely different logistics (language, visas, etc.) For me, that was Tempe, Arizona. I had technically been to Arizona before, but I don’t really count it as having experienced Arizona. Years ago, I flew in to present at the…
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I knew Little Shop of Horrors long before I walked into the Westside Theatre in New York. My first introduction was actually the 1986 movie. I remember watching it on TV as a kid and being drawn to the music, especially the three Black women whose sound brought so much soul, R&B and gospel energy to the…
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Broadway has a way of reminding you that there is no one way to experience Broadway. You can build an entire New York itinerary around it or just grab a ticket and spend a few hours freely exploring the city. The latter is how this night started. As a Broadway lover, I’ve seen the big…
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I flew to Almaty, Kazakhstan from Atlanta knowing embarrassingly little about the destination. Kazakhstan was not a destination that I had been dreaming about for years. When Travel Blogger Exchange (TBEX) announced that TBEX Asia would be in Almaty, I instantly felt like this was an opportunity to experience an unfamiliar destination alongside seasoned travelers…
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September is one of the best months to travel, especially when you want a good trip without the peak-summer crowds. In many destinations, families have returned home for the school year, temperatures are becoming more comfortable and the busiest travel season is beginning to slow down. That can mean more availability, a calmer atmosphere and,…
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One thing about me? I’m probably going to forget to use a travel voucher. Every single time. And somehow, despite knowing this about myself, I still end up accepting them. A few years ago, my mom and I were stranded in Dublin after our Christmas vacation. United had an issue with staffing and there was…
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There are some travel lessons that stay with you because you only need to learn them once. Realizing your passport is still sitting on the kitchen counter is one of them. Learning why travel insurance matters is another. Then there is the moment you discover that “I’ll just Cash App you” is not a real…
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If you’re planning your first trip to Japan and wondering how to fit Tokyo, the Japanese Alps, Osaka, cultural experiences, food tours, and even an onsen into one trip, this 10-day itinerary shows exactly how we did it. When the Traveling Black Women Network decided to do Japan in the winter, we knew we weren’t just booking…
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A Traditional Ryokan Experience in the Japanese Alps Our stay at Hotel Tsubakino marked the moment our trip shifted from modern Japan to traditional Japan. Located in the quiet onsen town of Yudanaka, just a short walk from the train station, Hotel Tsubakino offered the kind of experience that slows you down immediately. Snow fell…
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