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Kris and Tom of TravelPast50.com

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.

Featured Post

🌎 Labor Day deals, travel in your own town, and some plus-sized news

Hello Reader, The iconic Walker Art Center sculpture garden in Minneapolis is worth a visit. 🧭 Where in the World We’ll be close to home these last days of August and over the long holiday weekend. We actually relish not traveling out of town over summer holidays, but making a concerted effort to be tourists in our own town. Where will you go and what will you see? Check local listings for events, review your local tourism website for ideas, head to public parks, walk new neighborhoods, seek...

Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World? We’re feeling that acceleration of life that happens every year at this time. While the summer days are waning, we’re scurrying to arrange play dates, friends visits, and fair outings. Meanwhile, we’ve spent several hours this week fine tuning travel plans for the Fall: train tickets, intra-Europe flights, and hotel stays, primarily. While we research ideas for 2026, we’re lining up our travel reading lists, too. 🛫 Get Going: Tours We Recommend For You Last...

Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World? We’re busy making travel arrangements and tweaking travel arrangements. Do you allow yourself flexibility when you travel? Fortunately, many airlines offer changes at no charge. In fact, our friend Eric at Travel Babbo reported earlier in the spring that he reviewed his summer flights and found fares had dropped since he booked. His rebooking resulted in mileage points refunded, dollars saved, and future flight credits applied. TravelBabbo is great fun to...

Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World? We rejoined the world of travel last week, and we weren’t alone. Airports are busy and rental cars are scarce, so plan ahead and allow extra time door to door. The reward was a wonderful time in Western Washington visiting family, digging up clams, walking in the woods, and jumping into the refreshing cold swimming hole in the Whatcom Falls Park in Bellingham. Glad to see so many others out enjoying nature, our country’s best medicine. 🛫 Get Going: Travel...

Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World? What’s up? It seems the world is coming to us, between visiting family and friends, keeping an eye on the news, and, best of all, planning travel and staying in touch with international colleagues. It’s not so much where we are today, but where we’re going…. Just the sort of street that interests us: Montpellier, France. 🛫 Get Going: Travel With Us Art & Art de Vivre, Montpellier, France. We are thrilled to be working with a new and unique company, Elective...

Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World? It’s summer and I have an outsized desire to talk about the weather. We’re based in the North Country for the summer, traveling a bit in Minnesota and a couple other U.S. destinations. This time of year, we’re looking for every opportunity to visit friends, relax lakeside, and even work or read outside on a shady deck or screened porch. Summer is fleeting, so we remind ourselves: carpe diem! Book now for the last spot on our Ireland tour. And, have one on...

Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World? However you plan to spend the 4th of July weekend, let’s hope you have safe travels, relaxing afternoons with friends or family, and plenty of grilling and potluck dishes to share. The holiday starts now for us. Kris is planning a day trip to her friend’s lake place, a golf game, and a session at the kiddy pool this week. We prefer to stay close to home on the 4th. If you're thinking of setting off explosives, please think twice. Consider the noise impact...

Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World? We are busy back at home after a couple quick jaunts, including Kris's 50th college reunion. Though we didn’t have far to travel, the reunion brought the world closer to home. It was record-breaking attendance for a Carleton College reunion, and even our class (consider the disaffected era) exceeded expectations. Remarkably, the gathering wasn’t a trip down memory lane. The tone reflected the group’s engagement in the present and concern for the future....

Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World? We’re off to Vail, Colorado, and looking forward to some biking and hiking, eating, and wandering around gardens and art galleries. Elevation: 8,000 feet. Wish us well, and if you have experience in Vail, send us a note on what we should not miss! 🛫 Get Going: Tours We Recommend For You The last spots on our Ireland tour in October were snatched up quickly. If you missed that chance, you can join the waitlist for this year, or reserve your spot for 2026. 🧳...

Hello Reader, 🧭 Where in the World? Even a week after Memorial Day, we’re still suspended in that space between spring and summer, it seems. Judging from the activity in our TravelPast50 Community Facebook group, though, planning is underway for many of you! Discussions range from walking tours in Brugge, to riding the rails in Canada, to inbound USA travel, to speculation on this summer’s air fares and hotel rates. Do you have questions about your next destination, or helpful experience you...