Cultural Heritage
I don’t need to keep my voice down to use this library. I don’t need a library card, and I don’t even need to go inside. Actually, I can’t go inside, because the building, elevated to eye-level by a sturdy post, is only about 18 inches wide— big enough to hold two dozen picture books and a handful of novels. This is a Little Free Library, a traveling bookworm’s dream come true.
In Southern Louisiana, French Canadian migrants settled and intermingled with the existing community to create a unique ethnic group, the Cajuns, whose culture continues to thrive today. Visitors can learn more about the Cajuns through a visit to Lafayette Parish, where they can explore their history, customs, music and food.
Hear about the initiative Franklin has launched to preserve and share a fuller and accurate truth about its place in American history.
Strolling through the southern Spanish city of Sevilla on a sunny early spring day, the sweet smells of orange blossoms surround you as they waft through the air. These fragrant fruit trees flourish in the cobble-stoned streets and bring color to the beautiful Royal Alcázar of Seville.
Imagine spending days, even weeks, in the vast plains with only your horse and your loyal dog for company. Herding cattle during the day, sipping mate next to the campfire at night. The need for human interaction will be met at the nearest pulpería, although near and far are relative terms in the Argentinean Pampas. Deliver the cattle to the port first or take it to a distant pasture and only then you can relax and stock up on staples.
One of Florida’s most unusual and misunderstood places, Cassadaga, isn’t a city or a town but a 57‑acre Spiritualist camp. Many of the 55 homes in the camp remain occupied by mediums who offer readings from their living rooms. In Cassadaga, mediums are the norm, and communicating with your loved ones who have passed on is an everyday event.
One of the most famous paths in the world, arguably its most renowned spiritual route, the Camino draws pilgrims from around the globe. More than two of every three trekkers who undertake the journey follow St. James’ Way, also known as Camino Frances (“The French Way”). It extends more than 800 kilometers across northern Spain from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, in the foothills of the Pyrenees.
Mention Alaska, and images of vast wilderness, rugged beauty, and epic outdoor adventures quickly come to mind. Yet beyond its scenery and adventurous spirit, Alaska’s culture and history have stories of their own to tell, and one of them comes alive each summer in Fairbanks.
Southwest Louisiana has always known how to celebrate, and Lake Charles is no exception. I experienced my first Mardi Gras in this gem of a city, and I loved every minute of it. Unlike the louder party atmosphere associated with New Orleans’ rowdy Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras in Lake Charles offers a family-friendly celebration.
Author Nancy Brown Diggs joins World Footprints to explore the real history, culture, music, and identity of Appalachia while challenging the stereotypes surrounding one of America’s most misunderstood regions.
Often described by Greeks as the country’s “second capital,” Thessaloniki is a city where history and modern creativity coexist effortlessly. Ideal for a city break or short stopover, it offers a rich tapestry of experiences and unforgettable memories in less-visited northern Greece.
Sometimes, I can’t pinpoint a place’s resounding sense until the end of a trip. But on my first night in Serbia, I discover its song immediately. I’m having dinner at Restoran Velika Skadarlija, a traditional tavern—known as a Serbian “kafana”—that’s deceivingly spacious, with white tablecloths and a bright interior. As I settle in for dinner, the folk band Tamburica 5 forms a semi-circle around my table, and I hear Serbia’s trademark tamburica before I learn its name.
