Travel
A Budget “European” Road Trip
Consider making your own list of places to visit for a themed trip!
While taking a plane to Europe may be out of the question for many, you can always explore the pockets of European culture found in the United States. Here’s a sampling.
U.S. cities with a European flair include New Glarus, Wisconsin, known as “America’s Little Switzerland.”
New Glarus, Wisconsin
Also known as “America’s Little Switzerland,” New Glarus was established as a Swiss colony in 1845 and officially declared a village in 1901. The village has maintained its Swiss charm through its architecture, festivals, and tasty foods. If you want to stroll back in time, visit the Swiss Historical Village, open from May through October, which tells the story of how this little village started and has maintained its Swiss heritage. You will find historical buildings, a settler’s cabin, a blacksmith, a bee house, a church, a print shop, and more. The buildings have period furnishings, tools, books, and other items used in everyday life.
U.S. cities with a European flair include Venice, California, with its canals and the Ocean Front Walk.
Venice, California
Located between Santa Monica and Marina Del Rey, Venice (California, not Italy) is known for its canals and its Ocean Front Walk. There’s much more to do here than touring the boardwalk, however. If you have your own nonmotorized water vessel, you can explore the neighborhood starting from Venice Boulevard. Or if you’re more artistically inclined, visit the Mosaic Tile House. A reservation-only attraction, this unique space is a house covered in colorful tile and stones.
U.S. cities with a European flair include New Orleans, Louisiana, home to the French Quarter.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Known for its French roots, New Orleans is bustling with attractions. The French Quarter, often called the “Crown Jewel” of New Orleans, is considered a must-visit location. Another popular destination is St. Louis Cathedral, originally founded in 1720 and known as North America’s oldest cathedral. If you’ve never had beignets before, head to Café du Monde in the French Quarter to enjoy some, along with its famous coffee and other treats. The heart of the city is full of history, beautiful architecture, music, art galleries, and restaurants. Parallel to the Mississippi River, Magazine Street offers 6 miles of unique boutiques, fine art, restaurants, and more.
Nature
Sunshine In A Vase
What’s often white and yellow and symbolizes new beginnings? Daisies, of course! These plants are found all over North America despite being native to Europe. The familiar flowers, in a variety of species and colors, often make their home on lawns, meadows, and other grassy areas. And they even have their own holiday — National Daisy Day — which falls on January 28 every year.
Even though January may be cold and wintry in many areas, you can grow daisies anywhere indoors where the plant receives bright, indirect sunlight. Daisies prefer temperatures between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, so most indoor spaces will accommodate them. They typically bloom during late spring to midsummer, but daisies blooming into the fall and warm winters is not unheard of.
To celebrate National Daisy Day, you could start your own mini-garden inside your RV, visit a florist and buy a ready-made bouquet, or hang a bundle of them upside down to dry.
Space
Look To The Skies . . . Online
If you’re mesmerized by the cosmos, perhaps while viewing the late-night sky from your campsite, why not become more familiar with what you’re seeing above? Consider these entertaining and educational websites.
Astronomy Now. A companion to the United Kingdom-based Astronomy Magazine, this site includes a section called “Spaceflight Now,” which helps readers stay up-to-date on the latest space missions. Its news section includes intriguing astral images: a forming star in a “stellar nursery” and views of Jupiter’s auroras, rings, and moons, for example. www.astronomynow.com
NASA. Many consider NASA the number-one source for all things space-related. Featured blogs on its massive website include the Artemis 1 Lunar Exploration Program; International Space Station updates; and news about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, a partnership to develop and fly human space transportation systems (think SpaceX and Boeing). Check out the lengthy list of additional blogs, too. blogs.nasa.gov
Space.com. Read up on fascinating space topics on this site: space flights; science and astronomy; the solar system; “skywatching” for stars and comets; the search for life, etc. The Expert Voices section contains commentary, analysis, and opinion pieces from the experts about space exploration, science, and technology. www.space.com
StarTalk. This combination blog and podcast is hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysi-cist and planetary scientist. The website claims it “bridges the intersection between science, pop culture, and comedy with clarity, humor, and passion.” Check out the Cosmic Queries; learn about starquakes, exit velocity, and more. www.startalkmedia.com
App File
New Year’s Resolutions
As another year dawns, you may be one of the millions of people who make New Year’s resolutions during this month. Common goals are to exercise more, eat healthier, or kick a bad habit. Sticking to your resolution, however, is a completely different story. If you need some guidance or a push in the right direction, here are three apps that just might be for you.
Habitify: Forming new habits is simple in concept but difficult to sustain. Habitify makes the habit-forming process much easier by allowing users to string together a list of routines, reminding them to stay accountable, and then showing them their habit development over the course of weeks and months with detailed reports. It also utilizes a very simple, minimalistic interface. Whether you want to learn a new language, develop new routines, or exercise more, this can help you start and stick with it. Free on iOS and Android. A premium version is available for $4.99 a month. www.habitify.me
MyFitnessPal: This health app helps you learn your eating habits and also can show you how to make smarter food choices and track your caloric and nutritional intake. MyFitnessPal has one of the largest food databases, with more than 14 million foods (including restaurant dishes). Whether you are trying to gain, lose, or maintain weight, you can customize your goals to fit your needs. Besides logging food, you also can browse through over 500 healthy recipes and 50 workout routines. Free on iOS and Android. A premium version is available for $19.99 per month. www.myfitnesspal.com
Seven: When you’re busy or always traveling, finding time for regular exercise can be a challenge. If you have at least 7 minutes available, you can squeeze in a quick session. Seven has multiple 7-minute workouts that are based off of scientific studies to provide the maximum benefit in the shortest amount of time possible. You can choose from full body, upper body, core, and more areas to target. With zero equipment needed, it’s easy to fit into most schedules. Free on iOS and Android. A premium version is offered for $4.99 a month. An Apple Watch app is available as well. www.seven.app