Results tagged “The New York Times” from Intelligent Travel Blog

I was trying to explain to my non-American husband the other day why we should go to Monticello this summer. It's incredibly unique and fascinating, I said, but I was met with a blank stare. I faltered and whimpered, "Well I was there when I was a kid and...and...it was cool. He invented a lot of cool stuff, penned the Declaration of Independence, was a red-headed president, and his home's on the back of a nickel and..."
   
He's been unconvinced until now, but today I spied Maira Kalman's post on her illustrated blog, "And the Pursuit of Happiness," on www.nytimes.com.

Kalman's spirited post, "Time Wastes Too Fast," brims with biographical info about Jefferson presented in playful white script, whimsical illustrations of Monticello interiors, and photos of its stately façade.

Kalman, an American illustrator, author, artist, and designer, explores the conflicting nature of Jefferson; a slave owner who called slavery an abomination. She touches on his alleged relationship with Sally Hemmings and mentions the ongoing archaeological work at Monticello.

She asserts that to understand the U.S. you must go to Monticello to see "its people and what it means to be optimistic and complex and tragic and wrong and courageous..." Reason enough for my husband; plans are finally underway.

Read more about visiting Monticello the July/August issue of Traveler.

What places have you visited that have helped you better your understanding of a nation and its people on a philosophical level?

Image: Maira Kalman for the New York Times

Being careful with how you spend your money but still hankering to go on a great trip this year? If you're in NYC this weekend, stop by The New York Times Travel Show, this Saturday, February 7, and Sunday, February 8, at the Javits Convention Center.

The show features seminars on how to score spectacular travel bargains in these troubled times, from industry superstars such as Arthur and Pauline Frommer, Rick Steves, and Samantha Brown. Andrew Zimmern, of "Bizarre Foods," will present, as will travel writer Patricia Schultz, author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, focusing on not-to-miss destinations in the U.S. and Canada. Plus you can catch IT contributor Andrew Evans discuss "Making Your Wildest Travel Dreams a Reality" on a panel with other travel writers and industry experts.

In addition to travel writing seminars and tips on gay, adventure, spa, luxury, and family travel deals, six performance stages will come alive with dancers from India and Indonesia, Mongolian throat-singing, Garifuna music and culture, Tarahumara dance, Greek singer Eleni Alexandris, and many more. You can learn how to brew your own Peruvian pisco sour or taste an array of South African wines.

The $15/day admission fee affords you access to seminars, stage performances, exhibitors, book signings at the on-site Borders, and giveaways galore, including one that really caught our eye, a trip to Nicaragua auctioned off by the Mesoamerican Ecotourism Alliance. Plus, SeaWorld's bringing some penguins, a toucan, and a sloth for the kids' enjoyment or they could opt to scuba at the heated pool.

The New York Times Travel Show's array of cultural performances and food and drink tastings will surely get you charged up for your next well-planned, memorable, and economical trip.

Photo: via the New York Times Travel Show website