Kerala, located in the south of India, is a land of rich green paddies, rivers and lagoons. It's often termed as " God's Own Country". The coastal plain is bordered on the east by a range of mountains in which spices such as pepper, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom are grown for export. And this has attracted traders from all over the world. Fort Kochi is one such town in Kerala, which was ruled by the Portuguese from 1503 to 1682, followed by the Dutch till 1795, and then the British until the year India became independent. It is also home to the oldest European church in India which housed the gravestone of the explorer Vasco da Gama. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the largest art exhibition in India and the biggest contemporary art festival in Asia is held in this little heritage town.This is a heritage map taking you on a trail through the various historic structures, hidden cafes, boutique hotels and stores and the main streets of the city.

This place is special to me because I had the privilege of living and studying here for two months in 2013. It was nothing short of magical! Every day felt like I was stepping into a fairy tale, and there were always new nooks and details to discover of this charming medieval castle town.

Aerial view of my campus

My new wife and I met for sushi on our first date and ever since then we have sushi every Sunday. I had to be "convinced" to love sushi. Didn't take much! Now we are planning to honeymoon in Japan.

This place is special to me because my father was stationed here after WWII. Years later I met husband, who is from here, and our family has made memories walking the Residenz gardens, eating gelato, watching fireworks from the Fortress, attending festivals and concerts, and shopping. Dating back to the time of the Celts, Würzburg is a culturally rich seat of Prince Bishops who ruled for over 6 centuries. Despite a history of peasant revolts, witch trials, and invasions, and the bombing of WWII that destroyed almost 90% of the city, the city was rebuilt and thrives today. Some beauties are the Residenz, one of the most ornate palaces in Germany, the spectacular vineyards, the multiple churches, and the sculptures by Riemenschneider. I'm partial to walking around the city, tasting the gelato and cuisine, and shopping.

Queen's Park Savannah or "The Savannah" as we call it in Trinidad is one of my favorite places to be. Situated in Port of Spain, it is considered to be the world's largest roundabout (260 acres)! Around the savannah, there are beautiful historical houses and buildings, known as The Magnificent Seven that date back to the beginning of the 20th century. All year round, you can visit the zoo, the botanical gardens, picnic, jog or take a stroll and enjoy the delicious street food. As Trinidad is a melting pot of ethnicities, you can indulge in Indian dishes, creole food or taste a fresh coconut while admiring the skills of the vendor as he skillfully cuts the coconut with a cutlass. The Savannah truly comes to life during the Carnival season. Steelband competitions known as Panorama take place, and all of the carnival bands dance and "wine" through the streets of Port of Spain in their beautiful, colorful costumes. Calypsonians are local singers who also compete and perform on stage. The best soca song that is played wins the title of Road March. It is a one of a kind experience, a place really worth visiting!

How much do you know about the life of Walt Disney? "Walt's Pilgrimage" is a comprehensive biographical travel guidebook of Walt Disney’s life by Dr. Christopher W. Tremblay, Ed.D. Here’s a new promotional piece we created dedicated to sites related to Walt’s Midwest life in Chicago, Marceline, and Kansas City. Details include: The Walt Disney Birthplace, the Walt Disney Hometown Museum, Laugh-O-gram Film Studios, and little references to two of Walt’s most notable early creations!

My idea of a great day at Disney, some of my favorite spots!

This place is special to me because I lived in Washington for 6 years and fell in love with all of the local wineries, breweries, and distilleries. Wine was made throughout the state but many vineyards had tasting rooms in Woodinville, so you could experience what the whole state had to offer. This map is just a few of my favorites - there are really too many to include. Since we have moved away, we haven't found anything quite like Woodinville!

This place is special to me because I love exploring cities with my family: San Francisco has so many unique and beautiful corners for us to investigate. Here are some of our favorite mini-city-adventures!

MAPPING SPECIAL PLACES. With a rich cultural, architectural, and culinary history, downtown Charleston—particularly the French Quarter—is one of my absolute favorite places on the planet! I love to wander the cobblestone streets and take in the beauty of the old buildings and ironwork. There are also alleyways and gardens around every turn...it's a never-ending visual feast of colors and textures that feeds my artistic soul!

This June, I did the Via degli Abati in the northern part of the Emilia Romagna. It was beautiful and wild. There are plenty of other pilgrim trails in this part of Italy - not all leading to Rome...

Still beautiful and worth a visit. Best in May + September - avoid July + August