paris vacation rentals that look the part
If you’re visiting Paris, why not go all out and indulge in your fantasy of living in a fabulously chic apartment right on the Seine, a whitewashed attic nook just steps from the Bon Marche, even an opulent mansion near Hotel des Invalides? Yes, I’m already dreaming — a friend recently stayed in this apartment found through Vingt Paris, and all I can say is, je l’aime. I mean, look at that place! Can you really do better at a hotel? Short- and long-term rentals are available at the Vingt Paris site, where I suspect the photos will wow you as they did me. And if you really fall in love with Paris, they sell apartments, too. –Mary T.
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spooky road trip tips from drive i-95
A weird yet fond memory from my childhood is the occasional after-dark drives we would take down nearby Sleepy Hollow Road. The name was close enough to “Spooky Hollow” for us, it was wooded and winding, and we loved nothing more than to imagine all the creepy things out just beyond the glow of the headlights — while we were safely in the car, of course. If that sounds appealing, the folks at Drive I-95 have cooked up a whole triptik of spooky stops in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Connecticut, and Maryland. These require getting out of the car, but if you’re traveling in the area and like a good scare, this could be lots of fun. The trip starts at PA Exit 22 for the haunted house at the Eastern State Penitentiary and ends up at MD Exit 85 – Aberdeen for a little something called “Don’t Expect to Enjoy This.” I couldn’t find the list on the Drive I-95 site, so it’s excerpted after the jump. –Mary T. Click for more scares. (Warning: most of the sites load with sound.) (more…)
etsy find: upcycled vintage luggage from getreadysetgo
There is nothing I hate more than traveling. Not the seeing new places, visiting old friends, and having adventures part, but the literal traveling part of getting on a plane and journeying somewhere. The germy airports, the delayed flights, the checked baggage fees — take your pick, I hate them all. The only way I can truly get excited about traveling is by accruing adorable accessories, which is why I’ve fallen hard for the Etsy shop GetReadySetGO. Her thrift store finds and vintage pieces are modernized with sharp ink silhouettes providing “upcycled luggage for the unique and the geek.” The train cases, $60 to $110, my favorites, actually make me want to ride the rails cross country just to show off the luggage. –Katie D.
Related: Are you a good traveler?
fascinating decay: abandoned structures
At a recent photography exhibition, I was fascinated by this Magda Biernat photo of San Zhi, an oceanside grouping of futuristic structures that were abandoned in Taiwan. (Sadly — though probably good for public safety — San Zhi was recently torn down.) I had to find out more about the pods, which were planned as a luxury resort before being abandoned to the elements and the imagination. My search led to this comprehensive 33-Part Guide to Abandoned Places at WebUrbanist. There are photos and information on abandoned temples, cities, boats, and subway systems worldwide. Like the structures themselves, you could get lost in there for hours. –Mary T.
Photo © Magda Biernat. Her work is available for purchase.
post off: what’s your favorite street food?
It seems like mobile food carts and trucks are sweeping the nation. I’ve always been a fan of the L.A. taco truck phenomenon, and here in Seattle, in addition to the usual “roach coaches” and hot dog carts, there’s a flood of mobile food options for diners. These trucks and carts run the gamut from my favorite falafel to burgers with bacon jam and cambozola cheese, giving us champagne dinners at beer prices. Cities like Austin, Portland, and New York have their own mobile food explosions, making wonder if the days of brick-and-mortar restaurants are numbered. There’s a great read on high-end “street food” at Time Magazine. Do you have a favorite street treat, or do you tend to shy away from meals on wheels? –Megan B.
