The Distracted Wanderer

Anyone who has ever watched the British comedy series "Doc Martin" or historical drama series "Poldark" already knows how beautiful the county of Cornwall located in South West England is but I'm here to tell you that it's even more amazing when you're wandering the picture-perfect peninsula yourself! Want to make it even more amazing? Stay in a historic lighthouse like the Lizard Lighthouse  located on the most southerly point of mainland Great Britain.  Lying within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Cornwall’s nationally protected landscape with the same status and protection as a National Park, the lighthouse is located on the tip of Lizard Point which is the most southerly point of Lizard Peninsula in the civil parish of Landewednack which is the most southerly parish in England.  Yes, there's a lot of "most southerly" going on here but in spite of its name, there aren't any lizards going along with that! K

I feel I should begin by saying that I absolutely adore the tradition of Afternoon Tea. I could say it's because I am English on both my mother and father's side of the family (with a bit of German and Swamp Yankee thrown in) but I'm pretty sure that I would adore it regardless of my heritage. There's just something about taking time out of your day to sit back and enjoy an array of finger sandwiches, scones and assorted pastries coupled with a pot or two of tea that seems so civilized and refined - and Lord knows we could all do with a good dose of civility and refinement these days!  Though Afternoon Tea here in America can be nice, it's not quite as nice as those you can sit down to in Great Britain and one of the nicest that I've been to was at The Rubens at the Palace in London. Located within easy walking distance of Buckingham Palace and directly across from the Royal Mews - home of Her Majesty's royal horses, livery and coaches - their Royal Afterno

I have to admit to getting pretty excited when I recently learned about two new exhibitions that will be opening at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts this fall. Beginning on September 26 and focused on Salem’s rich and storied history, The Salem Witch Trials 1692 and Salem Stories  will be brimming with the stories, people, and objects that can only be found in Salem, Massachusetts - a unique city with a fascinating past and a promising future.  For the first time in three decades, the world’s largest collection of authentic materials and documents will be on view in The Salem Witch Trials 1692  giving visitors the chance to explore rarely-exhibited documents from PEM's Phillips Library alongside objects from the museum's vast collection to learn the true stories of the tragedy as told through the voices of those directly involved. Presented in 26 vignettes that show why Salem, Massachusetts is so extraordinary,  Salem Stories  will feature more than 100 of the