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1 week ago | 
shebuystravel.com | June Russell-Chamberlin
A short winter escape to Tacoma to see Zoolights with my family left me eager to see more of this artsy and outdoorsy Pacific Northwest city. Located just south of Seattle, Tacoma boasts a lively mix of indoor and outdoor entertainment. On my return trip, I found museums, glassblowing classes, indoor gardens, creepy ghost tours, and other fun ways to stay warm when the cold winds blow or it's just too rainy to be outside.
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2 weeks ago | 
shebuystravel.com | June Russell-Chamberlin
The Valley River Inn in Eugene, Oregon, emerged from the ashes of an arson fire with a stunning transformation. Known for its service and stunning location on the Willamette River, the pet-friendly hotel boasts river views, a convenient location and an onsite restaurant that's a local favorite. The hotel's multi-million dollar renovation pairs its original Northwest lodge-style architecture with mid-century modern furnishings. The result? A vintage inn that feels fresh and welcoming.
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3 weeks ago | 
worldfootprints.com | June Russell-Chamberlin |Terri Marshall
Vintage cars fill the gymnasium. They straddle bleacher seats and occupy the showers. They fill room after room of the main building. There are cars in the woods, cars under tents, and cars in garages undergoing restoration. More cars pack a vast storage building literally to the rafters. If you think car museums are all alike, then you haven’t seen the LeMay Collections at Marymount.
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1 month ago | 
worldfootprints.com | June Russell-Chamberlin |Terri Marshall
The next time you watch the extravaganza that is the modern Olympic Games, consider this: It all started with a simple footrace. To history lovers like me, the Sanctuary of Olympia — the religious site used for the ancient competitions — is almost as legendary as the games. The archaeological site of ancient Olympia is rich with history and littered with intriguing ruins, making it an irresistible stop on my road trip around the Peloponnese Peninsula.
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1 month ago | 
rovology.com | June Russell-Chamberlin
Last Updated on February 28, 2025I’m standing at a window in the Plimoth Plantation’s wooden fortress, looking down on a 17th-century English village. Tidy cottages with steeply pitched thatch roofs, their rough clapboard walls weathered silver by New England storms, line up along a single gravel lane that gently slopes away from the fort. Rough board fences mark pastures and corral livestock. It’s rustic and charming, as reconstructed historic places often are. The scene is oddly familiar.
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2 months ago | 
oregonwinepress.com | June Russell-Chamberlin
January 31, 2025Art and wine share center stage at Artist Block
By June Russell-Chamberlin
Thumping beats of downtempo music emanating from the blocky, minimalist tasting room may be the first hint that Artist Block is not a typical winery. Another might be the tasty-looking display of frosted donut sculptures (called “DotNuts”) and the collection of colorful pop art on the gallery-white walls. The clincher?
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Dec 5, 2024 | 
worldfootprints.com | June Russell-Chamberlin |Terri Marshall
Yellow caution tape fluttered wetly in the rain around the bright red Toyota Prius, the murder weapon used to kill Cy Lenzio. Dressed as a mime in black trousers and a striped shirt, he was riding his unicycle when the driverless car chased him down Third Street, a dead-end street in Langley, Washington. The unicycle, crushed into pieces, lay beneath the Prius’ wheels. Black boxes sprouting wires, presumably the remote controls for the car, rested on the dash.
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Oct 26, 2024 | 
bookcottages.com | June Russell-Chamberlin
Last Updated on October 26, 2024“In the rest of the house all parts were overlaid with gold and adorned with gems and mother-of-pearl. There were dining-rooms with fretted ceils of ivory, whose panels could turn and shower down flowers and were fitted with pipes for sprinkling the guests with perfumes. The main banquet hall was circular and constantly revolved day and night, like the heavens.” — Suetonius, first-century Roman historian, describing Emperor Nero’s Domus Aurea, or Golden House.
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Jun 21, 2024 | 
worldfootprints.com | June Russell-Chamberlin |Terri Marshall
“Ready about!” Captain Jamie Trost shouted. “Ready about!” the crew immediately responded. They jumped into action, abandoning conversations with guests, quickly delivering the drinks in their hands, and heading for the 2-inch thick lines (what nonsailors call ropes) controlling the sails. “Ready forward!” The crew yelled. “Helms down!” The captain called out. Slowly, smoothly, the 114-foot schooner Manitou began to turn.
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May 9, 2024 | 
playstayeat.com | June Russell-Chamberlin
Story by June Russell-ChamberlainWe all know what Southern California looks like. We’ve seen it on TV. In Hollywood’s SoCal, tall palm trees wave against perpetually blue skies. Whether it’s portraying a city or a small town, there’s ample shopping and great restaurants. A golden-hued, sandy beach is never far away. I had assumed this version of SoCal was a product of Hollywood’s imagination, assembled from the best parts of various places. But it’s real, and you’ll find it in Torrance.
