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1 month ago | 
travelcurator.com | Katie McElveen
I’m floating on my back, eyes closed, when I feel the first prickle of rain on my face. It’s unexpected but not entirely so — I am, after all, drifting in a pool secreted deep in the Costa Rican jungle. The only sounds I hear come from water: the drip of rain on the leaves above me, the swish of my legs and arms as I move through the pool, and the rush of the river. I feel like I’m alone but I’m actually not.
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2 months ago | 
travelcurator.com | Katie McElveen
In my mind, the gate that I stumbled upon while wandering, sort of lost, in the city of Versailles, was my own discovery, a secret entrance to the vast park surrounding the world’s most famous palace. Of course this is not the case. A guard stood off to the side, taking advantage of the warm sunshine, and there were cars parked here and there. But there were no crowds or ticket takers.
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2 months ago | 
flipboard.com | Katie McElveen
6 days agoFrance: Versailles opens historic spaces for 150 years of the Third RepublicVersailles, France - February 14, 2025 The Palace of Versailles is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of the French Third Republic and its institutional role with the opening to the public of the Congress Hall, the flat of the President of the Congress and the Royal Opera House which served as an assembly during the Paris Commune (1871).
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Jan 21, 2025 | 
gardenandgun.com | Katie McElveen |Gabriela Gomez-Misserian
It’s 7:20 on a Monday night in Georgetown, South Carolina, and I’m sitting at the bar at the Independent, the restaurant inside the George Hotel. It’s not just crowded, but rocking: Locals are table-hopping, friends are toasting, and next to me, a young couple dressed for a night out sip martinis as they wait for a table. Until recently, I wouldn’t have dreamed this scene would be taking place in Georgetown.
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Jan 21, 2025 | 
flipboard.com | Katie McElveen
An 83-Year-Old Neurologist Reveals The 3 Quirky Tricks He Uses to Keep His Brain SharpWhen you’re looking for advice on an important topic, seeking out professional expertise is important. But so is speaking to those who have firsthand experience of the issue. When it comes to keeping your brain sharp as you age, Richard Restak offers both in one handy package. A professor of …
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Jan 11, 2025 | 
charlestonlivingmag.com | Katie McElveen
Discover the charm of this Napa Valley gem, from its historic hot springs and revitalized train depot to its welcoming small-town vibeBy Katie McElveenIn Calistoga, California, Everything Old is New AgainIn early 1848, Sacramento, California shop owner and newspaper publisher Sam Brannan heard a rumor that gold had been discovered in the nearby town of Coloma.
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Jan 9, 2025 | 
smartluxury.com | Katie McElveen
For most of us, a day at the spa is a pampering diversion from everyday life. But what if you could extend a spa day or weekend into a multi-week wellness journey that left you enduringly calm, focused, strong, and, at the end, fully equipped to reclaim your life? You'd be part of the fast-growing trend of wellness sabbaticals, which are defined by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) as stays of three weeks or longer.
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Dec 1, 2024 | 
columbiametro.com | Katie McElveen
On HGTV’s hit series “House Hunters,” couples and families tour home after home in search of their next perfect residence. For some potential buyers, it’s all about the kitchen; others need vast closets, a perfectly manicured yard, or bright sunlight streaming through the windows. A small group, though, searches for a single thing and won’t consider buying the house — no matter how perfect it seems — without it: a place to put the Christmas tree.
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Nov 7, 2024 | 
travelcurator.com | Katie McElveen
You know the dream where you walk into a roomful of people and realize you’re naked and everyone else is dressed? I now know that it’s way worse in real life. I was visiting the Austrian Alps for the first time and had checked into Aqua Dome, a hotel connected to a nearly 700,000 square-foot spa where you can take in views of the mountains while soaking in an elevated outdoor mineral pool that resembles a gigantic martini glass.
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Nov 7, 2024 | 
flipboard.com | Katie McElveen
9 hours agoA European Country With One Of The Lowest Costs Of Living Is Known For Fabulous Food And BeachesIf you've ever thought about becoming an expat and moving abroad, you may have realized there are a lot of things to consider, including language …7 hours agoSpain aims to ban golden visas from January - but one country is reintroducing its schemeThe EU is turning its back on golden visas - but one country is reintroducing its scheme.
