-
Everyday Japanese Customs That Surprise Foreigners
Japan has a way of rearranging what you thought was normal. None of what follows is exotic or theatrical. It is just daily life, done a little differently, and it tends to be the small things, not the temples or the neon, that visitors talk about most once they get home. If you are still…
-
Nashville Itinerary: 4 Days in Music City
Four days in Nashville was enough time to see the classics, explore the trendier neighborhoods, and fit in a handful of reservations along the way. We stayed at The Joseph, a downtown hotel with a rooftop pool and a spa that turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip. Here is how…
-
Bee’s Knees Kyoto: A Cozy Cocktail Bar Worth Finding
Bee’s Knees is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar in Kyoto, and it does not give itself away easily. The entrance sits behind a gold door marked “The Book Store,” tucked past a bank of building mailboxes with no obvious sign pointing the way. A small bee emblem stamped into the entry rug is the only real…
-
Japanese Knife Guide: Types, Uses, and How to Choose
My daughter and I did not plan on buying knives in Kyoto. We ducked into Yoshimune Knives Annex near Nishiki Market mostly out of curiosity, and we both walked out with a santoku. Japanese knives carry centuries of craftsmanship behind them, rooted in the same techniques once used to forge samurai swords, and that history…
-
The Trolley on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide
Nothing simplifies a day on Anna Maria Island quite like the trolley. It loops the full length of Gulf Drive, and once a visitor gets the rhythm of it, the car can stay parked at the rental for most of the trip. I still remember the older version of this trolley, windows slid open, closer…
-
Nishiki Market Kyoto: What to Eat and Where to Shop
Often called Kyoto’s Kitchen, Nishiki Market is one of the best places to experience the city’s food culture in a single afternoon. It began as a fish market back in 1310 and has grown into Kyoto’s largest and most beloved traditional food market, a narrow, covered street lined with over 100 stalls selling everything from…
Isabel Campbell
Certified Public Accountant · Real Estate Agent · Lifestyle Blogger