Ahhhh, Provence. There’s a reason why countless artists were inspired by this particular region in France, why it’s a hotbed for some of the world’s best food and wine, and why it is one of our most popular UnTours. The quaint villages are picturesque, but so full of life and culture. The locals are friendly,…
Category Archives: France
My Paris Journal: Part 1
Father Tom Lumpkin is a tireless advocate for the poor in Detroit. He is a quiet community hero, and was a perfect choice for our UnTours Giveaway. Read about his good works here. He and his sister traveled to Paris with us on a free UnTour, our small thank you to a man who has…
A Parisian Secret: Musee de l’Orangeries
When most people travel to Paris they have a top-10 list including the usual suspects: Musee D’Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and maybe even Versailles. On my most recent trip to Paris I thought, I’ve been there, done that, what else can I go see?! After some online searching I came across a darling museum, the…
Sandra’s Alsace Part 4: Excursions to the Heart of Europe
In the fourth and final installment of her series on Alsace, Sandra Kohler writes about Alsace’s history during the first and second world wars. She and her husband Walt (whose photos are featured here) have been on many UnTours, but Alsace was an especially captivating region for them. When I think back on…
8 Tips for Wine Tasting in France
One of the great joys of touring France is visiting its many wineries, where you can connect with the scenery, the local people, and the history of a region one memorable glass at a time. Here are some tips to help you make the most of the experience. 1. Look for Degustation or Goutez on…
Cruise the Rivers of Europe With Us: A Ventures Video Adventure
It’s no secret that we love Europe. We’ve been hosting guests on apartment-based vacations in Europe for 40 years! But we’ve also fallen in love with Europe’s waterways over the years. The rivers of Europe cut through some of its most beautiful countryside and string together majestic cities and chaming smaller towns. A river cruise…
Sandra’s Alsace Part 3: World War History in the Countryside
In part three of her series on Alsace, Sandra Kohler writes about Alsace’s history during the first and second world wars. She and her husband Walt (whose photos are featured here) have been on many UnTours, but Alsace was an especially captivating region for them. The photos above and just below are of the memorial…
Sandra’s Alsace Part 2: Historical and Intellectual Surprises in Village Churches
This is the second post in a series by author and UnTourist Sandra Kohler on her eye-opening travels on an Alsace UnTour. Read her first post, about the vineyards and wines of Alsace, here. So much of what we saw and I have written about could be described as “things we’d expected to find…
Alsace’s Landscape: Vineyards and Villages, the Wine Route
This is Part 1 of a series on Alsace by author and loyal UnTourist Sandra Kohler. She spent two week in Alsace recently with Walter Hagenbuch, who has shot all of the accompanying photos in her series. Enjoy the first installment. Alsace’s vistas were reminiscent of Umbria or Tuscany, yet different – the hillsides…
First Person Account: Paris, Without Fear
This piece was written by Kim Paschen who worked for UnTours for many years, coordinating French UnTours and then as Marketing Director. She recently returned from Paris and reports on the city she found in the gap between the November terrorist attacks and the international climate talks. Friday, November 13. I won’t forget where…