“Sites” is a category of posts focused on archaeological and historical sites. These posts are background information on archaeological/historical sites, including what the site is, how the site has changed over the years, and how you can visit the site (when applicable). Many of these posts fall under the Site Sunday series, a weekly series that high-lights various tourist friendly archaeological and historical sites on selected Sundays.
Sites
Merry and Bright at My Old Kentucky Home
If you’ve been following the blog lately, you know how much I love the holiday season! I’ve been visiting as many holiday-themed places around Kentucky as possible over the past few weeks. That list, of course, wouldn’t be complete without a visit to My Old Kentucky Home. History The mansion at My Old Kentucky Home State Park was originally named Federal Hill. The mansion was renamed “My Old Kentucky Home”…
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The Statue of Liberty: An American Icon
The Statue of Liberty has been welcoming immigrants to America since its dedication in 1886. Since then, it has become an icon for our great country. The Statue of Liberty receives millions of visitors each year, with many more admiring her blue-green figure from afar. She stands holding a torch, lighting the way to freedom and showing us the path to Liberty. While the Statue of Liberty is well-known, many…
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Exploring George Washington’s Mount Vernon
George Washington – an American icon. There are fewer things more patriotic than the first President of this great country, making visiting Mount Vernon a must for anyone who loves GW. Mount Vernon is a short drive or boat ride from Washington, DC and is a perfect day trip. My dad and I were lucky enough to visit the estate during a recent family trip and had the loveliest day…
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Delphi: The Bellybutton of the Ancient World
The archaeological site at Delphi is one of the most interesting sites in all of Greece. The site lies at the foot of Mt. Parnassus near the modern town of Delphi on the Greek mainland. Ancient Delphi was a prosperous area that was home to a powerful oracle (more about her later). The Delphi site perfectly balances the natural landscape with manmade monuments, creating a unique landscape that was perfect…
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The OFC Distillery – A Taste of History at Buffalo Trace
As a Kentuckian, I take great pride in the various bourbon distilleries in this great state. Thankfully, Buffalo Trace has embraced that history with one of their newer tours! While renovating a storage space in 2016, the crew at Buffalo Trace came across a wonderfully preserved distillery from the Pre-Prohibition Era called the OFC Distillery. Now, they’ve made the site tour-friendly and invite visitors to see it and try some…
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The Mines of Agios Sostis: A Hiking Adventure on Sifnos
This Site Sunday, I’m going to tell y’all about one of my favorite sites I’ve ever visited: the Mines of Agios Sostis. The mines are located on the coast of Sifnos, an island in the Cyclades. While Sifnos is typically praised for its pottery and cooking (it’s called the “cradle” of Greek cuisine!), I remember it most for the hike to the ancient gold mines. History Sifnos is a miners…
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Why You Should Visit the Adsmore Museum
I have always been a pretty major fan of historic homes and home tours (which you know if you’ve read my post on Savannah!). My love affair with historic homes began when I was pretty young and my grandmother would take me to the Adsmore Museum in Princeton, Kentucky, a short drive from my hometown. Recently, we returned to the Adsmore Museum for a tour, reigniting my love for the…
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A Complete Guide to Mystras: “The Wonder of Morea”
Mystras is a fortified town near Sparta in Greece. The town of Mystras was a Byzantine stronghold that now sits virtually empty; the only inhabitants are a group of nuns and feral cats living in the Pantanassa Monastery. Mystras is unique in Greece, as it dates to around the Medieval period (rather than the Classical). Mystras is often called “The Wonder of Morea”, the Medieval term for the Peloponnese region. The site…
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Exploring the Portara in Naxos, Greece
The Portara, or “great door”, is a large marble doorway in Naxos, Greece. It is a fantastic place to watch the sunrise or sunset and is easily accessible for tourists! The site is located near the port on the islet Palatia, which was a hill on Naxos before sea-level rise. A causeway connects Palatia to the main island of Naxos. Mythology According to Mythology, Naxos is where Theseus abandoned his lover,…
