Arts-inspired Travel that Goes Beyond the Checklist

Last updated on May 7th, 2026 at 12:25 pm

Are you an independent traveler who chooses museums over tourist traps, personalized experiences over generic tours, and local restaurants over anywhere with laminated menus in four languages?

Then you’re in the right place!

I’m Carol Cram: novelist, passionate lover of the arts, and an enthusiastic traveler who books concert tickets and special exhibitions before hotel rooms.

If you love arts and culture, concerts, great food, the occasional wildlife encounter, and hidden gems that make a trip genuinely memorable rather than just another checklist of sights, then come along with me for the ride!

What’s On My Mind This Week

I’m thinking about day trips this week as I start booking some for my upcoming UK trip. I never used to book day trips, having a horror of large buses and being herded like a recalcitrant cat (and I’m allergic to cats).

But in recent years, the plethora of small group day trips and even private tours has changed my mind. I have grown to appreciate convenience and camaraderie over solitary independence when there’s a specific activity or destination I want to explore that I can’t easily do on my own.

One of the day trips I’m planning during my UK trip is from Manchester to Haworth in Yorkshire to visit the home of the Brontës. On a previous trip, I took two day trips around Yorkshire, both small-group, both worthwhile. Read about them here:

Discover Yorkshire: Best Places for the Artsy Traveler

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Carol Cram in front of the National Gallery of canada

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Khon masked dancer performing traditional Thai classical dance at Penthai Theatre Bangkok

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Guards doing the changing of the guards in Athens

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