About Artsy Traveler
Friends often ask me where to stay, what to see, and how to plan meaningful trips that prioritize arts and culture.
Artsy Traveler grew out of those conversations.
I’m Carol Cram, an arts travel writer, novelist, and founder of Art In Fiction, a curated database of 2,500+ novels inspired by the arts. On Artsy Traveler, I share practical guidance and personal insight to help independent travelers plan culturally rich journeys with confidence.
If you’re searching for meaningful travel rooted in art, history, food, and creativity, you’ve come to the right place.
Artsy Traveler is for independent travelers who plan trips around museums, galleries, cathedrals, cultural experiences, and performances rather than beaches and nightlife. If you’ve already been to Paris and want a fellow traveler’s honest take on what’s actually worth your time at the Musée d’Orsay, or how to spend a perfect day that includes both a world-class museum and an evening concert, you’re in the right place.
My tagline says it best: Arts-inspired Travel that Goes Beyond the Checklist.
My Background
I also host The Art In Fiction Podcast, where I interview writers whose work intersects with creativity and culture. In addition to fiction, I have written numerous textbooks on computer applications and taught communications and computers at the college level for over two decades.
I’m also a lover of classical music and I play piano, which probably explains why I’m just as likely to plan a trip around a concert as a museum.
Art In Fiction has grown to include over 2,500 novels organized into 11 categories including music, literature, theatre, and visual arts. On The Art In Fiction Podcast, I interview novelists whose work is inspired by the arts.
Recently, I’ve brought the two audiences together, because it turns out that people who love art-inspired fiction and people who travel to see art are often the same people. Interested? Sign up for my weekly update to get the latest take on what I’m working on, what novel I recommend you read on the road, and a travel tip of the week.
My Home Base
I live with my husband, artist Gregg Simpson, on Bowen Island, a 20-minute ferry ride from Vancouver in British Columbia on the west coast of Canada.
These days, I divide my time between writing novels, hosting The Art In Fiction Podcast on which I interview novelists who write novels inspired by the arts, and of course, having artsy travel experiences and writing about them on Artsy Traveler.
Travel History Starting with Europe on $5 a Day
My first month-long trip through Europe sparked a lifelong love of museums, cities, food and art, and laid the foundation for the kind of cultural travel I write about on Artsy Traveler today.
Believe it or not, back in the 1970s, touring Europe on $5 a day really was possible. When I was fourteen, my mom and I traveled around Europe for a month. We each had one small suitcase (no rollies in those days), a mix-and-match wardrobe, and a Eurail pass.
We landed in London, visited relatives in Wales, and then flew to Amsterdam. A highlight for me was a trip to Madurodam, the wonderful miniature village near The Hague. Many years later, I took my own daughter there and was just as entranced!
Around Europe by Train
From Amsterdam, we headed to Copenhagen where we fell in love with Smørrebrød, the scrumptious Danish open-faced sandwiches. After several days enjoying Copenhagen, including a memorable side trip to Kronborg Castle, the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet, we took the train to Stockholm.
Mom and I both enjoyed touring Stockholm, although I do remember we had a hard time finding food that my fourteen-year-old, unsophisticated stomach could handle. On one memorable evening, we splurged $7(!) on an authentic Swedish smorgasbord. Tasty delicacies included raw reindeer meat and pickled herring and a lot of other things I refused to eat. Needless to say, I left hungry.
After Stockholm, we caught the overnight train south to Munich, where we explored the fabulous Deutsches Museum, which was the first really massive museum I’d ever seen. I was hooked and now seek out museums wherever I travel. You’ll find many of my recommendations on Artsy Traveler.
We ended our epic mother-daughter trip in Paris, which funnily enough, I did not like. I’ve since gotten over my initial dislike, so much so that I set my fourth novel there (Love Among the Recipes). These days, Gregg and I travel to Paris almost every time we visit Europe. You’ll find plenty of posts about Paris on Artsy Traveler.
My First Solo Trip at 18 Years Old
Traveling independently at a young age shaped how I explore destinations today and informs many of the practical travel tips I share on Artsy Traveler.
In 1974, four years after my first trip with Mom and fresh out of high school, I headed back across the Atlantic with two friends for a six-week journey around Great Britain.
With no cell phones, little money, and buckets of naïveté, we traveled the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, even climbing Mount Snowdon in Wales. That’s us at the top; I’m in red!
We stayed in youth hostels or budget bed-and-breakfasts, stepped far out of our suburban Canadian comfort zones, and had a marvelous time.
Living in Great Britain
After my epic summer trip around Great Britain, I stayed in England and attended the University of Reading to earn my BA in English Language and Literature, and then attended the University of Durham to earn my Teaching Certificate.
During holiday times, I traveled as much as I could on a student budget, venturing to Austria, France, and Spain, and spending every free weekend exploring England and Scotland.
Living and traveling abroad taught me so much. I discovered that I enjoyed exploring new cities and visiting museums, galleries, and historical sites to learn about history and art. I also enjoyed sampling unfamiliar food (once my palate matured after the Swedish smorgasbord incident), meeting new people, and writing about my experiences.
Family Travel
Traveling as a family deepened my connection to European culture and creative communities.
A few years after returning home from attending university in England, I met my husband, Gregg Simpson, who had taken his first trip to Europe when he was eleven.
One of the many things that drew us together when we first met was our mutual love of travel. Eight years after our daughter Julia was born (and we could finally afford it), we set off on what was to be the first of numerous trips to Europe together.
Since our first family trip to Europe in 1994, we’ve returned many times, often to exhibit Gregg’s paintings (he’s an artist – check out his website!) and to research my latest novel.
Julia is all grown up now and works in the travel industry so I guess all that early exposure to travel left its mark. She and I travel together frequently, most recently to Thailand, Iceland, Costa Rica, Greece, and the Rocky Mountains.
Where to Start on Artsy Traveler
Here are a few ways to explore Artsy Traveler:
- Use the Search bar to find specific cities or experiences.
- Arts & Culture: Explore museum recommendations, cultural activities, and roundup posts such as Best Cathedrals in Europe.
- Destinations: Find artsy travel experiences across Europe and beyond.
- Travel Smart: Learn how to plan trips, drive in Europe, find accommodation, and eat well on a budget.
- Still have questions? Visit the Artsy Traveler FAQ.
The Artsy Traveler Team
On Artsy Traveler, I often tell stories about my travels to support my recommendations for artsy travel. Three people animate these stories: me, my husband Gregg, and our daughter Julia who has been an integral part of our travels since our first family trip to Europe.
The Artsy Traveler team also includes Stephanie Williams, my friend since kindergarten. Stephanie edits and proofreads every post, provides invaluable suggestions and advice, and is all-round amazing. I couldn’t have created Artsy Traveler without her.
Gregg Simpson
Gregg Simpson is a painter and musician whose work has been exhibited internationally in Canada and Europe. His paintings, drawings, and mixed media works have appeared in galleries and academic studies, and he has been featured in the BRAVO television documentary New Arcadia: The Art of Gregg Simpson.
Gregg and I often combine art and travel, researching novels and exhibiting his work during our time in Europe.
Julia Simpson
Julia Simpson grew up traveling with us throughout Europe, and those early experiences shaped her career in the travel industry. She currently works for Rocky Mountaineer in Vancouver and continues to explore new destinations whenever she can.
Julia is also a creative entrepreneur and crochet artist, blending travel, storytelling, and craft in her own distinctive way.
Stephanie Williams
Stephanie Williams is the editor of Artsy Traveler and has been my trusted friend since kindergarten. After a long career in television production, including eleven seasons as Supervising Producer of the award-winning series Degrassi, she brings editorial expertise and a love of the arts to every post.
Her careful eye and thoughtful suggestions help ensure that each article is clear, engaging, and true to the spirit of Artsy Traveler.
Artsy Traveler FAQ
Do you have more questions about how I travel and what I recommend? You may find what you’re looking for on the FAQ page.
Carol M. Cram is the author of five award-winning historical novels inspired by art and the women who shaped it, the creator of Artsy Traveler, an arts-focused travel blog, the founder of Art In Fiction, a curated database of 2,500+ novels inspired by the arts, and the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast. She also authored 60+ textbooks on computer applications and taught at Capilano University for over two decades. She lives with her husband, artist Gregg Simpson, on beautiful Bowen Island near Vancouver, BC.