Freelance writer, editor, columnist, photographer, and videographer with expertise in empty-nester and retiree travel, and emphasis on history and culture, grand and historic hotels, waterways and railways, and food and wine.
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Publisher of Notable Travels.
Monthly travel feature story contributor to Living Well, The Sun Chronicle.
Travel Deals and Baby Boomer Travel columnist for National edition of Examiner.com.
Waterways columnist for Boston edition of Examiner.com
Contributor to Frommers and Fodors forums and cruise reviews.
Panelist for National Geographic Traveler and Norwegian Tourist Board.
Coproducer of videos that may be viewed on YouTube.
Author and contributor to CityRoom.com and CulturalToursWorldwide.com.
Contributor to JustLuxe, an affluent lifestyle guide.
Contributor to CNHI newspapers, Travelworld International Magazine, Offbeat Travel, Real Travel Adventures International.
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Linda is the recipient of the following North American Travel Writers Association travel writing awards:
2011 Categories: Resorts, Print Media; 50+ Travel and Travelers;
2010 Categories: Mature Travel, Historical Travel;
2009 Categories: Senior Travel & Travelers, Historical Travel, Best Travel Series;
2008 Categories: Historical Travel, Best Travel Series (2 awards);
2007 Best Travel Series, Best Bylined Column;
2006 Best Article Written for the Internet, (2 awards)
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Member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, Travel Journalists Guild, North American Travel Writers Association, and the New England Travel Writers Network
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May be reached at linda.fasteson@comcast.net
Published Articles
Living Well
Clips of feature stories in the travel section of the Sunday newspaper.
Notable Travels
Clips 2007-present
Explore
Monthly feature stories
Note: Explore, an insert in Sunday newspapers, has been replaced by Living Well..
Frommer's
Frommer's forum commentary
Fodor's
Fodor's forum commentary
Baby Boomer Travel
Specializing in travel for Baby Boomers in national edition of Examiner.com
Examiner.com
Specializing in travel in and history of the world's waterways in Boston edition of Examiner.com
YouTubeVideos
A sampling of recent YouTube videos
Travel Deals columnist
Specializing in travel deals for national edition of Examiner.com
Cultural Tours Worldwide: Stockholm, Sweden
Enjoy regal grandeur with a visit to Stockholm's royal palaces.
City Room: Feel Like a King or Queen for a Day--in Stockholm, Sweden
The Stockholm Royal Palace, Sveriges Kungahus, is the official residence of His Majesty King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia and one of the largest palaces in Europe. Although the king does not actually live here, it is where he, the Queen, and the Royal Court work and where they hold royal receptions. Stroll the Royal Apartments, Royal Chapel, and three museums...
JustLuxe
Story on Drottningholm Palace in JustLuxe, an affluent lifestyle guide.
Food and beverage reviewer
Review of glassware.
Worldwide Delicacies Food and Beverage reviewer
Reviewer of food, wine, and spirits.
Carnaval de Quebec 2012
Opening day at the world's largest winter festival. Includes dogsled race, snowshoe race, tubing, family entertainment, fireworks and more.
YouTube: The Bernina Express
The Bernina Express takes you from palm trees to glaciers--or the reverse--all in a day. It's the highest mountain railway in the Alps.
YouTube video:The Swiss National Park
A trip through the Swiss National Park after an early snowfall.
You Tube: Drottningholm Palace
A visit to the residence of the Swedish royal family.
Hotel Chalavaina
Hotel Chalavaina, in the Romansh-speaking region of Switzerland, is on the site where the orders were given for the battle that led to Swiss independence.
The Murals of Sussex, New Brunswick
The murals of Sussex, New Brunswick reflect the area's industries and heritage.
Einsiedeln, Switzerland
A visit to Einsiedeln, Switzerland, to see the largest abbey and oldest pilgrimage site in Switzerland and to sample local specialties.
YouTube: Appenzell, Switzerland
Appenzell, Switzerland: A sweet and savory visit to traditional Switzerland
YouTube:Ebenalp
A Swiss lunch at Gasthaus Aescher.
YouTube: Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens
There are 3 million lights and over 950 displays at the 65 acre Bellingrath Gardens ' Magic Christmas in Lights...
YouTube: Bellingrath Gardens
Beautiful Bellingrath Gardens, just outside Mobile in Theodore, Alabama, is best known for its magnificent floral displays--including azaleas in spring, tropical plants and flowers in summer, cascading mums in the fall, and camellias in winter.
YouTube: Wintzell's Oyster House
This landmark restaurant in historic downtown Mobile, Alabama, is known for its oysters--fried, stewed or nude...
A Taste of Switzerland
Switzerland's epicurean delights range from the simplest of fare and local brews in a mountain hut to fine regional wines and haute cuisine prepared by star-ranked Michelin chefs in some of the worlds leading hotels and restaurants.
Italy with Trafalgar
With the latest in guided vacations, there is more unstructured time on your own to pursue your interests, make your own discoveries, or simply relax in your surroundings.
The Lavaux
In the 11th century, Benedictine and Cistercian monks began planting vines and building retaining walls on the steep sun-drenched hillsides of the Lavaux region on the north shore of Lake Geneva...
Appenzell
Switzerland in its purest form, it's a story-book setting where age-old traditions are maintained as part of daily life. There are colorfully painted wooden buildings, the musical sounds of yodelers, dulcimers, cowbells, and alpenhorns.
Siena, Italy
Spared the ravages of war, Siena is considered to be the best preserved medieval city in Italy, and traditions run strong.
All Roads Lead to Rome
Italys capital is a tapestry of architecture woven over its three thousand years of history. The earth-toned skyline is dominated by domes and bell towers of churches and basilicas, not skyscrapers.
Lucca, Italy
A visit to the perfectly preserved medieval city of Lucca, once wealthy from the silk trade.
The Waters of Montecatini Terme
This health resort area has tree-lined avenues and parks with elegant spas. Michelangelo is among those who have come here to drink the therapeutic waters.
Ottawa
It's a British city with a French accent, centered on Parliament buildings replicating London's Westminster and a turreted hotel in the style of a French chateau.
The Finger Lakes
According to Native American lore, the New Yorks Finger Lakes were formed when the Great Spirit cast his hand upon the most beautiful land he had created...
Huntsville
The dream of space travel came alive in Huntsville, Alabama amidst the cotton fields of the fertile Tennessee valley .
This prosperous antebellum city is now a high-tech center for aerospace and missile defense named #1 City in the U.S. by Kiplingers Personal Finance Magazine.
Cruising the Nile in Style
Cleopatra, King Tut, and countless others have cruised the Nile, but not in the style now available. With so many travelers interested in visiting the Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, of Giza and other wonders of Egypt, one of the oldest cultures in the world...
Antiques theme barge cruise in Provence
New theme barge cruises in Provence aboard European Waterways' EnchantĀ have been announced.
Little Mermaid leaves home
The Little Mermaid, star of the 1989 Disney movie and subject of the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen on which it was based, is now a world traveler.
Halifax
Jutting out into the Atlantic, and with a deep, ice-free harbor, Halifax was an attractive entry point vied for by for expanding empires. It also served as Canadas link to Europe in both World Wars.
Nova Scotia's South Shore
The South Shore's Lighthouse Route
is a rugged Atlantic coastline of shipbuilding communities and picturesque fishing villages.
The Annapolis Valley
It was a landscape of rolling hills, winding roads, and farms as we approached the fertile Annapolis Valley. With apple orchards, vineyards, dairy cows, and the abundant seafood from the Bay of Fundy, its an ideal destination for experiencing the provinces bounty. To top it off, when the tide rolls out you can walk on the ocean floor and search for fossils.
Touring Beautiful Switzerland
Train rides past snow-capped Alps, boat excursions on sparkling lakes, gondolas to mountain peaks hikes and picnics in idyllic meadows of wildflowers, serenaded by cowbells, savoring local wine, freshly-baked bread, cheeses and chocolates. Yes, this is Switzerland.
The Thousand Islands
The islands--over 1800 of them--are within a 50 mile area of one of the world's largest rivers--the St. Lawrence. They are the glacier-flattened tops of a chain of mountains that link Ontario's Canadian Shield to New York State's Adirondacks and are divided between Canada and the United States.
The Culinary Institute
Savor some of their best or learn from the pros at the top-ranked Culinary Institute of America, housed in a former Jesuit Seminary in Hyde Park, New York. Dine at one of five award-winning, student-staffed on campus public restaurants, enroll in a cooking class, take a public tours given by current CIA students, or shop for cookbooks and culinary wares at the CIA store.
Montgomery
It is deep in the heart of Dixie, in the land where cotton was king. It was also the heart of the struggles for freedom and equality.
This city was the Cradle of the Confederacy and Birthplace of both the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement. Here in Montgomery, the capital of Alabama, no matter which way we headed we were deeply immersed in history.
Dahlonega
We didn't strike it rich, but we found a gem of a place to visit. Just an hour north of Atlanta, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is Dahlonega, Georgia, site of the first Gold Rush in the USA.
Holiday on the Hudson: A Dutchess Treat
In Dutchess County, New York,you can step back to the Gilded Age and inside the homes of some of the most talked-about people of their time--Vanderbilts, Roosevelts, and more....
Portland, Maine
The largest city in Maine juts into Casco Bay, creating a perfect setting for savoring succulent seafood, sailing to picturesque lighthouses...
Kingston, Ontario
Midway between Toronto and Montreal, it was the capital of the United Province of Canada from 1841-44. Today Kingston is a hub of higher education, military and penal institutions, and tourism, befitting its motto "Where History and Innovation Thrive".
Vermont
Dairy farms, cozy cabins, majestic mountains, covered bridges, and pure maple candy that melts in your mouth are but a few images of the Green Mountain State. It is a place to kick back and relax, browse quaint antique shops and country stores, and savor a healthy way of life and Old New England charm.
Texas Uncorked: Thinking Outsdide the Ropes
Bucking broncos, bareback riding, steer wrestling, and mechanical bulls may seem an unlikely pairing with fine wines.
For the fourth straight year it was a winning combination at the Houston Livestock and Rodeo International Wine Competition's two premier food and wine events. In the spirit of Texas, the state's wineries took on the world's biggest and best.
Austin
Bumper stickers in this Texas capital read Keep Austin Weird. It's a slogan that draws attention to the unique small businesses and unconventional nature of this college town.
Oklahoma
Over a century has passed since homesteaders staked their claims. Oklahoma is a great place to begin a Native American and Western heritage experience.
Marblehead Peninsula
With Ohio's largest producing winery, the history surrounding the Great Lakes' oldest continuously operating light house, and a gated Chautauqua community, the Marblehead Peninsula offers the opportunity to nurture your body, mind, and soul.
Lake Erie Shores and Islands
With soothing relaxation and ultimate thrills Ohio's Lake Erie Shores & Islands is known as the most popular vacation destination in the Midwest. There's about as much fun as anyone can handle.
Cleveland
When folks say Cleveland rocks, it's not just about the Glenn Research Center's lunar samples...
Cedar Point
Cedar Point has been named the Best Amusement Theme Park in North Amertica for 11 straight years and is the #1 Roller Coaster Capital in the World.
Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs is a resort city developed for its therapeutic carbonated mineral waters.
Drive along historic canals and scenic waterways to this thoroughbred racing center with Victorian mansions, renowned performing arts, gastronomic delights, and Revolutionary history that changed the world.
Lake Placid
Lake Placid is the site of the "great camps" of the Gilded Age industrialists like Vanderbilt and Rockefeller who sought to get back to nature.
Hudson Valley Quadricentennial: A Celebration of Discovery
There is no better time to enjoy the treasure trove of art and architecture, history and heritage found in Albany and the Hudson Valley than during the 400th anniversary celebration of Henry Hudson's voyage.
High On Albuquerque
Colonists authorized by King Philip of Spain to form a city on the banks of the Rio Grande chose this fertile land with warm days and cool nights.
Waterloo Village
Strolling along the towpaths traveled by mule teams over 150 years ago is an escape to a simpler time. It can also be an enlightening way to spend an afternoon.
Missouri
Hitch your wagon and head for Gateway to the West, Missouri. Let the Show Me State show you how the pioneering spirit and the dreams of the wild frontier have come alive.
Goin' To Kansas City
When the first bridge across the Missouri River was built here in 1869, Kansas City became a railroad hub and a stockyard city that grew into one of the world's major cattle markets.
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is a place that exudes a leisurely pace. Stroll the streets and pop in and out of the varied shops. Relax with an ice cream cone. Savor the simple pleasures.
New Bedford's Waterfront Festival
New Bedford's Working Waterfront Festival is an opportunity to experience the vibrant commerciall fishing culture on the very wharf where 19th century whaling ships set sail
Linekin Bay
Nestled on the rocky shores of a peninsula of land that juts out into the Atlantic, the picturesque New England village of Boothbay Harbor ....
Reflections on Moosehead Lake
The stillness of the morning was broken as the aura of a sunrise colored the sky. There was the sound ducks beckoning one another to begin a new day.
Steamboatin' Aboard the American Queen
As we headed for the American Queen, we could see her fluted 109 foot tall stacks rising above the buildings, and we knew we were in for a treat. Soon we were exploring this "floating palace", inspired by the legendary luxury steamer the J.M. White, of 1878.
New Orleans
Explore this enchanting city. Your senses are in for quite a special re-awakening. From boisterous good times to classic southern refinement and charm,it is all there for you to savor in N'Awlins!
Kentucky
The Bluegrass State-- birthplace of some of the best-loved country music, breeding grounds of champion thoroughbreds, and producer of America's finest native whiskey, bourbon, the drink of gentlemen.
Holiday in Chicago
There's an excitement in the air in a city bedecked and sparkling for the season. With its world-class shopping, dining, architecture, parks, museums, performances, and special events, it would be hard to top the holiday spirit of the Jewel of the Lakes, the Gem of the Prairie-- CHICAGO.
One Ocean: the Art of Luxury
One Ocean is a place a place to be pampered, to indulge your yearnings, and to expand your creative horizons.
Colorado's Front Range: From the Great Plains to the Rockies
The silence of the wilderness was broken only by the sound of rushing water, part of Rocky Mountain National Park's 450 miles of streams and waterfalls ...
Joshua Tree National Park
There are massive boulders for rock climbers and wide open spaces for seekers of serenity. Joshua Tree National Park's unique landscape is inspiration for artists--a magical sort of place where time seems to stand still.
Sunny Days and Starry Nights
Towering palm trees and the stunning mountain views-- Palm Springs is a star-studded oasis in the desert.
Hot Springs, Arkansas
A resort town known for medicinal and revitalizing spas, Hot Springs is our first and smallest National Park--40 years older than Yellowstone--on land set aside by Andrew Jackson. Thermal springs gush from the Hot Springs Mountain at a consistent 143 degrees. Bill Clinton's boyhood home, Hot Springs was frequented by both the wealthy and stealthy, including gangsters like Al Capone and Bugsy Moran.
Arkansas
From Pioneers to President, Civil War to Civil Rights
Arkansas' Ozarks
The essence of the Natural State is found in the soaring limestone cliffs, glorious vistas, verdant forests, colossal caverns, and cool, clear waters of northern Arkansas' Ozarks.
Sedona
When you approach the red rocks of Sedona, you know you have arrived at the Jewel of the Southwest. Named for the woman who settled here ....
Switzerland
Train rides past snow-capped Alps, boat excursions on sparkling lakes, gondolas to mountain peakshikes and picnics in idyllic meadows of wildflowers, serenaded by cowbells, savoring local wine, freshly-baked bread, cheeses and chocolates--yes, this is Switzerland.
Oslo
At the head of a 60 mile long fjord, surrounded by forested hills, lakes, and farms, the approach by water is superb.
Norway
Our Transatlantic cruise aboard Holland America's Amsterdam included three Norwegian ports--capital city Oslo, Kristiansand "The Floral Town of Norway", and charming Bergen, Gateway to the Fjords.
Hurtigruten: A Journey to the Top of the World
The stunning West Coast of Norway was living up to its reputation as the most beautiful coastline in the world. This region is renowned for its spectacular landscape of fjell, fjord, and foss (mountains, fjords, and waterfalls).
Bloomington, Indiana
Once covered by an ancient sea, it became renowned for its limestone industry.
This city became the center of population for the United States , site of America's largest furniture company, and the Color Television Capital of the World.
This was home to a musician who made Hoagy a household name and to a pioneer in human sexuality. It is also a favorite American stop for the Dalai Lama.
The university attracted attention in a coming-of-age movie and gained international acclaim when one of its professors received the 2009 Nobel Prize in Economics.
It's Middle America at its best, at the heart of Hoosier hospitality--Bloomington, Indiana.
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Bergen
Cosmopolitan Bergen, Gateway to the Fjords, is a cultural and commercial center rich in Old World charm.
Treasures of the Rhine
There are few more pleasurable ways to explore our world than by its rivers, and the most leisurely way is from the comfort of a floating hotel. Our journey took us from Basel to Antwerp-the treasures of the Rhine...
The Grand Tour of Europe: Experiencing its Waterways
It was not until 1992 that a canal system of navigation locks was completed and it became possible to travel by river all 2000 miles between the North Sea and the Black Sea.
Paris: Le Marais
This Parisian neighborhood known for its architectural style, grand boulevards and tiny winding streets. Become a part of what it means to be Parisian.
The Splendor of Paris
Just how did Paris become the glorious City of Light? Which notable sights should not be missed?
Sailing the Sinuous Seine
The longest inland waterway in France winds in serpentine loops between the coast in Normandy and one of the most fashionable and romantic cities in the world--Paris.
A Taste of Burgundy and Provence
It's a journey through a fertile sun-kissed countryside scented by lavender and thyme and adorned with fields of sunflowers, vineyards, farms, orchards, and olive groves. Visit historic cities and idyllic villages that have inspired artists through the ages.
Barging Through France
Sometimes we see more by coming through the back door. One of the most relaxing ways to visit the Burgundy region of France is by barge along its system of canals.
Oxford
Trace the footsteps of Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, Presidents, Kings, and a Pope along the medieval lanes of this fascinating city.
London for the Holidays
With our family members scattered across the globe, we wondered how we would gather our three generations for the holidays.
Imperial London: The Best of Britannia in an Extraordinary Week
In what is becoming an increasingly homogenized world, London reigns supreme with a pageantry known to most of us only in storybooks.
Copenhagen
The capital of the world's oldest kingdom is a world of wonders-- tales of kings and queens, Vikings, and a mermaid, with a fortress, castles, palaces, and crown jewels. The largest of the Scandinavian cities, once the capital of an empire that included Norway and Southern Sweden, cosmopolitan Copenhagen, or "merchants' harbor", is a city as enchanting as the fairy tales inspired here.
Brussels
At the end of a river cruise along the Rhine, we arrived in Belgium, a kingdom about size of Maryland. We didn't want to miss the capital and added two glorious days of the best of Brussels.
The Amazon
We were looking for something new and exotic, something that would include a variety of destinations and experiences. We found this and more...
Paradise Found
Dreaming of a tropical destination? For relaxation paired with stimulating and enriching activites...
Quebec City: 400 Years of History
Four centuries have passed since explorer Samuel de Champlain became the Father of New France...
Quebec City
We were sipping cafe au lait on Grand Allee, this continent's Champs Elysees, in the capital of the province of Quebec, the cradle of French civilization in the Americas, swept up in the city's romance and Old World charm.
Montreal
A warm "Bonjour!" as we entered the auberge reminded us that we needn't cross the pond to experience European ambience.
Charlevoix
Charlevoix is the heart of the area known as the Canadian Shield, the world's oldest rock formation, with national parks, rich soil, farms and rolling countryside, and steep, rugged cliffs.
The Thousand Islands
The Thousand Islands over 1800 of them--are within a 50 mile area of one of the worlds largest rivers--the St. Lawrence-- and are divided between Canada and the United States.
The Rideau Canal
Built as a supply route safe from an American invasion this was one of the first canals to be designed for steam-powered boats. It is now a recreational waterway...
Ottawa
A British city with a French accent, Ottawa is centered on Parliament buildings replicating Londons Westminster and a turreted hotel in the style of a French chateau...
Kingston, Ontario
Known for its stately limestone buildings befitting its status as Canada's first capital, it is also the gateway to adventures on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River...
St. John's, Newfoundland: City of Legends
Thick brogues and lilting speech greet visitors to the city, traces of English, Irish, or Scottish roots.
Vikings Discovered! L'Anse Aux Meadows, Newfoundland
Around 1000 AD, Leif Eriksson, son of Erik the Red, was accused of murder and banished from Greenland. He sailed westward with thirty others and arrived at this sheltered harbor.
St. Andrews By-the-Sea
Would you like to walk on the ocean floor? You can do this as you witness the dramatic effects of one of the Marine Wonders of the World--powerful tides that rise and fall up to 26 feet twice a day...
VIA Rails Canadian
The train winds like a snake around mountain curves, each revealing a new vista or glimpse of history--mighty rivers, glacial lakes, tiny villages, lumber mills, or former Gold Rush boomtowns.
Ferry Tales
The 240 mile Inside Passage Route between Prince Rupert and Port Hardy travels past soaring mountains, picturesque fjords, narrow channels, and remote islands.
The Skeena: Riding the rails Through British Columbia
Canada's Transcontinental Railway spans 4000 miles. Only the Trans-Siberian Railway is longer. We were about to experience the second of its two scenic segments between Jasper and the Pacific coast.
Riding the Canadian Rails: It Doesn't Get any Wilder Than This
We would follow in the pathways of the indigenous First Nations, early explorers, fur traders, fishermen, gold prospectors, pioneers, railroad barons, and lumberjacks.We sat back and enjoyed the ride through some of the most remarkable landscapes in the world.
New Zealand: Create Your Own Kiwi Adventure
Kia Ora , the Maori greeting, welcomes visitors this land of fiery volcanoes and glacial ice.
Rotorua: Manaakitanga: Feel the Spirit
In this heartland of Maori culture the Earth and its geologic wonders are part of the spiritual world.
Sydney
"We wouldn't have Sydney without Americans," our guide, Brian told us, in the warm and welcoming manner we quickly found to be characteristic of Aussies.
Iceland
It is said that when the Vikings first saw Iceland--with volcanoes, black lava fields, sulfurous steam, and bubbling mud pools-- they thought they had discovered the entrance to the Netherworld....
Greenland
We glided past floating sculptures shaped by wind and weather, frozen reminders of ages past, shimmering shapes in a sparkling sea, the sky a clear cerulean. On both sides, dramatic peaks soared nearly 5000 feet above, dwarfing us as we sailed past icebergs and waterfalls in a pristine wilderness. This was the rarest of days in Ikerasassuag, The Long Channel, Prince Christian Sound.
The Faroe Islands
These 18 volcanic islands formed millions of years ago have remained much undisturbed by the outside world.
Coastal Gems with the Jewel of the Sea
A cruise along our Atlantic coastline on the Jewel of the Sea took us to gems of the region.
Senegal
Traveling across the Atlantic from Recife,Brazil, the easternmost point in South America, we docked in Dakar, Senegal, westernmost point in Africa, for a day that would remain etched in our memories.
Morocco
A day in port in Morocco is an adventure in three diverse cities.
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