Have you ever wanted to try a cooking class while traveling?  I took a macaron baking class one spring in Paris and it was a great new experience in a city I had visited several times before.  I would love to try another cooking class in other destinations.  Here are some ideas!

First, take a look at the cooking school where I took my macaron class, La Cuisine in Paris.  They offer many classes in English and the instructor was terrific.
lacuisineparis.com

Food, wine, and Tuscany?  Yes, please.
www.travelandleisure.com/articles/cucina-fiorentina

​Maybe take a class with Gwyneth?  These look amazing...although also a bit extravagant! 
goop.com/travel/experiences/eating-your-way-through-your-next-holiday-a-new-crop-of-cooking-schools/

Are you currently under the "Heat Dome?" We are hot, hot, hot the East Coast and these articles about some cooler destinations look like appealing Weekend Reading.

I traveled to Vancouver one August, and the weather was perfect for trying all the great outdoor activities there.
​http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/vancouver

A Baltic cruise is something I am interested in, and summer is certainly the season to go!
www.cruisecritic.com/ports/area.cfm?area=14

​Some of these off the beaten path locations look really neat...
www.vogue.com/13458983/travel-summer-vacation-destinations-cold-weather/

Google Translate is available offline as well as when you are on wifi or a data plan. You can download the languages of your choosing, now without taking up so much space on your phone.  This is a great feature when faced with a menu full of unfamiliar choices...or when attempting public transportation in a foreign language.
googleblog.blogspot.com/2016/05/translate-where-you-need-it-in-any-app.html

Museum apps are a great tool when you are visiting a new museum, or revisiting a favorite. This article in the NYTimes reminded me how great the museum produced apps can be. Many of them do not require wifi if you download them before visiting, or the museum may even have wifi available for their app.  Check museum websites as you are planning your trip!  The Louvre, the British Museum and the Museum of Modern Art (NYC) are among the museums offering an app.
www.nytimes.com/2016/07/13/arts/international/lost-at-the-louvre-theres-an-app-for-that.html

Keep your devices charged!  I use an Anker charger that is big enough to charge both an iPhone and my iPad, but the small ones that will give your phone a full charge are well worth the small cost in case you have an emergency.  Here are a few examples-
amzn.to/29AlzBd 
amzn.to/2adW21C

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A few things to read over the weekend from three of my go-to blogs about Paris.

What is better than ice cream on a warm summer day in Paris?
bonjourparis.com/food-and-drink/best-ice-cream-paris-carol-gillotts-watercolor-map/

Chocolate shops-with some great tips and French vocabulary
chocolateandzucchini.com/paris/shops-markets/paris-chocolate-shops/

Picnic strategies
​parisbymouth.com/best-picnic-paris/