History and travel go together so well. When you travel, history takes on a unique and profound meaning. It becomes more than just a collection of dates, events, and names from the past. Instead, history comes alive. You stand on the beaches and in the trenches and on the roads where brave men and women fought for justice. You walk the hallowed ground where people gave their lives for a cause. You experience profound sorrow, and you learn stories of courage and giving that are beyond belief. By focusing on the struggles and triumphs of others, you become more empathetic and open-minded towards diverse perspectives.
Here are a few groupings of historic places I’ve had the privilege to visit. I hope to venture to many more. Every time I travel, I understand myself better. Whether it’s to pay tribute or to look at the world in a new way, going places inspires me to be a better human when I return home. I hope you are inspired by reading. And maybe you’ll find some destinations to add to your travel plans!
World War II Travel
Normandy and the D-Day Beaches
Visiting the Five Normandy D-Day Beaches
Visiting the D-Day Beaches — Omaha Beach
Visiting the D-Day Beaches — Utah Beach
Visiting the D-Day Beaches — Gold, Juno, and Sword
Visiting Pointe du Hoc, Site of D-Day Battles
6 Reasons to Visit Bayeux France
Nearby in Normandy
The Old Harbor of Honfleur
Belgium
Bastogne, Belgium: Tracing the Battle of the Bulge
Visiting the 101st Airborne Museum in Bastogne, Belgium
England
Bletchley Park and the Codebreakers
Touring the Churchill War Rooms in London
London’s Battle of Britain Monument
Germany
Berlin’s Topography of Terror Center
Visiting the Berlin Holocaust Memorial
Touring the Reichstag
Flossenburg Memorial — A Place of Remembrance
France
Paris WWII Sites for History Lovers
Discovering WWII Sites in France
The Invalides: Where Paris History Comes Alive
The Netherlands
Tracing Operation Market Garden, A Major WWII Campaign
Budapest
A Day on the Pest Side of Budapest (Shoes on the Danube Memorial)
The Czech Republic
Prague’s Heroes of WWII
Luxembourg
Luxembourg Cemetery and Memorial
Nearby in Luxembourg
Exploring Fortress Ruins and Casemates in Luxembourg City
My Family WWII History
Tracing My Dad’s World War II Footsteps
World War I Travel
In Flanders Fields: A Tour
Ypres and the Menin Gate
U.S. Historical Sights
Walking the Washington Mall
Arlington National Cemetery and the Honor Flights
Exploring the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC
The Memorials of Washington DC
The Library of Congress: The World’s Largest Library
The Holocaust Memorial Washington DC
Visiting Mount Vernon, Home of George Washington
Visiting Monticello, Home of Thomas Jefferson
Visiting Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
Things to Do in Yorktown, Virginia
Exploring Historic Santa Barbara
