Lance Longwell

In honor of Father’s Day 2015, we asked a group of fellow travel writers to reflect on their favorite travel memories with their fathers.

Germany’s relationship with Jewish history is painful. But this is not that story. This is the remarkably unlikely story of one of Europe’s greatest treasures hidden for centuries. This is the story of a history lost – and rediscovered under unlikely circumstances. This is the story, the legend, of the Erfurt Treasure and the Old Erfurt Synagogue.

Planted in the heart of the Barcelona’s modern Eixample neighborhood, a hidden oasis blossoms in the Mediterranean sun. Far from the chaos of La Rambla, visitors find peace and quiet in one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. The Praktik Garden Hotel in Barcelona is a secret find for the visitor looking to enjoy the heart of the city in a relaxed venue.

I learned one key lesson in Nepal: never underestimate the resiliency of the Nepalese people. When you are born into one of the poorest countries on earth, you don’t have the luxury of failing. The Nepalese people have always found a way to overcome. In the aftermath of the Nepal Earthquake, I’m confident they will rebuild their lives…with a smile on their faces. That’s what you do in Nepal.

The State of Travel Blogging 2015. This year’s TBEX Europe underscores how far travel blogging has come. And how far it still has to go.

The Romantic Road. Those three words conjure up images of fairy tales and charming little villages. For years, despite numerous trips to Germany, I’ve avoided what is arguably the best known holiday route in the world. I had a lot of preconceptions about the Romantic Road – some were true and some were just legends. One thing is for certain, The Romantic Road in Germany was a complete surprise.

The blackness swallowed us as we descended down into the earth. We carried lights, but the darkness encroached on us from all sides. The gentle scuffling of feet on the gravel, an occasional soft trickle of water in the abyss and our own breathing were the only sounds. These are the Sterkfontein Caves inside the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stepping off the plane in Quito, Ecuador, the first thing you notice are the colors. The entire country is bathed in bright reds, lush greens, deep blues, sunny yellows and everything in between. Some of that is because this is one of the world’s most beautiful countries. But much of it is also due to the Ecuador graffiti scene – a robust sub-culture that takes street art who whole new levels.

Across the United States, a revolution has been taking place: craft distilling. The movement that has been shaping the beer industry for the last 20 years has finally come to spirits. Despite Pennsylvania’s antiquated liquor laws, the craft revolution has finally come and there are a number of excellent Southeast Pennsylvania distilleries.

On the sandy bottom of the sea floor in Molinere Bay lies a mystery. During our Grenada scuba diving adventure, we headed out to see what lurks beneath the surface. To our delight, we discovered the playful and whimsical Grenada underwater sculpture park.