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Journeys Near and Far
Journeys Near and Far

Hello! I'm Melody

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winter

  • Notre-Dame Cathedral and a decorated Christmas tree beside the Seine in Paris.

    The Sweet Spot Between the Holidays: A Surprisingly Good Time to Travel

Hey there!

Hi, I’m Melody, a New Jersey–based freelance travel writer with a passion for discovering the history, culture, and human stories that make a destination unforgettable. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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Recent Europe Stories

  • Orkney, Scotland
  • Óbidos, Portugal
  • The Scottish Highlands
  • The Czech Republic

Pull up a chair and enjoy the vineyard view! 🌿 I Pull up a chair and enjoy the vineyard view! 🌿 I had such a fun visit to Willow Creek Winery & Farm, which offers a peaceful change of scenery just five minutes from Cape May. Beyond these rows of vines, visitors can enjoy dining and tastings, vineyard tours, live music, fire pits and even overnight cottages. It’s a greate way to combine vineyard country with a Jersey Shore getaway. Who would you like to sit here and enjoy the view with? Read about my visit through the link in my bio. #CapeMay #WillowCreekWinery #VisitNewJersey #NewJerseyTravel #TravelWritersUniversity @agritourism_travel
I spotted this striking mural while wandering thro I spotted this striking mural while wandering through Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood. I couldn't help but look it up. 😊 Called The Gilded Lady, Tristan Eaton’s colorful collage features Evelyn Nesbit, a celebrated model and Broadway performer whose life became entwined with one of the Gilded Age’s most sensational scandals. Have you ever discovered a mural that made you want to learn the story behind it? #ManhattanMurals #NoMadNYC #NewYorkCityArt
A little vineyard whimsy in Cape May! 🍷♥️ Alice i A little vineyard whimsy in Cape May! 🍷♥️ Alice in Wonderland-inspired artwork by local artist Carol King Hood greets visitors along the winding drive at Willow Creek Winery & Farm—a delightful surprise for me, since I’ve been an Alice fan for years! Farther along, you’ll find local wines, relaxed dining and vineyard views, all just minutes from Cape May’s beaches. Read about my visit through the link in my bio. #CapeMay #WillowCreekWinery #AliceInWonderland #WestCapeMay #Agritourism @agritourism_travel
There is another side to Cape May, New Jersey beyo There is another side to Cape May, New Jersey beyond the shoreline. Have you been to Willow Creek Winery & Farm? Located just minutes from Cape May’s beaches, visitors can explore the winery’s signature three-sip tasting method, enjoy locally sourced dining, tour the vineyard by golf cart or turn a vineyard afternoon into a Cape May getaway with a stay in one of the winery’s cottages. Read the full story through the link in my bio. #CapeMay #JerseyShore #WillowCreekWinery #NewJerseyWine @agritourism_travel @willowcreekwinerynj #TravelWritersUniversity
I had a lovely stroll in Manhattan the other day, I had a lovely stroll in Manhattan the other day, and Bryant Park felt like the perfect little break between skyscrapers. Do you have a favorite place to pause in the city? #bryantpark #newyorkcity #NYC
# TravelLif#quads slife #travelquoteoftheday #tra # TravelLif#quads slife #travelquoteoftheday #travel #wanderlust
Barrels stacked to the ceiling. Stained glass stil Barrels stacked to the ceiling. Stained glass still filtering light in the archives room. A tasting table set with charcuterie and three glasses: Fleur de Blanc, Blueberry Champagne, and a Meritage with notes of black cherry and allspice. I visited Renault Winery Resort recently, and as a South Jersey local, I'm embarrassed it took me this long. Absolutely worth the detour. What’s one South Jersey place you kept meaning to visit and finally did? Full story at the link in bio. #RenaultWinery #NJTravel #NJwinery #travelwritersuniversity @agritourism_travel
The Ring of Brodgar rises from a thin strip of lan The Ring of Brodgar rises from a thin strip of land between two lochs, a near-perfect circle of stones that has been standing since 2,500 BC. Of the original 60, 36 survive — 27 still upright. No one knows for certain what it was for. Archaeologists have suggested ceremonies, even lunar observations, but there is little evidence. What remains is a near-perfect circle of stones, set in one of the most extraordinary prehistoric landscapes in the world. What do you think it was for? I'd love to know. Full story of my trip there — link in bio. ✈️ #RingOfBrodgar #Orkney #Scotland #TravelWritersUniversity

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