Michelle Kirby

Naples Travel Guide

Why It's Worth It<p>Naples is a city of contrasts—chaotic and beautiful with layers of ancient history and art and an undercurrent of creativity that pulses through her streets. Her energy is contagious. From royal palaces to both contemporary and ancient world-class art museums to galleries' …

Rick Steves: The magic and mystery of Venice after dark

I love Venice at night, and recently, I was reminded why. The evening started at one of my favorite Venice restaurants. The chef served up a seafood bounty from the lagoon, accompanied by deliciously grilled local vegetables and polenta. After dinner, twinkling from my sprightly Venetian white …

10 Most Romantic Italian Coastal Towns for Couples

<b>We are excited to have Michael and Alexandra back to share</b> <b>their favourite</b> <b>Italian coastal towns for couples to visit. Not only is it filled with</b> …

Ghost towns of Tuscany: Scenic splendor frozen in time

It’s easy to miss the ancient Tuscan town of Sommocolonia, Italy. Perched on the spine of a high ridge amid a wild expanse of canyons, ravines and chestnut forests 38 miles north of Pisa, there are no restaurants, inns or cafes there. Nor are there any banks, grocery stores, pharmacies or things …

Under-the-Radar Italian Towns to Visit

1 Populonia, Tuscany<p>You might not have heard of this tiny town on the Tuscan Coast, but it was once the site of one of the region’s most important …

The Incredible Italian Island You've Never Heard Of

Travel<p>Plan a visit to Ischia, but don't let the secret out.<p>There are places you go to get away from it all. And then there’s Sant’Angelo.<p>To get to this Italian village, you take an hour-long ferry from Naples to the volcanic island of Ischia, nestled a few waves’ breadth from Capri in the heart of …

Basic Italian Words and Phrases for Your Trip to Italy

Andiamo! Time to plan that trip to Italy.<p>As a traveler with Italian roots, I’m admittedly a little biased. But there is something special about the …

10 Habits That Will Dramatically Improve Your Life

#1: Stay away from people who erode your quality of life.<p>In Hans Christian Andersen’s fable <i>The Red Shoes</i>, a young girl longs for a pair of pretty red shoes. She ultimately tricks the blind woman who cares for her into buying her a pair. Her love for the red shoes causes her to give them priority …

How To Explore The World On Social Security Income Alone

Sometimes it just pays to retire overseas ... not only can you live much more affordably overall, but you can treat yourself to experiences you might not have access to or be able to afford at home ...<p>View of the Andes Mountains from Cotacachi, Ecuador<p>One of the biggest advantages we've discovered …

The ONE Thing To Do To Be Happy In Any Moment

The importance of gratitude in my life<p>I don’t know about you, but I know I’m grateful for today.<p>I’m grateful for who I am.<p>I’m grateful for where I am …

Things You Should Know Before Visiting Sicily: The Largest Island in The Mediterranean

In Personal Development-speak, we are always talking about goals, outcomes, success, desires and dreams. In other words, all the stuff we want to do, …

10 Low-Carb Recipes Under 400 Calories

When bread is what dreams are made of and pasta is life, cutting carbs on the reg can seem damn near impossible. But, as crazy as it sounds, your …

Space junk is becoming a real threat

It's a serious issue. There's a common misconception that things in space are just kindof floating out there, moving slowly—and given videos of spacewalks and what we see in movies, that's understandable.<p>But it's wrong. There are thousands of satellites orbiting the Earth, moving at incredibly high …

France's 20 most beautiful villages

The best European cities for solo travelers

While monuments should dictate your itinerary in Europe, it's really how you take in the sights that will make your trip. And with the sheer amount of things to see and do, traveling in Europe, especially with a big group, can get overwhelming. That's why it's one of the best continents to visit …

Seven top day trips from Rome

With so much to see in Rome, it can be hard to tear yourself away from the city. But venture out into the surrounding Lazio region and you’ll discover that there are a whole host of historic sites and foodie hotspots to explore. Further afield, Florence, Naples and Pompeii are all within day-trip …

Classroom Management: 3 Important Big-Picture Questions

It's easy for teachers to get caught up in the day-to-day minutiae and focus on things like where we place the tissue box, how to handle broken …

5 Classroom Tools to Measure Student Learning

Quizizz<p>Much like Kahoot, Quizizz allows teachers to gather evidence of student learning in a fun, gamified environment. When teachers create …

Positive, Not Punitive, Classroom Management Tips

Public Versus Private Relationship<p>Community organizers try to help people understand the difference between public and private relationships (I was …

4 Rituals That Will Make You Happy, According to Neuroscience

You get all kinds of happiness advice on the Internet from people who don’t know what they’re talking about. Don’t trust them.<p>Actually, don’t trust …

What should I read next?

If a new school year, new classes and new teachers have got you itching to bury your nose in some new books, then our site members have the perfect books to dispel those back-to-school blues…<p>If a new school year, new classes and new teachers have got you itching to bury your nose in some new books, …

Why Boosting Poor Children’s Vocabulary Is Important for Public Health

One key difference between low-income and affluent babies: the number of words to which they’re exposed.<p>Air­on Pate is boun­cing off the walls.<p>The not-quite-2-year-old is wait­ing with his mom Domi­n­ique and broth­er Aiden, 4, to be seen at a fed­er­ally sub­sid­ized clin­ic for low-in­come wo­men …

The 30 best places to travel alone

In fact, there are many reasons to travel alone. Solo travel allows for more self-reflection, and chances are, you'll take in more of the culture.<p>We've put together a list of 30 places that are ideal for traveling alone, from an adventure in New Zealand to a relaxing getaway in Cinque Terre, …

How to Find the Lowest Airfare? These Three New Strategies

"Don’t listen to anyone who says there’s a magic time or day to buy airfare," says one expert. Here are three new tips that really do work.<p>"Google 'best time to buy airfare' and you’ll find 50 different competing theories. And they’re all wrong," George Hobica told me over lunch the other day. …

Ten Things NOT to Do in Italy

The more time you spend in Italy, the more you’ll notice that Italians love telling you what to do…whether you ask them for advice or not. <i>Try this</i> …

Road Trip: Forgotten Florida

Travel<p>Stroll along through the "real Florida" and glimpse an older, simpler Sunshine State.<p>An easygoing cruise down the long underbelly of the Florida peninsula hearkens back to an older, simpler Sunshine State. This quieter coast with a slower pace preserves tourism 1950s style and what Floridians …

Photography & Travel Product Reviews

7 Beach Destinations You Haven't Tried Yet

When going to a new destination, many of us stick to the beaten path; we'll go where the other tourists are going for the first time around. We love these seven underrated beach destinations; they're rarely a traveler's first choice, but perhaps they should be.<p>When going to a new destination, many …

10 Places to Go While They Are Still Cheap: 2014 Edition

Whether you're on the prowl for a perfect beach or a city bursting with culture, these cities and countries deliver big but cost little.<p>Do your travel ambitions eclipse your bank account? We've got just the fix: destinations around the world that offer plenty of cheap ways to stay, play, and eat. …

10 Travel Apps That Save You Time and Money

From trip planning to packing to getting around a foreign city—and even speaking the language—let these easy-to-use apps power your next vacation!