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Travel with Kate Town hall Paris

On the winding road to my Paris wedding

So the good news is, all went well with my appointments at the Paris town hall and the US Embassy. That is, everything BUT that the town hall refused to give us a wedding date! Long story short, our town hall has a stipulation that once a dossier is submitted, there is an additional step before you are fully approved. It is an antiquated process that is just plain silly. Basically, they must publish an announcement that is visible to the public for two weeks stating our plans to be married. It is called “La publication des bans.” I guess it comes from the idea of allowing community members the chance to object in the case that there is knowledge…

travel with kate snorkel kayak maui turtle

Learning the way of the sea turtle in Maui

It was a beautiful morning in Maui. The sun had already peaked up over the mountains to the East and a light, humid breeze rustled through the palm trees. I ate breakfast at the lovely buffet at the Fairmont Kea Lani at 8am. Papaya and strawberries. Toast with smoked salmon, cream cheese and capers. A spinach, mushroom omelet. A pot of coffee. And by 8:45, I was driving down the road to Makena Landing Park (less than 10 minutes away) to go for a kayak and snorkel with Maui Kayaking Adventures. Despite this idyllic morning, I was feeling tense. Just after my kayaking tour, I needed to hustle back to the hotel for hair and makeup for a video I…

Getting Married in Paris. The Process Begins…

I have to be honest. I’ve always struggled with how revealing I should be on my blog about my personal life. I’ve shared incredibly personal things from time to time. And other times I’ve chosen to shy away from sharing my life – sticking to travel-related topics. But right now, huge changes are taking place in my world with a delicious travel theme. And I am feeling compelled to share them with you. Today I am writing from Paris, in my friend’s small apartment in the 10th Arrondissement. I’m here on a mission – a mission bigger than I have ever endeavored before. I’m getting married! No, not today or tomorrow, but later this year. My fiancée is French. And…

Kate Thomas Travel Dorset

Exploring the Countryside in Dorset, England #VIDEO

On my last trip to London I took the train to Dorset in the English countryside to explore its charming villages and green, open spaces. Like many, I’ve harbored the dream of experiencing the English countryside for years. In my mind, I held images of rolling green hills dotted with quaint villages and Downton-Abbey-style estates. So I decided to get out of London and into the English countryside to finally see it for myself. And you know what? It was not far from my imagination. The region I visited is called Dorset (which is actually Southwest of London, I misspoke in the video). And Sherborne, one of the many small towns there, is known for having a complex history dating back…

The UK’s Jurassic Coast for Beginners #Video

Along the southern coast of Great Britain in the regions of Dorset and East Devon is the Jurassic Coast. As you can see in the video there are all kinds of fun to be had in this dynamic landscape. In certain areas, you can also go fossil hunting, rock climbing, and horseback riding on the beach. And some locals simply like to hike along the cliffs for miles. If you are hoping to see multiple hubs along the coastline all on the same trip, you’ll want a car. But if you stay in one destination like Bridport you could get away with no car, and simply take a taxi to the beach and to the train station. In the video…

The Women’s Travel Fest 2015 #VIDEO

This month I attended an event in San Francisco that was created entirely to empower and encourage women to travel. The Women’s Travel Fest is open to the public for anyone who wants to learn more about travel, how to plan their next trip, and to meet other courageous women who want to journey the world. I went to last year’s event as a speaker and returned this year to cover the event for Expedia in the video above. And I have to say, it is truly a coming-together of like-minded women yearning to make their travel dreams come true. The energy and camaraderie was electric. On stage were knowledgeable women who have created careers in travel as journalists, magazine…