Explore Up Close

More photos from our summer adventure in Quebec!

Merci beaucoup to everyone who joined us for our July trip to Quebec! This is truly one of our favorite places to be, especially in the summertime. The quaint towns, pristine countryside and natural beauty, and fantastic stories to explore with friendly local folks - it doesn’t get better than this!

Scottish Highlands escape for August!

Our whale-watching excursion on the St. Lawrence River began in a soupy, thick fog, and we wondered if we would see anything at all! We enjoyed the commentary from our naturalist guides on the boat, and we were lucky to spot a few seals. The cool weather was quite a change from summer in the Carolinas. A storm began to build, and we started to head back to land. Suddenly, the wind cleared the clouds in the middle of the water, and we were able to stop to watch a pod of minke whales feeding! Later, as we made our way back to shore, a perfect rainbow appeared in the mist, and we saw blue skies over our hotel….where local wine and cheese was waiting. Truly a magical and memorable day!

Waking up to a misty, cool morning in Tadoussac made for some wonderfully dramatic photos! This grand old resort hotel (most recently rebuilt in the 1940s) catches your eye wherever you are in this tiny village, but that iconic red roof is especially striking on a foggy day…

What’s that? How did the moody weather affect our whale-watching excursion? Check out our next post to see for yourself!

Idyllic scenes from our time in Quebec’s pretty Charlevoix region - windmills and wild roses, lavender farms, Victorian homes, and dramatic views of the Saint-Lawrence as we made our way north!

It’s been an exciting week for Explore Up Close! We were honored to receive our second Heritage Tourism Award at the South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards. This award recognizes an organization that uses South Carolina’s cultural resources to promote tourism and historic preservation, and we are so grateful to be able to shine a light on the rich layers of history and special places in our home state through our trips. This award holds special significance for us, as we celebrate 20 years of Explore Up Close this year.

Thank you to Preservation South Carolina for this special honor, and for hosting a wonderful event in Columbia for the historic preservation community!

What does the first day of an Explore Up Close trip look like in our nation’s capital? 12 travelers enjoying the panoramic views from the Old Post Office, wandering the National Portrait Gallery, taking a fascinating peek into the National Building Museum, and exploring the city’s African-American heritage, with a centrally located base at our lovely Beaux-Arts hotel!

It was nothing short of magical to swim in Hierve el Agua, nestled in the mountains east of Oaxaca’s Central Valley. 🌵💦 Though the name means “boiling water,” the natural springs were actually named for the bubbling appearance. Take a dip in these cliffside pools, and you’ll find they’re a perfect swimming temperature for a hot day - about 75 degrees. The most striking feature? As water seeped from the travertine bedrock over millennia, the mineral deposits formed a “frozen waterfall” made of stone – and the views are spectacular.

New year, new adventures…come explore with us in 2024! Check out our latest trips on our website, and join us for a small group adventure this year.

Allow us to introduce you to beautiful Bath Gardens (in Blythe, Georgia) - these European-inspired gardens were founded in 1958, by the grandfather of one of our Explore Up Close travelers! These historic gardens are open for public use, and they are currently hosting a Matching Gift fundraiser to assist with their preservation efforts through January 6th. All contributions, no matter how small, are deeply appreciated!

Here's the link to the Bath Gardens Foundation website for those who are interested in learning more about this Southeastern gem: www.bathgardens.com

The photo below was taken by our founder Chumley Cope during a visit to the gardens in November 2022. If you're interested in exploring more hidden treasures of the Southeast with us this spring, check out our March trip to Sumter, South Carolina! https://www.exploreupclose.com/trips/sumter2024/

Happy New Year! Exploration awaits in 2024 - we hope you'll join us for a small group adventure in the year ahead!

Check out our upcoming trips on our website, and book your spot today: https://www.exploreupclose.com/upcoming-trips/

We also launched our latest Travel Catalog in December (pictured below) - the cover features our May 2024 trip to Pittsburgh.

If you're not on our mailing list, you can sign up on our website here: https://exploreupclose.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=03100931905e90e4f95198e57&id=b333d3bafb&e=c6473e0723

When in France, an Explore Up Close trip wouldn’t be complete without a stay in a château! And, did we mention the on-site winery? ✨

Southwestern France! Off to explore the beautiful historical regions of the Dordogne and Périgord. Take a peek at our lovely 13th century chateau lodging - moody weather on the first day only added to the drama ✨

gorgeous buildings of Toulouse, from the 13th century to the 1930s! A perfect short stop before we kicked off our trip exploring . . .

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our latest Appalachian Explorer trip!

This Explore Up Close small group adventure took us to Ashe County, North Carolina and the one-of-a-kind River House Inn. Our merry band of travelers enjoyed excellent food, meeting local artisans, charming small towns, the beloved Ben Long Fresco Trail, and yes, Christmas trees. Come see for yourself!

4 spaces remain: Join us September 15-17th for a weekend of jazz, gourmet dinners, & hidden history at Kilburnie!

Our small group of travelers will spend two nights at beautiful Kilburnie, the Inn at Craig Farm - one of South Carolina's top bed & breakfasts, which dates back to the late 18th and 19th centuries! Kilburnie is one of our favorite inn experiences, and you’ll soon see why. The setting showcases the best of rural Piedmont beauty, and the house itself – and its property “cousin,” Craig Farm – are historic treasures, each with a unique story. We’ll enjoy a private tour of both properties during our stay. The inn’s owner, Johannes Tromp, is an acclaimed former restauranteur and the consummate host – preparing extraordinary breakfasts, sharing his wealth of knowledge about the Lancaster area, and offering world-class hospitality.

What’s for dinner? A private French chef, Patrick Garrivier, will be catering two outstanding multi-course dinners on site for our small group (keep scrolling for this trip's featured menus - and yes, Chef Patrick can gladly cater to your dietary needs!). Dinners will also feature excellent wine pairings selected by our favorite sommelier.

Finally, discover South Carolina’s Olde English District with special site visits and stories connected to the region’s Native Americans, the early pioneers who traveled down the Great Wagon Road, and the American Revolution. We’ll also drive in every direction from Lancaster, taking in some of the Southeast’s prettiest countryside, filled with intriguing and “off the radar” stories.

Finally, our group will be graced by the musical genius of jazz pianist Noel Friedline and chanteuse Maria Howell during a performance at the Lancaster Cultural Arts Center - another splendid story of historic preservation. Visit our website or call us to sign up today!

You’re invited - join us in late August as we head to the River House Inn! This trip is the latest in our unique “Appalachian Explorer” itineraries, where we’ll discover mountain stories, historic foodways and folkways, and a peaceful environment that eludes commercialism and tourist crowds.

https://www.exploreupclose.com/trips/ashe-county/

Ashe County’s bucolic High Country proudly remains the home of farmers, artisans and traditional craft (including Ben Long's splendid fresco churches), "mountain people" and those seeking a true mountain refuge.

Ashe County is the "mother" of mountain farming - from the beloved Ashe County Cheese Company, to blueberry, alpaca and Christmas tree farms...and that’s just the beginning. This adventure itself will be a top-shelf odyssey in delightful farm-to-table experiences and meals.

And our home for three nights? The River House Inn. The River House Inn is a hotel with a soul, with a wonderful story of preservation. Located beside the bucolic New River, with a “sitting porch,” rolling grounds, and restaurant that serves as a festive gathering place for food, live music, and conversation.

The River House Inn is owned by Gayle Winston, who singlehandedly restored the property, after leaving her life as a New York Broadway producer behind to return to her North Carolina roots. The Inn regularly hosts local musicians, who have the wonderful tradition of showing up for a "Sunday Salon" to entertain guests, followed by delicious dining at the Inn’s acclaimed restaurant.

You don’t want to miss this trip! Sign up on our website, or contact us directly for more details & book your spot today:
https://www.exploreupclose.com/trips/ashe-county/

Thanks to & those who joined us in June exploring Ireland’s “Sacred Sites” - from important early Christian monastic sites and churches to remarkable Celtic stone circles, burial tombs, and dolmens! Our visit fittingly coincided with the summer solstice - which made for lovely late evening walks, 10 pm sunsets, and a touch of Ireland’s fairy magic in the air…

1. Glendalough in County Wicklow
2. a stone circle of County Cork
3. Fourknocks passage tomb (in a memorable Explore Up Close moment, we accessed this tomb by stopping by a neighboring farmhouse to ask for the key!)
4. Brownshill dolmen
5. High Crosses of Monasterboice
6. Ruins of Jerpoint Abbey
7. One of the many fine stone carvings preserved at Jerpoint
8 - 10. The Rock of Cashel - site where Ireland’s great High King, Brian Boru was crowned

We heard it’s been raining in England…?

every day is Earth Day, right? inspiring scenes from our recent ramble on the Natchez Trace 🌎

on the road again . . . and not just any road: the Natchez Trace! This scenic parkway leads you 444 miles along the “Old Natchez Trace” - one of America’s oldest travel routes. We’ve been exploring scenic parts of Mississippi, Alabama, & Tennessee with a small group of 8 travelers + our Explore Up Close guides. Thanks to everyone who joined us for this adventure along some of the Southeast’s prettiest backroads!

Photos from a truly amazing trip to New Zealand! Even the famously rainy Milford Sound smiled on us with blue skies & sunshine ☀️Thank you so much to our lovely group of intrepid travelers for sharing this adventure with us.