Explore the world’s most captivating towns and unlock the spirit of travel with The Historic Traveler
Travel has always been more than just a destination. It’s a feeling that stirs deep in the soul—a curiosity about lives once lived and cultures that still echo in old stones and whispered legends. For those who crave that connection between past and present, there’s a haven that promises to feed the mind and spirit: The Historic Traveler, your go-to historic travel blog and community.
Founded by award-winning journalist and passionate explorer Jackie Lapin, The Historic Traveler is a vibrant blog and membership community that blends the romance of historic travel destinations with the stories and books that bring them to life. It’s a space for dreamers and doers, for those who yearn to understand not just the architecture of ancient towns, but the souls who once walked their lanes.
A Love Letter to Historic Travel
Jackie Lapin has spent decades wandering the world, camera in hand and wonder in her heart. From the sunlit lanes of Italian hill towns to the quiet alleys of medieval English villages, she’s visited and photographed more than 500 historic places to visit. With each step, she’s sought to capture not just images, but the spirit of a place—the whispers of the past that linger in doorways and market squares.
In her words: “I have been photographing fascinating cities, villages and historic landmarks for decades and it’s time to share my knowledge, photos and my favorite books with people like me, who can’t get enough of imagining what these places must have been like in their prime.”
The result is The Historic Traveler Blog—a twice-weekly window into the world’s most beautiful and storied corners. Each post is a rich tapestry of vibrant photography and carefully researched history, weaving together the past and present in ways that feel alive and deeply human.
A Community for Kindred Spirits
But The Historic Traveler is more than just a blog about historic destinations. At its heart is Historic Traveler International, a membership community designed to gather kindred spirits—those who love to wander in person or in pages, and who find joy in the details that bring history to life.
Membership in this community is about more than access to information—it’s about connection. Historic Traveler International offers members a wealth of carefully curated resources that go far beyond the typical travel blog. From a comprehensive directory of 8,000+ historic novels and history books—organized by country or region—to a matching service for travel companions, the offerings are as varied as the passions of those who join.
Members can lose themselves in the quarterly 80-page digital magazine, The Historic Traveler, filled with evocative articles and photographs that span the globe. They can browse the world’s first directories of historic hotels, bed and breakfasts, and even TV dramas—a treasure trove for anyone who loves to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of another era.
There’s also a book club dedicated to history lovers, a lively community chat room, and monthly virtual gatherings to swap stories and spark new ideas. For those with wanderlust in their veins, there are exclusive travel discounts—some available nowhere else—and updates on historic travel opportunities that might just inspire the next great adventure.
Stories That Bring History to Life
One of the most intriguing aspects of The Historic Traveler is its unique marriage of historic travel destinations and story. For every town, village, or city that Jackie Lapin brings to light, there are book recommendations that help readers feel as if they’ve lived those histories themselves. Whether it’s a sweeping historical novel set in the streets of Paris or a biography of the explorers who first mapped distant lands, each book is a portal into a past that’s never truly gone.
This approach taps into a truth that many travelers and readers feel instinctively: that history isn’t just about dates and monuments. It’s about the people who lived there, the dreams they carried, and the traces they left behind. And sometimes, it’s in the pages of a novel—or a biography --that those voices feel closest.
Not Just for the Armchair Traveler
For some, travel is a memory; for others, it’s a horizon. The Historic Traveler embraces both. Even if your passport is tucked away for now, the blog’s vivid photographs and evocative writing will carry you far from your own doorstep. But if you’re planning your next adventure, Historic Traveler International can help you plan a trip that feels like a journey through time.
Want to sleep in a historic inn where poets once rested their pens? The directory of historic hotels can help you find it. Curious about where to find a good historical mystery novel set in the Scottish Highlands—or a guide to that very castle you’re dreaming of visiting? It’s all there, ready to spark your imagination and your next trip.
You’ll even get access to a complimentary no-cost travel agent and vast array of deep travel discounts.
The Gentle Power of Travelling to Historic Places
What Jackie Lapin and The Historic Traveler understand so well is that travel isn’t just about what you see—it’s about what it awakens in you. When we step into a centuries-old square, we’re stepping into the shared story of humanity. When we read a novel that captures the spirit of a place, we’re weaving ourselves into that story, too.
Travel—real or imagined—expands us. It reminds us to slow down, to wonder, to listen. It teaches us that every stone and every street holds echoes of laughter, faith, and hope. And in the process, it teaches us about ourselves: our curiosity, our empathy, our desire to find beauty even in the smallest details.
An Invitation to Join The Historic Traveler Community
At the end of the day, The Historic Traveler isn’t about ticking places off a list or chasing the next Instagram moment. It’s about feeding the spirit with the richness of the world and sharing that journey with others who feel the same pull. An invitation to join a once-a-month virtual community gathering or book club so that you don’t have feel alone in your passion for far flung places and books.
Jackie Lapin’s vision is one of community—of gathering those who love the quiet grace of an old town square or the adventure of a windswept castle. It’s a place to share not just recommendations, but the kind of wonder that comes when historic travel feels as alive as the present moment.
As Jackie, The Historic-Traveler-In-Chief, says: “This is the first community that caters to both the traveler and the reader. We give you the chance to immerse yourself in history and share your excitement and discoveries with others, while finding travel deals catering to the history lover!”
The Historic Traveler is for everyone who’s ever felt the hush of an ancient cathedral or the warmth of a sunlit piazza and wondered: “Who stood here before me? What stories do these stones still hold?”
Discover the world’s most charming historic towns, find your next historic travel adventure, and connect with a global community of like-minded travelers—at www.TheHistoricTraveler.com. Sign on for free to receive the blog updates newsletter, so you don’t miss a post!
