Now that summer’s here, I’m thinking a lot about skin care, i.e. how do I ensure I don’t get burned to a crisp every time I sit in the park for half an hour. I want to tan but, alas, my Scandinavian genes don’t make it easy.
Harvard University’s Houghton Library was surprised to find that one of its books—an 1881 French volume called “Des destinées de l’ame”—was bound in the skin of an anonymous woman who died of apoplexy or a stroke while confined to a mental institution. Even stranger, the book itself examined the nature of the soul and life after death.
This crumbling New Orleans mansion was once one of the city’s grandest homes, built for the wealthy German cotton merchant, Florence Luling, in 1865. It was later used as the Louisiana Jockey Club’s headquarters, then turned into eight private apartments. Today, the site sits abandoned behind a rusted iron fence decorated with serifed “L’s.”
This itinerary explores some of Pennsylvania’s most remarkable natural landscapes, from waterfalls and scenic overlooks to forests and geological wonders. Together, these stops reveal the diversity and beauty that can be found across the state.
