Samantha Brown's Places to Love

Samantha explores the natural beauty of Lake Taupo; hikes the magnificent Huka Falls, and then learns how to cook in boiling hot geo-thermal pools in Te Puia. Traveling by helicopter, she gets a firsthand view of White Island (an active volcano) before hiking into the bush to learn about the national Kiwi bird.

The Holy City has quite the history, and Samantha takes a walking tour through its hidden alleyways and the French Quarter, including a tour of the haunted Old City Jail. She also visits the City Market to learn about the Gullah tradition of sweetgrass basket weaving.

Samantha learns the art of chocolate making in Interlaken, Switzerland; tries her hand at making duck schnitzel in Texas Hill Country; makes a “Christmas” enchilada in Santa Fe; experiences a traditional “Hangi” feast in Whakatane, New Zealand, and discovers the secrets of making gin in Montreal.

Samantha starts her visit in Charm City at the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM). From there she gets her “Full Hon” on at the wildly popular and yearly HonFest. Samantha also meets historian Lou Fields to learn about the deep American roots within the Fells Point docks.

Samantha experiences the revival of the once earthquake devastated city of Christchurch, starting off her journey at the Gap Filler initiatives, which are innovative installations that temporarily fill the gaps. She explores Akaroa Harbor, and then visits a local farm that protects the endangered Pohatu penguins.

Samantha’s Paradise Coast adventure includes a kayak tour in the salt-waters of Everglades National Park, a visit to the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, and then an introduction to Clyde Butcher, the Ansel dams-esque photographer of the Everglades.

Samantha’s epic cruise along the Rhine River includes a stop at Freiburg, Germany, which is the gateway to the Black Forest; Strasbourg, France and the Petite France neighborhood, and the iconic Heidelberg Castle.

Samantha is instantly engulfed in Cajun and Zydeco music at the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival. The journey continues with a visit to Tabasco to learn the 5-year process of bottling the hot sauce, followed by a kayak tour through the local swamps.

Samantha begins her journey on a tour in Yeonnam-Dong, a re-purposed green space filled with a resurgence of diverse restaurants and coffee shops; visits the Korean Stone Art Museum and strolls through the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival.

Samantha visits the New Mexico Capitol Art Collection; hikes to the peak of Dale Ball Trail #9 overlooking the entire city, and then navigates the Margarita Trail of Santa Fe at the legendary Cowgirl BBQ.

The Valais Region is home to Barryland, where Samantha visits the living museum that serves as a breeder for the famed St. Bernard dogs. In Geneva, Samantha visits the historic Beau Rivage Geneva hotel, and in Nendaz Samantha takes a gondola ride to the top of the Alps.

Samantha visits The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens; historic Joshua Tree National Park, learns how to play the popular local sport FootGolf, and goes on a Mid-Century Modern tour of Palm Springs.

Samantha strolls through Hong Kong’s Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, learns how to play the generational tile-based game, Mahjong, and visits the Kung Wo Bean Curd Factory where she learns about the process of making tofu.