Destinations Archives

Philadelphia’s Powel House, the place General Washington danced.

The Powel House on Society Hill near the Delaware River is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the United States. The Powel House on Society Hill near the Delaware River is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the United States. Built in 1765, it stands witness to over 250-years of history as a center for political elites. "The place General Washington danced" is the rallying cry that kept the Powel House from demolition. I am traveling with my companion Angel. I drag him around to this kind of cultural landmark when I can, even if I must prop him up with a stiff drink. During the American Revolution, Samuel and ...

By Troy Broussard|2025-10-14T15:14:22-05:00December 14, 2024|Destinations|

The League-Kempner Mansion in Galveston is endangered without its determined new savior

The League-Kempner Mansion represents the last great house of the Broadway Castle District designed by Nicholas Clayton. One of the most intriguing houses in Texas is, until recently, one of the most endangered. The last of Galveston's privately owned Gilded Age homes, the League-Kempner Mansion is in danger of loss without its determined new savior. At 1710 Broadway, the home was built by Galveston aristocracy John Charles League and Nellie Ball in 1893. It represents the last great house of the Broadway Castle District designed by Nicholas Clayton, architect of the Bishop's Palace. A pair of limestone Ionic pilasters frames the front door. Following League's death in 1916, matriarch of the Kempner family Eliza Seinsheimer Kempner ...

By Troy Broussard|2022-11-13T14:41:49-05:00November 10, 2022|Destinations|

The historic Fanthorp Inn: Four Presidents and forty Spittoons

Hidden down a scenic road about 20 miles northeast of Washington-on-the-Brazos, the Fanthorp Inn captured my imagination the first time I set eyes upon it How can a building exist in four different countries without ever being moved? Simple: the structure was part of Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the USA, the Confederate States of America, and back to the USA again. Hidden down a scenic road in Grimes County, about 20 miles northeast of Washington-on-the-Brazos, the Fanthorp Inn captured my imagination the first time I set eyes upon it. So I found the occasion to step back in time for a TroysArt Travelogue. Joining me for the excursion into Texas history is my gal pal Stacey Abbott, ...

By Troy Broussard|2022-05-20T10:30:31-05:00May 19, 2022|Destinations|

I haven’t been everywhere. So why not a trip to Cleveland?

Tennessee Williams infamously said, “America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland.” I adore the quote, and I have used it before—after all, I do love New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans! But I haven’t been everywhere. So why not a trip to Cleveland? And one must appreciate the randomness of a trip to Cleveland for my first flight since we were all locked down for Coronavirus. The Arcade, a quintessential Cleveland landmark, is where I find my hotel, the Hyatt Regency at the Arcade. I knew nothing about Cleveland. Who really does? The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the theme song for the Drew Carey Show ...

By Troy Broussard|2021-11-10T14:19:52-05:00November 9, 2021|Destinations|

The hyped & hidden highlights, haunts, & hangouts of New Orleans

Bart Simpson once said, "When the Big Easy calls, you gotta accept the charges." And that has pretty much been my motto for years. So in October, while having dinner with a handsome fellow, I discovered that he had never been to New Orleans—and that sounded like a call to me! That meal was our first time to get together but we had a great rapport and a lot of fun. So within a week we were set for hitting the hyped & hidden highlights, haunts, & hangouts of New Orleans. My BFF gal-pal, former Lake Charles glamazon, Terry now lives in New Orleans. Not that I ever need a reason to hit the Crescent City. But my ...

By Troy Broussard|2019-12-23T11:33:51-05:00December 15, 2019|Destinations|

Everything you need to know about Vincent van Gogh

Vincent’s self-portraits have established him as one of the most famous faces in history. Self Portrait, 1887, oil on cardboard. Most people whom I know have a favorite artist. And there are dozens of artists that I adore, even crave. I love Eduard Manet for his strong color and composition; I love John Singer Sargent for his scale and painterly brushwork; but above all, I love Vincent van Gogh for his ebullient colors, skewed perspectives, and life story. So imagine my excitement when I heard that an assemblage of 50 paintings by van Gogh would be exhibited in Houston--and only in Houston. This TroysArt post is not only about Vincent van Gogh: His Life in Art at the ...

By Troy Broussard|2019-04-28T12:54:10-05:00April 26, 2019|Artists, Destinations, Galleries & Museums|

Martin Dies State Park: A tent near the water

November 2018: Imagine an evening in the wilderness, gathered around a campfire with friends and a few bottles of wine. An airy tent with an inflatable mattress and fresh sheets is only stumbling distance. A vacation is not about distance traveled or money spent but rather about moments shared. And my recent escape in a tent near the water at Martin Dies State Park in Jasper, Texas, was just that. My recent escape in a tent near the water at Martin Dies State Park in Jasper, Texas. Photo by John Sherman. In March I penned one of my signature TroysArt travelogues about a camping trip to Guadalupe River State Park (TroysArt – Camping is just code for drinking ...

By Troy Broussard|2018-11-16T16:19:09-05:00November 15, 2018|Destinations|

San Francisco—hobos, homos, Rice-A-Roni, and the Golden Gate Bridge?

August 2018. What does anyone, who has not been, know about San Francisco besides hobos, homos, Rice-A-Roni, and the Golden Gate Bridge? At my age and with the travel I have accomplished, it seems crazy that I have not been there. While working in California, years back, I would occasionally fly in and out of San Francisco but that is only geography. Tennessee Williams said, “America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland.” By Williams’ ringing endorsement alone, San Francisco warrants a visit. So this summer I set my sights on the Golden Gate City. My best gal-pal Stacey and I have been inseparable for over twenty years but, other than spending weekends ...

By Troy Broussard|2018-08-26T16:24:29-05:00August 16, 2018|Destinations|

Camping is just code for drinking under the stars

March 2018, Guadalupe River State Park - Walking the dog, I gaze toward the heavens to watch Southwest jets in airways that traverse the city of Houston and I imagine what destinations are in store for the passengers aboard. I yearn to visit new places, but travel is not always about boarding a plane. Travel can be just a matter of picking a place to go. So in conversation with my friends Skip and John, I mentioned that I was overdue for camping, to which Skip reminded that it had been nine years and a dog ago since joining them. Given my urbane deportment and urban existence, some might be surprised that camping appeals to me. But camping is just ...

By Troy Broussard|2018-04-28T12:42:41-05:00March 8, 2018|Destinations, Lifestyle|

A Confederacy of Vices

MARCH 2017: A GLAMOR TO GUTTER LITERARY TRAVEL LOG OF FRENCH QUARTER TOURISM, WITH OCCASSIONAL REFERENCES TO A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES. New Orleans is one of the extraordinary cities, a hybrid of old and new world cultures, the perfect package of people, architecture, attitude, and vibe. Tennessee Williams once said, “America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland.” But what about Chicago? What about Las Vegas? What about Miami? The point is well made, New Orleans is unique and there is no place like it. For a year, my friend Graham and I discussed a trip. We visited with a small group years ago, but there was more we wanted to see. ...

By Troy Broussard|2017-03-29T19:37:37-05:00March 23, 2017|Destinations, TroysArt|

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