In August 2026, we set off on a new-to-us Field Trip with 36 excited travelers to the Loire Valley in France. Our goal: Six châteaux, one basilica, one cathedral, and the fantastic home of a beloved polymath. We started in Paris, ended back in Paris, and over-achieved our goal in between. It wasn’t all-history-all-the time (we were in France, there’s wine and cheese to be had) but the past came alive for all of us.
In this episode, we’re joined by most of those travelers who share the history they learned and touched, the stories of women who lived where we stood, and other adventures with friends new and old along the way in beautiful France.
Below is a pictoral travelogue of places we all talked about in this episode!
The Paris Olympic 2024 Cauldron was on display…and lit!…in the Tuileries Gardens in Paris. Photo: Nancy R.Our first stop after leaving two days in Paris: Chateau de Blois! Photo Sari G.Inside the main staircase at Blois. Photo, Sari G.After settling into our home base in Tours, we visited the largest of our stops- Chateau de Chambord. This is the iconic double-helix staircase- people can ascend and decend at the same time and never see each other! Photo, Victoria C.Some of us waving from the staircase windows at Château Azay le Rideau. Photo, Suelynne R.Azey le Rideau, credit Beckett G.We had Chenonceau to ourselves! This is the gallery that goes over the river credit, Susan V.Dinner glasswear, Chenonceau, L’Orangerie Credit Beckett G.Chateu de Chenonceau at night after our spectacular dinner in the Orangerie! Photo, Michelle M.From the stunning gardens at Chateuau de Villandry, Photo, a very soggy Nancy R.White eggplant at Villandry credit Susan V.Black peppers, Villandry credit Susan V.Eleanor of Aquitaine and King Henry II’s effigies at Abbey Royale de Fontevraud. Photo, Jerilyn C.
If joining us on a Field Trip sounds like something you would like to do, there are still a few openings for our 2027 trips to Paris in April and San Francisco in September. We will be opening up the final tour of 2027, Japan in October, soon! Visit Like Minds Travel for more information!
The History Chicks Podcast
Beckett Graham and Susan Vollenweider: Two women. Half the population. Several thousand years of history. About an hour.
