We are thrilled to share with you today’s guest interview with Margo Millure, the publisher and editor of The Travel Belles, an online magazine featuring lifestyle and travel for women. In this interview, Margo shares her experiences traveling around the world and exploring different cultures and destinations.

See below for the interview (NOTE: All images throughout this post are owned by Margo Millure):

1. You’ve traveled all over the world! Tell us about your favorite destination and why it’s ranked number 1 on your list.

My favorite destination is France. I have spent a lot of time there, including a two year stint in the early 90s living as a “trailing spouse” with my husband, Dave, who at the time was an executive with Allied Signal. France is remarkably diverse; you can hop on a high-speed train in Paris and within minutes you are in the countryside, and within hours you can be in any corner of the country, each with its own unique character–places as diverse as Champagne, Provence and Brittany. I have found that repeat visits to a country bring a new dimension and comfort level, which can allow you to get to know a culture in a very meaningful way.

2. What is the one destination that you have never been to but is at the top of your bucket list? What have you heard or seen about this destination that has inspired you to visit in the future?

I have a roving list of spots, depending on the day, but the country that comes up most is India. Seeing it in pictures and movies, and having read several books that feature the culture (particularly Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri and Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni) have captured my imagination. My husband travels there several times a year for business, and more than any place else that he’s been to that I haven’t, hearing about his experiences with the people and the culture intrigue me.

3. What is your favorite destination for wine tasting and why?

That’s a hard one! Two that stand out in my mind in the past year or two are the Langhe region of Piedmont, Italy, and Sancerre in the eastern Loire Valley of France.

The town of Barolo as seen from atop the wine museum

The wine in the Langhe was simply some of the best I’ve ever had, which surprised me because I was expecting all full bodied red wines; but the wines in the region were actually very diverse. Even though the vineyards are a bit “hit or miss” as far as being open and requiring appointments, there are plenty of opportunities in some of the major wine producing towns, such as Barolo, to learn a lot about the winemaking process and history, and what the heck it is exactly that you are tasting.

I spent a week in Sancerre last fall and was able to wander in and out of the town’s wine shops, tasting a couple here and there and chatting with the shopkeepers, all which suited my style, and novice sensibilities!

4. What type of travel is your favorite and why (adventure, small group, solo, etc.)?

I love it all–with family, friends, and solo. What these ideally can have in common, in my mind, is a yin and yang approach: a reasonable amount of ordered preparation, allowing a wide berth for adaptation and impulse on the spot. Even small group travel can feature these elements with the right preparation, experience, and adventurous spirit behind it.

About Margo Millure

Margo Millure is the publisher and editor of The Travel Belles, an online magazine featuring lifestyle and travel for women. She believes nothing comes close to getting out of town every now and then, as a means to fully appreciate and engage with the amazing world we live in. She lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Popular Posts:

• Rejuvenate Your Mind and Body in St. Lucia
• I Spy Africa: Blog Photo Contest
• A Stroll Down Paris’ Champs-Elysees
• Celebrate Your Love for Culture, Music, and Dance in Costa Rica
• Traveling Journey Guest – Katherine Letterman