Two more castles have been added to the Castle Travel Challenge. There are now 12 castles  in the challenge with more to come.

​The first castle added this week was Cité de Carcassonne. It is a castle town located in southern France. It makes for a great family destination. Explore the castle, take in the beautiful views, and enjoy learning about history of this area that dates back over 2000 years. Make sure you have time to checkout the town as well. Its medieval streets lined with shops and museums are fun to explore.

The second castle is Caerphilly Castle in Wales. It dates back to the 13th century. This medieval castle is the second largest in the United Kingdom. It is surrounded by artificial lakes built to protect the castle from attackers. It's unique concentric rings of walls inspired the designs of future castles including Edward I's castle in North Wales.

Caerphilly Castle is another kid friendly destination. It's large outdoor spaces, towers and reenactments make for a fun day out. The nearby town is a great place to stop and get something to eat.

More information:

• Cité de Carcassonne
• Caerphilly Castle

Sachsenhausen was a German political prison from 1936 until the end of World War II. It was here that Joseph Stalin’s oldest son was held during the war. The Nazi's treated the prisoners harshly, often starving them and killing them openly. The camp contained a gas chamber and prisoners were subject to medical experiments.

This destination is best for older audience. My 12 year old son who is into World War II history would be interested in learning about it but it’s not for everyone.

Looking for other World War II destinations to visit, check out our Ultimate World War II Experience guide.

Learn more about Sachsenhausen:

• Wikipedia
• Website

Duckwyn is traveling around the world hiding eggs in fun locations. So far he's hidden eggs in Boston, New York, London, Paris, and Rome. If you come across one of his hiding spot between now and April 4th, be sure to get close enough to add the 2021 Easter Egg Hunt sticker to your collection. More cities are coming very soon.

Update: New locations added in Tokyo, Barcelona, Washington DC, and San Francisco.

Not near a major city this weekend? Let us know and we'll arrange to have Duckwyn stop by your town or city.

To take part in the Duckwyn Easter egg hunt you'll need to have a Duckwyn account. You can signup for the paid account (free for 1 year) or you can use the free account and still take part in the fun.

Log into the app and look for a picture of Duckwyn holding an Easter basket on your map. Once you get close enough to him you'll be able to add the 2021 Easter Egg Hunt virtual sticker to your collection. While you're out, be sure look for the many other historical destinations nearby that you can also add to your collection.

In celebration of Women's History Month, I've put together a new web page to showcase the people, places, and events that have changed our world. Whether it is Harriet Tubman rescuing hundreds of slaves and bringing them to freedom or Amelia Earhart flying her way into the history books, there are numerous women that risked everything to make our world a better place.

​This page honors these women and the many others who didn't take "no", "you can't", and "that's the way it is" as an answer. Instead, they empowered themselves and the people around them to open new doors and opportunities for women everywhere.

​Check out the new Women's History page and make sure to get your Duckwyn Travel app so you can learn about these women and places as you travel the world.
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Harriet Tubman

Grace Hopper

Amelia Earhart

Maya Angelou

As we wrap-up this year's Black History Month celebration, take some time to go through the list of places you can explore using the Duckwyn Travel app to learn about Black History. Check their web sites as some of these places may not be open due to Covid. 

The last place I wanted to call attention to before the month ends is the Booker T. Washington National Monument. It was here that Washington was born into slavery. He would go on to become an author, orator, and adviser to multiple U.S. presidents. He worked tirelessly to promote black education and entrepreneurship. It was his life goal to build long-term economic strength and bring pride to the African-American community. If you're in Virginia, make sure to set some time aside to visit this national monument to learn more about Booker T. Washington's life.
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More information

• Booker T. Washington National Monument
• Wikipedia 

Frederick Douglass escaped slavery and went on to become a leader of the abolitionist movement. His work in the movement in Massachusetts and New York led to him becoming famous for his oratory and antislavery writings. Later in life he would join President Rutherford B. Hayes' administration as the marshal of the District of Columbia. It was the first time a black man successfully received a federal position which required Senate approval. He was also the first African American to receive a vote for president by a major political party.

The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site preserves Douglass' home and estate and pays tribute to this great African American leader.

More Information:

• Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
• Wikipedia
• ​Historical places to learn more about Black History

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland. She was beaten and whipped as a child and even hit in the head with a metal weight (the weight was thrown at another slave but hit her instead). She would suffer from dizziness and pain for the rest of her life. None of this stopped her from bringing hundreds of slaves to freedom.

Tubman escaped to freedom in 1849 making her way to Philadelphia. Despite being free, she risked her freedom over and over, returning south to rescue her relatives and other enslaved people. During the Civil War, Tubman worked with the Union Army as a scout and spy. She became the first woman to lead an armed expedition in war when she helped liberate over 700 slaves at the raid at Combahee Ferry.

Today, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park in Maryland commemorates her life. If you're in southern Maryland then you should visit to learn more about this extraordinary woman.

Additional Information:

• Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park
• Harriet - the 2019 movie about the life of Harriet Tubman
• Wikipedia

Visit the George Washington Carver National Monument in Missouri to learn about the great scientist and inventor, George Washington Carver.

Carver was the most prominent black scientist of the early 20th century. His work promoting environmentalism helped improve the lives of the farming community. He developed techniques to improve the soil, including crop rotation. Carver's achievements and inventions led Time magazine to call him a "Black Leonardo", a reference to the great Leonardo da Vinci whose inventions also changed the world.

The national monument preserves Carver's boyhood home and the 240 acres of land around it. Check out the nature trail, museum, and exhibits to learn more about his life.

 More information:

• George Washington Carver National Monument
• Wikipedia