Explore Europe’s Amazing History Through Travel with Jackie Lapin of The Historic Traveler
Travel becomes something entirely different when you understand the stories beneath your feet.
And in this episode, I’m joined by Jackie Lapin, founder of The Historic Traveler, to explore exactly how history and travel intertwine in the most meaningful ways.
In this conversation about history through travel, Jackie shares how her love of travel began just after college and how an early fascination with history — sparked during childhood and nurtured through years of reading — shaped the way she experiences the world.
From Ireland to Pompeii, she explains why knowing the context of a place transforms a visit from interesting into unforgettable.
We also talk about Jackie’s approach to blending books and travel, including how historical novels, biographies, and audiobooks can deepen your connection to the places you visit.
She shares why reading before you go changes what you notice once you arrive.
And how learning through story makes history through travel feel accessible rather than overwhelming.
If you’ve ever felt drawn to historic places but weren’t sure how to truly connect with them, this episode will inspire you to slow down, look closer, and travel with deeper curiosity and understanding.
Want to chat more about history through travel?
Email me at Lynne@WanderYourWay.com
In this episode:
0:40: Intro
1:35: Introducing Jackie Lapin
4:35: Jackie’s Story
14:45: Book directory & offerings
24:56: Experiences through history
28:08: Favorite sites
31:13: Historic hotels
32:34: Other favorites
43:15: Final tips & thoughts
47:10: Wrapping it up
53:39: Listener review
Explore Europe’s Amazing History Through Travel with Jackie Lapin of The Historic Traveler
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I love weaving history into my travels.
I may not be a full-blown history buff, but I do love that moment of standing somewhere and realizing what happened right where you’re standing — or maybe imagining what happened in the case of those mysterious stone circles!
In this episode, I’m joined by Jackie Lapin, founder of The Historic Traveler, to talk about history through travel.
And how understanding the past can completely change the way we experience a destination.
Jackie has spent decades blending her love of reading, photography and travel into a style of travel that’s rooted in curiosity and context.
Jackie’s story
Jackie’s love of travel began just after college on a Caribbean cruise that stopped at nine different destinations.
She brought her camera along, and that trip sparked something that never really went away.
Even during her working years, she’d take every opportunity she could to travel — always with a camera and always drawn to historic places.
I can relate to the “always with camera” piece for sure!
She credits some of that wanderlust to her father.
But the real spark came from combining travel with storytelling.
Photographing the places she visited became a way to remember them — something I can also appreciate.
And over time those images and experiences began to shape how she explored the world.
Jackie’s fascination with history started young — with a fourth-grade field trip to the California missions.
That experience stayed with her and eventually led to a minor in California history in college, where she studied under a professor who brought the past to life through storytelling.
From there, reading became a huge part of how Jackie engaged with history.
Historical novels, biographies, and nonfiction gave her context for the places she visited and helped her understand the people and events that shaped them.
Over time, the reading and travel began to work hand in hand.
Why context changes your perspective
One of the biggest themes in our conversation was how much richer travel becomes when you know even a little of the story behind a place.
Jackie shared how reading about destinations like Florence, Salisbury, Pompeii, and Holyrood Palace gave her a deeper connection once she arrived.
When you understand what happened in a room, a square, or a set of ruins, you experience it differently.
It’s no longer just a beautiful building or an interesting site — it becomes a place tied to real people and real events.
And it doesn’t have to mean reading dense history books.
Historical fiction, biographies, or even audiobooks can provide enough background to make a visit more meaningful.
Sometimes just a little context is all it takes to transform the experience.
Resources for travelers who love history
Jackie has built an impressive collection of tools through The Historic Traveler to help travelers connect with the past.
One of her biggest resources is a directory of thousands of books organized by destination, making it easy to find reading material tied to the places you plan to visit.
She also publishes regular articles that offer quick historical overviews, photography and book recommendations — perfect for travelers who want context without diving into hours of research.
Whether you’re a history lover or just history-curious, there are plenty of ways to add depth to your travels.
I will emphasize this again, there is a lot of really good information on the website!
Tips for getting more out of historical sites
Not everyone considers themselves a history enthusiast, and that’s okay.
Jackie shared some simple ways to get more out of visiting historic places:
- Take a local tour.
- Ask questions.
- Stay curious.
And one of her best tips — which I love and agree with 100%?
Don’t hang out at the back of the group.
Stand near the guide, engage in conversation, and you’ll learn far more than you would just listening from a distance.
Even small efforts to understand what you’re seeing can make a big difference in how memorable and meaningful the experience becomes.
Favorite historic places in Europe
We also talked about some of Jackie’s favorite destinations in Europe — places where history feels layered into everyday life.
Cities like Bruges, Florence, Prague, Verona, and Taormina offer that sense of stepping into the past while still being vibrant places to explore today.
These are the kinds of destinations where you can walk through centuries of history in a single afternoon, noticing how the past and present exist side by side.
Final thoughts on history through travel
What I loved most about this conversation with Jackie is that it wasn’t about turning travel into a history lesson.
It was about adding meaning, context.
When you understand even a little of the story behind a place, you don’t just see it — you connect with it.
You notice more.
You remember more.
And the experience stays with you long after the trip ends.
That’s the magic of history through travel.
It turns a beautiful trip into a meaningful one
And it reminds us that every destination has a story worth discovering.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means I will earn a commission – at no extra cost to you — if you click on the link and purchase anything from these trusted companies. It helps Wander Your Way, a small business, stay in business. Thanks for your support!
Like it? Pin it!
