We've talked about France many times before on Going Places . But this week, we're going to see the country through a slightly different perspective. Joan Harkins lives in Seattle and recently started importing cider and calvados — a French apple brandy — from the Normandy region of France. She spends a lot of time traveling in the more distant parts of the countryside, away from the path usually beaten by tourists. Her recommendations: 1. It's easier than ever to research small places. Google

Going on vacation can give you a break no matter where you end up. But for a lot of people, “getting away” means going to a place where not even the roads can reach you. KNKX travel expert Matthew Brumley is a huge fan of heading to islands for time away. He grew up on one (Whidbey), lives on one (Bainbridge), and often vacations on one.

Editor's note: This piece originally ran in March of 2016, but our travel expert's advice stands: Sometimes on a long trip, it's good to take a break. “I hope I miss my flight sometimes.” Not words you expect to hear from a flyer as frequent as KNKX travel expert Matthew Brumley. But he's a huge fan of layovers, including those that begin when the pilot comes on and announces a flight delay before takeoff.

The high season is approaching across much of Europe. Summertime crowds are swelling in the centers of Berlin, Paris and other major cities. That’s also true in Venice. The city of canals is a must-see for many European travelers, and summer can be a difficult time to visit.

Food and travel are intertwined. Sampling a local cuisine is as much a part of visiting a new place as seeing the sites or talking with the locals. Just ask Brendan McGill. He's the chef and owner of Hitchcock Restaurant Group on Bainbridge Island. He’s spent time staying with families through the exchange group Servas. Doing so has allowed him to take in local cuisine in a way restaurants might not allow. He talked with KNKX travel expert Matthew Brumley for this week’s edition of Going Places

There are three kinds of flight experiences: The ones you forget, the ones you’ll never forget, and the ones you want to forget. We’re revisiting those last two in this week’s Going Places . KNKX travel expert Matthew Brumley tells stories about experiences he’s had, including: The pilot who said, “Wow,” into the public address system, without telling the passengers what he meant. The near-miss in mid-air. The differences between airline steak and airline fish. (Spoiler: It can be hard to tell.)

One hundred years ago, U.S. forces were locked in combat in World War I. The United States joined the conflict about three years in. Millions of people – combatants and civilians – died in the conflict, touched off by the assassination of Austrian Archduke Ferdinand.

Bring up the former Yugoslavia in conversation, and most people won’t picture sunshine, beautiful seaside towns and great food. But KNKX travel expert Matthew Brumley says that’s exactly what you’ll find. “The Adriatic [Sea] and the rocky coastline that goes from the top, by Trieste, all the way south to Dubrovnik, is so breathtaking it’s painfully gorgeous,” Brumley said.

France is getting ready to elect a new leader. Emmanuel Macron and Marine LePen are vying for the job in a run-off election set for May 7. The election happens at a pivotal moment for the European Union, with Britain’s exit looming, and nationalist sentiment growing in various member states.

KNKX travel expert Matthew Brumley is just back from the American Mountain West. “We went 1,600 miles,” he said. “Drove from Colorado, through Wyoming where the speed limit is 80, so that means everyone is doing 90.” Brumley and his son spent the night in Sheridan, Wyo., and then went to Little Big Horn. “We drove up to the gate at about 9 in the morning and nobody was there,” he said. “There wasn’t another car, the park was open, the visitor center was open, so they put the movie on just for us