Karen LeBlanc
Travel TV Host & Journalist
Louisiana Public Broadcasting, LaPalme Magazine, The Design Tourist travel show, LA64, a Louisiana Travel Show
Karen LeBlanc is an award-winning travel journalist and storyteller, honored with two Telly Awards and four North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) awards for The Design Tourist travel show. As the show's host, producer, and writer, Karen takes viewers beyond the guidebooks to explore the culture, craft, cuisine, and creativity that define the world's most fascinating destinations.
Her travel features appear on TheDesignTourist.com, a popular travel and lifestyle site syndicated on MSN.com, reaching millions of readers worldwide. Karen is also the design and travel contributor for LaPalme, a national celebrity news and lifestyle magazine.
In addition to The Design Tourist, Karen writes, produces, and hosts LA64, a Louisiana-focused travel series airing on PBS stations statewide with national distribution.
Karen is an active member of the industry's leading professional associations: The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), The North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA), and The International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).
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Videos
Explore Quito, Ecuador with The Design Tourist
uploaded 30 Mar 2025 7:24am
Join me on a Hero’s Journey through Ecuador as we get to know the country’s heart through its art. We’ll explore the soul of this South American country that sits in the middle of the world, the equator line, latitude zero degrees. In this episode, we …
Exploring Iceland's South Coast Hidden Gems & TROLLS EXISTENCE Revealed!
uploaded 05 Jul 2024 1:21am
Travel along the Ring Road of Iceland's famed Golden Circle to explore waterfalls, black sand beaches and other geological wonders that make Iceland the ultimate adventure. Join The Design Tourist Karen LeBlanc to explore Iceland's famous attractions and …
Explore Northern Italy with The Design Tourist
uploaded 16 Mar 2024 3:58am
In this episode of The Design Tourist, travel journalist Karen LeBlanc travels to the mountain towns of Northern Italy in the company of an extended Italian family that has cultivated the land, community and culture here for centuries. From villages in the …
Top Five Things To Do In Reykjavik, Iceland
uploaded 29 Dec 2023 2:58am
Reykjavik is the ideal base to explore Iceland's mind-blowing beauty. The city offers art, culture, cuisine and quirky experiences that capture the unique soul of this country. Here are my top five picks, must-see and do experiences while staying in …
Top 5 Things to Do on Iceland's South Coast
uploaded 29 Dec 2023 2:57am
Traveling along Iceland's South Coast offers close encounters with waterfalls, black sand beaches and geological wonders.
#shorts #iceland #visiticeland
More from The Design Tourist
Website: https://thedesigntourist.com
Instagram: …
Join me on an Iceland Adventure. New Episodes airing soon on The Design Tourist
uploaded 29 Dec 2023 2:56am
Journey with me Into the Langjokull Glacier for an underground exploration of Iceland's second-largest glacier. Watch new episodes of The Design Tourist airing soon featuring Iceland! Into the Glacier #ITGMoment #Iceland #VisitIceland
Filming by Ryan …
Stories
09 Aug 2025
I grew up eating Cajun crawfish in Louisiana… but nothing prepared me for Houston's Viet-Cajun twist in the heart of Asiatown. From garlic-butter crawfish at Crawfish and Noodles to neon-lit...
06 Aug 2025
Embark on a Hero's Journey in Otavalo with travel journalist Karen LeBlanc, deeply rooted in Kichwa culture—backstrap weaving, ancestral cooking, dream‑catcher making, wind instruments, and spiritual...
05 Aug 2025
Explore Cuenca: Ecuador's Cultural Heart
youtube.com
Welcome to Cuenca, Ecuador — a UNESCO World Heritage City that blends colonial beauty with rich cultural traditions. In this episode of The Design Tourist, travel journalist Karen LeBlanc explores...
03 Aug 2025
The Colors of Morocco: A Journey Through Hue and Heritage
The Design Tourist
Journey through Morocco's “Red City” and beyond—where the medina's maze pulses with color, craft, and centuries of history. From Marrakech's UNESCO-listed souks and Moorish palaces to the cobalt-blue...
01 Aug 2025
A Guide to the Wharton Esherick Museum: Pennsylvania's Hidden Gem for Design and Architecture Lovers
The Design Tourist
Step into the sculptural world of Wharton Esherick, where the boundary between art and architecture dissolves. Set amid wooded hills in Malvern, Pennsylvania, the Esherick Studio is more than a home;...
25 Jul 2025
Literary Escape Through Brandywine Valley's Best Bookstores
The Design Tourist
Explore Brandywine Valley's best bookstores, from Baldwin's Book Barn to indie gems and a book-themed hotel, for a cozy weekend full of literary charm
25 Jul 2025
Brandywine Valley Gardens: Explore The Most Stunning Estates
The Design Tourist
For Garden Gazers, the greater Philadelphia area offers a sensory spectacle for all seasons, inspiring the region's nickname, America's Garden Capital
25 Jul 2025
Frankfurt to Hungen: Local Culture, Wine, and Cheese Tour
The Design Tourist
Discover Frankfurt's old town, apple wine taverns, and the cheesemaking traditions of Hungen in this culture-rich travel itinerary through Hessen, Germany
19 Jul 2025
Discover Bauhaus Architecture in Dessau, Germany
The Design Tourist
Walk through Bauhaus architecture in Dessau as I trace its radical ideas, modernist designs, and lasting impact on how we live, build, and create today
