Planning to visit New York City for the first time and feeling a bit overwhelmed? After visiting New York more times than we can count and then living in NYC for about a year and a half, we have lots of thoughts about how the plan the perfect first trip to New York City! From …
Want to bring something special home from your upcoming trip to Charleston, but not sure exactly what to buy in Charleston, South Carolina? This guide to the best souvenirs from Charleston will give you plenty of ideas, whether you’re shopping for yourself or are looking for the perfect gift from Charleston to bring home for …
With far-reaching views of the Italian countryside, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a beautiful town center, and an enviable list of things to do, Tivoli is enchanting to visit–and you can very easily take an incredible day trip to Tivoli from Rome! Most famous for its 3 villas (which are a bit more diverse than …
Planning a trip to Florence and wondering whether to climb its famous dome, its beautiful bell tower, or both when visiting the Duomo? We can help! After climbing both Brunelleschi’s Dome and Giotto’s Bell Tower, I walked away with a personal favorite… but also some notable pros and cons for each climb. Here’s what to …
As we explored the best things to do in Perugia, one thought kept crossing our minds: “Why is this place so uncrowded?!” And, considering that we were visiting Perugia for the first time directly after the most crowded trip to Florence that we’ve ever experienced, we were very much in the mood for Perugia’s more …
Hoping to take a day trip to Pisa from Florence on your upcoming trip to Italy? If so, we wrote this guide for you! As one of the most famous towers in Italy, the Leaning Tower of Pisa draws crowds from all over the globe–and while Pisa is one of the simplest day trips to …
It may be the most famous tower in all of Italy, and it’s certainly the most famous leaning tower–but is climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa (officially called the Torre Pendente di Pisa, or simply the Torre di Pisa) actually worth the effort… and the steep price tag? After more trips to Tuscany than I …
The first time we visited New Orleans in January, it was an accident of timing: we found a good flight deal out of the city to our next stop (this was back during our full-time travel days), had been meaning to visit the Big Easy for years, and figured now was as good of a …
In a city where every month brings its charms, November in Paris manages to stand out. With its rainy, short days and notoriously gray skies, November isn’t an immediately obvious choice for an ideal time to visit Paris–but for the right traveler, it can be a delight. It’s a bit unconventional, but truthfully, November is …
Located on an extremely narrow peninsula that juts into the southern tip of Lake Garda, the resort town of Sirmione is undoubtedly best known for its castle on the water–but there are several cool things to do in Sirmione! Bite-sized, walkable, and with a historic center lined on either side by lake views, Sirmione is …
Hoping to make the most of a brief 5 days in Italy and struggling to narrow down your choices? That’s completely understandable! While it seems that no amount of time spent traveling Italy will ever be enough to uncover all of the delightful corners of the country (we’re up to more than a cumulative year …
If there’s something that Lisbon does particularly well, it’s viewpoints… and also pastries, colorful architecture, weather, and more, but today, we’ll focus on the best views of Lisbon. With its famously hilly topography that overlooks the soft curve of the Tagus River (like Rome, Lisbon boasts the nickname “City of 7 Hills”), Lisbon immediately lends …
Planning a quick visit to the Holy City and need to make the most of just one day in Charleston, SC? After many visits to the city–with many more to come in the future–we’ve designed this one day Charleston itinerary to help! With its vibrant architecture, excellent food scene, water views, and compact historic center, …
From the rocky shoreline of Maine to the soft sand of Miami’s iconic South Beach, it’s safe to say that there is no shortage of beautiful beaches on the East Coast–or fun East Coast beach towns where you can base yourself to enjoy them! Whether you’re looking for a laid-back, kid-friendly town, a glitzy coastal …
If you’re looking to leave Amsterdam behind for a day to appreciate a smaller and quieter, but no less beautiful, Dutch city, consider hopping on a train to take a day trip to Delft from Amsterdam! While Amsterdam is by far the most famous city to visit in the Netherlands, it is far from the …
Only have one day in New Orleans to make the most of introducing yourself to the Big Easy? Don’t worry: in a city more about food and good times than traditional sightseeing, you’ll have no problem letting the good times roll (or “Laissez les bons temps rouler,” as they say in NOLA) for one memorable …
With its iconic cities, beautiful hilltop towns, world-famous wineries, and glistening, golden light, it’s no surprise that spending a few days in Tuscany is one of the most popular additions to first-timers’ Italy itineraries! If you’re planning your first trip to the region and are curious about how to make the most of a short …
While the beautiful, food-centered city of Parma is better known as an excellent place to day trip to rather than as a place to base yourself when visiting Emilia-Romagna, the truth is that there are several excellent day trips from Parma, too! Situated about an hour northwest by train of its more famous cousin, Bologna, …
Heading to New Orleans soon and hoping to make some souvenir (and/or gift) shopping part of your trip? We love bringing bits and pieces of different destinations home with us, and NOLA is no exception–especially when it comes to delicious foodie souvenirs from New Orleans! If you’re curious about what to add to your NOLA …
Malta’s Blue Grotto, with its bright blue water and striking caves, is easily one of the most beautiful places to visit in this small island nation, which is quite a feat for such a beautiful place! Its name comes from the otherworldly blue hue that illuminates the inside of the cavernous grotto that runs along …
If you’re dreaming of a classic spring vacation in the Netherlands that features colorful tulips, lively streets and markets, and, of course, beautiful canals, then planning a trip to Amsterdam in April might be right for you! I absolutely loved my spring trip to Amsterdam in April (which, yes, like just about everyone else’s, was …
Traveling to Portugal for the first time and want to make sure that you’re planning the perfect trip? After living in Lisbon as American ex-pats, we have lots of tips (spread across dozens of blog posts and counting) for planning a trip to Portugal! We’ve compiled this simple checklist for planning your first trip to …
Vibrant, colorful, and lively in all the best ways, the capital of Andalucia can be hard to pull yourself away from–but it’s worth the effort, because there are some truly wonderful day trips from Seville! After several visits to Seville (including one where we got to introduce my grandparents to the charm of southern Spain), …
Traditional fado music, beautiful sunsets, and the clinking of glasses as people sip Portuguese wine: these are just a few things you’ll find when looking for the best things to do in Lisbon at night! While Lisbon’s traditional tourist attractions tend to be more focused on the daytime hours, evening activities in Lisbon tend to …
As the home of Milan’s iconic Gothic cathedral and the launchpad to some of the city’s best sightseeing, there’s no doubt that the magnificent Piazza del Duomo in Milan is one of the absolute best places to visit in the city–or even in Italy as a whole! From here, you’re located within a very short …
Portugal is famous as a winter sun destination with (relatively) warm weather–but what’s visiting Portugal in winter actually like? Here’s a hint: you’ll need to pack a coat… but you’ll also be able to spend sunny days on the beach! We spent more than a year living in Lisbon as American ex-pats, and winter is …
Some cities are just so relaxing, and so downright enjoyable, that visiting always puts a smile on your face–and after spending one day in Munich, we hope you’ll agree that the capital of Bavaria is one of them! Munich always brings to mind the word livable for us: while the sightseeing is excellent, it’s the …
I’ll be perfectly honest: even as extremely experienced travelers who have spent years bouncing around Europe, we were a bit nervous about booking a Barcelona to Rome ferry with Grimaldi Lines. Why? Probably the same reason that you found this blog post: the generally abysmal online reviews for Grimaldi Lines, complete with a 1.5-star rating …
Planning a trip to Portugal and intrigued by how tantalizingly realistic a day trip to Porto from Lisbon seems when looking at a map? You’re not alone! As American ex-pats who spent a bit over a year living in Lisbon and have traveled between Lisbon and Porto many times (and we love both cities), we’ve …
Long ago, on our very first trip to Portugal, taking a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon and admiring the colorful Pena Palace was the highest priority on our Portugal travel bucket list. Ever since, we’ve remembered the glistening view of Pena Palace from the Cruz Alta viewpoint, perched improbably on its hill in the …