I don’t consider myself a cruise person. A giant ship with tons of people and scheduled “supervised” port stops – that’s just not my idea of fun. HOWEVER. The idea of cruising down the Nile River instead of a mega-Caribbean cruise….now THAT sounds waaaaay more exotic. This was the type…
My husband and I have been hiking together for almost 12 years. We’ve hiked the Smokies, the Rockies and even the Alps. We’ve trudged thru forests and many places deemed “bear country.” We’ve seen bear poop, tracks, and tufts of bear fur left behind on scratching trees. Yet, we’ve never…
Mt Rainier is a beaut! This 14,410 foot peak has more glaciers than any other mountain in the lower 48 and is still an active volcano! Visible for miles away, locals in the Seattle area & the PNW often ask daily “is the mountain out?” There’s even a website and…
Looking for unique gifts for the travel-lover on your list? Look no further! It’s 2021, and after the 2 years we’ve endured we’re over getting people more “stuff” this holiday season. Here’s some unique gift ideas that go beyond luggage tags and passport holders. An added bonus, some items on the…
Have you ever gotten home from vacation to realize you spent way more than you thought you would? We’ve all been there. ::face palm:: Trust me, there’s a better way! You can get your trip budget spot on, with just a little bit of pre-trip prep. It’s the little costs associated with a…
#wanderlusting? Let’s turn “it must be nice” into “that was freaking amazing!” I ain’t gonna beat around the bush – saving money can be hard work. But it doesn’t have to! You just need to get the hang of it, and it’ll become second nature. For me, it’s a lot like trying…
In Europe recently, I overheard some American ladies next to me at the hotel’s restaurant chatting about their predicament. They were totally surprised that the hotel didn’t have clothes irons in the room, something that is common in many American hotels. They both lamented on how they would have packed…
Ahh Lake Bled. Slovenia’s crowing jewel. It’s the most photographed spot in Slovenia for good reason, it’s so freaking beautiful! It doesn’t even look like a real place. It shows up on many “must see” in Europe lists, and every time it does I get a little excited, and also…
You may have heard that a place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But what does that even mean? In short, it means that the place is really special and worthy of designation as such. But there’s far more to it than that. Let’s chat about it shall we? Grand Canyon…
So…why Slovenian Easter eggs? Well, it’s no secret that I am in love with Slovenia! And I pretty much consider myself an honorary Slovenian because I am married to a man of Slovenian heritage, have a Slovenian surname, AND I’ve climbed to the top of Triglav (the highest point in Slovenia, and a rite…
An easy weekend trip to Joshua Tree… or so I thought. I think I might be cursed. Or at least, I’ve upset the weather gods at some point. Because I seriously have the WORST luck with weather. I thought I’d be pretty safe when I planned a girl’s weekend trip to Joshua…
I always love chatting with people visiting Nashville. I always ask: “Have you been to Nashville before? What are you doing in town? What are y’alls plans?” Out of context, these questions may make me sound like a stalker but I promise I’m just curious! I love my city and…
Some people would read that title and think, man that sounds like a lot of work. Others might read it and get super excited, dreaming up ways to dress the part and decorate their house to match. Don’t worry, if you’re the former – putting on an international themed dinner…
By pure luck and circumstance, I recently had the privilege of experiencing my very first opera (on my birthday!), and at the most incredible place ever – Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala. As the world’s most famous opera house, La Scala (for short) is a mecca for theatre goers around…
Looking for some great travel-related gift ideas that won’t break the bank? Look no further! I’ve rounded up a list of 25 practical gifts for any traveler on your list. From stocking stuffers on up, there’s a little something for everyone! Hey, maybe it’s even for yourself. 🙂 Happy shopping!…
Lake Garda in Northern Italy, is truly massive, completely diverse, and oh-so scenic! This (somewhat phallic shaped) lake is Italy’s largest at 143 square miles, and borders on three different provinces: Verona, Brescia, and Trentino. The lake (Lago di Garda in Italian), covers a lot of diverse terrain, offering a…
Well, I just returned from what I can confidently call a “whirlwind” 10-day vacation in Italy…and boy, am I TIRED. Traveling in Europe can take a lot out of you! Granted, my husband and I are a bit nuts, and try to do all the things! But nevertheless, traveling around…
Have you seen pictures of Lake Bled? If you haven’t, well…you’re in for a real treat. This place is gorgeous beyond words! Lake Bled is a pristine mountain lake nestled at the base of the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia. Not familiar with Slovenia? Check it out here, you won’t…
Bonjour! When Jules asked me to impart some of my best travel advice for her blog, the topic of lookin’ good on the fly instantly came to mind. This skill was borne out of necessity in the summer of 2015, when I had the pleasure of traveling around Europe with…
Leaving the country huh? Super exciting! Maybe it’s your first time? Maybe it’s not. Or maybe you haven’t ever had to think about the logistics on your own before. It can be overwhelming leading up to a big trip. Trying to remember all the things you should do before you…
Flying to visit family for the holidays? Or maybe home from an overseas vacation? There are some times that you end up packing home more stuff than you left with. How do you fit it all in? Now if you tend to over pack like I do, this can be…
Travel doesn’t always have to be about going on big glamorous overseas trips. Of course, they are fabulous, but we all don’t have that luxury all the time, am I right? Sometimes you still desperately need to get away from it all, and can’t spend a ton of time and…
Sooooo you’re planning a trip to Europe. You’ve settled on a destination, gotten an idea of what a flight there will cost you – and you think you can swing the price. (Not there yet? No problem, check out Pond crossing 101 to get started.) The next step before buying that flight is to…
Oooh Cinque Terre…not many places make it into my top 5, let alone my top 3. But nestled in there behind my favorite city in the world (Oxford, England) and my favorite country in the world (Slovenia) is Italy’s Cinque Terre. What is Cinque Terre? It’s actually a where, not…
Are you planning a trip to Europe? Or have you always wanted to go, but never knew where to start with something big like traveling overseas? No worries! You can start right here. If you’ve never been overseas, planning a trip can seem super daunting. It’s tempting to just say…
There’s SO many apps out there…ain’t nobody got time to keep up with the latest and greatest. At least I don’t. Heck I didn’t even get a smartphone until everyone else already had one for 3 years…. However, once I DID get a smartphone, I leaned in. Now I use…
Whether you plan on traveling overseas or domestically, vacation rentals present an opportunity to be immersed in the local community. I know many people (for various reasons) prefer to strictly stick to hotels when they travel. That’s perfectly OK! But I think vacation rentals can offer a more unique travel experience. Here’s why I…
I have discovered that meaningful travel experiences truly enrich my soul. So when I do get the opportunity to travel, I try my hardest to really experience the place I am visiting. I like to pretend I’m a local and dive deeper into the destination, and come out with a more…
Yep. My clumsy ass made it up to the top of a mountain…and it was magnificent. Nestled in the center of the Julian Alps, Triglav is the highest mountain peak in Slovenia. At 2864m (9,395 ft) it is the crowning glory of Triglav National Park, Slovenia’s only national park. Triglav…
I shouldn’t even be telling you about this – my beloved Slovenia. In fact, I should be petitioning Google maps to blur it out, so that no one can find it and spoil it. But a place this special should be enjoyed with friends, so I will share it with…
Long haul flights can be a real challenge. When the flights creep up over 6 hours (and you’re stuck in economy class)….it’s pretty brutal on your body. You’re cramped, uncomfortable, dehydrated and those jet engines just drone on and on. I’ve tried all sorts of things to make long haul…
I don’t need to convince you that travel is awesome. Why else read a travel blog? Sure, travel is fun, exciting, relaxing and (insert any number of other adjectives here). But – I also firmly believe that not only is travel enjoyable it is also important. It can be life…
Ohhh boy. That tiny blue book, with that little golden word inscribed on it: passport. I get excited even holding it in my hands! It embodies so much potential. It is magical little key that opens all sorts of doors to places around the world. It’s one of my favorite things, and among my most prized possessions. Every stamp in it symbolizes an adventure – a chance taken,…
While there are many interesting things to do in the small lakeside village of Hallstatt, I think we found the best one… and I think you’ll agree. In case you’ve never heard of Hallstatt, it is a stunning little Alpine town perched on the edge of Lake Hallstatt (Hallstätter See)…
Thigh chafing AKA “chub rub” is a real freaking thing – and a huge headache for those who have to put up with it. So this one’s for you ladies, and you know who you are: the vast majority of us who do not possess the mythical “thigh gap”…..(Really WHO…
Do you look at other people traveling and think: “man, must be nice to travel?” Do you have places you’ve always dreamed of going, but you just can’t even fathom how (or when) you would ever pull it off? Hear about people “just quitting it all” and becoming a nomad, and traveling the world working off their…