When I’m in the mood to stay at a hotel, nothing does it for me quite like a boutique hotel. Boutique hotels by definition are designed to feel small, intimate, and unique. Our stay at Torel Avantgarde in Porto, Portugal went above and beyond our expectations and to this day remains one of my favorite … More Torel Avantgarde- Porto
When I was living in London a few years ago, my schedule worked out in such a way that I would often have free time on Wednesday afternoons. “Museum Wednesday” quickly became a beloved tradition that has carried on through the years. London is stuffed to bursting with world class museums, but one of my … More Museum Spotlight- Wallace Collection
Oktoberfest is the world’s largest beer festival, celebrated worldwide throughout dozens of countries. The original festival celebrated the marriage of Ludwig I’s marriage to Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, and the tradition continues annually to this day. Despite the name, Oktoberfest actually takes place at the end of September, which means that we were not able to … More Brewery Hopping Through Munich’s Big Six
On my last trip to Germany, I disappointed myself by not making time to visit King Ludwig II’s famous Neuschwanstein Castle. On my second trip to the city, this trip was number one on my to-do list. I wasn’t going to make that mistake again! Since we were scheduled to be in Munich over the weekend, we strategically schedule the tour on a Sunday so we would have something to do when everything was closed in the city.
Not wanting to drive, we booked a group tour which included a visit to Linderhof Palace, Neuschwanstein Castle and a brief stop in Oberammergau. … More Kings and Castles- Visiting Neuschwanstein and Linderhof from Munich
One of the first things people talk about regarding their visit to Italy is the food. Gelato, pizza, pasta, pastry- the list is endless; my self-restraint is not. Now, most people know; no one is more willing to risk it all than a lactose intolerant person facing a tasty, dairy filled treat, but having had … More On Being Lactose Intolerant In Italy
No matter how much time is spent in Paris, it never feels like enough! New visitors may find themselves stuck with extensive waits to see busy museums and wasting their limited time on long lines. Using a few strategies I’ve accumulated over years of traveling, I was able to get into the Louvre within fifteen … More Top Five Ways to Avoid the Line in Paris
Sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria, the tiny country of Liechtenstein been a point of interest for me- I’d been near it so many times, yet had never quite made it into the alpine principality. Luckily, I had some spare time on my most recent trip to Zurich and was able to fold in a day … More Visiting Vaduz, Liechtenstein
William Shakespeare- the man needs no introduction. Widely regarded as the most prominent and influential writer in the English language, his works inspired countless generations over hundreds of years. It’s no wonder, then, that sites related to him have become almost pilgrimages for those familiar with his works. Stratford-Upon-Avon (more commonly referred to as Stratford) … More A Sojourn With Shakespeare- How to Spend a Day at Stratford-Upon-Avon
The famous Lipizzaner stallions of Austria are housed at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, which is actually located surprisingly center city. So named for the Spanish horses that helped develop the Lipizzaner breed, the Spanish Riding School is one of the four most prestigious riding academies in the world. The stables are located inside … More A Guided Tour of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna
This holiday season was accompanied by a slew of train strikes in three consecutive countries that we were traveling through. We were able to dodge these with a Matrix-like series of pivots until it caught up to us at last in Birmingham, England. Luckily, this was the best possible point that this could have happened … More Winter Delights at Warwick Castle