Although the Lord of the Rings movies have irrevocably entangled the novels with the country of New Zealand, J.R.R Tolkien spent much of his youth in Birmingham, England, which has proudly claimed many of his childhood haunts as inspiration for various scenes in the famous stories. As a Lord of the Rings enthusiast (who’s already … More DIY Tolkien Tour
For those who want to get out of the way of the crowds of the bigger towns, I highly recommend renting a car on Santorini. Wary of the high prices in Oia proper, we had selected an Airbnb that was fairly rural. In lieu of walking ages to the nearest bus stop, we decided to … More One-Day Roadtrip Itinerary Of Santorini
Amongst Americans, Heidelberg is probably one of the most well known cities in this region due to its beautiful architecture and famous university. Heidelberg Castle is, of course, difficult to miss and boasts the most incredible views over the town and the river Neckar. The castle was partially ruined by several fires, but it remains … More The Rhine-Neckar Shuffle- Heidelberg
Known as the “town with two castles”, Weinheim was my second stop in the Rhine-Neckar triangle. I’m a big fan of castles, so of course I had to check both of them out while I had the chance. Windeck Castle was mostly a ruin, but does have a brewery operating on its premises and seemed … More The Rhine-Neckar Shuffle- Weinheim
Smack in between New York and Chicago, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is one of the most bizarrely designed National Parks I’ve ever been to. Perhaps it is because the park was originally a National Recreation area, but the fact that it features natural, man-made, and private attractions is fairly unique to the park. Residential areas … More Cuyahoga Valley- Ohio’s Backyard National Park
A touchstone of the counterculture generation, Woodstock is an instantly recognizable name. Fans, however, will know that the event didn’t take place in the town of Woodstock but on a dairy farm located in Bethal, New York. The onsite museum offers a movie viewing and audio guides, but I visited with my father who had … More Back Again, Woodstock ’69