Since international travel wasn’t safe or possible during most of this year, we decided to explore an area of our home state, Minnesota, a little more in-depth this September with a one-week camping trip along the North Shore along Lake Superior. We’d explored this area before, especially around the Duluth area, but hadn’t done a camping trip before. The third week of September was a … Continue reading Autumn Camping Trip on Minnesota’s North Shore
On my trip to Europe with Carrie we ended up staying in Maria Alm, a lovely ski town located a two hour train ride south of Salzburg in the Austrian Alps. Her husband’s parents had time share credit they needed to use, so Carrie used it at Alpenland Sporthotel there. I had never heard of Maria Alm before – and I’m not a particularly big … Continue reading 19 Photos that Prove Maria Alm, Austria is a Winter Wonderland
There are many reasons you may want to get off the beaten path in Seattle. Maybe you’re on a tight budget and some of the more iconic Seattle spots (ahem, Space Needle) are too pricey. Maybe, like me, you get anxiety from crowds and would like to avoid the crush of people at well-known spots like Pike Place Market. Or maybe this isn’t your first … Continue reading 10 Ways to Get Off the Beaten Path in Seattle
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, it’s no secret that my first trip to Paris was less than stellar. On a two week trip where we visited London, Edinburgh, and Paris, that city was by far the worst of the three. When I returned I found out that I was not alone in my experience – many people have the idea of … Continue reading How to Avoid Disappointment on Your First Trip to Paris
Machu Picchu is on just about everyone’s bucket list, but if you visit Peru don’t overlook some of the other incredible Inca archaeological sites you can visit! To be clear, this is a list of other accessible Inca sites you can visit in the Sacred Valley. There are lots of treks to Inca ruins too, whether you want an alternate trek to the Inca Trail, or … Continue reading Beyond Machu Picchu: 12 Other Archaeological Sites to Visit in the Sacred Valley
After our time in the Andes, we needed a change of pace so we headed to one of Peru’s other famous regions–the Amazon Rainforest. We stayed at a jungle lodge for four days and took wildlife-viewing excursions on foot and by boat everyday… it was an amazing experience! Top Tips for Visiting the Amazon – Weigh your options before choosing your rainforest excursion. There are … Continue reading Peru: Amazon Rainforest (Tambopata Reserve)
If it’s your first time in one of the most artistic cities in the world, you’re very likely going to be visiting the largest art museum in the world to see arguably the most famous painting in the world: the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. We’ll just say that’s a given. But after you’ve braved the crowds to see the lady’s enigmatic smile and checked … Continue reading Beyond the Mona Lisa: Where to Find Art You’ll Love in Paris
Recently I was doing some research for our upcoming Peru trip, and I started looking beyond the Amazon to see where you can see some of the world’s coolest wildlife! I made a list and thought I’d share it here… Unless otherwise noted, I haven’t actually visited any of these places, but my sources say they are your best bet to see these amazing animals! … Continue reading Where to See the World’s Wildlife
Ahoy, mateys! Before heading to Havana for a month I did a lot of research – and one of the things I tried to find out was if there was any interesting “pirate stuff” that you could see in Cuba. I’ve loved pirates since I first read Treasure Island in second grade, and that interest was further fueled by the release of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and a … Continue reading Havana for Pirate Enthusiasts: 5 Swashbuckling Things to Do
1. Why Meteora? If you’re in the midst of planning a trip to Greece and on the fence about fitting in Meteora, I have one piece of advice: just go! This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a truly unique place in Greece where you can visit living monasteries, see gorgeous Byzantine-era artifacts, and experience the incredible landscape (and even more incredible monasteries clinging precariously to … Continue reading 8 Tips for Visiting Meteora, Greece