Category: Destinations

15+ Stunning Sites to See in Gotland (Outside Visby)

Many people visiting Gotland visit Visby, which is a lovely city, but there’s way more to see on the Baltic Sea’s largest island. To be honest, I had a difficult time finding about things to do and see because Visby was always listed as “the” Gotland attraction. Many lists will have maybe 5 things to do on the island and it took a bit of research to finally get a decent list of things to see. And then… the list just kept growing and growing!

Here’s a list of some things I got to see on the island – and … Continue reading

Whale Watching & Spotting Other Marine Life in Monterey Bay, CA

I have to be honest: when we booked a trip to Carmel, Monterey somehow looked too busy for my tastes. But after going there for a whale watching tour, I firstly saw that it definitely feels like a busy town but a town all the same – even going 4th of July weekend. And secondly, I really enjoyed it because of all the marine life. It was actually a major highlight of our trip and that alone made me fall in love with Monterey.

What’s up with all the marine animals in Monterey?

As someone who lives on the coast, … Continue reading

Visiting San Simeon: the town of Hearst Castle and Elephant Seals

For our road trip in California, Hearst Castle in San Simeon was high on my mom’s list. She’d been there several years ago and loved it. I didn’t know much about it before visiting, but it was a pleasant surprise to visit such a lovely home with the added bonus of seeing elephant seals in their natural habitat.

A Brief History of Hearst Castle

William Randolph (WR Hearst) was the son and heir of a miner, George Hearst, who became a millionaire after discovering a silver mine on his bought property. George had bought some land near the coast in … Continue reading

18 Gifts of Experience in the Baltimore Area (For All Budgets)

Gifts of experience are becoming increasingly popular, and it’s easy to understand why. A “thing” can be nice but nothing really tops learning a skill or making a new memory. Since experiences vary by location, I’ve compiled a list of gifts of experience available in the Baltimore area. Some I’ve tried, some I haven’t but every place has good reviews. I hope this curated list with multiple price points helps you find something to give.

For this post, the “Baltimore area” means you can get to the event by car within an hour from central Baltimore.

How do you “gift”

A Trip to Obidos, a Beautiful Medieval Portuguese Gem

The medieval town of Obidos comes highly recommended, so it’s a place I absolutely had to visit while in Portugal. About an hour or two from Lisbon, it made a lovely day trip, and I had a nice time exploring this gem of a town.

A Short History of Obidos

Though it’s known for its medieval heritage, the area of Obidos has been inhabited since prehistory and was a Roman outpost. When the Moors and the Mozarabs came in the 8th century, it was converted to a city with a castle – much like it is today. In 1148, when … Continue reading

The Stunning Tiled City of Lisbon: Things to Do & Travel Guide

Lisbon’s a popular city to visit, and with so many recommendations and history there, of course I had to visit. There are so many great things to do in Portugal’s capital city, and these are my top recommendations.

Lisbon’s Top Sights

Since Lisbon is so popular, there are lots of places that tourists flock to. Here’s a rundown of some of the most popular.

One of the most beautiful places is the castle that overlooks the city, Castelo de Sao Jorge. Despite being one of the city’s most iconic places, little is actually known about its origins, though the … Continue reading

Exploring Coimbra and its Ancient Treasures: Things to Do & Travel Guide

The Portuguese city of Coimbra actually first came on my radar when I saw a job there for English speakers. Since it had a decent amount to see and do, particularly drawn in by its library, I decided to visit on my first trip to Portugal. It was definitely a highlight of my trip and I can’t recommend a visit to Coimbra enough because of all of the stunning history it has!

A Brief History of Coimbra

Coimbra first came to be during the Roman period when Aeminium was established. It was actually a less important city than the nearby … Continue reading

Exploring Medieval Tomar and its Stunning Catholic Convent

Honestly, my day trip to Tomar was very last minute and I didn’t know much about it before visiting. I was looking for a small medieval town to see and it fit the bill. I have to say, it made a very nice day out and the convent was, of course, the main highlight of the day.

The Knights Templar in Tomar

Templarios by José María Rodríguez de Losada, 1826

We talk a lot about the Crusades but there were normal, everyday Christians during this time that tried to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem, as well. The Templar Order (or “Poor … Continue reading

The Stunning Sights of Evora, between Roman Temples and Bone Chapels

With a bone chapel and Roman temple, Evora jumped high on my Portuguese to-visit list and it was a definite stop on my first trip to Portugal. It did not disappoint! There’s so much beauty and fascinating history to be seen in this small town.

A Short History of Evora

Evora has a noted history that goes way back, before the Roman era, to the Celts. Eburos is a Celtic name for yew tree, and the name Evora comes from it. So the name dates back about 3-5000 years!

When it became part of the Roman empire, it was called … Continue reading

15 Fun Things to Do on Big Island Hawaii

Big Island Hawaii is one of Hawaii’s lesser-visited islands but it’s one filled with adventure and things to do. I chose it as my first destination in Hawaii, which was a bit strange, but absolutely loved the array of unique things to do from driving above the clouds to walking along a petroglyph trail. After a week on Big Island, there was a lot I got to do. Here’s my list of my favorite and recommended activities!

Is it really called “Big Island”? Is Honolulu there?

This confuses a lot of people. “Big Island” (in red) is the nickname of … Continue reading