-
Ultimate Family Camping Trip: Exploring Utah and Colorado’s National Parks
My husband deployed for 6 months when my kids were only 6 months and 2 years old. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done — solo parenting while he was 9 time zones away. As soon as we found out when he was returning from deployment and his spring break dates, we started planning our family camping trip to Utah and Colorado’s National Parks. It gave us something to look forward to during those long months. I never in my wildest dreams would’ve predicted how incredible this trip would be. We traveled 15 days across the Southwest United States through Colorado, Arizona, and Utah and visited 7…
-
Expert Tips for Traveling with Kids
After 50 flights with my 3-year-old, I feel like I’ve earned the right to call myself an expert. Is it sometimes a nightmare and difficult to travel with a toddler? Yes! Is it worth it? Always! In this post, I’m going to share my top expert tips for smooth sailing (pun intended) and smooth traveling with kids! Tips for Flying with Kids Choosing flights We (currently) live in the middle of the United States in Colorado, meaning 75% of our travels involve flying. Lillie has flown on 50 flights in her short life and Levi, my 2-year-old, is almost at 30 flights! When I book flights, I base our flight…
-
The Perfect Job for Me: A Travel Advisor
Over the last few months, I’ve jumped headfirst into a new job opportunity; one that allows me tons of flexibility, allowing me to continue staying home with my children. It is the perfect job for me and I’m so excited to share how this new job is helpful to YOU. But first, I’d like to provide a little backstory as to how I fell into this new venture as a travel advisor. My Experience as a Client In 2019, we had a month off for travel before we moved from Italy to Germany. We knew we wanted to go to Asia, but seeing as how I’d never been before, planning…
-
Breckenridge, Colorado | 2-Day Itinerary
As a young adult, I found myself daydreaming of places I wanted to visit that looked like a winter wonderland. I would save Instagram posts, Pinterest pins and print photos off and put it around my office and classroom. Breckenridge was one of those places that seemed like such a far off dream; something I could only hope to visit one day. Living in Colorado now, at 30, feels like a constant pinch me moment. Living less than 3 hours away from some of the places I grew up dreaming about never gets old. I’ve lived in Colorado for almost a year now and finally got around to driving up…
-
Fall in Colorado: A Visit to Long Neck Pumpkin Farm
It’s been 5 years since I’ve experienced fall in the United States. Living in Europe during the fall was wonderful because of the many festivals, grape stomps, and apple-picking opportunities. So, I had high expectations when it came to this season here in Colorado, and it was wonderful. Seeing the leaves change from green to deep orange a little bit more each day made me so happy. There are a plethora of pumpkin patches and fall activities here in Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas. Our favorite place we visited and one that we’ll definitely be making a tradition out of is Long Neck Pumpkin Farm. It’s an incredibly unique…
-
11-Day Family Camping Trip Through Colorado, Wyoming & Utah
During the summer of 2022, we embarked on an 11-day family camping trip through Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. Over 2,000 miles traveling and sleeping in a 34-square-foot camper with our 2 small children was amazing. Back in April we purchased a Forest River NoBo 10.5 and have been planning this trip ever since. While our original thought was to head to Utah, we decided to travel north to cooler temperatures in July. We spent 11 days traveling to Wyoming (Yellowstone National Park) and back down through Utah (Flaming Gorge) before ending back up in Colorado. The memories we made with our children (2 years old and 4 months at the…
-
Our First Trip as Family of Four to Boulder, Colorado
The first time traveling with a newborn is always nerve-wracking, but traveling with 2 under 2 was even more overwhelming. We wholeheartedly believe that exposing children to things when they’re young pays off in the long run! So we decided to take a short weekend trip to Boulder, Colorado, just 2 hours from our home in Colorado Springs. A weekend of hiking, dining out, and exploring downtown was just what we needed after not traveling for months during my third trimester. Where to Stay for a Weekend in Boulder, Colorado I searched for somewhere close enough to downtown that we didn’t have to drive very far, but also close enough…
-
We’ve Moved (& More Life Updates) | Germany to Colorado
Whew, it’s been a while yall! The last blog I wrote was back in June of 2021. I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since then. So much has happened since we moved from Germany to Colorado, so let’s do a recap of the last year… We came down with military orders in August 2021 that set us to leave Grafenwoehr, Germany in early November 2021. That’s when things really got busy. I got pregnant for the second time in a few short months after a miscarriage, we had to make all of our out-processing appointments, organize and purge things from our home, and get ready to ship all…
-
Why Tent Camping With a Toddler Is Worth It
Camping with a baby or toddler isn’t my idea of a “relaxing” vacation, but it’s something that you’ll find is so worth it. It’s worth the long packing list, restless nights, and loads of laundry that inevitably follow. Our first real camping trip with our 12-month-old, Lillie Belle, was chock full of lessons and great memories. Looking back on our trip and talking about what went right and what we should improve on will help us in the future – and I’m here to share some of those insider tips for camping with a toddler. Why Tent Camping? Tent camping is one of our favorite ways to travel for a…
-
A Weekend in Beaufort, SC: Shopping & Dining in the Historic District
The wind gusts from the Beaufort River pushed the stroller along the boardwalk dangerously close to the white capping water to our right. And to the left, children played and ran through the park acting as if social distancing and wearing a mask were the most natural thing in the world. Parents were just within earshot, because it is the kind of place that you let your children run free in the middle of the day when the sun shines the brightest. This is the scene on a recent Saturday in the Historic District of Beaufort, South Carolina. With its small-town charm, great bites, and unique shopping, you’ll find plenty…
-
Two Weeks in Daytona Beach, Florida: The Best Things To Do
My Dad proposed to my Mom in the sand on Daytona Beach, the same beach that I would crawl around on a year later, and the same one that my daughter crawled around on 28 years later. Some of my favorite moments growing up were spent on the sunny, warm, Florida beach. In February, I spent two full weeks at the beach with my family and my daughter, Lillie Belle. It was the most fun-filled vacation I’ve had in over a year. Signs of the pandemic were minimal and there were plenty of family-friendly things to do during our stay that I’m excited to share with you here! Why Visit…
-
Best Things To Do in Regensburg, Germany
After being in the states for over 3 months visiting my friends and family, I was starting to miss schnitzel, bratwurst, and my favorite German cities. I couldn’t wait to end quarantine and start exploring again. We decided our first day trip would be to visit Regensburg, a city I fell in love with a few months after Lillie was born last summer (2020). Located on the banks of the Danube River in southeast Germany is the medieval town of Regensburg. It’s the perfect day trip from almost anywhere in Bavaria, especially Grafenwoehr. Taste the famous bratwurst sandwich at one of the most historical restaurants on the river. Then, stroll…
-
A Roundup of the Best Day Trips from Grafenwoehr, Germany
Travel to other countries took a halt when our first child was born and a pandemic broke out across Europe. We weren’t able to travel very far from our home, so we stuck to doing things outdoors and within a few hours’ drive. Learning about the beauty that surrounded us in Bavaria was one of the perks that came out of the lockdown during a global pandemic. In this post, you’ll find a roundup of my favorite day trips from Grafenwoehr, Germany. There will be a variety of places in this blog post – from hiking and castle ruins to zoos and lakes. My hope is that there is something…
-
America, Here We Come
3 years ago we made the decision to stay in Europe and move from Italy to Germany. I never could have imagined that just a few years later we would be itching to leave and return to the U.S. Between a rough pregnancy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and some health issues with our daughter — it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows this past year. Thanks to the determination and sacrifices of my husband, Stephen, we are heading to Ft. Carson, Colorado in just a few months. We’re finally moving back to America, y’all! A Recap of Our Time in Germany Our time in Germany started off a little rocky. The…
-
Lillie Belle’s Birth Story | Germany, 2020
The nurse looked up at me with wide eyes and said, “Call your husband now. You’re dilated to 7 centimeters.” I couldn’t dial fast enough to tell him to get to the hospital RIGHT NOW. We were about to have a baby! While I waited for my husband, Stephen, to arrive, the nurses wheeled me into the delivery room. Everything moved way too fast and the next thing I knew, two men in white coats tried, in their broken English, to talk me through the process of an epidural. I glanced over my shoulder in hopes that Stephen would walk through at any minute, but he wasn’t going to make…
-
My First International Flight With an Infant: COVID Style
I was pretty intimidated about my first international flight with an infant. My daughter, Lillie, and I flew from Germany to the U.S. when she was almost 3-months old. Things were so different flying during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the days leading up to our flight, I couldn’t sleep for imagining every possible scenario and playing out our trip in my head. That’s proof enough of how nervous I was to fly considering I’ve flown thousands of miles over the last few years. Stephen was in the field, so I went about this alone, creating even more anxiety. It turned out to be a relatively positive experience and one…
-
Baby’s First Trip: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
When the Army finally lifted the 50-kilometer travel limit for us, we couldn’t wait to take Lillie Belle on her first trip! We’re stuck in Germany until she receives a passport, so we decided to book a stay at Edelweiss Lodge & Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The last time we traveled anywhere more than 30 minutes from our home in Grafenwoehr, Germany was in February when we visited Vicenza, Italy. Four months of staying at home during this crazy pandemic left us itching to travel again. We wanted to find somewhere convenient, yet beautiful since this would be our first travels with a baby; somewhere we could spend our time in…
-
Alpbach, Austria: A Weekend of Hiking, Fine Dining & Relaxing in the Alps
Austria has always held a special place in my heart as it was the second country to which I traveled outside of the United States. Stephen and I visited Austria between Christmas and New Years Eve back in 2016, and I immediately fell in love with the snow-capped Alps and the towns dotting the countryside. We’ve continued to return to Austria time and time again on many road trips throughout 2018. In early September, I was planning to visit a nearby cow parade/cattle drive in the area. When a friend told me about Reith im Alpbachtal and showed me a few photos from previous years, I was hooked. I knew…
-
The Complete Travel Guide to Thailand
Endless temples, elephant sanctuaries, white sandy beaches, floating markets, and cuisines like nowhere else in the world. These are just a few of the things you’ll experience when visiting Thailand. Dare I say you’ll fall in love with Southeast Asia and the friendliness of its people and it will leave you wanting to return time and time again. In this complete Thailand travel guide, I will show you an overview of the experiences we had when touring Thailand for the first time. It will be broken up day by day to show how long we spent in each city and the order in which we traveled. Important note: We booked…
-
Cortina d’Ampezzo | ItalybyUS
I’ve shared my favorite things to do in Cortina d’Ampezzo, located in the Italian Dolomites, with Italy by US Vicenza. You can read the full article here:Cortina d’Ampezzo – A Town for All Seasons
-
A Bucket List Experience: Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Feeding, bathing and swimming with Asian elephants at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand was an experience I’ll never forget. I wanted time to stand still just to have the opportunity to soak in every second with the most fascinating creatures I’ve seen in my 26 years of life. It brought tears to my eyes at how beautiful and majestic these huge animals were and at the same time the amount of personality they encompassed. Seeing elephants up close and personal has been on my ever-growing bucket list for a while now. We missed our opportunity back in May 2017 when we had plans to honeymoon in Thailand. Due…
-
The Best Itinerary for a Weekend Hiking in the Heart of the Dolomites
For July 4th, we celebrated our freedom and American independence by traveling to our favorite place in Italy – the Dolomites. On our very last weekend living in Italy, we couldn’t have chosen a better spot. It’s all thanks to connections made through a Facebook group that I’m an admin/moderator of – Hike the Dolomites – that I learned about Rocca Bruna Dolomiti Bed & Breakfast. If only we had found this location earlier, we would have enjoyed many more weekends here! After a fantastic weekend, I couldn’t wait to share all the details from our days at Rocca Bruna and in the Italian Dolomites. Below you will find the…
-
A Tour of Our Italian Home
The time has come for us to say goodbye to our little home in (Costabissara) Vicenza, Italy after 1.5 years. Although our home will never be featured in a Southern Italian Living Magazine, I found peace and comfort inside these walls and we made some of our best memories here. From reunions and parties to new puppies and newlywed memories, we’ll always remember this place in Italy and our first home together. While the rooms in our home never had a “theme”, they somehow turned into a hodgepodge of souvenirs from our travels mixed with IKEA and government rental furniture. A unique style of decorating! We knew we wouldn’t be…
-
Business Guide to Vicenza, Italy
Moving to a new place with unfamiliar faces, and especially to a new country, is overwhelming. Not knowing where to find certain goods and services can cause a lot of anxiety and frustration at first. The language barrier, transportation, opening hours – a lot of things are probably different from your previous location, at least they were for me. Luckily, as an army wife, there are a million and one Facebook groups where people can ask these questions – but for the rest of the American community living in our area, the method to find these products and/or services is basically a translated google search or trial and errors. My…
-
Bikepark Lavarone: Downhill Mountain Biking in Italy
Downhill mountain biking is one of those things that I sit around and daydream about. It gives me such a thrill and adrenaline rush, unlike any other hobby of ours. The adrenaline that flows through my veins each time I accomplish a downhill track at full speed in the woods is unspeakable. I didn’t expect to have a chance to hit any trails before we moved away from Italy, because the season usually starts so late in June. But when I saw that Bikepark Lavarone was having its season opener at the beginning of June, I knew it was the perfect time for us to go! Bikepark Lavarone is awesome…
-
10 Books to Add to Your Reading List This Summer
Reading provides a great escape and is the perfect way to pass the time when you’re traveling, sitting by the lake or beach, or at home during those mid-summer afternoon thunderstorms. This year I set a goal for myself to read 15 books and by the end of May, I had already surpassed that goal by reading 22 books! It was easy to fall back into reading when I had the right books and were reading ones that captured my attention, transporting me into a different world sometimes. That’s what this list of books has done for me over the last few months. Therefore, I’m here to recommend 10 books…
-
Memorial Day Weekend in Croatia
Sitting with my feet propped up on the fence at Camp Stine in Starigrad, Croatia, I listened to the waves gently crash against the rocky shoreline. We watched as the sun slowly set with shades of pink and purple hues, causing the clouds in the sky to be illuminated in the same colors. A boat passed by and we saw him all the way in, enjoying the hum of the engine and speculating about the mission he was on. Memorial Day Weekend in Croatia was off to a great start. We drove basically non-stop (7 hours) after Stephen got off staff duty at 6 am to make it to our…
-
Cinque Terre: The First Time My Mom Came to Italy Part 2
I’ve never been prouder of my mom than I was when she came to visit me for the first time in Italy. The way she adapted to the culture so quickly, rolled with the punches and traveled at 100 miles an hour by my side made me want to keep her here forever. We had the greatest times and made some of the best memories of my entire life. And Cinque Terre will forever be one of those places engraved in my memory from that time together. The first time I visited Cinque Terre was a solo trip (my first one in Europe actually), while Stephen was away doing Army…
-
Backpacking the Appalachian Trail: Tesnatee Gap to Neels Gap
What motivates you to try something for the first time? For me, it’s the thought of the unknown that scares yet excites me enough to want to experience it – despite the constant fear of failure. It’s knowing that completing the adventure in front of me may only come around once because something could happen tomorrow and I could be physically unable to do it again. It’s my partner/spouse/best friend in my ear encouraging me to do something, telling me I’m capable, despite my doubts. It’s my father-in-law insisting I try something that he knows I’ll love, like backpacking, knowing me better than I often know myself. And the result:…
-
Camping in Croatia: Reviews of My Favorite Campgrounds
Croatia has easily become one of our favorite countries since living in Europe. There’s something for everyone – beaches, waterfalls, forests, hiking routes, fresh seafood, and fine wines. On top of it all, campgrounds in Croatia take camping to a whole new level. You can take your pick from secluded forest campgrounds along the river to a spot overlooking the sea with a front seat view for Croatian sunsets. To be frank, I had never tent camped prior to moving to Europe. I grew up “camping” in an RV, motorhome, fifth-wheel…basically anything besides a tent. I was pretty hesitant when Stephen wanted to take a road trip last summer and…
-
How We Afford to Travel
When I went back to the states to visit my hometown, a group of friends and I started talking about travel and a few of them mentioned how they too wish they could travel as often as Stephen and I do. My response was: you can! I tried my best to convince them that we used our money differently, but they just weren’t buying it. And it really got me thinking…what do we do so differently that allows us to travel and not be thousands of dollars in debt? Sometimes I even forget that we are a ONE INCOME family and as you’re reading this, keep this in the back…
-
5 Outdoor Activities You Should Try This Winter
During the cold winter season, most people want to curl up on the couch by the fire with a mug of hot cocoa and watch Netflix. I get it – winter and lots of snow can seem long and daunting. While I love my days snuggling with the pups and reading, it’s great to have balance, and getting outdoors will do you loads of good mentally and physically. I never really liked winter sports before this season, because either I wasn’t sure what all there was to do, where to go to rent things, or it was just too dang cold. (I’m from North Carolina and anything below 32 to…
-
10 Best Adventure Things to do in UAE {Guest Post by Neha Singh}
Guest posted by: Neha Singh of Dubai Wikia To start off the year, I’m expanding my website and introducing my readers to new content from other writers & travelers. I’m excited to share a place with you that I’ve never been before, but somewhere that Neha Singh knows very well! She’s written up a quick guide on the 10 Best Adventure Things to Do in UAE (United Arab Emirates), located in Southwest Asia! Enjoy! If you’re looking for dramatic landscapes and opportunities for awesome adventure, then you don’t have to look further than the UAE. Whether it’s the amazing desert, or the incredible Hajar Mountains, or the amazing scores of…
- Africa, Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Europe, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, Morocco, Norway, Personal, Scotland, Serbia, Slovenia, Switzerland
2018: A Recap of Our Year Traveling to 20+ Countries
2018. A year that flew by. I look back and I feel as if I’ve hardly accomplished anything, and then I read through all these posts, look back through my photography, and think WOW – a lot happened this year. I grew as a person, a writer, a photographer, and a wife. I have seen and done things I never thought I’d do in my entire life. One thing I love about blogging and writing, in general, is that it gives you time to reflect on the past and to see what you’ve learned and accomplished (or just flat out failed) during that time. I’m super excited to share this…
-
Christmas Traditions
Growing up as a kid in the Dillon household meant a very special Christmas filled with traditions. This included everything from the day we decorated to the types of gifts we received and the parties we attended. The past two years I have spent Christmas overseas (and will again this year) and I’m very nostalgic on the traditions that haven’t been a part of my life in those few years. This year I find myself very emotional and truly missing everyone and everything that stood for what a “typical” Christmas would look like around Colfax, NC when I was growing up. First it started with when to decorate. We always…
-
Thanksgiving Weekend in Oia, Greece – Blue Domes, Greek Cuisine, & More
We have a way of always visiting places in the offseason and heading to Greece for Thanksgiving was no exception. People thought we were crazy when we told them we were going to spend our holidays in Santorini, but I think it may have been our best decision yet! Last Christmas vacation we spent a week in the Arctic Circle of Norway, where it was definitely the offseason. Snow was knee deep and driving was an adventure in itself. But we got to see the Northern Lights and experience the country without tourists around every bend. Similar to that vacation, Greece was a stress-free, relaxing, and tourist FREE experience and…
-
Hiking and Climbing in the Dolomites: Via Ferrata in Val di Fassa
This October we completed our fifth via ferrata of the year and the summit viewpoint was incredible. It was by far the longest of any hike/climb we had completed yet. 11 miles, 9 hours, and 3400 feet of hiking and climbing in Val di Fassa. It was exhausting – mentally and physically – but the feeling afterward of accomplishing that feat is something I’ll never tire of. I wanted to see the leaves changing and we hadn’t climbed in many months, so we headed to our favorite mountain range in all of Italy – the Dolomites. I did a little research and found a valley and area that we hadn’t…
-
A Weekend in Marrakesh, Morocco: Shopping, Camel Riding, and Hiking
On any day of the week, you can walk into Jemaa el-Fna Square at the heart of Marrakesh, Morocco and this is what you’ll find: musicians, drums beating, snake charmers, monkeys, food stalls, and restaurants. There is noise, chaos, smoke and dust, fortune tellers, beggars, henna tattooists, donkey carts, a multitude of scooters, taxis, and horse-drawn carriages. And yet, there is still room to walk through. This was what I experienced on a weekend in Marrakesh. Sensory overload like never before. Sound crazy? It is! Marrakesh, Morocco in Northern Africa is nothing like I could’ve imagined. I’m so glad we made the trip and we had a wonderful time. It’s…
-
10 Christmas Markets Around Northern Italy Worth Visiting | 2018
Christmas in Europe is a winter wonderland dream. Christmas markets, mulled wine, cold weather, and snowy mountain peaks. That’s what it was like here in Italy last December for our first holiday in our new home. I’ve always been like a little kid when it comes to all things Christmas, but I never realized just how much I loved the holiday until moving here and visiting the Christmas Markets in Italy, often referred to as Mercatini di Natale. There’s something in the air, or maybe it’s the hot wine, that is just different in Europe. Last year, my husband and I managed to visit as many Christmas Markets as we…
-
6 Breathtaking Hiking Trails in the Dolomites
Living within viewing distance of the Dolomites has undoubtedly left a permanent mark on my heart. I wake up every morning and drive my husband to work hoping that the sky is clear enough to get even a glimpse of them as the sun is rising and hitting the peaks, giving them a pink hue. Every mountain range we visit compares in no way shape or form to the Dolomites. They are unique, breathtaking, and will always provide unlimited adventures. Hiking in the Dolomites has become my peaceful outlet, where I seek mental clearness, and where I feel comfortable. I have been left speechless by its beauty and at the…
-
Summer Road Trip: Croatia, Hungary, Austria & Slovenia
The first week of our summer Eastern Europe road trip was jam-packed. We spent 7 days traveling through the countries of Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. We were denied entry into a country twice, had rental car issues, and made up plans as we went. We camped or stayed in a different hotel every single night. And through it all, we loved every second. No one said road tripping was easy but this was my first legit road trip and the first for us across Europe and the Balkan countries. If you haven’t read the first post from our road trip for days 1-8, head…
-
Moving Overseas with a Dog: Presley’s Journey from North Carolina to Italy
When my fairytale started, we decided up front not to move my dog, Presley, overseas – for a number of reasons – none which seem significant in the scheme of things now. One of the reasons includes the fact that I had been on many flights where a dog cried the whole time. It was traumatic and seemed torturous to do that to an animal. I was also naïve about how dog-friendly Italy is and ignorant of the fact that I needed my little man in my life. Before Stephen came along, it was just me and Presley, for 2.5 years through relationships and breakups, schoolwork, late nights, and my…
-
Edinburgh, Scotland: Castles, Lochs & Highland Cows
Arriving in Edinburgh, Scotland is like taking a step back in time. Everything from the architecture, the homes and castles, to the red telephone booths and old-timey taxis. The miles and miles of lowlands are just as beautiful as the miles of city streets of downtown Edinburgh. It’s a castle lover’s dream and a shopper’s paradise. You’ll find something for everyone to do here. I fell head over heels in love with Scotland – a place like I had never seen before. Even the downpouring rain couldn’t stop the liveliness that I felt during my weekend visiting this country. Back in the summer of 2017, I took my students abroad…
-
Summertime in St. Moritz, Switzerland
Fresh mountain air, blue skies, snowy peaks, and a wide variety of outdoor summer sporting activities. You’ll find all of this and more in the lakeside town of St. Moritz, Switzerland. With only a four-day weekend, we wanted to stay somewhere within driving distance of home. We hadn’t explored very much of Switzerland, so we packed up our bags and headed northwest to escape the agonizing August heat of Italy. The first thing to note: Switzerland is expensive. The currency in Switzerland, CHF (Swiss Francs), is basically equivalent to 1 USD. However, everything is double to triple what it usually costs us. It’s not like staying in a campground in the…
-
My 10 Favorite Podcast Series
Lately, I’ve become infatuated with listening to podcasts. Why?? Well, for someone who lives in a foreign country, it’s not easy to find a radio station that has a lot of English songs on there. And I spend a LOT of time in the car. I mean A LOT. Driving my husband to work, running errands during the day, picking him up from work, and then road trips on the weekend. We used to do a lot of scrolling through channels and it just got to the point that it was frustrating. So I started downloading podcast series to listen to. Now I listen when I’m cooking dinner, when Stephen…
-
Balkans Road Trip Part 2: Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina
The first four days of our Balkan countries road trip were mostly spent in Croatia, which wasn’t necessarily by choice, but instead due to the fact that we were denied border entry so many times. Luckily, this gave us more time to fall in love with the country, the people, the food, the sea, and everything else in Croatia. If you haven’t read the first post from our Balkan countries road trip, head on over there now by clicking here and then you can return for the second leg and pick up reading below! This part of our road trip went by way too fast as we had a lot of…
-
Road Trip Through the Balkans: Snorkeling, Camping & Sunsets in Croatia
2 weeks. 14 days. 13 nights. 13 different hotels/campgrounds. 3,342 miles (or 5,380 km). 11 countries. 6 different currencies. 2 rental cars. Stephen, myself, and the pup. That’s our road trip in a nutshell. I’m a numbers-loving person so those are the facts, but there was so much more to this road trip, so much to write about I hardly know where to start! Well actually, let’s back up a second and talk about how we chose this trip. When Stephen found out the dates for his 2 weeks of holiday leave, we talked about it a bit and decided that we didn’t really want to fly anywhere because we…
-
Whitewater Kayaking in Italy
When I think of kayaking, I think of a nice, slow ride down the river. It brings back great memories with my family and friends in North Carolina. But since living in Italy, we’ve had a hard time finding any information on where to go river kayaking (also known to some as whitewater kayaking). When I first googled kayaking in Italy, all that turned up was information about kayaking through the canals of Venice, along the Amalfi coast, around the island of Sardinia (which we did and you can read about here), or on lakes like Garda. But, I wanted more information on where to go to put my kayak…
-
A Review of Italy’s Recently Opened “Bike Path” on Lake Garda
When an article appeared online about a bike path opening up along Lake Garda (Lago di Garda), I was all for taking the following Sunday to head up there and enjoy a nice day by the lake. The article, which I won’t name specifically for obvious reasons, considers this bike path one of the most spectacular in Europe. It goes on to say that it’s a 2 km stretch (although I wasn’t sure that could be correct), took 2 years and 7 million € to complete. That’s a lot of time and a lot of money. It’s gotta be worth it, right?! Well, let’s find out! On Sunday, we loaded…
-
Naples, Italy: First Impressions
Let me preface this post by providing you with a little background knowledge of my travels that I have to compare to Naples, Italy. Within the United States, I have been to too many places to name, so for now, I’ll name the relevant ones – Chicago, New York City, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Washington DC. In Europe, however, our experiences have been with mainly eco-friendly countries – Norway, Switzerland, Austria, just to name a few. When we visit a new country we seek out the mountains, lakes, and smaller villages. But, I’m a Paris fanatic, a lover of Rome, and I find Venice fascinating. Basically, I tell you all of…
-
A Life-Altering Climb
FYI: writing this post has not been easy. I have written about it. Deleted it. Written it. Deleted it. Too many times to count. I struggle between sharing it and keeping it to myself. We have told no one about this, yet. Nothing but good and supportive comments have ever come out of my writing and truthfulness, so here it goes. At dinner that night, I sat across from my husband with tears in my eyes, and I asked him, “how do I ever explain this to someone? How do I put into words this experience in a way that anyone could ever understand? How do we tell our friends…
-
Lessons From a First Time Mountain Climber | Via Ferrata Style
Full disclosure: I am not an expert. As the title says, it was my FIRST time on a via ferrata in the Dolomites. All things I recommend below come with this caution and warning. Please consult your physician prior to performing any of these activities (or whatever the correct wording is here). I am able to write about these events and recommend them to others because I survived… so there you have it! I’ve never had a fear of heights. I grew up loving to go fast, ride every roller coaster, and go as high up as possible thanks to my dad. That was the one thing we loved to…
-
The First Time My Mom Came to Italy
For one whole week, I had the opportunity to play the only child. I had my Mom all to myself. No distractions, no work, no other siblings to draw her attention away…and while that may seem selfish, it has never happened in my life before – that I can remember that is. I grew up in such a big family, with 4 of us kids, that we always shared parents, attention, toys, experiences, friends, etc etc. One thing that we don’t have in common though, is living abroad. And when my Mom came to visit me for the first time, it was just me and her for a whole week!…
-
Hiking in Trentino, Italy: Lakes, Waterfalls & Gorges
I recently organized my first group hike for some friends and me, and it was so much fun! I planned it as a short day trip, leaving at 8:00 am and returning by 6:00 pm. This would make a great day/weekend trip for those living in or visiting the Vicenza / Lake Garda / Province of Trentino area! Lago di Tenno The first stop of the day was at a serene lake – Lago di Tenno – located above Lago di Garda. It was a 2-hour drive from Vicenza through lakeside towns and tight switchback roads (8,70€ in autostrada tolls). We found a parking lot right by the lake that had…
-
Füssen, Germany: Suspension Bridges and Fairytale Castles
As soon as I found out that one of Stephen’s friends was in Fussen, Germany, I was sold on a weekend trip. It was a win-win situation – a new country for my list and a chance for him and his buddy to reunite! When I think of Germany, I think of delicious German food, hiking, and towns with unique German architecture. And, it’s safe to say that all of my expectations were met for this weekend trip! Visiting the Neuschwanstein Castle, the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty has been on my bucket list for months now, thanks to the numerous Instagram posts in my feed. This fairytale-like castle…
-
Checklist for Traveling Abroad for the First Time
So you’ve made the leap! You’re going on an epic trip abroad for the first time? Or maybe you’re reading this because you’re debating traveling and you’re wondering how hard it is and what needs to be done? Well, I’m here to reassure you that with this checklist for traveling abroad for the first time and a little bit of preparation, you’ll be well on your way to exploring incredible places and making memories that will last a lifetime. How do I know these things? Because I was once in your shoes. Before I left everything behind for love and moved across the ocean to sweet Italia, I decided in…
-
Florence, Italy: All the Must See’s from The Duomo to the Statue of David
Florence, Italy is ranked among the world’s most beautiful cities, and is well known for its history, art, culture, fashion, and wealth. Spend just one day strolling the cobblestone streets flanked by the many beautiful churches, synagogues, and temples, and you’ll agree! Between the famous statue of David by Michelangelo and the domed cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, often referred to as The Duomo, these two sights alone in the heart of Firenze are enough to take your breath away. If you’re headed to Italy, Florence is one of those places you’ll want to add to your list! It is conveniently located between Venice and Rome, making it a…
-
A Weekend Guide to Tuscany
Tuscany is an ideal getaway if you love castles, wine, rolling hills and green fields galore. Here's a weekend guide to Tuscany and all the points of interest in Monteriggioni, Castellina in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, and San Gimignano.
-
A Tuscan Winery Experience – Castello di Verrazzano
Tuscany is the type of place you see in love stories, like Under the Tuscan Sun, and then dream about going to one day. It is undeniably a region full of postcard material. Famous in Italy for its rolling hills, food, and most significantly wine, there is so much to see and do in Tuscany. Choosing A Tuscan Winery For Valentine’s Day weekend, we traveled to the Chianti region of Tuscany. We stayed in Monteriggioni and decided to do our first winery tour and tasting just a few towns over in Greve in Chianti. Recommended by a friend who had been there recently, we chose Castello di Verrazzano as our…
-
Surprise Visit to North Carolina + A Unique “Bucket List”
When I waved goodbye to my parents and Presley at the airport three months ago and moved to Italy, I could literally feel my heart breaking. I wasn’t sure how I could make it living so far from my family for the first time in my life. Somehow I survived those first 48 hours of emotional roller coasters (you can read about that here). Only a few people knew for all those months that I’d be making a surprise visit to see my family – one was the bride that was getting married (the main reason I was going home), and the other a best friend that I knew I…
-
Brent de l’Art: A Ravine in the Province of Belluno, Italy
If what you’re seeking is a unique hiking experience with photogenic surroundings, Brent de l’Art is the place to visit. Located within 2 hours driving time from Vicenza, Italy, this ravine lies in Trichiana, Province of Belluno. What’s a Brent? The term Brent indicates a stream. It flows at the bottom of a deep valley and is more or less quite narrow. You will often see the word “brent” when driving over a short bridge as it names the small river or stream below you. The ravine formed at Brent de l’Art is a result of water, stones, and plants once entering the canyon creating whirlwinds and slamming intensely against…
-
Basic Tips to Photograph the Northern Lights
When we booked our trip to Norway to see the Northern Lights, I knew I had to learn how to capture this incredible phenomenon. Up to this point, I’d always used an iPhone or GoPro to document our travels. Everything I kept reading said that to photograph the Northern Lights would be much more complicated than simply snapping a pic on my phone. I spent a lot of time learning, researching, and taking notes about the best ways to take photos of the Aurora Borealis in order to avoid getting myself into a situation where I would miss the lights because I was too busy trying to fiddle with the…
-
Dog Sledding in Alta, Norway
Standing tall on the runners of our basket sleds with snow piling up underneath, we raced through the Arctic wilderness led by a team of Alaskan Huskies. A 30-kilometer, 6.5-hour journey through the forests and by the riversides of Norway leaves one feeling a rush of adrenaline and wild-spirited. Welcome to the experience of dog sledding in Norway! Enjoy this short video we put together of footage from our trip of dog sledding in Norway (or click here if it doesn’t load.) During our trip to see the Northern Lights, one of our first outdoor activities was dog sledding in Norway – something I’ve wanted to do for years! Located…
-
Chasing the Northern Lights Through Norway | When to Go, Where to Stay, What to Do
Shades of green swirled and danced over our heads in the night sky for as we sat soaking in the hot tub, while two feet of snow surrounded us. It felt like a dream, one that I had waited my entire life to witness. If you have been following along for a while now, you probably read that my lifelong bucket list consisted of two major items – seeing the Swiss Alps and experiencing the Northern Lights. I checked the first item off of my bucket list last July when I took a group of students to Switzerland and Italy through EF Tours. The second item on that list was just recently…
-
Hiking and Cow Festivals: A Cool October Weekend in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
Picture this: mountains with snowy peaks, cows parading through town with floral headpieces, shops of the most amazing handmade items, and delicious fresh meats and vegetables. What you’re imagining is the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo. Lucky for you, I have actual photographs of all the above so keep reading to find out about this quaint ski town in Northern Italy! Cortina d’Ampezzo has been one of my favorite towns to date in all of Italy. It has something for everyone! I highly recommend visiting this place if you are having guests in town and need the perfect place to go sightseeing and/or shopping. This village located at the base of…
-
Asiago Christmas Markets: An Ageless Tradition
I’m so blessed to be living in Europe just in time for Christmas this year. Christmas Markets are famous throughout Italy and Europe, and my list of “to-see” markets is quite long. In Italian, a Christmas Market is called Mercatini Di Natale. They are in most of the major towns around Italy and even throughout countries like Germany and Switzerland. The Asiago Christmas Market was the first on my list as it is only an hour drive from Vicenza. Known for its cheese and beautiful surroundings, Asiago is located in the Veneto region in Northeastern Italy. Looking at the weather report, we saw that it had been snowing a good…
-
Open Markets of Italy | The Ins & Outs
Every day in Italy brings exciting new sales and vendors to even the smallest of towns. You are pretty much guaranteed to pass by a market if you’re driving around mid-morning throughout the towns of Italy. I had heard about these infamous markets so I just had to check them out! Read below for more information about the Open Markets of Vicenza, Italy. Downtown Vicenza Market I was not disappointed either! There were tents galore full of fresh food, fried food, clothes, household items, vibrant flowers, and even some antiques. I would’ve spent my entire morning walking around to shop at each vendor. They also had handmade items of clothing –…
-
House Hunters International – A Home in Vicenza, Italy
Choosing your first home as a married couple is no simple task, but choosing one in another country…that takes a lot of patience and time. But I can say without a doubt, that once we started looking for a home in Vicenza, Italy, this decision was one of the easiest ones we have ever made as a married couple. I knew we had found the ONE when we stepped out of the car in Costabissara with our translator. I looked over at my husband, and he had this stupid grin on his face. I asked him what he was smirking about and he responded: “I can smell fresh grass!” One of…
-
How To Conquer A Military Move
Three long months I waited for the day that the movers would come to carry all of my belongings away. Three months of hoping I packed everything, inventoried everything, and that I didn’t pack anything on the “not allowed” list. My situation is probably different than yours or the seasoned military spouse. I’m what’s considered to be a deferred spouse. In army terms, this means that I married my husband after he was already assigned a station. Or in other words, he’s been living in Italy for a year or more before I will be arriving. Why does this matter? Well, it means I had to do all the packing, planning, and…
-
Camping the New River
Over the last couple of years, our family has really taken a likin’ to camping, especially at the New River. After selling our lake house this year, the river became our new go-to spot for the summer. Knowing I’m leaving for Italy in the fall, I treasured every minute camping at the New River together. We would load up our fifth wheel with food, firewood, fishin’ rods, kayaks, and bicycles. There’s not much cell service up there so we brought lots to do, especially if it rained — a good book (or 4), card games, or DVDs to watch.
-
Student Trip to Europe: Part 1 to Lucerne, Switzerland
My students and I traveled to Switzerland and Italy over their summer break for a life-changing experience. Read Part 1 to find out all about the cool things we did in Switzerland. Stay tuned for more posts!
-
Serenity in Sardinia
The latest Adventures of S & S included an exciting honeymoon to the beautiful island of Sardinia. Check out this short clip for a summary of our trip, then keep scrolling down to read all about it!! Overview of Sardinia Country: Italy Recommended Hotel(s): Grand Hotel Poltu Quatu (Poltu Quatu), Hotel Panorama (Olbia) Best Bites: The famous Sardinia tortilla bread, mussels, octopus Activities: Snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving, hiking, dolphin watching Beaches: Baia Sardinia, Phi Beach (party beach), Porto Cervo Language: Italian, most people spoke English well enough Surprising Parts: $$$, very little sea life due to minimal vegetation underwater, topless beaches Best Assets: differing landscapes – mountains, beaches, deserts; beautiful…
-
Colorful Cinque Terre
Blue skies. Blue seas. Gelato. Lemon trees. Those are the first four things I noticed when I got off the train in Monterosso al Mare, one of the five towns that is part of the Cinque Terre (pronounced “chink-e” like 5 in Italian). Cinque Terre means “five lands” in Italian and is composed of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. I chose to stay in this town after reading other blog posts comparing the five towns. Monterosso has much more to offer activities wise. There are shops, restaurants, and bars galore. The beach is significantly larger than Vernazza so there’s lots of room for laying out. I stayed…
-
Norway in 3 Days
Day 1: Oslo After a long 15 hour trip from Charlotte, NC to Oslo, Norway, it was such a relief to be back in the familiar arms of my man! We grabbed our bags and walked over to the most gorgeous and welcoming hotel, Radisson Blu. It was so nice to be able to walk from the airport to the hotel without having to worry about transportation. The hotel was beautiful on the inside and the outside, and our room was very modern. One of the first European hotels I’ve seen that actually had a bathtub and the beds weren’t split into two!
