Europe
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
