Are you in the midst of planning a wine tourism trip to Mendoza, Argentina? If so, I am excited for you as I loved the region, especially the district of Luján de Cuyo, and think you will too! In fact, I’m currently planning a return...
For many wine lovers, if I say Malbec and steak, you’ll immediately think “Mendoza”. But what exactly should you expect from a Mendoza wine trip? A GLIMPSE OF MENDOZA Mendoza is a large wine region in Argentina as well as the name of the main city in...
I’ve just returned from my fourth trip to Rio de Janeiro and it still feels as special as it did the first time I visited, 17 years ago. It’s such an energetic, mesmerizing city, it’s no surprise that it’s usually a fan favorite with travelers. I’ve...
What attracts people - Mexicans from other regions, North Americans, Europeans and other foreigners to Playa Del Carmen, or “Playa” as nicknamed by the locals? It’s likely the prime beachside location in the Riviera Maya. But I’ll argue that what keeps them coming back to Playa is the spirit. [caption id="attachment_17742" align="aligncenter" width="620"]...
Granada, Spain is a popular tourism destination. It is hosting travelers year-round, drawing visitors to the Alhambra, for summer vacation, or to ski in the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains. Below are the highlights we experienced, as well as advice if you're planning to visit Granada. Exploring...
Seville, Spain is an absolutely wonderful place to visit or even live. We called the historic center of the city our 'remote home' for a little more than a month, and then played tourist when our family arrived for a four-city road trip adventure. Below are...
Barcelona is the type of city you can visit several times and have a different experience with each visit. It's also very easy to imagine living there. You might even start glancing at real estate information in the windows as you pass by. Yes, that...
Valencia has a lot to offer! Visit its historical center, the beach, parks, the central market, dine on paella and shop at the boutique stores or the large shopping centers. Below is a snapshot of what's notable in Valencia and tips for planning travel. Exploring Valencia,...
Spain Road Trip Route: Seville > Granada > Valencia > Barcelona Overview I wouldn’t characterize the direct route of our Spain road trip as being one beautiful landscape after another or particularly exciting. That wasn’t the point of this particular trip - it was more a means...
I hit a whole other level of foodie while temporarily living in Seville, Spain. It felt like one huge food adventure. Part of it had to do with my friend, Julie visiting with her Conde Nast magazine in her purse and aggressive eating schedule. The...
Bucket List: Camel Rides in the Desert If you’re like me, you might have a section of your bucket list dedicated to exotic experiences. Going on an African safari, visiting pristine nature in a world famous National Reserve Park, experiencing a renowned wine region, boating to an...
Our Portugal Road Trip Route: Porto > Obidos > Sintra > Odeceixe > Algarve Intro Upon completing our first trip to Portugal, I feel confident saying it’s made for road trips. I know, I’m a rookie to Portugal. But not to road trips. And with so many historical...
Óbidos is a compact, fortified (walled) medieval town that features Gothic, Rennasiance, and Baroque styles. Exploring Óbidos, Portugal Duration: a few hours Time of Year: late September What did we find notable? You can explore its cobblestone streets, historic castle and fortress walls that you can walk along. [gallery columns="1" size="large"...
There’s plenty of excitement on the Douro riverfront and the historic, hilly streets of the Ribeira district. Yet, the whole of Porto is a gem. Porto highlights Porto has this relaxed, positive vibe which synchs well with its sunny, colorful environment and soundtrack of seagulls. It’s part...
Sintra will captivate you with its picturesque setting - a historical town perched on the foothills of the Sintra mountains - and offering of palaces, mansions, forest and gardens to explore. [caption id="attachment_16771" align="aligncenter" width="600"] view of Sintra from the Moorish Castle[/caption] Exploring Sintra, Portugal Duration: 1 day/overnight Time...
Odeceixe is a simple town with cobblestone streets in the Algarve region, located in the Nature Park of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast with old cobblestone streets. A little further up the road, which runs parallel to the Ribeira de Seixe (Seixe River), you will reach...
Referred to one of the best scenic roads in the world, the TransFagarasan Road (Route # 7 C or DN 7C) is 71 miles (114 km) and cuts through forest, by the Poenari Castle Ruins, alongside the beautiful Vidraru Lake and Dam, up and around the...
Romania is home to more than a dozen castles and fortresses that you can visit. And with so many varying styles and historical significance, you should strive to visit more than one castle! During our six-day Transylvania road trip, we visited three of the region's most popular...
There’s a reason the Transylvania region of Romania is a fan favorite - it’s unique, it’s stunning, it’s affordable and it’s not overrun, yet. There are a variety of attractions, such as castles, scenic roads, gorgeous nature & hiking, wineries, and historic towns. Oh, and of course, Dracula fever. Our Transylvania Road Trip Route After a 3.5 week...
On our road trip, we stopped at three, distinct, medieval cities - Brasov, Sibiu and Alba Iulia. Brasov Brasov is a city nestled between the Southern Carpathian mountains making for a very scenic environment. It was founded by the Transylvanian Saxons (Germans that settled in Transylvania...
The Transylvania region offers a whole host of activities, such as hiking, camping, historic city walking tours, Dracula-themed tours and more. Our focus, however, was on tasting Romanian wines and visiting a salt mine-turned-playground. Tasting Romanian Wines in Turda Winemaking has been a tradition in the Alba...
First Impressions of Bucharest Bucharest, Romania was our first visit to an Eastern European country. We chose to make it our remote home for 3.5 weeks in August 2016 and rented an apartment in the heart of the city on Calea Victoriei. On our drive from...
Pico Island was a must see on our list because of its unique landscape: Mount Pico juts out of the center of the island and basalt rock can be seen checkering the vineyards and along the coast. While visiting Faial, we took the ferry from Horta,...
We chose to visit Faial Island as part of our Azores island hop for two reasons. First, the city of Horta was a good base to be able to see both Faial Island and take a day trip to Pico Island. Second, we couldn’t resist the urge to see...
The Azores islands (Açores in Portuguese) are enthralling. I would frequently stop and gaze out at my surroundings, taking in the beauty and landscapes that were so unfamiliar to me. I felt like I was in a dream. A far off land. With lush, green...
I love islands. Since we started our nomadic life, I’ve not so subtly steered us towards as many islands as possible. I even started an ‘island counter’ on the home page so I can keep the challenge alive! So my take on São Miguel Island...