Beijing is perhaps the one city that is most quintessentially “China”. What foreigners picture China to be, Beijing is. Coming in as the 8th most populated city on the planet, Beijing can be hectic, busy, and smoggy. Despite this, there are truly beautiful sights and unique experiences to be had. With just 3.5 days in this historical Chinese city during a longer trip in Asia, here was our lineup: Day 1- Arrive into Beijing! After…
Advice for a salty but sweet experience! The Dead Sea is a place I’d dreamed for years of visiting! I had the chance to finally swim in its salty waters while traveling through Jordan. With a salt concentration of a staggering 34% (8.6 times saltier than ocean water!), it makes for a truly unique experience! The Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth, and hosts no life in its waters. Despite this, it can…
Jolly old London-Town has been a place of fascination for me ever since I was a little girl. Its epic history filled with royals, intrigue, and power struggles drew me in immediately. Once I read “Peter Pan”, “Harry Potter”, and a handful of Jane Austen novels, the deal was sealed. I was in love. Visiting England was actually the first international trip I ever took, and it set the stage for a lifelong love of…
Istanbul is a city that cannot be sufficiently described without being seen. At one corner you've traveled back in time to haggle for spices. At the the next, you're taking a modern trolley to a perfectly curated museum. This city seems to wear a veil of mystery, and is so many things in one. The Constantinople of the ancient world, Istanbul is located on the bridge between two continents, and this is apparent in so…
"Awe: An emotion variously combining veneration and wonder,that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime" Sometimes when you travel, you arrive at a new place and can’t help but feel a bit disappointed. You might even feel guilty for feeling that way- you're in a new place. Isn’t everything supposed to be exciting and new and wonderful when you travel? Sometimes, unfortunately, that feeling is inevitable. Maybe something you built up in…
The Emerald Isle is a lush, green country that most travelers aim to visit at some point in time. Ireland's local culture, traditions, history, and nature draw you in… or is it the pubs? Here is my itinerary for a 10 day independent Ireland road-trip Day 1: Fly in to the Shannon Airport. Pick up your rental car, and make a quick stop in the thatch-roof village of Adare. Stay the night in Killarney- my…
Many people haven’t heard of the small Eastern-European country of Montenegro, nor its medieval city of Kotor. In their defense, it just recently gained its independence in 2006! Despite being new to the scene, I have a feeling it’s about to be on the radar of travelers worldwide. Its natural beauty, kind people, and affordability are going to start drawing more and more visitors each year. On a two-week trip through the Balkans with my…
The hills are alive... with the sound of music! While you won’t encounter many locals raving about this classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, the vast majority of tourists to Salzburg will be! Growing up with a mom who is absolutely enamored by the musical retelling of the Von Trapp family story, I’ve always dreamed of seeing the places from that timeless and classic film. In the summer of 2012, I was fortunate enough to visit…
While Tanzania may not be your typical honeymoon destination, that's where my husband and I headed in January 2015! This trip combined an African Safari with beach time on the spice island of Zanzibar. We planned the trip independently, but our safari company helped! This schedule was perfect, allowing us to get a taste of the diversity Tanzania offers. Here is our Tanzania itinerary: [gallery type="circle" link="none" ids="2175,2213,2142"] All photos were taken by either myself…
The Indonesian island of Bali is a timeless travel destination that offers enough activities, sightseeing and relaxation to last a lifetime. There are many unique excursions and sights you just won’t find anywhere else. This fascinating island in Indonesia will enchant you- and I think you'll see why. Check out a list of the top 10 activities to do in Bali, according to a local: [gallery type="circle" link="none" ids="2083,2094,2092"] Activity #1: Mount Batur To experience the spectacular beauty…
