The Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited U.S. National Park, and for good reason. In addition to the park itself, there are loads of kid-friendly things to do in Pigeon Forge and nearby Gatlinburg, Tennessee! Being from the Cincinnati area, it’s only a 4.5 hour drive, so I’ve traveled here many times. Traveling with a toddler, our goal was to find kid friendly activities, and we did! We usually stay in Gatlinburg, so Pigeon Forge…
Every year, thousands of American college students make their way down to Central America to study abroad in the beautiful country of Costa Rica. After my own great experience, I've listed my top reasons to study abroad in Costa Rica. While there are many options as to where to base yourself, I was living in Heredia. There are a HUGE variety of University programs here and in San Jose, click here to see a few!…
With 2-3 days on Santorini, there are plenty of things to fill your time. Here is what I recommend: My Santorini, Greece itinerary has a great overview for first timers! Don’t skip my FULL GREECE ITINERARY that goes with this post! Places you'll see on my Santorini itinerary: Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these, I may earn a small commission (at no…
The Emerald Isle. A lush, green country most travelers aim to visit. Ireland's culture, traditions, history, and nature certainly draw you in… or is it the pubs? Reminiscent of our Scotland road trip, this Ireland road trip itinerary is filled with scenic stops as you go. After some trial and error, here is my 10 day Ireland itinerary- perfect for a self guided road trip! Oh yeah, don't forget to read my post on what…
Rome, the eternal city, has so much to offer- Insanely delicious food, fascinating history, and monuments older than we can comprehend. I hate billing a historic city as merely a backdrop for photo opportunities. However, I know visitors to Rome still want to capture their memories, and have quality photos to look back on. Keeping this in mind, here are my tips for photography in Rome, perfect for creating a personalized photo calendar or capturing…
If you have only 3 days in Edinburgh, here is how I suggest you divide up your time. Possibly my favorite city in all of Europe, there is plenty to do and see in Scotland's capital city. After taking my first trip to Scotland (an incredible 10 day road trip), I became hooked. I keep returning now to this magical country, and I can't seem to stop! This itinerary is helpful if you need a…
The Salar de Uyuni, or salt flats of Uyuni, is easily one of the most ethereal places on earth. During a backpacking trip in Peru and Bolivia, I spent 2 days in this magical place. Here is how I'd describe my tour of the Salar de Uyuni, and what you can expect: |All photos taken by myself or my husband| Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something…
Swimming in the Dead Sea (in Jordan) is a bucket list experience for many. Here are ten tips to help you have a salty and sweet experience! With a salt concentration of 34% (8.6 times saltier than ocean water!), this is a truly unique experience! The Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth, not just in the Middle East. Despite this, it can still be a high point of your travels! Some links in…
Trying to pack for a winter trip to Scotland can be tricky thanks to its unpredictable weather. With temperatures ranging from freezing to balmy, it's hard to know if you'll be warm and dry enough. You may luck out with temps in the upper/mid 40's, but it can definitely drop below freezing and get cold enough to snow. There's also about a 50-50 chance of rain each day, so be prepared! To help you be…
Want to visit Costa Rica, but aren't sure what to pack for winter travel? With my dry- season packing list, I'll make sure you are prepared! With my detailed winter ("dry season") Costa Rica packing list, you will save time and can rest assured you won't be caught without an important item. I've traveled here multiple times (including living here for several months), and refined my packing list with each trip. This list will work…
