My Search to Discover Why Everyone Loves Lucca, Italy
There are certain places around the world that seem to be on every Must-Visit list, featured on TV shows and in movies and attract an unlikely high number of travel writers and bloggers. I’ve never really figured out the reason, but they exist and Lucca is one of those rarefied cities. Locate in Italy’s romantic Tuscany region, I remember first hearing about Lucca while watching an episode of “House Hunters International.” Ever since then, and after thousands of times reading about it, I’ve wanted to visit, to see if it really is as special as the world seems to think. I recently had that opportunity, while visiting Tuscany as part…
The Joy of Being a Corny Tourist in Barcelona
If you spend any amount of time reading digital travel articles you will soon stumble over the phrase “going local.” It simply stresses the importance of going off of the tourist trail from time to time and trying to understand what really makes a city ebb and flow. It’s great advice and every traveler would be well served to incorporate it into their trips. However, it ignores the fact that when any of us, no matter how well traveled, visits a new city we want to see the sights for which it is so well known. In London this means the Houses of Parliament, in Paris the Eiffel Tower and…
The Joy of Being a Corny Tourist in Barcelona
If you spend any amount of time reading digital travel articles you will soon stumble over the phrase “going local.” It simply stresses the importance of going off of the tourist trail from time to time and trying to understand what really makes a city ebb and flow. It’s great advice and every traveler would be well served to incorporate it into their trips. However, it ignores the fact that when any of us, no matter how well traveled, visits a new city we want to see the sights for which it is so well known. In London this means the Houses of Parliament, in Paris the Eiffel Tower and…
A Twist on the Christmas Market Cruise – Sailing the Mediterranean
For the last six years or so I’ve made it a travel tradition to spend some time in Europe in December, to enjoy the holiday festivities. It’s evolved over the years and while I have revisited some places, in general I like to travel to new cities and regions I haven’t seen during Advent. Even my favorite European cities transform during the season, they drop the mantle of tourism and embrace the holiday for themselves and not for visitors. It’s a wonderful time of year to visit for a number of reasons and it has become my favorite trip of the year. In 2017 though I did something a little…
A Twist on the Christmas Market Cruise – Sailing the Mediterranean
For the last six years or so I’ve made it a travel tradition to spend some time in Europe in December, to enjoy the holiday festivities. It’s evolved over the years and while I have revisited some places, in general I like to travel to new cities and regions I haven’t seen during Advent. Even my favorite European cities transform during the season, they drop the mantle of tourism and embrace the holiday for themselves and not for visitors. It’s a wonderful time of year to visit for a number of reasons and it has become my favorite trip of the year. In 2017 though I did something a little…
A Twist on the Christmas Market Cruise – Sailing the Mediterranean
For the last six years or so I’ve made it a travel tradition to spend some time in Europe in December, to enjoy the holiday festivities. It’s evolved over the years and while I have revisited some places, in general I like to travel to new cities and regions I haven’t seen during Advent. Even my favorite European cities transform during the season, they drop the mantle of tourism and embrace the holiday for themselves and not for visitors. It’s a wonderful time of year to visit for a number of reasons and it has become my favorite trip of the year. In 2017 though I did something a little…
Embrace the Cold: My Favorite Frozen Destinations
Looking at the single digits on my thermometer here at home, I couldn’t help but reflect on the many cold weather trips I have enjoyed over the years. There’s something special about visiting frozen destinations during their coldest months; I think it’s how they’re best enjoyed. While multiple layers and hot cocoa are both requirements, the rewards for visiting these chilly spots around the world far outweigh any annoyances in preparing for the adventure. There are many more cold destinations I would love to see in person, but of the ones I have visited these special spots are definitely worth the wintertime trip. Alta, Norway I love visiting northern parts…
