This post has been sponsored by the North Dakota Tourism Division. If a state is beautiful enough to inspire the entire National Park System, it needs to be on the top of my “must-visit” list. North Dakota is a state focused on ideas and experiences, some of which made Theodore Roosevelt fall in love with the area, […]
“Isn’t Cancun just a bunch of resorts?” “There’s nothing to do there except go to the beach!” “That’s not real Mexico.” I’ll confess: the first time I went to the Riviera Maya, I was simply in search of a tropical vacation and an excuse to use my passport. My sister and I found it, but
Everyone raves about the beauty of Switzerland, but few talk about the adrenaline rush. Travelers save stories of epic mountain adventures for destinations like New Zealand, Patagonia, and the Himalayas. For some reason, Switzerland is left out from a worthy conversation on alpine excitement and instead is known for its (equally worthy) scenic train rides, downhill skiing, and expensive
Coordinating travel plans with special events can be one of the most enjoyable ways to experience a place. Oktoberfest in Munich, Semana Santa in Guatemala, and the Winter Carnaval in Quebec have been incredibly fun travel memories for me. Of course, when events come but once a year, it’s not always possible to to plan
Preparing for Il Carnevale di Venezia – in June! Read More »
After shelling out hundreds of dollars on dance lessons before our wedding, my husband and I had resigned ourselves that dancing is best left to professionals or dimly lit spaces where no one can tell that we’re actually doing dance moves more commonly known as ‘the lawnmower’ or ‘the shopping cart’. Our first night in Sorrento
Think back to your first trip to Europe: where did you go? what did you do? and what do you remember most vividly? If your trip was anything like mine, the focus was on being able to say “been there, done that” instead of creating lasting memories. I simply followed the guidebook’s recommendations, enjoyed a few
In the time leading up to my Competitours trip, a million people asked me what I was most excited for on the trip and I wasn’t sure how to respond. I was looking forward to my time abroad — I was going to Europe after all! — but I had no idea where I’d be going or what I’d
Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone With Competitours Read More »
I think I first learned about the concept of the ice hotel in 2005 or 2006, when I was a sophomore in college. Ever since, I’ve been fascinated by the concept and have been lusting after a stay year after year. Although the “original” ice hotel may be in Sweden, I’ve never considered anywhere but the Hôtel
The Golden Circle of Iceland befuddled me before my trip. It’s included in every tourist recommendation, but the description meant nothing to me. I could regurgitate the words in no time flat — it’s a popular day trip from Reykjavik to Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall, and the Geysir hot spring area — yet I was completely at a
When I was in town for the Charleston Sessions, I was invited by Charleston Culinary Tours to be a guest on their Farmer’s Market Tour. Since I love sampling food (in general) and enjoy supporting local products (in particular) this seemed like the perfect way to spend a morning. Although Charleston Culinary Tours offers five
Blending History and Lowcountry Cooking with Charleston Culinary Tours Read More »
