Wondering if the Roman Forum is worth visiting when there is so much to see in Rome? That’s totally understandable when the Vatican, Colosseum, and scoops of gelato are vying for your attention, and you may be short on time, as I was. In this guide, I’ll walk you visually through my time visiting the…
One of the best things about using Dublin as a home base is how much of Ireland (and Northern Ireland!) you can see without ever getting behind the wheel. If you’re anything like me—nervous about driving on the left side of the road and trying to stretch your travel budget—you’ll be relieved to know that…
One of the best things about visiting London is how easy it is to escape the city for a day. Whether you’re craving countryside charm, ancient history, or literary pilgrimages, there’s a world-class day trip waiting just a train ride away. I’ve been visiting London since I was 16 and have spent nearly 2 months…
Planning a quick stopover in Rhodes and wondering how to make the most of just one day? Whether you’re a history enthusiast drawn to medieval architecture or a beach lover seeking crystal-clear Aegean waters, Rhodes is an epic destination, as like Hannah Montana, it offers the best of both worlds! This one day in Rhodes…
Wondering if spending just one day in Paris is actually worth it, or if you’ll end up more frustrated than fulfilled trying to cram the City of Light into such a tight timeframe? Maybe you’ve got a long layover at Charles de Gaulle, you’re passing through on a European train journey, or you simply can’t…
Planning your first trip to Austria and wondering where to start? I took my mom on a trip to Vienna and Salzburg, two of Austria’s most famous cities, as part of our search for our ancestry. As I’d surprised and gifted her with this trip, I had to do so without breaking the bank. So,…
Planning your first trip to Vienna? This comprehensive 3-day Vienna itinerary is designed for first-time travelers who want to make the most out of a long weekend without spending an Emperor’s fortune. After spending several days in Vienna with my mother on a surprise trip we took to track down our ancestors, I’ve distilled the…
Need to know where to stay in Vienna on a budget? I recently took my mom on a surprise ancestry trip to Vienna, and since she offered to cover accommodations, I was determined to find the best budget-friendly options. After searching for places to stay in Vienna, I ended up in some less likely spots…
I took my mom on a surprise trip to Austria as part of searching out our family ancestry, which also took us to Slovenia, Germany, and Croatia. And while my family isn’t from Salzburg, I knew she was a big Sound of Music fan and decided to do a quick 2 day trip to this…
Looking for the top things to do in Rovaniemi, Finland? Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus and capital of Finnish Lapland, offers an incredible array of Arctic experiences—from witnessing the Northern Lights dancing across frozen lakes to ice floating in suits that make you look like a lobster, meeting reindeer, and dining in restaurants…
Planning your Finnish Lapland adventure but torn between staying in an Insta-famous glass igloo for Northern Lights viewing and choosing centrally-located accommodation for easy access to tours and restaurants? No matter where you stay in Rovaniemi, you’re sure to have a magical Arctic experience as it’s a winter paradise boasting accommodations for everyone, but the…
Planning your first trip to Rovaniemi and feeling overwhelmed by advice about whether 3 days is enough to see the Northern Lights and meet Santa, or if you need a full week to truly experience Finnish Lapland? As someone who spent nearly two weeks navigating Rovaniemi in peak winter—from ice floating in -20°F temperatures to…
Mesmerized by photos of the Northern Lights dancing over glass igloos? People floating in frozen lakes wearing bright red suits? Santa Claus waving from his official hometown? Well then, you need to go to Finnish Lapland! But, how much is this going to cost? Will you see the Northern Lights? Do you really need two…
If you’re planning a trip to Rovaniemi, you’ve probably stumbled across photos of people bobbing around in bright red suits that make them look like human lobsters, and you’re asking yourself: Is ice floating actually safe, or am I going to turn into Jack from Titanic? And is it worth the cost when there are…
Planning a trip to Finnish Lapland and wondering what (and where) you’ll actually eat in the Arctic Circle? I’ll be honest—before my nearly two-week adventure in Rovaniemi, I had no idea what to expect from Arctic cuisine. All I knew was it involved reindeer, and I wondered if I could really bring myself to eat…
