For Christmas last year we had the pleasure of traveling to France for the holiday break. As you know, if you’ve been following along with our travels for the last many years, we love to rent a car when we travel and drive all over creation. On this trip we started in Paris, where we … Read more
Rome, Venice, Lake Como…these are just a few of the names you often hear when people are asked where they would like to travel in Italy. A name you don’t hear very often…Verona, Italy…but I’m hoping to change that! Don’t get me wrong, Verona, Italy is a popular travel destination, but because it’s not one … Read more
Last December I had the pleasure of planning a trip to London at Christmas for some of John’s work colleagues…and lucky me, we got to join in on the fun! I had never been to London at Christmastime, but it was definitely on my list of things I needed to do. The best thing about … Read more
If you aren’t familiar with The Ham Yard Hotel, The Covent Garden Hotel, The Haymarket Hotel…well, any of the Firmdale Hotels for that matter, let me be the first to introduce you. 🙂 With eight boutique hotels in London, two in New York, and a handful of bars and restaurants, they are a growing company. … Read more
I am a bit overwhelmed even trying to think where to start with this post! I LOVE London. Can’t get enough of it. In the last few years I’ve been fortunate enough to travel there several times at all different times of the year and each time I go I just fall more and more … Read more
Paris is always a good idea…especially in the fall! I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Paris during three seasons, and let’s just say it’s beautiful every time I go, but something about Paris in the fall is magical. John and I had the opportunity to visit in late September back before the pandemic hit, and … Read more
John and I had the chance to spend a few days in London in September. I love London…the hustle and bustle, beautiful architecture, history….so many things to see and do. I’ve been fortunate to visit London on several occasions, but never without the kids and never in the fall. I have to say…London in the … Read more
There is no better time to travel than fall. Near perfect temperatures, reduced crowds and travel deals are just a few of the reasons to book a trip in September and October. John and I put off celebrating our anniversary which falls in the heat of the summer, and instead opted for a celebration in … Read more
The lakes region in Italy has become one of our favorite travel destinations. Sparkling turquoise water, dramatic mountains jutting out of the lake, quaint villages and lots of activities for families and couples alike, it’s no wonder we love to visit! Of all the lakes in Italy, Lake Garda is Italy’s largest. A quick 2 … Read more
Cinque Terre quite literally means “five lands” in Italian. Dotted along the Italian coastline these pretty little centuries old fishing villages have become a super popular tourist destination over the last several years. Each of the Cinque Terre villages has it’s own charm, and each boasts colorful cliffside houses, steep rugged terraced land and quaint … Read more
Finding hotels in London with family rooms can be a challenge. Last time we were in town we were there long enough we decided to check out luxury vacation rentals in London, but on a recent stop in town for a few days, we decided to just find a hotel for the four of us. … Read more
Our time in Europe has taken us to lots of big cities. I love big cities, but I also wanted to explore the small towns of Europe and really get a feel for what it was like to live in a smaller town. A while ago I mentioned a bit about skipping Brussels if you are … Read more
I like nice restaurants as much as the next guy, but sometimes when you are traveling…especially with kids and a family, you just want some good cheap street food or a hearty meal that is delicious and doesn’t break the bank. Eating in Venice on a budget can be a bit of a challenge since … Read more
If you are thinking about a family trip to Venice, Italy this year, look no further for a fabulous hotel. The JW Marriott Venice Italy located on Isola delle Rose Venezia is amazing! Venice can be a hot and crowded place to visit during the summer, and I’ve heard many people say that it wasn’t … Read more
If you are traveling to London you will, with out a doubt, need to familiarize yourself with public transportation while visiting. Using the tube is the easiest and most cost effective way to get around the city. The endless system of trains, the Underground and buses make it simple to get all over Central London … Read more
As a little girl growing up in Southern California, the Matterhorn was always a symbol of Disneyland to me. I would see it standing tall on the side of Interstate 5 and it seemed to tower above everything else. As I’ve gotten older and buildings have gotten taller, it’s a little harder to spot the … Read more
I have always loved the movie The Holiday. Have you seen it? It’s on repeat at our house throughout Christmas. 😉 The idea of spending the holidays in a cozy little thatched roof cottage in the Cotswolds is so appealing! On a recent trip to Italy we found flights that made it cheaper to stop … Read more
When we decided to visit Salzburg, Austria during our summer in Europe, (a Sound of Music Tour was a must for us!) we knew we wanted to stay right in the heart of the old city center. (affiliate links are included in this post) We spent some time researching the best family hotels in Salzburg. … Read more
If you love eating, drinking, and wandering stalls full of food and produce of every kind, then you do not want to miss Borough Market when you are visiting London. This amazing food market by London Bridge has been around for centuries. You can walk and eat your way through history at the same time. … Read more
Visiting Venice in August can be described in two words: hot and crowded. On a recent trip to Italy, knowing that the temperatures were going to be in the triple digits with high humidity, we opted to stay off of the main island and have a very different Venice experience at San Clemente Palace Kempinski. … Read more
Here’s an interesting fact for you: The Eiffel Tower attracts more visitors than any other paid tourist attraction in the world. So, needless to say, when you plan to visit Paris, it is incredibly important to be well aware of different Eiffel Tower tips and tricks for visiting the Eiffel Tower and getting Eiffel Tower … Read more
When you are planning a family trip to London you must put a Tower of London visit on your list of things to do. For centuries, families have lived and worked in this famous fortress — Royal families, guards, servants, even prisoners. The Tower of London is a must see. Wondering what to see at the … Read more
If you are really looking for the ultimate Italian experience, you must visit Tuscany. This rural and beautiful region is full of rolling hills dotted with stunning, living medieval towns. When we traveled to Europe for our three month excursion, we knew one thing we really wanted was the quintessential Italian experience…to stay in a Tuscan … Read more
I’ve been getting many emails lately asking for a Rome Travel Guide, so I think it’s about time I write a little about our adventures in Rome and some Rome Travel Tips. It’s no secret I love Italy. Give me a few days off to vacation and I would rather spend it there than really … Read more
Traveling to Italy is definitely something to add to your bucket list if you haven’t already visited. For those that have been, you know it is a magical place full of delicious food, ancient cities and stunning countryside. I often get the question, where should we stay in Italy? While I am always a fan … Read more
Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. I don’t know about you all, but when The Sound of Music airs on TV, we love to watch together as a family. I grew up on it, and chances are you did too. Even some of our parents did. And now I … Read more
Exploring Dublin, Ireland is a true delight! Dublin is a wonderful urban destination that is quickly growing in popularity among tourists visiting Europe. We had the pleasure of visiting Dublin, and I must say, it has to be one of the happiest, friendliest places on the planet! The people were so warm and welcoming. We … Read more
When we were planning our Europe adventure, we were going to be gone long enough that we felt fairly comfortable leaving some plans open ended and kind of letting life take us where it wanted when we were on the road. One of those happy little unplanned surprises was a quick one night stay in … Read more
John and I both happen to be history majors who share a particular interest in 20th century American history, in particular WWII for John…so needless to say, visiting Bayeux was high on our list while spending a few weeks in France. Bayeux is a charming little French town located on the Aure river in the … Read more
When it came time to plan our summer across Europe, the South of France was high on my list. I envisioned planting myself in some Provencial home out in a beautiful field and letting the children roam with the goats and spend long days picking lavender and wildflowers. I didn’t realize that along with beautiful, … Read more
Visions of Amsterdam canal houses and bicycles were running through my head when we set out planning to visit Amsterdam. I knew that I wanted to stay on a canal, in a traditional house, but beyond that, I didn’t know anything about where to start looking or where exactly in the city was best to … Read more
When I think of Notting Hill, I think of a teeny bookshop nestled on a busy street full of white townhouses with colorful doors. I also can’t get “Ain’t no Sunshine” out of my head. Needless to say, when we were planning our list of things to do in London, Notting Hill was a must … Read more
If there is one thing that’s a must when in London, it is having some sort of afternoon tea experience. Tea time and London are so inextricably linked, I do not believe you can truly experience London without participating in this cultural tradition. Tea at the Orangery at Kensington Palace is one of these amazing … Read more
You’ve seen it in just about every skyline image of London, the huge ferris wheel towering 443 ft in the sky over Big Ben, the London Eye. Before we left for London I read up on tings to see and do in London and this was definitely on the list. There were many different … Read more
When we were planning our trip it seemed natural to start in London. We figured we would have some culture shock, maybe a bit of homesickness at some point, and to be honest, we were a little bit scared when we left, simply because we had never attempted anything of this magnitude before and we … Read more
Ah, the City of Lights. There are so many great places to visit in Paris that you can visit there multiple times and still not see everything. Climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower for breathtaking views of this magical city is undoubtedly one of life’s greatest thrills, a must do for anyone visiting … Read more
These days, it is nearly impossible to get through a day without making a call, checking email, or posting to social media accounts. If you are planning a trip overseas, you may find that staying connected is more difficult and expensive than you expected, right at a time when you need to be relying heavily … Read more
Traveling through continental Europe by train is easy, convenient and reasonably priced. If you are thinking about taking a trip and seeing more than one city or country, it is definitely an option you want to look at. When coming from the United States it’s not necessarily the first mode of transportation we think of, … Read more
When we traveled to London recently for an extended period, John and I debated what to do for accommodations. If you have never traveled to Europe with your family, then be advised that it is rare to find a hotel room that will accommodate more than three people. While we were not opposed to booking … Read more