Norway has a way of exceeding every expectation, and the Stave-Bleik Coastal Trail on Vesteralen’s Andøya island is a perfect example. We hiked to Måtind in early July as part of a road trip from Tromsø to the Lofoten Islands, squeezing it in after a morning ferry crossing from Senja, and it turned out to […]
Longyearbyen is the world’s northernmost city. This is a town where the streets have no names, reindeer wander through town, and there are more snowmobiles than people. If you have plans to visit Svalbard, Longyearbyen is where you will eat, sleep, and fill your time in between arctic adventures. The best thing to do in […]
Zakopane is Poland’s gateway city for exploring the mountain range known as the Tatras. From Zakopane, you can take your pick from quick, easy hikes to longer all day affairs that have you climbing among the tallest mountain peaks. We hiked to the summit of Koscielec, one of many options if you are looking for […]
Bratislava, with its compact old town, charming city streets, and outdoor café culture, is a wonderful place to visit. This city may not be as popular as other central European cities such as Vienna or Prague, but don’t let that fool you. Bratislava is underrated as a European destination, as we just learned. If you […]
Reinebringen, with its dazzling view over the fishing villages of Reine, Sakrisøy, and Hamnøy, is the most popular hike in the Lofoten Islands, and one look at the panorama from the top tells you exactly why. We hiked Reinebringen in 2018 with our kids, who were 13 and 15 at the time, before most of […]
Lake Bohinj is a lovely lake located in Triglav National Park, Slovenia. While you are here, you can fill your time with short hikes, gorgeous views of the lake, stand up paddle boarding and other water sports, and even a ride a cable car to a mountain peak. Whether you are visiting Lake Bohinj on […]
Lake Bohinj is one of our favorite places in Slovenia and summer is the perfect time to enjoy it. It is an outdoor playground, with opportunities to go hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, and swimming. Ride the Vogel cable car for amazing views of Triglav National Park and walk to Savica waterfall, Slovenia’s most popular waterfall. Here […]
Do you have big dreams of visiting Svalbard? Then you probably also have the question how much does it cost to visit Svalbard? The short answer: it can be very expensive. We spent four days in Svalbard at the end of June 2018. Here is our Svalbard budget, with a full cost breakdown of flights, […]
Malbork Castle is Poland’s most famous castle. It’s also the largest castle in the world, classified by surface area. Located just a short distance from Gdansk and easily accessible by train, Malbork Castle is one of the best day trips to take from Gdansk. In this article, get a brief history of the castle, learn […]
The hike up to the summit of Segla is one of Senja’s most popular hikes. And this was our main reason for visiting Senja. Many visitors skip past Senja, heading directly to the Lofoten Islands. But those people are missing out seeing a gorgeous part of Norway and some hidden gems. That’s fine…that means less […]
One of the biggest questions we had while planning our trip to Svalbard was “what do we pack?” Svalbard is located so far north that it’s easy to assume that it will be ice-cold all year round. Good news! That’s not the case, at least not during the summer months. Even so, we packed an […]
Lucerne (also spelled Luzern) is a gorgeous Swiss city that sits at the foot of the Alps. This is the perfect kind of town to explore in one day. The city center is compact with just a few key places to visit. The best things to do are to wander the old town, eat, drink, […]
Cruising to Pyramiden, an abandoned Russian mining town near Longyearbyen, is one of the most popular excursions in Svalbard. On the way, you also get to see a massive glacier, go whale watching, and if you’re really lucky, you could even spot a polar bear. According to National Geographic, Pyramiden is one of the top […]
Without a doubt, Vintgar Gorge is one of the most magical places to visit in Slovenia. For 1.6 km, boardwalks crisscross their way along the Radovna River, creating an enchanting landscape that is photogenic and fun to explore. Vintgar Gorge is one of Slovenia’s most popular attractions. Vintgar Gorge was one of our top experiences […]
Gdansk is a beautiful city located on the Baltic Sea. It is often overlooked by many travelers to Poland, in favor of the more popular spots like Warsaw, Krakow, and Wroclaw. However, this city is well worth the journey north. In fact, it’s our favorite Polish city. On the fastest of itineraries, Gdansk can be […]
There are two ways to get a spectacular view over the town of Svolvaer…hike to the top of Svolvaer Fløya or climb Svolvaergeita. We did both on the same afternoon, making this one of our most memorable days in the Lofoten Islands. Svolvaer is one of the largest towns in the Lofoten Islands. Fløya is […]
Sommarøy doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Most visitors drive straight past it on their way to Tromsø or the Lofoten Islands, never realizing what they’re missing. We visited it as part of a road trip through northern Norway, and it immediately became one of the highlights of that trip. The hike up Ørnfløya is […]
For stunning mountain views and a visit to several vividly green alpine lakes, the hike to the summit of Vel’ká Svišt’ovka is a good one to add to your Tatras hiking list. A cable car lops off the first major ascent, so this hike is easier than many of the hikes in the Tatras. Even […]