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Planning to Hike the Cinque Terre? Here’s What to Know for 2026

The Cinque Terre is one of Italy’s most iconic coastal hikes, connecting five colorful villages by cliffside trails overlooking the Mediterranean. Here’s exactly how to hike the Cinque Terre from Riomaggiore to Monterosso, including trail closures, ticket costs, one-way rules, and what to expect in 2026. We hiked the entire route as a family. Our […]

A Journey through Rome in Photos

Rome is a treasure trove of ancient archeological sites, world famous landmarks, picturesque squares and city streets, and a long list of notable basilicas museums. It is a beautiful city to photograph, from vantage points along the Tiber River, to rooftop bars and terraces, and in its famous squares. In this article, we share some […]

Biking the Appian Way in Rome

The Appian Way is one of Rome’s ancient roads, connecting Rome to the Adriatic Port of Brindisi. This road was a marvel of Roman engineering at the time it was constructed, 2000 years ago. Today it is a place for biking, viewing ancient Roman ruins, touring the catacombs, and taking a break from the hustle […]

Kjeragbolten: Our Favorite Hike in Norway

Kjeragbolten is one of Norway’s most iconic and nerve-wracking hikes: a boulder wedged 1,000 meters above Lysefjord, reached by a strenuous 12 km trail from the Stavanger area. When Tim and I first researched Norway as a travel destination, we repeatedly saw photos of what looked to be crazy people standing on a boulder with […]

A Day Trip to Sandhamn, Sweden

There are 30,000 islands that make up the archipelago of Stockholm. These small islands dot the shoreline of Sweden, separating the city of Stockholm from the Baltic Sea. About 150 of these islands are inhabited year round, and several make a great day trip from Stockholm. The most popular islands to visit are Grinda, Vaxholm, […]

Ten Fun Things to Do in Paris with Kids

In 2012, our trip to London and Paris was our kids’ very first experience in Europe. They were only 8 and 9 years old at the time, so we wanted to pick two cities that had recognizable landmarks, good food, and fun things to do with kids. During our four days in Paris we toured […]

Shopping in the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

The Grand Bazaar…four thousand shops in the world’s oldest shopping mall…what fun! We fell in love with Istanbul. This is a city that keeps you busy for days and then stays in your heart long after you leave. For us, one of the highlights was shopping in the Grand Bazaar. Normally, shopping can be a […]

7 Unique Things to Do in Selcuk, Turkey

When you visit Selcuk, Turkey, there is more to see than the ancient city of Ephesus. You can also tour a mosque, visit an Ancient Wonder of the World, and see where the Virgin Mary lived after the death of Jesus. Here are our recommendations of things to do in and around Ephesus. Best Things to […]

Best Hikes & Things to Do in Cappadocia with Kids

Cappadocia is the perfect place to go hiking and exploring. The scenery is very unique, the trails are just challenging enough to keep it fun for kids, and while we were here in March, there were very few people on the trails. Tyler and Kara could run off all of their extra energy, explore ancient caves, […]

An Introduction to the Amazon Rainforest

Tim and I ended our trip to Peru in the Amazon rainforest. This would end up being quite the experience and would take us out of our comfort zone. I was now wearing a giant, hot, plaster cast on my left hand that was already beginning to disintegrate (I broke my hand mountain biking a […]