January 30, 2017

Exploring Oslo with the Oslo City Pass

January 30, 2017/ Meghan Oaks

Oslo, the capital of Norway, is an incredible city! We only had a couple of days to explore it, so we opted to buy the Oslo City Pass to make the most of it. The pass, which costs between 44 - 82 Euro, and grants the owner entry into a number of museums and unlimited access to public transportation. Like almost everything in Scandinavian countries, it wasn't cheap, but there were a few places we wanted to be sure we hit up, all of which were included with the pass, so the convenience made it easy.

January 27, 2017

The Not-So-Popular Beach Town on the Italian Riveria That Deserves a Stop

January 27, 2017/ Meghan Oaks

When one thinks of the Italian Riviera, there are a few places that come to mind - Portofino, Genoa, Cinque Terre. But what most guidebooks don't show are the many smaller seaside villages that pepper the coast. If you're looking to visit this stunning region of Italy that is dotted with pastel colored towns, shallow bays perfect for swimming, and steep cliffs covered in lush vegetation, you have a lot of options. From luxury beach resorts to AirBnB rentals, this region has something for every budget and type of traveler. We chose to spend a night in Sestri Levanti and it was a fantastic decision.

January 25, 2017

From Bergen to Oslo

January 25, 2017/ Meghan Oaks

The morning started with a train ride. Similar to the one we boarded for the Norway in a Nutshell Tour; however, this time, instead of disembarking in Voss to board a bus, (and then a boat, another train, and then one final train) we stayed on the original train. Our final destination was Oslo for a few days before my sister and I had to part ways; she was headed back to Michigan, and Evelyn and I to Germany. If you google "Famous Train Rides," the Bergen-Oslo line is bound to pop up. It is the highest standard gauge railway in Europe, reaching an altitude of over 1200 meters (4000 feet for our imperial system friends), before heading back down to the low lands surrounding Oslo. It was a beautiful train ride, but a long one, clocking in at around 6 hours.

January 17, 2017

Visiting the Last Supper by Leonardo daVinci

January 17, 2017/ Meghan Oaks

Milan is known as the fashion capital of Italy. And without a doubt, it is a very stylish city. But we weren't there for the fashion. We went to visit one of the great masterpieces of the renaissance - The Last Supper. Realistically, we knew we'd likely never be in Milan again, so if we wanted to see this famous painting before it fades away for good, we knew it was now or never. Turns out, trying to get tickets to see this thing is next to impossible! But, we succeeded in seeing not only the Last Supper, but also scored a tour of Milan to go along with it.

January 13, 2017

The Prosecco Road

January 13, 2017/ Meghan Oaks

After spending the night in the Dolomites during our Italian road trip, we continued on to Venice. We drove out of the mountains and into the valleys and, eventually, the flat coastal region. When I was researching things to do in Italy, I came upon an article in Conde Nast about the Prosecco Road. Say what?! Turns out, this road runs from Conegliano in the east to to Valdobbiadene in the west, through vineyards, dedicated almost solely to the production of prosecco, terraced into the hills. Along the route are a number of wineries that, with a prior appointment, are open to the public. We were lucky enough that the one we stopped at opened and did a private tasting for us. I felt so fancy!

January 10, 2017

10 Free (or almost free!) Walking Tours to Take in Europe

January 10, 2017/ Meghan Oaks

It's no secret we love a good, free walking tour. They are usually led by locals and are pretty entertaining. Plus, they are a fantastic way to get a feel for the city and find things you may want to go back and explore later. I love that you usually get the history of what you're seeing, which really helps to put things in context. Plus, you get personal recommendations of places to go, restaurants to eat at, and pubs to grab a beer at, all from the people who actually go to those places. It's a win-win really. But sometimes the hardest part is finding the free tours, and then deciding which ones to go on! We've done the hard work for you and put together this list of 8 walking tours - all of which are FREE except for one! - that you can take on your European holiday. We've been on them all and can vouch for their awesomeness :)

January 06, 2017

2017 Travel Schedule...So Far!

January 06, 2017/ Meghan Oaks

As 2016 comes to a close, I can't help but to think back over all the places we've been fortunate enough to visit and experience. Belgium, France, Austria, Italy, Croatia, just to name a few. Not to mention our big move from Germany to Texas and some of the exploring we've done since then. But, I'm also starting to look forward to 2017 and what it has in store for us. Both Aaron and I feel that we've been in one place too long already. We need to explore, see someplace new. While Texas has a lot of cool things, none of those are close to where we live and are not spur-of-the-moment type things like we could do in Germany. That hasn't stopped our planning though! Here are some trips we are already planning on for 2017 - with hopefully LOTS more to come!