Lisbon is a magical and romantic destination, highly recommended for every traveler’s bucket list. Within the city’s unique and charming neighborhoods – Baixa, Alfama, Chiado, and Bairro Alto there’s enough to fill weeks of exploration. Click here for our city guide: Exploring Lisbon where we provide an itinerary that covers the major sights and experiences, while leaving enough time to take it all in at an unhurried pace.
But beyond the city limits, Lisbon is also the perfect jumping off point for spectacular day trips – within an hour of the major city you can escape to castles, gardens and medieval villages. Each tour we took was expertly guided by Lisbon by Locals, who we highly recommend!
Come with us as we share our experiences from days 3,4 and 5 of our 8-day adventure. Now, let’s embark on three unique day trips, covering 6 towns not to be missed. Enjoy!
From the moment you touch down at Jackson Hole Airport (click here for a complete guide to Jackson Hole) you know you’re somewhere amazing. The only airport situated in a National Park, you are instantly in awe of the Teton Mountain Range, towering over sagebrush flats. Just ahead, adventure beckons you to explore the majesty of nature and the best of the West.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the United States first National Park. And today you can experience this wild ecosystem much as you would more than a century ago.
This Summer we had the incredible good fortune to see, hear and feel what generations before us have marveled at. The supervolcano that last erupted thousands of years ago left behind a 30-45 mile basin, the heat from which still fuels an incredible array of activity. At Yellowstone, nature puts on a show…starring geysers, hot springs, towering peaks, deeply carved canyons and the furry and feathered inhabitants that call this majestic wonderland home.
Despite the misfortune of prospectors, this outpost of the Wild West began to be settled by permanent residents around 1884. Today it is an eclectic mix of western icons, tourist shops, upscale hotels and eateries.
As I write this blog I can’t help but think about how important it is to take care of yourself, body and soul, by taking an escape from the uncertainties that life can throw at us. It feels amazing to finally plan and enjoy a relaxing oceanfront getaway. We hope your dream trip will soon become a reality, just as ours was this Summer.
Having made numerous trips to the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii and more we’ve always had Turks and Caicos (TCI) on our bucket list. Hearing from trusted friends about the perfect turquoise waters and white sand beaches, exceptional food, endless activities and friendly people we finally booked it. And once there we left asking ourselves…why? Why did we wait so long to experience this gem of a destination?
See why we absolutely fell in love with TCI and can’t wait to return!
‘Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans’ – John Lennon
My favorite quote. And with all the travel disruptions over the past two years, this never rang more true.
However, with restrictions easing worldwide, it seems that our pent-up wanderlust is kicking in big time. Carla’s travel bookings are soaring with trips being booked everywhere from Hawaii to Egypt. So, great news for those of us longing to get back on the road.
This particular trip was to check off a bucket-list experience. For a die-hard Yankee fan like Carla, a trip to Tampa for Spring Training promised to be a major event. So what happens? The players and owners get into a contractual dispute and the Spring Training games we planned to see were canceled!
So…a not so bad plan B. A trip to sunny Florida to set out and explore the Best of Tampa and The Gulf shores.
Hospitality: ‘the activity or business of providing services to guests in hotels, restaurants, bars, etc‘…or better yet, ‘given to generous and cordial reception of guests‘.
Some places get it and some don’t. Jimmy Buffett gets it. The Margaritaville Resort in Pensacola Beach gets it. On our first visit seven years ago we fell in love with the place. From the friendly staff who can’t do enough for you, to the bartenders who make you feel right at home…and personalized text messages throughout your stay, just checking in to make sure you’re relaxed and happy. Plus the setting on beautiful shores of the Gulf of Mexico and the surrounding area that offers something for everyone. That’s why we came back a second time, and loved it even more.
There’s no denying that the connection we have with water runs deep to our soul. The deep blue stirs our emotions, evoking calm and serenity.
Water is the source of life itself, making up more than 70% of our bodies. So it stands to reason that just being in proximity of a lake, river or ocean is where we can return to a naturally calming state of mind and embrace gratitude.
Nestled in the Pocono Mountains of Eastern Pennsylvania is a sparkling gem: Big Boulder Lake, located in the town of Lake Harmony. This laid-back getaway is the perfect place to recharge and relax. There’s nothing quite like a peaceful paddle in your kayak around the calm waters. And the surrounding area has is filled with adventures for hikers, boaters, foodies and all around nature lovers.
Vegas, my (our) way.
Borrowing a line from ‘ole blue eyes, leader of the Rat Pack who put the place on map…Vegas is one of those polarizing place that people either love or hate. It can be overwhelming, overpriced, and over-the-top. But if you play your cards right and do some planning, the first thing you’ll find is that there is truly something for everyone, whether you gamble or not. So, here is your personal Las Vegas City Guide…if you are:
‘Mature’…35-65ish
Going as a couple
Going for a special occasion
Going with friends
Like an upscale, but affordable experience
Like a good time
Enjoy nightlife, but still want to enjoy the day
Are a foodie
Enjoy a cocktail or two…Then this blog is for you. Here’s how we enjoyed Vegas ‘our’ way.
We’re thrilled to feature our first guest blogger, our dear friend Jean Devlin…sharing her travel adventures and stunning photography.
When it comes to foreign travel, I try to familiarize myself with basic words and phrases of the native language. My language acquisition hit some serious roadblocks when it came to Czech and the only word I could remember was pivo, which means beer. Fortunately, that really came in handy and better yet, most merchants and waitstaff speak decent English in the city.
Prague is a beautiful city that deserves a visit. Most of the main attractions are within walking distance of each other, which is good because though the metro system is simple to navigate, trying to figure out how to pay for a ticket is extremely difficult. Personally, I’d rather be above ground, soaking in the sites instead of riding on a subway anyway. The Vlatva River divides Prague, with the Little Quarter and the Prague castle on one side of the river and the Old Town and New Town on the other.
The Charles Bridge is a beauty and not to be missed and we crossed over it many, many times during our visit. I’ll get into my observations on that later.
