No trip to Lisbon is complete without a day trip to Belém. Belém was a crucial port during the Age of Discovery. Today it is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whatever your thoughts are on global sea exploration & its ensuing colonization of the world, Portugal played a large role in it. In order to […]
Sintra is one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon, and it’s easy to see why. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to several architectural & historical gems, including the Castle of the Moors & Pena National Palace, as well as the beautiful Sintra-Cascais Natural Park & Cabo da Roca. There was so […]
If you’re looking for a great day trip from Porto, the beautiful medieval town of Guimarães is just 25 miles away, making it a perfect escape from the city. Guimarães is one of the most important places in Portuguese history, and thus it makes for a beautiful, but educational day trip. The journey to start your day […]
Portugal is filled with beautiful historic towns & cities. Thanks to being a small country, it’s easy to access many of them on a day trip if you are staying in major city. The medieval town of Évora is located less than two hours away from Lisbon, making it perfect for a day trip. I began […]
No visit to Barcelona is complete without seeing the works of famed architect Antoni Gaudí. From the lampposts in Plaça Reial to Palau Güell near La Rambla to the expansive Park Güell, Gaudí’s fingerprints are all over Barcelona. His masterpiece is still under construction, over 90 years after his death. This massive church, the Sagrada […]
Bordeaux is one of the most famous wine regions in the world, and thus an obvious destination for wine lovers. While you can do your own tour of the region by car, if you don’t have a car, or you don’t want to deal with a designated driver, a wine tasting tour of Bordeaux is […]
Many visitors to Bordeaux come to go wine tasting across the Bordeaux region, but the city itself is not to be overlooked. Central Bordeaux & the Port of the Moon have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historic significance as a place of cultural exchange, notable architecture, & historic preservation. […]
Gyeongju, South Korea, is a major city in world history, yet comparatively few people are aware of its rich background. During the time of the Silla Dynasty, which lasted from 57 BC – 935 AD – a remarkable length of time, Gyeongju served as its capital. Around the year 750, Gyeongju was the 4th largest […]
While Jongmyo Shrine is not one of the Five Grand Palaces of Seoul, it was still a very important site of the Joseon Dynasty. It serves as a shrine for deceased members of royalty. Jongmyo is located not far from Changdeokgung Palace. Like the many of the palaces, Jongmyo Shrine is situated in a park-like area with […]
Central Seoul is filled with historic buildings and monuments, among them the Five Grand Palaces of Seoul. These royal palaces date back hundreds of years to the Joseon Dynasty, but thanks to the wars of the 20th century, most of them are now faithful reconstructions. The palaces have distinctly beautiful architecture, plus the grounds themselves […]
Although there are plenty of things to do in Hong Kong, there’s an entirely different experience to be had in Macau, which is just an hour or so away by ferry. A day trip to Macau from Hong Kong is a unique experience if you’re looking to go somewhere different. A day trip to Macau […]
After spending 8 hours on a bus from Queenstown to Franz Josef, it was time to stretch my legs. Thanks to the early morning departure from Queenstown, I arrived in Franz Josef around 4pm. Since it was Christmas Day, it was one of the longest days of the year, giving me plenty of time to […]
With my trip to New Zealand stretching through the holiday period, I figured that Christmas Day would be a great day to start the long, 2-day journey north to Nelson, since the buses were still running. The drive is one of the most beautiful in the world, so while 18 hours over two days is […]
One of the most popular day trips from Queenstown, New Zealand is to the majestic Milford Sound on the South Island’s West Coast. Accessing Milford Sound is not easy. By land, it takes nearly half a day if you include stops. You have to go south from Queenstown, then west toward Te Anau, then back […]
One of the main reasons why I have always wanted to go to New Zealand is the scenery, and it’s this scenery that also led to one of my other reasons for wanting to go to New Zealand: The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed here. I usually opt to explore on my own […]
