Ah, Portofino — a coastal Italian town that defines luxury. Beyonce, Princess Diana, and Madonna have all vacationed on this gem of the Ligurian coast. The actual town of Portofino is quite small — shockingly small, when you get there. Once a quiet Ligurian fishing village, Portofino rose in popularity and now attracts tons of […]
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Rapallo, Italy, is a small seaside town on Italy’s Ligurian coast within a stone’s throw of the most glamorous spots on the Italian Riviera. I based here when I was traveling around the Italian Riviera a few years ago and it ended up being the perfect place. Rapallo is a popular town for Italian tourists,
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Ever heard of Camogli, Italy? This little beach town is one of my favorite gems in Italy — a gorgeous seaside town on the Ligurian Coast that makes a perfect alternative to Cinque Terre. Located on the western side of the Portofino Peninsula, Camogli is just 15 miles from busy Genoa. It’s small enough to
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If you’re going to be in northern Europe in December, you need to be prepared for the darkness. Every day gets darker than the last, and by early December, you’ll find yourself wondering just how bleak it can get. But that’s where the Christmas lights come in. And the markets. And everything becomes a little
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You can’t have the good without the bad — and I’ve always made an effort to talk about the bad times that happen while traveling! The top thing that people tell me is “You’re so honest,” and I make sure to tell the truth. Because yes — travel is fun and transformative and life-affirming. But
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One reason why I’m so glad I have my monthly recaps is that I can look back and see the best travel moments of my year all at once! This year took me to 13 countries: Czech Republic, UK, France, Italy, Vatican City, Germany, US, Canada, Spain, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, and Panama. I named several
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Florence, Italy, is one of the most magnificent, inspiring, art-filled cities you will ever visit. This is the kind of city that you think about all the time for the rest of your life. There’s SO much to see in Florence, and it can be overwhelming — so I’ve put together a 3 days in
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How do I sum up 2024 in travel? Busy. Maybe a bit too busy. Four new countries visited (Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Panama), lots of exploration in much-loved countries, and some incredibly fun road trips close to home. This was also the year that I did a year of new Czech exploration — visiting a new
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This month, I visited a brand new country — Panama — and made a nice visit home to the states. Before that, it was all about enjoying the month of November in Prague, seeing the last of the brightly colored leaves and feeling the first chilly temperatures of winter. And that’s what I’ll be talking
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San Gimignano is a tiny Tuscan hill town just an hour outside of Florence. People come to San Gimignano to enjoy its stone architecture and medieval towers; its museums and views — oh yes, and one particular gelato shop. San Gimignano is as touristy as Tuscany gets — but it’s still a fun place to
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