travel – Page 7

Grindelwald & Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

Published on February 20, 2019January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Before taking my weekend trip to Interlaken, I knew there were other Swiss towns nearby I wanted to be sure to see. I had read a lot about Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen and decided I would take a day trip to both. I’m so happy I included this in my weekend itinerary. Both towns were charming and covered with the snow. I felt like I was walking through a winter wonderland… Swiss alps addition. A lot of people visit these towns in the wintertime for skiing and snowboarding. I was more interested in the short hikes and taking in the incredible views. Grindelwald was a thirty minute train ride from Interlaken. After spending a few hours in Grindelwald, I took another train to Lauterbrunnen which took another thirty minutes. Lastly, the train from Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken was the shortest, only fifteen minutes. Both of these towns were easy to see in one day from Interlaken.

Grindelwald Things to do:

Take the cable car to First and walk along the cliff walk once you make it to the top.
Hike from First to Lake Bachalpsee. Unfortunately since it was so snowy I wasn’t able to make this entire hike, but in the warmer weather it looks like a beautiful hike! Since I wasn’t able to take the hike, my friend and I just walked as far as we could and it was equally as beautiful to me.

Grindelwald Tips:

The cable car ride from town to First is 60 CHF and so worth it! The ride on the cable car is about twenty minutes and offers some incredible views all the way up. On the way up, it’s a bit crowded but on the way down, my friend and I had the cable car to ourselves!
I suggest bringing a packed lunch or snacks when visiting Grindelwald especially if you plan to spend a lot of time in the alps. While on First, there was two little food stations with mostly warm drinks. My friend and I brought along food we picked up at the grocery store before leaving Interlaken and ate at a picnic table outside one of the food stations.

Lauterbrunnen Things to Do:

Walk along the trials. There are several paths you can walk. My friend and I just kept walking on the road from the center of town and it took us pretty far on a path with gorgeous views.
Take pictures of the church. The town’s church is a popular photo because of the stunning view behind it. There are many different angles to get the perfect shot.

Lauterbrunnen Tips:

If you’re visiting Lauterbrunnen in the wintertime, we found that there were a lot of paths closed due to ice and falling rocks. I suggest walking along the main road, it takes you pretty far.
Try one of the many cafes in town. There were so many cozy coffee shops along the main road, all with a view of the Main Street and the mountains in the background.

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada

Published on January 12, 2019January 25, 2019 by Skylar M. Beck2 Comments

A few days ago, my mom and I decided to take a short trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake. This small town is just above Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. I was immediately charmed by the shops, restaurants, and stunning views which were a close walk or drive away from NOTL’s historic district. This was considered Niagara-on-the-Lake’s low season so there were hardly any other tourists and our time there became a relaxing little getaway. Niagara Falls is a short thirty minute drive away from NOTL which we made sure to see on our way out of town.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Eats & Treats:

Coffee: Balzac’s Coffee
Breakfast: Sunset Grill
Lunch: The Epicurean
Dinner: Bistro six one
Ice Cream: Gelato di Carlotta and COWS

Niagara-on-the-Lake Things to Do:

Visit Queen’s Royal Park to view Lake Ontario. This is where I took most of my pictures of Lake Ontario. There’s a great sidewalk right along the lake that gives you the perfect view of the water. From the historic district, Queen Royal Park is only two blocks away!
Walk along Queen and King Street. These are the two main streets in the historic district of Niagara-on-the-Lake. This is also where you will find the cute stores and a few restaurants. Since this is low season, some stores opened later in the day or were completely closed on a break, but window shopping was still enjoyable!
Try ice wine at one of the many wineries in the area. I didn’t get a chance to visit a winery but my mom and I passed by countless wineries on the way into town and also on the out skirts of the historic district.
Drive or walk around the streets surrounding Queen and King street. The neighborhood surrounding the historic district is where most of the locals live and it’s also where the bed and breakfasts are. My mom and I loved driving through the streets to look at all the beautiful old cottage style houses. Every cute house made me want to move to Niagara-on-the-Lake!
Check out the Old Niagara Bookshop. This charming bookshop is right in town with several books to look through.
Drive to Niagara Falls. From Niagara-on-the-Lake, the falls are only thirty minutes away. We decided to stop at the falls on the way out of town but next time I’d love to visit the falls at night when they are lit up!

Niagara-on-the-Lake Tips:

If you’re visiting from the USA, use your credit cards instead of cash. All restaurants and shops take credit cards and it will give you a better exchange rate. Most shops and restaurants except US cash, however, they will give you Canadian money in return as change.
Niagara-on-the-Lake is strict about street parking, if it would have been warmer my mom and I probably would’ve walked instead of driving into the historic district from our bed and breakfast.
All the bed and breakfasts in the town are adorable, I don’t think you could go wrong with any. We stayed at the Kia-Ora, which was wonderful! It was also only four blocks away from Queen and King street.

Historic District along Queen & King street

Salzburg, Austria

Published on December 13, 2018January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Although I was only in Salzburg for about four hours, I had such a memorable time. I loved everything about Salzburg and all of the history and culture it had to offer. With only a few hours, I had time to walk around Salzburg and participate in The Sound of Music tour. The Sound of Music is one of the main things Salzburg is known for, as most of the movie was filmed in Salzburg. Even if you aren’t a huge Sound of Music movie fan, if you’re visiting Salzburg, this tour is a must! I learned so much about the real story of the Von Trapp family, the filming of the movie, and throughout the tour I saw more parts of Austria, which to me was one of the best parts!

Austria is a beautiful country I hope to visit again sometime soon. Here are some of my favorite photos from Salzburg, Austria.

24 Hours in Budapest, Hungary

Published on December 6, 2018January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Last weekend I went on a whirlwind adventure traveling to Hungary and Austria. I was able to spend about 24 hours in Budapest so I took advantage of every moment. Budapest was one of the most magical cities I’ve been to. I was in awe of the stunning architecture throughout the city, especially the Fisherman’s Bastion. A day wasn’t nearly enough time, but since Budapest is easily walkable, I was able to pack a lot into one day.

A few things I suggest seeing in Budapest:

Fisherman’s Bastion, I recommend walking to the top. The view of Budapest along the walk is incredible!
Walk across the Chain Bridge.
Grab a cup of coffee at Espresso Embassy.
See the interior of the New York Cafe.

Vienna, Austria

Published on November 29, 2018January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

On my weekend adventure through Hungary and Austria, I was able to make a quick stop in Vienna for one day. I already knew Vienna would be a magical place but spending time in Vienna, even for the day, during the Christmas season made my experience doubly magical. There were Christmas markets on every corner throughout the city spreading the Christmas spirit. I was constantly wondering through a new market, with a mulled wine in hand, desperately trying to find Christmas gifts for my family members. Overall, it was a perfect day full of lots of walking and lots of eating. For food, my friend and I found traditional apple strudel at a Christmas market and tried the traditional Sachertorte, both were incredible. I also recommend trying the double espresso with whip cream on top at one of the many cafes. Within 24 hours, my heart and stomach were very happy with Vienna.

Thankful for Traveling

Published on November 22, 2018November 22, 2018 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. I love the food that’s served, the company of my family, and the reminder to be thankful.

This year, I’m especially thankful for travel. The feelings traveling has brought me. The experiences I’ve had. The places I’ve seen. The opportunities I’ve been presented with. Traveling does so much more than I ever imagined. I have learned so much about the world, different people and cultures, but most importantly, I’ve learned so much about myself.

I’m thankful for the places I’ve been…and have yet to go. I know being in Italy is only the beginning of my adventures. To me traveling is stepping into a completely different area of comfort. Traveling takes me beyond what I’m familiar with, which encourages and challenges me all at the same time.

Traveling has shown me who I once was, who I am, and who I want to be. It’s allowed me to appreciate my home and the places and people I’ve taken for granted at times. Traveling has given me a sense of joy that will live on within my heart and mind for the rest of my life.

This year I’m thankful for travel.

Day Trips from Florence

Published on October 18, 2018January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. Beck2 Comments

After having some time to explore and settle into Florence, I decided it was time to see what other magical towns surround me. Since there are so many day trips possible by car or train, I’ve been able to go on a few trips recently and I thought I would share my favorites so far!

Siena

Siena is a beautiful medieval town that’s a short car or train ride away from Florence. There is so much to see and do in Siena but I’d recommend going to the Cathedral and Piazza del Campo. The Cathedral alone is worth a day trip to see, it is the most stunning piece of architecture I have ever seen!

San Gimignano

Close by to Siena is San Gimignano which has become my favorite town to visit outside of Florence. Although it is quite touristy, the town offers such a unique atmosphere and it’s completely different from Florence. It’s the perfect town to spend an afternoon wandering through the medieval streets and taking in the stunning Tuscan views. Bonus: it’s also home to the world’s best gelato!

Greve, Chianti

If wine, cheese, and the countryside is most appealing to you, than a day trip to Chianti is perfect! I visited Greve because I was participating in a wine tasting/sight seeing tour but I wish I could have just spent the day in Greve! It was absolutely beautiful. There are several wineries in this area and I would highly suggest visiting a winery if you are visiting the Tuscan area. I learned a lot about the wine making process as well as how fresh olive oil is made.

Modena

Modena is about an hour and half away from Florence by train. I decided to visit Modena because I wanted to go to a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese farm! I spent the majority of my day touring a cheese farm that demonstrated how parmigiana reggiano cheese is made, aged, and packaged plus I had the chance to taste the cheese- which was heavenly. If a cheese tour isn’t your thing, I was pleasantly surprised that the city center of Modena has so much to do! There are several parks, piazzas, and food markets surrounding this small town that made for a memorable day.

Colle di Val d’Elsa

Colle di Val d’Elsa was the most enchanting town I was able to visit. It’s in the Siena region and it’s not known by many or any tourists. I had the entire town to myself with just the locals which was probably one of the most special experiences I’ve had in Europe. I spent my morning walking through the charming streets and found a spot in front of the beautiful scenery while drinking a cappuccino…it was an Italian dream.

Photo Diary: Cinque Terre

Published on September 7, 2018January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. Beck2 Comments

Out of all the beautiful places I’ve been to Cinque Terre has moved to the top of my list. Cinque Terre is located on the coast of Italy, and made up of five small towns: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, which are connected by train or foot. Even though it has become more touristy throughout the years, there is still an authentic vibe brought by the Italian natives that live there full time.

I was able to spend three full days traveling throughout the five towns. I would recommend taking a boat tour to see the towns from the sea as well, the views from a different angle were incredible.

Cinque Terre Tips:

I stayed overnight in Monterosso Al Mare, which is the town known for the beach. Be sure to bring water shoes because the beach was very rocky and it wasn’t comfortable to walk on barefoot!
If you plan on hiking the trials that connect the towns, be aware that half of these trials are closed due to mud slides and falling rocks.
Taste the wine! Cinque Terre is known for their wines. My favorite was the “a Scià” rosso, it went well with all of our meals!

Must Know Travel Tips

Published on June 6, 2018August 27, 2018 by Skylar M. Beck2 Comments

Traveling can bring a lot of happiness and life changing experiences but it can be an unlikely combination of excitement and stress. But, knowing some stress will occur can actually allow for more preparation. Through personal experience and advice I’ve learned along the way, I thought sharing some of those tips would be beneficial to others and myself as the traveling season begins.

Constantly Drink Water. Drinking water is one of the best ways to recover from long flights and jet lag. Even a shower is a great way to recover from jet lag when you arrive at a new place. Hydrating your body will make traveling more enjoyable and you will adjust to the time difference faster.
Pack Extra Clothes and Cosmetics in Carry On. This may be a given but it’s easy to forget when packing for a big trip. It’s common for luggage to get delayed or even lost for a few days when traveling. You will want a change of clothes, deodorant, and a toothbrush close by!
Be Smart about the Souvenirs You Bring Home. Unless it’s an item that will hold significant value for yourself or a loved one, most souvenirs are overrated and a waste of money and space! Pictures and memories will be much more valuable after the trip is over.
Write in a Journal. I have mentioned this in other travel posts but keeping a daily journal was something I’m so thankful I did while traveling. There are so many details that go into each day and reading the journal years or even months later will be so special.
Pack a Portable Charger! This is an important tip if you’re like me and constantly use your phone for pictures and maps! Trust me, your phone will die faster than you think.
Invest in an Around the Neck Purse. This is almost essential in a foreign country. You can carry money, passport, other identification in a secure spot. I always wore my neck purse and hide it under my clothes in new places. Pick pocketers are everywhere in tourist spots. Better safe than sorry!
Along with the previous tip…Have a Copy of Your Passport somewhere. You never know what could happen and having a copy of your passport will make things much easier if you need to prove identification or citizenship.
Use a SIM Card. International plans for cell phones are so expensive. When I traveled abroad for two months I purchased a SIM card which included a data plan and minutes to call home. It was much more affordable and I didn’t have to worry about finding wifi to contact my family and friends back home.
Download a Map App. I recommend google maps because you can type in anything (like a place you saw on Pinterest) and hit the walk option. I constantly used google maps to get to all my tourist destinations.
Explore Everyday!! Yes vacation is a time to relax but in my opinion you can sleep in and rest at home! When traveling abroad I had the best experiences starting my day early and ending it late. Especially on short trips, there’s no time to waste!
Buy Tickets Ahead of Time. This is a huge tip! For big tourist attractions, buying tickets online can save you a lot of time waiting in line.
Pack Comfy Shoes. I made the mistake of packing terrible walking shoes last summer and learned quickly how brutal Europe’s cobblestones can be on my feet.
Invest in a Four Wheel Suitcase. My suitcase continued to increase in size as I traveled and it was terrible pulling a two wheel suitcase everywhere, especially in large airports. Your arms will thank you later if you have a four wheel suitcase.
Embrace the Culture. It may feel strange being away from home, but do not expect a new place to be home. Embrace change and enjoy the new environment!
Be Aware of Culture Rules. It’s important to be aware of some rules a culture may follow. Even if some rules aren’t mandatory, out of respect it’s best to follow culture rules anyways. For example, in Europe, visitors are required to have shoulders and knees covered before entering a church.