Looking for the perfect day trip from Dublin? Howth is quick 30-minute train ride through the coastal countryside surrounding the greater city area. And with a charming downtown, castle ruins, and a vibrant fishing community, Howth is the perfect one-day escape away from the hustle and bustle of Dublin.
Holland surprised me in the best possible way. I’d visited this charming city once before during a chilly weekend while studying abroad, but it was such a different experience seeing the beauty of the canals of Amsterdam, tulip fields of Keukenhof, and historic streets of Gouda in the warmth of April. We had the most perfect weather (other than a bit of rain the first night) and locals and tourists alike were out enjoying the sunshine. There never seems to be enough time or days while exploring a new place — or even exploring somewhere a second time– but I definitely got to see the magic of Holland during this trip, and I wouldn’t have changed anything about what we did, or where we went. Enjoy this itinerary, and if you have recommendations for other great places to go in the Netherlands, please share! Day 1: Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter Heineken…
The roaring ‘20’s — a time of flappers, prohibition, and the iconic vibes of the speakeasy. These hush-hush bars became popular in the US during prohibition when liquor became illegal to sell, but Americans didn’t want to give up the fun-loving liquor. The term speak-easy came from the idea that these places had to be discussed quietly and kept on the down-low during these times so as not to alert the police of their presence. Many times these speakeasies were located in basements of other businesses, creating a dark, intimate atmosphere that is still represented in the modern day speakeasies found in many countries around the world today. While today’s speakeasies are certainly not illegal, many of them have kept that cool-cat atmosphere and swanky style. Don’t miss these eight speakeasy-inspired bars that found their way across the pond in the UK. The Washhouse, Manchester A launderette is not the type…
Amsterdam is iconic. It is one of those places that is best experienced in your 20’s, but can be appreciated for its diversity and vivacity at any age (yes, I’m talking about you, cannabis). In just three days, the beautiful city of Amsterdam became one of my favorite places in the world. The city is shaped like a half moon or the smile of the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland. Canals run through the entirety of the city, and beautiful old Dutch houses line these canals side by side in seamless rows. The houses were what made me fall for the city, not just for their beautiful architecture, but also the story behind them. Take advantage of the FREE morning walking tours through the city. If you’re staying at a hostel, ask the front desk if the tour guide picks you up, because 90% of the time they do!…
This was my favorite day of the entire trip. Although I wish that the weather had been a bit more friendly for sightseeing, we made the most of the incredibly fierce wind and the drizzle after having had an on and off sun-filled day around the Golden Circle. Because we drove from Keflavik, we were able to drive down the coast along route 427, passing through the eerily beautiful volcanic landscape of Reykjanesfolkvangur Nature Reserve. The drive was a little over two hours to our first stop because of the wind, but the ocean waves and snow-capped mountains amongst the black lava fields were a breathtaking sight as we explored. Check out the route we drove here. Seljalandsfoss Seljalandsfoss: This waterfall may just be the most iconic of Iceland (this one or the amazing Kirkjufellsfoss on the Snaefellsness Peninsula in the north of the island which I hope to get to one…
The Golden Circle just might be Iceland’s most famous tourist route. Breathtaking landscapes make you feel as if you have traveled to another world rather than just across the ocean. Without stopping, the route is about a 3.5 hour drive from Reykjavik and all the way around the loop, but we were able to stop and see all the major spots in a comfortable 5 hours. We went in winter, when the Northern Lights are vibrant and the snow turns the lava rock landscape into a whimsical wonderland. I had enlisted my boyfriend to venture on this excursion through Iceland with me (his first time ever on a plane!) and we had just 72 hours to see what we could of this amazing country. The Golden Circle was our first adventure on our first day in Iceland, and I couldn’t wait to see all the beauty that this little island of…
Before Iceland became the newest hot spot to travel, it was my dream destination. Six years ago I saw an advertisement on the Boston T (the subway) for the Blue Lagoon, with the message that romance was alive in Iceland and you could watch the famous Northern Lights from the comfort of a heated geothermal pool. I used to tell people that it would be the location of my someday honeymoon and my future hubby would just have to ditch the idea of the standard tropical destination and embrace the cold. But, when I won Viva Lifestyle and Travel’s three night stay in Iceland’s only Five-Star hotel contest, I realized that Iceland just couldn’t wait; especially not with the $100 flight deal from Boston to Iceland which WOW Airlines sponsors regularly! So, I enlisted my boyfriend to take on the adventure with me, (the same one who I once told when…
Off the coast of Western Ireland, in the heart of Galway Bay, is a place virtually untouched by tourism. This place consists of three islands known for their wool sweaters and ancient landmarks. The people living on these islands live simple lives, farming, fishing and writing, and all those quintessential “Irish” things. They are some of the friendliest people I have ever met, and I have never had a better meal of fish n’ chips in my life. These three islands are called the Aran Islands and are known as Inis Mór, Inis Meáin, and Inis Oírr – the great, the middle, and the back. In English, they are spelled Inishmore, Inishmaan, and Inisheer, but the Gaelic is just so much prettier. Most people visit Inishmore, the big island, because naturally they believe that this island offers the most to do. While this is the best island to explore for…
Tiny pebbles slid out beneath my feet as my sneakers hammered into the rough terrain of the steep dirt path. My pulse pounded in my stinging ears as I roughly breathed in and out, puffs of air mingling with the chilling breeze of the morning air. It had taken an hour of wandering the streets of Edinburgh at 5:00 a.m. just to find the damn park; we were four college girls without a smart phone or a GPS—we were completely out of our element. Now, the 4:15 alarm and the mile extra we had walked getting here was all going to be for nothing if I didn’t make it up to the top of this damn hill before the sun rose. I couldn’t hear the steps of the others around me; all I could hear was the sound of my own panting and the thoughts running through my head, what…
I had just one weekend to explore the land of Shakespeare and fish n chips, of Will and Kate and Big Ben, and there is no way I could have done it without one handy little pass. The London Pass is the best decision I made during my two days in the UK version of the Big Apple, and I saw things in London I would never have seen without it. For just £80 I was able to see eight London greats in my two days which in admission prices alone would have cost me over £200—in time it would have cost me much more than the 48 hours I had just in standing in line to wait and buy tickets. First of all, get the mobile app. You don’t even need wifi or data to access your pass once you have bought it and added it to the mobile…