Riley Stefano, Author at Life is for Living

In Europe

The Best of Bavaria: Germany’s Romantic Road to Oktoberfest

July 2, 2024 No Comments

Willkommen in Deutschland! Germany – the land of beer, bratwurst and breathtaking castles! I spent a full week traveling Bavaria’s famous Romantic Road during the Oktoberfest season, and have all the tips, tricks and a picture-perfect itinerary to share with you for you to make the most of this epic trip experience as well. Day by day, our itinerary went: Day 1-2 – Munich & Oktoberfest Day 3: Neuschwanstein Castle Day 4: The Alps (Berchtesgaden and Salzburg) Day 5-6: Romantic Road to Rothenburg ob de Tauber Day 7: Bamberg Munich & Oktoberfest Where to Stay: Castle Moerlbach As a group of 6, we decided to find an Airbnb on the outskirts of Munich near beautiful Starnberg Lake, a 25 minute drive into the city. I couldn’t recommend the Airbnb more! It’s a 19th century manor home that has quite the history. The current owners purchased the property in the early 2000s…

In All

Porto, Algarve, and the Portugal Coast: The Perfect Roadtrip Itinerary

July 2, 2024 No Comments

From port wine to sunshine, rich culture to beautiful beaches, the Portuguese coast boasts some of the most majestic landscapes and historic cities across Europe. This itinerary will take you up and down the coastline, on the ultimate road trip of Portugal. Porto & The Douro Valley Accommodation Recommendation: Airbnb (2 bed/ 2 bath located in historic port wine distillery building with balcony overlooking the Ribeira UNESCO cultural district) I’d recommend staying on the Villa de Gaia side of the river as it’s a bit less busy than downtown Porto, with easy access (by boat, gondola or bridge) to the historic Porto center. Villa de Gaia is also where all the port wine distilleries are! Recommended Itinerary: Day 1: Arrive in Porto Explore Villa de Gaia Cais de Gaia WOW – Cultural & Porto Wine District Day 2: Porto Tour Day 10:45- 1:00: Porto Free Walking Tour Meeting point: The…

In All

How to Spend a Week in St Thomas: The Ultimate Island Itinerary

May 16, 2023 No Comments

A tropical paradise right in America’s backyard, St. Thomas and the Virgin Islands are the perfect sunshine-escape during those chilly winter and rainy spring months.

In All

The Ultimate Utah National Park Road Trip Itinerary

July 13, 2021 No Comments

Epic. It’s a word you’ll likely see a lot in this post. It’s the word that best describes the experience of road tripping through Utah’s National Parks. Epic. Majestic. Heavenly. Incredible. It was the trip of a lifetime, and I’m not just saying that because I’d been cooped up in a house for the last year and a half due to the global pandemic. Like many of us, my sense of wanderlust was through the roof, and I couldn’t think of a better place to reconnect with nature, and revisit my Fresh Air mindset, than in Utah’s great outdoors. Personally – and my roommate would agree – I think we really planned this trip well to see all that we possibly could in an eight day window. Each day was better than the one before, and I promise any way you travel this trip, it’s sure to be epic. Route…

In USA

5 Dog-Friendly Nature Walks In and Around Boston

January 24, 2021 1 Comment

Like so many of you around the world, the global pandemic has paused my travels for the time being. However, I’ve been taking this time to re-discover the beauty of my own backyard in Boston, seeking out new nature walks to escape the buzz of city life and enjoy the fresh air of the great outdoors. And now with a little quarantine rescue pup named Bear attached at my hip, I’ve been doing a lot of research and recon on the best spots around Boston for a little Sunday stroll for Bear and myself. Here are five of my favorites: Middlesex Fells Reservation Just 15 minutes north of Boston is the beautiful, vast nature park that is Middlesex Fells Reservation. At 2,200 acres, it’s easy to get lost in the beauty of the park with tons of trails, ponds and even some spectacular vistas overlooking the city. But by far…

In USA

Boston’s 9 Best Low-Budget Hotels

July 17, 2019 No Comments

Check out my original post on Boston’s best budget-friendly hotels published on The Culture Trip. Boston is a compact city with a lot of people, extremely limited (gorgeous brownstone) space and very pricey real estate. Finding affordable accommodations – even for travelers – can be tricky. Bang-for-your-buck accommodations in Boston may not be easy to come by, but they’re out there; locating them just takes a bit of digging. For the lowest rates on these fair-priced places, aim to book a few months in advance before the crowd of travelers beats you to it. To get you started on the hunt, here are nine of the best low-cost locations to rest your head after a long day of uncovering everything that Beantown has to offer. Boston Park Plaza Stay in the heart of Boston’s 400-year-old history at the Boston Park Plaza. Since 1927, the hotel has provided an elegant getaway in the…

In Ireland

5 Things to Do in Howth, Ireland

October 29, 2018 No Comments

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.

In Europe

4-Day Holland Itinerary: Amsterdam, Gouda & Tulip Fields

May 30, 2018 No Comments

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…

In All

What To Do in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

March 12, 2018 No Comments

Nova Scotia is the Cape Cod of Canada. It’s a charming peninsula of seaside towns, delicious seafood, and stunning vineyards. (My kind of triple threat!) It’s the perfect long-weekend getaway from the east coast — plus the best part of traveling anywhere in Canada is that everything is so inexpensive compared to the US. We decided to bypass the Portland, ME ferry and drive the 12 hours from Boston to save a little cash. In hindsight, I think I would have looked further into The Cat Ferry (which is car-friendly, FYI) just for ease and a bit of scenic coastal views between Maine and Nova Scotia. There’s also a ferry that leaves out of St. John, but we endured all 12 hours driving straight up route 95 and arrived in Nova Scotia by 6 PM that night. (Nova Scotia is on Atlantic time and therefore an hour ahead of Boston.)…

In All

48 Hours in Portland: A Beer Lover’s Paradise

December 21, 2017 No Comments

Portland, Maine isn’t the first Portland that comes to mind when someone mentions America’s craft beer capital — that finger is usually pointed at Oregon. However, this little city in Maine is brewing up more beer than anywhere else in the U.S. per capita. With 17 microbreweries and a population of 67,000 people, Portland, Maine has 25.5 breweries per 100,000 people, the highest rate of anywhere in America. Plus, the charming cobblestoned streets, boutique shops, and 5-star seafood make this New England city the perfect weekend getaway. So, want to do a bit of brewery hopping? Come along, I’ll point you in the direction of the very best.