If your travel bucket list is filled with the usual European heavy-hitters, I’m about to completely disrupt your itinerary planning with a hidden gem, Slovenia. Tucked away right between Italy, Austria, and Croatia sits a country that is quietly staging a coup as one of the most spectacular destinations on the continent. It's a place where you can hike a jagged alpine peak in the morning, explore an underground wonderland after lunch, and be sipping a world-class glass of win

Bruges gets all the glory. And to be fair, it earns a lot of it with its winding cobblestone roads, soaring Gothic architecture, and picturesque canals. However, the sheer volume of tourists is a downside to be considered. It can feel less like a being in European city and more like a crowded theme park. On our recent trip we outsmarted the crowds by staying at a historic boutique hotel right on a canal, steps from the city center. This served as a peaceful respite during th

Amsterdam is a classic destination and worth its position as a must-see European city. The canals are iconic, the city is very walkable, and the frites and beer are absolutely not to be missed. This time we went beyond Amsterdam to explore more of the Netherlands and we loved it! While we enjoyed our time in the city, it was our guided tours outside the capital that really brought the magic and story of this country to life for us. To me, this is the ultimate goal of travel:

2026 is shaping up to be a year of inspiring travel opportunities, the kind that stay with you long after you’re home. The destinations on this list will create shared moments , cultural connection, and provide new perspectives.

Admittedly, my only experience with Spanish wine prior to our trip was walking into Trader Joe’s looking for a good/cheap bottle of wine to use in our Sangria recipe in the summer. Because… what better wine than a $5 bottle of Spanish wine for homemade Sangria? Little did I realize just how much of a wine culture existed in Spain! After spending 3-4 weeks in Spain it is very apparent that wine is an integral part of the dining and socializing culture here. As you walk past re

After a few weeks in Portugal we returned to Spain, this time to the southern areas around Seville and Valencia. This is the end of the...

Lisbon, Sintra, Coimbra, Algarve and more.

What we loved about the Porto area of Portugal, beyond the Port itself.

Our explorations of Port in Porto, Gaia, and the Duoro Valley in Portugal.

San Sebastian - a few days in the Basque region, sightseeing, food and Bilbao

Madrid, Toledo, Avila, Segovia and wine tasting!

First timers view on tapas and pintxos in Spain; gluten free and vegan options included

My fans have demanded that I try and write a monthly post, so here I am again. Ok, well fans with an “s” might be an exaggeration… it was really one fan, and demanded might also be a bit strong… maybe suggested? Anyway… After 3 months of travel through 8 different countries, I think it is time to cover the really important stuff everyone has on their mind… the regional alcoholic beverages of course! Whenever we travel, we like to try the local spirits to get a “flavor” of the

Two weeks in Croatia, where to go and great gluten free and vegan places to eat

Two weeks in Croatia, by car, with a visit to Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina

We had Stockholm on our list to visit for two reasons, (1) David had never been to Sweden and wanted to check if off the list and catch...

26 days in Norway - what did we do with so much time!

First off, my editor (also known as my wife) doesn’t think the Aurora Borealis deserves its own blog post (says she who has seen it in...

From Zanzibar, Tanzania to Norway. Yes, we know that seems like a bit of an awkward transition and quite a distance to travel, but all part of the plan! Perhaps better said, from one bucket list item to another: Safari and the wildebeest great migration at the Mara River to Aurora Borealis in the arctic circle of Norway. We started in the southern part of Norway and built up to the big stuff. You may be thinking, don’t the northern lights show up most in the winter? Not exact

Our impressions of this unique city, the expected and unexpected.