10 Things to do in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Scotland

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steamship cruise things to do in Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park

There are many things to do in Loch Lomond, and it is a popular weekend destination for locals from Glasgow and Edinburgh in search of nature and outdoor activities. Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park was Scotland’s first national park, designated in 2002. Loch Lomond itself is the largest inland stretch of water in Great Britain by surface area, and the park contains a diverse geography that includes 21 munros (Scottish mountains), two forest parks, 22 lochs, and over 50 designated special nature conservation sites that are home to a variety of wildlife. Visitors can go cruising on a lake in a historic steamship, rent a canoe or kayak, spend a day visiting small villages, see Rob Roy’s gravestone, have fun at an aerial adventure park, or go climbing or biking. If you enjoy hiking, there are a number of short and moderate hiking paths to enjoy here, and a few of Scotland’s Read the Rest…

London Itinerary: 6 Days in London

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Tower Bridge 6 days in London itinerary

London is one of the world’s most famous capital cities and England’s largest city, offering an endless number of attractions, museums, historical buildings, and entertainment options. London can be an overwhelming city for many travelers, especially those visiting for the first time. We’ve put together a recommended 6 day London itinerary that will help you see the highlights if you have at least 6 days in London. It includes all the major attractions (e.g., Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and the National Gallery), but also includes several lesser known sites and encourages you to explore several of London’s diverse neighborhoods including Westminster, Greenwich, Kensington, and Camden. We suggest using this itinerary as a starting point for planning your 6 days in London, not as a definitive itinerary, and you can edit it to put together your own personal itinerary that reflects your own needs and interests. In addition to the 6 Read the Rest…

North Coast 500 Hotels Guide: Where to Stay along the NC500

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Torridon Hotel North Coast 500 hotels where to stay along NC500 Scotland

The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile scenic route along Scotland’s northern coast, offering drivers rugged landscapes, sandy benches, wildlife, museums, castles, whisky distilleries, and so much more! If you are planning to road trip around this scenic area of the Scottish Highlands, you may be wanting to spend the night at some special North Coast 500 hotels. Castle hotels. Historic Georgian and Victorian mansions. Luxury guest houses. Old crofts and farmhouses. Romantic B&B’s. Sea and lochside cottages. All of these and more are possible, but it can be time-consuming to search and choose from the hundreds of properties along the route. So we’ve done it for you, providing a list of 25 personally recommended North Coast 500 hotels that are well-rated, well-located, and/or offer something unique or special. Our list includes everything from 5-star luxury castles to cozy family-run B&Bs, with information, a review, and tips provided for each Read the Rest…

A Guide to Glasgow Attractions: 25+ Things to do in Glasgow Scotland

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Duke of Wellington statue top things to do in Glasgow Scotland attractions

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and there are so many things to do in Glasgow! The city is home to fantastic art galleries, historical National Trust properties, leafy green spaces, amazing street art, and a plethora of live music venues. Glasgow is perhaps not as well-known as Edinburgh to international travelers, but the reward of visiting here is a less crowded city where experiences seem less rushed and more authentic. Glasgow is an easy city to love with its friendly and welcoming residents, dozens of free museums and attractions, burgeoning focus on craft food and drink, thriving live music scene, large number of Charles Rennie Mackintosh buildings, and beautiful country homes and parks. There is something in the city for everyone from those who love art and architecture to those who prefer breweries and music. We’ll share our guide to Glasgow attractions, highlighting all the top things to do Read the Rest…

Travel Home Decor: Handmade Travel Themed Home Decorations

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world map wall art Travel Home Decor Handmade Travel Themed Home Decorations

A great way to fuel your wanderlust in between trips is to have travel inspiration and reminders in your home or office, and we’ve put together a long list of wonderful handmade travel home decor items. We have a number of travel themed home decor items in our home from rugs and coffee mugs to blankets and wall prints to photo frames and decorative globes. We’ve reviewed a wide range of handmade travel home decor items in this article for those looking for a way to express their own love for travel, searching for a gift for a special traveler, or just looking for inspiration about what types of travel themed home decoration items are out there. These handmade pieces are well-suited for a variety of spaces, budgets, and decorating tastes. We physically reviewed all these items and hope you enjoy this list of wonderful travel themed home decor items! Read the Rest…

Barcelona Discount Passes: Barcelona Card vs. Barcelona Pass vs. Barcelona Museum Pass

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Barcelona Card versus Barcelona Pass vs. Articket Museum Pass Barcelona discount cards comparison

There are several discount Barcelona cards and passes that can help you save money in Barcelona Spain. However, it can be difficult to decide which one, if any, may help you save money and time on your trip. We’ll provide information about and compare three of the most popular Barcelona passes: the Barcelona Card, the Barcelona Pass, and the Articket Barcelona Museum Pass to help you determine which may be a good fit for you. We’ll also provide a handy comparison chart so you can check which features the Barcelona Card has versus the Barcelona Pass and Articket Museum Pass. We’ll also provide some additional resources about a few other Barcelona cards and transport passes that you might consider in order to help you save the most money on your trip to Barcelona. Most of the sites and attractions that charge an admission fee in Barcelona are covered by at Read the Rest…

The Belmond British Pullman Train: Info, Tips, & Lots of Photos

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British Pullman train Vera carriage car

The Belmond British Pullman is the sister train of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and is made up of a collection of historic Pullman carriages. Based at Victoria Station in London, the train makes regular luxury day trips and short journeys within England. A journey aboard the gleaming umber and cream carriages of the British Pullman is designed to take you back in time to the glamorous age of luxury train travel. The historical carriages date from the 1920’s to 1950’s and include wonderful art deco marquetry, art nouveau lamps, polished brass fittings, mosaic floors, and plush upholstery. Journeys aboard the train may include brunch, afternoon tea, a murder mystery lunch, and/or musical entertainment. Guests enjoy a meal while they watch the scenery pass by and some journeys include stops at historic cities such as Bath or Canterbury. Although many of the guests are British people celebrating a special day out, it is Read the Rest…

Tips on Using & Buying the Barcelona Pass: Is it Worth It?

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buying The Barcelona Pass tips advice worth it

If you are planning a trip to Barcelona and want to admire Gaudí’s architecture, take sightseeing tours, and visit some of Barcelona’s top attractions, you may be able to save money and time by purchasing the Barcelona Pass. The Barcelona Pass not only provides free admission to over 20 of the top attractions in Barcelona (i.e., Casa Batlló, Casa Milá, FC Barcelona Stadium Tour, walking tours), but it also allows you to skip the long entrance lines at several of these attractions and includes a 1-day free Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour ticket. In many cases, the Barcelona Pass is a good value and can save you money; however, in other cases, the Barcelona Pass may not be a good deal for you, depending on what you plan to see in the city. We’ll help provide all the information you need to know to decide if the Barcelona Pass Read the Rest…

Visiting Iceland in Winter: A 7 Day Iceland Itinerary by Car

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Diamond Beach 7 day Iceland itinerary by car one week road trip

If you are planning a trip to Iceland, our 7 day Iceland itinerary will help you plan the perfect Iceland road trip. If you have 7 days in Iceland you have time to explore the capital city of Reykjavík, the west coast, the famous Golden Circle, and the south coast of the country. Our itinerary includes cultural highlights, waterfalls, glaciers, national parks, Icelandic horses, fishing villages, black sand beaches, lava fields, and loads of scenic views. It covers some of the most famous and iconic places in Iceland as well as some lesser known spots. This itinerary is perfect any time of the year, including in winter where many places in Iceland become inaccessible or close for the winter. We visited all these places ourselves this last winter on a self-drive trip with Iceland Travel. Although you certainly can’t explore all the wonderful places Iceland has to offer, you can see a Read the Rest…

Finding Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona: Guide to Over 20 Gaudí Sites in Barcelona Spain

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Sagrada Família ceiling guide to Gaudí sites in Barcelona Spain

Antoni Gaudí is the most famous architect of the Catalan Modernism movement, and there are a number of Gaudí sites in Barcelona Spain that you can visit. Although Gaudí is best known for his masterpiece Sagrada Família as well as Casa Batlló and Park Güell, there are many other Gaudí works that you can see and visit in Barcelona. Some are well-known, others are seldom visited. There are also a number of museums and exhibitions that focus on Gaudí and his work that can help provide a great overview and context before you set out to view his famous buildings. Although not widely appreciated during his lifetime,Gaudí’s works are now widely studied by architecture students worldwide, seven of his works have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, and Sagrada Família has become one of the most visited tourist attractions in Europe. This guide will assist you in deciding which attractions to visit, help you locate Read the Rest…

Globetrotting Challenge Travel Race: 10 Days, 10 Countries, 10 Challenges

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Globetrotting Challenge 2017 travel race Turkey to Tuscany

Later this month is the start of the first annual Globetrotting Challenge, a travel race that will have two top travel blogging couples racing from Turkey to Tuscany. And Laurence and I are one of those two couples! The travel race will have us racing overland across 10 countries in 10 days while competing against another couple in 10 challenges along the way. All of this will be recorded live via social media so that followers will be able to follow along on all our travel adventures, struggles, triumphs, and embarrassing mishaps along the way. Want to find out more? Keep reading and we’ll give you the lowdown on the Globetrotting Challenge and even tell you how you can get involved! **UPDATE: Unfortunately the Globetrotting Challenge will not be taking place as planned. The other team (Dave & Deb) pulled out of the challenge the day it was set to Read the Rest…

A Guide to Visiting the Spanish Pyrenees of Catalonia: A Lesser Known Region of Spain

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Sant Joan Les Fonts things to do in the Spanish Pyrenees in Catalonia Spain

A lot of people visit Barcelona and Costa Brava every year; however, many fewer people visit the Spanish Pyrenees of Catalonia. This lesser known region of Spain offers a perfect place to escape from the often crowded coast, whether you visit it in conjunction with the more popular spots or dedicate an entire trip to this region. Here in the Spanish Pyrenees you’ll find several ski resorts, a network of hiking trails and cycling paths, extinct volcanoes, hearty Catalan food, medieval towns, and rich cultural attractions. The Spanish Pyrenees of Catalonia is a great region for those wanting to get out and explore nature, enjoy the peaceful rural countryside, or hideout in the mountains. On the other hand it also offers a plethora of outdoor activities, museums, festivals, hot air balloon rides, and a seemingly infinite amount of quaint Romanesque churches. This guide will cover how to get to the Read the Rest…

Ski Holidays for Non-Skiers: 25 Things to Do at a Ski Resort if you Don’t Ski

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Ski Holidays for Non-Skiers Things to Do at a Ski Resort if you Don't Ski

Ski holidays for non-skiers? Sure, there are lots of things to do at a ski resort if you don’t ski. I personally don’t ski but have spent time at a number of ski resorts and winter holiday destinations around the world. I know I am not alone, and wanted to share some tips on how to enjoy a ski holiday as a non-skier. Often there is at least one member of a family, couple, or group that doesn’t ski but that doesn’t mean they have to just sit in the hotel room when everyone else wants to ski. There are a lot of fun winter snow activities that don’t involve skiing or snowboarding such as sledding, snow tubing, ice fishing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and sleigh rides. There are also tons of other fun winter activities that non-skiers can seek out from exploring Christmas markets to relaxing in a thermal bath. One Read the Rest…

FIG Clothing: Women’s Travel Clothing Review

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FIG Clothing travel clothing clothes review

Finding travel clothing that is both comfortable and stylish can be difficult, and this last year I found both of these qualities in FIG Clothing. FIG Clothing is a Canadian company that specializes in clothing for active women that is appropriate for travel and outdoor activities but is at the same time also stylish, versatile, and comfortable. I was a FIG Clothing ambassador in 2016, mostly sharing photos of me wearing FIG Clothing during my travels on my social media channels. I was not asked to write a blog post as part of my ambassadorship but decided to do so as I really love their clothing as well as the brand and people behind the company. I’ll share some information about FIG Clothing, where you can find their clothing, my thoughts about the clothing I’ve worn, and lots of photos of me wearing the pieces that have traveled around the Read the Rest…

Royal Edinburgh Ticket: How to Save Money on Edinburgh’s Royal Attractions

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Holyrood Palace Royal Edinburgh Ticket

The Royal Edinburgh Ticket is a great way to save money when visiting the top royal attractions in Edinburgh Scotland! The ticket covers all three of our favorite royal sites in Edinburgh: the mighty and historic Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace (official Scottish residence of the royal family), and Royal Yacht Britannia (royal yacht used by the royal family from 1954 to 1997). Not only are these the three most important royal attractions in Edinburgh, they are three of the most popular and visited attractions in the city. If you want to visit all three during your trip to Edinburgh, you can save up to 25% by using the Royal Edinburgh Ticket versus buying each entrance ticket separately. The ticket also includes unlimited hop-on hop-off bus transportation around the city for 48 hours! We’ll tell you how to purchase and collect the pass, what it covers, how to calculate your cost Read the Rest…