After two visits and spending several weeks in Finland in winter, Laurence and I decided to write a guide to things to do in Finland during winter. Most people tend to avoid Northern Europe during the winter and head to sunnier and warmer destinations, but there are so many reasons to travel to Finland in winter. Yes, it is cold and there’s snow and the daylight hours get shorter, but there are also fewer tourists, surreal winter landscapes, and unique winter activities to be discovered throughout the country. You can go ice fishing, try dog sledding, take a traditional Finnish sauna, learn how to kicksled, drink cloudberry wine, sleep in an ice hotel, or go hunting for those mesmerizing Northern Lights. We’ll share our tips for visiting Finland in winter as well as share our top 23 winter activities in Finland to help you put together your own trip to this magical… Read the rest
Archives for March 2015
The African Tulip: Best Hotel in Arusha Tanzania?
The African Tulip hotel is a centrally located boutique hotel in Arusha Tanzania and is currently ranked on Tripadvisor as the number one hotel in the city. Arusha is a very common stop on most travelers’ itineraries in Tanzania as the city is a great jumping off spot to head to a variety of parks for those going on safari and is near both Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro for climbers. From Arusha, our safari took us to a tented camp deep in the Serengeti. In fact, we ended up staying in Arusha three different times during our trip. The first time was unplanned and we ended up at The African Tulip after having to delay the start of our climb of Mount Kilimanjaro after I started feeling ill and running a fever. The hotel was highly recommended by our safari company Amani Afrika and we found out that over 50 safari companies… Read the rest
Best Travel Wraps and Shawls for Women: 16 We Recommend (2026)
Laurence and I have traveled with wraps for more than a decade, and between us we own most of the ones in this review. Where a scarf mainly warms your neck, a wrap is big enough to work as an airplane blanket, a shoulder cover at a cathedral or mosque, and an extra layer for the chilly evenings I spend beside Laurence while he shoots at golden hour. If you want one recommendation, I own three wraps I reach for again and again. The HappyLuxe Wayfarer is my everyday choice for flights: made in the USA, machine washable, light, and rated UPF 50+ for sun. When I want cashmere warmth that still looks polished at dinner, I pack the Ovcio woven cashmere wrap. And the Scottish-made TravelWrap Company Classic is the one I would buy as a gift or a keep-forever piece. Our full list runs to 16 wraps, from… Read the rest