A great way to fuel your wanderlust in between trips is to have travel inspiration and reminders in your home or office. When we bought our home a couple of years ago, one of the first things we did was start filling it with travel themed decor, from maps and globes to photo frames and candles. We have been collecting travel themed home decor items for years now, and our home is full of them: a large wooden world map on our living room wall, solar-powered spinning globes on our office desks, personalized map coasters on our dining room table, and travel photos on just about every wall. We love that so many of these items are handmade by individual artists and small businesses. In this article, we share the travel home decor items we actually own and use in our home, along with our top picks from Etsy artists… Read the rest
Barcelona Discount Passes: Barcelona Card vs. Go Barcelona Pass vs. Barcelona Museum Pass
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 four of the most popular Barcelona passes: the Barcelona Card, the Go City Barcelona Pass, the Barcelona City 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 Go City Barcelona Pass, Barcelona City Pass, and Articket Museum Pass. We also share 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… Read the rest
The Belmond British Pullman Train: Info, Tips, & Lots of Photos
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 Go Barcelona Pass: Is it 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 Go Barcelona Pass. The Go Barcelona Pass not only provides free admission to over 40 of the top attractions in Barcelona (e.g., Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, 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 most cases, the Go Barcelona Pass (see official website here) is a good value and can save you money; however, in other cases, the Go 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… Read the rest
7 Day Iceland Itinerary for Winter: A Self-Drive Road Trip Guide
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 Reykjavik, the west coast, the famous Golden Circle, and the south coast of the country. Our suggested Iceland 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 works any time of the year, but it was designed specifically for winter when many parts of Iceland become inaccessible or close for the season. We visited all these places ourselves on a self-drive trip during early March, and we have also visited Iceland in the summer, so we know the… Read the rest
Finding Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona: Guide to Over 20 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… Read the rest
A Guide to Visiting the Spanish Pyrenees of Catalonia: A Lesser Known Region of 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
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 wintertime experiences 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
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 Review: Is It Worth It in 2026?
The Royal Edinburgh Ticket is a combo pass that covers three of Edinburgh’s top royal attractions: Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the Royal Yacht Britannia. It also includes 48 hours of unlimited hop-on hop-off bus travel around the city. We first used the Royal Edinburgh Ticket back in 2017 and have used it again since. The pass can save you money and time if you plan to visit all three attractions, but it is not the right choice for everyone. We’ll walk through exactly what you get, what it costs in 2026, how to calculate your savings, and help you decide whether it makes sense for your trip. Edinburgh is one of our favourite cities. We lived here for over 5 years and we still find new places to visit almost every time we’re back. For first-time visitors, there are some places that most people want to see,… Read the rest
The Best Apartment Booking Websites: 25+ Sites Like Airbnb
Looking for sites like Airbnb to book your next vacation rental? Here is our guide to the best online apartment booking websites that provides a list of over 25 websites where you can search and book apartments and vacation rentals online. Getting a great place to stay is key to a good travel experience and if you are looking beyond hotels and hostels, renting an apartment, a house, or a private room can be a great alternative. Staying at an apartment versus a hotel can be great way to save money, have more autonomy, and connect with the local people. Most of these apartment booking websites also allow you to list your own property so that you can earn money while you travel or rent out a spare room or second home. Airbnb may be the best known vacation rental website, but there are a lot of Airbnb alternatives out there,… Read the rest
Attractions Along Historic Route 66 in Albuquerque New Mexico
Finding historic Route 66 in Albuquerque New Mexico is easy if you know where to look. Route 66 officially ran through Albuquerque from 1926 to 1985, and today Albuquerque is home to the longest urban stretch of Route 66 in the country at 18 miles. Route 66 played an integral role in Albuquerque’s growth and development in the early to mid 1900’s and today you can still find Route 66 era businesses, diners, motels, architecture, signs, and vibes in New Mexico’s largest city. You can still sleep in a classic Route 66 era motor court motel, eat a burger at a Route 66 era diner, and see some of the neon signs that have been burning bright on Central Avenue for decades. Albuquerque is a great place to “get your kicks” and we’ll provide a brief history of Route 66 in Albuquerque, share information on how to find and drive… Read the rest
Our Wedding in Venice: A Photo Essay
A photo essay of our wedding in Venice. Two years ago today, Laurence and I got engaged at Point Reyes National Seashore in California next to a giant elephant seal. At that time, I was working full-time as a clinical psychologist and living in the San Francisco Bay area. A lot has changed since that time. I don’t share a lot of personal posts but I’ve been asked several times to share some photos of our wedding in Venice on the blog, and have always meant to do so but never got around to doing it. So I thought I would do it today on our engagement anniversary. It also gave me a good excuse to go back through our wedding photos. If you don’t enjoy wedding photos, this is your time to escape, otherwise, enjoy! As some of you know, Laurence and I actually had our legal wedding at… Read the rest
Comprehensive Guide to the Top Harry Potter Sites in Edinburgh Scotland
Edinburgh has a deep connection with the wizarding world of Harry Potter and there are several Harry Potter sites in Edinburgh that fans can visit. Most notably, it was the home of J.K. Rowling when she wrote the majority of the Harry Potter books. Rowling has acknowledged her connection to the city stating that “…Edinburgh is very much home for me and is the place where Harry evolved over seven books and many, many hours of writing in its cafés.” Want to sit and sip coffee in the same café that J.K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books? See turreted buildings that may have been the inspiration for Hogwarts? See graves and streets that may have influenced the names of Harry Potter characters? Drink a pint of butterbeer in a local pub? We’ll provide all you need to know to find these places on your own or visit them on… Read the rest
Visiting Wentworth Woodhouse: The Grand Home of the Earls Fitzwilliam in Yorkshire
Wentworth Woodhouse is one of the finest Georgian buildings in the United Kingdom and it has the longest façade of any country home in Europe; however, very few people have ever heard of this spectacular English house! Starting as a modest Jacobean house in the 17th century, it would be rebuilt and expanded to enormous proportions by a series of aristocratic families. The house would become the seat of the Earls Fitzwilliam who would rise to be one of the wealthiest families in England due to profits from the coal industry. At one time, over 1,000 staff members were employed to run and look after the 300+ room house and the vast estate. However, a series of scandals, inheritance fights, untimely deaths, and the nationalization of coal would soon lead to both the end of the Earl Fitzwilliam line and the shuttering of this great house. This grand Yorkshire house was… Read the rest