Winter can be a wonderful time of year to visit the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland as there are scenic winter landscapes, fewer people, and the opportunity to enjoy winter sports. If you are thinking about visiting the Cairngorms National Park in winter, we’ve put together a list of things to do in the Cairngorms during the winter that includes skiing, winter hiking, whisky tasting, exploring historical sites, wildlife watching, and visiting popular family attractions. We’ll also provide tips and advice for helping you make the most of your visit based on our own visits to the Cairngorms National Park in winter. Travel Information for Visiting the Cairngorms during Winter We’ll share how to get to the Cairngorms National Park, how to get around the Cairngorms, where to stay, winter visiting tips, and where to find further resources on planning your trip. Getting to the Cairngorms National Park? The Cairngorms… Read the rest
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3 Days in Dublin Ireland: The Perfect Dublin Itinerary
Dublin is Ireland’s capital and largest city, offering an endless number of museums, attractions, and entertainment options. We’ve put together a recommended Dublin itinerary to help you get the most out of your 3 days in Dublin. It includes all the main highlights of the city such as Trinity College, the Guinness Storehouse, the Temple Bar neighborhood, and Christ Church Cathedral as well as a few lesser known sites. We suggest using this Dublin itinerary as a starting point for planning your 3 days in Dublin, and you can edit it to create your own personalized itinerary that reflects your own needs and interests. In addition to the 3 day itinerary, we also provide tips on how to get around Dublin, a map of each day’s suggested attractions, tips on where to stay in Dublin, and how to save money during your 3 days in Dublin. Planning for 3 Days in… Read the rest
Where JK Rowling Wrote Harry Potter in Edinburgh
J.K. Rowling wrote most of the Harry Potter books in Edinburgh Scotland, and you can still visit some of these places today. Rowling moved to Edinburgh in 1993 and once said in an interview: “…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.” Although she wrote Harry Potter in Edinburgh in a variety of cafes and private places, there are a few places that she worked that you can visit on your trip to Edinburgh! J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter, and Edinburgh Before listing the places you can visit where Rowling wrote Harry Potter in Edinburgh, we’ll share a bit of background about J.K. Rowling and her time in Edinburgh. Joanne Rowling, aka J.K. Rowling, had the inspiration for what would become the Harry Potter series during a train ride from Manchester to… Read the rest
15 Tips to Avoid the Crowds on the Isle of Skye in Scotland
The Isle of Skye in Scotland is a scenic island known for its rugged and dramatic landscapes. It is a popular tourist destination and it is no secret that the Isle of Skye can get very busy, especially during the summer months when large numbers of tourists visit the island. We’ve visited the Isle of Skye a number of times across different times of the year, and have decided to share our tips on how to avoid the crowds on the Isle of Skye. Whether you are able to travel off season or need to travel during the busy month of August, we’ll provide tips and advice to help you avoid the large tourist crowds, get off the beaten path, and enjoy some peaceful moments on this beautiful island. 15 Tips to Avoid Crowds on the Isle of Skye Many people travel to the Scottish Highlands and islands looking for… Read the rest
2 Week Route 66 Itinerary: The Ultimate American Road Trip
Route 66 is the ultimate American road trip and we’ve put together a comprehensive 2 week Route 66 itinerary to help drivers navigate this historic route. This detailed day-by-day Route 66 itinerary covers all the basic details (mileage, general route) and sightseeing highlights along the 2,400 mile route. We cover quirky Route 66 roadside attractions, historical buildings, vintage roadside diners, museums, natural wonders, and so much more. We also provide suggestions for where to eat and where to stay each day along the drive with a strong focus on Route 66 era businesses. Use this Route 66 itinerary to plan your travels from Chicago to Santa Monica and get the most out of your Route 66 road trip. Things to Know Before you Take Off on your Route 66 Drive Before you take off on your 2,400-mile “Mother Road” road trip, we’d recommend reading our Route 66 road trip planning… Read the rest
A Guide to How to Get From London to Edinburgh
London and Edinburgh are two of the UK’s most popular cities, and many visitors to the UK want to travel from London to Edinburgh. These two amazing capitals are very different but both offers loads of interesting attractions and activities for visitors. If you are aiming to visit both cities on your UK trip, you may be wondering how to get from London, England to Edinburgh, Scotland? To help answer that question, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how to get from London to Edinburgh or from Edinburgh to London. We’re going to list at all the options you have for getting from London to Edinburgh, as well as give you an idea how long each option takes, the cost associated with each method, the main companies and ways to book each route, and cost saving tips. We also provide some advice on how to choose a method based… Read the rest
14 Reasons to Drive the North Coast 500 in Scotland
The North Coast 500 (NC500) is one of Scotland’s most spectacular driving routes, covering 500 miles of the gorgeous northern Scottish Highlands. The NC500 begins and end in Inverness, hugging the northern coastline for a large part of the route. There are so many good reasons to drive the North Coast 500 as you have the chance to enjoy such a variety of attractions, activities, and landscapes. These include touring beautiful castles, teeing off at world-class golf courses, photographing picturesque waterfalls, eating fresh local seafood, canoeing on glassy lochs, exploring Iron Age historical sites, lying on sandy beaches, touching 3 billion year old rocks, and enjoying wonderful local Scottish hospitality. These are just a few of the reasons that should have you planning your North Coast 500 road trip! We truly believe that there is something for everyone along the North Coast 500, no matter what your interests or travel style,… Read the rest
12 Reasons Travel Can Be Stressful & Tips for Reducing Travel Stress
Many people travel as a way to relieve stress, but for some people travel can also induce travel stress. Travel stress is a feeling of mental strain and pressure related to traveling. Although travel has a number of positive aspects and benefits, travel stress can lead to people having a negative vacation experience. A reader on my blog recently wanted to know “Why is travel stressful?”. So I spent some time researching and thinking about this question. In this post we present a number of common reasons that you might be finding travel to be stressful. These include feeling overwhelmed with travel planning, air travel experiences, concerns about the safety of a destination, difficulty handling unexpected events, financial strain, and having unrealistic expectations. Then we discuss a number of ways that you might prevent or reduce travel stress for each travel stressor. Our tips for reducing travel stress are based… Read the rest
Travel Photography: 6 Ways to Take Great Couple Photos while Traveling
Today we are going to share ways to take great couple photos while traveling. When you travel as a couple, you are going to want to get some good photos of the two of you together. The problem is that getting great couples photos of the two of you together can be a challenge, as usually one of you has to operate the camera or smartphone. So most people end up with a lot of individual photos from a trip, but not so many great couple photos from their travels. In this post, we’re going to share with you some tips to help you take great couple photos when traveling. All of these tips also work for getting any kind of single person, group, or family travel photos. First, we’re going to go through all of the ways that we have taken photos of ourselves together on our trips to… Read the rest
Finland Packing List for Winter: A Guide to What to Pack
Based on our time traveling in Finland in winter, we’ve decided to create a Finland packing list for winter to help those traveling there for the first time. Winter is a magical time to visit Finland as you have gorgeous winter landscapes, tons of fun winter activities to try, and the chance to see the Northern Lights. However, it is also a difficult place to pack for if you are not used to packing for cold weather destinations. Temperatures are regularly below freezing throughout the winter months in Finland and packing well is key to enjoying your trip to Finland. That is why we’ve put together a Finland packing list for winter to help you pack smart to avoid being unprepared. We’ve put together a suggested Finland winter packing list that lists all the essentials you’l need for your trip based on our own research and experience traveling in Finland…. Read the rest
Guide to Attending the Bristol Balloon Fiesta
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is the largest annual hot air ballooning event in Europe, and it is also one of the top outdoor festivals in the UK. Held each August over several days, the Bristol Balloon Fiesta events include the mass ascension of over 100 hot air balloons, nightglows, balloon competitions, and fireworks. In addition to the balloons, the free festival also offers on-site family-friendly amusement rides, games, and musical entertainment. We were excited to attend the Bristol Balloon Fiesta last year to see this colorful festival. If you are interested in attending yourself, we’ll cover all the logistics, share all you need to know to plan your own time at the fiesta, and share our own experiences attending the hot air balloon fiesta. Information on Attending the Bristol Balloon Fiesta Below we’ll cover all the logistical information related to attending the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, including getting there,… Read the rest
Tips for Driving in Iceland in Winter
After our winter Iceland trip, we have put together a useful guide to driving in Iceland in winter. Iceland is a wonderful country for a road trip, but winter road conditions and closures can make it a stressful experience for those who are not prepared. We cover everything you need to know before you go, how to be prepared for driving in Iceland in winter, and what to do in the event of an emergency. We’ll tell you what road conditions are like in Iceland in winter, what kind of car to rent, the best areas of Iceland to visit (and avoid) in the winter, how to prepare for a winter Iceland road trip, and how to stay safe. We also provide a list of alternative travel solutions for those who decide they do not want to drive in Iceland during the winter but still want to experience the winter highlights… Read the rest
Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in London
Did you know that you can find four UNESCO World Heritage sites in London? Although London is one of the world’s great modern capitals, it has a history stretching back to Roman times. London’s four UNESCO World Heritage sites are: Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey & St. Margaret’s Church, the Tower of London, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, and Maritime Greenwich. Each has been determined by UNESCO to represent an “outstanding universal value”, and all are top visitor attractions in London. We’ve visited all these sites, and we’ll tell you about each of these London World Heritage sites and give tips on visiting each of them during your trip. UNESCO World Heritage Sites in London If you are wondering what exactly a World Heritage site is, it is a landmark or area that the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has deemed to have cultural, historical, scientific, or other… Read the rest
A Guide to Celebrating Hogmanay in Edinburgh Scotland
After attending Edinburgh’s Hogmanay several times, we’ve finally decided to write a guide to celebrating Hogmanay in Edinburgh! Hogmanay is the Scottish word for New Year’s Eve and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival has become one of the largest New Year’s celebrations in the world. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is a 3-day festival full of events that include a torchlight procession, live music concerts, family events, a massive street party, traditional dancing, fireworks, and even a costumed parade that ends with a cold dip in the river! If you are interested in celebrating the New Year in Edinburgh, we’ll tell you all you need to know to help you decide if you want to go and what you can do at the festival. We provide advice on planning ahead and finding accommodation, break down the Hogmanay events day by day, and give plenty of tips for making the most of your trip to celebrate Hogmanay… Read the rest
Churchill in London: A Guide to Winston Churchill Sites in London
Winston Churchill is one of the most well-known British figures of the 20th century, and today it is easy to find traces of Winston Churchill in London. Although Churchill traveled extensively, there is no city more central to his life than London. It was here that he went to school, sat at Parliament, married, lived with his family, served as Prime Minister, coordinated much of the war effort during World War 2, and died. Although Churchill is best known for his role as Britain’s fearless wartime leader during WWII, he was a well-rounded man who also served in the military, bred race horses, produced over 500 paintings, became an amateur bricklayer, won the Nobel Prize for Literature, and wrote love letters regularly to his wife. Today Winston Churchill remains as intriguing and divisive as he was in life, and London is the best place to learn more about this complex former… Read the rest