If you’re trying to figure out where to stay in the Lofoten Islands, the first thing you need to know is this: the islands have their own iconic accommodation type, and it’s unlike anything else in the world. Rorbuer, traditional Norwegian fishermen’s cabins, typically perched on stilts over the water, are the reason so many […]
Located on the southern tip of the Istrian Peninsula, Pula and Cape Kamenjak can be combined into a perfect day trip. Pula is a sprawling, urban city that has an impressive collection of ancient Roman monuments in its compact old town. Cape Kamenjak is an outdoor paradise, with beaches, cliff diving, and one of the […]
The hike to Ryten has all of the ingredients of a perfect Lofoten Islands hike: sweeping vistas across the mountains and fjords, a fun but slightly strenuous hike to a mountain peak, and a breathtaking view of a white, sandy beach. The icing on the cake is a “mini Trolltunga,” an outcropping of rock where […]
If you are making a decision about where to stay in Gdansk, you have a lot of options. Gdansk is filled with many highly rated, midrange hotels, making this city perfect for budget or midrange travelers. In Gdansk, it’s easy to find a great place to stay without spending a fortune…the trick is narrowing down […]
From the top of Festvågtind, the views over the fishing village of Henningsvaer are breathtaking. This hike is very similar to Svolvaer Fløya and Reinebringen, in that it’s a steep, somewhat unexciting climb to an awesome viewpoint. It’s absolutely worth it on a clear day but consider skipping this hike on a cloudy, rainy day. […]
Nestled in the foothills of the Alps, Salzburg is a compact city that is easy to explore in just one day. It’s the perfect blend of history and culture, being home to Mozart, an ancient fortress, and several Sound of Music sites. With one day in Salzburg, explore the old town, enjoy the view from […]
Svalbard. An Arctic playground where there are more polar bears than people, filled with glaciers, the Northern Lights, the midnight sun, and frozen tundra. It may look barren from a distance, but it is filled with arctic wildlife like reindeer, walrus, and polar bears. If you like the idea of exploring the great outdoors, your […]
Norway has a way of exceeding every expectation, and the Stave-Bleik Coastal Trail on Vesteralen’s Andøya island is a perfect example. We hiked to Måtind in early July as part of a road trip from Tromsø to the Lofoten Islands, squeezing it in after a morning ferry crossing from Senja, and it turned out to […]
Longyearbyen is the world’s northernmost city. This is a town where the streets have no names, reindeer wander through town, and there are more snowmobiles than people. If you have plans to visit Svalbard, Longyearbyen is where you will eat, sleep, and fill your time in between arctic adventures. The best things to do in […]
Zakopane is Poland’s gateway city for exploring the mountain range known as the Tatras. From Zakopane, you can take your pick from quick, easy hikes to longer all day affairs that have you climbing among the tallest mountain peaks. We hiked to the summit of Koscielec, one of many options if you are looking for […]
Bratislava, with its compact old town, charming city streets, and outdoor café culture, is a wonderful place to visit. This city may not be as popular as other central European cities such as Vienna or Prague, but don’t let that fool you. Bratislava is underrated as a European destination, as we just learned. If you […]
Reinebringen, with its dazzling view over the fishing villages of Reine, Sakrisøy, and Hamnøy, is the most popular hike in the Lofoten Islands, and one look at the panorama from the top tells you exactly why. We hiked Reinebringen in 2018 with our kids, who were 13 and 15 at the time, before most of […]
Lake Bohinj is a lovely lake located in Triglav National Park, Slovenia. While you are here, you can fill your time with short hikes, gorgeous views of the lake, stand up paddle boarding and other water sports, and even a ride a cable car to a mountain peak. Whether you are visiting Lake Bohinj on […]
Lake Bohinj is one of our favorite places in Slovenia and summer is the perfect time to enjoy it. It is an outdoor playground, with opportunities to go hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, and swimming. Ride the Vogel cable car for amazing views of Triglav National Park and walk to Savica waterfall, Slovenia’s most popular waterfall. Here […]
How much does it cost to visit Svalbard? The short answer: more than almost anywhere else we’ve traveled. We spent four days in Svalbard at the end of June 2018, cruising to an abandoned Russian mining town, kayaking past an active glacier, and hiking above Longyearbyen with a rifle-carrying guide (you can read our full […]
Malbork Castle is Poland’s most famous castle. It’s also the largest castle in the world, classified by surface area. Located just a short distance from Gdansk and easily accessible by train, Malbork Castle is one of the best day trips to take from Gdansk. In this article, get a brief history of the castle, learn […]
The hike up to the summit of Segla is one of Senja’s most popular hikes. And this was our main reason for visiting Senja. Many visitors skip past Senja, heading directly to the Lofoten Islands. But those people are missing out seeing a gorgeous part of Norway and some hidden gems. That’s fine…that means less […]
One of the biggest questions we had while planning our trip to Svalbard was “what do we pack?” Svalbard is located so far north that it’s easy to assume that it will be ice-cold all year round. Good news! That’s not the case, at least not during the summer months. Even so, we packed an […]