Montreal is such a beautiful cosmopolitan city—a little taste of Europe closer to my home near NYC. I had visited as a teenager, but I have to say that going back as an adult felt like the first time in so many ways. It was so fun to wander the cobblestone streets in Old Montreal,…
Who’s ready to go beach hopping in Lagos, Portugal? Call me crazy, but my favorite moments in Lagos, Portugal weren’t about relaxing on the beach. Don’t get me wrong—the beaches are stunning, and we explored every beach in town, choosing to spend the majority of our time at Praia Don Ana. But what I loved…
Pretty as a picture, Belém is a can’t-miss day trip while visiting Lisbon. A small western suburb of Lisbon, Belém was once an escape for Lisbon’s elite from the poverty of the city—just like Sintra was an escape for royalty (we’re seeing a trend here!). It’s historic roots go much deeper than that: due to Belém’s ideal location…
Lisbon is one of Europe’s best kept secrets. Often overlooked by travelers in favor of heavyweights like Paris, Rome, and Barcelona, Lisbon still retains an old world charm while being one of the more modern western cities. It’s ideal location makes it easy to access from the U.S. and other cities in western Europe, and it’s…
Magical is the best word to describe my one day in Sintra, Portugal, which was developed as an escape from the crowded city of Lisbon for Portuguese royalty. From the 8th century stone Castle of the Moors to the pastel explosion of Pena Palace, beauty abounds in this fairytale land. At only a 40-minute train ride…
On a whim, a few friends from my study abroad trip in Spain and I decided to take the ferry from Tarifa, Spain to Tangier, Morocco, a port town in northern Africa just across the Gibraltar Strait. From the start, we were awestruck by all of the beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea and the…
One of the best ways to get the most out of the limited time off we get in the U.S. is to be willing to travel overnight and early in the morning, so you still get a full day at your destination. I’m often asked how I manage to not lose the whole following day…
Architecture lovers will obsess over Sevilla (or Seville in English). Hands down my favorite thing is how the city developed around the Canal de Alfonso XIII, with six (!) different bridges spanning across and tons of restaurants and bars along the banks, presenting the perfect alfresco dining opportunity. You could easily spend a whole day just…
Granada was the last city I visited in Spain at the end of my summer abroad trip, and it was the perfect end to my time in Spain. Granada embodies everything that travelers love about Spain all in one city–stunning vistas, intricately built architecture, great wine and tapas, plus although I was there in the…