independent, intentional travel
In front of the Hermitage/Winter Palace
In my ultimate quest of traveling as much as possible in my life, I always assumed I’d visit Russia *someday*. I certainly never thought it would be this year – until I found out that my cousin, Gillian, would be spending this semester studying abroad in St. Petersburg. Since I would already be in Madrid, which is quite a bit closer to SPB than the U.S., I figured now was the time. [Read more…]
Madrid to Toledo: One of the easiest day trips from the Spanish capital
While Madrid has plenty to keep you busy, sometimes it’s nice to get out of the city. By taking a short train or bus ride, you can be transported to a different town that will allow you to experience Spanish life in another way. And the best part: You can leave Madrid in the morning or early afternoon and still make it back to your hostel/hotel/home in Madrid by the end of the day.
Toledo is one of the most popular day trips from Madrid, due to its proximity and ease of access. Learn everything you need to know to plan your own trip!
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Amsterdam is famous for a lot of things: legalized prostitution and marijuana culture come to mind. But Amsterdam is more than a place to get high and visit the notorious Red Light District. The Netherlands boasts more museums per square mile than any other country in the world, and 92 of them are in Amsterdam. Yep, there are 92 museums in Amsterdam!
Unfortunately, you probably won’t have time to visit all 92 museums during your trip, but I’ve put together a list of the top 5 most-visited museums in the city. [Read more…]
Back in 2018, right after I’d moved to Spain to work as a language assistant, I was trying to choose my first weekend trip. Somehow, I came across a €12 flight from Madrid to Brussels, so that pretty much settled it. When I told my friends and co-workers I was going to visit Brussels, I got only one response: “Make sure you go to Bruges, too.”
I’d heard of Bruges, the capital of the Belgian province of West Flanders, but I wasn’t sure whether I’d have time to visit. I only was going to have two days in Belgium, after all. But in the end, I’m glad I decided to make the trip from Brussels to Bruges. Despite the rainy weather, Bruges was a charming little town.
Here’s why you should plan a day trip from Brussels to Bruges — even if you don’t have much time in Brussels.
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Grand Place, Brussels
When someone thinks of planning a trip to Europe, certain cities always stand out. London, Rome, and Paris consistently receive the most visitors every year, with cities like Barcelona, Dublin, and Amsterdam not far behind. But what about Brussels, Belgium? Are there things to do in Brussels?
Although the de facto European Union capital may only be an afterthought to some, it’s definitely still worth a visit. With fewer tourists, you won’t have to worry about fighting massive crowds. It’s a very walkable city, which makes it a great place to slow down, relax, and enjoy everyday life.
Have I convinced you to visit Brussels yet? If so, here are the top 7 things to do in Brussels.
When I moved to Spain for the first time in 2018, I set a goal for myself: take one international trip per month in my first year living there. In September, I went to Sardinia to visit my foreign exchange sister, Gaia. I had trips booked to Russia in November and Barcelona in December, but I wasn’t sure where to go in October.
So I sat down to browse Skyscanner, looking for inspiration, when I found the cheapest flight I’ve ever seen in my life. A one-way ticket from Madrid to Brussels for $11.75. LESS THAN TWELVE DOLLARS. Somehow, a return ticket cost $200, and that wasn’t okay with me, so I booked a substantially cheaper flight back to Madrid from Amsterdam. (I decided I’d just get a cheap bus ticket.)
Can you guess which airline offered this amazing price? If you guessed RyanAir, you’d be correct. A lot of travelers have a love/hate relationship with the Irish low-cost airline, but that’s a post for another day. Flying with RyanAir for this particular journey, however, meant that my flight to Brussels would arrive at a small airport about 40 miles outside of the city. So if you’re planning a similar trip, here’s everything you need to know.
A classic view of Retiro Park
Parque del Buen Retiro — or just “El Retiro” — is Madrid’s version of Central Park. Located in the southeast of the city center, this 350-acre park is one of Madrid’s must-sees. No matter what time of day you visit, you’ll see families, couples, friends, and individuals enjoying a retreat (in Spanish: retiro) from the city hustle in Retiro Park.
During two years living in Madrid, Retiro Park is one of the places I went back to again and again. Maybe it’s because the greenery felt like an oasis in the big city, or maybe it’s because I loved trying to get lost wandering down new paths. Either way, there’s no shortage things to do, and it’s worth a visit for anyone who passes through Madrid. [Read more…]
Our trip from Portland to Mt. Rainier to Olympic brought us tons of amazing views, like this one.
A few weeks ago, our beloved exchange student Gaia left the United States to return home to Italy. It was tough on all of us — particularly on my 16-year-old sister Carrie. The girls had become extremely close over the past 10+ months, and it wasn’t easy when Gaia’s time in the U.S. came to an end.
I wanted to help Carrie cheer up, so I decided to take her on a trip. Last year, the two of us visited Seattle and Vancouver together; despite our extensive travels, the Pacific Northwest was a region we’d left largely unexplored. This year’s destination: Portland, Mt. Rainier National Park, and Olympic National Park.
We spent 4 full days and 2 half-days of travel. I’ve broken down my itinerary below — keep reading if you’re interested in planning your own trip! [Read more…]
Me at Teotihuacan without a tour in 2018
For those visiting Mexico City, you can’t miss out on a visit to Teotihuacan. This fascinating archaeological site is 25 miles from the city center. As with any day trip, you’ll have to do a bit of planning to get the most out of your experience — especially if you choose to visit Teotihuacan without a tour, like I did for the first time in 2018.
A couple of notes before I get into it. I’ve now been to Teotihuacan twice, with my second visit in 2022 — so as you can imagine, a lot has changed as a result of the pandemic. During my first visit, you could climb the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, as well as the smaller buildings lining the long avenue. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case, as these are all off-limits due to preservation efforts.
With that in mind, I’m not sure I would recommend visiting Teotihuacan without a tour as highly as I did before these recent developments. That’s because it takes a lot of time and effort to get out to the archaeological site, and if you’re not able to climb, all you can really do is walk around, and it’s a looooong walk from one end to the other. (The pyramids are still really amazing to marvel at, of course!) But I personally feel that, now, it’s more worth it to join a tour — whether that’s a Teotihuacan hot air balloon tour like we did in 2022 (read my review here) or a different guided tour.
Anyway, if you still prefer to go it on your own, here’s how to plan your trip to Teotihuacan without a tour. [Read more…]
Mexico City is the most populous city in the Western Hemisphere; geographically, it’s nearly the double the size of New York City. With that being said, you can imagine how it would be difficult to run out of things to do in Mexico City. But a one-hour bus ride outside CDMX transports visitors to a metropolis from a different era. This is the Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan. But why should you want to visit Teotihuacan?
I first learned about Teotihuacan as a high-school senior in Spanish IV. We were months away from graduation and tasked with taking our first-ever exam completely in Spanish — complete with an essay question. And the topic was Teotihuacan. So when I visited Mexico City for the first time, seven years later, I knew I had to see it for myself.
For those who don’t have the same, somewhat-random connection, let me explain why you should visit Teotihuacan. [Read more…]