Bread, Cheese, and Wine
Yep, the jeans are a little tighter after spending a month in Strasbourg. The bread. The cheese. The wine. Oh my…. While we’ve had some good food over the past year, we’ve been in countries that aren’t exactly known for their gastronomy. Portugal, the UK, Hungary. That all changed with our stay in Strasbourg. Daily fresh bread? Yes please. Delicious pastries? Of course. Sausage and cheese? All day every day. From restaurants, to grocery stores and beyond, we definitely enjoyed the food in the Alsace!
Exploring the Alsace: Part Deux (or Zwei!)
As full time travelers, we love month long stays that give us access to a broader region beyond the city where we are staying. Last week I highlighted the Alsace day trips we took from Strasbourg, all within France. You can find that post here! The beauty of the Alsace is the ability to explore other countries as well! In this post, we’ll explore day and weekend trips into Germany and Switzerland, namely Heidelberg, the Black Forest, and Basel!
Exploring the Alsace Region from Strasbourg
Explore the best day trips from Strasbourg, France, including the historic Maginot Line, the fairytale Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle, and the charming Alsace Wine Route villages of Colmar, Eguisheim, and Obernai. Discover how this unique region blends French and German culture, making it one of the most distinctive areas in France. From medieval architecture to scenic vineyards, find out why Alsace is a must-visit destination for history lovers and wine enthusiasts alike.
Waltzing Up the Blue Danube
We spent seven nights aboard Avalon Waterway’s Tranquility II, cruising from Budapest, Hungary to Visegrad, Germany with Eric’s parents. This was a classified as an Active and Discovery cruise with Avalon, and it was our first experience on a river cruise. Would we do a river cruise again? What did we think about Avalon? Follow along for all of the details!
Budapest on a Slow Travel Budget
Discover Budapest, Hungary’s stunning capital, known for its beautiful architecture, rich history, and walkable streets. From the Austro-Hungarian Empire and World War II to the communist era and today’s vibrant democracy, Budapest offers fascinating cultural insights. With excellent public transportation and plenty to explore, it’s the perfect destination before embarking on a Danube River cruise.
Our Cuppa
The UK is just our cup of tea. Not that we really drink tea, but, when in Rome…er London. We’ve been going there regularly for over fifteen years now. It feels like a home away from home. As full time travelers, it is a place to not only reset our Schengen Visa clock, but it is a place to refresh and recharge. But we’re still learning every time we visit. Here are a few things we’ve learned and that you might not know.
Finding Balance
Life has changed over the past month. Big changes. Great changes. A new season of our lives. Time to reconnect with family and old friends. How are we finding balance in these changing times?
London For History Nerds Like Us
What I love the most about London is that it is a city of juxtaposition. Towering skyscrapers next to a 1000 year old castle. Roman walls and traffic jams. Narrow streets with names like Poultry Ave, Pudding Lane, Crutched Friars, and Ironmonger Lane, in a city with some of the most expensive real estate in the world. You can buy a $130M yacht at Harrods, or drink a pint at a tavern that was rebuilt in 1666 after the Great Fire. While I love all the modern aspects of this city, my history loving heart skips a beat just thinking of all there is to see in London.
London Calling…A Love Affair
Depending on your interests, London Calling can either reference the BBC identification during World War 2, or the song by the Clash, released in 1979. I like to think of it as the anticipatory buzz that I feel when I know I’ll be visiting this great city.
Two Weeks Based in Scotland
This was our third time visiting Scotland, and we still haven’t been to Loch Ness or spent time in Glasgow! There really is something for everyone, from cities to golf to whisky to hiking. We think it suits best as a vacation spot, and we’d recommend at least 10-14 days with a car to experience it all. Will we be back as nomads? Probably not, but we’d say it is a can’t miss vacation destination for anyone who likes adventure!
One Month in Hebden Bridge
Just wrapped up a magical month in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire — and what a gem it turned out to be! From canal-side walks and historic textile mills to thriving markets, cozy pubs, and stunning hikes in every direction, this artsy village stole our hearts.
Exploring Great Britain on Foot: Our Love for Walking the Countryside
We’ve fallen in love with walking across the beautiful British countryside — from coastal paths in Wales and Devon to moody moors in West Yorkshire. In our latest blog post, we share stories about navigating stiles and gates, meeting farm animals, and enjoying stunning views (plus the best pubs to unwind after a long walk!).
One Day in the Peak District
We spent one day in the Peak District exploring the small villages and Chatsworth House. While we just got a small taste of the beauty of the area, we know we want to return!
Train Travel in Great Britain
We’re spending three months exploring Great Britain without a car—and the train has quickly become our favorite way to travel. In this post, we break down everything you need to know about navigating the UK rail system: how to buy tickets, save money with a railcard, choose the right seat, and make the most of scenic train travel across England, Scotland, and Wales.
One Month in Southern Wales
We are wrapping up our one month stay in southern Wales. Specifically, we’ve been in Llantwit Major, which is in the Vale of Glamorgan, about 15 miles west of Cardiff. It has been a fabulous month of exploring the surrounding area by public transportation and hiking and we couldn’t have asked for a better start to our three months in the UK.
Cheddar, Magic, and Beer
We spent 3 full days exploring the Southwest of England by car, specifically in Somerset and Devon. We toured a cheddar cheese factory in Cheddar, explored the ruins of ancient Avalon in Glastonbury, and hiked the Jurassic Coast in Beer. Follow along as we highlight the beauty that is the South West of England!
Six Months of Nomadic Life
It has been over six months since we sold or donated everything we owned and embarked on this nomadic lifestyle. We have learned a lot about travel, and ourselves, over the past six months. And yet we continue to make mistakes, course correct, and consider new ideas for the future. Let’s dive into it all!
Three Months in Portugal
We had three distinctly different experiences in our month long stays from northern to southern Portugal. Follow along as we review how Portugal scored on our rating system for both short and long stays. Should you plan on a vacation here? Would we come back long term?
Weekend Wanderings in Algarve, Portugal
The beauty of living in Olhão, Portual for a month was the ability to visit other towns in the Algarve by train or Uber. Follow along as we share our experiences in Faro, Vila Real San Antonio, Tavira, and a guided trip along the Seven Hanging Valleys trail.
A Month in the Algarve: Olhão, Portugal
Our final month long stay in Portugal has been in the Algarve. Specifically in the city of Olhão in the eastern Algarve. In a region that is known for sunshine, warm temperatures, beaches, tourism, and expats, did it live up to the hype? Would we come back?