Unseen Cities that you Must See

Everything started with a melancholic statement. “We have not been to La Jolla in a long time,” said my husband. “It is true,” I replied. “Why we do not go tomorrow. We can wake up late and arrive around 10:00,” he said next. It was a proposition hard to resist.  I had to give in. So, the next day we departed to La Jolla around 8:30 a.m. Everything went smooth and we were there before 11:00 a.m. It was one of those ridiculous California winter days where the temperatures were in the high 70s.  It was the perfect day for a coastal stroll. About La Jolla La Jolla (the jewel in Spanish), a community in northern San Diego, is characterized by an uneven, rough coast full of caves, rock formations and multicolored shades of the ocean.  A walk around Coast Boulevard put you in direct contact with soft sand, tide pools, and emerald colored coves. Not much can deter you from marveling at how the waves have carved this area of the California coast. La Jolla in Photos Taking a look at ...

 Vancouver’s Wiener Dog Race T here was a lot going on in Vancouver this weekend. A. Lot. Annual Kits days (also known as Khatsilano, a street festival with an insane number of bands, merchants, and sweet, delicious food trucks), the Van Doren Invitational – a pro bowlrider contest boasting a $75,000 prize purse, World Cup screenings all over town, and Folk Festival just to name a few. But there was one event that was the real draw. One spectacular spectacle that simply could NOT be missed – one might even say it ‘ begged ’ for attention: Vancouver’s Wiener Dog Race. Appropriately brought to you by Schenider’s. No Joke. This intense 100-foot dash features 8 heats over the course of two days – with the winner from each heading to the final on Sunday. The prize is an incredible $2,500. That’s a lot of kibble. It just so happened that good friends of ours, Kaz and Roxy, are the proud owners of a miniature dachshund named Abigail. And, serendipitously, they recently move...

Paris was always on my bucket list, but not at the top of it. But after spending some time there, it became one of my favorite places in the world. The stunning architecture, rich history and delicious food captivated me, but those are the kinds of things you expect to find in a European capital. What you don’t expect to find in a major city is over 400 green havens—parks and public gardens filled with shady trees, vibrant flowers and stone sculptures. Even in winter, when patches of ice form on the ground under trees that have become bare, these spaces are beautiful and relaxing spots to spend time traveling. The Jardin des Plantes, located in Paris’ 5 th arrondissement, is a wonderful spot for group travel. While you can gather here to enjoy the natural environment, there are some other things within the garden that are perfect for wandering groups. Natural Sights Back in the 1600s, the Jardin des Plantes served as a medicinal herb garden for King Louis XIII. In modern times, i...

If you’re looking for an honest Eurail pass review, this one’s for you my friends! One of the biggest questions that first-time visitors to Europe have is whether or not buying a rail pass is worth it. This was one of my big questions too during my first backpacking trip 5 years ago – after all, many of us grow up with this whole backpacking Europe by train thing ingrained in our heads as THE rite of passage for eager wanaderlusters…  But the more I dug into research, the more I realized the multitude of ways you can get around Europe… not necessarily with a rail pass. So, is the Eurail Pass worth it? Does it actually save you any money? After using a Eurail pass twice (once sponsored by ACP Rail and once paid on my own dime), I consider myself a bit of an obsessive Eurail expert. The very annoying and vague answer is it depends on your specific set of needs. So, in this post, I’ll be going over the many considerations you should make to deci...

London is such a beautiful city with so many things to offer its tourists. However, if you really want to discover what England is all about, you must take a day trip from London to the countryside. The good news is that the capital is so well connected by train to pretty much all the corners of the country, touristy or off the beaten path. A day trip from London by train can be a nice escape in the nature, a way to discover the English history and culture, a foodie adventure and, why not, a great way to take a break and just relax. So, where will you be going to?   Oxford By Chrysoula from Historic European Castles If you’re visiting London for an extended trip and would like to add in some additional destinations to your itinerary, considering taking a day trip to the historic city of Oxford which lies just over 50 miles west of the capital. Of course, the most famous thing that draws travelers to Oxford from around the world is the famous university known for its br...