Wow, 2018 turned out to be quite the travel whirlwind – filled with many travel highlights, good and bad! Last year, I explored 2 new countries. This year I made it to 5: Denmark, Honduras, Malta, Nicaragua, and Norway. Not that I’m so into the whole country counting thing, but I keep track every so often and realized with my recent cruise stop in Honduras, I’ve now been to 59 countries! READ MORE: What’s the Big Deal with ‘Country Counting’…
Sometimes I’ve been known to get obsessed with one specific thing when I travel. In San Sebastian, Spain, I was consumed by seeking out the best pintxos – the beautiful small bites along with your drink – at local bars. In Oman, it was the aflaj, the ancient waterways, that I was so fascinated by I took road trip detours to find them. In Italy, truffles held my focus – buying truffles at local artisanal food fairs, attending truffle festivals…
The only way to know good gelato is by trying lots of it and getting your taste buds accustomed to the nuances of this frozen delight – and don’t worry, I did a lot of “research” about where to locate the best gelato in Italy during the three years I lived there. And of course, on my recent return visit. Let’s just say that I’ve had A LOT of gelato. And as you enjoy as much gelato as I have,…
Whether you’re a visitor who’s looking to do some aperitivo hopping one of your nights in Milan, or you live in the city and are looking to add some new aperitivo spots in Milan to your repertoire, there are a wealth of options to choose from. If you’re not familiar, aperitivo is not only a pre-dinner drink to whet your appetite, but also includes some small snacks at a minimum. And in some cases, a full buffet of food that can substitute for…
If you ask most Italians which Italian regions have the best cuisine, they’ll typically tell you Emilia-Romagna (where Bologna, Parma, and Modena lie) and Tuscany, the region of Florence. Tuscan cuisine, involves grilled meat and hearty dishes that leave you satiated. READ MORE: Top 6 Things to Eat (and Drink) in Florence There is no shortage of excellent spots to eat in Florence, here are the top spots that I recommend: Breakfast Depending on what area of the city you’re…
Tuscan food is world-renowned for its flavors and comfort, and include things that were considered peasant food, with simple, bold flavors and a richness that make this many people’s favorite regional cuisine in Italy. While visiting Florence (which is located in the region of Tuscany), here are my top items to seek out to explore the dishes local to the area: Ribollita. This is a bean soup, thickened with bread, and made with a hodgepodge of vegetables (a peasant’s soup of…
There is no shortage of things to do on a visit to Florence, however there is so much to do it can be quite overwhelming. I’ve spent many different trips visiting the city over the past 3 years, and have been to quite a lot of the sights. Here are my favorite picks for the city, depending on where your interests lie: Incredible Art Galleria dell’Accademia There is a vast and lovely collection here, but let’s be real, you come…
Florence is becoming a more an more popular tourist destination with each passing year. With the richness of the art there, and the flavorful Tuscan food that will have you savoring your every meal, it is not coming off tourist itineraries any time soon. In recent years, it has become even more popular, especially as the Euro has become more affordable for travelers from outside of Europe. Over my nearly three years living in Italy, I’ve probably been to Florence…
Perfectly situated for an ideal city escape, Las Vegas has the casinos, restaurants, & attractions you’d expect, but even standing among the bright lights of the Strip you can still see the desert beyond. And fortunately, natural wonders like Red Rock Canyon are just a short drive away. How do you escape the tourist hordes that flock from the city to Red Rock Canyon? By going rock climbing of course! https://www.instagram.com/p/BbjskCEntkN/?hl=en&taken-by=travelsavvygal There are so many climbing spots that you can…
I didn’t necessarily set out to see some of the most renowned light shows around the world, it just sort of happened. I first knew that I’d write this blog post when I was visiting Dubai late in 2016 not long after a visit to Singapore, two of the more famous places to see light shows on a grand scale. And that was after another memorable light show I took in earlier that year. But something was missing. VEGAS. Las…