Tag: Europe

Czech Republic, Destinations, Travel

10 Tips for Visiting the Christmas Markets in Prague

Alyssa and Michael at the Christmas market in Prague's Old Town Square

Would you completely rearrange your travel itinerary and take a grueling, multi-leg flight home just to experience a city’s Christmas markets? Apparently for Michael and me, that answer was yes. Initially, it seemed logical to book our late November/early December trip to Prague and Vienna by flying to Prague first then moving on to Vienna. …

Austria, Destinations, Travel

A First-Timers Long Weekend Guide to Vienna, Austria

A crowd gathers in front of The Kiss painting

Sausage and Christmas Markets. That’s what ultimately drew Michael and me to Vienna at the end of November. With a list of cities in front of us, all with matching airfare and travel dates, we stared at each other, completely at a loss for which to choose. You see, the problem with wanting to travel …

Austria, Destinations, Travel

Checking In: A Review of magdas HOTEL in Vienna, Austria

Exterior of magdas HOTEL in Vienna, Austria

Sharing my honest review of a stay at magdas HOTEL—a boutique hotel in Vienna, Austria — Choosing a hotel in a large, unfamiliar city is kind of overwhelming, isn’t it? With so many neighborhoods to consider and countless properties to sift through, narrowing down the options can be daunting. Even once you’ve chosen a specific …

Austria, Destinations, Travel

What You Should Know Before Visiting the Vienna Christmas Markets + My Favorite Markets

Alyssa outside of the Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market in Vienna, Austria

For decades I dreamed of visiting the Christmas markets of Europe, with visions of Michael and me bundled up in our coats while holding mugs of steaming mulled wine and strolling row after row of vendors selling unique goods they handcrafted. But year after year, something got in the way. We’d already burned through our …

Destinations, Spain, Travel

A Relaxed Approach to Visiting Barcelona, Spain

Alyssa stands on a balcony in Park Guell

It’s true that overtourism has taken hold of Barcelona. When you combine a dense, walkable city with a multitude of sights and rich culture, there can be no other result. Even during my visit in October, which is shoulder season, the crowds in parts of the city were unbearable. But sometimes you simply have to …

Destinations, Spain, Travel

72 Hours in Madrid, Spain

Alyssa standing in front of the Metropolitan building in Madrid

When I shared with friends and family that Michael and I were traveling to Spain, many people excitedly asked, “Oh, are you going to Barcelona?!” Not a single person asked if we were going to Madrid. That seems absurd, doesn’t it? It is the capital of the country after all, and that should count for …

Denmark, Food, Recipes

International Holiday Recipe: Æbleskiver

A plate of aebleskiver with powdered sugar on top

What on earth is an æbleskiver? I’m so glad you asked! These poppable, spherical, portable little pancakes also known as aebleskiver or ebleskiver are dangerous—both in the “you’re definitely going to eat too many” way and also the “you’re probably going to burn yourself at some point during the making process” way. But they are …

Belgium, Destinations, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Packing Lists, Style, Travel, Travel Tips

Traveling Light: Two Weeks in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium Packing List

packing list benelux

Do you have a warm drink handy? Today I’m sharing a packing list for a recent trip to the Benelux region of Europe, and it grew quite lengthy by the end, so please feel free to make something and settle in to read (I won’t say no to a mug of mulled wine, so if …

Belgium, Destinations, Travel

The Best Places to Shop in Antwerp, Belgium

A view of the ornate Antwerp Centraal Station

Antwerp has been synonymous with fashion since the Antwerp Six exploded into the fashion world in the eighties, and the undeniably cool city is worth at least a day trip should you find yourself in Belgium. Granted, a day will only allow you to scratch the surface of the city’s designers and shops, but if …