Europe is an incredible travel destination with so much history, diversity, culture, and natural beauty to discover. There are experiences here for every type of traveler and interest… CONTINUE READING >>
Europe is one of the most incredible travel destinations in the world, thanks to its incredible diversity, history, culture, and landscapes. This makes it a great place for travellers with different preferences – there is something for everyone, whether you prefer a capital city steeped in history or a peaceful rural escape. This variety also allows travellers to tailor their vacation to the exact type of experience they want.
Relaxation & Cultural Discovery Vacations
Many places in Europe are known for their charming towns, world-class museums, and cultural diversity. If you are seeking a slower pace away from the tourist crowds in the capital cities, you might want to consider coastal retreats, spa escapes, or a lesser-known city break. These trips are ideal for those who enjoy taking in the scenery, history, and local traditions in each destination.
Active Adventure Across Europe
Active vacations are becoming more popular in Europe as they give people the ability to visit multiple places in one trip, enjoy the benefits of hiking/cycling, and see the places between the major destinations – this is where you find the true heart and soul of a destination.
There are all kinds of amazing active adventures to be had throughout Europe, from long-distance cycling routes to mountain treks. Long-distance journeys such as Camino holidays appeal to those who enjoy exploring on foot, with the chance to enjoy a rewarding and iconic pilgrimage. There are other experiences to be had, too, including skiing in the Alps, kayaking in Scandinavia, or hiking the Balkans. The diversity of Europe’s landscapes means it is easy to find an adventure that suits your interests and fitness levels.
Choosing the Perfect Vacation Style
With so much to offer and so many places to choose from, planning a European adventure is not always straightforward. This is why it is helpful to think about the pace and experience you want – consider if you enjoy culture, relaxation, adventure, or a mix of everything. This will help you determine your ideal vacation style, whether this is exploring the iconic capital cities, relaxing on a coastal retreat, trekking across Italy, or skiing in the Alps. With so many amazing experiences to be had, it is easy to design a trip once you have established your preferences.
This post should help you plan your perfect European adventure. Europe is an incredible travel destination with so much history, diversity, culture, and natural beauty to discover. There are experiences here for every type of traveler and interest, so you want to make sure that you plan an experience that suits your preferences.
The holidays are fast approaching so now is a good time to explore some of the unique aspects of family gatherings for empty nesters. When we were a young family, the holidays posed a problem for us. Whose family we should visit? CONTINUE READING >>
The holidays are fast approaching so now is a good time to explore some of the unique aspects of family gatherings for empty nesters.
(A little note from the authors: When we refer to Christmas, please feel free to substitute Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, Saturnalia, winter solstice or whatever it is you celebrate. We are only using Christmas as an example because it is our family tradition, and to keep from having to write three or four names every time we refer to a holiday. Absolutely no slight is intended or any preference for one over another. If your family is like ours, no doubt any one of them can be just as crazy as the next.)
When we were a young family, the holidays posed a problem for us. Whose family we should visit? Both sides wanted to spoil their grandkids and have the big family holiday — hard to achieve without feelings getting flogged or feathers being ruffled.
We worked it out by alternating Thanksgivings as much as possible and insisting that we create our own Christmas traditions with our kids in our own home. If extended family wanted to see us they were more than welcome to join in. We haven’t forgotten the limitations that young people face as our own kids attempt to tackle the December Debacles for themselves.
Later on, while we were living on a tiny Caribbean island, the girls attended college in Washington, D.C. and New York City. The physical distance — coupled with the short amount of time they were given off from classes — made it nearly impossible for them to come home for Thanksgiving.
Several times we solved that predicament by getting together at a relative’s house up in the States. That made the trip shorter for the girls and more fun for us because we got to see some of our extended family. Other times our stranded students were fortunate enough to be invited to the house of a friendly family of a friend to join in their Turkey Day celebration.
Christmases were much more conducive to travel with plenty of time between semesters for longer stays. We never had any problems there — who doesn’t want to visit the Caribbean in late December?
Now, if we want to spend a holiday with our grown-up kids, flying everyone from the far corners of the map to wherever we happen to be can get mighty expensive.
We no longer have the benefit of two out of our three offspring living in the same city, but holidays in New York City are becoming the norm. We have had the pleasure of staying in The Piglet ‘s studio apartment when we visit the city and even gobbled up Thanksgiving dinner at Decibel’s humble abode. It’s a tight fit to say the lease, even just for the five of us in the immediate family.
Lately, with the family growing, we have taken to renting an AirB&B outside the city and piling everybody, including extended family of any grandparents, in-laws, or aunts and uncles that can make it. Since we are GypsyNesters and don’t have a home to host a holiday hoedown for Thanksgiving this is a fantastic alternative.
All in all, we have discovered that it really doesn’t matter where you are or what’s on the table, it’s all about being together. One of our best family memories involved a ill-fated trip to Cleveland. Not having planned properly (who? US?), we ended up with three teen-agers stuck in a hotel on Thanksgiving. Not a restaurant was open in the city, so we made a spread out of tortilla chips and beef jerky from the mini mart next door.
An unconventional holiday feast, to be sure, but one that all five of us look back on with fond feelings.
Or perhaps, we’re just weird. Yeah, that’s probably it.
The festivities, the food, the comraderie, the glühwein – put it all together and we’ve got ourselves a great way to ring in the season!
But really — you ask — how different can they be? Surely one Christmas market is the same as the next?
Our reply? Not by a loooooooong shot!
Vienna, Austria
Arguably the oldest of the markets, the Vienna December advent market was the predecessor to the modern Christkindlmarkets, or Christ child markets, and is said to have started way back in 1294.
The idea spread across the Holy Roman Empire, and they remain most popular in the German-speaking regions of Europe.
As with most of the cities we have visited there are several markets scattered about town, but the Wiener Christkindlmarkt in the Rathausplatz, the plaza in front of the town hall, is the city’s main market.
We were thrilled to wander through the descendant of the world’s first.
Local delicacies are a big part of experiencing the markets, so of course we had to sample some from the selection of sausages, (that makes them Vienna sausages, right?) and a steaming cup of mulled wine known as glühwein.
The name is said to come from a glowing hot iron used to warm the wine, or maybe it’s because this staple at the markets really hits the spot when it comes to keeping the shoppers warm and glowing.
In Germany we visited the Passau Christmas market at the square in front of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a baroque church from 1688.
Here we discovered something new and truly inspired, the half-meter würst.
Wow, that’s nearly two feet of sausage!
Did we (meaning David) die and go to heaven?
Unfortunately we had just eaten a huge lunch, so we had no place to put half a meter of würstle.
That minor detail was easily overcome when Sausage Boy devised a würst-case scenario, and snuck his way back a little later to partake of the best of the würst, or at least the biggest.
Sometimes he can be his own würst enemy.
The quest culminated in a legendary half-meter-würst selfie.
While the markets are most common in the German speaking world, we also found a fun example in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The Hlavne namestie, or main square, was filled with vendors, mostly selling food and drink, and tables under small shelters where the purchases could be enjoyed.
A very social situation and we were more than happy to jump into the middle of it.
We gave zemiakové placky with cheese a try. This is a pancake made of shredded potatoes — crisp on the outside and chewy within — covered in a layer of mild, yet tangy white sheep cheese.
We gave it two gloved thumbs up, very tasty and stick-to-your-ribs on a chilly December evening.
Nearly everyone warmed themselves with varene vino, the local version of mulled wine, but in a twist we hadn’t seen before, hot white wine seemed just as popular as the red.
After giving this regional variety a try, our verdict was that while delicious, it lacked the superior cockle-warming qualities of the red. But the fact that we made our purchase from a vino vender named “The Flinstones” more than made up for it.
On the Pest side of the city we checked out the main Christmas market, a large collection of stands and kiosks all decked out in holiday style.
While there were plenty of booths selling handcrafted gifts, food — lots of food — was certainly the main event.
After scouting out all the offerings we ordered a töltött káposzta, that’s cabbage stuffed with meat and rice, served with a paprika sauce and sour cream.
Exceedingly Hungarian!
We also couldn’t resist a huge smoked meat dumpling with sauerkraut.
To wash it all down, and to stay warm too, we tried the Hungarian version of glühwein, which is called forralt bor, meaning simply “boiled wine.”
New York City also hosts a number of Christmas markets throughout the city. Two of the biggest and most popular are the Winter Village at Bryant Park, and the Union Square Holiday Market.
Surrounded by soaring skyscrapers, Bryant Park’s Winter Village began in 2002.
Booths offer NYCcentric wares and food (we saw everything from chimney cakes to sushi), and in lieu of glühwein, New York apple cider is standard fare.
Bryant Park boasts a huge Christmas tree and a full-sized ice skating rink that’s twice as big as the rink at Rockefeller Center — and it’s free to skate!
The Union Square Holiday Market may not be quite as spectacular, but it struck us as more traditional.
A veritable maze of tents are set up offering all kinds of gifts and goodies that are sure to put even the Ginchiest Grinch in the spirit of the season.
Last year, in our post-turkey bloat, we grabbed the remote and settled into something we rarely do. We vegged in front of the boob-tube. Immediately we felt bombarded.
The blaring onslaught of Black Friday ads was funny at first, but after an hour or so, being yelled at to BUY! BUY! BUY! the commercials didn’t seem so funny anymore…
We saw this quote and just had to share. It struck us that we may be losing sight on what is truly important this holiday season.
Christmas Gift Suggestions
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect. -Oren Arnold
Last year, in our post-turkey bloat, we grabbed the remote and settled into something we rarely do. We vegged in front of the boob-tube.
Immediately we felt bombarded. The blaring onslaught of Black Friday ads was funny at first. We sat and mocked in our usual GypsyNester fashion.
But after an hour or so, being yelled at to BUY! BUY! BUY! the commercials didn’t seem so funny anymore.
They had become insulting and irritating.
In fact there’s no waiting until Friday anymore, we were right in the midst of what seemed to be the first Black Thanksgiving. Stores are now opening up on Thursday night for their “Friday” sales!
The evening news carried a segment with “professional shoppers” bestowing tips on how to survive Black Friday. One ad had the gall to suggest that Black Friday was the day of the year we should be looking forward to most.
It seems every year we hear the horror stories of folks — in a frenzy to buy the hottest items at the lowest price — camping out on freezing sidewalks, coming to blows with their neighbors, and being trampled by fellow shoppers.
We doubt this year will be different. Except that now it starts right after Thanksgiving dinner… or maybe even before.
A well-sharpened knife is safer, saves time, and delivers a better looking final product. Achieving that razor-sharp edge involves not just the right techniques, but the best tools… CONTINUE READING >>
Thanksgiving is here, which means the holiday gift giving season is upon us. If you are like us, you have probably noticed that finding and giving great gifts seems to get harder when the recipient isn’t a kid anymore.
Our oldest is now in her forties, so clearly not a kid. In fact, she has two kids of her own. Wait a minute. Does that mean we have a child who is middle aged? Wow!
Anyway, back to our original point. The grandkids are easy to find gifts for. They usually know what they want and are not shy about letting us know about it. But our three grown children are a different story. We always struggle to come up with good gift ideas for them. Then there are all of the extended family and friends to figure out what to get too.
We think that the best gifts are something that your loved one will really like, but would most likely never buy for themselves. That seems like a simple and a good rule of thumb, but it doesn’t tell us what to get. Well, this year I think we might have stumbled on to a really good idea, professional knife sharpeners from Hapstone.
We just recently wrote a story about the importance of good knives, but have to admit that we didn’t even think about how to keep those knives sharp. And we can say from first hand experience that a dull knife can make for an embarrassing a disaster when it comes to carving the turkey, ham, leg of lamb, or roast beef for your festive meal. We completely shredded a Christmas turkey a few years ago that ended up looking more like hash than holiday feast.
So we decided to take a look into the how and why of proper knife sharpening and discovered that there is more to it than we thought. Surprise, surprise! First and foremost, a sharp knife is actually safer than a dull one. A keen, sharp blade makes for flawless and precise cuts with less pressure and force needed, and that means the knife is less likely to slip and cause an injury to either you or the dinner.
A well-sharpened knife also saves time and delivers a much better looking final product. And achieving that razor-sharp edge involves not just the right techniques, but the best possible tools. That’s where Hapstone really shines.
They have everything from the classic whetstone that most all of us have used over the years, to the top of the line Hapstone RS ULTRA Knife Sharpener that has been designed using aircraft-grade aluminum and high-quality stainless steel. The precision adjustable clamps can fit almost any blade and ensure that the knife is always secure during the sharpening procedure. This means that every knife will be sharpened evenly and consistently every time.
Hapstone also has a wide selection of oils and maintenance items available so no knife needs to suffer from getting rusty and dull, along with all sorts of other knife accessories such as tools, or clamps, or high tech digital gauges for getting the angle for sharpening just right.
We think that this all adds up to a great gift idea and the timing is just about perfect for some great savings too. If we hurry we can still get the special Black Friday 20% off from now until November 29th. There is also free shipping on any order over one hundred dollars.
So I don’t know about you, but we feel pretty darn good about finding some fantastic gift ideas that can make us all look sharp this holiday season.
With well-preserved historic cities, staggeringly beautiful countryside and mesmerizing beaches, Italy is one of the top destinations in the world with options to delight every type of traveler… CONTINUE READING >>
With well-preserved historic cities, staggeringly beautiful countryside and mesmerizing beaches, Italy is one of the top destinations in the world with options to delight every type of traveler. Discover the best places to go depending on what you love most.
1. City breaks
Italy is best known for its incredible cities, a collection crowned by Rome, the center of the Roman Empire which dominated Europe over 2,000 years ago. Here, history lives on in the form of awe-inspiring architecture like the ancient Colosseum, considered one of the Wonders of the World, and centuries-old Baroque masterpieces such as St. Peter’s Basilica at the heart of the Vatican and the Trevi Fountain where you can make a wish while tossing a coin backwards into the water.
The extraordinary architecture in Italy’s cities is just a part of its rich artistic heritage. Head to Florence and you’ll discover some of the world’s most revered artwork, such as Michelangelo’s David sculpture at the Galleria dell’Accademia and Botticelli’s Birth of Venus painting at Uffizi Gallery. Unmissable is the Duomo, a cathedral adorned with a dramatic ceiling fresco, The Last Judgement.
2. Quiet countryside
In contrast to the bustling cities, which see the highest visitor numbers in spring, you have vast swathes of countryside where you can relax in total tranquility. These areas range from lush lowland to the Dolomites, one of Europe’s majestic mountain ranges known for its unique jagged peaks.
For rolling hills, choose Tuscany, most spectacular in summer when flowers are in bloom and fall when the leaves turn copper and farmland glows gold. One of the best ways to explore this area is on foot. Look at self-guided scenic hiking trips in Italy, from one central base or from farmhouse to farmhouse, with a company who manages your luggage so you can walk unimpeded.
3. Active adventure
Seeking something more challenging? The Dolomites offer endless opportunities for being active. In the summer, the balmy temperatures are idyllic for hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing. Head to the top of the striking peaks for glorious views and to discover glass-topped glacial lakes with perfect reflections.
In the winter, snow covers the upper mountains, creating a large and stunning ski area with extensive slopes. The most famous resort is the Cortina d’Ampezzo, nicknamed ‘Queen of the Dolomites’ and known for its dramatic scenery and Olympic heritage. You can also access the Alps in northern Italy, along the borders of France and Switzerland, opening up more opportunities for winter sports.
4. Beach breaks
Everyone loves some sun, sea and sand, and Italy has plenty of picturesque coastal spots where you can relax or try out exhilarating water sports to your heart’s content.
Protected by UNESCO for its natural beauty, the Amalfi Coast is the top spot for a luxury getaway. Colorful houses tumble down the cliffside with quiet golden coves and strange sea caves lining the shore below, while refined towns line the clifftop, offering boutique accommodation and high-end dining opportunities.
You could also choose to escape to Sardinia, second-largest island in the Mediterranean boasting enchanting turquoise water and pristine beaches. Dramatic cliffs act as a sensational backdrop for a blissful coastal escape.
Where Italy, France and Switzerland converge sits the fairy tale town of Courmayeur. At the top of Italy’s Aosta valley, high in the Alps, literally in the shadow of Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc, the town has become one of Europe’s premier alpine getaways… CONTINUE READING >>
At the top of Italy’s Aosta valley, high in the Alps, literally in the shadow of Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc, the town has become one of Europe’s premier alpine getaways.
Whimsical slate roofed structures are set amid the amazing views of the Dente del Gigante (Giant’s Teeth) and the sadly receding glaciers.
One of these remarkable stone roofed buildings is the Hotel Dente del Gigante where we were honored to be the guests of Luciano and Alfreda Angelini.
Since 1947, the Angelini family have been the proprietors of this beautiful inn at the base of the giant teeth near Val Ferret. The weekend was dedicated to a celebration for family and friends and we were thrilled to be a part of it.
Included in the festivities was a ten course meal the lasted an incredible five hours. Each course reflected the region’s unique flavors and was paired with the perfect organic wine.
We can’t imagine when or where we could ever have a meal (event!) like that again. In the Italian tradition, the food and conversation nourished body, mind and soul.
We took off early the following morning to hike the Val Ferret. Strenuous work was needed to burn off the massive amount of calories consumed the evening before.
The peace and beauty of the place is palatable, just the two of us walking up a valley alongside glaciers, streams and the snow covered peaks, layered one beyond the next.
The serenity was only broken by the screeching cry of the valley’s famous marmots. Not ferrets as the valley’s name implies, but marmots, a kind of high altitude wood chuck or whistle pig.
Perhaps the locals just didn’t think that Val Whistle Pig had quite the same ring.
After about an hour of hiking up the trail from the parking area, we were surprised to come upon a beautiful mountain lodge, the Rifugio Elena.
Unbelievably — in the middle of nowhere — there is a beautiful and bustling refuge with lodging rooms and full service restaurant.
Though we vowed never to eat again after last night’s dinner, we did have some nourishing soup, featuring the fabulous local Fontina cheese.
There are many of these refuges throughout the area that are used as safe havens from sudden storms or base camps for more demanding excursions into the wilderness.
From this refuge, many folks go on to take the hour long hike over the ridge into Switzerland.
When not gawking out the windows, we spent most of our time at Rifugio Elena staring at the incredibly informative pictures on the walls.
The history is all there, the refuge was built shortly after the First World War, destroyed by an avalanche it in 1960, then rebuilt in 1995. There are photos documenting the retreat of the Prè de Bar glacier just across the valley.
We were fortunate enough to get a first hand account of the glacier’s demise from an elderly gentleman who has been visiting Val Ferret for over sixty years.
For an up close and bird’s eye view of these rivers of ice, a ride on the Funivie Monte Bianco is unbeatable.
Planning, engineering and construction took decades and at the time of its completion, in the mid-fifties, it was the highest cable car in the world.
Honestly, it doesn’t matter a wit that it isn’t the highest anymore, it’s more than scary high enough! Whoever created a higher one had to be out of their ever-lovin’ minds, and Veronica can tell you right now, she will NOT have any part of it!
Billed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” (one of the best of the hundreds to make this claim) this terrifying little aerial tramway was the area’s only direct link into France until the Mont Blanc tunnel was completed in 1965, after eight years of digging.
These mountain folks are of a hardy stock.
Veronica, being a rational human being, has a natural fear of riding in small boxes that dangle thousands of feet in the air from an inch thick cable.
David, on the other hand, was actually giggling with anticipation. His maniacal grin taunted Veronica’s every terrified step toward the unwieldy gondola while pointing out “see, no wind at all, it’ll be great,” knowing that Veronica would go nowhere near it otherwise.
Once in the car, the trip is basically STRAIGHT UP from Courmayeur (4,015 ft) to Punta Heilbronner (11,355 ft) on the French border.
When she had her eyes open and was properly managing the gorge rising in her throat, Veronica had to admit it was one of the most spectacular sights she had ever seen.
At the top, the panorama includes many of the Alps’ most famous peaks. These include the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa, as well as Mont Blanc and the famed Giant’s Teeth — seen up close and personal.
At the top, while drinking a very civilized and nerve-calming glass of wine, we had a chat with a group of crazy Scots, up there for some frost bite-tempting camping and crevasse-dodging skiing.
Knowing that writer (and bad-ass mountain climber) Jon Krakauer (of Into Thin Air fame) called the area “the death-sport capital of the world,” we wished them the best of luck and smartly decided that cable car travel was the least dangerous path back to the base of the peak.
With this in mind, the stomach churning ride down was actually quite pleasurable.
They have everything from the classic whetstone that most all of us have used over the years, to the top of the line Hapstone RS ULTRA Knife Sharpener that has been designed using aircraft-grade aluminum and high-quality stainless steel. The precision adjustable clamps can fit almost any blade and ensure that the knife is always secure during the sharpening procedure. This means that every knife will be sharpened evenly and consistently every time.
