Travel

How to Drop Everything and Travel Abroad

November 30, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Have you always dreamed of traveling abroad to another country and spending more than a week engaging in the culture? For some people, this will always remain a dream.

After all, the average person has a career, a family and responsibilities. And you can’t just up and leave them…or can you? No matter what kind of situation you’re in, if you dream of dropping everything to work and travel abroad, then here are the best possible ways to make it all happen.

Get Your House in Order

Once you decide you want to leave the country for an extended period of time, you need to get your house in order. At https://www.liveable.com, they suggest using a storage facility to keep all your belongings safe while you’re away. Whether you pack up your stuff or leave it where it is, you have options for your home. [Read more…]

Fun Family Activities To Try on a 2-Day Vacation to Banff National Park

April 17, 2018 by Kathryn 25 Comments

For as long as I can remember, I have loved the picturesque town of Banff. Nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, it’s like a secret passageway into the wild world beyond. As a child, I stopped there with my parents on the way to visit family in B.C. As a teenager, I set out to explore the town with a car full of friends. And now, as an adult, I have the chance to introduce my boys to the spot that holds so many memories for me.

And if there’s a great spot for a family vacation, it’s Banff National Park! That’s why my husband and I recently decided to spend a few days exploring the town and surrounding area. And if you’re planning a trip of your own, these activities are perfect for families:

1) Climb to the Top of Tunnel Mountain

A trip to Banff National Park wouldn’t be complete without climbing to the top of a mountain! This climb is on the outskirts of Banff and while there are some tough stretches, it’s easily done with children. Just make sure to bring plenty of water and a few snacks! At the top, climbers are rewarded with a picturesque view of the town of Banff and the nearby mountains. [Read more…]

Five Stunning Locations For A Much-Needed Health Retreat

April 6, 2018 by Kathryn 1 Comment

Life can get stressful. In fact, it does get stressful and from time to time, we can find ourselves yelling a hearty “I need a break!” Well, I’m here to tell you that you do, and it’s a very well-deserved one at that! What I’m also here to tell you, however, is to consider setting aside the sunny beach holiday with all of its sandy towels and awkward sunburn, and swapping it in for a health retreat. A holiday focused on you, your well-being and your health is exactly what the body and mind need when the going gets tough. Wondering where to go? Check out my personal top five of the hundreds of locations you could choose from!

Istanbul, Turkey

While Istanbul is rife with spa resorts to enjoy, I actually suggest that you bypass the resorts completely and just enjoy Istanbul on your very own city break. Home to some of the world’s most hospitable people, you could find yourself completely refreshed just walking the streets enjoying some of the finest food and most exciting tourist destinations within the city. Of course, if you do want to opt for a spa resort or at least a luxurious hotel, you could try out the Titanic City Hotel, or maybe the luxurious Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel! [Read more…]

Tokyo with Kids? 10 Things to Do

April 4, 2018 by Kathryn 4 Comments

Visiting Toyko is a dream of mine, so I was thrilled when Tiffany of AsiaTravelBug offered to share her top ten things to do in Tokyo with kids. If you’re planning on making a trip to Tokyo with your family, make sure to put a few of these activities on your itinerary!

Tokyo is one of the world’s largest cities, and it is full of many exciting adventures for you and your kids. With so many things to do, it may be overwhelming to try and narrow down your list of adventures. But one of the best things about the city is that there are so many different activities available, rain or shine. Whether you are visiting for a day or a week, there are plenty of attractions to keep you and your little ones happy and entertained. Here are ten great ideas to get you started!

Enjoy a Full Day at Hanayashiki

This amusement park is the oldest one in Japan. There are entertainment aspects for both parents and kids. The park is located near a temple, and there are numerous restaurants and souvenir shops within the park. You can visit for a couple hours, or make a full day out of this one location. This park is great for small children because it is rather small, and they won’t have to walk nearly as much as in other amusement parks in Tokyo. [Read more…]

A Day in Dublin – Seeing the Best the City has to Offer in Less than 24 Hours

February 28, 2018 by Kathryn 11 Comments

When my husband and I flew into Dublin to spend ten blissful days exploring the country of Ireland, we knew we were in for an incredible experience. And I couldn’t have been happier that our journey started near the capitol, so that we would get the chance to spend a day in Dublin before we headed off across the country.

day-in-dublin-castle-hotel — Checking out the view from the balcony in our castle hotel room!

Our castle hotel was in the Dalkey region and on our first day, we napped to get over our jetlag and then spent the rest of the day wandering through the picturesque spot. The quaint shops, ocean view and towering Dalkey Castle had us falling in love with Ireland immediately. But we were even more excited to dive into the heart of Dublin the next day, and we planned our excursion carefully so that we’d be able to make the most of our visit.

Getting Around

Even though we had a rental car, we were informed at once that driving in downtown Dublin is not a great idea. The streets are just too crowded, and parking is minimal. Instead, we took the DART to the downtown station and then got passes for the Dublin Hop on Hop off Bus Tour. This tour travels to over twenty different spots, visiting all the most popular landmarks in the city. And, as an added bonus, the bus features a tour guide that shares facts about the city and its top attractions along the way. [Read more…]