What began as the small kitchen garden of a 15th century countess has grown into one of the world’s greatest flower extravaganzas. Every year, Keukenhof Gardens are replanted with more than 7 million bulbs! Hundreds of tulip varieties are on display, along with daffodils, crocuses, and hyacinths. Flower beds flow through the park like the […]
Europe
My Top 10 Riga Day Trip Ideas
Given Riga’s considerable charms, visitors may be reluctant to leave the Latvian capital for even a short time. But a day trip to a nearby town or national park can provide an even richer picture of life in this Baltic nation. Thanks to Latvia’s compact size, most places within its borders can be seen in a […]
Tips for Spending Christmas in Lisbon, Portugal
When looking for the best Christmas markets in Europe, Lisbon probably doesn’t register. Most people head further northeast to France, Germany, and Austria to have their Christmas market needs met. But what if you want to avoid the crowds and the cold? The Lisbon Christmas Market is a fun alternative! Elegant strings of lights showoff […]
Trakai Castle: A Medieval Fairytale in Lithuania
Regular readers of this blog will know that I love a good castle. This fact traces to my childhood, when my favorite movie was Disney’s Robin Hood. I delighted in watching the cartoon animals sing and frolic around ye olde countryside and dreamed of being Maid Marion in a castle of my own. (Dramatic scenes were often […]
The Best Meals We Ate in Kyiv, Ukraine
Prior to my trip to Kyiv, the only Ukrainian dish I was remotely familiar with was Chicken Kiev. Or so I thought. As it turns out, Kyiv’s best restaurants offer a delightful mix of regional flavors, from Crimea to the Carpathians, and put their unique spin on a range of classic dishes including crispy potato pancakes, pillowy […]