Amsterdam is an amazing city. In addition to its stunning architecture and canals, it boasts enough quality attractions to keep even the discerning traveler occupied for at least a week. From museums and a royal palace to cheese shops and the Red Light District, there are some very unique and interesting things to do in Amsterdam. […]
Spring Travel
Tips for Visiting Keukenhof Gardens from Amsterdam
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 […]
Dobele, Latvia and the Largest Lilac Garden in Europe
The Dobele lilac garden is the largest of its kind in Europe. When I mentioned this fact to a Riga taxi driver, he didn’t believe me. But it’s true – the Peteris Upitis Garden in Dobele, Latvia boasts more than 200 lilac trees! The garden was started in 1956 by Peteris Upitis, an avid horticulturist and head […]
Celebrating Easter in Kaunas, Lithuania
As the Knights of the Teutonic Order spread Christianity across the European continent, Lithuania was the last pagan holdout. But in the mid-1300s, Kaunas Castle was besieged and eventually captured by the crusading knights. To celebrate their victory, they reportedly held a Mass at the castle on Easter Sunday. Lithuania was Christianized a few decades later, […]
Longwood Gardens: A Botanical Wonderland in Pennsylvania
Visiting a friend in Pennsylvania in late April, we took advantage of the warm spring weather to explore Longwood Gardens. I had only recently learned of these gardens, and while I knew they’d be full of springtime loveliness, I wasn’t prepared for the dazzling beauty we found. What began as a 400-acre farmstead for the Pierce family […]