The Howth Cliff Walk is the perfect way to appreciate the Emerald Isle’s breathtaking ocean views. Howth is a village located on the Howth Peninsula, which is just east of Dublin. Howth Castle has beautiful gardens and the medieval ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey are in close proximity. You can easily make this into a day-trip to Howth, arriving in the morning and leaving mid-afternoon. Getting to Howth The easiest way to avoid traffic and having to find parking is to…
The Berkshires is a rural region in the mountains of Western Massachusetts known for its natural beauty and collection of charming small towns. The area is a popular vacation destination with plenty of activities throughout the year, from fall foliage-viewing to ski resorts, in addition to farm-to-table cuisine and renowned arts institutions. Only a couple of hours from New York City and Boston, the Berkshires are a wonderful weekend escape. Activities & Places to Visit For an amazing view of…
Saint Augustine is a small city on the northeastern coast of Florida. It is supposedly the oldest settled city in the United States with Spanish explorers founding the city in 1565. The Spaniards brought pieces of their home country to Saint Augustine, including language, food, and architecture. My friend took me to Saint Augustine to appreciate the city’s beautiful buildings, unique history, yummy food, and cute streets. I would say that it was one of my favorite places while visiting…
Loy Krathong and Yi Peng are two festivals serving as significant spiritual occasions for Thai Buddhists, who make up nearly 90% of the country’s population. Releasing krathongs and lanterns during these festivals symbolize letting go of misfortunes and bad luck from the previous year. Additionally, they allow Buddhists to pay respect to Buddha and the water goddess. In recent years Loy Krathong and Yi Peng have become highly recognized internationally. Although learning and partaking in festivals outside of our own…
Do you ever feel stuck when you have to plan a trip? The entire process can be very overwhelming, but know that you can do it! Give yourself plenty of time to plan and keep reading to see how I typically tackle planning for a trip in advance. Read on to learn more about planning for an upcoming trip. If you need some destination ideas, [click here] for my Travel Guides! Pre-Planning Planning out time in advance helps visualize what’s…
Bandelier National Monument is located near Los Alamos, New Mexico. The protected park extends over 33,000 acres and includes more than 70 miles of trails. Other than a nature and wilderness preservation site, Bandelier also preserves the homes and territory of the Ancestral Pueblo peoples. About Bandelier National Monument Over 10,000 years ago, nomadic hunter-gatherers arrived in the area. Around 1150 CE, the Ancestral Pueblo people started to build more permanent settlements. Traces of these settlements can be found in…
As a child, many of my summers were spent in New York. Whenever I would tell friends where I was going, they automatically assumed New York City. Yet, Upstate New York is completely different from the city: it’s full of nature, trails, and is pretty rural. Even though the boundary of what constitutes as “upstate” is debatable, I consider it anything that isn’t NYC or Long Island. Follow this link to read more about what is and isn’t considered “upstate”!…
Seven Magic Mountains is a colorful art installation located off Interstate 15 (I-15) in Nevada. It is free and open to the public. The seven vibrant towers reach up to 35-feet above the rocky desert ground. These boulders are “locally sourced” and painted bright colors. According to the artist, Ugo Rondinone, “the location is physically and symbolically mid-way between the natural and the artificial: the natural is expressed by the mountain ranges, desert, and Jean Dry Lake backdrop, and the…