This is beautiful Luxembourgh City! The shot was taken by my lovely niece Carey during a weekend trip to Belgium & Luxembourgh from her study abroad program in Germany. She was in the original village along the old wall with the city center in the background. I completely adore the colors in this shot!
This is beautiful Luxembourgh City! The shot was taken by my lovely niece Carey during a weekend trip to Belgium & Luxembourgh from her study abroad program in Germany. She was in the original village along the old wall with the city center in the background. I completely adore the colors in this shot!
We know what you’re thinking. Wineries in North Georgia? Really? But yes, friends, North Georgia has been in the vineyard scene for a while now, and the offerings are quite impressive. While we haven’t been to all the wineries here yet, these are a few of our favorite North Georgia Vineyards that we’ve visited and would recommend as a day trip from Atlanta or a short weekend getaway.
This Dahlonega vineyard has one of the most picturesque views from its outside patio. You can lunch on delicious paninis from the Bistro Café while looking out on the vineyard and lake with the mountains in the background. The tasting is $15 for a flight of 7 white or red wines.
I love the name of this vineyard first off since I’m one of three sisters. It’s just around the corner from Frogtown Cellars but has a totally different, more country feel. I have a wine glass at home from a tasting that says “Thar’s wine in them thar hills” which perfectly describes the vibe of Three Sisters. My favorite wine is the Fat Boy Red but Blood Mountain Red is a close second especially paired with Cheetos! You can taste 4 for $10. They always seem to be having events and live music so definitely check out their calendar beforehand. They also have wine slushies and beer on tap.
We’ve only been to this vineyard once but we enjoyed the rustic feel, laid back tasting room, and live music on the patio outside. You can taste any four wines for $5 and mix reds and whites. We loved the informal atmosphere and that the symbol of the winery is a cute donkey (#donkeywine on Instagram).
Wolf Mountain Vineyard
This vineyard is a favorite of ours to eat at. The WMV Vineyard salad and fig, prosciutto, and pear pizza lunch menu items at the Vineyard Café are to die for and the $30 Sunday brunch is well worth it. Make sure you check the website for the monthly theme of the brunch and make reservations since they’re required! The tastings cost $15 for 6 pours and we recommend taking home the Chantelope.
Hightower Creek Vineyards
Meagan’s parents helped their family friends start this vineyard, and it’s located in her beautiful hometown of Hiawassee. They’re about to celebrate their three year anniversary next week and wines like Deliverance and Chatuga White are definitely worth celebrating! Plus, they have delicious wine slushies and offer live music and wine dinners as special events.
We used Southern Living and the Dahlonega Wine Trail page on Dahlonega’s site to plan our trip!
“Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” Pat Conroy
I keep a note on my phone with a Travel List of the top places I want to visit and also use Pinterest to keep track of places I want to visit and places I’ve already visited. Recently, I was gifted a wonderful scratch off world map that is now on display in our guest bedroom. One night, I started erasing places off that I’ve been (way harder than I thought it would be, by the way) and quickly became distraught that “I haven’t been anywhere!” I bemoaned this fact to my husband who firmly brought me back to reality with a “you’re lucky to have gone as many places as you’ve been!” Alas, my wanderlusting heart won’t ever quite be satisfied, but I’m alright with that. It just means I’ll always be dreaming, listing and planning where to see next in this great big world we’re blessed to call home. Here’s my current Top Five Destinations I’m Dreaming About in no particular order:
I must confess that I’ve wanted to visit New Zealand ever since the Lord of the Rings movies came out. So of course Hobbiton is on my list, but also national parks for hiking, glaciers, and hanging out with Kiwis. As I research NZ, the more convinced I am that we’ll need at least two weeks if not more so we can experience both the North and South Islands. [Photos: Real Journeys for Featured Image and Flickr]
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fotravel/3360535294/in/photostream
I want to see Bagan before it becomes overrun with tourists, which is bound to happen because it’s fascinating and gorgeous. Sunrise at the pagodas with hot air balloons as backdrops, biking among the temple ruins, a sunset boat ride, and seeing this country also called Burma that’s only recently opened to the outside world. [Photo: Flickr]
Petra! I long to see this New Wonder of the World and pretend that I’m Indiana Jones. Petra at night looks so dreamy! Also, I keep seeing the Dead Sea [update: I got to go as part of a work trip and float] pop up on lists of places to see before they vanish, so I’d definitely check it out and float in it. In Amman, I’d explore the Citadel and Roman Amphitheater. [Photo: National Geographic]
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gareth_weeks/4431758286/
I’m really intrigued by Cape Town since it seems to have it all: beaches, Table Mountain, and a nearby day trip to visit penguins. Of course, a safari would be on the itinerary for a South Africa trip, but I’d also love to explore wine country and drive along the Garden Route. [Photo: Flickr]
I love Asia in general after studying abroad in Thailand, so a second country on the continent makes my list. After the devastation of the recent earthquakes, Nepal continues to rebuild, and tourism is one way to support and help the country in its recovery efforts. I hear the scenery is breathtaking, and I’m intrigued by stupas, the culture, and whether trekking is for me. Plus the possibility to go on a safari to see rhinos and maybe elephants? Yes please! [Photo: Guidora]
I’m going to cheat a little by letting you in on a few close contenders for No. 5: Switzerland, Norway, Guatemala, Bhutan (again my love affair with Asia pops up), and a new country in South America since I loved Peru so much. It was so difficult to choose! What’s in your Top Five currently?
Our shot of the week is this classic Amsterdam bicycle scene. My sister Melissa took this during her trip there last weekend as part of her stay in England. I love the framing of the picture and how it perfectly represents Dutch bicycle culture.
The cats we saw everywhere around Greece surprised me, made for a fun photography subject, and became a running joke our entire trip. If you Google “Cats of Greece,” the results that come up range from “The Plight of the Feral Cats of Greece- Advocacy for Animals” to “I hate cats. Should I even go to Greece?” to “A Rolling Crone: Greece is Going to the Cats.” While I could definitely see how the stray cats could be disturbing or distressing for some visitors, I found them to add to the charm of the Greece, the islands particularly.
Meagan and I each have a cat child so when I saw a cute zipper pouch with a kitty and a Santorini scene, I knew I found the perfect souvenir to bring back. I also just had to send a Kitty Cats of Greece postcard to my sister back home who doesn’t particularly like cats. I always enjoy discovering the quirks of places I travel to and appreciated how Greece tourism has embraced the cat theme in its marketing and selling. Which cat would you bring back from Greece as a souvenir? My personal favorite was Mr. Mustache Cat!
During our stay on Hydra island in Greece, we stumbled upon a lovely home décor store down one of the streets. We were walking to Flora’s Bakery and I spotted a cute sign for The Hydra Trading Company. I could already tell by the beautifully designed sign which featured a peacock and the lobby of the building that we were in trouble. You see, Meagan and I have this dream of opening our own global home décor store and are obsessed with finding sublime shops and buying home goods while abroad.
Since my husband was waiting for us, my sister, niece and I had to return the next morning for our shopping adventure. Our walk from our pension to the shop was a wandering one, my favorite kind, where we discovered new cobblestone streets, adorable donkeys, gorgeous homes, and blooming bougainvillea before arriving at The Hydra Trading Company.
A stunning display case greeted us as we entered the first floor of the former firehouse and made us excited for what awaited us on the second floor shop. When we entered the shop, my niece exclaimed “It’s like Anthropologie- for real!” and it’s a perfect description. There are amazing bowls, glasses, plates and more in the kitchen section. Fun gifts to buy include stationary, journals, olive wood stamps (including donkey and cat ones), French and Greek linen and cotton bags, and COOL SOAP, 100% natural olive soaps made in neighboring Aegina.
The shop also has a fantastic view of the church towers of Hydra town out its window. We enjoyed browsing global home decor items such as baskets, pillows and textiles including Suzanis. In addition to the shop, there’s a connected gallery that displays works by local artists. If you’re planning a trip to Hydra, make sure you find time to visit this charming shop to pick up a few gifts and souvenirs to take home with you. If you enjoyed this post, like them on Facebook or visit their site.
[This is not a sponsored post. We loved visiting this shop while in Hydra and want the world to know about it.]
Friends, as I may have mentioned before in my Packing List post, Greece has been at the top of my list for quite some time. Santorini in particular had caught my imagination and my eye since it seems to be one of the most photographed travel destinations anywhere. Even though I’d done my planning and preparation for the trip, nothing could make me anticipate just how much beauty this Greek island possesses. I found it to be true in Santorini that even though it’s been hyped up it exceeds expectations and is so worthwhile to visit. I only wish we’d had more time to explore the island but isn’t that usually the case?
Oia (pronounced e-ah) is the perfect little village you see depicted in the postcard picture views of Santorini. While nearby Fira also has caldera views, Oia is built on a slant down to the caldera and has the famed whitewashed buildings and blue domed churches. It’s perfect for wandering around and taking a ton of photos because everywhere you turn there’s beauty. As you walk along the caldera in the direction of the windmill, there’s a crowded lookout perfect for taking in stunning views. If you want a space here at sunset, make sure you show up early.
Speaking of sunset, I’d read how it’s an event in Santorini, but nothing prepared me for the actual experience. First of all, we didn’t stakeout a viewing area very early since we were enjoying a leisurely dinner, so we checked out two different places. I didn’t love the first spot we went to, and it was madness getting through the throngs of people both coming and going. On top of that, we heard two heated arguments about photography and the sunset which made me glad that even though we did plan on seeing the sunset we didn’t have all these high expectations. I was happy with the second spot we ended up at for the sunset. After the sun dipped into the Aegean Sea, there were cheers from the crowds of people watching.
Accommodation: Pelogos Hotel near Oia
Transportation: We flew to and from Santorini, but many people take ferries, and it’s a common stop if you’re on a cruise. On the island, we took taxis and buses. If we’d stayed for longer, it would’ve been nice to rent a car or ATV to explore more of the island.
Snack Break: Lolita’s for gelato
Dinner Recommendation: Karma and order the Soutzoukakia (Greek meatballs)
When to Go: High season is July-August so if you want to avoid crowds and high prices then go during shoulder season in April-June or September-October. We found May to be a perfect time to visit because of the weather. Plus, we were glad there weren’t even more tourists.
“Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don’t be sorry.”
― Jack Kerouac
