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
Today’s post is by our good “friend afar,” Emily! She recently traveled to Costa Rica for an anniversary trip with her husband. We’ve known Emily for over a decade now, so we loved hearing about how she faced her fears and the wonderful adventures she had in return.
For my 5th anniversary, my husband and I decided to take a big trip. I am absolutely a read and relax on vacation kind of girl so when we settled on Costa Rica as the destination, I was a little terrified. I knew the trip would be lots of hiking, sight-seeing, and adventure. I decided early on to buck up and really enjoy the ride, and I made a promise to myself not to complain and to push myself to be uncomfortable.
It only got higher from there!
Hanging bridges may have broken me in a little at the start of the trip, but dangling by a cable for the mile long zip line didn’t sound like my idea of fun! My husband, however, was beyond thrilled! Standing around, in full gear waiting for instruction, I nervously chatted with my husband about how safe he though everything was. Two guys nearby jumped in and assured me everything looked pretty good, except the hand breaking, which they had never done before. Turns out this was their 3rd zip line trip, and they had done this before in Puerto Rico and Mexico. It was great to get some tips from people with experience! Come to find out, one of the pair actually works at the same company as me in another office! The world has honestly never felt so small!
For the entire experience, they stuck with us, encouraged me, and even used their Go Pro to video my trip down the mile long zip line. It was amazing how meeting these strangers totally eclipsed my fear! Hanging a mile above the earth, dangling from a wire was so invigorating!! It was worth pushing through those terrifying moments in the beginning! It wasn’t an experience I will soon forget! I was so glad I had leaned into the fear instead of missing out, and I’m so grateful for my husband and new friends for encouraging me to be brave.
It was worth it for the chance to relax in these amazing hot springs near Arenal!
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?
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.]
We put a lot of effort into not getting lost in our daily lives. We put even more effort into avoiding it while traveling. We use the GPS apps on our phones. We take guided tours in foreign cities. We stop and ask for directions at every turn. We make sure to get from one important location to the next, and we take the easiest and the fastest way possible. We don’t even notice the buildings, the scenery, the restaurants, and the people who we’re rushing past. Sometimes, however, we get really, hopelessly lost.
Below, you’ll find two great reasons to enjoy those times when you’re not quite sure where you are and two of our favorite stories about what we’ve discovered when we’ve been lost. We hope they’ll inspire you to be both curious and calm when you can’t find your destination. Maybe they’ll even inspire you to put away the map and get intentionally lost!
My husband and I honeymooned in Italy, and we were lucky enough to spend 5 days in Venice, far more than the typical tourist schedule of a quick day trip. We had just spent the last week and a half in Florence and Rome, checking off those must-see museums and historic sites. By the time we arrived in Venice, we were ready for a change of pace.
I know what you’re thinking. Venice is full to the brim with tourists! How could we possibly find a change of pace or any peace and quiet?
Once we checked into our darling bed and breakfast, which was wonderfully located away from the crowds on a quiet street and quiet canal, we made our way out into the city. Unlike every other tourist we met, though, we weren’t headed to the Rialto Bridge or the Piazza de San Marco. We weren’t even headed to Lido or the Guggenheim, Murano or Burano. We decided to just wander along through the alleys with no map in hand. We discovered empty streets that ended at canals lined with archways and window boxes overflowing with flowers. We found great bars where we enjoyed an aperol spritz and a gelato. We ate dinner in a great restaurant, and we honest to goodness didn’t hear anyone else speaking English. We watched beautiful boats pass singing gondoliers. We sat along the canal and watched daily life pass us by. We saw Venice, but we saw it without the rest of the summer crowds jostling past us.
Don’t worry. We had more than enough time to see everything that one goes to Venice to see. We even took time for a Vivaldi concert. That first day in Venice, however, was one of the best days of our trip.
It’s one thing to set out with the intention of getting lost. Well, as lost as one can get on a small cluster of islands. It’s another thing altogether to have a limited amount of time and not be able to find the destination that you’re most excited about. This is what happened to my husband and I while we were in London.
To add to the stress of not being able to find the British Museum, we were chaperoning nine of his high school students on their first trip abroad. It was not an easy feat. You might be thinking, “How hard can it be to find one of the most popular museums in the world?!?” I would have agreed with you prior to our attempt to get there from whatever random spot we were dropped off at, but we were given wrong directions twice, and someone even said, “I don’t know which museum you’re talking about; they’re all British,” and he MEANT it. Yes, thank you very much. (I should note that we landed a few hours earlier, and neither my husband nor myself were at the top of our travel game because, as I mentioned, we were dragging nine exhausted teenagers behind us.)
This ended up being a great learning lesson for our students. We helped them step out of their comfort zone and ask for directions, and we also talked to them about how to stay optimistic and not get scared when things go wrong. But do you know what the best part of our extra long walk to the museum was? Just when our students said “we have no idea where we are,” we looked up to see a street sign. We were on Drury Lane! Yes, DRURY LANE where the MUFFIN MAN lives! It was the best detour ever!
So there you have it: some of our favorite stories from getting lost abroad. Do you have any similar stories? We’d love to hear about them! Tell us your favorite stories about getting lost in the comment section.
After returning from the North Georgia mountains (hills) yesterday, I was looking through photos of old mountain adventures and stumbled upon this gem that my sister Laura captured. It’s of the famous Mormon Row Barn in Grand Teton National Park and was taken during an epic camping trip we took five years ago. I love this John Muir quote since it speaks not only to his love of nature, but also his passion for being a naturalist and a Father of the National Parks.
My sister and brother-in-law took a two-night trip to Edinburgh, Scotland from England last weekend. One of their favorite activities was the hike to Arthur’s Seat, the highest point in the city and a dormant volcano, that affords fabulous views of the surrounding area. When I saw this photo on Scott’s Instagram feed, I knew we had our Shot of the Week! Yellow gorse and other spring flowers are in full bloom in May and the colors are just spectacular.
