Wander Your Way: Europe Travel Your Way

Volterra was my very first hill town in Tuscany, Italy. And I fell in love with it. Beautiful churches. Roman ruins. Old. town walls. Narrow, cobblestoned lanes. Stunning views. Delicious food. While not off the main tourist track, Volterra is a not as popular as nearby San Gimignano. Tune in to find out about some of the best things to do, see and experience in the gorgeous Tuscan hill town of Vo...

As we come to the end of the year, I like to look back at the year in Europe travel. 2022 was a bit crazy as many of us really began to travel more as the pandemic went into management mode. Countries opened up and the floodgates opened — resulting in long lines, cancelled flights and many headaches. So what will 2023 look like for Europe travel? And how can you prepare for all that may come? Tune...

The Eiffel Tower and the Louvre might be the stars. But Paris has so much more to offer the traveler. There are hidden museums, churches and parks all over the capital of France. So... What should you see, do and experience? Join me as I talk to Oliver Gee of the Earful Tower — who also happens to be an expat living in Paris — to find out some of the best spots to go in Paris. Plus we'll offer up...

County Mayo is one of the best destinations in Ireland. And it sees far less visitors than some of the other counties — which I think make it even better (fewer crowds!) County Mayo has some charming villages with awesome pubs. It has a national park — Wild Nephin & Ballycroy National Park — and a Dark Sky Park. There are hills and peaks along with some peaty bogland. The coastline is amazing...

It's episode #50! So I'm celebrating with a list of my 5 favorite destinations in Europe. I'll admit, this was very difficult to narrow down. But I forced myself to choose those 5 places that I love the most. What makes the list? Ireland? Italy? Tune in to find out what 5 destinations have meant the most to me, at least so far. Because by episode 100, this list of best destinations in Europe will...

Known as the "romantic lake" Lago d'Iseo Italy is a beauty and worthy of that title. While others may flock to Lago di Garda or Lago di Como, Lago d'Iseo sees fewer visitors. It's smaller. More intimate. And gorgeous! There are charming lakeside towns and villages to explore as well as lots to do in the great outdoors. Lago d'Iseo also has something the other lakes don't — a beautiful island in th...

Renting a car in Europe may seem a bit daunting. But it doesn’t have to be. Yes, there is really good public transportation throughout a lot of Europe. However there are some countries or regions where the trains or busses aren’t so good. So hiring a car might be a better option. Or maybe you just want the flexibility of having a car to go where you want and when you want. I know I love exploring...

The color of the Soca River is mesmerizing. And the beauty of the Soca River Valley will take your breath away. This area of Slovenia — between Bovec in the northwest and Most na Soci in the southeast — is often overlooked by travelers a making quick trip to this little country. My advice? Slow down and spend some time exploring the Soca River Valley. You'll find trails, hills, mountains, waterfal...

Do you need a travel planner to help plan your trip to Europe? Maybe. There are definite times and scenarios where using a travel advisor is a good idea. We help take the stress out of planning and we allow you to have your time back. And we manage all the little details so every i is dotted and t is crossed. Yet, there are times when you may not need to services of a travel planner. So tune into...

The Dingle Peninsula is one of the most popular spots in Ireland. But it's also one of the most beautiful places. It has stunning sea cliffs, lovely beaches, amazing views and intriguing history. Add in a super fun town — with lots of pubs — and Dingle Peninsula definitely climbs to the top of many travelers' lists. Tune in as I offer up tips on what to do, where to go and what to see in this awes...

Venice might be the glamour girl of the Veneto Region Italy. But there is so much more to this amazing region in Northeastern Italy. Historical and beautiful cities such as Verona and Vicenza. Small towns such as Asolo, Basso del Grappa, Belluno and Marostica. The wine growing regions of Valpolicella and Prosecco. The Eastern half of Lago d'Garda. And the mountains of the Dolomites. The Veneto Reg...

The West Highland Way is a classic. A classic long distance trail that happens to be located in an amazingly gorgeous country — Scotland. The West Highland Way covers 96 miles of diverse scenery. And, it's doable for someone who is in decent shape. In other words, you don't have to be über fit. So...how do you go about walking this trail? What are some tips and tricks? And what is it like or what...

How would you like to spend a few days or even a week slowly sailing down a canal, stopping at charming French villages, taking in historical sites, touring wineries (and tasting that wine) and eating some delicious French food? Sounds awesome, doesn't it? That's exactly what you can do on a beautiful barge as you sail down the Canal du Midi. Join me as I talk to Chris Christensen from Amateur Tra...

Have you traveled alone? Or maybe you've just thought about solo travel. Whether you are new to the solo travel game or a seasoned go-it-alone traveler, you'll want to tune into this episode. If you're a newbie, you'll learn how to get started traveling on your own as well as some good tips to help you feel safe and comfortable. And if you are someone who has traveled on your own, you'll get some...

Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park is one of 9 Dolomite parks in northern Italy. And it is spectacular! Rugged mountain peaks. Beautiful alpine pastures. Stunning lakes. Mountain huts to sleep in. An array of amazing trails. This is Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park. Known as Fanes-Sennes-Prags in German, this nature park is one of the best for good hiking, gorgeous views and some time by a lake. Tune in...

There is more to County Clare, Ireland than the Cliffs of Moher. You see what I did there? More and Moher (pronounced “more”). Not funny? Ok. My point is that there are so many other things to do,  see and to experience in County Clare. So don’t just stop by these famous Cliffs of Moher and leave. Because you’ll be missing out on some of the best things to do in County Clare if you ONLY see those...

Anglesey Wales is not a part of Wales that many folks think about visiting. It gets skipped over which is unfortunate because there are some awesome things to do in Anglesey. It has a lovely coastline dotted with seaside hamlets, beaches and bays as well as a lovely pastoral interior dotted with sheep, ruins, and paths made for walking and cycling.  So in this episode we're going to look at all th...

Yes, Edinburgh Scotland has a castle. And yes, it has the famous street, the Royal Mile. But there is so much more to the capital of Scotland that you should put on your list. Tune in as Blue Badge guide, Bo Fraser,  joins me again to talk about this incredible city. From fabulous museums to hidden nooks and crannies to charming neighborhoods, Edinburgh is a city that definitely has something for...

Accommodation in Europe can be confusing. Yes there are hotels. But there are things called garni, pension, auberge, guesthouse and B&B. And what the hell is an agriturismo? Yup. It can make your head spin. So in this episode we'll learn a little bit about some of the different types of accommodation. But I also want to offer up some tips on choosing the right accommodation in Europe for you....

Portugal. It's definitely the hot country in Europe right now. And with good reason. Beautiful cities like Lisbon and Porto. Stunning coastline with rocky cliffs and sandy beaches. Romantic towns like Guimarães and Sintra. Then there is all the tasty food and delicious wine. Did I mention all the stunning interior landscape? Yup. Little Portugal has it all. Tune in as my buddy, Jason Robinson from...

York England is one of my favorite cities in Europe. It has a stunning Gothic cathedral. There are old city walls that are still intact. You'll find history on the British railways. The streets are made for wandering. And there is some good food and some tasty brew. Did I mention the beautiful gardens? Yup. York has something for everyone. So tune into this episode to learn all about this fabulous...

Do you really need travel insurance? Do you have a pre-existing health condition? Does thinking about travel insurance and travel medical insurance make your head spin? Then you need to tune into this information packed episode. Join me as I talk to Jason Robinson of The Nomad Experiment about travel medical insurance when you have a pre-existing health issue. He will go over all the in's and out'...

If you love coastal views, lakes, mountains, history and fun, colorful towns, then County Kerry is your spot in Ireland. This piece of Ireland is definitely well on the tourist trail. And for a good reason. With super stars like the the Ring of Kerry and Killarney National Park — Ireland's oldest national park — County Kerry is on everyone's list. But there are some places to lose the crowds a bit...

Valpolicella. It just rolls off the tongue. And it may be the best wine region in Italy you've never heard of. Or maybe you have? Either way you'll want to tune into this episode to find out all about the Valpolicella wines and all about the region that is so beautiful and peaceful. We'll learn about the different wines made here — from the light, fruity Valpolicella Classico to the big, bold Amar...

Lake Bled might get all press when it comes to lakes in Slovenia. But I think Lake Bohinj is the most beautiful lake in this little country. Bohinj is surrounded by the Julian Alps and much quieter and more natural than Bled. It's kind of like comparing an amusement park to a national park. And I'll take the national park — Lake Bohinj — over the amusement park — Lake Bled. In fact, Lake Bohinj is...