Wander Your Way: Europe Travel Your Way

Are you into castles? Or maybe you love a good beach? Perhaps you are a fan of folklore — you know fun stories, legends and myths? Do you love gazing upon beautiful valleys surrounded by rugged peaks? If you said yes to these — or even 1 of these — then you need to travel to Scotland. In this episode we're going to talk about all the reasons why Scotland is such a wonderful country to visit. From...

Did you know Ireland has some amazing beaches? I'll be honest, I didn't realize this on my very first trip to Ireland in 2007. But on that first trip I visited a beautiful beach that seemed magical to me. And it's a place that's not on the main tourist track. Yay! So in this short episode I want to offer up some practical tips for making your own magical journey to Silver Strand — and to share my...

So many of us make resolutions for the new year — get in shape, learn a new language, read more, spend more time with family, etc. But have you ever made travel resolutions? In this episode, I'm going to offer up my 2022 travel resolutions. Some of my resolutions revolve around being kinder to the planet and some are things I want to do more of. So get your favorite notebook out or your favorite n...

Figuring out how to get around Europe can be a daunting task. Should you use trains? Rent a car? Fly? There are some aspects of your trip you need to consider — things like where you are traveling to and how much time you have. And you need to also take into account the type of traveler you are. Then you can begin to look at all the options that Europe has to offer when it comes to getting from Po...

Beautiful light. Cheaper accommodation. Fewer crowds. And some crazy weather filled with rain, clouds, a wee bit of sunshine and some rainbows. This is Scotland in the off season. There are some definite advantages such as cheaper accommodation and fewer crowds. But there are some aspects to Scotland in the late autumn and winter — such as short days — that may not be for everyone. Personally, I'm...

Are you fan of the Olympics? Ancient ruins? UNESCO World Heritage Sites? Then you'll want to tune into this episode to learn about the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The Ancient site of Olympia is a mesmerizing destination that should be on your itinerary for Greece. And if you love ruins, history, mythology and some good stories, then you'll definitely want to visit this incredible site. In thi...

The Peloponnese Peninsula holds so many treasures — from ancient cities to soaring mountains to olive groves to some lovely seaside towns. Stoupa is one of these towns that is a fun place to spend a few days — or a couple of weeks. Once a sleepy town, Stoupa is now pretty well known with the Greeks and other Europeans who take advantage of a couple of nice beaches and the beautiful seas. It's a wo...

Did you know there are over 700 islands off the coast of Scotland? And did you know that only about 95 of them are actually inhabited? While you may know the famous Isle of Skye,  I'm guessing you may not know about some of the other islands of Scotland. For example, Arran is often considered to be Scotland in miniature. Or that the red deer population far outnumber the people on the Isle of Jura....

Have you heard of the South Tyrol province in Italy? Well if you love good wine, delicious food, impressive castles, charming villages and stunning mountain landscapes then this is THE destination for you. South Tyrol is also called Alto Adige. And it is the northern part of the Trentino-Alto Adige region. It's unlike any other place in Italy, yet it still has all the things that make Italy such a...

Yes, you can still travel to Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic. But it is more complicated. And not everyone will actually be able to do so. Tune into this episode to see how yours truly navigated getting to Italy from the USA and what travel is like once you are actually in Italy. I have some tips to help you figure some of this out because it is more complex. But travel to Italy is still very p...

Do you love mysterious sites? Or maybe you have a thing for castles? Or perhaps you simply enjoy being in green rolling hills dotted with cows and sheep? Then you need to put County Meath, Ireland on your itinerary. This destination, just an hour or so away from the capital city of Dublin, is filled with so many amazing sites and experiences. From the UNESCO Newgrange and Knowth to the well-preser...

What is slow travel? And what does it really mean to travel slowly?  Let's start with this scenario: You probably have a relative or friend who has traveled to a country in Europe. As he or she recounts the trip — that was all of 10 days on the ground — they list off about 25 places they visited. It was a whirlwind and your head spins at all that this person saw and did. But did they really see it...

Do you think about hiking or cycling or skiing when you think of Europe? Well maybe you should. Because Europe has a lot to offer the outdoors person, the nature lover and the adventure seeker. Join me as I talk to Jackie Nourse, aka Traveling Jackie, about all the fabulous things there are to do in the outdoors of Europe. And all the beautiful places there are to have these adventures in. We'll t...

"Don't go to Tuscany. Go to Piedmont!" Yes. A friend said this to me several years ago and I still went to Tuscany — again. But then I finally listened and traveled to the Piedmont region of northern Italy. And kicked myself for not going sooner. Piedmont has everything that Tuscany has — but more. Charming hill towns. Check. Rolling hills dotted with grapevines. Check. Delicious food. Check. Tast...

If you love small seaside towns with twisting, cobblestone lanes then you'll love Rovinj. Located in the Istria region of Croatia, this small town is charming as hell. It has a beautiful harbor area, fabulous restaurants, a gorgeous park, a lovely church and so much more. Including some amazing sunsets! And it has a definite Italian flare to it. Tune in to find out all about this delightful town i...

Ask an Irish person about West Cork and they'll look at you with a dreamy look in their eyes. West Cork has that affect on you. This part of County Cork, Ireland is truly special. Small harbor towns such as Baltimore and Schull dot the jagged coastline. Sandy beaches like Inchy Doney and Barleycove pop up here and there. Places like Mizen Head and Sheep's Head — 2 of the southwest peninsulas — pro...

Fancy searching for Nessie in Loch Ness? Or seeing the famous spot where the Harry Potter train goes over that bridge? Maybe you want to make a drive around one of the most beautiful spots in all of Scotland? Perhaps you want to visit a few gorgeous castles? Or maybe you want to spend some time at the far northern reaches of the mainland of Great Britain and take in sea views and some lovely beach...

Are you the person who wants to go EVERYWHERE in Europe? You know, the person who has a list a mile long of all the destinations you want to visit. The one who answers, "Yes!" when someone asks if you want to travel to Santorini or Brussels or the Swiss Alps. I can relate. You can't go everywhere in one trip so you need to narrow it down. But you need help in figuring out where the hell to go in E...

From the shores of Loch Lomond to the battlefield of Culloden. From the Munros of Cairngorms National Park to the distilleries along the River Spey. From the mountains and valley of Glencoe to the castles along the River Dee. And that's just the tip of the iceberg! This episode on the Central Highlands of Scotland is jam-packed with so many destinations and sites that you will be adding more place...

Breath taking. Stunning. Gorgeous. Charming. Beautiful. There are so many words I could use to describe the little village of Castelrotto and Alpe di Siusi, the high altitude meadow that sits above the town. It's one of my absolute favorite places on the planet. The village of Castelrotto makes the perfect base to explore the Alpe di Siusi and the magnificent Dolomite peaks that surround it. It ha...

While you might know a bit about Edinburgh with its castle, I'm betting you may not know about places like Kirkcudbright, Melrose Abbey or East Neuk. Tune into this jam-packed episode on the Lowlands of Scotland as I think you'll find yourself adding some destinations to that Scottish bucket list. I know I have! Bo Fraser, a Blue Badge guide with the Scottish Tourist Guides Association, is our gue...

Wild. Rugged. Remote. These are the words I'd use to describe this amazing county in the far Northwestern part of Ireland. The locals proclaim, "It's different up here!" And it is. This is what makes this county so appealing to the adventurous traveler. You wont' be rubbing elbows with too many other travelers, but you will get to know the incredibly friendly and fiercely proud locals. Want to lay...

How would you like to see an incredible Spanish Basilica, hike along gorgeous mountain trails, eat some delicious tapas and drink some tasty Spanish wine — all without the crowds? Then look no further than the region of Aragon in Spain. My good friend, Meg Zirger, has been living in this region for 10 years and she loves it! She is going to give us some good tips on where to go, what to see and wh...

Want to experience Stonehenge? See an incredible work of architecture that dates back to the 13th Century? Maybe you want to see an historic document from 1215? Then you'll want to tune into this episode all about Salisbury. This city in Wiltshire County in the South West region of England makes a great base for visiting Stonehenge. But stay so you can see the magnificent Salisbury Cathedral, gaze...

Do you know the little country of Slovenia? Well, maybe you should. This little country has a lot to offer the traveler, especially those looking for something a little off the main tourist trail. Slovenia has soaring mountains, stunning lakes, beautiful rivers, tons of trees, an intriguing history, charming towns, caves and castles, delicious food, tasty wine and some incredibly kind people. Yes,...