Europe

Crowded. Touristy. Hot. Smelly. That’s what we initially heard about traveling to Venice, the “City of Water.” Yes, mobs can often choke the quaint canals in summer. But early February is an ideal time to visit.…

As the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is the cultural mecca of art, architecture, history, science, food, shopping and more. Despite an abundance of English-speaking college coeds and large groups of camera-toting Japanese tourists, it’s still…

Nestled at the foot of the majestic Apuan Alps, Lucca is a tiny medieval town in northern Tuscany with big personality. Despite its modest size, Lucca has it all. Expansive piazzas. Majestic towers. And stunning churches.…

As a kid, I was fascinated with the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Why does it lean? Why was it built that way? Is it ever going to topple over? So on our way from Cinque Terre to Tuscany, I of course,…

Once an old fashioned fishing village, Santa Margherita Ligure is now a captivating seaside destination. Just one hour north by train from Cinque Terre, this town is a delightful place to spend a day or weekend.…

On our first morning in Italy, waking up to those colorful buildings teetering cliffside literally took our breath away. Cinque Terre definitely lives up to its postcard-worthy image. Vernazza, our home base, is one of five…

The French Riveria was calling. And so we traded in the gray clouds of Provence for the sunny skies of the Côte d’Azur. Heading two hours east by bus, we made our way from Aix-en-Provence to…

Known as the City of a Thousand Fountains, Aix is a smaller, more manageable version of Paris. We were excited to explore this lively cosmopolitan city in the heart of Provence. But after visiting a few…

Surprisingly, the humble town of Avignon once served as the powerful center of Christianity. Situated along the Rhône River, Avignon is an hour north of Arles, another popular stop in Provence. The town’s important religious history…