Québec City is the only fortified city north of Mexico in North America. Its historical zone, commonly known as Vieux-Québec, is split between Haute and Basse Ville (High and Lower town). The upper side features the city’s citadel perched above the St. Lawrence River and the lower is where the popular Quartier Petit Champlain is located.

One of the greatest aspects of living in Boston, is the city’s close proximity to amazing towns, natural areas and to the several states located along the East Coast. New York City is located only three and a half hour drive from Boston and one of our favorite things to do is to grab the car, drive into town and uncover the city’s limitless attractions.

When researching about Porto, I discovered that the city is a getaway to numerous sights in Northern Portugal including coastal towns, gorgeous river valleys and mountainous villages. Located north of Porto, the Minho region is one of the most beautiful areas we visited in Portugal.

Lengthy beaches, stunning landscapes and a renowned golf course are not the only reasons visitors come to the seaside town of Portrush. Ideally located along the scenic Causeway Coastal Route, the town is a short drive to Northern Ireland’s most famous sights and a great base for those wanting to explore County Antrim.

You can catch a train to see some of its major towns, but if you want to truly experience the Tuscan countryside and relish its landscape and quaint villages, your best bet is to drive. Since we did not have a car, we booked a day tour with Alessandro Cammilli Private Tours. Alessandro is a local guide who has grown up in Florence and knows Tuscany like the back of his hand. 

Foz do Iguaçu is a city in the southern Brazilian state of Paraná, bordering the countries of Argentina and Paraguay. The small town is perhaps best known for the almighty Cataratas do Iguaçu (Iguazu Falls) where a chain of hundreds of waterfalls and powerful, loud waters offer an unforgettable sight.

I am originally from Rio de Janeiro and while back home visiting my family, I decided to become a tourist in my own city and go check out some of Rio’s distinct neighborhoods and tourist spots. I must confess that even though I grew up close to the heart of town, some of the places I went on this trip where actually my first time visiting!

If you are a big city dweller like us, you may often try to find ways to break the daily rhythm and search for a calmer place outside the craziness of the city. After living in Boston for nearly a decade, we have compiled a brief list of places we often enjoy traveling to as our escape.