Many times I heard from people that Dublin was a good city to visit, but the best of Ireland was yet to be seen in its countryside. That is true in a way; however, Dublin should not be forgotten. Any visitor that comes to Ireland should spend at least two days experiencing the city’s historical sights, numerous restaurants and of course... Its great pubs!
Read MoreThe richness of the soil bordering the Boyne River was ideal for Neolithic farmers that first arrived in Ireland around 4000 BC. Located 30 miles northeast of Dublin, Boyne Valley has an incredible concentration of prehistoric, religious and mystical monuments.
Read MoreYou have rented your car in Dublin and now you are anxious to get out on the open road. Your first destination, like many who leave from Dublin, is most likely Kilkenny: The former medieval capital of Ireland eighty miles away.
Read MoreWhen researching for places to go around County Cork, I wanted to focus on sights that were not just your average must-spots-for-tourists. I was interested in finding places that exemplify the county besides popular destinations such as the busy city of Cork and the iconic Blarney Castle.
Read MoreIf you are researching for a future trip to Ireland, you most likely have seen many articles about the Ring of Kerry. That is because this scenic route is one of the most popular destinations in the country. Its complete loop actually starts inland, at the town of Killarney, runs by the nearby National Park and goes along an outer loop known as the Iveragh Peninsula.
Read MoreEven though it was a calm and sunny morning, we woke up not knowing if we would be able to land. That week, the swells were quite high around the island and docking could be treacherous. As part of the Skellig Islands located 12km from mainland, Skellig Michael is an inhospitable, jagged rock covering an area of 44 acres and rising 700 feet from the Atlantic Ocean.
Read MoreThe small seaside town of Dingle is known to most visitors as the starting point of a coastal, scenic loop commonly called Slea Head Drive. What makes this drive more alluring to many is its shortage of tourists compared to its counterpart, The Ring of Kerry.
Read MoreIs driving from Dingle to Galway possible in one day? Whether or not you have started planning for your Ireland trip, you are likely to come across this question. This is especially true if you are taking a few weeks by car to circle the island or just want to explore the sights along the stunning coastline of County Claire.
Read MoreWe were cooked an earlier than usual breakfast by our innkeepers so we could leave early morning to catch the large ferry that departs for Inishmore. The Aran Island Ferry sails from the port of Ros a' Mhíl, near the city of Galway and takes forty minutes to arrive in Kilronan, Inishmore’s principal town.
Read MoreLocated on the west coast of County Galway, Connemara is widely known for its exceptional natural beauty, delivering a mixed background of high mountains, raw coastlines, quaint villages and fjords. While drivers can devote a full day to explore this vast region, most intrepid adventurers choose to stay even longer to hike the numerous trails within its national park.
Read MoreMost times when we make our travel itinerary, we come to realize that we cannot visit everywhere we want to no matter how hard we try. Sometimes, we are limited in our capacity to stretch a minute and are forced to run through a place quickly in order to make it to our “real” destination.
Read MoreOur trip to Vale do Douro was one of our most memorable in Portugal. The valley is the birthplace of port wine, attracting visitors who relish spending the night in the region’s numerous Quintas. We spent just a day in the Douro region, exploring its stunning scenery while stopping at a few towns and a winery.
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.
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.
Located on the west coast of County Galway, Connemara is widely known for its exceptional natural beauty, delivering a mixed background of high mountains, raw coastlines, quaint villages and fjords. While drivers can devote a full day to explore this vast region, most intrepid adventurers choose to stay even longer to hike the numerous trails within its national park.
Óbidos is one of the most well-known places to visit in Portugal. The medieval town is famous for its narrow cobbled streets, whitewashed houses and prominent fortifications which are easily observed from most of the modern town that surrounds it. These extremely high walls are the town’s highlight, offering visitors postcard-worthy views as almost all of its length is open for walking.
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.
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!