Pompeii was an ancient Roman town, famous for being buried by almost 20 feet of ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The ancient town, along with others nearby such as Ercolano (Herculaneum), were devastated and remarkably preserved by ash for centuries. Tourists flock, especially to Pompeii, earning to see these towns as they once were.
Read MoreConsider Orvieto: This picturesque medieval town is 60 miles north of Rome and you can opt to visit as a day trip or make a morning train stop on your way to Florence. Orvieto is a hill town in Umbria, located atop huge tuff cliffs that served as fortifications during the Middle Ages.
Read MoreYou 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.
Read MoreThe city of Pisa is located one hour train ride from Florence and its major attraction is its famous Leaning Tower. The tower is very popular with visitors, where many take a day from their stay in Florence to explore the site.
Read MoreWe consider ourselves to be the furthest from experts in this area, but after spending 16 days of non-stop traveling and using numerous trains in order to tour the country, I have compiled our fail safe guide to train traveling in Italy. This should present you with a small introduction to the Italian Rail System, which may seem complicated at first, but after you take your 10th train you will start feeling much more at ease.
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!