travel beyond the obvious
Travel guides, information, photographs, and stories about Europe, including France, Ireland, Scandinavia, the Baltics, Italy, and more.
At the edge of the prairie where Minnesota and North Dakota meet, Moorhead’s Hopperstad stave church (a replica of the medieval Hopperstad stavkirke in Vik, Norway,) transports visitors to era of the Vikings when Christianity Read More …
The UNESCO World Heritage Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape in Czechia (the Czech Republic) preserves one of the largest artificial landscapes in Europe. (Think of it as a huge private park with castles.) This was home to Read More …
What could be a better way to celebrate the arrival of spring in Northern Europe than a tulip time river cruise through Belgium and the Netherlands?
While a Central Europe itinerary can include a number of countries, my three-week road trip in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Vienna, and Krakow was a great way to explore this fascinating – and often overlooked Read More …
The Baroque Flower Garden of Kromeriz Castle (Zámek Kroměříž) in the Czech Republic (Czechia) is beautiful. But it’s not a UNESCO world heritage site just because it is beautiful – this garden captures the moment Read More …
It isn’t Iceland’s tallest waterfall, but it’s still rather unusual to see a kayak go over the falls at Godafoss. A slightly atypical visit to beautiful Godafoss waterfall Icelandic myth claims the “Waterfall of the Read More …
In summer, a week is enough to create an Iceland itinerary that offers amazing sightseeing on a road trip along the Ring Road, a quick swing through the Golden Circle, and a taste of Reykjavik.
Visitors to the Czech Republic (Czechia) won’t want to skip Prague, but a Czech road trip is an ideal way to discover the delights of Czech towns and villages beyond Prague. There’s more to the Read More …
In the far north of Iceland, pretty little Siglufjörður (Siglufjordur) belongs on every Iceland Ring Road itinerary. Why put Siglufjörður on your Ring Road itinerary? The Ring Road, Iceland’s Route 1, offers a wealth of Read More …
Finland’s Åland Islands aren’t on most travelers’ summer holiday short-list. But if an Åland Island holiday isn’t on your list yet, maybe it’s time you discover these magical islands. (Of course, if it IS on Read More …