Before You Go,  Blog,  Experiences,  Germany,  Grab a Bite,  Greece,  Italy,  USA

6 Trips You NEED To Add To Your Bucket List

April 7, 2018 /

2017 brought me to a lot of new and interesting places.  Sean and I explored a little bit of California together before we jumped on a plane and flew to Europe. We made our way around Greece, Germany and Italy before jetting back to California and driving across the United States to our “final destination” of PA. I put that in quotes because for us, I don’t think there will ever really be a final destination, at least as long as we’re both alive and healthy. We each have a pretty similar bucket list of places we want to venture to; and that list pretty much includes EVERYWHERE. I think the only difference is that I’m super excited to visit Antarctica one day, and Sean…well, not so much. Lol.

Taking our first trip abroad and traveling across the United States gave us a lot of insight into the world we live in. We got to see the different ways in which people go about their daily lives. We got to make friends with some amazing people. And we got to experience different tastes, landscapes and cultures.

Travel, to me, is an essential part of living. I think it’s important to gain that perspective, but it’s also just good to take that time away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life.

Whether you go somewhere far away or you take a small day trip, I recommend getting out there and exploring the world for yourself.

Like I said, we traveled to a BUNCH of different places last year, and I could probably write up a post about each and every one of them. They all were great in one way or another.

But only six really stood out among the crowd. No matter who you are, I picked the places you NEED to be exploring this year.

For the Dog Lover 

#1. Telluride, Colorado

Where We Stayed:  Cozy country home in Norwood

Why You Should Visit: Telluride quickly became one of our favorite places for so many reasons. When we planned our cross country drive, we originally planned on staying in Norwood and doing the drive along Last Dollar Road, one of America’s most scenic drives. We planned to be in Colorado for only a day, long enough to do that drive and head on over to our next destination. When we got to our Airbnb that night, though, we ended up being persuaded by the host that a tour of Telluride high country would be way better. We woke up the next morning, booked a tour, and headed on into the town. From our Airbnb, it was a good 40 minute drive into Telluride, but in all fairness, it was pretty much the closest place we could find to stay without being charged an arm and a leg. Telluride is like millionaire county (no, really though.) I think the smallest and cheapest shack of a home there that you can buy is a solid 2 million dollar investment. I can see why, though. The town and the surrounding area is drop dead GORGEOUS. The mountain views are just to die for and whole town is super dog friendly, which Raven was really appreciative of. She was allowed inside most of the stores and if she wasn’t, they had “puppy parking” where you could essentially park your dog next to a bowl of water and they’d be good. Most of the stores we went into also had treats for her, which again, she was very accepting of. We even brought her on our tour up the mountain. We rode up in a little pinzgauer swiss military vehicle with another family in the back with us. The tour guide was awesome and gave us all kinds of fun facts about the town and the mountains. And like I said, the mountains were just gorgeous. Telluride, in my opinion, is like the snapchat filter that makes you look amazing even when you haven’t brushed your hair in 4 days and your make up is smeared and your face is breaking out. Except there was no filter; Telluride is just that beautiful. I could absolutely understand why they’ve kept it a millionaire’s town.

Where We Ate: We picked up some slices at Brown Dog Pizza in town because we heard their pies had won prizes internationally in Italy. I don’t think either of us were truly that impressed with it though overall. What we WERE impressed with, however, was the home-cooked meals we got while staying with our host. If you stay there, it’s not something she advertises because she’s not always home. But if you’re lucky enough, you’ll get some pretty good breakfast in the morning before venturing into town. 🙂

Our Favorite Moment: The tour up the mountain was incredible, but nothing beats the moment Raven decided to poop on the sidewalk in millionaire city…except Sean’s face while she did it.

 

For The Beach Dweller 

#2: Santorini, Greece

Where We Stayed: Cliff-side apartment in Imerovigli

Why You Should Visit: Greece is absolutely my number one recommendation if you’re looking for a vacay that’s going to give you that truly relaxing feeling. Everybody there is SO nice and friendly and the atmosphere is just amazing. You are surrounded by incredible views of the ocean, you are in walking distance of some pretty mouth-watering food and you’re a bus ride away from some of my favorite beaches ever. One thing I love about Santorini’s beaches: they are all so different. We went to two that had black sand and grabbed some to take home with us to add to our sand jar. (So far, it’s got a ways until it’s full, but we’re up for the challenge.) And even though we didn’t get our feet in the sand of the red or white beaches, we got to see them from a short distance while we were on a sunset tour around the island. Fun Fact: the tour was not something we had planned on doing ahead of time, but it was easily one of the best parts of the trip. The boat took us around Santorini to all of the different beaches and some hot springs where we got to swim around and do some snorkeling. AND they served us a pretty good Greek lunch and ALL THE WINE WE COULD DRINK. It was a totally relaxing and fun filled day on the water.

Where We Ate: Greece had a lot of great places to grab a bite to eat, but our favorite BY FAR was this little corner restaurant on the way from our Airbnb to Thira called Meat Corner Grill. We stopped there sometimes twice a day because their gyros were just that good. Of course, this was the one place we didn’t take a million pictures of. Actually, we only took one. In all honesty, we were too busy stuffing our face to even think about snapping a few photos.

Our Favorite Moment: Attempting to walk from Oia to our Airbnb at like 1:30 in the morning in the pitch dark because (contrary to what we thought) Oia is not where the nightlife is and nobody is open at that time. We got lost on the way back because it was so dark and SOMEHOW made our way off the walking path and found ourselves strolling along a sea side cliff with a random dog in tow until we finally decided to turn around and hail the last taxi of the night back to our room, which was a solid 20 minute drive, so one can only imagine how long we would’ve been out walking. Finally, our heads hit the pillow at around 5 am and we slept through practically every morning in Santorini because jet lag is a real thing.

 

For the Wine Enthusiast 

#3: Napa Valley, California

Where We Stayed: Gueneville; Cottages On River Road 

*Fun Fact: This was actually one of our favorite places that we stayed during our entire trip. It’s about an hour outside of the wineries we visited in Calistoga, but we felt it was totally worth the drive to stay there – especially if you will be touring some wineries in the Sonoma County as well. The cottages are super cute, the breakfasts each morning were delicious, and the atmosphere just screamed RELAXATION. Plus, it was really reasonably priced, especially in comparison to places we could have found to stay in Napa or Calistoga. Whether you’re making your trip to the Napa Valley on a budget or not, I 100% recommend staying here. You can use this link to save $20 when you book your stay there. 🙂

Why You Should Visit: Napa Valley was one of the first places Sean and I explored together when we first met. Being about a 30 minute drive from where I grew up, you’d think I’d have gone out wine tasting all of the time, but for one reason or another, I never got around to it. I admit, I totally took living in the area for granted. So, when Sean flew out, I made it a point to add taking a day in wine country to the list. Our day started at a winery in Calistoga called Chateau Montelena. One of my good friends works there, and we got lucky enough to be given our own little private tour of the winery. We went out by the jade pond and learned a ton of interesting facts about the history behind the winery. After our tour of the grounds, we went in for a tasting and ended up leaving with a bottle of their zin. Chateau Montelena was amazing because it was gorgeous, the people were all incredibly friendly and it had such a private feel. From there, we went to a more touristy location: Castello di Amerosa. I had actually been advised against going there with Sean because it was such a tourist spot, but I’m really glad that we went. I don’t know if there’s a winery in the Napa Valley that wouldn’t look beautiful, but the castle really sets this one apart. We got there later in the day and didn’t have as much time as we wanted to explore all of the grounds (so I guess we’ll have to go back), but we were able to take a peek inside some of the rooms before heading downstairs for another tasting. The castle is beautiful inside, and their tasting room has a really awesome feel to it. Plus, the gentleman that served us our wine was really nice and gave us like 6 extra tastings each for free. I’m a bit of a lightweight, and needless to say I was a little tipsy by the time we left with our bottle of Rose.

Where We Ate: I know it’s Napa Valley and we could’ve found some really fancy place to sit down and eat, but since Sean grew up on the east coast and had never tried it before, I felt it was a must to take him to In N Out Burger. We stopped at the one in Santa Rosa before heading back to our cottage for the night and he got his first taste. We weren’t sure if he’d understand all of the hype about it or not, but I think it was love at first bite. We’ll definitely be stopping there again the next time we’re in California.

Our Favorite Moment: I’ll be honest. Even after just wine tasting at The Chateau, I was a little tipsy. I’m not a big drinker, so when I do actually drink, it hits me fast. We took a little break between wineries to give myself a moment before jumping back into it. But then our tasting guide gave us all of those extra glasses and I was just done. We started off tasting some of their lower-end wines and worked our way up to their reserves. By the time we got to their most expensive bottle of wine, I knew I couldn’t drink anymore. Sean looked at me and told me that if I didn’t want the glass to give it him so we didn’t waste such an expensive tasting. I semi-drunkenly nodded at him and said okay, and two seconds later totally forgot my promise and dumped my $100+ glass of wine into the little spittoon they give you. I’ve never seen Sean’s face look so mortified.

For the Modern Historian

#4: Munich, Germany

Where We Stayed: A super cute little country cabin in Ebenhausen

Why You Need To Visit: Germany was the second place we traveled to when we went to Europe, and we immediately fell in love. The countryside is just gorgeous – I mean there’s just so much green. And their train system was, to us, really impressive. Munich struck us as a very modern city, while still preserving a lot of it’s natural history. The buildings that stand there are huge, and the architecture is just incredible. I’m not that into art/historical things, but Munich really made an impression on me. We showed up during Oktoberfest by complete chance, which in some ways was really cool. There was a lot going on and a TON of people there. We toured the original Hofbräuhaus House in Munich and got to try a few of their special Oktoberfest beers, which were all good, as expected. But traveling during this time made it almost impossible for us to get to one of our bucket list stops: Neuschwanstein Castle. All of the car rental companies and bus tickets to get there were sold out. We got lucky, and one of the locals was able to help us find a train & bus ride there that never showed up as an option on Google. Again, I’m not that taken aback by historical facts or fancy art museums. I’m more into nature and the incredible views at the top of a mountain. But let me tell you, whether you want a little history lesson or not, you NEED to add this castle to your bucket list. It’s ginormous. It’s beautiful. And there are no words for the views that surround it. I can’t stress enough how much of an absolute must-see this place is.

Where We Ate: We immediately found out that we are not huge fans of Bavarian food. BUT we were referred to a really good traditional Bavarian Beer Garden near our Airbnb that had really delicious, fresh tasting food. Our favorite place to eat, though, was the Olympic Tower in Munich. We didn’t have reservations and just kind of showed up in our everyday clothes after walking around the English Gardens all afternoon. We honestly weren’t sure we’d even get a table, but we did, and WOW. It was just such an incredible experience. You are seated by a window while you dine on a four course meal of really exquisite food and wine, and to top it off, you are given one of the best 360 degree views of Munich I think you could ever possibly ask for. After dinner, we headed upstairs and walked around the very top of the building. It was a little chilly, but again. Those views were totally worth it.

Our Favorite Moment: I can’t speak for Sean, but I know for me that running through the German countryside was something I will just never forget. The area is absolutely gorgeous with the acres of green fields and blue skies.

 

For The Nature Lover 

#5: Coopers Rock State Forrest; Morgantown, West Virginia

Where We Stayed: Country Apartment in Morgantown

Why You Need To Visit: Sean took me to Morgantown as a weekend getaway trip for my birthday last year. Raven came too, of course, and the three of us headed to Coopers Rock State Forest, about 20 minutes outside of town. We hiked to Raven Rock because it just seemed fitting and explored a couple of the other trails in the area. There was a lot of different trails you could choose to explore, so if you had a weekend to devote to hiking them, it would be really cool. Raven Rock seems like  a good hike for most anyone, whether you have a lot of experience or not because the trail itself is not that treacherous or steep. But the views were pretty spectacular. Raven was just a little sketched out when we had to jump between rocks to take some good photos. Lol.

Where We Ate:  We stopped for pizza at Pies and Pints in town. The place was packed, and I could definitely understand why. Their pizza was some of the best we’d tried since being in Italy, and they had a very large selection of some awesome beers as well. The menu is a little pricey, but I would absolutely recommend giving it a try.

Our Favorite Moment: I think what actually made Morgantown the most memorable for us was where we stayed. We booked a room through Airbnb at this home that had a super cute cabin-like feel to it inside. But even better than that was the fact that they have a “pet” deer named Baby. Raven and the host’s three dogs all played fetch together, and to our surprise the deer joined in as well. Raven was excited beyond words at the chance to see a deer up close and personal. I was a little nervous that she might try to play too rough with Baby, but I had nothing to worry about. Baby showed Raven who was boss when she pinned her down on the lawn. A deer pinning down a pitbull. Can you even imagine?

 

For The Foodie

 

#6: Florence, Italy

Where We Stayed: A modern home in the ancient heart of Santa Croce

Why You Should Visit: Florence is a must-see for more than just their food. They have some of the world’s most famous art works and the history there is really interesting. But, like I’ve said, I’m not that interested in those kinds of things. So, for me, Florence was a total food experience. We got really lucky because the hosts where we stayed provided us with a really long list of all of their favorite places to eat and shop within the area. The couple is SO passionate about their city and the culture, and I thought it was just so amazing how much they wanted to and did share with us. A lot of the places we ate before coming to Florence were hit and miss as far as the quality of the food. But having that detailed list made a WORLD of difference for our stay there.

Where We Ate: There are so many excellent restaurants to choose from in Florence. For pizza, my favorite spot was Mangia Pizza. They serve super thin  flat-bread pizzas that have had the dough rise for four days before they cook it. You can eat a whole pizza and not feel like crap the way you would if you ate the same amount here in the U.S.. For really healthy options, check out Shake Cafe. They serve a wide variety of delicious smoothies, juices, wraps, sandwiches, bowls and salads. After we found this place, it became our go-to for healthy meals. For a good sit-down experience, we really enjoyed the Open Bar. There was a live band playing inside. We ordered a bottle of wine and sipped it while listening to them playing and soaking in the relaxed and romantic atmosphere. Il Procopio was right down the street from our Airbnb, and let me tell you. Having gelato that good be so close to you is dangerous. They have this flavor that’s just to die for. It’s chocolate and raspberry, aka heaven. And if you’re a fan of pistachio, it’s they’re award winning flavor, so definitely give that one a try as well.

 

Our Favorite Moment: Sean and I walked up to Piazzale Michelangelo where there is a replica of the statue of David as well as a panoramic view of all of Florence. Tourists and locals come together at night to overlook the city with a bottle of wine in hand. There’s a bit of steps to climb on the way up, but if you get there early enough to watch the sunset over the horizon it would be well worth it. Once it’s dark, buildings like the Duomo are lit up and you can see just how impressive they are in size to those around them.  It’s a great place to go if you want some solitude, a romantic evening with your spouse or a lively night with your friends. Just don’t forget your bottle of wine; we picked ours up from this place in town called Vino Sfuso. Yo can take your empty wine bottles there and fill them up for less than three euros, or if you don’t have your own you can purchase one of their bottles for a few cents. Either way, it’s a steal.

 

You May Also Like

A Day in Pittsburgh with Mom & Dad

July 30, 2018

The Guinness Storehouse

July 24, 2018

Foxburg, PA

August 15, 2019

799 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *