Scotland's beautiful & historical capital Edinburgh is a city well worth a visit. It's a city rich with culture, delicious fish & chips, authentic whiskey, ancient castles, and some of the friendliest people I have met to date. I can totally see why J.K. Rowling took much of her inspiration from this city sitting on the hills.
One of the top luxury hotel lines in Germany and around even the world, Kempinksi Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten is not just a hotel, but a luxurious escape in Munich. Located on the famous Maximilianstraße across from Cartier, it's the perfect location for someone looking for an extravagant weekend away in the heart of Munich.
Gothenburg, for me, was the perfect place to start in Sweden and to get a sense of the Swedish culture. It's a fairly good size city with a large university, so there is plenty to see, great restaurants and food, and lots of culture. I had the pleasure of exploring Gothenburg for 6 days, but you could definitely get a feel for the city, see the top sites, and grab a couple delicious Swedish meals in just a few days.
Malahide Castle & Gardens was such a sweet little escape and a lovely way to spend an afternoon in Ireland with my mom. A friend of mine kindly sent a list of top things to do in the Dublin area and along with the Howth Cliffs, Malahide Castle & Gardens topped the list. Which after spending an afternoon around the grounds and garden, I definitely see why.
On one of our days in Austria we drove just 25 minutes north to the beautiful Hintersteiner See, where we were blown away by it's gorgeous turquoise water. The area is perfect to spend enjoying the views, having a coffee overlooking the water, swimming the summer and plenty of trails to walk along that surround the entire body of water.
The Howth Cliffs are located northeast of Dublin and have over 10 miles of hiking and walking trails with views of Lambay's Island, Irelands Eye, the village of Howth, and the gorgeous, rocky coastline. While walking you can smell the ocean and overwhelming scent of coconut from the yellow gorse on the heath. In every direction you'll find breathtaking views and I think I took more pictures in one day than I have in a while, there was just so much to see.
Last weekend when we traveled to Austria and stayed with Sport Resort Hohe Salve it was the most relaxing experiencing I have had in a while. It was the first time I came home from a weekend trip and actually felt more relaxed and rejuvenated than when I had arrived. I think the infinity pool, perfect Austrian weather, and modern spa might have done the trick.
This Lentil Chickpea + Lemon Radish Salad has been my go-to recipe for weekly dinners and when we have guests over for a small dinner party. It's so easy to mix together and the lemon dressing is always a crowd pleaser. It's like one of those dishes that people think you worked so hard on, but really you just whipped it all together and garnished with a few leftover herbs -- easy!
We visited the French Alps via Chamonix Valley during probably the worst and yet best time -- ski season was ending and hiking season hadn't even begun. I must admit, I was a bit worried that our time in the French Alps would be an epic fail, but to my surprise, visiting this beautiful area during a somewhat "iffy" time was such a blessing in disguise.
This historic building now turned luxury, stylish apartments was the perfect place to stay during our time in Geneva. Swiss Luxury Apartments offers all that an upscale hotel provides, while giving you the feeling that you're coming home to your own chic apartment in the heart of Geneva. What more could you ask for?
I am a firm believer that growth doesn't come without discomfort. If we stay in our safe, content places, how will we push ourselves in ways we can't imagine? How will we learn new things without falling a few times? One of my favorite authors, Brené Brown talks a lot about vulnerability. Here's one of my favorite pieces from her most recent book:
Known as the "Venice of the North", Bruges is a city that takes you back to the 14th century with its beautiful canals, horse drawn carriages, and medieval architecture. Bruges has long been on my list of weekend trips since our move to Germany. With it being only a short, 4 hour drive away, I knew we had to spend some time in this romantic city.