Destinations
My real experiences, honest takeaways, and practical tips from places I’ve actually visited.
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Howth Half-Day Trip from Dublin: Should You Visit?
I spent about five hours of the first day of our trip to Ireland exploring Howth, a small coastal town just outside Dublin. Between Howth’s scenic cliff walk, the harbour and local shops and killer seafood, it was the perfect way to experience Ireland’s coastline on the Irish Sea without committing to a full-day excursion.… Continue reading
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9 Irish Foods to Try on Your Next Trip to Ireland
Discover 9 Irish foods to try in Ireland, from boxty and Irish stew to fresh seafood, brown bread and fish and chips. Continue reading
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11-Day Ireland and Scotland Itinerary: A Route for First-Time Visitors
Planning an 11-day Ireland and Scotland itinerary? These two countries are easy to pair together and 11 days gives you enough time to experience both without trying to cram every major attraction into one trip. This is the trip itinerary we followed on our first visit to Ireland and Scotland, including three hotel bases in… Continue reading
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The Ultimate Banff Coffee Shop Crawl: Best Spots to Visit
Our guide to the coffee shops we tried in Banff and Canmore, including what we ordered, what we liked, and which ones we’d actually return to. Coffee (and more importantly, good coffee) is a non-negotiable on a trip full of hiking, outdoors, and early mornings. So while we were busy exploring mountains near Canmore and… Continue reading
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Blue Mosque vs. Hagia Sophia Istanbul: Which Should You Visit?
The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are two of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks, but which should you visit and what are the key differences between them? The two mosques are both must-sees, but they offer very different experiences in terms of history, architecture, interiors and experience visiting as a worshipper. Are the Blue Mosque and… Continue reading
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Arabic Food in Mississauga: A One-Day Self-Guided Food Tour
Discover the best Arabic food in Mississauga, from Palestinian breakfast and Syrian shawarma to Iraqi, Yemeni and Egyptian favorites. Situated just 20 miles from the Greater Toronto Area, Mississauga has quietly become one of the best cities for Arabic food of all types. Growing up in Kansas, there were barely any Arabic restaurants that could… Continue reading
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10-Day Istanbul Itinerary: A Complete Guide to Istanbul (What I’d Do Again & Change)
Istanbul is a city full of history, scenery and lots to do. This is the itinerary I took on my first-time visit, covering the city’s historic landmarks, mosques, markets, neighborhoods and food, all from one hotel base. I’m a traveler who usually prefers to see a couple cities and/or countries so I was a little… Continue reading
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Arenal Manoa Review: Our Stay at this La Fortuna, Costa Rica Hot Springs Resort
We spent three nights at Arenal Manoa Hot Springs Resort in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, paying $875 total for our stay in January 2026. The resort delivered the volcano views, peaceful surroundings, and included breakfast every day. It also had on-site hot springs, but were they worth it? Here’s what our stay was actually like,… Continue reading
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7-Day Costa Rica Itinerary for a First-Time Visitor: La Fortuna, Monteverde and Playa Conchal
Planning a week-long Costa Rica itinerary? This is the route I’d take for a first trip: three nights in La Fortuna, three nights in Monteverde, and one night on the Pacific Coast in Playa Conchal. I got out of the frigid Kansas January winter for a 7-day Costa Rica itinerary built around gorgeous landscapes, wildlife… Continue reading