Couples Travel

One Day in Giethoorn, the Dutch fairytale village without roads

April 19, 2022 by Karen Turner 14 Comments

You’ve probably seen photos online of the prettiest village in the Netherlands, Giethoorn. Visiting Giethoorn from Amsterdam is a doable day trip from Amsterdam if you’re patient enough to spend two hours getting there independently.

I personally preferred staying overnight at Giethoorn in the picturesque village, so you get to enjoy the sunset over the calm canals without the crowds… Keep reading for my tips for visiting Giethoorn, the Netherlands without a tour. I also include information on how to get to Giethoorn from Amsterdam!

…

Four days in Normandy road trip: The perfect Normandy itinerary

April 13, 2018 by Karen Turner 25 Comments

Considering visiting Normandy from Paris? You definitely should! Depending on how much you want to do, you can visit Normandy as a day trip from Paris if you only visit Rouen or spend three to four days road tripping in Normandy to enjoy the tranquility of the countryside in Normandy.

If you’re thinking that Normandy will be anything like Paris, get that thought out of your mind. Expect incredibly friendly people, reasonable accommodation options, mind-blowingly good food at the same price as an average meal in Paris, stunning cities filled with history and fantastic drinks.

…

Texel: Perfect Couple Weekend Trip from Amsterdam

December 31, 2016 by Karen Turner 21 Comments

I didn’t hear of Texel until I moved to the Netherlands. This beautiful island in the North of the Netherlands (about 3.5 hours from Amsterdam) is a well-kept secret among Dutchies who spend their vacations sunbathing on its clean beaches, swimming into the Wadden Sea, biking along its heather-filled dunes, visiting its seal sanctuary for injured seals, and taking in cute little Dutch towns.

Whether you’re looking for a romantic weekend away, a weekend birdwatching, or a family cycling trip, Texel is a great weekend trip from Amsterdam or Rotterdam. It’s my new favorite summer getaway and I’ll be back.

…

Your foodie guide to Yerseke, the best place to try Zeeland mussels, oysters, and lobster in Zeeland

June 15, 2018 by Karen Turner 2 Comments

Sometimes, I get a wild hair–and when I read about the Zeeland mussels, oysters, and the Oosterschelde lobster, I knew that I had to visit this Dutch province just for the seafood. After researching where to try the best seafood in Zeeland, I ended up deciding to visit Yerseke.

This cozy fishing village is one of the best places in Zeeland to try local Zeeland seafood. In this little guide to Yerseke for day trippers, I’ll be discussing the history of Yerseke, where to eat in Yerseke, and what to eat in Yerseke.

…

One day in Leiden: A free self-guided walking tour of Leiden

June 4, 2018 by Karen Turner 16 Comments

A lot of you have been really curious about Leiden. Since moving to the Hague, I regularly visit Leiden and I’m actually considering moving to Leiden as I love it so much. This cozy Dutch university town is the perfect day trip from Amsterdam (or Rotterdam), so I’ll be showing off the highlights of Leiden in this little guide to one of my favorite Dutch cities with a free self-guided walking tour of Leiden to ensure that you see the best of Leiden in one day.

…

Insider Tips for NYC during the Holidays by a New Yorker

January 1, 2020 by Karen Turner 33 Comments

The holidays in NYC are the best time to visit New York City. As a New Yorker born and raised, I’ve written tips for the holidays in NYC, the best things to do in New York at Christmas, tips for the Christmas windows in NYC, tips for the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade, and how to survive Times Square New Year’s Eve. Keep reading for insider tips for New York during Christmas!

…

Belgium in 4 days: Beer, Chocolate, & Castles

December 16, 2019 by Karen Turner 9 Comments

The beginner’s guide to Belgium’s best sights! Includes travel tips and top 5 sights for visiting Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges. Includes chocolate, beer, and castles! Read more for the best tourist sites to visit in Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges as well as travel advice for visiting Belgium in a quick 4-day itinerary.

…

Your complete relaxing weekend guide to Sedona, Arizona

November 30, 2018 by Karen Turner 1 Comment

If you’re looking for a stunning getaway in the United States, consider spending a weekend in Sedona, Arizona. It’s said that the gorgeous red rocks just outside of the city hold healing powers. After a rejuvenating weekend relaxing in Sedona watching stunning sunsets, hiking, and browsing Southwestern art, you might find yourself feeling completely relaxed and refreshed. Writer Dee Nowak tells us about how to enjoy a perfect long weekend in Sedona, Arizona!

…

Secret Gouda: Your free self-guided walking tour of Gouda with the best things to do in Gouda

June 19, 2018 by Karen Turner 4 Comments

Gouda is a city in South Holland, the Netherlands, that is famous for its namesake cheese. Many people only come to Gouda for the cheese market, however there’s so much more to this beautiful Dutch city only an hour from Amsterdam.

In this guide to Gouda’s beautiful historic city center, I’ll be showing you the best things to do in Gouda that aren’t cheesy, including obvious historicarl monuments, some secret places in Gouda that people leave off too many itineraries, and a few independent cafes/restaurants in Gouda that you’ll want to visit. I tried to minimize costs in this one day guide to Gouda, so you can choose whether you want to pay for museums or walk more. (Don’t worry, this Gouda itinerary includes a cheese shop!)

…

Releasing Seals into the Wadden Sea & Travel Tips for Friesland

June 26, 2017 by Karen Turner 17 Comments

Our weekend trip to Friesland was magical as it included releasing seals back into the wild (technically starting in Groningen, but we sailed into Frisian water), taking a boat tour to the UNESCO world heritage site of the Wadden Sea, enjoying the sandbanks/views of the Frisian islands, and exploring the traditional polder landscape of Friesland as well as the cute cities of Friesland.

For those seeking an ethical animal experience to add to their travel bucket list, releasing wild seals back in the wild is a must. If you’re looking for the best activities to do in the Netherlands, I definitely rank this responsible tourism do as one of my favorite memories.

…