beautiful places

Free Walking Tour of the Cologne Christmas Markets with Map

October 12, 2019 by Karen Turner 14 Comments

In 2019, Cologne will have its annual Christmas market from
November 25th to December 23rd. If you’re lucky enough to visit Cologne in winter (just in time), be sure to spend at least a day (if not three days) browsing the famous Christmas markets in Cologne. Keep reading for tips for experiencing the German Christmas markets and things to do in Cologne in December!

Planning to visit Cologne Germany in winter to see the famous Cologne Christmas markets? Tips for visiting the Cologne Christmas markets, what to do in Cologne, and where the Cologne Christmas markets are!

I’ve set up this as a walking tour of five Christmas markets in Cologne with a downloadable map of the Christmas markets in Cologne. (Be prepared that this FREE walking tour of Cologne includes a lot of walking although it covers many major landmarks.) The map of the Cologne Christmas markets is at the bottom.

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Catspotting: A crazy cat lover’s guide to cats in Amsterdam

October 17, 2018 by Karen Turner 21 Comments

I love cats. This is a detailed guide to my beloved Amsterdam with the best places to meet cats in Amsterdam, officially and unofficially, with my favorite cats. If you’re a fan of Catspotting, you’re going to love this guide to Amsterdam. I’m a crazy cat lady and meeting cats when traveling is one of my favorite hobbies.

While living in Amsterdam, my husband and I hunted down the locations of cats in Amsterdam because we are that cat crazy. We found cats living at one of the cat cafes in Amsterdam, roaming the halls of a historic canal house/cat museum filled with cat art, cozying up to potential owners on de Poezenboot (the Catboat), sleeping in various shops, or even breaking into museum gardens.

This also includes coffeeshops with cats…. That said, I was not successful in petting them all. Keep reading for our favorite cat locations in Amsterdam with a map.

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17 beautiful cities in Belgium besides Brussels that you won’t want to miss!

December 10, 2017 by Karen Turner 11 Comments

If you’re visiting Belgium, you’ve definitely heard of Ghent, Brussels, Antwerp, and Bruges…but there’s way more beautiful cities in Belgium. This post is focused on beautiful cities in the Wallonia region, which is the French speaking part of Belgium.

Wallonia Belgium is often ignored by travelers, which I don’t understand as someone who has traveled in Wallonia and Flanders. It’s full of beautiful Belgian cities with few other tourists and delicious food (WAFFLES!). Keep reading for the most beautiful cities in Belgium besides Brussels and lots of beautiful photos of Belgium’s Wallonia region.

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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!

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50 beautiful photos of Albania that will inspire you to visit Albania

December 27, 2017 by Karen Turner 6 Comments

After visiting Kosovo last year, I was told that I needed to visit Albania. I started looking up photos–and I was sold instantly. I visited Albania this summer and it was my favorite trip of 2017 hands down. Why? The beautiful nature, incredible hiking, historic cities, warm weather, delicious byrek, and decent prices… What else could one ask for in a vacation? Keep scrolling for beautiful photos of Albania, including photos of the most beautiful places in Albania that we visited. I truly hope this post inspires you to visit Albania.

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Best things to do in Lake Mývatn in winter

November 13, 2017 by Karen Turner 1 Comment

If you’re planning a road trip around Iceland in winter, consider adding Lake Mývatn, Iceland to your bucket list. If you’re looking for affordable hot springs with a view, Myvatn may surprise you. Keep reading for things to eat in Lake Myvatn and things to do in Lake Myvatn in winter! …

Why you need to visit Mons/Bergen in Wallonia!

September 29, 2017 by Karen Turner 12 Comments

Mons, Belgium is one of the best day trips from Brussels for those seeking culture and history. Mons is one of the many beautiful cities in Belgium and a great introduction to Wallonia (the French speaking part of Belgium).

Although I’ve visited a few cities in Wallonia, I was surprised by the many things to do in Mons and its UNESCO recognized attractions (six!). After a trip to Brussels, it was nice to get off the beaten path in Belgium and discover other things to do in Belgium besides visiting Brussels, Antwerp, and Bruges.

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Travel tips for Bako National Park and a Bako overnight stay

October 27, 2017 by Karen Turner 2 Comments

Bako National Park is a Malaysian national park close to Kuching on the island of Borneo. It is considered to be one of the best Malaysian national parks. Most people take a day trip to Bako National Park from Kuching, but if you don’t, you’ll miss on the best parts: the animals. Keep reading for my mistakes and what to know before an overnight stay at Bako National Park in this Bako National Park review.

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