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Travel 2026 What’s Next for My Fab Fifties Life

December 26, 2025

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Year ten begins. What? How time does fly! Our travel life continues with an incredible itinerary for 2026 – and it all begins next week. Here is our story Travel 2026 What’s Next for My Fab Fifties Life

Early years of the Grand Adventure in Australia

Year Ten

People often ask me what destinations are still on our wishlist. And as I always say, we are not trying to visit all the countries of the world. But there a few that still have, for many reasons, not yet been achieved. In 2026 we tackle several new to us destinations, while also revisiting some of our favorites.

But all that said, we also have a little different strategy for 2026, since I am going in to have knee replacement surgery in March. So here goes;

Cuba with Intrepid Travel

Confirmed – Nine Days – Intrepid Travel Fully Guided

Long on or wishlist, Cuba becomes a reality in January with our favorite tour company Intrepid. This will be our third time using Intrepid Travel, and though we usually are independent travelers, we have loved Intrepid. Intrepid offers a Cuba tour specifically for Americans. We will spend ten days in Cuba and I am very grateful for this opportunity.

Mexico New to Us Places

Confirmed – 26 days – Independent Travel – Hotels and Condos

After Cuba we head back to Mexico for a month. This time we will visit some new to us destinations; Cancun, Merida, Puebla and San Miguel de Allende. We will also visit some old favorites; Mexico City and Mazatlan.

Panama for Long Term Consideration

Confirmed – 14 days – Independent Travel – Airbnb

Next it’s back to Panama. We have only been to Panama on a cruise, and this time we will have a two week stay in Veracruz. We hope to get to know this destination as we consider it for a long-term future stay.

Knee Replacement Surgery

Late February we return to the USA where I am scheduled to have knee replacement surgery in early March. I have been putting off this surgery for several years and it is time. I have given myself more than five months to recover from this surgery before we embark on more travel.

Greenland Adventure

Confirmed – Ten Days – Independent Organized Tour – Hotels

I have been dreaming about this destination for so long! With a brand new airport, Greenland is positioned to welcome many more visitors, and I want to get there before it gets too crowded. With a short window for visitors, we have booked a ten day independent tour (no guide) with Greenland Tours.

Svalbard Surprise

Confirmed Four Days – Independent Travel with Day Tours – Hotel

Only recently did I add the island of Svalbard near the North Pole to my wish list. And after Greenland it’s time to head even farther North. We will make a brief stop in Copenhagen in transit and then head to Svalbard for just four days.

Fun in Finland

Not confirmed – working on it now

Back on SAS Airlines we will head to Helsinki, Finland for a few days and then a week in Lapland. This is another long awaited destination that we canceled five years ago due to Covid. We are still working out the details of this destination.

New Territory with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

Not confirmed

There are only more four countries left that we had to drop when COVID hit. One of those is Ukraine and I’m not sure we will ever get there. But Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will follow Finland. We will bus between the capital cities of these three countries and expect to spend about three weeks total.

Hello Holland and the Netherlands

Not confirmed

Our time in Amsterdam has always been during long lay-overs (four times) so finally we will explore more than just Amsterdam and get to understand the history, culture and beauty of Holland and the Netherlands. We expect to spend about seven to ten days.

Back to Egypt

Not confirmed – Working on it, Now Guided Tour with Memphis Tours

Well it’s been twenty years in the making, but the Grand Egyptian Museum finally opened in November 2025. We had a great experience in Egypt when we visited several years ago using the tour company Memphis Tours. We have not booked this yet, but we are working with Memphis Tours again to visit this epic museum and see a little more of fascinating Egypt. Details still in the works.

Kick Back in the Azores

Not confirmed

From Egypt via Zurich its a pretty easy hop over to Azores, one of Portugal’s most famous islands. Long on our list to visit, we hope to stay for a month.

Wrapping up 2026

The world is big and we want to see it. But being flexible is important, so we try not to book too far ahead. However some destinations (like Greenland and Svalbard) have such limited capacity its important to book in advance. We are excited for Travel 2026 What’s Next for My Fab Fifties Life.

While we continue to build this itinerary over the next several months, we expect 2026 to be another epic travel year. Departing January 1st and I will have the first of the 2026 blog posts by mid January – so no posts for a couple of weeks while we are traveling in Cuba.

Are you ready for a travel life? Ask me questions, I would love to help. And keep following as we embark on year ten, starting in Cuba.

Note – Most photos in today’s post are from CANVA

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Did you see last week’s post European Christmas Markets with Viking River Cruises?

Happy New Year!

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Europe Travel

European Christmas Markets with Viking River Cruises

December 19, 2025

Laureen

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We just returned from two weeks in Europe, where we did our first-ever river cruise. The cruise we chose was with Viking River Cruises and was focused on Christmas Markets along the Rhine and Main Rivers. Given how we usually travel independently, I wasn’t sure what to expect with this cruise. But we had a very enjoyable time. There were a few things we didn’t love, but overall it was fun. So if you are considering visiting European Christmas Markets with Viking River Cruises, here is my report.

Onboard the Modi

Before I tell you about each of the Christmas Markets, let me tell you about our experience onboard the Modi. Known as longships, the river fleet in Europe each holds 190 passengers. Since we were new to this kind of travel, we chose the least expensive room called a Riverview.

Here’s a breakdown of typical room types on Viking Longships:

Riverview Staterooms: On the Main Deck, these have fixed windows located higher up on the wall for views, often slightly larger than French Balcony rooms.
French Balcony Staterooms: Feature a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door, but without space for chairs outside, allowing the room to feel more open.
Veranda Staterooms: The most common type, offering a full outdoor balcony with seating for two.
Veranda Suites: Two-room accommodations with a separate living area and a full balcony off the living room, plus a French balcony in the bedroom.
Explorer Suites: The largest suites, located at the stern, featuring two rooms and a wraparound balcony.

What About the Cost?

Because a river cruise is significantly more expensive than an ocean cruise (and way more than our usual day to day travel costs) this less expensive room was just fine for us. We had plenty of room, storage and the bed was very comfortable.

Each day on the cruise we were provided at least one excursion at no cost. Additional excursions were available for a fee. Additionally special lectures, music and even high tea provided more entertainment.

Three meals a day were provided on the ship. During meals, wine or beer is included. Additional alcoholic beverages outside of meal time were available at a cost in the lounge. Guest who want to drink more alcohol have an option to purchase a beverage package. We did not do that.

The food on board was very good. Most meals exceptional. Additionally the staff both in the restaurant and elsewhere was superb.

I did not have dessert at every meal but this one was exceptional

Our ten day cruise from Basel Switzerland to Nuremberg Germany cost $9200 for two people. When comparing costs with ocean cruises keep in mind the wine and beer at meals on Viking River Cruises is included (ocean cruises you pay a lot for drinks) and the fact that daily at least one excursion is included with your cruise.

This cost however is significantly more than our normal daily travel costs. For comparison the total cost of this 14 day trip was about the same as our 26 day Stans Tour with Intrepid Travel or 35 days on our own in Bordeaux France. Our thirty day stay in Philippines was a third of what we spent on the cruise.

Europe is Magical in the Winter

We did not see snowfall, but we had some cold, crisp days and we found that added to the festive atmosphere of the Christmas Markets. I have become a big fan of off-season travel, but that said the Christmas Markets can get very busy. In fact, due to a lot of travel “influencers”, European Christmas Markets are now generally crowded. During our cruise we visited a total of ten Christmas markets. Some very big and busy, others small and very local. Below are my thoughts on each of the nine.

Things to Know

Before I go market by market let me explain a couple of things. Firstly, the mugs. Each European Christmas Market has mug for the popular Gluhwein. These mugs change annually and are a popular collectors item. Gluhwein is a hot mulled wine served throughout Europe during the holidays. Mugs of warm Gluhwein are available for purchase and you pay a deposit for the mug. If you want to keep the mug you don’t get your deposit back. Or, return the mug to any vendor throughout the market and your deposit is returned. I kept two mugs from Heidelberg and two mugs from Wurzburg. Other drinks like hot chocolate are also available in the mugs.

Local food items are available at the markets, with popular choices being bratwurst and other sausages, potato pancakes (called Kartoffelpuffer ), raclette, fish sandwiches, pork burgers, lots of sweets and more.

Visiting the markets via land perhaps by train would be just as fun, maybe more so. Ten markets was too many, as they begin to all blur together after awhile. I was expecting each to be unique, but they were very similar. I was expecting more handmade local items for sale, but we only found that in a couple of places. Most items were mass produced somewhere else. That was disappointing.

FRANKFURT GERMANY

We arrived in Frankfurt from our Seattle flight, and planned two nights in this city before heading to the cruise. So on our own we found our way around Frankfurt. Frankfurt’s Christmas Market is one of the oldest and largest markets in Germany dating back to 1391.

Where we stayed: Motel One Frankfurt-Romer – excellent

Where we ate: We had an excellent and authentic German dinner at Zum Standesamtchen one evening and enjoyed the foods of the market as well.

Don’t miss: The Main Christmas Market is spread out near the Cathedral. Be sure to visit Frankfurt’s treasured jewel, the Imperial Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew. If you have extra time in Frankfurt like we did I recommend the Stadel Art Museum and walking across the Iron Bridge

BASEL SWITZERLAND

We took the train from Frankfurt to the border town of Basel Switzerland, and the three hour ride was on time, clean and comfortable. We had a full day and night in Basel before boarding the ship.

Basel is a wonderful mix of old and new and the medieval Old Town’s pastel buildings date back to the 15th century.

Where we stayed: East West Hotel – excellent

Don’t miss: We really enjoyed the Basel market and sampled raclette, sausages, potato pancakes and lots of Gluhwein. There is a market in the cathedral square overlooking the city, and another at the bottom of the hill. The old town is beautiful with the Rathaus and square and also it’s worth it to visit Freie Strasse pedestrian street, walk across the holiday lit historic Mittlere bridge and visit the Spalentor gate.

Raclette is always served with potatoes and pickles

Before leaving Switzerland we enjoyed an optional shore excursion to indulge in the Swiss tradition of Fondue. I highly recommend this when in Switzerland. We learned a lot and we ate a lot.

BREISACH GERMANY

We sailed over night and woke up in Breisach Germany, the gateway to the Black Forest. It was an early departure day for the excursion we chose. We boarded a comfortable coach to drive away from the river and into the mountains.

Don’t miss: The drive was beautiful and we even saw some snow. But the best part was seeing the beautiful old villages where the German people have lived and toiled for generations. Our destination this day was the touristic village of Hofgut Sternen. Here we enjoyed a short hike to an ancient tiny church. Next we had time to watch glass blowing and learn about the art of Cuckoo Clock making, before learning how the famous Black Forest Cake is made. And if that wasn’t enough, we also had a wonderful lunch around an open outdoor fire pit.

I’m gonna make a Black Forest Cake when I get home

Despite the long bus ride, this was one of my favorite days.

STRASBOURG FRANCE

Sailing overnight we awoke in France. Bonjour! Strasbourg is home to the oldest Christkindelmarkt in Europe, dating back to 1570. Petite France, the jewel of Strasbourg, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its stunning half timbered houses and winding canal.

Unfortunately the day we visited the market was very crowded and the line to get inside the massive and gorgeous Notre Dame cathedral was so long. Despite the hype, this was one of my least favorite markets.

Don’t miss: The best part of our day was the canal cruise, where we learned from our guide fantastic history of this beautiful city. Weather was sunny and the canal boat with so many windows made the experience great. I really wanted several more hours in this city. But we had to head back because we had a second afternoon excursion to…

Retired French Bakers come together for the market

Gengenbach Germany

I signed up for this optional excursion on the same day as Strasbourg, specifically to have an opportunity for a night market. We took a coach about an hour from Strasbourg to the tiny town of Gengenbach.

Ahhhh. That’s better. Not too crowded and the prices were great. Beautiful medieval town that still lives and breathes and is not just for tourists. The market was a comfortable size to walk around and unlike Strasbourg many of the booths were locally made items.

Don’t miss: Gengenbach’s historic center is a protected area, part of Germany’s Timber-Frame Road. Gengenbach is a popular destination, famous for its well-preserved medieval old town and its unique tradition of turning the City Hall into the worlds largest Advent Calendar. The evening included live music and a Christmas performance by local children. This is much more what I expected from a European Christmas Markets with Viking River Cruises.

KARLSRUHE GERMANY

This day we squeezed in two excursions again. Waking up we found ourselves in port in the town of Plittersdorf. We boarded the coaches for the drive to Karlsruhe. Nicknamed The Fan City due to the street layout, Karlsruhe is home to the Karslruhe Palace. Built in 1715 by Margrave (Prince) Karl Wilhelm of Baden-Durlach it embodies his vision of newly found city.

Don’t miss: Karlsruhe has several markets, all very small. This was my least favorite stop of our cruise, however I give the prize for best decorated market booths to the market at Friedrichsplatz. For a small market each vendor had beautifully decorated and festive presence, each unique.

Baden Baden Germany

This optional excursion to Baden Baden was excellent. And possibly my favorite market, or at least in the top three, of the ten we visited. The UNESCO World Heritage site, Baden Baden is a famous spa town nestled in the Black Forest. Known for its storied history, luxurious spas and healing waters, elegant architecture and cultural vibrancy, it reminded me of a smaller Vienna.

Don’t miss – we really enjoyed our guided tour learning history of the popular destination in the 19th century where European royalty came to “take the waters”. Visiting the beautiful spa building, opera house, casino and enjoying the dozens of créche scenes were outstanding. Great food and items for sale, all surrounding a beautiful square and Christmas tree. The local cathedral, though not ancient is also a beautiful sight.

Heidelberg Germany

Next morning we woke up in Frankfurt. Since we had already enjoyed two days there (see earlier comments) we chose to do the included all day tour to Heidelberg. Although it was a long day, it was one of our most enjoyable.

A very cold day on Heidelberg’s Old Bridge

Heidelberg, Germany, boasts a rich history as the former capital of the Palatinate, home to Germany’s oldest university (founded 1386), and a symbol of German Romanticism, featuring magnificent castle ruins that survived major wars. Its story spans Celtic/Roman settlements, medieval growth, devastation in the Thirty Years’ War, a Baroque rebuilding, 19th-century cultural bloom, and its post-WWII status as a scientific hub, largely spared from bombing, preserving its historic charm.

Heidelberg’s Pyrimid was one of the best

Don’t miss – The Heidelberg old town is long and narrow and the Christmas Markets here are spread out throughout several different squares. The Old Bridge is a highlight and it’s an absolutely must to go up to the historic castle ruins overlooking the town. We also enjoyed a visit to the famous Kathe Wohlfahrt store, known throughout the world for Christmas items. A highlight of this day was lunch at a famous restaurant called Kulturbrauerei, where we ate with students from the Heidelberg University. A special treat to talk to them and learn their stories. Food was great too.

MARKTHEIDENFELD AND LOHR AM MAIN GERMANY

No excursions planned until afternoon on this day, so we actually skipped breakfast and caught up on our sleep. By this time in our trip we were both feeling exhausted, and a bit bloated from all the food! During the morning the crew provided some fun for guests including a Gingerbread demonstration and future cruise suggestions.

In the afternoon we arrived at the port of Marktheidenfeld. Our included excursion today we would visit the very small town of Lohr am Main, said to be the home of the women who inspired the story of Snow White.

Don’t miss – Lohr am Main’s Christmas Market was a very small one, but also very local and authentic. After a brief walk around the town, where we also learned about the Snow White legend, we spent some time at the market and purchased a beautiful wooden bowl from a man who actually made the bowl. This made me happy since so much of the items for sale at the markets are mass produced.

All the locals out enjoying the tiny Lohr am Main Christmas Market

Back to the ship in Marktheidenfeld we walked around the very tiny market here as well. Another historic and authentic medieval town with half timbered buildings, this market is only held one weekend a year and we happened to be here on that weekend.

WURZBURG GERMANY

Waking up in Wurzburg, we stepped outside on the small deck to discover one of the most beautiful sites of our entire cruise. Sunrise in Wurzburg on the Main River blew me away. It’s gonna be a good day.

Würzburg, Germany, boasts a rich history from Celtic settlements to a powerful Prince-Bishopric, a vibrant Jewish center, and a major Holy Roman Empire hub, known for its stunning Würzburg Residence (a UNESCO site) and Marienberg Fortress, though it suffered massive destruction in WWII bombings, with significant rebuilding efforts restoring its Baroque and Rococo charm, making it a significant cultural and academic city today.

These heart shaped mugs were worth bringing home

Don’t miss – many guests did a full day trip to Rothenburg, a gem of a medieval German city. But Arne and I had visited Rothenburg before, so we decided to stay closer to the ship and do a walking tour of Wurzberg. I am so glad we did. The market was good, but very similar to every other market, but I loved the heart shaped mugs. Wurzburg is also home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Bishops Residenz sometimes called the little Versailles. Our guide was amazing and we learned a lot about the history of the Residenz as well as the rebuilding of both the Residenz and the town after WWII. I enjoyed this day very much.

BAMBERG GERMANY

Many cities along Germany’s great rivers are known for their wine. Bamberg however is known for it’s signature beverage: rauchbier, a smoky beer made with malt that has been dried over wood fires. We chose to do an optional excursion on this day to taste and learn more about rauchbier.

Don’t miss – We were in Bamberg on a Sunday, so all the regular shops were closed. However our excursion included a brief history walking tour of this cute small town which is home to two rivers; the Main and Regnitz. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany not destroyed in WWII and retains a large selection of medieval structures in it’s Old Town. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

Our beer tasting was remarkable. We tasted FIVE different beers from Hellerbrau founded in the 15th century, learned the nuances and history of the choices and were served a remarkable spread of pretzels, brown bread and delicious meats and cheeses. All in a historic brewery/restaurant building from the 14th century. I am so glad we did this.

This ancient church used to be part of the fortification walls

NUREMBERG GERMANY

It’s our final stop on this Christmas Cruise! The ship arrived early in the morning and we have a full final day. My husband and I plan to stay in a hotel and enjoy one more full day in Nuremberg after we disembark.

I thought this ancient city was beautiful

Nuremberg’s history spans from a vital medieval trade hub and Holy Roman Empire center, known for art and printing, to becoming the symbolic heart of the Nazi Party with massive rallies and discriminatory Nuremberg Laws in the 1930s. Nuremberg famously became the site of the post-war Nuremberg Trials, which established international justice for war crimes.

Where we stayed- Avenue Hotel – perfect location

Where we ate- Tucher-Brau am Opernhaus this is an absolute must when in Nuremberg. Make a reservation. For lunch we highly recommend Bratwursthausle where you can sample the small Nuremberg style sausages. Be sure to get the potato salad too.

At Least Two Days in this City

Don’t miss – Nuremberg Castle and moat area, one of the only moats remaining in Germany. The first castle on this site was built under the Salian kings respectively Holy Roman Emperors (1027–1125). Today the castle offers an interesting look into the history of this region with a stunning view of the city that has built up below.

There are several markets in Nuremberg and we tried to hit them all. The main one is in front of the City Hall building by the famous Schoner Brunnen fountain.

The historic site of the Nuremberg Trials, Courtoom 600, the post-WWII Nazi trials that changed the world forever. Don’t miss this when in Nuremberg.

River walk – stunning way to enjoy the medieval architecture

We loved the fun Kinder market with the two story carosel

Underground tour of the historic rock cut cellars (fascinating). Handwerkhof Artisans Street, the Kinder Christmas Market (less crowded and full of fun animation), Weisgerbergasse street with the historic and authentic half timbered houses.

This city is beautiful, pedestrian friendly and full of fabulous restaurants and sites. I recommend it highly at Christmas time or anytime of the year.

European Christmas Markets with Viking River Cruises

Some final thoughts. Would I cruise with Viking again? Maybe. I’m just not sure group travel of this style is for us. That is not to say we didn’t have fun, but we prefer more independent travel.

Would we do the Christmas Markets again? Maybe. But only one or two. Markets are falling into the overtouristed categories, so if I were to go again I would carefully chose which ones and go as early in the season as possible.

My favorites of the markets we visited were; Nuremberg, Baden Baden, Heidelberg and Gengenbach.

Thank you for reading my long post European Christmas Markets with Viking River Cruises. I am happy to answer any questions you have about our experience. We always appreciate your pins, shares and comments. Thank you and have a very Merry Christmas!

Want to read about the wardrobe I packed for this 16 day winter adventure? Read my post Winter Wardrobe for European Christmas Market Cruise here.

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Europe Travel

Winter Wardrobe for European Christmas Market Cruise

Onboard Viking River Cruise

November 28, 2025

Laureen

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I’m finally doing a river cruise. Am I the last person on earth to try it? I know TONS of people absolutely love this form of travel, but it has not yet made it into our top choices. We have done several ocean cruises over the past four decades, but over the last nine years we have stuck pretty much to independent travel, with a tour thrown in here and there.

Viking River Cruises Modi. This is our ship.

And yet, I am intrigued by how many of my personal friends think river cruising is amazing. And so, why not? We booked a cruise from Basel Switzerland to Nuremburg Germany with Viking River Cruises. Our itinerary hits all the gorgeous European Christmas Markets along the way. I’ve wanted to do a winter Christmas Market visit for awhile, so lets go! Let’s talk about a Winter Wardrobe for European Christmas Market Cruise.

I’ve been dreaming about this for a few years! (Canva)

Packing for a Winter River Cruise

Over the past couple of years we have found ourselves in more winter destinations than when we first started traveling. But this is the first time I have packed exclusively for a winter destination. Although cruising is not the big fashion show with sequins and tuxedos that it used to be, there still is an element of casual elegance with warmth and comfort. I tried to figure out how to do carry-on bags only on this trip, due specifically to the issues with air travel right now. But, we have determined to check one bag and bring two carry ons, distributing our essentials amongst the three just in case. And I also expect to bring some fun gifts and souvenirs home! Here is what I have put together for 16 days of travel;

The Basics

I feel pretty good about this capsule wardrobe and its mix and match possibilities. I am bringing black pants, a black skirt, navy pants and my olive green corduroy pants. All of these are comfortable and easy to mix and match with multiple sweaters and tops. I have three blouses, five sweaters (red, burgundy, green, grey, black) and two long sleeve print t-shirts. I might remove one sweater…still thinking on it. Exactly how many sweaters does a girl need for a Winter Wardrobe for European Christmas Market Cruise?

Black Pants and my new long sleeve print t-shirt and green sweater

Black Skirt, Button down and grey cardigan

Black pants, black turtleneck and my trusty denim shirt

New sweater from Nordstrom will go with all of my bottoms

Black leopard print top works with both pants and skirt

I love these new olive corduroys I just got from Nordstrom. My choice over jeans

Emerald Green is a good color for me and works with black and navy

Corduroy’s with the Talbots t-shirt and grey cardigan

Shoes and Boots

We won’t be doing any hiking or running on this trip, but we will be doing a lot of walking. I have two pairs of sturdy, comfortable, winter walking shoes as well as one pair of black booties. No dressy heels made the cut. But my slippers did.

When we were in Italy I couple winters ago I bought these black loafers at a leather shop and they are hands down the best shoes I have ever worn.

Waterproof black booties are Blondo from Nordstrom and such a great winter walking boot

Keeping Warm

I am bringing my puffy jacket which is black and goes with everything. I am also bringing my Hele Hanson navy blue raincoat. The puffy coat fits under the rain coat if needed. One pair of gloves and three hats. Also an umbrella. We are expecting temperatures in the mid-30’s to the high 40’s fahrenheit.

I am bringing my comfy pajamas which I just purchased from the Vermont Country Store as well as my slippers. Gotta stay cozy.

One of the best purchases I ever made was this Navy Helle Hanson raincoat

Accesories

Scarfs are your friend. I wear scarfs more than I wear necklaces at home and when traveling. Scarfs are light weight and diverse. I have two large multicolor cotton scarfs and one warm fuzzy scarf for outdoors. I will pack just a couple of pairs of versatile earrings. Nothing of value.

Brand new Navy trousers from Talbots are so comfortable. Paired with this older red poncho I love

The Navy pants and this green sweater are so versatile

And the work horse of any good wardrobe, a denim shirt.

Underneath it All

Of course I have undies and bras, and I have been pretty particular about choosing socks that for me have been great for walking. I have one pair of tights and just for good measure I’m throwing in my silk long underwear. We hope to not need laundry service, and all my underthings are made for fast dry so I can do hand laundry when on the go.

Onboard I wear comfy but warm with layers. This is my airplane outfit.

Winter Wardrobe European Christmas Market Cruise

Keeping it basic with basic colors that mix and match, sturdy, comfy yet stylish shoes and functional outerwear. That’s my plan for for my first river cruise and my long awaited European Christmas Market fun!

I won’t be posting a blog about the cruise until we get home, but I hope you will follow along on Instagram and Facebook where I will post everyday starting tomorrow!

See last week’s blog post Time to Plan New England in the Fall, the final post of our October road trip. Thanks as always for following our world travels. Please share, comment and pin this post.

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North America Travel

Hidden Gems of the PNW – Ashford to Paradise

September 12, 2025

Laureen

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Location: Mount Rainier National Park Washington State USA

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest I had no idea what a little paradise I lived in. As kids we never do. Only as an adult and after traveling all over the world did I truly grow to love Washington State and the Pacific Northwest. Today is the final post in my summer series. I hope you enjoy Hidden Gems of the PNW – Ashford to Paradise.

A great place to hike in Mount Rainier National Park — Myrtle Falls, Paradise Mount Rainier National Park

Ashford – Gateway to Mount Rainier National Park

We had avoided hiking in Mount Rainier for most of the summer, due to how busy it can be. But as fall came a knocking we started visiting The Mountain again. We hiked on the Sunrise side of Mount Rainier National Park two weeks in a row. Then, we decided to spend three days in Ashford with easy access to the Paradise side of Mount Rainier. I am so glad we did, a perfect hidden gem.

Overnight lodging in Ashford — Whitaker’s Bunkhouse is one overnight option, and also a great place to have ice cream

History of Ashford

Ashford, Washington, was founded by Walter and Cora Ashford, who homesteaded there in the 1880s and platted the town in 1904. Named after the couple, Ashford became a railroad terminus for the Tacoma Eastern Railway, facilitating logging, mining, and importantly, tourism to the newly established Mount Rainier National Park. The impressive Ashford Mansion, built in 1903, served as a rural hotel and is a testament to the family’s success and the town’s connection to the park’s gateway.

Not many businesses in Ashford — Ashford General Store is small

Today there is not a lot to see and do in Ashford, except it is the perfect place to stay if you want easy access to the park. Ashford has a couple restaurants, a gas station and convenience store as well as a teeny market that does not offer much. But we came to stay at the Ashford Lodge.

Ashford Lodge

When I saw the vintage trailers that are part of the Ashford Lodge on Airbnb, I knew this was the perfect place for us. The Ashford Lodge has cabins as well as four vintage trailers set out in a field. Each trailer is authentically restored and includes a separate building next door for toilet and shower. We stayed in the Layla trailer, a vintage Shasta from the 1950’s. Layla is the largest lot of the four, and includes the biggest cherry tree I have ever seen, with a comfy hammock to enjoy.

The same trailer we had when I was a little kid. Somehow we slept six people in it in the 1960’s

We came prepared with enough food for our two nights and three days, and found the cooking set up reliable and the bed comfortable. We would certainly consider staying here again.

Paradise Lakes Trail

Mount Rainier National Park’s busiest area is definitely Paradise, home to the historic Paradise Inn and the very nice Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center (opened in 2008).No matter when you visit in the summer it will be busy though, and parking can be a challenge despite hundreds of parking spots. IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER Dogs are NOT allowed in the park, nor should you leave your pet in your car. Be smart and leave your animal at home.

We arrived about 9:30am on a gorgeous hot day, the day after Labor Day. The weather was hands down the hottest weather I have ever encountered at Mount Rainier, well over 80 degrees Fahrenheit at 7000 feet. The mountain too seemed to have the least amount of snow on it I can remember in my lifetime.

The Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center, Paradise

Lakes Loop Trail

We found parking pretty easily and headed out to do a hike called the Lakes Loop Trail that we had never done before. Our first stop was Myrtle Falls. Getting to the park early meant we were able to take some beautiful photos of Myrtle Falls before the crowds descended. Often this destination, only 0.5 miles from the parking lot, is crawling with visitors.

At Myrtle Falls before the crowds arrived

After Myrtle Falls we continued on the Lakes Loop Trail. It was hot. We walked and climbed and enjoyed the spectacular views. We ran out of water though, even though we were carrying a lot. We returned to our car where a welcome seltzer awaited in the cooler. Such a great day.

We had the Lakes Loop Trail all to ourselves

Back to Ashford Lodge and our cute little Layla where we enjoyed dinner I had brought from home and relaxed with a glass of wine.

Paradise Skyline Loop

The weather was going to be hot again, so we got up early and entered the park at 6:50am. We were on the trail by 7:20am. The Skyline Loop Trail is the most popular trail for visitors to Mount Rainier. We had done this hike once before and loved it. On this day we encountered few visitors in the morning, but by afternoon it was busy again.

Beginning the climb on Skyline Loop as the sun comes up

Wildfires in the region cause the sun to have an eerie glow

The Skyline Loop trail is not for everyone. It takes anywhere from 4-5 hours depending on your ability and speed. It’s just over five miles total but includes some uneven rocky surfaces and loose shale crossing as well as an over all elevation gain of 1800 feet. But the views are what everyone comes for. On this day however, the Pacific Northwest was experiencing heavy smoke from several forest fires burning in the region. Forest fires in Washington State are not uncommon in late summer, although this problem has gotten much worse with climate change.

At the top of Skyline Loop. You can see the hazy smoke in the valley below.

Some of Skyline Loop is very rocky and loose

Wildlife in Mount Rainier National Park

In addition to the spectacular views, spotting wildlife and birds is a favorite part of visiting this spectacular park. While hiking the Skyline Loop Trail we were thrilled to see several mountain goats (caution these animals are dangerous and people have been killed), dozens of marmots, pika, chipmunks and a new to us bird, the white tailed ptarmigan.

Four mountain goats napping just off the trail

Ashford and Elbe

There are a few other things you can do in Ashford as well as in neighboring Elbe. We visited the Ashford Creek Gallery, filled with art, pottery and historic images and books. We also really enjoyed visiting the Ashford Spirits of Iron Sculpture Park – home to a fantastic outdoor collection of art made from scrap metal. Very entertaining. Alder Lake is very close, although at the end of a long hot summer there was very little water in this reservoir lake. The water level changes seasonally.

We also made a brief visit to Elbe. Elbe grew as a logging town until the Alder Lake dam project in the 1940s flooded the valley. Today, Elbe is a small community known for its historic Elbe Evangelical Lutheran Church built in 1906, the Elbe Market Country Store, and its location on the route to Mount Rainier National Park, attracting tourists with its historic railroad depot, home to the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad. We wanted to have breakfast in Elbe at the Mount Rainier Railroad Dining Company to eat in a railroad car. Alas they don’t open until 11am. If you want to visit be sure to check hours on their website.

Elbe General Store and the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad

Hidden Gems of the PNW – Ashford to Paradise

There are other hikes and activities in the region and I definitely think we will come back again, stay in cute little Layla and explore even more of Ashford to Paradise. I highly recommend you do too.

My love affair with Mount Rainier continues…

Thanks for reading my final hidden gems post for summer 2025, Hidden Gems of the PNW – Ashford to Paradise. Learn more about Ashford and Mount Rainier at the Tacoma Pierce County Visitor Site. And check out lovely Layla at the Ashford Lodge here.

Reflection Lakes, Mount Rainier National Park

Did you see our post Hidden Gems of the PNW – Port Angeles and Olympic National Park? See more 2025 gems here;

Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Steilacoom

Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – The Mushroom House

Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Portland Oregon

Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Port Gamble

Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Tacoma

It’s been a great summer. More fun travel on the way! Thanks for your continued interest and support. We love it when you comment, pin and share our blog posts.

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North America Travel

Hidden Gems of the PNW – Port Angeles & Olympic National Park

August 22, 2025

Laureen

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When I was a child in the 1960’s I spent a lot of time on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. We hiked and camped throughout the peninsula and in the mountains and at the ocean too. My great-grandparents lived in Port Angeles, the official gateway to the Olympic National Park, and I have fond memories of their farm, about 15 minutes out of what then was a small city. At the time that farm seemed so big to me. I’ve driven by there a few times in recent years…it is small. So I have a history and thought it was time to go discovery the Hidden Gems of the PNW – Port Angeles & Olympic National Park

Glorious summer day in Port Angeles Washington along the Strait of Juan de Fuca

In the past few decades I have spent very little time in Port Angeles. We would ride our bikes on the Olympic Discovery Trail, (it too a hidden gem) but never actually stop in Port Angeles. So this summer, I had a great opportunity to spend a couple days getting reacquainted with “PA” while also enjoying time in the beautiful Olympic National Park. Here is my story.

Riding the Olympic Discovery Trail a few years ago just outside of Port Angeles

History of Port Angeles

Port Angeles, Washington, has a history rooted in its natural harbor and strategic location. The area was originally home to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. In 1791, Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza named the harbor Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, later shortened to Port Angeles. The town later became a gateway to the Olympic National Park.

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln designated land in Port Angeles as a potential location for the nation’s capital if Washington D.C. were to fall to the Confederacy.

Port Angeles Harbor is recognized as one of the largest natural deepwater harbors on the West Coast, with depths exceeding 90 feet, according to the USGS. The town is also known for Ediz Hook, a prominent 3-mile-long sand spit that extends into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Port Angeles has served as a backdrop for several films, including “The Hunt for Red October” and “Wyatt Earp”.

History of the Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park, established in 1938, has a rich history rooted in the protection of its diverse ecosystems. Initially, the area was designated as the Olympic Forest Reserve in 1897 to protect the trees. Later, parts of the reserve were designated as Mount Olympus National Monument in 1909 to preserve the Roosevelt elk. Finally, in 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill creating Olympic National Park.

In 1982 UNESCO designated Olympic National Park as a World Heritage Site.

The park’s history also includes the indigenous peoples who have lived on the Olympic Peninsula for thousands of years, as well as the arrival of European explorers and settlers. The park now protects a wide range of ecosystems, including temperate rainforests, alpine meadows, and rugged peaks, as well as a section of the Pacific coast.

Hidden Gems

Olympic National Park (one of three National Parks in my home state of Washington) is known around the world. My recent visit I encountered visitors from China, Germany, Belgium and Scandinavia.

But most visitors pass right through Port Angeles and continue on the loop through the Olympic Peninsula. That is a nice way to see all the sights, but you should also consider making PA your home base to explore the Hidden Gems of the PNW – Port Angeles & Olympic National Park.

Where to Stay

Of course Port Angeles has hotels, but I wanted something a little more down to earth, in keeping with my hiking itinerary. I was flying solo on this trip, so I chose to “glamp” in a teeny cabin about 15-20 minutes outside of the town. Best way to describe this cabin is camping with a bed. It was perfect.

Tiny cabin with comfy bed, great linens, even a TV though I never turned it on. Roughing it with the cooking and cleaning, a Blackstone was provided and dishes, but bring your own cooler. Sparkling clean sani-can and a wash-up area complete with mirror and beauty products. I enjoyed the gas fire pit too and all of this in a stunning setting surrounded by towering mountains and lots of deer. Interested in this little hidden gem? Learn about it here.

Port Angeles Hidden Gems

Though small, Port Angeles has a remarkable downtown area with fun and unique shops. I asked around for some ideas from friends of mine, and they steered me to lots of great retail stores –

Swains

This store blew my mind. I can’t believe I have never stopped in here before. It’s no exaggeration to say, whatever you might be looking for, Swains has it. I could have spent hours here, and will definitely make sure my husband visits this store on our next trip to Port Angeles.

Recreation to Garden to Housewares and even clothing and shoes

McPhee’s Grocery

As you begin the ascent out of Port Angeles towards the National Park, you will pass the tiny McPhee’s Parkway Grocery. In operation since 1937, McPhee’s is your last opportunity to pick up some snacks, fruit, beer or maybe an ice cream before you head out of PA.

Tiny but great service and product at McPhee’s

Port Book and News

Nothing makes my heart go pitter pat like a really good old fashioned book store with REAL books. I admit I read on my Kindle, because I can’t carry books around the world. But I love the feel of a book in my hands. Even the smell of the darling Port Book and News is nostalgic. Of course I bought a novel I have been wanting to read. You’ll see a book review about it soon.

Country Aire Natural Foods Market

Port Angeles’ version of a Whole Foods but so much better because it is all local. Country Aire Natural Foods Market has a great little deli, espresso and wine shop as well as beautiful produce and dry goods. Right in the heart of downtown Port Angeles with parking in the back.

Brocante Antiques and Collectibles

I think I get it from my Dad, who was the ultimate flea market and vintage store junkie. Proud to say I am as well. I was just strolling down First Street when I noticed Brocante. Wow. Another store you could spend all day in, looking for hidden gems amongst the various booths. I did not buy anything, but boy I came close to coming home with an antique cooler…regretting that a bit.

Brocante is a large store full of hidden gems in the heart of Port Angeles

Moss

I loved this store, and it was full of visitors. Moss is the place to find a perfect authentic and high quality souvenir or gift. Moss has beautiful things from cards to cardigans, hats to candles to camping gear. A little bit of everything in this high quality and beautifully displayed store.

Field Arts and Events Hall

Be sure also to visit the Field Arts and Events Hall, right on the water next to the Black Ball Ferry Terminal. This gorgeous building opened two years ago and has brought diverse artists and performances to Port Angeles. An incredible undertaking for a small town and an impressive and beautiful addition to this community.

Field Arts & Events Hall is a private 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization. The construction of Field Hall was made possible through the generous donations of Port Angeles locals Donna M. Morris and Dorothy Field, along with corporate and individual donors who value a vibrant arts community on the northern Olympic Peninsula.

This facility is really changing arts and culture on the peninsula. Check out the events schedule and definitely visit the building.

Let’s Go Hiking

Entrance fees to Olympic National Park are $30 per vehicle. If you are over age 62, you definitely should have the America Golden Eagle pass, $80 one time fee gives you national park entrance for the rest of your life.

Entering the park can be tricky in the summer when it’s busy. Go as early as possible, because once the parking lots are full, they usually will only let one car in as one car leaves. The early bird gets the worm. I’m always an early bird so it worked out great. Below is a list of the ONP places I visited –

Hurricane Ridge

When I was a little kid we would come here to go sledding, and this was also the first place I ever strapped on a pair of hand-me-down skis when I was only five. Today Hurricane is a destination for hikers from all over the world, and home to a lot of wildlife too. Unfortunately the historic WPA era lodge burned down a couple years ago, but there is a large parking lot and restrooms. Obstruction Point is also a jumping-off point for miles and miles of overnight hiking trails.

The Hoh Rainforest

I really wanted to visit here, because I can’t remember when the last time was. Today, visitors from all over the world make the Hoh Rainforest a destination for the beautiful Hall of Mosses and Spruce Trail and much more. Parking is limited. I found one of the last spots. Once parking is full the Ranger will hold the cars, only letting one in as one leaves.

All about the moss in the Hall of Mosses Trail

Sol Duc

There are several trails here but I only did the short, and accessible for most people, trail to Sol Duc Falls. Parking is also very limited here too. Many people park along the road. I was there on a Thursday in August and it was crowded. No services at this trailhead, but you will love this easy nature walk and beautiful falls.

Elwha River Trail

Not inside the park but in the National Forest, this trail meanders along the Elwha River, on a trail about 20 minutes from Port Angeles. The road into this trail washed out a few years ago. It used to continue up to the Olympic Hot Springs. Today you can drive to the washout and hike for miles along the old road. Today the hike is mostly on the old road but also on trails, with beautiful scenic options along the way. Hot Springs is a 20 mile round trip.

Back when cars could come here, there were services including gas

Lake Crescent

There are three trails I love near Lake Crescent, offering hikers of all levels options –

Spruce Railroad

The Spruce Railroad Trail is super easy, mostly paved or flat gravel old railroad bed with lake access and beautiful views. Full distance roundtrip is about 9 miles, but easy to turn around anywhere.

Visitors enjoy the access and view to Lake Crescent

Marymere Falls

An easy walk from Lake Crescent Lodge to this beautiful falls, about two miles round trip. Involves some stairs but accessible to most abilities.

Mount Storm King

I love this one though it isn’t for everyone. Mount Storm King trail is short but steep and narrow and it ends with a rope option for the brave. I usually park it on the rock near the rope and just enjoy the view from there.

Granny’s Cafe

Driving out 101 to the park entrances be sure to make a stop at Granny’s Cafe for their not-to-miss $3 giant soft serve ice cream cone. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, but the ice cream is what most people come back for again and again. Granny’s has been serving ONP visitors and the greater Port Angeles area since the 1950’s. It is the epitome of a Hidden Gems of the PNW – Port Angeles & Olympic National Park.

Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Port Angeles & Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park encompasses 922,651 acres, or approximately 1,442 square miles. This vast area includes diverse ecosystems like glacier-capped mountains, a rugged Pacific coastline, and temperate rainforests. It’s the 13th largest national park in the United States. So you can’t possibly see it in one visit. If you can, try to come several times, in different seasons to enjoy the hidden treasures it holds. And spend at least one of your visits in the Washington Hidden Gem of Port Angeles. You will be glad you did.

We had a friendly visitor on top of Storm King

Thank you for reading my post Hidden Gems of the PNW – Port Angeles & Olympic National Park. See my last post Road Trip Sunshine Coast British Columbia.

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Become a World Traveler

Travel to These Unexpectedly Amazing Countries

Why Go Where Everyone Else is Going?

July 11, 2025

Laureen

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“To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.” – Robert Louis Stevenson.

The question I get most often from people about our travels is “what’s your favorite country?” Honestly, I don’t love that question, because after visiting 147 countries, there are really only a handful I wouldn’t return to. Certainly, there are ones I like more than others…but choosing a favorite? Impossible. When I look back at all my travels, I find I am most fond of the countries that were unexpected for beauty, kindness, cost, culture, food and people. Some of our favorite experiences have been in lesser traveled destinations, where we met few other people like us. And today with over-tourism in places like France and Spain – finding the hidden gems is our goal and pleasure. So instead of telling you what my favorite country is, let me encourage you to travel to these unexpectedly amazing countries, full of adventure with fewer crowds.

EUROPE

I have visited almost all the European countries in Western, Eastern and Central Europe. There are still a few on my list. And though I of course have enjoyed time in the most popular countries like France, Spain and Italy, these are not on today’s list. You probably have also visited places like France, Spain and Italy, but have you considered travel to these unexpectedly amazing countries?

Poland

Why go to Poland?

Poland has everything the other European countries have, but it is so underrated as a destination. We spent three week traveling around Poland (by train) and loved it. The history, particularly WWII, is astonishing. The food (pierogies for the win!) is outstanding and the cities are gorgeous. Poland was home to Frederic Chopin, Marie Curie, Roman Polanski, Helena Rubenstein and many more. Poland has a rich arts and music culture, beautiful public squares, many performance facilities, and delicious food. Not all Poles speak English, but that adds to the charm of the place, and we absolutely loved all the wonderful locals we met.

Don’t Miss

Krakow for the beautiful square, musical performances, and a tour to Auschwitz. Don’t miss the small towns of Poznan and Wroclaw. Be sure to visit Warsaw to learn about the Jewish Ghetto and to see the public art. See posts I wrote about the amazing food of Poland here.

Bulgaria

Why go to Bulgaria?

We spent the month of June in Bulgaria early in the Grand Adventure travels. We chose Bulgaria because it is not in the Schengen so it did not count against our 90 Schengen days for other Europe countries. But we were so unexpectedly enamored of the food, the fabulous history and beaches. And it remains one of the least expensive countries we have ever visited.

Bulgaria has surprising Roman ruins that you can visit without any other tourists around. We met some of the most amazing people, who were so genuinely grateful that we chose their country. Even those we met who spoke no English were so happy to meet us, and hugging was not uncommon. Bulgaria, like many Eastern European countries has had many conflicts and political changes over the millennia. But the people take it in stride and are proud and patriotic. Bulgaria is popular with Russian tourists and we met only one other American couple during our 30 day visit.

Don’t Miss

Sofia the capital has incredible history right under foot. Veliko Tarnova was our favorite, a fabulous mountain town built hanging above a river. Great hiking there. And Sozopol on the Black Sea was gorgeous and the beach here was incredible.

Malta

Why Go to Malta?

Becoming more popular, but still under the radar, this island nation was such a big surprise. If you go consider spring or fall, not during the summer when it does get crowded. We stayed in the city of Valletta, which reminded me of Dubrovnik. It is a magical place. We rented a car a couple of days to get outside of Valletta and visit Peter’s Pool, Blue Grotto, Mdina & Rabat. We took a day trip to the tiny island of Gozo, which would be worth a longer stay if you had the time. Everyone speaks English, but Malta has its own language as well called Maltese. I would love to go back to this relaxing, beautiful and unique place.

Don’t Miss

Valletta is beautiful, has cheap and delicious food and wine. Read all about our wonderful visit here Marvelous Malta.

Georgia

Why Go to Georgia?

Last fall we visited the Eastern European countries of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan over a three week period. We loved them all but Georgia really settled into a place in my heart. We spent the majority of our time in the capital city of Tbilisi, with some incredible daytrips outside of town to see the mountainous beauty of this country. Everyone spoke English and the people were kind and welcoming. Georgia struggled after the fall of the USSR but has come back strong. Yet like many countries around the world, mine included, an authoritarian leader has emerged, and the people are once again fighting for their rights. I loved the resilience of these people and the patriotism.

Don’t Miss

The food. Unexpected and incredible, the unique cuisine of Georgia is one of the best in the world. I took a food tour and a wine tasting tour (their wine is incredible) and loved every mouthful. Be sure to visit the thermal baths in the city of Tbilisi and make the trek to Kazbegi and Gudauri – stunningly beautiful. Read more about why I love Georgia here.

Cyprus

Why Go to Cyprus?

Cyprus will forever be in my heart because of the many kindnesses afforded us when we were locked down on this island nation in the early days of the world-wide pandemic. We were very lucky to find ourselves stuck here, despite not being able to move around the island. Luckily we made friends and felt safe and had everything we needed. We loved the people so much, two years later we returned for a ten day visit without restrictions. Read about it here.

Don’t Miss

Incredible UNESCO heritage sites throughout the island. Beaches that rival anywhere. Take a tour and cooking class with Cyprus Taste Tours. Eat all the food that is much like Greek, but also very much it’s own. If you are so inclined, you can walk across the UN Protected Border to Northern Cyprus for lunch and then walk back.

CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA

There are handful of countries, mostly island nations, I still have not visited in Central and South America. But I have spent a lot of time in the most popular destinations like Costa Rica, Belize, Brazil and Argentina. But the ones I had my favorite experiences in were;

Honduras (Roatan)

Why Go to Roatan?

The island of Roatan, just off mainland Honduras, is not plagued with some of the crime and issues found on the mainland. And direct flights to the island from Miami are easy, skipping going through the mainland. We spent an entire month in the tiny town of West End, and loved the relaxed Caribbean vibe. Though the beaches in the town were not great, there are many beaches on the island that are remarkable. If you don’t have a car, it can be difficult to get groceries, but we found a driver who was helpful to us when we wanted to tour or to go to the super market. It’s a very laid back experience and worth a visit.

Don’t Miss

Do an island tour with a guide to hit the main spots around the small island including the most beautiful beaches, hidden restaurants and the local microbrewery. Other fun spots including Daniel Johnson’s Sloth Sanctuary and the Roatan Botanical Gardens. Read about our Favorite Things in Roatan here.

Guatemala

Why Go to Guatemala?

We enjoyed a self-guided three week tour of Guatemala, arriving by a small open air boat from Belize. Our visit included Lake Flora and Tikal Mayan Ruins. We adored Antigua and were witness to the spectacle of Semana Santa over Easter. And we left our heart in Lake Atitlan…one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I have ever been. The people are quiet and kind. Curious and welcoming. Few people speak English except in the cities, but we had no problems.

Don’t Miss

Gorgeous and historic Antigua is incredible. Do a walking tour, history tour and take a Cooking Class. Lake Flora and Tikal are incredible for the beauty and history. And sit back and relax for a few days at hidden Lake Atitlan. Read more what I loved about Guatemala here.

Bolivia

Why Go to Bolivia?

Long on my bucket list, Bolivia did not disappoint. A remarkable place. Difficult to get around as an independent traveler (but not impossible), we chose to do a group tour while in Bolivia. We have no regrets about that choice – Intrepid Travel and our guide made the experience unforgettable. I recommend it highly. Bolivia has its issues (like everywhere) but it is fast becoming a popular tourist destination. I recommend you go soon.

Don’t Miss

La Paz was astonishing and seeing the way of life at 12,000 feet is worth the trip. Hands down the best thing in this country is the Uyuni Salt Flats. Stunningly beautiful and indescribable . Reaching the highest altitude I have ever been at was worth it for the views, even though I was sick for a couple of days. Read more about our ten day tour and all we did here. Go to Bolivia!

AFRICA

The continent of Africa is huge, and incredibly diverse. Each of the 54 nations that make up Africa have their own cultures, foods, geology, history, language and people. No two are alike, and it’s one of the reasons we have enjoyed visiting this continent on several occasions. I encourage you to travel to these unexpectedly amazing countries –

Namibia

Why Go to Namibia

When we get the question “What is our favorite country?”, we often list off a dozen or so, and Namibia is always on that list. We had one of our most favorite travel experiences in Namibia. We hired a guide from Wild Wind Safaris to take us for ten days around this remarkably diverse country, and we loved every minute of it. From ocean to mountain to the best safari of our three, Namibia has it all. Learn about our Safari here. Learn about the rest of Namibia here.

Don’t Miss

Everything about Namibia was incredible. If you don’t have ten days though, do a shorter tour and don’t miss Etosha National Park (mind blown) and the astonishing Sossusvlei Dunes. Otherworldly.

Madagascar

Why Go to Madagascar?

Oh My Gosh – it is awesome. The people in Madagascar are generally very poor, but they are also the hardest working people I have ever met. Other than in the very large and crowded capital city of Antananarivo, we felt so safe and welcome. The reason to visit Madagascar is for the incredible nature and wildlife – particularly the lemurs, found nowhere else in the world. We did a private tour (there are so many tour companies to choose from) and really felt we saw a lot of the country in ten days. However, there is much we didn’t see, and I would love to go back. Read here about why I am Mad about Madagascar.

Don’t Miss

Most tours will take you on generally the same route. You definitely want to see Avenue of the Baobabs (also called Baobab Alley), and lemurs, lemurs, lemurs! I had no idea there were so many different kinds. I also LOVED all the chameleons, and others: lizards, insects, butterflies and birds. Be sure and have your guide take you on a night walk – fascinating!

ASIA

Central, East and SE Asia all have a wide variety of culture and people, and the food is also incredible everywhere you go. I loved Vietnam and Japan and Indonesia but I encourage you to step out of the box and consider:

The Stans

Why Go to the Stan Countries

Okay so what are The Stans? When I refer to The Stans I am talking about the five Central Asian nations of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. We visited all five of these countries on a 28 day tour with Intrepid travel last fall. I LOVED IT! I was worried about a 28 day tour but Intrepid is so great, our guide was incredible and each of these countries offered all that I dream of in a destination. History, culture, nature, beauty, food….and so much more. Did I have a favorite? Nope. But Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan definitely stand out.

Don’t Miss

The incredible cities of Samarkand and Khiva in Uzbekistan. The night market in Khujand, Tajikistan. Hiking Charyn Canyon and Issyk Lake in Kazakstan, Skazka Canyon and eagle hunting in Kyrgyzstan. Check out Intrepid’s tours to this remarkable region of Asia. I can’t say enough good things about the experience.

Borneo

Why Go to Borneo

We made a quick visit to Borneo from Malaysia (where we spent a month) specifically to see the endangered orangutans. We stayed at the incredible Sepilok Forest Edge Resort, right next door to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. Not a zoo but a place for endangered orangutans to come, at their own free will, to get additional and much needed nourishment. Seeing these creatures, not behind fences, but walking around the wild was so astonishing. I loved it so much.

Don’t Miss

Don’t miss the Sepilok Orangutan Center, and the nearby Labak Bay Proboscis Monkey Reserve. Both incredible. I highly recommend staying at the Sepilok Forest Edge Resort, and if it’s the season, sign up for an evening firefly boat ride.

Philippines

Why Go to the Philippines

I have to say, our month on the Philippine island of Panglao was one of the most unexpectedly pleasant places we have been anywhere in the world. It was our first time in the Philippines, and we really had no expectations. What we found was sunshine, inexpensive restaurants, kind people, beautiful beaches and THOUSANDS of scooters.

Don’t Miss

One of our most astonishing days on Bohol was visiting the Philippine Tarsier Foundation Sanctuary and getting up close and personal with the endangered, fascinating and teeny Tarsier. Our other absolutely do-not-miss thing is snorkeling with a guide off of Napaling Reef on the NW side of Panglao. One of my favorite snorkeling experiences ever.

OCEANIA & SOUTH PACIFIC

Sometimes overlooked and misunderstood, this vast area of 14 island nations is difficult to get to, thus less touristed. But so worth it. Australia and New Zealand, two of our favorite countries, are totally worth visiting. And many people do visit, despite how difficult they are to reach. Although we are not planning to see all of the islands in this region, we do hope to visit a few more in the years ahead. So beyond Australia and New Zealand you should consider something completely different;

French Polynesia

Why Go to French Polynesia

Often mistakenly referred to as Tahiti, the island nation of French Polynesia is made up of 118 islands, one of which is Tahiti. We spent seven weeks on the island of Moorea, with a quick three days on Bora Bora. I loved the laid back island vibe of Moorea, even though there isn’t much going on. We hiked, snorkeled, relaxed, ate great seafood and loved every day. Moorea is a big dive destination too.

Don’t Miss

Moorea can be reached by ferry from Papeete, Tahiti where the international airport is. But to access other islands there is also a small airport on Moorea. We loved our food tour, learning about the unique local cuisine, a mix of many immigrants and islanders. I also took two cooking classes with CookLab Cooking School, and we loved a day trip to Coco Beach.

Papua New Guinea

Why Go to Papua New Guinea

A caveat. This country is not for everyone. It was not a pleasure cruise. Papua New Guinea has lots of issues from crime to poor water and bad infrastructure. But, it also has one of the most ancient cultures still remaining on this planet. It was eye-opening to attend the annual Goroka Festival, where more than 100 tribes descend to spend a weekend dancing and celebrating in their native costume. I will never forget it.

Don’t Miss

The Goroka Festival. Hands down one of the most incredible cultural experiences of my life. Village visit – make sure you have a tour that will take you into the villages to see this ancient way of life on this remote island. Our tour also included some amazing bird watching excursions – and we saw the elusive bird of paradise. It’s far from five-star hotels and first class dining, but it will make you a better person.

Travel to These Unexpectedly Amazing Countries

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Unknown.

We have worked hard, given up a lot, but have no regrets about the travel life we have created. I know some of the places we visit are not for everyone. But I implore you to consider travel to these unexpectedly amazing countries. Choose wisely in this time of both political and travel unrest. Be courteous and kind to host countries, and be aware of the impact you are making. The world is huge. There are so many undiscovered places to visit, many without millions of other tourists crowding the sites and restaurants. Be an explorer not a tourist. Just go.

Thank you for reading my post Travel to These Unexpectedly Amazing Countries. See last week’s post Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Port Gamble Washington. Be sure to see our special collaboration offer with GPS My City at Travel Smart and Easy with GPS My City.

PLEASE NOTE – we are heading out for the first of two North American road trips this summer. I will be posting regularly on Instagram but will not have a blog post on Friday for a few weeks. Wednesday Book Reviews will continue. Follow us on Instagram here.

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At Home -- North America Travel

Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Steilacoom

And The Bair at The Bair Drug & Hardware, Steilacoom

June 13, 2025

Laureen

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Summertime! In the summer we enjoy our time at our tiny house located on the Kitsap Penninsula in Washington State. It’s a respite from world travel, and a place we re-energize and prepare for winter travel. My husband and I both grew up in the great Pacific Northwest and when we are here we make a point to get out and be tourists in our own backyard. A few years ago this prompted my local series of blog posts. So today we begin again with Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Steilacoom.

Where is Steilacoom?

Steilacoom is a small city in Pierce County surrounded by Lakewood, Tacoma, and DuPont, as well as Joint Base Lewis-McChord on it’s North, East and South borders and the Tacoma Narrows waterway on the west. This historic little village is only about 2 square miles and has a population of around 7000. It is about two miles from Chambers Bay Golf Course. From where I live in Port Orchard Washington we travelled about 40 minutes over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to make our way to Steilacoom.

History of Steilacoom

The Town of Steilacoom website explains;

Steilacoom was founded twice in 1851. Two land claims were filed in this best place on the South Sound, as Captain Lafayette Balch established Port Steilacoom with a 315-acre donation claim on January 10, 1851, and the lawyer John Chapman filed his own land clam for the adjacent 312 acres in October of the same year and named it Steilacoom City.

The two were merged by act of the Territorial Legislature on April 22 of 1854, but are still divided by Union Avenue, where the angle of the streets changes.

The Steilacoom Tribe was an independent group inhabiting a geographic area now known as the Tacoma Basin. There were approximately 600 Steilacoom Indians living in five bands within the basin. They spoke a separate subdialect of the Puget Sound Salish language. Unlike their closely related neighbors, the Puyallup and the Nisqually Tribes, the Steilacoom did not have a glacier-fed river within their territory for freshwater resources. The principal feature of the Steilacoom territory was a group of spirit-inhabited lakes.

Steilacoom is home to many “firsts” in the region, and you can discover a wonderful self-guided walking tour to learn more about the history with the help of the city’s Steilacoom Walking Tour.

Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Steilacoom

This was not our first visit to Steilacoom; we used to ride our bikes from Gig Harbor to Steilacoom on sunny days. Today we traveled in my ’67 Mustang, as a weekend day trip we try to do as often as possible.

Our main destination on this day was The Bair at The Bair Drug & Hardware, a fabulous little breakfast and lunch spot in an incredibly well- preserved historic building built in 1895. Most of Steilacoom is made up of beautifully well-kept residences (many historic), but there are also a handful of businesses and restaurants. The Bair can get busy on a sunny summer day, but the wait is usually not too long. On the Saturday we visited, we walked right in.

The Bair is like a museum inside. Great coffee too.

You might also enjoy the Steilacoom Taproom and the always popular Topside, with great views of the Narrows.

Recommend

Steilacoom is small, and there is usually lots of parking. Stroll and enjoy. Walk down to the ferry dock where the Pierce County ferry to Anderson Island operates. Here you will also see the old train depot and likely see a train fly by…as they do about 70 times a day. If you are in Steilacoom on the weekend, visit the Historical Museum (open Saturday and Sunday afternoons).

Orr Wagon Shop Steilacoom Historical Museum

Steilacoom is home to several parks you can enjoy, and if you have time a visit and stroll on the paths at Chambers Creek Regional Park next to Chambers Bay Golf Club is fun. Just a short drive away.

With my ’67 Mustang at Sunnyside Beach Park Steilacoom

Thanks for reading my post Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Steilacoom. Make a visit to this hidden gem, and definitely don’t miss The Bair at The Bair Drug & Hardware. Stay tuned for more hidden gems coming up. Read my last post Traveling in France by Rail here.

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Europe Travel

All Aboard! A’bord de dans! Traveling in France by Rail

May 16, 2025

Laureen

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We spent nine days traveling in France by rail from Bordeaux to Paris on board the SNCF, the French rail service. We visited Lyon, Dijon and Luxembourg before reaching our final destination of Paris. Train travel in Europe is an excellent way to go, but be aware! We made a few mistakes and learned a few things. Here is a recap of our nine day trip – All Aboard! A’bord de dans! Traveling in France by Rail.

Bordeaux

After four weeks living in Bordeaux we packed up and left with regrets. We truly loved our time in that wonderful city and we will definitely return. The morning we left to begin our traveling in France by rail adventure, our train departed at 6:00am…so the Uber arrived at 5:00am.

Bordeaux to Lyon Six Hours

Since we travel for extended periods we are not light packers, and this is the main drawback of traveling by rail. Several of our trains, including this first one, we were seated in the upper deck. It’s not an easy task dragging bags up the narrow stairs. Additionally the luggage racks are not big. On our first trek there were several cyclists, but no bike racks. Some trains do offer racks for bicycles. But on this first train the majority of the luggage space for our first leg was taken by bikes, leaving us with minimal options for our luggage. First lesson, when traveling in France by rail pack light.

We watched the sun come up and Venus rising too out the window as we headed to Tours where we would change to a different train. I immediately realized how much more you see from a train than when traveling by car. Miles and miles of gorgeous farmland and tiny villages.

Traveling in France by Rail

But before reaching Tours we encountered our first problem about traveling in France by rail. Let me explain:

We had purchased a France-only Eurail pass via the Eurail app. The pass we selected (about $200 per person) was good for four days of train travel – with the understanding that, for the high-speed trains we planned to travel on, a separate purchase of a reserved seat was required. After purchasing the reserved seats through the SNCF app, we got a ticket showing the reserved seat. The mistake was in thinking that this was our complete ticket – it’s not! It only shows that we had paid for the seat reservation – an additional step of validating the Eurail pass (via the Eurail app, NOT the SNCF app) for travel on that date and train is necessary. So when the ticket inspector approached, we showed him our seat reservation tickets, but he also wanted to see the validated Eurail pass – we had the pass but not the validation – he was not happy – in fact he was very rude. He let us go, without really explaining what we had done wrong, or if we needed to do something more. We were left confused.

Lyon

Arriving in Lyon for two nights, we made the right decision to stay at a hotel (Campanile Lyon Centre) next to the Part-Dieu train station. Lyon has two train stations (Perrache and Part Dieu) so make sure you book near the correct one. The train station is also the metro station, so we did not need to drag our bags into the old city. We love a good Metro, and Lyon’s was great.

We had two days to explore Lyon, which really wasn’t enough time but we hit the ground running. The weather was excellent.

We spent most of our time in Vieux Lyon (Old Town), and we used GPS My City to follow two different walking tours on our own. Over the two days we walked ALOT.

Day One

The city sits at the confluence of two rivers (the Rhone and the Saone), thus many bridges, and there is also an upper city. On day one we started with the upper city. We took the funicular (included in your Metro ticket) up to the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral with outstanding views over the city below. We wandered down through the botanical gardens and then around to the Theatre Gallo Romaine. The Ancient Theatre of Fourvière is a Roman theatre in Lyon. It was built on the hill of Fourvière, which is located in the center of the Roman city. The theatre is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting the historic center of Lyon.

We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring shops and food in the old town. We tasted the famous Lyon bright red pralines and dipped into one of the famous chocolate shops and enjoyed delicious treats.

Day Two

We love using GPS My City and we combined several options to spend the entire day exploring Lyon. We started with one of the most beautiful food markets I have ever seen, Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse. You could spend the entire day here.

Moving on to Place Bellacour, visiting the Little Prince statue and then Place de Cistines, Lyon’s stunning 200 year old theatre.

Place Bellacour is Europes largest public square

So Much to See

We did a lot of climbing on this day visiting Lyon Cathedral, Place de Jacobins, Place de Terreaux. La Tour Rose and the Montee des Chazeaux steps. Eventually we crossed the river on the beautiful Passarelle Saint-Vincent pedestrian bridge and using GPS My City we found the Fresque de Lyonaise, a mural depicting historic figures of Lyon. We enjoyed a lovely stroll along the river on a beautiful day.

It’s a scavenger hunt to find La Tour Rose, but worth it.

There is much more to Lyon, and we will need to return for another visit. After a quick refresh at the hotel, we headed back to Rue Saint-Jean, the main old town shopping street for dinner at the famous Chez Grand-Mere. An underground restaurant where I enjoyed a Lyonnaise dish called quennelles. It was delicious.

The city has many gathering places of beauty and heritage

Dijon

Next morning we had an easier departure time of 11:00am. We said our farewells to Lyon and boarded our next train.

Lyon to Dijon Four Hours

Alas we encountered another problem when the ticket steward came along. This time we had a woman who was sympathetic to us being novices, and she took a great deal of time to explain to us in detail what we had done wrong…something the first rude guy did not do. She was very helpful even though we had to pay 50 Euro due to our mistake….not having completed adding the specific date and train to our Eurail pass via the Eurail app. But we felt confident we finally had it right. She told us this is a common mistake…and the added costs can be much more than she charged us. So be aware!

Bonjour Dijon

Arriving in Dijon we were met by our American friends who live half time in Dijon, and the other half in the USA. It was a great treat to have them as our escort on our first day. It was about a 15 minute easy walk from the train station to old town. After checking in to the hotel (B&B Hotel Dijon Centre) located in a great location of the old town, we headed out to explore.

With only two days in this great city, it was nice to have “locals” to give us the scoop on the best things to see and do. We walked throughout the old town, as they shared with us their favorites and suggested things for us to do on our own on day two. We ended our day with our friends at a little hole-in-the-wall place they love called La Cave Se Rebiffe. Essentially a wine bar with a huge wine menu and a tiny food menu. We ate charcuterie, terrine, pasta and blood sausage with lots of great local wine from the Burgundy region.

Day Two

Day two we hit the ground running on our own. We headed first to Liberation Square for photos of the famous Ducal Palace. The Palace of the Dukes and Estates of Burgundy or Palais des ducs et des États de Bourgogne is a remarkably well-preserved architectural assemblage built in the 15th century. Today it houses the City Hall and the Beaux Arts Museum. We headed to the tourist office to obtain a 12 euro ticket to climb the Phillip the Good Tower later in the afternoon with a guide. That tower climb really was one of my favorite things in the city.

History, Food, Wine, Oh My

Next we went cathedral hopping – Dijon is a small village with an astonishing number of cathedrals. The Notre Dame Cathedral and its famous (somewhat hidden) owl sculpture, has become a symbol of this city.

We loved the Rue des Forges and the beautiful half timbered houses, many currently being lovingly restored and preserved. We made our way to the world famous Edmond Fallot Mustard shop. Fallot is the only remaining family-owned and -operated mustard factory in the Dijon region. I have been buying this brand of mustard every time I’m in France for the past twenty years. So delicious. I stocked up for gifts and for myself.

Palais des ducs et des États de Bourgogne

Since many businesses and restaurants are closed on Monday in France, we asked our local friends for a dinner suggestion. They said Parapluie (translation: umbrella). We made a reservation not knowing anything about this restaurant, and ended up being absolutely charmed by the chef’s choice menu, incredible wine selection, outstanding service and the unexpectedly reasonable price. I highly recommend.

We woke up early on our departure day and walked over the the Halles de Dijon. It had been closed on Monday so we wanted to see it briefly Tuesday morning before we left. One of the best food halles in France. Such a variety of local delicacies for sale. Next time I will spend an entire day there.

I could easily have spent another three or four days in this lovely, walkable, delicious medieval city. I hope to be back.

Luxembourg

Traveling in France by Rail

Our train to Luxembourg left about a half an hour late, which apparently is unusual when traveling in France by rail. But we eventually got on our way and luckily this time, no issues with our ticket! However, please note if you are traveling on the France-only Eurail pass, you need a separate ticket for the last leg from the final stop in France into Luxembourg. We did not change trains, but we did need two separate tickets (nobody checked, but we did not want to risk it!).

Dijon to Luxembourg 3 hours

The tiny country of Luxembourg gave us our 148th country, and what a lovely place it was. The only constitutional duchy in the world, it is often referred to as the Grand Duchy. A constitutional duchy is a territory ruled by a duke or duchess, but where the ruler’s powers are limited by a constitution. The duchy itself is the territory or domain, while the ruler’s title is the dukedom.

Luxembourg City is much larger than Dijon and we took a cab from the train station to our hotel (Hotel Vauban). I loved the location of our hotel right on Place Guillaume II, and perfectly situated in the old center. We were happy to be here for two nights.

Get Your Walking Shoes

Luxembourg City and the lower village of Gund are all quite walkable. But if you don’t want to go up and down the hills, take advantage of the FREE public transportation (tram and bus). We however enjoyed walking everywhere as we usually do.

There is a lot to enjoy in Luxembourg so we dropped our bags at the hotel and headed out to explore. We took our time leisurely walking through the beautiful medieval old town, before arriving at the Bock Casemates – a must-see when in Luxembourg. The Bock Casemates, a subterranean defense system made up of kilometers of tunnels, is today one of the most important visitor sites in Luxembourg. These underground galleries were initially carved in the 17th century, under Spanish rule, and subsequently twice extended.

Next we did a lovely walk down in the lower village known as Gund, stopping for a cold drink at the Good Weather Bar, only open in good weather! From the outdoor bar and on our walk we enjoyed picturesque views along the Alzette River. It truly looks like something out of a fairy tale. We made our way to the city’s oldest brewery, now a restaurant, called Big Beer and had a giant and delicious early dinner. Luxembourg has it’s own cuisine that leans a bit more German than French but also all it’s own. The pork knuckle was as big as my head. We continued our Gund walk to the Panoramic Elevator of the Pfaffenthal. A free elevator that takes people back up to the upper city with great views too.

Day Two

We woke up and looked out the window of our room to find a weekly market set up on the square in front of the hotel. So we started our day walking through and admiring all the fresh items for sale. Next we walked over the Pont Adolphe bridge and back over the La Passerelle bridge, in an effort see all angles of the beautiful city, before meeting our free walking tour.

A variety of old and modern bridges keep Luxembourg moving

Free Walkingt Tour

We do free (tip based) walking tours in many cities, and this two-plus hour tour was really exceptional. We visited the palace, the old fish market, Saint Michael’s Cathedral, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Monument of Remembrance and walked along the stunning ancient Chemin de la Corniche. You could easily visit all these on your own, but having a local guide to explain the history, give restaurant tips and insider information is always worth it.

After the tour we were starving so we headed to one of the city’s best restaurants for local cuisine, Brasserie du Cercle. I wanted to try the local dumpling dish called Kniddelen and Arne had a potato pancake with pork called Gromperekichelcher. Both were great. It was a hot day and the local Luxembourg beer was a perfect match.

After an afternoon of shopping for gifts and treats we had a rest at the hotel before dinner at Um Dierfgen. We were still full from lunch but we enjoyed a light dinner including the local seasonal specialty of white asparagus.

Luxembourg’s famous Chocolate House Nathanal Bonn

It was a whirlwind tour of this beautiful place and I am so glad we made the time to visit Luxembourg City. But now it’s time to head to Paris.

Paris

Of course we have visited Paris before (a few times) but we always look forward to seeing this beautiful city of lights. So back on board we go!

Luxembourg City to Paris Three Hours

Arriving in Paris at Gare de Est we decided to take an Uber rather than wrangle our bags on the Metro. But we used the Paris Metro the rest of our time and it is such a great metro system.

Since we have been to Paris many times, we decided to not do all the major attractions, except we really wanted to see the newly reopened Notre Dame.

Parisians enjoying a sunny May Day bank holiday

Our hotel, (the Hotel Le Compostelle), was in the Marais neighborhood, and we spent our first afternoon wandering and enjoying the sites and sounds and smells of the Marais. We were there on a holiday (May Day) and all the Parisians were out enjoying the fine spring weather. We then met our good friends who live in Paris at a restaurant called Acme and it was incredible! One of the best meals we have ever had in Paris. Multi course, chef’s choice dinner with an amazing wine pairing. We ate, sipped and talked well into the night, sitting outside on a warm night. Parfaite!

Day Two

Next morning we were up early (thank you coffee) because we had a reserved time to enter Notre Dame. I highly recommend getting a reserved time if you will be in Paris during the busy season. You can go on the Notre Dame website at 12:01 am two days before you want to visit and reserve a time. You can also wait in line, but the line can sometimes be hours long, so we recommend reserving a time. I loved seeing the new Notre Dame, it has been so lovingly restored and it is stunning. Don’t miss it.

We spent the rest of this day wandering and enjoying our favorite sites including Jardin de Luxembourg, and views of Tour Eiffel. I wanted to visit two iconic Paris shops for souvenirs – Marin Montagut and La Grand Epicerie de Paris. We also visited Rue Montorgueil, a new-to-us area of Paris with so many restaurants. Here we had a perfect Nicoise Salad and wine for lunch at Les Artizans. Back to the hotel for a rest and then out to an amazing dinner at Grand Coeur. Wow the beef tenderloin for two was incredible. Highly recommend.

Day Three

The forecast said possible late afternoon thunderstorms but the day dawned bright and blue. We took the train outside of the city to the stunning and new-to-us Parc de Sceaux – a hidden gem just outside of Paris. Here we met a group of women from a Facebook walking group I am in, and spent the next two hours talking to them (most expats from United Kingdom) and exploring this stunning park. Such a joy.

Back into the city to meet our friend again to explore the Carnavalet Museum, one Paris museum we had never visited. I heard great things about this museum, and we only had two hours which was not enough. We really enjoyed the historic presentation and will check it out again on our next visit.

Expect the Unexpected

Just as we were getting ready to leave the museum, we witnessed one of the most astonishing weather events of my life. In a matter of minutes the weather changed from blue sky and sun to black clouds, fierce wind and golf ball size hail. It hailed so hard and so much the hail piled up on the street like snow. Luckily we were not caught outside because people were injured and many cars and outdoor venues were damaged. Trees were down. It was wild and crazy.

Not only was it our final night in Paris, but it was our final night of this four month, seven country journey. We were tired and ready to head home. But we enjoyed one last Paris meal at Au Bourguignon du Marais This famous restaurant is a bit touristy, but it was close to our hotel and we had a good meal and also enjoyed visiting the two oldest houses in Paris just down the street. The medieval half timbered houses on the Rue Francois Miron are the only ones remaining in Paris, built in the 15th century.

Rue Francois Miron timbered houses still in use

Traveling in France by Rail

Five cities in nine days using the France Rail SNCF… was a fun experience. Easy and efficient the train also provides a relaxing trip, with WIFi and the most amazing views. I would definitely do it again, but with smaller suitcases. You should consider traveling in France by Rail.

We had a very early Uber ride to Charles de Gaulle for our flight back to the USA and our summer home in Washington State. Merci France. We loved our five plus weeks enjoying your culture, food, wine and history. Au Revoir. Abientot!

Thank you for reading my post All Aboard! A’bord de dans! Traveling in France by Rail. Be sure to see our post My Favorite Day Trips from Bordeaux and last week’s post What’s Next for My Fab Fifites Life. Over the next few weeks I will continue to have Wednesday book reviews, but will take a wee break from writing travel content. I promise to return soon.

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At Home

What’s Next for My Fab Fifties Life

May 9, 2025

Laureen

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I always get this question as we wind down any long adventure like the one we have been on. Four months and seven countries, we have really had one of our favorite travel experiences. But, it’s back to the USA now, so let me tell you what’s next for My Fab Fifties Life.

Silver Falls in Washington — Silver Falls, Mount Rainier National Park Washington State

Home to Washington State

Home Sweet Home. I love our tiny house we call Villa de Verano and I am looking forward to working in my yard. We have a couple small projects around the house this summer…in our never ending effort to upgrade this thirty-five year old home. I am especially excited to see my kids and delve into helping with wedding plans for the upcoming fall nuptials. It will be great to be home – we love summer in the Pacific Northwest.

Ten Days in British Columbia

If our Canadian friends will still allow us entry, we are headed to British Columbia for a road trip. We made these plans many months ago and well, things have gotten a bit crazy since. But it is our intention to visit Canada in July, our first time back in that beautiful country since before Covid.

Cross Country to Upstate New York

In late September we plan to drive cross country to the destination of our sons wedding. Along the way we hope to visit friends in Michigan and Illinois and do some fall leaf-peeping in Vermont and New Hampshire before the wedding. Possibly a quick visit to Maine before returning to the Pacific Northwest by late October.

Viking River Cruise on the Rhine

Jumping on the river cruise bandwagon, we will do our first river cruise the week after Thankgiving. We are not huge cruise fans (although we have had some good ones and will likely cruise again) but a river cruise is new to us. Many of our friends have enjoyed this activity so we will give it a try. Our seven day cruise starts in Basel Switzerland and goes up the Rhine to Nuremberg, with a Christmas Market focus.

And that will wrap 2025

We will finish the year at home for the holidays with our family. Departing January 1st we begin our next adventure. 2026 includes Cuba, Mexico, Jamaica or Panama as well as more of Europe and Scandinavia. This is all still developing so more on all of this later.

In the meantime, I have one more France blog post next week, then I plan to take a little break from posting for a few weeks. Time to enjoy my family, my friends and my home. Summer in the PNW is one of my favorite things in the world. Thanks for reading my post What’s Next for My Fab Fifties Life. Come back next week to read about our week of train travel in France. See last week’s post My Favorite Day Trips from Bordeaux. Merci!

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Europe Travel

My Favorite Day Trips from Bordeaux France

May 2, 2025

Laureen

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Bordeaux. It’s the wine and a whole lot more. During our month-long visit to Bordeaux we rented a car for one week, giving us easy access to some of the beautiful villages outside the city. Even if you visit Bordeaux for only a few days, try to get outside the city. Here are my suggestions for My Favorite Day Trips from Bordeaux France.

Take a Tour

You do not need a car to get outside of the city. There are many tour options, and the train also goes to many locations. If you are short on time, I recommend a day trip with Olala Tours. We joined a tour with Olala early in our visit to Bordeaux that took us to Saint Emilion and to the Margaux Medoc region. This was a great introduction to the nuances of Bordeaux regional wines. We loved the tiny medieval village of Saint Emilion so we chose to go back there later with the car.

In Margaux Medoc region on our Olala tour

Wine tasting in the Margaux Medoc region

My Favorite Day Trips from Bordeaux France

We had the car for a week and we made five trips outside of the city during that time. We had beautiful weather on four of those days. Here are my recommendations;

Saint Emilion

Drive – It is about an hour drive to Saint Emilion, longer depending on traffic. We did not have any problem finding parking at 10am, but the lot was full after lunch.

Train – the train takes less time, but drops you about a mile from town. A walk or bike ride on to Saint Emilion is required.

What to do – Saint Emilion is one of the most famous wine regions in the world, with more than 800 wineries in the small appellation -you can’t possibly visit them all. Bordeaux’s famous red wines are made from a blend of grape varieties, with Merlot being the dominant variety, and also including Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are known for their rich, full-bodied and complex character, with good aging potential.

Be sure to book AHEAD for the guided tour of the Monolithic underground church

Start your visit walking around the beautiful village for amazing views and shopping and coffee or lunch. Book in advance to take a tour of the amazing Monolithic church, only accessible by tour. No photos inside, but take my word for it – it is definitely worth it. If you don’t have a car, enjoy a tasting at one of the many wine shops in the village.

Tastings

With a car you must wander out into the miles and miles of vineyards and experience wine tasting with the wine masters of the Saint Emilion appellation. We visited three wineries and I recommend each one for a completely different experience; Chateau Chauvin (we visited with a tour), and on our own Haut Rocher and Chateau Saint Georges. Booking ahead is recommended.

Haut Rocher in the same family for 800 years

Saint Georges beautiful Chateau and gardens and massive storage facility

Lunch in the vineyard at Chateau Chavin with Olala Tours

There are many tours available from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion. This is an absolute not to miss day trip from Bordeaux on your own or with a tour.

Saint Emilion’s oldest timbered house and original stone gate

Arcachon and Dune du Pilat

Drive – Arcachon is less than an hour by car west to the Atlantic ocean. Plenty of parking available.

Train – The train from Bordeaux will drop you in the center of Arcachon, but to visit Dune du Pilat you need a car or tour.

What to do – We started our visit at the Les Halle des Arcachon to indulge in Arcachon’s world famous oysters. Oysters and seafood are two of the main attractions to the region. If you love them as we do you must visit. We also did a self guided walk along the beach promenade, and hiked up the hill to admire the 19th century mansions and the view back down to the town. If you are interested there are boat tours out to the small outer islands. We did not do this.

The Dune du Pilat is an amazing not to be missed sand dune about 40 minutes to the south of Arcachon. I was blown away by the size of this natural phenomenon that juts up from the sea, Europe’s tallest dune. Learn more about it here. It’s a fun hike, accessible by stairs if you don’t want to crawl up, and the view is worth it. I highly recommend visiting Dune du Pilat if you can. So fascinating.

Some people take off their shoes and walk up

Bergerac

Drive – a bit further afield is the beautiful medieval village of Bergerac. It took us an hour and half to arrive in Bergerac. We easily found paid parking

Train – the train takes about the same time as driving and it is an easy 1km walk from the station into the historic center.

What to do – Bergerac is in the Perigord region, outside of the Bordeaux region. We visited on a Monday, when many things are closed, but we found some shops and restaurants open for visitors. We did a self guided tour of the village, famous for the ancient timbered buildings, many currently being carefully restored and protected. I really enjoyed the beautiful river walk, and views across the Dordogne river. We sat outside at a tiny cafe (such a French thing to do) and had great food, wine and service.

Visit Bergerac for the ancient timbered buildings most still in use today

Feels like the French town in Beauty and the Beast

After lunch we drove about twenty minutes outside town to Chateau Monbazillac An ancient Chateau built in the 16th century with fascinating story you can learn on a self-guided immersive tour. The tour includes a glass of wine (this area is known for sweet whites) in their tasting room. It’s worth it for the views and gardens too. So peaceful.

Although it is farther, I recommend visiting Bergerac. The history was incredible. You could combine Bergerac and Saint Emilion but it would be a very long day.

Cape Ferret

Drive – headed west again Cape Ferret is a beautiful oyster producing region about an hour and twenty minutes drive from Bordeaux.

Train – really not an option

What to do – we were blessed with excellent weather (actually hot) and our Cape Ferret goal was to hike. We started at the end of the road (La Pointe du Cap Ferret) where there was a small parking lot and restroom. We did a loop walk along the ocean hiking through both wooded area and ocean beach for a total of five miles. The Cap Ferret lighthouse (‘phare’ in French) is a beacon in the distance, but was not really our destination although it is open for visitors. We sat on the beach just east of the lighthouse, ate the picnic we had brought from home, and watched many brave souls enjoy a brisk ocean swim. There are many small oyster restaurants as well as places to buy fresh oysters to take home. From this side of the bay you can look back across to Dune du Pilat (see above).

It would be possible to combine Cap Ferret with Arcachon if you had a car and were open to a very full day.

La Reole

Drive – We drove in a rain storm about an hour and twenty minutes. Part of the drive is on highway and part is through pretty little ancient villages and vineyards

Train – the train is faster, about 45 minutes, but drops you a few hundred meters outside of the village

What to do – unfortunately the day we went to La Reole we got caught in a total monsoon. Our goal was to visit the Saturday morning market (8am-1pm), touted as one of the best markets in all of France. We did visit, but in a deluge. There is a big parking lot just west of the market, which is located along the Dordogne river. We made our purchases from a butcher, poulet producer, and fruits and vegetables vendor. Across from the market there is a public elevator that takes you up to the medieval village. We managed to only see a little bit of this ancient town though, as it really was not possible in the storm. What we did see was beautiful though and you should give it a try.

Lots of shoppers despite the wet weather

Looking from the upper town down to the market and river

You could combine Le Reole with a Saint Emilion day or a visit to Cadillac.

And There is More

We did visit Margaux Medoc with the tour we took, but I wished we could have had another day exploring the wine region of Medoc because it is more than just Margaux. I also had hoped to visit Blaye and Cadillac…those will need to wait for our next visit.

Beautiful gardens at Chateau Saint Georges

There are many destinations within easy access from Bordeaux if you wanted to do an overnight trip. We did not, but I would definitely consider this on our next long visit to the region. Toulouse is about two and half hours by car. Cognac is about two hours by car. Spain’s Basque region is less than three hours by car. Everything about this region is historic, delicious and beautiful. I want to live here.

Southwest France

Southwest France and the Bordeaux region are not as well known as some of France’s other destinations, and that of course makes it more desirable for me. Less expensive, less crowded but still interesting, delicious and fun. I learned more about wine during our visit to Bordeaux than I had in all my life. Everyday was fascinating. It’s time to consider the Nouvelle Acquitane region of France for your next travel adventure. J’ai adoré. A bientôt Bordeaux. Merci!

Please note -. Road Construction and train services change frequently. Please do your research for the most current information.

Thank you for reading my post My Favorite Day Trips from Bordeaux France. See last week’s post Discover Bordeaux France and Bountiful Bordeaux, Eating My Way Through the City here.

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