I’ll probably mention this throughout my coverage of Portugal, mostly because I find it so strange, but until a few weeks ago I had never visited this small but fascinating country. I suppose by itself that’s not such a bizarre anecdote, but given my own intense and life-long love of Europe and the frequency with which I find myself there, I find it odd. Regardless, I finally managed to visit when I took a river cruise with Viking Cruises along the Douro River. Since it was my first time, I decided to arrive in Lisbon a few days early to adjust to the time difference as well as to begin my Portuguese wanderings in earnest. The way I tackled this new city was somewhat of a departure for me, so today I want to share the approach I took, what I experienced and why ultimately I walked away in love with Lisbon.

Slowing Down

Normally when I travel I plan every detail to the last minute and, not surprisingly, that almost always killed whatever potential for fun was involved. I approached this trip from a different point of view. Maybe it’s the influence of that yoga practice I recently started or the fact that 2019 wore me down mentally and physically, but I had no desire to race around Lisbon. I bought a simple guidebook and did about 10 minutes of online research, but that’s it. No binders, no color-coded tabs – nothing that even hinted I was involved with the trip. The results were also not so surprising, I enjoyed every second of my time in the city. Slowing down doesn’t mean I didn’t do and see a lot, I did, it just meant that I went into the experience with a different outlook which, in turn, improved everything else. I felt no desire to do it all, since I knew it wasn’t possible. Instead every day I picked a different part of town, took the metro over and just enjoyed it. Again, this is how most normal people travel but for me it was a revelation.

The first day I took the metro, which is easy to use and inexpensive, to the historic heart of the city to wander, visit famous sites and start my introduction to Lisbon. This included a tram to and from the city’s famous castle, a spot that offers incredible views across Lisbon. But it also meant doing things that were a little kitsch, like visiting the Time Out Food Market which, although amazing, caters to tourists and foreigners. I didn’t really care about that though. It didn’t bother me that I wasn’t trying to be Anthony Bourdain as I delved into the city. I liked the Time Out Food Market because it features great cooks and menus from around the city, all conveniently gathered in one spot. I easily sampled many classic Portuguese dishes, but I also returned later on to get a pizza. No guilt was attached, I was on vacation and enjoying every second of it.

A final positive attribute to slowing down was the ability to be spontaneous. No longer tethered to a schedule or timetable, I was able to do what I wanted when I wanted to do it, and even switch things up at the last minute. That’s how I found myself somewhat unexpectedly spending the day in nearby Sintra. A very popular day trip for visitors to Lisbon, when I was doing my initial research I didn’t think I had time to go. But then once I arrived, and after everyone – everyone – I met in Lisbon told me that it wasn’t to be missed, I decided to hop on a train and venture out. A very easy 45-minute trip outside of Lisbon, in spite of some wet weather it was a wonderful day out of the city and a fun new place to explore. Travel should be about those spontaneous moments, ones that for many years have sadly eluded me.

Relaxing in Style

This slow style of travel was facilitated by where I stayed during my pre-cruise adventures in Lisbon – the Corinthia. One of the luxury mainstays in Lisbon, even though the Corinthia has a long history in the city, the entire hotel felt fresh and new. It was also the ideal spot for me to relax and just enjoy myself. I arrived into Lisbon in the mid-afternoon, and since it was early December I only had a couple hours of daylight left. Coupled with extreme exhaustion from jet lag and a long trip, I made the very unusual decision for me not to do anything touristy that day. Instead, I devoted what remained of that first afternoon in Lisbon to relaxing and self-care, all facilitated by the Corinthia.

The hotel features 518 guestrooms and suites, 76 of which are Executive Club rooms on the top floors. Settling into my spacious Junior Suite, I very quickly made good use of the Executive Club Sky Lounge not only for the one of a kind views, but for the many amenities offered there, most notably fantastic food and a generous supply of drinks. My room itself was very much a haven throughout those first days in Lisbon. Very well appointed with every amenity one would expect from a great luxury hotel, it was honestly one of the most comfortable rooms I’ve enjoyed in a very long time. What ultimately helped me relax the most though was totally unexpected – the Spa at Corinthia Lisbon. One of the largest in Europe, this incredible spa is not at all what I expected to find. This massive 3,500 square meter facility has everything anyone needs to decompress properly, from just about every treatment imaginable to a relaxing Aqua Therapy Facility the likes of which I’ve never seen before. When coupled with the room and fantastic hospitality, the Corinthia Lisbon not only helped me relax, but set me up for success as I slowly explored Lisbon.

Mindful Travel

All of this leads to one thing, a more mindful way of traveling. Several months ago I did one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself – I started attending a yoga studio on a very regular basis. I’d never tried it before, but it always interested me and I was excited to try something new. What I honestly didn’t expect was what it has done for me mentally in addition to the physical benefits. My brain has always raced a million miles a minute and I have always, always, found it difficult to de-stress and relax. In fact, I had just resigned myself to a life of always being on edge. That’s not healthy and it’s my yoga practice that has since put me on a path towards a certain level of both mental and physical peace. This necessarily translates to all aspects of my life, including travel. Racing around a new city just doesn’t make sense to me anymore and it certainly doesn’t sound fun. Instead, I looked to friends and others and was inspired by their travel style; namely, enjoying themselves. It sounds weird, but for far too long I’ve approached travel as a job and not always as something I love passionately. You can imagine the results; I had begun to fall out of love with travel. Lisbon was a chance for me to see and do exactly what I wanted and when I wanted to do it, which has in turn had amazing effects on my state of mind. I enjoyed my time in Portugal more so than any other long trip in recent memory and it reawakened that basic, innate love affair that I have always had with travel. I’ll explore these themes in a longer post, but I wanted to share it here to demonstrate how much it transformed my experience in Lisbon.

When I first started writing this post I thought I’d include 4-5 places to visit, a few things to eat and so on. I’ll probably do that at some point, but I first wanted to share the process through which I enjoyed and ultimately fell in love with Lisbon. Anyone can look up museums in a guidebook, but understanding the practice of travel is a much more nuanced concept and much more important than visiting the major attractions in a new city.

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There are certain places around the world that seem to be on every Must-Visit list, featured on TV shows and in movies and attract an unlikely high number of travel writers and bloggers. I’ve never really figured out the reason, but they exist and Lucca is one of those rarefied cities. Locate in Italy’s romantic Tuscany region, I remember first hearing about Lucca while watching an episode of “House Hunters International.” Ever since then, and after thousands of times reading about it, I’ve wanted to visit, to see if it really is as special as the world seems to think. I recently had that opportunity, while visiting Tuscany as part of a Viking oceans cruise of the Mediterranean. While docked in Livorno, one of the optional excursions was to spend an independent half-day in Lucca, an excursion I booked as quickly as I could. It was a fantastic and convenient way to visit this remarkable city and to discover what, if anything, makes it so very special.

Lucca

Like so much of Italy, Lucca is impossibly old, first coming to life before even the Romans. Surrounded by mountains, forests and farmland, arriving into Lucca fulfills the collective wish for what Tuscany should be like. In addition to its age, it also seems like Lucca has always been an important city. As a hub for trade, religion and scholarship, Lucca has long been one of Tuscany’s key cities and still is today really. One reason why I selected the “on your own” excursion to Lucca instead of an escorted tour was that I wanted time to explore the city on my own and in my own way, trying to discover what makes it tick. The excursion offered by Viking was exactly what I wanted. They provided the transportation, along with a guide who answered any and all questions on the way, but once we arrived we were let loose to do whatever we wanted. It was a chilly morning a week or so before Christmas and I was bundled up as I set off down one of Lucca’s many side streets to see what all the fuss was about.

The layout of the city still reflects the medieval age and Lucca is today perhaps most famous for its fully intact city walls that still encircle it. The Lucca walls though are completely unlike any other I’ve seen before in Europe. Instead of a narrow walkway high atop the city, the Lucca walls are large and expansive, very much a kind of urban park above the city. More ramparts than walls, once the city decided they really didn’t need them for defense in the 19th century, they did something very few other cities managed. Instead of tearing them down, they expanded and enhanced them. They planted trees and grass, which is why today the city is completely encircled by this tremendous green space. It’s remarkable and so rare that as soon as I spent some time walking the walls, I understood why they alone attract so many curious visitors.

Lucca is about much more than just its walls though, and armed with a handy map I was excited to discover more of the city. Nine in the morning though in Tuscany means that I very much had the city to myself, at least at the start of the day. I used that time to do an initial walk around the old town, stopping off for some hot coffee and to try the city’s local bread, a strangely sticky raisin bun covered with a bitter anise glaze. The morning light radiated off the ancient buildings, creating flashes of brilliance, capturing the city in a fiery glow. Walking past Roman amphitheaters and plazas, churches and cathedrals, I stopped into a few to admire the art and offer my respects. In the main square, the market was starting to come to life as stall owners methodically displayed their wares. I felt unsettled though, the city, while beautiful, and I still hadn’t connected and I certainly didn’t understand its meteoric rise to travel and tourism fame. So I did something I try to do whenever I can, I climbed.

I always love getting a bird’s eye view of new cities I visit and I was well rewarded in Lucca when I climbed the 230 steps of the Guinigi Tower. Originally built in the 1300s, this is one of the last remaining towers within the city walls and has one peculiar feature – a garden on top complete with oak trees. But of course the views stole the show, providing me with a 360-degree look over the ancient city of Lucca and the gorgeous countryside surrounding it. I was all alone and quickly got lost in my thoughts, reminding me of why I love to travel so very much. It was then and there that I connected with Lucca, gazing out upon its entirety and feeling the beautiful weight of the centuries. I could’ve stayed up there all day, but the wind and freezing temperatures forced my hasty retreat into the warm embrace of the closest café where I slowly regained feeling in my hands with even more coffee and a fresh pastry.

Overall Feel

I sat in that café for quite a while, watching people come and go as the incredibly kind owner welcomed each and every one. Reluctantly, I noticed the time and quickly made my way back to the main square to catch my ride back to the Viking Star. Standing there, I noticed that since my arrival the city had come to life. The streets were packed with people enjoying last minute Christmas shopping, buying dinner table centerpieces, and wandering in and out of local churches to say a quick prayer. In the corner of the square was a mechanical fortuneteller, exactly like the one in the movie “Big.” I couldn’t resist and plunked in a Euro to get my fortune. The card returned was in Italian, but after translating it I noticed a particular line that resonated with me: “You will go far and see much.” It’s a simple line, fairly generic and most likely printed on hundreds more identical slips. But it was a message I needed to read, a message I needed in order to feel reassured. Working for oneself is a constant battle against self-doubt and at that time and in that place, the universe knew I needed a gentle pat on the back and provided me with just that.

I left Lucca that afternoon gazing wistfully out of the coach window, having indeed fallen for the city. But it wasn’t the walls or churches that did it, no, it was something intensely more personal. Lucca became a restorative experience for me, reminding me of why I love this weird job I’ve created so very much and the passion for seeing the world that has been at the center of my identity for as long as I can remember. So yes, do visit Lucca when you’re in Tuscany, but do it for yourself. Do it to discover the power that a beautiful place can have on our souls and do it to remind yourself what makes this weird thing called life so intensely special.

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I’ve been on a number of river cruises over the years, mostly in Europe traveling along rivers in Hungary, Austria, and France to name a few. With these experiences under my belt, I thought I knew what to expect before joining Viking River Cruises on a cruise along Portugal’s Douro River. I did not. No, due to the peculiarities of the river and the very special destination that is Portugal, a river cruise experience on the Douro is a singular event, totally unlike its cousins across the continent. Since I was surprised by, well, almost everything, I thought today I would share what some of those differences are and what makes the cruise experience not just unique, but incredibly special as well.

Pre-Cruise in Lisbon

Several river cruise companies operate on Portugal’s Douro River, but few include time in Lisbon beforehand. Sure, they have options to pay for a pre-cruise experience, but on the cruise I took with Viking it was part of the total trip and, therefore, wasn’t an extra charge. For me, that time in the capital city was essential and a highlight of the trip. It was my first time in Lisbon and I couldn’t wait to get out and explore the city. What I discovered quickly became a new favorite destination, from the incredible architecture to the food and the remarkably kind people. Viking made my time there easy as well with transfers, lots of staff on-site to help and answer questions and a 5-star pre-cruise hotel on one of the city’s major thoroughfares. No matter how you ultimately decide to experience the Douro River though, having that time in Lisbon is, I think, important.

Recurring Theme of Porto

Cruises start and end in Porto, making this popular tourist destination an important part of anyone’s cruise experience. I didn’t know a lot about the city before arriving, but I had read dozens of accounts by fellow writers all lauding the ancient city, many even naming it the best in Europe. A natural skeptic, I went into my time there with some initial detachment, but I too fell for the allure of Porto. Porto is one of Europe’s oldest cities, founded in the 300s by the Romans and it’s Porto that eventually lent its name to the country of Portugal itself. Walking around the hilly city on a guided Viking hike, I found it impossible not to be charmed by the colors and sights of the historic center, while also trying to catch a view of the important Douro River whenever possible. I had plenty of time on my own in the city as well, and I used that time to delve even deeper into Porto’s neighborhoods and history, while also eating a fair amount of local delicacies along the way. Yes, Porto was another highlight of many for me on my Douro River Cruise, but I know I’m not unique in that feeling.

The Ships

I have sailed with Viking many times in all corners of Europe, and I have come to know and love the design and amenities onboard their signature Longships. So it was with a lot of surprise that I first stepped onboard the Longship docked in Porto, because, while beautiful, this was not the Longship I have come to know so well over the years. The Douro River is navigable only due to a series of locks, not unlike many other European rivers. The key difference in Portugal is the size of these locks. They’re different than on the Danube or Rhine, which means the ships must also be different. The result is a fleet of “Baby Longships” that only sail on the Douro River. They have the same general layout, the same design aesthetic and other amenities as one would find across Viking’s fleet, but they’re decidedly smaller, or intimate.

At once though I was a convert; I loved almost everything about these particular Longships. They carry fewer people than the traditional European river cruise ships, about 100 people or so, and this decrease in the manifest made the experience a lot more fun. I became friends with more people on this river cruise than any other, and I attribute that entirely to the more intimate setting. Add to that the same size staterooms and a pool on the Sun Deck and I was almost immediately won over.

Food & Wine

A big reason why many people choose to take a river cruise on the Douro River is for the wine, and Porto provides a hint as to why. Although wine has been produced in Portugal for more than 2,000 years, Port wine didn’t come about until the 1600s. I won’t go into what is ultimately a long story about the relationship between England and Portugal, but suffice it to say that their diplomatic friendship is the oldest in the world and Port wine has played an important role in this relationship for centuries. I’d like to say that fortified Port wine came about in some romantic fashion, but the truth is that the Portuguese developed it to better match the tastes of the English consumers. Eventually this wine, which was shipped from Porto (hence, Port wine) had brandy added to the juice during fermentation, creating a stronger and sweeter wine that was a perfect match for the palate of wealthy English clients.

That history of Port wine is well-celebrated not only in the city of Porto, but all along the Douro Valley. Naturally, Viking provides plenty of opportunities to experience this unique wine in both included experiences as well as optional excursions. Food and wine isn’t only relegated to Porto, throughout the week passengers learn about the other wines produced in Portugal, along with the delicious food traditions that, when paired together, create meal experiences that are truly unforgettable.

Local Communities

Yes, Lisbon and Porto are amazing, but there’s a lot more to Portugal than its largest cities. The opportunity to visit small towns and villages isn’t just a perk of a Douro River sailing, it’s a reason why I love river cruising in general. Many times we visited spots I would never have discovered on my own, and my trip was made all the better for having experienced them. A great example on my sailing was the morning spent in Favaios. A very small community, it has long been known for its moscatel wines, which is where the Viking passengers started the day. Visiting a local winery, we learned all about the wine making process, before tasting some of their best vintages of course. From there we visited a local bakery to learn about and try the town’s equally famous four-cornered bread and ended our visit with a walk through the village and a stop at the local wine and bread museum (yes, really). Afterwards the Viking passengers were taken to another local winery for a long and leisurely lunch that was as much fun as I’ve had in a long time. Put all together, that day spent in a very small village was special, certainly unique and nothing I would have discovered on my own.

European river cruises have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years for a variety of reasons and, from my experience, it’s well deserved attention. The cruises on the Douro River though are completely unlike others I’ve experienced, in all the best ways possible. So if you’re considering a river cruise but also looking for something a little different, I highly recommend learning more about the itineraries and programs Viking has put together on the Douro River.

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I don’t normally write holiday themed posts, but I felt particularly inspired this year so I thought I’d share some of my favorite romantic spots around the world that I almost guarantee aren’t on any top ten list. They may be a little unusual, but hopefully it proves that romance and romantic travel is more about the person you’re with than it is a few palm trees and a beach.

Dome of the Reichstag in Berlin

I have found few urban settings as beautiful as the dome of the Reichstag in Berlin at sunset. The massive glass dome offers a 360-degree view of the city and if you are there at the right time of day, then you’ll see Berlin in a way you never thought possible. The mirrored cone in the middle of the dome directs sunlight into the building and offers visitors a rare glimpse into government at work. This was done purposefully, to show that the people should always be above the government and not the other way around. Free, timed tickets have to be reserved in advance, so make sure you get them early to share that romantic moment with your loved one.

Hiking in Antarctica

Granted, this isn’t an every-year kind of tradition, but I found the beauty and serenity of Antarctica to be romantic in a rough and tumble kind of way. While there are many spots around the icy continent that would be perfect for a romantic moment, one island in particular took my breath away – Orne Island. Looking out across the icy waters it finally hit me that I was on the bottom of the world, I was in Antarctica. The scale was enormous, people looked like mere specks amongst the canvas of white. We weren’t alone though, also resting on the mountaintop were penguins, thousands of them. This colony called Orne Island home, trekking to and from the waters below to get food to feed their hatchlings. Sitting there on a rock, drinking some water and watching as a penguin walked a foot away, not at all caring about my presence was a special moment – one that would be perfect to share with someone else.

Winter Fun in Finnish Lapland

In general, Finland isn’t typically known for its romance and that’s particularly true in the far northern reaches of the country in the Lappish city of Rovaniemi. I think though that if you venture up when it’s still dark and cold you not only experience the region the way it is meant to be experienced, but that it can be a very romantic trip as well. Rovaniemi is most famous as the home of Santa Claus, and that should definitely be on your agenda, but for something special be sure to seek out one of the many secluded and rural cabins and sauna found in the woods of Lapland. With some new friends, I trekked out to a cabin in the middle of nowhere, a remote place hidden amongst the deep woods. There we spent the night without electricity or running water, just each other’s friendship to warm us through the night. The highlight of my evening was learning the proper way to take a traditional Finnish sauna, an experience I guarantee would be more romantic if you were there with your significant other.

Floating Above the Serengeti in Tanzania
While the remote grasslands of the Serengeti may not be on your romantic travel to-do list, a certain experience there is one of the hallmarks of romantic travel moments – a hot air balloon ride. Floating high above the mighty Serengeti, we saw a different side to the African bush impossible to otherwise replicate. Mere feet from the road, yet invisible thanks to the tall grasses, was another world hidden in plain sight. Lions devouring breakfast, hippos sleeping in the water and more zebra and wildebeest than I ever thought possible to exist were all right there, unknowingly providing a show to the people flying over their heads. The hour flew by, but in those 60-minutes we enjoyed a collection of memories so powerful and so vivid, I know I’ll never forget them. Add in the glass of bubbly at the end, and I can’t think of a more perfect romantic moment to share with the special love in your life.

Tidal Basin, Washington DC

As a Washingtonian, I have to include my home city but I think it deserves its spot on this list. At the right times of year, Washington can be a beautiful and incredibly romantic city. Granted, this isn’t usually in February, but you can still get out there and enjoy some private time with your partner and see some of the country’s most famous sights in the process. While there are many places in Washington I’d put on this list, one of the most romantic has to be a walk around the Tidal Basin. Made most famous by those amazing photos taken during cherry-blossom season, I personally think it’s a beautiful place to wander no matter what time of year. The Tidal Basin is also at the heart of the Washington experience with the Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and the FDR Memorial all standing adjacent. It’s here that you start to understand and appreciate the history of our country and it’s made even more memorable if you experience it with the love of your life.

On Top of the World in Hong Kong

I love Hong Kong, a city that never ceases to surprise and delight, but not for the reasons you might think. It’d be easy to put together a Valentine’s Day full of shopping, eating and spa treatments, and while that’s all fine, for me one of the most romantic spots is in the highest hotel in the city (and the world.) The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong calls the island of Kowloon home and it’s the perfect spot to see the beautiful Hong Kong skyline in all of its glory. It’s also the tallest hotel in the world, which means the views from lounges and even your room are mesmerizing and perfect to create special memories with your significant other. To add in a little more romance, be sure to enjoy dinner at one of the hotel’s award-winning restaurants – high end dining in the highest hotel.

What other unlikely romantic spots would you add to this list?

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I like quirky places, destinations that are a little different or unusual and, in most cases, the world’s smallest countries all fall neatly into this category. Usually formed due to a complex and politically unusual history, these microstates have embraced their stature, showing a fierce pride in what is ultimately a very small piece of real estate. I’ve had the great pleasure to visit many small countries around the world, including these personal favorites.

Malta

The quirky island nation of Malta in the Mediterranean has a long and important history, but it’s one not many people actually know a lot about. Long considered by Europeans as a sunny getaway, others from around the world are learning about this small country not just for its beaches and turquoise blue waters, but also for its art, architecture, cities and incredible history. Personally, there’s nothing I enjoy more in Malta than roaming the hilly streets of the capital city, Valletta. Whether it’s incredible harbor views or delving deep into the history of this colorful island, there’s plenty for all types of travelers to enjoy.

Monaco

Located on the French Riviera, Monaco fulfills our collective dreams of what this swanky part of the world should be like. What immediately attracts most visitors is Monte Carlo and its famous casino. Drawing the well to do for generations, the massive building still has the air of wealth and exclusivity, but there’s a lot more to the microstate than roulette. The old town of Monaco is what interested me the most, wandering past the Prince’s Palace and along quite side streets, it was only then that I started to connect with the country. But there is no doubt that all of Monaco feels as if it’s sprinkled with fairy dust, and to pretend you’re part of that elite community, even if just for a few hours, is well worth the visit.

San Marino

Enveloped by Italy near the coastal city of Rimini, San Marino is very much a real life fairy tale. This small speck of land calls a series of mountain peaks home; castle forts perched high above the surrounding valley serving as intimidating sentries. Most people only visit San Marino as a day trip from other areas in Italy, all eager for their opportunity to walk into that fairy tale. Visits to San Marino tend to be brief. It’s small, there’s only so much to see and do and for me, the hilly walking got a little annoying after a few hours. But there’s also no denying the travel magic contained within the city walls. Sure, most of the shops are touristy, but they’re in traditional buildings, ones that have been there for centuries. Walking along the winding streets, it’s very easy to imagine yourself in a San Marino of years gone by and you start to appreciate what life must have really been like. There are very few places left on this Earth, much less in Europe, where you can really and truly get this sort of perspective and it is for that reason more than any other that San Marino lives on as a place of enchantment for everyone who visits.

Vatican City

Rome is amazing and any first time visitor worth their travel salt will include some time in Vatican City. Thanks to its incredible history and importance, the Vatican fascinates me and I always find myself wandering around when I visit the Eternal City. For something a little different though, be sure to book a special Scavi tour. The Vatican Necropolis, or Scavi, is located directly beneath the immense St. Peter’s Basilica and contains everything from the Papal tombs to Roman cities of the dead. To visit you can book tickets on your own, which wasn’t the easiest process when I did it, but is well worth the hassle. The entire tour was an hour and a half, but it seemed like ten minutes. We wandered through all of the various levels of excavation, navigated uneven ground previously trod upon by Roman nobles. Included in the tour is an entire Roman city street and necropolis complex. It was incredible to peer through doorways and imagine the city two thousand years earlier.

Luxembourg

I honestly didn’t expect a lot from my brief visit to Luxembourg. It was a stop en route to somewhere else, but as so often happens, Luxembourg quickly became a new favorite destination of mine. Let’s be clear, Luxembourg is not a microstate. It is not Andorra or San Marino or the oft-confused-with Lichtenstein. Although it’s not big (999 sq miles with half a million residents) it’s big enough to have more than one city with actual things to do and see, unlike the other European microstates. Naturally though the most popular, and likely also the most interesting, is the capital Luxembourg City. Recognized by UNESCO for the important role it’s played in European history due not only to its strategic position within Europe, but also to the fact that it’s one of the largest fortresses on the continent. A few days is really necessary to properly enjoy the country, a surprisingly fun country to visit hidden quietly away in the middle of Europe.

Any Island

I love islands, but not for the reasons you might think. While the beaches and palm trees are always nice, islands tend to be quirky and interesting, full of local traditions and weird histories. They are floating small towns and I love learning more about them. This year, I think it’s important to visit the many small island countries of the Caribbean, as a nod of support following the devastating hurricanes of 2017. Much of the Caribbean was left unaffected by the hurricanes and even those islands hardest hit are already welcoming back tourists. Make 2018 the year that you visit, contribute to the local economies and help this beautiful part of the world get back on its feet.

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Playing with Wolfdogs in Alberta, Canada

The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary is an easy 45-minute drive from Calgary, not too far from Canmore, and is on the way to Banff if you’re heading into the mountains. I was excited to visit because, before even meeting my first wolfdog, I knew that my morning spent at this remarkable facility would be a highlight of my time in Alberta. As the owner of three dogs, including two slightly wolfish Siberian Huskies, I’m always drawn to dog-related activities when I travel, but of course Yamnuska is a lot more than that. The mission of the remarkable Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary is fairly straightforward: to rescue and rehabilitate wolfdogs and to educate the general public about these beautiful pups. For whatever reason, some people see status in buying a wolfdog, but as the dog gets older they realize that there’s no way they can take care of them. So they end up at shelters or worse, euthanized because no one knows what to do with them. That’s where the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary comes in and spending the morning on one of their interactive tours was as much fun as I’ve had in a long time. The Sanctuary is about more than playing with the dogs though, education is at the heart of the experience. Convincing people that the dogs aren’t a great house pet but also letting people know that the wolfdogs aren’t dangerous, both goals are incredibly important to make sure these dogs don’t suffer needlessly and enjoy happy lives.

Going Inside a Pyramid

Located close to modern day Cairo, the massive pyramids of Egypt have been amazing visitors since the moment they were first built, popping up even in Ancient Greek and Roman travel guides of the day. Standing immediately in front of them it was hard to mentally reconcile the fact that I was actually there. Even better though was the opportunity to go inside one of the massive monuments. Crouched down, gingerly navigating the steep ramp taking me down into the bowels of the ancient tomb I couldn’t help but again appreciate what early archeologists must have felt when they first entered these tombs. The anticipation, the fear, the excitement and the uncertainty, I felt all of those things and I knew exactly what was waiting for me inside – nothing at all. No, these tombs were looted millennia ago, the preserved body of the pharaoh and his treasures stolen before even the emergence of true Western civilization. After descending one shaft and climbing up another I was there, in the middle of the pyramid with millions of tons of stone blocks hanging over me. Inside the pyramid. Those words hung with me for a moment and a smile slowly crept onto my face. I’d done it. I’d fulfilled a lifelong dream and the best thing is, I realized it.

River-boating in Tahiti

The islands of the South Pacific, each home to their own versions of paradise, tend to blur into one another upon reflection, but one stands out for a few different reasons. On Raiatea I joined a local tour along the only navigable river in French Polynesia on a small riverboat, led by an older gentleman who has called Raiatea home his entire life. What the excursion description didn’t include was the hours of commentary by the most interesting person I met during my week exploring the South Pacific. I’m pretty sure most of what he said was embellishment, at least I hope it was, but his stories were without a doubt entertaining. Within those fanciful tales though were nuggets of truth, laughter masking some difficult times in his life. Sure, the river was beautiful and the tour interesting, but it was getting to know him and just listening to his stories that was the true highlight of that adventure.

Learning How To Make Welsh Cakes

If you don’t live in the British Isles, then there’s an excellent chance you don’t know what a Welsh Cake is. I normally think of myself of an Anglophile and yet the first time hearing about them was only on a recent trip to Cardiff. For the uninitiated, Welsh cakes are simple, scone-like flatbread cakes made with flour, butter, eggs, milk and usually dried fruit like raisins. They’re typically eaten alone, at tea or as a snack and I found them everywhere while in Cardiff and southern Wales. When served hot, they’re good but if they’re even a few minutes old, I found myself looking for jam or butter to cut through the dryness. While I discovered many great places to buy them, my best experience with Welsh Cakes was learning how to make them myself. Located in Abergavenny, the Culinary Cottage is a cooking school run by an enterprising local who has made food her new career. We made an entire meal that day, but for me the Welsh Cakes were the most fun. Rolling out the dough and cooking them on the hot bakestone was fun and even relaxing and I can’t wait to make them for friends at home.

One the oldest forms of life on the planet in Western Australia

3.5 billion years ago, the Earth was a fairly inhospitable place. But a slow process was quietly going on in the planet’s seas. A rock-like organism was doing something the Earth had never seen before. Stromatolites were gradually filling the atmosphere with oxygen, paving the way for more complex creatures to arise. These unique organisms weren’t just the important first step in life on Earth, but their fossils now provide valuable data for scientists trying to learn about early life on the planet. Scientists assumed they vanished into the ether of time long ago, until 1956 when living examples of these amazing organisms were actually found. Where else would something this bizarre and extraordinary happen, except for Australia? Hamelin Pool, located in the Shark Bay World Heritage Site of Western Australia, is home to these amazing creatures, one of the rarest sights in the world. Visiting the rock-like creatures was important to me, and instead of boring blobs (which they are) I was struck by the incredible beauty of the pools, dotted with the creatures still working hard to create life. It’s a humbling moment and one I encourage everyone to seek out when they’re in Western Australia.

Puffin Watching on the Westman Islands

I’m thankful I made the decision to spend a day visiting the Westman Islands, because it counts amongst my all-time favorite experiences in Iceland. Easy to reach from the south coast, the ferry ride is a short 30-minutes, but it feels like a world away. The Westman Islands are small and the only inhabited island, Haimaey, is just 7 square miles in size. 4,000 people call this rock home, but as I discovered on a tour around the island, it’s one of the most beautiful places not only in Iceland, but arguably the world. A combination of the gorgeous landscapes and the hospitality of the people who call it home, I fell in love thanks to the total experience and I know it’s an island I will return to many times in the future.

Spending the Night in a German Fairy Tale

Even if you don’t travel along Germany’s Fairy Tale Route, there are a number of opportunities to spend the night in castles that look as if they was plucked out of one of those famous legends. One though impressed me above all the others, the Sleeping Beauty Castle – Sababurg. My first experience sleeping in a real German castle happened at this pastoral retreat not far from the city of Kassel along the German Fairy Tale Route. Recently celebrating its 682nd birthday, Sababurg was in a state of ruin for centuries, overrun by plants and trees and, most importantly, a high thorn bush. This bush would become important in the life of Sababurg, defining it into the 21st century. The famous Brothers Grimm lived not far away from Sababurg in the city of Kassel, and it was well known that they used the surrounding forests, countryside and castles as a physical basis for many of the stories they chronicled. So it was locals in the 19th century, along with early tourists, who started scouting out the rolling hills of the region trying to match stories with their real-life counterparts. When they chanced upon Sababurg, practically enclosed by thick brush and that famous thorn bush it seemed too perfect – this had to be the Sleeping Beauty Castle. Today it’s been thoughtfully and painstakingly remodeled into a beautiful 16-room luxury hotel, all paying homage to the story of Sleeping Beauty. I loved my evening spent sleeping in one of the turret rooms, imagining myself in an era long gone amongst luxury amenities and comfort. With pastoral calm and beauty and an amazing staff, this is a not to miss hotel along the German Fairy Tale Route.

Carrick-a-Rede Bridge in Northern Ireland

I technically didn’t have enough time to properly enjoy this fun, adventurous spot, but I’m glad I ignored my more prudent self and decided to throw myself into this experience without looking at the clock. Part of the National Trust, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge in County Antrim links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede, just as fishermen used to employ them when checking their salmon nets. This narrow rope bridge spans high above the rocky waters below, providing a slightly scary but incredibly fun experience. While the bridge crossing was fun, walking down to the bridge and back is where the real magic happened. Throughout my week driving around Ireland and Northern Ireland, I was lucky enough to enjoy plenty of picturesque coastal scenes, but the coastline at Carrick-a-Rede was unlike anything else I’ve ever seen. Gorgeous beyond words and the ability for any camera to accurately portray, this is a must-stop attraction I think for anyone driving the Causeway Coastal Route.

Street Food in Chengdu, China

China loves to eat, a lot. Life revolves around your next meal and is a major aspect of hospitality throughout this massive country. So when a city in China is well known above all others for its epicurean delights, you know you’ve found a place that takes its cuisine very seriously indeed. The capital of the Sichuan Province, it seems that Chengdu has always enjoyed this reputation, combining locally sourced ingredients and infusing them with its powerful spicy heat that is now loved around the world. That heat comes from the Sichuan pepper, which has an intense fragrant flavor that produces what the books call a “tingly-numbing” sensation. My first introduction to this famous food was along Jinli Street, which is known as Snack Street for a reason. Hundreds of vendors fill the stalls selling everything imaginable and visiting around lunchtime was the perfect opportunity to see the best of what the city has to offer. This long and narrow street today is full of vendors, shops and important for me, food stalls. Walking around was heaven, smelling the strange and unusual scents and asking my interpreter countless times what everything was. From pork buns to pineapple sticky rice to roasted rabbit head, I was mesmerized by the options and wished I could somehow taste it all.

Hot Air Balloon Safari in Tanzania

One of my favorite travel experiences of all time, this floating safari should be on everyone’s bucket lists. Getting up before dawn is never easy, but I knew it would be well worth the momentary pain, I just didn’t expect it to be as remarkable an experience as it was. An option offered by Abercrombie & Kent, as soon as I saw it listed I knew we had to do it and almost as soon as the balloon left the ground I knew it was the right decision. Floating high above the mighty Serengeti, we saw a different side to the African bush impossible to otherwise replicate. Mere feet from the road, yet invisible thanks to the tall grasses, was another world hidden in plain sight. Lions devouring breakfast, hippos sleeping in the water and more zebra and wildebeest than I ever thought possible to exist were all right there, unknowingly providing a show to the people flying over their heads. The hour flew by, but in those 60-minutes we enjoyed a collection of memories so powerful and so vivid, I know I’ll never forget them.

Meeting Santa Claus in Finland

It’s impossible to visit Rovaniemi, the de facto capital of Finnish Lapland, and not realize immediately that it is the hometown of Santa Claus. From the airport when you first arrive to even hotels bearing his name, this town is all about Santa. Literally straddling the Arctic Circle, Santa Claus Village is a 365-day Christmas extravaganza; a place where the holiday spirit is alive every day of the year. It all started with an unlikely visit by Eleanor Roosevelt, who visited Rovaniemi to see the progress of Marshall Plan projects. For her arrival a small cabin was built, a cabin that soon became the center of this tourist hotspot. And it is definitely touristy, no doubt there, but it’s also unexpectedly fun. Walking into the middle of the village, it was only 3:30pm but the winter sun had already begun to set and soon I found myself in the middle of the village, night having fallen and the sound of carols in the air. Christmas had already been over for a couple of weeks and while the rest of the world was dealing with the January doldrums, Santa Claus Village really did feel cheerful. I felt as if Christmas was just around the corner and that yuletide excitement came rushing back. Of course the focal point of any visit is meeting Santa Claus, who is always ready to greet new visitors. The visit with Santa is free of charge, but the photos taken come with a small fee. After chatting with Santa – everyone gets some alone time – head to one of the most popular post offices in the world, Santa Claus’ Main Post Office. This real post office on the Arctic Circle handles all of Santa’s worldwide mail traffic and since 1985, more than 17 million letters have been sent to the post office all addressed to Santa from nearly every corner of the world. It’s not everyday you can send a Santa Claus postmarked letter, so I sent a few postcards and thought about my experience in the Santa Claus Village. I’m not normally a fan of hokey tourist experiences, but this one was fun – a lot of fun actually and I quickly understood why hundreds of thousands of people make the trek to the Village every year. The Christmas spirit is a special feeling, and this is the only place in the world where it never ends.

Coasteering in Wales

At first the adventure sport of coasteering seems like the bad result of a drunken wager gone wild. But it’s not and even more surprising, it’s insanely popular and a lot of fun. Coasteering is defined as “a physical activity that includes movement along the intertidal zone of a rocky coastline on foot or by swimming, without the aid of boats, surfboards or other craft. It can include swimming, climbing, scrambling, jumping and diving.” It sounds great in the middle of a hot summer, but I was there in March when the water temperatures were anything but encouraging. Located along the Irish Sea, the beauty of Anglesey can’t be denied though and I soon found myself lost in the beauty of the craggy landscapes surrounding me. The extreme experience was just as advertised and not even my two wet suits could fully keep the freezing waters at bay. In spite of the conditions though it was fun, a lot of fun and diving along the coast, swimming across the white-capped waves and pushing myself in ways I didn’t know I could was as personally gratifying as anything I have ever done. Ultimately, that’s the real thrill of adventure travel; pushing one’s comfort zones in ways you didn’t know possible.

The post My Favorite Travel Experiences That You Probably Have Never Heard Of appeared first on LandLopers.

I’ve been on many cruises in all parts of the world, from an expeditionary cruise in Antarctica to a river cruise in Myanmar. When both ocean and river cruises are combined though, I have sailed with Viking more often than any other cruise line and they’re a company that I have come to know very well over the years. That was one reason of many why I was excited to join them on a sailing of Portugal’s much-lauded Douro River. To be honest, the cruise had its issues that were all caused by Mother Nature, and I’ll touch on those along with how Viking handled the problems presented to them. But I’ll also try to talk about the cruise from a higher level since, ideally, historic levels of flooding are not the norm for the average cruiser in Portugal.

The Basics

In recent years it seems like Portugal has made it to the Must-Visit lists of nearly every major travel publication, and along with it the Douro River. One of the oldest continuously inhabited parts of Europe, there’s plenty of history to be found throughout the many communities that abut the Douro, starting in the ancient city of Porto. Cruise ships leave from this hilly city, but most itineraries will include a land-based portion in Lisbon before the start of the cruise. Passengers are then bussed to Porto where the cruise itself starts. From there the ship winds its way through the valleys best known for their wines and culinary expertise. There are no big cities once you leave Porto and for many cruisers the experience is very much focused on the food and wine of the country.

The Ships

I have sailed with Viking many times in all corners of Europe, and I have come to know and love the design and amenities onboard their signature Longships. So it was with a lot of surprise that I first stepped onboard the Longship docked in Porto, because, while beautiful, this was not the Longship I have come to know so well over the years. The Douro River is navigable only due to a series of locks, not unlike many other European rivers. The key difference in Portugal is the size of these locks. They’re different than on the Danube or Rhine, which means the ships must also be different. The result is a fleet of “Baby Longships” that only sail on the Douro River. They have the same general layout, the same design aesthetic and other amenities as one would find across Viking’s fleet, but they’re decidedly smaller, or intimate. At once though I was a convert; I loved almost everything about these particular Longships. They carry fewer people than the traditional European river cruise ships, about 100 people or so, and this decrease in the manifest made the experience a lot more fun. I became friends with more people on this river cruise than any other, and I attribute that entirely to the more intimate setting. Add to that the same size staterooms and a pool on the Sun Deck and I was almost immediately won over.

The Itinerary and Rain (So much rain!)

Several river cruise companies operate on Portugal’s Douro River, but few include time in Lisbon beforehand. Sure, they have options to pay for a pre-cruise experience, but on the cruise I took with Viking it was part of the total trip and, therefore, wasn’t an extra charge. For me, that time in the capital city was essential and a highlight of the trip and must not be missed. From there passengers are bussed to Porto where they board the ship and spend a couple of days getting to know the city. Like Lisbon, this was another highlight of the experience and the docking position of the ship made exploring the town easy and fun. This is the point where my experience and the average Douro River Cruise itinerary deviates, sort of.

I cruised with Viking in December and during that time there wasn’t just some rain, there was historic flooding across the country. If I could understand Portuguese, then I would have seen it as the lead news story every single night. The Douro River wasn’t only unnavigable, but normal ports of call were literally underwater. It was an unsafe situation and the government closed down all river traffic. Naturally, that makes life difficult for a river cruise company. All river cruise companies though, not only Viking, have plenty of experience dealing with river issues whether it’s flooding or levels so low that ships are unable to sail. I give Viking a lot of credit as to how they handled everything. The situation was day to day but they were adamant that we not miss a single included experience. Yes, that meant rearranging the entire schedule and relocating (temporarily) to another ship further upriver, but it worked. Did it mean a lot of time on busses, yes it certainly did. The ships were essentially the hotels and we were then bussed to each new spot daily. Was it ideal? Far from it, but the staff onboard both ships did an incredible job of keeping spirits up and making things fun. So, what did we see?

The opportunity to visit small towns and villages isn’t just a perk of a Douro River sailing, it’s a reason why I love river cruising in general. Many times we visited spots I would never have discovered on my own, and my trip was made all the better for having experienced them. A great example on my sailing was the morning spent in Favaios. A very small community, it has long been known for its moscatel wines, which is where the Viking passengers started the day. Visiting a local winery, we learned all about the wine making process, before tasting some of their best vintages of course. From there we visited a local bakery to learn about and try the town’s equally famous four-cornered bread and ended our visit with a walk through the village and a stop at the local wine and bread museum (yes, really). Afterwards the Viking passengers were taken to another local winery for a long and leisurely lunch that was as much fun as I’ve had in a long time. Put all together, that day spent in a very small village was special, certainly unique and nothing I would have discovered on my own.

Overall Impressions

European river cruises have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years for a variety of reasons and, from my experience, it’s well deserved attention. The cruises on the Douro River though are completely unlike others I’ve experienced, in all the best ways possible. So if you’re considering a river cruise but also looking for something a little different, I highly recommend learning more about the itineraries and programs Viking has put together on the Douro River.

The post Sailing on a Viking Douro River Cruise in Portugal: My Review appeared first on LandLopers.

Food has become an increasingly important aspect of the travel experience for me, as I think it has for most people. Not only is the modern traveler more educated when it comes to all things delicious, but even the smallest of cities around the world are undergoing what I call a foodie renaissance spurred on by young and energetic chefs. The result is a travel landscape where food and drink play a starring role, so it’s weird that I haven’t written about food lately as much as I normally do. Purely the result of forgetfulness and not from a lack of experiences, today I want to quickly look back at the last 12 months or so and share my favorite travel and food experiences that in many cases were highlights of the journeys themselves.

Eating Around Colombia

What I enjoyed most on my trip to Colombia wasn’t a famous attraction, it was the food. I knew before even leaving home that the culinary side of the trip would be amazing, but even that is a gross understatement. Taking a Bogota food tour, I learned a lot about the culinary traditions of the city and country in general, from its many corn-based meals and snacks to desserts that may seem a little off, but which are all delicious. But it goes well beyond that into fresh and local eating, visiting the neighborhood or citywide markets and buying some of the freshest fruits and vegetables you’ll ever see. Due to the country’s unique sets of climates, they produce fruits so exotic you’d think you were in the middle of Thailand. I couldn’t even name half the fruits I tasted, but they were all delicious. Add in the medium-roasted and full-bodied coffee for which Colombia is so very famous, and the food scene in the country is worth a visit in its own right.

Corsican Picnic

Sailing around the Mediterranean is always a fun experience, especially when I get the opportunity to visit places new to me. Such was the case when I spent the day in sunny Ajaccio, Corsica. One of the best decisions I made during my time on Corsica was to join a cruise excursion into the city, with an emphasis on the daily market. Since food is always the first aspect of a new place I investigate, it was the perfect fit as my first introduction to Corsican culture. The variety of food is what impressed me most, I didn’t expect the island to be as fertile as it clearly is. Tasting my way around the incredible displays of meats and cheeses at the local market though is what I enjoyed the most, in fact, I was so inspired by the quality of the foods on display that I bought some and enjoyed an impromptu picnic lunch after the tour. Sitting there and looking out across the harbor as I ate my self-made baguette sandwich was pure perfection – better than any fancy lunch at an in-town restaurant by a mile.

Pica Pica in Barcelona

The capital of the country’s Catalonia region, Barcelona is one of the great culinary centers of Europe, both in terms of traditional as well as more modern cuisine. There’s a reason why some of the world’s best restaurants call Catalonia home, the unique combination of creative chefs and amazing local products make it ideal for creative food concepts. My focus in Barcelona though wasn’t on what’s new in Spanish cuisine, but what’s at the traditional core of the foodie experience – tapas and pica-pica. For generations, the practice of enjoying some light bites and a glass of wine or vermouth before a meal was common practice. One picked at the bites, which is ultimately where the term comes from. In the local Catalan language, picar means to eat small bites of many different types of foods. Originally including mainstays like olives, tomatoes, cheese and ham, it has evolved over time to include any number of small plates. Usually enjoyed in a local bodega, it still is the ideal way to start an evening out with friends, nights that always begin late and end with a fabulous meal. My meal that evening though was solely focused on tapas and pica-pica, the perfect way to best experience not just the city, but the up and coming neighborhood of Poble Sec.

Luther Dinner

I didn’t know what a Luther Dinner was before traveling to Germany, but while spending the week exploring so-called Luther Country, I enjoyed this rustic meal a couple of times. In general, a Luther Dinner is a meal that is inspired by what was popular to eat and drink in the 16th century. So, imagine lots of meat, stews, gravies and an absence of now-iconic ingredients like potatoes and sugar. At the Wartburg Castle Hotel, the chef took the concept and added a fine dining spin to it, creating one of the best meals I’ve ever enjoyed. Still paying homage to Luther, the locally sourced ingredients were creatively reimagined from baked saddle and belly of pork to an incredible honey ice cream, each course was also paired with regional beers and wines inspired by Luther. Food is an important part of the experience at the Wartburg Castle Hotel and after enjoying a meal I know I’ll never forget, I quickly understood why.

Alsatian Wine Route

Within the last year I’ve had the good fortune to visit the Alsace region of France twice, and it’s those visits that have convinced me that it is not only one of the best regions in France, but in all of Europe. One of the most contested areas of Europe, this sliver of land has passed hands between France and Germany probably more times than anyone can count. The result is the very unique Alsatian culture, which is a mix of German and French customs and traditions. Strasbourg is the largest city in the region, and a few days exploring are well spent. But the many towns and villages of Alsace are just as important and best seen along the Alsatian Wine Route. Whether you spend 2 days or a week exploring it, you won’t be disappointed, especially ending in the picture perfect city of Colmar. Colmar is the quaint town of our collective dreams and even after a couple of visits I still yearn to return and explore even more of the city.

Karakol Food Tour (Kyrgyzstan)

Thanks in large part to its unique position along the Silk Road, traders from around the known world passed through Kyrgyzstan over the centuries, bringing with them different spices and ingredients, recipes and techniques and infusing the region with a new way to enjoy food. The food tour in the city of Karakol is led by a local and takes guests through the successive waves of immigration to the region, from those early traders to the 19th century Russians. Dishes such as Lagman and Ashlyan-Fu are enjoyed but, more importantly, we learned why these dishes are so important to daily life in Karakol. Why people choose to eat them so regularly and, of course, the best places in town to find them. The Karakol food crawl was my favorite experience in Karakol not just because everything was so delicious, but because it was a truly immersive way to learn more about this fascinating part of the country.

Eating on the Ocean Floor

Burntcoat Head Park is an unlikely pilgrimage spot in Nova Scotia. Not really located close to anything, the entrance is quietly set amongst rolling farmland and pastoral landscapes. But it’s here where the most extreme tidal difference on the Bay was recorded, it’s here where its entry into the records books was secured and it’s here where those extremes happen every single day. It’s also the location for one of the most extraordinary dining experiences I’ve ever had the great pleasure to enjoy. A few years ago, the creative minds at the Flying Apron Inn came up with an audacious idea, to take advantage of those tidal extremes and to offer a fine-dining experience on the ocean floor. Arriving in the mid-afternoon, it’s so much more than just a dinner, it’s an experience. With pre-dinner snacks and drinks, guided tours of the Bay and local experts providing an insight into the region, it’s a robust experience with Fundy at its center. Naturally though, the highlight was the incredible meal itself, created by the Flying Apron’s Chef Velden and paired with local wines and beers. The afternoon and evening was fun in every meaning of the word, but it was much more than that. It was an immersive way to learn more about Fundy and to experience it in a very personal way. This is without a doubt one of the most creative meals I’ve ever enjoyed and one that I know I’ll never forget.

Lounging by the Finger Lakes

At the heart of the Finger Lakes experience in New York for many are the wineries, breweries and distilleries found all around the lakes. For decades, Finger Lakes wines were produced using native grapes and, for the most part, the results were mixed. But then in the 1960s, mimicking global wine trends, vinifera grapes were introduced and the wineries in the region started producing everything from stellar Rieslings to full bodied reds. Today the results speak for themselves and with more than 140 wineries in the Finger Lakes, visitors can try as many of these vintages for themselves as they want. It’s hard to go wrong when choosing wineries to visit, but for a fun and immersive experience stop by Wagner’s on Seneca Lake. Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery produces a wide selection of amazing wines, but they also have a brewery on site that creates just as tasty ales, porters and IPAs. With a large deck overlooking the vines and lake, it’s the perfect spot to sit back and relax.

Yangon Food Tour

Not surprisingly, one of the highlights of my time in Yangon was learning about the city’s very unique cuisine, in which I received a fun crash course while on a Yangon Food Tour. While I could have clumsily eaten my way around the city, I wanted to take a food tour for a more organized immersion into Myanmar’s foodie scene. I did some research and didn’t find many options, but then I discovered Yangon Food Tours. In operation for just a few months, this is very much a business with passion and I was excited not just to enjoy a food tour dinner, but also to support a truly local startup. The Yangon Food Tour is a good mix of stall and restaurant food, which, honestly perfectly reflects the style of eating in Yangon. And eating is serious business in the city, I marveled at how many restaurants and other opportunities to eat there were everywhere around town. Not unlike other countries in the region, food is at the heart of the experience and to truly start to understand the culture and people, you have to understand what they eat and how they enjoy food. Yes, the Yangon Food Tour was the ideal introduction to the cuisine of Yangon and Myanmar, but it did more than that. It was also the perfect way for me to get used to the city, to shed any concerns or fears I may have had in a new place and to learn to enjoy Yangon for everything that makes it so great. It was one of the highlights of my time in Myanmar, well worth the investment of $35 and a few hours of my time.

Cooking in Sorrento

Perched high on a hill overlooking the city of Sorrento and the bay on which it sits, I couldn’t help but fall in love. This is the promise, this is what the coastline of Italy should be and living there, even if only for a few days, was a travel experience I won’t soon forget. A slower pace of life, kind people and delicious food; add in amazing scenery and you have a recipe for success. While I loved learning more about the city, one of my favorite experiences there had nothing to do with the views or long history, it was instead an experience I booked to learn more about the culture through food. Chef Carmen has long been a fixture in Sorrento and has led cooking classes for years. She’s famous not only for her stellar cooking skills, but for a personality that lights up a room. Spending several hours with her, along with a small group of other students, I laughed more than I have in a long time as I learned the intricacies of making such classics as pizza, gnocchi and eggplant parmesan. While I’m not sure I can replicate the recipes at home exactly, there’s no doubt I had a fun afternoon and a delicious meal as a result of my time with Carmen.

Rural Fine Dining in Ireland

I normally don’t consider myself a fine-dining kind of guy and yet, whenever I experience a great restaurant, I almost always walk away impressed. That was definitely the case after an incredible 11-course tasting menu at the organic Strawberry Tree Restaurant at Macreddin Village. The BrookLodge and attached restaurant are a relaxing country retreat where pastoral luxury reigns supreme. I love great properties like the BrookLodge, tucked away deep in the rolling hills and a place where people go to do little more than relax. But it’s also home to Ireland’s only entirely organic restaurant, the Strawberry Tree. Led by a chef with a fierce obsession with seasonality, they even have a full-time forager on staff who treks every day to find the freshest ingredients in the pastures and paths surrounding Macreddin. The results speak for themselves; after a leisurely dinner I was as impressed as I’ve ever been by a food experience. Each course was more surprising than the last and when combined with great service and hospitality, it was the perfect evening.

Roman Holiday

Following my Viking cruise I was in Rome jut a few days before Christmas and so decided to join a very special walking tour with Context Travel. Famous for offering thoughtful and offbeat walking tours around the world, in Rome I decided to hop on their seasonal holiday food tour. Led by a local chef and food writer, she spent the morning taking us to some of Rome’s best kept foodie secrets to sample those delicacies most important around the holidays. Cakes and chocolates, sandwiches and pizza and of course gelato all played a role but, more importantly, I learned a lot about the holiday traditions of the city and how local Romans celebrate the season. No matter what you decide to eat in Rome, be sure to get out there and be adventurous, exploring new neighborhoods and finding your own perfect bites.

The post Traveling Foodie: My 12 Favorite Experiences From the Last 12 Months appeared first on LandLopers.

Portugal is enjoying a bit of a moment currently. Scores of travel publications have listed it as a must-visit destination and tourists are responding by planning trips not only to Lisbon, but other parts of the country as well. One of the most popular ways to experience Portugal is by taking a cruise on the scenic Douro River, which is exactly where I found myself a couple of months ago. Sailing once again with Viking Cruises, I knew what to expect from the company, but the destination was a complete mystery to me. One of the many highlights of my first trip to Portugal though was spending plenty of time in one of the country’s most popular tourist spots, Porto. I certainly wasn’t the first to be wowed by this colorful city and I know I won’t be the last, so to help plan your time in Porto I want to share some of my favorite experiences as I explored the city with Viking Cruises.

Views from every vantage point

Cruises start and end in Porto, making this popular tourist destination an important part of anyone’s cruise experience. I didn’t know a lot about the city before arriving, but I had read dozens of accounts by fellow writers all lauding the ancient city, many even naming it the best in Europe. A natural skeptic, I went into my time there with some initial detachment, but I too fell for the allure of Porto. Porto is one of Europe’s oldest cities, founded in the 300s by the Romans and it’s Porto that eventually lent its name to the country of Portugal itself. Walking around the hilly city on a guided Viking hike, I found it impossible not to be charmed by the colors and sights of the historic center, while also trying to catch a view of the important Douro River whenever possible. Luckily that’s an easy feat to achieve in Porto. Built on hills surrounding the Douro River, there are scores of amazing spots from which to admire the city, but my favorite happened almost right away. River cruise ships dock across the river in Vila Nova da Gaia and tackling the short and easy walk across the Dom Luís I Bridge wasn’t just a nice way to get into Porto, but it’s from there where I enjoyed my favorite panoramic vantage point. If you don’t feel like walking, you can also take the nearby cable car that offers its own unique views of the city as well.

Food & wine

A big reason why many people choose to take a river cruise on the Douro River is for the wine, and Porto provides a hint as to why. Although wine has been produced in Portugal for more than 2,000 years, Port wine didn’t come about until the 1600s. I won’t go into what is ultimately a long story about the relationship between England and Portugal, but suffice it to say that their diplomatic friendship is the oldest in the world and Port wine has played an important role in this relationship for centuries. I’d like to say that fortified Port wine came about in some romantic fashion, but the truth is that the Portuguese developed it to better match the tastes of the English consumers. Eventually this wine, which was shipped from Porto (hence, Port wine) had brandy added to the juice during fermentation, creating a stronger and sweeter wine that was a perfect match for the palate of wealthy English clients.

There are seemingly countless ways to experience Port wine, including an optional excursion offered by Viking. Although I didn’t take it, I spoke with fellow passengers who booked the port wine dinner inside a nearby winery and for them it was the trip highlight. For something a little more laid back though, there’s nothing better than finding a quiet restaurant and creating your own wine dinner.

Quirky discoveries

Porto is an intensely popular tourist destination and along with that comes a certain circuit that most people follow around town. That’s one reason why I didn’t expect to find anything strange, quirky or unusual but by the end of my time there, those off-kilter moments were amongst my most favorite. It was also a good reminder for me to always be vigilant and to enter any new city with an open mind. Granted, some of these experiences were more interesting than others, and they’re mentioned in most guidebooks so I’m sharing them not to brag about some new discovery, but to encourage you not to skip them. 

McDonald’s Imperial – Before you criticize me, please first read on. Yes, I have written about the cultural importance of visiting McDonald’s restaurants around the world, but that’s not why it’s on this list. No, in Porto one of the most-visited spots is this unlikely fast food establishment in the heart of the city. This location opened in 1995 in the historic Imperial Cafe. Established as a coffee shop in the 1930s, the owners went through a painstaking process to preserve and bring back to life all of those amazing Art Deco details. Even if you don’t eat anything, it’s well worth a visit to admire the old stained glass windows and other iconic features.

Livaria Lello – Even though I consider myself to be a Harry Potter fan, I had no idea that Porto has a connection with author J.K. Rowling until my visit. The Livaria Lello isn’t just one of the world’s most stunning bookstores, it’s also rumored to have inspired many of Rowling’s depictions of Hogwarts. She lived in Porto and was a frequent customer of the bookstore, no doubt attracted by the winding staircases and other incredible architectural flourishes. The owners had a problem though. Once fans learned of the connection, they flooded the bookstore forcing out paying customers. So, the bookstore has a nominal entrance fee, which is refunded when you make a purchase. Even if you aren’t a Potterhead it’s well worth a visit because, yes, it really is that beautiful.

São Bento railway station – Another not to miss spot for lovers of design and architecture is the São Bento railway station. Inaugurated in 1916, the centrally located station is still a busy place more than a century later, but it’s not only for the trains that people visit. Lining the front vestibule are 20,000 azulejo tiles, representing moments in the country’s history as well as rural scenes showing the people of various regions. The central theme though is transportation through the ages, but more than the representations the tiles are works of art in their own right and should be high on your sightseeing to-do list.

Clérigos bell tower – One thing I love to do anywhere I go is to seek out vantage points that put me high above the surrounding city. That usually leads me to church towers, and in Porto it was the baroque Clérigos church that offered me the opportunity to climb. The tower is 75 meters high and it takes 240 steps to reach the top, but believe me it’s worth the effort. I was lucky with incredible weather that provided amazing views of Porto in all directions.  

World of Discoveries – Yes, it looks hokey and yes, it was a little hokey. I was stuck though; it was pouring throughout my last day in Porto and I frankly needed something to do. I love history and wanted to know more about Portugal’s Golden Age and when I learned that they also had a theme park-esque ride, I was sold. World of Discoveries is an interactive museum that does a great job of using technology and engaging exhibits to bring to life the voyages of the Portuguese navigators. It really was an interesting museum and I did indeed learn a lot, and I even enjoyed the theme park portion of the experience. The capstone experience is boarding a “ship” and floating along learning about the parts of the world Portuguese laid claim to and how those colonies impacted life not only in Portugal, but around the world. Overall, it’s not a bad museum but it is a little pricey, so make sure you’re really interested before going.

Have you been to Porto? What would you add to this list?

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