Gingerbread, that is! And also, my mom never actually warned me about it. Which is probably why Brian and I were so excited to sample some when we arrived in Strasbourg. When I learned that the Alsace region is famous for its pain d’épices (literally, spice bread; aka, gingerbread), I knew we had to try […]
5 Tips for Visiting The Swiss Alps
If you’re thinking of visiting the Swiss Alps, these tips will give you a leg up. Or if you’re like me, they’ll at least make you less anxious about getting everything right. The Alps cross several countries but this post is about the part of the Alps that are in Switzerland. I included a couple […]
First Cliff Walk in Grindelwald, Switzerland
Although it was truly our “first” cliff walk, it’s actually pronounced Feerst and is the name of a mountain near Grindelwald in the Berner-Oberland region of Switzerland. The First Cliff Walk is a 300 meter long, extremely high elevated walkway that sometimes hugs the cliffs of the mountain and sometimes crosses into the great wide […]
Männlichen Royal Walk – A Short But Steep Hike in the Swiss Alps
The Männlichen Royal Walk in the Swiss Alps is a short but steep hike with great views and friendly cows. It’s only about a mile long but your calves will feel it! At the end of the “walk” there is a lookout point shaped like a crown where you can enjoy beautiful views of the […]
Paragliding in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
I really wanted the name of this post to be something less mundane because paragliding in Lauterbrunnen was anything but boring, and definitely deserves a pithier title! Here’s our experience though, in a straightforward nutshell so I figured I’d go with a straightforward title. There, now we’re done with the mundane part – on to […]
Where to Stay in the Swiss Alps
Much like our planning for the Swiss Riviera, when it came to booking a stay in the Swiss Alps we were stymied by the myriad possibilities. Every little town seemed to have its own pros and cons and it was hard to figure out just which one was going to suit us best. There are […]
Cheesy Tips On Visiting Gruyères, Switzerland
Gruyères, Switzerland may be the most wonderfully idyllic place you’ve ever been (or imagined). The town is so cute and compact that it feels like a Disneyland version of a Swiss town. There is one main street and it is veritably bursting with charm but also only about half a mile long. The cobblestoned main […]
How to Visit Switzerland’s Lavaux Vineyards
The Lavaux vineyards on the Swiss Riviera will take your breath away. Even if you’re an old hand at visiting wine regions in other parts of the world, the sheer immensity of the vineyards spreading in tiered levels around you is a totally unique experience. If you don’t believe me, just ask our friend UNESCO, […]
The Best and Worst Towns of the Swiss Riviera
In this case, “worst” is very relative as I’m pretty sure every town in Switzerland belongs somewhere on Unesco’s World Heritage list. But for our trip we were looking for the best town to stay in as a base where we could day trip to others. In my research though, I found it difficult to […]
4 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Went to Quebec City
I did plenty of research before heading over to this most-French of all North American cities but there were still some things that we weren’t quite prepared for. Below are four surprises we encountered in Quebec City. Consider yourself forewarned! 1. Quebec City is hilly. VERY HILLY. It is not a good city for the […]