From charming , quaint fishing towns to rocky beautiful beaches, the Oregon Coast is one of the best stretches of the Pacific Coast for a road trip. Whether you are starting your trip from the north or the south, there is no wrong way to explore. Since we flew into Portland, we decided to start in Cannon Beach and make our way down south to Brookings, OR. Outlined below is our top ten favorite spots during our time in Oregon.
1. Cannon Beach
About an hour from the city of Portland is a small city of Cannon Beach. One of the main attractions is Haystack Rock. It is recommended that you visit during low tide so that you can explore more of the beach and get closer to this famous sea stack. Haystack Rock is also a refuge for many sea birds including puffins, which were sadly elusive on this trip.
Cinque Terre, which translates to 5 lands, are a cluster of centuries old towns built along the Italian Riviera. These 5 small villages have become wildly popular with tourists who come to ogle their picturesque, colorful houses set among the dramatic coastline of the Ligurian Sea. Another draw are the steep winding trails with sea vistas that connect all 5 villages making this a hikers dream destination. Even though it has become a heavily visited destination, the romance and authenticity has been preserved. Majority of visitors try to see it all in a day, traveling from other surrounding towns, including Florence. While it can certainly be done, I say that it deserves at least 2 days if not longer (“Would you like to stay forever?”- in the voice of Mulan’s Grandmother).
Below are some tips on where to stay, what to do, and of course some gelato recommendations for when planning your trip.
WHEN TO GO
Depending on what you want to do while in Cinque Terre will determine the best time to visit. Overall, the best months are May, June, and September. The weather is usually warm enough to enjoy a swim in the sea, but not so warm that you are baking on the hiking trails. The summer, especially August, are peak tourist season and the villages and trails may feel crowded during the day. Late autumn and winter tend to be chilly and rainy which may cause trail closures. Also, because it is the low season there may be less availability or businesses that close. We ended up taking a gamble, and went in mid-October. The weather was absolutely ideal for hiking, and while we weren’t brave enough to take go for a swim in the chilly sea, there were plenty of others taking a dip and/or sunbathing.
WHERE TO STAY
There is no wrong choice when it comes to deciding on which village you want to make your base, but depending on your vibe there may be one that fits better than others. Here are some general notes to keep in mind when making your decision:
There is a train that connects all the villages as well as the hiking trails, so it is easy to move between all 5.
It is also important to remember that during the day it is much busier as a lot of day trippers and tours flood in which can totally transform the village.
The villages are stepped into the mountainside and therefore there are some steep inclines or plenty of stairs to reach your accommodation. If you are relatively fit and traveling with limited luggage it shouldn’t be a problem (with the exception of Corniglia, more on that below). The good news is that most villages have baggage shuttles available to help if need be.
Accommodations are limited. There aren’t many traditional hotels, so for the most part you will be staying at guesthouses or AirBnbs. Because of the limited availability, you NEED to book early. As soon as you have settled your dates, I would hop on finding a place to stay to ensure that you are able to find a place in your budget, your travel style, and/or your itinerary. Or if you have the flexibility, I would maybe select your dates depending on availability.
Places can be pricey. I don’t tend to splurge on lodging as I am usually just looking for a clean, comfortable place to lay my head at night, but there aren’t as many budget options to choose from. Again this goes back to having a limited number of places to stay that makes it harder to find cheaper accommodations. If budget is really tight, another option is to stay in the nearby town of La Spezia. It is a quick train ride and has many more accommodations in a wide range of prices.
If you only have 36 hours in the Eternal City, here is an itinerary that will make most of your stay!
Saturday
5 pm- Trevi Fountain
Fresh off the train from Cinque Terre, we wasted no time and hit the ground running. After dropping our bags off at our AirBnb, we were able to make it to the Trevi Fountain in time for golden hour. This famed and glorious late Baroque masterpiece is worth braving the crowds. The palace facade features a central arch, mythological/allegorical figures, natural rock formations, and the fountain is fed from an ancient aqueduct. It has long been a legend that those who throw a coin into the fountain will return to Rome. Since the coins are collected and donated to charities there is no harm in giving it a go!
7 pm- Dinner at Emma
Determined to find good pizza, we walked to the recommended Piccolo Buca, but were disappointed when the restaurant was closed unexpectedly. Thankfully, I had saved another pizza place during my research and so that is how we ended up at Emma. It was pretty busy and most people had reservations, but we were able to snag a table promising to be done before the next reservation showed. Normally I am pretty loyal to margherita pizza, but we decided to step out of our comfort zones a bit by ordering a white pizza with zucchini flowers and anchovies. And just in case that didn’t satisfy our pizza craving, we also ordered a prosciutto pizza since that can never be bad.
My food photography skills are lacking, but both were delicious. The salty anchovies cut through the layers of cheese, and the prosciutto melted in your mouth. Exhausted by the long day of travel, we didn’t linger and found the closest gelateria we could before crashing. Fatamorgana Chiavari was the closest and what a happy accident it was. A large selection of classic and inventive modern flavors, friendly staff, and great prices made this place worth another stop the next night!
Sunday
9am- Spanish Steps, Galleria Sciarra, and Altar of the Fatherland
Fueling up for a day full of walking and exploring, we grabbed a pastry and cappuccino and then walked over to our first stop. The Spanish Steps are known as the widest and longest staircase in Europe and welcomes millions of tourists a year. Famous backdrop for a number of films, it connects Piazza di Spagna and Trinità dei Monti church at the top. After climbing the 135 steps, the top offers some of the best panoramic views of Rome. If you are looking to do some shopping, the bottom of the steps bring you to the prestigious street via Condotti. Here you can find Italian high fashion stores including Gucci, Prada, Bvlgari, and more. Having already done some damage in Florence, we moved along to Galleria Sciarra.
The glass domed structure was originally built to become a shopping mall, but is now an office building. The art nouveau frescoes line the interior corridor and can still be enjoyed by the public during office hours. A quick stroll through this hidden gem doesn’t do it justice, but is a fun stop as you are exploring Rome’s streets.
The last stop of the morning is Altar of the Fatherland or the Victor Emmanuel Monument. Built to celebrate the magnificence of Rome as well as to commemorate the unification of Italy. The white marble structure a-topped with 2 chariots can be seen from just about everywhere in Rome. The first 196 steps will take you to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the area that constitutes the Altar of the Fatherland. Continuing up another series of steps, you will arrive at the middle terrace that offers charming views of the city as well as a restaurant. From here, you can pay to take an elevator up to the top terrace which I am told offers some of the best views of the Eternal City.
1pm- Lunch at Ai Tre Scalini
I don’t usually have high expectations for “Instagrammable” restaurants, but I am a sucker for sidewalk eating and buildings covered in greenery. Ai Tre Scalini is an ancient winery dating back to the 800s. We thoroughly enjoyed the tagliere (meat and cheese selection) and vegetable pie.
3:00pm- Colosseo and Forum
We booked a 3 hour guided tour of the Colosseum, Underground, and Forum for the afternoon. While it is not required to book a guided tour, I highly recommend it so that you know all that you are looking at and the fascinating history behind everything. After meeting up with our group, we made our way to the Forum. Our guide lead us through some Roman history including the legend of Remus and Romulus founding ancient Rome, all while walking on the original road, Via Sacra, built in 5 century B.C. We didn’t walk all of the Forum, but did stop at a few structures that are still standing today and learned the history and significance.
From the Forum, we made the short trek to the Colosseum. Once zooming past the line, we were escorted down to the Underground. This portion of the Colosseum is now open to the public for the first time in nearly 2,000 years. You get to walk through the same tunnels that gladiators and animals awaited in before entering the Arena. Lastly, we walked around the Arena that once seated some 50,000 spectators. I am still not able to really grasp how long these marvels have been standing, but having a guide point out all the details that are left out of the movie Gladiator is really a pinch me moment!
Underground TunnelsThe Arena
7:00pm- More Pizza and Gelato
Denied again the opportunity to try Piccolo Buca, and exhausted from a long day of walking we just grabbed pizza at small place nearby before making it back to Fatamorgana Chiavari. Another delicious scoop of gelato later, we dragged ourselves back to the Airbnb and crashed/watched MTV in Italian. Any “Ridiculousness” fans out there?
Monday
8:00am- Breakfast and a Stroll
Our flight out of FCO wasn’t until 12pm so we decided to stroll around the AirBnb stopping at the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain one last time. We then filled our bellies with a final cappuccino and pistachio croissant before calling a car to take us to the airport.
A whirlwind 36 hours in Rome, but we were able to fit in some highlights like Colosseum, the Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and of course food! My only regret would be that we weren’t able to go to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel as they are closed on Sundays. Here’s hoping that the legend is true, and I will be back to experience all the wonderful places Rome has to offer.
Let us know in the comments what your fav spots are in Rome- gelato recommendations are highly encouraged!
View of the Brunellschi’s Dome from Giottos Bell Tower
Things to Do and See
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
When I think of Florence, the duomo immediately comes to mind. The 3rd largest church in the world, this vast gothic structure towers above the city and took over 200 years to be “completed.” Located in Piazza del Duomo, the structure includes the Cathedral, Brunellschi’s Dome, and Giotto’s Bell Tower. The facade, which was added to replace the unfinished/demolished original, is intricately inlaid with red, green and white marble.
The Cathedral is free to enter, which is often why the line to enter usually wraps around the building. With time being tight, we didn’t wait in line to enter, but if you are particularly interested in seeing religious frescoes and stained glass biblical scenes it is worth the wait! Note: that appropriate clothing is required to enter the Cathedral so no shorts or tank tops.
Since we weren’t sure what time we would arrive in Florence, we didn’t book a time slot of the other attractions and sadly, the Dome and Terrace times were all filled by the time we walked over. We did however secure a time for Giotto’s Bell Tower/Campanile. After the narrow, and at times steep 414 steps up to the top, you are rewarded with splendid views of Florence and the Dome. The windows are screened in with mesh, but you can get creative with taking your pics to see past it.
Even if you don’t have an interest in Cathedrals or climbing 400+ stairs, to the top of the Dome it is 463 steps as well, you at least have to talk a walk around this magnificent example of gothic architecture.
Cathedral of Santa Maria del FioreBlue trail hike in Cinque TerrePantheon
Italy is a place that graces almost all lists of top places to visit, and I can personally attest that it lives up to all expectations. There is no denying its beauty, history, amazing culinary scene, and incredibly friendly population. My first trip to Italy was for a summer study abroad trip while I was attending the Fashion Institute of Technology. My class spent 6 days in Florence with one free weekend to explore. With our free weekend, a small group of us decided to take a day trip to Capri that left from Rome. I had low expectations for Rome since it seemed like such a tourist destination. I was surprised at how much I was left wishing I had more time to explore, and of course the Amalfi Coast exceeded all my expectations. But with most of my days in Italy spent on class activities, I always dreamed of going back to truly experience all that the country has to offer.
Thanks to pandemic flight deals, I had another opportunity, but this time with my Mom and my own itinerary. This would be her first time, and I like all Italians, was very excited for her to experience this wonderful country.
Once flights were booked, itinerary planning started in earnest. There are so many different regions and cities to choose from that it was hard to narrow it down! But when reflecting back on my last trip, I remembered that a small group of girls from my class spent their free weekend in Cinque Terre. They all raved about how awe-inspiring that part of the coast was. If you have read about any of my previous trips with my Mom, we love mixing urban exploration with hiking/active countryside adventures. Cinque Terre naturally then became the center focus for this itinerary. With our time constraints, and knowing our flight flew in and out of Rome, it was just a matter of figuring how many days in each destination. From there everything just fell into place.
Below I have outlined our whirlwind week jam packed with exploring museums, hiking along the Ligurian coast, sunset cruises, and a LOT of gelato.
After many house-bound months and many trips cancelled due to the pandemic, we were blessed with the opportunity to visit Jekyll Island, Georgia. Only two hours away from Hilton Head Island, SC (Hunter’s homebase), it was the perfect Spring getaway for our first post-vax trip.
Never heard of Jekyll Island before? You aren’t alone. This barrier island off the coast of Georgia’s is part of the “Golden Isles,” which also includes St. Simons Island and Brunswick. A popular destination with people who long for that slow “lowcountry living,” and located just 1.5 hours south of Savannah.
To enter the island, you must buy a parking pass, which can be purchased online in advance or upon arrival via kiosk. Current auto access fees are about $8/day.
After we passed through the gates to the island, we were greeted by picturesque oak trees draped in Spanish moss lining the streets leading to the Jekyll Island Club Resort. The resort has two hotels: the Island Club and Ocean Club. The Island Club offer rooms on the river side in the original clubhouse, and the Ocean Club is a contemporary, new construction with all family-style suites. One of the many great amenities when staying at the resort is that you have full access to the amenities at both clubs, including restaurants, beach access and pools. We stayed at the Island Club on the river side of the island, but did take full advantage of both clubs.
After leaving The Algarve, our next stop was the beautiful castle-filled city of Sintra. Just a quick 30-to-45 minute train ride from Lisbon, we arrived in Sintra. The train station is centrally located and conveniently a five minute walk to our hotel, Casa Holstein Quinta S. Sebastiao. Since Sintra is such a short train ride away, majority of visitors come up just for the day, but there is something special about spending a quiet evening out after all the day trippers leave. Also, since we decided to add a day to our trip just so that we could experience Sintra, we wanted to maximize our time before heading back to the States.
As a bonus, when we checked into our chalet we were told that our stay had been upgraded to the Presidential Suite! Pictures don’t do this beautiful chalet any justice, and the suite was luxurious. We got settled and then headed our way to Incomum by Luis Santos for one last Portuguese dinner and it did not disappoint. Everything from the charcuterie with local cheeses to the tiramisu was absolutely fantastic. Dinner was a little pricey, but the food and experience was totally worth it. We also heard great things about their lunch, which is a little more reasonably priced, so we can’t recommend this place enough!
The next day we grabbed some breakfast at the hotel, then hit the streets to start our day adventure in Sintra. After researching many ways to explore the beautiful city, we decided the tourist bus, was the best way to see all of the palaces. We bought the hop-on-hop-off ticket that included all bus routes. This allows you to literally hop on and off for the entire day, which was prefect for the day we had planned. The price for this option is 15 Euros/person, but depending on which sites you want to visit, you can choose to only purchase a ticket for a specific route. There is a bus stop right in front of the train station and you can purchase your tickets right from the bus driver before boarding. You will definitely want to get a early start to try and beat the day tripper crowds.
Here is our one week itinerary from our recent trip to Portugal:
Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon
Day 2: Sightseeing in Lisbon
Day 3: Train/Road Trip to Lagos
Day 4: Beach Hopping in Lagos
Day 5: Seven Hanging Valley’s Trail
Day 6: Carvoeiro
Day 7: Train to Sintra
Day 8: Sintra
Day 9: Return back to U.S
Day 1: Lisbon
Quickly becoming a top destination in Europe, Lisbon did not disappoint! A beautiful city to explore- with miradouros, castles, and a great food scene, it has something for everyone. Lisbon definitely gave us San Francisco vibes, including the hilly terrain, trams, and a spectacular, bright red bridge over water. But the beautifully painted tiles on homes, the intricate cobblestone pavements, and the overall history of the city sets it apart.
Heads up, while the cobblestone streets are beautiful, they aren’t fun to wheel your luggage up/down. Thankfully, we packed lightly, because we ended up carrying our bags a lot of the time. Once we freshened up aka brushed our teeth, we hit the ground running.
Cathedral of Lisbon
The Cathedral of Lisbon was right around the corner from our AirBnB in the Alfama neighborhood. We didn’t pay to go inside, but the architecture was worth the gander.
With the current COVID-19 pandemic and what may become the “new normal” for the foreseeable future, we have had to rethink a lot of our upcoming trips. The focus has now been turned to include more secluded and/or outdoor destinations. As well as given us the opportunity to think more about domestic travel. Here’s a few destinations that are topping our domestic wish list in hopes to inspire you to still plan and travel this year, but safely.
Isle of Skye is connected to mainland Scotland via bridge, and is the largest island of the Inner Hebrides. Known for its rugged landscapes, fairy pools, and the quaint harbor-side town of Portree; it is wild and isolated. Skye was the third stop on my highlands road trip, and as soon as we reached the bridge, it began to cast it’s spell over us.
Getting to Isle of Skye
My mother and I embarked on a 10 day tour of the highlands from Edinburgh, with an overnight stop in Inverness, before we made our way to Isle of Skye. We decided on driving so, we would have the freedom from train/bus timetables. Also, trying to navigate the local bus on Skye was not a challenge we wanted to add to our trip. The idea of driving was a little daunting at first, but driving on the opposite side of the road wasn’t as difficult to get used to. Rather it was navigating single track roads, that was more of a challenge, especially at night.
From Inverness it is about 2.5 hour ride, and it is a beautiful, scenic drive. Just before crossing the bridge to Skye, we did a quick stop at the famous Eilean Donan Castle. It is a popular stop in the Highlands, so we didn’t do a tour of the actual castle, but the grounds are picturesque.
Definitely one of the highlights of our trip, Antelope Canyon lived up to all of our Instagram fantasies. The natural beauty of the undulating angles carved over time by wind and water, is absolutely memorizing.
Planning your trip
Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon located on Navajo land just outside of the small town Page; split into two sections referred to as Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon. The best times to visit are April through early October, with the summer months being peak. If you are going to be visiting in Spring/Summer, 11 am- 12pm is the best hour to capture the light beams. Keep this in mind when planning your trip, as there are limited tours and those time slots fill up pretty far in advance. Note: you must be on a tour in order to visit both Upper and Lower Canyon.
Deciding to Splurge- Ally finds room in the budget
Early on, we had chosen Costa Rica as the destination for our first girls trip. Since this was the first trip I was planning for us, I started doing a ton research about different destinations and activities. Once I got a feel for how much things on average would cost, including airfare, car rentals, and activities a budget of $1,500/person was proposed. You can totally do more of a budget trip to Costa Rica, but I wanted to build in a little wiggle room. We all agreed that $1,500 was a do-able budget for all of us to spend, and with that I started building an itinerary.
I discovered Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort on Booking.com when looking for places to stay in La Fortuna. The images along with the reviews sold me. I could tell from the photos of the property that it would vibe well with our group as well as being comfortable for a group of 4 to share one room. I pitched the idea to the gals, and right away everyone was sold. Thankfully, in our other two locations it was easy to find more modest accommodations so that we could stay within our budget.
To celebrate my last year in my twenties (!!), I planned a road trip down the California coast with my parents. While some people may think it odd to celebrate their 29th birthday with their parents, I was excited to have them join.
My Mom and I have been wanting to see Big Sur for a while now, and felt that this was a perfect time to finally do it. Therefore, this itinerary is centered around exploring and hiking the beautiful coastline of Big Sur.
It’s no secret that I love going to Disney. Minus the crowds and waiting in line to go on rides, I just love to feel like I’m five again! If you are a seasoned vacationer like me, then a weekend getaway in January is a good time. *Note: Make sure you check with a crowd calendar (Undercover Tourist) to see which park is going to be busy on your dates.
Itinerary
Day 1: Epcot
Day 2: Hollywood Studios
Day 3: Animal Kingdom and MK After Hours
Where to Stay
Disney has several on property options, all of which come with Disney park extra magic hours. Extra magic hours allow guests to get a little more time in the parks, either in the morning or late night. This, along with free transportation are some of the perks when staying on property. There are four tiers of resorts to choose from: value, moderate, deluxe, and deluxe villas. I tend to stay at the value resorts such as All Star Movies or Music, because I spend all day in the parks and not much time at the resort. Tip: If you become an annual passholder, as an incentive, Disney offers discounts throughout the year on their hotels.
Ally here to give you some “local” advice on where to go and the must beaches to visit while on the North Shore of Oahu!
Halewia Town
Haleiwa is a town located on the North Shore. Though it has become more developed over the years, it still has the small beachside vibe. There are a ton of boutiques that offer clothing, art, and jewelry as well as restaurants that will satisfy all palates. You can eat like a local, and then cool off with a bowl of shave ice.
There is also Halewia Beach park which is a great spot for families with young kids as well as a popular spot for surf/stand up paddle board lessons.
This was our first stop in Lisbon and it was the perfect break (see what I did there) after a long overnight flight. Such a charming cafe that has indoor and outdoor seating, and wonderful service. It is also located one of Lisbon’s many picturesque streets which means you will have the opportunity to see many influencers in the wild while enjoying your refreshing meal/drink. We ordered their Acai Bowls with fresh fruit and a green smoothie, and you can’t go wrong with either.
This was one of our favorite places that we visited while in the Algarve. The rugged beauty of the coastline and the clear blue waters just draw you in. There are boardwalks that span out all along the cliffs as well as several spots with benches for one to sit and admire. It is definitely a great place to picnic or bring a bottle of wine to watch the sunset.
