Several days in Tokyo had acclimated us well to Japan.  Thus, it was time to see what else the country has to offer.  Kyoto is a cannot miss spot in Japan.  It is the old, imperial capital of the city, and most Japanese consider it to be much more important than Tokyo because of its …

Japan’s vibrant and new-age cultural hub is also its capital, Tokyo.  The massive city is loaded with things to do and ways to stay as busy as its bustling throngs of inhabitants.  During our April 2023 trip to Japan, we book-ended our trip with a total of about four and a half days in Tokyo. …

Copenhagen, Denmark.  The perfect Scandinavian paradise with something for every type of traveler, including the brand new traveler!  After several trips to its Nordic neighbors, we chose Denmark as the destination for our first international trip with our new family member.  At just 7 months old, plenty of people called us crazy for traveling with …

No trip to Norway would be complete without visiting the country’s capital, Oslo.  While we only had one full day in Oslo, we explored as much of the city as we could and quickly grew to adore it.  Oslo is modern and historical all at once, with a warmth from its locals that is tangible …

After several days in Tromsø, Norway, the time had come for us to travel 2.5 hours to the shore of the Lyngen Fjord for a four night stay at Lyngen Lodge.  This luxury lodge provides the ultimate arctic adventure during the day while offering a cozy, communal experience at night.  Lyngen Lodge is owned and …

Traveling to arctic Norway in the dead of winter may seem a bit deranged to some, but we were up for the challenge and highly motivated to witness the Northern Lights.  After failing to catch a glimpse of the Aurora during our trip to Iceland the year prior (read all about it here), we were …

Our final stop on our Christmastime adventure in Austria was the “Salt-Castle” itself, Salzburg.  Salzburg is among the largest cities in Austria and, historically, one of the most important.  For most of its history, Salzburg has not belonged to Austria.  Rather, it was the seat of the Archbishop of Salzburg of the Holy Roman Empire. …

Following our relaxing stay at the Aqua Dome Thermal Spa in Längenfeld and feeling reenergized and ready to see more of wintry Austria, we traveled to Innsbruck for a one-night stay in the city on the River Inn.  World-renowned for winter sports, Innsbruck has hosted the Winter Olympics twice and continues to be a very …

In December 2022, we spent a night at the Aqua Dome Thermal Spa after several busy days in Vienna at Christmastime.  The Aqua Dome is located in Längenfeld in the Western state of Tyrol, Austria.  I came across a picture of the spa’s raised hot water basins while searching for the world’s best outdoor baths, and I knew …

There was one goal in mind for our Christmastime 2022 international trip:  visit as many Christmas markets as possible!  After several years of anticipation, we couldn’t wait to experience all of the wintry magic under the bright lights with a mug of Glühwine in hand.  Our first stop: the City of Music, Vienna.  Hotel Sans …