Europe

Visiting Mount Teide, an active volcano in the Canary Islands, offers one of the most impressive views we’ve ever seen. And it should – this is one of the world’s tallest mountains.

From Colmar to Strasbourg and a handful of impossibly charming villages in between, I followed the Alsace wine route through this unique part of France, eating, wine tasting, and ogling gorgeous buildings along the way.

No student can get through school without learning about the famous Oracle of Delphi. While in Greece, it was impossible to not visit Delphi.

Candy-hued balconies against white stone facades, shimmering turquoise waters, cities that are like open-air museums all spiced with the history and flavors of the Mediterranean—this is Malta.

Sandwiched between the wine powerhouses of Germany and France, Luxembourg–one of Europe’s smallest countries–makes great wine, too.

Like many of our trips, this one started out with a simple musing: “I wonder if they have any hot springs in Sicily.” We’re passionate about hot springs and we thought maybe we would get lucky, but had no idea it would lead us to the Vulcano Island mud baths in the Aeolian Islands.

The mountains of Crete stretch on for miles. Except for a few rocky bits and areas punctuated by brilliant fuchsia wildflowers, everything is green. Of course there are olive trees—this is Greece, after all. But there are also miles and miles of perfectly manicured grapevines swooping down the slopes.

Brasserie Cantillon is not your typical brewery. There is no walled-off, sterile brewing area, no stainless steel showpiece tasting room with fancy tap handles spouting pumpkin ale.

It’s not every day you step through the door of an upscale hotel and find a foosball table and bright red cartoons on the wall.

When we visit a new place, we’re just as excited (sometimes moreso) to try new food as we are to see the sites. And when that food includes cheeses, pastries, desserts, and other local specialties, we know it’s going to be a great trip.