• chianti
    Italy

    Chianti, Italy

    Ah Chianti. Dream of rolling green hills as you sip fine Italian red wine on a breezy day? Chianti is part of Tuscany in Northern Italy, famous for the wine. If you have ever had Chianti branded wine, yes this is the place where it is made. It is easy to visit this region as part of a day trip from Florence or as part of a larger Italian itinerary. A typical visit to Chianti will involve a tour of the property and how the wine is made. A trip alone is worth it because of the views you get at the winery! The lush green hills are beautiful in…

  • Italy

    Rome, Italy

    Oh Roma! Ti amo! Rome is a breathtaking city that you should see for yourself once in your lifetime. Being in Rome is like starring in your own travel movie. You know the scene, the montage scene to a 90s pop song as you walk around the city and gasp at all the sites. I see you Lizzie McGuire! Rome is one of those famous cities, that I find to not be overrated. The city lives up to all the hype, and then some! So what makes this city so magical? I’m not a huge museum person, but Rome has a way of bringing history to life right before your…

  • florence
    Italy

    Should You Visit Florence, Italy?

    I spent two weeks in Florence, Italy (Firenze!) while studying abroad. I stayed with a host family where the father was a chef! Neither of the parents had great English so communication was rather difficult. We kept to key words that we knew in the other language! They had a cute little apartment that was on the outskirts of the city. They still had their 30 year old son with them who was unwed so I guess that’s totally normal! Not quite the same as America! Wanderings Florence was my first experience in Italy and it was a great way to start my trip. I absolutely loved exploring this city!…

  • venice
    Italy

    Venice Italy: Bucket List Gondola Ride

    Oh Venice. Venice is on everyone’s bucket list for the romantic gondola rides and the city built by canals. I did a day trip to Venice and found the town to be quaint and cute but over crowded. Of course any day in Italy is a dream come true, but I would like to provide my honest opinion on my travels so you can prioritize and plan an itinerary of your own! Maybe it was just the peak of summer season and because I didn’t spend the night, but I wasn’t impressed by Venice. It was very beautiful but it didn’t live up to the hype I had built up…

  • cinque terre
    Italy

    Sun, Sea, and Italy: Cinque Terre, Italy, the Hidden Gem

    Cinque Terre, the hidden gem of Italy. Well maybe not so hidden anymore! Cinque Terre is a huge tourist destination in Italy. Easily accessible by train from Florence, it is made up of five (cinque) towns that were painted bright colors so fisherman could return home safe and sound. I took a tour group to Cinque Terre but it easily reachable on your own as well. Take the train to the towns and get off and explore! Take a hike in between towns to see some gorgeous views. See the brightly colored houses cliffside next to sparkling blue water. One word of note, bring tennis shoes! I saw a lot…