ONE: Getting published in a book!

I started this year with the goal to really get paid for my writing. It’s been quite a road, mostly filled with a lot of rejection, but I still completed that goal! Mostly with online articles, but one did make it into a book. It was so, so exciting to go find a book in a bookstore with my words in it!

TWO: Camping in Grand Teton National Park

I spent a good chunk of my life living only three hours from Grand Teton National Park and never visiting. I’m kicking myself because it’s AMAZING and I hope to make it an annual trip. Although camping with a baby was…an experience…I hope she gets used to the tent and starts to enjoy it!

THREE: Ketchum & Sun Valley

In February, we started a tradition of meeting my brother, who lives in Idaho, somewhere in the West to ski over President’s Day weekend. Last year we skied at Sun Valley (with a day trip to Ketchum) and this year, we’re planning on Targhee in Wyoming. Although I didn’t get to ski very much–partly because we brought baby A and someone had to watch her, haha, and partly because I’m not a great skier to begin with, and Sun Valley is a tough mountain! Still, it was a great weekend with my siblings, and there was so much snow!!

FOUR: Christmas markets in Copenhagen

This year, we timed our annual visit to Copenhagen (where my husband’s business partner lives) with the Christmas markets! And some of our very best friends that we met in Budapest came over from Romania, too, which made it all the better.

FIVE: Getting lost in Copenhagen with my sleeping baby

Baby A is such an angel when we travel, and while we were walking around the city one day, she fell asleep hours before I anticipated–just as I lost track of where I was. It’s much less stressful being lost with a kid when they are passed out. I usually love getting lost in new places–it’s an integral part of the experience, if you ask me–but the logistics of a baby can make this difficult. Not as bad when they’re asleep :).

SIX: Baby A turning 2

I can’t believe my child is two years old. She’s officially a toddler! I find myself missing the baby phase a lot, but she is just so fun, it’s hard not to love this age, too! So far every age has been so fun in new ways, and being her mother is the greatest joy of my life.

SEVEN: Christmas in Washington

We went to my in-laws for Christmas this year, and I forgot just how much I love the Pacific Northwest in the winter. The fog! The rain! The green everywhere, still! And it was lovely to spend a Christmas with E’s side of the family–it had been much too long!

EIGHT: Vancouver Island

I was thrilled to finally make it to Vancouver Island for my birthday in August. It is, as expected, gorgeous, quaint, and I need to go back, because it’s also huge! A few highlights–getting coffee in the adorable waterside town of Cowichan Bay, visiting the Old Country Market in Coombs (mostly baby A was thrilled with the famous goats–we went for the donuts), visiting old family friends, and the terrace at our b’n’b.

NINE: Baby A, every day

I could easily make all of this about little things my daughter does, every day. She’s so fun, sweet, smart, hilarious, and keeps on our toes!

TEN: Mont St. Michel

What traveller doesn’t want to see Mont. St. Michel, off the coast of Normandy? I would definitely recommend going in November–although a lot of shops were closed, the crowds were much smaller, and it’s a crammed space as it is. By the time we made it up to the abbey at the top, I was tired of wrangling a toddler on the stone walls and almost didn’t pay to enter. That would have been a mistake!

ELEVEN: Fireplace in Bayeux

For our base in Normandy (which we visited with my mom and sister–such a highlight!), we stayed in Bayeux. Not only is Bayeux a great base, it’s a stop to visit in it’s own right. My favorite part, though, was the Airbnb we stayed in. The fireplace was tricky to get going but having one in our bedroom was a dream!

TWELVE: Staying in Montmartre

For the first few days in Paris, we stayed in the area of Montmartre. While it can get crowded–not as bad in November, though!–I just fell in love with that area of the city. I think anyone who visits does, really! It’s a great place to be while jet lagged with a toddler–so much to explore just walking around! At all hours, too–we accidentally went out at 11 p.m. one night (parent fail, we blame the time change) and baby A loved all the lit-up buildings.

THIRTEEN: Glacier National Park & Flathead Lake for the 4th/E’s birthday

We were invited up to a friend’s house at Flathead Lake, here in Montana, for the 4th of July–and we squeezed in a quick trip to Glacier for E’s birthday, since it was (kind of) close! We had a lovely few days relaxing at the lake, riding the boat, and hanging with my cousin and her boyfriend, and his family.

FOURTEEN: Anderson Island

We took a ferry from Tacoma in Washington to the small Anderson Island with E’s family, while we visited in August. We took a hike that ended in pouring rain, but it’s such a pretty little spot! Baby A got a kick out of the ferry, as a bonus.

FIFTEEN: Minnesota & South Dakota

We embarked on a big ole road trip last June, traveling from Montana to Minnesota for my grandpa’s 90th birthday (!) and a cousin’s wedding. From there, we drove down to meet my in-laws in South Dakota, where we explored the Black Hills area and camped out. Highlights of the trip were our little traveling champ, my grandpa’s birthday party, staying on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, driving to Wisconsin with my brother for cheese curds and local beer, hiking in Spearfish Canyon, and renting a tiny cabin with my in-laws.

SIXTEEN: The people in Copenhagen

From E’s business partner and his family, to a delivery guy at one of our favorite pastry shops that made friends with Adelie, to everyone who helped me with a stroller, to seeing our old friends, to our Airbnb hosts…it truly is a welcoming city (at least to us!).

SEVENTEEN: European bread and pastry

France, obviously, has amazing pastries and crepes.. But we found so many good spots in Copenhagen, too! We are constantly trying to fatten up baby A, and watching her eat her weight in French croissants was glorious.

EIGHTEEN: Tea in Honfleur, France

While exploring the absolutely adorable little city of Honfleur, we stumbled upon this absolutely charming little tea room. Simple, but a precious moment from our trip!

NINETEEN: Mother’s Day in Yellowstone National Park

Last winter and spring, we had a quiet few months, working hard, saving money, trying to pay off some bills. Which meant we hadn’t done much traveling when we decided to do a quick day trip to Yellowstone for Mother’s Day. It was so refreshing to get away, outside, and remind ourselves that the place we live is pretty beautiful, too.

Other highlights (’cause I just can’t choose): Watching one of my oldest friends get married, living near family, meeting a lot of new baby friends for baby A, a few days at our friend’s cabin in Montana, my cousin’s wedding in California (which included beers & beaches, and spending time with my grandfather before his passing in October), pumpkin patching, Monet’s Water Lilies in Paris, introducing my mom and sister to France…and the list goes on. I am very thankful for that.

Share one of your favorite moments from 2019 below! I’d love to hear them! 

The post 19 for 2019 appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

Bruges, Belgium has the distinction of being one of those rare places I’ve visited more than once while living in Europe. I’ve been there in summer and over Christmas and it is such a delightful little town. I love it so much I’m hoping to experience it, someday, in the autumn and the spring!

Try the waffles

Let’s be real: one of the main reasons you are probably going to Belgium is the famous Belgian waffles, and you must try them immediately! Try the Liege waffle, named after a city/region, and take it for a stroll while you get oriented to the adorable Bruges. You can get it loaded with ice cream, whipped cream, the works–like I did below–but I think they’re just as delicious plain and warm from the waffle-maker.

Climb the Belfry of Bruges

You won’t miss the Belfry, smack dab in the middle of the main square, or Markt. There’s been a belfry on this spot since around 1240, when Bruges was in its heyday. The climb isn’t bad and the views are gorgeous! Go on a clear morning to beat the crowds, and ideally your first day, to help you get oriented to the little city.

Take a canal tour–from a boat!

This is quite a touristy pastime in Bruges (it’s not an undiscovered city by far!) but it’s so wonderful to see the beautiful city from the water. The tours last about thirty minutes and give you a good, quick overview of the city’s history. I loved learning the specific history of more of the distinctive buildings we passed.

Choose the best fries in the Markt.

Apparently there is a debate over which fries are better–the ones from the cart on the left-side of the Belfry or the ones on the right-side. Really, you’ll just have to try both to decide for yourself! It’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it.

Visit the Groeninge Museum

If you are an art lover, this is a must-see! It’s a fairly compact museum with quite a few painting by important Flemish artists. Most of the paintings in this museum are from before the Renaissance, to give you an idea of how long Bruges history is.

View Madonna and Child

That’s right, there’s a Michelangelo…in Bruges! This tells you what a powerhouse Bruges was in the thirteenth century. This was actually the only piece of his to leave Italy during his lifetime. The Church of Our Lady, where you can find the statue, is also a beautiful cathedral to visit.

Visit the Chocolate Line

I know you’ve heard of Belgian chocolate–and it most definitely lives up to the hype. You can pop into almost any chocolate shop and be happy, I think, but you must visit the Chocolate Line–reputed as some of the best in the world. My now-husband tried the Cuban cigar flavor, mostly to say that he had, and I tried the lavender. This is a pricey spot that probably won’t be where you buy your souvenir chocolates, but it’s worth a visit just to try the most interesting flavors around.

Bicycle to the nearby town of Damme

Damme is a mini-Bruges a leisurely bike ride away from the actual Bruges. This was one of my favorite activities we did while in Bruges because you bike along a canal and past windmills. It is incredibly picturesque! It’s also nice to get away from the city and into the countryside of Belgium. The town itself is cute and has its own little church and is known for its bookstores and book fairs.

Find your favorite Belgian beer

Yet another gastronomic delight Belgian is famous for? The beer, of course! I quickly found my favorite (Kasteel Donker, if you’re wondering) but doing a tasting at a place like Cambrinus is another way to go. It’s not a hardship to taste a few before choosing the best, after all. Just remember, Belgian beer tends to be strong compared to most beer, so take your time unless you really want to party!

Get lost in the streets

Bruges is a magical little city that often does feel lost in time. However, there are a lot of tourists. Luckily, just a few blocks away from the main tourist center and the Markt, you’ll be able to find quieter, small streets to explore. Follow your feet and see where the charming little streets take you!

BONUS: Visit the Christmas festive-ness around town–from various Christmas trees, to a market, and more!

This one obviously depends on when you go, but I can attest that Bruges at Christmas is just as magical as you might suppose. There’s even a holiday-themed version of my favorite beer!

Have you been to Bruges? What would you recommend for a first-time visitor?

Originally published for Big World, Small Me. If you’re not already following Sara, you should! 

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Instead, I’m going to pick 18 highlights–small ones–of 2018 to share with you all. I decided to do this in favor of time, and also because, with a new baby, it’s too hard to pick just a few pictures to highlight. I would end up with a million pictures, most of them of my daughter. Since my main goal for 2019 is to be in the moment and appreciate the little things, it also seems fitting to focus on my favorite little memories from 2018. Of course, this could easily be 18 (or 100…) highlights just from parenthood, but I did my best to include some other parts of my life.

(Okay, most of these little moments are of my baby…but in my defense, she really is just that amazing, says her completely un-biased mother :)).

Also, it just doesn’t feel like a new year without documenting it on my blog. Even if it’s the end of January already!

Here we go, in no particular order:

ONE: Singing happy birthday to my one-year-old

TWO: Listening to the church bells during a night walk in Tallinn

THREE: My baby “mmming” while eating a pastry in at the amazing Regatta Café in Helsinki, to the amusement of the entire place

FOUR: Watching a dear friend dance with her new husband during their New Year’s Eve fiesta

FIVE: Flying over Mount Rainier (also my daughter’s first flight at five months old!)

SIX: Randomly spotting whales while visiting Depoe Bay, Oregon (on my birthday, no less!)

SEVEN: Coffee on this porch

EIGHT: Exploring Copenhagen with my new little travel buddy in tow!

NINE: Christmas tree hunting

TEN: Napping baby during a lunch in Tallinn

ELEVEN: My brother and my baby on the beach

TWELVE: Visiting my siblings in Idaho

THIRTEEN: Walking in my new neighborhood in the fall!

FOURTEEN: A picnic in the park for my mother-in-law’s birthday

FIFTEEN: Seeing family all over California

SIXTEEN: Family coffee dates

SEVENTEEN: Family time in the snowy Montana countryside at Christmastime

EIGHTEEN: My postpartum hair (at least for the first few months, until it all started to fall out)

The post 18 for 2018 appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

Moravia, Czech Republic

Before we moved to the Czech Republic, I assumed it was all about the beer. Bohemia, the region of the country that holds Prague, the Czech Republic’s most famous city, is certainly all about that beer, so it makes sense that many a tourist doesn’t know much about Czech wine. Or that even such a thing exists, as I mentioned above!

Well, I’m here to tell you, Czech wine certainly shouldn’t be forgotten when visiting the country. Even better, if you have the time, a visit to Mikulov, the capital of Moravia, the primary Czech wine region, is delightful. If you go in the autumn, make sure to try some burčak, Czech “young wine” that is delicious and deceivingly strong.

Eger, Hungary

Eger is a must for any wine-lover when visiting Hungary. Only about two hours away from Budapest via train, Eger has a wine valley, known in English as the “Valley of Beautiful Women.” We visited Eger a few times because the valley has over a dozen little family wineries built into the hillside. So, you walk around, hopping from wine cellar to wine cellar and tasting some of the most delicious wine I’ve ever had–at insane prices. Wine tasting in Eger is one of my favorite experiences in all of Europe!

Tokaj, Hungary

Excuse me for the bit of last-place-I-lived favoritism, but the wine in Hungary is just that amazing! While Eger wins my favorite thanks to its red bulls-blood and I am all about the reds, Tokaj produces the best dessert wine around. The Tokaj region also happens to be on Lake Balaton, the largest inland lake in Europe and a gorgeous little spot! I mostly drank Tokaj in Budapest but the region itself is worth a visit.

Santorini, Greece

The wind is so strong in Santorini that they have different ways of growing the vines, which looks weird but helps produce amazing grapes, helped along by the famously volcanic soil. Like all of the other produce we tried on the island, the grapes are slightly sweeter. Make sure to get the local moussaka with your glass of wine, as well–Santorini eggplant is the best in the world, I’m telling ya!

Central & South Dalmatia, Croatia

Croatia is full of great wine regions, or so I’ve heard, but the only one I’ve personally experienced is in the south, on the islands of Korčula and Hvar. We tried so many bottles of wine on Korčula our host asked if we were having a party! Cue shame face…

Brda Region, Slovenia

We were privileged enough to tour the Brda region in Slovenia with Slocally after a night in their Herbal Rooms Homestay. It was bliss! We visited small, family run wineries and tried the new “hipster” wine–an orange wine! We wandered among the many colorful, autumn-themed vineyards. It was a foggy day but that just added to the atmosphere. The region is also full of cute little towns, like Šmartno, and well-worth a visit. This region is on the border of Slovenia and Italy, so it feels sort of like a mini-Tuscany, but with its own Slovene flavor.

Pelagonia-Polog, Macedonia

We didn’t tour this region of Macedonia while there (partly because I was pregnant at the time) but were able to taste several wines from this region. I knew nothing about Macedonia or its wine before we went, and I was pleasantly surprised!

Do you have some favorite off-the-beaten path wine regions? Share in the comments! 

The post 7 Unique Wine Countries in Europe appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

If you want to be inspired to become a chocolatier…

Visit Bruges, Belgium. Belgium has some of the best chocolate in the world, and Bruges has so many delicious and creative little chocolate shops!

If you want to be inspired to be a great architect…

Visit Prague. Prague was one of the few cities in Europe to fully escape bombing in World War II. I’m not sure this is true, but I was told that the reason Prague was kept so intact is because Hitler himself loved it and wanted to preserve it.

If you want to be inspired to write about mermaids…

Visit Copenhagen, Denmark. Hans Christian Andersen, writer of “The Little Mermaid” and other stories, hailed from this lovely city–you can even visit several of his former homes, and the Little Mermaid statue itself.

If you want to be inspired to become the next Marco Polo…

Visit his rumored birthplace of Korcula, Croatia.

If you want to be inspired to make a movie about World War II…

Visit Krakow, Poland. Right outside of Krakow is also Auschwitz, a concentration camp made into a museum. It is by no means a fun visit but I believe it is necessary when you are in the area.

If you want to be inspired to write dark fairy tales…

Visit Peles Castle in Transylvania, Romania. Everyone knows Dracula came from Romania, and this castle would be the ideal setting for your own story about vampires.

If you want to be inspired to bust out a chorus of “Let It Go”…

Visit the fjords of Norway. This is where Elsa and Anna danced and sang and almost froze to death, after all.

If you want to be inspired to become the next Disney princess…

Visit Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. Said to be the inspiration of Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle, this castle will take your breath away with its setting alone.

If you want to be inspired by the fact that the HILLS ARE ALIVE…

Visit Hallstatt, Austria…or Mittenwald, Germany…or Salzburg, Austria. I couldn’t pick just one!

If you want to be inspired to open your own teashop…

Visit London, England. My favorite places for tea (although I am no expert!) are the Orangery at Kensington Palace, the British Museum (for a break while exploring of course), the National Gallery and Fortnum & Mason.

If you want to be inspired to become a classical musician…

Visit Vienna, Austria. Mozart played here, and they still have so much fabulous music–like an amazing boys’ choir you can hear in this very building on certain Sundays throughout the year

If you want to be inspired to act in a period film…

Visit Budapest, Hungary. Budapest, thanks to its price and the gorgeous, historical streets, is a prime spot for filmmakers. Walking near (or sometimes through) a film set was a common occurrence while I lived there.

If you want to be inspired to write poetry…

Visit the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy. Lord Byron was famously inspired by this bridge: “I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs, a palace and a prison on each hand.”

If you want to be inspired to paint like the masters…

Visit the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. While the Louvre is amazing of course, I loved the Musée d’Orsay–in an old train station!–more, partly because of the atmosphere and the increased accessibility of the art.

If you want to be inspired to read the classics…

Visit the ruins of Athens, Greece. My favorite part about visiting Athens and Greece are the ruins mixed in with modern life.

If you want to be inspired to write about a hunchback…

Visit the towers of Notre-Dame in Paris. You’ll be searching for Quasimodo the entire time!

If you want to be inspired to become a famous photographer…

Visit the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland. You can’t help but take a photo around every bend in this part of the world.

If you want to be inspired to go back to school for philosophy…

Visit Oxford in England.

If you want to be inspired to start a revolution…

Visit the remnants of the Berlin Wall in Germany. The East Side Gallery is probably the best spot to see the pieces, although you can find sections in other areas of the city too.

If you want to be inspired to be the next great mountain climber…

Visit the High Tatras in Slovakia.

If you want to be inspired to start a farm…

Visit Bavaria in Austria and Germany. The farms here are ridiculously picturesque.

If you want to be inspired to go completely green…

Visit Slovenia. Slovenia has been nominated as one of the greenest countries (environmentally) in the world–and it’s completely gorgeous, too.

If you want to be inspired to open a hip wine bar…

Visit Belgrade, Serbia. While Belgrade is definitely still on the grungy side, the endless, creative cafés and bars would inspire anyone to find their own niche.

If you want to get inspired to invent your own world…

Visit the Elephant Café in Edinburgh, Scotland. The rumor is that J.K. Rowling couldn’t afford to heat her place at the time, so she came to this café to write the first Harry Potter book. It’s a great café with a beautiful view either way! I especially love the bathrooms–when I went, they were covered in graffiti dedicated to J.K. and her books!

Where do you find the most inspiration around you? What would you add to this Europe list?

The post Where to Be Inspired in Europe appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

Read on for some of my best travels from 2017.

Stockholm, Sweden

Our first trip of the year was one of my favorites, because it was a return trip to Scandinavia–and our first stop in Sweden! Highlights of this trip were Gamla Stan (the old town), an epic dinner at Djuret, amazing burgers at Barrels and Burgers, and the Vasa Museum.

See my posts about Sweden here. 

Brighton, England

In February, I found out my friend had decided to take a last-minute trip from New York to England, and I couldn’t miss the chance to meet her in Europe! She was going to be in Brighton, on the sea, when I was available to go, and I went for it. I’d never really considered a visit to Brighton before, but it’s beautiful and we had so much fun!

Belgrade, Serbia

We went to Belgrade (via a night train) with our friends from Budapest (now they live in Spain–follow along with Ash and her adventures on her blog!). Belgrade is an up-and-coming spot in Europe for good reason. We had a great time exploring the Orthodox churches, wandering the streets, and eating things like cheese pie.

Macedonia

For my spring break, E and I took advantage of very cheap tickets to Macedonia. We spent most of our time in the gorgeous Lake Ohrid, and although I found out I was pregnant right before we went–and so was suffering from morning sickness all day–it was still such an interesting country to visit.

London, England

My sister came to visit (!!!) and after showing off Budapest, we traveled to London for a long weekend. Although cramming London into two days is not something I would necessarily recommend, I absolutely loved showing her the sites!

See my posts about London here. 

Exploring Budapest

I had to include a shout-out to our former home, of course! I still miss the majestic streets, my job, our little flat, the food, our friends, and the Danube.

See my posts about Budapest here. 

Polish road trip

My brother and my parents came to Budapest in June and after a few days of exploring, we headed off on a road trip through Slovakia to Poland! We all immediately fell in love with Poland. It’s inexpensive, with delicious food, the cream of the crop when it comes to Airbnb, fun tours, serious history and lovely architecture.

See my posts about Poland here.

Scottish road trip

For E’s birthday, we decided to finally take a road trip through the Scottish highlands. It goes on record as one of our best.trips.EVER. I’d like to go back now, please!

See my posts about Scotland here.

Iceland layover

Who can resist taking advantage of the awesome layover program with IcelandAir?? Not us. Although we’ve only seen Iceland during layovers so far–and trust me, it deserves more time!–each trip has been awesome.

See my posts about Iceland here. 

My birthday in Charleston

Thanks to my pregnancy/health issues, we ended up back in America sooner than I’d hoped–i.e., before my 30th birthday. BUT, since we had some airline vouchers that were about to expire, we grabbed a nearly-free flight to Charleston, South Carolina. The heat was a bit much, but the food, the beach and charm more than made up for it. Seriously, you guys…THE FOOD.

See my best travels from 2016 and 2015! 

Linking up with Adventures of a London Kiwi, SilverSpoon London, and Follow Your Sunshine!

The post Best of Travel: 2017 appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

And it wouldn’t feel like a new year with my annual collages full of my favorite moments!

So, I give you…the Best of 2017!

1-3: Starting the New Year in Budapest // 4: So many amazing coffee afternoons in Budapest // 5: Meeting blogger friends, always a highlight! // 6: The Women’s March in Budapest // 7: French cooking class // 8-9: Teaching!!

10-14: Exploring Stockholm // 15-18: Meeting my amazing friend Melissa in Brighton, England!

19: Fancy food in Budapest // 20: Fancy nights in Budapest // 21-25: Visiting Belgrade, Serbia, with two of our favorite people // 26: Nice weather in Budapest // 27: Pregnant!

28-32: Spring break in Macedonia // 33-35: My sister visits Budapest!!! // 36: Vienna with my little sis

37-39: London with my sister!! // 40-45: Saying farewell to Budapest and some of our favorite friends

46: My brother came to visit!! // 47: And then my parents did too! First stop, Vienna // 48: My brother’s birthday in Budapest // 49: Food tour in Krakow // 50: Warsaw // 51-52: Gnome-hunting and coffee in Wroclaw // 53: Exploring Krakow // 54: One last trip selfie!

55-63: E’s 30th birthday in Scotland! Highlights include Isle of Mull, Isle of Skye, Eileen Donan, Plockton, Applecross, and everything we ate.

64-72: Two great layovers: Amsterdam and Iceland!

73- 79: Catching up with family (and dogs) all over the United States // 80-81: Baking for the Bake Off Bake Along!

82-90: My 30th birthday in charming Charleston–and the Isle of Palms!

91-99: Autumn in our new (temporary) home, Montana, was pretty fun and spectacular!

100-102: Baby prep // 103-105: My baby shower // 106-108: Thanksgiving!

109: Adelie Laine, born on November 26 // 110-112: The first week of her life was spent in the hospital (for me), not ideal but we still had some good bonding time // 113-117: Finally bringing her home and getting into a groove!

118: Adelie’s first holiday season! // 119: Meeting her aunt and grandma // 120: Walking in the snow // 121-123: Her first Christmas // 124: Meeting her cousin // 125: Four generations // 126: New Year’s Eve baptism.

What a year! Hope your 2018 is off to a wonderful start.

See the Best of 2016, the Best of 2015, the Best of 2014, and the Best of 2013!

The post Best of 2017 appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

In addition, despite the fact that I try to find something positive about every place I visit, there are a lot of places I just didn’t connect with for whatever reason, or didn’t have enough time to visit. I think everywhere deserves more than once chance–so here are ten places I need to visit again!

Cambodia

Some real talk here: I kind of, um, hated most of my time in Cambodia (except for moments at Angkor Wat and in the Ratanakiri Province). Awful, right? After an amazing, action-packed month exploring Thailand, my cousin and I went to Cambodia and so many things went wrong. We were both really sick; we’d left our friends behind in Thailand and missed them (and their traveling skills); the endless heat and oppressive humidity was getting to me; we were there over Thanksgiving and the homesickness was out of control; and honestly, the locals seemed to harass us, hate us, lecture us, or be annoyed that we weren’t acting the way they wanted. I feel like all of these things combined together to make me hate it, and I couldn’t wait to leave. When we crossed to border into Vietnam–via a boat on the Mekong, on a visa that our couch surfing host had done incorrectly which would make us get detained later (but that’s a different story)–I let out a breath of relief. I know Cambodia is a beautiful, complicated, impoverished country, and I think I need to give it another chance.

Read more about Cambodia here. 

China

China is one of those places that, while I was there, I didn’t love it–but now that I look back, I think “WOW! What a great country!” China, partially because of the situation I was in while there (an internship working with earthquake survivors in Sichuan province) pushed my boundaries like no other, and therefore wasn’t exactly a comfortable experience. I witnessed tragedy, heartbreak, corruption, illness, confusing cultural norms–and was struck by the resilience and joy of the people, and the country itself. Oh yeah, I need to go back.

Read more about China here. 

Thailand

Unlike the Cambodia saga above, I just adored Thailand. The smiling people! The food. The diverse, gorgeous landscape. The sweaty, chaotic cities. The idyllic islands. Thailand pretty much has everything, and even though I spent a month there, I have so much left to see! Plus, E has never been, which is reason enough to return.

Read more about Thailand here. 

South America

Is it cheating to put an entire continent on here? I haven’t been to South America since I studied abroad in Peru and Ecuador in 2009. That study abroad trip was my first real time away from home, and my first solo travel, which means that a lot of my memories are overshadowed by my homesickness, my parasite (yep), my idiocy (even more yep), the reasons I left in the first place (struggles in school and relationships), and my sky-high expectations slowly crumbling beneath me. That being said, now that I’m more comfortable traveling–and (slightly) more comfortable in my skin–I would love to go back to South America. I mean, there is so much more of that giant continent to explore.

Read more about Peru here and more about Ecuador here. 

Panama

We spent only three days there on our honeymoon in 2015, on the island chain of Bocas del Toro. I…did not like it. I don’t know why. I found it overcrowded, dirty, and rather stressful. So maybe I do know why–but I have been to a lot of places that fit those criteria, and that didn’t necessarily bother me. I think the Bocas are exploding with tourism and are not equipped to handle it, and the environment is starting to suffer. It really is a beautiful corner of the world, though!

Read more about Panama here. 

Iceland

Two 17-hour layovers were not enough! Iceland has simply exploded onto the international travel scene, for good reason. I’d love to spend more time there!

Read more about Iceland here. 

Vietnam

Although I would go back to every country I visited during my tour of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, South Korea & Vietnam) the one that pulls me the most is probably Vietnam. I can’t quite put my finger on the why. It stands out in my mind as the most beautiful, but it’s also the place where, as we were traveling so quickly, my cousin and I missed a lot of gems, or just stayed for a day or two. It’s funny, because we had some visa issues and did not leave the country on good terms–but I’m still dying to go back. Or maybe that’s why, and I’m just contrary.

Read more about Vietnam here. 

Italy

Okay, I know Italy is on everyone’s bucket list or return-to list. There’s a reason Italy is one of the most visited spots in the world–and I’ve only seen a few little corners! I haven’t even been to Rome or Florence. I think I haven’t been in a rush because a) Italy is expensive; b) Italy is crowded; c) I will always want to go to Italy and d) Italy is a place I can travel to when I’m older, too. Now, this is usually the opposite of my travel philosophy–I always want to see it now, rather than later, because you just never know if you’ll get another chance, do you? Italy has been creeping higher up my list after our visit to Venice, and the fact that we have friends living all over the country. Not that Italy needs a reason to creep up anyone’s list–it is Italy, after all.

Read more about Italy here. 

Greece

I’ve told you (maybe too much) how even though it was a crazy trip, I completely loved Greece. And I’ve only been to Santorini and Athens–there is so much more to see! The combination of relaxed (sometimes too relaxed, admittedly) attitude, delicious food, ancient history, and beautiful scenery just hooks me in.

Read more about Greece here. 

France

I’ve been to Paris, and Lille, but I would love to get out of the cities and explore more of France. I’m particularly intrigued by Normandy. Truthfully, I didn’t “fall in love” with either Lille or Paris, and I think France deserves another chance! And I didn’t just choose it because it rhymed with chance! I also am part French, and like any true American, I’m eager to learn more about one of my self-assigned homelands.

Read more about France here. 

Do you have places you need to give another chance?

Linking up with Wanderful Wednesday and Faraway Files. 

The post Ten Places I Need to Visit Again appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

one of baby’s first trips–Scotland! 

I admit that I’m struggling with what my life will look like–and what my identity will be–after babe. Traveling has been such a part of my life and such a part of me–it’s almost always been one of my number one dreams and goals–that I’m not sure what my life is going to look like going forwards.

Many people assure me that you CAN still travel with a baby, and I am really crossing my fingers that we are going to make it happen. In true form, I have many ideas on where we could go with a baby in tow–and here are the top ten places I want to go with my child!

TOP TEN PLACES I WANT TO TAKE MY BABY

France.

The last few years, I’ve really wanted to do a road trip around France, mostly in the countryside. I think we could base ourselves one or two places and still see a lot. It seems like road tripping with a baby might be the best way to travel with one! But correct me if I’m wrong??

see more France here. 

Spain.

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Some of our favorite friends moved to Spain, and I’m dying to visit them! I’m sure the baby will want to meet them, too ;).

England.

I think both my parents would love to see England, so I have (lofty) dreams of gathering our family there, and showing my baby the English countryside. Plus, more people = more babysitters!

see more England here. 

Iceland.

I just feel like Iceland must be really nice to babies, although I have no evidence of this, except that I know IcelandAir is. Plus, two one-night layovers there is just not enough time!!

see more Iceland here. 

Peru.

I studied abroad in Peru during my university years and I’ve always wanted to go back with E–and now our child!

see more Peru here. 

The Oregon coast.

One of my favorite places on Earth, and probably the first place our little one will put those cute little feet in the sand!

see more Oregon here. 

Hawaii.

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I don’t know why I think this, but Hawaii seems like such a fun place to take your baby. Of course, I’ve never been, so that’s a plus. I really want to go to more islands in the South Pacific, and Hawaii seems like a good place to start!

South Africa.

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Okay now we’re getting crazy, because that would be a long trip for a little one. I won’t make my goal of getting to Africa though before I pop, so it will just have to include the new member of our family!

New Zealand.

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I’m pretty sure one of the longest flights in the world might be hell with a baby…but I have a feeling New Zealand would be completely worth it.

Japan.

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Japan has been at the top of E’s list for years. I think it would be fun–if chaotic–with a little kid!

I need your advice, parents–best places to take a baby? For the childless, would you still want to travel with a baby in tow? 

Linking up with Adventures of a London Kiwi, SilverSpoon London, Follow Your Sunshine and Erin Out and About for the monthly travel link-up! 

The post Top Ten Places I Want to Take My Baby appeared first on Amy and the Great World.