Reading Time: 5 minutes This post covers our recommendations for activities to do & walks to talk when in Sydney, Australia.
UNESCO Travel: Sintra, Portugal
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Reading Time: 6 minutes In this post we share photos from Sintra, Portugal, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Sintra is home to a rich history and boasts a remarkable cultural heritage. The town’s historic center, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is filled with magnificent palaces, historic buildings, and charming cobblestone streets that transport visitors back in time. The fairy-tale-like Pena Palace, perched on a hilltop, offers breathtaking views.
Sintra is famous for its stunning palaces and castles. Apart from the Pena Palace, the Quinta da Regaleira and the National Palace of Sintra are also popular attractions. These architectural marvels showcase a blend of Romantic, Gothic, and Moorish styles, captivating visitors with their exquisite designs and intricate details.
Nestled in the lush greenery of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, Sintra is a paradise for nature lovers. The park offers stunning landscapes, dense forests, and picturesque hiking trails. The region is known for its microclimate which creates a mystical ambiance, often enveloping the mountains in mist.
Sintra has inspired artists, writers, and poets throughout the centuries with its mystical atmosphere. The combination of its stunning natural scenery, enchanting palaces, and mystical legends adds to its allure. The “Cultural Landscape of Sintra” has been the inspiration for many literary works, including Lord Byron’s poem “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.”
Sintra is not just a feast for the eyes; it is also a culinary delight. Visitors can indulge in traditional Portuguese cuisine, such as freshly caught fish, delicious pastries like Travesseiros and Queijadas, and fine wines. The town is also home to charming cafes and restaurants that offer a warm and hospitable atmosphere.
Visiting Sintra offers an opportunity to immerse oneself in an enchanting blend of history, culture, nature, and beauty. It’s no wonder that this charming town continues to captivate the hearts of visitors from around the world.
Reading Time: < 1 minute This is a recommended itinerary for a first time visit to Vancouver & Whistler, British Columbia for someone interested in natural scapes.
The trips begins in Vancouver, a city that offers a harmonious blend of urban sophistication and breathtaking natural surrounds. After a few days visitors head north to Whistler, a special destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. From towering mountains to pristine lakes and dense forests, the natural beauty of the area is truly awe-inspiring.
Reading Time: 3 minutes In this post we share two itineraries for first time visitors to see Northern California in all its splendor. Both itineraries begin in San Francisco, with a focus on the natural spaces.
The first itinerary emphasizes California’s natural beauty through a visit to Yosemite National Park (granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves and biological diversity), and ends on the coastline in Carmel & Monterey (pristine white beaches, rugged cliffs, and enchanting cypress trees).
The second itinerary swaps a visit to Yosemite with time in California’s wine country to highlight Sonoma and Napa Valley’s viticulture. Rolling hills surround 650+ picturesque vineyards who are ready to welcome visitors for tastings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, and fine dining at the 150+ Michelin-starred restaurants.
Reading Time: 2 minutes This is a recommended itinerary for a first time visit to the Andalucia region of Spain. For visitors who are looking to move beyond major cities like Madrid and Barcelona and find the essence of Spain, Andalucia may be the answer.
Situated on the southern band of the country, this region is rich with history between the Moors and Catholics, is known as the world’s olive oil capitol, is home to flamenco, and offers gorgeous naturescapes.
This is trip filled with UNESCO Heritage Sites including the Alcázar Palace in Seville, the Historic Centre of Cordoba and the Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín in Granada.
This itinerary assumes that travel will start and end in Seville (due to its airport with commuter flights available throughout Spain, Portugal and broader Europe) and makes use of a private rental car. There is an option to continue travels throughout Spain from Granada instead of returning back to Seville.
Reading Time: 4 minutes In this post we share photos from Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Reading Time: 2 minutes This is a recommended itinerary for a first time visit to Italy & Vatican City.
Reading Time: 4 minutes This is a high level overview of travel throughout Switzerland over a 14-18 day period.
We present two itineraries for intra country travel – one that begins in Zurich (east side of Switzerland), and the other from Geneva/Lausanne (west side of Switzerland). Most travelers will enter the country through one of these places, either into Zurich or Geneva by way of Paris.
Switzerland is a small country that is easily navigated by fast trains to major hubs with local trains to get to precise locations. The itineraries below use a blend of train and private car to access some of smaller villages and afford the traveler increased flexibility in their plans. We provide details around options are for those who choose to use public transport only.
We also include a third itinerary that includes travel from the Swiss Alps into Northern Italy, including Lake Como and Milan.
Reading Time: 3 minutes In this post we outline how to spend three, four, or five days in Mexico City, Mexico.
Mexico City is the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the world and its 16 alcaldías (boroughs, officially designated as demarcaciones territoriales) are home to nearly 2,000 colonias (neighborhoods) each with their own history, culture and flair. For this reason, we consider three to five days in Mexico City as the briefest of introductions to this city.
Reading Time: 5 minutes In this post we share photos from Polanco. One of Mexico City’s most upscale neighborhoods, Polanco is home to luxury shopping, world-class dining, historic theaters, art galleries, and museums.
This walking tour of Polanco bring you to the area’s gems. It takes about an hour of non-stop, flat walking to complete the path. With stops for food, photos, museums, shopping and people watching in the park, plan to spend a full day in Polanco.
Reading Time: 5 minutes This post covers our recommendations for Savannah, Georgia USA.
Reading Time: 5 minutes In this post we share photos from a day spent at various wineries and points of interest in Yarra Valley, Australia. Situated just 30 minutes from Melbourne, the region’s cool climate makes it a wonderful place for wine, beer and cider production.
Reading Time: 6 minutes This is a list of activity recommendations for three days, two nights in Boise, Idaho, one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. Boise is consistently included in top ten lists like the best U.S. downtowns, the best city to raise a family, the healthiest, and the best place to retire. It’s no wonder why this city’s second name is Treasure Valley.
Reading Time: 5 minutes This is a list of activity recommendations and photos from Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA. An Engaged Abroad favorite destination, Carmel is a gem on California’s coast that offers some of the world’s finest scenery, historic sites, artist enclaves and fine dining.
This is a list of activity recommendations and photos from Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA. An Engaged Abroad favorite destination, Carmel is a gem on California’s coast that offers some of the world’s finest scenery, historic sites, artist enclaves and fine dining.
Reading Time: 5 minutes This is a list of activity recommendations for Monterey, California, USA.
Continue your tour of California’s coast by stopping through Monterey, California, named one of Expedia’s “Most Scenic West Coast Cities” in 2018. Just two hours south of San Francisco, and five hours north of Los Angeles, the city’s National Marine Sanctuary, Spanish-era adobes and John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row are sure to delight visitors.