Europe

Saint-Émilion, France – Travel Guide + 2-Day Itinerary

Saint-Émilion, France: Travel Guide + 2-Day Itinerary

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Saint-Émilion, France – Travel Guide + 2-Day Itinerary

I recently shared (what I think is) the best guide to Bordeaux, France based on my recent trip there. After having spent the most amazing week in Bordeaux and the surrounding region, I can say confidently that it is absolutely NOT to be missed. If you’re looking for immaculate, quintessential French vibes, Bordeaux is IT. And just outside of Bordeaux lies the most magical and medieval French village that looks like it was plucked straight out of Beauty and the Beast – Saint-Émilion. Easily accessible by bus, train, or rental car, Saint-Émilion is a MUST for anyone visiting Bordeaux or the general area. Most people visit Saint-Émilion as a day trip from Bordeaux. But I think there’s plenty to see, eat, drink, and do to easily fill up a 2-day itinerary.

So here’s a travel guide of everything you need to know about visiting Saint-Émilion, France, and a handy 2-day itinerary for this charming town from someone who’s been there!

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A travel and city guide for Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux, France: A Travel Guide (+ map!)

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A travel and city guide for Bordeaux, France

Hello and welcome to my Bordeaux, France travel guide, carefully crafted by yours truly with the best restaurants, bars, activities, and sightseeing I did during my recent trip to this beautiful city! Planning a trip to Bordeaux this year and looking for things to do, information on when to visit or where to stay? Maybe you’ll be in Paris for the 2024 Olympics and are thinking about adding Bordeaux to your itinerary? Or maybe you want to go on a city break in France but don’t know where? Well then you’ve come to the right place!

Let me start off by saying: I CANNOT believe it’s taken me so long to visit Bordeaux. But during my recent visit it was truly love at first sight. I was blown away by what the city has to offer – there is sooo much to see and do in Bordeaux. Oh, AND it is absolutely beautiful!!! If you’re looking for immaculate, quintessential French vibes or a smaller, cleaner, quainter, safer, and less crowded alternative to Paris (I said what I said) that is just as beautiful and with just as much delicious food and wine, then Bordeaux is IT. J’adore!!! J’obsessed!!

During my visit I managed to pack in a LOT of restaurants, bars, activities, and sightseeing, which were all so perfect that I just had to make this Bordeaux travel guide to share all my recommendations! Like seriously, not one single establishment I went to was anything less than a 10/10. I’ve also included logistics like the best way to get around, where to stay, and some more travel tips! Plus, at the bottom of this post you’ll find a map with all of my recommendations mapped out and labeled!

So here it is, your travel and city guide with everything you need to know about Bordeaux, France!

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Guide to the Best Bars in Dublin

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Bars in Dublin

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Guide to the Best Bars in Dublin

I know this is going to sound dramatic, but this guide right here is literally my life’s work. This guide to nightlife in Dublin, showcasing the best and must-visit bars and places to go out, has been a project of mine that’s been in the works for quite a while now.

Every time someone I know is coming to Dublin, I always get asked suggestions of “must visit bars” or places to go out, especially ones that aren’t “touristy.” Well, that’s a tough question, because 1. Irish people love to drink so 2. There’s SO many options of places to drink in Dublin. It’s all a matter of taste. Do you want an authentic Dublin pub? Do you prefer wine? Whiskey? Craft Beer? Cocktails? Do you want live music? Dive Bars? Bars with good food? Quirky bars? Dog-friendly bars? Seriously, when it comes to finding a place to enjoy any sort of alcoholic beverage, Dublin is your feckin’ oyster.

Then I thought, why not just make a handy guide where all my bar recommendations are in one place, conveniently sorted by genre (not sure if “genre” is the right word, but just go with me here)?

So, I set out to do the seemingly impossible – organize and rank the best bars in Dublin.

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Best Sea Swimming Spots in Dublin

The Best Sea Swimming Spots in Dublin (that you can get to without a car!)

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Best Sea Swimming Spots in Dublin

One of the things I love about living in Dublin is its proximity to both the mountains AND the sea. If you want to go for a mountain hike, you’ve got the Wicklow mountains right there, which provide excellent hikes or scenic walks along the Wicklow Way (like this one). Or if you want a coastal cliff walk, there are stunning walks like the Howth Head Loop or the Bray to Greystones walk. But if you’re more of a sea swimming and beach person, there are TONS of gorgeous beaches and places to swim along the coast in and near Dublin. It definitely comes in handy on a sunny day in Dublin to have so many options.

Another thing I love about living in Dublin is that when it’s warm and/or sunny, people really appreciate it. Ireland’s general rainy weather make those hot, sunny days all the more sweet.

So when it’s sunny in Dublin, Dubliners FLOCK to the mountains or to one of the many sea swimming spots.

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The 10 Best Panoramic Views of European Ciities + Where to Find Them

The 10 BEST Panoramic Views of European Cities (+ Where to Find Them!)

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I’m a firm believer that cities are best viewed by all angles. Every time I visit a new city, I love to wander around and roam the streets and explore what the city has to offer (and, of course, people watching). But I also love viewing it from above. There’s something about seeing all of the buildings and colors from overhead that give you a whole new perspective of a place. European cities in particular are even more beautiful from a panoramic bird’s-eye view, with their winding webs of streets and beautiful old buildings. So that’s why I had to share the best panoramic views of European cities that I’ve seen to date!

Whether it’s climbing flights of stairs, hiking up a hill, or taking a cable car, I always try to find some way to see a city from above if at all possible. It clears my head and shows a city in a whole new way. Plus, aerial views are always so damn pretty (even though pictures never really seem to do them justice). 

Sure, climbing up stairs or a mountain is killer (I will NEVER forget my throbbing calves after climbing to the top of the Notre Dame in Paris), but the breathtaking views from above are ALWAYS worth the trek in the end. I have yet to regret making my way up steep stairs or a steep hill for a panoramic view of a city. And sometimes, you’ll even get lucky and realise a city has a cable car or funicular, meaning you don’t have to do any physical exertion to get some amazing views!

Here are some of my favorite panoramic and aerial views of cities around Europe, and how to see them for yourself!

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Postcards from Porto

Postcards from Porto, Portugal: A Photo Diary

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Postcards from Porto

Welcome to my lil photo diary of postcards from Porto, Portugal!

Although I’ve been to Lisbon a few times and consider it one of my favorite cities in Europe, up until recently that was the only place I had ever been to in Portugal. But, I recently visited Porto and loved it. I loved it SO MUCH. I couldn’t believe it was only my first time there, or that it had never even been on my radar before. Like… what!? Well let me tell you, I definitely underestimated Porto! It’s the second-largest city in Portugal, home of Port wine (which is absolutely DELISH, but more on that later), and it’s honestly one of the most photogenic places I’ve ever been. The “old town” is so amazing that it’s actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Even though I didn’t love Porto in a “I could see myself living here sort of way” like I did with Lisbon, there was definitely something really special about the city and surrounding region. I found it captivating and ended up taking so many photos of Porto because I was just in awe of how beautiful the city was. I thought I’d share a few photos I took, because a lot of them look like they could be postcards!

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Sitges, Spain: A Travel Guide

Sitges, Spain: A Travel Guide

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Sitges, Spain: A Travel Guide

I PROMISE I’m going to give a life update / excuse for why I haven’t posted anything in *checks notes* OVER A YEAR! But for now, I’m going to jump right into a travel guide of what (I think) is the perfect little weekend getaway, or even day trip, from Barcelona. Drum roll please….it’s SITGES!

There are so many things to do in Sitges! It’s small and very walkable with great nightlife, stunning beaches, beautiful museums, and of course great food! And, it’s only 30-40 minutes from Barcelona, which makes it ideal for a day or weekend trip outside of the city.

So without further adieu, here is a travel guide for Sitges, Spain with my recommendations of where to stay, where to eat, where to drink, and just general things to do in Sitges!

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A Dublin Autumn – in photos

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Although I absolutely love all things summer, there’s something to be said for autumn, too. Even though it’s the beginning of the weather getting colder and the daylight hours getting shorter, I really don’t mind. Sure, there can be some VERY dreary days, but when it’s sunny, it’s just amazing. Is there anything nicer than going on a walk on a sunny, crisp autumn morning with a big coat on and a hot coffee in your hands? I’ll tell you the answer – no, there is not. And trust me, autumn in Dublin can be pretty magical.

Now that it’s December (wtf?) and Autumn has come and gone and replaced by winter, I thought it was the perfect time to look back at the GORGEOUS autumn we had this year here in Dublin, Ireland!

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5 Places To Visit In The South Of France

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5 Places to Visit in the South of France

France is one of the most visited countries in the world, and a lot of that is because of Paris. The “City of Lights” is widely acknowledged to be one of the most striking and romantic cities in the world. Everyone wants to see it at some point in their life. But Paris is far from the only place that draws people to France. In fact, I really wasn’t crazy about Paris when I visited (see here). It is pretty amazing, but there’s more to France than just Paris.

Enter the French Riviera. Boy is it BOUJIE, but it’s also GORGEOUS. Stunning beaches and charming towns, topped with delicious French food and friendly locals. What’s there not to love? That’s why I had to put together a list of 5 places to visit in the South of France.

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My Spain Video Diary - April 2017

My Spain Video Diary – April 2017

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As much as I love living in Ireland, sometimes I really, really crave the sun. Back in Louisiana, I used to go to Florida beaches at LEAST once a year, and it was a great way to relax and unwind. I just love the sound of the waves and the sun on your skin.

So, as many of you who follow me on Instagram *may* have guessed (based on my influx of posts), to cure the beach withdrawals I decided to take advantage of Easter break this year and book a lil getaway to SPAIN! That’s the great thing about living in Ireland – all of Europe is right at your fingertips. It has such diverse culture and weather between all of its countries. Plus, everything is just a few hours flight away. A 2-hour flight from dreary Dublin transported us to a sunny Madrid!! Sunny skies, sand, beaches, and cheap cervezas, what more could you want?!

Our trip started in Madrid and ended in Murcia, with stops in Valencia and Alicante along the way. Nothing like a little Spanish road trip to get some Vitamin D into me! And even better, since it’s still not summer yet, the beaches weren’t as busy as peak season and we were able to relax without the massive crowds. We did sightseeing in Madrid, snorkelling in Alicante, and a lot of paella-eating in Valencia. So all in all, one can say it was a SUPER successful spring break trip!

After my Iceland video, I decided to try my hand again at a little highlight video of my trip! I’m new at the whole video thing, but I’m really having fun with it. Like photos, videos are a great way to remember the highlights of your trip and have something to look back on.

So here is my short Spain video diary of my Spanish road trip last week! Can’t wait to share more details about the trip later on!


Since I’m still experimenting with video editing, let me know what you think of my Spain video diary in the comments below!

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