Granada - The Alhambra's Generalife Gardens

A trip to Granada, Spain isn't complete without a visit to the city's most famous attraction, the Alhambra.  A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Alhambra complex is made up of three main sections; The Nasrid Palaces, The Generalife Gardens, and the Alcazaba Fortress. Each portion has its own unique draw. From the stunningly detailed architecture of The Nasrid Palaces, the lovely gardens and water features of Generalife, to the breathtaking views from Alcazaba. Tickets can be purchased for the sections individually, but if you're in Granada why miss out on the total package?

London - The Courtauld Gallery & Somerset House

There are so many must visit museums in London that it can be overwhelming (and expensive!) to fit them all into one vacation. At the top of my must list is a visit to The Courtauld Gallery. Housing one of the best collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works outside of France, The Courtauld features pivotal works by Manet and Van Gogh. When each painting represents the best of the artist's ouerve, the one or two hours you spend will feel like just a few minutes.

Five Things You Must Do When Visiting Venice

This year Venice's world famous Carnival runs from February 15th through March 5th. I wish I could be in Italy for the 2014 Carnival, unfortunately I'm stuck in frigid, snowy Southern, Indiana. Instead here's a look back at the highlights from my visit, they're a perfect escape from the festive madness of Carnivale! Last spring I spent six days on the island and covered most of the main attractions as well as quite a few lesser known sites. Since the trip I've had some time to reflect on my visit and these five highlights stand out as the most positive and memorable experiences. Of course there are many, many, more things to do and see in Venice, but if you have just a few days in the city here's where I think you should start.

Snapshots from Spain - A Tapas Tour of Sevilla

When researching where to eat in Sevilla I quickly came across Shawn Hennessey's fantastic tapas resource and food tours of the city. I was initially hesitant to sign up for a tour. Not because I didn't think it would be a good experience, but because as a traveler on a budget, it was a significant amount of money to shell out for one evening. So I waffled back and forth the week of my trip, before finally shooting off an email to Shawn inquiring about openings. I got lucky, there was a tour I could join on my very first night in Sevilla. Our little group included a couple, another young lady around my age, and, of course, Shawn. As a solo traveler it was so nice to start my trip off with delicious food and fantastic company.

Snapshots from Spain - Sevilla in Black & White

Snapshots from Spain - La Azotea + Plaza de España

Here in snowy, windy, Bloomington I've lately found my thoughts wandering to the sunny days I spent in Sevilla. During my late October trip I enjoyed mid-seventies temperatures and plenty of blue skies. Perfect conditions for exploring a new city. My second day in Spain, a Sunday, I ate a fantastic al fresco lunch at a little place called La Azotea then spent a few lovely hours at the Plaza de España.

Snapshots from Spain - A little more Ronda

With just a week and a half in the Andalucía region of Spain I had to make some tough choices deciding which cities to visit. I almost skipped Ronda altogether in order to give myself a little more time in Granada. Instead I used the town as a pit stop between Sevilla and Granada, spending a quick afternoon, evening and morning in town. It was just enough time. Charming and scenic, Ronda makes a restful break from the busier cities. The hot spots of Ronda are pretty easy to navigate. Once you find the main drag centered around the gorge, aka El Tajo, you're golden.