Europe
The Most Haunted Castles in Ireland
When we think of Irish castles we tend to think of royalty and knights, however, there is often a darker side to these historic buildings that often ends up being spooky rather than magical. Ireland has no shortage of castles and castle hotels, but while they may be beautiful, there is a little more to…
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The Legend of the Leprechaun
I’m a sucker for stories, especially anything to do with legends, myths, and of course, fairy tales. My love for these tales is part of why I originally wanted to go to Ireland and also part of why, after 3 months living in Galway and multiple visits to the Emerald Isle later, I still always…
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Heidelberg Guide: My Favourite Things to do in Heidelberg, Germany
If you are a sucker for fairytale Germany towns then add Heidelberg to your list. With a castle perched on a hill, a historic bridge spanning the river, and cobblestone streets filled with beautiful buildings, Heidelberg is a fun place to enjoy for a couple of days. It is a pretty small town, I spent…
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1 Day in Hamburg, Germany: As Recommended by a Local
Back in 2015 in Thailand, I met a fellow blogger at a travel conference in Bangkok. Her name was Sarah (blog is Journey To Design) and she was from Hamburg, Germany. Sarah and I got along really well kept in touch after parting ways in Thailand. We met again in Prague in 2017 and then,…
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45 Magical European Fairytale Towns
There’s something about Europe’s old villages that just scream ‘magical’. The historic buildings, colourful houses, cobblestone streets, and local folklore. Add some bright flowers in the spring, or festive market stalls during the holiday season and I always feel like I’ve left the real world and stepped into the pages of fairytale storybook. There’s no…
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Prague with Air Canada Vacations: A Perfect Choice for Independent Travellers
This post was written in partnership with Air Canada Vacations and the tourism board of the Czech Republic. As always, all opinions are my own. What’s preventing you from trying independent travel? Is it all the planning involved? The daunting task of trying to figure out where to stay and in which neighbourhood? Maybe you…
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My Santorini Photoshoot with Localgrapher
Disclaimer: My Santorini Photoshoot was sponsored by Localgrapher “Are you Hannah?” I nodded and smiled nervously as I shook hands with Dimosthenis, my professional photographer for the next hour. Yes, that’s right. I had a photo shoot in Oia, Santorini. Which sounds incredibly extra and not like something I would normally do. I’m not the…
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Irish Fairy Tales Come to Life at Ashford Castle Estate
Picture this: a historic castle located in the woods beside a lake. The front of the castle has a stone bridge, spanning the rushing river below and protected by small towers. Once past the bridge, visitors are greeted by a grand entranceway, guarded on either side by statues of Irish wolfhounds. On the lakeside, there…
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Viking River Cruises Review: Why Viking is the Best Pick for First Time Cruisers
Cruising is something that a lot of people are on the fence about. The idea of travelling by boat and exploring several destinations in a relaxing manor is enticing. However, it also comes with a few fears; boredom from being on the water too long, being to slow-paced, or even being too fancy. At least,…
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Girls Getaway: European Christmas Market Cruise with Viking River Cruises
Christmas is my favourite time of the year, and my mom’s too. We’re both Christmas crazy and go all out during the festive season. Both of us love the bustle of holiday crowds, the Christmas songs, and of course the lights and decorations. And while neither one of us would trade our (normally) white Christmases…
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The Legend of Dracula & more of Romania’s Monsters
It was a dark and cloudy day in Transylvania as I climbed the hill approaching Bran Castle; home to the legend of Dracula. The centuries old fortress jutted out on the rocks overlooking Bran; it’s stone walls ominous and foreboding. There was a definite chill in the late September air and I could imagine myself as…
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Learning to Surf in Ireland
The cold wind whipped the Atlantic waves into a frenzy as I watched from the safety of the shoreline. Nearly every wave was capped in white foam as they crashed against the empty beach below. I huddled further into the hood of my rain coat as I watched. Not only was the wind bound and…
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Girls’ Getaway to Iceland: A Wintery Weekend in Reykjavik
With winter in full swing it’s normal to fantasize about getting away. Most people choose to escape to the Caribbean islands; sunshine, turquoise waters, and tropical drinks. Others head to popular ski destinations; choosing to spend their days on the slopes and their nights in snow-topped chalets. Or you could be like us, and choose…
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The Non-Hiker’s Guide to Climbing Kotor Castle for Sunset
Standing on the walls of old town Kotor, I eyed the pathway from town to the top of the nearby hill and San Giovanni Castle, aka Kotor Castle on top . Towering over the bay it promised beautiful panoramic views and, if I left in about an hour, I knew I could be up there…
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Two Castles in One Day with Bucharest City Tours
Do you dream of amazing castles, love chasing legends, and adore beautiful scenery? If you have been following me for any time, you know I do. Which is in part why I wanted to go to Romania. Famous castles, vampire legends, and beautiful mountains? Sign me up! Of course, like with everywhere else, I was…
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In Search of the Gift of Eloquence: The Legend of the Blarney Stone
Even if you don’t know much about Ireland, you have probably heard of the Blarney Stone; a stone of legend, with rumoured powers and a mysterious history. Some claim the rock to be a section of the Stone of Destiny, which was gifted to the King of Munster after he sent his men to support…
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Hunting for the Krakow Dragon
I quickly fell in love with old town Krakow as I walked under the arch of the wall that led to Rynek Glówny, the Main Square. Enchanted by anything old-world and medieval, Krakow had me at every turn. There was the magnificent cathedral, the imposing city wall, and of course the castle on the hill off…
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Tallinn to Helsinki: A Day Trip with Tallink Silja
When I asked the owner of my hostel for directions to the port he drew a quick route on my map. “Ten minutes max” he promised me, “Twenty if you get super lost. But you won’t; the ships are huge so you will see them a mile away.” I gave myself the 20 minutes figuring…
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Legends of the Isle of Skye
Like every other little girl I grew up on fairytales. Any story with a magical creature, princess, mermaid, or fairy had my complete and utter attention. And if you want the truth, even now at the age of 24, very little has changed. So you can imagine how excited I was when I read that…
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Mask Making Class in Venice
I have always loved Venetian masks. From the traditional beaked styles to modern designs that look more like fairytale creatures than anything else, there is no shortage of masks to choose from. I knew that I’d be buying at least one as a souvenir, but when I found out that I would actually take a…
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