I spent many hours looking for a guided tour that visited all of the places I had found in my research, but was never able to find one that satisfied my desires. Still being nervous to book the entire trip on my own (and maybe a bit lazy), I decided to use the tour company Say Heuque. They are a local tour company that has an option to plan your own itinerary while they actually book the trip. Although they gave a few tips and pointers, the majority of our trip was the specific itinerary I gave them.

Day 1- Santiago, Chile

After a long overnight flight from the USA and only one day to spend in Santiago, I opted for a private guided tour. We were picked up from our hotel in the afternoon and given a brief overview of the city. It would have taken much longer to use public transportation and figure out how to get to the popular locations so this turned out to be a great option. We were happy to have relaxing afternoon in the sunny, warm weather!

In the evening, we were able to walk from our hotel to a very nice tourist area for an amazing seafood dinner.

Day 2- Fly to Punta Arenas

We were happy to be able to sleep in a little the next morning before our 3 hour flight to Punta Arenas, Chile. This is a charming town and we had a relaxing afternoon walking along the coast, drinking coffee and exploring the very large cemetery in the center of town. If you are looking for a great dinner option, I definitely recommend La Cuisine, a French restaurant where my husband said he had the best duck of his life

Day 3- Magdalena Island Penguins and Drive to Puerto Natales

As soon as I found out the largest penguin colony in the southern hemisphere was located on a island near Punta Arenas, I knew I had to visit. This tour lasted 6 hours and included the boat ride to and from the penguin colony on Magdalena Island. There are about 60,000 Magellanic penguins on the island and this is their primary breeding ground. The all gray penguins are the newly hatched chicks and the huge groups of penguins playing by the water are the adolescents. There is a marked path for tourists to walk and we were given specific instructions to allow the penguins to cross in front of our path and to not touch or bother them in any way. I couldn’t help taking way too many pictures since they are absolutely adorable!!

After returning from our penguin excursion, we were able to grab a quick lunch before heading to Puerto Natales on the public bus. Even though I wouldn’t say taking public transportation is always glamorous, it is an inexpensive way to get to the next city. Just remember to bring a book, take a nap or just enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Day 4- Guided Hike in Torres del Paine

This is by far the most famous national park in the Patagonia region and there are several hotels in or near the park. I had originally planned to spend two nights in the park to do more hiking but it is very expensive!! The town of Puerto Natales is the closest town to the park and a lot of day trips leave from there. Because I wanted to hike to to the base of the three towers (see picture below), I chose the only tour I could find that included this 19 km hike. As you can tell, it was a little cloudy and was actually snowing by the lake. We were feeling unlucky until our guide informed us that the day before it was snowing so hard you couldn’t even see the water. Be aware that this is a pretty tough hike that includes a significant amount of elevation change. Several of the members of our group did not make it to the top, so I suggest choosing a different tour of the park if you are concerned.

Torres del Paine is well known for its constantly changing weather conditions and we definitely experienced this. Between rain, snow, sunshine and wind, we took on and off layers of clothing more often than we could count. Even if you visit during the summer, be prepared for any type of weather!

Day 5- Travel to El Calafate

We were thankful to have a day of traveling after our long hike in Torres del Paine. We once again boarded a public bus to say goodbye to Chile and cross the border into Argentina. I’m not sure if I underestimated how long this trip would take or if our bus driver was just driving slowly, but we were on the bus for over 6 hours! We did have to get off the bus twice to go through passport security but don’t forget to bring snacks!

Once we found our hotel in the town of El Calafate, we set of to explore this cute little city. It was probably the largest city in the area and is set on the shore of the beautiful blue Lake Argentina. We attempted to walk to the Reserva Laguna Nimez, a bird sanctuary, but we eventually gave up because it was sooo windy!

Day 6- Perito Moreno Glacier and travel to El Chalten

If you are planning a trip to Patagonia, please do not skip the Perito Moreno Glacier. I have visited glaciers in both Alaska and Canada, but their beauty paled in comparison. The Perito Moreno Glacier is the only glacier in the world that is not retreating and it ends in a beautiful glacial lake. Thanks to an extensive network of walking paths, visitors are able to see the glacier up close and from all sides. Plan to spend several hours walking the various trails and just standing in awe of its beauty.

Included in our tour from El Calafate was a boat ride up to the face of the glacier. Although not an absolute must do, it gives you the opportunity to better appreciate the sheer size of the glacier.

In the evening we were scheduled to have private transportation from our hotel to El Chalten, a town well known for its fantastic hiking. This trip typically takes about 3 hours, but our driver got us there in 2 hours. Clearly he was in a hurry but we didn’t mind

Day 7- Hiking in El Chalten

This little town was basically established because of its close proximity to several amazing hikes. The most famous is the Laguna de Los Tres trail that leads to the base of Mount Fitz Roy. At just over 11,000 feet elevation, it is the high mountain in Patagonia and this hike ends at a lake right next to the peak. The hike leaves from the town of El Chalten so I suggest leaving early in the morning to be the crowds and/or heat. We left our hotel around 6:30 am and reached the lake when only a few other hikers were there. By the time we left the lake, the trail was a steady stream of people for the last several miles. Plan to pack a lunch to eat on the shores of the lake as you will need a much needed break before heading back. Also, don’t miss out on the second lake to the right of Mount Fitz Roy.

Although I would love it if everyone who visited Patagonia could complete this hike, it was one of the more challenging I have done to this point. We hiked a total of 17 miles that day and there is 2300 feet of elevation gain (most in the last mile).

Day 8- Hiking in El Chalten, travel back to El Calafate

Although we were a little tired from our long hike the day before, I was determined to tackle the second most popular hike from El Chalten, the Laguna Torre. This hike leads to the base of Cerro Torre, the tall peak seen in the pictures below. We once again left our hotel around 7 am and were able to walk to the start of the hike. This hike wanders through a valley so there was significantly less elevation gain than the Laguna de Los Tres hike. There is a glacier that terminates in the lake, often resulting in icebergs floating throughout. It is about 13 miles round trip and is easily done in a morning.

Once we arrived back in town, we took advantage of having a few hours before our ride back to El Calafate and had a relaxing (and huge!!) lunch. We simply chose the restaurant that was closest to our hotel because we didn’t want to walk anymore…

Day 9- Fly to Buenos Aires, City Tour and Tango Show

After a 3 hour flight to the smaller of two airports in Buenos Aires, we were taken to our hotel via a private transfer. We had time for a quick sushi lunch before our city tour. Similar to when we were in Santiago, we opted for a guided tour since we just had one afternoon in the city. Our guide was awesome and took us to numerous different districts, including La Boca and and San Telmo. Buenos Aires was full of culture and we would love to visit again someday.

After our city tour, we were treated to a dinner and Tango Show at La Ventana. There are plenty of people who think these shows are geared too much to tourists and although I would agree, it was totally worth it! The dancers displayed just how intricate the tango is and I was mesmerized at the precision needed to execute each dance.

Day 10- Fly home to the USA

Most flights leave Buenos Aires in the evening and land back in the USA the next morning but we chose a flight that left in the morning. Be aware that the international airport is ~1 hour from downtown and we had a very long wait to check in when we arrived.

Tips:

• Because Patagonia is in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are opposite of ours. I highly recommend going during their summer, sometime between November and March, for the best weather. Many places are even closed during their winter.
• There are two main airports in Patagonia: Punta Arenas in Chile and El Calafate in Argentina. Direct flights are common from Santiago, Chile to Punta Arenas and Buenos Aires, Argentina to El Calafate.
• Torres del Paine is the most well known park in the area and definitely beautiful but very pricey! My original plan was to spend two nights in the park but it would have added over $1000 per person!
• I prefer to purchase the local currency of the countries where I am travelling several weeks before we leave. I was able to order Chilean Pesos from our local bank but was not able to obtain Argentinian Pesos. At the time of our visit, the economy of Argentina was unstable enough that the value of their currency was constantly changing. If this is the case, I recommend going to an exchange house, or “Cambio” once you arrive in Argentina. We found one in El Calafate that has reasonable rates, just remember to have your passport with you.

We had a few flight delays that caused us to arrive late Wednesday night instead of Wednesday afternoon. My original plan was to go on a Northern Lights tour that evening but as luck goes our tour was cancelled the night before. We weren’t fortunate enough to see the aurora borealis during our time in Iceland because there was very limited geomagnetic activity. I guess we will just have to visit another nordic country :).

Day 1- Golden Circle Tour and Reykjavik city sightseeing

The Golden Circle is the most common and most popular day tour from Reykjavik because it visits a variety of sights and it is relatively close to the capital city. There are A LOT of tours to choose from, so I went with a more inexpensive option that added an extra stop that most tours didn’t include.

The first stop was Thingvellir National Park, the home of Iceland’s parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. Aside from it’s historic significance, the park also sits in a rift between two tectonic plates. We arrived just as the sun was rising (at 10 am!) which provided some beautiful lighting of the area.

The landscape of Iceland is very unique mainly because it is a relatively new volcanic island. It sits on two tectonic plates and has a lot of active geothermal areas. Our next stop was one of these areas, home to numerous bubbly springs and an active geyser named Strokkur. It erupts every few minutes and spouts water as high as 98 feet in the air. The area definitely has a sulphur smell and beware of the hot water as it could burn you almost instantly.

The third stop on our Golden Circle Tour was the waterfall Gullfoss. There are two levels to this waterfall with the total drop being about 105 feet. It is extremely beautiful in the winter but the area around the waterfall was very cold and windy!

Our last stop of the day, the Kerid volcanic crater, is not typically on a Golden Circle Tour. Although it was still beautiful, I believe the crater is much more photogenic in the summer when the surrounding area is lush and green. We were able to brave the wind and walk all the way round the rim of the crater.

We were dropped off in Reykjavik about 5 pm and spent the next few hours exploring the city and grabbing dinner. The main historic center of Reykjavik is easy to walk around with most main attractions very close together. One of the tallest and most recognizable structures in Iceland is the Hallgrimskirkja Church, a Lutheran church that can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.

Beware that food in Iceland is extremely expensive, but my husband and I enjoyed the fresh seafood that is available. Other popular foods include lamb and Skyr, a type of yogurt that is similar to Greek yogurt. For dinner in Reykjavik, we chose the quaint Solon Bistro which was very warm and inviting.

If you have more time Reykjavik, particularly during daylight, I would encourage you to explore the harbor and waterfront areas. Harpa, a conference center and concert hall with beautiful architecture and the Sun Voyager, a sculpture representing a Viking ship, are both popular sights.

Day 2- South Coast Tour 

I had a difficult time deciding between a tour of the south coast of Iceland or a tour of the Snaefellsnes Penninsula on the Western edge of Iceland. After reading some reviews, I ultimately decided that the latter would be more beautiful in the summer and chose the south coast. There are once again a lot of options for a south coast tour, but the attraction that drew me in was the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon and diamond beach. I will warn you that these are far away from Reykjavik and to go there and back in one day makes for a long tour (14 hours to be exact). It is possible to take an overnight tour to the area but we simply did not have enough time in our stopover to do this. With that being said, this tour was the highlight of our trip and definitely worth it!

Our tour started with a stop at two different waterfalls, the first being Seljalandsfoss. During the summer, it is possible to walk behind this 200 foot waterfall, but the path is way too icy during the winter.

The second waterfall, which you can actually see from the road, was the 197 foot Skogafoss waterfall. Again, this waterfall looks very different in the summer when it is surrounded by lush green grass.

While travelling the south coast, don’t expect many cities or fancy restaurants. There are times we would drive for an hour or more without seeing more than a few farms. Because of this, both our lunch and dinner that day were at gas station grills and consisted of a burger and fries with a chocolate bar Other than the lack of restaurants, I thought the area was stunning and was mesmerized by the view from the bus window of endless glaciers and mountains on one side and the rugged coast on the other.

After about 4 hours of driving, we finally reached the Jokulsarlon Glacier lagoon. It sits at the end of the Vatnajokull glacier and is full of icebergs that have broken off of the glacier. The lagoon is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by a short waterway. During the winter there are seals that call the area home and during the summer it is possible to take a boat ride on the lagoon.

If you follow the waterway from the glacier lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean, you will come to Diamond Beach. It is a black sand beach where hundreds of icebergs have washed ashore and provide an absolutely stunning landscape! We couldn’t stop taking pictures from all angles and the sunset that occurred while we were there just made the views that much more dramatic.

Day 3- Blue Lagoon

Iceland is well known for its plentiful hot springs, but the Blue Lagoon is definitely the most famous and is a must have experience while in the country. It is located about 20 minutes from the Keflavik airport and is often done on your way to or from the airport. Our flight back to the USA was not until 5 pm so we opted to go to the Blue Lagoon the morning before we left. There are several different bus companies that combine transportation from Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon and then to the airport with admission to the lagoon included. We opted for the tour from Grayline Iceland and had no issues with any of the transportation. There is luggage storage outside the entrance of the Blue Lagoon and costs about $5 per bag.

There are several different types of admission to the Blue Lagoon, some including use of towels, drinks from the swim up bar or different types of skin care masks. We opted for the basic admission that includes a silica mask to use while in the water and use of a day locker. We did bring our own quick dry travel towels instead of paying for one there. The Blue Lagoon complex includes a restaurant, cafe, changing rooms and showers and an in water spa.

**Things to consider on an Iceland stopover

• We found it very easy to be based in Reykjavik for the 3 nights we were in Iceland. Not only do tour buses pick you up from a stop near your hotel, we did not have to pack up our bags and take them with us each day. With that being said, I would choose a hotel that is near the center of Reykjavik or at least near one of the bus stops.
• If you go to Iceland in the winter, the daylight is very limited. We were there the first week of January and had enough light to see the attractions/landscape from about 10 am-5 pm. The tour companies are good about timing the day trips to fit within this time, but it is still something to consider when choosing a tour or activity.
• The Keflavik airport is about 40 minutes from Reykavik but there are two main bus companies that provide transportation between the two, Grayline Iceland and Reykjavik Excursions. The buses leave about 30-40 minutes after each international flight arrival and are very easy to find.
• The currency of Iceland is the Icelandic Krona but we did not have any actual currency during our three days there. We did not come across any place that did not take a credit card, but I would highly suggest one without foreign transaction fees.
• Although a lot of people come to Iceland in the winter in hopes of seeing the Northern Lights (and we were no different), the country is still beautiful with plenty of things to do and see. I have read a lot of reviews of Iceland that suggest visiting for at least a week to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights, but we talked to several people while we were there that did not see them even in that amount of time.

When you think of a Mediterranean cruise, I’m sure you picture beautiful blue water, islands, beaches, and quaint European cities. It is a trip that is typically on most bucket lists and it was no different for me. Although choosing a cruise and planning all the details may seem overwhelming, I’m here to tell you that it is definitely worth it. The 9 night Eastern Mediterranean cruise my husband and I took two years ago was one of those trips I will never forget and is sure to be your next favorite trip too. Here are the ports we visited and some tricks to make the most of each one:

Rome– When a cruise leaves from Rome, it is actually leaving from the port of Civitavecchia, about an hour train ride from Rome. If you choose a cruise that docks in Rome, it is important to take into consideration the time it takes to travel into the city. Check out my post on visiting Rome in a day here.

Messina, Italy– This port is on the island of Sicily in the Southernmost part of Italy. We loved cruising through the beautiful Strait of Messina before docking for the day.

Although most people leave Messina on excursions for other attractions such as Mount Etna or the town of Palermo, we found Messina to be relaxed and charming. We enjoyed walking around the historic city, viewing the churches and harbor from above and grabbing a drink in the main city square.

Mykonos, Greece– Known for it’s nightlife and party atmosphere, I found Mykonos to be exceptionally beautiful. A cruise ship may dock next to the town or several miles away as ours did. If the latter happens, there are several ways to travel into town; you can walk, take a small ferry boat or pay for the cruise sponsored bus. We chose to walk on the way into town and take the ferry on the way back (much cheaper than the bus).

We did not choose a shore excursion on the island because it is small enough to explore on your own. There are numerous shops and restaurants to browse or you can sit on the beach right on the edge of town. We also walked higher on the island to get a great view of the town below. While there are many dead end roads and private walkways, weaving our way through the winding streets added to the adventure and quaintness of the city.

Kusadasi, Turkey– This port is on the Western edge of Turkey and is the closest port to Ephesus, an ancient Greek city. Unfortunately, most cruise lines cancelled all stops in Turkey for the 2017 year. Our cruise took place in the summer of 2016 and we did not feel unsafe during our day in Kusadasi. I will provide some information in the hopes that this beautiful port will once again be deemed safe enough for visitors. Because the city of Ephesus requires some extra transportation to get there, my husband and I chose to take a shore excursion. It included a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, the home where Mary is believed to have spent the last several years of her life. We then took a guided tour of the city of Ephesus which is only about 30% excavated. I feel very lucky to have been able to visit such an important city in ancient times. Believe it or not, Ephesus was built as a port town on the Aegean Coast but is now about 5 miles away from the water.

Kusadasi is well known for shopping, especially for textiles and hand painted ceramic dishes. As a part of our tour, we were given a local demonstration on weaving the beautiful rugs seen below. After an amazing excursion, we even had time left to visit the Bazaar in Kusadasi and purchase some handpainted pottery. Just don’t forget to bargain for a lower price while shopping for local goods!

Santorini, Greece– The most famous of the Greek Islands, Santorini is well known for its blue-domed churches and white buildings. If arriving to the island by cruise, the ship will tender off shore and you will need to take a boat to the dock. Once at the dock, you can either ride a donkey, take a gondola, or trek up a significant amount of steps to reach the top of the island.

There are two main towns on the island of Santorini, Fira and Oia. Fira is the town located at the top of the Gondola. There is a public bus that links the two towns unless you want to walk the two hours between them. We took the bus which is very inexpensive but can be quite crowded.

The town of Oia, on the edge of the island, is a must see because of its local shops and beautiful views. We also spotted several of those famous blue-domed churches in Oia.

Athens, Greece– Like most of the stops on a Mediterranean cruise, the port of Athens is several miles away from the historical sections of Athens. There is always cruise-sponsored transportation into the city but we opted for the cheaper option, the public bus. It took about 30 minutes before we were dropped off only a few blocks from the Acropolis. It costs about 20 euros to enter the Acropolis, also home to the famous ruins of the Parthenon. We did not take a guided tour, but there are numerous signs in the area explaining the importance of the buildings and temples of the area. Several blocks away from the Acropolis is the Acropolis Museum, a relatively new museum which we absolutely loved. I am usually not a museum person but this one explained the history of both the Acropolis and Greek culture in general. Plus, it is only 5 euros to enter!

After the Acropolis Museum, we made our way to other ancient Greek sites around the city, all within walking distance. These included the Temple of Zeus, Arch of Hadrian, Roman Agora, Temple of Apollo and the Panathenaic Stadium. The latter is completely made of marble and was originally built in 144 AD. It was refurbished and used again in the first modern Olympic games in 1896. There are numerous delicious places to stop for a bite to eat along the way which is obviously a must do when visiting Greece!

Naples, Italy– There are some interesting sights in the city of Naples, but there are also several options for shore excursions and trips outside the city. It was very difficult to bypass a visit to the Island of Capri but we chose to hire a private driver for the day who took us along the Amalfi Coast and to the ruins of Pompeii. We really enjoyed having a local driver who grew up in one of the small towns in the area since he was able provide us with unique knowledge and stories about the Amalfi Coast.

We made numerous stops along the coast for amazing views and were able to visit both Positano and the town of Amalfi, seen in the pictures below.

The city of Pompeii was founded around the 6th-7th century B.C. but was buried under a layer of volcanic ash in 79 AD after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The ruins are very well preserved but I highly recommend a guided tour of the city. We found the the ruins to be beautiful but they are rather large with a good portion being residential areas of the city. In other words, I believe you would gain a much greater appreciation and understanding of the area if you have an expert explain it to you

**Tips

• There are several different regions of the Mediterranean that are popular for cruising and it is important to choose the one that most appeals to you. A Western Mediterranean cruise typically includes ports in Spain, France and parts of Italy while an Eastern Mediterranean cruise includes the Greek Isles, Venice, Croatia and sometimes Turkey. I couldn’t resist the blue and white buildings of the Greek Islands so we had to choose the Eastern Mediterranean cruise.
• Because you are typically in port for less than a day, you should make the most out of this limited amount of time. With that being said, it is not always necessary to book a shore excursion. Some port cities can be explored on your own but I would pick a few “bucket list” experiences and splurge on the excursions.
• While I always felt safe during our cruise, do be aware of pickpockets while on shore. Tourists are pretty easy to pick out so don’t make yourself easy prey. I used a money belt that was hidden underneath my clothing.
• There are some people that may disagree with me on this, but don’t spend a lot of money on the specialty dining on board the cruise ship. The meals we ate in the main dining room were delicious and are always included in the price of the cruise. On a similar note, really assess how many alcoholic beverages you are likely to consume before you choose any “beverage packages.” Don’t forget all the time you will be off of the boat in port.

1. Plan, plan, plan– Did I say that enough? I may have gone crazy with my planning of our trip (i.e. a written itinerary with every hour planned) but we did see everything we were hoping to see. We started by going through the list of all the attractions and deciding which ones we would be interested in visiting. Due to our limited time, we eliminated the tours that were farther away and would take too much time just in travel. We also tried to avoid any tours or attractions that are very similar to each other (i.e. two different cruises).
2. Visit attractions that are close to each other on the same day– This might seem like common sense, but you will save yourself a lot of travel time if you divide the attractions up by areas of the city, say Manhattan or Brooklyn. For example, we did the Inside Broadway Tour the same day as the Radio City Music Hall Tour. We also visited the 9/11 memorial and museum right after going to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
3. Add up the price of the attractions you want/will have time to visit– Although The New York Pass is generally well worth the money, if you are hoping to spend a lot of time at one museum or are only visiting for one day, it might not make sense to purchase the pass.
4. Check the opening/closing times or tour times of each attraction– Some tours may only be offered certain days of the week and some attractions close very early in the day. I definitely don’t want anyone to miss out on a tour because they didn’t check which day it was offered before arriving in NYC.
5. Take advantage of the other discounts the pass provides– There are several restaurant coupons provided by the pass as well as discounts to various attractions and department stores. Check these ahead of time so you can save some extra money on food and shopping
6. Only buy the pass when there is a discount– The New York Pass always seems to be on sale so save yourself some money and don’t buy it at full price. As I am writing this post, it is 20% off for a fall sale.

If you have decided The New York Pass is a good option for you, or if you just want a few ideas of what to see in New York City, here are some of my favorite attractions (all are included in the New York Pass):

• Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island– About 4 million people visit these two places each year so they are not some hidden secret but absolutely worth your time! The museum and audio tour at Ellis Island are unforgettable experiences that everyone should have at least once. Be prepared for long lines to get tickets and try to arrive early in the morning.
• 9/11 Memorial and Museum– I’m not sure words can explain how much this memorial and museum tug at your emotions. Most of us can vividly remember September 11, 2001 but the museum provides detailed information about the timeline of the attack as well as stories of both survivors and victims. Be prepared to spend several hours here and you might need a tissue.
• Top of the Rock Observatory– Anyone wishing to see a view of New York City from above probably thinks of the Empire State Building immediately. Although we did that as well and the views are great, I recommend the Top of the Rock Observatory because you also get to see the Empire State Building. If you have time to do both, I suggest doing one at night and one during the day since this provides very different views.
• Brooklyn Bridge Sightseeing Bike Tour– This is the most iconic bridge in NYC and one of the most recognizable in the world. Not only did this tour provide some history of the Brooklyn Bridge, it was so much fun to get to ride a bike across it. Do be aware that biking up the bridge can be physically challenging and it was very crowded the day we visited. In other words, make sure you are comfortable on a bike
• Radio City Music Hall: Stage Door Tour– I first saw the Radio City Music Hall on TV during the annual Christmas Spectacular so it was awesome to go behind the scenes and learn about what goes into a show at this legendary venue. You also get to learn about the Rockettes and meet one in person.
• Inside Broadway Walking Tour– Our guide for this tour was extremely energetic and had fascinating stories about Broadway, some about current shows and some from throughout Broadway’s history. We went to a Broadway musical (The Lion King, which I highly recommend) but I enjoyed learning more about the industry and seeing nearly all of the Broadway theaters!

If you do a google search for discount passes in New York City, you will also find the CityPASS option. With the CityPASS you can purchase the original option which gives you entry to 6 New York City Attractions or you can choose the C3 option, where you pick 3 attractions in which you are most interested. I want to include the CityPass in this post because this is the option I chose on my first trip to New York City. My husband and I are not too excited by art museums (terrible, I know) so we used the C3 option to visit the 9/11 Memorial, the Top of the Rock Observatory and the Statue of Liberty with Ellis Island.


*** If you are comfortable navigating public transportation such as the subway system in New York, I recommend purchasing an unlimited ride MetroCard. We chose the 7-day card which costs $32 a person, much less expensive than taking a taxi everywhere.

Main Street– Franklin is a town of about 69,000 people and the 16 block Main Street is the hub of most of the activity. As you can see from our pictures, we had a warm and sunny October day to explore the shops and history of the town.

Historic Churches– As we were strolling around the historic center of Franklin, we kept stumbling upon beautiful churches. Most of them were established in the early to mid-1800’s and are still active congregations to this day.

White’s Mercantile– Along with being one of the most aesthetically appealing shops on Main Street, White’s Mercantile had unique goods, a good portion of them being locally made.

Puckett’s Restaurant and Grocery– There is actually another location in Nashville as well, but the food at Puckett’s Restaurant was delicious! Unfortunately I don’t have a picture of the sliders my husband and I ordered for lunch (I think we were so excited to eat them, I forgot :)). I highly recommend the brisket, pulled pork and pulled chicken sliders complete with Puckett’s BBQ sauce. An added bonus is the food is very reasonably priced.

The Factory at Franklin– Located several miles outside of Franklin, this is both a retail and entertainment complex that is on the National Register of Historic Places. There are several event rental areas, a theater, and the main building consisting of unique shops and restaurants. There is a Jeni’s Ice Cream shop, a brand that originated in Columbus, Ohio and is well-known for its unique and absolutely delicious flavors!

Five Daughter’s Bakery– This bakery is also located at the Factory at Franklin and uses organic and locally sourced ingredients. We tried two of their croissant donuts, the chocolate chip cookie dough and pumpkin cheesecake, both of which were amazing!

Bonus: Arrington Vineyards– Although not technically in Franklin, this vineyard is owned by Kix Brooks of the country duo Brooks and Dunn and is located about 20 minutes outside of Franklin. They have several tasting options including a traditional one in the tasting room and then a picnic tasting which is what we chose. This includes 4 wines, each a 2 ounce pour that you can take outside to one of the picnic tables overlooking the vineyards. Even though we visited the winery on a Friday around 1 pm, it was already very busy.

Thanks to the close proximity to Nashville, it is possible to spend a relaxing day in Franklin without missing out on the nightlife of Broadway in Music City, USA.

Where to Stay

• 17Hundred90 Inn and Restaurant– Picking a hotel in a new city can be a daunting task, and Savannah was no different. There are numerous hotels, guest houses and AirBnB’s within the historic district and downtown. Honestly, I chose the 17Hundred90 Inn because of its location and relatively low price. My mom and I were pleasantly surprised at the friendliness of the staff, quality of the free breakfast and the overall charm of our room and the hotel as a whole. We were within a 10 minute walk of nearly all of the historic areas of Savannah.

Where to Eat

• The Olde Pink House– Easily the most famous restaurant in Savannah, it did not disappoint. I made reservations about a week before our trip and it was already booked for one of the nights we were in Savannah. The menu has a variety of options, most with a southern flare, and is reasonably priced for a nice restaurant and everything we had was delicious!
• Savannah Seafood Shack– This is a small order-at-the-counter option that is famous for its low country boil. My mom and I chose to have a traditional low country boil and one made with crab legs instead of shrimp and both were fabulous. They used a great Cajun seasoning (some may call it spicy) that you could even buy in bulk to take home. Be prepared to get messy!
• Leopold’s Ice Cream– No trip to Savannah would be complete without a stop at Leopold’s. We went on a Friday evening around 8 pm and had to wait outside in the rain. We had a delicious sundae with mocha chocolate chip ice cream but I’m sure you couldn’t go wrong with any flavor you choose.
• Mirabelle Cafe– Ok, I have a soft spot for breakfast foods, especially Belgian waffles. Mirabelle Cafe is across the street from the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and was a great spot to stop after church on Sunday. They have a variety of options but we went with the two seasonal flavors, the pumpkin pie waffle and apple pie waffle.
• Huey’s on the River– There are several seafood restaurants on River Street so it can be difficult to choose. Huey’s was busy every time we walked by, so we decided to have an early dinner there on Sunday afternoon. My mom and I both had scallops over Parmesan grits and the scallops were perfectly cooked.
• The Shrimp Factory– Another popular spot along River Street, we had refreshing salads for lunch on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately we weren’t hungry enough to try the southern inspired appetizers or sandwiches, but the shrimp and salmon we did have were perfectly seasoned.
• The Coffee Fox– A cute coffee shop that also sells pastries, beer and wine, The Coffee Fox is located on Broughton Street. We ate a delicious fig and chocolate scone from here the morning we left Savannah. Their flagship store, Foxy Loxy Cafe, is also quite popular but is located about 15 blocks south of Forsyth Park on Bull Street.
• Savannah Coffee Roasters– Located on W. Liberty Street, this cafe serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and a variety of coffee and wine. We saw the bulk coffee available at several stores throughout Savannah, so we wanted to check out restaurant and purchase bulk coffee to take home.

Sights to See

• Forsyth Park– Originally established in the 1840’s, the park now occupies 30 acres in the middle of the historic district of Savannah. It is most famous for the fountain seen in the pictures below, but it is also home to tennis and basketball courts, a playground, a cafe and large open fields for other sports. The day we visited, the annual Picnic in the Park with the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra was set to take place later that evening.
• Candler Oak tree– At around 300 years old, this tree is one of the oldest in the Savannah area. It is located on the corner of Drayton and Gaston Streets, at the Northeast corner of Forsyth Park. During the Civil War, Union prisoners of war were held under this tree by the Confederates. The Savannah Tree Foundation now protects this famous tree through annual donations.
• River Street– This is a street with 200 year old cobblestones that used to be home to shipping warehouses. These buildings have been transformed into shops, restaurants and inns, all with a view of the Savannah River. It is possible to take a river cruise aboard the Savannah Queen, but we opted against this because I had read mixed reviews. There is also a free ferry to Hutchinson Island across the river if you are looking for a better view of River Street.
• Cathedral of St. John the Baptist– This church was originally built in 1876 but a fire in 1898 destroyed most of the structure. The current building was opened in 1900 and stands at 207 feet tall, the tallest building in downtown Savannah. The interior is just as stunning as the exterior and I definitely recommend going inside, either for an actual church service or during one of the times it is open for tours.
• Broughton Street– This popular tourist street has numerous shops and restaurants, including The Paris Market (seen in the picture below), The Savannah Bee Company, The Salt Table and Leopold’s Ice Cream. We walked this street several times during our visit, both for shopping purposes and because it runs through the center of the historic district.
• 22 City Squares– James Oglethorpe, the founder of Savannah, originally designed the city to have several squares that were meant as communal areas for citizens living near that square. As the city grew, so did the number of squares. We found them to be quite beautiful, most having monuments dedicated to a part of Savannah history and often with large oak trees surrounding the square.
• City Market– This is a four block open-air market between Franklin and Ellis Squares that is home to many restaurants, art galleries, and retail shops. Both times we walked through City Market, there was live music playing and was quite busy.
• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)– More than 11,000 students are enrolled in this University that was founded in 1978. The campus is spread out throughout the city, but the original building on Bull Street is beautiful and is home to Shop SCAD, a unique shop that contains products made by students, faculty and alumni of SCAD.
• Jones Street– Considered to be the prettiest street in Savannah and one of the most beautiful in the United States, we couldn’t miss out on the chance to walk this tree-lined street. It is located in a quieter area of the historic district and contains mostly mid-19th century homes. Most of the homes have a plaque on the side indicating the date and for whom it was built.
• Historic Homes– There are numerous house museums throughout Savannah, typically former homes of wealthy Savannah families. During our historic walking tour of the city, we saw several of these homes, including the Mercer-Williams House, the Green-Meldrim House, the Andrew Low House, the Owens Thomas House, and the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low (the founder of the Girl Scouts). We chose not to tour any of the homes because we found admission for most of them to be rather pricey. My mom and I are not super fascinated with architecture so we just enjoyed the history from the outside :).

Tips:

• I highly recommend taking a walking tour of the historic district. We chose the 90 minute tour with Free Savannah Tours (they work off of tips) and had a great experience. We took the tour the morning after we arrived in Savannah and it gave us an overview of the layout of the city along with a lot of interesting historical facts.
• If you want to see Savannah without as much walking, the hop on hop off tour with Old Town Trolley Tours is a great option.
• There are also free public buses throughout downtown and the historic district. Check out a map here.
• There are several popular tourist spots within about 20 minutes by car of downtown Savannah. If you have more time, decide to rent a car or want to just take a taxi/Uber, here are a few other places I would recommend:
  • Tybee Island- a small town that is home to a popular beach and pier.
  • Bonaventure Cemetery- a public cemetery east of Savannah that is both beautiful and historic. It is possible to take guided tours with or without transportation from downtown Savannah.
  • Wormsloe Historic Site- famous for the oak-lined entrance, this plantation is now home to a small museum and Colonial life area. Admission is $10 for adults and is closed on Monday. I was tempted to take an Uber to at least see the beautiful entrance, but our walking tour guide informed us it wasn’t worth the cost. There is no public transportation within easy walking distance of Wormsloe.

I would highly recommend picking up a detailed map of the Icefields Parkway from the visitor center in Lake Louise Village in order to avoid missing any points of interest. (An online version of the map can be found here.) This guide is in chronological order based on that map starting with the junction of the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) with the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93). Since most cars in Canada use the metric system, I left the “mile” markers in kilometers.

Km 3- Herbert Lake– There is a great picnic area next to this lake and it is the first of many beautiful lakes along the Icefields Parkway.

Km 18- Hector Lake lookout– This lookout give a great view of Hector Lake below and the surrounding mountains. If you want to hike the 3.1 miles round trip to the shore of Hector Lake, the trailhead is at Km 16.

Km 33- Crowfoot Glacier– This lookout give you an up close view of the glacier. You will understand why it is called “crowfoot” once you see it.

Km 37- Bow Lake and trailhead to Bow Glacier Falls– This ended up being one of the most picturesque lakes on our second trip to the Icefields Parkway as the mountains were perfectly reflected on the lake below. There is also a small lodge here that has a few snacks and restrooms. The hike to Bow Glacier Falls across the lake is 5.6 miles round trip and takes about 3 hours.

Km 40- Peyto Lake– This is a must stop, especially if you are lucky enough to have a clear day. After a 20 minute, fairly steep hike, you are rewarded with views of the beautiful blue lake below.

Km 71- Mistaya Canyon– Don’t make the mistake I did on both of our trips and skip out on this short ten minute hike to a bridge over the Mistaya River. It is less popular than Maligne Canyon near Jasper, but I have been told it is nearly as beautiful.

Km 117- Bridal Veil Falls and Panther Falls– Warning, this is my hidden gem! Most people who stop at the lookout for Bridal Veil Falls totally miss out on Panther Falls. The trail head is at the right hand side of the parking lot, a little bit away from where people normally park. The hike is only 1 km round trip but does have a few obstacles such as fallen trees and large rocks. The trail leads to a close up view of the powerful Panther Falls complete with a face full of mist from its spray.

Km 118- Parker Ridge trailhead– As you can tell from the photos, the area was a little smoky on the day we hiked Parker Ridge. This trail is 3.1 miles roundtrip but has significant elevation gain so it takes several hours to complete. On a clear day you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Saskatchewan Glacier and the surrounding mountain peaks.

Km 127- Icefield Center– not only is there a hotel and several restaurants at this stop, this is where the Glacier Adventure Tour departs for the Athabasca Glacier. On this tour, you get to ride an all-terrain Ice Explorer onto a small section of the glacier and get the opportunity to try fresh glacial water.

Km 134- Tangle Falls– This is a small cascading waterfall right on the edge of the highway, be on the lookout for sheep!

Km 136- Stutfield Glacier– one of the most picturesque glaciers along the drive, if you look through binoculars you can see small waterfalls running down the rock face.

Km 143- Beauty Creek/Stanley Falls trailhead– Another hidden gem on the Icefields Parkway, we were informed of this hike from the desk agent at the Sunwapta Falls Resort. This 1 hour round trip hike takes you along Beauty Creek and past numerous waterfalls until you reach Stanley Falls. The hike was very peaceful and you are surrounded by beautiful backdrops everywhere you look.

Km 176- Sunwapta Falls and Sunwapta Falls Resort– We were able to stay at the Sunwapta Falls Resort on our second trip to the Icefields Parkway. It is a somewhat dated hotel but we had no complaints, especially not about the delicious food we had at the restaurant! Sunwapta Falls is about 1/2 mile from the resort and can be easily seen from lookout points around the falls.

Km 200- Athabasca Falls– Similar to Sunwapta Falls, Athabasca Falls can be seen at all angles thanks to trails and viewing platforms throughout the area. What this waterfall lacks in height it makes up for in power.

Km 221- Valley of Five Lakes – This 4.5 km hike was definitely a highlight of our trip. Each of the five lakes are a different shake of blue-green based on the glacial rock dust and special algae present in each one. There is some elevation gain and loss on the hike but the views are worth every step. It also seemed to be a popular swimming spot but the water was freezing!

Km 230- Town of Jasper– Jasper is a fun mountain town with a population of about 4500 people. There are numerous restaurants and hotels which make it the perfect place to stop for the night.

*Tip- while driving the Icefields Parkway, always be on the lookout for animals. We saw two black bears and an elk right off the side of the highway.

*Tip #2- make sure you fill up with gas before starting your adventure as there are very limited gas stations along the way.

Don’t forget to check out my previous post about how to spend one week in the Canadian Rockies here.

I spent a significant amount of time planning our trip and believe the following itinerary went smoothly. I will caution you; however, that during this trip we hiked about 55 miles with fairly significant elevation gain. I will try to mention some alternate hikes throughout the post that would be easier but still beautiful.

Saturday

• After leaving Columbus, OH at 10 am, we arrived in Banff around 6:30 pm following a 1 1/2 hour drive from the Calgary airport.
• We chose to eat dinner at Bear Street Tavern. My husband and I ate here on our first trip to Banff and had been wanting to come back every since. They have unique pizzas but we also found their huge chicken wings to be delicious.

• We stayed at Charlton’s Hotel on Banff Avenue. Our room had two separate bedrooms with a shared bathroom which was perfect for us. The free breakfast also came in handy as we were planning to wake up early the next morning. I would encourage you to stay on Banff Avenue or near downtown since many restaurants and shops are within easy walking distance.

Sunday

• Our first full day in the Rockies was a a busy one. After breakfast we headed north on the Trans-Canadian Highway (Highway 1) toward Lake Louise. Once you take the exit for Lake Louise Village, there will be a road on the left for Moraine Lake. The drive took about 45 minutes and we arrived just before 9 am. Luckily were one of the last cars allowed on Moraine Lake Road as the parking lot frequently fills up very early in the morning. We later heard that this sometimes happens as early as 7-8 am.
• There are several hikes that leave from Moraine Lake, but we chose the Rock Pile because of the views from the top. It is a 1/2 mile loop that is mostly paved. I would also suggest the Lakeshore hike, an easy 1.8 mile out and back that takes you along the edge of the lake.

• We then headed back toward Lake Louise and were able to park at our hotel for the night, Deer Lodge. At about 11:30 am we began our long afternoon of hiking around Lake Louise.
• From the shore of Lake Louise, we chose to start with the 2.2 mile trail up to the Lake Agnes Tea house. There is about 1300 feet of elevation gain on this section of the trail but you are rewarded with delicious tea,  sandwiches and baked goods on the shore of Lake Agnes. This tea house was built in 1901 and has no running water or electricity. Some supplies are flown in by helicopter twice a year but the rest are hiked up by the staff!

• After feeling refreshed, we continued on the Highline Trail toward the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail. Not only does this trail provide excellent views of Lake Louise below, it also lets you get an up close view of the Victoria Glacier. After looking at pictures of Lake Louise taken from the Fairmont, I was so surprised at how far away the glaciers and mountain tops are from the end of the lake.

• Known as the “Tea House Challenge,” we were able to visit the second tea house of the area in the same day. We hiked the Plain of Six Glaciers trail that ultimately leads to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea house. We of course indulged in more tea and tea biscuits before making our way back to Lake Louise. The “Tea House Challenge” is about a 9 mile loop that takes a minimum of 5 hours to complete.

• Our total distance hiked this day was 13 miles! By the time we returned to our hotel, we were definitely ready for dinner. There are several dining options in Lake Louise Village but based on the trusty reviews from Yelp, we had dinner at Bill Peyto’s Cafe. They had a variety of options including burgers, pasta and salads and the food did not disappoint.
• If you aren’t interested in paying the hefty price tag for the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, I highly recommend staying at Deer Lodge (5 minute walk from Lake Louise). Although it is a very old hotel, its location and charm made up for the small rooms and leaky sinks.

Monday

• We again woke up early this morning to walk to Lake Louise because the sunrise and morning calmness of the lake usually provide some great photo opportunities. We purchased breakfast from the cafe in the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and ate it on the shore. Word of advice though, protect your food as you are eating it because there are birds ready to snatch it out of your hand ( we know this from personal experience).

• I had the rest of the day set aside for the 3 hour drive north toward Jasper along the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93). It is consistently named one of the most scenic drives in the world and I would have to agree. We made several stops along the way and here are some of our favorites:
  • Bow Lake- Located 37 km north of the junction of the Trans-Canadian Highway, there is a small lodge at this stop along with the picturesque lake you see below. We were lucky enough to see the beautiful reflection of the mountains as the lake was extremely calm when we arrived. There is the option to hike to Bow Glacier Falls around the back of the lake. It is 9 km and would take about 3 hours.
  • Panther Falls- This is one of the hidden gems along the Icefields Parkway and very few people even know it exists. From the Bridal Veil Falls lookout (117 km from Highway 1), there is a marked trail all the way on the right hand side of the parking lot. It is only a 1 mile hike but leads you to an up close view of the falls. The trail is a little wet toward the end so be prepared to feel the spray!
  • One of the only spots to stop for lunch along the Icefields Parkway is at the Icefield Center (127 km from Highway 1). This is also where you could take the Glacier Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier. My husband and I did this on our first trip so we did not feel the need to do it again. The tour lets you walk on a designated area of the glacier and allows you to taste fresh glacial water.
  • Athabasca Falls- 200 km into the drive you will find the parking area for this waterfall on the left hand side of the road. The waterfall is only 80 feet tall but is very powerful and has beautiful mountain views behind it. There are numerous viewing platforms all around the waterfall that let you see it from various angles.
  • Our only real hike of the day was just south of Jasper and was the Valley of the Five Lakes. We chose the shorter loop which allows you to see all five lakes, while the longer loop simply takes you around the first lake. This hike was about 4.5 km and took about 2 hours. Don’t be fooled by all the hiking guides that state there is only 60 meters of elevation gain, we found it to be quite hilly. It was definitely one of the most photogenic hikes on our trip and turned out to be one of our favorites.

• We chose to have dinner at the Jasper Brewing Company. It was located in the center of town and had a variety of options. After dinner we spent some time exploring downtown Jasper which I found to be quite charming.
• When I booked our trip about 4 months in advance, there was very limited hotel availability. We stayed at the Best Western Jasper Inn and Suites which turned out to be recently renovated and had huge rooms!
• Jasper is recognized as an International Dark Sky Preserve so my husband and I attempted to go stargazing on Pyramid Lake about 10 minutes outside of Jasper. Unfortunately, a bright full moon prevented us from getting the full experience.

Tuesday

• In an effort to save some time and money, we had breakfast at Tim Horton’s in Jasper, which happens to be very busy and popular among tourists.
• We arrived at the Maligne Canyon trailhead (near bridge #5) off of Maligne Road around 9 am. We chose to hike the loop from Bridge #5 all the way to Bridge #1 and back. Because it is a loop, we were able to see different scenery along the way that included the canyon and waterfalls on the lower trail as well as views of Pyramid Mountain and the surrounding peaks on the upper trail. If you are looking for a shorter hike, it is possible to park near Bridge #1 and do a much shorter loop that still provides a great overview of Maligne Canyon.

• We finished our hike around 11:30 am and continued along Maligne Lake Road toward Medicine Lake for a quick stop. There was a wildfire in 2015 that burnt much of the area surrounding Medicine Lake and caused the evacuation of the Maligne Valley.

• Before reaching Maligne Lake, we were lucky enough to see a moose along the side of the road and captured some great photos. It was a large bull moose that happened to be shedding his velvet on his antlers (I found it kind of gross).

• I was extremely excited to take the Maligne Lake Cruise and we happened to have a perfectly sunny day for our 2 pm cruise. The cruise lasts 90 minutes and takes you to Spirit Island, the second most photographed spot in the Canadian Rockies (only after Lake Louise). There is a dock near Spirit Island and you are allowed to disembark for about 10-15 minutes for some photo opportunities. The drive from Jasper to Maligne Lake is about 1 hour so make sure you leave time to park and reach the boathouse if you are planning to take the Maligne Lake Cruise.

• From Maligne Lake, we made our way back to Jasper and then back down the Icefields Parkway to the Sunwapta Falls Resort where we stayed for the night. There are limited food options in this area and we were somewhat forced to eat dinner at the resort, but it turned out to be delicious!!
• Right before we reached our hotel, we spotted a bull elk alongside the road. Apparently we came in the middle of rut season (mating season) which makes the bull elks a little crazy

Wednesday

• We started our morning with a quick hike to Sunwapta Falls, which is about 1/2 mile from the resort. Similar to Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls is a short but powerful waterfall with a beautiful backdrop. There is actually an upper and lower falls, both easily viewed from trails not far from the parking area.

• After a filling breakfast at the resort, we continued south on the Icefields Parkway to the trailhead for Stanley Falls. If you are heading south, the trail head is on the left. It can be found by looking for a large shoulder/parking area where two culverts cross underneath the highway and is about 2 km south of the sign for Beauty Creek Hostel. Finding this hike can be a little tricky, but it turned out to be gorgeous and only took about 1 hour roundtrip. The trail makes its way along an abandoned road bed before taking you along Beauty Creek and past numerous waterfalls. Because there are so many waterfalls, we weren’t quite sure if we would know when we reached Stanley Falls. Luckily there is a sign along the trail indicating which one is Stanley Falls. There is some elevation gain on this hike but nothing too difficult.

• Again, because there are limited dining options on the Icefields Parkway, we had a quick lunch at the Glacier Center before our next hike.
• About 9 km south of the Glacier Center is the trailhead for Parker Ridge. This hike is about 2.4 km each way but has significant elevation gain. The trail consists entirely of switchbacks until you reach the ridge, but the views of the Saskatchewan Glacier from the top are pretty amazing. Unfortunately, the smoke from wildfires in the area prevented us from having clear views during our trip, but we were still able to appreciate the beauty of the area from above the tree line! Don’t forget to bring plenty of water and a snack.

• My husband and I knew from our previous trip to the Canadian Rockies that the view of Peyto Lake along the Icefields Parkway was one of our favorites. Even though the smoke hindered our view, we decided to take the 15 minute hike to the viewpoint anyway. The third picture below was our view of Peyto Lake during our honeymoon 3 years ago.

• If you are looking for a hike in the area with minimal elevation change, I would try the hike to Hector Lake. It is only 5 km roundtrip and is located 16 km north of the Trans-Canada Highway.
• Continuing our trend of seeing animals along the Icefields Parkway, we spotted a black bear in the area around Bow Lake. Oddly enough we also saw a black bear in this same area two days earlier. We will never know if it was the same one…

• After reaching the junction of the Icefields Parkway and the Trans-Canada Highway, we took the latter west toward Yoho National Park in British Columbia. Yoho National Park is the smallest park in the Canadian Rockies but is still quite beautiful.
• We stopped for dinner in the town of Field, which is mostly a collection of guest houses, a few restaurants and a gas station. I had done some research prior to our trip and had read great reviews for the Truffle Pigs Bistro. Despite my husband and Dad making fun of the restaurant name the whole day, we were all pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food we ordered, which included sweet potato canneloni, duck and pork piccata. It was slightly more expensive than the other restaurants we had tried on the trip, but we definitely enjoyed the experience.

• Our final stop for the night was Emerald Lake, which can be reached by taking the Emerald Lake Road off of Highway 1. Luckily there is a beautiful lodge at Emerald Lake and we were fortunate enough to snag a room. I must admit, we were all pretty tired from the day and were more than happy to take advantage of the hot tub at the lodge.

Thursday

• The Emerald Lake Lodge is such a beautiful property that we decided to spend a few hours enjoying the area this morning. We ate a delicious breakfast in the main lodge and then sipped coffee on the deck in our room.
• After checking out of the hotel, we walked part of the way around the lakeshore trail. Emerald Lake is a gorgeous blue-green color but it was less noticeable because of the smoke in the area.

• Right before Emerald Lake Road rejoins Highway 1, don’t miss the stop off for the Natural Bridge. This rock formation spans the Kicking Horse River and used to be a waterfall.

• The other main attraction in Yoho National park is Takakkaw Falls, which can be reached via the Yoho Valley Road (open from June-October). It is about a 9 mile drive to the parking area and there are a few steep switchbacks so I don’t recommend trying these in a large camper. Takakkaw Falls is the second highest waterfall in Canada at 1246 feet and is only a short walk from the parking area.

• From Yoho National park, we started making our way back to Banff, but chose to take the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A) so we could stop at Johnston Canyon. This is one of the most popular hikes in Banff National Park and can be very busy. We hiked to both the Lower and Upper Falls which is about 5.2 km roundtrip and takes about 2 hours. The entire hike is paved and includes metal sections that are bolted into the side of the canyon!

• We chose to stay at the Brewster Mountain Lodge in Banff which is centrally located in downtown and within easy walking distance of numerous shops and restaurants.
• We had dinner at The Elk and Oarsmen Pub, located on the second and third floors of a building on Banff Avenue. On top of great food and reasonable prices, we also had a view of the surrounding mountains (although a little smoky).

Friday

• Our plans for Friday had to change slightly because of the heavy smoke in the area. I was hoping to take the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain but we would not have been able to see the surrounding mountain peaks. We instead chose to do some shopping in downtown Banff and check out the historic Banff Park Museum that was built in 1903.

• Despite the smoke, we were able to get a decent view of the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel from the Suprise Corner viewpoint off of Tunnel Mountain Road. Known as the “Castle in the Rockies”, this UNESCO world heritage site was originally built in 1888 but had to be rebuilt in 1928 following a devastating fire.

• We continued on Tunnel Mountain Road toward the Hoodoos viewpoint. There were only a few hoodoos in the area, nothing compared to those in Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. I had also planned to do the Tunnel Mountain hike this day but the smoke would have made the 4.3 km roundtrip hike not worth the effort. On a clear day, the top of Tunnel Mountain provides a great view of Banff and the surrounding area.

• After soaking up our last few hours in Banff, we had 20 minute drive to Canmore. Downtown Canmore is becoming increasingly more popular and has quite a few shops and restaurants. We ate a late lunch at a small cafe followed by ice cream from the Scoopin Moose.

• We chose to save a little money on our hotel and stayed at the Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn. Although it was less expensive, they had a free breakfast and wine happy hour every afternoon. It was also conveniently located off of Highway 1.

Saturday

• From our hotel in Canmore, it was about 1 hour, 15 minute drive to the rental car return in Calgary.

Final Thoughts

*I recommend stopping at the visitor center in Banff to pick up a few maps of the area. Although the Canadian Rockies are very easy to navigate, you can’t rely on cell phone or GPS service to help you out. I also used the Lonely Planet guide book for Banff, Jasper and Glacier National Parks to help plan our trip.

*You may have noticed several pictures with red Adirondack chairs throughout this post. This program started about 3 years ago and is meant to give you a place to relax and enjoy unique places in Parks Canada. They are located at strategic spots across Canada and Banff National Park encourages you to share your photo on Facebook and Twitter using #ShareTheChair.

*Anytime you are in Canada and you find a highway with an A after the number, this is an alternate route that is usually more scenic. I would highly encourage you to take these highways. On this trip we took 93A at the northern end of the Icefields Parkway and the 1A between Lake Louise and Banff (known as the Bow Valley Parkway).

*Check out this more detailed post about driving the Icefields Parkway.

***This post contains affiliate links which means I earn a small commission if you use those links. I only recommend brands I use and trust.

Rome is one of those places in the world that you need to visit at least once. The history and architecture are unbelievable and don’t tell me you didn’t dream of visiting the Colosseum after seeing numerous pictures in your school history books. With that being said, I hope you make Rome a part of a longer visit to Italy since there are plenty of other cities I would recommend just as highly as Rome.

Whether you are coming from a cruise ship (the port of Civitavecchia is a 70-80 minute train ride from the historic center), the airport or from another Italian city, here are my recommendations for how to spend one day in Rome:

Morning

Vatican Museums and Saint Peter’s Basilica- Vatican City is the smallest nation in the world, complete with it’s own post office and headed by the Pope. It is located on the northwest side of Rome and is easily reached by subway. The Vatican Museums are an extensive network of hallways decorated with beautiful artwork and containing thousands of Roman, Greek and Egyptian artifacts. The most famous area of the museum is the Sistine Chapel, painted primarily by Michelangelo. When you are in the Sistine Chapel, there a several guards making sure you are being quiet and not taking pictures (a flash could damage the paintings).

It wasn’t until my third visit to Rome that I finally went inside Saint Peter’s Basilica which was built from 1506-1626. Not only is there amazing artwork inside the Basilica, I was amazed at the sheer size of the interior. When the Pope is in town, he gives a mass on Wednesdays that can be attended if you purchase an advance ticket.

If you are looking to save some money, it is free to enter the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel on the last Sunday of every month. Arrive early and expect some lines, but I used this option both times I visited.

Colosseum- From Vatican City I would hop on the subway again and get off at the Colosseum. During my first visit to Rome, I stood in awe of the Colosseum as I excited the subway station which happens to be right next to ancient structure. Built between AD 72-80, it was originally known as the Flavian Ampitheatre and although some areas have been restored, it is amazing that it is still standing today. I do recommend purchasing a ticket to go inside to see where the ancient Romans slaughtered thousands of animals in the name of entertainment. The ticket will include entrance to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill and the lines to purchase a ticket will most likely be shorter at the Palatine Hill entrance (about 1 1/2 blocks away).

Roman Forum and Imperial Forum- The Roman Forum is the plaza or main square that contains the ruins of the ancient center of Roman public life, including government buildings, shrines and temples. It is located between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills and is home to the Arch of Augustus, the Temple to Julius Caesar, the Temple of Saturn and numerous other temples, forums and arches. the Imperial Forum, located across the Via dei Fori Imperiali, is a collection of forums (public squares) built by various Roman leaders, including Trajan, Augustus, Caesar and Nerva.

Afternoon 

Trevi Fountain- From the Imperial Forum, I would head north on Via Del Corso towards the Trevi Fountain. It is highly likely that you will need to find some lunch on the way and there is no shortage of restaurants throughout Rome. Once you reach the Trevi Fountain, it is a tradition to throw coins into the water to ensure your return to Rome (I guess it worked for me). Although it was built in 1732, the Trevi Fountain still looks beautiful and I recommend visiting at night if you have the chance. It was a little less crowded and the lights around the fountain make for a romantic place to sit.

Pantheon- Emperor Hadrian built this structure in AD 118-225 and it contains the widest masonry dome in Europe. It has been used for various purposes over the years and has been ransacked a few times, but the main structure is still perfectly intact.

Piazza Navona– One of the most famous of Rome’s public squares, the Piazza Navona is a bustling tourist area full of restaurants, cafes and street performers. It is actually located on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, and remains in the oval shape once used for competitive games.

Spanish Steps- during my second visit to Rome last summer, the Spanish Steps were under construction and had gates surrounding them. When the 138 steps are open, they link the Piazza di Spagna to the Triniti dei Monti, a beautiful church that overlooks the city. They are the widest stairs in Europe and have long attracted painters and poets and served as a meeting place for the rich and famous. I recommend finishing your day here because there is a subway station near the Spanish Steps that can take you back to the Termini train station.

Bonus- If you have some extra time in Rome

Walking Food Tour in Testaccio- this is the Jewish region of Rome and is home to some delicious markets and restaurants. It is a working class neighborhood and the restaurants don’t cater to tourists, which makes them that much more amazing. With the help of a local guide, we got to try the best food in the area, everything from coffee and pastries to pasta and wine to cheese and gelato. It was delicious but I have never been so full!

Museums– there are numerous museums in Rome that are worth a visit if you have a few days in the city, including the Musei Capitolini, Museo Nazionale Romano and the Galleria Borghese.

Tips

• Be prepared to walk! Although the subway system in Rome is easy to use because there are only two lines, there are not many stops within the historic center of the city. I happened to be wearing a pedometer the day I visited Rome during my study abroad and logged 32,000 steps in about 7 hours.
• Bring a good map. The streets in Rome are not set up as a grid like in some cities and although there are signs pointing to famous attractions, it is always a good idea to have an idea where you are
• Most of the restaurants near the main tourists areas are not authentic Italian restaurants. You will need to head off the beaten path if you are looking for some delicious Italian specialties.
• Be prepared for crowds, especially if you are going during a popular time. Most information I found suggests visiting during the shoulder season which is April-June and September-October.
• If you will be in Rome for only a day, have a plan before you go. Decide if you want to take a guided tour of the historic sites, the order you want to see them, and the most efficient way for you to get around town (subway, walking, taxi, etc).

Most importantly, enjoy your time in Rome and soak up all the history!

Getting There

My husband and I left San Francisco about 8 am on a Tuesday morning and arrived at the Muir Woods parking lot around 8:45 am. It is located 11 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge on Muir Woods Road. We found the signs very easy to follow and did not have any issues finding parking. There are numerous warnings from the National Park Service about the limited parking available at Muir Woods. If you plan on visiting on a weekend in the summer, it is highly recommended to use the Muir Woods Shuttle or use a local tour company to get to Muir Woods. Because we arrived early on a Tuesday morning in late September, we did not have any issues. In fact we were on of only a few people on the hiking trails.

Hiking 

Muir Woods contains 6 miles of hiking trails of which a majority are paved or boardwalked. There are several loops you can take, including a 1/2 hour, 1 hour or 1 1/2 hour loop. The main trail in Muir Woods has 4 bridges along the way that make the loops and we opted to go all the way to the fourth bridge. From there, we took the Hillside trail, an unpaved upper level trail back to the second bridge to make a 2 mile roundtrip hike. There are also numerous trails that connect to the adjacent Mount Tamalpais State Park.

Redwood Groves

There are obviously other types of trees in Muir Woods, but the National Park Service has done a great job identifying the various groves of redwood trees, including the Bohemian Grove and the Cathedral Grove. Although the redwood trees in Muir Woods are not the tallest in California they are still beautiful and mesmerizing.

Photo Opportunities

Because we visited in the morning, the sun was starting to peak through the trees and provided for some amazing photos. In case I haven’t enticed you enough to visit Muir Woods, I decided to include a few more of my favorites pictures.

Even when I look back at these pictures; however, they really don’t do justice to the natural beauty of Muir Woods that you simply need to see in person.

**Tip– There is a small cafe and gift shop near the entrance of Muir Woods, and we purchased a few snacks before heading on our way to Napa Valley. It was also a little chilly the morning we visited and the coffee hit the spot!

If you are visiting Muir Woods as part of a trip to San Francisco, don’t forget to check out my post (here) on what to see and do there!