planning tools

How to use Google Translate: a step-by-step guide (with video)

Google Translate can be a game changer when planning travel to a foreign country. I’ll illustrate here all of the features of Google Translate and explain what they do so that you can take full advantage of these travel planning tools Google Translate Desktop Version I couldn’t even begin to plan international travel to nonspeaking …

2 week germany itinerary with france austria switzerland
Germany Austria multi-country Europe Switzerland

Free Epic Germany Itinerary: 2 weeks plus Austria Switzerland France!

Germany itinerary 14 days: Are you wanting to plan an epic 14 day Germany Itinerary but not sure where to start?  I collected info on some of the best things to do in Southern Germany and combined them into an epic two week Germany Itinerary that includes some main attractions in France, Switzerland, and Austria. …

mental health benefits of travel
general travel New planning tools

Can’t travel? plan travel! 6 great reasons why travel planning is good for you

I didn’t realize the extent to which travel benefits my life until the recent pandemic when leisure travel was virtually impossible. For those of us who love to travel it was torturous. Wanderlust meaning: a strong desire to travel the world and when you have it is undeniable, and quite hard to shake! I like …

eibsee lake Germany snow capped mountains
Germany

Ultimate Guide: Stunning Eibsee Lake and Zugspitze Mountain, everything you need to know

If you are looking for one of the top destinations to add to your Germany itinerary then you have come to the right place! A beautiful lake sits at the base of the tallest mountain in Germany, and you simply MUST see it! Lake Eibsee, with its crystal clear water, sits at the foot of …

train travels collage 1
general travel planning tools

” Public Transportation Basics For Travel ” Made Easy

Does using public transportation intimidate you? Does it keep you from making your travel dreams a reality? My commute is a nearly 100-mile per day drive through the country. I brave sleet, snow, torrential rains, and suicidal deer, among other things. Yet the mere mention of public transportation always strikes a tiny bit of fear …

Lost Valley Hiking Trail Sign Buffalo National River near Ponca Arkansas
Arkansas

Lost Valley Trail Arkansas complete guide to one of the top trails in Arkansas (with photos)

Lost Valley Trail near Ponca, one of the most popular hiking trails in Arkansas, turned out to be one of my favorite trails EVER! Arkansas…..so lush, so green, it ever does justice to it’s moniker, the “the natural state.” If you love nature, you are going to love Arkansas. As we walked down this beautiful …

Neuschwanstein castle Germany as seen from Mary's Bridge
Germany

Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein castles made simple: everything you need to know to plan your trip

A pair of stunning castles, Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, are conveniently located just a stone’s throw from each other. Hohenschwangau Castle was a childhood family retreat of the most tragic of characters, King Ludwig II. Neuschwanstein Castle was his own personal masterpiece. Romanticism, fantasy, tragedy, betrayal, and mystery all come to life on these two castle …