Wondering where I’ve been? You can check out all the destinations I’ve visited and learn more about my trips here!
Africa
I visited Zambia in April/May 2016 on a trip to visit one of my best friends. I went to Lusaka, Livingstone, and Kafue National Park. Seeing Victoria Falls from a microlight was like a dream come true!
North America
I’ve visited Canada twice: I spent 10 days in and around Quebec City in July 2015. I also went to Vancouver, Banff and Calgary as part of a work trip on the Rocky Mountaineer train in April 2019!
I was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota and lived there for most of my life! I also lived in Decorah, Iowa for three years as I went to university there. The US is huge and I hope to have a chance to explore more of it at some point!
Europe
I visited Albania in August 2019. It was amazing, and definitely one of my new favorite destinations in Europe! I visited Tirana, Berat, Shkoder, and Lake Koman/Blini Park. I’d love to go back and see the south and the Albanian Riviera!
I visited Armenia as part of my trip to the Caucasus in August 2018, spending most of my time in Yerevan but visiting Garni, Geghard, Khor Virap, Areni, and Noravank on daytrips. This is such an underrated destination – seeing all the historic monasteries around the country was incredible!
I went to Austria in March 2016, as part of my big 5-week trip around Europe. I have only visited Vienna in Austria, and only for 2 days!
Belarus is one of the most interesting destinations I have ever visited. I went in July 2017, as part of my 6-week trip through Eastern Europe. I was based in Minsk and made a daytrip out to Mir Castle. This photo of a Soviet sculpture on top of a KFC remains one of my favorite photos of all time.
I booked a solo trip to Belgium and visited for a long weekend over Easter in March 2018. I based myself in Brussels but made daytrips to Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges. I loved this trip so much! I went to Brussels on a work trip for a day in March 2019.
I visited Bosnia & Herzegovina in April 2016, going to both Sarajevo and Mostar (and Blagaj for an afternoon). I was blown away at how beautiful and wonderful this underrated country is! It definitely helped me fall in love with the Balkans.
I’ve been to Bulgaria twice. The first time I visited was April 2017, on a long weekend over Easter. One of my best friends from college has been living in Bulgaria teaching English for several years and it was so fun to visit him! We went to Sofia, Boyana and the Rila Monastery. I also went to Varna on the Black Sea in August 2017, the last stop of my big 6-week Eastern Europe trip.
My first trip to Croatia was in May 2014, one of the last trips I took in Europe during my study abroad. I had 5 amazing days, visiting Dubrovnik, Split, and Zadar. I’m so glad I got to experience these destinations when I did! I returned to Croatia in April 2016, and the difference in tourist levels (and travel costs) between these trips had changed rapidly. In 2016, I visited Dubrovnik, Zadar, and Zagreb.
I’ve visited Czech Republic twice. My first trip was a 3-day trip to Prague (including a daytrip to Kutna Hora) in April 2014 – I met up with three of my good friends from my study abroad program and we had a blast! My second trip was in March 2016, the first destination on my 5-week trip. I also made it to the beautiful Cesky Krumlov on that trip!
My first trip to England was in 2011, on my first independent trip abroad with my best friend after I graduated high school. We visited Liverpool, London, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Salisbury and Stonehenge, and Bath. It was an incredible trip and lit a fire under me to make it part of my future! I returned and lived in England for a year during my study abroad from September 2013-June 2014, where I lived in Nottingham. I explored so many amazing places around this country, way too many to count or list here! In December 2015, I came back to England to spend my first Christmas with Adam. I spent a lot of time in England on and off from March-June 2016, mainly based in Nottingham (where Adam was living). In October 2016, I permanently moved to England, this time to York! I have lived in York for nearly 4 years now and I honestly think Yorkshire is one of the most incredible places in the world. I’m so grateful to have made the most and traveled extensively to so much of this country!
I went to Estonia as part of a long weekend trip to the Baltics in April 2018. I met up with one of my best friends from college, and we spent a few days in Tallinn!
I’ve been to Finland twice. My first visit was a daytrip to Helsinki in April 2018 – I took the ferry from Tallinn, it was too close not to resist ticking off a new country! I returned in November 2019 and spent a week with my best friend, who was doing her masters in Oulu. We also visited Rovaniemi and Santa Claus Village so we could cross the Arctic Circle!
My first trip to France was a 4-day stop in Paris in May 2014, during my study abroad spring break. Adam and I visited the south of France together in October 2017 – we stayed in Carcassonne and visited Toulouse and Albi as well as lots of incredible smaller towns nearby (including where Adam lived during his study abroad in 2014-2015!).
Georgia is probably one of my favorite countries in the entire world. I love Tbilisi so much, and could absolutely see myself living there or spending a lot of time there someday. I spent a week in Kutaisi and Tbilisi (with daytrips to Gori, Mtskheta, and Ananuri/Kazbegi) in July 2018.
I have only been to Germany once, and only to Berlin! I visited in May 2016.
Gibraltar is always going to be special to me – it’s where Adam and I eloped and got married in March 2016! This is such a unique and interesting destination and I would love to go back someday.
I visited Hungary in March 2016, as part of my 5-week trip around Europe. I was based in Budapest and also made a daytrip out to Esztergom and Visegrad.
Incredible Iceland… what can I say?! I went to Iceland on a long weekend trip in November 2018 and it was simply amazing. The landscapes are out of this world and I can say with certainty that Iceland is definitely worth the hype (and the price!).
Besides the US and England, Ireland is by far my most visited country! I have visited 7 times. My first trip was to Dublin in June 2011 – my first independent trip abroad! I returned in December 2013 to meet up with my family who visited me during my study abroad in England. I went back in February 2014, this time to Galway and Cork. I snuck in a few days in Dublin (with a daytrip to Howth) in January 2016 before flying back to the US after spending Christmas with Adam. I visited again in May/June 2016, the last destination for my 3-month adventure – I went to Kilkenny, Cashel, and Dublin again. In March 2018, Adam and I returned for a very short weekend trip to celebrate our anniversary! I have been to Ireland most years since 2011 and I love it so much.
I’ve been to Italy twice. The first trip was a short 2-day stop in Venice in April 2016. More recently, Adam and I spent a week in Rome over Christmas in December 2019!
I went to Kosovo on part of my trip to the Balkans in August 2019. I only visited Pristina, Prizren, and Gracanica, but it was an incredible trip and I learned so much.
I’ve been to Latvia three times! My first trip was actually my first solo trip in continental Europe/Eastern Europe in November/December 2013. I went for a weekend and had the best time – I met some awesome people at my hostel and we had a great time partying! I returned for a long 2-day layover in Riga in July 2017, to break up the transit between Russia and Belarus. I also had one day in Riga in April 2018, as part of my long weekend Baltics trip.
I went to Lithuania in February 2017 and it blew me away! I was based on Vilnius and made daytrips to Grutas Park and the incredible Hill of Crosses.
I’ve only been to Malta once, in April 2019. It was an amazing trip though, and I would love to go back! This is a great destination for warm weather in the Mediterranean that won’t break the bank.
I visited Moldova as part of my 6-week Eastern Europe trip in July 2017. Unfortunately both Adam and I got really sick, and we didn’t see as much of the country as we would have liked! We stayed in Chisinau and made a daytrip out to Cricova to enjoy the amazing wine.
I went to Montenegro for a few days in April 2016, during my 5-week Europe trip. We were based in Kotor and did two daytrips out – one to Lovcen National Park, Lake Skadar, Ostrog Monastery, and Cetinje. The other was along the coast through Budva and Bar (with a stop at Sveti Stefan). We tried to go back to Lake Skadar on this day but the road had fallen off the cliff.
Netherlands
I visited the Netherlands in March 2014, as a long weekend trip during my study abroad. It’s one of the few destinations I haven’t written about on the blog! I went to Amsterdam and then partied in Eindhoven.
I’ve been to Northern Ireland twice: I went to Belfast and did a daytrip along the Causeway Coast in June 2011, on my first trip abroad. I went back for a long weekend in October 2019! We rented a car for a few days and drove along the Causeway Coast, before spending the weekend in Belfast. Northern Ireland has a troubled history but in my opinion it is one of the most underrated destinations in the UK.
This country controversially changed its name just the other year, so sometimes it goes as Macedonia. I visited in August 2019, going to both Skopje for funky statues, and Ohrid for beautiful scenery and swimming.
Poland is one of those destinations that I know I’ll keep returning to! I’ve been three (technically four) times. My first trip was in April 2014, to Warsaw, Wroclaw, and Krakow. This is actually where Adam and I got together! My second trip was to Warsaw and Krakow over Christmas and NYE 2016 (with a trip to Ukraine in the middle). I went to Gdansk on a solo trip in November 2018 and absolutely loved exploring the city.
I went to Portugal on a quick 3-day trip in May 2016. I spent most of my time in Lisbon, but made a daytrip out to Sintra and Cabo da Roca, the westernmost tip of continental Europe. This was a great solo adventure and I stayed at a really fun hostel!
I spent nearly a week in Romania in August 2017, as part of my 6-week Eastern Europe trip. I spent a day in Iasi before a few days in Brasov. I visited the nearly castles (Peles Castle, Bran Castle, Rasnov Fortress), and then spent a few days in Bucharest.
Russia will forever be one of my favorite destinations in the entire world. I first visited on a 2-week solo trip in June 2014. This was one of the most important trips of my life – I was 21 and going to Russia by myself was my Everest. Despite getting sick, I had an incredible time. I returned for another 2 weeks in June/July 2017 with Adam. Getting to go back and share some of these places with him meant everything to me. We got to truly enjoy White Nights in St. Petersburg and stayed up all night watching the bridges go up and the sunrise! Russia is one place that I will always want to return to and my ultimate travel dream is to do the Trans-Siberian across the country.
One of my favorite places! I first went to Scotland on a weekend trip to Edinburgh in November 2013. I went back to Edinburgh in November 2016 to meet up with one of my friends. In August 2018, we went on a spontaneous road trip through the Scottish Highlands: Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Fort William, Ben Nevis, and Glenfinnan. I fell so in love with Scotland and the scenery and everything on this trip that it has become almost an obsession to explore more of Scotland. I spent a week near Loch Ness (Glen Affric and Drumnadrochit) and the Isle of Skye in May 2019. I also went for another city break to Edinburgh in July 2019! I can’t wait for my next trip here.
I visited Serbia in March/April 2016. We took the night train from Budapest to Belgrade, and had a blast hanging out with some Russians we met on the train! We spent most of our time in Belgrade, but also made a daytrip to Novi Sad.
I spent a few days based in Bratislava in March 2016. We made a daytrip out to Trencin to see the castle, and also to Devin Castle. I’d love to get to the Tatras Mountains one day!
I spent 3 days in Slovenia in April 2016, the second-to-last destination on my 5-week Europe trip. We stayed in Ljubljana and did daytrips to Bled and Postojna Caves. I returned on a long layover in August 2019, and spent a night in Kranj!
I visited Spain twice. The first time was in March/April 2010, on a school trip during my junior year of high school. It was my first trip to Europe as an “adult” and it made me fall in love with traveling. We visited Toledo, Cordoba, Granada, Madrid, and Segovia. I went back in May 2014, during my year studying abroad in England! This time I went to Barcelona, made a detour to Alcala de Henares to see a statue, and then to Sevilla, where one of my good friends from high school was studying abroad. It was so much fun hanging out with her, and going to La Feria!
My first trip to Sweden was in 1998 when I was 5. I only have a few memories from this trip! I returned for a 10-day trip in April 2014, when I was studying abroad in England. It was incredible: I went to Gothenburg, Linkoping, and Stockholm. I stayed with relatives/family friends for part of it and I had the best time!
I visited Turkey on a 3-day (long layover) trip to Istanbul in August 2018. Unfortunately, I got really sick for one of my few precious days, which was not fun!
My first trip to Ukraine was to Lviv, in December 2016. I then came back to visit Kiev (and Chernobyl/Pripyat) as part of my Eastern Europe trip in July 2017. Kiev is easily one of my favorite cities, and I would love to go back to Ukraine!
Living so close to Wales in the north of England, I’ve been to Wales a lot. My first trip was in December 2013, when a friend and I visited Cardiff and Abergavenney for a few days (we were both studying abroad in England). I did a solo daytrip to Pembroke Castle, and we also visited Penderyn whisky distillery in the Brecon Beacons! Adam and I did a fun roadtrip in North Wales (Conwy, Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Llanberis/Snowdonia) in December 2015. We went on a failed Snowdon attempt in February 2018, and then we went again in August 2019 and I finally made it up Snowdon! I’d love to see more of Snowdonia and South Wales someday.
