Florence definitely gets top marks for having tasty food. The only dilemma you will have is deciding which restaurants to dine in! I will admit to Googling “best pizza in Florence” and “best gelato in Florence” because when you have…
What We Ate in Umbria, Italy in 72 Hours
If I could describe Umbrian cuisine with one word, it would be rustic. Umbria is the Italian countryside where you can expect to find hearty meals of meats and tasty delicacies like truffles. We definitely did not get to try enough…
Tips for Driving in Italy
Driving in your own neighborhood, town, state, or country can be pretty stressful as it is. We live in the San Francisco Bay Area in California and I thought people were crazy drivers here. And then we got to Italy….
How to Spend One Day in Assisi (Umbria, Italy)
When we were staying in the region of Umbria, Italy, we wanted to venture out and check out the different hilltop cities that were in a reasonable driving distance from where we were staying (Castello Valenzino in Umbertide). We settled…
Gubbio, Italy – A Must See Medieval City!
If there was one region of Italy I could go back to and explore more of, it would be Umbria. There is just too much to see in this region on a short trip! The Italian countryside is filled with…
Castello Valenzino: Staying at an Umbrian Countryside B&B
If you’ve never thought about putting a visit to Umbria on your Italian itinerary, do it now! The Italian countryside is a beautiful place, filled with medieval cities, amazing scenery, great wine, and rustic food. There are a variety of accommodation…
Adventures in Ligurian Cuisine: What We Ate in 72 Hours in Liguria
Ligurian cuisine is something out of dreams. Some words that come to mind to describe the food from my favorite region on the planet: bright green and flavorful pesto made with local Genovese basil; out of this world focaccia bread;…
A Stay at Hotel Rose in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon is like a second home to us. It’s probably one of our favorite cities in the U.S. that we’ve been to! If you haven’t been, you should definitely put it on your radar. It’s a huge mecca for…
Vernazza, Italy is a Postcard Perfect Seaside Village
If you have heard of Vernazza, you may have also heard that it’s Rick Steves’ favorite town in the Cinque Terre. The question remains, though, does it live up to its reputation of being the best? It certainly does (although Manarola…
Visiting Manarola – Our Favorite Village in the Cinque Terre
Manarola is perhaps one of the most photographed of the five villages in the Cinque Terre. I’ll admit, the very first photo I saw of the Cinque Terre villages was a vibrant shot of Manarola lit up at night (thanks…
Riomaggiore: A Colorful First Stop in The Cinque Terre
Riomaggiore, the southernmost village of the five villages in Cinque Terra, is a perfect first stop when visiting the area. Whether you’re coming from Genoa, or taking a day trip from Florence, you definitely do not want to miss this…
Visiting Italy’s Cinque Terre by Train
Many of you have probably dreamed of visiting the picturesque region of the Italian Riviera region of Liguria known as the Cinque Terre! You’ve likely seen countless photos on Pinterest, or heard the great Rick Steves rave about one of his…
