• Home
  • About
    • Who We are
    • Affiliates
    • Disclosures & Guidelines
    • FAQs
    • Privacy Notice
  • Funding Your Travels
    • Banking on the Road
    • Credit Cards in Our Wallet
    • Spending
  • Contact
    • Media
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Partnership Opportunities

i should log off

log off and live!

  • Travel & Planning
    • Travel Reflections
      • Good, Bad & Ugly
      • Re-Entry
    • Travel Resources
      • Travel Tips
      • Travel Bloggers
    • Reviews
      • Gear
      • Operators
      • Travel Clothing
    • Travel Gear
      • Cameras
      • Danny’s Clothes
      • Electronics
      • Health & Hygiene
      • Jillian’s Clothes
      • General Gear
  • Destinations
    • Travel Guides
    • Africa
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Lesotho
      • Kenya
      • Malawi
      • Morocco
      • Mozambique
      • Namibia
      • South Africa
      • Sudan
      • Swaziland
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
      • Zimbabwe
    • Asia & Oceania
      • Armenia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Georgia
      • India
      • Kazakhstan
      • Laos
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uzbekistan
      • Vietnam
    • Caribbean
      • Antigua
      • Cuba
      • Jamaica
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Europe
      • Armenia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Czech Republic
      • France
      • Georgia
      • Germany
      • Hungary
      • Italy
      • Spain
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Mexico
      • USA
    • Middle East
      • Egypt
      • Israel
      • Jordan
      • Oman
      • Turkey
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Bolivia
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • Uruguay
  • Weekend Adventures
    • Cycle
      • Pastimes
        • Beer & Wine
        • Books
        • Cooking
        • History & Culture
    • Dive & Snorkel
    • Hike
    • Trek
    • Whitewater
  • Photos
    • Photo of the Day
  • Family Travel
You are here: Home / Archives for Destinations / Europe

Best Hiking and Walking Trails in Spain

April 20, 2018 By Jillian

If you’re planning on going on a hiking holiday soon, but still haven’t decided on a destination, then you shouldn’t look any further. Regardless of whether you’re an experienced hiker or have just recently started to enjoy this activity, Spain will be the perfect getaway for you. This country’s landscape is incredibly diverse, so exploring it will surely be quite an adventure. Here are some of the best walking and hiking trails in Spain to traverse on your first trip.

The Cami dels Bons Homes

Also known as the Path of the Good Men, this trail takes around 5 days to complete, and is recommended for experienced hikers. It begins in the south of France and ends in Berga, Catalonia. On the Cami dels Bons Homes, you will encounter enchanting forests, ancient ruins, breathtaking valleys, and alluring views. If you like peace and quiet, then it’s recommended that you embark on this journey either before or after high season. In other words, you should plan your holiday either for May or September if you’d like to have the trail mostly to yourself.

Via de la Plata

The Via de la Plata is a hiking trail that will take you from Seville to Santiago Vía de la Plataand it is in fact the longest pilgrim route in Spain. By completing this hike, you will be able to obtain a certificate of pilgrimage. Although it may be long, you won’t face a lot of rough terrain on this journey, which means that people new to hiking are welcome to enjoy this trail. Most people go on this route in the summer. However, it’s important to note that it can be extremely hot in Spain during this season. With that being said, you can also plan your journey in spring or autumn. If you’d like to share this adventure with a group of people, you can go on an organized tour.

Cami de Rodes

If you’d prefer a much shorter hike, then the Cami de Rodes is the perfect trail for you. This route will take you to an alluring former Benedictine monastery known as the Sant Pere de Rodes. Although there are many walking paths that will take you to this monastery, you will inevitably have to get through rocky terrain and walk uphill for a half an hour in order to reach it. Nevertheless, once you go up here, you will be greeted by a breathtaking view.

El Camino Natural del Ebro

This walking trail will take you on a journey following a river down from its source to the sea. On this expedition, you will be able to see divine Spanish landscapes, beautiful oak forests, and stunning deep canyons. During most of your hike, you will be walking parallel to the Ebro River. Nevertheless, there are some minor deviations from this route that you’ll face along the way.

Via Ferrada de la Cala del Moli

080815174433-5The Via Ferrada de la Cala del Moli is a hiking trail on the coast of northern Spain that involves a lot of rock climbing. It is a protected climbing route and offers safety cables, which means that even novice climbers can enjoy it. It’s suitable for most people. However, beginners may find it challenging. Keep in mind that you will be able to go through an escape route halfway through the trail if you find it too difficult.

Experienced climbers can complete the whole trail in two hours, and are rewarded with amazing views. The route follows cliffs around the inlets of Cala Alga, Es Fjorn, and Cala Moli. One of the highlights of this trail is the four bridges that you’ll be passing, placed right above the clear water.

 

About the Author

Becca is a traveling translator and night owl, blogging at RoughDraft. While she has been to more than 80 countries so far, she has only properly explored about a dozen, so her travel wishlist only keeps expanding.

Filed Under: Europe, Headline, Spain Tagged With: hiking

Skipping the Crowds in Tuscany

April 11, 2017 By Jillian

It’s hard to believe it has been more than 10 years since I first stepped off the plane in Rome to live in Florence for a semester.  It was a long bus ride to Florence, made better by the views, which only increased in stereotypical Tuscan colors as the sun neared the horizon an d we neared Florence.  Grand stone buildings, wide avenues, tiny alleys, we had finally arrived. So had the first trickling of the hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Florence each year, many of them booking luxury accommodations in Tuscany.  We were all enchanted by the same thing – the romance, the color, the light, the magic.

By the time throngs of tourists descended on Florence just before Easter it was time to get out of the city and escape the crowd.   Don’t get me wrong, I love the history, culture and art of Florence, but so does everyone else.  Here are two of my favorite places to avoid the crowds in Florence while still enjoying the enchantment of Tuscany.

 

Fiesole

Fortunately the closest escape is a short bus ride from Florence’s center, so if you are the type of person who wants to pop in and out of the city on your vacation this is a good place to center yourself.  Fiesole sits perched on a hill above the city, but with its quieter streets, surrounding olive orchards and villas, it seems a world away.  Fiesole is the kind of place most people drive through without stopping, but if you are the type that wants to stop and smell the roses, soak up the experience, or enjoy the magic of the Tuscan hills Fiesole is a good place for you.

If you are the hiking or leisurely strolling sort, there are a lot of beautiful roads to travel in Fiesole.  You can easily walk from the center of Florence to Fiesole in about an hour. Remember it is mostly uphill, so wear comfortable shoes.  Perhaps the better way is to walk from Fiesole down to Florence.  You can follow a map, or more adventurously just follow gravity and continue to walk down the slope.  There are several shops off the main Piazza in Fiesole if you want to purchase picnic supplies in town and set yourself up on the side of the Monastery of San Angelo.  There’s a few bench overlooking the terraced hills down to Florence – a breathtaking view of the city without the crowds!

If you’re looking for something more quiet and adventurous take a walk from Fiesole to a nearby town, like Settignano.  We took a bike tour, but you can also walk from Fiesole to the top of Montececeri and then into the village of Settignano. I did this with both my Dad (on foot) and my roommates Mom and Aunt (on bike), so it’s age friendly. If you’re a history or culture buff you may appreciate the historical significance of Montecerceri – this is where Leonardo Da Vinci is said to have taken his flying machine to test it.  The hill is also dotted with caves, quarries and Etruscan ruins, so it’s a great place to “get lost” without fearing a night in the woods.  When you’re ready for a drink, or some nourishment, head down to Settignano, a blink if you miss it kind of place that has real charm.  Not much of a tourist attraction, the town is known for being the home of Michelangelo and the marble quarries that produced some of the Renaissance’s most famous sculptures.  Roman ruins, like almost everywhere else in Italy, are intertwined with the most modern of engineering feats, so don’t ignore an outcropping of old stones.

 

Lucca

Slightly further afield, closer to Pisa is Lucca. I fell in love with Lucca from the first moment I saw it.  A city still enveloped by its Renaissance-era walls, Lucca has the buzz of Florence without the extreme crowds and tour groups.  It’s the perfect place to feel like a local, to indulge in la dulce far niente, or the sweetness of doing nothing.   If you are looking for a place to sit in a piazza, sip wine or enjoy a gelato without any interruption in your day, this is the place to be.  Any one of the large or small piazzas will make for the perfect backdrop to a vacation of indulging in Tuscany’s food, culture or drink.  The area surrounding Lucca is rolling hills of vineyards and medieval towns and ruins, still vibrant with life and culture today.   Now do you understand where my love of the city comes from?

The best way to experience Lucca is to do so on foot.  Am I sounding like a broken record?  But seriously, Italy is meant for walking. The medieval town walls are still intact and now serve as a sidewalk of sorts around old town Lucca.  Beyond the pleasure of being slightly above the streets and parks, the Passeggiata delle Mura crosses the major areas of the city, allowing you do to a “highlights” tour on foot without car traffic.  You can also rent a bike and in the summer you may find yourself in the midst of a cultural show or play on the Passeggiata.   If you are a history lover, you’ll notice that the wall is one of the largest intact star shaped walls left in Europe.  If you’re a nature lover, you’ll notice that different trees are planted on each of the main sides of the wall.

One thing I love about Tuscany are the old churches.  Each has it’s own look, feel and ambiance, with each architect, sculptor or painter trying to outdo someone else.  You don’t need to be religious to appreciate the artistry and magic of these churches or in the major city centers either.   Some refer to Lucca as the city of 100 churches.  While I can’t speak to the number of churches, I can offer that they are distinct in style (more similar to Pisa!), and the Duomo di Lucca, unlike those of the large cities, only faces a small square.  To me this is symbolic of Lucca as a whole – unpretentious, yet a gem not to be missed!

I learned quickly that no matter where you go in Tuscany you will be surrounded by delicious food, decadent wine and some of the most hospitable people on the planet.  When you’re ready to escape the crowds of Florence, consider giving Fiesole or Lucca a try!

Filed Under: Destinations, Europe, Headline, Italy Tagged With: italy, study abroad, Tuscany

Dreaming of Prague

August 30, 2016 By Jillian

Souvenirs are like tiny memory capsules for me.  When I hold the object in my hand I am instantly taken back to the moment of purchase.  My favorite souvenirs are earrings – small, easy to carry, and as unique as the market in which they were purchased.

Earlier this month we moved into a new house and as I unpacked my earrings one by one to put them in my jewelry box I took a trip down memory lane.  Wooden beads from Bolivia, earrings made of cowrie shells from Africa, and finally a set of hammered copper earrings from Prague.20160901_103759

I laughed holding the Prague earrings in my hand.  Unlike most of the other earrings in my collection which had come from back woods type of markets or handi-craft stalls, these were purchased on perhaps the most touristy place in Prague – the Charles Bridge.  Somewhere over the Vltava River on the way to see a smaller bridge covered in locks I decided I needed these, and the matching necklace.  My husband of course, obliged willingly. 🙂

If you’ve never been on the Charles Bridge it is famous for the numerous statues of saints that line the bridge. Connecting the two sides of Prague, the Castle looks over the bridge, giving the whole area a medieval feeling. It’s also covered in buskers, artisans, painters, and any kind of performer you could ask for – it’s almost like a carnival during peak season as hordes of tourist move from one side of Prague to the other.  Many hotels in Prague offer city tours that include the bridge, so you also have a lot of tour guides stopping along the way giving a historical perspective on the bridge, the statues and the city.

Holding the earring in my hand I was taken back to a very sunny day along the Vltava when we climbed to Prague Castle, picnicked in the park, watched street performers do magic, visited the clock tower, and did the traditional “tourist” Prague experience.  It was an unusual day for the two of us, who generally like to stay off the beaten path. The rest of the time in Prague we did get off the beaten path, exploring neighborhoods, visiting outlying areas to see soviet era architecture and taking the Prague metro everywhere.

After several moves and three kids only one of the earrings remains in my jewelry box, but the memory of Prague lives on every time I hold it.

Filed Under: Czech Republic, Destinations, Europe, Headline Tagged With: jewelry, memories, prague, souvenirs

So we’re going to Barcelona… for four days.

December 3, 2014 By Jillian

Ever have an overwhelming feeling that you need to jump on a plane and go somewhere?  Well that happens to us pretty regularly and more often than not we end up spending hours online looking up an amazing trip only to realize that there is something preventing us from going.  Well that cycle repeats and repeats until finally – like magic — we actually book something and find a way to make it work.

Yup, San Fermin, or the running of the bulls. This was the last time we were in Spain. Incidentally we also went through Barcelona that weekend.
Yup, San Fermin, or the running of the bulls. This was the last time we were in Spain. Incidentally we also went through Barcelona that weekend.

This time the constraints were our children.  Well, not in the way that you think.  We’re happy traveling with our twins – in fact they are super baby travelers (14 flights and counting!), so that doesn’t scare us at all.  What we wanted out of this trip though was a trip without kids.  There I said it.  An adults only vacation without the twins where we pretend at least for a few minutes that we can be wildly impulsive and go to Barcelona… for a long weekend.

And so we booked.  We just did it, recklessly without looking back.  Ok, so we did confirm the availability of some pretty amazing babysitters (err… Grandparents) for the weekend, but then we quickly pressed purchase. We looked at the incredible amount of frequent flier miles we’ve amassed in the last two years and decided that there is no time like the present.

But then there are those constraints to consider – the fact that my heart basically stopped when I realized we would be without our little munchkins for four days.  Yikes.  Four glorious and terrifying days. Flooded with excitement and yet already, months away from the flight, trepidation at being away from our girls for SO LONG.  I tried to wrap my head around it.  Because as a parent, a weekend can feel like an eternity.  That’s the paradox of parenthood.

So yea, we’re going to Barcelona for four days.

We’re crazy. 

We’re insane. 

We’re just in love with our constraints.

Filed Under: Destinations, Europe, Headline, Spain Tagged With: family travel

Tempting Tenerife – What’s Not to Like?

September 28, 2014 By Guest Blogger

Over the years, Tenerife has developed a reputation as a place for holidaymakers seeking blazing sunshine and a party atmosphere. While much of Tenerife’s pull on tourists has been the beautiful climate and fantastic nightspots, it has so much more to offer if you take the time to explore the island. Take a look at the following ways you can get the most out of a trip to Tenerife.

mountain-384528_640

Visit the Ancient Dragon Tree
No trip to Tenerife would be complete without experiencing the Ancient Dragon Tree. It is often referred to as the oldest tree in the world, with many locals believing it to be 1000 years old, but more accurately thought to be around 650 years old. Hire a car for the day and visit Icod de los Vinos to see the tree, and while you are there take in the Church of San Marcos and the Artlandya Doll Museum.

See the Highest Peak in Spain
Mount Teide is the highest peak in Spain, 3718 metres above sea level. An active volcano, Mount Teide is an impressive sight when viewed against the bright blue skies of the island. If you don’t fancy climbing in the mountains, you can still appreciate the beauty of the Teide National Park, a World Heritage Site filled with some incredible animals and plants. The stunning volcanic rock patterns and formations are worth the trip alone.

Experience the Local Cuisinefood-406473_640
You may be familiar with traditional Spanish food, but Tenerife has its own unique twist with some African influences. There are plenty of general restaurants catering to tourists, but try to seek out the more traditional restaurants with a local flavour if you really want to experience the regional cuisine . Many dishes will include local fruit, vegetables and fish, grilled to create a lighter meal which suits the warm weather. Make sure to try plenty of Tapas and the Papas Arrugadas potato dish, famous within the region.

Have Fun at the Carnival
If you can make it to Tenerife in February, make sure to take part in the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The people of the island are known for their warm, friendly nature, so be sure to mingle and make plenty of new friends. The carnival is known around the world and features lots of musical entertainment, dancing and a big parade. Prepare a fancy dress costume in advance if you really want to fit in.

Get Out on the Water
Surrounded by water, it is natural that tourists to Tenerife have plenty of options when it comes to water-based fun. You can charter a boat for a day out at sea, take a Submarine Safari and go diving in the Atlantic Ocean, swim in the rock pools at Garachico or look for whales in the surrounding waters. If you prefer to stay inland, there are plenty of water parks for some family entertainment in the sun, with Siam Park being the best known.

Filed Under: Destinations, Europe, Headline, Spain Tagged With: beach vacation, espana, spain, tenerife

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 16
  • Next Page »

Connect With Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Featured Posts

Our Bucket List
How We Travel For Free
$ Travel Tips

Recent Comments

  • Barbara on Kayaking Kauai’s Na Pali Coast
  • Lori Hubbard on Review: Eneloop Batteries and Charger
  • TK on The Trouble with Philadelphia

Banking on the Road

It can be very hard to keep track of your finances while you're on the road long-term. Be sure to check out how we took care of our finances while traveling and feel free to email us any questions you have.

Adventure Guides

Torres Del Paine
China Adventure
Uzbekistan Overland
Egyptian Odyssey
Malaria
Argentina Adventure
DIY African Safari
South Africa Guide
Bolivia by Bus
How-To African Visas

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright 2008-2015 · All Rights Reserved · Contact I Should Log Off · RSS · Partner With Us · Privacy