Travel

Hiking & backpacking in Switzerland

Story by Ronnie Juhans Backpacking during spring and summer breaks is a great way to experience Europe on a budget for many students around the world. Staying at hostels or… Read more

Plovdiv, Bulgaria: Ancient City on the Rise

Always check the country’s travel restrictions before booking and going on vacation. It is rare — and kind of awesome — to be in the presence of something truly ancient… Read more

Warnemünde - Baltic Seaside Resort

Warnemünde – a Resort on the Baltic Sea

Visit Warnemünde, the attractive seaside resort of the Baltic Sea. There are many attractions at this seaside resort that will make your visit a memorable one!

Thassos: Not your typical Greek island

Thassos, a Greek island in the north Aegean Sea, is like something from a dream. It is April, and the sea is warm enough for swimming. We are on Paradise… Read more

The Five Best Outdoor Breaks in Europe

For those seeking an outdoor adventure of a lifetime, here are five of the best outdoor breaks Europe has to offer!

Camp in a Castle

by Kat Nickola “I see it!” my son yells. He adjusts his backpack. It is full, with his sleeping bag, mat, and clothes for the night. “Where?” I ask, hustling along… Read more

Go Back in Time at the Keltenpark in Otzenhausen

by Kat Nickola I’m standing outside a Celtic longhouse watching the Celtic way to make and hold fire. Herr Klaus Zahneisen is a docent at the Keltenpark Otzenhausen. He shows us the special… Read more

Virtual Explorer: Get Away to Greece

Greece is awesome for a lot of reasons. The food is amazing, the people are wonderfully warm, and the weather for most of the year is generally unbeatable. Oh, and… Read more

Taking the Overnight Train to Sweden

by Kat Nickola My family earned some solid Tågskryt over spring break by traveling overland, via train, all the way to Stockholm. Tågskryt is the Swedish word for “train cred” or… Read more

A Provincial Masterpiece

Van Gogh knew it. Monet knew it. Picasso knew it. I know it. Soon, you’ll know it, too: it doesn’t get much more picturesque than Provence in South East France. The… Read more

A Jungle Amidst Concrete

When the spring temperatures finally catch up to your spring spirit, the botanical garden, PalmenGarten, in Frankfurt is a great place to visit.

Exploring the Grim Nuclear Bunkers of Area One

by Kat Nickola Roughly an hour south of Kaiserslautern is a fascinating remnant of the Cold War era. What had been a special weapons depot is now a site preserved in… Read more

Five Things to Do in Freiburg im Breisgau

Making a perfect day trip from Stuttgart, here are five things you can do when visiting the amazing Freiburg im Breisgau in the Black Forest.

Vienna – A cutting-edge place for all seasons

Vienna at Christmas time is indeed cold and not a place where children under maybe 10 years of age are going to last for very long without complaining. Still, it… Read more

Need an Adventure? How About Kili?

“Time to get up,” was the soft but forceful sound my tent mate and I heard at 11:30 p.m. That’s right, 11:30 p.m. That was just six hours after being… Read more

The story behind St. Patrick’s Day

All over the world on the 17th of March every year – impress your friends with a little more knowledge of the historic St Patricks Day.

How the Celts Left Their Mark in Rodenbach

by Kat Nickola “Mom, is that a real body?” My daughter is looking through a long glass window into the side of a coffin-like space. Inside there is a very human-looking… Read more

Winter Ski and Snowboard Destinations

If you are lucky enough to find yourself living in Europe, you should make sure you experience one of its crown jewels, the Alps. Here is a collection of can’t… Read more

A Weekend in Sweden

A weekend in Sweden

Sweden is one of the highlights of northern Europe. The standard of living is among the highest in the world and the scenery some of the most beautiful.

6 Sunny Getaways to Help You Beat the Winter Blues

Betty Williams was definitely onto something when she said: “When all else fails, take a vacation!” With winter still going strong and temps still dropping, it’s only natural to want… Read more

German High School Primer #3 – Getting School Supplies

by Kat Nickola “You got a letter from the school!” I yell. “Wow, mom.” Eyes rolling. My fourteen-year old daughter is less excited than I am. I open it. “Cool. It’s… Read more

German High School Primer #2 – Registration

by Kat Nickola As we walked into the school for the first time last summer, I was more nervous than my daughter. She had taken a year of German language… Read more

Paris: More than just the City of Love

Though traveling in the world today can be a bit nerve-wrecking, here are a few tips from a traveling artisan to experience Paris.

Konstanz- A Calm Lake City

Konstanz (Constance) is a lively, yet relaxing famous university town offering a wide range of leisure activities for visitors of all ages.

German High School Primer #1 – Types of Secondary Schools and Diplomas

by Kat Nickola This is our first year in Germany and our children are attending a local German high school. I thought I’d write about our experience as the year… Read more

A Medieval Town, Kirchheimbolanden

Kirchheimbolanden is a medieval town between Kaiserslautern and Mainz with some charming features and an interesting history.

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Worms

Worms makes an excellent destination for a day trip. It is packed with outstanding architecture, pedestrian zones and green space. It is steeped in history, too. As one of Germany’s… Read more

Visit the Ancient University Town of Marburg

Marburg is a University town north of Frankfurt, in the Lahn valley. It retains its cobbled streets and the Hessische architecture of the 17-18th century.

Living History at Hessenpark

Hesse is a “middle-German” state famous for its capital, Wiesbaden, the 14th largest airport in the world, FRA, and the adjacent banking city Frankfurt am Main. Unfortunately it took some… Read more

Winter Camping in Germany: 4 Great Locations

Story by Ronnie Juhans Photo by Jens Ottoson / Shutterstock.com You might be asking yourself: Who is crazy enough to go camping in Germany during the winter? After all, nighttime temperatures… Read more

Garmisch Partenkirchen

Garmisch-Partenkirchen – An Alpine Adventure

Located in the heart of the Bavarian State, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is one of the must-see destinations whilst based in Germany.

Can’t-Miss German Day Trips A-Z: Xtra Special Winter Outdoors Edition

Whether you love winter or simply endure it until spring arrives, one thing is true: getting outside and active is important for your health during the long, dark months. Fortunately,… Read more

7 Ideas to Experience Germany Like A German

To have an incredible experience while stationed in Germany, here are seven New Year’s Resolutions you should definitely keep!

What Ever Happened to the Sembach Airfield?

by Kat Nickola “It’s hard to tell there was a runway here,” my husband says over the chilly winter wind. “True. But they left a few bunkers and pavement,” I… Read more

German Christmas Meal

While many Germans resort to classic dishes like potato salad and sausages or Schnitzel, most take advantage of the spare time that comes with the holidays and create extravagant meals… Read more

5 Steps to building your own holiday traditions

by Nate Cairney, contributing writer Featured image by Africa Studio / shutterstock.com “Holiday traditions” are often so ingrained that we rarely stop to think about them. What happens, then, when you and… Read more

Wandering the Kaiserslautern Wildpark

Story and Photos by Kat Nickola With winter settling in, it’s tempting to stay inside. But, part of staying healthy means getting fresh air and exercise, and Germany is a… Read more

Holiday Kaiserslautern: City lights, forest magic

If you find you’ll be spending the holidays a little closer to home than you might have liked, don’t worry! Holiday beauty can be found in plenty of places –… Read more

Finding Secrets in the Soca Valley of Slovenia

Story and photos by Kat Nickola “Mom, how far do you think it goes?” my daughter asked. “Well, we passed another tunnel entrance up the road around the corner. Maybe… Read more

Racing MiG ghosts in Croatia

Story and photos by Kat Nickola “Hippie one line up and wait three two right,” my husband says from the drivers seat. I roll my eyes. Always a pilot. “Cleared… Read more