If you've been following along with my Switzerland series, you'll know that Zürich was the final stop on our incredible two-week adventure through Switzerland.

Before arriving here, we explored the storybook streets of Lucerne, chased mountain views throughout the Jungfrau Region, wandered the lakeside promenade in Montreux, and spent three unforgettable days beneath the Matterhorn in Zermatt. By the time we arrived in Zürich, we thought Switzerland had already shown us everything.

We were wrong.

Our final three days delivered the perfect mix of culture, alpine adventure, and meaningful time with friends. One day was spent cheering on parade participants at a massive Swiss festival. Another took us deep into the Appenzell Alps for one of the most spectacular hikes of our entire trip. Our final day was spent exploring Zürich with my childhood pen pal and her daughters, who casually flew in from Germany for the day—because apparently that's a perfectly normal thing to do when you live in Europe.

As far as trip finales go, this one was pretty hard to beat.

If you've been following along with my Switzerland series, you know our journey had already taken us through Lucerne, the Jungfrau Region, and Montreux. We crossed mountain passes, ridden countless trains, explored lakeside promenades, sampled more cheese and chocolate than was probably necessary, and Switzerland just kept finding new ways to impress us.

But there was one destination we had been looking forward to from the very beginning: Zermatt.

After leaving Montreux, we boarded a train bound for the famous mountain resort town at the foot of the Matterhorn. With its car-free streets, centuries-old wooden chalets, winding alleyways, and jaw-dropping alpine scenery, Zermatt is exactly what travelers imagine Switzerland will look like—and still exceed expectations.

Over the next two days, we mountain biked beneath some of the Alps' most iconic peaks, played in fresh snow at nearly 10,000 feet, and finally experienced the mountain that had been sitting at the top of our Switzerland bucket list all along.

If you've already read my article, The Perfect 14-Day Switzerland Itinerary by Train, you know our Swiss adventure began in Lucerne before taking us deep into the heart of the Jungfrau Region. After four incredible days of alpine hikes, waterfalls, mountain trains, and enough jaw-dropping scenery to fill a lifetime of Instagram posts, we boarded a train bound for Montreux.

And honestly? It felt like we'd arrived in a completely different country.

Gone were the cow-dotted meadows and dramatic mountain villages. In their place were palm trees, grand Belle Époque hotels, vineyards cascading down hillsides, and sparkling views across Lake Geneva. If the Jungfrau Region felt like Switzerland's rugged outdoor playground, Montreux felt like its sophisticated lakeside cousin.

If you've already read my article, The Perfect 14-Day Switzerland: Itinerary by Train, you know that the first three days of our trip were spent in Lucerne—a soft landing spot that allowed us to acclimate to the time change, get comfortable using Switzerland's incredible transportation system, and ease into Swiss culture.

But if Lucerne was the warm-up act, the Jungfrau Region was the headliner.

This was the part of the trip we had been looking forward to for months. It's the Switzerland that shows up on postcards, computer screensavers, and every "most beautiful places in the world" list you've ever seen. Think dramatic Alpine peaks, turquoise lakes, rivers winding through charming villages, waterfalls cascading down cliff faces, flower-filled meadows, and some of the freshest air you'll ever breathe.

If you’ve already read my article, The Perfect 14-Day Switzerland Itinerary, then you know Lucerne was our very first stop after landing in Zürich—and it could not have been a better introduction to Switzerland. In this guide, I’ll share exactly how we spent three days in Lucerne, including where we stayed, what we ate, the excursions we chose, and a few lessons learned along the way.

In preparation for this trip, I spent an embarrassing number of hours researching Switzerland. I compared train routes, mountain excursions, hotel locations, restaurant reviews, weather patterns, and enough itinerary variations to make my browser question my sanity. Consider this the condensed version of all that research so you don't have to repeat it.

Switzerland had been sitting on my travel wish list for years. Snow-capped peaks. Alpine villages. Turquoise lakes. Scenic trains. Endless fondue opportunities. Basically, a giant postcard with excellent public transportation.

But Switzerland is also one of those destinations that can feel wildly overwhelming to plan. There are approximately 47 mountain excursions, 312 adorable villages, and roughly a billion opinions online about where to base yourself.

Before visiting Münster, I knew three things about the city: My aunt absolutely loved living there. Everyone biked everywhere. And in 2004, Münster was awarded the title of “Most Livable City in the World.”

Beyond that? I really had no idea what to expect.

Hamburg is easily one of Europe’s most underrated cities. Germany’s second-largest city blends maritime history, modern architecture, world-class entertainment, and a surprisingly polished waterfront energy that feels different from the more tourist-saturated capitals of Europe. Home to one of the largest ports in Europe, more bridges than Venice and Amsterdam combined, acclaimed museums, buzzing nightlife, and the stunning Elbphilharmonie concert hall rising above the harbor, Hamburg feels cosmopolitan yet somehow still under the radar for many American travelers.

Amsterdam is one of those cities that feels instantly charming—and slightly overwhelming at the same time.

Yes, it has canals that look like they were designed for postcards. The buildings lean just enough to give them character. And the bikes? They’re everywhere, moving with the confidence of people who fully expect you to get out of their way.

But what makes Amsterdam so appealing is that it doesn’t demand one way of experiencing it. You can plan every stop or wander without one and still feel like you’ve seen the city.

When you live in Orlando, it’s easy to default to Universal Studios and a familiar rhythm of roller coasters, churros, and character meet-and-greets. But for Spring Break, we wanted something different—a city brimming with history, music, flavor, and just enough unpredictability to keep three teenagers on their toes.

Some trips blur together.

This one didn’t.

Maybe it was the contrast—peaceful beach mornings followed by rugged coastlines and centuries-old history. Or maybe it was the moments we didn’t expect: standing quietly at a windswept cliff, gliding underwater alongside sea turtles, or debating (briefly and unrealistically) whether we should buy a private island.

Whatever it was, Antigua stayed with us.

Spring break usually means roller coasters, sandy beaches, and loud, sugar-fueled fun in our house. But this year, something different was happening at the dinner table. All three of our kids were suddenly deep into history and geography, casually tossing around phrases like original inhabitants, westward expansion, how the Southwest was settled, and—naturally—very serious UFO conspiracy theories.

In late 2023, my daughter Callan and I were doing what we do best: dramatically daydreaming. We were half-joking, half-serious about how magical it would be to live somewhere with real snow, real winter festivities, and—let’s be honest—Stars Hollow–level charm. Think twinkle lights, hot drinks, quirky neighbors, and a town gazebo. Gilmore Girls has had us in a chokehold for years.

Germany wasn’t the obvious choice. When we first started dreaming up this trip, we tossed around ideas like Italy (which we finally made happen six years later) and Scotland—a strong contender since the boys were deep in their Viking-lore phase and would’ve happily spent a week wielding imaginary axes in the Highlands. But somehow, Germany kept tugging at us—a quiet pull toward a place that promised both discovery and connection.

In 2022, after two years of canceled plans and being stuck at home with three hormonal teenagers, we were itching to explore again. So Bryan and I called a family meeting—complete with snacks, maps, healthy debates, and eye rolls—and the destination vote began.

There were several contenders: Greece for the beaches, France for the food, Iceland for the novelty. But when the dust (and crumbs) settled, the result was unanimous: Italy, 5–0.

During our time in Sorrento, we packed in plenty of adventure—from a full day of boating (complete with a dreamy stop at the Isle of Capri) to a long, lazy lunch in a lemon grove, and a private guided tour of the coastal towns of Amalfi, Ravello, and Positano. Along the way, we’ll share our favorite family-friendly tips, hidden gems, and the little surprises that made this stretch of Italy one of the highlights of our entire trip.

After four memorable nights in Florence, with unforgettable day trips to Tuscany and the Cinque Terre, we boarded a southbound train to Rome, ready for the next chapter of our Italian adventure. Hauling our suitcases behind us for the 15-minute walk to our Airbnb in the Lazio neighborhood, we quickly digested our first impressions: Rome is loud, busy, and bigger than life — emphasis on bigger.

From the moment we stepped out of the train station, Florence captivated us. The city had an entirely different energy than Venice—gone were the quiet canals and gondolas, replaced by the hum of vespas, the chatter of busy streets, and the mouthwatering aroma of fresh bread, espresso, and something delicious cooking nearby. Florence felt bigger and more spread out, but still inviting and full of character. Our first impressions? Clean streets, happy people, and stunning architecture everywhere we looked.

Our arrival in Venice set the tone for the entire trip — part fairytale, part “wait, are we seriously doing this?” moment. Instead of piling into a bus from the airport like normal humans, we went full Venetian and arranged for a private vaporetto (water taxi) to pick us up. As we rolled our jet-lagged selves out of baggage claim, we followed the signs — not to a curb or a parking lot — but to the boat ramp. Yep, the boat ramp at the airport. Only in Venice!

When most people think “Hawaii,” they envision mai tais, surfboards, and couples in matching leis. For our first trip to Hawaii we prepared for diaper bags, Goldfish crackers, and and kids who think sand tastes good. Oahu turned out to be the perfect choice for our crew: a 1 year-old, 4 year-old, and 5 year-old. The island was gorgeous - lush mountains, golden beaches, dazzling waterfalls, and hundreds of varieties of fragrant, tropical flowers. With calm beaches, easy drives, and endless family-friendly adventures, Oahu hits that sweet spot between fun and chill - making it the perfect choice for families with small children.