During the summer we visited Portugal and enjoyed a week-long surf camp and this year we thought we'd try our luck at spring surfing. Portugal is known for its waves and has even been referred to as the European Pipeline. We are not seasoned surfers, just vacation surfers, so of course we knew we would … Continue reading Surfing in Portugal
In a small valley, nestled between the French Alps, lies the little town of Valliore. We booked our family New Year's holiday here. Soon after we had booked our stay, we read it was "The best kept secret..." And sure enough, we may have to agree. This resort town is located in the Rhône-Alpes region in … Continue reading Skiing in the French Alps
We've had the opportunity to experience a great Swiss tradition in both the German and Italian part of the country. Every February the Swiss, and a majority of Western European countries, celebrate Carnival. The celebrations usually take place in February or March, before the start of Lent. It's a time of year when the Swiss … Continue reading Swiss Traditions
One area we enjoy visiting, in the German part of Switzerland, is Engleberg. Hiking trails are scattered throughout Engleberg, but one of our favorites is the Kitzeltrail. You can access the trail by taking the Brunni chairlift to the top of the mountain where you find Lake Härzlisee. If you are ambitious, you can also … Continue reading Hiking in Engleberg
We finally got to see a Swiss tradition that we have been wanting to experience for years. In the springtime the cows are taken up the mountains to graze for the summer. Then, at the end of summer, the Swiss farmers bring their cows back down from mountains. It is called the Alpabzug. Not … Continue reading Alpabzug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2DgNCkBLmQ&t=1s We have a view of Monte Generoso from our bedroom window and have wanted to hike it for years. Finally, this last weekend we made the climb. Mount Generoso offers breathtaking views of both Switzerland and Italy. We did a bit of research before climbing the mountain. There are a few options to … Continue reading Climbing Monte Generoso in Switzerland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVHwtBMq9_w&t=158s We were very excited to try out our new underwater action camera while vacationing in Maui. What an incredible experience we had. Before we left on the boat, our youngest was talking about seeing Dolphins. I told her there was a good chance we would not be seeing any Dolphins and was totally proven wrong. … Continue reading Snorkeling with Dolphins & Turtles
