Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities. In addition to its stunning architecture and canals, it boasts enough quality attractions to keep even the most discerning traveler busy for at least a week. From museums and a royal palace to cheese shops and the Red Light District, there are some very unique and interesting things […]
Spring Travel
Tips for Visiting Keukenhof Gardens from Amsterdam
What began as the small kitchen garden of a 15th century countess has grown into one of the world’s greatest flower extravaganzas. Every year, Keukenhof Gardens are replanted with more than 7 million bulbs! Hundreds of tulip varieties are on display, along with daffodils, crocuses, and hyacinths. Flower beds flow through the park like the […]
Dobele, Latvia and the Largest Lilac Garden in Europe
The Dobele lilac garden is the largest of its kind in Europe. When I mentioned this fact to a Riga taxi driver, he didn’t believe me. But it’s true – the Peteris Upitis Garden in Dobele, Latvia boasts more than 200 lilac trees! The garden was started in 1956 by Peteris Upitis, an avid horticulturist and head […]
Celebrating Easter in Kaunas, Lithuania
As the Knights of the Teutonic Order spread Christianity across the European continent, Lithuania was the last pagan holdout. But in the mid-1300s, Kaunas Castle was besieged and eventually captured by the crusading knights. To celebrate their victory, they reportedly held a Mass at the castle on Easter Sunday. Lithuania was Christianized a few decades later, […]
Longwood Gardens: A Botanical Wonderland in Pennsylvania
Visiting a friend in Pennsylvania in late April, we took advantage of the warm spring weather to explore Longwood Gardens. I had only recently learned of these gardens, and while I knew they’d be full of springtime loveliness, I wasn’t prepared for the dazzling beauty we found. What began as a 400-acre farmstead for the Pierce family […]