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3 Days in Paris: A Practical First-Timer’s Itinerary
Paris has no shortage of famous landmarks, beautiful neighborhoods, and places you’ve seen in photos a hundred times. But with just 3 days in Paris, you’ll need to make some choices! During our visit, we explored Notre-Dame, spent a morning at the Louvre, wandered the streets of Montmartre, and watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle after…
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Staying in Interlaken, Switzerland: A Convenient Home Base for Exploring the Region
We spent three days and two nights in Interlaken, Switzerland, using it as a home base for exploring the surrounding region. Located between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, Interlaken made it easy to get around by train, bus, and boat without changing hotels every night. We took day trips to St. Beatus Caves and Lauterbrunnen,…
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4 Hours in Zurich: A Quick Old Town Walk
We arrived in Zurich the night before our flight home after a Rhine River cruise and several days exploring Lucerne and Switzerland (see our 5-day Switzerland itinerary here). Our family group of seven, who had been traveling together, split up for our flights home, and my husband, daughter, and I spent our last evening exploring…
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Visiting St. Beatus Caves in Switzerland: What to Know Before You Go
On one of the hottest days of our Switzerland trip, we headed to St. Beatus Caves above Lake Thun. Stepping into a cool cave after being outside in the heat was pretty refreshing. The caves were a memorable experience during our time in Switzerland, with underground streams, reflecting pools, unusual rock formations, and a little…
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Visiting Lucerne for the First Time: What to See, Do & Know
Lucerne was a wonderful base for part of our five days in Switzerland. With its beautiful lakefront setting, historic Old Town, famous wooden bridges, and mountain views, Lucerne has plenty to keep you busy. One of the things I liked most was how easy it was to explore. Most of the sights we wanted to…
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Cruises | Europe | Netherlands
Kinderdijk Windmills: A Guide to Visiting Kinderdijk
If your Rhine River cruise includes a stop at Kinderdijk, you’re in for one of the most iconic landscapes in the Netherlands. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to 19 historic windmills, built to help manage the water in a region where much of the land lies below sea level. We visited Kinderdijk on…
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Strasbourg Cruise Port: A One-Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
We visited Strasbourg as a cruise stop, but this itinerary works whether you’re arriving by river cruise or exploring independently. If it’s your first time in Strasbourg and you have just one day, here’s what I’d prioritize. Why Visit Strasbourg? Of all the stops on our Rhine River cruise, Strasbourg was my favorite. I loved…
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Cologne Cruise Port Guide: What to See and Do on a Rhine River Cruise
Why Visit Cologne on a Rhine River Cruise? Cologne is one of those Rhine River cruise stops where you can see a lot without having to travel far from the ship. The enormous Cologne Cathedral dominates the city skyline, while the historic center offers plenty of history, architecture, and opportunities to simply wander. And if…
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3 Days in Amsterdam Before a Cruise: A First-Timer’s Itinerary
My husband and I spent three days in Amsterdam before our Rhine River cruise. This itinerary balances Amsterdam’s major sights with time to wander, take photos, and experience the city at a relaxed pace — with one active day trip outside the city. If you’re spending three days in Amsterdam before a cruise, you could…
