When in Porto – Port Wine
Spending time in Porto would not be the same without visiting at least one Port Wine Lodge, if not more. Being a lover of all things “dessert”, I’m sure it’s no surprise that of all wines, Port Wine is one of my favorites. Originating from the Douro Region in Portugal, and more specifically aged and bottled in the town of Oporto, Port Wine is a fortified, sweet red wine. It is commonly enjoyed as a dessert wine. Prior to departing for Portugal, the only Port I was familiar with was Grahams. Incidentally,… Read More
Porto, Portugal
Porto. This is by far one of my favorite cities in all of Western Europe. The second largest city in Portugal, it is most known for its world famous Port Wine. But more about that in the next post. Porto is one of the most enjoyable, laid back cities I’ve ever visited. The cobblestone and pedestrian streets make this city extremely walkable, though you will find some areas have steep hills as well. But exploring on foot is really one of the best ways to explore. And if you get too tired,… Read More
Belem, Portugal and Pasteis de Belem
Belem…another essential destination to visit when in Lisbon – for more reasons than one. One great reason is the beauty. The setting was unbelievable. First up – Belém Tower, one of Portugal’s iconic treasures, dating back hundreds of years to the early 1500s. The original purpose for the Tower was to serve as a fort, protecting the people against raids along the Tagus River. The Tower of Belem sits majestically by the edge of the water, surrounded by soft sand and smooth rocks. When the tide came in, the reflections were gorgeous…. Read More
Portugal Coast, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais
A few highlights we enjoyed on our way back to Lisbon from Sintra. First off, Cabo da Roca. Cabo da Roca is the rugged, wild, windswept stretch of coastline that boasts the status of being the western most point of continental Europe. It was once thought to be the end of the world. This area has a lot of raw, untamed beauty, with craggy cliffs plunging into the ocean, rocks and wild grass swaying in the wind, and incredibly beautiful views in all directions. This is for sure a nature lover’s paradise!… Read More
Sintra, Portugal
When in Lisbon, you will want to visit beautiful, charming Sintra, which sits in the shadow of the grand Pena Palace. It is an easy train ride or drive away from Lisbon. After visiting ourselves, however, I would venture to say it would be worth adding one to two nights in this area as well. While Sintra itself is quite small, and does not offer the same kind of night life that Lisbon does, there is still so much to see and do. If you have the time, go for it! There… Read More
Pena Palace, Portugal
Pena Palace, sitting high on a craggy outcrop in the mountains of Sintra, just a day trip away from Lisbon, is considered one of Portugal’s 7 wonders. It is an extremely unique and romantic palace, a whimsical fairytale palace – one we have wanted to visit since the moment we saw our first photograph of it. It far exceeded our expectations. Look at all of these colors. There are yellows, reds, blues, and purples! And the views from the palace over the landscape reach all the way out to the water!
Exploring Portugal – First Stop Lisbon
We’ve always wanted to visit Portugal but amazingly have never been. We have even sent clients there, but somehow never managed to make it ourselves. I have no explanation, and now that we finally went…I can’t believe we waited this long. Portugal is beautiful, the people are kind and thoughtful, and the culture is fascinating. More specifically in Lisbon, we loved the architecture, the friendly markets, the many narrow cobblestoned streets filled with shops, restaurants, churches, bakeries, and so much more. While I could write a book on all there is to… Read More
Wine Tasting in the 1000 Islands
The 1000 Islands Seaway Wine Trail was established in 2007, offering unique, one of a kind wines due to their hardy grape wines, perfect growing climate, and creative collaborations with wine growers in other parts of the country. The wine trail winds along 78 scenic miles and includes eight different family-owned wineries. While we would have loved to visit them all, here are two of the ones we did enjoy. Our first stop was White Caps Winery in Chaumont, NY. The owner is a fifth generation descendant of Nathaniel Warner, a soldier… Read More
Sackets Harbor, New York
All summer, we have continued to explore unique and interesting destinations within the United States. This week, we decided to meander through the quaint towns of Upstate New York and the 1000 Islands. Our first stop…the small historical town of Sackets Harbor, NY. Sackets Harbor is a humble village set on the shores of Lake Ontario that carries a lot of historical significance. You can reflect on its revolutionary past at Military Cemeteries, the Madison Barracks, and the War of 1812 Burial Ground. Sackets Harbor is quaint, quiet, and offers colorful boutique… Read More
Lake Champlain and Burlington
We have always wanted to visit Vermont as a couple, but it is quite a distance from Chicago, so we’d put that idea on hold. This summer, however, our oldest daughter was offered a wonderful position at a camp in Upper State New York. We had to drive her there for the summer, and originally had considered crossing the border into Canada for a few days. Given that the border was currently closed due to Covid, however, we realized this was the perfect opportunity to finally explore Vermont! First stop, Speculator, NY…. Read More
Deena Gainor
Six Hearts One Journey 
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