As I just shared in my last post, I had one of the most unique travel experiences of my life at the end of 2019 when I joined a Trekking and Photo Tour in Nepal. Nepal has always captured my imagination, but I still didn’t know too much about the country’s history or its people…
My Journey to Nepal – Just Before a Global Pandemic
Namaste, friends! While 2020 has taken us all for the ride of our lives, I find myself ever more grateful for the unique travel opportunity I had back in November of 2019 when I joined the Nepal Trekking and Photo Tour designed by travel photographers Melissa Findley and Carmen Huter. Little did we know that…
In Love with Bruges: 7 Reasons to Fall for This Belgian Beauty
Many traveling souls have fallen head over heels for a particular Belgian beauty named Bruges. The Flemish capital was the first stop on our epic babymoon adventure back in 2017. Little did Justin and I know that it would be the perfect place to start a trip that celebrated our marriage and our love. Allow…
7 Reasons to Add the Oeschinensee to Your Swiss Travel Itinerary
When visiting Switzerland, you really can’t have the full Swiss experience without at least one mountain excursion on your travel itinerary. But with so many gorgeous Alpine peaks to explore, how can you decide which one is right for you? In my experience, a day at the Oeschinensee is bound to please most travelers. A…
Hiking in Zermatt: 3 Scenic Trails You Don’t Want to Miss
As I mentioned in my last post, the Swiss Family Domecks spent the weekend of Swiss National Day in Zermatt. Thanks to the incredible magnetism of the Matterhorn mountain and half a dozen ways to reach the peaks surrounding this once-small-town in Canton Valais, Zermatt has become a major focal point for tourists visiting Switzerland.…
Hiking The Swiss Path
In 1291, three men stood in a field on a hillside above a lake and made an eternal pledge to one another and to the communities they represented. They promised to be there for one another, to defend and protect each other, to share in equal trade opportunities, and despite their differences, to remain united…
The Final Verdict on Cinque Terre
It seems like some destinations have been on my “Travel Bucket List” for ages. Recently, I had the sweet pleasure of visiting one of those locations from said list: Cinque Terre, Italy. Cinque Terre. The Five Lands. Five small fishing villages along the rocky western coast of Italy. Tiny dots on the map that millions have…
8 Reasons to Ski Austria’s Arlberg Region
With its vast network of ski lifts and powdery pistes, the Arlberg region of Austria claims to be “the cradle of Alpine skiing.” Here are eight reasons why you may want to add this winter wonderland to your travel bucket list. 1. The Location Just over an hour west of Innsbruck by train and skirting the borders of the…
Canyoning in Switzerland
Attention thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies! I’ve just found you a little slice of paradise… Canyoning in the Swiss Alps! Canyoning involves following a rushing river through mountain gorges, where you jump, slide, and scramble your way from entry to exit point. It’s fun, challenging, and one of the coolest activities in the Swiss Alps…
4 Reasons To Charter a Yacht in Croatia
Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast has become world famous for its sparkling blue waters and its charming old towns that dot the rocky coastline of the Adriatic Sea. Last Saturday, the Swiss Family Domecks completed our 7-day chartered journey around the Dalmatian Islands, a vacation that we will always remember. If you are already dreaming of your next summer adventure, take…
Eating Whale in Oslo
Hip and trendy Oslo has some serious Scandinavian swag. The Norwegian capital city contains a seamless blend of historic settings, cosmopolitan shine, urban reinvention, and a twinge of grunge on the side. Admittedly, I can’t say I “did” much during my brief visit to Oslo earlier this summer. I didn’t face off with The Scream…
To the Top of Pilatus
It’s hiking season in Switzerland, and a yodel-like yahoo! escapes from my mouth at the very thought. Taking advantage of a gorgeous Saturday earlier this month, Justin and I set off from Zurich to tackle our first Swiss mountain of the year. We chose to hike Mount Pilatus, the impressively rugged peak jutting up into the Lucerne skyline. Summiting Mount…
Meet Etna, Sicily’s Explosive Personality
She’s of massive proportions. She’s got a feisty temperament. And you can’t come to Sicily without spotting her smoking in the distance. She’s Mount Etna – Europe’s largest and most active volcano. Per my fascination with volcanoes (is that weird?), I can’t help but marvel at this monstrous mountain every time I visit Sicily. Rising…
An Unplanned Encounter with Thailand’s Water Festival, Songkran
Justin and I inadvertently joined the world’s biggest water fight last year. After my extended visit to Taiwan, I flew to Phuket, Thailand to meet up with Justin and to visit a friend. My arrival just so happened to coincide with Songkran, the festival that kicks off the Thai New Year. Little did I know what was…
In the Heart of the Jungfrau Region
Justin and I spent our anniversary weekend exploring the Jungfrau Region, one of Switzerland’s most popular tourist destinations, located in the Bernese Oberland (the Highlands within the Canton of Bern). We quickly fell in love with this beautiful slice of Swissness, where regal mountains and dramatic valleys welcome outdoor enthusiasts and encourage the imagination. IMAGE SOURCE After 200+…
Paragliding in Switzerland
Justin and I celebrated five years of marriage last month. Five years! Whoa – that seems legit, doesn’t it? My, oh my, how time flies! Actually, so did we. To start off our weekend getaway in Switzerland’s Jungfrau Region (think Interlaken) and commemorate five years of wedded bliss, Justin and I did something neither of…
A Tale of Two Chopsticks
With a culinary heritage from its Chinese, Japanese, and aboriginal ancestry, Taiwan boasts an extraordinary food culture that every world traveler must experience. From smoky barbecue squid to steamed taro cakes, gooey oyster omelets and broth with pork liver, from deep-fried sea creatures and crispy chicken to candied strawberries on a stick, the variation and creativity of…
Summiting El Misti
In addition to hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Justin and I tackled another peak of Peru in the fall of 2013. Together, we conquered El Misti, an active volcano that looms ominously large over Arequipa. Although the journey was not nearly as long as the Inca Trail, summiting El Misti was no less…
12 Tips To Hiking The Inca Trail
A Domeck Dream came true in the fall of 2013: Justin and I completed the 4-day, 3-night hike along the traditional route of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It was an incredible journey, rife with majestic vistas and physical challenges. To this day, we still ask ourselves, “Would we ever do it again?” My answer…