travel that speaks to the heart
Over the Easter holiday, the Swiss Family Domecks and some dear friends from Orlando jetted over to Portugal in search of sunshine, good food, and new discoveries. Our journey started in the capital city of Lisbon, a visible mishmash of contemporary success and past hardships. Lisbon is artsy, funky, gritty, and even a little bit…
As a new mom who wanted to continue traveling with my baby, it was important for me to find a carryall bag that could serve as a diaper bag, a camera case, wallet keeper, and city pack. On our recent trip to Portugal, I put my newest travel product to the test. Today, I’m excited…
The week before Easter is a remarkable time to visit Spain. It’s Holy Week – Semana Santa in Spanish – and the religious holiday is celebrated with long processions, enormous floats, striking costumes and haunting music. If you find yourself traveling in Spain during this extraordinary week, you very well may come across sights such as…
Ever since my #littleAlpenRose was born, I’ve been very interested in products that make parenting life easier. (Because, let’s be honest, it’s no stroll in the park.) And as a mom who loves to travel, I’ve been doing lots of research on items that aid families while on the road, in the air, or just…
This past week, the greater part of Europe was hit with “the beast from the East” – an unusual stratospheric phenomenon that brought arctic temperatures from Siberia’s polar north. As such, the continent experienced unseasonal bitter cold and some strange sights, like snow in London and Rome. Before the snow started falling in Zurich, however,…
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…
Another year in the books. Another year of great eats. As it has become a Global Heartbeat Travel tradition, I’m laying out my most memorable meals of 2017 so that you can keep these tasty bites in mind for your future travels. Bon appetite! HIKING THE ITALIAN COAST: FRESH CATCH IN CINQUE TERRE In the…
If you visit Switzerland during the Christmas season, you are likely to encounter a special cast of characters that very well may surprise you. With a history like Switzerland’s – where Catholic and Protestant beliefs have merged with German, French and Italian customs – today’s Swiss Christmas traditions are a rather unique mix. During your…
Without a doubt, the best part about Zurich in the wintertime is the magic that comes with the Christmas season. If you find yourself in this Swiss city from late-November through December, then make sure to check out these fantastic festivities! LIGHTS NAMED LUCY Christmas lights have bedazzled Bahnhofstrasse, one of the most expensive shopping…
Every October and November, families in Zurich ditch the massive orange squash many of us associate with Halloween in favor of another root vegetable: the turnip. Turnips – or räbe in Swiss German – are the stars of the autumn season… somewhat literally. In a century-old tradition, plain purple turnips are transformed into twinkling lanterns…
I have a confession to make: I am fascinated by the itsy bitsy nations of Europe, and I harbor a secret desire to visit all of them some day. Since I am currently a bit homebound while I care for my newborn daughter, I am mentally reliving some of my more recent travels. As such,…
The first chilly winds of fall signal Alpine communities that the time has come: it is time to bring the cows, goats, and sheep down from their high mountain meadows to their winter homes in the valleys below. This past weekend launched the first of a series of festivals all across Switzerland that celebrate the…
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.…
Zermatt is home to Switzerland’s most iconic mountain: The Matterhorn. With its croissant-shaped peak dramatically thrusting up into the sky, the mountain is absolutely magnetic. Visitors to Zermatt often let out a gasp of delight and awe when they catch their first glimpse of it. (Well, I certainly did!) Although I had visited Zermatt this…
Although I had no idea when I published Eating Through 2015, the meal I described in my last paragraph set the course for a wild and wonderful gastronomical journey through 2016: …I kicked off 2016 with an extremely memorable meal at Prato, thanks to a certain sous chef’s generosity and desire to treat our party with his favorite…
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…
After two years of living in Zurich, I’ve been to the Zurich Airport (ZRH) enough to have noted a few things that makes this flughafen a travel experience in its own right. If you ever find yourself flying in or out of Zurich, Switzerland, then keep your eyes peeled for these six things to add…
Lake Como has easily become a favorite getaway destination for the Swiss Family Domecks over the past couple of years. Folded into the mountains of the Lombardy region of Italy, this wishbone-shaped lake is what travel dreams are made of. With romantic villas dotting the shoreline and dramatic mountains rising from the sparkling blue waters,…
As you have scrolled through your social media feeds, I am guessing that you have come across at least one article touting the top cities and countries around the world. And if so, you may have noticed that Switzerland and Zurich are constantly at the top of the ranks for “Best in the World.” Why…
Undeniably one of the most splendid cities in the world, St. Petersburg is an endless buffet of visual magnificence. From sprawling palaces and romantic gardens to mesmerizing cathedrals and authoritative monuments, Russia’s second largest city is defined by an unparalleled grandeur. Even though my encounter with this Baltic beauty was a dazzling whirlwind of sightseeing,…
With our eyes on the horizon, Justin and I cruised our way through Scandinavia, Russia and the Baltic States earlier this month. We wanted survey the region before the Littlest Global Heartbeat arrives, and we booked a 10-day cruise with Royal Caribbean as part of our “Babymoon” adventure. We had a fantastic trip that turned…
Snowflakes rush past – an army of sugar-coated ants scurrying home in the wind. The scenery moves with them: Forests built on rocks; Rocks resting on sea – a sparkling body of cold energy, an ever-changing tapestry pulled across the loom of my horizon. Wooden cottages, painted deep red, trimmed with white appear in the…
When I give walking tours around town, people often ask me where to eat in Zurich. As a result, I have created a running list of my favorite restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, and I’ve organized them by area. Each has met or exceeded my expectations, and my top favorites are marked with a “♥” symbol. Since this list is ever…
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…
As I mentioned in my previous post, I recently discovered that boarding early to peacefully place my carry-on bag in the overhead bin is a major plus to flying when pregnant. But pregnancy has its special challenges that expecting moms may want to consider before boarding a plane. Here’s what I learned after taking 8…