Weekend Getaway: Asheville Edition

On August 29, 2018 By wherekatieisIn North America, Travel, United States3 Comments

I’ve been wanting to start a new series where I talk about different places that are great for short weekend getaways (or even longer if you have the time), and I can’t think of a better city to start with than Asheville! If you haven’t been to this charming, artsy city in the mountains of North Carolina yet, you definitely need to check it out. And even if you’ve been quite a few times like I have, there is always something new to explore or a new restaurant to try, because let’s be real, the amazing foodie scene is one of my favorite things about Asheville!

snapseed-38 — Just look how happy Asheville (and good friends) make me!

Getting here:

If you live within a few hours of Asheville, driving here is well-worth it since no matter where you’re coming from, you’ll be driving through some beautiful mountain ranges.
If it’s too far of a drive for you, Asheville does have a regional airport (AVL) or you can fly into the much larger Charlotte Douglas international airport (CLT), and then drive the two hours from Charlotte into Asheville.

Where to stay:

Whether you want to stay right downtown, or a bit further out in the mountains, Asheville has tons of options for you. If you’re going to splurge on a luxury hotel, you can’t go wrong with The Grove Park Inn for it’s incredible views, spas, restaurants, and more. If you’re looking for a more affordable hotel, Hotel Indigo in downtown Asheville is very nice and in a very walkable location.
I also stayed in the most perfect Airbnb for my bachelorette weekend (thank to my fabulous bridesmaids!) in the mountains overlooking Asheville, but still no more than a ten minute drive to downtown. And this Airbnb also looks pretty great! If you’re going to book an Airbnb, make sure you use my discount code to save $40 off your first booking.
What a view from what I’ve dubbed the ‘most perfect Airbnb’ in Asheville.
If you’re on a budget, there are a decent number of hostels throughout Asheville like this one that have great reviews. And if you love a good old-fashioned bed and breakfast like I do, I’ve stayed at the Engadine Inn before and absolutely loved it! The breakfast was to-die-for, and they have cabins onsite as well.

What to do:

Now here’s the fun part, because there is SO much to do in this city! The downtown area is very walkable, and you can easily spend a day just walking through the charming boutiques and art galleries.
Make sure you visit the Grove Arcade, a really neat indoor and outdoor shopping center and market with such pretty architecture. I love the Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar here– because what could be better than browsing books with a glass of wine or champagne in hand?
I love exploring the Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville.
A visit to Asheville is not complete without walking through the River Arts District and checking out the different artists and their working galleries here, along the French Broad River. There are even art classes and special exhibits and openings that you can do, so see what’s going on while you’ll be visiting!
If you’re like me and could happily browse through cool antique shops for hours, then you need to check out Screen Door. It is full of treasures, and its incredible bookstore is one of my favorite bookstores ever!
I think it goes without saying that if you haven’t visited the Biltmore Estate before, you’ve got to visit at least once. It’s pricey, but the house, gardens, and grounds are so stunning that it’s completely worth it. I recommend purchasing the audio tour, especially if it’s your first visit, so that you can learn all of the history behind ‘America’s Largest Home’. Now through October 7, 2018, they also have Chihuly at Biltmore, with a collection of Dale Chihuly’s glass sculptures set up throughout the gardens, and after visiting other Chihuly exhibits before, I know it is incredible.
How neat is this display at the antique shop Screen Door?

Where to eat:

Now last, but certainly not least, we need to talk about the best places to eat and drink here, because honestly, you could plan your whole trip around the restaurants and breweries alone! Asheville has become such a foodie city, full of farm-to-table restaurants, cute bakeries, and wine bars galore.
My absolute favorite restaurant in Asheville is Posana, a farm-to-table restaurant open for dinner nightly, plus brunch on the weekends. It’s menu is seasonal and always delicious, but the best part about it for me in particular, is that everything on the menu is gluten free! The owner’s wife is celiac, so he wanted to create a fabulous dining experience where she could order anything off the menu, and being in the same boat as her, it is MUCH appreciated! My gluten-loving husband can also vouch for the fact that although all of the food is gluten free, it doesn’t taste gluten free.
A fried chicken biscuit with bacon and pimento cheese at Posana– all gluten free. I could hardly believe it!
The best spot for a southern breakfast is without a doubt, Biscuit Head. This Asheville classic was such an instant hit that they now have three locations in total! And I loved seeing that they now offer gluten free biscuits too. What makes them unique (besides their perfect biscuits) is the jam bar, where you can try everything from rosemary jam to banana fosters jam!
Asheville has quite a few breweries, with a favorite of mine being Lexington Ave Brewery (also known as Lab), which has great food in addition to their delicious beer. Wicked Weed Brewing also has a nice outdoor patio that is dog-friendly, and surprisingly good food for a brewery! Their sunburst trout is fantastic. And Sierra Nevada recently opened a taproom with tours and tastings just outside of Asheville that is fun to check out as well.
For a sweet treat, make sure you visit French Broad Chocolate Lounge, right in downtown Asheville, for incredible truffles in unique flavors like strawberry balsamic, plus cookies, cakes, and even Liquid Truffle sipping chocolate. This place makes me feel like I’ve died and gone to chocolate heaven!
Pretty sure chocolate is my love language.

Well there you have it! This is just a small sampling of all that Asheville has to offer, including some of my personal favorites. I love how unique and full of culture this city is, and it just keeps growing. Have you visited Asheville before, and do you love it here as much as I do? If you haven’t already, check out my recent travel tips on visiting beautiful Santorini, the charming island of Mykonos, and all of the history of Athens, Greece, and stay tuned for lots more fun stuff to come!

snapseed-25 — Enjoying the patio at Wicked Weed Brewing.

Seven Things You Can’t Miss in Santorini

On August 26, 2018August 26, 2018 By wherekatieisIn Europe, Greece, Travel4 Comments

So you’ve decided to visit the Greek island of Santorini (a great choice, by the way!), so now you need to know what you absolutely must see while you’re here! One thing that I love about Santorini is that while the island does have a lot of history, it’s just not the type of place where you’re going to spend a lot of time visiting museums and monuments. It’s more about being outside, enjoying the incredible views, wandering the winding streets, and soaking up the beautiful sunsets with a glass of wine in hand! If you haven’t already checked out my guide to getting started planning a trip to the Greek Isles, you can find that here. Enjoy!

One of my favorite things we did in Santorini was taking a catamaran boat cruise!

Take a catamaran cruise at sunset
- Catamaran cruising was by far one of the highlights of our weeklong stay in Santorini, and I can’t recommend it highly enough! The tours include pickup and drop off from your hotel, plus wine and beer, and what was honestly a gourmet seafood dinner, despite being prepared in the tiniest kitchen I’ve ever seen on our catamaran!
- We loved cruising around (with some white wine in hand!), seeing everything from the famous Red Beach, to the Venetian Lighthouse, to the White Beach, and the hot springs (which, just fyi, are not that hot!), and ended with a champagne toast while watching the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen. I would do another cruise just like this when visiting Santorini again someday!
  The prettiest sunset from our catamaran.
Visit the Akrotiri
- If you’re at all interested in history, you will find the story of the ancient Minoan civilization that was destroyed when the Theran volcano erupted on Santorini in the 1600s B.C. to be absolutely fascinating. It’s basically the Greek version of Pompeii!
- The Akrotiri excavation site itself doesn’t have a ton of signs to explain what was uncovered and how advanced this civilization was, so I recommend hiring one of the local historians who will be waiting outside the museum entrance to give you a guided tour. The guides will wait for ten people to join the tour, and for a group of ten, it will be 10 Euros per person, which I felt was well-worth it.
- Getting here by bus is easy, with buses leaving from both Fira and Oia. The Akrotiri bus stop lets you off right at the entrance to the museum, where you can purchase your tickets and find a tour guide.
  Exploring the Akrotiri excavation site.
Hike from Fira to Oia
- This was probably my favorite thing that I did overall in Santorini (even though it’s hard to choose!) and is definitely a must-do here! Make sure to start your hike in Fira, rather than Oia, because it’s less uphill hiking from Fira to Oia, rather than the other way around.
- It takes about three hours to do this 6.2 mile hike, since you’ll definitely be stopping to take tons of photos and soak in the incredible views. If you’re visiting during the summer, do this hike first thing in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the midday heat! You’ll work up a sweat but the experience is so worth it.
  Just one of the incredible views on the hike from Fira to Oia!
Do a wine tasting tour
- Booking a wine tasting tour like this one makes it easy and convenient to visit several different wineries in Santorini, since transportation is included and you’ll even have a sommelier as you guide to teach you all about the island’s different wines!
  Wine tasting perfection at Gaia Winery in Santorini.
- I didn’t know much about Santorini wines until I planned our trip here, but it’s dry, windy climate makes their wine-growing totally different from other places I’ve visited, like Tuscany or Napa Valley, so it’s fun to learn about. And most of the wineries here have incredible views, especially Santo Winery and Venetsanos Winery, so make sure you visit those even if they’re not part of your tour!
  These views (and the wine!) at Santo Winery are hard to top.
Get lost in the winding streets of Imerovigli
- We (quite literally) got lost in the steep, picturesque streets of Imerovigli on our way to dinner for our last night in Santorini, and the views we saw along the way made being late for our reservation completely worth it.
- I love having time built into my travel just to explore and get lost, because I end up finding some great things along the way, and this village is the perfect place to do just that.
  I’d get lost any day in a place like this.
Eat the best seafood of your life
- It’s not hard to find incredible food in Santorini, but one place that was recommended to us by a taxi driver in Athens that really wowed us, for the incredibly fresh fish of course, but also for the authenticity and the scenery, was The Dolphins in Akrotiri.
- This is the perfect lunch stop after visiting the Akrotiri excavation site in the morning, before heading to the Red Beach, all of which are walking distance from each other.
  It doesn’t get much better than this.
Watch the sunset from Fira or Oia
- The sunsets throughout Santorini were incredible, and while Oia is known as the best place to watch the sunset, I saw just as beautiful of sunsets in Fira, where we stayed, and with far fewer crowds.
  Lovely sunset views from the lookout point in Oia.
- Wherever you choose to take in the sun setting over the Aegean Sea, make sure you settle in at your restaurant of choice or find a good viewing point early on, as this is a very popular activity on the island.
  Loved these sunset views over the caldera in Fira, on our first night in Santorini.

Santorini certainly has a piece of my heart after spending a week here during my honeymoon adventure with my husband, Brian, and I’m betting it’ll have a piece of yours too after you visit! If you haven’t already, check out my guide on best things to do in Mykonos, in case you’re considering making that a stop on your trip to Greece too. Stay tuned for more tips to come, and as always, make sure you comment and tell me what you’d like to see next!

img_2108-1 — What a view from our terrace in Fira.

Visiting the Greek Island of Santorini

On August 11, 2018August 11, 2018 By wherekatieisIn Europe, Greece, Travel1 Comment

Santorini is hands-down one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Located in the Aegean Sea, this rocky island looks how it does today after an enormous volcanic eruption hundreds of years ago created its caldera. Home to incredible sunsets, fresh seafood galore, amazing wine, and endless stunning views, Santorini is a dream to visit!

On our hotel terrace in Fira, Santorini.

How to get here:
- If you’re coming from the US, you’ll typically fly through Athens first to get to Santorini, so if you’re looking for how to spend a day or two in Athens, you can find that here. From Athens, you can catch another flight to Santorini on Aegean Airlines or RyanAir, or take a high-speed ferry instead. If you choose to visit Mykonos first like I did here, there’s also a ferry that you can take from Mykonos to Santorini.

When to visit:
- Santorini is a popular summer destination for good reason, so I recommend avoiding most of the crowds by visiting before or after peak summertime.
- April or May are great times to visit, when the weather is still typically quite warm but the island is much quieter, as are mid-September to October.

Where to stay:
- Santorini has several towns that are located on the cliffs of the caldera, the most popular being Fira, Oia, and Imerovigli, that all have fantastic views, gorgeous sunsets, and plenty of charming streets and restaurants to enjoy. I suggest staying in one of these towns for easiest access to all of Santorini’s best sites and scenery.
- We stayed at the Cori Rigas Suites on the cliffside of Fira, and I can’t recommend the location, the service, the food, or the views highly enough!

I couldn’t have asked for a better view from our adorable hotel in Fira.

What to do:
- Hike from Fira to Oia:
  - My absolute favorite thing to do in Santorini is to hike from Fira to Oia, a 6.2 mile (or 10km) hike along the cliffside that has the most incredible views I’ve ever seen. It takes about 3 hours to do this hike with plenty of stopping to enjoy the scenery and take photos, which you’ll definitely want to do!
  - I highly recommend starting in Fira and hiking to Oia, (rather than starting in Oia), because it’s less uphill hiking this way. After your hike, you can take the bus back to Fira or Imerovigli, or wherever you are staying.
    This doesn’t do any justice to how stunning the views are while hiking from Fira to Oia!
- Do a wine tasting:
  - While planning our trip, I learned that Santorini’s dry climate makes it perfect for wine making. Vinsanto is a dessert wine that is unique to the area, so we actually brought a bottle home to open on our ten year anniversary!
    It’s hard to beat views like this while wine tasting!
  - Taking a winery tour like this one is the most convenient (and safest!) way to visit a few of the wineries, where you can enjoy incredible views and try a variety of different red and white wines. Make sure you make a reservation for Santo Winery if it’s not included in your tour. Their views and their wines just cannot be beat!
    Enjoying all the yummy wine at Santo Winery.
- Take a sunset catamaran tour:
  - Another highlight of my time in Santorini was a sunset catamaran cruise that took us everywhere from the famous Red Beach, the White Beach, the Venetian lighthouse, and the natural hot springs.
  - A cruise like this one typically include dinner, and despite being prepared in a tiny kitchen plus on the catamaran’s barbecue, our seafood dinner here was one of our best meals in Santorini! Add in some wine and beer, plus champagne during sunset, and it was an amazing time.
    Such a lovely sunset from our catamaran cruise.

Santorini was definitely my favorite destination of our two weeks traveling throughout Greece, and I hope these tips help get you started on having an incredible time here! Have you been dreaming of visiting Santorini, or have you already visited this beautiful island? Let me know in the comments and leave any questions that you have for me!

Santorini almost had me quitting my job so I could stay on this island forever. We’ll definitely be back again for another visit!

How to spend 48 hours in Athens

On August 7, 2018August 8, 2018 By wherekatieisIn Europe, Greece, Travel

When you’re heading to the Greek Isles, you’re probably going to be flying through Athens first, so you might as well make the most of it! If you haven’t checked out my first post yet on how to start planning a trip to Greece, you can find that here. I recommend giving yourself at least 48 hours in Athens to recover from your jet lag, visit the Acropolis, and even take a day trip to a few of the smaller neighboring islands. Here’s what I suggest:

Arrival to Athens:
- It will likely be afternoon or early evening by the time you arrive in Athens, especially if you’re flying from the US or anywhere else outside of Europe. Check into your hotel, like the Philippos Hotel Athens , that is centrally located in easy walking distance from the Acropolis, and start exploring! Wander through the Plaka, the oldest neighborhood in Athens, and enjoy some chicken souvlaki for dinner and maybe even some frozen Greek yogurt for dessert.
- After this, you’ll probably be exhausted and ready for bed after a long day of travel. Rest up so you can get an early start for your day tomorrow!
  View of the Acropolis from the lovely Philippos Hotel Athens.

Day One:
- Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then get an early start to see the historic sights of Athens. It’s nice to do a guided tour that can show you around the Acropolis and point out details about the Parthenon that you wouldn’t have otherwise known.
- After you hike up to the Acropolis and explore its stunning historical sights, visit the adjacent Acropolis Museum to see artifacts from the Greek Bronze Age through Byzantine Greece.
- Since you’ll likely have only gotten a small taste of the Plaka on your first night here, wander through more of these cobblestone streets, discovering everything from handmade jewelry shops, to outdoor cafes, to archeological sites. You could spend days exploring here, and you’ll be sure to find a spot for dinner with great people-watching, one of my favorite things to do in a city.

snapseed-18 — Exploring the Acropolis, which dates back to the 400s B.C.

Day 2: On your second day in Athens, you’ll head out on a day-long cruise to the nearby islands of Hydra, Aegina, and Poros. This is a great way to see several of the smaller islands while relaxing on the sea and enjoying lovely views.
- Your first stop is Hydra, a historic island that to this day does not allow cars or motorcycles.
- - Do as the locals do and explore this small island by foot or even by donkey! Where else will you find donkeys and horses carrying bottled water and other supplies to cafes and restaurants?

snapseed-20 — When in Hydra, do as the locals do and ride a donkey!

- Next, you’ll visit Poros, an island in the southern part of the Saronic Gulf.
- - Make the most of the scenery here by climbing to the top of the clock tower hill to enjoy the lovely views.

snapseed-21 — Enjoying the beautiful views from the hilltop of Poros.

- Last but not least, you’ll visit Aegina, my favorite of these three small islands.
- - Stroll along the port of Aegina, check out the adorable small shops and fruit stands here, and take in the seaside views. I loved sitting at an outdoor cafe and enjoying some cocktails while watching ships go in and out of the port. Pretty much perfection in my book!

snapseed-19 — How cute is the island of Aegina? I loved it here.

I hope this 48-hour guide to Athens is helpful for you! I had heard that we shouldn’t spend any time at all here, but I wholeheartedly disagree and found that this city has so much to offer. Have you been to Greece yet, and if not, is it on your bucket list?

snapseed-22

Five Must-Dos in Mykonos

On August 5, 2018August 5, 2018 By wherekatieisIn Europe, Greece, Travel1 Comment

Mykonos is one of the more popular Greek Islands to visit, and with good reason. It’s small enough that you can certainly get a feel for it in a few days, with plenty to explore, great places to relax, and delicious food to eat. I spent four nights here as part of my two week honeymoon to Greece last year, and both my husband and I absolutely loved the scenery and atmosphere that Mykonos provides. Here are five must-dos while you visit this beautiful island!

snapseed-10 — A lovely view of Mykonos from our hotel terrace.

Watch the sunset in Little Venice:
- Sunsets in Mykonos are pretty spectacular, and one of the best places to take one in is a corner of Mykonos Town called Little Venice. It’s an 18th century district with colorful balconies perched right over the sea, with plenty of cafes and restaurants while you can enjoy fresh fish and other authentic Greek food while watching sun set over the blue Aegean Sea.
Get lost in Mykonos Town:
- My favorite thing to do in Mykonos is to simply get lost in the winding cobblestone streets of Mykonos Town. Around every corner, you’ll find small shops and restaurants, each lovelier than the last, and whitewashed buildings with blue trim, accented by blooming pink bougainvillea flowers. I never got tired of exploring these adorable streets!
  The colors of Mykonos are my favorite.
Relax on the beach:
- A visit to the island of Mykonos isn’t complete without enjoying some of its many beaches. Paradise, Super Paradise, and Elia are some of the more popular beaches with sandy shores and bright blue water, all accessible from Mykonos Town by bus or taxi.
Visit the famous windmills:
- Mykonos is home to over a dozen 16th century windmills, with seven of them on a prominent hill overlooking Mykonos Town. They are iconic feature of Mykonos, and one of them has even been converted into a museum.
  A gorgeous Mykonos sunset with the windmills in the background.
Take in the nightlife:
- While I enjoyed Mykonos more for its relaxing nature rather than its wild nightlife, I can’t finish this list without mentioning what Mykonos is widely known for. There are plenty of bars and clubs scattered throughout Mykonos Town, so if you’re looking for a night one, you won’t be disappointed!

Stay tuned for more tips on visiting Athens and the Greek Isles, including day by day itineraries, and more! Is visiting Greece on your bucket list?

snapseed-13 — Looking out over Little Venice in Mykonos Town.