A Memorable Day of Doing Nothing in Portsmouth, Virginia

After my tour of beautiful Norfolk, I was ready for round two of quaint American charm. The seaport town of Portsmouth, Virginia, is known for its antique shops, art galleries, and children's museum. Jen, Sebastian, and I visited Portsmouth and spent the day not visiting antique shops, art galleries, or children's museums. Instead, we ate German food and traipsed around in the rain with blue umbrellas. It was perfect.

Our jaunt to Portsmouth from Norfolk began with a ferry ride. That's worth the trip right there.

Peace and Quiet in Ocala, Florida

I'm a city girl at heart. I love the energy and possibilities of a big city and the anonymity that comes with being one of many on a busy street. Sometimes, though, I find it necessary to -- excuse the cheesy expression -- stop and smell the roses (I couldn't resist). Last year, a friend invited me to spend a weekend with the girls at her family's country home in Ocala, Florida, a 5-hour drive from my hometown of Miami. We strolled the grounds, chatted, played pool, ate cheese, drank wine, and lounged by the swimming pool. I wouldn't wish to live in a permanent state of tranquility, but I do value regularly making the time to do nothing at all. Below are a few snapshots of my bucolic weekend.

Fredericksburg: An All-American German Town

During my recent visit to Austin, Texas, I took a day trip to the charming town of Fredericksburg. When I arrived, all the Main Street-esque quaintness made me feel as though I were in a Disney version of small-town America. Thing is, Fredericksburg is actually quite German. It is called Fredericksburg, after all.

After my trip, I looked into the history behind this German settlement and found it fascinating. The Atlantic Times, an English-language German newspaper,  explains:

A Stroll Through Evora

Portugal is known for its many charming towns, so my friends and I were determined to visit a couple during our visit. Evora was a priority. Like Sintra, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an easy day trip from Lisbon. As soon as we arrived, we popped into the tourist office for a map of recommended sites, but we quickly realized that our time would be best spent by roaming around the town without much forethought. More than 2,000 years old, Evora feels like a walking history lesson. Beats the classroom, and this coming from a self-professed nerd who always sits at the front of the class.

Sintra: Chasing the Fairytale

Once upon a time, there was a quiet, enchanted town where castles and palaces sat atop wooded hills, beckoning visitors to enter and explore.

This was the image projecting in my mind when I headed to Sintra. I felt compelled to make the short day trip from Lisbon after reading and hearing so much about the town’s beautiful castles and stunning views. I had read words like “mythical” and “magical” used to describe the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a friend had told me that she’d felt like Cinderella there. Of course, reality is never quite like a fairytale. The castles are striking, and the views are impressive, but that uphill climb kills!