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The Hidden Yucatán: Mayan Wonders, Quiet Beaches & Local Gems

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Anything I have chosen to add on post-trip, I will put in bold.

Tips, tricks, hacks, and big expenses for this entire trip are all listed on the bottom

Watch my Yucatan Peninsula TikTok linked above!

Friday, April 3  

  • Arrive at Dulles at 1:30pm (park car and getting to the correct terminal)
  • Flight departs at 4:50pm from Dulles, arrive in Mexico City at 7:55pm
  • Dinner spots
    • Modelo Cocina Urbana ($10-$20)
    • Many other options, but this one looks like the best ^
  • Stay in airport Pods this Friday night
    • It is on the ground floor, near the bus terminal. (ask staff for directions if need be)
    • Our flight got delayed until the following morning a few months before the trip, so we had to improvise and buy airport pods to get some sleep. We debated going into Mexico City, but with only a 12 hour layover going through the middle of the night, we would essentially be going through a huge hassle just to sleep in Mexico City. This was also around the time when cartel activity was on the rise, and we did not want to put our wives at risk!
    • The pods were located right outside of baggage claim where the bus terminal was located (out and to the right) Once arriving at the bus terminal, we simply walked up some stairs, and arrived at the pods. If you get confused just plug it into Google Maps!
    • The pods were honestly super cool and futuristic. I did not get the best of sleep that night, but they were not claustrophobic, had a good fan to keep me from getting hot, and the they did a phenomenal job keeping the bathrooms clean at all times. 
    • We booked it through booking.com, and everything went smoothly:

Saturday, April 4 

  • Flight departs at 8:20am
  • Arrive in Merida around 10:20am
  • TAKE TAXI FROM AIRPORT TO AIRBNB
    • $180 – $200 pesos ($10)
    • Can use credit card. WITH CREDIT CARDS, Always select “MXN” (Pesos) on payment terminals to avoid poor exchange rates.
    • Uber can be used around the city, but could get a fine for taking an uber at the airport
  • Airbnb
  • https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/667212205533692134?check_in=2026-04-03&check_out=2026-04-04&guests=1&adults=4&s=67&unique_share_id=569bcd4a-71b5-4ffb-a394-dc10dbdd79b4 ($46 per couple per night)
    • InDrive is a very safe and recommended transportation app that is much cheaper than uber! (HOWEVER IT IS MAINLY JUST CASH, try and use uber to save cash)
    • Once arriving, find an ATM!!!
      • Bank-affiliated ATMs (for example, those operated by major institutions like BBVA, Santander, Scotiabank, Banorte, HSBC or Citibanamex) are generally safer and more reliable than free-standing machines or those in remote spots (BBVA is expensive)
        • Cajero Banamex, C. 63 506j, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico (IN PLAZA GRANDE)
        • 6 clean machines, in a safe spot, from a reputable bank (only charges $1.50 as well
          • Always choose to withdraw in pesos to avoid poor exchange rates. DO NOT ACCEPT CONVERSION RATES. Again, always decline (declinar/rechazar) the currency conversion offered on screen. Select the option to be charged in Mexican Pesos (MXN) to ensure your home bank handles the exchange rate
          • BEGIN by entering 10,000 pesos, then accept conversion fee ($1.50), then decline conversion rate and receive pesos! Our bank at home will give us a better rate and save us $75 to $100!!!!
          • Andrew and I will both bring backpacks to put our excess money in. Keep it locked away and always keep bags on us.
  • Merida!!!
    • Plaza Grande
    • Rent bicycles to get around!
    • Catedral De San ILdefonso
    • Lucas De Galvez
      • Most popular market in Merida with traditional local cuisine
      • Try the famous Coinita Pibil Sandwich 
    • Montejo’s home (oldest building in the city)
    • Paseo Montejo – street with historic mansions 
    • Monumento De La Patria
    • Plaza Las Américas (MALL WITH 4dx movie theater!!!)
      • Restaurants:
        • The Italian Coffee Centro
        • Chilakilez – delicious nacho looking entrees
        • Manjar Blanco – Traditional Yucatan dishes… Beautiful ambiance, food looks interesting
        • Calle 47 – street with higher end restaurants 
        • Try and find restaurants off the beaten path a bit, way cheaper and same quality if not better food. Taquerias and los chupas
        • La Chaya Maya – Must go!!!
        • Try out local markets
        • Massage at: Boho Spa Calle 60 ($39 each)
    • GOOGLE MAPS PLAN FOR EXPLORING MERIDA
      • https://maps.app.goo.gl/9a9Z5og2QsaAEFSa7
      • We spent this day following the route I designed and then relaxing back at our Airbnb pool that night. For dinner, we went to a completely authentic and local restaurant right around the corner from our house. We all agreed this was one of the best dinner spots of the entire trip. The food was phenomenal. Some of the best guac we have ever had in our lives, and the seafood was fresh and had so much flavor! They did not speak a lick of English here, but that made the experience more fun in my opinion! To top it off, they had live music! Such a great welcome on our first night to this beautiful part of the country.
      • The restaurant was called:  Bar La Ruina (Calle 69 Por 70 y 72 #570, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico)
      • ALWAYS USE GOOGLE MAPS WHEN LOOKING FOR WHERE TO EAT. They will steer you clear from overpriced tourist-traps. This is how we found this gem of a spot.
    • Optional day trip:
      • CENOTE MANÍ-CHAN (1 hour away)

Sunday, April 5 

  • Continue to explore Merida!
  • Today was a built-in “explore” day. Sometimes I can get quite punctual, and so I left this as a day to do whatever we wanted in the city. We ended up heading back into the town square and shopped around at the pop up market they were having in the town square. The girls looked at all of the local dresses, while I was finding a bunch of name-brand clothes that were 1/10 of the cost of US prices! We tried a lot of their local foods and fun snacks that the locals made on their little carts. There was a concert happening in the square with people dancing and singing that we stopped at. We simply went wherever we wanted, and it was great. The previous day we had explored Paseo De Montejo, and had found a BOUJEE restaurant that we wanted to go to. So that night we dressed up and balled out. For “balling out” our bill was still under $70! This place was unreal. We were eating in a mansion with secret bathrooms hidden behind bookshelves. They even had a balcony spot for guests to eat, and afterward we were able to go to the very top of the building and see the beautiful Paseo De Montejo and city of Merida from a better viewpoint. Another must visit dinner spot
  • Dinner spot name and address: Yerba Santa Merida (P.º de Montejo 473, Zona Paseo Montejo, Zona, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico)

Monday, April 6 

  • Wake up around 6am, get ready!
  • It is legal to uber TO the airport, so book an uber! 
  • Leave around 6:30am and arrive at 7am
  • Pick up rental car from airport (C 32 306 Aeropuerto Int, Manuel Crescencio Rejón, 97288 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico),
  • Leave from rental car location around 7:30/8am, and head towards Pig Beach in Yucalpetén (50 min drive)(SEE IF AIR B AND B WOULD LET US DROP OFF STUFF EARLY)
    • While on the way stop at Hacienda Xcanatún (Boujee Coffee / Lunch Stop) (30 min from airport which means we would get here around 8:30am. Get breakfast!
    • CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE ENOUGH. The food was excellent, and the property was even better. The architecture mixed with the colors on the buildings were stunning. There was wildlife all throughout the property mixed with infinity pools and jungle villas.
    • Leave at 9:30am and drive to Cenote Xlacah (15 min away)
      • Arrive at 9:45am
      • CANNOT SWIM AT THIS ONE
      • It is $10-$15 per person (if we are wanting to be frugal, skip. However, it is a very cool site
      • The cenote was kind of cool… We thought the Mayan ruins were definitely the better part of the spot. This cenote just happened to be on our route so we stopped, but I would not recommend going out of your way to see this
      • Leave around 10:30am
      • Arrive at the Pig Beach at 11am (30 min drive)
  • Once at the Pig Beach:
    • There is free parking here
    • Hang out with miniature pigs on the beach!!! 
    • The pigs get released from their little hut at noon to walk the beach!
    • The pigs were just temporary, and they had stopped doing this by the time we visited Mexico sadly. 
    • There was free public beach access, or you could pay $2 each for a private beach with hammocks and a bunch of other amnetinites. Definitely worth it!
    • Our Air B & B is just 2 min away from this beach
  • Once done at the beach, walk around to find a local beach restaurant for lunch in the cozy beach town of Chelem (Chelem is a quiet, rustic fishing village favored by people seeking tranquility, while Progreso is a larger, bustling port city with a lively boardwalk (malecón), numerous restaurants, and cruise ship traffic. Both towns are hidden gems in terms of authentic experiences in my opinion
  • Local restaurant spots:
    • Coastal Café Chelem! Convenient lunch option for $5-$10 each! Great reviews.
      • ONE OF MY FAVORITE SPOTS. I feel like I have been saying this for all the restaurants, but they were all so good. This spot was the best seafood I had the entire trip. So fresh and juicy! Great prices as well!
    • Molusk FOR DINNER!!! Insanely boujee dinner spot right on the beach that offers crazy seafood platters and other entrees… We ended up thinking this spot was a bit overpriced. I thought the food was great (per usual), but for being a lowkey beach town, the price seemed to be too high.
  • Check into Air B & B at 3pm (or whenever it allows us to) to drop off luggage.
  • DO LAUNDRY HERE!!! This is our one Airbnb with a washer. Will have to use the drying rack as well. We should run a cycle right at check in so it has time to dry
    • https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/923541?check_in=2026-04-06&check_out=2026-04-07&guests=1&adults=4&s=67&unique_share_id=f355b433-a835-4531-b456-cb19df067f11 ($44.50 per couple)
    • This place was super cool… However, the person before us had gotten very drunk and thrown up in this room… So for the day/night we were there, the only thing we could smell was straight vomit! This Airbnb was a shared one with multiple different rooms, and all of the people we met were super nice. It was also right on the beach, and had roof access where we could watch the sunset/look at the stars. My wife and I ended up getting a massage here as well. The lady was so nice and did a fantastic job! They actually came to our accommodation, and we met on the beach. We got a massage, on the beach, as the sun was setting, for under $40 each! What was funny was that after we finished, all of the people renting the other beach side houses wanted to get one and were asking for her availability on other days! It pays to do your research!
    • The company was called: Spa Vianny Mendoza terapeuta 
  • Enjoy the sunset on the beach, play some cards at night, aim to pass out around 9pm.

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Northeast Weekend: Maximum Miles


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Click the link above to view my Northeast trip!

Wednesday 8/16

  • Leave home at 2:30pm Wednesday after work
  • Drive through both DC and Delaware (been to both places so no need to stop for this road-trip)
  • Arrive in Philly at 9pm and stop for cheese steaks!
  • Dalessandro’s Steaks (close at 10pm on weeknights)
    • BEST PHILLY CHEESE STEAKS IN THE COUNTRY!!!
  • Arrive at Liberty State Park, NJ around 12:00am
    • Offers beautiful view of NY skyline along with the statue of liberty. Closes at
  • 10pm. Will have to park car outside of park and then walk in. (we just did street parking nearby for free)
  • Drive into/through Times Square on the way North! (45 min from State Park)
    • Arrive around 1:30am
  • Finish out the long night of driving and get to Air B & B in Greenwich, CT (just beyond an hour away, so arrive around 2:30am)

Thursday 8/17

  • Leave NJ and begin drive further North at 7:30am
  • Arrive in New Haven Connecticut around 10:30am
    • Silver Sands State Park
      • Jump in the ocean for a morning swim!
      • Go here first as it is on the way to New Haven
    • Yale University
      • Walk around and explore the campus
      • I remember being underwhelmed… Used to grow up hearing how prestigious Yale was and assumed the facilities would be state of the art…
    • East Rock Park
      • We ended up driving by it and looking at the view but not actually hiking anything
    • Poppy’s Coffee + Kitchen
      • Super good food and coffee!
    • Not a ton to do here in New Haven
  • Leave New Haven at 1pm for Hartford, arrive at 1:45pm
    • State Capitol
    • Bushnell Park
      • America’s first publicly funded park (est. 1854)
      • Beautiful open green space in the heart of downtown Hartford
      • Peaceful walking paths and tree-lined lawns
      • Lots of monuments throughout!
      • Statue of Israel Putnam
        • Historic Revolutionary War monument located in Bushnell Park
    • Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch
      • Look at the view of Hartford from the top of it and walk through the tunnels/stairs inside of it!
    • 1914 carousel
      • Built in 1914, over 100 years old
      • One of the oldest surviving Stein & Goldstein carousels in the U.S.
    • Hartford was one of the first real cities we got to explore on our Northeastern road trip, so we were very excited! It was an extremely clean city with a lot of cool monuments and murals. Never felt unsafe the whole time! The only downside I would say was a lack of people, it felt like we were kind of the only people in the city.
  • Leave Hartford at 3:15pm and arrive in Newport, RI at 5

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Out West: Sunrises, Switchbacks & Salt Flats

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GET OIL CHANGE AND GROCERIES FOR SNACKS BEFOREHAND

Friday, March 29th

  • Begin drive at 10am. It takes about 23 hours to make it into Denver including time change. Make sure to get some good sleep because we will be driving through the night!

Saturday, March 30th

  • Arrive in Denver, CO at 11am (allowing time for stops). 
  • We ended up only adding one hour of stoppage time. We were flying. Because of this plus getting two hours back, we got into Denver at 8am
  • Get breakfast at Sam’s No. 3 in downtown Denver! Old breakfast diner with great food! The food was phenomenal, especially after just having fast food and snacks for 24 straight hours.
  • Walk around downtown!
  • I would only go to specific spots if I were to go downtown again. We went during a time when there was a lot of construction, which is probably done by now. However, the homeless population was through the roof, and it did not feel very safe just wandering around and “exploring”.
  • Go to Boulder, CO!
  • Pearl Street Mall – Pedestrian shopping district with street performers
    • THIS IS THE MAIN STREET TO GO DOWN, spend all our time walking down this street and we will have plenty to do
  • Browse local boutiques, bookstores, and outdoor gear shops
  • Stop for coffee at one of the many cozy cafés
    • The Laughing Goat
  • Catch live music or a small performance downtown
  • Visit the Boulder Theater for concerts and events
  • If you have energy for hikes:
    • Hike the Flatirons – Iconic red rock formations with trails for all levels
    • Chautauqua Park – Scenic starting point for hikes + picnic views
    • Boulder Creek Path – Walk, bike, or tube along the creek
    • Mount Sanitas Trail – Short but steep hike with rewarding views
    • Eldorado Canyon State Park – Climbing, hiking, dramatic canyon scenery
    • Sunrise at NCAR Trailhead – Panoramic overlook above town
    • We were not in the mood to hike so we just tried food from little coffee shops and burger stands and explored the town! There were musicians out on multiple street corners playing their music and everyone was out shopping on the sunny day. Boulder was BEAUTIFUL! This was such a cool suburban town that gave us a gorgeous view of the Rocky Mountains. I definitely recommend exploring this area and getting food around here.
  • Head back towards Air B & B near Denver, and stop for the sunset at City Park, Denver (view of skyline, mountains, and sunset)
  • Sunset in Denver on this day is 7:22 pm
  • Go to bed at 8pm after being up two days in a row with no sleep!
  • AIR B AND B ($94 for one night)
  • https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/12093226?viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76

Sunday, March 31st

  • Wake up around 4:30am and leave asap! I want to maximize sleep time but also want good spots for our Easter Service. Gates open at 4:45am, with musical prelude at 5:30am and the service starting at 6am
  • Easter service at Red Rocks Amphitheatre!
    • Listen to a message and worship as the sun is rising over the Denver city skyline!!!
    • We thought this was such a cool experience. It was a FREE way to experience a concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. It also was a way for Claire and I to celebrate Jesus rising from the dead!!! The “Blood Brothers” was the band that did the worship, and they played a ton of early 2000s Christian music which brought Claire and I back to our childhoods! The sunrise was so beautiful as it hit the Rocky Mountains from the side and behind us. Wear lots of layers because it will be cold! Also, make sure to get there when the gates open like we did to get good spots (not only at the service but for parking, thousands come to this event).
  • Leave for IRON MOUNTAIN hot springs around 7 am (service ends at 7:30, so we will have to leave a little early)
    • 2 hour and 30 min drive (Arrive 30 min early) (Tickets in email)
    • As you are driving on I-70, enjoy the beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains
    • Address: 281 Centennial St, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
    • Hot springs 10 am to 1 pm
    • $43 each
    • What is it?
      • A mineral hot springs resort near Idaho Springs, Colorado
      • Dozens of individual soaking pools with varying temperatures
      • Beautiful mountain and creek views
      • Each individual soaking pool represents a different country in terms of the minerals and temperature in the water. For example, they have a “Dead Sea Pool” which has a ton of sodium (salt) in the water. This made it so we were almost completely buoyant and could float in it. Because each pool had a different set of minerals, they all offered different benefits! I recommend getting the pass that gives you access to all 31 hot springs, but there is no need for a whole day there. We reserved the three hour soak time and it was the perfect amount of time.
  • Leave for Arches National Park (3-hour drive to Moab)
  • Arrive around 4/4:15 (Eat at cool local town Moab)
    • We decided to go to the “Moab Food Truck Park” and got some delicious gyros for about $10 each
    • Parking was not too hard to find along the streets
  • 30 min drive to Delicate Arch so leave for it by 5:30
  • No reservation needed in Arches National Park after 4 pm!!
  • Start hike at 6, get to top at 7, Sunset at 7:52 pm
  • Drive near Salt Lake City (4 bour drive)
  • Leave Delicate Arch around 8:30, and arrive near Salt Lake City around 12:30am
    • We hit a HORRIBLE blizzard during this part of the drive cutting through the mountains. It randomly hit us as Claire was driving, and she is not as used to driving in the snow, but bodied it and we got through all the steep grades. Make sure to tap your brakes going down steep grades with and without snowfall!
  • Air B and B near South Jordan UT (https://www.airbnb.com/l/jpZdyKwt)($70)
  • Will not have time to explore Salt Lake City

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Iceland: Land of Fire & Ice

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All post-trip commentary will be in bold!

ICELAND VIA RING ROAD

Click the icons above to see the first and second half of our trip to Iceland!

Smart to get some currency (króna), but most places take cards here! The more remote places you go, the more likely you will need cash. We brought $100 each, and that was more than enough.

March 12th:

  • Depart JFK 7:25pm

March 13th

  • Arrive KEF 6:05am
    • Right at sunrise!
  • Take shuttle to rental car spot
    • Once you get through customs and enter the arrivals hall you will see a sign for Car Rental Shuttle Service and the logo for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Take the shuttle to the car rental center where Enterprise will be the fourth stop on the route.
      • Shuttle service: Skutluþjónusta
      • Car rental: Bílaleiga
    • Reservation already booked with full coverage (Ring Road can be unpredictable, especially in the winter)
  • I am from Minnesota, and the first time feeling the Icelandic air at 6am during their winter season was brutal. No MN winters could prepare me for this. However, the shuttle was only a few minutes outside of the airport doors. Once there, the shuttle picked us up and brought us right to the rental cars! Make sure you read the signs as listed above so you are in the correct spot to get shuttled to the rental car area.
  • Begin drive to Reykjavik (45 min East)
  • BLUE LAGOON – The Blue Lagoon would technically be considered on the way to Reykjavik. IF YOU WANT A REAL AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE SKIP THIS. It is overpriced and not a true local hot spring. If you want the classic tourist experience go for it, but if you want the real deal Icelandic experience, go to the hot springs we went to in Akureyri later on this trip.
  • Arrive around 8am and explore Reykjavik!
    • Hallgrímskirkja – Iconic church; take the elevator for city views for $10-$12. We ended up looking at it from the outside, but wanted to save some money and skipped going in!
    • Sun Voyager (Sólfar) – Quick, scenic photo stop by the water.
    • Harpa Concert Hall – Striking glass architecture
    • Old Harbour – Walk the waterfront, cafés, whale tour departures (will not have time to do any whale tours)
    • Perlan – Observation deck + interactive Iceland exhibits. $40-$50 each… We ended up skipping this as well. The point of going to Iceland is to see the unforgiving nature in all its beauty… Not to see a fake exhibit of what it looks like. We wanted to see it in person!!
    • Food!!!
      • Sandholt
        • Phenomenal bakery with very reasonable prices (food can be pricey in Iceland due to high import costs) (it will be expensive if you get entrees, we fueled up on just carbs and it was about $5-$10 each).
        • I am not going to lie to you guys, our goal was not to come to Iceland for the food. If you are going to Iceland for that, you picked the wrong country. With limited local agriculture, the food is extremely mid, and as mentioned before, super expensive. With that being said, I will not be recommending on a ton of restaurants on this itinerary.
        • GET GAS STATION HOT DOGS!!!
          • An absolute classic in Iceland, and extremely affordable
          • They are made from a blend of lamb, pork, and beef, and they are typically ordered “eina með öllu” (one with everything, although you do not need to pick this). “eina með öllu” features ketchup, sweet brown mustard, remoulade, and both raw and crispy fried onions. 
        • Load up on groceries at “Bonus” (grocery store with a big pig as the logo)! They have these all over Iceland, and we saved a lot of money getting out food from them. Super fun trying out different foods and brands. One thing we noticed is that pretty much all of the energy drinks didn’t go above 100mg of caffeine. 
  • Begin the real adventure and see what the hype of Iceland is all about! The Ring Road technically begins here in the capital of Iceland. Leave around 10am.
    • If your goal is to see nature in Iceland (which should be everyones…), you do not need much more than a day here in the capital. We only spent a few hours and definitely could have stayed longer, but we were itching to get out and adventure.
  • First official stop: Troll Waterfalls (Fossatún)(Right next to the Fossatun Rock N Troll Bistro and Cafe) (had some cool souvenirs/gifts that we bought here) 1 hour and 15 min from Reykjavik. Arrive around 11:30am with adding in other scenic lookouts along the way.
    • Right before is a super cool road that reminds me of The iconic longboarding road from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (the real one is in Eastern Iceland). We took some cool pictures here. Right after the waterfalls there are some really cool Icelandic horses as well! Just follow the linked google maps itinerary at the bottom of the page to hit all these spots! Essentially we are just following the Ring Road, but have some different spots hit/missed just as anyone decides when planning their trip!
  • Leave around noon (quick stop) and head to the Barnafoss and Hraunfossar waterfalls (same location). It is just 30 minutes away! Arrive around 12:30pm
  • Barnafoss and Hraunfossar waterfalls
    • Hraunfossar (“Lava Falls”) and Barnafoss (“Children’s Falls”) sit right next to each other in West Iceland’s Borgarfjörður region and are super easy to visit from the same parking lot. The whole hiking loop is about half a mile. Hraunfossar is a long stretch of small waterfalls that seem to pour straight out of the lava field, while Barnafoss, just a short walk away, is fast-moving, bright blue, and incredibly powerful as it rushes through a narrow gorge. 
    • Should spend at most an hour here. Leave around 1:30pm to head towards Snæfellsjökull National Park.
      Explore the National Park – Snæfellsjökull Glacier & Volcano
    • Most Western tip of the island!
    • The iconic glacier-topped volcano that crowns the park
    • Incredible views from down below (guided hike optional)
    • Mythical setting (featured in Journey to the Center of the Earth)
  • BELOW I WILL LIST THE PLACES TO HIT IN ORDER!! Again, the google maps itinerary will be attached at the bottom, but make sure you hit these spots one after the other. We have worked our way North on the Ring Road, and now will begin going to the Western-most point of the island, before going East. The Ring Road simply circles the whole island! The National Park is very big, so we planned out one stop at a time to make sure we saw everything!
  • Head to Bjarnarfoss on the way to Snæfellsjökull National Park – 2 hour drive, arrive around 3:30pm/4pm
  • Bjarnarfoss
    • Just under a mile out and back hike to get to the viewpoint of this stunning waterfall!!
    • Moderate/easy hike. Can be slightly more challenging simply from the steep incline throughout most of the hike. Should take 45 min.
    • We, being college boys, decided to go a bit further than the lookout spot… As you are aware it was the winter time. We made our way up about 50 yards from it, and as we took a few pictures, the frozen ice on the waterfall began to break off causing a mini avalanche!! We started sprinting down the mountain and got behind a big boulder as the large ice chunks flew down the hill… First day here and we almost died. Again, the nature is extremely unforgiving here. It adds to the beauty of the country, but don’t be stupid like us. Below is a picture of us as the avalanche began, with us all smiles and no clue what just happened behind us.
  • Búðakirkja, 356 Búðir, Iceland 5 min from waterfall
    • Iconic black church
  • Stop at Snæfellsjökull View Point – 5 min from church and a nice view of the glacier & volcano (will get a better view later)
  • I WISH WE STOPPED HERE BUT WE NEVER DID: Arnarstapi & Gatklettur Arch
    • Super cool arches with dramatic views of the ocean behind it. The Gatklettur Arch you can actually walk over if you are not scared of heights (right in between black church and Londrangar)
  • Lóndrangar – 20 min drive from the little beach stop, arrive around 5:45pm
    • Twin basalt rock pillars rising from the sea
    • Crazy rock formation with a gorgeous view of the ocean!
    • Malarrif lighthouse in the same area!
    • We found a cool swing in this area as well!
  • Djúpalónssandur Black Sand Beach – Keep heading West another 5 min and then arrive here around 6:15pm
    • Black pebble beach!
    • Rusted shipwreck remnants
    • You can see the famous volcano and glacier from the beach as well! (you can pretty much see it from everywhere around the peninsula it is so high up!)
    • The view is pretty from here… but I do not think that is the correct word for it. The terrain is rugged and the weather is unforgiving, the views are breathtaking all throughout Iceland in that type of way. 
    • You will want to spend plenty of time exploring this spot! It is so cool.
    • Perfect spot for a cold plunge which is what we ended up doing! 
  • Leave around 6:45
  • Svörtuloft Lighthouse – 30 min drive, arrive at sunset!
    • Gorgeous bright orange lighthouse parched 
    • The lighthouse sits on the westernmost cliffs of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, dramatically perched above the North Atlantic
    • One of the most breathtaking moments of the whole trip
    • Cliffs reminded me a lot of the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland
    • We also saw a ton of cool seabirds! At the time we thought they were penguins… Kind of wish we never looked it up… Ignorance is bliss
  • Sunset is at 7:22pm
  • Drive to Hostel! (25 min drive, arrive around 8pm)
  • Freezer Hostel (26 euros per person per night)

March 14th

  • Wake up around 8am – Make breakfast from groceries bought yesterday 
  • Leave hostel by 9am
  • Begin driving to Kirkjufell – 25 min drive – arrive around 9:30am
    • Distinctly shaped mountain with waterfalls pooling into a river below
    • Super cool spot, no real hike required!
  • Stykkisholmur Shipwreck – 55 min drive from Kirkjufell – arrive around 11am
    • a Dutch-built (1925) steel fishing trawler that crashed in 1980
    • Fascinating view. We ran through a marshy area to get a closer look at it because it is pretty far away from the road.
  •  Head further East – Drive to hvitserkur rock (Hvitserkur, 711, Iceland), it is 2 hours and 15 min away. Arrive around 2pm
    • A 49-foot basalt sea stack in Vatnsnes Peninsula, one of Iceland’s most striking rock formations. 
  • During this 2 hour drive we hit a brutal snow storm that had us stressed out just a bit. Driving around icelandic fjords with low visibility is kind of a recipe for disaster. Thankfully, we had a driver born and raised in Minnesota and bodied the drive. We ended up arriving and departing much later than the time listed.
  • Leave around 2:30pm (if you have not noticed already, if you are not planning a guided hike, you will not stay long at a lot of these scenic spots. Most of them you can just drive right up to the main part and enjoy the view!)
  • Drive to Saudarkrokur (A town a bit East of our Air B & B) (1.5 hour drive) Arrive at 4pm.
    • Grettislaug (hot springs)
    • Take a ferry to Drangey island (PUFFINS)
    • Explore town and the museums in it
      • A TON of viking history!
  • The snow storm slowed our drive down so much that we ended up making it to the town where our Air B & B was around dinner. Because of this we skipped out on exploring Saudarkokur.
  • Stop in Blonduos for groceries
  • Go to Airbnb ($38 per person per night)

    Click the icon above for the TikTok of our Northern Lights!

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    Alps to Amalfi: A European Honeymoon

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    Anything I have chosen to add on post-trip, I will put in bold.

    Tips, tricks, hacks, and big expenses for this entire trip are all listed on the bottom

    June 24th (Tuesday): 

    • Arrive in Zurich at 1:05pm
    • Get rental car around 2:30pm from the Airport. Once you get off your flight, follow signs that say Mietwagen / Rental Car at Airport until you reach the destination.
      • Car rental is booked through Enterprise, but will cost $457 at the counter
      • Average price per day: ($91.4)
    • Drive to Lucerne (48 minute drive, arrive around 4pm)
    • MAKE SURE you go the speed limit at all times. We never saw one cop car on the roads, and that is because they have a ton of cameras and radar guns that will give you hefty fines for going over the speed limit. I would always set my car on cruise control just in case so I never went over.
    • Your rental car will have a sticker for tolls, so there is no need to worry about buying those separately.
    • Find a grocery store on the way to Lucerne or in Lucerne to get food through the next day (snacks and other foods that are already made).
    • SAVE EATING OUT FOR ITALY AND LONDON. Switzerland is insanely overpriced, and to be honest, the food is not that great there anyway
    • We ended up going to Aldi and it was very cheap. Do not make our mistake and get the cheapest meat you could find. We ended up getting this meat that was a downgrade from bologna… Besides that night our dinners and lunches we ate were very good. They got the job done, and allowed us to splurge while in Italy.
    • A general outline would be walk throughout the city and explore from 4-6:30, and then from 6:30 till sunset explore Meggenhorn Castle, then Bireggwald, and finish with Gutsch for sunset!! (We ended up skipping the castles. After flying through the night and barely sleeping, we were ready to go to bed)
      • Lion Monument 
      • Old Town
      • Chapel Bridge – Super cool and can see Hotel Gutsch while on it
      • Painted City Squares (all 5 close together) These squares were gorgeous and full of so much life. People eating around every corner and musicians playing all types of instruments. Beautiful architecture as well.
        • Weinmarkt
          • Hirschenplatz
          • Kornmarkt (town hall and clock tower)
          • Kapellplatz (cool fountain)
          • Sternenplatz (best paintings by far)
      • Musegg wall and towers (Museggmauer) – BEST VIEW OF THE TOWN HANDS DOWN. Calves will get a workout with walking around these towers. Completely free activity!
        • Mannliturm is the tower with the best view of city and mountains 
      • Cool Churches
        • Jesuit Church
        • Hofkirche St. Leodegar
      • Cheap restaurants to eat at
        • Ass Bar (50% off pastries!!!) STOP HERE IF ON A BUDGET! Pastries were about $1-$2 each and so good. This spot I put on Google Maps is right by Lake Lucerne. We enjoyed our pastries while looking at this crazy view of the town, mountains, and lake!
        • Cheese Store – Cheese Barmettler
        • Gelati and cafe (Near the chapel bridge)
      • Gutsch
        • Ride the Gutsch Funicular ($6 each) (really pretty views of city, mountains, and crazy hotel (château gütsch))
      • Meggenhorn Castle 
      • Bireggwald
      • Sunset at 9:31pm (If enough energy go to chapel bridge at night, or just go straight to air b and b)
    • Lucerne is a MUST VISIT!!! It was absolutely breathtaking. Here is a link of how to walk to some of the coolest parts of town in the best order: https://maps.app.goo.gl/38gUR9VicLg62Brj8 (All 5 painted city squares are right next to one another, so I only listed one on Google Maps to get you in the right area) all in all, we walked around 2 miles with this route that I created. After the Museggmauer, we walked back towards our car which was parked in a parking garage near the Lion Monument. On the way from the Museggmauer to the parking garage there was an Aldi where we got our groceries before the drive to Interlaken. MAKE SURE to scan the QR code that is necessary to pay for the parking garage BEFORE leaving. We thought we could pay at the gate, but when we got there it said we needed to pay through the QR code. When we tried to do that, conveniently there was no data in that location and a line started to form behind us. I had to ask the people to reverse so we could go park again, and then run back outside to get service and pay for the parking before leaving again. Again, we skipped touring the castles due to a lack of sleep, but I would definitely recommend checking them out if you have time.

    These were the views on the drive from Lucerne to our Air B & B in Interlaken

    June 25th (Wednesday): 

    • Wake up at 7:15am, leave Air B and B at 7:30am
    • Drive to Stechelberg and arrive at 8:20am (50 min drive from Air B and B)
    • The cable car station is called Stechelberg LSMS (Stechelberg Station) and the cable car line is known as Schilthornbahn (About $25 round trip)(Takes 30 minutes to get up). They have parking available at the station.
    • Arrive in Murren around 8:50am, walk right to Intersport Mürren-Schilthorn (Opens at 9am) Rentals reserved. Make sure to reserve ahead of time!
    • Intersport Mürren-Schilthorn rents via ferrata equipment in Mürren, Switzerland for CHF 30 per day. (https://intersport-muerren.ch/bikes-via-ferrata/?lang=en) 
    • BEGIN MURREN VIA FERRATA SWITZERLAND around 9:30am
    • Finish hike around noon 
    • ONE OF THE COOLEST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE. It was about $40 each to rent harness equipment. They will also inspect your shoes to make sure they are good enough to go on the “hike”. I was wearing some beat up Hokas, and they considered it good enough. I would recommend real hiking shoes though. If they think your shoes are unsafe, you will have to rent a pair from them.
    • Trail ends in Gimmelwald station of the Schilthorn cable car. 
    • Explore Gimmelwald
    • There was not a ton to do in Gimmelwald, but it was a pretty little car-free village that had such a cool hostel/bar where we got some delicious espresso while looking at the mountains. I think we peaked mentally in this moment. Conquered our fears, sitting in the heart of the Swiss Alps, sipping some bean!
    • Will have to take the cable car back over to Murren in order to return our gear
    • Explore Murren till around 4pm
    • Take cable car back down to Stechelberg, and then drive to Lauterbrunnen (Additional $$, I cannot remember exactly, but I think it was between $5-$10 each). Only other option is a 50 minute hike between villages to get back… And after the hike we just did we thought it was definitely worth it to take the cable car
    • Arrive at Lauterbrunnen around 4:30pm and explore
      • Staubbach Falls (most iconic one, walk around so the cool church is in the shot with the waterfall) 
      • About a 10 minute walk throughout the whole town

    Hit the small icon above for my Via Ferrata TikTok!

    • Leave Lauterbrunnen when ready, and head back to Interlaken to get real groceries! (Swiss restaurants are next level expensive, so we will cook our own meals for the majority of our time in Switzerland)
    • Bring them back to the air b and b and hang out till sunset
    • Swim in Lake Brienz for sunset!! (Prettier than Lake Thun)
    • Go to Iseltwald for the swim! It is a small fishing village along Lake Brienz
    • EXTRMELY AUTHENTIC SWISS EXPERIENCE. Must go to Iseltwald! There are a bunch of old Swiss homes lining the water and the water is unreal. I have never seen such turquois water. Claire and I jumped in across the lake from an old mansion in the center of the lake. I will say though, there is one spot here that ruins the “authentic” vibe. I had seen it on TikTok before coming on the trip. It is near one of the prettiest views of the lake, and when I saw it I actually laughed. Right next to the view, there is a dock with a gate at the entrance, and in order to go out on the dock to get the “perfect Instagram shot” you have to pay with Apple Pay. Claire and I went just to the right of it and took in the views on our own. We both could not believe there are people in this world that spend money on that bologna.
    • Sunset is at 9:31pm

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