history Archives - Temporary Adventurer

Italy Trip Report: Food! Wine! Art! History!

When I told people I was going to Italy, the reaction was always positive–something like “wow!” or “oh that’s awesome!” People know Italy has the good stuff. From amazing cuisine to endless history and culture to explore, it’s easy to…

Portugal 10-Day Itinerary: Historic Cities from Lisbon to Porto

Thinking of traveling to Portugal? You should be! Portugal has beautiful architecture and a culinary scene that rivals its European neighbors, with palaces and monuments from the Age of Exploration that show off a fascinating history. Portugal’s walkable cities are…

Lisbon cityscape including buildings with red tiled roofs

10 Best Things to Do in Lisbon – Top Experiences in Portugal’s Capital

Lisbon is a beautiful, walkable city with a fantastic food scene and tons of culture to experience. Portugal’s capital has more sights than you can fit into a short vacation, so here’s what I think are the best things to…

San Juan Travel Guide: Puerto Rico’s Capital of Culture and History

San Juan is a city like no other. It’s the capital of Puerto Rico, a major cultural hub, and the oldest city within United States territory. You can walk down cobblestone lanes to a Spanish colonial fort and swim at…

Japan Itinerary: Epic Cities, Food, and Fun in 10 Days

Japan is such an amazing place to visit. From the food to the traditional culture, I had a lot of fun exploring. I’m not usually a fan of big cities, but for this trip I decided to lean into urban…

Vienna's crowded buildings and church spires

Vienna Travel Guide: Austria’s Capital of Music, Art, and Cafes

Vienna is a hub for all the things cultural: classical music, art museums, imperial palaces, Mozart, and drinking coffee in elegant cafes. It’s a very walkable city, where you can stroll past the gorgeous architecture between the Hofburg Palace and…

Kyoto Travel Guide: How to Visit Japan’s Ancient Capital

Kyoto is a major center of Japanese culture, a mystical city where traditional arts thrive and ancient temples dot the landscape. But it’s also a big, modern city. Think of this Kyoto travel guide as an introduction with some advice…

Mountainous scenery with groups of hikers walking down a path

Scotland Itinerary: 10 Days in the Scottish Highlands

My Scotland itinerary, a 10-day trip through the Scottish Highlands and Hebrides Islands. Includes travel tips for your Highland adventure.

Iona Abbey: Visit the Medieval Center of Christianity in Scotland

Atop a low, green hill sits a stone building with a simple square tower. As you approach Iona Abbey, you see a pair of high crosses that stand in front like holy guardians carved from stone. Inside, the church echoes…

Trip Report: Touring Western Turkey

As I’m setting up this new blog, I’m reflecting on recent trips that have inspired me. Traveling to Turkey last fall felt like the furthest I’ve been away from home, in a cultural sense if not strictly in a geographical…