Posts

Gamble House Tour Review

The Gamble House in Pasadena, California is an exemplar of Arts and Crafts architecture. A variety of docent-led tours are offered throughout the week, and the relatively low price (as compared to other architectural tours around Los Angeles) coupled with the intriguing style and history of the home make this a popular option for visitors […]

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Photos

Two of my favorite lands in any theme park are Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade in Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, respectively, at Universal Orlando Resort. They are also two of the most photogenic lands, and as such, I thought I’d share some of my best Wizarding World of Harry Potter photos in this […]

1-Day Downtown Los Angeles Walking Itinerary

If you only have one day in downtown Los Angeles and want to take a walking tour of DTLA’s best things to do, this is the step-by-step touring plan for you. This is full-day Los Angeles itinerary covers the city’s relatively compact downtown area, and does not require the use of a car or public transportation […]

Chateau Montpoupon Review & Tips

Château de Montpoupon is a castle in the Loire Valley east of Tours, in a picturesque valley at the edge of a forest. We were big fans of this stop on our recent trip to France, and in this post, we’ll make the case for visiting Château de Montpoupon, sharing some photos along the way. […]

Nijo Castle Review & Tips

Nijo Castle (二条城, Nijōjō) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kyoto, Japan that is the former residence of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. We’ll review the prestigious Japanese castle in this post and share some of our tips for visiting. While the construction of this site began in 1601, when the Shogunate ordered all the feudal lords […]

Osaka Castle Tips & Review

Osaka Castle (大阪城, Ōsakajō) is one of Japan’s most popular tourist attractions, with millions of people visiting the iconic landmark each year, particularly during cherry blossom season when there are special hanami parties and night illuminations. I’ve had the chance to visit both during sakura season and regular times of year, and will share some […]

Dolby Theatre Tour Review

The Dolby Theatre, located in Hollywood, California is the permanent home of the Oscars and various other events. Guided tours of the Dolby Theatre are available multiple times per day, lasting around 30 minutes each. In this post, we will review our recent experience on the Dolby Theatre guided tour. In theory, the Dolby Theatre […]

Sacré-Cœur Basilica Review & Tips

Sacré-Cœur Basilica or “Sacred Heart” is a Roman Catholic church perched atop Montmartre with sweeping views of Paris, France. Here, I’ll discuss share photos of Sacré-Cœur, thoughts on whether it’s worth including in your itinerary, and offer info & tips for making the most of your visit. Sacré-Cœur didn’t open until after World War I, making […]

Château de Chillon Review & Tips

Chillon Castle (or Château de Chillon) is a medieval castle on Lake Geneva. This post offers our review of Switzerland’s most popular historic building, tips for making the most of your experience, and a ton of photos from our visit. Before any of that, we’ll offer a brief historic overview to give you an idea […]

Château de Chambord Photos & Tips

Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley of France is one of the most famous châteaux in the world, featuring French Renaissance and medieval architecture. This post offers a photo tour of Chambord, info about the chateau, and my tips for making the most of the experience. During our visit, the gardens of Chateau de […]