Visit Portugal: Road Trip Itinerary for Traveling North of Lisbon!

Portugal is an ideal vacation destination. The country is full of gorgeous beaches along the rugged coastline, charming little towns seeped in history, grand churches, castles, and cathedrals making skylines, and there's even sunny weather nearly all year long! Are you thinking of traveling to Portugal and wondering what are some of the top recommended cities to visit? Let me tell you, that is a very hard question to answer! Having lived in Portugal for the past year and a half, visiting the biggest cities, as well as the nearby charming little villages, I've become furthermore enchanted by the country. Regardless, I've decided to put together this list to give some guidance to someone planning a trip to the magical country.

I recommend that you rent a car to explore beautiful Portugal on your own time and take in the surrounding. I've gone ahead and put together an itinerary for you to consider - one that will allow you to explore the best of the entire country! I've decided to split the itinerary between two regions of Portugal - North of Lisbon and South of Lisbon. This hub is about planning a road up North.

Top 5 Cities to Visit in Central / North Portugal - Road Trip Itinerary

As you drive up north, you will need to take either Highway A1 or Highway A8. I prefer Highway A8 since that road winds its way right along the gorgeous coast. The major cities I recommend for you to visit on your road trip are:

1. Lisbon - Lisbon, Lisboa in Portuguese is where your trip will most likely begin. You will need a couple of days to explore Lisbon and nearby fabulous towns.
2. Obidos - Make your way up north by driving one hour to the lovely walled city of Obidos.
3. Coimbra - Next, travel north about one hour (70 miles) to the medieval town of Coimbra.
4. Aveiro - Following Coimbra, drive just about 40 miles up north to Aveiro, the town nicknamed the "Venice of Portugal".
5. Porto - Finish off your road trip in Porto, Oporto in Portuguese - Portugal's 2nd largest city.

Top Interesting Historical Places to Visit and See in Macau

Macau

Source: lady rain

Macau is the first European settlement in the Far East. It was colonised by the Portuguese in the 16th century, during the great era of Portuguese exploration initiated by Prince Henry the Navigator.

The Portuguese used Macau as a staging port and as a base for introducing Christianity to China and Japan. Other European countries plotted to seize Macau from Portugal, the Dutch tried to invade the city in 1622 but failed. The Portugese ruled for over 400 years before Macau was returned to China as a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on December 20, 1999. The official languages of Macau are Chinese and Portuguese.

When the Portuguese settled in Macau to spread Christianity, the first priests immediately started to build Catholic churches. The early churches were made of wood and matting. By the mid 17th century, plaster and stone were used in the construction of these buildings. Aside from the famous Ruins of St Paul's, many churches, squares and religious buildings constructed by the Portuguese are still standing throughout the city and are listed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Macau.

The Virgin's Guide To Joshua Tree Climbing

First time climbing the Tree? Here's the beta.

Whether you are coming to Joshua Tree to rock climb, hike, go bird-watching, plant-gazing, or to work(it's a great photographer's location), a little bit of info goes a long way in making the trip more pleasurable.

This guide, though geared toward rock climbing, contains plenty of tips for other park users, much of it that will not be found in commercial tour books. So - even if you could care less how they get the rope up there, or think those crazy climbers are all gonna die - read on!

Welcome To Joshua Tree - Start Your Trip Here

Star Cruises Superstar Libra Ship - Shore Excursion to Phuket on the 4D3N Penang/Phuket/Krabi Cruise

Do You Have to do Shore Excursions on a Cruise?

Shore excursions are optional and are not inclusive in your cruise fare. You can either join the shore excursions organized by Star Cruises Superstar Libra or do it on your own.

If you choose to remain on the ship, there are many activities on board that will keep you occupied. Or you can take advantage of the discounts offered for massage, hair and beauty treatment. This is usually offered when the ship is in port.

Go on the Superstar Libra shore excursion and enjoy what Phuket has to offer

Source: greatstuff

You Took Who on Vacation? (Or How To Travel With Your Pet)

The decision to travel

With the summer here and the kids busy with their own lives the decision about what to do for vacation comes up. Husband tells me to pick any place I would like to go ALONE. Why alone I ask. Husband says that with the new employees in our store he doesn't feel comfortable leaving them alone. But I should go ahead, have a good time, relax. Now I have to let you know that I am no wilting flower, I have travelled alone before. In fact I do most of my travelling alone, so this time I was looking forward to travelling with my family. I ask my mother, she can't go, just came back from the Keys. My sister can't go. Best Friend can't go. Wait? Best friend. Let's think about that one. I have a human best friend and I have a fuzzy best friend. And if I say he can go then he can go, right? I am the human in this relationship. So I asked Ivan where he wanted to go and told him to get packed. Fortunately he packs light.

Where to go?

With so many choices I had a hard time deciding where to go. I asked a few people and they had some good ideas (Australia, New Zealand) but with the decision to travel with Ivan I felt perhaps I shouldn't travel internationally. I hit the net. Sooooooooo many options. How to narrow them. And the answer was actually very simple. I clicked accepts pets to narrow my search results. What a great tool! (palm to the forehead) And since I was staying a week I searched sites like airbnb to find somewhere I could cook a few meals and truly be comfortable. A few scrolls and a few clicks later I found a beautiful little apartment in Nevada near Lake Tahoe that accepted pets and was in my price range! My sister was jealous at this point, all she had to say was "That dog gets a better vacation than me!"

Huay Tung Tao Lake in North Thailand: A Visitors' Guide

Located in Chiang Mai Province just a few miles north of Chiang Mai City in north Thailand, Huay Tung Tao Lake and Park is a popular place to visit and enjoy swimming, walking around or just relaxing in your own temporary little bamboo hut by the water's edge while ordering food and drink from the nearby staffed kitchen area. The huts, which are actually just a raised platform with low table and thatched roof, are free to use provided you order at least $10 worth of food and/ or drink. Alternatively, you can sit on the grass somewhere, (mat hire is available, too) but most people don't relish the idea of sitting under the tropical sun for any longer than they have to.

Huay Tung Tao Lake and bamboo huts

Source: chasmac

A Day at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Looking out over Avra Valley from a prominent vantage point at the Museum.

Source: Aaron Landing