We pulled off the road looking for a beach that didn’t show up on most lists, and that ended up being the theme for the whole trip. These hidden beaches in Curaçao were the ones we kept going back to—less crowded, easier to enjoy, and honestly just better days overall. Some take a little more effort to get to, but that’s kind of the point.
If you’re planning your trip and trying to map this all out, I’d glance at Curaçao Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors so you know how these spots fit together.
We stood at the edge of the water here before getting in, and I remember thinking this doesn’t look like much for a beach day. There’s no big sandy setup, and you’re not laying out here for hours.
Once you get in, though, it flips completely. The water is clear right away, and snorkeling both directions is worth it because there’s a lot going on—fish everywhere and we saw a full school of squid moving together.
The entry is crushed coral, which seems fine until you’re walking in and suddenly it doesn’t, so having water shoes made that part easier.
Playa Jeremi felt like a true hidden beach. It wasn’t crowded, mostly locals and a few people who clearly knew about it ahead of time. We swam out pretty far on the left side and didn’t deal with any current, which made it easy to just stay in the water.
There’s a restaurant above the beach and chairs to rent, plus security in the parking lot, which is always a plus. We didn’t rush here and ended up staying longer than expected (no complaints).
Playa Lagun looks completely different from most beaches because it’s tucked between cliffs. We got there before 10, parking was easy, and it didn’t feel overly crowded (which I was fully expecting).
The snorkeling was good, the water was calm, and we stayed longer than planned. There’s a smoothie stand right there (I got one immediately and didn’t regret it), plus a couple food options nearby, so we didn’t feel like we had to leave for lunch.
Save this for later on Pinterest so you don’t forget it
If you’re trying to pair this with other stops, it fits well into a day like what I mapped out in West Side Beach Hopping in Curaçao: Porto Mari & Grote Knip Guide.
Playa Kalki is small—like you notice it right away. We didn’t treat it like a full beach day, more of a stop to snorkel and hang out for a bit.
There’s limited sand space and only a couple rows of umbrellas, but there’s also a dive shop, bar, and restaurant. It’s set up enough to stay for a while, just not somewhere I’d plan to spend all day.
If you’re planning beach days like this, it helps to know where everything is—my Best Beaches in Curaçao (with Map + Tips) breaks that down.
Cas Abao isn’t really hidden, but going early made it feel like it was. We got there before it filled up and had way more space than I expected.
The water here was some of the clearest we saw, and this is one of the beaches that as soon as I saw the water I knew we had to get in and stay a while. Later in the day it fills up, but early it feels completely different.
If you’re figuring out where to stay to make mornings like this easier, looking into where to stay in Curaçao helps cut down on driving. We booked our hotel on the west side here and got a great deal.
We had a rental car, and getting to all of these was straightforward. The roads are easy to follow, and even when they turn into smaller dirt roads, it still feels manageable—not like you’re driving somewhere you shouldn’t be. Nothing felt remote in a stressful way.
We’ve been to other Caribbean islands, and Curaçao just felt more spread out once we got outside the main areas. It wasn’t empty, but we weren’t dealing with packed beaches unless we chose to go to those spots.
You notice it more when you’re at places like these, where it feels like people aren’t all following the same plan.
By the end of the trip, these were the beaches I kept thinking about. Not because they had the most going on, but because they didn’t.
They were easy to enjoy, easy to stay longer than planned, and didn’t feel like you had to plan your whole day around them. Sometimes the quieter spots end up being the ones you remember the most—just go with the flow and beach it easy.
The tulip fields in the Netherlands look exactly like the photos, except the photos don’t capture how massive the color blocks actually are stretching across the countryside. Or the windmills. Or the sheep randomly standing in the middle of everything like they don’t know they’re in the most photogenic country on earth.
The honest caveat: tulip season moves fast, the fields rotate every year, and peak bloom is not a guarantee, it depends on the weather, the harvest schedule, and a little bit of luck. But that’s also part of what makes it feel less like a tourist attraction and more like something you actually found.
Full driving route with towns, parking tips, and what to expect | linked in bio. 🌷
#netherlands #travelling #tulipfields #exploreeurope
Amsterdam has a way of making you feel like you need to see everything, and then rewarding you most when you slow down anyway. The museums and canal cruises are worth it, but so is just wandering neighborhoods, eating whatever looks good, and sitting along the canals with a grilled cheese and nowhere to be.
First-time visitor guide is on the blog. Link in bio. 🌷
#travelling #travel #amsterdam #visitamsterdam #traveleurope
10 stops. One very full day. Zero regrets. Amsterdam has one of the best food scenes I’ve experienced anywhere in Europe, but the honest caveat is that some of the viral spots come with lines that will genuinely test your character. I skipped a few. I regret nothing.
Here’s what actually made the cut on my self-guided Amsterdam food tour:
Fresh stroopwafels at Hans Egstorf: made right in front of you, warm caramel, no line. This one won.
Lourens cookie croissant: flaky outside, gooey chocolate inside. Did not share.
Café Winkel 43 apple pie: one of the rare viral places that fully lives up to the hype.
Davie’s Amsterdam for the Lelie sandwich: pastrami, pickles, marbled bread. Deceptively simple. Absolutely excellent.
De Kaaskamer to end the day: 400+ cheeses, grilled cheese with what they call ketchup (it’s not ketchup, and it’s better), and bunker cheese aged in underground military bunkers.
The full route covers 10 stops through Jordaan, the 9 Streets, the canal district, and the flower market area with a Google Map included so you can just follow along.
Full guide with every stop, tips for beating the lines, and what I’d skip vs. do again | link in bio.
#amsterdam #visitamsterdam #netherlands #travel #visitnetherlands #traveleurope
There’s a version of Gatlinburg that’s all fudge shops and tourist crowds, and then there’s the version that actually makes you want to come back.
Here’s everything worth doing downtown, in the order I’d do it: 🏔️
✨ Start at @gatlinburgskypark before the crowds hit
✨ Walk the strip mid-morning when it’s still manageable
✨ @googooclusters stop (see my post from Tuesday: don’t skip it)
✨ Dinner at one of the local spots off the main drag
✨ Wander back out at night when the lights are on and it gets actually pretty
This isn’t your overscheduled Smoky Mountain itinerary. It’s more of a “here’s what I’d actually do if I had one solid day” kind of list.
Full downtown Gatlinburg guide linked in bio. 🔗
If someone told me I’d spend five hours at SkyPark, I would not have believed them. And yet. 😅
Gatlinburg SkyPark sits above the strip and it’s one of those places that looks like a quick stop on paper and turns into most of your afternoon. The SkyBridge alone is worth it — longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America, and yes, you will look down.
✨ SkyBridge (longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America)
✨ SkyLift ride up with views of the Smokies
✨ Walking trails with mountain views in every direction
✨ Way less crowded than downtown
Fair warning: if heights genuinely freak you out, the bridge might not be your thing. The rest of the park is still 100% worth it. Full guide with tickets, tips, and what to skip linked in bio. 🔗
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
