Best time: Late spring (May-June) and early fall (September-October). Although hotter summer is my preferred time to visit (Late June-End of August).
Why: Blooming gardens in spring; crisp air, vibrant foliage, and Red Sox games in fall.
Best time: June to September.
Why: The beaches are warm, the seafood’s fresh, and the summer vibe is electric.
Best time: Fall for foliage (late September to mid-October) and summer (July-August) for festivals and hiking.
Why: Leaf-peeping at its finest, plus Tanglewood concerts and farm-to-table dining.
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS): The state’s major hub, with flights from all over the world. A quick hop on the T (Boston’s subway) or a rideshare takes you downtown.
Worcester Regional Airport (ORH): Small but mighty, great for central Massachusetts.
T.F. Green Airport (PVD): Located in Rhode Island, but often cheaper and just an hour’s drive to Boston or Cape Cod.
Many major cruise lines dock in Boston, making it a popular embarkation point for New England and Canadian itineraries. CruisePort Boston is centrally located in the Seaport District—just minutes from downtown hotels and attractions.
I-90 (Mass Pike): Runs east-west from the Berkshires through Boston.
I-95: Loops around Greater Boston and continues south.
Route 6: The scenic way to Cape Cod.
Amtrak’s Northeast Regional: Connects New York City, Washington D.C., and Boston.
MBTA Commuter Rail: Great for day trips to Salem, Lowell, Worcester, and more.
Pack Layers: New England weather can change faster than your GPS can say “recalculating.”
Book Early: Summer and fall are peak seasons — hotels, ferries, and B&Bs fill up fast.
Embrace Small Towns: Don’t just stick to Boston. Charming spots like Rockport, Concord, and Great Barrington are worth a detour.
Try the Local Eats: Clam chowder, lobster rolls, Boston cream pie, and cider donuts — it’s basically a food tour waiting to happen.
Visit Year-Round: Each season offers something different, from cozy firesides in winter to flower-filled gardens in spring.
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.
