Adventures in Life
Travel. Live. Laugh
Off Roading in Ocotillo Wells- Day 1
I learned how to off road this weekend!!! This was a miracle because I’m not known as being a good driver, in fact I’m known for being the complete opposite. But that’s okay because I didn’t crash or flip the Jeep! My boyfriend has been off roading since he was a kid and wanted to share the fun of driving trails with me. We decided that Ocotillo Wells was the perfect place for me to experience my first off roading weekend.
Ocotilla Wells is a State Vehicular Recreational Area in California. The desert was originally an ocean millions of years ago and due to this there are many places you can go to see fossils and cool stone structures. The off road trails are all clearly marked with street signs and there are bathrooms throughout the park (major plus). There is also an ATV Training Track and a 4×4 Training area. It was a great place, and had lots of fun places to drive and cool things to see. I definitely recommend starting your trip at the Discovery Center.
There are friendly Park Rangers there who can give you maps and there is an awesome fossil display! They even had a Megalodon Tooth that was found in Ocotillo (WHaaaaaaat??? So Cool!).
Background on our Jeep Cherokee:
Our 1990 Jeep Cherokee is a project off road car. Brandon originally bought it stock from a neighbor who is a close family friend. Since then he has added a 3 1/2 inch Rubicon Express lift kit, and upgraded to Hercules all Terrain Tires. The goal is to eventually have a 7.5 inch lift with Diana 60’s on 42 inch Tires (its okay if you don’t know what any of that means cuz I don’t know either, like I said, I’m new to off roading and all this car stuff is like a foreign language).
Sights to See:
- Shell Reef: Shell Reef is a five foot thick bed of fossilized rocks that is the remnant of an ancient sea shore from 4 million years ago. The fossilized reef contains oysters, clams, and scallops. Shell Reef was our first stop of the day after setting up camp. It was really cool getting to see all the fossils.
- Pumpkin Patch: The Pumpkin Patch was our second stop of the day. The pumpkin patch is a large group of pumpkin-sized features that are called “concretions” that are formed by loose sand cementing around a particle of sand, pebble, or shell. They looked like round boulders but it was fun getting to see them all together.
Off Road Trails:
- Cross Over Trail (Moderate Difficulty)- Narrow at points while traversing terrain.
- Freedom Trail (Easy Difficulty)- Sandy in spots, primarily hard packed trail with hilly terrain.
- Tule Wash (Easy Difficulty)- Sandy, rocky and windey terrain.
Our Campsite:
We ended up camping off County Line Road. The nice thing is that in most of the park you can pull off any trail/road and camp where ever you want. Just be careful where you park so that your vehicle doesn’t get stuck. (That wouldn’t be a fun start to your weekend.)
Our first day at Ocotillo Wells was so much fun! It was fun getting to see all of the cool rock formations and learn how to drive in washes. Check out my next article Off Roading in Ocotillo Wells Day 2 to learn more about the off roading trails in Ocotillo. Thanks for reading and Happy Travels!
Hiking Cliff Side at Torrey Pines
If you love the beach and warm weather then San Diego is the place for you. San Diego has many attractions including Old Town San Diego, the Harbor, Balboa Park, and the world famous San Diego Zoo. However, what many people don’t know is that there are many beautiful hiking spots in and around San Diego. One of my favorite hikes is in Torrey Pines.
Torry Pines is a state national reserve that includes a beach and dramatic seaside cliffs. To learn more about the reserve, and the current events happening there please visit: https://torreypine.org/.
Hikers can drive to the visitor center at the Torrey Pines Lodge at the top of the mountain to park, or they can park at the sea side parking lot. Parking fees depend on the season and the time of week that you visit the reserve. Prices range between 12- 20 dollars per vehicle. Please visit the website to find exact pricing for when you visit.
There are many small intertwining trails that one can take, and depending on your preference the trails can be combined to create a loop that hikes down the cliffs and onto the seashore, then continues along the shore until you reach the sea side parking lot and from there you can walk up the mountain alongside the road. This will take you back to the parking lot located at the Torrey Pines Lodge and Visitor Center.
The Beach Hike
For our hike we started at the trail head labeled “Beach Trail, Razor Point, Red Butte, and Yucca Point”.
We continued walking along this trail until we reached a left hand turn for “Beach, Flat Rock”.
You will follow this trail all the way to the beach. The trail is well maintained and has a nice sandy pathway. Be warned that there can be rattle snakes and that you will see many signs cautioning you to stay on the path to prevent running into one. We went hiking in the mid afternoon and the lighting was perfect for pictures!
After following the trail for awhile you will come to a stair case that will lead you directly onto the beach.
The beach has large pebbles and rocks of a variety of colors. If you go at low tide you can find many of these rocks while walking along the beach. Low and high tide times are on the Torrey Pines National Reserve Website listed earlier in the article.
After walking along the beach we headed back to the staircase that led back to the hiking trails located in the cliffs.
As mentioned before some hikers opt to hike the beach all the way back to the beach parking lot and hike up alongside the road instead.We opted to hike back the way we had come so that we could go to each of the look out points located among the cliffs. First we went to “Razor Point Overlook”. Then we went to “Yucca Point”. Yucca Point had the most beautiful views of the cliffs and oceans and this is where I took most of my pictures.
We ended by going to “Red Butte”. This was a popular lookout point because it is very close to the parking lot at Torrey Pines Lodge. It was also very crowded and had similar views to the Yucca Point lookout.
Overall the hike was not very long and took us approximately 2 hours. This included stopping frequently to take pictures and taking a break at the beach to watch the waves. There are a lot of people who take the hiking trails so if you are looking for a quiet hike to get away from the city this might not be the trail for you. However, the views are spectacular and I believe it is a great place to get away and take some amazing pictures!
I hope this blog post was helpful, and if you have any questions about the trails feel free to comment below. Happy Travels!
***Disclaimer: I am not responsible for content on external websites listed on this blog post.
Dreaming in Lucerne, Switzerland
Switzerland brought with it a variety of adventures. While in Switzerland I saw snow topped mountains, cute, colorful buildings, and got to go on a boat ride on Lake Lucerne. Everywhere I went the scenery was gorgeous! I couldn’t stop taking pictures (which is why this post has a ton of pictures in it!). If you love nature photography this is the place to go.
So before I tell you about all the fun stuff, here are some fun facts about Switzerland. German is the main language spoken but citizens also speak French, Italian, and English. Switzerland has its own currency, the swiss frank. Some shops do accept euros but they will give you change in swiss franks. Another thing to know before going to Switzerland is that it is an expensive country to travel to. Food, hotels, and attractions are all pricey so make sure you have plenty of travel money set aside before going here. Finally, the most important thing…..Switzerland has amazing chocolate! There is even a chocolate museum in Lucerne.
The Lion Monument (German: Löwendenkmal):
The Lion Monument or also known as the Lion of Lucerne was built to commemorate the Swiss guards that were massacred in 1792 in the French Revolution. The sculpture is very intricate and the expression on the lions face is touching in its sad, mournful quality. The monument is located at Denkmalstrasse 4, 6002 Luzern, Switzerland.
Pilatus Mountain Top
To get to the top of the mountain you need to take a cable car. The cable car varies in price depending on what stop you get off at and what time of year it is. We went to the second stop which has a nice gift shop, small cafe, hotel, and viewing areas of the mountain. It was snowing very hard when we arrived but the snow cleared long enough for us to get out on the viewing platform to take pictures. I was told by the guest information booth that if you visit in the summer you can see the whole mountain and go on the walking path. I would love to come back and do that.
Lunch at the Stadtkeller
For lunch we went to the Stadtkeller, and had a spectacular fondue lunch. We had cheese fondue, a main entree, and then a chocolate fondue dessert. The restaurant was cute with lots of authentic decorations.
Lake Cruise with Charles Bucher
Lake Lucerne has a small boat harbor where several harbor cruise services are available. The boat ride we took lasted one hour and 15 min. The time flew by and I felt like we were turning back when we had barely gotten started. I would have loved to have spent several hours out on the water looking at all of the surrounding scenery. The tour company was very nice and friendly and even let me wear the captains hat and drive the boat. And luckily I didn’t run the boat into anything (thank goodness).
Chocolate at Au Cahet
The chocolate truffles I bought at this shop were delicious. I was impressed by the variety of flavors available and the prices were reasonable. The street that this shop is on is lined with watch shops, swiss army knife shops, and other cafes that were fun to visit.
Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)
The chapel bridge spans diagonally across the Reuss in the middle of Lucerne. It is a great place to get pictures of the cute buildings spanning either side of the Reuss.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and that you learned about some of the fun things to see and do in Lucerne, Switzerland. If you have any questions about my travels feel free to comment below. Happy Travels.
Traveling in Europe-Tips and Tricks to Surviving your first time Over-Seas
Okay, lets face it. Traveling can be scary, nerve-wracking, or just down right stressful. The first time I went to Europe I was so worried I would lose my passport and be stuck in a foreign country. This was especially worrisome for me because… 1. I was traveling alone and 2. I tend to lose everything. And I seriously mean everything. But after a lot of trial and error ( and lot of stress chocolate) I have learned how to successfully travel to Europe without all the stress and worry. Hopefully reading this article will help equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate a trip to Europe. So lets get started!
Before Traveling
- Get some Cash Out! Before traveling I recommend going to your local bank at home to obtain the currency of the country you are going to. Make sure you plan ahead when doing this because sometimes the bank with need a couple of days to mail in your needed amount of currency. It is important to have some cash on hand when you arrive. You can use this to pay for a taxi or whatever transportation service you are using to get to your accommodation. There are usually ATM’s or Cash Exchange Services at the airport but they often times charge huge amounts to exchange your currency. Avoid the huge fees by coming prepared with cash already in hand. Also, make sure to hide some cash is a secret place. Pick-pockets are very bad in Europe and you will need to have some cash handy if your wallet is stolen.
- Buy credit card and Passport sleeve protectors!
As mentioned before pick-pockets are bad in Europe. However with advances in technology comes advances in preventing pick-pocketers. To prevent people from scanning your credit card or passport information as they walk by you can purchase sleeve covers. I have one for all of my credit cards and one for my passport. I bought mine on amazon:) - Outlet Converters– Make sure you have a power outlet converter that meets the standards of the country you are traveling to. This is extremely important because without it you will not be able to charge your phones, laptops, ipads (you get the picture). It is also super important for other electronic products such as hair curlers or straighteners. There are several different options and you can usually find these a stores such as Walmart or Target.
Flying in Europe
- Liquid containers for carry-on Bags.
There are many important things to know when flying in Europe. First, they have a very strict liquids allotment for carry on bags! You are only allowed to have a quart-sized bag of liquids in your carry on. They will throw away anything that doesn’t fit in the quart sized bag (I have seen this happen and they do not care if it is expensive products). Another thing I was surprised about is what they consider a liquid. Lip gloss, foundation and even chap stick are all considered a liquid. I had my bag pulled aside and checked because I didn’t have my chap stick and lip stick with my liquids. Luckily I had enough room in my bag to fit these products but I have seen other fliers who had to throw away some of their belongings. This is very sad and don’t let it happen to you!
Arriving in Europe
- You have to pay for most public restrooms. This was a very foreign concept for me being from the United states where public restrooms are free. This is not the case in Europe. Most bathrooms, including those in train stations and bus stations require money to enter. Also, many of these money machines only except exact change. I always try to keep 2 -3 Euros in coin change when traveling.
2. Pick Pockets! Pick pockets are prevalent in most major cities in Europe. Some tips to avoid getting your belongings stolen are as follows: If wearing a backpack in heavily congested tourist areas switch it around so that it is facing forward. This might look funny but it helps you keep an eye on your things and helps prevent pickpockets from slashing the bag open with a knife. This has happened to several of my friends, don’t let it happen to you! You can purchase clothing with hidden pockets. I have a scarf that has a hidden zipper pocket. Another tactic is to wear purses across you body instead of just hanging on your shoulder. The best thing is to always be aware of your surroundings!
I hope these tips will help you be prepared to travel overseas. I will have more articles coming with more tips and tricks. Stay safe and happy travels!
Joshua Tree National Park
What do you get when you mix deserts, giant boulders, and thunderstorms? An unexpectedly adventurous trip to Joshua Tree National Park! Needless to say there were some exciting events on my trip to the park that made it a weekend I will never forget.
First, finding an open campsite was very difficult. If you want to camp at Joshua Tree during the Fall, Winter, or Spring on the weekend you need to reserve a campsite, often weeks, if not months in advanced. I was lucky to get a canceled reservation at the Cottonwood Campgrounds at the south end of the Park. I was only able to get a one-night reservation. Getting a two-night reservation at the park on the weekend is extremely difficult to do last minute so if you are planning a spontaneous trip to Joshua Tree then try to go during the week when the park is less crowded.
Okay to give you the lay of the land so to speak…most of the main campsites are at the north end of the park where the Joshua Tree Forest is. The south end of the park does not have Joshua Trees. So, plan ahead on which attractions you want to see before going to the park. I highly recommend checking out the Joshua Tree National Park website to view a list of campsites and sites to see before heading to the park: https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm.
Cottonwood Campground
The Cotton Wood Campground was very nicely set up with fire pits and picnic tables at every campsite. There were also flush toilets and well water available. Overall, I was impressed by how clean and organized everything was. Also, at our campsite there was a little Kangaroo Rat I named Fluffy. If you have never seen a Kangaroo Rat, they are the cutest things ever! Google it! The campground was also conveniently placed next to the Cottonwood Visitor Center for the park. Here there is a gift shop. Park rangers are also available to talk to about hiking and nature viewing options. This is also the place you can get the cancellations for your national park passports…if you have not started doing this I highly recommend it!
The passport books allow you to get a cancellation (or stamp as I like to call them). Every park has a cancellation and sticker that you can collect. The parks sell small and large collectible passports that you can put the cancellations and stamps in. It is so much fun, and admittedly I am addicted to trying to get as many cancellations as I can😊.
Mastodon Peak Hike
The Mastodon Peak Hike leaves out of Cottonwood Campground A. This hike was a 2.4 mile loop that took roughly an hour and a half. The trail was nicely maintained and had lots of signs to keep you going in the right direction (this is especially important to me because I tend to get very lost very easily). The trail is mostly through a dry riverbed and consists of very deep sand footing. You will get a great leg work out! The rock formations were spectacular and there were several signs to designate the different plants and flora on the trail.
The trail takes you to the Mastodon abandoned mine that is located beneath Mastodon Peak. The 0.1 mile detour hike to the top of Mastodon Peak is an unmaintained trail and included climbing over large boulders to reach the top. Use caution if climbing to the peak. The view from the top was spectacular and you could even see the Salton Sea in the distance (the title photo was taken from the lookout point).
On the way back you pass the Cottonwood Spring. You cant see the water directly but there are several large palm trees in the area that were very impressive. There is a trail head directly from the springs to the campground. You can use this to walk to the springs from the campground if don’t want to walk the whole trail. The Mastodon Peak trail itself is a full loop.
The Storm
Our one and only night at the park was very eventful. The night started out clear and by 9pm you could see the whole milky way. One of the reasons I came to the park was to see the stars and I was not disappointed. However, at roughly 12am a huge thunderstorm hit. Within an hour a flash flood roared through our campsite and washed away most of our stuff. Luckily, we were staying in a converted camper in the back of my boyfriend’s truck but other campers in our campground were not as lucky. Some people were washed away in their tents! No one was harmed and the people who were washed out of there tents were able to take shelter in the bathrooms of the campground. Firetrucks came to check on us at roughly 2am. By morning the whole campground and park had been destroyed. We had planned to drive up to the northern end of the park to see the Joshua Trees but all the roads in the park had been washed out and the park was closed. Luckily we had a truck and were able to make it out but we had to avoid giant boulders that had been washed into the roads. It was definitely a trip to remember!
Overall the trip to Joshua Tree National Park was so much fun. The storm was unexpected and very scary but luckily no one was hurt. I would love to go back to the northern end of the park so I could actually see a Joshua Tree. But, I got the next best thing. At the visitor center they were selling Joshua Tree seeds. So of course I bought a pack so I can have my very own Joshua tree! Follow me on Instagram @adventuresinlife.blog to see updates on the tree’s growth!
I hope you found this post helpful and if you have any questions about the trip feel free to comment below. Also, I know your all wondering, Fluffy the Kangeroo Rat survived the storm. We saw Fluffy the next morning:) Check out my instagram for a video of Fluffy. Happy Travels!
***disclaimer: I am not responsible for content on external sites.
Julian, Ca
Hello everyone!
In celebration of being back in California, today I will be writing about Julian, California. Julian is a cozy little town located about an hour and fifteen minutes from San Diego. Julian started as a mining town after gold was first discovered in 1869. Today the town is famous for its pies…and they are amazing! So, in honor of the upcoming fall season a trip to Julian to get some pies seemed like the perfect thing to do.
MOM’s Pies
Depending on which direction you are coming from, Mom’s Pies is located before/after the main historic district of Julian. If you are coming from San Diego, Mom’s Pies is located after the historic district. If you are coming from Temecula, Murrieta, or Los Angeles it is located before the historic district area. This cute little bakery in my opinion is the best place to get pie! You can buy a whole pie or by the slice. If you buy a single slice of pie you can add a scoop of ice cream to go with it. And my favorite part… they have cinnamon ice cream! It is delicious, creamy and a perfect match for the variety of apple pies available at MOMs.
Historic District of Julian
This cute little one street strip hosts a diner, several pie shops and bakeries, a book store, and a variety of shops. The diner is cute and has a toy train that runs around a track that covers the ceiling of the restaurant. There are several historic buildings in the area and many of the shops have a guide to Julian pamphlet that has in it a free self walking tour guide.
Julian Bookhouse
The Julian Bookhouse was one of my favorite buildings mostly because I love reading. The bookhouse is a bookstore that was created inside one of the historic houses located on the main street. Each room is labeled by topic. Hardcover verse paperbacks are also separated into different rooms. If you are a book enthusiast I recommend taking some time to explore this cute store.
Julian Pie Company
The Julian Pie company is famous for their excellent pies. Unfortunately, we did not get to go to the store in the historic district due to construction. There is however a larger Julian Pie Company store located down the mountain. If you are coming from Los Angeles area this is the first pie shop you see and is located roughly 7 miles from Julian historic district.
There are many more shops to see and if you are interested in visiting Julian, please visit: https://visitjulian.com/. Additional activities available in Julian include gold panning, antique shopping, and historical walking tours. Outside of Julian there is also the CA Wolf Center, and Lake Cuyamaca. Overall Julian is a fun place to go to for an afternoon of fun. The small town atmosphere is a nice break from the hustle and bustle of major tourist cities such as San Diego and Los Angles.
I hope this post was helpful and if you have any questions feel free to post them in the comments section below.
***disclaimer: I am not responsible for any content on external links.
Pisa, Italy
Hello everyone! It has been awhile but I hope to make up for lost time by doing several posts about cities in Italy I visited while on spring break. First up, Pisa! Pisa was much smaller than I thought it would be. The main tourist area was the Piazza Dei Miracoli which was a large grassy area that included the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Pisa Cathedral, and Pisa Baptistery. The Piazza Dei Miracoli was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. I spent a total of about 2 hours in this area, but it would be easy to spend a whole afternoon exploring. To find tickets for the buildings located in the Piazza Dei Miracoli please visit: https://www.opapisa.it/en/tickets/prices/.
Leaning Tower of Pisa
I did not go inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa but mainly focused on trying to get the perfect picture with it! This is actually very hard to do. It is a high tourist traffic area and it is very difficult to get a picture without someone in it! I recommend getting there early before a majority of the tour buses arrive.
The Pisa Cathedral
The Pisa Cathedral was huge and made the Leaning Tower of Pisa look small in comparison. The cathedral is a medieval Roman Catholic cathedral that was finished being built in 1180. So needless to say, the church is very very old. Due to time constrains I was unable to see the inside of the church but if I go back to Pisa I will make sure to do so. The pictures I took give the church a golden hue but the actual church is almost white due to the marble it is made of.
Pisa Baptistery
The Pisa Baptistery of St. John was completed in 1363, and is the largest baptistery in Italy. It is roughly 180 feet high! It was a very impressive sight that towered over the grassy lawn.
Overall Pisa was a fun place to visit and I felt like I saw quite a bit even though I only spent about two hours there. Next time I go I would like to spend a whole afternoon there going through each of the buildings.
I hope you found this article helpful and if you have any questions comment below. Thanks and Happy Travels!
**Disclaimer: I am not responsible for content on external websites accessed through the link provided.
24 Hours in Rome, Italy
For spring break this year I decided to go on a trip through three countries in Europe. After my travels I have learned many things and hopefully sharing some of my stories will help you in your future travels. Over the next few weeks I will post about all the exciting cities I visited. To start the trip off, I went to the city that was #1 on my list…Rome, Italy.
I had a combination of the worst and best timing for my trip to Rome. On one hand I had perfect timing because I was in Rome for the first Sunday of the month. Why is this important you might ask… well… every first Sunday of the month a majority of Rome’s major attractions are free. That’s right. Free. I was able to go to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill without spending anything.
But, on the other hand I was in Rome on Easter Sunday. It was, to say the least, very busy. While I was there Pope Francis blessed the city and it was very exciting to be in the city during this time. Unfortunately, due to the festivities the Vatican was closed while I was there. This was very disappointing as this was one of the main things I had planned to see. However, Rome did not disappoint and after lots of walking and yummy gelato, I still feel like I had the experience of a lifetime.
The Colosseum:
The Colosseum is actually quite large. The line to get in is even larger. I waited for about an hour and a half to get into the Colosseum (which actually wasn’t that bad considering how many tourists were there). And once I was inside I had exactly 2 minutes to take my pictures on the lower platform. And yes… you really have only two minutes. They sent us out on the main platforms in groups and guards timed each group and ushered us off quickly once our time was up. Don’t let this discourage you though, after moving from the lower platform you can go to the other side of the Colosseum and take as many pictures as you want. I do believe there is a time limit of an hour for this part but I’m not certain.
The wait was worth it and next time I want to take the guided tour that takes you through the underground area (as pictured below).
The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill:
The Roman Forum was much larger then I had expected. This attraction was also free for me but I did have to have a ticket. This ticket was given to me free of charge when I entered the Colosseum. If you are traveling on a different day then the first Sunday you can buy a joint ticket for the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Palatine Hill on the Rome tourist website. These three attractions are located next to each other and it took me the whole day to view everything. For ticket prices and more information about the tourist attractions available in Rome please visit: https://www.coopculture.it/en/ticket.cfm?office=Foro%20Romano&id=4
Palatine Hill stands approximately 40 meters above the Roman Forum and is a great place to get panoramic photos. You use the same entrance to get into Palatine Hill as you do to see the Roman forum. The hill also has a garden and several beautiful statues.
Rome was beautiful and the architecture on the buildings was stunning. However, there are a lot of tourist, so if you are planning to see multiple attractions in a day make sure to pre-book tickets when possible. This will save you time in the lines and will allow you to see more amazing things.
I hope you found this article helpful and if you have any questions comment below. Thanks and Happy Travels!
**Disclaimer: I am not responsible for content on external websites accessed through the link provided.
A Weekend at the Isle of Skye (Part 2)
The adventurous weekend at the Isle of Skye continues! Day 2 was filled with cute towns, gorgeous landscapes, and mythical rivers. The day began with rain, but I didn’t let that get me down, I was in Scotland after all. We waved goodbye to Kyleakin and started our day by stopping at River Sligachan.
Sligachan Bridge and River:
Legend has it that if you dip your face in the river Sligachan for seven seconds you will be blessed with the gift of eternal youth and beauty. So, of course I did it because…why not? The bridge over the river was built in the 1820’s and is a great lookout point to view The Cuillins which are a range of mountains. There is also a place where there is a vast display of rock piles. If you feel so inclined you can also add your own rock pile to the collection.
**Disclaimer: use caution if you decide to dip your head in the river. The rocks are slick, the water is cold, and the river is fast moving.
Old Man of Storr:
This rock formation is the most famous landmark of the Isle of Skye. The Old man of Storr towers 50m high from a steep hill. You can walk up to the lookout out point but be warned it is a strenuous walk. The trail is all up hill and is steep in some areas. However, the views at the top of the hill are stunning and from the lookout point you can also view Loch Fada and Loch Leathan. In the picture above, the Old Man of Store in the rock formation in the background
Kilt Rock and Mealt Fall:
Kilt rock, named because the rock formation resembles pleats in a kilt, is a beautiful sea cliff in northeast Trotternish on the Isle of Skye. At the same lookout point you can see Mealt Falls. I will admit that at first, I did not see the falls even though they were right in from of me. To see the falls, you have to look down and I was so distracted from looking at Kilt Rock that I didn’t see the falls until a fellow traveler pointed it out to me.
Lealt Gorge and Lealt Fall:
This lookout point is beautiful and displays the gorge and waterfall. There is a path that you can take but use caution. There are steep cliffs and in the rain the path can be slick. Be smart and stay safe. That being said the views were spectacular.
Portee:
For lunch we stopped at the picturesque town of Portee. This town is famous for its multicolored buildings that have been featured on many advertisements and postcards. The town hosts a variety of eateries, including a Fish and Chips shop located by the water. It is also home to the Royal Hotel which was the meeting place of Flora McDonald and Bonnie Prince Charles in 1746.
The Isle of Skye is a wonderful weekend destination for those wanting to see cute little towns and the rugged landscape of Scotland. I hope you found this article helpful and if you have questions feel free to leave a comment. Thanks for reading and Happy Travels!
***Disclaimer: I am not a professional travel agent and caution should always be used before traveling to a new country or place. Travelers should seek professional assistance before traveling. All historical facts were learned during the tour. I am not a historian and all historical facts should be confirmed before using them.
A weekend at the Isle of Skye (Part 1)
First off, the Isle of Skye is absolutely beautiful. The rugged terrain and picturesque cliffs make it a must see for tourists (and non-tourists) in Scotland. Once again due to a lack of car (and fear of driving on the left side of the road) I decided to take a tour to the Isle of Skye. This time I went with International Student Tours (ISUKTours). If your interested in the website, here is the link: https://www.isuktours.co.uk/. The trip was two days, so for this post there will be a part 1 for day 1 and a part 2 for day 2. This way I can add even more of the lovely photos I took!
Day one started bright and early with the bus leaving Glasgow at 8am. Once outside of the city the scenery is quite pretty, and you’ll get to see lots of adorable sheep and cows.
Town of Luss:
Our first stop was at the quaint town of Luss which is located on the banks of Loch Lomond. The town is very small but there is a footpath that takes you to the loch where you can take pictures from the docks. After that the path loops back through the main town area and ends at the parking lot where the restrooms are located. Be warned that you must have spare change because you have to pay to use the bathroom!
Loch Tulla and the Caledonian Forest:
Our next stop was a scenic lookout point. The area overlooked Loch Tulla and the Caledonian Forest. The view was gorgeous, and the rain was kind enough to stop while we took our pictures (side note: always, always, always come prepared for rain. Even if it is the sunniest day you have ever seen, it could still rain. So, don’t be sad and wet and always bring an umbrella.)
Glencoe:
Glencoe is a famous place for several reasons…1. It was the site of the Massacre of Glencoe in which 38 men and women of the McDonald Clan were murdered. 2. It is the site of many famous films such as Skyfall and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. 3. The Three Sisters mountains are the best place to take pictures. However, the photo lookout point for the three sisters is very crowded due to a lot of tours. So when you see that perfect picture take it fast!
Fort William:
After so many photo stops it was time to break for Lunch. The town of Fort William was nice and had grocery stores if you are looking for a cheaper lunch option. There are also an array of pubs and restaurants.
Eilean Donan Castle:
The Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most photographed castles in the world and has been featured in many movies, such as ‘Made of Honor’. The castle looks as if it is from a fairy tale. Originally build in mid 13th century, it fulfills everything that you thought a castle would look like. You can also purchase admission to view the inside of the castle and this is a popular tourist attraction. Unfortunately, due to time restraints we could only stop for photos but if I could go back I would definitely make sure to see the inside.
Kyleakin:
After stopping at the Eilean Donan Castle it was a short drive to the Skye Bridge. This bridge connects the Isle of Skye to main land making it easy to access the Island. We stayed the night at Saucy Mary’s Hostel located in the village of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye. After arrival I hiked to the ruins of Castle Moil with some of the other members of the tour. You can also walk down to the ocean or check out the boats in the harbor. The perfect end to the day was getting to see the sunset from Skye Bridge.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of the Isle of Skye adventure!
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