So, that photo you have seen all over the internet of hundreds of hot air balloons hovering over an alien landscape?  That's Cappadocia. This is your guide to making the most of your time in this mysterious place. 

Considering this beverage is named after the country, it would be impossible to not encounter Port wine while in Portugal.

I was very unimpressed with all the the "top sites" in Porto, Portugal.  If you have a short amount of time in Porto, these are the things you should allocate your time for...

Pack for a Purpose is a non-profit organization that provides travelers with the information they need to take supplies to local charities and projects. Using the extra space in their suitcase, travelers can bring supplies with them as a hostess gift to the community they are staying in!   

It is totally possible to see all of Harry Potter World in one day, and avoid long lines!

The parts of the town that travelers typically access are touristy. and expensive. and crowded. To truly appreciate the region, one must get out of town... literally.

Not many people give Ljubljana much time. Most people hop in for a quick night or two, and then train or bus to Zagreb, Pula, or Trieste.  No matter the length of time, you should enjoy all the wonderful things the city has to offer while you're there.

It is a town that completely caters to tourists. The shops sell tourist trinkets and there are several high-rise hotels. However, as soon as you have the town of Bled at your back and are facing the lake, none of that matters. The best parts of Bled have nothing to do with the town, and everything to do with the surrounding nature. 

Backpackers will tell you a trip to Southeast Asia isn't complete without driving a motorbike, and maybe that's true for them. Maybe it was the highlight of their trip. That's fine. That's GREAT. I'm glad you had nice trip!

If you stick to the classic Old Town Square -> Charles Bridge -> Prague Castle  -> Wenceslas Square route, you're basically visiting Disneyland. All of those attractions are beautiful, but infested with tourists. 

I have some exciting news! This has been a long time coming, but all of my Pittsburgh content now has ITS OWN WEBSITE. Drum roll please. Introducing TheGal-ivanter.com's sister-site, BurghGal.com!

So! What goes with emotions? Eating! And what goes with the winter Olympics? HOT chocolate. So for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics I have created a special "torched" hot chocolate.  

Yinz asked..... so here we go!  Nine easy Valentine's Day cocktails you can make on short notice. 

Today we are tackling the "night in." As someone who already spends way too much money on meals and drinks, I am all for this! Staying in can be just special as going out, and I'm happy to share my suggestions. Also, my suggestions have a Pittsburgh-themed twist because, hey - it's me.

Guys, I don't even know if I can call this a recipe.... it's literally toast with some sprinkles. However, a lot of people asked me about easy things to do at home for Valentine's Day... or activities to do with kids.

Truth be told, I kinda forgot I was doing this for a few days this week.... 

lol woops.

I'm sharing my planner system because it really works for me. If this post helps you at all on your organizational journey, it's all worth it. 

Anyways, someone told me a long time ago the best way to become a better writer was to read and write as much as possible

Although though it's undeniably magical, a "trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium" is easier said than done - the place is huge, crowded, and expensive.