Mac On the Map

The
journey
is the Goal

Find your next adventure as I take you across the map

  • Being a Tourist in Venice, Italy

    Being a Tourist in Venice, Italy

    While I think Venice is really a city just to get lost in, there are some pretty amazing sights to see as well. Most of the famous ones are centered around St. Mark’s Square. St Mark’s Square is grand and opulent. The Doge Palace wraps around the large open square where cafes take turns playing… Read more

  • Beyond the Walls of Kotor’s Old City, Montenegro

    Beyond the Walls of Kotor’s Old City, Montenegro

    When more than one cruise ship is in port (most of the time), Kotor’s old city becomes too crowded to enjoy, so I tried to spend the midday hours venturing outside of the city walls.   Kotor is set at the base of Lovćen Mountain, so it’s easy to access the mountain trails from the city. … Read more

  • Diving into the History of Dubrovnik, Croatia

    Diving into the History of Dubrovnik, Croatia

    Dubrovnik’s walled old city was the most impressive of the medieval cities I visited during my trip.  Set at the base of a mountain along the coast, the city stands alone.   The Dubrovnik Walls were built up to 25 meters high and 6 meters thick with multiple layers to protect the city from cannonballs and… Read more

  • Wandering around the Old City of Munich, Germany

    Wandering around the Old City of Munich, Germany

    Today’s plan was to just walk around the city. I had researched specific sites to start the itinerary, but I was also ready to walk through any door to see where it led.  Munich’s old town has so many beautiful buildings, churches, and parks, that it wasn’t hard to spend a whole day talking in… Read more

  • Surrounded by Blue: Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

    Surrounded by Blue: Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

    Plitvice Lakes National Park is Croatia’s largest and most famous natural wonder, so even though it’s about a two hour drive over the mountains and through the rural towns of inland Croatia, tourists still flock to the park.  Declared a national park in 1949 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, Plitvice Lakes is… Read more

  • A Day at the Museum: Florence, Italy

    A Day at the Museum: Florence, Italy

    On the first Sunday of every month from October to March, the state museums in Florence are free. This includes some of the most iconic museums in the city, so when I realized that I lucked out and would be in the city for one of these days, I knew that I had to put… Read more

  • To Yellowstone and Beyond

    To Yellowstone and Beyond

    I love our National Parks. Even the smallest of them showcase the beauty America has to offer. They are a treasure that should be protected by everyone. Living on the East Coast, I don’t have as easy access to the parks as I wish, so I had to make the most of this trip out… Read more

  • Dancing in the Rain: Salzburg, Austria

    Dancing in the Rain: Salzburg, Austria

    While I like exploring cities, I find that getting outside of cities provides some beautiful views and more local experiences. I also like to be active, so if there’s a hike to a lookout or a bike riding option, I will almost always take them. After riding the train for a few hours to get… Read more

  • Islands Full of Color: Burano & Murano, Italy

    Islands Full of Color: Burano & Murano, Italy

    With a multi day boat pass in hand, I decided to spend some time in the nearby islands of Burano and Murano. In order to get a jump start on the tourist crowds, I took an early morning boat to the island of Burano. Riding the 45 min ferry (Vaporetto 12) through the Venetian lagoon… Read more

  • Maximizing my Time in Zurich, Switzerland

    Maximizing my Time in Zurich, Switzerland

    Zurich is not people’s first choice when it comes to Swiss cities, but the reasons why people skip it are the reasons that I really enjoyed it. Instead of feeling like a city for the tourists, Zurich felt like a place people live – even the old city part.  Because I was staying about an… Read more

  • Living in the Renaissance: Mantova, Italy

    Living in the Renaissance: Mantova, Italy

    After leaving tourist-swarmed Florence, Mantova (also called Mantua) was a breath of fresh air. It still has all the charm of an old Italian city, but without all of the people.  Known as the city of lakes as it is surrounded by three man made lakes, Mantova’s restricted size has kept it small and community… Read more

  • There’s History in the Architecture: Tirana, Albania

    There’s History in the Architecture: Tirana, Albania

    Albania is one of those countries that sneaks up on you.  Since it was isolated from the rest of the world until 1991 (people didn’t even know what a banana or coke was – according to the parents of my tour guide), it has had to catch up at record speed to the rest of… Read more

More Posts