Brighton, England

Brighton is home to an insanely gorgeous palace and an amazing sea life aquarium. It has a rich history, is one of the most LGBT friendly places in the country, and the beach is nothing but pebbles. If you walk further down the beach (away from the pier) you will end up on Brighton’s Nude Beach. I did not venture this far. The pier is packed with people, all trying to win arcade games. It’s a mini carnival, essentially. The aquarium is fantastic, and on one level you can find several giant sea turtles.

Stratford, England

It is the birthplace and final resting place of William Shakespeare. Home to the Royal Shakespeare Company and many a Shakespeare tribute. Stratford is a picturesque town, with a beautiful river running through it that is absolutely packed full of swans. It’s home to several novelty shops, covering such things as Peter Rabbit, Doctor Who, Shakespeare (of course), and the Wizarding World. Tours can be taken of the Royal Shakespeare Company (you can even try on some old costumes).  I definitely recommend Stratford to those who love Shakespeare.

The Cliffs of Moher

I went to Ireland at the beginning of May, and I took a tour to the Cliffs of Moher. This tour took me all along the coast and lasted the entire day. Ireland is absolutely gorgeous. It’s incredibly scenic. The Cliffs were amazing (and quite a walk). They go on and on, and there are paths to allow you to walk along them at a safe distance, though as you get further from the visitors area the fences dwindle, and you can get close to the edge of the cliffs. I definitely recommend checking out Moher if you’re planning a trip to Ireland.

Villa D’Este

Villa D’Este is about half an hour outside of Rome and is home to some of the most extravagant fountains and landscaping. The Villa is massive and there are over a thousand fountains in the large yard that extends down the hill. If you want to visit this Villa, be prepared for a hike. There’s a lot of stairs (some of which are oddly spaced). You’re going to get a workout. The fountains are absolutely gorgeous, however, and the majority of them can be seen from the top of the Villa.

Hidden Gem: Sperlonga Beach

I recently visited this lovely town during a trip to Italy. Sperlonga is a hidden gem, about two hours south of Rome and completely tourist free. It was gorgeous and absolutely relaxing. I did this as part of a day tour, found through Viator (it happens to be the only tour for Sperlonga) and despite the term ‘tour’ it wasn’t like any tours I’ve done before. We spent the day on the beach, relaxing, and part of the afternoon was spent on a boat tour which takes you all along the coast to see the grottos. If you’re feeling adventurous they do pause the boat to allow you to swim into one of the larger and more open grottos. This was honestly my favorite part of Italy, that I got to see.