Mindy on the Map

No destination screams “HALLOWEEN” quite like Salem, Massachusetts does, so it’s no surprise that it draws thousands of visitors for the holiday (and the surrounding weekends) each year. This creates a fun, festive, atmosphere, but also means that the streets and shops are packed to capacity, tours sell out, accommodations book up well in advance, and your trip to Salem requires some advanced planning in order to be as enjoyable as possible. But this guide will take you through everything you need to know to make planning a breeze!

A perfect itinerary in the Canadian Rockies absolutely must include visiting Banff and Jasper National Parks. And if you’re already going to be in both of those locations, it would be a mistake not to go to Yoho National Park or discover what the Icefields Parkway has to offer as well. The only issue with having all of these great places in the same area, is that it can be overwhelming if you are trying to plan on seeing everything within the confines of a single week! This itinerary manages to do just that, though. And that means that instead of stressing out about the plan, you can use this as an outline for your own trip and then focus all of your energy on hiking, taking in the views, and enjoying what the parks have to offer. To follow this itinerary exactly, you’ll need to have a rental car and to start in Banff. This post contains affiliate links. That means, that at no cost to you, I earn a small commission when you click on a link and purchase the item. I choose prod...

The Icefields parkway is more than a road connecting Banff and Jasper National Parks – it’s an attraction in its own right. As one of the most scenic drives in the world, packed with lakes, mountains, wildlife, and glaciers, there are countless stops that can be made along the 140-ish mile long route, but these 7 really stand out.

Jasper National Park has extensive trails, active wildlife, and unbelievable mountain scenery. And, while the park itself is larger than neighboring Banff , the city is smaller and has a more local feel that a lot of visitors find preferable. Between the cute town and spectacular setting, you have the perfect backdrop for these 7 activities and a fantastic vacation!

People flock to Banff for the stunning scenery, epic hikes, various wildlife, and quaint downtown area. And I can confirm, the location is worth all the hype . After all, Banff was Canada’s first National Park for a reason!

Iceland is closer to the United States than you might realize. The flight from Detroit to Reykjavik took less than 6 hours, which means planning a stopover trip on your way somewhere else in Europe or a long weekend in Iceland from the Eastern part of the U.S. isn’t unreasonable! And, while that might not give you enough time to take the Ring Road around the entire country, that is plenty of time to explore the capital city and take a few spectacular day trips. Other factors that make Iceland a great place to visit are the safety and lack of language barrier for English speakers. Iceland has been ranked as the world’s safest country year after year (since 2008), making it ideal for solo travelers, couples, or groups alike. Also, tourism is Iceland’s biggest industry, and almost everyone speaks fluent English. One of the guides I was chatting with mentioned that Icelanders are tending to use English in casual conversations among themselves more and more nowadays, so it’s well-practi...

Austria’s culture is built around classical music, cafes, and a rich, well-preserved history. There are plenty of things to do and see in Austria in each of those categories, as well as beautiful landscapes, delicious food, and exemplary public transport to get around and see it all with. In short, there’s nothing not to love about Austria! Another reason to visit Austria is that there is no bad time to go. Summers are one of the most popular times to visit, because the mild temperatures are perfect for being out and about and the sunny weather just accentuates the scenery in the Austrian countryside that looks like it’s straight off of a screensaver. In the Spring and Fall, the various palace gardens are in full bloom and you avoid some of the tourist crowds. Winter is a second high season because Austria is the winter sports capital of Europe and hosts epic Christmas markets. Finally, Austria is one of the safest places in the world to visit. While you should always be aware of y...