Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland is a ravenous traveler marathon. You wake up to the Dropkick Murphy’s “Cadence to Arms” with all its blaring punk rock and bagpipe beauty, then jump straight into the festivities at Dublin’s Saint Patrick’s Day Festival. But before you finish the first Irish carbomb of the day, you may […]
How Would You Like Your Shamrock? Ask the Ravenous Traveler
“How would you like your shamrock,” asked the bartender. It was my first trip to Ireland. I’d ordered a Guinness; I was seventeen; and I had no idea what he was talking about—confused as much by his thick Irish accent as by the question. “How would you like your shamrock,” he asked again. After receiving […]
Ravenous Traveler’s Wine Tasting Guide to the Thurgau Region, Switzerland
Ah Switzerland! Your ski-resort-studded peaks and culinary treats call to us, but your price tag makes many think twice. Fortunately, culinary travelers can take solace in knowing that wine tasting in Switzerland’s Thurgau wine region—just outside of Zurich—comes at a good price, and regardless of whether or not you’re a budget traveler, the wine is […]
Fondue, I Do: A Romance in the Swiss Tradition
More than just delicious melted cheese, fondue offers the intoxicating aroma of wine and kirsch and the intimate experience of literally sharing a meal. Throw in dreamy views of Switzerland’s iconic Alps, and you’ve got a romantic getaway you’ll never forget. To really knock the socks off the one you love this Valentine’s Day, take […]
Wine Tasting in the Ahr Valley of Germany
It’s time to get down with spätburgunder! Spätburgunder doesn’t roll off the tongue, but it tastes delicious. Better known as pinot noir, spätburgunder wines come from Germany’s Ahr Valley—located half an hour south of Bonn—and pinot noir lovers will want to descend upon this up-and-coming red wine region on their next European wine journey. […]
First Time Visitor’s Guide to Piran, Slovenia
The first-time visitor is often drawn to Piran, the fishing village on the Adriatic coast, by beautiful photographs of a turquoise sea and Venetian-style architecture, but it is more than just a place to relax, it is a culinary heaven with some of the best wellness spas on earth. The town grew up on olive oil […]
A Road Trip through Slovenia’s Karst Region
“My soul is jolly/As though it had been drinking the Karst teran,” wrote poet Oton Župancic. A karst is a landscape characterized by eroded limestone formations, and the word is derived from Slovenia’s Karst region. Located in southwest Slovenia, the Karst region, which runs alongside the Italian city of Trieste, is an uncommon mixture […]
Guide to Wine Tasting on Mt. Etna in Sicily
The Mt. Etna volcano in Sicily is famous for steaming volcanic chasms, snowy peaks, and wild jeep expeditions, but the volcano’s most recent claim to fame is its wineries and wine tastings. Just a short drive from the famous seaside resort town of Taormina, as well as the bustling coastal city of Catania, Mt. Etna’s […]
Where to Stay in Killarney, Ireland
Where to Stay in Killarney, Ireland The small town of Killarney offers all accommodation types, from top-notch 5-star hotels to authentic Irish B&Bs; and the local hotels are famous for their hospitality. When choosing where to stay, note that the Killarney National Park is within walking distance of the Killarney town center (as are most […]
Where to Stay in Budapest
Where to Stay in Budapest – Editor’s Picks A city of almost 2 million, Budapest, Hungary is a great European cultural and financial center that offers a fantastic selection of hotels. When choosing where to stay in Budapest, note that the forint-to-dollar exchange rate works in the dollar’s favor, and many hotels come at an exceptional value. […]