StrayAdventures

StrayAdventures

Travel Blog | From the well known to off the beaten path.
About Us
My son and I enjoying the beautiful bridges in Venice, Italy. My husband Ray and our son soaking in the views of Paris on the Eiffel Tower Welcome to our Travel Blog!!  My name is...
Travel Planning
Travel tailored to your tastes! Travel at your Leisure.     We specialize in planning multi-city destinations that you can explore on your own.  We ask for only 10% of your airfare, lodging, and rental...
Travel Tips
Moab National Parks – Canyonlands and Arches
Moab Utah's Canyonlands and Arches National Parks are one of those magical places that live up to the all the hype and really are worth...
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Santa Barbara – A Pacific Coast Itinerary
State Street is an iconic walk for any first time visitor to Santa Barbara The Pacific Coast Highway highlights many beautiful areas of California we've...
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Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula – Why It Needs To Be Part Of Your Irish Itinerary
Abandoned cottages on Slea Head Drive Ireland's coastal Wild Atlantic Way consistently never disappoints for it's epic scenery and spanning vistas. Dingle stood out to...
Read More "Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula – Why It Needs To Be Part Of Your Irish Itinerary"
Scotland – Secrets And Travel Tips for an Epic Bucket List
Loch Tay is located by The Trossachs National Park Ancestor searches throughout the world can trace their family roots to honored and noble Scottish clans....
Read More "Scotland – Secrets And Travel Tips for an Epic Bucket List"
Hosting Your Own Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea parties are a wonderful way to celebrate babies, brides and just getting together with good friends. If only we could all do as...
Read More "Hosting Your Own Afternoon Tea"
How to Travel with a Family – Minus the Stress
Most families want to enjoy a break from their busy lives where each family member can truly feel relaxed and entertained. But, is this so...
Read More "How to Travel with a Family – Minus the Stress"
Planning Your California Adventure: Our Review of the Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas
https://youtu.be/1ua6Uuo3Sgw Southern California coastline brings to mind stunning cliff vistas of coastal highway in never ending sunny weather.  Could your lodging in Los Angeles, California...
Read More "Planning Your California Adventure: Our Review of the Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas"
Planning Your California Adventure at Disneyland
Planning a trip to Disney can be daunting… period…. let alone Disneyland in downtown Los Angeles.  Legendary traffic and crowded parks conjures up images of...
Read More "Planning Your California Adventure at Disneyland"

Moab National Parks – Canyonlands and Arches

Moab Utah’s Canyonlands and Arches National Parks are one of those magical places that live up to the all the hype and really are worth the time and energy visit. While millions are visiting National Parks like never before this year you can certainly include them in an itinerary that’s …

Santa Barbara – A Pacific Coast Itinerary

The Pacific Coast Highway highlights many beautiful areas of California we’ve enjoyed visiting many times. Santa Barbara however has become a highlight for us. A-list celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Oprah Winfrey, J Lo and Steven Spielberg to mention only a few have made Santa Barbara home and with good …

Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula – Why It Needs To Be Part Of Your Irish Itinerary

Ireland’s coastal Wild Atlantic Way consistently never disappoints for it’s epic scenery and spanning vistas. Dingle stood out to us as being just that while slightly quieter and off the beaten path from the massively big touristy spots. The Ring of Kerry, while completely spectacular and still worth the drive, …

Scotland – Secrets And Travel Tips for an Epic Bucket List

Ancestor searches throughout the world can trace their family roots to honored and noble Scottish clans. Many would love to, and have, rented a car and retraced their roots through the Highlands and beyond. Spectacular cinematic photography in such beloved television dramas as Outlander and Game of Thrones, to only …

Hosting Your Own Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea parties are a wonderful way to celebrate babies, brides and just getting together with good friends. If only we could all do as the British say and keep calm! And ring Carson for tea! While expectations are high in anticipation for Downton Abbey’s big movie release this Fall, …

How to Travel with a Family – Minus the Stress

Most families want to enjoy a break from their busy lives where each family member can truly feel relaxed and entertained. But, is this so elusive that it is only for the rich and famous? Can it only be attained through hard earned savings on a week in Disney, a …

Planning Your California Adventure: Our Review of the Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas

Southern California coastline brings to mind stunning cliff vistas of coastal highway in never ending sunny weather.  Could your lodging in Los Angeles, California possibly provide all of these views in a luxury setting as well?  We hoped for the best when we booked our stay at the Marriott’s Newport …

Planning Your California Adventure at Disneyland

Planning a trip to Disney can be daunting… period…. let alone Disneyland in downtown Los Angeles.  Legendary traffic and crowded parks conjures up images of stressed out parents and not exactly the much advertised happiest place on earth.  But here is why I think Disneyland in downtown Los Angeles is …

Planning Your Dream

I have a freebie for you today!!  Near the end of the article is the link if you want to skip right to it.  But, if you have time lets talk Trip planning!!  Nothing can seem more daunting then hitting the internet and planning that trip you’ve always dreamed about.  …

My Favorite Day Trips from Paris

Oh how I love Paris!  There’s not a city on the planet I would love to visit again and again like I do Paris.  But are there only the Eiffel Tower and the magical walks along the Seine the only options for your visit to the City of Lights?  There’s more than enough to do in Paris to keep you busy for weeks but why not venture out for a day trip to see what the Kings and Royalty of the past discovered making their homes in the fresh air and rural French countryside that can’t be found anywhere else. All within an hours train ride! These are my 3 favorite Day Trips from Paris I know you will enjoy to!

Versailles

Yes, this is the top of the list.  There’s so much to discover that honestly pictures and movies just can’t come close to seeing this Palace in person.

A small area of the gardens of Versailles.

You already know it’s outrageous and fueled a Revolution but you will be in awe.  This royal chateau features the Palace itself, the Trianon (Marie Antoinette’s personal hamlet) and gallery of coaches (the largest collection of coaches in Europe). These three sites alone take at the very least a day to tour let alone exploring the gardens.  Choose your options carefully for your day trip and book ahead of time if you can.  The day we arrived was unfortunately a holiday and we had not booked ahead.  The palace, the Trianon and Gallery were closed but the magnificent gardens open and free to tour.  Honestly we were not disappointed with all we got to see that day. Versailles as you know was purposely outrageous and ostentatious to impress visitors and royal dignitaries of the day and it still wows.  It’s well worth your time and the less than an hour train ride from central Paris to experience the history and lifestyle of French Royalty.

 Loire Valley

This stop is only an hour high speed train ride away from Paris and where the Kings and Royalty went when it was to hot to stay in Paris during the summer.  They built amazing and beautiful chateaus that sat completely empty all year round till they arrived.  The furniture wasn’t even left behind with noone to guard it. Experience for yourself the famous Chambord Chauteau and Chenonceau castles and the luxury of this region.  

Giverny

French artists are famous worldwide but one name is unfading and that is Claude Monet.  His beautiful art is timeless and inspired from his immaculately tended gardens.  His home and extensive gardens can be toured and the rural village it is part of is inspiring to visit.  His legacy left behind surroundings that have been cared for since his death in 1926.  You can see the paintings in the Musee d’Orsay but why not visit the inspiration?  The beauty has been preserved to inspire new generations of artists who regularly paint here and tourists like me who love and admire his work.

It has been said again and again that a visit to  Paris is always a good idea!  Why not explore what surrounds it that truly supports it as a dream destination.