Karen Kitchens

Ireland Destination Travel Agent Specialist

Amazing Ireland!

Whether you like history, fantastic food, the best scenery, drinks, fellowship and fun, this is the place I think everyone should visit and experience!

Dublin-This place needs several days to see most of it! Museums, churches, shops, eateries, pubs and more!  There is something for everyone when you visit Dublin.

-St Patrick's Cathedral, the largest cathedral and one of the most historical sites in Ireland, Saint Patrick’s has been at the heart of Dublin and Ireland’s history for over 800 years. There are so many beautiful and massive churches that are mostly open to the public to sit in, admire the incredible stained glass windows or be prayed for.  

-The Temple Bar pub, famous red pub, sits in the middle of cobblestone streets full of shops, pubs and eateries.  For the adults, you will want to take the Jameson and Guinness tour (eat at the Guinness restaurant and try a pint or 2!) 

-Learn of the potato famine (1845-1852, starvation took out almost half the population) and see several streets lined with headstones.  

-There is a leprechaun museum that is kind of a hidden gem.  Did you know Walt Disney changed the original leprechaun’s clothes to green (they actually wear brown/red) so that it would look better when on TV?

-Trinity College, which houses one of the oldest known libraries, where The Book of Kells is on display.  It is the original 9th century-1200 year old manuscript containing the four Gospels in Latin. 

Cliff of Moher-Dramatic cliffs, breathtaking views, this destination cannot be beat!  If you can, go during sunrise or sunset, it is a view that will occupy your mind for years to come! The little hobbit gift shop is a must visit too.

Waterford-Yes, this is where Waterford Crystal comes from!  I toured this massive company,in awe of the things they create, the history and stories of what it takes to work for them. It’s amazing to hear and watch them work, while they talk.  I think my favorite piece is the NFL Championship trophy that is only made here.  While here, visit a local sandwich shop, which has Blaa bread, it is The Best!

Ring of Kerry-It was a rainy day (which is not unusual for Ireland) when I visited the Ring of Kerry. Photographers were lined up to get that perfect shot of sun rays shining through the clouds, over the open sea, to show the absolute perfection of this place.

Blarney Castle-There are a few things that are extraordinary about this visit.  The Blarney castle, which houses the Blarney stone.  Kiss the stone for the gift of gab!  It has a tree (or bush) from every continent and one of the only complete poison gardens in the world!  Yes, you read that right, poison garden with a variety of every poison plant to educate the pros and cons of these dangerous plants. I bet any Harry Potter fan will recognise some of them, like Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) and Wolfsbane (Monkshood/Aconite). There are so many more to see and learn about. (Strictly for educational purposes, of course.)

Cobh (Pronounced Cove)-Did you know the last port of call for the Titanic was Cobh, Ireland?  You can walk through the museum and still see the pier the final passengers walked across to board the doomed luxury ship.

Killarney-Killarney National Park is over 24,ooo acres and combines mountains, lakes, woodland and waterfalls. It also houses a few castles!  My suggestion is take the horse drawn carriage ride through a portion of this park.  There is also a little theater that often has local dancers and musicians come to put on a show worth watching!

Whatever your favorite reason to travel, Ireland is the destination!  

Alaska Travel Agent Specialist

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Italy Travel Agent Specialist

Italy-If you like food, wine, history and culture, this may be the place for you!

Venice-Did you know Venice is about 100 or so small islands?  The canals are the roadways that connect all these together.  The canals are lined with architecture that is Gothic or Renaissance style and is amazing to see.  There are restaurants that expect you to take up a table and stay for as long as you like.  It is a slower paced atmosphere here and people take pride in that.  In the warmer months, there is an outdoor market with so many bright colors from Venetian masks, scarfs, luggage to handbags and shoes.  Don’t forget to bring home a mask!  Every color, style, size…it is hard to choose but it’s amazing to see the artistry that goes into each one.

Pisa-The leaning tower of Pisa is one of the most famous sites in Italy.  People flock from around the world to see this wonder and take a look/tour inside.  Don’t just stop here though, walk through the streets at the cafes, shops and so many other buildings whose architecture will catch the eye.  I had pizza in Pisa, it is a Must try!  If you are driving though,pay close attention to the street signs as there are several streets, with one- way traffic, and the flow of which way to go changes based on time of day. I learned this the hard way.

The drive from Pisa to Tuscany was incredible.  High bridges above a natural forest or stream give a calming effect that has to be witnessed first hand.  The streets/highways do not curve around the mountains, they go right through them with man made tunnels.  It is so worth the drive.

Tuscany-I think this is my favorite spot of all of Italy, at least so far.  We stayed in a hotel where the views were unmatched.  The best wine (moscato) I have ever tasted and food like you have never had.  There is also a train that can take you to any other city you want to travel.  Make sure you note exactly what station you got on and which track you got off so you don’t end up on the wrong train, like I did.  There are cities that sound similar.

Florence-We took the train into Florence. I think this may be the best architecture I have ever seen, pictures do not do this place justice!  The colors, the detail of every building is outstanding.There are several

DaVinci museums, check them all out.  There is one for his inventions, showing his invention and its drawings and how it has evolved into things we use today. There is an art museum of his greatest works and some lesser known pieces that should be better known.  There are walking tours that will guide you through the museums and teach you about his history and works.

The one thing I have always wanted to see and didn’t think I would (Florence was not on our original itinerary) is the statue of David. You see every vein, every tensed muscle, every line as if David was standing in front of you. It is the most emotional and amazing thing to see close up. 

There are also many of DaVinci sculptures that are amazing as well and several that are partially finished showing his method of creation.

Rome-The history, the structures, sites, shops, I’m just not sure you can fit everything into a paragraph or two.  First, the coliseum was amazing.  I took the inside tour and was blown away by the history, the stories, and how big this structure was.  I learned so much that you don’t learn in school or by watching roman movies.  While I truly enjoyed all the sites, I have to say the food was better in the other cities.

Vatican City-When visiting, please ensure that you are covered past your knees!  I had on a skirt that was right above the knee and very conservative but had to buy a scarf and wrap it to cover my knees.  The beautiful buildings, history, art and the people, this is a place worth visiting. I suggest taking a walking guided tour as you learn so much more than just walking around on your own.  

Sistine Chapel-A work of art on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel that will take your breath away. It took over 4 years for Michelangelo to complete this amazing work.  Pictures inside are not allowed but this is something you will remember for the rest of your life.

Puglia-The Mediterranean coast is home of a city of whitewashed buildings, hills, farmland and some of the best food and wine.  There are several cookbooks from this region and tours available for cooking classes, wine tasting, pairings and some of the friendliest people I have met on any journey.  This town feels like you imagine when watching movies about Italy.

There are so many places to explore in Italy, where do you want to go?

Scotland Travel Agent Extraordinaire

Scotland-The history, the people and the fun, this is the place to see!

Lock Ness- They have boat tours so you can seek out Nessie, I did not see her but I did go looking!  This 23 mile long loch (Scottish word for lake),  is so deep, it holds more water than all English and Welsh lakes combined!  No wonder the Loch Ness Monster is so hard to find!

Isle of Skye-Dramatic landscapes, hiking and the colors of the sky, you will want your camera out for this drive.  It is just a day trip and you should go during sunset for the best pictures.

Edinburgh-Most famous for the Edinburgh castle, I think I went up and down more hills than I did in the Highlands!  Even on a warm day, the castle is windy so bring a jacket and scarf.  It was built high on cliffs so it was hard to invade and easily able to see anything coming.  

The Royal Mile is a strip from Edinburgh castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse (The King's official residence in Scotland) and is lined with shops, bakeries, restaurants and store fronts.  I suggest starting at Edinburgh castle and going down the royal mile and stop at the shops for souvenirs and sweets!

Mary, Queen of Scots, was born at a palace here in Edinburgh, gave birth to her son, James, at Edinburgh castle and lived in Holyroodhouse when she returned from France.  You can take tours to see many places that have ties to her as well as her bath house outside the palace.  If you love history, this is one you won’t forget!

Glasgow-Glasgow is best known for its culture, stunning architecture, free museums, and is a UNESCO City of Music. It is also famous for being Scotland's largest city.  Walking through the streets makes you feel like you are walking through history.  

Amazing parks and a grave yard (Glasgow Necropolis)  like I have never seen!  It is 37 acres, has around 50,000 grave sites and 3500 monuments.  One monument marked WW, is for Sir William Wallace (Mel Gibson played this famous Scot in the movie, Braveheart). Of course, there is no known official gravesite for William Wallace since he was executed in London (1305) and his body parts were displayed across the UK. 

There are a few abbeys in and around Glasgow however, I suggest checking out St Mungo Museum of Religious Life & Arts.  It is a free museum, rich with history!  They also still hold weddings here. They have the cutest gift shop that is worth checking out.   

The Highlands-The mountains of Scotland can be found in this most pristine and magical feeling place!  It has Ben Nevis, the highest mountain range in the UK, which some people climb/walk but I am not that someone.  The seasons are dramatic with whipping winds and snow to the changing of colors to fall, to the glorious greens, yellows and purples of spring and summer.  The Highlands cows (Or coos as the scottish would say) are so sweet, we had to pull over to pet them and the owners of the farm invited us to come onto the farm to see the babies.  This was one of the happiest times I have had in my life!  Apparently, it is against customs to bring one home so I had to leave without them.

Inverness-Gateway to the Highlands or The Capital of the Highlands is a visitor's dream!  Night life with local pubs and distilleries. Riverside walks, with local gardens and a calming effect unmatched!  There is so much history near here. Don’t forget to check out Inverness castle!

Battle of Culloden -I think this is the most famous battlefield in Scotland history, especially with the show Outlander!  Here you see the actual field & Fort George. There is a walkway with monuments, stones and markers with historical facts, names from the battle, short stories and dates.  Both sides of the battlefield are lined with flags so you can see how far apart they were at the start of the battle and how far they had to run to meet the opponents. There is a sadness/heaviness over this field that you can feel today. 

Torphichen (Pronounced Tour-fik-in)-Small historical village about 18 miles west of Edinburgh.  The village church is said to have been founded by St. Ninian in about 400AD, a small wooden structure on the site of the present church (itself rebuilt in 1756). By the medieval period, the church and area had continued to develop and in 1165, the Knights Hospitaller of St. John made their Scottish headquarters at Torphichen and the Preceptory stands as testament to their presence.By 1756, part of the old structure of the Preceptory was altered to allow the creation of a new parish church for local residents, supported by patronage from the Lord Torphichen and also from the local laird Walter Gillon of Wallhouse. Wallhouse remains as a castellated country house just on the western edge of the village.The 18th century creation of the parish church also included the addition of a belfry tower, which resulted in destruction of the Norman nave. (Wikipedia)

There is also an Inn, The Torphichen Inn, with beautiful tartan carpet and is said to serve the best haggis in all of Scotland.