by Jaclyn Brandt | Jun 25, 2026
Planning your first trip to Istanbul? If the Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern are on your bucket list — and they absolutely should be — you need to prepare for one major thing: the crowds. Please note: We are not sponsored in any way for this video but we do get...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Oct 29, 2024
If you are planning a trip to China, the options can be overwhelming. The country is thousands of years old, and there are so many amazing things to see and places to visit. Unless you have a year to visit China, you will need to narrow down your visit to a few...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Oct 27, 2024
Visiting Iceland can be one of the most amazing trips of your life. I had never considered going there, but was invited by a friend and had heard so many amazing things about it. But there are some important things to know before visiting Iceland. Click the links...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Oct 21, 2024
Visiting the Vatican can be an overwhelming experience — mostly because there is so much to do, and you don’t want to miss anything. From the Sistine Chapel to the Vatican Museums to climbing St. Peter’s Basilica Dome, you could spend days there soaking it...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Oct 20, 2024
Hong Kong is an amazing destination to visit, and there are so many things to do in such a small area. I had never considered visiting, but we decided to end our China trip in Hong Kong and then my family joined us for that section. We only had three days in the city,...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Oct 8, 2024
If you are traveling to Italy, visiting the city of Pompeii and hiking Mount Vesuvius are must-see locations. There are so many Italian cities with amazing history, but none have been preserved the way Pompeii has. We have some tips on how to get to Pompeii from Rome,...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Oct 3, 2024
Idaho was named one of the top 10 places to visit in 2017 — and the only one in the United States. In the last two or three decades, the city of Boise, Idaho has gone from a small western town to a hot spot for culture, beer, and music. The city also offers numerous...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Aug 20, 2024
Green Bay can be a fun city for both Packers fans and non-Packers fans alike. The history of the city, as well as the history of the team in a town of barely 100,000, can make a fun weekend to visit. However, in the last few years, the Green Bay Packers have gone...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Aug 9, 2024
Although not as well known as other German cities, Regensburg has 140,000 residents, and is the fourth-largest Bavarian city in the State of Bavaria. It is only hours away from numerous metropolitan European cities, and can even make a good day trip. Whether you plan...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Jul 30, 2024
Seattle, Washington is an eclectic city, with plenty to see — both historically and culturally. The best way to travel around Seattle is by foot — so if you find yourself in downtown Seattle and don’t want to have to drive anywhere, there are plenty of things to...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Jul 22, 2024
The Vatican Scavi Tour, or a tour of the Vatican Necropolis, is one of the most exclusive tours in Rome, Italy, and maybe even in Europe! This is because they only let around 250 people in each day (compared with the more than 30,000 who visit the Vatican each day)....
by Jaclyn Brandt | Jul 20, 2024
Central Oregon is full of plenty of beautiful hikes, and a surprising amount of those hikes have a waterfall at the end (or at the beginning!) If you are in the area and wonder “what are the best waterfalls near me?” – here are our tips for our...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Jun 19, 2024
Central Oregon is full of volcanoes — in fact, much of the Bend, Oregon area is built on top of lava flows from an eruption hundreds of thousands of years ago. There are two active volcanoes in the vicinity of Bend. While it makes it tough to build down, it does give...
![6 things to do in Cancun, Mexico [VIDEO]](https://jaclytravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/visiting-cancun-mexico-downtown-cancun-jaclytravel-1080x675.jpg)
by Jaclyn Brandt | Apr 22, 2024
There are so many places that you can equate to paradise in Mexico, and Cancun is one of the most popular. I just went on my very first trip to Mexico, and Cancun was just lovely. Here are my favorite things to do in Cancun, Mexico. Click the links below to skip to...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Apr 22, 2024
When visiting the Vatican, it’s important to remember to show respect. Even if you are not Catholic, and even if you are not Christian, you are in a holy place and it’s important to follow the few amount of rules they have in the Vatican dress code. The Vatican’s...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Apr 20, 2024
Anyone visiting China could overlook Xian as an important destination to visit. The Terracotta Warriors are an amazing discovery for the city, but Xian, China is a great location to visit for so many other reasons. Here is what we did while visiting Xian, China in one...
![I stayed at the Big Idaho Potato Hotel near Boise, Idaho [VIDEO]](https://jaclytravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/big-idaho-potato-hotel-boise-idaho-jaclytravel-5-1080x675.jpg)
by Jaclyn Brandt | Apr 11, 2024
Stay overnight in a potato? If you are visiting Idaho, you might as well, right? We decided to spend one night in the Big Idaho Potato Hotel, just outside of Boise, Idaho. Click the links below to skip to any of the following sections: History The Big Idaho Potato...
![Visiting Roosevelt Island in New York City [VIDEO]](https://jaclytravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/roosevelt-island-new-york-city-6-1080x675.jpg)
by Jaclyn Brandt | Apr 8, 2024
Roosevelt Island is a beautiful and sometimes missed location when people visit New York City, New York. However, Roosevelt is easy to get to from the city and a fun way to spend an afternoon. Here are some of the things we did while visiting Roosevelt Island in New...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Apr 3, 2024
Salt Lake City is a beautiful city, but often forgotten when it comes to vacation destinations. I decided to spend a trip (my very first solo trip) in downtown SLC for three days. Here are my favorite things to do in Salt Lake City, Utah. Click the links below to skip...
![Visiting Via Appia Antica [map]: Get there from Rome’s city center](https://jaclytravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/via-appia-antica-rome-italy-17-1080x675.jpg)
by Jaclyn Brandt | Mar 18, 2024
The Via Appia Antica is one of the most historic locations in the world, and yet many tourists to Rome, Italy don’t even know about it. Here are our tips on how to get to Via Appia and what to do once you are there. When they say “All Roads Lead to...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Feb 15, 2024
Pilsen, Czech Republic is a historic city for so many reasons, and is one of the best day trips from Prague. The city has been around for hundreds of years, and has so much history from all different eras. Here are our top things to see when visiting Pilsen, Czech...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Feb 9, 2024
Ice skating in Buffalo, New York is a must-do when you visit the city (no matter what season it is). But if you are looking to make it an event, ice skating at Canalside in Buffalo is one of the best experiences you can have while you’re there. Click the links...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Jan 28, 2024
The best advice I received before heading to Italy was from Rick Steves: he suggested reserving your time to climb the Duomo Florence far in advance of your trip to the city. And he was right: the Il Duomo di Firenze (the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) was...
by Jaclyn Brandt | Jan 10, 2024
Smith Rock State Park is unlike anything you have ever seen. Created out of thousands of years of volcanic eruptions, Smith Rock has numerous rock structures, which make it perfect for climbing, hiking, or horseback riding. Here are the things you need to know to...
