Encompass The World Travel Blog - Page 6 of 39

Destination Spotlight: Ireland

Lush green landscapes dotted with castles, a charming and inviting pub culture, and friendly and hospitable people who love to laugh make Ireland a popular and beloved tourist destination. Distinctly Ireland: Waterford Crystal, whiskey, Guinness, St. Patrick’s Day, Irish Stew and Irish Soda Bread, shamrocks, Aran sweaters, Donegal tweed, and U2 Pop Culture Ireland Movies/TV Shows Filmed (At Least Partly) in Ireland: The Princess Bride (the Cliffs of Insanity scene was filmed at the Cliffs of Moher), Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan (the opening scene depicting the Normandy Invasion was filmed at Ballinesker Beach), Game of Thrones was filmed in Northern…
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Packing Your Theme Park Bag

If packing your luggage for your upcoming family vacation isn’t stressful enough, now think about packing your theme park day bag each morning (or evening before, if you’re a planner!) Prepping your family for a day spent exploring a favorite theme park is a daunting task. You need to think about appropriate attire, apply sunscreen and ensure everyone has their protective sun gear, pack medications, wrangle snacks and drinks, and then think about the extra odds and ends. Suddenly, a fun day riding rides, watching parades, and eating junk food just got a bit more complicated. We’ve simplified that park…
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The “Do-Nothing” Vacation

Traveling allows us to immerse ourselves in new cultures and experiences, learning about both the world and ourselves simultaneously. Rigorous sightseeing permits viewing lots of landscapes and landmarks, maximizing our time away so we can see as much as possible during our (often too short) vacation time. We feast, we snap photos, we journal, we learn, and we return home, our minds and hearts full of the moments we just shared. These trips can be life-altering, exceptionally humbling, and incredibly magical. But sometimes we crave ultimate relaxation. A life reset. A chance to recharge our batteries by unplugging and detaching…
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Delicious Desserts Around the World (Part 2)

For travelers with a craving for sweets, delicious desserts can be found in all reaches of the world. In part one, our taste buds traveled to Portugal, Italy, South Africa, Germany, and the Caribbean. Here are a few more mouth-watering desserts from around the globe to tempt you to pack your bags (and your fork!) and hop on a plane! Gulab Jamun (India) A favorite treat at festivals and special occasions, Gulab Jamun is formed by creating a milk solid and adding flour to it to form into small dough balls for frying. Once cooked, the dough balls are soaked in…
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Winter Reading Recommendations

When the temperature drops and you’re looking for something new to read, look no further than our winter-inspired reading list. From fairytales to horror to nonfiction, an interesting mix of titles await, depending on your mood. Here are six winter reading recommendations: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden The first book in The Winternight Trilogy, The Bear and the Nightingale weaves historical fiction and fantasy together to create a transportive story set against Russia’s unforgiving wintry wilderness. Young Valisia finds comfort in her family’s small cabin, snuggled up with her siblings and listening to her nurse’s fairy tales….
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