Europe - Compass Roam

Discover the 11 Very Best Places in Puglia – Italy’s Rising Star

There’s a theme in all of Puglia that goes like this: Relax, roam, discover, dine, and repeat. Right now, the travel world is just waking up to this mysterious side of Italy. With its seductive landscapes and calming blue waters, Puglia isn’t merely an add-on in your sunny sojourn through Europe. For a…

Copenhagen Guide: 15 Festive Things to Do in Winter

copenhagen guide - 15 cheerful things to do in copenhagen in winter

Where can you travel in winter where the temperature may indeed plummet, but the people party on? Come see how the Danes do it! When winter arrives, the chill takes over Copenhagen, and the “hygge” spirit comes alive – that’s the Danish word used to describe coziness – like wrapping yourself up in a…

Munich with Kids: Bouncing from Beer Gardens to English Gardens

Remember that scene from Sweet Home Alabama, when Reese Witherspoon’s character is surprised to run into an old classmate and her baby…in a bar? “Look at you…You have a baby…in a bar,” she stammers. Well, there are no rolling eyes or surprised looks if you’ve decided to babywear and beer-chase in the Bavarian…

Ultimate Family Travel Guide: Visiting Munich with Kids

mom and daughter walking down road in Munich

Ready to see Munich through your munchkin’s eyes? I’m not going to lie…I wasn’t expecting Munich to be quite so kid friendly. I visited the Bavarian capital years before, and remembered it as beer gardens scattered throughout the city, and an impressive selection of museums. Did that scream kids? Turns out, kids love sneaking…

The Ultimate Rome Travel Guide

They say all roads lead to Rome. Twelve years ago I felt the pull of the Eternal City as I selected my study abroad location. As a history major, it doesn’t get any cooler than studying THE empire on its home turf. My time overseas ignited my passion for travel — I wanted to see…

Florence & Tuscany Travel Guide with a Baby

It’s hard to find the words to properly convey how special Italy is. The cities and towns are picture-postcard perfect, especially in Tuscany where you can let your imagination run wild exploring Medieval towers, stare for hours at the rolling hilltops, and walk through the colorful historical streets of Florence, Lucca, and Siena. And if…

The Ultimate Guide to Turkey: Istanbul and Cappadocia

Our vacation to Istanbul and Cappadocia was an intentional stretch into something more exotic. Istanbul has often been referred to as, “the crossroads of civilizations” for good reason – the culture is a blend of both European and Islamic influences, drawing from its rich history of Ottoman, Byzantine and Roman influences. This union is apparent…

Travel Guide Sicily’s East Coast: Syracuse and Taormina

Sicily somewhat reminds me of the Texas of Italy. They are a proud people — boastful of both their Italian heritage, and their own Sicilian micro-culture and land (think Texas pride, or “Texas forever,” for those Friday Night Lights fans). They identify themselves as Sicilian first, Italian second. And even though Sicilians share a deeply-rooted…