Category: Recaps & Itineraries

Call me snobby, but I have never loved the idea of a European summer. The crowds are enormous, the AC is scarce, and I have always been too impatient to wait in a really long line to see an old ruin no matter how cool it may be. But my recent trip to Greece flipped the script for me and allowed me to fully embrace and love Europe during the summer. I learned that you can beat the heat and still have an unforgettable summer vacation.

Now you’re probably wondering – Bea, if you don’t like going to Europe in the summer, why did you go to Greece in the beginning of June? Well, the answer is one that many people in their 20s may give you – I was invited to a destination wedding. I’d heard the rumors and jokes that once you hit your mid to late 20s your summer social calendar becomes controlled by weddings, and that rumor is in fact true. I was invited to 7 weddings this year, and my cousin’s was one of them. So while my summer trip destination was chosen for me, I was determined to make the most of it. Here’s my greek itinerary and how I spent 7 unforgettable days in Greece.

Days 1 & 2: Settling in and Wedding Festivities 

The wedding was on the coast of mainland Greece, so we booked an Airbnb near the venue in a town called Lagonisi. It was in the perfect location to explore Athens and also sun tan on the beach. I can take no credit for finding this Airbnb, so shoutout to my mom for finding the most amazing Greek villa. (Mom, if you’re reading this: you really crushed it).

Lagonisi was the perfect mix of living like a local and vacation vibes. And like any trip, my first stop on the itinerary is always the same – the local grocery. 

Now I am a strong believer that the best way to experience a place is to go to the grocery store. You get to see what’s popular in the store and can unapologetically buy all the snacks and drinks that you want to try without spending a fortune. The one thing I recommend you get the next time you visit a Greek grocery store: Oregano flavored lays. Just trust me. They are a life changing snack.

My cousin and his now wife, Katherine got married in a town called Vari at the Island Art and Taste Athens. To say this place was beautiful would be an understatement, and if they are looking for filming locations for Mamma Mia 3, the producers should check this place out. 

The venue was located right on the water overlooking the Mediterranean, the sun was shining, and it was a perfect summer day. Now if you are going to a Greek wedding, the most important thing you need to know is that they start late and go late. This wedding started at 7pm and lasted until about 4 in the morning. The Greeks love to party, so wear comfortable shoes and mix in water between your shots of ouzo.

Day 3: The Temple of Poseidon

No trip to Greece is complete without visiting some ancient ruins, and our first stop was the Temple of Poseidon. Now I am not a history buff, but the Percy Jackson fan in me was definitely freaking out when we arrived at the grandiose temple overlooking the ocean. The temple is located in Cape Sounion, which was about a 30 to 45 minute drive away. We booked a driver through P.G.T Tour Group who made the whole tour easy and educational.

Travel Big Sis Tip: Drivers cannot go with you into the site of the temple, so if you want to have someone with you while you explore the temple, make sure to book a specific guide who can. There are plenty of signs if, like me, you choose the self guided experience.

The temple of Poseidon drastically exceeded my expectations, and I ended up spending way more time there than I anticipated. Give yourself at least 90 minutes to wander the grounds and soak it all in. There’s far more to see than you initially think when you pull up. And whatever you do, don’t forget your camera. The temple silhouette against the blue of the Aegean sea is absolutely breathtaking. 

After the temple, our drive took us to a local restaurant in Lagonisi, Τα Καλάμια, for lunch. The minute we walked in we were greeted by the manager who took us to the kitchen to see what fish was fresh for the day. I was told this was a very common thing to happen, but I still felt very special. We chose a local dorado and a snapper and of course ordered some octopus and a salad for some vegetables. I love Mediterranean food, so the second we sat down, I was in absolute heaven.

Speaking of meals, we ended day 3 with my sister’s birthday celebration at the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens. To say this place was swanky was an understatement.

Travel Big Sis Tip: Want a 5 star experience without shelling out the 5 star price? Book dinner and drinks at a luxury resort. It’s much cheaper than staying overnight.

We sipped cocktails at the bar, and then dined outside during what I can only describe as a magical sunset. Obviously everything at the Four Seasons was beautiful – an ocean view overlooking yachts, one of which we soon found out was owned by the CEO of WalMart, but the food was also delicious as well. My menu recommendation: the lamb ragu.

Day 4: A Day Trip to Athens

The fourth day of the trip was also my boyfriend’s last day, and so I was determined to make the most out of our last greek summer day together. We ditched the car and took the subway from the Athens airport into the city center to embark on another WanderBea trip staple: the food tour. 

You cannot experience the true nature of a place without tasting it. That’s a travel hill that I’ll die on. Lucky for me, my mom found this gem of a food tour on AirBnB, and so I was able to live our my greek culinary dreams for real.

An unknown hack that I learned on this food tour was that if you go on a really hot day in the summer, everyone will cancel, and your food tour is now a private tour. Shout out to the heat wave! Rachel, our guide, was absolutely phenomenal. We tried everything from souvlaki, to sardines, and my personal favorite Bougasta: a cream custard pie. I’m still thinking about how good this pie was to this day, so if anyone has a recipe, please send it to me! 

In addition to eating pretty much anything our hearts desired, I felt like a celebrity while on this food tour. Everyone knew Rachel, and it made the whole experience feel more local and friendly. We were no longer tourists, but instead a part of the neighborhood.

I have to give Rachel one more shout out in this blog post because she was really a savior, especially at the end of the tour. My boyfriend and I had purchased olive oil (because Greek olive oil is magical and we had to have some), and were going to the Acropolis after the food tour. Rachel took us to her friend’s restaurant and they held onto our olive oil while we climbed to the top of the Acropolis. Thank you again Rachel for being absolutely amazing! 

I’ll share more about visiting the Acropolis in another post, but here is the one tip that I can give you: do not go early. The Acropolis is going to be busy no matter when you go, but if you go later in the day, you are more likely to beat the cruise ship crowds and the sticky summer heat. We went at 6:30pm and it was perfect!

Travel Big Tip: The best time to visit the Acropolis is at the end of the day. It’s not as hot and while there are still crowds it is not as crazy. The less cruise ship tourists the better.

Day 5: Scuba Diving 

One thing to know about me: if I am near an ocean, I am scuba diving. So of course, I had to dive whilst in Greece. I always book a 5-star PADI dive shop, and we found one at the Grand Lagonisi Resort, and they were amazing. They even let my dad and I do a quick refresher dive before we went out to the main event. Got to make sure our certification stays up to date. 

Now I’ve done around 25+ dives in my scuba career, and a dive shop always gets brownie points from me if they set up my gear. Maybe it’s because I’m my family’s gear girl, and so not having to set up my own tank is always a win in my book. 

Travel Big Sis Scuba Tip: Always check your own dive gear even if the professionals set it up for you!

Diving in the med was COLD! I had a 5mm wetsuit on, and I still had to put another layer on for the second dive because I was still cold. Despite the water being freezing, the wildlife and coral structures were incredible. I even saw an eel hiding in a rock, which I have no pictures of, but I promise it happened. Speaking of pictures, Vasili, our dive master, took photos all along the way, and helped get some fun shots of us under the water. They are some of the best dive pictures that I have to date!

Day 6 & 7: Final Relaxation and Departure

What started as a pre-determined trip for someone else’s wedding turned into a week of unforgettable moments that really opened up my eyes to how amazing Greece is. From diving in the Mediterranean, eating my weight in Bougatsa, dancing til 4am, and standing in awe beneath ancient ruins, I realized that no matter where you are traveling to, the right mindset (and a few helpful WanderBea tips) can turn any trip into something memorable. 

It reminded me that sometimes the best adventures while traveling are the ones you didn’t plan for. They are the ones you stumbled into because your cousin wanted to get married in Greece. So if you’re on the fence about a summer trip to Europe, let this be your sign to go. Just don’t forget to stop at the grocery story when you first arrive. 

As always, 

Happy Travels 

~Bea

Whenever I travel, I get really excited when a place exudes peace and quiet. I am not good at slowing down. I am a type A Capricorn who shows up to every trip with reservations booked and back up plans made. So when my parents wanted me to visit their retirement home in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, I jumped in the car an drove north.

What I expected to be a weekend of adventure turned into 72-hours of nature and peace. Maybe it was the drive with beautiful scenery or the silence when I opened my car upon arrive. Either way, my anxiety dropped, and I took a breath for the first time a while. 

Ever since that first visit to the White Mountains area, I have repeatedly gone back to explore more. And after several visits to the granite state, I have got my itinerary down pact. Here’s what I get up to when I visit.

Where I’m Staying: Owl’s Nest Resort

If you blink, you might miss the town – but you definitely won’t miss Owl’s Nest Resort. What feels like a quiet little town is secretly home to one of the coolest resorts in New Hampshire. Between the lake, the Nicklaus golf course, and the saltwater pool, Owl’s Nest has plenty to keep you busy. So much so, that you’ll want to extend your trip to be even longer.

Whenever, I stay at Owl’s Nest, there are always at least three things that I am doing:

• Working on my Golf Game.
  • I am still very much a beginner golfer, so I haven’t made it out on the course yet. But I’ve been practicing at their indoor golf simulator and hitting at the driving range like I know what I’m doing. They do offer lessons, and it’s definitely something I need to check out in the future. 

• Relaxing by the Pool.
  • If you know me, if I’m staying at a place with a pool, I am swimming! No matter the weather. Owl’s Nest just built a brand new saltwater pool that is massive! It’s the perfect spot to relax, swim, and enjoy the sunshine while admiring the scenery around you.

Travel Big Sis Tip: The pool at Owl’s Nest is now on ResortPass, so if you want to visit for the day you can! 

• Playing Tennis.
  • Not only does Owls Nest offer amazing golf facilities, they also have some brand new pickleball and clay tennis courts. Whenever I visit, I always make sure to challenge my boyfriend to a game of tennis. I’m still on a major losing streak, but when I do win one day — it’ll be worth it! 

Where I’m Eating: Breakfast Edition

Breakfast is always a non-negotiable for me, and my first stop for breakfast in NH is always Polly’s Pancake Parlor. 

Polly’s Pancakes is a local legend. The trick with this place is to call ahead and put your name on the list for a table. The earlier you go the better. While the wait for a table will probably be around 30-45 minutes, the gingerbread pancakes are totally worth it!

Where I’m Eating: Lunch Edition

I’ve got a few options by the time lunch rolls around, but it’s normally always some type of sandwich. Honestly, that’s my go to lunch everyday, but when on vacation, I try and make the sandwich feel fancy!

Butch’s Deli at Owl’s Nest hits has so many options to choose from, and is right on property within the resort. One of the best parts about this deli is that they will deliver your sandwich to the pool. So you can eat your lunch and read your book in the sun without a care in the world.

The Common Man restaurants in New Hampshire are also a classic. They are located all over the state, and have a woodsy cabin vibe. I really like their soups and sandwiches, but I don’t think you can go wrong with anything on that menu.

Finally, my end-all travel lunch tip will always be to stop at a grocery store, and the Market Basket in Plymouth, NH is my budget-friendly ride-or-die. Seriously, it’s the best Market Basket I’ve ever stepped foot in. Most of the time, I’m stopping at the MB and getting a sandwich to stay on budget, so I can keep traveling.

Travel Big Sis Tip: Grocery Stores when traveling are always a cheap lunch option, especially in Europe. A lot of grocery stores have meal deals or prepared food that is restaurant quality without being restaurant prices.

Where I’m Eating: Dinner Edition

Dinner at Owls’ Nest is easy with two go-to spots right on property: Panorama 682 and Slice. Both are delicious – one’s got elevated views and great cocktails, while the other serves up comfort food in style. You can’t go wrong with either. Slice does lose a few points from me though because they did just take their dessert pizza off the menu, and I’m not fully over it yet. 

Just outside the resort is the Little Red Schoolhouse, and let me tell you this place is a gem. Down the street and in the woods is a a re-purposed old school house that serves all the classic New England staples, including the best lobster rolls I have ever had. And I live in Boston.

Don’t forget to venture into Lincoln and try Five Main on the River. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot that quietly delivers one of the best meals around. If you go, I recommend the chicken parm sandwich and trying a beer on tap! 

My Favorite White Mountain Drink Spots

• One Love Brewery – laid-back vibes and craft beer are always a win
• Crucial 10 Cider – one of my absolute favorites. They’ve always got something new for you to try and owners are incredibly kind. It’s the type of place that will make you feel like a regular even if it’s your first visit. 

• Seven Birches Winery – perfect for a wine tasting and feeling fancy 

It wouldn’t be a trip to the White Mountains if I didn’t mention hiking. I do have a confession to make, and that is I am not a huge hiker. I’ll do a few trails, but if the loop is over 4 miles, you will not catch me there.

But don’t worry! For those who are big hikers, I have consulted my local expert, aka my boyfriend, for some hiking trail recommendations. 

• Artis Bluff (1.4 mi)
• The Basin (2.5 mi)
• Flume Gorge (2.2 mi)
• Arethusa Falls and Frankenstein Cliff Loop (5.3 mi) 
• Mount Lafayette and Franconia Ridge Trail Loop (8.6mi) 
• Canon Mountain (2.5mi) 

Why I Keep Coming Back

Both Owl’s Nest and the White Mountains offer the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. And there is really so much more to do than meets the eye. Every time I leave the White Mountains, I always feel like I’m leaving a second home behind.

I highly recommend your next weekend trip be to the White Mountains for a little adventure and rest. Comment below where you favorite weekend getaway is.

Happy Travels!