Lifestyle

Let’s begin in the ivy-shrouded tea room at river’s edge. Located near one end of the ancient stone bridge that spans the river from the valley village of Llanwrst, it looks like a hobbit house or something from a fairy tale. But this place — the Tu-Hwnt-I’r Bont tea room — is sturdy and real. We duck through solid wooden stable doors and nestle up to a worn table near a crackling fire. Biting rain swirls outside, and no matter. Here, in the coziest spot in northern Wales, we take a cup of tea, a warm plate of bread and melted cheese known as Welsh rarebit, and get down to discussing the wonders that surround us.

Spring is here, which of course means spring cleaning. But spring cleaning is not, and should not be, limited to your home.

Little soothes the soul as well as a tour through a Japanese garden. These bastions of tranquility have it all: water features, beautiful koi, delicate cherry trees and an almost otherworldly sense of good order. In all honesty, Japanese gardens are needed now more than ever. Fortunately for you, Kaiserslautern […]

Pforzheim embodies so much that is good about Germany. With more than 100,000 people, it’s large enough to offer something for every traveler, and small enough that navigating it doesn’t feel overwhelming. There is an excellent blend of culture, commerce and nature. And, crucially, Pforzheim offers wonderful access to one […]

Heidelberg Castle is one of Germany’s iconic destinations — with good reason. Poised high on a mighty hill overlooking Heidelberg’s old town and the Neckar River, the castle is a photo op paradise. If you’ve never visited, you should. If you’ve already been, here are seven reasons to entice you […]

Looking for a weekend trip with a little edge? Try Essen. Once synonymous with coal and steel, Essen has reinvented itself as a culturally savvy, green, surprisingly stylish city in the heart of Germany’s former industrial belt. Essen is compact, easy to navigate, and packed with history that doesn’t feel […]

Maastricht is special. It’s the oldest city in the Netherlands (settled around 50 BC), yet in many ways feels like the newest. Maastricht is vibrant, historic, creative, international, and easier to navigate than Amsterdam or Rotterdam. The city has brilliant restaurants, bars, museums, shops, and even a rubber ducky store. […]