Portugal (The Algarve, Lisbon)

Navigating the Unexpected: A 7-Day Family Adventure in Portugal

When you look at a map of Portugal, it is easy to dream up the perfect, seamless itinerary. For our Thanksgiving week getaway, we had seven days to bridge the gap between California and the Iberian Peninsula, thanks to direct flights from SFO to Lisbon. Our goal was simple: experience Lisbon, and pair it with a second destination.

While Porto tempted us, the allure of the Algarve coast and a lifelong dream to see the Benagil Cave won. We chose Faro and Lagos as our southern anchors. What we didn’t plan for was a crash course in Portuguese emergency rooms, childhood fevers, and the beauty of pivot-planning.

Here is how our Portuguese adventure unfolded—the raw, the beautiful, and the deeply resilient.

The Algarve Coast

View my Instagram recap!

Brief Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive. Drive to Lagos
Day 2: Lagos
Day 3: Sick Day
Day 4: Faro. Drive to Lisbon
Day 5: Lisbon sightseeing
Day 6: Lisbon (failed plan to Sintra!)
Day 7: Lisbon sightseeing

Day 1: Road Tripping to the Algarve

Landing in Lisbon, we hit the ground running. We rented a car and stopped for a quick lunch at Feast of Madras. A word of warning for travelers with severe allergies: food allergy awareness was not a priority here. I had to speak directly with the chef to ensure our safety, so always trust your gut and double-check.

Driving out of Lisbon was a chaotic, crowded test of nerves, but once we cleared the city limits, the highway opened up into a beautiful drive with excellent rest stops. By nightfall, we reached the coast.

Day 2: Sunsets, Trails, and the First Pivot

We based ourselves at the Lagos Atlantic Hotel, which was a flawless choice—exceptionally comfortable and convenient. Our second day was supposed to be about booking our Benagil Cave tour around the tides. Instead, we shifted gears to explore the jaw-dropping coastal cliffs.

We started at the lighthouse at Ponta da Piedade and walked the coastal trail. The views are spectacular, and we took the steep stairs down to the hidden beaches at several points. Afterward, we wandered into Lagos' old town for a vibrant lunch in an area filled with charm. 

Our Intended Algarve Bucket List vs. Reality
┌─────────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────┐
│ What We Planned                 │ What Actually Happened          │
├─────────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Benagil Cave morning boat tour│ • Coastal hike at Ponta da      │
│ • Walk the old town of Lagos    │   Piedade and Lagos old town    │
│ • Drive to Cape de Saint        │ • Total hotel rest day          │
│   Vincent (Southwest edge of EU)│   (nursing a sick toddler)      │
│ • Explore historic Faro alleys  │ • Beautiful walk in Faro        │
└─────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────┘

By the end of Day 2, our daughter began coming down with a fever. Day 3 became a mandatory hotel rest day. We ordered food in, comforting our little one and letting go of our plans for Cape de Saint Vincent and the sea caves. If travel teaches you anything, it’s that a family's well-being always outranks a sightseeing list. 

Day 4: Cobblestones and Carbon Copies of the Golden Gate

Monument of discoveries

By Day 4, the fever broke, and we explored Faro. The old town is a gorgeous pocket of history. We walked the winding cobblestone alleys, visited the cathedral, and climbed the stairs of the bell tower for a sweeping view of the city.

Leaving the south behind, we drove back toward Lisbon, crossing the iconic 25th of April Bridge. Looking out the window, we felt a sudden flash of homesickness—the suspension bridge looks exactly like our Golden Gate Bridge back in San Francisco.

Day 5: A Presidential Ceremony and a Sudden Scare

Day 5 was a whirlwind of historic sights and a sudden medical emergency. We started along the beautiful waterfront in Belém:

• Belém Tower: Covered in scaffolding for repairs, but still majestic against the water.
• Monument of the Discoveries: A gorgeous, towering structure celebrating Portugal's age of exploration.
• Jeronímos Monastery: Closed to the public for a state visit by the Slovakian president! Instead of viewing the architecture, we got front-row seats to see the Portuguese Prime Minister, the visiting president, and a grand military ceremony complete with horses and soldiers.
  

Arco da Rua Augusta

Because of the massive state-visit crowds, we had to skip the famous Pastéis de Belém pastries. We grabbed lunch near the Lisbon Cathedral, planning a packed afternoon of riding a tuk-tuk, seeing the National Pantheon, and visiting the Christ the King statue at sunset.

Then, history took a back seat. I was struck by excruciating, sudden abdominal pain. We rushed to the local emergency room suspecting a kidney stone. After hours of tests and immense stress, the results came back clear. Armed with heavy pain medication and a wave of relief, we headed back to the hotel so I could sleep it off.

I would be forever thankful to the woman in the ER who stood next to me holding my hand till Sumit finished the paperwork. Once he was back, she quietly left. I have no clue who she was, or what was her name. She was Godsent and made me think highly of all the Portuguese people I have known. I'll forever be in her debt.

Famous red rooftops from
one of the Miraduoro (view points)

Day 6: Holiday Magic in Lisbon

We spent the first half of Day 6 resting at the Hotel Lisboa Plaza. The staff here were absolute angels, helping us coordinate options for a follow-up ultrasound. The hotel itself is stunning and located perfectly for a gentle return to exploring.

By evening, I felt well enough to venture out. We took a cab down to the Arco da Rua Augusta and walked the grand pedestrian streets from Augusta to Avenida da Liberdade. Because it was late November, the city was alive with Christmas markets, festive holiday decorations, and brilliant light displays. We even found great Indian restaurants to warm up our evening, topped off with a bit of holiday shopping.

We missed our planned day trip to the fairy-tale castles of Sintra and the westernmost cliffs of Cabo da Roca, but the festive energy of Lisbon's streets was a wonderful consolation prize.

Day 7: The Saving Grace of the Tuk-Tuk

Santa Justa Lift

On our final day, determined to see the city without overexerting my recovering body, we booked a private tuk-tuk tour. It was the best decision of the trip. It allowed us to zip up Lisbon's steep hills, catch up on the scenic viewpoints we missed, and see the city comfortably.

We spent our last remaining hours strolling along Avenida da Liberdade. I missed out on visiting the world’s oldest bookstore, lingering in local cafes, and taking a side trip to Évora. But as I looked out over the tiled roofs of Lisbon, I didn't feel disappointed.

The christmas market and the hustle bustle of narrow pedestrian friendly streets did not disappoint. The Santa Justa lift which is now closed for operation was another landmark I wanted to see. As we did the Tuktuk tour, we also ditched standing and waiting in the long queue to get on the the Tram. Good call. 

Portugal showed us its wild coastlines, its grand history, and its deep kindness when we were at our most vulnerable. We left plenty of stones unturned—but there is always a next time.

List of things we missed (for our next trip)

• The Benagil Caves
• Day trip to Sintra
• Towns along the Algarve Coast
• Cape de St. Vincent, Algarve
• Of course, Porto!
  
• And Nazare for the gigantic waves.

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* Generated using AI after feeding it detailed trip notes.

Mexico (Cabo - A weekend Getaway)

Spoiled in San Lucas: Our Seamless Family Weekend at Hilton Los Cabos

We wanted a quick family getaway for a long weekend with pleasant weather. Mexico was the obvious choice. After debating between Puerto Vallarta and Cabo, we picked Cabo for this time of year.
View - My Instagram Cabo Recap

The Seamless Booking Process

View from our balcony

Booking is incredibly easy for this type of trip. We booked our flights, hotel, and airport transfers all through Costco. The logistics were entirely handled for us. It was on us to choose the resort, and we picked the Hilton Los Cabos because it offers rare, direct access to a swimmable beach.

Paradise Resort Grounds

We spent most of our vacation right on the property. The resort is massive. We had fun navigating it, though we did almost get lost once.

• The Breakfast Spread: The morning buffet was huge. Even over four days, we did not have enough time to try everything.
• Dining Options: The resort features enough on-site restaurants that we ate lunch and dinner there without ever getting bored.
• Pool Paradise: We split our days between the active kids' play pool and the relaxing adult pool.
• The Luxury Treatment: The staff is incredibly nice and courteous. They seamlessly set up pool lounge chairs and take your orders right from the water. I was completely spoiled by the end of the trip.
• Kids Club: The property features a fully staffed kids club with activities planned every hour. You can safely drop the kids off to enjoy some kid-free time at the adult-only pool. 
  

Making friends in San Jose del Cabo

Exploring the Towns: North vs. South

We ventured off the property twice to experience the local culture, exploring two completely different vibes.

San José del Cabo (Heading North)

One evening we headed north to the quieter town center. It has a beautiful old-town charm and is not very touristy. We explored a central plaza, local arts and crafts vendors, and an old cathedral. The area is filled with cozy cafeterias. We even found an excellent Indian restaurant called Namaste India- SJC by Raj, which served incredibly good, authentic food.

Mandatory Arch photos

Cabo San Lucas (Heading South)

The next evening we headed south to Cabo San Lucas. This area is very lively and highly touristy. We booked a tour to see the famous Arch, which was absolutely worth the effort. The guides were excellent and helped us pose for pictures. We opted for a glass-bottom boat so Piku could watch the fish swim right beneath our feet. We spent the rest of the night walking around the bustling neighborhood before catching an Uber back.

It was the perfect mix of resort relaxation and local exploration. Costco travel made it effortless, and the Hilton team made it unforgettable. 

More Fun Things to Do in Los Cabos

If you have a few extra days or want to swap out an evening activity, here are some other highly recommended experiences for families and couples alike:

• Thursday Night Art Walk: If you visit San José del Cabo between November and June, do not miss this vibrant weekly street festival filled with local artists, live music, and wine tastings.
• Whale Watching Cruise: Visiting between December and April gives you a front-row seat to migrating humpback whales right in the bay.
• Chileno Bay Snorkeling: This is another fantastic swimmable beach nearby with incredibly clear waters and coral reefs teeming with colorful marine life.
• Desert Camel Ride: For a unique adventure, you can ride camels along the Pacific ocean beach cliffs and explore the local desert trails.
• Sunset Sailing: Book a luxury catamaran cruise at dusk to watch the sun dip below the horizon right next to Land's End.
  

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*Generated using AI from detailed trip notes. Thank you, AI!

SWEDEN (Stockholm, Malmo, Ystad, Lund)

Sweden left us smitten with its unmistakable charm. Stockholm is one of the most impressive historic European capitals we’ve visited. We arrived early in the morning on an overnight cruise from Helsinki and spent two days exploring the city, though we easily could have stayed longer—there’s so much more to see and discover.

Our brief itinerary:

Day 1: Stockholm - Arrival, Old town, Sodermalm
Day 2: Stockholm - Boat tour, Vasa Museum, Skansen, Karlaplan
Day 3: Malmo, Ystad, Stone Ales Stenar
Day 4: Family visit to Denmark
Day 5: Old town Malmo, Lund

Tips and Tricks:

• Could spend more time in Swedish Lapland (south)
• There are a few national parks you could visit.
• Multi day Bike tours are popular (even for families with kids)

Day 1 — First Steps Into Stockholm

We reached Stockholm early in the morning, sailing in on an overnight cruise from Helsinki that drifted through calm waters and tiny islands at daybreak. After checking in at the Sheraton—perfectly located for exploring the city—we walked to City Hall, the iconic red-brick landmark where the annual Nobel Prize banquet is held. Tickets needed to be pre-booked to see the hall and go up the bell tower, so we secured a slot for the next day and continued toward the old town. On the way, we stopped at Riddarholmen Church, the medieval burial place of Swedish monarchs, its dramatic spire rising sharply above the waterfront. Lunch was at a cozy Italian restaurant before we wandered to the Parliament House and then the Royal Palace, whose sprawling museum complex deserves several hours to fully appreciate. 

Old town

From there, we slipped into Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s beautifully preserved old town, its narrow lanes, golden-hued buildings, and charming boutiques creating the perfect backdrop for exploring the Nobel Prize Museum—modern, insightful, and genuinely fascinating. We walked back to the hotel along bustling Drottninggatan before heading out again in the evening for Indian street food. As the sun softened, we made our way to Södermalm and climbed up to Skinnarviksberget, a rocky hilltop famous for its panoramic sunset views. After taking in the glowing skyline, we walked leisurely along the river, enjoying the peaceful water and the city lights as we made our way back.

Here is our walking map.

Day 2 — Boats, Museums, and the Best of Central Stockholm

We started the morning with pastries and coffee at Café Skipperborg Bageri before boarding our boat tour. Piku was thrilled, and the ride offered a relaxed, scenic introduction to Stockholm’s island-dotted geography. Afterward, we walked through the elegant Karlaplan area and had lunch at Eataly, a lively and upscale spot surrounded by stylish boutiques and tree-lined streets. From there, an Uber brought us to the Vasa Museum, which was absolutely breathtaking—the nearly intact 17th-century warship towers over visitors, its ornate carvings and massive hull frozen in time. 

Vasa Museum

After soaking in the Vasa’s history, we continued to Skansen, the world’s oldest open-air museum. Wandering through the recreated 18th-century Swedish village felt like stepping back in time, complete with traditional farmsteads, craft workshops, and even a small zoo that Piku really enjoyed. Later, we returned to City Hall for our pre-scheduled climb up the bell tower—tickets we had wisely purchased the day before—where the timed entry ensured a smooth ascent and sweeping views of Stockholm’s rooftops and waterways. Dinner was at Tamarind Indian in the Östermalm district, an easy walk from our centrally located hotel. Afterward, we headed to the station to catch our pre-booked train to Malmö, settling in for the five-hour journey with our packed snacks as the countryside faded into night.

Day 3 — Malmö Winds and Southern Sweden Charm

Ystad

We arrived in Malmö past midnight, relieved to find our hotel just steps from the station. Morning brought strong gusts—Malmö is famously windy—but after breakfast we picked up our rental car and headed south toward Ystad. This seaside town was like something from a storybook, full of pastel half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and a quiet charm that reminded me of Bruges in Belgium. In the town center stood an old church, beautifully aged and perfectly anchored in the heart of the village. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Garden Steps and later grabbed coffee at Maria Caffét, each place adding to the town’s cozy, small-European vibe. Our next stop was Ales Stenar, often described as Sweden’s version of Stonehenge—a formation of 59 massive boulders positioned in a ship-like outline on a cliff overlooking the sea. The short hike from the parking lot was breezy but manageable, and the windswept views were spectacular. We returned to Malmö for an evening stroll around the old town before settling in for dinner at Art of Spices. 

Ales Stenar

Day 4 — A Family Day in Denmark

This day was dedicated to visiting family in Odense, Denmark. Normally it’s a simple pair of short train rides—Malmö to Copenhagen, then Copenhagen to Odense—but fate added some adventure when a broken rail line forced us into a complicated multi-hop route. Even with the delays and an extra two hours spent in transit, we eventually reached Odense, where Piku reunited with her cousins, making the whole effort completely worthwhile. The day became a heartwarming pause in our travels, filled with family time and the comforting familiarity of shared stories.

Day 5 — Malmö Moments, Bridges, and a University Town

Lund University

Our final morning began in Malmö’s Central Square, where we admired the historic church, the fountain, and the cheerful civic bustle around the old town. Lunch, unfortunately, was a letdown at Green Chilli—easily the worst “Indian” food we’ve had. In desperate need of redemption, we walked to Urban Turban, which thankfully revived both our spirits and appetite. From there we visited Hollandia Bakery—elegant, refined, and known as one of Malmö’s finest—where we treated ourselves to cake and coffee for my birthday Fika. Later, we drove out to the Öresund Bridge viewpoint to admire and photograph the iconic engineering marvel that stretches toward Denmark, part bridge and part underwater tunnel.

Our last stop of the trip was Lund, a beautiful university town with medieval churches, leafy squares, and charming academic buildings. Although many shops were closed for Midsummer, the historic cathedral, old university structures, fountains, and green parks gave us plenty to explore. It felt like stepping into a centuries-old campus still alive with stories, and it was easily one of the prettiest university towns I’ve visited. 

Good bye Sweden

Birthday Fika

FINLAND (Helsinki, Poorvo, Nuuksio & Cruise)

Sumit and I have travelled to Scandinavia before on two occasions. Once for a road trip in Iceland and second time for a Norway and Denmark trip. So this time we chose Finland and Sweden. We arrived in Finland first and then took an overnight cruise to Stockholm.

Uppenski Cathedral

Here is our brief itinerary:

• Day 0 - Arrival
• Day 1 - Poorvo, Sipponkorpi, Helsinki
  
• Day 2 - Nuukiso, Helsinki
• Day 3 - Suemenlinna, Cruise

Note about cruises -
Overnight cruises between Stockholm, Helsinki, Estonia and even Russia are very popular. Consider one of these options if you don't want to take a flight or drive. Was very comfortable for us. More on this later.

Also, this time I fed my scribble notes to chatgpt to compose the following post. Yay! 

Day 0 — Arrival and Settling In

We landed at the airport in the evening, picked up our rental car, and immediately noticed how narrow yet surprisingly manageable the roads were. Thankfully, we had booked a hotel right in downtown with dedicated parking — an absolute must when driving in the city. After settling in, we took a gentle stroll around the neighborhood, soaking in the atmosphere of the lively yet relaxed urban center before calling it a night.

Day 1 — Porvoo, National Parks & Helsinki by Night

Poorvo

After breakfast, we drove to the charming town of Porvoo. Parking was easy to find, and we spent the morning wandering through the cobblestoned old town, visiting the beautiful Porvoo Cathedral, and strolling along the peaceful riverside. A cozy little café offered us a perfect lunch and some delicious ice cream. The idyllic small-town vibe made the whole visit feel like stepping back in time.
We then attempted to head to Högebergget for views, but Google Maps delivered us to a tiny village with no viewpoint in sight. Pivoting quickly, we rerouted to Byabacken in Sipoonkorpi National Park, where we enjoyed an easy and refreshing 2.1 km hike. Mosquitos were out in full force, convincing us to head straight to a supermarket afterward for repellent! 

Back in Helsinki, we enjoyed a beautiful evening walk along Esplanadi, had dinner at Indus, and unexpectedly caught a vibrant Samba Carnival — dancers, costumes, music, the works. Post-dinner, we wandered through Market Square, climbed up toward the Uspenski Cathedral, and passed fountains and historical buildings on our way back to the hotel. A perfect blend of nature, city life, and surprises.

Canoeing in Nuuksio

Day 2 — Canoeing in Nuuksio & City Exploration

The day began with a drive to Nuuksio National Park, where we rented a canoe and paddled peacefully for two hours on Lake Haukkalampi, surrounded by nothing but forest, water, and the rhythmic sound of paddles dipping into the lake. We grabbed a warm bowl of soup at Haltia afterward. Being a Sunday, nearly everything was closed, and finding lunch became a tiny adventure of its own before we finally settled at Tandoori Flames.

Recharged, we headed back to the city for some shopping at H&M and Mango, then walked to the majestic Helsinki Cathedral and Senate Square. Later, we hopped on a tram — a must-do in Helsinki — which took us back toward the lively Central Station Square, full of statues and people enjoying the day. We skipped the Oodi Library and the zoo due to time, and returned our car in the evening.

Day 3 — Suomenlinna, Ferries & Overnight Cruise

In the morning, we took the ferry to the historic Suomenlinna Fortress (note: ferries run frequently, but it’s always worth double-checking the timetable). We walked across the island to the old submarine, explored the stone walls, and enjoyed the sea breeze before returning to the city for lunch at Indus restaurant. Dinner was takeaway before heading to the port for our Tallink Silja Line cruise — the Symphony. Boarding at 3:30, we were pleasantly surprised by how many kids’ activities the ship offered. The pool area was especially fun, and Piku had a blast. 
Our Executive Suite with promenade views was incredibly comfortable and made the overnight journey feel luxurious. The cruise glided through the Baltic Sea as we relaxed, slept soundly, and woke up to arrive in Stockholm at 10 AM. The views of archipelago closer to Stockholm are beautiful.

Our Cruise Ship

Other Notes:

If you have more time in Finland, consider adding a visit to the magical Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, especially if traveling with children. Helsinki is also surrounded by stunning national parks — like Sipoonkorpi, Nuuksio, and Liesjärvi — all perfect for hiking, canoeing, and escaping into quiet Nordic nature.

KOREA (SEOUL, DMZ)

Alright, the plan was to pick a destination that would be a direct flight for us, won't need a visa, would be do-able in four days and a place where none of us (Me and my friend, Alka) had been to before. And there it was, Korea. South Korea, just to be clear ;)

Wearing a Hanbok

Here is our brief itinerary:

Day 1: Palaces, Ikseondong, Spa

Day 2: Gangnam District, Shopping, Spa, Michelin Dinner

Day 3: Day trip to DMZ. Seoul Tower.

Day 4: Squid Games Experience. Insa-dong Cafes, Massage, Gwanjong street food

Day 5: Myeongdong. Fly out 

Here is a quick list of Must Do before I share the details:

• Spa - 
• We got massages at a couple of place. Both were good. Just look at google ratings
• We got a facial at Korea Spa in Myeongdong. Was great!
• Dine - 
• At a Michelin star (whichever one you can find a reservation at)
• Street food @ Gwanjong
• BHC for their fried chicken
• Too many cafes, everywhere. And all of them are great! (get suggestions from tiktok)
• Shopping -
• Beauty: Shopped for our products at Oliver Young and Nature Republic
• Clothes: boutique shops, branded shops
• Accessories: The bling box
• See/Do -
• DMZ tour!
• Wear Hanboks to go see Gyeongbokgung Palace.
• Ikseon-dong neighborhood for the cutest cafeterias ever!
• Starfield library and iconic Gangnam statue
• Walk around the Myeongdong neighborhood at night- so lively!
• Nightime tour of palaces (we couldn't get a reservation)
• Squid Games Experience (if you are a fan, else you could skip)

Day 1: Typical touristy day

At the Gyeongbokgung Palace

Our first day after an early morning flight had to be a typical touristy day. You must start at Namdaemum Gate and then walk straight towards the Gyeongbokgung Palace. This a lively neighborhood and you will see statues, small palaces, fountains on your way to the palace. Once here, ask for a Hanbok rental place and before you go in, rent Hanboks. There are many many shops with a lot of variety. We picked a place which offered pastel colored hanboks and also hairdos and accessories. If you are interested, you could also hire a photographer. If I ever visit with family, we will definitely all dress up and get pictures done. Also, entry to the palace is free if you are in traditional costumes. 

We made it in time for the changing of the guard ceremony that happens at 10 am and 2 pm every day. The palace is nice, and makes for beautiful pictures. There are mostly courtyards and once you move to adjacent courtyards, you will find them much less crowded and perfect for pictures. 

Ikseondong

From here you could take the east exit and walk down to the Changdeokgung Palace in your costume (if you have rented it for the entire day) or first return the costumes and then walk to this palace. When we went, parts of it were closed for renovation, but this is an older palace and people recommend visiting the secret garden. The walk takes you through the Bukchon Hanok Village which has old styled houses and lively little shops.  There is Jongmyo Shrine right next to this palace which you could visit to complete you day trip of historical palace in Seoul.

Now we decided to take a break and relax at Cafe Onion, which was close by. Oh my God, such a cute cafe and so many things to offer. From here on we walked to the Bukchon Hanok Village (which closes at 5 pm btw) and on our way stopped at Suwalhasee Cosmetic Store and Nature Republic to shop for some beauty products. 

Next we took a cab to Inseondong neighborhood. Cute little neighborhood with plenty little shops and so much to see and buy. You can get exhausted. And so were we, so we headed straight to a spa, we went to Korea Spa and got ourselves some premium package (which roughly translates to - a long massage and a facial). The massage was good but the facial was awesome. My skin kept glowing for the next few days. We had accomplished quite a lot and were ready to crash.

 

Day 2: Leftover touristy stuff

Gangnam Statue

In the morning we headed straight to the Bongeunsa Buddhist temple in the Gangnam area. Beautiful buddha statue. This place is quiet and calm. There are short trails to walk between temples and the statue and other things to see. You could spend and hour or so here. From here we walked to the Gangnam statue, took pictures, made videos and then went inside the mall to go see the Starfield Library. Wow, it is beautiful and definitely worth seeing. Yes, the library is worth seeing. 

We had planned on going to the Seoul forest from here, but we got lazy and headed back. On our way, we decided to get a hair spa done. And we checked with two most popular places, Juno here and Eco Jardin and Juno hair could get us in. We spent the next hour pampering ourselves and making our hair soft, smooth and healthy! It was quite relaxing and pampering.

Dinner @ Zero Complex

 

We were taking it easy today, so we headed to the hotel and took a break before we got ready for our Michelin Star restaurant dinner.  Alka had already made reservation for us at Zero Complex. Only trouble was, finding this place. It was located in a residential area and the cars don't go in those narrow streets, so we got down earlier and then we headed to the restaurant and got kind of lost, but well we made it in the end. The dinner was fabulous, what is it about Michelin star restaurants that they made their food so good! Zucchini so good, I could eat everyday.

Soulful and tummy-full day. 

Day 3: Day trip to DMZ. Seoul Tower.

Today was outsourced to a tourist company we booked through Tripadvisor. To visit DMZ, you can only go through a licensed tour operator as it is a militarized zone. We got picked up early in the morning from our hotel and our guide, Nancy was a really nice guide. She spoke English quite well and was funny too. First up, we went to the red suspension bridge. A bit of a hike to the bridge, and Mummy Papa would have called it a Lakshman Jhoola. 

Next up, we went to the peace village located at the border of the DMZ. You can grab something to eat here and take a gondola ride across the river to go to small area which is cleared for tourists. The history between the two countries is quite sad and reminds you of India-Pakistan in many ways. Unfortunately, North Korea is cordoned off from the rest of the world so the south Koreans can't meet their long lost relatives. 

Next up, we went to the third infiltration tunnel. There is a small museum and a tunnel that was discovered a few decades ago. I easily managed to go inside the tunnel and walk towards the DMZ area (even though I am somewhat claustrophobic). I was fine. This is where we got DMZ souvenirs and a few pictures taken. 

Ikseon-dong

From here we headed for lunch and then back to our hotels. We got back by 4 pm, so we decided to do the other touristy thing left on our list. Go to the Seoul Tower. We reached and realized there was an hour long wait for the gondola. Other option would be to hike the well paved way to the top, which I think would be fun. But we decided to wait and once at the top it gave us beautiful panoramic views of the city. This city is so vast, I had no idea. From here we took the elevator up the tower and the main attraction were the screens in the elevator. Seamless screens on five side. What an experience! This place is fun. There are cute little shops, restaurants and people hanging out on the weekend. A fun place for picnic I'd think.

We got hungry after a bit and headed straight o an Indian restaurant in Myeongdong, Taj. The restaurant was good and super popular as it was full. Luckily we didn't have to wait much. Once done, we spent time strolling around Myeongdong. It is so lively, with so many screens all around, it almost feels like a mini Vegas without the gambling, but all the bling. We walked to the Cheonggyecheon Stream. It is a cute little stream in middle of the downtown with makeshift cushion chairs and books to borrow and read. this place was cute and hip at the same time. Made for a perfect stroll before we headed back to our hotel to crash for the day.

Day 4: Squid Games and more

In the morning, our first order of business was to headed straight for the Squid Games Experience in in the Seongdong area. The experience is good, and makes for a fun time playing all the games, but I wouldn't give it 5/5. If you aren't into it, skip it. We had fun though, and then spent time walking around the neighborhood and grabbing coffee. 

Squid Games Experience

Next up, was Ikseon-dong for cute cafeterias. There are three or four parallel streets here which are filled with beautiful, cute cafeterias and restaurants. We had fun just walking around and going inside these cafes. We even got our Korean Kundlis read for fun. And then found an Italian restaurant for lunch. The food everywhere in Seoul has been really good, no matter the cuisine. The cafeterias and cute, picture worthy and food and coffee are excellent. 

From here we walked to a cute little pagoda temple in a park and then headed to Olive Young to finish our beauty products shopping. We then headed to Myeongdong for some more shopping. And then, we headed to a massage parlor, of course.

After a brief break, we decided to go to Gwangjong for some street food. Alka had some dishes saved from her tiktok feed and she knew exactly what to get and which stall to go to I guess. She was one happy soul while I quietly munched on my vegetarian sandwich.

Day 5: Buh-bye Seoul!

Myeongdong Cathedral

We were flying out today and had kept the Myeongdong Cathedral for the last. Both of us love cathedrals, and we spent our time taking pictures and then grabbing some light Indian lunch at Taj, which was right across the cathedral. This was our final chance to grab anything else that we wanted to to before heading to the airport.

At the airport, I wanted to get some duty-free whiskey, but looks like whiskey isn't really a thin gin Korean they prefer non Korean whiskey and gave me a surprised look when we asked for Korean whiskey. We had enough time here to get our TAX refund, which wasn't much, but then, still, we were owed that money. And then we got some currency through the exchange. So, we got everything done and were ready for our flight home after a soulful trip to Seoul.

IRELAND & NORTHERN IRELAND

We were planning to take time off in the last week of August and we weren't sure what our destination should be. We did have a few constraints, like we wanted to able to drive, health care should be easily available and weather shouldn't be too cold or hot. When we generally browsed on google flights, we figured we had a direct flight from San Francisco to Dublin, Ireland and they were offering lower prices to promote the airlines and its new routes in the US. That is how we ended up in Ireland.

Also, while watching Sherlock, I had noticed beautiful location of Cliffs of Moher and of course the Game of Thrones castles were located in Northern Island. So, Ireland, here we are!

We did a road trip around the island in 7 days:

Day 0: Arrive in Dublin. Drive to Kilkenny.
Day 1: Kilkenny -> Cork -> Killarney
Day 2: Day in Killarney
Day 3: Killarney -> Limerick -> Cliffs of Moher -> Galway
Day 4: Galway -> Londonderry
Day 5: Londonderry -> Giant's Causeway -> Belfast
Day 6: Belfast -> Dublin
Day 7: Day in Dublin
Day 8: Fly out

Day 0: Arrival in Dublin. Drive to Kilkenny.

We arrived in Dublin around afternoon. Once we got our luggage and our rental car, we drove straight to a restaurant for lunch. We found a good good Indian restaurant on the outskirts of Dublin and ordered thali. yum yum. When we got back to our car, we realized there was an issue wit the car and the check engine light was on. We called the rental center that was 40 minutes away and they asked us to come back and exchange the car. Oh boy, what a waste of time. We drove all the way back, got another car and then drove to Kilkenny. The weather was so cloudy as if it was almost about to rain. But we got to Kilkenny at night and we were already so full that we didn't want to have dinner and went straight to bed. We didn't get to explore the town as we had wasted a couple of hours doing back and forth with the rental center. Looking forward to the next day to start our vacation!

Kilkenny Castle

Day 1: Kilkenny -> Cork -> Killarney

We were staying at Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel. It was an excellent hotel and the location was right in the middle of the old town. Felt like a perfect weekend getaway town for Dublin residents. We found a cute little cafe in the morning to get breakfast. This small city is very picturesque with an old town charm and 100% walkable.

We walked to Kilkenny castle in the morning after breakfast. We bought entry tickets for the castle and took our own sweet time to tour the castle and take some lovely pictures inside and outside the castle. There are vast green rolling hills right behind the castle which make for a wonderful area for kids to run and play. From here we made our way through the Kilkenny shops down to their Cathedral. The cathedral is located on the other end of the town and it makes for a very nice walk through cute little shops. There are two cathedrals that we visited, St Mary's Cathedral and Canice Cathedral. There is more stuff to do here if you have time but we decided to skip all of it. See Smithwick.

After spending about half a day in Kilkenny we headed to Cork. The weather was a bit rainy but the drive was beautiful. We'd gotten hungry by now so we navigated straight to an
Indian restaurant for lunch, Desi Bites. After our lunch we drove to the city center and parked our car at a car park garage. We explored the English Market. It was raining so we decided to take a stop at the cafeteria and grab some coffee. It is quite a big city. We decided to continue our drive to our destination for the night, Killarney. After checking into our hotel, we walked down to Piccolo for dinner. This seems like a cute little town and we were happy we were spending a full day here.

Day 2: Day in Killarney

Muckross House

Killarney is a very walkable town. it's a small little town and very popular with tourists. Our first order of business this day was to take a carriage ride, because when our daughter saw a carriage the previous day, we had to convince her to wait until the next day to take a ride. The ride starts from the town center and goes all the way around the castle. There are different routes that you could take depending upon how much time you're willing to spend. We decided to just take the shortest round around the castle with the lake view. 

After the ride, we headed to the lake. You could take a boat ride or just spend some time walking around. We skipped the boat ride drove to the Abbey next, which can be easily missed when you are driving to the abbey. So be vigilant of the turn. Next, we went to the Muckross House, and this was one of the most picturesque places in the town. It is located next to a lake and has beautiful green lawns all around. You could also take a carriage ride here. We spent quite sometime here as our daughter was busy running around and enjoying her time in these lawns.

Ladies' View

Next, we drove to Torc waterfall. We were now officially in Killarney National Park. It is a short hike to the viewpoint and it is a pretty little waterfall. then we drove to the Ladies View. you could keep going to drive around the peninsula, but we were done for the day and decided to head back to the city center for dinner. We wanted to have Indian food so we went to Bombay palace. The city center itself is very pretty and makes for great pictures. This is a beautiful town and one could spend days here.

If you do plan to spend more time, go around the Killarney peninsula. You could also drive to Dingle for a day and come back. 

Latin Quarter, Galway

Day 3: Killarney -> Limerick -> Cliffs of Moher -> Galway

The next day we grabbed breakfast at Manna, and headed to Limerick. Limerick is another big city, we decided to grab lunch and not spend much time here. we had pizza for lunch at Milano, which was right next to the river in the city. After lunch, we went for a short walk along the river and then we were headed straight to our biggest attraction of the trip, Cliffs of Moher.

It's a long drive to get to the cliffs but the drive becomes prettier as you get closer. There was plenty of parking and enough guidance for tourists on what to do. We walked along the Cliffs and got some really breathtaking views. We were here during the sunset hours, so that added to our experience. One way to explore these cliffs would be to take a cruise from Galway, which would take half a day or a full day. We decided to continue to our stopover for the night in Galway. It got a little windy and we experienced bursts of rain. However, by the time we had dinner at Spice India, the rain had settled down and we walked around Latin Quarter, which was a very lively neighborhood and seemed like the hangout place for experiencing nightlife. 

Day 4: Galway -> Londonderry

Though our plan was to visit Kylemore Abbey, we felt lazy and instead wanted to spend some time in the city. So we grabbed breakfast at Mr. Waffle and went to the Galway Cathedral. Then we spent time in the playground next to the cathedral and just strolling.

Mullaghmore Castle

From here, we headed towards Londonderry. We took a break at this cute little town, Silgo. Had lunch at Poppadam and walked around the town, shopping and following a marked Silgo tourist trail on their streets. It led us to an Abbey which was closed by the time we reached, but it was a fun day.

We could head to Mount Bilburn and hike there, but we decided to keep driving to Londonderry. On our drive, I spotted a castle that just looked very picturesque. So, I looked up on google maps and we just took a detour to Mullaghmore . We spent time watching the sunset over the ocean with views of the castle. It was so beautiful, picturesque and just a perfect end to our relaxed day. Best part was, it wasn't crowded at all. Next up was a long drive to Londonderry. Once we reached our hotel, we just crashed for the night.

Day 5: Londonderry -> Giant's Causeway -> Belfast

Mussenden Temple

Our first goal of the day was to drive to the Mussenden Temple. It was a bit tricky to locate, but uff, the view from the beach is beautiful and does remind you of Game of Thrones. We then drove to the top and parked our car to walk to the Temple to get a view of the beach from there. The temple makes for a very good location to take pictures.

It was almost lunch time now. So we navigated to a lunch place which ended up being a cute little town, and again we ended up shopping post lunch!

Next up were Giant’s Causeway. This also a well established tourist spot, so all parking directions and trails are clearly marked. We walked downhill to get to the basalt columns and on our way back, we took the bus. There are plenty of tails and you could easily spend the entire day here.

Giant's Causeway

From here, we went to the Dunluce Castle, which was closed to visitors by the time reached, but we got our views from the highway while driving towards the castle. As
there is plenty of daylight, and this day was mostly about Game of Throne locations, we drove to the ‘dark hedges’. You have to park across the road near a hotel parking and then walk to this road where the trees form a canopy. 

We were done with our day and just navigated to a restaurant for dinner, Nu Delhi, which btw, turned out to be quite popular, so be ready to wait or make a reservation. 

Titanic Museum

Day 6: Belfast -> Dublin

We were finally in Belfast and super excited to go see the Titanic Museum. Before we headed out to the museum, we grabbed breakfast at Harlem, which was a super fancy brunch place. We walked around the city hall area and it was a busy city!

Next up, the Titanic Museum. I didn’t expect, but our daughter thoroughly enjoyed it. She enjoyed their little treasure hunt and finding the hidden objects, the story about the ship and also a mini gondola ride. Now we were finally headed to Dublin. Once we settled in to our hotel, we went to Dosa Dosa food truck for amazing dosa and even more amazing chai! 

Day 7: A Day in Dublin

Trinity College

We had a full day to explore Dublin! First we headed to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Magnificent, beautiful and crowded. There are many tourist spots in this area, so once you find parking, be ready to walk. 

Next we walked to the castle, and the Book of Kells. From here we walked to the Parliament and spent time walking around the Trinity College. This is a very picturesque location and makes for great family pictures. The Marsh library was unfortunately closed (it was Monday!)

The highlight of our day was the Guinness Storehouse. What a wonderful attraction. It is a multi storied attraction and you go through various sections learning about different parts of the beer making process. It is a must do.
We skipped the Zoo and the Ghoul had a minimum age requirement. 

Day 8: Fly out

Packed our bags and ready to go back home! Ireland, you were so beautiful <3 ! 

Helpful notes and Tips:

• Guinness Storehouse

  If you were limited on time, prefer staying near the Killarney area,. You can spend a few days here, driving/hiking around the peninsula. Can also take a day trip to Dingle and other coastal towns
  

• If you are Game of Thrones fan, you can book specific tours focus on GoT fans and visiting those specific locations. There is also a studio tour and also Winterfell Castle that we skipped.

• If you have time, you could take a cruise from Galway to visit Cliffs of Moher. They are majestic and I am sure the views from the seas would be breathtaking.
  

• We skipped going to the Kylemore Abbey as it was quite a detour and we planned to chill that day. It seems beautiful in pictures.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

St. Patrick's Cathedral

• Other picturesque area near Dublin are the Wicklow Mountains. Our daughter isn't ready for long hikes yet, so we skipped this.

• There is lots to do in Dublin, but we had restrictions and had to skip them. 

• Jameson Distillery is open only for 18+

• Guinness Storehouse is open for all ages.
  

• You could do pub crawl at night.

• The goal/ghoul is also open only for 12+ or 18+

• The immigration for US happened at the Dublin airport, so we skipped that when we landed and it felt such a time saver.