The West Coast of the United States is a popular road trip destination among tourists and locals. Driving from South to North (or vice versa) will offer spectacular views, amazing national parks and vibrant cities. From Los Angeles to San Francisco you’ll either drive along the scenic and legendarily Highway 1, or along the faster inland route Highway 101. One of California’s most beautiful cities lies along the way: Santa Barbara.

It’s not for nothing that Santa Barbara is a fancied wedding destination and a popular weekend getaway for towners. There are plenty of reasons: the superb location along the ocean, the beautiful beaches of its surroundings, the European-Mediterranean architecture and of course the hiking trails. Santa Barbara offers some of the best day-hikes in California.

Beach Hikes In Santa Barbara.

A hike along Santa Barbara’s beautiful coastline is a must. Clifftop trails offer breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Harbor seals are a common sight and if you’re lucky, dolphins and even whales can be seen not far from shore. Some of the hikes are along the beach while others are on the top of beachside bluffs. Watch out for high tide through, because some of the beach trails can be inaccessible or your return trip can be cutoff during high tide.

Santa Barbara has some amazing beached along the Central California coastline with a Mediterranean feel.

The Golden State is the perfect getaway spot.

Watching the surfers while walking along the coastline of Santa Barbara can be really relaxing.

Mountain Hikes In Santa Barbara.

Just behind Santa Barbara County lie the beautiful Santa Ynez Mountains. This range forms a stunning green backdrop for the American Riviera as Santa Barbara is often referred to. There are many trails along these mountains, visiting quiet canyons & waterfalls, and several tranquil overlooks with stunning ocean views. Keep an eye out for poison oak and bring plenty of water!

An early morning hike in the mountains of Santa Barbara County is strongly recommended to soak up the atmosphere and to recharge your batteries.

Whether you’re experienced, or prefer shorter walks, Santa Barbara offers hikes for every fitness level.

Health Through Water.

Even though it’s an urban legend that the origin of the word “Spa” comes from the Latin meaning “Sanus per Aquam” (which means “Health through Water”), I like the meaning of it and (I personally think) it hits the nail on the head. A couple of Spa days throughout the year can really get you back on track.

The whole concept of healing through water starts with finding the right hotel. It should be directly connected to the thermal fountain, fitted out with indoor/outdoor pools, Turkish baths, Saunas, Jacuzzis, seating areas with dimmed lightning and various treatment offers like massages, hot stone treatments or Ayurveda cures. Most places specialize in treatments to bring back your inner harmony and physical fitness.

A Typical Spa Day.

A typical day in your chosen weekend retreat could start immediately after a good night sleep, with a quick jump into the pool and a few laps of swimming to really wake up just in time before breakfast. Breakfast in a nice hotel always has the advantage that you can choose from a variety of things; whatever you feel like, it’s there. And the best thing about it: you have no preparation work at all.

During breakfast you can think about what to do during the upcoming day (in case you haven’t already planned it all ahead), and since you’ve booked yourself into a Spa, you’ll most likely put on your swimsuit and hit the wellness area. Thermal water has many benefits for your body, but it’s still advisable to only stay in the water for a certain time, to get the maximum impact. Afterwards maybe a massage, mudpack or wet pack … whatever you desire. This will get you ready for a light lunch followed by a short afternoon snooze.

As you can imagine, getting up after such a relaxing morning can be tough, but your pampering is not over yet: give a Turkish steam bath a go or check out the Finnish sauna for some hot flushes. And after a jump into the cooling pool – this might cost you a bit of overcoming – you’re totally refreshed and ready to do some stretching. Some Spa hotels also provide yoga classes or Shiatsu lessons, which is a great supplemental offer.

Now, after you’ve done lots of activities (that you normally never do), you’re ready to dress up and hit the restaurant for your well-deserved dinner. Try to avoid the heavy stuff, eat light, treat yourself to a glass of champagne and don’t go to bed too late. After all, it’s not called “beauty sleep” for nothing…

On the second day of your stay, you’ll most probably get up totally relaxed, ready for a long walk through the area. Fresh air in your lungs will get you fit again, until you’re ready for another vacation weekend in a Spa village.

Spas in Austria.

In Austria, we have a lot of thermal Spas all over the country. Most villages with a thermal fountain start with the German word “Bad”, which actually means “Spa”. For example Bad Gastein, Bad Waltersdorf, Bad Vöslau, Bad Blumau and so on. There are hundreds of such towns, each one with its own flair. Bad Gastein is one of the most well-known and frequently visited by locals and tourists. It gained early fame because of the Heilstollen’s (“healing tunnel”) spring water. The Swiss physician & biologist Parcelsus studied the spring water to discover its secrets. Marie Curie and Heinrich Mache helped to discover that it contained radon and as a result, radon therapies began in Bad Gastein. Today, you’ll find many resorts that offer all kinds of Spa therapies in Bad Gastein.

Yes, Spa and hotel breaks are a way of refreshing the body & mind and even though you might not think that one single weekend is enough to completely get back onto your feet, don’t underestimate the wonders of “Sanus per Aquam”.

 Some Impressions of Bad Gastein.

Bad Gastein in Salzburg is one of the most well known spa places in Austria.

Bad Gastein is an old health and spa resort in Salzburg with many different hotels to chose from.

The landscape around Bad Gastein, calles “Hohe Tauern” in Salzburg is also well worth a visit.

The “Hohe Tauern” area is a popular spot for hikers, mountain bikers, skiers and thrill-seekers.

History & Culture Of Prague.

Many visitors who come to Prague run from one attraction to the next, without really knowing the diverse history of this capital. In other cities like Rome, London or Paris, one feels historically at home right away, since the history of each city plays a great role in Western society. Prague is different. I mean honestly, do you know anything about Prague and its historical value for Europe?

I didn’t know that much either. But since my father is a history-freak, I found out that Prague was the capital site of the Habsburger Empire under Rudolf II. Quite something for this “unknown” city if you ask me … Anyway, the city once was so tightly bound to what we call Western Europe today, that in the 17^th century it was enough to through two catholic town councils and a secretary out of Prague’s castle to start a war; a war that would last 30 years and seized almost all of Europe.

Brilliant directors and writers like Antonin Dvorak and Franz Kafka have emerged here and until today it almost seems like, history has been captured behind the castles walls.

Why I Love Prague.

During the four days I’ve spent in Czech Republic’s capital, I have not only refreshed my history skills but I started appreciating all of the wonderful parts and impressions. I’ll be honest: Prague has made the top of my all-time favourite European cities! It has so many places of interest. It’s clean, it’s beautiful, it’s the perfect sport for any travel photographer and it’s full of history yet for some reason it’s still so underestimated … and that’s what makes it even more charming!

To give you a brief impression on why I’m rambling on how beautiful this city is, I’d like to share some photos with you. I’ll give you a more detailed review of each sight in the next couple of days. For now, enjoy some of the impressions from my weekend in Prague:

Charles Bridge is a famous historic bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague. The construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of the 15th century.

Church of Our Lady in front of Týn, is a dominant feature of the Old Town of Prague, and has been the main church of this part of the city since the 14th century. The church’s towers are 80 m high and topped by four small spires.

Petrin lookout tower is a 65 m high steel framework tower in Prague, which strongly resembles the Eiffel Tower. Although it is much shorter than the Eiffel Tower, it stands atop a sizeable hill, Petřín, so the top is at a higher altitude than that of the Eiffel Tower.

The numbers of grave stones and numbers of people buried at the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague are uncertain because there are layers of tombs. However, it has been estimated that there are approximately 12,000 tombstones presently visible, and there may be as many as 100.000 burials in all.

Like in many other cities around the world, lover’s locks can be found near the John Lennon wall in Prague.

Facade of Hotel Josef (our hotel in Prague).

The view of Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral from Petrin Lookout Tower.

The Astronomical Clock in Prague is a medieval astronomical clock. The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working.

The tower at Charles Bridge in Prague look a bit like a bull.

Starting in China, then flying further South to Malaysia, Christmas on an Indonesian island (á la Robinson Crusoe) and ending the year with a motorbike trip in Laos. Not bad huh? :D

Since we’re really excited about this, and in order to get attuned, we wanted to share these three videos by Vincent Urban & Clemens Krüger with you.

Summer, sun, sunscreen and struggle.

If two people go on vacation together it can end badly. The more people travel together, the more problems they have in their suitcases. Leading the way are all the expectations. One should really think about whom to bring and whom to leave at home. The more the merrier? I don’t think so. Here are a few travel types, with I personally have had the pleasure of sharing a trip with.

The orderly person.

This person likes travelling in a group but at the same time visualizes everyone going the “crocodile style”. Rules and perfect time management are a high priority. There is no such thing as “meaning” or “understanding” for individualists. As warden he represents cultivated boredom. If travelling by bus, be sure to sit on your same seat for the rest of the trip. On the contrary – you will always be on time for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The success-oriented person.

Life is a competition all the time. He knows what’s going on in his job and this is also the case when he’s on vacation.  Unable to disconnect for even a minute, he also always needs a new challenge. In between climbing a higher mountain he’ll ring the office to check if everything is ok. Relaxing? No way!

The sightseeing person.

Rome. How many churches are there? Definitely not enough for this traveller; running from one landmark to the next without a single break. Bring good shoes because this one is a runner. If you’re travelling with this fella’ you really ought to think about your friendship before. Be sure that you’re on the same level; otherwise the trip can end just before it started.

The conflict avoidance person.

Peace and fellowship. We all love & care for each other. This one doesn’t like to say no, unless someone wants to start an argument. He tries to avoid any kind of conflict, even though he might throw himself off a cliff. He’s in a boat with everyone – also if it sinks because of this. His only concern is that he doesn’t want to burden anyone.

My tip.

Well, by now you should know that travelling with other people isn’t always easy. As I said, make sure you’re on the same level before you board the plane. This can save everyone a lot of time, money and nerves!

Now tell me, what kind of traveller are you?

To be on top of things.

Heavy or bulky tools should always be at the bottom. The bottom (with for example a classic hard protective case) is the place which lies the lowest as soon as you slide the trolley. Stuff your cosmetic bag next to the shoes. Don’t forget to close all your lotions, shampoos etc. with a tight screw-cap. The first aid kit (size varies on the area you’re going to visit) can either be put in that suitcase-are as well. Air holes can be stuffed with underwear or sock and this stabilizes the bulky things.

Layer look.

What’s most likely to leave at home? Another one of these questions…Unfortunately this is one, many don’t really ask themselves when getting ready for a great trip. The suitcase is full and everything is just dandy. But as soon as you pack your case to go back home, you realize there is absolutely no space for souvenirs. So, take only what you need. I mean how many shirts can you really need?! I am a woman and my closet is more that full but over the years I realized that less is more. There is no need to bring things like a hair-dryer, a roller brush or (just in case) an atlas so you don’t get lost. Ok, so back to the layers in your suitcase. The first layer should consist of resilient cloths like t-shirts, shorts and jumpers. If you roll them up, they’re less likely to wrinkle up. Towels are great as in-between layers…pff enough of this! I can’t take it any more. I can’t believe I’m writing about layers and suitcases. I want to worry about all the poisonous snakes or hungry tigers I’m going to hopefully see during my trip not this suitcase-crap ;) If you decide to spend your vacation time in Club Med or a five star hotel in Phuket, don’t hesitate to use the advice above; but if you’re up for adventure trips, go with the flow. Sooner or later you’ll realize what’s important and what not…

Personal end note/tip: Beware of the cat.

Believe me, there is nothing more frustrating than opening your suitcase after 48-hours of travelling (which included 3 different airports, three lousy flight-meals, a stiff neck from those incredibly comfortable & spacious plane-seats and one heck of a crazy taxi driver who though he’s the new Michael Schumacher) and smelling that one-of-a-kind cat piss-Eau de Toilette. Nothing I would want to experience again…