Photo credit: Marinella Beach Club

It’s golden hour at a beach club along the Amalfi Coast.

Yellow and white pinstriped umbrellas line the rocky shore. Waves lap against the cliffs. My skin is warm from the sun, salty from the sea. A breeze rolls through just enough to give you goosebumps as you sink deeper into your chair, letting your swimsuit dry in the fading light.

I don’t know what time it is.
I don’t know what day it is.
I don’t know how many emails I have waiting.

And for once—I don’t care.

I do know this: I’m next to the person I love, in a place that makes everything else feel far away. We’re happy. We’re healthy. And we’re stretching these moments as long as we possibly can.

This is the feeling Italia gives you.

It pulls you out of the noise of everyday life and narrows your world down to what’s right in front of you.

No reservations. No deadlines. No appointments.

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✈️ Why This Trip Feels Different

I’ve been to Italy twice so far—keywords: so far.

Because once you go, you don’t just visit Italy… you start planning your return.

This time, I’m not just going back for myself—My husband and I are taking both of our parents. Six adults. One itinerary. Equal parts excitement and “this could get interesting.”

Call me crazy… but the best trips usually are.

We leave in 18 days, and I’ve been deep in planning mode—building an itinerary that balances just enough structure with just enough spontaneity.

Because here’s what I’ve learned:

• Too much adventure → you come home needing a vacation from your vacation

• Too much relaxation → you come home feeling like you missed something

The sweet spot?
Slow mornings. Intentional exploring. Evenings that end with a nightcap and a “can you believe today?” moment.

And this itinerary? It hits that balance.

We’ll start in Rome and end in Sicily, with some of the most iconic and underrated stops in between.

And when I get back, I’ll be sharing:

• My exact day-by-day itinerary

• What was actually worth it (and what I’d skip)

• The experiences I’d recommend to my own clients

• And the details you won’t find on Google

🧳 What I Packed (and Why It Matters)

If you take one piece of advice from this entire post—pack half of what you think you need.

Dragging a large suitcase over cobblestone streets in the summer heat? Not the vibe.

I’m sticking to:

• Carry-on suitcase + crossbody bag (me)

• Carry-on suitcase + backpack (my husband)

Enough room for essentials… and extra space for the “I had to bring this home” finds.

🇮🇹 The Trip Layout (15 Days)

Day 1: Rome (24 Hours, Done Right)

We land at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport and take the train to Roma Termini.

We’re staying at Hotel Diana Rooftop Garden—chosen for one reason: location. After a long flight, I want simple. Drop bags. Walk. Eat. Stay awake.

Then:

• Arena floor tour at the Colosseum

• Evening golf cart tour to the must see sites

Because if you only have a few hours in Rome—you make them count.

Day 2: Rome → Pompeii → Sorrento

High-speed train to Naples, then a private transfer to Pompeii for a guided tour.

Ending the day in Sorrento—our home base for the next few days.

Days 3–4: Sorrento (Unplanned, On Purpose)

No strict itinerary.

Just options:

• Wandering streets

• Boat days

• Long lunches

• Getting lost (the best way)

I’ll share exactly what we actually end up doing—because that’s where the real magic happens.

Day 5: History + Wine + Views

• Mount Vesuvius

• Herculaneum

• Lunch at a family-owned winery

Yes… I already asked about gluten-free options. Priorities.

Day 6–8: Amalfi Coast Road Trip + Minori Stay

This is where it really starts to feel like Italia.

Stops along the drive:

• Positano

• Praiano

• Amalfi

• Atrani

Staying in Minori—a quieter, less touristy gem.

Highlights:

• Private boat day to Capri (limoncello included… obviously)

• Path of Lemons hike

• Lemon experience + farm-to-table dinner

Days 9–13: Sicily (The Hidden Gem Portion)

This part of the trip? The one I’m most excited about.

We’ll head to a small village called Galati—where we’ll experience Italy through a local lens.

Days 14–15: Cefalù + Palermo

Ending in:

• Cefalù (beach + charm)

• Palermo (easy departure home)

A slow, scenic ending before reality kicks back in.

💌 Come Back for the Real Story

This is the plan.

But if you know anything about travel… the plan is only half the story.

When I get back, I’ll tell you:

• What I’d do exactly the same

• What I’d change immediately

• And what made this trip completely unforgettable

If Italy has been on your list—or you want someone to design a trip like this for you—I’m already taking notes for future itineraries ✈️

Until then…

“Due spritz, per favore.” 🍊

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This is one of my favorite types of itineraries to build—short, efficient, and packed with experiences.

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This time, we were wanting to travel in August. So we knew we didn’t want to go anywhere too hot and also not too busy- this can be difficult to find in the height of summer. We realized that traveling to a wine region would be perfect! Specifically, the Finger Lakes in New York. This wine region’s peak season is the fall: this is when harvest begins and new wines are released. The fall foliage in this area is SPECTACULAR.

If you’ve ever wanted to experience the festive fall season, let me know and I can be your guide!

The Finger Lakes is made up of 11 lakes that look like claw marks on the map. The shape was created by the glaciers scraping the land. Some of the lakes are so massive, you can’t see the other side from the shore. The rolling green hills that surround the lakes are humid and warm with optimal soil for vineyards to flourish.

Lining the lake shores are tasting rooms that open to patios where laughter drifts between strangers who quickly become friends. Between sips, you’ll find hidden waterfalls and farm stands bursting with just-picked cherries. It’s the kind of place where time slows down just enough for you to savor every glass, every view, and every golden sunset.

If you noticed my profile picture, that is me, living my best life on the coast of Seneca Lake with a glass of tasty Riesling.

What I packed

Weather in this region during August was high of 85 F and low of 65 F at night. Humidity was HIGH. I chose to pack many layers since I knew we’d be out and about from early morning to night. A denim jacket is my go-to layering piece for Spring to Fall seasons and it coordinates with all my outfits.

• Flight outfit: black leggings, gray sweatshirt with sneakers

• Hiking outfit: old souvenir Yellowstone t-shirt and coral watersport shorts with sneakers

• Winery outfit 1: casual teal t-shirt dress with white leather sandals

• Winery outfit 2: white gauze long-sleeve with acid-wash shorts and white leather sandals with a denim jacket

The nitty gritty

My mom and sister live in Southeastern Pennsylvania so once I landed at Philadelphia International Airport, the girls picked me up and off we went. ROADTRIP!

First stop, Wawa. If you don’t know what Wawa is, it’s an extremely popular gas station on the East Coast. Hear me out, their food is made to order and fresh. It’s not your typical Slurpee machine or taquitos on a roller kind of place. When I come to town, it’s always my first pit stop.

For breakfast, I ordered a scrambled egg bowl with pepperocinis, sausage, avocado, spinach and salsa at the ordering screen and then poured a 16 oz self-serve decaf coffee. Now I’m a happy girl.

The drive took us about 5 hours from PHL after all the stops we made along the way.

Where we stayed

I booked us this Airbnb, Camp Dogged Bird House in the small town of Watkins Glen, just south of Seneca Lake.

It’s located along the quiet canal that feeds into the lake- the perfect setting for a laid back girls trip. It’s a modern tiny house and I had always wanted to stay in one of these. I love to see how creative people get with optimizing minimal space! There is a full bath, full kitchen, living room, bedroom and loft. A-frame windows look out to the patio where adirondack chairs rest on the river bank.

First Winery Stop (MVP of the trip)

After settling into our tiny house and freshening up, we were ready to get our first taste of the region—literally. We chose the Blue Pointe Grill at the Harbor Hotel.

The food was average but the inside atmosphere was great. We sat at a high top near the bar surrounded by wood details. It gave off a modern New England vibe.

Once we prepped our bellies, we chose our first winery: Atwater Vineyards.

.You will see why this place became our favorite. The outdoor seating rests on terraces down from the main building. We saw clusters of adirondack chairs bordered by blue hues of hydrangeas. We sank into our chairs, ordered a charcuterie board piled high with local cheeses, and started our first tasting flight—completely unaware we’d be there for hours.

This region is known for their Rieslings. I didn’t think I would like them because I’ve known them to be sweet, but I was pleasantly surprised! Very tasty and barely a hint of sweetness.

This is where we parked ourselves for the rest of the evening. Nibbling, sipping, pouring, chatting and sipping some more. The live music and stunning sunset sealed in the ambiance. Every few minutes the color scheme would change. Even after the

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I’ve designed a budget that allows us to prioritize travel experiences and time off from work so we don’t wait until we’re retired to explore.

We want our lives to feel rich in experience.

My husband is a classic passenger princess when we travel by air. I’m the princess when we travel by car. Makes for a good balance.

I am blessed to have traveled far and wide, but I still yearn to meet more and more cultures. I gain so much joy simply from planning the trip before I even live it! It gives me life and gives me purpose. And now I have a way to document it all. I hope you will be a part of it!

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Check out a list of some amazing trips I have planned:

• Walla Walla, WA

• San Pedro, Belize

• The Florida Keys

• Amalfi Coast & Sicily, Italy

• Sedona, AZ

• Jackson Hole, WY

• Cape May, NJ

• Las Vegas, NV

• Finger Lakes, NY

• Carmel, CA

• Stanley, ID

• And so many more

I want to be the best Auntie I can be! Traveling to see family is my biggest priority. When I’m not traveling home to Philadelphia, I want to live my best child-free life exploring the world.

Any excuse to travel, I make it happen: family vacations, girls trip, weddings, funerals, weekend getaways.

Several of our friends and family have been getting married the past few years, which has determined our trip destinations lately. Weddings are a once-in-a-lifetime event and I love to embrace the destination and take advantage of exploring a new town. If we’re invited, we are going.

Some very dear friends chose Carmel-by-the-Sea to get married. Talk about a STUNNING location. If you haven’t been, it’s a must-see! A quaint, charming, walkable town with deeply-rooted character and cliff-side ocean views. You can smell the nostalgia in the salt from the ocean. Get some steps in while walking to the beach. Stroll down the streets of many bars and shops. Feast on some of the freshest seafood. Khaki linen pants, embroidered crewneck and a pair of sunnies is all you need.

What I Packed:

I almost always use a carry-on only, but for this trip, we had four separate wedding events so I brought the biggest suitcase I have (carefully weighing in at 52 lbs- I’ll share on a later post how I’ve learned to get away with the extra 2 lbs without being charged extra)!

Weather in the Carmel area in early May was up to mid 60s during the height of the day and down to the 40s at night. The further inland you go, the warmer it is and less wind you have. Being right on the coast makes for a damp, humid environment- amazing for my skin, not so great for my frizz.

• Sunnies

• Dry shampoo

• Baseball hat to wear on the plane home

• Flight outfit: black leggings, t-shirt that I’ll sleep in, green embroidered crewneck sweatshirt, tennis shoes

• Around town outfit: tan linen pants, fitted white tee, green crewneck sweatshirt, denim jacket, tennis shoes

• Golf outfit: green joggers, tennis shoes, undershirt, long sleeved white golf shirt with a navy collar

• Endless dresses and heels for the wedding events

The nitty gritty

We chose to fly into Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) against many suggestions to use San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) or San Francisco International Airport (SFO). I’m sure we could have spent $200-300 less using those larger airports, but we had limited days to spend so I wanted to capitalize on the time we had. Choosing MRY allowed us to get 2-3 hours closer to our accommodations and avoid renting a car. We used Lyft to get from the airport to our accommodations and any activities in between. We were prepared to attend various wedding events, most of them including alcoholic drinks, so we found that renting a car and paying to park it would be silly since we have a strict rule of no drinking and driving. The rental car fees were about $80/day and with the average parking nightly rate of $20-$40/car/night, not having to drink and drive, spending $40 for a one way Lyft made more sense. My husband is a classic passenger princess when we travel by air. I’m the princess when we travel by car. Makes for a good balance.

If we had a longer stay, I’d be more likely to fly in and out of a large airport hub, rent a car and explore the area further into Monterey and Big Sur. We had only 4 days to enjoy the area and spend time with our friends and boy did we make the best of our time!

The town is lined with restaurants, bars and specialty shops, many owned by celebrities who reside here.

Choosing a flight to land in the morning allowed us to take advantage of the first full day. After settling into our room, I knew the first stop I wanted to make was Hog’s Breath Inn- owned by Clint Eastwood. I had heard about the history and dive-bar

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