City Spotlight: Madeline Island, Wisconsin

Happy Wednesday and welcome to the first week of Weekly Wanderlust: City Spotlights! To kick off this new series, I'm going to take a look at Madeline Island, Wisconsin. In the spirit of full disclosure, there are actually several cities located on Madeline Island, but the area in itself was so great that I want to feature it immediately! Madeline Island is one of the lesser-known gems of the Midwest, and I was fortunate enough to visit Madeline Island for my first- and definitely not my last - time just a few weeks ago. Without further ado, here is the spotlight on this beautiful island!

Location: Madeline Island is the largest of the 22 Apostle Islands of Lake Superior. Currently, Madeline Island is the only Apostle Island open for commercial development and private ownership. Towns on the island include La Pointe, Middleport, and Old Fort.

Population: A mere 246 permanent residents! Madeline Island is a terrific destination for weekend getaways and cabin time, so much of the 'population' you will see at Madeline Island are temporary visitors.

How to get here: Madeline Island can be reached by taking a ferry from Bayfield, Wisconsin. During peak hours, ferries will run every 30 minutes to the island. You can either purchase tickets as a solo passenger on foot, or you can purchase a ticket to bring your car over to the island as well.

my first ever Paddle Boarding experience!

Where to stay: Tourism is Madeline Island's largest industry, and as such there are tons of great places to stay! You can opt to stay in a motel, a private residence rented out through sites such as Airbnb, or camping at Big Bay State Park.

Fun facts: La Pointe was voted one of the coolest small towns in America in 2011 by Budget Travel Magazine!

What to do: Madeline Island is the perfect destination for a Midwestern weekend getaway! With tourism being the main industry, there are tons of great activities for people of all ages to do. In my short time on the island, I was able to experience paddle boarding for my first time, visit Big Bay State Park and go cliff jumping, lounge at the beach, and enjoy swimming in the (albeit cold!) waters of Lake Superior. Other activities available include kayak and bike rentals, sailboating, hiking, fishing charters, and much more! My personal favorite activity was cliff jumping into the lake!

Have you ever been to Madeline Island? What do you look for when you are booking weekend getaways in the summertime?

Top 11 Things to Do In Munich, Germany!

September is certainly in full swing right now! Just under a year ago I was packing up and gearing up for my second trip to Munich for Oktoberfest. Of course, as a city Munich has so much more to offer than just Oktoberfest! In the spirit of knowing that there are tons of other great things to do while visiting Munich, today I'm going to take a look at the best eleven things to do in Munich, Germany! No matter how long you are staying in Munich, you are bound to find plentiful things to do, sights to see, and food to eat!

Celebrate Oktoberfest. Obviously, this is a given. Oktoberfest in Munich is one of the best, if not the best, attended festival in the entire world. Each year, it welcomes over 6 million visitors, in addition to the locals celebrating the holiday. Check out more information on the history of Oktoberfest! If there is ever a time of year to visit Munich, the Oktoberfest season would be it!

Stroll the English Garden. The English Garden (or Englischer Garten, in German) is essentially Munich's version of Central Park - albeit, established prior to Central Park! The park was established in 1789 and extends from the city center to the northeastern city limits. Within the park, you are guaranteed to find beautiful landscaping, boating, jogging and hiking paths. One of my personal favorite things about traveling to large cities is having the feeling that you are not in the city, and the English Garden will definitely give you that impression!

Visit Marienplatz. Marienplatz is the town square of Munich, and has held that title since 1158. In the middle ages, markets and tournaments were held in the square. Nowadays, the square hosts both the New City Hall and the Old City Hall, as well as many other attractions. Marienplatz is very centrally located and easy to access, especially as it is located on top of the U-bahn and S-bahn stations!

Check out the local scene at Viktualienmarkt! Just a short walk from Marienplatz, you will encounter Viktualienmarkt, one of the great farmers markets in Munich. Viktualienmarkt occupies over 22,000 square feet and has shops ranging from foods such as cheeses and sausages to flower shops to tourist shops. It really is one of the best ways to experience the feel of a city and understand the local appeal to Munich!

Taking a walking, biking, or Segway tour of the city. Munich is a bustling city, and as such there are tons of different things to see and ways to see them. Personally, I would recommend taking a tour of the city- a great one would be to find a free walking tour- in order to ensure you don't miss out on any of the sights! Most of the walking tours will include all of the major things listed in this post, and will also be a great way to meet other people visiting the city.

Unwind with a great Bavarian beer at one of the legendary beer halls. This is primarily for those who aren't able to attend Oktoberfest. If you can't do this, it is an absolute must while in Munich to visit an iconic beer hall, such as Hofbrauhaus, and try out a liter of the beer! In Munich, there are six original Bavarian breweries, and each of them will offer a different experience. Every city has an attraction that you simply can't skip, and for Munich, visiting the beer halls is it!

Eat a pretzel. When in Rome, right? Germany is known to have fabulous pretzels - or brezel, in German. Most places that you go, these pretzels will be larger than your head, and being fresh-baked, they are amazing!

Residenz Palace. The Residence Palace was constructed in 1385, and served as the royal palace to Bavarian monarchs from 1508 to 1918. Currently, the Residence Palace will feature gorgeous furniture, art, porcelain, and more from any decade and style to the present day. Currently, the Residenz Palace features over 130 different rooms, each with a unique and dynamic display.

Neuschwanstein Castle is just gorgeous, and the perfect day trip from Munich!

Get out of town! If you are looking for a break from the city, take a day trip to one of the great Bavarian cities located near Munich. My personal favorite would be taking a two-hour train ride to Füssen. Füssen is home to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles. Each of these castles is majestic, and most certainly the perfect way to spend a day away from Munich!

Deutsches Museum. The Deutsches museum is the world's largest museum of science and technology, and features over 28,000 exhibits. With a museum of this size, there is certain to be something for everyone! If you are curious about just about anything in the world, Deutsches Museum will have an exhibit for you.

Relax! Hey, chances are, if you are visiting Munich (or any new city!) you are on vacation. Relax, and do whatever pleases you. Just because I loved some of these attractions, doesn't mean you will. Vacationing is all about relaxing, so do whatever it is that really pleases you!

For those of you who have been to Munich before, what would you say are the top attractions? Did I miss anything on the list? No matter what you do, you really can't go wrong with a trip to Munich!

Exuding Elegance: Visiting Nickel & Nickel Vineyards

If you are looking for a unique vineyard experience that simply exudes class, elegance, and excellence; look no further than Nickel & Nickel vineyards in Napa Valley. Nickel & Nickel is known for their 'single-mindedness' in that they are committed to providing exclusively 100% varietal, single-vineyard wines. To a non-wine connoisseur, this can mean that Nickel & Nickel focus on and understand every aspect that goes into each and every wine; from the soil and grapes selected to the exact harvest date and aging processes used. While I had known this, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect while visiting Nickel & Nickel. From the moment I first arrived to the vineyard to the moment I left, I felt completely at ease and knew that I was at a winery where I would be taken care of by the best.

Entering the stunning property!

Welcome Room at Nickel & Nickel

Pulling up to Nickel & Nickel, I felt like I was entering the American Dream. The property is surrounded by a white picket fence, and you are immediately greeted and buzzed in via an intercom. Before getting further into the tour, I'll give you some more background on Nickel & Nickel and the winery. The vineyard is conveniently located in Oakville, right near the center of Napa Valley. It is located in 42 acres and was originally settled as a farmstead in the 1880s. Since then, buildings on the property from the 1700s and 1800s have been renovated to include classic touches on each and every vineyard experience.

Pre-wine tasting and tour! Isn't the property gorgeous?

Once arriving to Nickel & Nickel, you will be warmly welcomed into the John C. Sullenger House. This home was built around 1884 and recently renovated to become the welcome center and tasting room for Nickel & Nickel. The home is just stunning, and will instantly do that...make you feel at home. Once welcomed, you will be able to enjoy the ambiance of the home before beginning your tour of the vineyard and property.

Throughout your wine tour, you will be introduced to the various buildings on the property: the Gleason Barn, the Barrel Cellar, and the Fermentation Barns. Personally, my favorite area was a complete tie between the Gleason Barn and the Barrel Cellar. Each of these areas of the property was so unique, and possessed an entirely new aspect of the vineyard.

Vintage car on property!

All of the unique and vintage touches really make Nickel & Nickel stand out!

The first stop on my tour was the Gleason Barn, which is why I will start there! The Gleason Barn was built in 1770 in Meriden, New Hampshire by the Gleason family. After surviving the Revolutionary War, the hay barn was spared from demolition in 2001. Over the process of two years, the barn was dismantled and restored, being shipped in pieces to Nickel & Nickel before being reconstructed at the winery in 2003. Inside, the barn features offices and a laboratory, in addition to gorgeous touches such as antique cars!

Just wow. Pictures and words really don't do this wine cellar justice! 

The impressive fermentation room!

After leaving the Gleason Barn, we were brought to the fermentation barn and the barrel cellar. WOW is the best way to describe this. As you descend into the barrel cellar, anticipation builds until the entire 30,000 square foot subterranean cellar is laid out before you. Row after row of French Oak barrels is displayed, housing and aging the wine perfectly. The rows seem never-ending, and you can almost taste the wine as you are breathing in the delicious scent of the barrel cellar. Truly, this is an experience you have to see to believe.

Our wine and cheese tasting!

Once we had completed our tour and exploration of the property, it was back to the main house to taste some delicious wines! The tasting was very elegant, as you walk into the room and everything has already been prepared for you. Each setting was laid out with four pre-poured Cabernet Sauvignons, three cheese pairings, and a customized tasting card with your names printed on it. Upon seating, Kenji, our incredibly knowledgable host, instructed us on each of the wine and cheese flavors. We were encouraged to sip each wine and try it with the different cheeses, returning to our favorite pairings throughout the tastings. Kenji not only taught us more about Nickel & Nickel and their wine club, but also answered any general questions or comments that we may have about wine. After wrapping up his presentation, we were left to enjoy the wines!

Once I had (gladly!) finished my tasting and cheese pairing, it was time to depart Nickel & Nickel. Overall, the property was so beautiful and simply oozed elegance. The vineyard provided such an exquisite and unique experience, it instantly made me think of all of the friends and family I would love to return to Napa Valley with and bring them here!

One last picture of the wine cellar, as it was so impressive!

Introducing... Weekly Wanderlust: City Spotlights!

I love traveling. If you are at all like me - and chances are, you must be since you are reading my blog - you love traveling too. For me, it isn't only the thrill of going to a new destination, it is also the planning and preparation, and after the trip, going through the photos and reminiscing. It also doesn't only apply to my travels - I absolutely love when my friends and family are able to visit great new destinations and I can live vicariously through them. Over the past couple weeks, I've enjoyed seeing my friends and family take trips to Banff National Park, Alaska, Croatia, Italy, and India - just to name a few.

The fact of the matter is, watching friends and family makes me crave traveling. Right now, I don't have a flight booked - and don't plan on having any booked for quite some time. But then I remind myself of all of the terrific destinations and cities that I've been able to visit, or that I've been dreaming of visiting. And it got me to thinking, why not revisit some of these destinations, or virtually visit some destinations that are near the top of my bucket list?

And that is exactly what I'm going to do! Starting next Wednesday, you can expect a dose of Weekly Wanderlust: City Spotlight! Every other week, I will be featuring a city right here in the U.S. On the off weeks, I'll be examining cities around the world! Some of these will be places I've been, some will be places I've been dying to go to. No matter the case, it will be a great way for me to spend some time learning about new destinations or relearning about old ones. And I'm so excited to share this with you each week! Are there any destinations you've been looking at and would love to explore a bit more virtually? Let me know and I will certainly add them to the list for my weekly city spotlight!

Currently // September Edition

Cue the typical "I can't believe it is September already!" statement, because really, I can't believe it is September already. This year, and most certainly this summer, has flown by. Between the uncertainty that was April and May, deciding if Nick and I were returning to Europe, to moving to Des Moines in June and then a jam-packed summer with weddings, family festivities, trips to Napa Valley, and everyday life, summer absolutely flew by. September is sure to be another busy month around here. Besides working full-time, this month I'll also be finishing up my seventh (7th!!) MBA class, starting my 8th, and packing in a quick trip to Minneapolis to visit family and a trip to Milwaukee to celebrate a friend's wedding and explore the town. With all of that, let's catch up on life lately with another currently post!

Date night with Nicky! Tried out a new outfit from Versona- loved it!

Wearing: all sorts of super cute clothes from Versona! A few weeks ago, I found out that Versona would be opening a new store in West Des Moines. Versona is a boutique women's clothing store with locations in 18 different states. After chatting with the staff members here in West Des Moines, I found out that they bring in new styles every Monday. Essentially, they are always stocking new items and having great new fashions to try out. While perusing the store, Nick spotted my above outfit on a mannequin, convinced me to try it on, and I fell in love. It was perfect for date night the other night, and I can't wait to keep trying new items out! Versona had so many great items, and the store was laid out to make shopping quite easy. Sections of the store are broken down into style- business, casual, date night, etc. If you are looking for something quick, that is easy, otherwise I spent a couple of hours browsing the entire store! In any case, I'm glad to have found a new favorite store...

Watching: Twilight, and the series ending of Suits. I was at a bit of a loss a few weeks ago for movies for Nick and I to watch, so with 5 movies in the series we decided it was time to watch these movies (for my first time!). I also just watched the series finale (or mid-season finale) of Suits, and am devastated that I'll have to wait another 4 months for new episodes! If anyone has any great show recommendations, I'd love to hear them!

Planning: my upcoming trips to Minneapolis and Milwaukee! Visiting Minneapolis will be all about catching up with family and friends, while Milwaukee will be about exploring the city more and celebrating a friend's wedding. I've only been to Milwaukee once before, so I'm excited to have some time to explore the city and check out another great Midwest city!

Dreaming: of new destinations for vacations. I'm always antsy for new places and destinations, and with no flights currently booked, I'm researching destinations like crazy! This is one of the times when I definitely wish the U.S. was more like Europe, and had tons of great budget airlines like Ryanair or Easyjet. One can dream!

Our first look!

Celebrating: two years of being married on September 14! While at times it feels like I've been married forever, there are also times where it feels like I've been married for all of two minutes. At the end of each and every day, I love being married to my husband and I can't wait to see where the future takes us!

Appreciating: these last few weeks of summer. We had a cold couple of days a few weeks ago- enough to make me grab some of my winter sweaters and clothes the last time I was in Minneapolis- and luckily, it was a false alarm. I'm determined to make the most of the rest of this summer!

Brushing: my LilyMonster. With fall just around the corner, she is shedding like crazy- I spent a good 35 minutes earlier today combing hair off her, and I know this will be a daily routine until she is all prepped for winter! On a separate note, how adorable is the picture of her trying to steal a lick of my champagne?!

Drinking: delicious wine now that Nick and I have joined a wine club! One of the local wine shops in town has a wine club program that allows you to choose your level of membership. The best part of the wine club is weekly tastings, and not paying a corkage fee when you visit the wine store and enjoy some of the wine there. It is such a great way to get out of the house and not spend a ton of money!

Working: on taking better care of myself. I've been pretty good about running and working out all summer, but I'm also trying to do a lot of the little things- such as really washing my face every night before bed. I've gotten in some bad habits over the years, and I am trying to change them!

Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Does it get any more beautiful than this?!

Catching: up time with friends and family! Not only have I been busy this summer, but so many of my friends and family have too. My older brother just returned from a stunning trip to Banff- while I had known that Banff was beautiful, it wasn't until his trip that I really understood. Let me tell you, it has shot to the top of my travel list- I'm hoping like crazy to make a trip there this next summer! Beyond that, one of my best friends just returned from a trip to Alaska- while I haven't gotten to hear all about it, the few pictures I've seen have been stunning. As much as I love to travel, I also absolutely love to hear about adventures that people close to me are having. It only inspires me more, and makes the list of destinations I'd like to visit grow larger!

Planning: a bunch of great blog posts! I have so many post ideas swirling around in my head, it is hard to get each and every post completed before starting the next one! Stay tuned though, over the next few weeks I have more great posts planned- about blogging, traveling in the Midwest, hiking, Napa Valley, and of course, my recent favorite topic- Oktoberfest!

Wondering: what each of you have been up to lately! I feel like I just gave a pretty good run-down on my month of August and a bit of a preview for September. What are you looking forward to over the coming weeks?