The Zugspitze is Germany’s highest mountain with an elevation of 2,962 m (9,718 ft) and is located in Bavaria, Germany. Dave, Soozi, and I traveled to the Zugspitze during a trip to Garmisch for the West Point Founder’s Day dinner held at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in April 2017.

 

Keukenhof Garden, located outside of Amsterdam in the town of Lisse, is famous for its spectacular springtime displays of tulips in Holland. Visitors can enjoy over 7 million bright and colorful bulbs throughout the garden. In May 2017, one of my best friends, Julie, and I, along with Julie’s mom, Becky, got to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime trip.

 

During the summer solstice of June 2017, Dave and I took a trip to Reykjavik, Iceland to experience 24 hours of daylight. While there, we found ourselves on an epic Game of Thrones tour around the island country where we visited various filming locations, including this green, lush area where the Hound and Aria engaged in a duel.

 

What a great way to spend our wedding anniversary-on the beach along the southern coast of Portugal! In July 2017, we spent several nights in Vilamoura enjoying some much needed R&R and fun in the sun while eating amazing fresh seafood and sipping Portuguese port wine.

 

Looking for a little UK charm, we traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland at the beginning of October 2017. While it’s so hard to pick a favorite place or a favorite trip, this one definitely comes in at the top of our list. From a Scottish Whisky tour to a stop at the Rosslyn Chapel (from the novel the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown) to wandering around the impressive Edinburgh Castle, we were totally smitten and have already planned a return visit for the Fringe Festival and Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in August 2018.

 

Our last trip of the year took place at the end of October. Work brought Dave to the Bordeaux and Landes regions of France, and we thought it’d be a great time for Buddy and I to accompany him. I fumbled my way through the French language while Dave relied on his high school level linguistic abilities. Luckily, we both knew the important words…like vin et fromage (wine and cheese)!

HAPPY NEW YEAR from us…and the Traveling Shell!

“Travel makes one modest; you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”

~Gustave Flaubert

 

Learn more about the traveling shell HERE