Adventures in Southern California

Rome, Italy: Why It's the Best City for Your First Trip to Europe

Europe, hiking, italy, mountain biking, Rome

Pantheon in Rome

When someone asks me, "Where should I go for my first trip to Europe?", I always tell them to go to Rome. Yes, it's crowded, but it's a city that lives up to expectations in every way. You can wander through Rome for hours without an agenda and be blown away by what you’ll discover around every corner. People will wait in line for hours to see the Sistine Chapel, but you can wander into dozens of Cathedrals and churches in Rome for free and see incredible paintings, sculptures, and architecture without waiting in line. You really need at least 4-5 full days just to see the main attractions, and even then, you'll barely scratch the surface.

Rome has thousands of restaurants, and the food is one of the best parts of visiting. Google reviews have really leveled the playing field for tourists looking for a great meal without feeling overwhelmed. You're never more than 50 feet from somewhere good to eat, and it's easy to avoid the tourist traps by looking at reviews. We didn’t sit down for every meal. One thing I noticed was how many locals were eating sandwiches for lunch, so that's what we started doing. Another tip is to stop inside grocery stores to buy bottled water, sodas, and snacks. You'll pay a fraction of what the corner stores charge.

Exploring Ancient Rome: The Colosseum and Roman Forum

The Colosseum and Roman Forum are two attractions you absolutely have to see. We actually skipped going inside the Colosseum and just walked around the exterior, which is impressive enough on its own. The line can get insane and you’ll waste half a day standing around. Instead, we spent our time exploring the Roman Forum, and I would highly recommend it. I walked straight into the Forum with my ticket and there were less than 100 people on the street. Plan on spending at least 2 hours at the Forum. You can buy tickets online to skip the line and get a guaranteed entry time.

The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Rome's Churches

A great way to spend a day in Rome is just walking through the historic center. Start around the Pantheon, one of the best-preserved ancient Roman buildings, and work your way toward the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. There are beautiful piazzas, fountains, restaurants, and churches everywhere you look. One church you shouldn't miss is Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola, which has an incredible painted ceiling that creates the illusion of a massive dome. Another favorite is San Luigi dei Francesi, where you can see three original Caravaggio paintings inside the Contarelli Chapel. Both churches are free. This is what makes Rome so amazing. Some of the greatest artwork in the world is sitting inside churches that you can walk into right off the street, without paying museum admission or waiting in a huge line.

Trastevere, the Tiber River, and Rome's Best Neighborhoods

One of my favorite neighborhoods in Rome is Trastevere, located across the Tiber River from the historic center. It's filled with narrow cobblestone streets, colorful old buildings, outdoor restaurants, bars, and beautiful little squares. It's a great place to explore during the day, but I especially recommend coming back in the evening when the restaurants and nightlife get going. Make sure to visit the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, one of Rome's oldest churches, with beautiful golden mosaics inside. Another area I really enjoyed was around Ponte Palatino, where you can walk along the Tiber River and see some beautiful historic bridges, the nearby Tiber Island, and ancient ruins along the riverbanks. Rome is an incredibly walkable city, and exploring these neighborhoods without a strict itinerary was one of my favorite things about the trip.

Biking the Appian Way and the Park of the Aqueducts

One experience I highly recommend is renting a bicycle and getting outside the crowded city center. You can find bike rentals for around $15 a day and explore the Appian Way (Via Appia Antica), one of the oldest roads in the Roman Empire. You'll ride along ancient stone roads, past Roman tombs, ruins, and beautiful countryside that feels completely different from central Rome. Another place you absolutely shouldn't miss is the Park of the Aqueducts (Parco degli Acquedotti). This enormous park has miles of open space and trails running alongside massive ancient Roman aqueducts.You can ride your bike right through the park. It's one of the most memorable things we did in Rome, and surprisingly, there were very few tourists compared to the major attractions downtown. I'd recommend setting aside most of a day to explore the Appian Way and the aqueduct park, especially if you enjoy biking, history, and getting away from the crowds.

Getting to Rome

If you're flying to Rome from LAX, I recommend looking for flights in September and October. I've had great luck finding roundtrip tickets from Los Angeles to Rome for around $500–600 during the fall. September and October are also great months to visit Italy because the weather is generally comfortable for walking around, and you can avoid some of the intense summer heat. I usually start looking for flights about six months in advance and compare prices between several airlines. I've flown with Iberia, Swiss, Lufthansa, and British Airways and have had good experiences with all of them. One way to do it is to fly into Rome and out of Venice. You can hit Rome, Florence, Bologna, Verona and Venice for a perfect 2 week trip.

Roman Forum

Roman Colliseum

Park of the Aqueducts

Ponte Palatino

Spanish Steps

Trevi Fountain

The Vatican

Yosemite's Giant Sequoias: Hiking Mariposa Grove & Tuolumne Grove

National Park, sequoia, southern California hiking, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley

Mariposa Grove – Yosemite National Park

If you only have time to visit one giant sequoia grove in Yosemite, I would recommend the Mariposa Grove located near the park's southern entrance. This is the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite, with over 500 mature giant sequoias. You can no longer drive your own car directly to the grove unless you have a disability placard. Instead, park at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza and take the free shuttle about two miles up to the trailhead. The Grizzly Giant Loop Trail is approximately 2 miles long, with about 300 feet of elevation gain, and takes about 2 hours. Along the way, you'll see the Fallen Monarch, a massive fallen sequoia with its exposed roots, the Bachelor and Three Graces, the enormous Grizzly Giant, which is estimated to be around 3,000 years old, and the California Tunnel Tree, which you can walk through.

I would definitely recommend taking the shuttle rather than walking up from the Welcome Plaza. The hike from the parking lot to the grove is about two miles each way, with roughly 500 feet of elevation gain on the way up. It's a long uphill walk that I don't think is particularly interesting, especially when you could save your energy for exploring the actual grove. Taking the shuttle lets you spend more time among the giant sequoias instead of walking up the access road or trail. The shuttle generally operates from spring through fall, depending on weather and road conditions, and runs about every 15 minutes. If you're visiting during the winter when the shuttle isn't running, you'll need to hike the extra four miles round trip just to reach the grove and return to the parking lot. That turns the two mile long Grizzly Giant Loop into a roughly six mile long hike.

Tuolumne Grove Trail – Yosemite National Park

The Tuolumne Grove is one of the easiest places to see giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park, and it's definitely worth a stop if you're coming into or leaving Yosemite Valley on Highway 120 near Tioga Road. The trail starts near Crane Flat and follows a wide, mostly paved old road downhill for about one mile to the grove. It's a beautiful, shaded hike through the forest with a descent of about 500 feet. Once you reach the bottom, there's a short half-mile loop through the giant sequoias, including the famous Dead Giant Tunnel Tree, which has a large opening carved through its trunk that you can actually walk through. The entire hike, including the loop and the return to the parking lot, is approximately 2.5 miles round trip.

The Tuolumne Grove is much smaller and not nearly as impressive as the Mariposa Grove, but I still think it's worth visiting. There are about two dozen mature giant sequoias here, and the tunnel tree is probably the highlight. The hike down is easy, but remember that you'll have to climb those 500 feet back up to your car. Allow about 2 hours for the entire hike. Tioga Road typically closes from November through late May or early June because of snow. However, the closure begins just beyond the Tuolumne Grove near Crane Flat, so you can still drive to the trailhead from the western side of Yosemite when road conditions permit. The grove remains open year-round, although the trail can be covered in snow and ice during the winter.

Tuolumne Grove

Grizzley Giant

Tuolumne Grove

Dead Giant Tunnel Tree

Visiting Verona, The Gem of Northern Italy.

castles, ebike, Europe, italy, pizza, verona

Verona Italy

Verona is my favorite city in northern Italy, and I would definitely recommend spending a couple of nights here if you're traveling between Venice and Rome. September is a great time to visit, when the weather is still warm enough to eat outside and explore the city on foot. Verona is easy to reach by train from either Venice or Rome, and you don't need to rent a car. Just get off at Verona Porta Nuova station and walk into the historic center, which takes about 15 minutes. We stayed at a hotel right next to Porta Borsari, a beautiful Roman gate that was built in the 1st century. It's pretty amazing to have something nearly 2,000 years old right outside your hotel.

One of the best things about Verona is its huge pedestrian friendly historic center. The city center is a UNESCO world heritage site. You can spend hours walking through the narrow streets, shopping, visiting churches, and stopping at outdoor restaurants. There are tons of jewelry shops, clothing stores, and little boutiques throughout town. Verona is also famous as the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The city has some amazing market days, especially around Piazza delle Erbe, a beautiful square surrounded by colorful historic buildings. This is a great place to buy souvenirs, browse the market stalls, grab a drink, and just enjoy the atmosphere.

The biggest attraction in Verona is the Arena di Verona, one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. Built in the 1st century AD, it looks like a smaller version of the Colosseum in Rome, but it's still in use 2,000 years later. The arena in Verona still hosts concerts and large opera performances. It's located in Piazza Bra, one of the city's largest and most beautiful squares. I would definitely recommend sitting outside at Ristorante Nastro Azzurro, right near the Arena, for a great Italian meal. It's a fantastic place to enjoy some pasta, pizza, and wine while looking out at the ancient Roman amphitheater. You have to reserve a table most nights because it gets insanely busy for dinner around the arena.

Another thing I would recommend is walking across Ponte Pietra, the beautiful Roman-era stone bridge crossing the Adige River. The views of the river, old buildings, and surrounding hills are amazing, especially in the late afternoon. You can also rent bicycles at locations throughout the city and ride along the riverbanks. It's a great way to see more of Verona without spending the entire day walking. The river winds around the historic center, and there are some beautiful stretches to explore by bike. Don't miss the medieval Castelvecchio and its fortified bridge if you're interested in castles and history.

Verona is one of those cities where you really don't need a packed itinerary. Most of the major attractions are within walking distance of each other, and half the fun is just wandering around the pedestrian streets, checking out the markets, and finding a good place to eat outside. I would recommend staying at least two nights so you can enjoy the city during the day and again in the evening when the squares fill with people. If you're traveling through northern Italy by train, Verona is absolutely worth adding to your itinerary. It's beautiful, easy to get around, full of history, and has some of the best outdoor dining atmosphere you'll find in Italy.

Italy High Speed Train Route to Verona

Verona Italy

Arena di Verona

Verona Italy

Zermatt Switzerland: Skiing the Matterhorn

disney, Europe, matterhorn, mountains, snowboarding, switzerland

Zermatt Switzerland

If you're planning a ski trip to Europe, Zermatt Switzerland, should be near the top of your list. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited, with enormous snow covered mountains and some of the best skiing in the Alps. Getting there from Los Angeles is easier than you might think. We flew from LAX to Geneva and took the train all the way to Zermatt. The train ride takes about four hours and is absolutely beautiful the entire way. You'll pass Lake Geneva, small Swiss towns, mountain valleys, and ski villages surrounded by the Alps. We even saw people getting off at little train stations wearing their ski clothes, heading straight for the slopes. The train transfers are easy, with small stations that are simple to navigate. From Geneva, you'll transfer at Visp to the mountain railway, which passes through Täsch before arriving in Zermatt. You can also fly into Zurich, which has direct flights from LAX, although Geneva has usually been cheaper when I've searched.

One of the best things about Zermatt is the town itself. It's almost entirely car free, with pedestrian streets, mini electric taxis, restaurants, bars, and shops within easy walking distance. You definitely don't need a rental car. Despite Zermatt's reputation as an expensive luxury ski destination, I've found hotels right in town for around $1,000 for an entire week in February. Restaurants are expensive, but honestly, the prices aren't much different from what we're used to paying in California. The grocery stores are surprisingly reasonable. If you're trying to save money, you can easily pick up breakfast, snacks, and a few meals without spending a fortune. Lift tickets start around 92 Swiss francs per day, about $110 USD, although prices change depending on the dates.

The skiing is what makes Zermatt so special. The mountain is enormous, and because part of the ski area sits on a glacier at very high elevation, it has some of the most reliable snow conditions in Europe. You can even ski on the glacier during parts of the summer. The ride up to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is easily the most amazing gondola ride I've ever taken. You're suspended high above glaciers and giant mountain peaks, with views that almost don't look real. At the top, you're nearly 13,000 feet above sea level, and there's an incredible ice cave called the Glacier Palace, carved right into the glacier with ice sculptures and tunnels. It's definitely worth seeing, even if you aren't skiing. We visited in February during the middle of the week, and I couldn't believe how empty the mountain was.

Skiing into Italy from Zermatt: One of the coolest things about skiing in Zermatt is that you can actually ski across the international border into Italy. The Matterhorn Ski Paradise connects Zermatt with the Italian resorts of Cervinia and Valtournenche, giving you access to a massive network of ski runs in two different countries. You can ski down from the glacier into Cervinia, enjoy some Italian food for lunch, and then take the lifts back into Switzerland the same afternoon. The Italian side has some beautiful, wide-open runs with incredible views of the Matterhorn from a completely different angle. You'll need to purchase the international ski pass, which costs more than the regular Zermatt pass, but it's worth considering for at least one day. Just make sure to check the weather and the last lift times before crossing the border. The high-altitude connection sometimes closes because of strong winds, and you definitely don't want to get stranded in Italy after the lifts close. We never waited in a single lift line the entire trip. It felt like we had this massive mountain almost entirely to ourselves.

Zermatt has some excellent restaurants, although eating out every night can get expensive. Saycheese! is a great place to try traditional Swiss fondue and raclette. Golden Lok is a good option for Italian food and amazing pizza. One restaurant you absolutely shouldn't miss is Restaurant Furri, located right on the mountain. We stopped there for lunch while skiing, and I had the best French onion soup I've ever eaten. The Brown Cow Pub is another favorite, especially if you're looking for something more casual and reasonably priced. They have amazing chicken wings, good burgers, and a fun pub atmosphere.

The nightlife in Zermatt is decent, but it's definitely quieter than Chamonix, France. The crowd tends to be a little older, and many of the restaurants and bars close fairly early. One exception is the Brown Cow Pub, which stays open until 2 AM and is one of the better places to hang out after dinner. Another place I highly recommend is Alex Lounge Bar & Fumoir at Hotel Alex. We had some insanely good Mai Tais there, If you're looking for a wild après-ski scene, Chamonix definitely has the edge, but Zermatt still has plenty of good places to eat and drink.

Zermatt is more expensive than many other ski resorts in Europe, but I think it's worth the extra money. It's cheaper than skiing in Lake Tahoe or Mammoth. The scenery in Zermatt is unmatched, the skiing is incredible, and during our midweek February visit, the slopes were practically empty. Standing at the top of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, surrounded by enormous snow-covered peaks in every direction, really does feel like you're standing on top of the world.

Zermatt Switzerland

The Matterhorn

Zermatt Switzerland

Glacier Paradise

Zermatt Switzerland

Geneva Switzerland

Tips for visiting Zermatt

Chamonix France: One of the Best Ski Towns in Europe

Europe, france, snowboarding

Chamonix France

Chamonix is one of the largest and best ski towns in Europe. One of the best things about Chamonix is that it's a real town, not just a ski resort. The town center has a pedestrian only walking street filled with restaurants, bars, bakeries, and shops. Everything in the center is within walking distance, so you don’t need a car. The food and the nightlife is amazing. There are plenty of places to grab a beer after skiing, great restaurants serving traditional French food, and bars that stay busy late into the night.

Getting to Chamonix from California is pretty straightforward. You can typically find roundtrip flights from LAX to Geneva Switzerland for $600-700 on Swiss and Lufthansa. I’ve flown both airlines multiple times and they have been great. Once you land in Geneva, you take a car or bus into Chamonix. Geneva is a smaller airport and it’s very easy to get around. The trip from Geneva to Chamonix takes about 75 minutes. Condos and hotels in Chamonix are very affordable compared with major American ski resorts. If you book early and avoid the busiest holiday weeks, you can sometimes find a really nice condo with a kitchen, balcony, and mountain views for less than $900 for an entire week. I would recommend staying close to the pedestrian center so you can walk to restaurants and bars every night.

There are four major ski areas in the Chamonix Valley. Les Houches is a great choice for beginners, with plenty of easier terrain and beautiful runs through the trees. Flégère is one of my favorites for intermediate skiers, with wide-open slopes and incredible views of Mont Blanc. Brévent has more challenging terrain, while Grands Montets is particularly popular with advanced skiers. The Balme ski area near Le Tour is another good option for intermediate skiers. The resorts are spread throughout the valley, but the ski buses connect them, and bus transportation is free if you have a lift ticket. Lift tickets in Chamonix are much cheaper than comparably sized American resorts. You can find some options in the $65 range per day. For the 2026–27 winter season, standard adult day passes are €60 at Les Houches and €76.50 for Chamonix Le Pass during the main season. There are better deals online for multi-day passes if you shop around.

Even if you aren't skiing every day, there is plenty to see around Chamonix. Do not skip the Aiguille du Midi cable car, which takes you 12,600 feet above sea level for insane views of Mont Blanc and the surrounding Alps. You can even walk into a glass observation box suspended over a huge drop. The views from the top are indescribable.

Another thing that makes Chamonix such a great destination is its proximity to Italy. You can take a bus through the Mont Blanc Tunnel, which runs directly underneath the Alps, and arrive in Courmayeur Italy in about 45 minutes. Courmayeur is a beautiful Italian mountain town with cobblestone streets, excellent restaurants, and its own ski resort. It's a great place to spend a day eating Italian food, exploring the village, or skiing on the Italian side of Mont Blanc. It's pretty amazing that you can ski in France one day and Italy the next without having to change hotels. The weather can be completely different on the Italian side of the Alps.

I would also recommend visiting Megève and Annecy while you're in the region. Megève is about a 45 minute drive from Chamonix and is a beautiful upscale French ski village with traditional Alpine architecture, cobblestone streets, and awesome restaurants. Annecy is a little farther away, roughly 90 minutes by car or bus, but it's absolutely worth the trip. The medieval old town is filled with canals, colorful buildings, restaurants, and historic churches. Lake Annecy is one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe, with walking and biking paths along the water. Once you’ve spent a week in Chamonix, it may be hard for you to go back to skiing and boarding in the US. Between the superior views, food, nightlife, bakeries and the lower prices, I’ve gotten hooked on European ski towns.