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The Great Wide Somewhere

  • ABOUT
    • Privacy Policy
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    • Africa & Middle East
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Random!

Pieces I’ve written not directly related to one particular location:

  • How To Plan a Travel-Themed Wedding
  • How to Plan a Travel-Themed Baby Shower
  • Decorating Your House with a Travel Theme
  • Inspiration: My Travel & Sloth Theme Baby Nursery
  • Travelling with a Baby: My Tips & Favorite Products
  • 20 Awe-Inspiring Destinations to Add to Your Bucket-List
  • Packing Tips & Personal Advice
  • Traveling to 30 Countries by age 30!
  • Top Ten Best Cat Products!
  • Gift Ideas for Travelers

About This Blog

Let’s Be Friends!

Latest Posts

  • Iceland Road Trip Itinerary for 10-14 Days

    November 1, 2024
    By Michelle W.

  • Scotland: What to Pack for Winter Travel (for Women)

    October 29, 2024
    By Michelle W.

  • Costa Rica: What to Pack for Winter Travel (Dry Season) for Women

    October 15, 2024
    By Michelle W.

  • 3 Days in Paris Itinerary: Perfect for First Time Visitors

    October 10, 2024
    By Michelle W.

  • My Cincinnati Staycation Experience at Lytle Park Hotel

    September 5, 2024
    By Michelle W.

  • Things to do in Clarksville, Tennessee (with kids!): A Weekend Itinerary

    May 31, 2024
    By Michelle W.

Read More!

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Top Posts

Costa Rica Itinerary: 7-10 Days
Scotland Road Trip Itinerary (10 Days)
One Day in Madrid (Walking Route Map Included!)
Sound of Music Sites in Salzburg, Austria
Iceland Road Trip Itinerary for 10-14 Days
Where to See Highland Cows in Scotland (Map Included!)
Scotland: What to Pack for Summer Travel (for Women)
Puerto Rico: One Week Itinerary
Beijing Itinerary: See the City + Great Wall in 4 Days
Montanejos: Hot Springs & Waterfalls - A Valencia Daytrip

© Michelle Weigold and The Great Wide Somewhere, 2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Please read full privacy policyy/disclosure information here

Details on visiting ⬇️ This is your sign… Details on visiting ⬇️ This is your sign… take a visit to find the magic of Christmas in Frankenmuth, Michigan! 🎄 Known as “Michigan’s Little Bavaria,” 🇩🇪 this town and its picturesque architecture is home to Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland: “the world’s largest Christmas store”. 🎅🏻 @bronnerschristmas They have over 100,000 holiday items spread across 7.5 acres, so it’s definitely hard to leave empty handed. 🎁 Beyond the store, Frankenmuth town hosts festive events like its Christkindlmarkt (Nov 25–Dec 11) 🎄🇩🇪 They have traditional holiday crafts, food, and music as well as a trolley ride Christmas light tour 🚋. Make sure to get some pretzels and beer too 🍻! #frankenmuthmichigan #bronnerschristmaswonderland #ChristmasMagic #frankenmuth #michiganawesome
Helen, Georgia at Christmas is the perfect place f Helen, Georgia at Christmas is the perfect place for lovers of small towns looking for an idyllic backdrop. 🎄 This mountain town was designed with Bavarian themed architecture, and most of the restaurants, shops and bars have Alpine style and German fare. 🇩🇪 Several Lifetime Channel Christmas movies have been filmed here, and it’s easy to see why! 🎥 Here you can attend a “lighting of the village” event (with appearances by Mr. and Mrs. Claus! 🎅🏼), or a German style Christkindlmarket full of food, live music, and a craft show by local artisans. 🎨 The main thing though is simply stroll the streets, enjoying the lights and decor- as well as aesthetically pleasing buildings! Grab some glühwein from Hofer’s bakery, a giant pretzel from Ludwig’s 🥨 and enjoy! 🍻 There’s also a nearby “Christmas in the Mountains” parade and a “Victorian Christmas” event at the local Hardman farm site. Plus, the area has loads of wineries and scenic waterfalls- there’s always something to do! 🍷 We really enjoyed our visit, and made it to nearby Dahlonega too (another cute small town)! The southern hospitality truly is alive and well here- everyone was super chatty and friendly. 😇 #helengeorgia #bavarian #christkindlmarkt #visitgeorgia #christmastown #usatravels #christmasinspiration #georgiatravel #northgeorgia #smalltownusa
⬇️ Comment “schedule” to get a bullet poin ⬇️ Comment “schedule” to get a bullet point breakdown of our New England road trip itinerary! 🚙 The highlights include Franconia Notch in New Hampshire, Watkins Glen in the Finger Lakes of New York, Stowe in Vermont, and Acadia National Park in Maine! 😍 This is truly one of the most beautiful areas in the US, and while great to do in fall 🍂 it would still be impressive in other seasons too (just make sure to check for seasonal closings ❄️)! #newengland #roadtripusa #familytravels
⬇️ Comment “ice” & get my mega detailed bl ⬇️ Comment “ice” & get my mega detailed blog post with this google map, our ten day Iceland road trip 🚙 itinerary, details on all our stops, 🌋 plus where we stayed! 🏕️ Using my blog post is literally going to save you HOURS of work, I promise! 🎉 This trip is truly so incredible. 💙 It includes volcanoes, waterfalls, glacial lagoons, 🧊 geysers, puffins, 🐧whale watching🐋, ancient runes, natural thermal baths 🧖, black sand beaches and more! Iceland is definitely a pricy travel destination, 🇮🇸 but we found ways to make it more affordable. All the details, tips and tricks in my blog! 😇 #icelandroadtrip #icelandadventure #icelandlove #budgettrip #travelbloggervibes
As a Northern Kentucky native, I love sharing my f As a Northern Kentucky native, I love sharing my favorite family-friendly finds! 😀 These spots are ideal for visitors and locals alike @meetnky is a great place for families, especially during our beautiful fall season. #ad 🍂🍁 Fun family-friendly things to do: •Creative Play Cafe - Located in Crescent Springs, this spot is designed to grow imagination through play. 🎉It’s such a clean, inviting space and the costumes and sets are perfect! @creative.play.cafe •Neltner’s Farm - This beautiful spot in Camp Springs is a highlight each year. We love their pumpkin patch and all the festivities. 🎃 You can also shop there for produce from May to October. @neltnersfarm •Big Bone Lick State Park - I’ve loved going here for years, and there’s plenty to do at this park in Union. They have a small museum, a replica of the prehistoric tar pits (to learn about mammoths and saber-tooth tigers), walking trails, and a playground. 🦣 Our usual highlight is seeing the resident herd of bison! The museum also had nature-bingo printouts that we used to make the hike extra fun this time. 🦬 @kystateparks •Graeter’s Ice Cream- At this famed ice cream shop’s Union location you can enjoy sweet treats and also their adorable indoor playground! 🍦It’s especially nice for younger kids, as they have a toddler/baby area in addition to the main ice cream cone slide. 🛝 @graeters •The Brickery - In the popular entertainment, dining, and shopping complex of Newport on the Levee, you can find @thebrickerycafe . This is the first Lego-themed cafe in the country! 🎉 You can rent out sets of blocks to build a design of your choice, while also enjoying drinks and snacks. Another bonus is that @newportonthelevee has an indoor playground and train ride right by its front door! 🚂 •CVG Airport Viewing Area- If you have vehicle-obsessed children like I do, then seeing a plane take off is a big deal. When you come to this park in Hebron, you can play on the play sets and see a few planes taking off from up close. ✈️ @cvgairport There’s so many family-friendly things to do in NKY! Check out the link in my bio and start planning your visit now! #ThatsWhyNKY #VisitNKY
Comment “sloth” and get my packing list pdf (a Comment “sloth” and get my packing list pdf (and related blog post) to your DMs. 🦥 If you don’t follow me, it will be hiding in your “requests” folder! 🇨🇷 After multiple trips to Costa Rica over the last decade, I’ve figured out a pretty decent packing list. 🧳 I have two different versions of my Costa Rica packing list: one for “rainy season” and one for “dry season”. ☔️ Once you get the link to my blog post, you can see example photos of things I would wear and pack, and get a pdf sent to you which also includes links to everything 🦥🇨🇷🧳 ¡Pura vida maes! 🤙 #costaricacool #costaricatravel #packinglist #discovercostarica #travelblogs
Details on visiting ⬇️ While an eerie place w Details on visiting ⬇️ While an eerie place with a truly tragic history, this abandoned castle is actually at the end of a (now) peaceful, scenic walking trail.🌳 In a residential area near Glasgow, Scotland, we were able to park at the base of the trail and enjoy a nice walk up. 🥾It is abandoned and closed to the public, so you can only see a bit from the outside. 🏰 However, there are ruins of a medieval castle in the woods just off the trail too, and plenty to satisfy your curiosity! ➡️More on its history: 🏰 •Built in the 1830s, this was once a grand residence before becoming a psychiatric hospital in 1936. •At its peak, the hospital housed over 1,500 patients •Overcrowding and understaffing led to severe neglect. Patients, many with learning disabilities, endured poor living conditions, lack of proper medical care, and instances of abuse. 😞 •Reports from the mid-20th century exposed the harsh realities of life inside the institution, with allegations of mistreatment and punitive control measures. •By the 1970s, public concern grew, leading to calls for reform. The hospital was eventually closed in 2002. •Today, the ruins serve as a reminder of both its grand origins, and troubled history as an institution. ➡️Is it haunted? 👻 •Yes, there are rumors that Lennox Castle is haunted, which is not uncommon for abandoned sites with a troubled history. •Given its long past as both a residence and a psychiatric hospital, many believe the spirits of former patients and residents linger on the property. •People have reported strange occurrences such as unexplained noises, disembodied voices, and sightings of shadowy figures within the ruins. •The eerie atmosphere has fueled local legends about paranormal activity. While there is no true evidence to support these claims, the castle’s dark history makes it popular for ghost hunters, and those intrigued by the supernatural. If you read this whole thing, comment 👻👻👻 and you’ll officially be my favorite person 🎉 #lennoxcastle #abandonedplaces #hauntedplaces #scotlandshots #scotlandtravel
🕷️Walking up to Stephen King’s iconic home 🕷️Walking up to Stephen King’s iconic home in Bangor, Maine feels a bit like peeking in on one of his novels. 📚 The Gothic-style mansion, with wrought-iron gates adorned with bats and spiders, 🦇 seems to capture the eerie feel of his storytelling. You can definitely get a vibe of some of the stories maybe dreamed up behind those walls! 🕳️🤡 🎈 While the house is of course private property, it’s a nice quick stop over to look at from the sidewalk. Just be respectful of the neighbors 🫶 #stephenking #newengland #bangormaine #creepyplaces #roadtrip #eeriebeautiful #mainething
🧚So magical I felt like fairies were gonna pop 🧚So magical I felt like fairies were gonna pop up and start doing crazy things to each other 😜 (iykyk) But for real- this short trail in New York State is incredible, and really did feel magical. Such an ethereal fantasy vibe with the mist and fog 🌫️ I’m actually amazed no fantasy movies have been filmed here yet. 😇 We went in the fall, and I think that added a little something extra. Keep in mind, the trail closes each year at the end of October. 🍂 I’m not in the best of cardio fitness by any means, and the fact I did the 800 steps willingly and with my 2 month old baby baffles me now (😂), but I’m glad I did it! #watkinsglen #fingerlakes #gorgetrail #familytravel #hikingadventures #magicalmoments #ethereal #newyorkstate #magicdestinations
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