Destinations – The Girl Who Goes

Last Updated on June 24, 2026

City Review: Heidelberg, Germany

When I was in my early 20s and a brand-new international traveler, Heidelberg was one of the first few cities I visited. I remembered its long pedestrian street, the medieval, hilltop castle, and massive Christmas pyramids at the Weihnachtsmarkts that overtook all the city’s squares.

On our recent train trip through Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and Switzerland, I was excited to have the opportunity to explore Heidelberg again, especially now that I’ve been so many other places — so I could experience it from a new perspective. So, here’s my review of Heidelberg, Germany. [Read more…]

Last Updated on June 12, 2026

7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Luxembourg.

Big enough to be in the European Union, but small enough that most people probably can’t locate it on a map. So when we planned our nearly three-week-long train trip to kick off in Brussels, Belgium, I knew we needed to make a stop in this little-known destination to check another country off the list.

We’d visited Andorra la Vella a few years prior, and I expected Luxembourg City to be much the same — small, sleepy, and slightly artificial. But I’m so happy to report that I was totally wrong! We really enjoyed our time in the Luxembourgian capital. So, here are 7 reasons I think you’ll want to visit Luxembourg City for yourself. [Read more…]

Last Updated on June 5, 2026

How To Eat Gluten-Free in Belgium: Belgium Gluten Free Restaurants + Guide

Later this month, I’ll be hitting the one-year mark since I got my shocking celiac disease diagnosis. While it’s pretty easy to handle in everyday life, thanks to living in Spain, Matt and I recently took a nearly three-week trip across five countries in Europe — all of which I was visiting for the first time as a gluten-free traveler.

Our first stop was four days in Belgium! I’d visited Brussels and Bruges as a solo traveler back in 2018, but this time Ghent was on the agenda as well. Belgium turned out to be one of the “better” countries on this trip for navigating the gluten-free scene, so it was a good place to kind of ease into things. 😜

Planning your own Belgium trip? Here’s everything you need to know about being gluten-free in Belgium. [Read more…]

Last Updated on May 30, 2026

City Review: Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

The first time I traveled to Brussels, back in 2018, I arrived at Charleroi airport and was trying to figure out how to actually get to Brussels city center. As I scanned the bus schedules, something caught my eye: you could take a bus to Luxembourg. The impulsive, 25-year-old-solo-traveler part of my brain almost took over because I thought it would be really cool to just pop down to another country for a few hours. But then the responsible, 25-year-old-solo-traveler part of my brain snapped me out of it, and I boarded the bus to Brussels as planned.

In the end, it was for the best. It turns out that the bus I’d seen was likely going to Luxembourg, Belgium, rather than the country of Luxembourg. And also, regardless of whether I was going to the city or the country, it was going to be much more than a “pop” to get to any Luxembourgs — at least two or three hours one-way.

But nearly eight years later, I finally had the opportunity to visit Luxembourg the country for the first time (though it was a little confusing booking our train tickets to make sure we ended up in the right Luxembourg). If you’re considering a trip to Luxembourg, here’s what you need to know. [Read more…]

Last Updated on May 22, 2026

City Review: Cologne, Germany

Checking in from our third country on our two-and-a-half-week Euro train trip! We just arrived in Luxembourg this afternoon after leaving Cologne, Germany, this morning.

Despite eight (!) previous visits to Germany, this was my first time ever visiting Cologne. Funnily enough, I remember passing through the Cologne train station more than 10 years ago as I traveled from Berlin to Frankfurt, and I thought I remembered seeing the famous Cologne Cathedral. Which was basically the only thing I knew about Cologne.

But on this trip, I finally got to visit the city and see what it was like. So, here’s what you need to know if you’re considering a visit to Cologne, Germany!

[Read more…]

Last Updated on May 18, 2026

Day Trip: Brussels to Ghent, Belgium

Hallo/bonjour from Belgium! Matt and I have just set out on our biggest trip of 2026 — a nearly three-week-long train journey through Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein! We’re only a few days in, but Brussels was our starting point after flying in from Alicante, Spain, where we live.

It’s only my second time ever in Belgium, and the first time since 2018 when I visited for a long weekend shortly after I moved to Madrid. During that trip, I spent a day in Brussels and then took a day trip to the famous fairytale city of Bruges. This time, we based ourselves in the Brussels area for four days, allowing time for another day trip to Bruges — as well as a day trip to Ghent, which is even closer to Brussels!

Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering the second-most popular day trip from Brussels: the city of Ghent. [Read more…]

Last Updated on May 7, 2026

How To Eat Gluten-Free in Valencia, Spain: Valencia Gluten Free Restaurant Guide

Over Easter weekend, Matt and I took a quick train trip two hours north to Valencia, Spain! While I’d been to Valencia once before, about seven years ago (!), this was my first time visiting Valencia since being diagnosed as celiac last year.

If you’re looking for tips on how to eat gluten free in Valencia, here’s everything you need to know. [Read more…]

Last Updated on April 29, 2026

5 Random Things You Never Knew About 5 Different Countries

In a few weeks, I’ll be setting off to visit three new countries 👀 which has me reflecting on what I’ve learned from the 34 I’ve visited so far. While you can do your research before your trip, there are some things you can only learn once you arrive somewhere — and that’s one of my favorite things about traveling!

So, here are just five little quirks I’ve learned from visiting five different countries. [Read more…]

Last Updated on April 20, 2026

How To Play Bingo in Spain: A Beginner’s Guide to Spanish Bingo Halls

I’ve lived in Spain for almost five years of my life at this point, but I still try to seek out new experiences whenever I can. Just a few weeks ago, I had the chance to try something completely new to me — not just in Spain, but in my life in general: playing bingo at a casino.

In the U.S., all my experiences playing bingo were at, like, church picnics or silly college campus events. And in the U.S., I’ve never been to a casino, unless you count the lobby of Las Vegas hotels on family vacations, or the slot machines at the Las Vegas airport. Needless to say… I had never actually gambled before.

But this new experience in Spain combined playing bingo, being at the casino, and gambling.

If you want to try playing bingo in Spain, here’s everything you need to know. [Read more…]

Last Updated on April 13, 2026

How To Eat Gluten-Free in Porto, Portugal: Porto Gluten Free Restaurant Guide

Porto, Portugal, is a city we’ve gone back to again and again. But our most recent visit, in February 2026, was the first one since my celiac disease diagnosis. Both the city of Porto, and the country of Portugal, were new gluten-free territory for me. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was hoping it would be somewhat similar to Spain, where I live.

A really bad bout of food poisoning from the Mercado do Bolhão meant that we didn’t get to try nearly as many restaurants in Porto as I was hoping, because we were all too sick for a few days and then didn’t have much of an appetite for the next few days. But we still had the opportunity to try a few restaurants, both dedicated gluten-free and not, that had good gluten-free options.

So, here’s what you need to know about being gluten-free in Porto, Portugal.

[Read more…]