We had arrived in Florence after a week on the relatively peaceful Liguria Coast, where we hiked the mountains around Cinque Terre. Sure the quaint villages were bustling with people but it never felt overly crowded.

But, any relative peace we had experienced was left behind in Portovenere once we stepped off the train in Florence. Florence was busy. Very busy. Throngs of tourists and cruise ship groups filled the narrow streets and piazzas. 

Having been to Florence seven years ago, I had sweet memories of walking the maze of streets undeterred by crowds as it was October and the summer season was long over. So, for me, I knew that if I wanted to truly enjoy the city and experience all the magical moments it has to offer (again), I had to find ways to escape the masses to enjoy the pulsing heart of Tuscany and started searching for hidden gems.

If you’re considering hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc or you’re looking for a lovely base for some outdoor activities – Chamonix, France is the right place to start, stop and enjoy.

Once you’ve done all the outdoor activities (ie: paragliding, hiking, cycling, rock climbing) and tourist highlights (ie: Aiguille de Midi), Chamonix is the perfect place to relax and soak in the Alpine life.

This quaint French town is pedestrian-friendly and walking is the best way to see its character, amazing shops, charming buildings, and spectacular views.

I recently spent 5 days in Chamonix pre and post Tour du Mont Blanc hike and really enjoyed my time there. I found a few gems that I wanted to share.
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How did I spend my none hiking time in Chamonix? Why shopping and eating, of course.

Evora is an absolute gem in the heart of Portugal. The whole old city is a World Heritage Site and open air museum according to UNESCO.

It’s just a short train ride from Lisbon. You can go on an early train and take the last one home but trust me, that won’t be enough time to explore this delightful city and all its nooks and historical crannies. Stay for a weekend. That’s what we did.
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Like much of Europe, there’s so much history in a small area from Neolithic to the Romans, to the Catholics – Evora has it all. And great places to eat, sleep, shop, and see!

While I intended this blog to be about hiking, I realized that when you travel internationally to hike, you’ll likely start in, finish in, or transit through a major city and that makes it part of the journey. So I’ve started a new blog category – Off The Trail – about the cities I pass through for a day or two on the way to somewhere else.
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I recently had an afternoon/one night stopover in Lisbon. What I love about Lisbon is that it’s a city designed for walking. Comfy shoes are required because the city is famous for its seven hills (or is it eight?). I’d been to Lisbon before and seen the major sights, so this time I wanted to wander around and find some hidden gems that might be a little off the tourist track. And I did just that. My Top Five Stops for an afternoon in Lisbon: