5 WAYS TO WANDER: A Secret Season & Dragons in the City
21 February, 2025 | Welcome to 5 Ways to Wander. Here are five fresh ideas to inspire your next adventure!
#1 This Week’s Travel Hack:
Embrace Shoulder Season Travel. Ever dream of exploring a city without elbowing through crowds or paying peak-season prices? Try traveling during shoulder season – that perfect window between high and low seasons, when the weather is still pleasant, but (most of) the tourists are gone. Think April-June or September-October in Europe.
Of course, hotspots like Paris, London, and Venice will always be busy. But most travelers flock to Europe in the summer, while winter often brings grey skies and a less inviting atmosphere. That makes spring and fall a great time to discover a different side of most cities – one with fewer lines, better deals, and a more relaxed vibe.
Because queueing up for an hour just to catch a two-second glimpse of the Mona Lisa? So not worth it.
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#2 Destination of the Week:
Porto, Portugal. If Lisbon is Portugal’s flashy older sibling, Porto is the effortlessly cool, artsy one who knows all the best hidden spots.
The city instantly welcomes with the indelible presence of history wrapped in azulejo-covered buildings, and the scent of fresh-baked pastel de nata wafting through sunlit alleys.
Wander through the Ribeira district, where colorful facades lean over the waterfront, and sip port wine in Gaia – the velvety, amber-hued drink that gets its name from the city. Hop onto one of Porto’s rattling vintage trams up its steep, postcard-perfect streets. Slip into Livraria Lello for a quick minute to appreciate how it sparked the imagination behind JK Rowling’s Harry Potter.
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#3 Cultural Insight:
Dragon Symbolism in Slovenian Folklore. Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, is a city of dragons – quite literally.
The famous Dragon Bridge is guarded by fierce green dragon statues, a nod to an old legend. According to the tale, a Greek hero named Jason fought a dragon here while passing through on his journey to find the Golden Fleece.
Today, the dragon is a symbol of strength and protection, and you’ll spot it everywhere, from bridges and buildings to souvenirs in shop windows.
And upon crossing the Dragon Bridge yourself, dare I say, you might just feel like a dragon slayer too.
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#4 Travel Quote to Ponder:
“The earth laughs in flowers.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
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#5 Question for You:
What is your go-to souvenir purchase when you travel?
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