Postcard #8: Day Trips & Detours

Between weekend plans and last-minute decisions, these little day trips ended up being some of my favorite parts of the summer.

Venice

I did this one totally solo! Just me, a book, and the maze of canals. I wandered through the main square, popped into an art gallery, and eventually found a quiet little lunch spot right on the river. The city was gorgeous (of course), but this was also the moment I realized I’m not much of a solo traveler. I missed having someone to talk to, to laugh with, or just to share the view. Beautiful, but kind of lonely. Luckily, I’d already been before, so I still love it.

Tuscany with My Parents

My parents came to Florence, and we drove out to stay at Banfi Castle for the 4th of July. It was stunning. We toured the vineyard, did a wine tasting, lounged by the castle pool all afternoon, and had dinner on site. It felt peaceful and luxurious in a way I hadn’t experienced yet this summer. After Tuscany, we headed to Rome and stayed in the same place we did back in May. I also got to see my aunt and uncle before they left for a cruise, and we even stopped by the mall with the ancient ruins inside. It was such a fun full-circle moment getting to show them all the places I’ve come to know.

Pisa & Lucca

This was a fun, easy day trip with one of my girlfriends and a few of our guy friends. We started off in Pisa, where it was raining but only briefly. We took the classic leaning tower photos (you kind of have to) and then caught a train to Lucca. The rest of the day was spent walking the city walls, drinking beers, and just hanging out. Lucca is super pretty, really peaceful, but there wasn’t a ton to do beyond that. Still, it was a chill day and the company made it better.

Cinque Terre

This was the day trip that made me feel better about solo travel. I got to Monterosso around 11am and immediately headed to the beach. After a few hours of soaking up the sun, I took the train to Riomaggiore and grabbed a seafood cone before lying out on the rocks with the most beautiful view of those iconic colorful buildings right behind me. It was quiet and peaceful in the best way, and this time I didn’t mind being alone.

They may not have been the biggest trips, but each one added something different to this adventure. A reminder that sometimes, a single day is more than enough.

With love,

Kelsey 💌