travel Archives - Wandering Works for Us

Whimsical hanging signs and leaning timber-framed shops line the narrow cobbled Shambles, packed with visitors

Things to Do in York, UK: Vikings, City Walls, and a Butterbeer We Wouldn’t Order Again

by Shelley Rohmtravel July 28, 2026August 5, 2026No Comments

We arrived in York after a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Bakewell, with part of the route running through some genuinely beautiful Peak District scenery. York is a different kind of city from Oxford and the Cotswolds villages we’d just left. It’s bigger, louder in places, and layered with Roman, Viking, and medieval history all stacked on …

3 Days in Edinburgh, Scotland: A first-timer’s guide

by Shelley RohmBlog, travel July 25, 2026July 25, 2026One Comment

We did A LOT in 3 days in Scotland.

Óbidos, Portugal: A Perfect Day Trip Guide from Lisbon

by Shelley RohmPortugal, travel July 25, 2026July 25, 2026No Comments

Whenever someone visits us here in Portugal, we can’t help but take them to Óbidos. It’s one of those places we just have to share. Óbidos sits right outside of Caldas da Rainha, about an hour from Lisbon, and it’s one of the best day trips from Lisbon you can take and easily one of …

Bakewell and Haddon Hall: The Quiet Peak District Stop

by Shelley Rohmtravel, United Kingdom July 19, 2026August 5, 2026No Comments

After the busier stretch through Oxford and the Cotswolds, Bakewell was a change of pace, literally. It’s a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Longborough into the Peak District, and the town itself turned out to be one of the quietest, most unhurried stops on our entire England road trip. If Haddon Hall is the reason you’re considering …

Panoramic view of Torres Vedras, Portugal, with the medieval castle ruins in the foreground and wind turbines on the hills beyond

Torres Vedras, Portugal: Castle, History, & Local Charm

by Shelley RohmPortugal, travel July 17, 2026August 5, 2026No Comments

For a long time, Torres Vedras was just the place with the hospital. We’d drive in for appointments at CUF, do what we needed to do, and drive back out again. The first time we ever set foot there for anything else, we were watching the finish line of the Joaquim Augusto Gomes de Oliveira …

A Cotswolds Villages Guide: Gloucester Cathedral, Stow, Burton & More

by Shelley Rohmtravel, United Kingdom July 3, 2026August 5, 2026Comments are Disabled

Most Cotswolds guides try to cover fifteen villages in one scroll. We didn’t do that. On our England road trip, we picked a quiet base, drove (carefully) between a handful of villages, and took a day trip to Gloucester Cathedral that ended up being one of the most unexpectedly fascinating stops of our entire trip. …

The gilded, octagonal Charola of the Convent of Christ in Tomar, with painted frescoes and a crucifix at its center

Convent of Christ, Tomar, Portugal: Complete Visitors Guide

by Shelley RohmPortugal, travel June 29, 2026July 1, 2026Comments are Disabled

Tucked into the center of Portugal, the medieval town of Tomar guards one of the country’s most jaw-dropping secrets: a sprawling Templar fortress turned UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Convent of Christ in Tomar, Portugal has stood since the late 12th century, and walking through it feels like flipping through eight centuries of history in a single …

Pastel-colored buildings and church spires cascade down the hillside toward the Tagus River, seen from Portas do Sol

How Long to Spend in Portugal? Trip Length Guide

by Shelley RohmPortugal, travel June 29, 2026June 29, 2026Comments are Disabled

Most people start planning a Portugal trip by asking the wrong question. They ask “what should I see?” before they’ve answered the question that actually determines everything else: how long to spend in Portugal or much time do I have to work with? It matters more than it sounds like it should. We’ve watched friends, …

The Bridge of Sighs spanning New College Lane in Oxford, with pedestrians passing beneath its arch on a sunny day

Best things to Do in Oxford UK: Beyond the Day Trip (1-2 night guide)

by Shelley Rohmtravel, United Kingdom June 25, 2026June 28, 2026Comments are Disabled

We rolled into Oxford UK as part of a longer England road trip, and well, we didn’t give it enough time. Oxford is one of those cities that looks manageable on a map but rewards every extra hour you give it. The colleges are spread out, the history is layered, and the pubs…well, we’ll get …

Two visitors entering the ornate Gothic doorway of Batalha Monastery, one of Portugal's most impressive monasteries, under a brilliant summer sky

Visiting The Batalha Monastery: UNESCO Site in Portugal

by Shelley RohmPortugal, travel June 24, 2026June 24, 2026Comments are Disabled

The Batalha Monastery (Mosteiro de Batalha) in central Portugal is a stunning example of Late Gothic architecture and one of the country’s most important historical landmarks. Built to commemorate Portugal’s victory over Castile at the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385, a triumph that secured the nation’s independence, it stands as both a spiritual and national symbol. …