Where's Emma Now

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Italia
Aviano Air Base
Where's Emma Now

Emma | American living in Germany
travel advisor & adventurous eater
lived on 3 continents
traveled to 50+ countries
Want help planning your next trip?

Hopeful wanderer. ✈️ Aspiring foodie. 🧁American expat in Italy. 🇮🇹 Military spouse. 🇺🇸 Dog mom. 🐺
If I'm not traveling, I'm probably cooking!

23/06/2026

Our Italian road trip with a toddler was a success!

16 days.
6 hotels.
35+ hours driving.
Countless meals out.
So many beloved friends.
Some of our favorite places, and a few new ones.

More recaps coming soon!

05/06/2026

See Lucerne without breaking the bank!!

Switzerland can be pricey, but Lucern has some great free sights to balance out the funicular tickets and restaurants!

SEE:
The Chapel Bridge is what you’ll see in all the promotional photos. It’s gorgeous, free, and worth a stroll.
The Lion Monument is tucked away a few blocks from the old town. It commemorates the Swiss guards who died in the French Revolution defending the monarchy.
Lake Lucerne by boat! Pro tip: know before you book if it’s a pleasure boat or ferry. Both are good ways to see the views, but give different experiences.
Walk the promenade for tree lined views of the lake. It’s the quintessential views for free, enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

EAT:
Brasserie Bodu - authentic French food in the square. The Niçoise salad is perfect on a hot day!
Restaurant Wey - my favorite meal in Lucerne! Steakhouse menu dotted with the family’s Portuguese family recipes.
SiP Cafe - two locations, one with a full brunch menu. Both are great to start your day!

GO:
Mount Pilatus is the mountain overlooking the lake. Stop at the midlevel for an alpine coaster, ropes course, and casual meal, then head up to the top for epic views, fine dining, and a fancy hotel!

KNOW:
Don’t be surprised by the amount of massive tour buses on day trips to Lucerne. I’m a big fan of day trips, don’t get me wrong - we all are doing what we can to see the places we’ve been dreaming of. But for such a gorgeous but small city, there were a lot of coach buses.

American living in Europe | Where to go in summer | Switzerland travel guide

03/06/2026

I just made this mistake in my last hotel, and believe me, we paid for it! 🥵

This is the mistake I make once every hundred or so hotel bookings for traveling in Europe.

Hey, I’m Emma! I’m an American living in Stuttgart Germany with my family. I was in Italy for five years before this, so I share a lot about travel - with or without a toddler - and building a life in a foreign country!

I almost never make this mistake, but once every few years this rule slips off my radar and I forget, and that’s always the time it matters!

Keep in mind that sometimes it’s unavoidable, but at least if that’s the case you go in unsurprised. And sometimes it won’t matter anyway.

If your hotel does not EXPLICITLY include air conditioning as a listed amenity, it does not have it.

As Americans I know that can feel like checking if your hotel includes doors. But it’s not guaranteed, and you don’t want to learn it the hard way in the middle of August.

This matters especially in Northern European countries like where historically homes don’t have it. My house doesn’t have it. Only luxury hotels will in these areas.

This rule also applies to elevators. If you want a cute historic building, there’s a good chance they don’t have an elevator in there.

What other amenities do you have to remember to double check when traveling?? Let me know below!

American in Germany | travel advisor | Germany travel guide | explore Baden-Wurttemburg | Traveling with toddlers | traveling with kids |

02/06/2026

Should you take the funicular?

The answer is always yes!

They give unparalleled views of both mountain peaks and the valley below. Whether playing in waist deep snow in winter or the craggiest rock scrambles in summer, it’s always worth it.

Plus, on the way up you often get a tiny look into local life in the area.

People enjoying the sun on their porches.

The tiny cafe that tourists never find.

The cows grazing. (Why is the water trough always a bathtub????)

This one was Mount Pilatus, which is right above Lucerne! It’s easy to get to from town by bus, and your hotel may have provided a free bus ticket just because you booked with them, so ask!

Yes, they can be expensive. But unless you’re here for some serious mountain hiking, it’s still the best way to experience the Alps!

American living in Europe | Where to go in summer | Switzerland travel guide

01/06/2026

Snapshots of Lucerne!

Lucerne (Luzern) was GORGEOUS, even in a heat wave!

American living in Europe | Where to go in summer | Switzerland travel guide

02/05/2026

Amsterdam beyond the tulips looks like…

Beer flights at

New foods like mustard soup, and old favorites like poffertjes

Smaller canals beyond the major areas

Eating my weight in an Indonesian feast

Day trips to cute towns (more coming soon!)

Here’s to return trips as a chance to slow down and see different sides of beloved places!

🗺️ New here? Hey, I’m Emma! I’m an American travel advisor living in Germany and traveling as much as I can with a baby in tow. I lived in northern Italy for five years before this, so I share a lot of travel tips, itineraries, and local life in small town Germany and Italy!

Plan a trip to Holland | visit the Netherlands | American abroad | where to go in spring

28/04/2026

An April week in Holland means tulips! Keukenhof was even better than I expected.

Keukenhof is a garden that’s only open 2 months of the year for its annual tulip festival!

I’ll share more details soon (there’s still time to go!) but in the meantime, here’s a few snaps from the garden.

Plan a trip to Holland | visit the Netherlands | American abroad | where to go in spring

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