Cristina Kiesel

Roaring Beauty: Our Journey to the Rhine Falls in Switzerland Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen, Switzerland Our summer 2025 vacation to Europe officially began with a splash—literally. After landing in Switzerland, our first tourist stop was the famous Rhine Falls (Rheinfall), Europe’s largest waterfall , located in northern Switzerland . We had the privilege of traveling there by car with our friends Emily and Nathaniel, who live in Zurich and graciously played tour guides for the day. Road Trip to the Rhine Falls Our first tourist stop in Europe was Rhine Falls. We traveled there by cart with our friends Emily and Nathaniel from Zurich. The Rhine Falls sits on the border between the cantons of Schaffhausen and Zurich, just outside the town of Schaffhausen. Its location made it the perfect first destination as we began our journey toward the Black Forest region of Germany . With sunshine overhead and the excitement of starting our European adventure, we couldn’t have picked a bette...

A Perfect September Day at Edge NYC , Hudson Yards and the High Line On a beautiful mid-September day, we set out for an adventure in Manhattan that blended incredible views, modern architecture, art, and a relaxing walk in the city. Our destination: Edge NYC at Hudson Yards followed by a stroll along the High Line .  Just a one hour bus ride from Monroe, New York to Port Authority and then a five minute subway ride on the 7 train and you will find yourself transported to Hudson Yards! The Vessel in Hudson Yards Finding the Best Ticket Deal Before heading out, we compared ticket options online. Surprisingly, Groupon was more expensive than buying tickets directly through the Edge NYC website . Even better—we managed to snag a special deal and got two tickets for the price of one. That made the experience not just memorable, but affordable too. Edge NYC - 100th floor   Exploring Hudson Yards and the Vessel Hudson Yards itself is stunning. The centerpiece is t...

  Going Down the Shore to  Point Pleasant, New Jersey Point Pleasant Beach If you grew up in New Jersey, you know the phrase “ going down the shore ” is part of our summer vocabulary. The Garden State is lined with wonderful beach towns like  Belmar , Spring Lake , Bradley Beach , each with its own personality. But year after year, we find ourselves drawn back to Point Pleasant, a place that combines everything we love about the Jersey Shore : a beautiful beach, a lively boardwalk, amazing food, and plenty of family fun. Point Pleasant Beach is just a short two hour drive from Monroe, New York .  As Bruce Springsteen once sang, “down the shore everything’s alright.” The Beach and Boardwalk Seagull at the Beach Point Pleasant’s beach is wide, clean, and perfect for soaking up the sun or cooling off in the surf. After a day in the sand, the boardwalk is the heartbeat of town. You can walk its full length all the way to the inlet, where you’ll see the fishing boats ...