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Dogwood Travel Designs

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Dogwood Travel Designs

Curating luxury travel experiences for discerning couples and groups.

09/07/2026

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐬!

There were several moments in Norway when Stacey and I looked at the pictures we had taken and regretted not having captured the grandeur of what we were seeing.

Åndalsnes was another one of those places.

We made our way to the Troll Wall, part of a mountain range rising dramatically above the valley. Clouds moved between the peaks, occasionally hiding them completely before revealing another glimpse. They say the mountain peaks are trolls frozen in time. And of course, when you visit somewhere called the Troll Wall, apparently there also needs to be an enormous troll statue nearby. 😁

But let me tell you, the pictures really don’t do the scale of this place justice. You stand there looking up...and up...and up.

Norway gave us beautiful cities, fascinating history, and memorable scenery.
But seeing the mountain peaks emerge from behind the clouds helped us understand why people talk about this country the way they do.

09/03/2026

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫: 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞, 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐮𝐩.

While wandering through Trondheim, we found ourselves beneath a canopy of colorful umbrellas stretching across one of the city streets.

Was it historically significant? Nope. Was it the reason we came to Trondheim? Not even close. Did we stop and take pictures anyway?

Of course we did. 😁

A little farther along, the colorful houses lining the river gave us another one of those scenes you stumble across when you give yourself time to explore on foot. Some of our favorite travel memories come from the things we weren’t looking for.

What have been some of your unexpected finds when traveling?

08/31/2026

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐦 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬.

We arrived on a special day, Olsok (Saint Olav's Day). The cathedral was all decked out for the celebration.

Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim was built nearly 1,000 years ago, and for centuries pilgrims have made their way here to the traditional burial place of St. Olav, the Viking king who became Norway’s patron saint.

The exterior alone is remarkable. But once we stepped inside, the grandeur gave way to quiet. The soaring architecture, the cross, the history held within those walls...it was a reminder of how many generations of people have entered this same space thinking about God, faith, and things much bigger than themselves.

And then we heard the bells.

Standing outside this nearly 1,000-year-old cathedral as they rang out across Trondheim was, unfortunately, one of those moments a photograph simply can’t capture.

Fortunately, we took a video. 😁

08/29/2026

𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐞? 𝐘𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐞. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐲.

If you do give it a try, you've got to try it at Mormors Stue (Grandma's Living Room).

You know what it's like when you travel, right? You sometimes have to order things you wouldn’t order at home.

In Trondheim, ours was a Norwegian waffle with Brown cheese. Yes. Brown cheese. It has a slightly sweet, caramel-like flavor, and when paired with the waffle… it works.

We found this little coffee shop while exploring Trondheim, and it became one of those moments we’ll not only remember, but highly recommend to anybody traveling through Trondheim, Norway.

There was no grand excursion, nor any famous landmark. Just a cozy room, something we had never eaten before, and time to enjoy it.

And for the record, we’d order it again. 😁

So much culture is wrapped up in food, and trying the local food is one of our favorite ways to experience a destination.

What’s something you’ve tried while traveling you never expected to like?

08/28/2026

𝐕𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞?

I know when you think of Norway, the scenery might be the first thing coming to mind. However, the history is just as impressive.

In Ålesund, we had the opportunity to step into Norway’s past, visiting historic homes and getting an up-close look at traditional Viking ships.

Standing inside one of the old homes, it was easy to imagine how different everyday life would have been here. Then you walk back outside, see the mountains and water surrounding you, and realize people have been calling this landscape home for centuries.

08/27/2026

Explore the narrow passages between the old wooden buildings of Bryggen. There you’ll discover shops tucked into unexpected places. Walk through the fish market and take in the sights, sounds, and delicious smells.

In case you're wondering, the fish cake (it wasn't cake) tasted like white fish in an egg white omelet.

08/26/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧, 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐲?

Wander around in the narrow passages between the old wooden buildings of Bryggen. There you’ll discover shops tucked into unexpected places.

After a walk through the fish market (look for our other post on this). We visited Gamlehaugen, the royal residence in Bergen, where the setting was every bit as beautiful as the house.

And yes, it rained. Here's another important part of Bergen...Pack your raincoat. 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝟓𝟓 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫?

Oftentimes, Stacey and I don't need every minute planned. In Bergen, we simply walked, looked down side streets, tried something new, and enjoyed discovering what was around the next corner.

08/24/2026

𝐎𝐮𝐫 #𝟏 𝐭𝐢𝐩 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩? 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲!

We always encourage our clients to arrive at least one day before an international cruise.

There’s the practical reason, of course. Flights get delayed. Connections get missed. Luggage sometimes decides to take a vacation of its own. Arriving early gives you some breathing room before the ship sails.

But there’s another reason we love arriving early: you get another destination. It's like a pre-vacation before the vacation.

Our flight to Copenhagen arrived early in the morning, giving us most of the day to explore before boarding Silver Dawn the following day.

We wandered along the colorful waterfront at Nyhavn, visited the Little Mermaid, walked through the gardens at Rosenborg Castle, explored the market and, of course, tried a Danish hot dog. It's a thing...and it was delicious!

By the end of the day, we had not only begun our recovery from a flight. We had experienced a little bit of Copenhagen as well.

When you’re traveling this far, an extra night isn’t just insurance against a missed cruise. It really does start the vacation. And Copenhagen was a pretty great way to begin ours.

07/17/2026

Granted, "big trip" means something different to everyone. Where's your next "big to you" trip?

07/13/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮?

One of the things Stacey and I love most about our work is hearing what our clients remember after returning home from a luxury cruise.

Interestingly, they rarely begin by talking about the ship itself.

They talk about how they felt.

They talk about the joy of discovering a destination through a thoughtfully designed itinerary. They talk about the little details being handled before they even realized they needed something. They talk about the freedom of stepping onboard and knowing they could simply relax and enjoy the journey.

For many of our clients, luxury means freedom.

Freedom to explore.
Freedom to relax.
Freedom to be fully present.

One of the reasons we believe so strongly in luxury travel is because of the space it creates. Space to slow down. Space to reconnect. Space to experience the moments which often become our favorite memories.

But luxury is personal. It does not mean the same thing to everyone.

For some, luxury may be a private veranda overlooking the sea. For others, it may be sharing an incredible meal, celebrating a milestone, or experiencing a destination they have dreamed about for years.

This picture was taken while sailing with AmaWaterways in Budapest. As we passed beneath the iconic Chain Bridge, we learned about a local tradition: make a wish while sailing beneath the bridge while holding someone you love, and your wish will come true.

Whether the wish comes true or not, the moment itself is a gift. A reminder of why we travel. We all want to create memories, share experiences, and treasure the people beside us.

So we would love to hear from you…

What does luxury mean to you?

Address

Asheville, NC
28803

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

https://www.dogwoodtravel.com/, https://linktr.ee/dogwoodtravel

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