Samantha Rae - Fabulous Adventures Travel Company

06/24/2026

🇩🇪 GERMANY | Day 4 (Day 18 of our trip) 😂🧺

Today was easily our most exciting adventure yet…

We did laundry.
That’s it. That’s the post. 😂

Okay, mostly.

After two and a half weeks of traveling, laundry officially became the main event, and honestly, fresh clothes felt like a luxury.

We also made a quick stop at TK Maxx (yes, that’s what TJ Maxx is called here in Germany), but it was absolutely packed and a little overwhelming, so we didn’t stay long.

For lunch, we broke one of my usual vacation rules and ate at KFC. I normally try to avoid restaurants we have back home, but when you’re in another country, it’s actually pretty fun to see how familiar brands change from place to place.

The menu differences were surprisingly entertaining. McDonald’s here offers mini pancake bites, and KFC had vegetarian options… plus bacon cheese fries. Germany, I have questions. 😂

Not every travel day has to be packed with castles and sightseeing. Sometimes the most necessary part of a long trip is slowing down, catching up on errands, and giving yourself a breather.

Tomorrow we’re back to exploring with a day trip to Salzburg, and I’m very excited for that adventure!

So I must know… 💭
When you are away from home do you seek new restaurants or stick to familiar favorites??

06/23/2026

🇩🇪 GERMANY | Day 3 (Day 17 of our trip) 🏰✨

Today was a full day of exploring some of Bavaria’s most iconic sights. We boarded a tour bus around 8 AM and spent the day visiting Neuschwanstein Castle, Oberammergau, and Linderhof Palace before returning to Munich around 6 PM.

Neuschwanstein Castle was every bit as magical as you’d expect—absolutely stunning both inside and out. Photos and videos aren’t allowed inside Bavarian castles due to conservation rules, but we did make the walk to Marienbrücke (Mary’s Bridge) for incredible views of the castle. It’s easy to see why this fairytale castle helped inspire Walt Disney.

We also made a quick stop in Oberammergau, though unfortunately we only had about 30 minutes there. I would have loved more time to explore this charming village, but with the Corpus Christi holiday, many of the shops were closed anyway.

Our final stop was Linderhof Palace, which was incredibly impressive in its own way. While it feels more like an extravagant villa than a traditional palace or castle, its inspiration from Palace of Versailles and Louis XIV is unmistakable. It’s also especially significant because it was the only residence King Ludwig II actually completed before his mysterious death.

Bavaria continues to feel like stepping into a storybook—ornate palaces, mountain views, and charming villages around every corner.

06/22/2026

06/22/2026

🇩🇪 GERMANY | Day 2 (Day 16… I think? I’ve officially lost count 😅)

Today was a much heavier and more emotional day as we visited Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site.

Dachau was the first regular N**i concentration camp, established in 1933 near the town of Dachau in Bavaria. It was originally created to imprison political opponents of the N**i regime, but over time it held Jews, Roma, clergy, homosexuals, resistance members, and many others persecuted by the N**is.

Dachau became the model for the concentration camp system that followed. Tens of thousands of people died here due to starvation, disease, forced labor, ex*****on, and horrific mistreatment.

The camp was liberated by soldiers of the United States Army on April 29, 1945. Today, it stands as both a memorial and a place of education, honoring the victims while reminding future generations of the devastating consequences of hatred, propaganda, and unchecked power.

Walking these grounds is difficult to put into words. There’s a heaviness that stays with you long after you leave.

The memorial also includes two crematoriums (not pictured) and a gas chamber that, while never used at Dachau, served as a model for those built at other camps.

This wasn’t an easy place to visit, nor should it be. But I believe it’s an important one. History can be uncomfortable and heartbreaking, yet remembering it matters.

06/21/2026

🇩🇪 GERMANY | Day 1 (Day 15 of our trip) 🍺🏙️

Today we officially said goodbye to Switzerland and made our way by train to Munich—our first stop in Germany!

Since we arrived before hotel check-in, we decided to fully embrace tourist mode and hop aboard the Big Bus Tours Munich. With beautiful weather and sunshine, it ended up being the perfect way to get our first glimpse of the city and orient ourselves before exploring more.

We wrapped up the evening with dinner at the iconic Hard Rock Cafe Munich before heading back to the hotel to relax.

And perhaps the biggest luxury of the day? Air conditioning. 😂 After nearly two weeks of European hotels, this is only the second room we’ve had with A/C, so yes… we are appreciating every glorious chilly minute.

Tomorrow will be a much more reflective day as we visit Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site.

06/20/2026

SWITZERLAND 🚂
Day 14

Today is our last full day here in Switzerland. We left St. Moritz this morning and are staying in Appenzell tonight. Tomorrow we head to Munich!

Appenzell is beautiful. It’s very pedestrian friendly and there are tons of shops and restaurants. You can definitely smell the cows but I haven’t gotten close enough to pet one yet 😂

We went up to Ebenalp and the views were STUNNING. I highly recommend everyone visit if you get the chance.

Switzerland will always hold a piece of my heart. ♥️

06/19/2026

🇨🇭 SWITZERLAND | Day 13 🚆🇮🇹

We’re currently on the bus heading back to the hotel after an incredible day riding the Bernina Express, and I think this may have been my favorite train journey so far!

Today we traveled from St. Moritz down to Tirano, winding through dramatic mountain landscapes, alpine lakes, and views that honestly felt almost unreal.

The Bernina Express offers an optional bus connection to Lugano, but after hearing mixed reviews, we decided to skip it. Instead, we based ourselves in St. Moritz for two nights and turned the Bernina route into a day trip—which ended up being the perfect choice.

Since it’s Sunday, both Tirano and St. Moritz were especially quiet, with many businesses closed for the traditional day of rest. That meant there wasn’t much to do besides slow down and enjoy the scenery… which, in a place like this, isn’t exactly a hardship. ❤️

One thing that surprised me most was the temperature difference. Tirano was a warm 83°F, while St. Moritz sat around 59°F and rainy by the time we returned. We enjoyed a relaxing lunch in Italy before heading back and made it to the hotel just as the rain began.

Now we’re winding down for the evening, listening to the rain outside the window, and soaking in the calm.

St. Moritz is undeniably beautiful, but I still find myself drawn to Switzerland’s smaller mountain villages. There’s something so charming and peaceful about them. Still, St. Moritz has been a wonderful place to pause, recharge, and prepare for the next adventure.

06/18/2026

🇨🇭 SWITZERLAND | Day 12 🚆✨

Today was a long travel day, but when you’re crossing the Swiss Alps, the journey is every bit as memorable as the destination.

This morning we said goodbye to Zermatt (and our favorite four-legged friend, Ronny the hotel dog 🐶) before boarding the legendary Glacier Express. Known as the world’s slowest express train, it averages just 22 mph—and honestly, that’s a good thing. With scenery this spectacular, you’ll want every extra minute to soak it all in.

Over the course of 8 hours, we traveled from Zermatt to St. Moritz, passing through mountain villages, deep valleys, dramatic gorges, and some of the most breathtaking landscapes I’ve ever seen. Photos simply don’t do Switzerland justice.

Tonight we’re settling into our hotel in Celerina, and tomorrow’s adventure takes us across another famous rail route—the Bernina Express. We’ll be crossing the Alps into Italy for the day before making our way back to Switzerland.

One thing this trip has reinforced: sometimes the best part of travel isn’t rushing from attraction to attraction—it’s slowing down and enjoying the journey itself. ❤️🚂