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Review of the Hallstatt Day Trip from Vienna | Travel Tips for Austria

Published on April 8, 2025July 7, 2025 by C'est le Brie2 Comments

Hallstatt, Austria has been on my bucket list for quite some time. It was actually the inspiration for Arendelle from Disney’s Frozen, and it is truly a magical place. I was based in Budapest for four months for work and made the most of my weekends booking trips to neighboring countries. I love traveling to Austria, the food is delicious, and the country is stunning. This was my third time there and I knew it was time to finally visit Hallstatt.

I took this Hallstatt Day Tour from Vienna, via Viator, and it was the perfect introduction to this beautiful corner of the world. I couldn’t recommend this tour enough. I met the bus in a central area in Vienna not far from my hotel, the Vienna Marriott Hotel, and the tour took care of the rest.

I took one of my favorite cameras with me, my Canon AE-1 Program, which I’ve shared some of the photos at the bottom of this blog. I reviewed this camera recently on Myles Katherine’s blog – Canon AE-1 Program Sample Photos in Hallstatt, Austria | The Perfect 35 mm Travel Camera if you’re interested in learning more!

I went on this Hallstatt bus tour solo and enjoyed the ease of not having to stress about anything It was a longer bus ride, with beautiful scenery throughout the Salzkammergut region. We had a short break on the way to and from Hallstatt to stretch our legs and grab a snack at a popular Austrian rest stop, Lanzeit .

When we arrived to Hallstatt the the early October air was crisp and the morning fog was lifting up toward the mountains. While we were rolling into town, our guide provided some information on the town and gave us tips on what to see. We offloaded from the bus and had time to explore Hallstatt on our own. I loved this about the tour. I was able to choose what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. I just had to be back at the bus by a certain time.

I meandered the streets shamelessly gawking at the beautiful houses and views. It was simply stunning everywhere I looked. I explored the cemetery and ossuary (bone house), which was so peaceful and such a beautiful resting place.

Next, I waited in a short line to take the tram to the Hallstatt Viewing Platform. It offered spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and lake, Hallstätter See. Be mindful, if you are weary of heights, it may be slightly scary, but the scenery is incredible.

After coming back down the mountain on the tram, I was so hungry and indulged in a delicious Frankfurter Würstl (hot dog) and fries. I found a bench by the water and took in the peaceful views and ducks swimming around.

After my snack, we headed to a small boat where we drifted across the water, taking in a different perspective of the town from the water. It was smooth moving and lovely to relax and glide along the lake.

Before I knew it, my afternoon spent exploring was coming to an end and we shuffled back onto the bus across the lake. On the way back, I ordered a tasty carrot cake, which was a perfect way to end this October day. All in all, it was one of my favorite travel excursions. It’s impossible not to fall in love with the town and mystical atmosphere.

I absolutely recommend taking this tour if you are in Vienna and looking to see more of Austria!

Below are more photos taken on my Canon AE-1 Program!

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Howth and Ireland’s Eye: Easy Day Trip from Dublin Spent on the Coast

Published on March 23, 2025March 31, 2025 by C'est le Brie8 Comments

Two years ago I went to Belfast and Northern Ireland for my Master’s program where I conducted research with a team for an amazing organization, Widows Against Violence Empowered (WAVE). WAVE is a trauma support center that provides assistance for those impacted by the Troubles and surrounding conflict in Northern Ireland. It was an enduring, but inspiring project that informed my academic concentration in International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. I won’t forget the people I met, and tangible impact WAVE has on the victims and survivors across Northern Ireland. After almost two weeks of conducting interviews, attending group sessions, and conducting research, I was ready for a solo break to reflect and decompress. I had 24 hours to myself before I headed back home to Washington, DC and decided to spend it in the coastal town of Howth after a friend recommended the area to me.

If you are interested in booking an easy half-day tour to Howth from Dublin, I recommend this one. I traveled on my own, but I’m sure a tour reduces some of the stress!

On my last morning in Belfast, I took the Aircoach bus down from Belfast to Dublin, arriving at the train station. From there I took a Bolt ride (similar to Uber) to my hotel. It was around $25, but it was worth it for the ease. I ended up staying in Sutton on the outskirts of Howth because the hotels and inns in town had already been booked out. My hotel was the Marine Hotel Sutton. It’s a historic waterfront hotel that provided a dose of seaside quaintness.

After I checked in and dropped my bags off, I took a short walk to the Sutton train station and hopped on a short train ride down to Howth.

When I arrived, I decided to do some exploring among the shops and restaurants along the harbor. It’s an easy place to people-watch and just enjoy this cozy corner of the world. I had fun taking photos and popping into some of the cute shops. Similar to my previous Amsterdam post, I brought my 35mm Holga camera with me for unique film shots and am sharing a few black and white photos in this post.

I hadn’t planned to take a boat ride, but there were a few tours offering bookings on the spot that departed every hour. Since it was a foggy day, the captain recommended that I head to Ireland’s Eye, since the coastal tour would be too cloudy to see anything. I took his word for it and was so happy I did. If you’re interested in booking a boat tour ahead of time, see here on GetYourGuide for a few options. You can’t go wrong!

When I boarded the boat, I could see fog in the distance which we headed straight toward. Before I knew it, we were surrounded by fog and I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. Mystical indeed! The fog opened quickly and the island appeared before our small tugboat. We off-boarded and were able to roam around at our leisure. There were small beaches and lots of birds, like kittiwakes and guillemots. It was fun to take photos and enjoy the serenity of this little island. I took some time to sit on the beach before the next boat came to take us back to Howth.

After going back through the fog and arriving to shore, I spotted two adorably ugly Irish grey seals. I couldn’t help but giggle and snap a few photos as they bobbed along in the harbor.

My original draw to visiting Howth was to take the hike up on the cliffs and see the lighthouse. I followed my GPS and the pathway along the eastern coastline. There were so many gorgeous spots to take photos and I had only wished my sister was with me so we could have photoshoots!

I spent a couple of hours walking along the coast and its cliffs, taking in the sights and sounds. There were so many birds nesting and cawing along the cliffs and nesting. It was truly stunning. The fog had settled in though, which added to the magic of the day, but also made it difficult to see the full views. I didn’t make it down to the lighthouse because the fog was too thick, but the trail was still striking. The pathway was well-maintained and easy to follow. The photos don’t do the views quite justice and the cliffs were higher up than they even appear!

After I arrived back into town, I was eager to get to my dinner reservation at 30 Church Street. It was such a cozy restaurant to relax in with a glass of wine after a long day. I indulged in the beet and goat cheese salad and the Supreme of Corn-Fed Chicken. I had a wonderful window seat with views of Saint Mary’s Abbey ruins next door. The lovely end to a day on the coast before I headed back to the hotel for the night.

I recommend this beautiful day or weekend trip next time you’re in Ireland! Reminder to book here if you want a day tour!

❤ Natalie

Review of the Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken Bus Tour in the Netherlands | Travel Tips for Amsterdam, Netherlands

Published on March 17, 2025March 31, 2025 by C'est le Brie17 Comments

Amsterdam was a beautiful city that I could have spent many days exploring during my trip last Spring. We stayed at the lovely Sir Albert in De Pijp neighborhood and loved every minute – if you want more information about our time in Amsterdam, see our Top 10 in Amsterdam blogpost here.

But, my husband and I also wanted to see the Dutch countryside and leave the city for the day. I researched a few weeks before we left for our trip and found the perfect tour that gave us a glimpse into the quieter villages in the Netherlands. The GetYourGuide Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken Bus Tour ticked everything on my list and more. We booked the tour and are so happy that we did!

A few things about why this tour was a good pick for us. First, I love to travel, but often get stir crazy and a little motion sick on bus rides that are too long. This tour was perfect because we boarded a bus and headed outside the city with each stop being 30 minutes or less from each other along the way. It made the day seem jam-packed with exciting activities and new sites to see without wasting time traveling on a tour bus. Second, it can be fun to explore new locations via rental car or train, but this tour allowed us to learn more and provide insight into the historical and cultural context for each village without having to worry about parking or transportation schedules. Third, we had some free time in the cheese factory, Volendam, and Zaanse Schans to explore on our own. This allowed my husband and I some time to grab lunch, do some shopping, take photos, and relax! All of this for under $40 each, it was a great deal and so worth it.

For photos and fun, I brought my red 35mm Holga toy camera with us. My husband gifted it to me a few years ago for Christmas, and I’ve loved traveling with it ever since! I’ve included a few photos I took during our tour noted in the captions.

Now, some more information on each stop on this tour:

Once we booked the tour we were given a clear location of where to meet our group, just a couple metro stops from our hotel. It was organized when we arrived at our departure point, and it was easy to find our bus. Already stress-free!

Our first stop was Marken, a tiny town in North Holland where we got off the bus and had a short walking tour. It was picturesque with a few small shops and boats in the harbor. We took this tour in mid-May and – word to the wise – it was chilly in the morning. We ended up each purchasing a cozy sweatshirt at a shop here because we were so cold! But we didn’t mind since we love a good keepsake.

Next up we had a cheese tasting at Henri Willig, a cheesemaker since 1979. The cheese factory gave us a short demonstration and tour, then lots of cheese tasting! They offered a great variety of flavors such as truffle and garlic & herb. I’m a big fan of Gouda, so it was heavenly. The site had a great gift shop and lots of cheeses to buy. These made lovely souvenirs that we took home for friends and family!

Our third stop was at Volendam where we had another short tour, and then a bit of free time to meander. We grabbed lunch at a quaint pub-style spot right in the harbor called De Lunch, which was recommended by our tour guide. We strolled the harbor and did some shopping before heading back to the bus.

After lunch we stopped in Edam. This is a canal-style town that was cute to take photos and stroll along. We had a short walking tour here before heading to our last stop.

Lastly, it was off to Zaanse Schans, our final, and debatably, most beautiful destination of the day. This is where we saw and experienced the iconic windmills. We had free time here to explore, take photos, and carefully climb up one of the windmills. It was a bit scary, but exciting to see one operating up close. We learned from the shop keeper that the working windmill grinds down raw materials into paint pigments. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience! We grabbed some hot cocoa and had a snack outside, taking in the views before heading back to the bustling city of Amsterdam. For those interested, there is also a wooden clog making demo and small museum at Zaanse Schans as well.

If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam or the Netherlands, I hope you consider booking the tour here. Also, if you want a more detailed look at recommendations for Amsterdam, see my previous post: Top 10 Travel Tips for your first time in Amsterdam, Netherlands!

❤ Natalie

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Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting (AKA the best cupcakes you will ever eat)

Published on August 24, 2018August 16, 2022 by C'est le BrieLeave a comment

Guys. I made the most delicious cupcakes in the entire world and want everyone to make them and eat them and love them as much as I did.

Last winter, Sprinkles in Washington, DC offered different cereal-based cupcakes and I tried the Cinnamon Toast Crunch one and fell head over heels in love with it. Sadly, these were only weekly specials and were discontinued. So I looked up recipes online for an attempt to recreate the magic of these cupcakes and came upon a recipe that tasted even better. I made these for my boyfriend’s birthday in August and even though he always claims he “isn’t a dessert person” – a phrase that I will simply never understand – he ended up loving them too!

The recipe I used was adapted from here and I followed the recipe very closely. I don’t even mind that they aren’t entirely made from scratch (it requires boxed cake mix), but I’m sure you could improvise if you know a recipe for a standard cake you like to make!

One thing I was surprised about and had never considered was dipping the top of the cupcake (before frosted) into butter then cinnamon sugar. This was seriously a game changer and gives these cupcakes a churro-like taste as well. It can’t be beat!

Ingredients for 24 Cupcakes

1 box, French Vanilla Cake Mix
1 small box (3.4 oz) vanilla instant pudding mix
1 1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup sour cream
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

4 tablespoons salted butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
8 oz (1 block) cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup heavy cream
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 cups powdered sugar
2 cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, for garnish

Baking Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 and line 24 muffin tins.
In the bowl of your mixer, combine cake mix, pudding mix, milk, vegetable oil, sour cream, eggs, and cinnamon. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds. Scrape the sides of the bowl and increase mixer speed to high. Beat for 2 minutes.
Stir a few times with a big wooden spoon, then fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 of the way full.
Bake for 15 – 20 minutes, until tops spring back when lightly touched in the center. Remove from oven and let cool in the pans for 5 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
In a small bowl, combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. In another bowl, add the 4 tablespoons of melted butter.
Dip the top of a baked cupcake in the melted butter, then dip into the cinnamon sugar mixture. Repeat with remaining cupcakes. Set aside remaining cinnamon sugar for topping.
For the icing, beat butter and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl. Add vanilla and heavy cream, beating on medium speed until smooth. With the mixer on low speed, slowly and carefully add powdered sugar until just barely combined. Increase mixer speed to high and beat for two minutes.
Generously frost cupcakes. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar and stick cereal into frosting as you wish.
Keep these cupcakes refrigerated if they are not served immediately.
Enjoy these amazing cereal cupcake creations!

Foodie Delights in Ireland – Top 9 Favorite Restaurants from our Trip

Published on June 30, 2018March 31, 2025 by C'est le Brie7 Comments

I just recently got back from a trip to Ireland with one of my best friends and knew I had to do a post about the delicious food we ate. Traveling there was probably one of the most comical experiences of my life since we are just two American girls who decided to rent a car and explore as much of the country as possible. We battled many spiders along the way and made many many Irish friends who would let us pet their dogs and reverse our car when we were stuck and lost.

In anticipation of going to Ireland, I did not give food much of a thought and prepared myself thinking that it would be bland and monotonous. But I was completely wrong about my assumptions! While there are some platters you would expect to see consistently (Beef Stew, Chicken Curry, etc.), there was a wide variety of restaurants and options. Not to mention all of the food was tasty fresh and lovingly prepared. Ireland presented us with the perfect dose of comfort food and farm-to-table indulgence!

I have compiled a list below of my favorite Irish culinary experiences while visiting earlier this month. Keep in mind we did do a lot of traveling around the country so these places are scattered location-wise but all were incredible. Did I forget to mention the hospitality in Ireland was out of this world. Every person we met was so genuine and kind!

The King’s Head Pub in Galway, Ireland – We had gotten off the plane, picked up our rental car, visited Clonmacnoise (so beautiful!) and headed to Galway for site-seeing and fooood! The King’s Head is one of the more famous pubs in Galway and rightly so. It had a peaceful back patio where we were seated and enjoyed a lovely meal of Fish & Chips and Roasted Chicken & Veggies (an appropriate first meal in Ireland). We also had the bread and cheese platter for an appetizer and split a nice cold beer.
Hazel Mountain Chocolate Factory (Instagram) in County Clare, Ireland – Our first full day in Ireland was crammed with castles, caves, and cliffs. We had a midday pit-stop at Hazel Mountain which we had heard fabulous things about. We tasted different dark chocolates and then had a lovely tea break outside on their front porch. The desserts were delicate and rich with incredibly deep flavors. We tried the Rose & Raspberry Fika and White Chocolate Fruit Tart with Hot Chocolates on the side!
Keanes Garden Center Cafe in Kilcolgan, Ireland – While en route to the stunning Killarney National Park, we randomly pulled off to grab breakfast and what a delight! Keanes Garden Center Cafe was surrounded by beautiful flowers and served up delicious Coffee and Quiche Lorraine.
Salvador’s in Killarney, Ireland – We were hangry and tried to go to Bricin but did not have the patience for the long wait. Salvador’s gave us a delicious and traditional Irish meal of Guinness Stew and Roasted Chicken not to mention a tasty Bruschetta for appetizer.
Cafe Hans in Cashel, Ireland – While en route to Kilkenny, we stopped by the Rock of Cashel and figured we would pick a quick lunch spot. What was originally going to be a quick sandwich turned into a three course meal from one of my (now) favorite restaurants in the world. Cafe Hans delivered the most thoughtful meals with intense and complimentary flavoring. Not one ingredient was overlooked and every component to the dishes was essential to creating this perfect meal. I had the Mozzarella, Roasted Tomato, and Beet Salad, Pork & Mushroom Risotto with Crispy Sage and Fried Butternut Squash (currently drooling thinking about it), and White Chocolate Mousse with Pomegranate Seeds for dessert. Needless to say, it is a meal I will never forget.
Ristorante Rinuccini in Kilkenny, Ireland – If you are ever in Ireland, or anywhere else in the world, and are craving a perfect Italian meal, then stop everything you’re doing and head straight to Rinuccini’s right away. Located adjacent to Kilkenny castle, this beautiful restaurant features traditional Italian dishes made so perfectly, you would think you were in Italy, and they had displayed the countless awards to show for it. I indulged in their Polpettine con Spaghettini and Cheesecake Al Caramello for dessert.
Cakeface in Kilkenny, Ireland – On our way out of town after mailing some post cards and finishing up last minute shopping in Kilkenny, we headed to Cakeface to try out yet more dessert. I got the Rastachio Sambo and it was so tart and sweet and indulgent. ❤
Queen of Tarts in Dublin, Ireland – If you like brunch, then you can’t go to Dublin without going to Queen of Tarts. They have quiches and scones and cookies galore. The restaurant was quaint and the food hearty. I had the chicken and bacon sandwich, and it was perfect before a full day walking around the city. Even if you’re super full, do not skip dessert. In my opinion the Victorian Sponge Cake should not be missed! Also they have the cutest coffee mugs if you need a fun souvenir!
Guinness Factory in Dublin, Ireland – Get beer, get drunk and have fun. It’s like a giant party for tourists, plus the city view at the top bar is stunning. Be sure to book your tickets in advance and keep in mind a free beer is included in admission. ‘Nuff said.