Smarter Travel Spots
Where to Visit, Stay, Dine & Photograph
We’re not travel agents… we’re just curious travelers with smartphones in hand! Since Smarter Photographs has taken us to so many fun places, people often ask us how we got there, where we stayed, what we loved to eat, and which attractions we thought were worth the visit. So we put it all here in one spot — just in case you’ve ever wondered, “Ooh… what did they do there?” These are simply the places, hotels, restaurants, and adventures we personally chose and enjoyed along the way!
We will be adding new locations weekly!
Antarctica
🏨 Where We Stayed: When we visited Antarctica, we traveled with Viking Cruises. We first flew into Buenos Aires, Argentina, where we spent just a couple of days before continuing on to Ushuaia, Argentina, where we boarded the ship. Because of COVID-related changes, the route was a little unusual, so I’ll add more hotel details for Buenos Aires once I track them down.
🍽️ Favorite Places to Eat: Since we were only in Buenos Aires briefly before continuing on our journey, I’m not going into too much detail here yet — but I can always add our favorite spots later if needed.
💛 What We Did: While in Buenos Aires, we also visited the famous Recoleta Cemetery, an extraordinary “city of the dead” filled with little streets, grand mausoleums, and remarkable architecture. This trip was really all about the incredible adventure of visiting Antarctica. After arriving in Buenos Aires, we flew to Ushuaia to board the ship and then continued the rest of the journey by sea with Viking Cruises. One thing to know — the Drake Passage can be very rough, and on our trip the waters were definitely rough! It was all part of the adventure and made arriving in Antarctica feel even more unforgettable. Once you reach Antarctica, it is not a place of cities or towns — it is a protected wilderness, and that is part of what makes it so extraordinary. There are strict rules to help preserve it, including limits on how many visitors can go ashore at one time, and typically no more than 100 passengers may be on land at a site at once. Most of the experience feels more like an expedition than a traditional trip: you head out in small boats for landings, wildlife viewing, and glacier walks, with untouched ice and dramatic scenery as far as the eye can see. Some voyages even offer special experiences like a submarine.
✨ Some trips are once-in-a-lifetime, and Antarctica was definitely one of them.
United States: Lake Tahoe, California & Nevada
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🏨 Where We Stayed: We stayed at Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe, which used to be an Embassy Suites before it was converted. While it isn’t as modern as some newer Margaritaville resorts, it was clean, comfortable, and especially great for families. Our room had a separate bedroom and living room with a pull-out couch, which gave everyone plenty of space. The location was also excellent — right next to Heavenly Village and very close to Heavenly Mountain Resort.
🍽️ Favorite Places to Eat: Lake Tahoe had some wonderful dining! Some of our favorite meals were at Izabella Ristorante Italiano, Wolf by Vanderpump in Caesars, and the excellent Rosewood Restaurant, all of which were memorable parts of the trip. Our advice - don't miss any of these restaurants!
💛 What We Did: One of our favorite outings was hiking at Emerald Bay State Park, where the trail heads downhill toward the water and then climbs back up on the return — but the views are absolutely worth it. We also loved exploring Sand Harbor, famous for its giant granite boulders and stunning lake views, and we even tried snowshoe hiking, which was surprisingly easy and fun. Rentals were about $25 a day, making it a very affordable adventure.
Canada: Montreal, Quebec
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🏨 Where We Stayed: We were only in Montreal for a few days, but it made for such a beautiful and romantic little getaway. We stayed downtown, which we loved because it was within walking distance of Old Montreal — a bit of a stroll, but a lovely one.
🍽️ Favorite Places to Eat: One of our longtime favorite places to eat is Olive et Gourmando , a wonderful café that has been around for years and is always worth a visit. We also enjoyed Duc de Lorraine, a beloved French bistro and pastry shop that has been a Montreal institution since 1952, and is especially famous for its pastries.
💛 What We Did: Most of this trip was spent enjoying time with friends, so we didn’t do too many attractions on this visit — but we did visit the beautiful and famous Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal in Old Montreal. We also loved exploring Jean-Talon Market, one of Montreal’s most iconic public markets, and visiting Mount Royal Park, where the overlook at Kondiaronk Belvedere offers gorgeous views of the city. Sometimes the best memories are simply soaking in the city, wandering beautiful streets, and enjoying great company.
Cruise from South Hampton
Where to stay: Stay Between Heathrow and Southampton — Near Downton Abbey
If you’re flying into Heathrow and heading to Southampton the next day (for example, to board a cruise), spending a night somewhere in between can be a wonderful option — especially if you’d like to turn your transfer day into part of the adventure. An overnight in London causes you to drive in the wrong direction and fight traffic.
One lovely idea is to stay in the area near Downton Abbey — more specifically, near Highclere Castle, the famous filming location of the beloved series. This gives you the chance to break up the drive, enjoy the English countryside, and add a memorable stop to your trip. Instead of treating the overnight journey as simply “getting from one place to another,” this can be a charming way to enjoy a little extra sightseeing, a cozy overnight stay, and a beautiful taste of rural England before continuing on to Southampton.
The Jack Russell in Andover — A Charming Stay Near Downton Abbey
If you’re looking for a wonderful place to stay between Heathrow and Southampton, we also loved The Jack Russell in Andover, which is about 12 km from Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle).
This charming spot offers a cozy, countryside feel and was a lovely way to break up the journey. It felt warm, inviting, and full of character — exactly the kind of place that makes the travel itself part of the experience.
And the food? Absolutely incredible. If you’re planning an overnight stop in the area, this is a beautiful option that combines comfort, charm, and a truly memorable meal.
Cruises We Loved!
British Isles: Left from South Hampton (See cruises from South Hampton above for where to stay the night before.)
Cornwall (Falmouth), England: Castle Walk and Shopping area.
Cork (Cobh), England: Blarney Castle & Blarney Aran Experience. Cobh is the adorable port town for Cork and worthy of a visit - very charming shops, restaurants, a beautiful church and lovely architecture.
Dubin, Ireland: Howth Cliff Walk near Dublin, Dublin Castle, Dublin Trinity College and the Book of Kells.
Belfast, Northern Ireland: Giant’s Causeway, Titanic Museum, City Hall, Botanical Gardens
Glasglow, Scotland: Large Museum, University of Glasglow, Church, cemetary,
Invergordon, Scotland: Dunrobin Castle outside of Inverness, small town we visited after the castle.
Edinburgh, Scotland: Normandy (Le Harve) and Paris, France: Edinburgh palace, downtown shopping area, pizza restaurant, stream residential area, Normandy Beach Area, Honfluer.
Oxford, England & Surrounding Area
We did a land trip after the cruise.
Brackley, England: The beautiful and charming small town of Brackley, England is close to the many attractions listed below. Brackley Old Bakery, Evenly, Black Country Living Museum and Dudley Canal, Stowe Gardens, Buckingham, Silverstone Raceway. Italian Restaurant.
“See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream.”