The Juniper Journal · Page 2 · Travel

More travel stories
from our specialists.

Green and violet aurora filling a star-dense sky above a snow-covered plain, bare birch trees silhouetted along a low ridge.

Northern Lights Winter 2026/27: Where the Forecast Actually Favors

The best place to see the northern lights in winter 2026/27, with Solar Cycle 25 in decline: Tromso, Iceland and Swedish Lapland compared on latitude and cloud.

A family walking a coastal European town in warm evening light

Sep 24 · 6 min read

A Beginner’s Guide To Traveling Europe With Kids

Taking on a European adventure with your kids is truly a once in a lifetime type of trip. Use our beginner’s guide to ensure every detail fits their limits.

Side by side: terraced green rice paddies and palms in Bali on the left, limestone karsts and moored boats in the turquoise water of Ha Long Bay on the right.

BaliSep 22 · 12 min read

Bali or Vietnam: An Honest Comparison

Bali or Vietnam, which is better? Bali is a place you stay across 90 miles; Vietnam is 1,030 miles you move through. Cost, fatigue, food and beaches compared.

IcelandSep 22 · 12 min read

Iceland or Norway for the Northern Lights?

Iceland or Norway for northern lights? Tromso sits inside the auroral oval at 69.65N; Iceland is a 5.5-hour nonstop with far more to do on cloudy nights.

Side by side: soft green Irish farmland and hedgerows under grey cloud on the left, a steep Scottish glen with a loch and a single road under a breaking sky on the right.

IrelandSep 22 · 12 min read

Ireland or Scotland: Which Trip Are You Actually Describing?

Ireland or Scotland? Ireland drives in 60-90 minute days and works in 7 nights; Scotland needs 10 and 2-3 hours a day. An honest side-by-side comparison.

Side by side: the vermilion pagoda of Kiyomizu-dera above autumn maples in Kyoto on the left, the Seoul skyline at dusk with N Seoul Tower on the ridge on the right.

JapanSep 22 · 12 min read

Japan or South Korea for a First Trip to Asia?

Japan or South Korea for first time visitors? Japan is deeper and dearer at ~$215/day; Korea is faster, cheaper and easier in English. An honest comparison.

A historic Irish castle hotel at dusk, Ireland

Sep 17 · 5 min read

7 Reasons To Go to Ireland on Your Honeymoon

When it’s time to discuss your honeymoon plans with your partner, don’t forget to add Ireland to the list. Here are seven reasons to make the trip.

The view forward from a small boat down the Nærøyfjord in autumn, steep golden-birch walls on either side mirrored in glassy water with a single vessel ahead.

NorwaySep 15 · 12 min read

The Norwegian Fjords Without a Cruise Ship

How to see the Norwegian fjords without a cruise: the Bergen Railway, the Flam Line, small electric boats into the Naeroyfjord, and where to stay in the fjords.

A table of regional Italian dishes and wine, Italy

Sep 10 · 5 min read

The Ultimate Guide To Eating Your Way Through Italy

The idea of eating your way through Italy has probably lived on your bucket list for years. It’s time to get busy planning the most delicious itinerary.

Aerial view over Cusco at golden hour, terracotta rooftops filling the valley floor with the cathedral and Plaza de Armas at centre and Andean peaks beyond.

PeruSep 8 · 11 min read

Cusco Altitude: An Honest Guide to Your First 48 Hours

How to deal with altitude sickness in Cusco at 11,152 feet: real elevations, why the Sacred Valley comes first, acclimatization timeline, and when to see a doctor.

A llama standing on the grass terrace above Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel's stone ruins below and the peak of Huayna Picchu rising into low cloud behind.