by Missie Hills | Dec 21, 2025 | Europe, International Adventures
After Milos captured our hearts, we took the short ferry ride over to the neighbor island of Paros to see if we could recreate the magic. As soon as we made shore, we knew Paros would be special. Almost immediately, I caught sight of my first blue dome. Something I’d dreamed of seeing after years of photos, books, and quiet imaginings of Greece. It was a small powerful moment.
After chatting with a few locals near the port, we secured our rental cars and found our condo in Naousa. A quick lunch helped reset us, and then we spent the afternoon wandering through the ruins of the Venetian Castle. Tiny crabs scurried through the water below us, sailboats bobbed nearby, and octopus hung drying on lines.
Beach time felt like the obvious next step. We chose Golden Beach, known for sun and sport, and it quickly proved worthy of its name. The light hit the sand just right, giving it a warm golden glow. We rented an umbrella, ordered drinks straight to our chairs, and settled in. Adam gave windsurfing a try and quickly learned it’s much harder than it looks. Jill and I did what we do best, combing the beach for rocks and collecting more treasures than our pockets could hold. The kids braved the cold water staying in until their little teeth were chattering. As the sun began to sink, we headed inland to find dinner. We stopped at a quiet spot in the countryside with incredible food and front row seats to the sunset.
The next morning brought something special. Every so often on our travels, I schedule a family photo shoot with a local photographer, and this year we worked with Petti through localgraphers.com. She captured our family beautifully as we wandered the white and blue pathways of Naousa. Those photos will forever hold this season of life for us.
After the shoot, we made our way to a local winery to sample the wines that have made Paros well known. The kids joined in with glasses of local orange juice, happily clinking cups alongside us.
From there, we drove into the center of the island to explore the marble quarries. Much of the marble used in the statues and structures we’d seen throughout Greece came from places just like this. We met a local at one quarry and purchased small pieces of marble. I chose two dice, simple objects that now carry a story.
Next, we wandered through the town of Lefkes. Shops, food, winding alleyways, and the joy of letting ourselves get lost. Somewhere along the way, I dropped my camera, shattering the lens filter. Thankfully, the lens itself was unharmed, but it did require that I put up the camera for the rest of the trip.
We ended the day at Kolympethres, a beach known for its unique rock formations. It was beautiful and surprisingly one of the warmest beaches we visited on the trip. Ethan found a rock to jump from, which immediately made it his favorite stop.
That night, we had dinner right on the water, savoring the final moments of our Greek island adventure.
Paros felt balanced and grounded, full of beauty without trying too hard. A place of light, stone, and simple joys, and the perfect way to close this chapter of the journey.
Until next time,
by Missie Hills | Dec 19, 2025 | Europe, International Adventures
Our time in Milos began on the water. We boarded a ferry and splurged on VIP seats, which thankfully helped me manage the inevitable seasickness. The open viewing deck helped as well, as did watching island after island pass by. With each one, our anticipation grew. Then Milos appeared. White buildings stacked along the shoreline, glowing against the deep blue sea. It was the kind of arrival that already felt like a reward.
Once docked, reality set in. We navigated the usual rental car chaos, brushed up on how to drive a stick shift, and nearly found ourselves stranded in a sheep field while trying to locate the house. Divorce was narrowly avoided. Somehow, we made it. The house was worth every wrong turn. Perched high above the sea, it was peaceful, stunning, and instantly grounding.
We were starving, so we headed out again in search of lunch. Our destination was a beachside restaurant known for cooking food in volcanic sand on the Paralia Paleochori beach. Our curious kids got to see there meal up close and personal. And after we stuffed ourselves we lounged on the beach just steps away. Jill and I quickly realized that Milos is a rock hound’s dream. We filled our pockets with stones in every color imaginable. The water was freezing, but that didn’t stop the kids, who swam until their lips turned blue and then buried themselves in the sand to keep warm.
That evening, we kept things simple. Gyros on the porch, sweeping sea views, and a sunset that brought everything to a quiet pause.
The next morning, we set out to explore the nearby village after the sunrise woke us early. Our first stop was the Catacombs of Milos, among the oldest Christian catacombs in the world. Once again, we found ourselves winding through narrow underground tunnels, pretending to be haunted by ghosts and spirits.
From there, we walked to the Ancient Theater of Milos. The kids immediately claimed the stage, dancing and performing with the sea stretching endlessly behind them. Nearby stood a replica of the statue of Aphrodite, marking the spot where the original once stood before making its way to the Louvre. Standing there offered a glimpse into what attending a performance during the Roman Empire might have felt like. The marble was striking, quietly foreshadowing our upcoming visit to Paros.
Lunch took us to Plaka, where we wandered the white-and-blue alleyways and followed our curiosity wherever it led. We found the softest towels that became favorites for everyone. We stopped to talk to a local photographer that gave us tips for seeing some of the best beaches. We awed at the beautiful stone work and stunning views.
Beach time was calling again, so we made our way to Klima, a quiet area known for its colorful boat houses lining the shore. The cute houses were a beautiful contrast against the blue sea, a photographers dream. The beach was small, but perfect for our kiddos, shielded by the wind making for a calm place to play and swim. By the end of the day, we were happily exhausted and content to return to the house, once again watching the sun sink into the sea.
The following day brought even more adventure. We started at Sarakiniko, famous for its moon-like landscape. The smooth white rock formations were unlike anything we had seen before. We lounged by the bay while cold water drifted in around us. The wind made cliff jumping impossible, but watching the waves crash against the rocks was entertainment enough. Nearby, the boys explored pirate caves and managed to fall into a pit, narrowly avoiding serious injury. Thankfully, everyone was fine, and the story quickly turned into one we’ll laugh about for years.
Lunch near the port brought a new kind of entertainment. The kids tossed bread crumbs to the fish below while we waited for our food. Our waiter brought us free shots of his favorite mystery liquor after we were stuffed with fresh made seafood pasta.
For our final beach, we chose something even more off the beaten path. A secluded cove accessible only by boat or a old decaying ladder called Tsigrado Beach. After some debate, we decided to try it. The ladder didn’t look so bad until we were actually on it. Slowly and carefully, we made our way down with the kids. It was absolutely worth it. Calm water, hidden caves, and the kind of experience that makes everyone feel braver afterward. E even found a small cliff to jump from, sealing the adventure.
That night, we decided to walk down to a seafood restaurant in the fishing village below our house. Walking down was easy. Halfway there, we realized our mistake. Getting back up was going to be a challenge, but we chose to worry about that later. The sunset over the village was beautiful, and the food at Medusa was some of the best we had on the entire trip. We were surprised to hear the American asset from our waiter. We soon found out he wasn’t just American, he was Texan. He was thrilled to meet fellow Texans and shared that his future father-in-law owned the restaurant. The owner joined us with special sweet treats and shots of homemade liquor that he was especially proud of. When the waiter heard about our uphill problem, he kindly offered to drive us back up the hill!
We were heading to our next island in the morning. And even though we were excited about what lay ahead, we felt a sense of sadness that night leaving Milos behind. Milos surprised us at every turn. Rugged, playful, and full of heart, it felt wild in the best way. An island that rewards curiosity, patience, and a little bit of courage.
Until next time,
by Missie Hills | Dec 19, 2025 | Europe, International Adventures
Arriving in Athens, we were full of anticipation.
This was our second country on our European summer adventure with the Autens. And we were super excited about our shared Airbnb, a beautiful townhome tucked into the city, topped with a rooftop terrace and a front row view of the Acropolis. One of those places that makes you pause and think, yes, this is really happening.
While we waited for the house to be ready, we settled into a nearby café for lunch. That’s when the girls joined me to checked something big off my bucket list. We slipped away to have a pair of Greek leather sandals custom made at the famous Poet Sandal Maker, who has brought in A-list celebrities from around the world. The shop was wonderfully quirky, filled with art and odd little treasures created by the poet himself. Sitting there getting fitted, waiting while my sandals were made on the spot, I couldn’t help but feel a little Carrie Bradshaw energy. A simple luxury, deeply rooted in place, and absolutely worth it.
Sandals in hand, we met the boys at the Acropolis entrance. We couldn’t wait, this had to be at the top of our to-do list. We went straight in at dusk, hoping for the best light. After an ice cream stop at the entrance, we made our way up the steps, stopping first at the Theatre of Dionysus. Coincidentally, it’s dedicated to Jason’s favorite mythological Greek character, the Greek God of Wine. Of course.
Even in the off season, the Acropolis was packed. I can only imagine what peak summer looks like. Still, the weather was perfect. The marble underfoot was slick and worn, adding to the sense of history. Walking beneath the first entrance pillars, we all went quiet. And then there it was. The Parthenon. Standing in front of something so iconic, so layered with history, felt surreal.
We took our time circling the structure, soaking in every angle. We looked out over the massive city built around it, studied the details up close, and lingered where the light hit the goddess columns just right. It was impossible not to be moved. We could have stayed for hours, but the sun was setting and we were eager to enjoy our townhome.
That night we found a small local restaurant for dinner, the kind of place you stumble into and immediately know it’s special. Afterward, pastries and ice cream were nonnegotiable. We ended the evening on the rooftop with a bottle of wine, listening to a full orchestra perform at the Theatre of Dionysus while the Parthenon lit up behind us. One of those moments you wish you could bottle.
The next morning, after a quick dance party on the roof, we woke up early for the Acropolis Museum. None of us realized how massive it was. The kids were thrilled to find scavenger hunts throughout the exhibits, which kept them happily engaged. The museum was filled with remnants of the ancient city, mythological scenes we all remembered from school, and layers of history stacked on top of each other. Beneath it all sat Roman ruins, old roads and buildings from an empire that once thrived.
Hunger eventually pulled us away, and we headed to Plaka for lunch. This is where Evey fell in love with gyros, a love affair that continues to this day. We wandered the winding streets, popped into shops, and slowly made our way toward the Ancient Agora. Finding the entrance turned into a journey of its own. After fully circling the entire site more, and walking far more than planned, we were loosing our sense of adventure. We stopped at a café to regroup. Some headed back to rest. The rest of us pushed on, not willing to miss it.
I’m so glad we did. The Ancient Agora brought the city to life in a different way. Not the world of gods and temples high on the hill, but the place where everyday life happened. Where business was done, ideas were exchanged, and community formed. We also spotted more turtles than expected, which turned into a fun scavenger hunt of its own.
Walking through the entire site exhausted us, but still took our time to stop and take in all the sights on our trek back to the hotel. Athens doesn’t let you rush. Everywhere you turn there are ruins, shops, stories, and food calling your attention.
We were about to head into a week of island hopping, but Athens deserved more time than we gave it. It’s a city that asks you to slow down, look closer, and come back again.
Until next time,
by Missie Hills | Dec 6, 2025 | Asia, Europe, International Adventures
The Hills and Autens… together again! It had been two years since our last group adventure to South America, and we missed our travel friends deeply. A lot had changed in those last two years, but once we were together it felt like we didn’t miss a beat. This time we chose to explore more of Europe. I was itching to revisit my favorite city in the world with the kiddos.
We started this trip with a little gift for the parents, an immediate adult night out with the help of a local babysitter. This was a great way to beat the jet lag and a wonderful start to the break from our daily grind. Taksim Square was buzzing when we arrived. At night, it felt electric. We wandered down the main strip that runs along the iconic tram line. The street had everything. Luxury fashion, tiny boutiques, spice shops, Turkish delights, and more street food than any of us could resist. We found a little alley restaurant, grabbed an outdoor table, and listened to the city swirl around us as we caught up on old times. Then we grabbed fried sardines and warm roasted chestnuts from street vendors. We walked until our feet gave out and somehow ended up right back at our hotel without ever needing a ride. It was a perfect first night to kickstart the fun.
The next morning kicked off the first official day of our adventure. Since Jason and I had been to Istanbul before, we wanted a mix of kid-friendly stops and things we missed last time. We braved the local bus system to Topkapi Palace. It may sound silly, but I feel a sense of pride every time we successfully use a local transit. Getting into Topkapi Palace proved to be a bit harder to get into than I thought it would be. After following multiple directions from palace staff, we finally found a tour guide to get tickets. Once we made it through the massive gates, the chaos was worth it.
Topkapi was much bigger than I expected, layered with courtyards and rooms that seem to fold into each other. Built in the 15th century, it was the home of Ottoman sultans for almost four hundred years, and it feels like a world unto itself. Tilework covers nearly every surface. Colors everywhere. Calligraphy, domes, ornate doors, and relics that stopped me in my tracks. We took our time wandering through every corridor, finding myself wonderfully lost in the details.
After we finally surfaced from the palace, we walked through the gardens with the Blue Mosque on one side and Hagia Sophia on the other. Seeing them again lit me up. The kids were full of energy ready to explore. So from there we slipped underground into the Basilica Cistern. It was dark and echoey and a little eerie, the perfect environment for my boys who love all things spooky. They had the best time searching for Medusa’s head.
We grabbed lunch at a small restaurant with a great view. After we were full and relaxed, Jason and Adam disappeared for their Turkish bath appointment. Jill and I took the kids on our own adventure. It may have started with a taxi driver scamming us and charging double… but it ended with a unique experience that I’ll never forget. Jill had heard about a very special church, the Church of Saint Mary of the Mongols. It’s the only Byzantine church in Istanbul that has always remained Greek Orthodox, never converted to a mosque. It’s tucked behind a tall wall, not open to the public, and the only way in is to find a hidden door and ring a bell like you’re in some kind of secret society.
I thought she was a bit crazy when she told me about the secret door. But I followed along as we searched through a maze of narrow alleys. Suddenly she stopped, examined a very average looking door and pressed the doorbell. A woman actually answered. She looked at us, she looked up and down the alley and seeing that we were alone, she let us in with a quick You have 10 minutes. The church was small, warm, and full of energy. It felt like discovering a little pocket of history no one else knew about.
After that surprise win, we grabbed Turkish coffee brewed in hot sand and chocolate-covered strawberries from an adorable cafe tucked into the side of staircase. We wandered through a tiny local market full of handmade goods. It was a quaint neighborhood, and a new side of Istanbul I hadn’t met before.
Determined not to be scammed again, we once again braved public transit back across the strait to meet the boys near Galata Tower. We stopped for cheesecake, and the kids got that famous Turkish ice cream where the ice-cream vendor plays tricks. He has the kids laughing in stiches. When the boys finally arrived, pink and shiny from their hammam, we all climbed the Galata Tower just in time for sunset. The whole city glowed.
The next morning we flew to Cappadocia… I’ll save that story for another post. But we did return to Istanbul for one last night. This time we explored the port, and the kids loved watching the boats and spotting the tiny jellyfish drifting near the edge of the water. We tried more street food… corn, stuffed clams, and fresh seafood. E even ate a fish eyeball, which he’s still bragging about.
We met the babysitter one more time so the adults could squeeze in another night out. We found a restaurant that served tray after tray of incredible food in the cutest hidden food court off Taksim Square. We drank Turkish Raki and toasted to our friendship. Then walked through the lit-up streets, soaking in the energy of a city one more time. An energy that somehow felt both ancient and alive in the same breath.
Every city I visit I assign a word that represents that city’s essence. The first time Jason and I visited Turkey 10 years ago, I gave Istanbul the word charm. That night I confirmed the word still fits perfectly. I fell in love with Istanbul all over again. The City of Charm has fully secured its position as my favorite city in the world.
Until next time,
by Missie Hills | Mar 8, 2023 | Europe, International Adventures
You can’t start a post on day trips from Porto, without first talking about the most beautiful train station in the world, Sao Bento Station. It doesn’t take long to find out why people call this train station the most beautiful train station in the world. You could spend hours staring at the walls which are covered with the most intricate blue tiled murals. It’s so beautiful that it’s hard to believe that it is an actual working train station, and a well operating one at that.
We boarded our train with very little wait time and no fuss, and then rode an hour away to Guimarães, known for its historic town centre and medieval castle. It did not disappoint. We started our morning by stopping in a pastry shop where we tried multiple different egg tart sweets. It rained off and on, but that didn’t matter much as there were plenty of covered sidewalk cafes for us to linger in especially in the medieval Largo da Oliveiria plaza in the heart of the old town.
Once the rain cleared, the boys pretended to be knights as we roamed throughout the 10th century Guimarães Castle and the restored Dukes of Bragança Palace. I was rewarded with yet another beautiful ceiling in the palace. One day I hope my photography can accurately depict my love for beautiful ceilings. Until then, trust me when I say it was stunning. E pointed out the most spooky of paintings that featured a head on a platter. We didn’t take a photo of it and haven’t been able to find it since. But he talks about it often.
That medieval feeling stayed with us as we walked through the old town centre of the beautiful city stopping often to have drinks and snacks in sidewalk cafes. While sipping vino verde in one café, we were surprised with a local tradition where the town’s accordion players gathered in a circle under the medieval arches sparking all the locals to dance and sing around them. It was truly magical.
For our next adventure, we departed the most beautiful train station in the world once again for an hour ride to Braga. Braga is one the oldest cities in the country and home to many universities. But people really come here for the beautiful Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte. The day we arrived in Braga, it was hazy with everything coated in a pale yellow glow. It wasn’t a perfect day to get beautiful landscapes of one of our most anticipated sites to see, but we made do. In the town centre, we strolled through beautiful gardens while spotting dragons. We took our time enjoying the white port wine spritzers over lunch before catching a bus to the main attraction.
Bom Jesus do Monte, or the Good Jesus of the Mountain, is a catholic shrine known for the Christian pilgrimages ending with the sites Baroque stairway, climbing in crisscross style. The staircase pays homage to the five senses as you climb. You can make the climb yourself, or you can take the old fashioned water balance funicular, built in 1882, to the top. It was muggy out. We weren’t about to climb those stairs with the boys. So we rode the funicular up, I walked the steps down and back up by myself, and we rode the funicular down. I found this site to be mesmerizing. The zigzag staircase seemed endless from the bottom giving a real sense of depth. The Baroque finishings added that touch of creepy you really expect from this type of architecture. I loved every bit of it.
From knights to dragons, the areas surrounding Porto carried on the marvelous magical feeling leaving us craving more adventure. The beauty of Portugal is in the details… It’s in the intricate patterned sidewalks… It’s in the colorful stacks of sardine cans… It’s is the beautiful array of blue and green tiles… And just like the beauty of those details, Jason and I found the most beauty of our trip in the small but grand moments we shared with our beautiful family, moments that will stay with us forever.
Until next time,
by Missie Hills | Mar 8, 2023 | Europe, International Adventures
Whenever we travel to somewhere new, we try to wrap up our experience of the city in one word. That word for Porto came easily… Marvelous.
The city was full of this buzzing feeling of magic, stemming from features like the bookstore rumored to inspire Harry Potter, the streets full of eclectic street art, and the walls covered with famous blue tiled murals. My favorite feature was the Douro riverside landscape views of the Ribeira, packed with colorful lego stacked houses. Jason’s favorite feature was the Gaia port wine cellars. And the boys? Well, they loved the gelato.
This family vacation was Little Evey’s first trip to Europe! He rocked the flight like a travel pro. But the jet lag did its thing and we experienced our first 2 year old meltdown of the trip at dinner that night. What I always find fascinating about Europeans is how considerate and accommodating they are of families in restaurants. I braced myself for the ugly stares, but they never came. We were given the space to work through the tantrum and finish our dinner without having to leave hungry.
Having that tantrum early in trip helped us set some parenting guardrails and curb our expectations. We decided then to not worry about what the boys ate for the rest of the trip. We wouldn’t stress over picky eating until we got back home. This was hard at times, but ultimately paid off and reduced the tantrums dramatically.
We had 10 full days to spend in Porto and the extended area. We never spend that much time in one city. So, we weren’t quite sure how to do it. We had no day by day plan… just a general sense of major things to see and do and a guide book by our side. It didn’t take us long to love this relaxed way of travel. With no agenda, we were free to stop in shops we would have never have stopped in, linger in cafes we would have never visited, and talk to strangers we would have never have talked to.
We only had one major planned event, and it started on our first morning with our tradition of getting a professional photoshoot through Localgraphers. I cannot recommend Localgraphers enough. We were paired with the local photographer, Max. He was great with the kids and our photos in the Ribeira district turned out wonderful.
With that one big planned event out of the way. We spent the rest of our time in Porto truly wandering the streets. We started our exploration with a river boat cruise where we learned about the City of Bridges. We were rewarded with perfect views of the riverfront colorful houses. We made up stories about our favorite houses and decided one of them was definitely haunted.
A lot of the trip turned out to be a rainy mess, but we’ve never let a little rain get us down. We had plenty of indoor spots to check out too. Little E (who is actually not so little anymore) and I decided to visit the famous Livraria Lello, the most beautiful bookstore in the world and rumored to have inspired the Harry Potter series. Accolades like that attract attention though. The line to get in the store wrapped well around the block even in the rain. We had bought a VIP pass that allowed us to walk right pass that line and go directly inside, worth every penny even with the death stares we got from the patrons wet on the sidewalk. However, it was still incredibly crowded inside and everyone wanted a photo of the main feature, the red double staircase. So, E and I found a few books to buy, and got out of the stuffy small space with very few photos to show.
The rain that day poured on. And so we took the kids to the World of Discoveries, a children’s museum focused on Portugal’s explorations. As a family that loves to explore, it seemed fitting. The kids loved the cheesy boat ride that slowly took us around the world. I was ecstatic to randomly find a quirky antique mall right next door. We strolled through the antique booths, spotting the most random second hand finds, and then stayed awhile in the mall’s coffee shop while playing backgammon and sipping hot chocolate next to the antique piano while everything softly glowed from the fireplace.
Turns out these small moments were more grander than seeing any major landmark or red double staircase.
Once the kids had their fun in the cutesy museum, we didn’t feel bad for dragging them along to our most anticipated event, the port wine cellars tour in Gaia across the river. After riding the aerial gondola directly over the mass expanse of wine cellars along the river, we trekked up the hill to Graham’s Lodge. We splurged on the VIP package which included a tour of the cellars and an exclusive tasting of ports in a the Vintage Room. The kids enjoyed the spooky tour in the cellars as they looked for hidden monsters. Jason and I enjoyed the Vintage Room decked out in leather armchairs, mahogany bookshelves, and old maps… a couple of cigars and it would have been perfect.
Our explorations continued over the next few days utilizing these fun travel cards. They really helped excite E as we walked through the city. Every single block we walked through had unique tiles and colors. We took our time on each street. We made stops in the city’s most beautiful churches exploring the creepy tombs below and climbing the high towers above.
All this walking made us hungry of course. We explored circus themed sardine shops full of all things fishy, stuffed ourselves with Francesinhas (Porto’s famous sandwich smothered in cheese and topped with an egg), and found the best gelato in the world (awarded by my children). Jason and I ate electric flowers from the Amazon Rainforest that numbed our mouths and opened our taste buds. We all tried the jams and chocolates packaged in paint tubes. There were egg tart pastries everywhere. And low and behold, we found a pizza place so good that even Little Evey ate a slice!
The last couple days we had in Porto, you guessed it, we roamed even more. We found an fascinating photography museum hidden in an abandoned prison. We took the trolley to the beach to see the Atlantic Ocean. We looked for the best street art in the city. We counted how many Mario flower powers we could spot (we found 11 total). E loved being old enough to start learning how to use my camera. I took advantage and played his model to finally get a few photos of me in the mix and a couple of me and Jason as well. Turns out he has a knack for it!
Yes, we don’t typically spend this much time in one city. But because we did, I think we found a new way that we love to travel. The best memories we have of this trip aren’t from the top attractions you find when you google Porto. It’s the small moments. It’s the excitement in Little Evey’s eyes when he saw the trolley for the first time. It’s the laughter from E as we took turns spotting fun things in the shops. It’s the way Jason and I both would say, “This is the best one yet…” every time we ate a new Francesinhas. And most of it all, it’s the magic we felt in the air… that overwhelming feeling that we could only describe in one word… Marvelous.
Until next time,
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