latest on the blog
Planning a wedding and honeymoon separately can mean organising two trips when you would rather focus on enjoying this time with your partner. A weddingmoon combines the two, allowing you to hold your ceremony somewhere you want to explore and stay there for your honeymoon rather than travelling somewhere new straight after the wedding.
The right destination can provide a memorable setting for the ceremony as well as activities and places to explore during your honeymoon. Whether you picture exchanging vows beside a lake, in a historic town square, on a quiet beach or beside a Highland loch, these five destinations offer settings for the wedding itself and plenty to enjoy during the days that follow.
Saying I Do in Savannah's Oak-Lined Squares, Georgia
Savannah is known for its 22 historic squares, where Spanish moss hangs from mature live oaks. Forsyth Park is a particularly recognisable setting, with its white fountain and broad walkways beneath the trees. A ceremony beneath the canopy offers a leafy setting in the centre of a lively coastal city, while brick townhouses, wrought iron balconies and cobbled streets give the surrounding historic district its character.
Couples considering Savannah, Georgia, wedding venues can choose from restored carriage houses, courtyard gardens and historic inns, many close to the city's historic squares. Staying for the honeymoon gives couples time to explore the district on foot, sample Lowcountry seafood at restaurants near the riverfront and see the squares illuminated in the evening. Ceremonies in public parks and squares may require permits, so check the current rules and guest limits before choosing a location.
Watching the Sunset Over Whitewashed Cliffs in Santorini, Greece
Santorini’s whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches sit along the rim of a volcanic caldera high above the Aegean Sea. In Oia, the setting sun brings warmer tones to the pale buildings and layered cliffs, although its best-known viewpoints can become crowded. A private terrace elsewhere along the caldera can provide a quieter setting for the ceremony, with the volcanic islands and passing boats visible below.
The days afterwards can move between long dinners overlooking the water, a catamaran journey across the caldera, and time on the island’s dark volcanic beaches. Akrotiri also preserves the remains of a Bronze Age settlement beneath layers of volcanic material, giving couples another reason to stay and explore the island’s history. The contrast between white architecture, dark rock, and open water gives the weddingmoon its visual character.
Wading Into Turquoise Shallows Off Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos
Grace Bay curves along the northern coast of Providenciales, with pale sand and shallow water shifting between clear blue and turquoise. An offshore barrier reef helps shelter much of the coastline, although conditions can still change with the weather. A ceremony on the sand keeps the setting simple, with the water close enough for a barefoot walk along the shore once the vows are finished.
Couples can find that browsing renowned Turks and Caicos villas is useful when looking for an oceanfront property with space for both the wedding ceremony and honeymoon. Private terraces, swimming pools and direct beach access make it easy to enjoy the coastline without leaving the property. Boat trips offer the chance to visit smaller cays and more secluded beaches, while waterfront restaurants provide options for dinner overlooking Grace Bay.
Eloping Beside a Misty Loch and Ancient Castle in Scotland
On the shore of Loch Assynt, the ruins of 16th-century Ardvreck Castle stand against open water and the mountains of northwest Scotland. The loch changes constantly with the weather, shifting from clear reflections to low cloud and rain within the same afternoon. An outdoor ceremony here places the couple within that landscape, with the roofless stone tower providing a quiet reminder of the area’s long history.
After the wedding, couples can explore Assynt by car, stopping for coastal walks, distillery visits and evenings beside the fire at a local hotel or inn. Heather adds colour to the hills during its flowering season, making a beautiful backdrop for wedding photographs, although wind and rain are possible throughout the year. As many of Assynt’s most scenic locations are outdoors and exposed to the elements, couples should arrange an authorised celebrant, check access and permission requirements for their chosen ceremony spot, and have an indoor alternative nearby in case of poor weather.
Sailing Past Lakeside Gardens and Peaks on Lake Como, Italy
Lake Como is surrounded by steep mountain slopes, historic villas and towns built along the waterfront. Bellagio is particularly well suited to exploring on foot, with cobbled stairways connecting its narrow streets to the lake. Nearby, the gardens of Villa Melzi offer tree-lined paths, sculptures and views across the water, providing another setting for wedding photographs. A ceremony at a lakeside villa brings together the region’s historic architecture and mountain scenery, with gardens and terraces overlooking the lake.
For the honeymoon, ferries and private boats connect Bellagio with towns such as Varenna and Menaggio, making it possible to explore different parts of the lake without relying on the winding roads. Couples can visit historic villas and gardens, stop for lunch featuring local lake fish or spend an afternoon exploring the waterfront streets. Before booking a ceremony, check whether the chosen venue can host a legal wedding or whether a symbolic ceremony would be more suitable, as arrangements vary between private villas and civil venues.
Which weddingmoon backdrop is calling you?
The right destination should offer a setting you love for the ceremony and plenty to enjoy during your honeymoon. Savannah combines oak-shaded squares with historic streets and riverside restaurants, while Santorini and Grace Bay offer beach settings and views across the Aegean and Caribbean seas. Assynt provides dramatic Highland scenery and historic ruins, while Lake Como is known for its lakeside villas, gardens and towns connected by boat.
Think about how you would like to spend the days after your wedding, whether that means exploring historic streets, visiting local restaurants, spending time on the beach or taking boat trips between lakeside villages. Choosing a destination that suits both your ceremony and the kind of honeymoon you want will help make the whole trip feel like one shared experience.
Some European journeys move so quickly between capitals that much of the continent is seen through a train window. I prefer trips that leave room for a museum visit to continue into lunch, an afternoon tasting to run longer than planned, or a conversation with a local guide to change the rest of the day.
That kind of travel does not require a crowded itinerary. A few thoughtfully chosen bases and an open schedule leave room to follow local recommendations. Across the five destinations below, private villas, boutique hotels, and carefully chosen experiences keep art, heritage, and regional traditions at the centre of the journey.
Wandering Baroque Towns and Etna's Vineyards in Sicily, Italy
Eastern Sicily is the perfect place to explore at your own pace, beginning with the Late Baroque towns of the Val di Noto. In Noto and Modica, carved stone façades, wrought-iron balconies, and grand staircases can turn a casual walk into your very own architectural tour. Spend the morning exploring palace courtyards and historic churches, then take a slower pace in the afternoon with lunch at a local restaurant, a visit to a café or a slow walk through the town.
Farther north, Mount Etna’s volcanic slopes support vineyards planted with Nerello Mascalese, one of the principal grapes used in the region’s red wines. A privately arranged cellar visit provides time to see the lava-stone terraces and taste wines where they are made. When choosing a private base. Staying in a restored farmhouse surrounded by olive or citrus groves, such as those available through Wish Sicily villas, gives you a comfortable base for exploring the Baroque towns and Etna’s vineyards, with space to enjoy dinner outdoors at the end of the day.
Tracing Tile-Lined Streets and Port Wine Cellars in Porto, Portugal
Porto’s history appears across its tiled façades, from neighbourhood churches to the blue-and-white panels inside São Bento railway station. The city rises sharply from the Douro, so it is worth leaving enough time to follow its sloping streets without turning the walk into a race between landmarks. The climb occasionally opens onto views across the rooftops, river, and Dom Luís I Bridge.
Across the water in Vila Nova de Gaia, a privately arranged cellar visit can include barrel rooms, an explanation of different ageing methods, and a guided tasting of vintage and tawny ports. An afternoon at Serralves adds another perspective, with Álvaro Siza’s contemporary art museum sitting alongside the pink Art Deco villa and landscaped park. Together, the cellars, tiled interiors, and modern art give Porto enough cultural depth to shape several days without the need to hurry elsewhere.
Exploring Roman Palaces and Island Life Along Croatia's Coast
Split’s old town has developed within and around the remains of Diocletian’s Palace. Roman walls, columns, and underground chambers sit alongside later buildings containing homes, cafés, and small shops. An early walk through the peristyle reveals the architectural layers before the main daytime crowds arrive, while a privately guided visit can connect the surviving Roman structures with the medieval city that grew around them.
From Split, a private charter can continue towards Brač or Hvar, stopping in sheltered coves and small harbours along the way. A longer route may extend to Korčula, where vineyards and stone settlements add another dimension to the coastal journey. Staying in a private villa between excursions means you can make the most of the islands at your own pace, with villas to rent in Croatia offering private pools and terraces overlooking the Adriatic.
Discovering Moorish Palaces and Flamenco Heritage in Andalusia, Spain
In Granada, the Alhambra is worth setting aside a good part of the day to explore. Its Nasrid palaces feature carved stucco, geometric tilework, Arabic inscriptions and courtyards built around pools and fountains, while the wider complex offers views across Granada and the surrounding hills. A private guide can draw attention to details easily missed when moving through the complex alone, from the reflections in the Court of the Myrtles to the slender columns surrounding the Court of the Lions.
Seville continues the architectural story through the Real Alcázar, while the cathedral and lanes of Santa Cruz introduce Gothic, Christian, and Jewish history. Flamenco adds a living tradition to the journey: Granada is known for performances in the caves of Sacromonte, while Seville has small tablas and historic venues in neighbourhoods such as Triana. A good idea is to reserve one evening for an intimate flamenco performance, where the focus is on the singing, guitar and dance. Smaller venues can offer a more personal experience and give you the chance to see the performers up close.
Crossing Dragon Bridges and Café-Lined Riverbanks in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Ljubljana’s compact centre unfolds along the Ljubljanica River, where the Art Nouveau Dragon Bridge stands apart from the later interventions of architect Jože Plečnik. His Triple Bridge, riverside colonnades, and covered market reshaped the city around spaces intended for everyday use. A guided visit to Plečnik House adds a more personal view of his work through the rooms, objects, and garden he designed for himself.
Mornings can begin at the Central Market before continuing beneath Plečnik’s arcades to a café beside the river. The city’s more ambitious restaurants draw on seasonal Slovenian ingredients, accompanied by wines from regions such as Vipava Valley and Goriška Brda. With the castle, market, galleries, and riverfront all within a relatively compact area, Ljubljana leaves enough time to return to a favourite table instead of filling the final days of the trip with constant sightseeing.
Which slower story will you choose?
The trips that stay with me are rarely defined by the number of landmarks covered. They are remembered through smaller moments: a wine opened inside an Etna cellar, afternoon light across Porto’s tiled façades, or music filling a small flamenco venue after dark. Culture becomes part of the day instead of another appointment squeezed into it.
I recommend starting with the details that interest you most. Sicily brings Baroque architecture and volcanic vineyards, Porto connects contemporary art with centuries of winemaking, and Croatia moves between Roman history and island life. Andalusia is shaped by palace courtyards and flamenco, while Ljubljana brings the journey to a quieter close beside the river. Whichever place draws you in, leave enough time for its culture to influence the day instead of fitting every experience into a fixed schedule.
Don’t miss the TPT ONE DAY 20 Year Celebration Sale TODAY ONLY, Save up to 30% on all of my creative, colorful, and NO Prep educational resources! Stock up on all of the NO PREP classroom items you need now and those for the future- including the upcoming holiday season!!
Use the code 20YEARS at checkout. Click HERE to go directly to the shop!
AND... I want to give you a FREE GIFT!
Thank you so much again for all of your support of the shop! I know I say that all of the time, but you are a blessing! I am so glad you are here! And to say thank you, I want to share about a small thank you gift that you can receive!!! Community matters deeply to me, and your reviews truly help this small, independent shop continue to grow. So I am offering a small gift- if you leave a review in the Caravan Sonnet Shoppe, you can choose one FREE resource (up to $3 in value) as my thank-you.
How it works:
1. Leave a review on any resource in the shop
2. Email me at caravansonnet@gmail.com with your purchase and the link to your review
3. Tell me which resource you’d like
4. I’ll send it to you directly as an attachment
It’s my way of saying a very small thank you for supporting thoughtful, real-world teaching. Truly—it means more than I can say.
Thank you again for ALL of your support!! Happy Shopping!!
More people than ever are packing their bags and heading abroad independently, seeking
the freedom to explore the world on their own terms. If you are preparing for your first independent adventure, Italy provides an incredibly welcoming environment to build your confidence. You will find a reassuring balance of famous historical centres and quiet coastal villages, supported by an outstanding transport network and world-renowned food that brings everyone together.
Getting Around Is Easier Than Many Travellers Expect
When you travel alone, you often worry most about logistics. Fortunately, you can move effortlessly between major cultural hubs like Rome, Florence, Venice, and Naples without ever needing a car.
The high-speed rail operators, Trenitalia and Italo, run frequent, comfortable services that connect these cities in just a few hours. Once you arrive, you will find that most historic city centres are highly walkable and well-served by regional buses. Book your train tickets online a few weeks in advance to secure a reserved seat and save money.
Because you can rely on this straightforward transport system, you completely avoid the usual travel stress and remain free to enjoy your holiday.
Finding the Right Pace for Your First Solo Trip
Travelling independently means you completely control your daily schedule.
You might thrive on the vibrant energy of a major city, or you could prefer spending a longer time absorbing the atmosphere of a quiet seaside town. You will discover a distinctly slower rhythm along the southern shoreline, where you can spend mornings wandering along historic cliffside paths and afternoons sipping espresso in the piazza.
If you want to explore this area without the pressure of arranging boats and local buses yourself, you can take the hassle out of your day by booking guided Amalfi Coast tours.
Easy to Meet Other Travellers
Heading out on your own does not mean you have to spend every moment by yourself. Italians are naturally sociable, and you will find plenty of organic opportunities to connect with fellow holidaymakers and locals alike.
When you sign up for a morning walking tour or an evening pasta-making class, you enter a relaxed environment to chat with like-minded people over shared activities. These small- group food experiences and excursions act as excellent icebreakers for nervous beginners who crave a bit of social interaction.
Destination for Every Type of Solo Traveller
Because the regions vary so drastically, you can easily design a holiday that perfectly matches your personal interests.
You can dedicate your days to Renaissance art during a cultural city break. If you prefer nature, you might escape to a quiet farm stay in the rolling hills of Tuscany or relax by the pristine waters of the northern lakes. Alternatively, you can seek out endless outdoor adventures along the dramatic southern coasts.
Focus your itinerary on two distinct regions to experience this incredible diversity without overstretching your travel time. This sheer variety guarantees you will never feel restricted by a fixed, uninspiring route.
You can find the reel from this beautiful morning at the cabin on Instagram by clicking HERE!
A gentle blessing from the shores of Lake Champlain …May your “ber” months of the year be filled with the answers and miracles your heart has been longing and weeping for.
"Wait with hope for the Lord...Trust in the Lord...Be Strong, and let your heart be courageous. Have Faith, do not despair. Trust in the Lord. Yes, wait with hope for the Lord."
Psalm 27:14 (combination of God's Word and Good News Translations)
Happy Sunday friends! I hope you have the most wonderful day!
the fall challenge: a real life budgeting activity for high school students / personal finance / caravan sonnet classroom
September 26, 2026
Happy Saturday friends! I am so excited to share about a NEW resource in the Caravan Sonnet Classroom! The $100 Fall Budget Challenge which is a real-life budgeting activity for high school students!
There is something about fall that seems to invite us to spend money.
Pumpkin patches. Apple orchards. Coffee dates. Fall festivals. Football games. Weekend trips. Seasonal decorations. Dinners with friends. Concerts. Haunted attractions. And, of course, all of the beautiful fall experiences that seem to fill our social media feeds as soon as September arrives.
Individually, many of these things may not seem particularly expensive. But added together? Fall can become surprisingly costly. And that makes this season an incredible opportunity to talk with students about something that goes far beyond simply creating a budget:
How do we use limited financial resources to create a life that reflects what actually matters to us?
That question became the foundation for one of the newest resources in the Caravan Sonnet Classroom shop: The $100 Fall Budget Challenge, a seasonal personal-finance budgeting simulation designed for high school and college students.
Because Personal Finance Is About More Than Spending Less
One thing that I feel strongly about when teaching personal finance is that we have to be careful not to accidentally teach students that the person who spends the least amount of money automatically makes the “best” financial decision.
That isn't necessarily true. Financial literacy is about learning how to make intentional decisions with limited resources. Sometimes saving is the wisest choice. Sometimes spending is completely reasonable. Sometimes a free experience can provide significantly more value than an expensive one. And sometimes something that looks affordable at first becomes much less affordable once another expense appears.
Those are the types of decisions our students are eventually going to have to make in real life. So instead of giving students a list of expenses and asking them simply to make the numbers balance, I wanted to create a budgeting activity that asks them to think.
The premise is simple: Students rank priorities and then have to use those priorities to help guide the decisions that follow. And I love this part of the activity because suddenly budgeting isn't just arithmetic. It becomes personal decision-making.
Students Then Have to Build Their Fall
Students choose from a menu of realistic fall experiences ranging from completely free activities to significantly more expensive choices. But because this is a high school / early college level resource students have a variety of different requirements for this activity, including the experience that real budgets don't always go according to plan.
This creates amazing conversations about trade-offs and opportunity cost because instead of memorizing a vocabulary definition, students actually experience what it means to choose one thing and give up another. I also created a special section all about social media which invites conversations about the reality that we cannot determine someone's financial health by looking at what they appear to consume. And we shouldn't determine the value of our own experiences that way either.
What Does a Wonderful Fall Actually Have to Cost?
Students are also challenged in this activity to design an entire $0 fall day. But instead of simply saying “everything is free,” students have to identify the resources they are using instead of clear out-of-pocket spending which is important because the goal isn't to pretend that everything in life is literally free. It is to help students recognize that money is only one resource available to us when creating meaningful experiences.
Price and Value Are Not the Same Thing
Another important piece of this activity asks students to compare experience and value. That is a financial skill I want students carrying with them long after they leave the classroom.
I love seasonal classroom resources- even as a high school teacher and college professor. I love finding ways to make learning feel connected to the time of year students are actually experiencing.
But I also believe seasonal resources can still be academically meaningful and rigorous.
The $100 Fall Budget Challenge isn't fall-themed simply for the sake of putting pumpkins on a worksheet. Fall provides the context. Financial decision-making is the lesson.
You can find the complete The $100 Fall Budget Challenge in the Caravan Sonnet Classroom at Teachers Pay Teachers HERE!
And to those of you who have purchased, used, reviewed, recommended, and returned to Caravan Sonnet Classroom resources over the years—thank you. Watching these resources grow from individual classroom materials into an intentional Personal Finance curriculum for high school and college students has been such an incredible gift. Every purchase, review, message, and recommendation helps this classroom continue to grow and allows me to keep creating resources designed to help students approach their financial futures with greater knowledge, confidence, and wisdom.
If you would like to check out the shoppe you can find it HERE!
I want to say a HUGE thank you again for ALL of your support of my shoppe! This is truly an incredible blessing to see how many things are helping teachers and helping students!! This has been an incredible blessing and you are making this possible!!
Thank you so much for being part of this journey, friends!
Happy Friday friends! And happy last Friday of September! Even writing those words seems absolutely impossible. As we have sat outside soaking in the last nights at the cabin and the beauty of the lake, it has really seemed impossible that the summer has been winding down and we welcomed the first day of fall this week. Time truly does fly each day.
This week turned into a bit of an adventure as on Monday as mom was driving the car to some appointments it suddenly died on the highway. We are beyond grateful that she was safe but our car has spent the week at the "car doctor" and we are hoping that we will be able to get it back today...and praying for a very cheap fix.
I hope that these last days and last weekend of September is beautiful time for you friends! I posted the following quote on instagram to welcome fall from one of my favorite authors:
"Go at the Speed of Joy" Isn't that absolutely beautiful? It has hit me deeply.
Summer 2026 has been one of the most tender, healing, and redemptive summers of my entire
life.
A year ago, last week, at the end of Summer 2025 I was in a very different place: in a very unhealthy and toxic work environment where I experienced years of workplace abuse, dealing with a painful personal loss, approaching an event that required grace while being bullied, and constantly crying out to the Lord to work in miraculous ways that I couldn't even begin to fathom could happen. I had no idea that the next 8 months would hold more pain then my heart could imagine as my precious mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer over the holidays, the deaths of three friends, financial stress, and that I would be laid off unexpectedly from my job just days before my mom's radiation treatments would begin.
And then summer 2026 arrived... after all of that trauma and pain it entered in the sweetest most tender way.
This summer has brought us answered prayers, healing for my mom, tears of gratitude, healing stages for many things, laughter that is deep, the blessings of dear friends that have surrounded us and spoken so much life over and into us, and hope and freedom.
If you are in an end of "summer /beginning of fall 2025" situation... I am sending the gentlest of hugs. I hope that this is an encouragement that rescue, relief, recovery, and restoration are in your future.
You are not forgotten...you are seen. These are verses that were lifelines that I clung to- I hope they encourage you today.
My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
// Isaiah 32:18 //
You are the God who sees me...Have I not even here (in the wilderness) been seen with understanding and compassion?
// Genesis 16:13 //
When the Lord restored the fortunes, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
// Psalm 126 //
As I mentioned though above, if you have entered fall with a hurting heart, you may find a very personal post that I shared last year on simple reflections on fall if you are hurting tenderly encouraging. You can read it HERE.
I shared on instagram on Wednesday the following stories...
SO delighted and excited to share with y'all...
Here are a few additional posts from the last couple of weeks that you may find interesting. Make a cup of tea or grab a cup of coffee as you read.
Personal Reflections...
1% Projects (5th Generation Cabins)...
Travel Posts...
Teachers Pay Teachers...
Health Thoughts and Tips...
May your weekend be filled with blessings beyond what you can imagine. Thank you for coming here and connecting each day! Happy Friday friends!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
