Author Archives: EuropeanTraveler

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The Best of Outdoor and Camping Near Prague

In a city where the average daily temperature ranges from 30 °F to 66 °F across the entire year, camping and other outdoor activities are popular. From May to September, the temps are typically in the mid 60s to low 70s, so it is perfect weather for water sports. The only time it gets really cold is November to March, when it is in the 30s. 

Whether you want to camp in a tent in the woods or do some glamping in a fancy cabin, Prague has all of that and more. Many of the campgrounds are along the Vltava River—the longest river in the Czech Republic—so you can fish, swim, and do some boating. Leave your bags with a Prague suitcase storage facility first for safekeeping while you have a great time outdoors. 

Photo by Josh Hild on Pexels.com

The most popular camp in the city, Oase Praha boasts 167 sites and seven cabins. The basic sites have 328 square feet without any hookups; standards include 328 square feet with electricity. The comfort sites have 328 to 492 square feet, water, and electricity. The premium sites have 558 square feet, water, and electricity.

The cabins (luxury mobile homes) have room for up to six people, with three bedrooms, a kitchen with appliances, satellite TV, a bathroom, and a shower. Onsite you can find a restaurant, playgrounds, indoor and outdoor pools, a dog park, a horse trail and horses, and pedal go-karts, and much more. Showers, dishwashers, and washing machines are also onsite.

Centrally located in Prague, its name says it all. River Camping Prague is right on the Vltava River, so you can enjoy lots of water fun. A neighboring water sport facility rents out kayaks, rafts, and canoes. The restaurant has delicious Czech cuisine, and you can order rolls to be delivered for breakfast in the morning. Pets are welcome.

Rent a bike to get to the zoo or botanical gardens just a few minutes away. The snack shop is fully stocked, many sites have fire pits or grills, and you can get wood from the reception area. Electric hookups are also available, and you can shower or wash clothes at the wash facility.

Near the river as well as the zoo, botanical garden, and Troja Palace, Autocamp Petrokova is the perfect place for those who want to be near the major attractions. They boast large sites for tents, caravans, or motor homes, with hookups for electricity and water. Pets are welcome. 

You’ll be right near a tram stop, and a bus stop where the bus can take you to the train station so you can get around to the palaces, museums, and Charles Bridge. The park provides showers, washing machines, and a kitchen for cooking. There is a private road that runs along the Vltava River where you can walk, bike, or skate. 

Whether you want to pitch a tent, park your RV, or rent a bungalow, Matyas Camp has all that and more. Fall asleep to sounds of the river just feet from your site, with a view of the hills in the background. The campground boasts clean facilities, home cooking in the restaurant, and a fun-for-all-ages pool.

Electricity and water are available, and pets are welcome. Washing machines and showers are available nearby, and you can also rent a boat or bike for your enjoyment. The kids will love the playground, swings and hammocks, fishing pier, sandbox, and table tennis while you enjoy an adult beverage at the bar. 

Photo by Dominika Roseclay on Pexels.com

In the middle of the Vltava River on the island of Císařská louka, under the stars across from the Vyšehrad Castle, you’ll find Caravan Park Prague. Whether you want to park a trailer or pitch a tent, there is plenty of open space to enjoy. Electricity and water are available for use as well. 

You have a variety of choices at Triocamp. Bungalows offer room for six with beds, AC, bathroom, and a kitchen. Cabins boast room for four with beds, a small fridge, heat, and dining set with 24-hour restrooms and showers. They also have a hotel with beds for up to three people, and private restrooms with showers. 

For a really unique way to camp, try the safari tents. Up to six people will enjoy two bedrooms, a kitchen, seating area, and a deck with furniture. They also have large sites for tents and RVs with electricity, restrooms with showers, and a kitchen. In addition, they have a pool, play areas, and a bistro featuring live music nights. 

Just 15 minutes from the zoo, botanical garden, and Troja Castle, Camp Dana has lots of space to park your RV, van, or pitch a tent. You will have electricity and water, as well as the use of hot showers and toilets 24 hours a day. Cook in the outdoor kitchen and shop at the camp market while the kids play on the equipment.

Enjoy the terrace and garden or watch television in the lounge area. The hotel has rooms for 2-4 people, with a seating area, shared bathrooms, and an onsite laundry. The Stromovka Park is also nearby, where they have ponds, playgrounds, and a restaurant. 

Just a few minutes from downtown Prague, Camp Džbán is right on the edge of a nature reserve with hiking, swimming, and the national forest. The campsite boasts 320 spots for RVs or tents with electricity, picnic tables, and lots of green space to enjoy. The chalets have beds for four, kitchens, and outdoor seating. 

There is a playground, tennis/badminton/volleyball courts, and a golf driving range right at the campground. No need to go anywhere else unless you really want to. The café serves meals and a wide range of drinks and beer. Showers, toilets, and washing machines are also available. 

Camping Drusus has room for 70 RVs or tents as well as eight cabins, and a guesthouse that accommodates visitors year-round. Campsites have electricity and plenty of space as well as access to showers, restrooms, kitchen facilities, and laundry. Several rooms at the guesthouse hold up to four people, and some have private baths. You can dine at the onsite restaurant, GUSTA, with its own mini-brewery for home-brewed beer.

Be sure to check with these campgrounds to see if you need reservations in advance. Also, verify the rules about pets, because some do not allow them. And don’t miss your chance to go into the city and visit the attractions like the Řepora Museum, Koněpruské Caves, and Karlštejn Castle.

Photo by Todd Trapani on Pexels.com

Ku’Panda Proves the Power of Plants

By Alison Ramsey

Air travel and outdoor adventure can dehydrate skin, but Ku’Panda has herbal solutions to bring your inner glow back to the skin’s surface!

Ku’Panda Skincare offers plant-based and herbal tea-infused skintreats for your skincare toolkit. Ku’Panda means “to plant” in Swahili, and the company’s well-researched “Plants First” philosophy is to combine plant-based botanicals with active ingredients that are scientifically proven through clinical studies to treat common skin issues. Based in the Sonoran Desert of Southern Arizona, the company sources plants and raw herbs from all over the world for the herbal teas that provide the necessary rejuvenation, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory properties of their products. Rich with antioxidants, polyphenols, and natural acids, these dried herbs steamed in distilled water are Ku’Panda’s secret to moisturizing and rejuvenating inflamed and dehydrated skin.

Founder and CEO, Janae Peats, said, “I wanted to include botanicals and natural ingredients, but also ingredients that are proven to deliver the real results we look for. I was intentional about the ingredients and used powerful herbal teas like butterfly pea flower, hibiscus, white willow bark, and chaga mushroom, which target hydration and rejuvenation. Active ingredients like niacinamide, lactic acid, and hyaluronic acid are combined with these botanicals to deliver the results we seek.”

Travelers with long, dehydrating airplane flights but a desire to look and feel fresh upon landing could include several key Ku’Panda products in their carry-ons. Best-selling Butterfly Creme contains butterfly pea flower and has a fragrance-free whipped consistency that absorbs easily into thirsty skin. Rose Toner 2.0 is a small cooling spritz that revives dull skin with fresh hibiscus flower, licorice root, and rose water – ingredients that refresh, brighten, and revitalize your glow. Reveal Serum is a gentle, hibiscus tea exfoliant solution administered weekly to the skin via eye dropper, to combat hyperpigmentation and skin congestion using lactic acid and hyaluronic acid in combination with skin-soothing, fruit-based Vitamin C.

Packaged in gender-neutral glass containers, and essentially unscented, the Ku’Panda skincare line can benefit people of all skin type and shade. No one is excluded from the healing benefits of nature’s best. At Kupandaskin.com, full size products as well as sample sizes can be ordered, with all shipping included in the cost.

Economic and Earth-friendly, herbal teas in Ku’Panda skin products are a way to use nature to replenish the skin’s lost hydration with a sustainable solution. The “to plant” definition of the company name also reflects Ku’Panda’s positive and noteworthy viewpoint on intentional manifestation: “We can all have the life we desire, planted one seed at a time.”

Cova d’en Xoroi: Club in a Cave

By Alison Ramsey

Best place to enjoy a lemonade + gin pomada? Cova d’en Xoroi—a daytime bar and afterhours club in a south coast cliffside cave that overlooks the beautiful Balearic Sea. Here on the outdoor patios you can watch the sun sink into the horizon and sip a drink in its glow. At 1 AM, a DJ starts spinning and the cavern becomes a dance club.

The recipe for Gin Xoriguer dates back to the early 1700s, and the distillery’s copper stills are more than 250 years old. The refreshing “pomada” cocktail consists of two parts lemonade and one part gin.

The Cova d’en Xoroi legend tells of a man named Xoroi who arrived by sea (perhaps a shipwreck survivor) and took refuge in the cave. During this time, a beautiful young woman from the country disappeared and was missing for years. One wintry day, a rare snowfall revealed footprints leading to the cave. Armed men stormed the cave and discovered Xoroi, the missing woman who had fallen in love with him, and their three children. Xoroi felt cornered and he and his eldest son jumped off the cliff into the sea, never to be seen again. The woman and her other children were taken back to Alaior, where they began a long lineage.

The cave’s interior has ample seating and booths with a sea view.

Nightlife at Cova d’en Xoroi features a variety of musical artists and themes, depending on the night. The live music schedule is posted online, and tickets can often be bought in advance.

Tickets are required for entry to the cave bar, with visiting hours segmented into a day session where children are welcome, an ambient sunset session suggested for adults, and an adults-only afterhours disco session. VIP seating is available for reservation, and the dress code restricts tank tops, beachwear, and sportswear, so dress to impress!

A picture-worthy setting, the sunset backdrop is ideal for capturing a cuddle.

Souvenir Spotlight

In addition to the incredible photos you will undoubtedly take home with you from the cave bar, stop for souvenirs in the fantastic gift shop up by the entryway. There you can browse a mix of locally made products, including handcrafted avarcas sandals by RIA Menorca and breezy Pou Nou island wear.

My gift shop souvenirs included colorful, woven RIA avarcas with a leather backstrap, and a lightweight Pou Nou tunic with shell buttons and a fish motif.

“Our company is based in Menorca, in the heart of the Mediterranean, and our designs are inspired by the island’s amazing elements—crystal-clear waters, magical beaches, and wild olive trees shimmering as the tramontana wind caresses them.”

Joan Carrés, Pou Nou founder

Menorcan Lobster Stew: A Seaside Specialty

By Alison Ramsey

There is a first time for everything. First time visiting Menorca in the Balearic Islands of Spain; first time eating traditional lobster stew; first time holding a live lobster! The first two “firsts” were by choice, and the third was a complete surprise, as waiter Carlos at Es Cranc in Fornells Harbor gestured for me to hold out my hand and suddenly I was gripping a ridged pair of long antennae in my fist, with a huge lobster hanging at the bottom of them.

A lively, rambunctious lobster indicates that it is fresh.

This particular lobster did not end up in our soup bowls at lunch, but a similar one did, and it was key to the flavor of this traditional Menorcan dish. Invented by fishermen and later tweaked by chefs across the island, caldereta is the most renowned dish of Menorca’s seafood cuisine and can be made with lobster, eels, and varieties of fish. Surprisingly, the lobster that visitors relish in Menorca was once considered by islanders to be food for the poor due to its overabundance. Now it is a highly coveted gastronomical treat that restaurateurs take pride in preparing, especially during peak tourist season.

The tanks at Es Cranc can hold 3,600 lobsters—all from Menorca only. Elevated trays hold the lobsters that arrive that day, whereas lobsters from previous catches crawl along the bottoms of the tanks.       

Caldereta de langosta (spiny lobster stew) is a simple recipe traditionally made by braising the locally caught spiny lobster over high heat with a savory sauce containing peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic, and parsley. Typically served with homemade bread, you can soak the sauce into the slices, or you can simply spoon it up. The lobster stew served at Es Cranc contains several large, meaty portions of tender lobster in a hot, flavorful broth. Dainty eaters, don’t despair—Es Cranc provides bibs, lobster picks, and small bowls of cleansing water for messy hands.

The word “caldereta” refers to the earthenware cauldron in which the stew is prepared.

Whether it’s your first trip to Menorca or you’re a repeat visitor, plan for a meal at Es Cranc. You, too, might get to hold a wiggling crustacean!

A digestif of chilled “herbes” (herbal liqueur) brought the meal to a close. This sweet liqueur can be made with a variety of plants, the most popular being chamomile, as it is found in abundance across the island.  

Gin Xoriguer is the most popular Menorcan gin, made from grapes and juniper berries. The distillery has used traditional methods to make this drink for almost a century, and the creator’s family windmill featured on the unique bottle has become a recognizable symbol of the island. Mixed with lemonade, this gin makes a delightfully refreshing drink called a pomada.

Lobster Stew Recipe

A traditional recipe for lobster stew, as printed in Menorcan Cuisine Yesterday and Today: Undiscovered Recipes.

Ingredients
2 kg lobster
2 onions
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 green pepper
250 g tomatoes
1 bunch of parsley
7 tbsp. of olive oil
1.5 litres of water
slices of bread for soup or toasted bread
salt

Preparation
Cut the live lobsters into two on a wooden chopping board, separating the head from the tails; reserve the juices in a separate bowl. Split open the body and remove the black intestines using your hands or one of its feelers or antennae. Remove the legs and other feelers. For female lobsters, place the eggs in the bowl, and do the same with the stomachs and livers. Finally, cut the heads in half down the middle, and cut the bodies into slices, making sure to save all the juices.

Finely chop the onion, garlic and green pepper. Place the oil in an earthenware pot and gently fry the vegetables over a low heat. When the onion is translucent, add the very finely diced tomatoes (or they can be grated or blended). Cook over a very low heat for around 10 minutes.

Place the lobsters in the pot and leave to cook a little. Then add the juices, water and chopped parsley, season with salt and cook over a high heat for 15 minutes. When it starts to boil, reduce the heat and cook for a further half an hour.

Meanwhile, grind the lobster eggs, stomachs and livers in a pestle and mortar with a little garlic and parsley, adding the rest of the liquids and a little water to moisten the mixture. When there are just a few minutes’ cooking time left, add the mixture to the pot.

Turn the stove off and leave the stew to rest for at least two hours. In fact, it will be much tastier if made the day before eating. To serve, pour the broth with the lobster pieces into soup bowls, with slices of toast.

Victorinox Values Safety Stylishly

By Alison Ramsey

Airport check-in is hectic and rushed. We juggle handbags, wallets, snacks, laptops, babies, cellphones, boarding passes, IDs, passports—and all while trying to pour out the rest of our water bottles before security demands it. I did A LOT of research before purchasing the attractive accessory that majorly simplified my check-in process—the Victorinox Travel Organizer with RFID Protection. The $55 price tag might seem like a lot, but Victorinox is a brand I stand by because they focus on quality, sturdy construction, and smart technology. A brand leader in Switzerland and the rest of the world, Victorinox puts its energy into several categories of products, although it all began with the legendary and esteemed Swiss Army knife. Besides cutlery, this Swiss company produces watches, fragrances, and travel gear.

In terms of travel gear, the Victorinox Travel Organizer specifically meets my needs due to its large capacity to hold multiple passports and boarding passes (so I can keep track of my kids’ passports and papers as well as my own). Although it comes in either black or red, I chose the eye-catching bright red color so it would show up in my dark-lined bag and would be easy to spot if I misplaced it. The zipper is sturdy and secure, zipping around 3 sides of the wallet to completely contain the contents.

The interior offers 12 credit card slots, with one covered in a see-through mesh to keep an ID or business card visible. Its long, zippered pocket is perfect for cash or documents that need safe keeping. The interior “spine” of the organizer reveals a canvas tube for storing a pen. The right side of the wallet consists of 4 tall pockets and dividers that help you separate your boarding passes and passports, and can even hold reading glasses, earbuds, and your cell phone. The zippered mesh pocket on this side is perfect to hold coins, jewelry, more open-faced IDs, or small items that need containment. The outer, backside of the organizer even has a wide, extra pocket for storing customs papers and tickets that you want to keep easily accessible without unzipping the whole wallet. A strong canvas loop at the top corner allows you to keep a firm grip on your valuables by sliding a finger through for extra security.

Back side

Speaking of security, this wallet safeguards your private data by blocking radio-frequency identification (RFID), preventing others from scanning your credit cards and ID cards and wirelessly obtaining your personal information. I felt very confident storing my travel documents and accessories in this handsome wallet as I traveled internationally through multiple airports and customs desks.

10.2”H x 1.2”L x 5.1”W; Weight 0.4 lbs
$55, www.victorinox.com