Have You Been to California? No, THIS California...
When I was fresh out of Pace University, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater to my name, I booked a tour of a kid’s musical. It sure wasn’t glamorous, but we had an incredible director, dreamy itinerary, and, in all honesty, it was my ticket into the elusive actor’s union, Actor’s Equity (which you have to be in to get on Broadway. It’s complicated).
So I took the job and made the best of it, which wasn’t hard. In fact, around May it became incredibly easy, because we had an entire month’s worth of shows in CALIFORNIA!
For a bit of back story, I had never been to California before, despite my two older sisters being born in San Francisco. California was this place I’d heard so much about, but only knew from the movies. Cue 22 year-old Emily landing in Napa Valley, followed by a stint in Santa Monica, and it’s safe to say I was hashtag obsessed. California had everything! Incredible vineyards, dreamy beaches, deserts that were hot as hell, and a lifestyle that seemed utterly idyllic. To this day, I’m still convinced that California is the best that the United States has to offer, and I’m forever grateful to the Junie B. Jones tour for paying me to explore it for an entire month.
But you know what’s even better?
Portugal.
Yes, my friends, Portugal is the California of Europe, but better, because Donald Trump is nowhere to be found and the good wine is not just for snobs; it’s for everyone.
In all seriousness, before I lived in Portugal I had no idea what this incredibly diverse country had to offer. I thought it was a lot of old, cute buildings and rocky beaches. And it is. But holy moly, it’s so much more than that! And as I get ready to take a small break from life in Portugal, I’m getting all the feels about the places that became such an integral part of my story with this country.
So if you’re coming to Portugal, I’m sorry to tell you, but three days in Lisbon just won’t cut it! Extend your stay, rent a car, hop on a train, or even hitchhike your way through this magnificent country.
Because I’ve made this very simple for you.
Here’s what you need to see:
The Douro Valley
Incredible scenery. Unforgettable wine.
Honestly, even driving through this area of Portugal will take your breath away. This is where the best Portuguese wine comes from (in my opinion) and the winding, steep hillsides are lined with rows upon rows of grapevines. Oh, and through the middle of it all is a gorgeous river. I recommend staying at a small Quinta tucked away on a hill (you’ve got plenty to choose from) and just sitting, sipping, and reveling in the good fortune of travel.
Every Small TOwn
The dreamy seaside towns freckling the coast will have you bursting open bright blue shutters and singing “Mamma Mia” at the top of your lungs.
… just me? Do some digging on Google Maps and make the effort to stop in the small villages, grab some local bread and olives, and get a taste of what the “real Portugal” is all about.
The Algarve
Beaches that look like something out of a National Geographic magazine cover
Have you heard of the Algarve? Ok, Brits can’t answer this, because Lagos is crawling with British expats. But this southern corner of Portugal is chock full of gorgeous cliffs, dreamy beaches, and … wait for it… slightly WARMER water than my adopted hometown of Ericeira.
Oh! And on the drive down south, make sure you stop at one of the numerous mom-and-pop roadside stands to pick up some Portuguese Olive Oil. This ain’t your Tuesday Olive Garden dipping sauce…
LISBOA!
A bustling metropolis, with more heart than Hollywood
Lisbon is so cool. It’s got heart. It’s got character. It’s brimming with passion. Oh, and yes, there are a million tourists. For good reason, but I’m telling you: Book your stay in Lisbon for a few days, and then get out of town to see the rest of the places on this list. (My 5 Current Lisbon Favorites are listed at the end of this post.)
Serra da Arrábida
These mountaintop views will literally take your breath away. My advice? Find a friend who knows how to drive a motorcycle (or drive one yourself if you’ve got way more skills than I do) and have Google Maps take you the scenic route along this climbing coastal road. It’s out-of-control gorgeous, and you can pull of at various small towns and descend towards pristine, un-crowded beaches (if you can avoid going in the busy summer months). Spending a day traveling this road is one of my favorite Portugal memories.
PSA: I’ve also heard stories of several cars being broken into along this route, so be smart and hide your nice things. Or better yet, don’t bring them!
Sintra
Now before you go telling me Sintra is all touristy and stuff (because it is), I have one question for you: Do you like to walk? If the answer is no, go find a nice pastel de nata and have a nice day. If your answer is “Yeah girl, I got my cloud foam sneakers ready to go!” then you need to get your tush to Sintra, pack some water and a snack, and take off on one of the numerous Sintra hiking trails that will whisk you out of the saturated city center, and into the true magic of Sintra. We’re talking views aplenty, hills for days (don’t say I didn’t warn you), and castles castles castles. It’s amazing. You should go. Yesterday.
So in fact,
Besides skiing, Portugal has all of the “wow” things that make California so special, but with an authentically Portuguese feel. And I’ll take castles over a ski lift any day (getting off of a ski lift is so stressful anyways…). Oh, and did I mention a glass of wine in Portugal is about 2-4 U.S. dollars, depending on how fancy you’re feeling?
So if you’re planning on coming to Portugal for a vacation, of course you should see Lisbon, because it’s an essential thread of the vibrant, Portuguese fabric. But if you go to the United States and spend a few days in Washington D.C., have you really seen America? My friends, it’s time to go to California. There’s a glass of port calling your name.
And by California, I mean Portugal, and like, man, I really hope you got this metaphor. I’ll see myself out now.
My Current Lisbon Favorites:
The Seagull Method {OR} Heim Cafe
Time Out Market
PARK Bar
(^ it’s on top of a nondescript parking garage, aka hipster as heck, but SO lovely! )
LX Factory
Pastéis de Belém
(It’s the best Nata. Hands down. I don’t care if it’s touristy.)