The Gilded Horizon
a travel blog
Discover The Gilded Horizon, Sunkissed Bliss Travel's blog offering expert travel tips, industry insights, and captivating stories from around the globe. Whether you're seeking trending destinations for 2025, family-friendly adventures, or luxury group travel ideas, our articles provide inspiration and guidance to elevate your journeys. Join us as we explore the world, sharing experiences and advice to make your travels unforgettable.
Discover the Magic of Family Travel in Portugal
Experience the magic of Porto through the eyes of young travelers. This breathtaking view of the Duoro River from a charming Porto balcony captures the essence of family adventure—where vibrant city life meets serene river views. Perfect for families seeking unforgettable moments in Portugal, Porto offers both relaxation and exploration in every corner.
5 Summer 2025 Destinations to Explore in 10 Days or Less
If you’re already overwhelmed by the idea of summer planning, relax—I’ve got you covered with five destinations that are perfect for a 10-day (or less!) escape with children or without them. The best part? You won’t need a car to explore them. Whether you prefer land, river, or sea, these spots are easy to navigate, family-friendly, and packed with adventure.
Trending Destinations to Explore in 2025: Beyond the Usual Favorites
With 2025 on the horizon, travel trends are shifting towards destinations that offer both richness of culture and authenticity of experience. This year, Sunkissed Bliss Travel has handpicked some top spots that are set to enchant travelers. While Italy remains a beloved classic, it's wise to avoid it in 2025 due to the Pope's Jubilee—a significant event expected to draw millions to Rome and nearby regions. Instead, consider these alluring alternatives that promise captivating journeys without the crowds.
From Oaxaca to Mexico City: A Women’s Trip for the Memory Books
I share all this to say that I am an experienced group traveler and a recovering summer camp kid. There’s nothing like forced proximity, new experiences, and exploring a destination that nurtures new friendships, increases empathy, and fosters an environment that is ripe for meaningful connections.
That’s why I’m incredibly excited about Come TogetHER IL’s spring trip to Central Mexico and grateful that they asked me to plan it for them. It doesn’t hurt that Central Mexico is a vibrant place, bursting with flavor, history, personality, art, and natural beauty.
Adventure Travel for Families
As a parent of two elementary school aged children, I like to take active vacations to keep them busy, but not so adventurous that I’m risking their safety or surpassing their capabilities.
Here are soft adventure travel experiences that are exciting yet suitable for younger ages:
Wow-worthy Alternatives to Popular Destinations
Overcrowding is becoming a problem in the world's most popular destinations across southern Europe in destinations like Italy, Greece, France, and Spain. Crowds coupled with surging heat waves in recent summers can ruin a vacation, no matter how carefully you plan it. This has spawned a trend in alternative destination travel. But even the alternatives are starting to feel strained. Fortunately, Meredith has some exceptional recommendations for alternative destinations that will fill your European cup of wanderlust.
River Cruising
River Cruising is fast becoming one of the most popular ways to experience Europe, and more recently Asia, Africa, and South America. Commonly stereotyped as a vacation for retirees, river cruises are for people of all ages. Sure, there are specific cruise lines that cater to the baby boomers, but when you work with Sunkissed Bliss Travel, we can point you in the right direction based on your preferences. There are even options for river cruising with kids. Here are some benefits to river cruising:
California Wine Country
A trip to California Wine Country should be anything but ordinary, and there are hundreds of wineries located throughout several valleys for your enjoyment. Arguably the most popular, the valleys of Napa, Sonoma, and the Russian River (located within Sonoma County) have unique characteristics that distinguish themselves from one another. The undiscerning traveler might assume that “wine is wine”, but you will not have the same experience in Napa as you would in Sonoma, or in the Russian River Valley. Here’s some information about each of them.