North Wales
Until recently we had yet to make an overnight visit to North Wales, concentrating most of our exploring on nearby sites. Perhaps it was fortunate we waited, for the weather at the beginning of June was spectacular. With majestic mountains, hidden waterfalls, beautiful seaside towns, and with castles cropping up everywhere–Edward I of England went to great lengths to stamp his authority on the Welsh landscape–we felt ourselves to be far from home, in a different (as is true) but also exotic land.
Betws y Coed – our first stop on the drive through Snowdonia where we took a hike through the woods to Swallow Falls (immortalized by Kassie as "the boring, endless walk")
Caernarfon – the castle town close to our rural hotel with its awesome fortress-palace and soaring walls and towers
Beaumaris Castle – our one stop in Anglesey, the last of the massive English fortresses, considered the most technically perfect castle in Britain
Penrhyn Castle – a 19th-century as opposed to a 13th-century castle, with magnicificent views over Snowdonia, large gardens and grounds, and both a dolls museum and railway museum
Conwy – one of the most complete medieval walled towns in Europe with (yet another) 13th-century castle, charming shops and streets, and a suspension bridge
Llandudno – an old seaside town sporting a long, curving promenade, elegant Victorian and Edwardian buildings, and broad avenues packed with restaurants, pubs, cafes and shops, not to mention (the highlight for Kassie) an over 700-metre dry tobaggan run
Tip: To track our progress, check out the map of Wales here at our website.