A good guidebook is half the fun of a good trip. It gets you excited about a city before you even leave. Once you’re there, it helps make the most of your time. But go to a bookstore and you’ll quickly notice there are guides for every possible interest. How do you choose just one? When going to an individual city, I have three essential criteria for the book that will shape my trip: Local Knowledge – Every guidebook will give you the tourist highlights. How many give you those plus recommendations to quirky local hangouts or off-the-path activities? Maps – Almost as essential...

48 Hours Rome I dedicated my last hours in Rome to wine and food. After moving through the herd at Vatican City, I jumped into the rat race of Roman rush hour on the city bus. I’d forgotten that it was a weekday and traffic was crawling. After just one stop, I was off the bus seeking peace along the back streets of the Trastevere neighborhood. I was joined by another American I’d met at the Vatican and together we did a short wine bar hop toward the Campo de’ Fiori. It’s always nice to speak your native language after a few weeks of travel, and we shared pictures and stories of...

48 Hours Rome According to guidebooks and locals alike, there is no quiet time to visit Vatican City. After a peaceful market morning wandering Roman neighborhoods and putting my Italian to the test, I switched gears to tourist mode. After a quick shower, I donned my “I heart Roma” shirt and blended in with the masses walking towards St. Peter’s Square. I entered this massive, welcoming circle hoping the publicized rumor of fewer crowds in the afternoon would be true. Hundreds filled the piazza queing in line to enter the Basilica, studying maps to identify works of art, and posing...

48 Hours Rome Day Two in Rome started with two markets. I’d missed out on the Sunday flea market, but was up early on Monday to see the city’s famed Campo de’ Fiori in full action. I’d seen this lively square in its evening incarnation the day before. Just 12 hours later it had transformed from strolling families and happy hour chatter to the sounds of vendors touting the goodness of their fruits, vegetables and artisan foods. I stared at the fresh beautiful oval shaped tomatoes for a minute before the lightbulb went off. Roma tomatoes…. in Roma! Surrounding the square the...

48 Hours Rome As if there were any doubts about my ability to see Rome in less than two days, I’d checked most of the tourist highlights and more off my list in just 24 hours: Lost in Rome Tourist walk past Piazza Navano, Panthenon, Trevi Fountain Threw a coin into the Trevi Drank espresso with the locals Awestruck at the Forum Met Constantine at the Capitolini Museums Saw a Roman wedding Tourist walk through Trastevere Happy houred with the locals Saw the Colloseum (from a wayward bus ride) Rode the metro Walked the Spanish Steps What does Day Two hold? A quick preview: Two markets Walk...