Welcome to The Adventure Lion!
Are you a Gen-Xer (or beyond) who wants to finally live your dream of European travel? Are you in that in-between space where the nest is empty, but you’re still young enough to climb those castle stairs? Looking for inspiration to find hidden gems and visit cultural attractions, important historical sites, museums, castles, cathedrals, and gardens? You’re in the right place!
🐾 And you get bonus points if you also the lucky owner of a dog-child who can’t be left behind!
What You’ll Find Here
💎 Off-the-beaten-path city guides and hidden gems that will fire you up to pack your bags!
🏛 A big buffet of museums, castles, cathedrals, Roman ruins, beautiful villas and gardens, and nerding out on historical places and people.
🇪🇺A focus on Germany, France, Italy, and Poland. We’ve been to 13 countries in the last year, but you have to start somewhere!
🗝 Insider tips to avoid pitfalls, and make the most of your travel
🐕 Plus lots of dog-friendly travel content and tips, and dog-friendly hotel and airline reviews because sometimes you think you’re an empty nester, and then realize you have a four-legged toddler!
Who Am I?
I’m Jeanne Chilton Devon, a NYTimes best-selling author, award-winning blogger, and lifelong traveler who moved across the world from Alaska for my bucket list dream of living in Europe!
You won’t see me twirling my skirt on a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean, or telling you how to save money by sleeping in a tent. I’m a Gen-Xer who’s tasted mortality, and I’m on fire to see the world and its wonders – with a good roof over my head, my dog, my guy, and a cocktail.
The little village where I live in southern Germany may be small, but it’s right in the heart of Europe. My husband David and I, and our trusty semi-neurotic sidekick Helga the frenchie, make the most out of it – exploring the art, history, culture and food of this amazing continent.
The thing I wish for most is that my words and photos inspire you to dust off the suitcase, visit some of these unique and amazing places, and do the thing you’ve always wanted to do. The future is never guaranteed, so take your “some day” and turn it into right now!
Where to Next?
You can follow along with us on
And be sure to subscribe to join the community and be the first to know when I post new city itineraries, and unlock the secrets of some of Europe’s lesser-known and coolest places!
If you’d like to work together, or have a question, feel free to reach out and contact me at: contact[at]theadventurelion[dot]com!
[Heads up! This site may contain ‘affiliate links’, meaning I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through those links. This doesn’t cost you anything, and you can rest assured I’m not linking anything I don’t fully endorse! So if you do use the links here, thank you so much for helping me provide you with useful and entertaining content!]
Oh, and why ‘The Adventure Lion?’ On a trip to Budapest I noticed an abundance of beautiful lion sculptures and started photographing them. Then I started noticing the lions in Prague, and Heidelberg, and the Tyrol. Lions in art and architecture are everywhere, but each one has its own personality that reflects the unique style of the artist, the era of its creation, and its place in the world. Lions, to me, became the connecting thread between all these amazing places, representing the unique beauty in new lands, and the delightful and different ways we all see the same things.