Scotland ended up being an almost 10-day road trip, and I thought it was an incredibly rewarding way to see it. The mix of cities, small towns, castles, ferries, and hikes made every day feel different. Because of my time at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, I kept asking myself—why don’t I go see as much at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival? So in 2025, I’m planning to make the most of my hometown Fringe. I’d love to go back to Edinburgh for a long weekend someday, but maybe I should take care of some of the artists in Philly first.
When the trip was ending, I was really focused on feeling sick and worrying that I had wasted days. But writing this almost a year later, all of that fades into the background. Glasgow, of course, is literally a blur—I don’t remember much of it, and I’d really like to go back and see the city properly. It struck me as having a little bit of a Naples-in-the-UK vibe, though probably not with quite as good food.
I love Scotland, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who’s curious about going. When you’re desperate for vegetables, go to an Indian restaurant. When you want an adventure, pick one distillery for a tour and do tastings at the others—you don’t need to overdo it. Keep an eye out for pubs with comedy nights or music, because even the smaller venues had a kind of warmth and community that I loved. Scarves and sweaters are essential, because even in August the weather is unpredictable. The landscapes are breathtaking—rolling highlands, craggy cliffs, and lochs that seem to stretch forever. Some of my best moments were when we were on the water or right by it, from Loch Ness to the ferry rides out to Staffa and Iona. If you go, make sure to plan at least part of your trip around being close to the water.
And since I love autumn in America, it was such a joy to have sweater weather in August. Between the castles, the hikes, the random conversations in pubs, and the sheer beauty of the place, Scotland surprised me. Go to Scotland—you’ll love it.