Settle into your hotel, grab your knitting needles, and gather to kick off our adventure together. We'll meet our knitting guru, plan for the week ahead, and start our Mystery Knit Along. We'll do a quick sightseeing on our way to a local yarn store where we'll have a demonstration of the Portuguese Knitting Technique and stock up on supplies. Our evening finishes up with a traditional Portuguese dinner.

After breakfast at the hotel and a relaxing morning, we'll board our minibus and head east to the ancient city of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was settled before Roman times. This city will be our home for the next few days, so we'll have a walking tour to get acquainted and learn some of the history of this fascinating city.

Today, we head to the hilltop fort town of Monsaraz. We'll have a quick wander through the medieval castle, admiring the commanding views of the surrounding countryside, before heading into the valley for a workshop to learn about the deep history of wool production and spinning in this part of the country. For lunch, we visit a farm-to-table restaurant overlooking the resource-rich Alqueva Lake and the Spanish border. We might just have to knit on the beach while we're here!

Craftswomen of Arraiolos have been making rugs and tapestries since Moorish times. Efforts to maintain the art has developed into a thriving community that offers hands-on workshops to meet the artists and learn how it's done.

Estremoz a favorite hidden gem with friendly restaurants serving creative cuisine and one of the best weekend markets in the country. The Berardo Collection is our favorite tile museum in Portugal since it concisely showcases the full history of tile in Portugal and Spain and how they've evolved over time. Plus, they serve you a glass of wine at the end of your visit!

The Alentejo region is filled with small towns that are host to hidden gems. Reguengos is an agricultural town, but also is home to the last studio using a unique Alentejo weaving style. We'll visit the workshop, meet the weavers and learn about the art and efforts to ensure it is passed on to future generations.

We'll say goodbye to our Alentejo home and head back east to the coastal city of Caldas da Rainha. A temperate and green city, Caldas is a great contrast to Évora. The queen of Portugal used to come to the city to take advantage of its hot springs, and the result is the gorgeous forested park at the center of the city. You'll enjoy wandering and relaxing amid the trees and flowers. Caldas is also home to our knitting guru, who will welcome us into her home for a knitting workshop.

Our visit to the city coincides with a local yarn festival. You'll enjoy visiting this very local event and meeting some Portuguese knitters. We'll have time to participate in a workshop or two at the festival, and otherwise time to explore the city, visit museums, or find a shady spot to knit with your friends.

One of the must-see towns in Portugal is Óbidos, just a few miles from Caldas. This fort town perched on a hilltop retains its old walls and is filled with medieval charm. It's a great place to find beautiful local crafts, try the local ginja, and get some great photos across the countryside from the tops of the walls. Wander the narrow backstreets and imagine what it was like to live in ancient times!

We'll pack up and head to our final stop, for some relax time at the coast. On the way, we'll stop at the stunningly large Mafra palace, a summer home of the Portuguese royalty. You'll be able to tour the royal quarters, see the incredible library, and hear a concert of the largest campanile in the world.

Ericeira is a great place to wind down, relax, and finish up your MKAL! This coastal town used to be a fishing village and now is famous as one of the prime surfing locations in Portugal. The town center has a relaxed and pleasant vibe, and the waves are mesmerizing to watch from the clifftops or the terrace at the hotel. Join us for a walking tour of the town, or just enjoy some down time. We'll wrap up our time together with a group dinner overlooking the ocean.

After breakfast, we’ll pack up our kitting and our bags and head out. We’ll get everyone off to their next destination, bidding farewell to our lovely Portuguese locale. Até a próxima!