Castles & Canals Banner Image. Pictures of Dani, Tori and Laney.

Who We Are

Castles and Canals consists of wives Dani and Tori. Originally from the US, they have called Amsterdam their home since 2018. Join them (and sometimes Laney) as they share their love for travel, exploration, cruising, and all things Disney.

Dani Holmes-Kirk

Dani is an avid runner and loves a good “run-cation”. As a lifelong fan, she is passionate about all things Disney parks and RunDisney. She blogs about running and fitness over on WeightOffMyShoulders. You can also find her on the socials as @irisheyes1982

Tori Holmes-Kirk

By trade, Tori works as a technical artist and indie game developer. In the winter you can also find her playing goal for an ice hockey team in Amsterdam. You can find here as @supertorio on the socials or at her personal blog.

Laney

Our little beagle/hound has been a part of our family since 2012. She’s getting on in years now and has some trouble walking because of her arthritis. So you’ll often see her rolling along with her moms in her fancy little dog buggy. She is always so happy to go along for a ride.

Videos - New uploads most weeks!

Videos
48 Hours in Stockholm | Spring 2024 | Travel Vlog
48 Hours in Stockholm | Spring 2024 | Travel Vlog

Join us on a whirlwind 48-hour weekend trip to Stockholm in this travel vlog. From exploring the city's charming streets to trying delicious Swedish cuisine, we enjoyed some amazing highlights during our first visit to this beautiful city in Spring 2024.

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Disney's Riviera Resort - DVC Resort & Room Tour - 8340 | Travel Vlog
Disney's Riviera Resort - DVC Resort & Room Tour - 8340 | Travel Vlog

We enjoy our first stay as Disney Vacation Club members at our home resort, Riviera Resort. Join us as we take a tour of what Riviera has to offer. From activities, to dining, recreation to relaxation, Riviera has a lot to offer. We also take you on an in depth tour of our 1 Bedroom Villa, Room 8340.

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Disney Wish - Our first two days aboard this magical ship! | Cruise Vlog
Disney Wish - Our first two days aboard this magical ship! | Cruise Vlog

Join us as we embark the Disney Wish for a four night cruise with stops in the Bahamas! In this video we embark at Port Canaveral, spend our two days exploring the ship, eating lots of delicious food, and taking in some of the ships entertainment. Let's go!

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Weekend Aboard a 1950s Ocean Liner - the SS Rotterdam | Travel Vlog
Weekend Aboard a 1950s Ocean Liner - the SS Rotterdam | Travel Vlog

Ahoy travellers! The SS Rotterdam is a 1950s Ocean Liner turned cruise ship, turned hotel. We spent a weekend aboard for our 13th wedding anniversary and bring you along as we explore this incredible, historic ship.

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Hidden Gem - Christmas Market in Bonn Germany | Travel Vlog
Hidden Gem - Christmas Market in Bonn Germany | Travel Vlog

During our trip to Cologne, it was suggested we take the train to visit the Christmas markets in Bonn, Germany. And we are so glad we took that advice. Come along with us as we experience a wonderful holiday market celebration in the Bonn city center.

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Unlock Cologne's Christmas Wonderland: 6 Markets in Just 48 Hours | Travel Vlog
Unlock Cologne's Christmas Wonderland: 6 Markets in Just 48 Hours | Travel Vlog

In this travel video, we explore six different Christmas markets in Cologne, Germany in just 48 hours! Uncover Cologne's Christmas wonderland and enjoy a festive Germany experience. It's our first time visiting authentic German Christmas markets.

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Travel and Adventure Tips, Advice, and More

Blog
IJ-Hallen - Everything you need to know to visit Europe’s Biggest Flea Market
IJ-Hallen - Everything you need to know to visit Europe’s Biggest Flea Market

If you are a vintage enthusiast or love hunting for unique treasures, IJ-Hallen is a must-visit destination for you. Situated in the NDSM district in Amsterdam, IJ-Hallen is renowned as one of the largest and most popular flea markets in Europe. In this post, we'll take you through everything you need to know about IJ-Hallen, from its history and location to the best shopping tips and unique experiences awaiting you at this bustling market.

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Using Luggage Lockers in Japan
Using Luggage Lockers in Japan

One of the best things about the luggage lockers is their widespread availability throughout Japan. You can find lockers in train stations, subway stations, airports, shopping malls, and even some tourist attractions. This makes it easy to store your bags no matter where you are.

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Do These Six Things Before You Exit the Airport in Japan
Do These Six Things Before You Exit the Airport in Japan

So you’ve just arrived in Japan for the first time, excited to get your vacation started. Hold on, before you exit the airport to head to your hotel or first destination, there’s a few things you might want to do first. Here are six things that you should consider doing and could save you some time, headaches, and money.

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Show Your Castle Crew Pride!

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Castles & Canals Logo Hoodie
Castles & Canals Channel Launch Tee
Castles & Canals Logo Sweatshirt

Follow Our Adventures

Which would you pick? Tori is planning a weekend away for her birthday next July and a e've narrowed it down to either 1. Malmö, Sweden, 2. Split, Croatia, 3. Edinburgh, Scotland, or 4. Transylvania, Romania. Where would you go? Let us know and
We recently celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary with a staycation in one of the most unique hotels #amsterdam . @sweets_hotel has converted 28 different bridge homes into individual hotel rooms. It was a wonderful and romantic way to spend the we
With hail outside our house in #Amsterdam, we are warm inside cutting together vlogs for the @disneycruiseline #Dream cruise from August. It’s time to share Day 2 - a sea day - full of food, fun, sun & relaxation in the #RainforestRoom&hel
Flashback Friday to our trip to #disneylandparis last year to take in the winter festivities. Although Dani might grump a bit, it’s a bit magical when it’s cold out during a Christmas visit a Disney park. We won’t be visiting this y
One amazing thing about vlogging is reliving amazing experiences and this week’s video is taking us back to August & our second cruise on the @disneycruiseline Dream! Check out embarkation day of our super quick weekend trip aboard the Dre
In our final instalment of @supertorio’s birthday @virginvoyages #IrresistibleMed cruise, it was time to finally explore #Ibiza!! In addition to seeing a breathtaking cave & taking a stroll through #OldTownIbiza, @irisheyes1982 participate
What are you counting down to? We will be embarking on our first @royalcaribbean cruise on 30 November on #IconOfTheSeas! If you been on the ship, drop your tips in the comments!! #royalcarribean #royalcaribbeancruise #iconoftheseas2024 #travel #di
We recently updated our Patreon membership to @adamhattan and @moooorningclub to gold, for a few reasons. Firstly we love his content! If you aren’t already watching his vlogs, check them out. And secondly it’s important for us to support