This post was most recently updated on October 13th, 2017
Scotland is the land of castles. More than 3,000 of them form a part of its dramatic landscape. So no matter where you find yourself there is always a castle nearby. On our recent Scotland trip we visited 11 castles and picking the best is no easy task so I have asked my 2 girls for their opinion on which where their favorites and why. Here are the top 5 Scottish castles for kids picked by my kids (11 and 8 years of age).
It was a beautiful Sunday morning, my husband was working, my girls were in Sunday school, and despite all the housework that needed to be done I was day dreaming about travel. Of course I begin scrolling through my Instagram and Pinterest feeds and start seeing all these wonderful pictures of spring in Japan. Then I remembered that about 1 hr away from home is Morikami Museum and Japanese gardens. Despite living in South Florida for well over one decade I had not visited these gardens yet. So without any more thought or planning I decided that today was the day I would visit this little slice of Japan in Florida.
This post was most recently updated on May 26th, 2016
Some days you just have to play tourist for the day and enjoy the sites that your own city has to offer. Today was one of those days. So with exploration in mind and a beautiful sunny day we decided to head to Miami. When most think of Miami they probably think of palm trees, beaches and South Beach. But the Miami we went to explore is filled with art -urban graffiti & street art. It was incredible to see how some of the world greatest artists working on graffiti have converged to create street art in Wynwood.
This post was most recently updated on August 2nd, 2016
There is so much to see and do in Washington, D.C. that you could probably spend a few weeks here and not see it all. It can also feel a bit overwhelming for a first time visitor. But don’t worry, I have a plan and a list of essential experiences that I will be sharing with you. So if you have limited time I recommend the following:
1) Plan ahead.
2) Select your must see attractions – you can use the list I am providing as a guide.
3) Plot them on a map (I use Google maps) to find the best route to connect them all and save you time.
Remember D.C. is a great walking city so you will be able to walk or take public transportation to most of the must see attractions and best of all most of them are FREE. Here is my list of must do’s while in Washington, D.C. :
This post was most recently updated on August 2nd, 2016
As my summer trip overseas approaches I find myself thinking about jet lag. When flying to and from different time zones your body and internal clock have a hard time adjusting to the changes and you wind up dealing with what is commonly known as jet lag. Many assume that this will ruin your first few days on your trip. And with holidays not being as long as we want them to be, missing out on a day or two can certainly put a damper on your itinerary. But jet lag does not need to be the Grinch that stole your vacation. It is possible to minimize the effects of jet lag and here are my top 8 tips.
This post was most recently updated on May 26th, 2016
Everything is better with Bacon and if you add a little bourbon it becomes a match made in heaven. This year was the 2nd Annual Bacon & Bourbon Festival in Delray Beach. The event featured bacon inspired dishes, a huge collection of bourbon & whiskey as well as great mixed drinks. If bourbon is not your thing then they did have some beer and wine and even tequila. To top it off they had live music, lots of tables and seating, and some games to pass the time. So was the event worth it? Keep reading and you be the judge.
They say the first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem – so this is confession time. I hear time and time again that you need to be loose with your itinerary, allow room for things to happen, don’t over-schedule. Well my friends, I confess that I have a problem. I obsess over the planning phase of travel. I spend countless hours researching, reading guides, reviews, googling everything and anything related to the destination, and yes, I even analyze and study maps to see what is in the area and how to best maximize my time. While others stress over planning a trip, I pretty much live for it. I look forward to planning my next trip like an alcoholic looks forward to their next glass of booze.
This post was most recently updated on August 2nd, 2016
A year ago my daughter went to St. Augustine as part of a school field trip. She enjoyed it so much we decided to make a 24 hr stop on our way to Charleston the following summer. For those who do not know, St. Augustine is the oldest city in the country. Not only is it full of history (from Spanish colony to British rule) but it is fun to. It is a great place to walk around, admire the cool Spanish architecture, have some good food, and experience some great tours and entertainment. There are also tons of tourist traps – I mean shops along the way to pick up some mementos. If you have never been to St. Augustine, then pack your bags and give it a go. There is lots to keep you busy and I guarantee you will find something that is right for you. We spent less than 24 hrs in this historic town and sampled just a bit of what it has to offer. I can’t wait to go back for more.
Photo Credit: free pictures of money via Compfight cc
Is travel one of your New Year’s resolutions? Do you want to take that family vacation or dream honeymoon, but the thought of high costs is putting a damper on your dreams? There are countless ways to make your travel dreams a reality without having to go into debt. I will share with you some tips and tricks, things I have learned and used, to help turn your DREAM vacation into REALITY.
Research in order to set goals
You can’t start saving if you do not know how much you will need. Therefore, your first step is to research. Use guidebooks, internet searches, ask your family and friends, and gather as much information as you can. What are the average flight, hotel and rental car costs? What do you want to see and do and how much are the costs to those? Will you be eating at restaurants or buying at supermarkets, and what is the cost of food? And don’t forget extras like insurance, baggage fees, passport renewals, visas, or any other items you may need to purchase before the trip.
This post was most recently updated on August 11th, 2016
Every girl needs to get away with “just the girls” for a few days. It does not need to be anything elaborate or expensive, just a few days to connect and recharge. Most people I know do a “girls weekend” with just a small group of friends who they have probably known in person for most of their life and with whom they have many things in common. Not me. My girls trip involves a group of about 90 women, from different states and different backgrounds. The only thing we all have in common is that we were pregnant together about 12 years ago. And now we try to meet (as many of us as we can) once a year for a girls trip.