Manuel Antonio | Costa Rica
Pura Vida!! I LOVE Costa Rica! My husband surprised me with an amazing week in Manuel Antonio, CR in JanuaryContinue reading
East Coast Summer Road Trip…..From Florida to Niagara Falls
This East Coast trip was our 3rd annual. I try to let the kids play part in the planning and made them give me some bucket list vacation wishes. We were able to see and do everything and more they hoped for. Some people thing we are crazy for driving so far, but we see so much more than flying to one destination. We bond more than you would think and talk about so much! Of course, they have their iPhones and iPads, but believe it or not, on road trips, they use them less. And, as always – my travel motto stands; “collecting memories, not things”. This trip was extra special because Scott (aka Daddy) joined us for a portion of the trip (he can’t/won’t do long road trips). It was so nice to have him with us. We celebrated our anniversary on this trip as well.
And, as always – my travel motto stands; “collecting memories, not things”
Our first stop was Savannah, Ga! About a 5 hour drive from our hometown. A fantastic pit stop for lunch at one of our South Georgia favorites, Vic’s on the River. Their crawfish beignets are my absolute favorite thing on the menu. Followed by She Crab Soup was the perfect road trip lunch. We try really hard not to eat fast food on these trips. We pack healthy snacks and a cooler in the car, but being the foodie that I am and the foodies my kids are becoming, we do eat well on the road. After a walk down River Street for some candy at Savannah’s Candy Kitchen (don’t leave without salt water taffy + peanut brittle), we were back on the road.
Like I mentioned above, one of the things I enjoy most about road trips are the impromptu stops along the way. Darlington Raceway was one of those stops. I am a big NASCAR fan (although I don’t make it to as many races as I wish I could), so seeing this track was a treat. An added bonus was seeing Jamie McMurry and Matt Kenseth testing their Goodyear tires. We met the Director of Marketing and he sent us away with autographed pictures and fun Darlington souvenirs. Back on the road and through Virginia we went!
Next stop was Washington, DC! The kid’s first time seeing the White House was a super cool experience for them. Especially now that they are old enough to understand a little more about politics and our President. Lucky for us, President Trump and his entourage was leaving the White House, so seeing that was fun. An afternoon & evening in DC allowed us to see the monuments (they’re AMAZING at night) and catch a National’s Game. We snagged our tickets for $10 on StubHub…score!! We stayed in the Chevy Chase area of DC and it was great. Super safe and really cool shops and restaurants. Because we had a car, we didn’t have to pay the hefty Uber fees. Parking was pretty simple if you pay attention to all signs.
Up next was NYC!! My daughter’s first time in the city and she (unfortunately) was not impressed. One of her bucket list items was to visit the American Girl Doll store and get her doll’s hair done. Obviously her favorite thing about NYC. My son had been before and loves it. We did the touristy stuff (Central Park + Times Square) and walked a lot, so I could show them as much as possible. We stayed in Jersey City (took the subway to manhattan), because I had heard so many fun things about it. Unfortunately, we spent so much time in the city, we didn’t have time to explore Jersey City. We did visit Liberty State Park and saw some great views of the NYC skyline and the Statue of Liberty. My son fished there (his fishing poles go everywhere we go…another road trip plus)
Onward to Boston…We picked up Daddy from the airport and went straight for lobster rolls. Then, to Fenway for a Red Sox game. This was our anniversary and we visited Fenway for our honeymoon, so we came back 12 years later. The kids enjoyed Fenway and although they lost, the hotdogs and beer made up for it. Always good to catch a baseball game in a new city. Eventually, Evan will hit all of them (his bucket list wish for each trip is to see a MLB field). This trip, we saw 3!
A short drive from Boston is Cape Cod (my husband and son’s favorite part of the trip). We stayed in Hyannis, a cool hotel called the Hyannis Harbor Hotel. It was recommended by a frequent visitor and summer resident of the Nantucket (thank you, SU) and it was PERFECT!! There were no crowds (benefit of traveling early June) and the resort was super cute and located across the street from the HyLine Ferry. The hotel had a great pool bar and served up the most amazing sangria (“Cooper’s Famous Sangria”). I need to add that it was 68 degrees with zero humidity. Amazing weather for this Florida girl. Dinner was at The Black Cat Tavern www.blackcattavern.com. They had the BEST lobster roll and clam chowder. The next morning, I ran through Hyannis and took some beautiful pictures of the lighthouse and their little market area. We then hopped on the early ferry to spend the day in Nantucket! The weather was literally perfect and the views were outstanding. It was everything and more than what I imagined. I could spend an entire summer there if there wasn’t hundreds of other places I want to go. We ate street corn at Slip 14 which had the most incredible street corn. My son and husband took a charter with Just Do it Too (IG: @justdoittoo) and they caught over 30 fish! Mostly Striped Bass {stripers}. After a few hours of fishing for the boys and shopping for the girls, we rented bikes and enjoy the island on wheels. We tour the super cute island aquarium, and “the beach”My favorite store was of course, The Love Shack which sells the cutest LOLA jewelry (IG: @lola_pendants). The small boutiques and shops are all so cute along the docks and cobblestone roads. A day trip was perfect from Hyannis, but we definitely could’ve stayed longer. On the HyLine back to the mainland, we met Ron Hawes (author of The Total Coach). What a treat it was to spend an hour with this wonderful man!
After a wonderful 4 days with Daddy, we dropped him off at the airport and headed north! To Canada! A country we had never been and one we could add to our travel board. We crossed over into Ontario where we experienced the best views of Niagara Falls. I read so much about which side and where to view the falls and I am so glad I took the advice of many travel bloggers and went to Canada! It was definitely a touristy spot, but so worth it! A stunning site and I’m so glad I was able to experience it with my kiddos. After a day in Canada, we crossed over The Peace Bridge and back into the USA. At that point, we were southwest bound with 5 states to go before we made it back home. It’s always cool when we reach our turnaround point. A quick stop by Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie, then south to Cincinnati to visit my stepbrother and his wife. They told us about Smale Riverfront Park and what a fun stop that was! The bridge was beautiful and luckily for my son, he got to see The Reds and Bengals stadiums. They are located about 3 city blocks apart…..
After Ohio, came our favorite city….Nashville! We absolutely LOVE Music City and try to go often (as you can see by my previous posts). We hit up all of the kid’s hot spots and city favorites (12 South, Jason Aldean’s, FGL House, Honky Tonk Central, Wild Horse Saloon, Goo Goo Shop, Frothy Monkey, Five Daughters, etc) I have a few Nashville posts that share all of my favorites as well. Nashville was our last stop. We are 10 hours from home when in Nashville and it’s a super easy drive. Quick stops in Chattanooga for coffee and snacks at Frothy Monkey, horrible traffic in the ATL and once we hit I75 in Valdosta, it goes by super fast. As always, it was a wonderful adventure and I look forward to our next road trip….wherever that may be!
As always, it was a wonderful adventure and I look forward to our next road trip….wherever that may be!
**Most of my hotels are booked through Expedia TAAP (Expedia for travel agents) or Marriott (using Marriott rewards points) and we use Airbnb for non hotel stays, especially in Nashville where hotels are outrageous. We always find a cute AirBnB in 12 South or The Gulch.
Iceland
What an extraordinary country! My husband and I flew direct from Dallas (avoid Dallas if you can, because that airport is complete chaos and they only have one flight a day to Iceland) to Reykjavik. As you probably already know, my vacations are non stop. This European trip was no different. I made the most of every hour of every day. Pinterest is one of my best friends before a trip. I search (and save) tips, places to see that are off the beaten path, restaurants and more! Lots of these recommendations came from there. Pinterest – Wander and Roam
We only spent 3 days in Iceland before we were off to Ireland, so I had to map out everything out perfectly. I was so excited to find several things for us to see near the airport, which was convenient because we had a late afternoon booking at The Blue Lagoon (more on that later). Important tip: rent a car! Don’t take the tours!! Enjoy exploring at your leisure, not to mention, rentals are inexpensive. We stayed in an amazing AirBnB just outside of Reykjavik. AirBnBs are less expensive than a hotel. My cell phone worked almost the entire time (I have AT&T), but we did use this book a lot: Top 10 Iceland 2019
Add Iceland to your bucket list. Make it a stop over if you’re headed to Europe. Spend a few days or a week. You won’t be disappointed!
Day 1 – Southern Peninsula
The Bridge Between Two Continents – located in along the Reykjanes Peninsula. It has a small footbridge where you can walk over what is said to be the connection between the Europe and North American tectonic plates. Black sand lava and super cool rock formations made for a really neat stop along the Southern Peninsula.
Sultan Hot Springs – Incredible geothermal activity can be found at these hot springs. Easy drive along the gorgeous coast. On the way to the springs, you are met with some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. Mossy lava fields, sea cliffs and incredibly bizarre landscaping. Don’t skip out on this. It really is a sight to see.
The Blue Lagoon – When someone mentions Iceland, you automatically think of The Blue Lagoon. Believe it or not, I wasn’t as excited about it because it seemed so commercialized. First mistake. It was breathtaking, amazing, surreal. The blue, thermal pool produces minerals that are so good for your skin. We walked around the pool, “swam” up to the smoothie/juice bar, applied a mask to our face and relaxed for about an hour in the lagoon. The experience was outstanding. Best advice: purchase your tickets online weeks before your trip. It books up fast and you’ll save money by booking online. I read hundreds of tips about the lagoon and the only four that are important enough to share are: 1) don’t get your hair wet 2) the lockers are a pain in the ass. 3) take an under water camera or waterproof case. 3) Bring flip flops. They really do have everything else you need.
Day 2 – The Golden Circle
Gullfoss Waterfall – This was an amazing drive and walk up to the waterfall. Every angle of the falls had a different vibe and a different sound. You absolutely MUST try the lamb soup they sell in the cafe. It was on some of the travel blogs I read and I highly recommend it.
Strokkur Geyser – My kids and I spent some time in Yellowstone National Park a couple summers ago, so I was familiar with geysers. My husband had never seen one, so it was a really cool experience watching him observe this magnificent natural wonder. All of these places, including Strokkur are super easy to find while road tripping through Iceland.
Thingvellir National Park – Another beautiful drive. You can stop along the way and check out the amazing views. We stopped several times, but a cool spot was seeing the Tectonic Plate. Basically Iceland is “ripping in 1/2″ at 1” per year. I enjoyed seeing all of the sheep and horses roaming the island. Some of them even came up close to the car, so we had so great photo opportunities.
Day 3 – Reykjavik
The Capital of Iceland – Stroll through this fun city by foot or bike! The architecture is super cool. Iceland is expensive. A typical dinner with an appetizer and dessert for 2 without alcohol was approximately $150-$200. If you add a class of wine or two, it could be well over $200. Even breakfast and lunch was $100+. With that said, the food was delicious. I love to try new things and eat non traditional food when traveling. We walked around the downtown area and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Coffee and Kleinur (Icelandic Donuts) are incredible in Iceland. The coffee is so much different and better than our coffee here in the states. Don’t leave without trying them! Hotdogs are another “must eat” in Iceland. They’re made of lamb and come with lots of toppings! You can get them from hot dog stands or in the gas stations, believe it or not.
Add Iceland to your bucket list. Make it a stop over if you’re headed to Europe. Spend a few days or a week. You won’t be disappointed!
Nashville I Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon 2018
Another amazing trip to Nashville to run the Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon. This has become my final race each season and there’s no better place to celebrate 9 months of running than in my favorite city! Nashville has become very near and dear to me. My kids and I (the hubby isn’t on board just yet) dream of living there one day. Maybe that’ll happen and maybe it won’t, but there’s no doubt, Music City will be visited as much as possible. We try to make it up several times a year. Exploring and searching for new adventures in the city and of course visiting some of my favorite spots.
We try to make it up several times a year. Exploring and searching for new adventures in the city and of course visiting some of my favorite spots.
The Rock n Roll race series has always been one of my favorites. They are well organized and provide runners with anything and everything they need to make it a fun and successful experience. Historically, Nashville is a HOT race. Every year, I pray for cooler weather, but for some reason we don’t get lucky. Record-breaking heat and the hills make for a tough couple of hours. This year started a little cooler than normal, but the heat came shortly after mile 6. Even though the course is tough and the weather isn’t ideal, it remains my all-time favorite race. 2019 will be my 5th year in a row running the Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon, so I have to train hard and pray hard for bearable temps. Maybe I’ll get lucky….
Day 1….My sister (who ran her 2nd 1/2 marathon with a PR) joined me this year. We flew Southwest on their early morning direct flight to BNA. We took it straight to Caviar & Bananas in The Gulch for the yummiest breakfast in the hipster area of Nash. Of course, we rented an adorable AirBnB apartment in the 12 South Area, which is close to all the thing we love. Draper James, Uncommon James and I+W to name a few. My sister had never been to Nashville, so we started at the top of Broadway and worked out way down stopping in several honky tonks, grabbing a beer at each and always leaving a $5 bill on the way out for the talented band. After a few hours on Broadway, we headed to the Westin to check out L27, a newly renovated rooftop bar. Pretty cool views and a nice drink selection. Dinner was at one of my favs, Urban Grub where the oyster bar will knock your socks off!
Day 2….Breakfast at Biscuit Love (the best OJ and Bonuts you’ll ever have), stopped by Tribe Kelly (LOVE this boutique!), The NASH Collection store, picked up our race packets, which is always an easy task (another reason why I love the RNR race series), checked out what was new in the running world and headed back out to find more fun. I love finding new murals in Nashville. Some are traditional and remain the same year after year and some change often. The city is full of artistry and I love that part about it. Dinner at The Farm House did not disappoint. All fresh, local, organic dishes and highly recommended. Close to Broadway and super convenient. A little walk down broadway, then back to our apartment to get ready for the race!
Day 3….Race day is always exciting. The start is on Broadway and the sunrise is gorgeous. Thousands of runners line the street and get ready for 13.1 (or 26.2) miles. All walks of life run this race and I love seeing the different ages and nationalities. From elite runners to first timers, it’s a joy to run alongside them. The finish line at Nissan Stadium (Home of the Tennessee Titans) is a good time. Lots of food and post race activities. I love getting my medal and taking pics along the river, across from the Nashville sky line. I also love walking across the Shelby Street Bridge back to Broadway for the BEST views and photo ops. And, because its a post race tradition for me….a quick stop by FGL House for a Music City beer and pretzel (the best pretzel you’ll ever have). We then took a drive over to Arrington Vineyards and it was gorgeous! We had a wine tasting at the barn, a short walk from the main building. There are so many beautiful spots to relax and enjoy your wine. You can bring in your own coolers, which is nice. I want to go back and spend an afternoon there. Dinner that night deserves its own blog entry. 5th & Taylor is without a doubt my FAVORITE restaurant. Nestled in the up and coming trendy Germantown, it is everything I want in a restaurant. Everything about it is a 10! I cannot wait to go back there this fall and enjoy the outdoor patio. After dinner, we went back down to Broadway for one last country music fix before heading home.
Day 4….off the BNA! Southwest Airlines offers non-stop flights from Tampa to Nashville at super convenient times and great rates. We typically rent a car because they are very reasonable. I use Lyft when going downtown (parking is tricky down there), but drive everywhere else. Nashville (for now) is driver-friendly.
See you soon, Music City!
Washington DC
I recently graduated from Leadership Bartow XVII, a 2 year developmental program that builds leadership skills, encourages volunteerism and educates the class on city, county and local government as well as our local tourism. I learned more than I could have ever imagined. Once a month we visited everything from horticulture nurseries, chemical plants, city facilities, government facilities, local farms, public schools, art museums, historical sites, local colleges, Our States Capitol in Tallahassee and last but not least, we visited The United States Capitol in Washington DC. This trip was incredible. All adults, no kiddos this time, which is rare for me.
I soaked it up and left inspired.
I had been to DC in the late 90s visiting a college friend and went back in 2012 to run the Marine Corps Marathon. This trip was different. I wasn’t in charge of the schedule or agenda. It was educational and fun and a gorgeous time of year, because the cherry blossoms peaked just as we arrived. This was definitely a highlight for me, as it was on my bucket list.They could not have been more beautiful.
We were non stop for 3 days. From Union Station to The White House, Lincoln Memorial, The Mall, Washington Monument, The US Capitol Building, Arlington National Cemetery, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, US Naval Academy, The District Wharf, a yacht cruise down the Potomac River and into Annapolis, Maryland for the best crab everything at Middleton’s.
