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City Guide – Edinburgh a guide for first timers

June 18, 2017 54 Comments

This post was most recently updated on July 28th, 2019

As the Capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is a very popular tourist destination. But I can vouch that it is much more than that. Edinburgh is actually one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It is a quaint mediaeval town with charming streets, good food and friendly people.

Did you know that Edinburgh was the first city to be called the UNESCO city of literature? As such it has a connection with the likes of J.K. Rowling, Robert Burns, Walter Scott and many others. Edinburgh is a must on any tour of Scotland and I sincerely hope I get to visit it again soon. Here is my guide to help you plan your visit.

Scotland, Travel

10 Scotland Instagram accounts you should follow

June 2, 2017 30 Comments

This post was most recently updated on November 16th, 2019

My love affair with Scotland began way before I set foot on its beautiful lands. But a year ago I was finally able to see in person the country that enchanted me in stories and pictures. And let me tell you it is more beautiful and magical than I could ever describe in words. I will leave you to discover its many castles, lakes, mountains, cities, and ever changing weather, through the eyes of some of the best Scotland Instagram accounts.

Travel

What to do in Niagara Falls (Canada and USA)

May 18, 2017 44 Comments

Niagara Falls makes for a great family getaway. I should know as I recently came back from a wonderful 2 day visit. The views alone will take your breath away and you have countless memorable experiences for every age group to enjoy.

The difficult part is deciding what side (American or Canadian) you should visit. And deciding which attractions to spend your hard-earned money on. I am hoping to show you options and let you draw your own conclusions.

Travel

Into the Wild – Paddling the Everglades

March 15, 2017 31 Comments

Florida is full of beaches, amusement parks, and shopping. But, when was the last time you went into the wild and saw a different side of Florida? When was the last time you experienced something that left you in total amazement? My family and I had the privilege to do both this past weekend on a 3 hour kayaking tour in the everglades. I will show you how you can do this too and give yourself and/or your family a wild adventure to remember.

Hotels

Pampered in Luxury – A Day at Acqualina Resort and Spa

February 22, 2017 43 Comments

If you have ever wanted to feel like royalty or experience the lifestyle of the rich and famous in Miami then you should look no further that The Acqualina Resort and Spa.

Acqualina is a 5 star Ocean front resort located between South Beach and Ft. Lauderdale on the white sandy beaches of Sunny Isles. Voted #1 Beach Front hotel on trip advisor, it is an elegant Mediterranean inspired building with 51 stories and 98 rooms and suites. Acqualina has 3 restaurants, 4 pools and an award winning Spa which I will be telling you all about. Their Spa is the epitome of luxury and I was lucky to win a 50 min Spa Treatment valued at $210. Read along and come see for yourself what The Acqualina Resort and Spa has to offer.

Hotels, Scotland

Checking in – Isle of Skye. Three nights at Garalapin House

January 7, 2017 24 Comments

This post was most recently updated on October 13th, 2017

Skye was one of the places on my Scotland adventure that I was looking forward to the most. I spent significant time researching the ideal location to stay in and had a pretty long list of requirements for what would be my ideal home base for 3 nights. It was important to us to find a place that was centrally located but still outside of a main town. We wanted to enjoy the countryside views with accessibility to town for gas and food. I wanted to stay at a B&B, but it needed to be family friendly. Do you know how hard it is to find a place in Skye that has a family room for 4 people? After much research and deliberation I decided to book my stay at Garalapin House and here is what you can expect:

Travel

A New York City Break – Two and a Half Days in the Big Apple

December 26, 2016 30 Comments

This post was most recently updated on August 26th, 2017

I grew up visiting the magnificent city of New York. My mom was born and raised in Brooklyn. Se took me many times to visit my Grandmother and my Aunt. I consider myself lucky to have spent time visiting the many incredible museums, riding the subways, going to Broadway shows, gazing at the lights, playing in the parks and simply being surrounded by the sounds and feel of a the city that never sleeps.

I remember one of my last visits to New York like it was yesterday. It was the week before the towers fell. My husband and I rode the Staten Island Ferry. We enjoyed the beautiful New York City skyline on a perfect September day. The skyline that unbeknownst to us would be forever changed. So it was time, time to go back and re-experience the city. Time to show my children the magic this city has. Time for a New York City break.

Scotland, Travel

Magical Scottish Castles You Should Visit on Your Scotland Holiday

October 16, 2016 53 Comments

This post was most recently updated on September 22nd, 2019

When you think about Scotland you undoubtedly think about the beautiful highland scenery, loch monsters, men in kilts and the romantic and magical Scottish castles. Well if you don’t then you should be thinking of all of the above. Kidding aside, Scotland truly is a great country with a fascinating history. This history has left it filled with magical castles all across its landscape. For me seeing them is like traveling through time and reliving part of the history through them. So if like me you are a castle lover you are in luck as you will have over 2000 to chose from when you visit Scotland. Here is a list of the lucky 13 Magical Scottish Castles I chose to explore in my recent 2 week road trip.

Hotels

Checking in – Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel

October 3, 2016 16 Comments

The month of September brings with it the Epcot Food and Wine festival and my birthday. Since I have never been to this festival before I decided I would be celebrating my birthday there this year. Nothing better than traveling the world all in one day while tasting different foods and drinks. The decision to attend the festival this year was easy but coming up with the right hotel to stay at is a different story. Orlando is not lacking in hotel options but this time we wanted to stay as close to Epcot as possible so we booked our stay at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel.

Travel

City Guide: The Perfect One Day in London

September 21, 2016 29 Comments

This post was most recently updated on September 15th, 2019

When I started planning my trip to Scotland I decided to add a stopover in London to give my family a taste of this fantastic city. Our stop in London was for less than 36 hrs. and to be fair that is not nearly enough time to see all this city has to offer. You can probably spend a full year in London and not see it all. However I needed to maximize my time and give my family a perfect London day. If like me you are short on time and find yourself in this incredible city here is a list of ideas to help you plan your perfect one day in London.

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Dry Tortugas Day Trip – All You Need to Know to Plan a Day Trip to Dry Tortugas National Park

City Guide – Edinburgh a guide for first timers

10 Scotland Instagram accounts you should follow

What to do in Niagara Falls (Canada and USA)

Into the Wild – Paddling the Everglades

Pampered in Luxury – A Day at Acqualina Resort and Spa

Checking in – Isle of Skye. Three nights at Garalapin House

A New York City Break – Two and a Half Days in the Big Apple

Magical Scottish Castles You Should Visit on Your Scotland Holiday

Checking in – Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel

City Guide: The Perfect One Day in London