Category Archives: Travel

Feb15

Travel Essentials To Secure Before Your Vacation

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Travel Essentials To Secure Before Your Vacation

When it comes to a big vacation, every detail is important. You want to relax while away, not stress about items forgotten or if you failed to turn the kitchen light off! Every travel detail will start with research before you leave for your trip. Your findings will reveal plenty of travel essentials, but some of them are optional. However, these items will be valuable and irreplaceable parts of your travel bag, making it necessary to focus on getting them:

Flight Details and Travel Requirements:

Every person will start their travel adventures with one task: getting to the destination. However, most national governments won’t let you inside their countries that easily. There will be plenty of travel requirements such as visas, passports, personal identification cards, and legal documents. For example, if you have an itinerary for your Jiufen day tour, you can print it or have it ready on your mobile phone.

You must identify all the legal travel requirements you need months before your target date if you plan to visit a country for vacation. Fortunately, the internet provides travel guides to boost tourism in many locations. Identifying those travel essentials allows you to secure them ahead of your target date. Without them, traveling will not be possible. Try to place them in your carry-on bag for easy access whenever you have to present them in international customs.

Once your documents are ready to go, the next order of business is arriving to your form of transportation, whether that be one of these cruises departing adelaide or a flight taking off from JFK, in a timely manner. Keep a close eye on your departure time online or in an app in case anything changes.

Lodging: 

Of course, you can’t plan a vacation without arranging lodging! Are you staying with friends or family at your destination? Do you plan on staying at hotels? This must be squared away before you depart so you have a place to stay upon your arrival. Make your reservations well ahead of time and confirm them a week or so before you leave. Should something fall through, you will have time to fix it. If you are considering a guided tour like West Africa Tours, you’re in luck. Lodging arrangements are set in stone so all you have to do is hop on your plane and relax before your big adventure.

Cash & Then Some:

There are two ways to approach your travel budget. The first option involves dedicating funds for travel, even if you don’t have a plan yet. This financial strategy will allow you to identify a closer travel date when you start planning. Even if it’s just fifty bucks per paycheck, adding to a travel fund for a year can give you an opportunity to visit Alcudia, go to a resort, or travel to different states for a nice vacation.

Your second option will require you to adjust your monthly budget for travel expenses, which means reducing other essentials like shopping, groceries, and food allocations. Your local bank account might carry huge fees when you withdraw funds in international locations. You wouldn’t want that unnecessary expense and don’t forget to notify your credit card company that you’re traveling.

Bear in mind that depending on where you travel, there may be a change in currency. This can be a bit of a hassle but there are ways around it, including currency cards. These are most handy to have on vacation and when you need holiday money use your currency card fee-free without worrying about extra charges.

Clothing and Toiletries:

Most people travel to another country to experience different things. Other cultures and tourist sites are on top of the list, but the weather might also be a factor in your decision. People living in tropical countries might want to experience winter, summer, spring, and autumn. It can also happen vice versa for people used to living in temperate climates. As a result, the clothing style might have to adjust. Travelers must never underestimate extreme cold or heat so do be sure to pack accordingly.

Toiletries also play a significant role in keeping the weather from becoming intolerable. Sunscreen, moisturizer, and lotion prevent harsh environments from ruining your skin. Don’t forget that travel sizes are required for boarding a plane. If these mini sizes won’t sustain you for your trip, hit up a store at your location to buy the products you need – this will also save you space in your travel bag.

Nothing ruins an amazing vacation faster than a bad sunburn so the importance of sunscreen cannot be understated. This is especially true if you are exploring luxury private yacht charter options in Antalya. A good rule of thumb if you are enjoying a day on the water and in the sun is to reapply your sunscreen hourly. Even if the sky is cloudy while you are boating, sunscreen is still going to be necessary.

There are countless more travel essentials, but it depends on every traveler’s needs or preferences. If you have allergies or medical issues, carrying your medicine with you will be necessary. Electronic devices can help you navigate through unfamiliar lands, as long as you are okay with purchasing roaming data. The keys are to plan, budget, and plan some more for your big trip!

Jan24

If You Were To Visit Me…

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If You Were To Visit Me…

Hello! When I was younger, I used to consider where I lived in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio to be somewhat boring. However, my opinion has changed with age and, while it isn’t the best, it’s definitely not the worst, either! There are many staples in the greater Akron area that I just love and if you were to visit me, we would most certainly be hitting up the following:

Elysian Nails:

Elysian Nails has been my preferred salon for several years now and it would be a must to go get some pampering there if you came to my neck of the woods. The salon is absolutely beautiful and the work there speaks for itself. At Elysian, you will enjoy the best company with their wonderful staff, a huge selection of treatments, and a wide variety of polish and gel colors. It is the perfect place to unwind after a long day!

The Shear Shop:

The Shear Shop is the hair salon that I have been going to for forever because the only person who I trust with my hair works there. A pampering day isn’t complete without a fresh cut and color, after all. The staff at The Shear Shop are insanely talented and I love the boutique feel of the salon, making the time spent there even more luxurious. As soon as my appointment is over, I am always already counting down the days until I head back. However, fair warning that you will fall in love with this place too and will need to come to Ohio every time your hair needs done. 😀

TJMaxx:

Okay, so everywhere has a TJMaxx but my local TJs holds a very special place in my heart. My dream day would be visiting every single TJMaxx in my area but the one in Cuyahoga Falls will do just fine. It is where I find shelter from the storm and the only place where the world makes sense lol. And, of course, a brand new outfit is a must after new hair and nails!

Lemongrass Grill & The Saffron Patch:

My two favorite restaurants in my neck of the woods has to be the Lemongrass Grill and The Saffron Patch. I love ethnic cuisine and, as a vegetarian, you can’t beat the variety of choices that Thai and Indian food offers. It’s nice to be the majority shareholder on the menu for once! I actually just had Thai food at the Lemongrass Grill with my sister and her family a few days ago and it was divine, as always. My only regret is that I didn’t order an extra helping to eat at home. 😀

Taco Bell:

The piece de resistance of visiting Lil Red would, obviously, be fine dining at the local Taco Bell. I honestly could eat there every day of my life and still not grow tired of it. TBell would be the ideal way to end a day of tomfoolery in the 330 and, while each one in my area has its own unique qualities, the one in Cuyahoga Falls just hits different. 20/10 would recommend. ❤

Are these the most exciting places to go to if you visited me in Ohio? Not necessarily. But, they are a major reason of why I love my stomping grounds. Wish you were here!

Where would you take someone if they visited you? What do you love about where you live? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan16

Oh Deer!

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Oh Deer!

Hi! During our family holiday weekend at Oglebay, we jam packed a ton of activities into a short period of time. The property was beautiful with fun events happening everywhere you looked as well as what seemed like a never ending amount of deer roaming about. One particular family of deer seemed to take a liking to hanging around our lodge and were so tame that we were able to feed them peanuts right out of the palm of our hands. It. Was. Awesome! Check it out:

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When my deer friends first started congregating in the front of our lodge, I thought it was lucky to be able to see them so closely. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that they would come right up to my sister and I for a snack but I have photographic proof of that! At first, we just threw some peanuts in their general direction to see what happened. They must have really liked them because, shortly after, they just started coming directly to the source for more. 😀

Throughout our stay, we must have seen close to fifty deer and many of them were enjoying treats from other families too. I would have been completely satisfied just feeding the deer our entire weekend stay and was so sad when my friends eventually had their fill and headed back into the woods. However, something tells me that they will have no problem finding another family to score some snacks with upon our return home!

What an amazing experience this was because hand feeding the deer in my neck of the woods would never happen. This was one of the many highlights of my holiday weekend at Oglebay! ❤

What kind of wildlife resides in your area? What is your favorite animal? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov3

3 Tips To Prepare For Your First Glamping Trip

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3 Tips To Prepare For Your First Glamping Trip

Some people detest the idea of camping. They worry about the work it will take to pitch a tent, the bug that will crawl into their sleeping bag, and having to sleep on the hard ground. It’s understandable to see why camping can have its downsides. Why would you sleep in a cold tent in the rain when you can be in a soft warm bed at home? Camping also tends to make people feel drained. It really is difficult to have a peaceful sleep in a tent.

Thankfully, glamping is around and it’s bringing new meaning to being in the great outdoors. So what exactly is “glamping”? It’s short for “Glamorous Camping”. This means that it’s a luxurious way to be within nature, but with all of the frills that a hotel offers. No pitching tents, mosquitos, or outdoor toilets, just simple luxury. These are some helpful tips for preparing for a glamping trip:

Look into your options:

Glamping is highly recognized today and many national parks offer glamping accommodations. Glamping comes in an array of forms such as trailers, cabins, tents, and tree houses. Many accommodation sites will even reuse vehicles such as train carts or old jets and flip them into a luxurious paradise for campers. For example, if you enter a search for “glamping maremma” you can see an old caravan converted into a glamping site by the Pereti glamping resort. They also offer yurts and a charming witch house too! Camping comfortably has never been more accessible.

Just keep in mind what you’re wanting, your price range, and what activities you’re expecting to do. You’ll want to make sure that the place is going to be comfortable and that you can have a good night’s sleep. Not sleeping enough is going to affect your health and it’s also going to make you enjoy your trip far less.

Know what to pack:

Each glamping accommodation is going to offer different amenities. You can expect there to be a bed and pillows. You can most likely expect there to be running water and toilet paper, as well. Of course, glamping calls for all of the extras to make your experience even better and more relaxing. Look into Camping Stuff that will not be found at a traditional campground, are a must have, and will keep you comfortable. And be sure to read through your glamp-ground listing, reach out, and ask questions about it. If your glamping trip is going to entail that you do a lot of hiking and other activities within nature, then you’re far better off purchasing some gear from EcoGearFX to help you survive the trip.

Look into what activities you’d like to do:

Some glamping resorts will provide activities for their guests. This can include tours, rides, workshops, and crafting. More and more glamping accommodations are offering things such as hot tubs, spas, saunas, and playgrounds to ensure that guests enjoy their stay.

You should also look into what is offered around the area. This can include seeing if there are hiking trails close by or any nice towns that are close. Sometimes even a short drive away there could be something fun for you and your party to do. You just want to make sure that if you’re having to drive during your glamping trip, that you’re not going too far. Just ask around about what is offered.

If you like to enjoy Mother Nature from afar, then a glamping trip could be the perfect thing for your next getaway – no tent required!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Oct13

Vacation Souvenirs

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Vacation Souvenirs

Hello!! My family vacation in the Poconos was the absolute best and I am definitely ready for another one lol. It is so hard to go back to work after all of the fun, family time, amazing food, and relaxation! No vacation is complete without plenty of souvenirs and Johnny and I got several to enjoy in our kitchen and on our knick knack shelf. Check it out:

The favorite vacation purchase for me and Johnny is, easily, our Frankenstein and Skeleton Man plushies from the small store at Heckman Orchards. They are SO cute and we love snuggling up with them while we watch ten episodes of Criminal Minds in a row. 😀

The earrings (Which I’m obsessed with!) and the Grow Your Own Bigfoot were bought at a couple of shops in Jim Thorpe. The rest of our souvenirs came from Country Junction, which is the world’s largest general store. And, let me tell you, if you are ever in the area you just have to check it out.

Country Junction was a mishmash of a billion different things and it was like being in a carnival fun house. The actual general store was HUGE and it was the size of at least three Walmarts all put together. There was a section for everything from children’s toys to grilling supplies, pet care, and old fashioned candy. In almost every corner, there were gigantic statues that could move and talk including scenes from the Wizard Of Oz and a Jurassic Park-esque velociraptor. Oh, and did I mention that there was a full arcade with bumper cars too?! 😮

The madness wasn’t limited to the inside, no siree bob. Outdoors, there was a petting zoo, hay rides, playgrounds, and a small carnival complete with old school rides, fun houses, and food vendors. It was absolutely nuts lol. I so wish that I took pictures of this madness but the weather was rainy and Johnny and I were carrying all of our shopping bags by the time we caught up with the rest of the family.

Our purchases were pretty heavy because we bought a ton! I did some early Christmas shopping, got prezzies for my niece, nephew, and sister, as well as lots of treats for me and Johnny. I am particularly fond of the items that I bought by Our Own Candle Company. The Hot Chocolate candle smells delicious and I can’t wait to use the bar soap – the Peach scent is to die for!

If you have the time, definitely check out Country Junction online because you will be just as blown away/dumbfounded as I think everyone is that steps foot on the property!

Do you have anything like Country Junction in your area? What is your favorite one stop shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct12

The Old Jail Tour Pt. 2

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The Old Jail Tour Pt. 2

Hello everyone and welcome to the second part of my experience at a tour of The Old Jail in Jim Thorpe, PA! To kick things off, check out some pictures and then we will discuss more:

To start our tour of The Old Jail, we watched a fifteen or so minute video which taught us about the plight of the Irish people during the Potato Famine and how they got to America. Despite being out of the country, Irish people still had a rough time because no one wanted to hire them for work. Other than the coal mines, that is. And it was a dangerous job, indeed.

Cue, the Molly Maguires. The Molly Maguires were a secret society who basically tried to improve everything about the coal mining industry for its workers. As mentioned in yesterday’s post, The Old Jail was where four accused Molly Maguires were hung at the gallows after multiple violent conflicts. After learning this, the tour of the jail itself began.

The tour of The Old Jail was really cool because after our guide gave us some history, we were allowed to move about freely to explore more. We began on the first floor, which is where the gallows were as well as some other unique features. If you look at the ninth picture down, the pictures on the floor were from magazine cutouts that one of the prisoners stuck to the ground with sugar water.

Of course, the most famous feature of The Old Jail is the hand print of one of the Molly Maguires. Before his hanging, he dirtied his hand and placed it on the wall of his cell declaring that it was the hand print of an innocent man. His hand print was attempted to be removed via scrubbing, chiseling, and painting but it still remains, clear as day, to this day. (To preserve the print, we were not allowed to take pictures of it.)

Once we were done on the first floor, we descended down the stairs into the dungeons where people in solitary confinement were kept. Back in the day, those in solitary were in shackles and in the pitch black twenty-four hours a day with nothing but a bucket and a sleeping mat in their cell. All of this is crazy uncomfortable, but add the three coal burning stoves that are located in the dungeons and it was pure misery.

After we saw the dungeons, the tour was pretty much over and we were able to poke around for a bit more before exiting the building. I don’t think any of us could shake the creeped out feeling the entire drive back to our lodging. Speaking of creeped out…

Later that evening, I began the process of going through the pictures that I took and emailing them to myself. I got to the halfway point where I was sending pictures of the dungeons and, all of a sudden, my phone screen went completely frozen and white. I closed out of my email and tried again but it was the same thing every time.

Finally, I decided to restart my phone and it worked perfectly. Was it nothing? Maybe. Or was it the fact that I had just spent time in a haunted location and was working on pictures where people were kept in solitary confinement? Maybe. I know how I feel about it but I’ll let you make your own conclusions!

The tour of The Old Jail was one of the neatest outings both Johnny and I have ever been on. We can’t wait to explore more places like it! 😀

Are there any haunted locations in your area? What are you afraid of? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct11

The Old Jail Tour Pt. 1

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The Old Jail Tour Pt. 1

Hi! Hands down, mine and Johnny’s favorite part of the vacation in the Poconos was the tour we did of The Old Jail in Jim Thorpe. We had both never done anything like it and have always wanted to as we love all things horror and the macabre. Our time spent in the jail also inspired us to have a “Ghoul Tour” when we go on a trip to visit more jails, asylums, and other haunted locations.

I took so many pictures in The Old Jail that this post will be broken up into two parts. Today, we are going to look at some shots taken prior to our tour. Then, tune in tomorrow to explore the dungeon, jail cells, and much more! Let’s get to it:

Our tour of The Old Jail was absolutely wonderful and you could feel the haunted history of it before you even entered the building. The jail stuck out like an ominous sore thumb amongst the quaint town of Jim Thorpe and we couldn’t wait for our adventure to begin. We were eager to learn and check out everything that the jail had to offer, including the recreated gallows where four accused Molly Maguires were hung and, yes, the hand print. 😮

Tomorrow, we are going to delve deeper into the history of The Old Jail, the story of the hand print, lots more pictures, and my own weird experience when trying to email the pics I took to myself. You don’t want to miss it!

Have you ever visited a haunted location? Which jails or asylums have you visited before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct10

Guy Fieri’s Mt. Pocono Kitchen

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Guy Fieri’s Mt. Pocono Kitchen

Hello!!! The day after mine and Johnny’s wedding, we were incredibly hungover and spent the entire day in bed watching Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives a la Guy Fieri. We freaking love him so when we learned that he had a restaurant in the Poconos we just had to go! Check it out:

Guy Fieri’s Mt. Pocono Kitchen was located in the Mount Airy Casino so Johnny and I decided to have lunch and try our luck at a few slot machines afterwards. While we didn’t win big during our gambling experience, lunch was a raging success!

Johnny ordered a bacon cheeseburger with mac n’ cheese on it and I went with the Trash Can Nachos. When I read the name of my selection I assumed it just meant that these nachos had everything on them but assume makes an ass out of U and Me.

Our meals came out surprisingly fast and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing when my nachos came out in a literal trash can lol! Our waitress advised us to take a video of her shaking the can onto my plate and it was the craziest thing we have ever seen!

Our lunch from Guy Fieri’s Mt. Pocono Kitchen was so delicious and insanely filling! I was also tickled that the restaurant had plenty of vegetarian options including being able to get fried cauliflower in place of chicken wings. That was a nice touch that I had never seen offered before.

Although we didn’t walk away from the casino with full wallets, we did leave very full of carbs which is just as good. I highly recommend this restaurant if you ever get the chance to go. I LOVE YOU, GUY FIERI!!!

Who is your favorite celebrity? What is your favorite restaurant? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct9

All Aboard!

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All Aboard!

Hi! During our family vacation to the Poconos, we took a charming ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. The ride was a perfect length at forty-five minutes and we got to see some amazing sights including an old train tunnel carved into a mountain, the beautiful changing leaves, and a waterfall. We all enjoyed ourselves so much! Check it out:

Our experience on the train ride was wonderful and we almost had an entire cart just for us which was awesome. There was also a super cool employee on our cart who filled us in on all kinds of fun facts about everything we were seeing. She also let Johnny and I know about the paranormal activity that takes place in the area which we were extremely interested in.

The train ride was a perfect excuse to break out my new Stella Luce snake print jacket because it was a bit chilly out. Wherever we go, Johnny and I love getting all dolled up and strutting our stuff and the train trip was no exception. All aboard the fashion express – CHOO CHOO! 😀

What is your preferred form of transportation? What is fall like in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug25

D-Day Reenactment Adventure

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D-Day Reenactment Adventure

Hi! This past weekend, Johnny and I had a road trip to Conneaut, Ohio where we saw a reenactment of D-Day. My husband is a history buff and is constantly teaching me new things from the many books he has read, documentaries he has watched, and podcasts he has listened to. World War II is his favorite thing to learn about so when I found out about this reenactment so close to home, I knew we had to go because he has never been to anything like it but has always wanted to. Check out some pics from our adventure:

Our day spent in Conneaut was an absolute thrill and it was so much fun to see Johnny in his element! It was amazing to see him chatting it up with all of the volunteers, actors, and veterans and every time I looked at him he was grinning from ear to ear. While the “big show” of the D-Day reenactment was spectacular, seeing how much Johnny was enjoying himself was my favorite part of the whole thing. ❤

The morning of our outing started out with a bang when we saw a reenactment of The Battle for La Fiere and that was insanely cool! We definitely both jumped out of our skin when the first shots were fired lol. From there, it was a whirlwind of tank and mortar firings, weapon demonstrations, SAS trainings, and camp shows. I was most partial to The Battle for La Fiere reenactment and we both loved the mortar demonstration!

While there was plenty in the schedule that we did to fill up time until the D-Day reenactment at three, we both enjoyed walking around the different areas representing Germany, France, and England and taking in all of the sights. It was also a lot of fun to browse through all of the different vendors and eat fair food and drink hella fresh squeezed lemonade. Johnny walked away with lots of souvenirs that are now proudly displayed on our knick knack shelf.

The actual D-Day reenactment was so well done and, although our view wasn’t the best, it was still really special to see. The coolest part had to have been seeing the P51 Mustangs and the C47 Transport planes flying around the beach as well as watching the boats come up onto the sand with more and more soldiers. From the sounds and the smoke to the tanks and guns firing, it was an astounding display and we can’t wait to go back next year.

Thanks to some tips from other viewers, we learned about more reenactments in our area and I just know it will become a regular thing for us to do. We thank all of our veterans and those who lost their lives from the bottoms of our hearts for their amazing service and bravery.

Have you ever been to a war reenactment before? What was it like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah