Tag Archives: sight seeing

Nov4

Last Day In Lake Como

Posted on November 4, 2026 by lifewithlilred

Hi!! Our Italy adventure through AAA and Collette came to a close in glorious Lake Como and it was the most spectacular day. As you read, we spent some lackluster time in Venice and we were all ready to go home during our full day there. Then, we arrived at the lake the following morning and ate our words – we never wanted to leave! Our single day in Lake Como consisted of a ferry ride, a walking tour, and a delicious farewell dinner to celebrate the end of an amazing trip. It went from magical to literally painful when we had to depart from the Milan airport the next day – especially when we had a view like this from our room at the Hotel Barchetta Excelsior:

After a quick break in the hotel, we boarded a ferry that took us on a one hour ride around Lake Como. It was so relaxing to look at the water, feel the breeze, and take in the beautiful scenery. This was, easily, the most leisurely activity we did on this entire trip and I think we all really needed it. We had to rally for the bon voyage bash in the evening! During our ferry ride, I was delighted to be sitting by a couple from Paris and got to put my French to the test. We had an excellent conversation and they told me I spoke French very well which was such an awesome compliment! I didn’t think it was possible for our time on the lake to get any better but that chit chat really thrilled me and I am still on cloud nine about it. 😀

Once we returned from the ferry ride, a walking tour commenced and Johnny and I decided to fly solo. We wanted some time with just the two of us before it was back to Akron, Ohio! Johnny and I strolled through the streets, popped in different shops, and enjoyed a drink on the patio of a cafe. It was the most charming afternoon and it felt so good to be feeling so good after I hit my wall in Venice. I genuinely can’t believe I ever wanted to go home lol! While our little date was a joy, it was also bittersweet because all good things must come to an end. I’m just so thankful I got to share in all of this with my main squeeze! ❤

Our day concluded at the restaurant of the hotel for the farewell dinner and it was DIVINE. In fact, this was one of my favorite meals of our whole trip. My vegetarian option was a cheesy risotto, fried eggplant, and a berry crumble for dessert. And, of course, ALL the wine! The risotto was seriously the best and I ate two helpings – I just couldn’t help myself lol and by the time my eggplant arrived, I was regretfully stuffed. What I did have of it was impeccable with crisp, fried breading and juicy eggplant in the middle. And, although I was full to the brim, I had to make room for dessert! The berry crumble was buttery, airy, and packed with juicy berries with a scoop of gelato on top for good measure. They definitely don’t make food like this in the A-K-Rowdy:

When the meal ended, we said goodbye to all of our new friends that were on the tour group with us. Then, Johnny and I returned to our hotel room with the wine we didn’t finish and had a nightcap on our balcony. It was the perfect way to end a remarkable trip and this view will forever be in my heart:

This whirlwind tour of Italy was everything I could have hoped for and so much more. Some day, I will be back. Until then, Italy will never be far from my mind!

Where is your dream vacation destination? How often do you go on vacation? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov2

Visiting Venice

Posted on November 2, 2026 by lifewithlilred

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Hi! We didn’t get off to a strong start in Venice and the full day that we spent there was just okay. The entire tour by AAA and Collette had been so fast paced and jam packed that I think we all hit the wall that day. In fact, I felt perfectly ready to go home at that point and changed my tune completely when we were in Lake Como the following day. That was much more like it! Our time in Venice was spent seeing a glass blowing demonstration, doing a walking tour, having some lunch, shopping, and returning to the hotel for an early night. As you can see, the scenery was gorgeous and I am happy to have seen Venice. This is a location that I wouldn’t visit again, though. Let’s discuss:

Our first stop for the day in Venice was at the Vetri Artistici where we enjoyed a glass blowing demonstration and browsing through the store. I could have done without being in the store altogether because holy expensive!! Everything was seriously one thousand dollars and up but were, indeed, very beautiful. The glass blowing demonstration was the best part but, unfortunately, only lasted for less than ten minutes. In that short period of time, however, one of the glass masters created a pitcher and a horse which were both stunning. He made the process look so easy and effortless and it was mesmerizing to watch him as he worked. I honestly could have stayed in the warmth of the workshop seeing the masterpieces made around me all day!

After we finished experiencing the Vetri Artistici, we visited a gold and leather store for a demonstration too. This was all nice and interesting but well out of the price range of every single person on the trip! By the time the drool was wiped from my chin over the remarkable gold jewelry, it was off to go on the walking tour to take in sights along the Castello district and end in St. Mark’s Square:

When the walking tour was complete, the remainder of the day was ours to explore the city on our own. As I mentioned before, this was the day where we hit our wall and Venice was incredibly overwhelming. The city was insanely crowded and it felt like a fight to take a few steps forward let alone get good pictures because everyone was there with the same idea. Crowds usually don’t bother me that much but in this case I was so worn out and the last place I wanted to be was in the thick of it. It was a welcome reprieve to have some lunch at Birreria Pedavena and just get away from it all!

Our meal at the restaurant was unremarkable. My quattro formaggi pizza was good but not great and was probably the least noteworthy dining experience outside of our dinner in Venice the previous day. I was thankful to have some leftover, though, because none of us felt like venturing back out in Venice in the evening so cold pizza was the move for dinner. It actually hit the spot more than it did in the restaurant when I had it later because I was so hungry!

Our time in Venice was our least favorite of the trip and that’s not to say it wasn’t nice. It was! I think we were all just too deep in our exhaustion and desire to go home to fully enjoy it!

Do you feel homesick when you travel? What has been your least favorite vacation destination during your travels? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep30

Going To NYC? Check Out These Tips!

Posted on September 30, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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New York City is a bustling metropolis full of endless possibilities. It can be overwhelming for first-time visitors or even those who have been before. With a little planning, you can make the most of your trip and see all that NYC has to offer!

Why Take a Trip to New York City:

New York City is a vibrant and exciting city. It has something for everyone. New York City has an incredible amount of cultural attractions, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and the World Trade Center Memorial. There’s also the Agora Gallery Reviews to look at too.

It also offers plenty of shopping opportunities in places like Times Square and Fifth Avenue. The city has many opportunities to experience delicious food thanks to its vast range of different cultures. There are also plenty of outdoor activities for those who enjoy being active outdoors such as Central Park or Prospect Park.

Planning Your Trip:

The first step to any good trip is planning. Decide what you want to see and do in advance so that you can make the most of your vacation. New York has something for everyone, from art and history lovers to foodies and shopaholics. Do some research to figure out what sights and activities are a must-do for you. Once you have an idea of what you want to do, you can start booking tickets and making reservations.

Getting Around Town:

New York is a big city and getting around can be tricky if you’re not familiar with the layout. The best way to get from point A to point B is often by subway, as traffic can be brutal during rush hour. If you’re not used to subway systems, don’t worry! It’s actually pretty easy to navigate once you get the hang of it. Buy a Metrocard in advance so that you can reload it as needed and make sure to keep track of which subway line takes you where. Another great way to get around is by walking. Many neighborhoods are quite compact and easy to explore on foot. Plus, this is a great way to soak up the unique atmosphere of each one! Of course, hailing a yellow cab is always an option when you need it. Just be prepared for high fares during peak times.

Seeing the Sights:

There’s no shortage of things to do in New York, so it’s important to prioritize based on your interests. For example, if you love art, plan to spend some time at one of the many world-renowned museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Museum of Modern Art. If history is more your thing, take a walk through Central Park or visit Ellis Island. And of course, no trip to NYC would be complete without seeing iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty!

By familiarizing yourself with the layout of the city and prioritizing based on your interests, you’ll be sure to have an amazing time exploring everything that NYC has to offer! Safe travels!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Dec18

Christmas Decor Sight Seeing Fun

Posted on December 18, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Downtown Cuyahoga Falls is referred to as the Riverfront because it is directly along the Cuyahoga River. In the past several years, lots of upgrades have been made to bring small businesses back to this area and now it is booming with restaurants, specialty shops, and cute boutiques. This year, to help bring some holiday spirit into our neck of the woods, there will be free parking all along the Riverfront to help encourage people to shop locally. What’s more, local schools and organizations decorated each parking meter with a Christmas theme!

This past week, my brother and I went to check out the handiwork and creativity of our amazing community and it was a blast! I so enjoyed ogling at the masterpieces, discussing which ones we liked best, and seeing all of the masked up shoppers toting their parcels. These were some of my favorite decorated meters:

As you can see, we have many talented holiday enthusiasts in the 330 and each parking meter was awesome in its own way. I am particularly fond of the Cousin Eddie meter from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, myself. However, I think the Mr. Grinch created by the owners of Harps & Thistles (A specialty shop for all of your knitting and crocheting needs) took the cake. I also love the tire snowman made by the Kiwanis Club Of Cuyahoga Falls. What a cute idea!

Despite this holiday season being so different than last year’s, I felt more in the Christmas spirit than ever after checking out the decor in downtown Cuyahoga Falls. Happy holidays to all!

How does your community celebrate the holidays? Do you have an area like downtown CFalls 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

	Cherryl on Last Day In Lake Como
	lifewithlilred on Last Day In Lake Como
	Cherryl on Last Day In Lake Como
	lifewithlilred on Covid Shot Chronicles
	Chantel Keona on Covid Shot Chronicles