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Exploring Ettal and Schwangau: Bavarian Architecture, History, and Cuisine
Ettal and Schwangau provide a journey through Bavaria’s rich history, stunning architecture, and world-famous cuisine. Whether you’re exploring the Baroque elegance of Ettal Monastery, the regal charm of Linderhof Castle, or savoring hearty meals in Schwangau, this region captures the very essence of Bavarian culture. Staying at Hotel Villa Ludwig ensures your adventure is not…
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Munich, Germany – Bavarian Royal Treasures & Classic German Fare
Our first day in Munich blended history, culture, food, and relaxation—a perfect way to kick off our Germany and Switzerland itinerary. From the glittering jewels of the Bavarian royals at the Residenz to savoring traditional bratwursts and beer with views of the Frauenkirche, every moment felt like a warm welcome to Bavaria. If you’re planning…
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Two Weeks in Europe: Exploring Germany and Switzerland
If you’re dreaming of a European adventure filled with storybook towns, breathtaking mountain views, and rich cultural experiences, look no further than a two-week itinerary in Germany and Switzerland. These neighboring countries are the perfect pair: Germany offers vibrant cities, fairy-tale castles, and world-famous beer gardens, while Switzerland is all about Alpine beauty, charming villages,…
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A Creative Weekend in Seattle: Tote Making, Pike Place Market, and Sweet Treats
👜✨ A weekend in Seattle done right: craft your own leather tote at Leolo, wander the iconic Pike Place Market, and finish with a decadent slice of cake from Deep Sea Sugar & Salt. From hands-on creativity to foodie adventures, this Seattle itinerary is the perfect mix of unique and must-see. 🌲🍰
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A Perfect Weekend Getaway in Helen, Georgia
🌲✨ Weekend vibes in Helen, GA! Stayed at the dreamy Valhalla Resort Hotel (yes, it’s pet-friendly 🐾), hiked to Anna Ruby Falls. 💧, relaxed with a couples massage 🧖🏻♀️, and ate our way through town— 🍺 🥨 at The Troll Tavern, schnitzel at Bodensee, sweet treats from Hofer’s Bakery 🥐, and more. Bavarian charm +…
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Expand Your Baking Skills at the King Arthur Baking School
✨ Flour, fun, and a whole lot of learning! ✨ I recently took classes at the King Arthur Baking School and left with new skills, plenty of treats, and so much inspiration. Whether online or in-person, it’s the perfect place to learn, bake, and connect with fellow food lovers. 🥐🍰
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🍦 A Sweet Stop in Vermont: Visiting the Ben & Jerry’s Factory 🍦
✨🍦 A sweet stop in Vermont! The Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury is a must-visit—factory tours, exclusive scoops, and even a Flavor Graveyard for retired favorites. Fun, quirky, and oh-so-delicious! #VermontVibes #BenAndJerrys #SweetEscape 🍦✨
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A Spooky (But Less Crowded) Weekend in Salem, MA
Whether you’re chasing Hocus Pocus nostalgia, diving into history, or just craving spooky vibes, Salem delivers year-round. But trust me—go in late summer or early fall, and you’ll have a much more magical (and less crowded) experience. 👻✨
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Day 9 Adventures in Iceland: Returning Home
Travel day home from Iceland: bagels at Exeter, a smooth drop-off with Blue Car Rental, tax refund lines at the airport, then flights through JFK before finally landing back in Atlanta. 🇮🇸 🇺🇸
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Day 8 Adventures in Iceland: Reykjavik
Our last day in Iceland was all about Reykjavik. 🇮🇸 We strolled through historic streets, colorful murals, and landmarks like Hallgrímskirkja and the Sun Voyager, picked up Icelandic sweaters, candy, and sea salts for souvenirs, and ended with incredible sushi at Sushi Social. 🍣✨ The night finished with a Lava Tunnel tour—just as we stepped…
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Day 7 Adventures in Iceland: Reykjanes Peninsula and the Blue Lagoon
Snowy roads, windswept lighthouses, and a stone church set the scene before our soak in Iceland’s iconic Blue Lagoon. ✨ We floated in steaming blue water while snowflakes drifted down, then warmed up with lunch at the Lava Restaurant and picked up some skincare souvenirs to bring a little piece of the lagoon home. ❄️🌊🧖♀️
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Day 6 Adventures in Iceland: Snaefellsnes Peninsula and Reykjavik
Seals at Ytri-Tunga, lunch in Borgarnes, then onward to colorful Reykjavik! 🐾 After settling into the Exeter Hotel, we explored on foot—tasting Omnom chocolate, watching molten lava pour at the Lava Show, and ending with gourmet burgers at Le Kock. A perfect blend of city life and Iceland’s quirky charm. 🍫🔥🍔
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Day 5 Adventures in Iceland: Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Explored the stunning Snaefellsnes Peninsula today! From the dramatic Gerduberg Basalt Cliffs to the iconic Kirkjufell mountain and waterfall, black and yellow sand beaches, volcanic craters, and lighthouses with sweeping views—every stop was unforgettable. Wrapped up the day at Arnarstapi Hotel with perfect Northern Lights views right from our window. ✨🌋🌊
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Day 4 Adventures in Iceland: Golden Circle
From the colorful Kerid Crater to the serene Skalholt Church, today’s Golden Circle route mixed history, geothermal wonders, and Icelandic charm. We dined among vines at Fridheimar Tomato Farm, met friendly Icelandic ponies, felt the power of Gullfoss and the drama of Strokkur Geyser, and ended the day at Þingvellir National Park before relaxing at…
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Day 3 Adventures in Iceland: Glaciers & South Coast
Sightseeing highlights: Ice Lagoon Adventure Tour for glaciers and seals, Diamond Beach, waterfalls, and the Northern Lights!
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Day 2 Adventures in Iceland: South Coast
Sightseeing along Iceland’s incredible South Coast … glaciers and waterfalls!
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Day 1 Adventures in Iceland: Must-See Sights
Day 1 Adventures in Iceland: Renting a Car, Black Sand Beaches, and the Northern Lights
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Iceland Northern Lights: Your 2024-2025 Itinerary
The 2024-2025 season (October through April) is slated to be one of the best for the Northern Lights! The 11 year solar cycle of the sun peaks this year which means stronger solar activity. Stronger solar activity means more solar flares, more sunspots, and stronger solar winds will combine to produce some truly spectacular viewing…
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Bangor to Bar Harbor: Exploring Acadia National Park
Stops along the scenic driving route through Acadia National Park and a side trip to Stephen King’s house.
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Unleash Your Creativity at Splatterdash Studio
A creative outlet for kids and no mess for you to clean up!
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Discovering Adventure at Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain, GA
If you’re seeking a unique and thrilling experience near Atlanta, look no further than Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain. This expansive wildlife park offers an incredible opportunity to see exotic animals up close while they roam in a more natural habitat. It’s an adventure that combines excitement, a chance to connect with nature, and a…
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Kid-Friendly Adventure at the Georgia Aquarium
My nephew is coming to visit and we need things to entertain a five year old! My mom, sister-in-law, and nephew are coming to visit for a long weekend so I’m planning some kid-friendly activities to entertain everyone. Here are 3 things to do in/around Atlanta with kids: In this post, I will focus on…
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Create Your Own Custom Lipstick at Lip Lab
A fun way to treat yourself or have a girls’ night out … Lip Lab has you covered!
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Ammatoli: A Taste of the Levant in California
When I travel, whether for work or personal, I like to find really good food. I unexpectedly stumbled on an amazing restaurant in Long Beach, CA, offering the best Levantine cuisine I have eaten outside the Middle East.
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Jamaican Birthday Celebrations
The remainder of the week went as planned, lots of reading and relaxing. We managed to spend a week in Jamaica with minimal sun burn (only the top of my feet burnt where my sandals rubbed off the sunscreen) and a couple of gorgeous sunrises to remember our time there. We had private transfer back…
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Jamaican Birthday Celebrations – Day 2
Interesting start to the day, there is no running water on the property so no shower, hand washing, or flushing toilets. I went down to the front desk to learn that a water main had been damaged and the entire property was without water. We decided to go get breakfast and head to down to…
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Birthday Celebrations in Jamaica
Just like that we are off on our next adventure! R is turning 40 this week and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate this milestone birthday than taking a trip together! I actually gave R the option of having a party with family and friends or taking a trip to celebrate his…
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Exploring my favorite city, London!
It’s always a good day when you wake up in London! The Caledonain Sleeper Train arrived at London Euston and we collected our luggage and disembarked. Our hotel is in Covent Garden so we opted to take a taxi from the station as we knew our luggage would comfortably fit. It was a short 15…
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Day of Driving: Portree to Edinburgh
Today is a driving-intense day as we are returning to Edinburgh from Portree. The drive should take five to five and a half hours with minimal stops but we will stop a couple of times to help break it up. We checked out of the AirBnB and got an earlyish start on the drive. The…
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Dunvegan Castle and Dinner in Portree
Another excellent castle to visit on Isle of Skye is Dunvegan Castle. The castle was first opened to the public in 1933 by Sir Reginald MacLeod (27th Chief). What began for charitable purposes has grown into the castle welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. It is interesting to think of that many people crowding…
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Talisker Distillery
We had lunch the most lovely little place called The Hungry Gull in Staffin. Staffin is about a 15 minute drive north of Old Man of Storr; exit the Old Man of Storr car park and take a left. Be sure to check the hours in advance because there may be limited hours during the…
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Old Man of Storr
We started the morning with breakfast at the AirBnB and killed a little time hoping the weather might clear up a bit. It is Scotland and it rains here … a lot. But that’s what waterproof shoes and rain gear are for! Rain or shine, we are taking in the Old Man of Storr today.…
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Scenic Driving to Isle of Skye
We are departing Inverness to spend the next couple days in Isle of Skye and have booked an AirBnB in Portree. Portree is just under a three hour drive from Inverness and it is a lot of winding roads so beware for anyone who gets carsick. We decided to make a couple stops to help…
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Scotch, Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns
Back in the van, we made our way to The Singleton Distillery. The distillery has a long history and has gone by a couple different names, I think due to various changes and business mergers over time. Much of their product is aged in American oak barrels, lending a sweetness and nuttiness to the flavor…
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Nessie Spotting at Loch Ness & Hairy Coos!
Today is going to be a whirlwind touring day! We have booked a full day tour with Happy Tours – Culloden Battlefield and Loch Ness Tours. Driving on the opposite side of the car and the opposite side of the road isn’t hard and it is fun, but it requires full attention and it is…
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Edinburgh to Isle of Skye
The four of us took the bus to Waverly Train Station this morning to pick up our rental car for the next part of our adventure. R and I dropped a couple bags off at Excess Baggage inside the station to pick up when we return. Since the four of us are going to be…
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Scottish Parliament and a Happy Birthday from Chef Gordon Ramsay
The Scottish Parliament building is directly across the street from the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The return of a Scottish Parliament in Scotland was warmly welcomed but the building itself has been the source of both political and public ire. Original estimates projected a cost between £10 million and £40 million. Spanish architect Enric Miralles’s design…
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Live like Royalty at the Palace of Holyroodhouse
We had breakfast at the AirBnB consisting of meat pies I purchased from W Christie Family Butchers. W Christie is a charming butcher shop just down the street from where we are staying. They offer a variety of meats, in traditional butcher fashion, as well as jams, jellies, and oils. My personal favorite, though, are…
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Walking through time at Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is incredible! Unlike some castles which require more imagination to envision how they would look a few hundred years ago, Edinburgh Castle remains intact and there is much to see here. I suggest booking tickets in advance and allowing a good three hours to properly see everything, more in summer months with heavier…
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Scottish Design Exchange and Edinburgh Gin
The Scottish Design Exchange is a must visit for excellent Scottish souvenirs! I stumbled across this gem in my research for the trip and it did not disappoint. Located on George Street, SDE is a short walk from Edinburgh Old Town and the Royal Mile. The storefront is a co-op-like take on retail in which…
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Exploring Edinburgh
This morning I found a lovely little family owned café just across the street from our AirBnB called Brunchfield Place. R and I popped in and enjoyed a small breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, potato scone (this ate more like a pita bread and less like the scone I was expecting but it was tasty),…
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A Round of Golf at the Home of Golf
Today is St. Andrews day! The drive to St. Andrews from Edinburgh takes just under two hours. We plan to spend the day doing all things golf at the home of golf! St. Andrews Links is compromised of seven courses; the Old Course (circa 1400), New Course (circa 1895), Jubilee Course (circa 1897), Eden Course…
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Whiskey Makers’ Tour at Glenturret Distillery
Scotland’s oldest working distillery, Glenturret is beautifully nestled in the foothills of Crieff. You drive through lovely golf courses nestled in the countryside before ultimately arriving at Glenturret. The distillery’s earliest rental documents date to 1763 and an honor roll of writers, poets, Prime Ministers, and skilled and dedicated distillers speak to its legacy. The…
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Rosslyn Chapel, The Kelpies, & Stirling Castle
The Caledonian Sleeper train arrived in Edinburgh at roughly 8am and we quickly disembarked and collected our luggage. Waverly Station is undergoing renovations and the new rental car facility is about a 10 minute walk from the terminal. The signage is a bit misleading with the renovations but we eventually located the rental facility and…
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London, England to Edinburgh, Scotland
After a much needed night of rest, we began the day without a plan. We have several options of things we could do and we purposely left today open because we weren’t sure how we would feel with the time difference and jet lag. R slept in a bit while I researched some of our…
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The Distillery – Notting Hill
Tons of places in London started distilling gin in recent years and The Distillery on Portobello Road is one example. What sets The Distillery apart is the variety of tasting/experiences they offer. We signed up for The Ginstitute experience which includes a history of gin, tasting experience, and the opportunity to make your own unique…
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River Thames, Big Ben, and Churchill War Rooms
I’m feeling a little more human this morning after a full night of sleep. Our first stop today is a visit to the Churchill War Rooms. We took the bus/walked to Westminster. Crossing the River Thames via the Westminster Bridge offers beautiful views of Big Ben, Parliament, and the London Eye. We popped into a…
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London, we have arrived for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
I don’t know what day it is and I’m not sure if I want breakfast or dinner (or another 5 hours of sleep!) but we are in London! I was able to get some sleep on the plane, though not as much as I would have preferred, and R didn’t get much sleep at all.…
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Atlanta, GA and International Airspace
R and I are embarking on another international adventure! This year marks our fifth wedding anniversary and we decided to take a trip to celebrate. We typically take a one-week annual vacation and we opted to combine these events for a two-week vacation to London and Scotland! We are going to meet friends in London…
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Day 6 mother-daughter trip … homeward bound
We go home today … womp, womp. It really has been a great trip and wonderful to spend one-on-one time with Mom! This morning we re-fueled the rental car, returned the car, took the shuttle to the terminal, then cleared security. We were through security quite quickly and still had over three hours until our…
Travel with Fleming 