International Travel
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Barcelona: 4 Day Intinerary
We just returned from 8 Days in Spain and it was wonderful! Our daughter and I traveled to Italy last summer and were excited to bring the boys back for a European summer this year. Just as we did when the four of us visited Portugal (Lisbon & The Algarve), we broke the trip up into a city visit and coastal exploration. And just like before, we sort of wished for one day less in the city and one more beachside. Per usual, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start with our action packed 4 days in Barcelona.
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3 Days in Tossa de Mar
What a literal breath of fresh air! Tossa de Mar has my heart. I absolutely loved our time in this village complete with stunning water and beaches, hiking, kayaking, a million adorable restaurants and cafes… oh, and a fortified medieval town (Vila Vella) . And the people were so nice! Highly recommend. Tossa de Mar is about a 1.5 hour car or bus ride from Barcelona and is part of Costa Brava. I had originally planned on our family taking a day trip to check out some other towns in Costa Brava. However, upon setting foot in Tossa de Mar we were in immediate agreement that we would just stay…
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What to Do in Montreal
Let me begin by saying that if you enjoy discovering new restaurants, boutique shopping, and gallery browsing, then Montreal is for you. I have never been to a city where I want to step inside every single restaurant because the food looks delicious and the ambience is on point. There were two major shopping areas that our daughter and I hit up while the boys found the cutest little village to fish in. Read on for more details on What to Do and Where to Eat. What to Do in Montreal It took us a minute to figure our what to do with our tween and teen in Montreal. R…
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Italy in a Week
Italy in a Week What a whirlwind! One week I was express renewing my passport in Chicago and heading to Montreal with our family of four, and the next our daughter and I were in Italy. It came together quickly and was absolutely perfect. Read on to learn about our time in Florence, Lucca, and Rome.
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The Algarve in 3 Days
The Algarve has my heart. Its limestone cliffs with red sandstone layers and beautiful blue water combined with a multitude of outdoor activities made for a dreamlike vacation. As with Lisbon, the people were the true stars of the trip. Their kindness, helpfulness, and genuine enjoyment of life are not to be missed (and definitely were not taken for granted).
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Lisbon in 5 Days
I have said it before (to literally anyone who will listen lol) and I will say it again. For us, it was the people. The tiles of Lisbon are stunning and true works of art. The cliffs and gorgeous waters of The Algarve lead to audible gasps. But, the most inspiring part of our trip was the Portuguese people. We were greeted with genuine kindness and understanding and patience again and again and again. And since it is difficult to put into words the feeling of a place, you will just have to go to experience it for yourselves! In the meantime, here is a guide of things that you…
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Spring Vacation Outfit Packing List
We are headed out on our longest trip as a family. Nine days away, no access to convenient laundry. This most certainly calls for a Vacation Outfit Packing List. The weather is supposed to be in the mid 60s. We will be walking a lot. Hopefully, some light hiking too. Nothing too fancy but maybe an outfit or two for a nicer dinner. Anyway, here is the packing list. (I’ll probably refer to a version of it for the kids too but kids can really get away with any outfit. They already have their favorites that they wear regardless of the weather, so there is that lol.) I like that…
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A Guide to Paradise Island, Bahamas
If you have been with me awhile, you know that Paradise Island, Bahamas, is one of my all time favorite places to visit. It lives up to its name and is pure paradise to me. I’ve been traveling to the island since I was eleven years old. Things have changed quite a bit over time but it still feels like vacation home.
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Mackinaw Road Monday: Frank, Hamilton, and an Ostrich
Hi there and Happy Monday! Once again, we will be starting the week covering five topics on Mackinaw Road Monday. This week the topics include Hamilton, Frank Lloyd Wright, a fabulous local artist, a piece of clothing essentials, and links to 2019’s top posts.
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Friday Finds on Mackinaw Road: Andre, the Enneagram, and a Pink Fridge
Hi and Happy Friday! Welcome to a place where we talk about all of the discoveries of the week. This week we will once again be covering five topics in short form. This week includes mention of the enneagram, a cute llama, turquoise water, a plant that makes me look good, and some delicious lasagna! I’m so excited about the Art category this week. I adore art and would love to have more of it our home. And there are just so many wonderful local artists. So, for this topic, I’d love to introduce some of my favorites/most coveted pieces of art during the Friday Finds on Mackinaw Road…
