After a wonderful night’s sleep, it is time to explore more of Freeport, Maine. Are you ready for day 2?
You never know what to expect with breakfast, but at the Harraseeket Inn breakfast is no joke. They have a huge selection of eggs, home fries, blueberry pancakes, yogurts, pastries, fresh fruit, and much more. You must try their granola! It was the perfect way to start the day.
One of my favorite destinations in Maine is the coastal town of Freeport. It oozes New England charm and has everything I could want in a vacation…the ocean, restaurants, boutiques, farms, and lots of outdoor activities. This itinerary can easily be used for a family trip, girls’ weekend, or a romantic escape.
When staying in Freeport, there is only one place I stay…The Harraseeket Inn. It has cozy rooms, a delicious on-site restaurant, and is the perfect location to call your home. However, what keeps me coming back to the inn is the staff. They are attentive without being invasive and they welcome you to the inn like it is their home. Drop your bags in your room and take a quick peek around the inn.
(Read my full review of the inn.)
162 Main Street. Freeport, Maine 04032
Since my husband is part Irish, Ireland was a trip we’d been wanting to take for years, and I’m so glad we had the hance to take the girls. Ireland is a magical destination filled with historic castles, jaw-dropping landscapes, and charming towns. This 8-day Ireland itinerary takes you through the Emerald Isle’s most iconic sites, from the legendary Cliffs of Moher to the vibrant streets of Dublin. Along the way, indulge in local Irish cuisine like fresh seafood chowder, hearty stews, and, of course, a pint of Guinness. With its mix of history, natural beauty, and warm hospitality, Ireland promises an unforgettable adventure.
Driving was insane! Cars drive on the left side of the road with the steering wheel on the right side of the car. As if that is not bad enough, I can’t stress how narrow the roads are. Lots of people told us that before we went…actually everyone mentioned it…and I can see why. My neck hurt at the end of the day from leaning to the right the whole time. I could never drive there but my husband looked like a pro.
The best place to fly in is Dublin Airport (DUB), which services the eastern counties, Cork Airport (ORK), servicing the southern counties, and Shannon Airport (SNN), serving the western
Photo credit: Barcelona Edition
Day 2
Day 1 was a perfect introduction to Barcelona, Spain, so I couldn’t wait to explore the city more today.
Day 2 started off was a trip PARK GUELL. If you’re looking for a place to truly see the masterpieces of Antoni Gaudi, a Spanish architect and an overall hero in Barcelona, Park Gϋell is the place you’ll want to be. (Read our full review of the park here.)
From there you can walk to the ARC DE TRIUMF. Take some pictures and admire the architecture of this beautiful entrance to the park.
Walk through the park and watch the street performers and artists. Cross the street and enter the PARK DE LA CIUTADELLA. Enjoy the beauty of the park and find the famous fountain.
Since it’s time for some lunch, it’s also time to walk around the GOTHIC QUARTERS. This section of town is filled with historic buildings and mazes of adorable streets. Find somewhere that serves lunch outside and have some sangria. After lunch, keep walking around stopping for a cocktail, some gelato, or souvenir shopping. It is the best place to people watch. (Read my full review here!)
In the Gothic Quarters, head toward the CATHEDRAL OF BARCELONA. There is often street performers and musicians playing in the square. Take a peek inside the church.
Next, take a short walk to see the PONTE DEL BISBE. You need to get a picture of this beautiful archway.
This would be a good time to head back to the Hotel Barcelona (if you’re staying there). Have a rest or go up to the rooftop to read, relax, have a swim, or drink a cocktail.
Dinners is at EUSKAL ETXEA. At this authentic tapas restaurant, you can eat as many tapas as you’d like and at the end of your meal, they will count up the toothpicks to see how much you owe. It’s a great way to try new tapas.
After dinner, head over to the PALAU DALMASES FLAMENCO SHOW. Watch some amazing musicians, singers, and dancers put on a passionate show. (Read my full review here!)
On the way home, stop for a drink in a local pub. Still hungry? Find a place with outdoor seating and share some paella.
I was so excited to join my husband on a trip to Barcelona, Spain, to celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary, even if we would only be there for a few days. Here is my itinerary of how we spent two days on a romantic (kid-free) trip to Barcelona: Cheers!
The best place to fly in is Barcelona International Airport
CLICK HERE TO FIND AN AMAZING FLIGHT
DAY 1
After getting a good night’s sleep at our hotel, the Barcelona Edition (Read a full review of our stay here), we were ready to get out and explore the city.
The Barcelona Edition is the perfect location for exploring the city and it has some amazing features…I’ll talk more about those later.
Ok…time to get moving!
First stop of the day was to the SAGRADA FAMILIA. One name you will hear repeated throughout your visit in Barcelona, is of the Catalonian architect, Antoni Gaudi. He is a hero in these parts and after taking one look at his creations, you’ll see why. Sagrada Familia, a Roman Catholic church, is one of Gaudi’s most famous creations. It is hands-down the most beautiful church I’ve ever seen. (Read my full review here!)
Planning some trips are a piece of cake because there are obvious attractions you go to, but I’ve got to admit that planning a weekend in Napa was pretty tricky. With over 400 wineries in Napa, everyone had an opinion of which one you should go to. I started to stress because I didn’t want to miss out, but I finally told myself that missing some good wineries would give me the perfect excuse to go back. Here is my Romantic Weekend in Napa Itinerary. Cheers!
The best place to fly in is Oakland International Airport, 50 miles south. & San Francisco International Airport, 55 miles south.
Napa County Airport is the closest airport to Napa.
CLICK HERE TO FIND AN AMAZING FLIGHT
DAY 1
After spending a lovely night in San Francisco at the Hotel Zetta (Read all about our stay here), we took an Uber up to Napa.
We checked into the fabulous Hotel Archer, located right in downtown Napa. The Archer is located within walking distance to over 20 tasting rooms, cute boutiques, and trendy restaurants. As soon as we walked through the doors, I knew we made a good hotel choice!
We couldn’t be happier with our room selection!
The start of a new year is always a good time for reflection and I can’t help looking back at the amazing memories we’ve made together as a family throughout the years. I get lots of emails asking for recommendations of where people should vacation, so I thought since it’s 2020 I would share my top 20 places I’ve traveled to. I’ve also included some of the things we did while we were there. I’ve LOVED all these places (they’re in no particular order) and they would all make perfect destinations for family travel. For a full itinerary, take a peek at ITINERARIES in my main menu.
Wishing you a year of happiness, health, and adventure!
Walked under a waterfall, rode Icelandic horses, hiked into the mountains to find a hidden hot spring, stood on top of icebergs, took a boat to see puffin, did the Golden Circle, went swimming in the Blue Lagoon.
Kissed the Blarney Stone, flew hawks in the woods of a castle, saw the Cliffs of Moher, Rock of Cashel, Jerpoint Abbey, Kilkenny Castle, explored Malahide, went to a medieval banquet in a castle, drank Guinness in Dublin.
Saw the best sunset of our lives, went swimming in the hot springs, Red Rock Beach, Kamari Beach, swam in Amoudi Bay, snorkeled off of White Beach, explored the gorgeous maze of streets.
The start of the school year has gone off with a bang…theater rehearsals, soccer practice, homework, tests, and even a fractured foot for one of my kiddos. October was looking to be even more crazy, so I was thrilled to head to Vermont for a little relaxation. My tires practically burned as a sped off with my music blasting for my three-hour drive to one of my favorite states. I love autumn in New England and was thrilled to see that the leaves were just starting their dazzling display of colors.
Let me show you how to spend 2 perfect days in Stowe, Vermont…
Day 1: (Mine was a Sunday)
Your first stop is to Cold Hollow Cider Mill. There is an explosion on your senses as you walk through the door. There are so many locally-made products that you won’t know where to look first. I loved that they have a beehive there enclosed in glass (pic) and you can actually buy honey that is produced by these bees. I can’t wait to taste some.
Since it is a cider mill, you have to taste their warm cider donuts. What? It’s not like you have a choice…lol! Head on over to their Apple Core Luncheonette and Brew. Try the “Vermont To the Core” (bacon, apple slices, cheddar and apple jelly) and a glass of their hard cider, Barn Dance. (You may want to pick up some cans or a growler to bring home!)
If you’re lucky enough to be there on a Sunday, drive to the Stowe Farmer’s Market that takes place from 10:30-3:00. Everything is made local…soap, dips, cheese, wooden trays, pottery, wine, honey, jewelry…endless! There is even live music.
I woke up early at the Berry Manor Inn, made myself a cup of coffee, and jumped back in bed to enjoy it by the fire. (Hey…when my kiddos are not around, I take every chance at relaxation!)
After a delicious breakfast at the inn, we headed to the Friends of Maine Coastal Islands Wildlife Refuge Gallery. Their mission is to help conserve, protect, and enhance the rich diversity of coastal habitats, seabirds, and other wildlife in Maine.
They have a fantastic map of seabird nesting islands off the coast of Maine. I often forget just how vast the coastline is. In fact, Maine has more coastline than California!
There were beautiful works of art. I loved this wooden piece of clouds with the moon peeking out.
Last spring, I had the opportunity to join several other travel influencers to experience The Heart of Maine’s Art Scene, in Rockland, Maine. We had such a great time traveling to this gorgeous coastal town. We were hosted by the nicest people who all took time out of their busy schedules to share their love for Rockland. Also traveling with us was Cait Bourgault, an amazing photographer, and she captured so many fun moments. (Check out her website: www.caitbourgault.com)
It’s not common for me to have an itinerary made for me, and it was so nice to sit back and not have to plan a thing. Here is what we did on our trip. Enjoy!
We started our day at the Maine Lighthouse Museum. I love lighthouses and always stop to take pictures of them, so I was happy this was our first stop. I loved seeing the pennies on the floor showing where the Maine lighthouses were!
The museum had so many fun pieces. This one rotates.
After our drive from Portland, we needed to get some food into us, so we were treated to Clan McLaren for lunch. This hip spot served delicious sandwiches and salads. I had a chicken salad called the Lorelei, and it was so good I’ve tried to replicate it at home.
Our first stop on our art tour of Rockland, Maine was the striking new home of CMCA, designed by architect Toshiko Mori. The building is a work of art itself, with its 11,500 square foot building with 5,500 square feet of exhibition space.