Savannah, GA: What a walking city!

Savannah, GA is honestly one of the most beautiful cities I have ever had the opportunity to wander around. The trees, the architecture, the fountains, the parks... oh, so many parks. I felt like every couple of blocks there was another square with another park!

Savannah actually has 24 squares total, one of which - Chippewa Square - happens to be famous for the legendary movie Forrest Gump. You can read more about that here, but of course most everyone knows his famous "Life is like a box of chocolates," line.

Once you've wandered around the parks, a stroll by the waterfront could be lovely! I really enjoyed watching the huge liners piled high with shipping containers gliding in and out of the city.  There are a few restaurants down there where you can sit outside and watch; if you're with a friend or a partner like I was, it's a great area to split a bottle of bubbly!

Speaking of a bottle of bubbly, did I mention that Savannah has open container laws? You can actually order a glass of wine or a beer in a cup to go and bring it with you!

So how perfect is that?! Grab a glass of wine and have a beautiful wander.

Take your time to enjoy the countless fountains all over the city. Each square has a little piece of Savannah history documented, so there's plenty of history to learn.

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is down there, so you know you're gonna find a ton of original artwork to check out.

The weather is gorgeous throughout most of the year, nice and sunny and warm; so if you're like me and half the year is a bit on the cold and damp side, it's a perfect little mini-vacation spot down in the south.

I highly recommend you leave time in your trip to Savannah to let yourself walk and wander and take it all in. It's a really beautiful small city with lots to see!

Savannah, GA: The Olde Pink House

There's something really magical about an all-pink-everything institution like The Olde Pink House. When I say all pink, I mean it. Pink walls, inside and out. Pink menus. It's like they knew 'millennial pink' was going to be a thing before it ever was! 

But, really... this place is quintessential old-school charm Savannah. It can be tight to get a reservation, but I'm certain it would be worth it. We did have a reservation, and we (perhaps foolishly) gave it up at the last minute. We just wanted to hang out at the bar and enjoy some appetizers in lieu of full entrees. While I'm sure on another evening a full dinner here would have been very special, we really just wanted some shrimp n' grits and a couple of drinks.

Of course I had to enjoy some rosé! The weather outside was hot, and, let's be real... when you're in a pink house, you enjoy a pink drink!

The shrimp and grits were absolutely delicious, super creamy and cheesy. AKA: everything I look for and more when I'm on vacation in the south.

It was the perfect, laid back evening. The bartender was friendly and conversational, the atmosphere was very comfortable and a bit whimsical.

If/when we return to Savannah, we'll be sure to stop by again! Maybe even for a full dinner...?

Daydreaming about Washington...

As I mentally gear up for my trip to Washington in late July/August, I'm revisiting old photos and writings on my past visits.

My older sister lives outside of Seattle and I pack up and fly out once or twice a year to visit!

I thought I'd share some of my favorite moments out west!

First up: Orcas Island.

Orcas Island is part of the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington and Canada. The water is rich in blues and greens, the sky is beautiful and vast, and the trees tower like giants.

Last year on my 25th birthday trip out there, we spent a full four or five days... I honestly can't think of any other word than "paradise" to describe it. Orcas Island was like the perfect balance between what I imagine the island-life of Hawaii to be, mixed and mashed with what I know  Vermont to be.

A must-visit on the island is the incredible Orcas Island Pottery. My absolute favorite mug and bowl came from there! Not to mention some adorable bumble bee and lady bug friends for my plants.

While I won't be heading back on this trip, I have such fond memories of my time there. I can't wait to revisit again someday!

Next up: Snoqualmie, Washington's Salish Lodge And Spa... specifically their brunch with coffee service.

...and one of the best Bloody Marys I've ever had!

The food was so delicious, I dug right in without taking a single picture. You know that's something special.

Finally (for now) is Issaquah Brew House. Owned by Rogue Ales (headquartered in Oregon), they offer a real Rogue brewery experience without the hike down to Ashland. Amazing beers, delicious rum, and tasty barfood makes for a delightful evening with friends and family!

If you're interested in Washington adventures, I'll have more memories to share soon enough, and new stories to tell in the late summer!

Have you visited/do you live in Washington? If so, what would you consider a few of the must-sees?

Something to do in... Philadelphia, PA

Ah, Philly... what a beautiful city! It's most definitely one of the cleanest cities I've ever visited, not to mention it's rich with art, history, and phenomenal food.

If you want to see some incredible architecture, say hello to William Tell atop City Hall.

There's something very cozy and sweet about the city. Most of its buildings are on the shorter, older side. Most of the renovations throughout the city showcase its original details.

Greened copper, artistic carvings and sculptures... not to mention the cathedrals and incredible fountains!

And if you have time, swing by some of the art galleries of the many art schools in the area. We took a wander through the exhibit at Moore College of Art And Design. It's totally free and totally delightful.

If you're feeling peckish, take a wander through Reading Terminal Market! While there, I found MeltKraft Grilled Cheese to be aaaaaboslutely delicious.

If your sweet tooth is calling and you could use a cup of coffee, swing by Beiler's Donuts for one of the best glazed donuts I've ever had in my life. I actually went back on a second day to bring home a dozen!

The Happiest Place On Earth

Today I'm going to share a bit about Disney World's Magic Kingdom. After seeing it in person for the first time in my life (as an adult), I have two important things to put out there:

1. I now understand what people mean when they say it's important to experience Disney as an adult.
2. I also understand what people mean when they question why anyone would go to Disney without having children of their own.

Magic Kingdom is really one of those especially kid-friendly parks for sure. The only way you'll have a drop of alcohol in this park is at a select few restaurants.

(By a select few restaurants, I mean that the only place I saw any alcohol was at The Beast's 'Be Our Guest' restaurant.)

I definitely had a select few favorites from this park, though. As far as rides go, I'm not one for rollercoasters... I did find it fun standing on the bridge next to Splash Mountain to get a bit soaked while watching others scream at the drop.

I think that the three rides I spent the most time on would hands down be The Haunted Mansion (soooooo cool), The Mad Tea Party (aka: spinning teacups, my long-time fave), and The PeopleMover.

I'm not sure if The Tomorrowland Transit Authority's PeopleMover really counts as a ride per se, but I absolutely loved it. This one will give you a grand tour of Tomorrowland from up above. It's super awesome for people watching and, for someone who's much to weak-stomached and scared to go on Space Mountain, it gives you a small glimpse into the ride without actually going on it.

I loved seeing Stitch (from Lilo and Stitch) all over Tomorrowland, but throughout the rest of the park, I found myself a smidge disappointed.

Most of my favorite movies and princesses were a bit underrepresented. Rapunzel, from Tangled, is one of my absolute favorite Disney movies.

Looks pretty magical, right? The kingdom from Tangled is actually relegated to... wait for it... bathrooms. Yep. With thoughts of dancing around the lantern-strung pavilion in my head, you can imagine how much of a disappointment that was.

The only tribute to Brave with Merida was the little alcove designed for her to take photos and meet young fans, and I saw little-to-no evidence of an homage to Pocahontas in any of the parks, and definitely not within The Magic Kingdom.

Speaking of which, other must-sees in the park? Definitely the Wishes Nighttime Spectacuar firework show... I think it may have been one of my number-one favorites from the park! The Main Street Electrical Parade was an awesome sight as well. My favorite float from that parade was hands-down Tinker Bell on top of the dragon.

Honorable mentions for favorite floats would be the Peter Pan float with Princess Tigerlily, The Seven Dwarfs mining away for gems, and Pan fighting Hook on the illuminated ship. Oh, and all of the Alice In Wonderland floats! Maaassive mushrooms and a hookah smoking caterpillar... gliding through Main Street USA in Disney.

The last, and possibly most important, highlight would be the Dole Whip in Adventureland. I enjoyed every last bite of my Dole Whip while waiting in line for the Pirates Of The Caribbean ride not far from the stand!).