Tag: Travel Guide

The Ultimate Travel Guide for Boulder, Colorado

Washington DC Just in Time for the Cherry Blossoms – The Travel Brats

Visit the White HouseWhile you can't actually enter the White House, you can take a self-guided tour of the grounds and snap some photos of the iconic facade. The Smithsonian MuseumsThe Smithsonian Institution is home to 19 museums, galleries, and the National Zoo. Whether you're interested in art, history, or science, the museums offer something for everyone. Some of the most popular Smithsonian museums include the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural History, and the National Portrait Gallery. National Museum of American historyThe First Ladies’ inaugural dress exhibit was one of my personal favorites at the National Museum of American history. This exhibit also included pieces of china from some of the presidential administrations. The National Archives MuseumThe National Archives were fascinating, and seeing the actual constitution was surreal. Don't forget – no pictures!The Monuments and MemorialsNo visit to DC is complete without seeing the city's monuments and memorials. With their mighty stone pillars, delicate engravings, and somber yet heroic sculptures, I was in awe. All within walking distance, the monuments were the highlight of my trip. My favorites were the Lincoln Memorial, the WWII Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the Washington Monument. The Lincoln MemorialThis iconic monument was built to honor the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln. It's a great place to reflect on American history and enjoy stunning views of the city. The National MallThe National Mall is an iconic green space stretching for two miles between the Lincoln Memorial and the US Capitol Building. Here, you can explore a variety of monuments, memorials, and museums, as well as take in stunning views of the city skyline. The National Gallery of ArtA close second on my highlights, right up with the Monuments, was the Washington National Art Gallery. This incredible museum houses a world-class collection of artworks, from ancient to modern. Whether you're a painting, sculpture, or photography fan, you'll find something to admire here. From Monet to Dega, this has one of the most spectacular art collections in not only the country but the world. It was so stunning we got stuck in there for an entire day from opening to close.Washington National CathedralMy husband's favorite stop on our DC adventure was the Washington National Cathedral. Washington National Cathedral is an iconic landmark of the nation's capital. Located in Northwest Washington, DC, it is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city. The cathedral has a long and rich history, built in 1907 and dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1912. It is a Gothic-style structure built in the tradition of classic European cathedrals. It is one of the largest and most impressive churches in the world, standing at the height of 300 feet and with a length of 600 feet. The interior is breathtaking, with its ornate details, including stained glass windows, intricate carvings, and marble pillars. The cathedral is also home to many important national events, including the funerals of presidents, state funerals, the National Prayer Breakfast, and royal visits. It is also the site of special events such as concerts, lectures, and services. The cathedral is also home to a number of significant monuments, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which honors those who lost their lives in World War I, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. We took a tour, came just in time for an organ demonstration, and returned after dinner for evensong. The music was spectacular.Capitol HillCapitol Hill is one of the most iconic neighborhoods in the United States. Located in the heart of Washington, DC, it is home to the US Capitol building and a host of other important national landmarks. The area is steeped in history, and its streets are lined with many of the city's most impressive monuments, memorials, and government buildings. For visitors, Capitol Hill offers a variety of attractions, including the US Capitol building, the National Mall, and the Smithsonian Museum. Tourists can explore the area's many museums, galleries, and monuments or take a walking tour of the historic buildings and monuments that line the streets. Capitol Hill is also home to a vibrant nightlife, with many of the city's hottest restaurants, bars, and clubs.Check out the National ZooThe National Zoo is home to a variety of animals, from pandas to tigers. It's a great place to take the kids for a fun and educational day out. The Museum of the BibleLocated just blocks away from the National Mall and the White House, the Museum of the Bible offers eight floors of interactive exhibits, displays, and educational experiences that tell the story of the Bible and its influence on our world. The museum's mission is to invite all people to engage with the Bible through a unique and interactive museum experience. Visitors can explore the Bible's history, its impact on world cultures, its influence on art, music, and literature, and the ways it has changed the lives of millions of people.WeatherMy husband and I visited DC in October, and the weather was freezing and drizzly when we arrived, but as soon as we went to Marshalls and got hats, coats, and scarves, the next two days were sunny and in the 60s & 70s. When you go to DC, check the weather, especially if you are going in the Spring or the Fall. Weather can still be very uncertain at those times of the year. However, the most beautiful time to visit is in April, during the blooming of the cherry blossoms. Where to StayI recommend staying in Georgetown. This way, you can walk anywhere and don't rent a car, just uber. The city is so beautiful that walking is an event in itself. We started our adventure by staying our first two nights at the Westin in the heart of Washington, within a 10-minute drive of the Smithsonian, the National Zoo, and the White House. This 4-star hotel is 1.2 mi from Capital One Arena and 1.3 mi from National Mall. This Westin had a tiny yet cozy room and a great bathroom with a soaking tub.Then we moved to the Glover Park inn for some different scenery. Glover was artsier with a spacious room, a lovely dining area, and a shabby chic vibe. On the downside, it was further out from all the attractions except for the Washington National Cathedral.We ended our adventure by staying in the Royal Sonesta. This spot was in another artsy nook of DC that had a very cool 70s vibe, and our room had a super nice bathroom.The three other hotels we recommend are the River Inn, the Lombardy, and the Modus Hotel. Best EatsWe ate some of the best food I had all year when we were in DC, from GCDC grilled cheese sandwiches to Chef Geoffs for a fabulous outdoor lunch, Circa for dinner, and Captain Cookie & the Milk Man for a late-night snack; we ate our way through DC and loved every minute of it. Some other note-worthy restaurants were Bindaas & Juniper, Roti (lunch), North Italia (dinner), Tonic At Quigley's (lunch) & GW Delicatessen (lunch).The National Theater & the Kennedy CenterThere are many theaters in DC, but my two favorites are the National Theater and the Kennedy Center. We went to the National Theater on this trip to see the Tina Turner Musical, and the show was spectacular. The entire production was phenomenal, from the lights, sound, and actors. This was, hands down, one of my favorite theaters of all time because it was smaller than the Kennedy center but tactfully designed to be just as grand. The entire staff was so friendly, and we sat in the center bottom row. It was the best seat in the house!If you happen to be traveling to DC in April for the Cherry Blossoms, and like the weather, the National Theater has some must-see shows coming up; Jagged Little Pill (March 14-26), My Fair Lady (April 6- 9), Disney's Aladdin (April 19-30), and Beetlejuice (May 16-28). Walk over early, and you can visit the WWI memorial, which sits right outside.As soon as we left DC, I was dying to go back. From the tall, proud monuments and rich history to the melting pot of people and the exciting city life, I could even see myself loving DC as home.
  1. Washington DC Just in Time for the Cherry Blossoms
  2. How To Suit Up For Ski Season
  3. Southwest Florida's Best Picks for Date Night Spots in February
  4. Cordbrick Giveaway
  5. How To Keep Your Cords Organized with CordBrick
Photo by Martin Alargent on Pexels.com

As many of you know, that I co-created the “Who Wear There” Podcast with my wonderful friend, Sofia. I love to share these resources with my followers on Thoughtful Blonde, so here’s the run down – In episode 33, The Travel Brats interview the lovely and well-rounded, Suzi, who is well versed in all things Boulder, Colorado, skiing, adventuring, breweries, and yummy places to eat. In this episode, Suzi shares her insight about making the most out of your Colorado trip by showcasing the best local eateries, CU Campus, biking and skiing hot spots, and must dos.

Travel Brats asked: “Where are we talking about today?”

Suzi said:

“Boulder is a city at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, in northern Colorado. To the west, are the Flatirons which are craggy rock formations overlooking the city. Downtown’s is the pedestrian Pearl Street Mall which includes art galleries, cafes, restaurants and boutiques. To the north, about 45 minutes away is Rocky Mountain National Park and to the south/southeast is Golden and Denver.Fantastic skiing exits 90 minutes away with half a dozen world class ski resorts nearby.

Boulder is home to the main campus of the University of Colorado, the state’s largest university. The city frequently receives high rankings in art, health, well-being, quality of life, and education.

Boulder was a popular hippie town in the 1960s and re-invented itself as an affluent outdoorsy town, but it’s still very rooted in its hippie traditions.” 

Travel Brats asked: “Who lives there? What’s the environment like?”

Today, there’s lots of organic, natural items, as well as a number of breweries, and lots of great restaurants. “I like to say all the hippies had to grow up and wanted education and outdoor recreation for their children.

Additionally, there are world class road cyclists, skiers, and climbers that call Boulder home. Both NOAA and NIST have sites in Boulder and most recently, many tech companies have moved to Boulder and even Google has a large campus in town.”

Travel Brats asked: “What are the best things to do there?”

Suzi said: 

  • Lots of road biking – anywhere on the Front Range as well as climbing into the mountains.
  • Lots of mountain biking – generally one must go up and then come down. Single track and dirt roads.
  • Lots of climbers – seek out Boulder to climb year round
  • Lots of hiking – can be either flat or up the mountain. Lots of trails from Golden to Lyons. 
  • Climbing the Flatirons from Chautauqua http://www.protrails.com/trail/138/boulder-denver-golden-fort-collins-lyons-flatiron-1 is a favorite tourist To Do.

Travel Brats asked “ What are more things to do along with the best hikes in Boulder?

Suzi said: 

Suzi continued on to say:

“What you find in Boulder is that everybody does everything meaning most folks do hike, bike, ski, climb, and anything else outdoors. The Pearl Street Mall https://www.pearlstreetmall.com/ is a pedestrian mall that has lots of restaurants and shop. Both locals and tourists alike will be on “the mall”. The “hill” is a subsection of Boulder where the CU Boulder students congregate or hang out. Generally, most locals stay away from the “hill” since that area of town borders the CU campus.”

Travel Brats then asked the infamous question — “Where should you eat there?” 

Suzi said: 

“Favorite Breakfast Spots:

Walnut Cafe – on 30th – known for great pie https://www.walnutcafe.com/

The Buff – great coffee & skillets https://www.buffrestaurant.com/

Dougs Diner – awesome breakfast bowls https://www.dougsdiner.com/

Snooze – nice casual & healthy https://www.snoozeeatery.com/branches/1733/snooze-boulder/

Village Inn – typical counter diner https://www.villageinn.com

Dot’s Diner – good diner https://www.dotsdinerboulder.com

Tangerine – a bit upscale with local food http://www.tangerineeats.com

Lots of Coffee shops – 

Ozo Coffee – https://ozocoffee.com

Amante – http://www.amantecoffee.com

Sole – https://www.facebook.com/caffe.sole.1/

Red Rocks – https://www.bouldercoloradousa.com/listings/red-rock-coffeehouse/2124/

Laughing Goat – https://www.thelaughinggoat.com

Tune Up in Full Cycle (Bike shop) – https://www.fullcyclebikes.com/about/the-tune-up-pg148.htm

Favorite Lunch Spots:

Le French Cafe – great lunch (crepe & salad) as well as breakfast. https://www.lefrenchcafeboulder.com

Snarf’s – great deli https://www.eatsnarfs.com

Backcountry Pizza and Taphouse – good happy hour https://www.facebook.com/Backcountrytaphouse/

Verde – Upscale Mexica https://www.verdeeatdrink.com/boulder

Favorite Dinner Spots:

Frasca – Foodie people – creative local food – Italian influence https://www.frascafoodandwine.com

Carelli’s – near Will Vill (dorm on campus) excellent traditional Italian with lots go great fish; awesome garlic toast https://carellis.com

Audrey Jane’s Pizza – carryout – to die for! Just on Diners & Drive in. https://www.thepizzagarage.com

The Kitchen & Kitchen Upstairs & Next Door – real food (Boulder, Denver, Chicago) https://www.thekitchenbistros.com/location/boulder-colorado/

Sushi: Zanmai or Japengo – Both on Pearl Street https://boulderdowntown.com/go/sushi-zanmaihttps://boulderjapango.com

Jax – Oyster Bar – a few in other CO cities https://www.jaxfishhouse.com/boulder/

The Cork – Old school steak house; great happy hour https://bouldercork.com

Favorite Breweries:

Avery Brewery – https://www.averybrewing.com

Gunbarrel – https://www.gunbarrelcenter.com

Upslope – both in town – snacks only – empanadas & soft pretzels https://www.upslopebrewing.com

Southern Sun and Mountain Sun – great beer, burgers, salads, buritto, nachos, & wings. Love the Colorado Kind (AMERICAN E.S.B 6.2% ABV) http://www.mountainsunpub.com/contact.htm

Twisted Pine – good appetizers  – pizza https://twistedpinebrewing.com

Oskar Blues Taproom – on Pearl Street. Solid! https://www.oskarblues.com/location/boulder-co-oskar-blues-taproom/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5K3JsImC7AIVieDICh3XrAuNEAAYASAAEgIuAfD_BwE

For more information on Boulder, listen to our podcast! Enjoy

https://www.instagram.com/thetravelbrats/

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Ironically, I Co-Created a Travel Podcast Right Before A Global Pandemic

For so long, I had wanted to create a podcast to pursue two of my greatest passions— travel and human connection. That’s why almost 4 years ago, I created Thoughtful Blonde as a platform to share, connect, collaborate, grow, and build community. When I got home from my time in Grenada, I knew it was time to take the leap and build a travel podcast that could serve as a new avenue to explore, create, and connect with more people than ever before, and let me tell you, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. 

So, I started to talking with one of my very best friends, Sofia, about the possibilities and opportunities of building something together because we all know two minds is greater than one. I again knew this would be the push I needed to put the plan into action, and so we did. We spent hours coming up with our goals, our mission, our vision, our name, new ideas, and who we’d want to have on our show. We both loved traveling and wanted that to be our sole purpose, to create a podcast that was informative, entertaining, and inspired others to travel further and wider. We wanted to talk in a way that was inclusive, and invites others to join in on the adventurous conversation. 

Bam, then came, the Who Wear There Podcast. 

We planned, and began learning all the Podcasting things we could before recording our first episode. So, we reached out to our network and had great support from our friends and peers, which was so immensely appreciated to get where we are now.

We recorded our very first episode on Valentines Day 2020 and a month later when we were only 4 episodes in, a global pandemic took over our everyday. We couldn’t leave our houses, let alone travel like we had planned, but we improvised and created something more beautiful and rewarding than we could have imagined. 

This travel podcast, although traveling this past 6 months has been minuscule, has reminded us why we love to explore, why we love to travel, and why we thrive off of human connection. Since then, we have published 30 episodes, hosted 20 guests, and created useful resources to connect the lovers of travel. We had to get creative because we no longer had a recording studio or the symplicity of gatherings, so we used Facetimes to plan, our phones to record, and got innovative to still feel the rush of the newness even from inside our own homes. 

If you are truly passionate about something, nothing stands in the way of creating and building, and we look forward to continuing to expand and explore. If you have traveled somewhere exciting or interesting or just want to chat about your travel insights or know someone who would be an excellent guest on our show, reach out to whowearthere@gmail.com or find us at: https://www.instagram.com/thetravelbrats/

Listen to our Podcast on Apple!

Episode 13: All Things Abacos Island, Bahamas with Andrew Morgan

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In Episode 13, The Travel Brats interviewed close friend, Andrew Morgan, to uncover the hidden gems, food recommendations, and fishing hot spots in Abacos Island, Bahamas. He shares his tips on how to make the most of out your Bahamian trip, best time to go, and how to stay safe!

Listen at Apple Podcast!

When in the Abacos Islands, he loves to visit and explore Elbow Caye and Hope Town. He recommends going in the summertime because that’s when it’s pretty busy and there are tons of activities to do; he also suggests going with family or friends, basically anyone who likes doing the same things as you so you can book fun day trips. The Bahamas are known for having a warm and welcoming culture, and the cays are a great places to delve into it. 

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Best place to stay: 

Rent a house and go to the local grocery stories; live like the locals

So you can check out places to rent: 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationRentals-g147424-Reviews-Great_Abaco_Island_Abaco_Islands_Out_Islands_Bahamas-Vacation_Rentals.html

https://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/caribbean/bahamas/abaco

Things to Do: 

Festivities and Activities:

Junkaknoo — a smaller version of mardi gras at Nassau https://www.bahamas.com/event/new-year’s-day-junkanoo-parade-abacos

Every island has its own band and they practice all year, drums trumpets, tubas, sticks, custom made costumes.

Jimmy Buffet Event: Margaritaville, free burgers and beers and everything with tons of boats and Mr. Buffet will fly in with his boat, every year, stage in the middle of the water

https://strandednaked.com

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Best Food To Eat:

  • Crab Conch or Conch Fritters
  • Conch Salad Raw conch, pounded down, a shot of rum and beer, with chips and salsa

Restaurants: 

Nippers, north end of guana cay. Crazy colors, right on the beach, pool you can hang at, it’s very beachy vibe and on Sundays, there is a pig roast, 25 pigs 500+ people, 9am until the parties go on late (frozen nipper: best drink rum, cranberry juice, gumbay punch: illegal in the US bc too much sugar. https://www.nippersbar.com

Pete’s Pub — get there by noon for food http://www.petespub.com

Firefly — Hotel/ Restaurant owned by the people who own Firefly vodka https://fireflysunsetresort.com

Local Drinks: 

Sea Spray

Gumbay Smash

Kalik Beer

Rum Runnas

Mud Slide

Hidden Gems Fishing Editions:

Kalamora Caye– https://www.kamalame.com

Crashed plane from the 80’ so it’s a sunken plane off the coast and you can dive into it, it’s only in 10 feet of water (try to find it)

DCIM103GOPRO

Tips to make the most out of a Bahamas trip:

Don’t take too many lobsters (no no, trouble)

Staying safe advice:

Traveling on boat, make sure to follow the GPS, don’t want to hit a reef, so pay attention to the navigation system

When diving, be aware of your surroundings and know where the boat is at all time

Don’t get too far from the boat, there are a lot of sharks and you may have to get back to the boat quickly 

If a shark swims towards you, don’t get so frantic and swim away, you are a friend, not food 

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Luxury Chicago Guide with the Travel Brats & Grandpa, Richard Komarek: Episode 5

 

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Listen on Apple Podcast

Chicago Facts & History— 

 (maybe help you win at trivia)

  • Chicago is located on the southwestern tip of Lake Michigan which is an inland sea 307 miles long and  118 miles wide.
  • French fur trappers coming south  along the shore of the Lake passed through the Chicago region as early as the 1780’s.
  • Jean Baptiste Point du Sable stayed, started a fur trading outpost  and is credited as the founder of the city.
  • It  stayed a wilderness outpost with a small fort, Fort Dearborn being built in 1803 and then being  abandoned a few years later. It wasn’t until 1833 that it was incorporated as a village.
  • Chicago then grew rapidly as the gateway to the westward expansion of the country. Huge quantities of logs from the North Woods were sent down the Lake and were processed into lumber needed for housing on the Great Plains and beyond. Manufactured goods came from the east. Everything went through Chicago. Grain from the surrounding farmland went East. By 1854 Chicago was the world’s largest grain port. 
  • By 1870 Chicago was the second largest city in the country.
  • Then disaster struck.  Because of the city’s rapid growth all, nearly all construction was wood rather than brick. In many places the sidewalks and even the streets were wood.
  • The fall of 1871 was hot and dry. On a windy day in October , legend has it that  Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern which started her barn on fire. From there the fire spread rapidly and soon engulfed much of the city. 
  • It was estimated that as many as 300 people were killed and 100,000 people were left homeless. The embers from the fire  were still warm, when the first load of rebuilding supplies arrived. With aid pouring in from all over the country and the world, Chicago rebuilt and went on to an even greater growth spurt, going from a population of 299,000 in 1870 to 1.7 million in 1900.
  • This rapid growth created opportunities that  attracted immigration from Europe that is still  reflected in much of the city’s population today,Polish, German, Italian to name  a few.
  • The recovery from the fire  also created a confidence and optimism in the population can still be felt today.

 

Top Restaurants

 

  • Les Nomades  222 E. Ontario. We love  Les Nomades for its creative French Cuisine and its friendly elegance without a trace of stuffiness.It is what you imagine a Parisian restaurant to be. http://www.lesnomades.net
  • Spiagia 980 N. Michigan Refined  Italian Cuisine with a great view of Lake Michigan.
  • Spiagia Café is a more casual version open for Lunch as well as Dinner

https://spiaggiarestaurant.com/about/cafe-spiaggia-story

  • River Roast  315 N La Salle  Roasted chicken, beef, pork and fish served family style. With great view of Chicago River. Brunch with some of the  City’s best Blues musicians playing.
  • https://www.riverroastchicago.com/#_home
  • Tratoria No. 10   at 10 N. Dearborn Italian American charming  setting reminiscent of a Renaissance cellar dining  hall.
  • http://www.trattoriaten.com

 

 Comfort Food: 

  • Portillo’s: Beef sandwiches ,Chicago style hot dogs  and Polish Sausages

https://www.portillos.com

 

  • Lou Malnati’s:  Thick crust Pizza

https://www.loumalnatis.com/chicago-old-irving-six-corners

 

Drinks:

 

  • London house hotel

https://londonhousechicago.com

 

 

Best Museums: 

  • Art Institute of Chicago 111 S. Michigan Great Collection of French Impressionists and Post Impressionists. 

Iconic American 20th century, Hopper’s Night Hawks, Grant Wood’s  American Gothic and much, much more.

https://www.artic.edu

App audio guide

 

  • Field Museum of Natural History: Sue the T-Rex now has her own room plus  new Maximo the Titanosaur , the largest land animal that ever lived, Our Evolving Planet , Egyptian exhibit and changing exhibits.

https://www.fieldmuseum.org

 

  • The Shed Aquarium and Adler Planetarium are on the same Museum Campus  as the Field Museum.

https://www.sheddaquarium.org

 

  • Museum of Science and Industry 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr.   Has a real German submarine from WWII. Coal Mine , many interesting  scientific exhibits and Imax Theater.

https://www.msichicago.org

 

Favorite Sport Teams: 

  • Cubs play at Wrigley Field Clark and Addison . Core of World series team still on the playing but maybe not for long see the while you can.

https://www.mlb.com/cubs/schedule

  • White Soxs play at Gauranteed Rate Field (Sox Park) 35 th Street and Shields Good young team coming together fun to  watch.

https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/tickets/single-game-tickets?mlbkw=ds-g-p30687924720&gclsrc=aw.ds&ds_rl=1236799&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0pfzBRCOARIsANi0g0uqcB2q7CeMc5e1Pkmwl1rrREtu3K_lNVo-D5pIGB-Wy0f57E5v_l8aAvjBEALw_wcByya 

 

 

  • NFL  Bears play at Soldier Field 

https://www.chicagobears.com

  • League Soccer: Chicago Fire Play at Soldier Field also 

https://www.soccer.com/shop/fan/teams/chicago-fire?gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0pfzBRCOARIsANi0g0vIfuuqpHXv6GZHNXnuTzh7VRUPONOWD_i__WMDFZZkfjm-KTlOTfkaAgvKEALw_wcB

                          

  • Bulls in NBA and Blackhawks in NHL play at United Center
  • SKY in WNBA play at Wintrust Arena

https://www.vividseats.com/nhl-hockey/chicago-blackhawks-tickets.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=DSA+NHL+Hockey+tROAS+v2&utm_term=&vkid=15545231&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0pfzBRCOARIsANi0g0swVoX2n2fZ_em9mal-mzjYhrbjuDCbclO_Q6SlycZRZXX3KHfcntIaAg9XEALw_wcB

 

Buildings: 

  • Willis Tower : (Formerly and still called Sears Tower) was the tallest building in the world for about 30 years and is still the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Has a great observation deck at the top including The Ledge, a clear glass platform you can walk out on and look down 103 floors,if you dare.

 

  • John Handcock Building: Almost as high as Willis tower, the observation deck  has beautiful views looking  east and north  over the lake and shoreline as well as west and south over the city.The deck also has glass panels that tilt out so you can look down to the street.

 

  • Navy Pier  is a 3300 foot long pier that sticks out into Lake Michigan starting at 600 E Grand Ave. It has a Ferris Wheel with an excellent view of the city and is highly recommended Also there are various boat rides out into the lake  from a tall sailing ship, the Windy, to speed boats, fast and really fast Sea Dog and Super Sea Dog, to calmer sightseeing and  lunch and   dinner cruises. We recommend you try at least one. The guides will a bit of history and explain  points of interest on all the cruises .

Navy pier is also the home of the Shakespeare Theater one of the best theaters in the city ,and it is not all Shakespeare.

 

  • CAC River Cruise  Over a century ago, Chicago was a young city and was rebuilding from  the fire; so there was  land and opportunity for young and innovative architects  to experiment with new and even radical designs. Not all of those buildings remain, but that spirit of innovation does remain in Chicago Architecture. To really appreciate this architecture, take a river cruise run by the Chicago Architecture  Center.Many of most beautiful buildings are built along the river. And the docents on the river cruises will give you a treasure-trove of information.

 

We have Chicago Part 2 coming out next week, March 24!

WWT’s Episode #4 “All Things Florida Keys”

who Wear There Podcast-2

Listen to our Podcast on Apple Podcast! 

“All Things the Florida Keys”

Getting to the Keys:

  • Key West Express from Fort Myers to Key West 

https://www.keywestexpress.net

Entertainment/Activities: 

  • SkyDive Key West

https://skydivekeywest.com

  • Biking riding: Bike Man Bike Rentals 

(https://www.bikemanbikerentalkeywest.com)

  • Hemingway’s Home: house tour and bookstore

https://hemingwayhome.com

  • Southern Most Point — 90 miles to cuba

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34345-d274104-Reviews-Southernmost_Point-Key_West_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

  • Mallory Square for Sunset and Entertainments

https://www.mallorysquare.com

Places to eat and drink:

Key West:  

  • Sloppy Joe’s (drinks and live music)

https://sloppyjoes.com

  • Kevin’s Irish Bar

https://irishkevins.com

  • Fat Tuesday

https://www.facebook.com/FatTuesKeyWest/?rf=146811228718041

  • Hard Rock Cafe

https://www.hardrock.com/404.html

  • Amigos for burritos

https://amigostortillabar.com

  • Nine One Five Restaurant

https://www.915duval.com

  • Croissants de France for breakfast

http://www.croissantsdefrance.com

  • Pepe’s for a shack style, breakfast

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=pepe%27s+key+west&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

  • On the water, 
  • Dante’s

https://danteskeywest.com

  • Alonzo’s Oyster Bar and Grill

https://alonzosoysterbar.com

Islamorada/ Key Largo:

  • Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar

https://www.loreleicabanabar.com

  • Hog Heaven (clubish)

https://hogheavensportsbar.com

  • Whistle Stop (pizza, pool table)

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g34346-d7349316-Reviews-The_Whistle_Stop_Bar_Grill_And_Wood_Oven_Pizza-Islamorada_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

  • Ocean View (O.V)

https://theocean-view.com

  • Florida Keys Brewing Company

https://floridakeysbrewingco.com

  • Tiki-Bar at PostCard

https://www.holidayisle.com/islamorada-restaurants/tiki-bar

BEACHES/ WATER ACTIVITIES

  • Nighttime Kayaking

 http://www.keywestpaddle.com/Nightpaddling.html

  • Fury for Jet Ski Rentals, Parasailing, Snorkeling

https://www.furycat.com/?nck=branded&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0pfzBRCOARIsANi0g0vX8EA7s_d0lN1mqqhP7MxBmlM4X2ra4Y-IJp5pzYPuGzWVShtNXGQaAqT2EALw_wcB

  • Dry Tortuga National Park (go by boat, great day event)

https://www.drytortugas.com

  • Paddle boarding Tours

https://keywestsebago.com/tour/watersports-all-day-adventure?gclid=Cj0KCQjw0pfzBRCOARIsANi0g0ujHMyvCHEKeywRIjFtF7mAmdp1hzM0f1SOKqYE_xrZoqg-YUx6rfoaArRdEALw_wcB

Nightlife

Pub Crawl: 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34345-d2578392-Reviews-Key_West_Pub_Crawl_Tour-Key_West_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

Events going on in the Keys: 

https://keywest.com/calendar/

WWT’s Episode 1: “All Things Fort Myers”

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“All Things Fort Myers” The Who Wear There Podcast with the Travel Brats

Fort Myers Beach— 

Hang out places:

Lani Kai Beach Resort:

A great place for live music, tropical drinks, beach front service, sports like volleyball and bean bags, and meeting other fun people!

https://lanikaiislandresort.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelanikai/?hl=en

Getaway Marina:

(I called it Mike’s Marina, but it’s actually Getaway Marina): Grab place to rent boats, kayaks, fishing and other watersports

https://www.getawaymarina.com

Places to eat and drink:

Doc Ford: 

https://www.docfords.com/ft-myers-beach/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/docfords/

Nervous Nellie’s:

http://www.nervousnellies.net

IG: https://www.instagram.com/nervousnelliesfmb/

Bonita Bills Waterfront Cafe:

https://bonitabills.com

PierSide Grill:

https://piersidegrill.com/

Sunset Bar and Grill:

http://sunsetbeachtropicalgrill.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/sunsetbeachgrill/

Salty Crab (Rum Buckets): 

https://saltycrabbarandgrill.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/SaltyCrabBarGrill/

Great Live Music —

The Cottage Bar and Grill

https://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com/listing/gulfshore-grill/45911

Love Boat Ice Cream:

https://loveboaticecream.com

https://www.instagram.com/loveboaticecream/

For more on Fort Myers Beach, 

https://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com

https://www.instagram.com/ftmyerssanibel/

Downtown:

For Brunch and hanging out: 

Social House

http://www.downtownsoho.com

First Watch — The Daytime Cafe

https://www.firstwatch.com

Lunch: 

Cabos Cantina Taco and Tequila Bar

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g34230-d3636362-Reviews-Cabos_Cantina_Taco_Tequila_Bar-Fort_Myers_Florida.html

Downtown House of Pizza

https://downtownhouseofpizza.com

Coffee and Teas:

http://www.kapuakavabar.com

Bars:

City Tavern 

https://mycitytavern.com

Sky Bar

http://www.firestonefl.com

Celsius Night Club

https://www.facebook.com/celsius239/

Entertainment/Art:

Hotel Indigo

https://www.ihg.com/hotelindigo/hotels/us/en/fort-myers/fmymb/hoteldetail

For Upcoming Plays

http://www.floridarep.org

AIRPORT

Fly Fort Myers (RSW)

https://www.flylcpa.com

https://www.instagram.com/flyrsw/

Flight Recommendations

Southwest Airlines: 

https://www.southwest.com

https://www.instagram.com/southwestair/?clk=GFOOTER-INSTAGRAM

To track flight prices:

The Hopper App

https://www.hopper.com

https://www.instagram.com/hopper/

Traveling Deals to save $$$$:

Trip Advisor

https://www.tripadvisor.com

https://www.instagram.com/tripadvisor/?hl=en

Global Entry Information (Known Traveler):

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry

Locate enrollment center: 

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/enrollment-centers

By Florida Gulf Coast University

Foodies 

Bahia Bowls — Acía Bowls

https://bahiabowls.com

FK Your Diet

https://www.fkyourdiet.com

Fancys Southern Cafe

https://fancyssoutherncafe.com

Artisan Eatery

https://artisaneatery.com

previous blog: 

https://thoughtfulblonde.com/2018/12/16/hidden-gem-in-fort-myers-artisan-eatery/

Divieto Ristorante 

https://www.divietoristorante.com

Follow @fgcufoodgods for more local good finds!

Shopping: 

Coconut Point

https://www.simon.com/mall/coconut-point

Miromar Outlets

https://www.miromaroutlets.com

Entertainment:

Game Time

https://www.gametimeplayers.com/locations/fortmyers/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAs67yBRC7ARIsAF49CdXElwKe2JkxghSdoQLyjht7avUczPEZEiZlMcrrPgMV0zZAj8pOIosaAgxaEALw_wcB

Dave and Buster’s

https://www.daveandbusters.com

Painting with a twist

https://www.paintingwithatwist.com/studio/fort-myers/

Movie Theatre in Coconut Point

https://www.regmovies.com/theatres/regal-coconut-point/1611#/buy-tickets-by-cinema?in-cinema=1611&at=2020-02-18&view-mode=list/

 

If you have questions, message me and I’d be happy to chat!

Island Hopping Guide to Grenada’s Carriacou

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I live on the beautiful island of Grenada, which is only 100 miles north of Venezuela and located in the Eastern Caribbean. Grenada is only 12 miles wide and 21 miles long with a little over 100,000 residents. Living the island life very much so comes with the small town vibes of knowing your neighbors and seeing familiar faces no matter where you are on the island. Grenada is south of St. Vincent and the Grenadines which are made up of 32 islands and cays. Grenada claims two of the Grenadines islands,Petit Martinique and Carriacou. 

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A few weeks ago, I took myself on a quick solo trip to Carriacou. The island’s name equates to “Land of Reefs” and is home to only 8,000 residents. It’s a very quaint, quiet, and beautiful island. It was very easy to get to from the mainland of Grenada by plane or boat. I prefer ferry because it’s very reliable and allows you to have different views of the island, and SVG Air cancelled my flight home.

So I took the Osprey Lines ferry; it docks in the Carenage and departs everyday at 9am. You can’t buy your ticket online, so you just have arrive a little early to purchase one.  It’s 80EC, so it’s less than $65 for a roundtrip to go island hopping! Then, it’s just a quick two hour boat ride, and you can easily get a taxi once you arrive in Carriacou. 

Once I got to Carriacou, I booked at a cute, boutique hotel that was right on the water. I spent my entire time there lounging in a beach chair, swimming, reading, and eating so much food at the hotel’s restaurant. It’s without a doubt one of the most relaxing and serene places I’ve ever been with the kindest locals and I hope everyone gets a chance to do a little island hopping. I am going again mid December when my dad comes down, and I will updated the blog with more activities, restaurants, and museums to visit. I have every intention of going snorkeling and exploring more local events!

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If you have an questions, leave a comment or message me. Enjoy!