Category Archives: Blog

What to Pack for a Cruise

Going on a cruise? Cruises are so much fun! But they may be hard to pack for. You know you aren’t going to spend a lot of time in your cabin outside of sleeping, and you also know how small the cabins are. So what should you take with you on a cruise?

Let’s go over some items that you should take with you on a cruise in this post ((please note I am an Amazon Affiliate and will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you should you order one of the items below. Links will take you to Amazon’s website):

Things to Pack for a Cruise

What do you need to pack for a cruise? Well, besides the obvious things like clothes and a swimsuit, I’m going to cover what you need to pack to make your cruise even easier. What is the most important thing to bring on a cruise? Well, if you get seasick, medicine in case you do unfortunately get sick (which I’m going to cover first).

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What to Expect on Your Disney Cruise

Oh Disney! Is there anything more magical? I am such a huge Disney fan. I lived in Orlando for several years and had an annual pass to Disney World and I miss being able to go every week! My mom and I still go once a year, but this year she had a big birthday and since she has always wanted to go on a Disney cruise, we did! Of course I was expecting a magical experience…and I’m happy to say it was!

If you’re wondering how to prepare for your first Disney Cruise, then I’ve got you covered! I’m going to go over what to expect on your Disney Cruise, what to pack, Disney Cruise excursions, and other Disney Cruise tips! Some of you might be thinking what is special about a Disney Cruise, and the answer is so much! From the food, characters, Disney touches, staff, destinations and more, Disney keeps the magic going your entire cruise. Keep reading to find out why Disney Cruises are a must and how to get ready for your first magical Disney Cruise.

What to Pack for Your Disney Cruise

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Cherokee Rock Village

Cherokee Rock Village is a great place to visit if you’re looking for a good view or to go bouldering/rock climbing! This spot is a part of Lookout Mountain (and more on this later), so you know that the views are going to be amazing. This park also has over 200 acres of sandstone boulders, which are surreal to walk through as you hike.

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Peavine Falls, Oak Mountain State Park

Oak Mountain State Park is such a local gem that is close to home for me. Located in Pelham, Alabama, this park is easily accessible in the Birmingham area. I actually graduated from Pelham High School, so this park is practically in my backyard. However, even though I graduated high school so close to Oak Mountain, I never actually visited the park (or Peavine Falls) while I was in school.

A lot of times when something is close to us we may not realize what a blessing it is. I was often seeking adventures in far away places instead of looking at all that nature had to offer me close to home. Being back home has made me realize what a great area I live in for those who love the outdoors like me.

Peavine Falls

My favorite hike at Oak Mountain has to be the hike to Peavine Falls. This hike has its own parking lot, and while you can get to Peavine Falls from many other areas, parking in the lot is the closest and fastest way to get to the Falls. 

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How I use pinterest to plan all of my trips


I get asked all the time how I find the places I visit. People usually think I’m joking when I tell them that I use Pinterest to plan the majority of my trips. I follow travel bloggers on Pinterest and am inspired by their adventures inspire. Since I can usually click straight to a blog article, the images on Pinterest grab my attention and then I can click on them to give me details to plan a trip.

Pinterest gives you glimpses of places that no other site could. While I can’t plan my entire trip with Pinterest, the platform allows me to find things that I wouldn’t have otherwise! It helps me organize my trip and highlights the things I want to do most. Pinterest truly is a travel girl’s best friend! Here’s how I use Pinterest to plan all of my trips:

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Manly: My Favorite Beach in Sydney

After living in Australia for almost 2 years, guess which beach is my favorite? If you would have guessed Bondi…you’re wrong! Manly Beach is my absolute favorite beach in Sydney (and actually, Manly is just my favorite place as well)! Not that I need to prove it, but here’s why; Manly has all of the things that make a beach great: stunning water, coves, wormholes, art, nature, incredible views, walking treks…Oh, the things that Manly offers. Let’s get started!

Manly Beach view from the Wormhole
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Day Trip to Kiama and Bombo

Living in Sydney is such a great experience. I love being able to get in and out of the city and northern beaches easily. Even more so, I love being able to explore other parts of New South Wales with ease. A day trip to Kiama and Bombo is the perfect getaway that isn’t too far to travel round trip  from Sydney. It’s easy to get to Kiama from Central station, you only have to take one train! I decided to head to the farthest destination first, then hit Bombo on the way back home since it’s just a stop before Kiama.

Kiama

Kiama is a small town known to home one of the largest blowholes in the world with sprays up to 82 feet in the air! When visiting the blowhole it’s best at high tide, so be sure to lookup the times before you plan your trip around it. I visited a few hours before high tide so I could explore the area. There are plenty of sites to view around the headland, so you’ll have things to do while you wait. Continue reading Day Trip to Kiama and Bombo

Blue Mountains Day Trip

There are so many things to do in Sydney. If you’re only here for a week, exploring the city and surrounding beaches is a good idea. For those lucky others that have more than a week in this beautiful city, I suggest going on day trips from Sydney to see more of Australia. One day trip I highly recommend is a trip to the Blue Mountains. I went to the Blue Mountains on a day tour and had an excellent experience.

Trip Up to the Blue Mountains

The tour left early in the morning, around 7:00, to give us the entire day in the mountains. During the trip up, our guide told us the history of the Blue Mountains as well as where the name originated. The Blue Mountains are known as ‘blue’ because they give off blue haze due to the oil from the Eucalyptus trees in the area. When the sun hit the oil, it gives off a blue color.

Blue Mountains

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Palm Beach Day Trip

A path leading down to  Palm Beach

Sydney is full of beautiful beaches and coves to explore, but every now and then it’s nice to get out of the city and find something new. One Sunday I had the urge to get out of Sydney, so I planned to go to Morisset Park after church. I was excited about my plans for the day, but as I left the church someone in the congregation asked me about my plans for the day. I told her I was going to Morisset Park. She told me that going alone there wasn’t a good idea and suggested that if I wanted to go on a day trip I should go to Palm Beach.

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Vivid Sydney 2017

Vivid Sydney Festival 2017

Jellyfish light art display on the sails of the Opera House

There were a lot of things I was excited to see in Australia when I was planning my move and Vivid Sydney was at the top of my list! I had high expectations for Vivid Sydney 2017 and I am happy to say that I was not disappointed, Vivid Sydney was amazing! Sydney has so many places to go to enjoy the light displays, so I loved that I could stroll through the streets and see artwork. There were so many little displays and interactive ones as well. I didn’t get to see everything, but next year I know to plan more time for the festival. Here are a few of my favorite Vivid Sydney 2017 displays. Enjoy!

Taronga Zoo

Anteater display at the Lights for the Wild

Seeing the Vivid display at Taronga Zoo is an absolute must! I wasn’t sure if I would be able to fit this experience into my schedule, but thankfully I didn’t put it off until next year. The Vivid Light show at Taronga zoo is the Lights for the Wild walk and it was my favorite Vivid display. The displays were so ornate and fun, I loved them all!

Taronga Zoo Entrance Light Display

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