Travel Archives - Page 27 of 84

Quick Stop in Madison, Wisconsin

March 28, 2022

Quick Stop in Madison, Wisconsin
📍 Madison, Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin, Midwest, quick stop, travel

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While I identify as a born and raised Floridian, a little known fact about me is that I lived in Wisconsin when I was a kid. While my family always called the Sunshine State home, there are a lot of fun memories from growing up in the Badger State. Many of them revolve around trips to Madison, about an hour away from where I lived. Home the University of Wisconsin, we frequently visited for shopping and swim meets. A few weeks ago, I flew back up to Wisconsin for a work conference and had a chance to revisit the city of my youth. Obviously, it’s changed so much, and I have a newfound appreciation for this state capital. Here’s a snapshot of my quick stop in Madison, Wisconsin.

Madison, Wisconsin, Midwest, quick stop, travel, Graduate, hotel — Credit: Graduate Hotel-Madison

Stay at the Graduate Hotel

While I didn’t stay here myself, I know my number one pick would easily be the Graduate Hotel. You can find this collection of hotels in many of the most loved college towns. What I love the most is that each of the 32 locations is uniquely designed with the college’s identity in mind. For Wisconsin, that means lots of plaids, nature photos, and an ode to the beloved cheese curd. Grab a bite at Camp Trippalindee, a rooftop spot with views of town.

Madison, Wisconsin, Coffee Shop, Travel, Style Blogger

Coffee at Wonderstate

I started my Madison morning with coffee and breakfast at Wonderstate Coffee. This coffee shop is absolutely wonderful! I was able to snag a spot by the window and had full views of the Wisconsin state capital building, which you can see below. Breakfast started with a White Chocolate-Peppermint Latte and ended with a Black Sesame Scone. Afterward, I had a chance to chat with the baristas behind the bar, who gave me a complete list of recommendations around the downtown area. If only I had more time to try them all out. I guess that means I need to make another trip to Madison soon.

Madison, Wisconsin, Burger, Travel, Style Blogger

Eat at the Settle Down Tavern

First off, what a great name! The Settle Down Tavern was the number one recommendation from my new barista friends. Better still, it was just around the corner from my coffee shop and open for lunch. I instantly had a good feeling when I entered the restaurant. I found a sunny corner spot at the bar, and I only wished I had come hungrier. They have an exclusive Toddy menu for cocktails in the wintertime, meaning hot drinks to warm up one cold Floridian. Since no trip to Wisconsin is complete without a healthy order of cheese curds, you know I had to order their rendition. Lovingly named Cheese Puppies, it’s safe to say I ate my body weight in cheddar. Want to order their burger? Good Idea! Seriously, that’s what they’re called, and for a good reason.

Madison, Wisconsin, is such an incredible town! Even though I was there for less than 24 hours, I quickly learned that I was only scratching the surface. If you happen to find yourself in Wisconsin or the Midwest, I cannot recommend experiencing this city enough! Madison, I honestly hope to see you soon!

Love from Wisconsin,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Snapshots from Disney World

March 7, 2022

Snapshots from Disney World
📍 EPCOT and Magic Kingdom

Disney, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Florida

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Although I have so many fond childhood memories from Disney World, I wouldn’t exactly call myself a “Disney Adult.” Yes, I always like to watch the latest Pixar flick and sometimes have a hankering to watch old favorites, but that’s pretty much my limit. It’s been years since my last visit to the Happiest Place on Earth. With all of the recent changes that have taken place around the parks, it’s incredibly different from my previous visit. Still, when one of my dearest friends, Sydney, told me she was taking a long weekend, I just had to visit myself. After all, it’s just a short 90 minutes away. Let’s look at a few snapshots from our Disney World trip.

Check-In at Coronado Springs

I’ve stayed at many different Disney properties throughout the years, but this is the first time I received a “Welcome Home” at Coronado Springs. The resort received extensive renovations over the past few years, and it feels like a brand new hotel. The space is absolutely gorgeous! I wish I could go into details about the hotel, but it was just a place for us to lay down our heads for the night. In fact, we didn’t even get to our room until 10 pm, after a long day of navigating the parks. Coronado Springs has a great location, pristine rooms, and the beautiful grounds you expect from Disney. If we ever take an extended trip, I would have no problem re-booking here.

Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Florida, Disney, WDW, Disney World

Start the Day at EPCOT

After a quick breakfast from our hotel, we began our day at EPCOT. Although it’s a favorite, there’s a lot of growth and change going on here. In the next few years, I’m sure it’s going to be incredible! We opted to pay a little extra to access Genie Plus. Consider it a new and improved answer to the Fast Pass that my family could take advantage of when I was a kid. If I’m being frank, I don’t think the App is as user-friendly as it could be, but maybe I would have gotten used to it if I had been there for more than one day. I loved being able to see wait times around the park and being able to “book” a Lightning Lane pass every two hours. At EPCOT, we had passes for Soarin, Space Ship Earth, and Mission: SPACE. We had to skip Test Track, but I know there’s always next time!

Lunch Around the World

My favorite element of EPCOT is easily the World Showcase. Visiting each Country’s Pavilion is such a treat and something that seems to get better the older I get. If you enjoy an adult drink, you’ve probably heard about the Drink Around the World Challenge. As someone who has attempted it before, it’s not for the faint of heart. Since we were meeting friends, David and I were satisfied with just a few drinks to help us cool off in the warm Florida sun. Since the crowds were insane this weekend, we found the spots that had the shortest line. Because that means Cherry Limoncellos in Italy and Chai-Mint Mimosas in Morocco, I’m not complaining! We ended with Lunch in Morocco and Dessert in Germany before finding our friends at Magic Kingdom.

A Magic Kingdom Evening

After lunch and several miles, we took the monorail from EPCOT straight to Magic Kingdom. Honestly, is there anything more Disney than that? Because we booked the Park Hopper option, we could visit any other park we wanted after 2 pm. The timing worked out perfectly because we found our friends right on Main Street USA, enjoying the afternoon parade. From there, we booked a few Lightning Lanes and enjoyed our time in the park, although the 2 hours wait for Haunted Mansion wasn’t ideal. Eating any Mickey Ice Cream isn’t required, but still highly recommended. The evening ended with fireworks on Thunder Mountain and at least one more dessert. It was certainly a magical day if you ask me. David and I finally got back to Coronado Springs at around 11, and it was lights out. I think we walked about 20 miles and we were exhausted!

This blog post is just a quick PSA to listen to your inner child and make plans for the sake of nostalgia. Although I have a lifetime of childhood memories from Disney World, the 24 hours I just spent with friends may very top that list!

Love from Florida,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

St. Pete Date Night, Part 3

February 9, 2022

St. Pete Date Night, Part 3
📍 St. Pete, Florida

St. Pete, date night, Valentine's Day, Cabana Life, Florida

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Another St. Pete date night! The Sunshine City is home. On and off, I’ve lived here in the area for over 10 years. Because of that, I’ve learned a thing or two about having a night out with loved ones. Last year, I created my date night itinerary, just in time for Valentine’s Day. This year, I’m sharing the newest rendition. Make reservations now and you can have a perfect St. Pete date night.

Indulge in a Mini Spa Day

Before your date night, give yourself some time to self-indulge… Even if it’s for an hour or so. My current place in town for “me” time is Paint Nail Bar on Central Ave. It’s a non-toxic, full service nail salon, and their work is incredible! Getting a manicure and/or pedicure will be the perfect break between the workday and an evening out with your significant other. If you want your hair to be equally on point as your nails, I highly recommend Sip and Dry. It’s part of my weekly routine and is the reason why hair looks good for pictures.

Happy Hour at The Scott

The Scott is a relatively new cocktail bar located in the historic Cordova Inn. As soon as it opened to the public, it became an instant classic. The cozy navy walls are covered with vintage photos of St. Pete and really give you a sense of how much this city has changed in the past century. The cocktail list isn’t the most extensive but instead provides perfectly made classics. Do not pass on ordering the Cordova Martini. It’s almost exclusively a local creation with Banyan Reserve Vodka and coffee from Hogg Batch, creating one of the best espresso martinis I’ve ever had!

Dinner for Two at Mangosteen

One of the newest restaurants in St. Pete has quickly become one of my favorites. Mangosteen describes itself as a ‘tropical cocktail bar and restaurant,’ serving an incredible menu of tapas, sushi, stir fry, and tacos. It’s a beautiful space, but I keep visiting because the food is delicious! For date night, David and I tend to order several dishes to share. Their seaweed salad, pork dumplings, and the lemongrass bowl are personal favorites. Honestly, there are no wrong choices, though! Their inventive cocktail menu makes for the perfect meal pairing. I especially love the 22-43. Think of it like a banana-infused old-fashioned.

Live Music at The Floridian

Don’t you just love when historic buildings can get a second life? The Floridian Social Club is a lively cocktail lounge and music venue but opened initially as a bank in 1924. Over the past 98 years, it has taken on many different personas, including a movie theater and concert hall. It’s the passion project of a lifelong St. Pete native, and so much love has been put into the space. End the night with a cocktail and a live show for a truly intimate, historical experience.

As St. Pete continues to grow and develop as a city, I’ll be right there to find the latest and greatest restaurants to share with you. I’m always happy to take recommendations, so comment your favorite St. Pete restaurants below. For more details, be sure to read my dining posts about Wild Child, Baba, and The Library. Bon appetite!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.