Carlsbad beach is simply breathtaking 🌊
The view captured there was absolutely amazing!
There were surfers 🏄 riding the waves as the sun was setting which was so fun to watch.
The ocean was captivating as the tide started to move in and we couldn’t help but get caught by it as it came in. Such a beautiful moment ❤️ I wish we would have had a whole day here just to enjoy it .
Picked up my newest coffee cup to add to my collection ❤️Washington DC
One of our first places on our must see list in SanDiego,Ca was the Uss Midway . The Naval Aircraft carrier is bigger then life and is located in downtown San Diego at the Navy pier.
Finding parking was not the easiest . The parking in the Uss Midway parking lot is small but very affordable ( around 10$ a day) but hard to find. Thankfully we were able to drive around the block and find an open lot to park. The cost was around 30$ for the day .
Once parked, we looked for a Starbucks to grab coffee since it was almost Tea Time . Thankfully, right on our walking path to the pier there was a Starbucks . Yay!
The walk on the waterfront is beautiful! Just walking to the Uss Midway was a treat. It felt like a warm summer day at Christmas 🎄
The cost of the Uss Midway for our family of 5 was around 115$. More then we would normally pay for a Museum but now that we have done it .. we would do it again. It was well worth the money. Just to note ..active Military and law enforcement/ firefighters are free admission ….love this!
Upon boarding the ship, you are offered an audio device to wear around your neck or to use your own device. This allows you to hear more hands on experiences as well as sounds to bring the displays alive .
Once you walk into the ship , it is a visual overload. There is so much to see! Not quite sure where to start, we did the typical right to left plan.
One of the displays that we really enjoyed upon entering was being able to hear the biography of different heroes of the Midway.
One of our favorite finds was the used bookstore hidden behind a display. There were so many unique books in here! There were used and new books and some that can only be found there so it was so hard to choose!
We then climbed stairs to explore ( you will climb LOTS of stairs) . There was something to see everywhere we went. Amazing! Even our littles were so engaged in all the displays . Something about walking through a living history museum like the Uss Midway that is so exciting . Just being there makes it all come to life!
There were so many interactive displays that our whole family was able to try . So cool!!
We then headed to pick up our Uss Midway junior pilot activity sheet for the littles to earn their pilot wings. Kelly was great in helping us get started! Tip: This should be your first stop when you enter ship.
Another thing we loved about the Midway was most of the crew were volunteers! There were so many that had served in the Navy on other ships or in some way that just taking the time to thank them for the service and hear little tidbits of what they experienced was so much more then any history book could offer. Priceless❤️
We then headed to the flight deck to do the island tour and oh my was it amazing! Definitely want to experience this if you are going to visit.
The boss and mini chairs were fun to get pics in❤️
There is so much history here as you tour. You can’t help but learn a little while having fun.
On the flight deck there were so many helicopters and planes that we were able to walk in or sit in. The littles enjoyed being able to look at their own pace and explore.
Embracing Peace ~The Kissing Statue
This was a replica of the famous Life magazine photograph in 1945 . It is quite stunning to see in person❤️
It was fun to see the NCIS room on the Uss Midway. It’s one of our favorite shows to watch the reruns of so that was pretty cool.
Our time on the Midway was Amazing! If you are in San Diego then it’s a must on your adventure plans .
Loews Royal Pacific Resort @universalorlandohotels was such a beautiful resort 🌴
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It made us feel like we were stepping into a tropical getaway. The grounds, hotel lobby and rooms were absolutely beautiful.
We loved the layout of the room and all the special touches . We had a two queen room that said slept 5 but it really only slept 4 with a chair that no one could sleep in . So that was a bummer but thankfully they have rollaway you can add .
We also really loved the text to housekeeping. It was such a wonderful way to communicate what we needed , and it was delivered right to our room and left outside door . We really appreciated this feature and totally think more hotels should do this.
There were a few reason we choose to stay on property . The location of being able to walk to @unistudios and the free transportation was one of the main reasons we choose this specific hotel. We didn’t want to have to pay parking and we really didn’t want to have to drive .
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We also knew we wanted to purchase the unlimited pass to walk onto rides. We were there for only two days and didn’t want to miss anything . The value of the passes completely makes it worth it! The passes are usually around $129 per person so it was over a $600 value for our family for free!
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By staying on property, we also got a few other perks like early admission and several fun ways of transportation that were connected and easily accessible. We would definitely stay here again 🌴
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn,
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
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Thankfully , you can get your very own Gringotts bank notes by exchanging your muggle money in increments of 10$ or 20$ at the Gringotts Bank @unistudios . You can use the bank notes throughout the parks or keep them as souvenirs .
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Did you know , The motto of Gringotts Wizarding Bank was Fortius Quo Fidelius, a Latin phrase that meant “Strength through loyalty”?
The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen @universalcitywalk is such a fun experience. There are so many fun details and a bit of steampunk whimsy adds to the charm.
So many options of treats that everyone is bound to find a fav. One of my favorites was the assortment of macarons they offered. Definitely a place to spend some time taking it all in.
Our stay at McMenamins in Tacoma was quite the adventure . Think Adult scavenger hunt mixed with college bar scene , throw on some steampunk decor and a history museum and that would give you some insight to what we experienced .
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First a bit of the history …
The building itself is a 1916 Elks Temple that was designed by É. Frère Champney, a graduate of the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and has since been restored . There are 7 floors packed with history including a hidden 5th floor . There are 5 bars ,The Tasting Room & brewery, The Spanish Bar and Ballroom,Doc’s ,The Old Hangout, McMenamins Pub and a secret Speakeasy bar if you can find it called ,The Vault.
The 45 guest rooms are named after a person or group of people that had some connection to the building or to the Tacoma area.
The diversity of the rooms is amazing. There is so much history in just the names.
We stayed in the Lea McMillan room 204 . In the room, there is posted his history with the Elks Lodge. We learned he loved handball and would sneak into the Lodge with his friends to play . He then served in the military and when he returned in 1961 He applied to be a member so he could play handball but leaving out his Native heritage. At that time , People of color were not allowed to join. That was corrected in 1976 . He may have been the first member of color to be a member of the Elks Lodge. So fascinating !
There is also a hidden hallway with graffiti that was originally in the building when it was bought and restored .
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There is so much visually to take in as you explore the hotel. You can’t possibly see every detail the first time.
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It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
You need to add the @blue_rooster_buckley to your must try list when passing through @explore_washington.state .
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It is family owned and has some of the best small plates and wine slushies in the area.
Our favorites were the Bbq Brisket Flatbread and the Avocado Toast ..seriously some of the best small bites in Washington State.
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We tried a little of everything and it was all amazing! The most unique item we tried was the watermelon fudge.It was a huge hit with our kids!
The cheesecake was well plated and sooo good! And the wine slushy was amazing and totally refreshing.
The owners have a love of Disney and you see it sprinkled throughout which is another reason we love @blue_rooster_buckley
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This is the perfect date spot or to share a lunch with some girlfriends.
Cedar Cove @seabrookwa did not disappoint! We absolutely loved where it was located, the fire pit , yard , hot tub and open floor plan. The lights outside were an extra bonus and welcomed us each evening as we returned to the home.
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Cedar Cove has 2 bedrooms , one with a set of bunk beds. There is also a full size sleeper sofa and to our surprise a twin pullout ottoman! We had no idea those even existed but now we want one for our own home.
We loved the open kitchen and island and the nook the table was in. One of our favorite things in this home was the huge windows downstairs..they were so beautiful and let so much light in. There is a beach theme in decor throughout the home.
A few things to note..
➡️this home is dog friendly and already had dog bowls waiting for us there.. loved that!
➡️the hot tub is on the side of the home and is wonderful!
➡️There is also a bbq grill and a sitting area there as well as around the home. Perfect for entertaining!
➡️fire pit is on the other side of home in front. There was already wood waiting for us upon arrival and covered in plastic to stay dry.
Everything in Seabrook is about 5-10 min walk to main town area. This is one of the reasons we love staying here! If your thinking about staying.. do it! You will love the overall community feeling, the beautiful homes, shops and having the ocean within walking distance⭐️
Happy May 4th! Here are some some pics from our last trip to Star Wars Land.. Enjoy⭐️⭐️⭐️
