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.
So good! Look at that delicious guacamole
Our favorites were the Bbq Brisket Flatbread and the Avocado Toast ..seriously some of the best small bites in Washington State. . 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!
watermelon fudge..yum!
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. . 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⭐️
This has been a bucket list adventure since I was a little girl watching Hee Haw ⭐️We had the opportunity to go visit @opry and do a backstage tour. .
Upon arriving,you are ushered into this beautiful room that is rich with history all over the walls.To see some of Country Musics Performers ,past and present is amazing.
You are then greeted by a virtual Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood as they walk you through the Opry’s history and how it all started.Seeing the past performances is priceless✨
It was also pretty cool to learn how they brought the wood circle from the Ryman with them when they moved.For performers, it is the highlight if their career to step onto the circle ✨The Opry has a limited amount of performers that get asked to become a member of the Opry . It is a lifetime achievement moment for those that are asked.
. It was so amazing to see the look at the @opry through the years. It totally took me back to watching the show sitting with my Grandma & Grandpa and the sweet memories⭐️ .
If you are visiting @nashvilletn then you need to put this on your list⭐️ .
a few tips .. DO NOT BUY ONLINE we figured this out the hard way . We bought tickets online and the service fee was slot more then if you just buy on property. The only time it would benefit you to buy online is if you are on a strict timeframe and need to plan your visit .
