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 .
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 🌴
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.
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.
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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.
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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⭐️
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If you are visiting @nashvilletn then you need to put this on your list⭐️
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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 .
We recently stayed at the @bestwestern in Anaheim called the Best Western Plus Park Place Inn.It is one of Disneyland’s “Good Neighbor” Hotels.
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One of the first things we loved was the sticker on the door certifying it was clean and ready .
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Upon entering , we were pleasantly surprised. Since our last stay a few years ago the rooms had been remodeled and had a nice clean, crisp feel.
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The rooms come with a good size fridge and with a coffee maker and supplies .
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Some of the things we really loved were the door between our two rooms that we could open to go back and forth. The beds and couch were comfortable and we all woke up feeling refreshed .
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Oh and this hotel is directly across from @disneyland!!!That is an amazing perk of staying at this property.
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There is also a bagged breakfast to go that included a pastry, orange and bottled water you can pick up as you walk to the park.
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The price point was great as well! We paid less then a 100$ a night off season but with the parks opened now the prices can range. We would stay here again if the price was under $200.It’s a great value for the location and room and it easily fits a family of 5 or larger with the connecting door between the rooms✨
On our recent trip to Disneyland we finally made it down to try Earl of Sandwich.We weren’t really impressed until we actually tasted the sandwiches.They were good.Really good!We also ordered a kids meal pizza which turned out bigger then we expected so we were able to share between our two littles.We spent about 38$ for our family.
My Dearest Dietrich by @amandabarrattauthor was our book club book for this month. It gave an incredible inside view of some of those fighting WW2 in their own backyard.
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It also provided a different view point into that part of history that had me researching and trying to make sense of what happened and why. So often we hear from the ones who were persecuted but to hear from those on the other side brought light to some areas of that part of history that was good. It helped answer those questions like .. did anyone notice what was happening? We’re they all willing so easily to persecute others and how did they not fight back?
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I don’t know that I would agree with every choice that Dietrich made but I do love how he was seeking God in every situation,for his approval, his forgiveness or his help. I’m also challenged in my own thought life of how would I have handled those same situations. Would I have responded the same way? Definitely a book that gives you lots to think about❤️
