- Lauren Ehrhardt

Universal Studios-Orlando

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may get a commission, at no cost to you. Any recommendations that I make are for products or services I have personally used and highly recommend.

Tootsie’s Bottom Line:

VelociCoaster at Islands of Adventure-Photo credit: Wikipedia

Overview

Let me start with this, I LOVE rides! I grew up in a family of people that love rides and, as the youngest, I knew I had no choice but to love them, too. I’m so glad that I was “strongly encouraged” to ride a roller coaster (Tower of Terror) that may have been a little out of my range at the age of 6! I won’t lie, it was terrifying and my mom says it wasn’t her “best parenting moment”, but I came out on top and now I love rides of all kinds!! I had to write this blog because Universal Studios is one of my absolute favorite places to go on vacation! You need a plan though. Here’s how we do it.

“Universal” is made up of three, soon to be four parks, Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios-Orlando, Volcano Bay and coming in 2025, Epic Universe. We have only been to Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios; they are beside each other and you can easily travel between them on the Hogwarts Express, you must have a Park-to-Park ticket to ride. This is an upgrade from the basic ticket that allows you to go between 2, 3 or 4 parks. See below for details on tickets.

The two parks are very different in the types of rides and the themes. Islands of Adventure is mostly thrill rides and rollercoasters. Universal Studios is based on tv and movie themes and allows guest to “ride the movies”. The Revenge of the Mummy and Men in Black are two favorites in Universal.

Where to Stay

Photo courtesy Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort

When we go, we stay on property. Recently, we stayed at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort. The hotel worked well for our family because there are two beds, a pull out sofa and small kitchenette. Very old-fashioned type of hotel. There’s a big pool with a lazy river and waterslide. They also have a firepit near the pool! As I said above, when we ate our meals at the hotel, we either grabbed food to go from Starbucks before jumping on the bus to the park or we ate at the Bay Liner. This is more of a food court than a restaurant which works great for our family since we eat such different food. Generally, we stay at the park from open until close so if we eat here it’s because we’ve taken a break or the park isn’t open very late. Bottom line is it costs a bit more to stay on property but you get some nice perks and don’t have to move your car. To summarize:

  • All on property hotels provide free transportation to and from the parks
  • All on property hotels provide early/late park access
  • Premium hotels provide a FREE Universal Unlimited Express Pass-this is worth $100+/person/day
  • Access to other hotels pools is permitted for guests of Premier, Preferred or Prime Value Resorts

Tickets

You can buy all kinds of different ticket types. You can buy a ticket to one of the parks for one day. That will get you admission to one park for one day. You can also buy a ticket for one day that will allow you to go to multiple (two or three) parks. You can also buy a multi-day ticket that allows you to go to one park for multiple days or multiple parks for multiple days. The park-to-park ticket (multiple parks ticket) allows you to move freely between two or three parks all day. You will choose the number of parks you want access to and the number of days that you want to have single park or park-to park access. The park-to park access is an upgrade and is not required. Once you have an idea of how many days and parks you want to visit, you’ll need to decide if you want the Express Pass. The Universal Unlimited Express pass is an extra that allows you to go into a special line that is shorter and gives you “express” access to a ride. This is definitely worth it if you like rides! Beware that this can cost almost as much as the ticket though.

One of the big advantages of staying “on property” is that you get early admission to parks. On property means staying in one of the hotels that Universal Orlando owns or manages. Having an extra hour to access the rides is a big perk and can make a huge difference in how much you can do in a day. There are lots of people staying in their hotels though so there are still crowds. The premium hotels, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Lowes Royal Pacific Resort and Hard Rock Hotel add a free Universal Express Unlimited pass to your daily tickets when you are a guest.

Planning Your Day

It is important whether you stay on property or not that you have a plan. Each of the parks is divided into areas that have rides and entertainment. Knowing what you like will tell you where to start.

Be sure to download the Universal Studios Orlando/Hollywood app before going. The app is a great resource for park hours, map, hotels, restaurants, etc. You can link your tickets and a payment method to make your day seamless. The best part of the app in my opinion is the wait times-being able to see the wait times allows you to adjust your strategy, if needed. The interactive map makes navigating the park so much easier. Showtimes, dining reservations, placing mobile food and drink orders are some additional options as well. This is a must for your trip!

Islands of Adventure

Regardless of whether you’re on property or not, certain rides will attract huge crowds. We always prioritize a few rides and do those first so that no matter what happens with the rest of the day, we’ve done what we wanted to. Here is a link to the park map. This is helpful for making your plan for the day! We’ve been to Universal a few times and pretty much start the same way each time, we use our early hour of admission to head straight to the Harry Pottery rides in Islands of Adventure. Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. For those less excited about the coasters, Hagrid’s is fast but no loops and a very cool ride! Once we have these rides done, we will grab some butter beer (get the butter beer!) and head to our next favorite, The Hulk. Once this is done we take a breather and explore the other rides in this section of the park. We gradually make our way back to Harry Potter section where we take the Hogwart’s Express to Universal Studios. Hogwart’s Express is a train the connects Islands of Adventure to Universal Studios. The train transports riders from Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure to the King’s Cross Station in the London area of Universal Studios.

Photos courtesy Universal Studios Orlando and Wikipedia

Universal Studios

Although the Universal Studios park isn’t known for their huge rollercoasters, it has plenty of excitement. Since we’ll arrive via Hogwart’s Express, our first stop will be Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringott’s. This is an exciting ride in the dark through underground bank vaults that ultimately returns you safely to Diagon Alley.

Photos courtesy Universal Studios Orlando

From Diagon Alley, we’ll make our way out to Men in Black Alien Attack where our family will enjoy a ride/game combo. This is a nice break from the big rides and is really fun. We then hit the virtual reality ride, The Simpson’s. We continue to make our way around the park until we arrive at the last must do.

Hollywood Rip Ride RockIt is the last and one of the greatest coasters in these parks, (Photo courtesy of Universal Orlando). When you climb into the seat of this roller coaster, you’ll have the chance to chose your own personal anthem for the ride. In the picture to shown, the far left of the ride goes straight up. You guessed it, when the ride starts, the seats rock back and the only thing to look at is the sky. After climbing to the top of the ride, you’ll be sent on a wild ride overlooking much of the park-if you’re able to focus!!

From here, we go back and hit any rides that we want to do again or cover the ones that weren’t a top priority. We’ve squeezed in lunch and snacks when the crowds are lighter and then get back to it. The park hours at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure aren’t as late as the Disney parks but trust me you will have had a full day.

When you head back to your hotel, you can enjoy the pool/hot tub before heading to bed to hopefully do it all again! I hope that you got a sense of what’s needed to make the most of your trip. Have the best time!!

- Mike Ehrhardt

Denver, Colorado Springs & Vail

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may get a commission, at no cost to you. Any recommendations that I make are for products or services I have personally used and highly recommend.

Tootsie’s Bottom Line

Estes Park

  • Stanley Hotel: inspiration for The Shining-no filming here-Stephen King and wife were guests and he had a nightmare that inspired the movie. Worth a stop more because it’s an amazing hotel and the setting is breathtaking, association with “The Shining” makes it more interesting.
  • Rocky Mountain National Park-drive Trail Ridge Rd and visit Sprague Lake, look closely when driving-lots of wildlife can be seen grazing, resting, etc.

Colorado Springs:

  • Garden of the Gods: go for sunrise-this was a last minute change to our itinerary; it was breathtaking
  • Black Bear Diner: incredible breakfast-good, fresh food served by great and friendly staff

Red Rocks/Copper Mountain

  • Red Rocks Amphitheater-worth a stop-very cool place to see concert/movie-easy access
  • Copper Mountain-tube or ski here-make reservations in advance-enjoy driving through the small towns-Frisco and Breckenridge

Vail

  • Must try skiing or snowboarding in this world famous resort
  • Villages are nice and easy walks

Itinerary:

Listening: Tenderfoot TV’s podcast Up & Vanished Season 2 set in Crestone, CO

Thursday:

Friday:

Saturday/Sunday:

We traveled to Denver for a long weekend, using a great, discounted fare from Atlanta. COVID restrictions were easing a bit, but things were tighter in Colorado, meaning masks everywhere. Landing in Denver, we used a downtown hotel as base camp for a couple of days. We arrived on a Wednesday night and stayed two nights at the Element Hotel in downtown Denver. The hotel had two queen size beds and a pull out sofa that gave us plenty of room for four. The next morning we were up early for a full day of sightseeing. I was anxious to see what Denver and the surrounding area had to offer us.

Estes Park, CO

I’ve wanted to go to Colorado since reading the Magic Tree House book, Ghost Town at Sundown. My family loves the beach, but my allegiance has always been torn. I love the beach and all it has to offer, but I also love to snowboard and have enjoyed trips to the Adirondack and Green Mountains.

Estes Park is known as the “gateway to the Rockies”. A small town near multiple entrances to Rocky Mountain National park, it has shopping, restaurants, and galleries along the town’s river walk. You can make a full day here and in the park. The drive from Denver is about 65 miles but took us a couple of hours mainly because there were so many places to stop and look at the incredible mountains. Probably not the best picture of us, but the sun was blinding.

Listening

My mom likes to listen to podcasts that are set in areas that we visit.  On this trip, we were listening to a series produced by Tenderfoot TV, “Up & Vanished-Season 2”, a series set in Crestone, CO about a missing person’s case, Kristal Reisinger. Kristal has been missing since July 13, 2016.  These series are amazing and hopefully, they’ll help solve some crimes!

Stanley Hotel

On our way to the park, we’d make a quick stop at the Stanley Hotel which was made world famous by the horror movie, “The Shining”. We watched it the night before in our hotel room! The hotel was around long before the Shining was filmed and is worth the time even if it’s only a short visit, as it was in our case. The Stanley Hotel opened its’ doors in 1909. One summer in the area caused inventor Freelan Oscar Stanley to fall in love and not only vow to return but to share this beautiful area with others.

When it opened, the Stanley Hotel rivaled any of the finest resorts in the North East and was equipped with telephones, electricity, private bathrooms and servants. Stanley also helped the town grow to support his guests. A one night stay by Stephen King inspired his best seller, The Shining, which was later made into a movie and TV mini-series. Stephen King and his wife, Tabitha, ended up at the hotel on the last night of the season due to bad weather. As the only guests in the hotel, their stay was a bit eerie and King had a nightmare. By checkout, he had largely planned what would become his third novel. The movie itself was filmed in a studio but the Stanley Hotel was the inspiration.

Rocky Mountain National Park

We used the primary entrance to Rocky Mountain which was a short drive from the Stanley Hotel. We used the Fall River entrance. The road is well paved and in early April, there was no snow on the lower portion of the road. We stayed on Trail Ridge Road as long as we could but the top portion was still closed due to weather. Fun fact,Trail Ridge Road is the highest paved road in the U.S. When forced to turn around, we drove through the park on Bear Lake Road. Along the way we saw elk and herds of deer, around every curve, another breathtaking view. We made our way to Sprague Lake where we parked and took a walk around the lake. The ice was beginning to melt on the lake and the setting was amazing. There is a small picnic area there as well.

Colorado Springs-Garden of the Gods

We planned to visit Garden of the Gods on Friday but our plans changed due to some last minute but valuable research. It was highly recommended that we be there for sunrise. With our base in Denver, this meant an EARLY start plus we needed to pack the car; we were changing hotels! We were on the road by 5:00 AM for the hour plus drive to Colorado Springs. We made our way to the overlook on Mesa Road. We waited here, along with a news crew, for the day to break and it was so worth it! Check the weather forecast-it was cold and windy. We were complaining a bit about the early start until the sun rose and lit up the rocks. It was worth the early alarm.

The park itself didn’t open until later so we feasted on breakfast at the Black Bear Diner after watching the sunrise! Our waitress was very friendly and the breakfast was big, homemade and delicious.

Kissing Camels

We returned to the park once it opened and went to the visitor’s center where we were given a detailed map and got a great overview of the park.  We parked across the street from the visitor’s center and walked a couple of short trails, but the wind was howling, and we had several more stops so we finished the park in the car-we did two loops around to make sure we got to see what we wanted.  Wish we had more time to spend here but we definitely weren’t dressed for the wind and cool morning temperatures.

 Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater

We were back in the car to start the trek to Frisco where we had afternoon reservations for tubing at Copper Mountain in Frisco, CO.  About halfway to Frisco, we saw signs for Red Rocks.  We were a little ahead of schedule so we took a detour to see the famous stadium and it was worth the stop; I would love to see anyone perform here. Very cool venue!  Red Rocks is a well known amphitheater. What I didn’t know is it is “the only naturally-occurring, acoustically perfect amphitheater in the world”.  

Tubing-Copper Mountain

From Red Rocks, we finished the second half of the trip to Copper Mountain.  Tubing was great!  The lanes were well maintained and fast. Surprised us, but masks were required even for outdoor activities.  Great “lift” to bring people and tubes to the top of the hill and max out the number of runs you get.  Had a great time here and so glad we made this a stop!  Final stop Vail, following a half hour drive.  We did a driving tour of Frisco and Breckenridge-both great towns that would have been nice to spend a little more time in. 

Vail

Arrived in Vail in late evening and was surprised to find that the restaurants were closed-hotel thought it was a combination of COVID and the season ending.  We stayed at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa; it was about to undergo a major renovation right after we left and is now The Hythe.  The resort, setting and staff were amazing!  The heated pools and hot tubs outside were great and we were able to make s’mores at outside firepits.  My mom and sister used the services at the spa-my mom had a massage and sister had a facial.  They both said they loved it!

Vail Village

Vail is SMALL and research makes it sound bigger and more confusing than needed. The town of Vail and those with the foresight to recognize that this breathtaking area had so much potential, have created their own oasis. Vail Village and Lionshead are two similar alpine hamlets comprised of hotels, restaurants, and shops. The shopping consists of ski/outdoor shops, clothing, jewelry, and souvenirs shops. The two areas are about one mile apart and have some overlap in stores. The streets are cobblestone; this is an alpine getaway in every sense of the word. We stayed in Lionshead, closest to the Eagle Bahn Gondola.  We were signed up for lessons and equipment rentals as part of a package with Vail Sports.  It was a dream to just stroll over to the mountain and start the day (make time in advance to get reservations though).  No parking lots, shuttles or dragging all of the heavy equipment around.  The lessons gave some instruction, an overview of the mountain and ski package for the day. Package included the lesson, equipment rental and lift ticket. During the afternoon, we were free to ski wherever we wanted at the resort. Definitely spring skiing conditions. We met up for lunch at Garfinkel’s which was your typical American food-burgers, wings, salads.  We ended up ordering room service both nights because we got out of our room too late and missed the restaurants.  We did enjoy walking around the small villages in the evening.  This is a special place and I’m so glad we went, but if you’re not doing something active, I think you’ll get bored pretty quickly.

Denver-Union Station

Last but not least, we had time to visit one landmark in Denver, Union Station. As you’d imagine with a name like Union Station, this was a hub for train travel. First opened in 1880, it was the largest building in the West. Due to increased train travel, the building that had been rebuilt in 1894 following a fire, was torn down and its’ replacement opened in 1914. This time even bigger! By the 1950s when “Travel by Train” was added to the façade, train travel was already becoming antiquated. After decades of little or no use, it was purchased by the Union Station Alliance. Following a restoration, Union Station reopened in 2014. It is now the perfect blend of old and new. A hub for fine dining, shopping and home to the Crawford Hotel. Throughout the interior, there are nods to the past and you can’t help but feel like you’re stepping back in time when you walk through the doors. Make time for a stop here.

This was a fast and furious trip to the Denver area and I can’t wait to go back!

- Kelly Ehrhardt

Savannah & Jekyll Island, GA

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may get a commission, at no cost to you. Any recommendations that I make are for products or services I have personally used and highly recommend.

Tootsie’s Bottom Line:

Savannah: A gorgeous, historic city. It’s a must see although not for young kids-no glitz

  • Stay: Westin, Savannah Riverfront, reasonably priced, nice hotel with great service
  • Eat: Clary’s Café,  404 Abercorn St.
  • To Do: variety of tours, can’t recommend any single one but Savannah’s history is worth learning about
  • Reading: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil-MUST READ, see below

Jekyll Island: Sleepy barrier island; great beaches and escape from life

  • Stay: Residence Inn (178 S Beachview Dr) and Westin (110 Ocean Way)
    • Residence Inn: brand new hotel, the service was phenomenal; staff goes out of their way to make people feel welcome and eager to help any way possible
    • Westin: beautiful hotel; service average
  • Dolphin Tour: departs Historic Jekyll Wharf, had a fun tour with Captain Phillip, saw both dolphins and manatees

Savannah

Summer was passing quickly, and I realized that a variety of commitments would prevent us from taking a family vacation this year.  So, I stole a couple of days away with my girls for a quick trip to Savannah, GA and Jekyll Island, GA.

When I arrived in Atlanta over 20 years ago, I expected sweeping lawns, huge oak trees and large homes with oversized porches.  Oh, and palm trees.  Clearly, my knowledge of geography is abysmal.  Instead, I found a busy city that over 4 million people called home with a continuously running billboard showing how quickly the population was increasing! 

Shortly after moving South, we had some friends traveling to Savannah.  They asked that we meet them there and I had a required reading assignment, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I started the book but hadn’t come close to finishing when we went.  We made the four-hour drive to Savannah, and I fell in love.  This was the South I’d imagined.  My friend and I toured the city, devouring everything we could find that related to “The Book”.  “Midnight” by John Berendt was published in 1994 and called the New York Times bestsellers list home for 216 weeks!  The non-fiction novel follows a sophisticated antiques dealer as he stands trial for murder.  When I returned home, I read “The Book” (twice!).

I decided to share one of my favorite cities with my girls.  We arrived in Savannah, and it is still one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen.  This is the deep south where the pace is a little slower, the drawl a little longer, tea so sweet your spoon stands up in the glass and no one apologizes for enjoying a slower pace.  Who could blame them?  Savannah sits on the Savannah River and is home to 22 historic squares.  The squares are like nothing I’ve ever seen before.  Beautiful historic homes wrap the perimeter of each square with, what I would call, an urban garden in the center.  The squares have a line of sight in each direction, allowing for communication long before anyone heard of a phone.  You can walk on sidewalks right though the center of the squares or enjoy the longer route on the perimeter.  Sadly, several squares were torn down before their value was truly realized. 

We just stayed one night but enjoyed our time walking the squares, doing a little shopping and savoring a hugely different part of our beautiful state.  We stayed at the Westin Riverfront which is across the river from the historic district.  It can be reached by car or ferry (free).  The hotel is beautiful, and service was excellent.  Our room overlooked the water, and we enjoyed some time in the hot tub before sitting around a fire pit to make s’mores.  Only downside is that you’re not in the historic district the minute you walk out the door, but the view is very nice and access is easy.

We ate breakfast before leaving town at one of my favorites, Clary’s Café.  Clary’s is in “The Book” and I can assure you that despite having a steady flow of diners, they are not reinvesting much into the business.  The food is very good and portions are generous.  Mike took great care of us while we were there.  Clary’s opened in the 1930’s as a drugstore and soda fountain.  I’m guessing that Clary’s embraced the fame of “Midnight” and eliminated the drugstore to become a full service restaurant.  You can easily find it if you’re walking the squares; it sits between Calhoun and Lafayette Squares.  Great place!

Jekyll Island

Marriott Residence Inn, Jekyll Island

I made my first trip to Jekyll Island for our first Thanksgiving in Georgia.  What a gem!  If you are in fifth gear in Atlanta, you’re in second in Savannah and you’ll enjoy the gentle downshift to first when you arrive on Jekyll Island.  Jekyll is one of the barrier islands on the coast of Georgia; it’s about a 90 minute drive from Savannah.  As with so many places, its’ history is fascinating.  This was once a winter haven and hunting ground for wealthy Northerners.  In 1886 they established the Jekyll Island Club, it quickly became known as “the richest, most inaccessible club in the world”.  The members, which included J.P. Morgan, William K. Vanderbilt, Joseph Pulitzer and William Rockefeller, built large homes they called cottages and a country club to enjoy meals and sporting activities.  They built the charming “Faith Chapel” with the most beautiful stained glass windows, “David’s Window” by  Louis Tiffany and “The Adoration of the Christ Child” by Maitland and Helen Armstrong.  We did a tour of the property and I recalled what the guide told me 20+ years ago; “wiggle around in that pew, one-sixth of the world’s wealth sat in those seats at one time.  Maybe some will rub off on you”.  Fascinating that so few held so much and that they congregated on this small island! 

We checked out two Marriott hotels for our brief stay.  The first night was spent at the newly built Residence Inn.  They’d opened a few weeks prior and were eager to make our stay as enjoyable as possible.  We paid a pricey $400+ for one night but were traveling the week of July 4th.  The king suite had a bed, pull out sofa and full kitchen.  The hotel is ocean front with a pool, hot tub, fire pits and corn hole boards.  A short walk over the dunes puts you on a beautiful quiet beach.  Our stay included daily vouchers, $10 at the hotel market, $10 in food/beverage from the bar/restaurant, and free bikes for 4 hours for two people.

Lobby at the Westin, Jekyll Island

We spent the second night at the Westin just down the street.  We stayed in a double queen room for about $350.  Also ocean front, the lobby is beautiful and the hotel has a nice pool and hot tub.  Another short walk over a bridge and you find yourself on the same beautiful beach with lots of quiet.  No fighting for a place to sit on this island.  No free perks at this hotel just for staying, bikes are available for rent and food/drinks are available.

The island is flat so biking is relaxing.  We rode on the road and took a few trails through the woods.  It was flat, easy riding.  I often marvel at the courage of cyclists in the Atlanta area.  Nothing to fear here!

We enjoyed a 90 minute dolphin tour that started at the Historic Jekyll Wharf near the Jekyll Island Club. We were on Captain Phillip’s boat. The tour was very relaxing and we enjoyed watching dolphins, birds, and manatees! Our hosts were Captain Phillip and his wife and they are not only funny but shared some interesting history of the island and the creatures that make their home in these waters. Definitely worth giving it a try.

Food is somewhat limited although there are far more choices than the last time I was there.  We ate at Beach House Restaurant one night.  It’s a pretty simple place that includes a little of everything.  Nothing special; but we enjoyed wings and salad.  Lots of fresh local seafood here and we don’t eat any of it, so please ask for suggestions.

Jeklyll Island is a little-known treasure but very much worth the visit.  Enjoy the warm, salt air and the long exhale as you walk the quiet beach and take a step back in time.   

   

- Leah Ehrhardt

Fireside Chat at Biltmore Estate

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may get a commission, at no cost to you. Any recommendations that I make are for products or services I have personally used and highly recommend.

Biltmore Estate: a must see; Christmas season makes it even more special

Tootsie’s Bottom Line:

  • Cost: Candlelight tickets: $70-$90/per adult; $67-$75 daytime tickets
  • Such a unique home and grounds; it’s worth seeing anytime but Christmas is even better!

Tickets: Biltmore Estate

Hotel: Omni Grove Park Inn prices and specials vary significantly; check website for rates

Teeth chattering and hands nestled deeply in our coat pockets, my jaw dropped. I was overcome with awe as we arrived at the front of the Biltmore Estate. We decided to sneak away on a cold, January day to Asheville, North Carolina. While short, our stay would include an evening at the Biltmore Estate and an overnight at the Omni Grove Park Inn.

I had never been to the Biltmore Estate before; although my mom visited previously, she’d never had the opportunity to visit during the Christmas season. The experience didn’t disappoint! We entered the massive doors to a foyer illuminated by candlelight and filled with Christmas carols and poinsettias. We elected to do the audio tour which included interesting details of life as a Vanderbilt. My mom said it she always enjoyed visiting the estate but this was a completely different experience. The “house” is truly one-of-a-kind and must be seen to be believed. My mom said it’s our very own “Downton Abbey”

The Biltmore is an enormous house and we were able to see some of the primary living quarters for the family. The famous basement rooms are a must if you are visiting so you can see the kitchen, indoor pool, a “pre-health club” gym and bowling alley. Christmas takes on a truly special meaning in a house dressed to perfection with burning candles and live music to accompany your visit. The only downside with the night visit is that you cannot see the grounds. This is a must see!

Chilling wind waited for us as we stepped out of the Biltmore House. After a short drive to our hotel, we stepped back in time again. A valet helped us out of our car and a doorman opened the giant doors to welcome us into the lobby at the Omni Grove Park Inn. Sipping hot chocolate and rocking in front of the roaring fireplace, we reminisced about our day and what it would be like to live in a house like the Biltmore or be a regular guest at the Grove Park Inn. The hot chocolate (kids and adult version) were the relaxing end to a perfect day.

Walking around the Omni Grove Park Inn, we enjoyed the native ambiance. “The Marketplace” in the Grove Park Inn provided a tasty, quick bite in the morning. The “National Gingerbread Competition” that started here over 25 years ago was in its final days and seeing how food was transformed into art was so cool. The entries are truly remarkable! What a wonderful way to get into the spirit of Christmas (or stay in it) with a visit to the Omni Grove Park Inn and the Biltmore Estate!

- Kelly Ehrhardt

Larry Bird & Resorts?

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may get a commission, at no cost to you. Any recommendations that I make are for products or services I have personally used and highly recommend.

What do Larry Bird and the French Lick Resort have in common? They both call French Lick home! Having lived in Boston for a number of years, I was well aware of Larry Bird’s hometown. What I didn’t know is that long before Larry Bird walked into the Boston Garden, people were traveling to French Lick and West Baden, Indiana to visit resorts that share their names!

In 1845, naturally occurring sulfur springs inspired Dr. William Bowles to build the French Lick Springs Hotel and invited guests to experience the “miracle waters”. Seeing the success of the French Lick Resort, the West Baden Springs Hotel was built a few years later just one mile away. Another health resort touting the benefits of the springs. Wealthy socialites would travel up to 100 miles by train to stay at these resorts and enjoy casinos, spas, golf, etc. These resorts had it all! Al Capone is said to have enjoyed his time here and FDR announced his intention to run for president at a National Governors’ Conference at the French Lick Springs Hotel!

Currently, the French Lick Resort is comprised of both hotels, the French Lick Springs Hotel and the West Baden Springs Hotel. The town is so charming and the hotels have been beautifully restored. They remind me a bit of the Biltmore Estate and the incredibly luxury that the wealthy enjoyed. They give you glimpse into the life of America’s socialites in the roaring 20s.

I’ve included links below to great articles about the history of both hotels. They include great pictures from when these hotels were in their infancy and today. If those walls could talk……

Larry Bird’s childhood home

It is always inspirational to see where people started. Larry Bird’s roots are modest. No fancy cars or houses. Plain and simple-talent and hard work. From what I’ve read, his childhood wasn’t easy but he certainly made the most of it. We made a quick photo stop outside his house-wonder how many times a day that happens?!

- Kelly Ehrhardt

A Night At Avalon

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may get a commission, at no cost to you. Any recommendations that I make are for products or services I have personally used and highly recommend.

Tootsie’s Bottom Line

  • Marriott Avalon: prices vary widely-rooms: standard with 2 queens or 1 king; some larger rooms available. Very elegant hotel for a reasonable price. Parking: self-park $10/day; valet: $15/day
  • Branch and Barrel: $15+, open for lunch and dinner. Cozy interior; it has potential but our meals were average, at best
  • Goldbergs: serves breakfast, lunch and dinner; we had a delicious breakfast. Great bagels!
The Hotel at Avalon lobby

Avalon in Alpharetta is one of my favorite places to shop, eat and just be. We decided to make a night of it and eat, shop, and stay! I booked a room at the Hotel at Avalon; it’s one of the Autograph Collection in the Marriott chain.

Standard room with 2 queen beds

Walking into the lobby felt like walking into a hotel in Beverly Hills. The entrance is stunning! The concierge desk is tucked into the back so you are greeted by a beautiful sitting area that adjoins the in-house restaurant, South City Kitchen. There’s a large fireplace in the lobby and lots of comfortable seating. The lobby is filled with the smell of whatever is cooking at South City Kitchen and it smells delicious!! We need to eat here soon!

I made the reservation last minute and was able to get a larger than standard room with two queen beds for the same cost as the standard room! We were given rooms on the 12th floor that overlooked the parking deck and highway outside. Not ideal, but from the 12th floor it was still a pretty view. The room itself was beautiful. The bathroom is spacious with good counter space for storing things and getting ready. Really nice hotel in a great location!

It was a rainy night-not the best time to be at an outdoor venue but we were going to make the most of it. We chose to eat at Branch and Barrel. Even in bad weather, Avalon’s restaurants are jamming. Strangely, at 6:00 on a Saturday night, the restaurant was only half full. This was strange to me since the restaurant is charming inside and the food smelled great.

We ordered a variety of food for dinner. We had the Crispy Salt and Vinegar Brussel Sprouts to start. They sounded delicious, but after a few, the saltiness was overwhelming, and they were left unfinished. My son ordered the Braised Beef Brisket entree with mac and cheese and green beans. According to him, this was basically pot roast with gravy. My husband had the Braised Brisket Sandwich which fell flat and also tasted like pot roast. My daughter ordered mac and cheese off the kids menu that (even after she salted it three times) tasted like a creamy, bland pasta sauce. I ordered a house salad with ranch. The salad was simple but tasty. Unfortunately, after eating it, I noticed two hairs on the plate. We told the waiter who, of course, comped the salad. That ruined the best thing on the table! Plain and simple, this was a bust for us!

We tried Goldbergs for breakfast. They have a wide variety of food from breakfast to salad to sandwiches and burgers. My son ordered a bacon and egg breakfast sandwich from a specials list that was a sandwich made with french toast. He devoured it! My daughter and husband had breakfast plates with eggs and a choice of meat. Both were very happy with the food. I loved my made to order omelet and bagel. Good, solid food. We’ll be back!

The Hotel at Avalon entrance

Marriott Credit Card: Benefits I enjoy: Because I’ve accumulated a good number of points, I get a complimentary room upgrade, when available. With this reservation, the nicest room was priced at the same rate as the smaller room so there wasn’t an upgrade available. When this happens, you either receive additional points or a food voucher. The food voucher at Avalon is for South City Kitchen. We weren’t able to use the food voucher, so I took the points!

Marriott Credit Card Information: I don’t use any credit cards that don’t give me something in return. The Marriott Visa that I carry gives me a free night stay in a hotel every year worth 25,000 points. That pretty much offsets the annual fee. In addition, you get 6 points for every $1.00 that you spend in a Marriott. We don’t travel a lot but try to stick to the Marriott brand when we can.

- Kelly Ehrhardt

Europe: In a Nutshell

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may get a commission, at no cost to you. Any recommendations that I make are for products or services I have personally used and highly recommend.

OK, so I’m a bottom line kind of girl. Here’s Tootsie’s bottom, bottom line!

Roland Garros: signs to other majors
  • Cruise ports are not always near your desired destination. Know upfront that significant time can be spent travelling
  • We didn’t book any tours through our ship because research told us that the smaller tours gave more bang for the buck BUT, you have to do your research.  We used Trip Advisor and Cruise Critic.com as our primary sources for information as well as tour providers’ sites and good old fashioned research.
  • Figure out which places are most important and spend your tour dollars there.
Trevi Fountain-making a wish to return to Rome
  • If you do group tours, be flexible and accept that you may not see everything you want.
  • Remember, you’re only sampling the destinations.
  • Weather: we traveled in late May/early June and found it warm to hot
  • Dress code: like the U.S., most places don’t have strict dress codes; however, many churches require covered shoulders and knees.  Bring a backpack to add/remove what you need
  • To maximize your dollar, eat a big breakfast before leaving the ship, eat lightly during the day and return for dinner and entertainment.
    The cruise allowed us to let someone else worry about logistics-travel, meals, etc.  Sounds crazy, but sometimes having fewer choices makes life easier!
  • Eat local specialties when it fits your diet.  In our case, lots of gelato!
    Finally, this was an incredible opportunity for my daughter and I to have some time together sharing this adventure before she sets off on the next big step in life.
Bored or exhausted?
Sunset on cruise

We have a tendency to go until we literally cannot go anymore.  If you read the Paris and Barcelona blogs, we started our days super early and often didn’t get back to our hotel until 11:00 PM or later having walked much or all of the day.  An unexpected but HUGE perk of the cruise was the departure times of the ship.  We had to end our day by late afternoon most days so we put in full days, but not so full that we were exhausted.  That allowed us to relax on the ship rather than try to squeeze one more thing into the day.  Instead, we had relaxing dinners, talking about the day and either went to an evening show, watched a movie on the pool deck or just talked. 

- Kelly Ehrhardt

France: Paris

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may get a commission, at no cost to you. Any recommendations that I make are for products or services I have personally used and highly recommend.

Please note that the posts about Barcelona, European Cruise and Paris relate to a single trip. The trip started in Barcelona where we stayed for two days prior to boarding a 7 day cruise. Following the cruise, we flew to Paris for two more days.

Tootsie’s Bottom Line:

  • Hotel: we stayed at the Marriott Renaissance Le Parc Trocadero.  Again, looking to save money, we used hotel points.  Location was great-walking distance for us to most things
  • Tips: the sites we went to were a good distance apart and, in a desire to get some exercise, we walked 15+ miles each day. Uber is an easy and cost-effective alternative
Must See:

The list of places I want to visit has always been long but never included Paris. Having heard people rave about it over the years, I’d become more interested in visiting.  It didn’t disappoint, and like so many others, I feel in love with the city!

The cruise ended for us in Barcelona where we headed to the airport for a quick flight to Paris.

Versailles & Paris

The Palace of Versailles

The trip to Paris was an easy add-on to the cruise.  We arrived early from Barcelona, and after dropping off our bags at the hotel, we got an Uber and went immediately to the Palace of Versailles.  This was something that Leah really wanted to do, so I wanted to make it happen, if at all possible.  If you imagine a palace, this is it! It is absolutely massive and seeing the home of Louis XIV was so cool. The gates, the palace itself, the gardens, there is so much to see. My favorite part of the visit was walking through the gardens. We were there on a Sunday, and music was being played throughout them. We stopped for an ice cream in a cafe nestled in the woods. We spent the whole afternoon there, and could have stayed for days.  Throughout the gardens, families were enjoying the warm weekend afternoon. Clearly, Versailles is loved by locals and tourists alike.

Overlooking the gardens at Versailles-notice the golf fish in the fountain

We did the Seine River cruise at 10:00 PM, and it was incredible.  Our hotel was about a 15-minute walk to the Eiffel Tower, so we walked over and enjoyed the street vendors and shows on our way there.  The boat tour starts at the base of the Eiffel Tower, so we got our tickets there and waited for our tour.  We were exhausted at this point, but even after dark, Paris looked magical.  What a nice way to end our first day!

Paris

We started our day with a trip up the Eiffel Tower where the views of the city were breathtaking.  We walked from there to Notre Dame.  Not a short distance but the company was great!  Notre Dame was beautiful, but we didn’t stay long as a service was in progress, and we felt a little disrespectful moving around as tourists.  Given the fire in April 2019, we are so glad we were able to see this beautiful cathedral.

Johnson & Sock vs. Herbert & Mahut on Court 1 at Roland Garros 2018

We sat with someone on our way from Barcelona to Paris who told us that he’d attended the French Open at Roland Garros.  We managed to get tickets in the afternoon for same day play and paid around $30 per person.  There were no tickets for the “named courts” (top courts) but given that, we were shocked to get any tickets and we took what we could get.  Probably some of the best money I’ve every spent!  The venue was small and intimate and there were large screens showing top court play.  We had full access to the numbered courts and went straight to court 1 and watched Sock and Johnson (US) play local favorites Mahut and Herbert (FR).  It was a great match but the Americans lost in two sets.  Our seats were incredible and I still cannot believe that we were able to watch the round of 16 play! 

That evening we took an Uber from dinner to the Arc de Triomphe and enjoyed views of the city’s lights.  The flame at the base burning in memory of the unknown soldier was especially moving.  We stopped for our last chocolate mousse and took the long walk back to our hotel.

Again, Paris had never been at the top of my list of places to visit, but I would love to go back and have more time to spend in the City of Lights.  Yes, a city is a city, and each has its own character, but Paris is truly unique and so special.  I understand why people fall in love with this magical place.  I look forward to my return.

- Kelly Ehrhardt

Day 1: Italy: Pompeii & Amalfi Coast

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may get a commission, at no cost to you. Any recommendations that I make are for products or services I have personally used and highly recommend.

Port: Naples

Tootsie’s Bottom Line:

  • Tour Provider: See Amalfi Coast
  • Travel Type: Private
  • Transportation: Sedan
  • Cost: approximately $470 includes private tour of Pompeii and excludes gratuity
  • Kid Friendly: 15+
  • Tips: Ask for “Johnny boy”
  • Good to know: We traveled in late May and it was extremely hot and there is little to no shade.  Plan accordingly.

Pompeii

Espresso to kick-start the day!
Cobblestone streets in Pompeii

The ship arrived early Tuesday morning in Naples, Italy.  We disembarked after an early breakfast and located our tour guide, Johnny, from “See Amalfi Coast”.  I’d booked a private tour from the Port of Naples so that Leah and I could maximize the day.  A Mercedes sedan in impeccable condition was our transportation for the day.  Because Johnny was our private driver, we had the luxury of choosing how to spend our day.  Johnny is from Naples originally and knows the area well.  I’d made arrangements in advance to see Pompeii and “See Amalfi Coast” arranged for a private guide within the ruins.  In order to get ahead of the crowds, Johnny took us directly to Pompeii so that we could be one of the first to enter the ruins.  We had a little time before the ticket office opened and were treated to an espresso at a local eatery outside the city walls.  Neither of us are coffee drinkers but “when in Rome…”.  We took Johnny’s advice and sweetened the espresso and shot it back before starting our day.  Not bad, I must admit!  Perhaps softened by being on vacation in such a beautiful place.

Plaster remains of a person buried in ash-possibly praying?
Artwork that remains on a wall in a home in Pompeii

Pompeii was amazing! As a quick history review, Pompeii was a bustling Roman city until the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 left it buried in 14+ feet of volcanic ash and pumice. The city was literally buried alive! I cannot imagine what it was like excavating a city that was frozen in time. Visiting it, however, is pretty cool. Because it’s fairly small, you can easily walk the city.  A separate local guide walked us through the ruins and was able to take us to some of the highlights.  One of the things that I found most amazing was the vivid colors in paintings found in homes that have long been unoccupied and unprotected. You really get a sense of the layout of the city and the residential areas versus commercial.  A great tour and well worth the time and money!  It also served as a great introduction to our visit to Rome. At the end of our Pompeii tour, we were reunited with Johnny and quickly hit the road before the big crowds had arrived for the day. We paid our guide directly at the end of the tour.

Amalfi Coast

Lemon ice

Amazing!  There really are no other words to describe this area.  I’d wanted to visit it mainly because I’d heard the Amalfi Coast was really pretty.  It is a drastic understatement to call this pretty.  The roads are very narrow and I was glad to be in a car with a private guide rather than trying to navigate the area on a large bus.  Johnny stopped to allow us to take some pictures and took us to a roadside stand for some lemon ice (like a lemon slushy, but so much better).  We continued to Sorrento where we had lunch and walked around the charming town.  We elected to forgo the Positano portion of the trip due to time and instead spent more time in Sorrento. 

I would love to return and drive the full distance of the Amalfi Coast to Positano, visit the island of Capri and see Cinque Terre.  Another time….

- Kelly Ehrhardt

Day 4: France & Monaco: Cannes, Eze & Monte Carlo

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may get a commission, at no cost to you. Any recommendations that I make are for products or services I have personally used and highly recommend.

Port: Cannes

Tootsie’s Bottom Line:

  • Tour Provider: Liven Up
  • Travel Type: Semi-Private (8 people)
  • Transportation: Large van
  • Cost: $75/person
  • Kid Friendly: 15+
  • Tips: If there is something that you really want to do, let the guide know early
  • Good to know: Book a private tour for this one

Eze

Walkway in Eze

We booked this tour through Liven Up for our day in Cannes.  We were really looking forward to this tour because we had no idea what to expect!  We were met at the port by our guide and were in a van with a total of 8 people.  We quickly headed off to the medieval village of Eze.  We had no idea what to expect here but found the most amazing town that can only be traversed on foot through cobblestone streets.  It was so pretty and an amazing surprise!  We then visited a perfume factory in town which was interesting but, in my opinion, we spent far too much time here.  We were behind schedule leaving here due to some of our fellow tourists spending lots of time shopping. 

Monaco

Harbor in Monaco

We were then off to La Turbie and Monaco.  We passed quickly through La Turbie which gave us a glimpse of what was to come in Monaco!  We arrived in Monaco, you know you’re there because the sidewalks change, and it was spotless.  One of the reasons that I chose this tour was to make sure we’d be at the palace for the changing of the guard. 

Prince’s Palace in Monaco-home of Prince Ranier and Princess Grace

We arrived at the palace but had missed the changing of the guard due to the shopping time in the perfume factory.  Both Leah and I were really frustrated since this was the one thing we really wanted to see.  From the outside, the palace was really pretty and we loved walking around that area which included amazing views of the port as well.   

We met up with our group and drove to Monte Carlo which is tiny and basically consists largely of a hotel, casino and restaurant built around a square.  Everything is absolutely pristine!  The hotel was so pretty inside and out. 

Overlooking part of the Grand Prix course in Monte Carlo

We were visiting the week after the Grand Prix, and they were still getting back to normal.  Our guide took us on the course, which is really a drive right through the middle of town!  The walls were still up, and it was really cool to be on the Grand Prix course. 

On our way back, the guide mentioned stopping in a place that offered spectacular views.  Sounded like a great opportunity to see something a little off the beaten path.  Unfortunately, one of our group wanted to board the ship early so we had to pass.  Another downside to the small group tour.

If we had it to do over again, we’d book a private tour rather than a small group tour.  Everyone on our tour was great, but people have different agendas.  We didn’t realize how much we’d love Eze and Monaco, and due to constraints of others we missed out on some things.  Hindsight is 20/20.