Follow along on my adventures for travels tips and yummy eats!
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MYKONIAN UTOPIA RESORT
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Traveling with an infant requires a ton of preparation and planning. We have taken two trips with our infant now to Mexico. Here are the things that we used most while at the beach and I would say are essential to enjoying your vacation!
Disclaimer: This Beach Baby Packing List contains Affiliate Links for products I’m currently using. By using these links you won’t pay any additional fees but support me to keep this site running!
Formula/ Breast Pump + Storage Bags
Baby food - oatmeal, purees, etc
Bottles
Disposable bibs and burp clothes
Car Seat - this one is only 7 lbs!
Sleep sack or swaddle
Frida baby nose sucker or nose picker
Diapers
Wipes
Butt Paste
Swimsuits - I love these because of the snaps!
Toys
Nail clippers
Medicines: Tylenol, Gas medicine, Benadryl, prescriptions
Mosquito repellent
Outfits - I like to have two per day
Download your free checklist here!
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Back in July, we took a short trip to Gulf Shores, AL. The beaches here are beautiful! We were originally planning on going to Mexico during these dates but my work instituted a 14 day quarantine for anyone returning from an international trip. I then planned a road trip to California and also thought about Florida, but these were also meet with the 14 day quarantine requirements.
We decided to spend a short 5 days/ 4 nights at the Lodge at Gulf State Park. This hotel is in between Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, AL making it convenient to get to both places. When looking at hotels, we decided on the Lodge because it was brand new and in the state park so more isolated than the other hotels with crowded beaches.
Let me just say that this hotel was close to 500 per night and not worth it. The walls were super thin to were you could hear your neighbors having a normal conversation. The hotel was brand new and things were already broken and falling off the walls (more than likely, they were never installed correctly to begin with.) I really hate to write negative reviews, but I would not recommend this property (especially for the price!).
Although, aesthetically pleasing in photos, this was not the case in person. We didn’t let this ruin our trip, however. We really enjoyed eating at the restaurant in the state park that had tons of great food! It was called Woodside Restaurant and they had live music on the weekends with a ton of outside games. It was a really neat place. If you’re heading to Gulf Shores anytime soon, then you should definitely check it out!
Excellence Riviera Cancun is located right outside of the hotel zone and only about 20 minutes from the airport. This hotel is relatively small compared to other all-inclusive resorts that are in the area. We just returned from a 5 day/4 night stay in one of their Jr Suite Rooms. This was our annual girl’s trip (7 of us went) and it was well..excellent (pun intended lol) This was my second time here and I will definitely be returning!
When we arrived, we were greeted with an ice cold glass of champagne by the bellman. They took our luggage and we proceeded to the check-in counter. We arrived very early so we were not able to check-in right away, which was fine, because we went and had lunch at the buffet and then headed to the pool.
Excellence Riviera Cancun has 7 different restaurants of which we tried all but the French. All of the food is phenomenal, my favorite is Basmati, the Indian restaurant. I know what you’re thinking, “Indian food in Mexico..”, but take my word, it was delicious! With there being 7 of us, it was at sometimes difficult for us to get a table at restaurants during peak times, but the hotel staff was very accommodating in getting us seated in a timely manner. If the wait was going to be awhile, we headed to The Flavor Market, Spanish tapas restaurant, for some yummy tapas and sangria.
The only restaurant that we thought we were not going to be able to eat at was the hibachi grill because they only take reservations the day of. One of the hotel concierges ended up helping us out on the last day since we had such a big group. The hibachi show is not to be missed! The chef on the grill was very entertaining and did some unique things that I have not seen at other hibachi restaurants so it was really fun!
On Friday night was the Mexican Fiesta. This was a blast! We ended up getting several tables to do shots with us and the seven of us finished off a bottle of Don Julio. Miguel and Edwin were so fun and Miguel was such a sport with dancing (It was hilarious!)
Last but definitely not least, the drink service at the beach was outstanding! Armando took such great care of us (all 7 of us!) and gave us the nicknames of Sirenas and Cowboys, haha! He was so fun! I can’t forget Ivan either who also served us at the beach and would anticipate our orders before we even asked for it!
Image C/O Crystal
Image C/O Crystal
This was definitely a girl’s trip for the books! We had such a great time and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Excellence Riviera Cancun!
Contact me to book your stay at Excellence today!
If you have been following along on my Instagram and blog, then you know that I just recently returned from an amazing trip to the Andalusia coast of Spain + Mallorca.
While in Granada, we ventured to the ancient Moorish quarter, the Albayzín, where we had an incredible dinner at Mirador de Morayma. If you go, then make sure to request a table with views of the Alhambra.
C/O Trip Advisor
We walked here from our hotel, Hospes Palacio de los Patos, which took about 25 minutes. As I said earlier, you walk through the Albayzín. On your way, you pass down this super narrow street that has so many shops on it. It feels like a bazaar. It was so cool! I wish that we would have had time to stop and check out some of the shops but we didn’t. We would have went back the next day, but I drank too much and proceeded to stay in bed until 1 pm :p.
C/O Gastrology
I ordered the roasted suckling pig while Jarad ordered the grilled beef tenderloin with pumpkin and potatoes with spices.
If you’re heading to Granada anytime soon, then I definitely recommend checking this place out! You can thank me later!
C/ Pianista García Carillo, 2
Granada 18010
Spain
WEBSITE
PHONE: (+34) 958 22 82 90 - 958 22 48 12
ABOUT ME:
I was born in Mississippi but raised a Tennessee girl! I attended undergrad at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where I received my degree in Biochemistry. I then proceeded to go to pharmacy school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center with my last 3 years in Knoxville. (Go VOLS!) 6 years ago I followed my sweetheart to Dallas, Texas, where I have been ever since!
I am currently a practicing Inpatient Pharmacist with a love for traveling. I love to get off the beaten path and go places/do things that are not the normal “tourist” thing to do. I love hiking and adventure travel!
—
Follow me: @thatblondetravels
If you have been following along on my Instagram and blog, then you know that I just recently returned from an amazing trip to the Andalusia coast of Spain + Mallorca. This region of Spain has some of the most breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains with interspersed villages beautifully located along the winding roads.
When we were in Mallorca, we had so many amazing meals. The one that we had a Cas X’orc stands out as one of the best meals that we had during our entire trip! Cas X’orc is a local Finca (or hacienda or plantation) that is located at the top of the mountain and overlooks the valley below. The views here are incredible!! We made a reservation at their restaurant, which is a converted olive oil mill. The restaurant is so quaint and when you walk in they had a roaring fire going (this was during the fall - I’m sure that would not happen during the summer months!).
Cas X’orc was amazing, from the food and the atmosphere, so I’m adding it to my must try list when visiting Mallorca. Located on a hill between the artists’ village Deià and the picturesque Sóller lies our romantic Mallorcan gem at the edge of the Tramuntana Mountains. The carefully restored 18th century estate is characterized by olive groves, lemon trees and flourishing Mediterranean gardens. [Cas X’orc]
This fabulous assortment of homemade breads, including sourdough - my fav! This was served with an herb butter, aioli, and fresh hummus. Don’t forget about their fresh homemade olive oil!
This delicious dish was the perfect medley of chicken tikka masala with a Mediterranean flare.
If you’re ordering dessert, might as well go all out and get the coffee too! Please don’t be like my husband though and stay up all night when you have a 6 am flight..lmao.
Assortment of homemade breads
Carob Waffle, Almond Ice Cream
Mughal Chicken Korma
Cappuccino
C/O Cas X’orc
ABOUT ME:
I was born in Mississippi but raised a Tennessee girl! I attended undergrad at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where I received my degree in Biochemistry. I then proceeded to go to pharmacy school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center with my last 3 years in Knoxville. (Go VOLS!) 6 years ago I followed my sweetheart to Dallas, Texas, where I have been ever since!
I am currently a practicing Inpatient Pharmacist with a love for traveling. I love to get off the beaten path and go places/do things that are not the normal “tourist” thing to do. I love hiking and adventure travel!
—
Follow me: @thatblondetravels
I just recently returned (i’m talking on Sunday) from an amazing trip to the Andalusia coast of Spain + Mallorca. This region of Spain has some of the most breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains with interspersed villages beautifully located along the winding roads.
While visiting this region of Spain, we had so many amazing meals that it honestly is very hard to pick a favorite. Some restaurants had amazing views and ambiance, some had ambiance plus delicious tapas, and some not so much. Fortunately, the bad meals were few and far between and usually because we just stopped in for a quick bite while touring a local monument. I hate how in large tourist areas, it seems like a lot of the terrible restaurants are right beside the tourist spot. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could have an amazing meal AND see the local attraction at the same time?!
Anywho, this post is about one of the wonderful restaurants that we had the pleasure to dine at while visiting Sevilla.
C/O ESLAVA
When you first walk into Eslava, expect to see a crowded tapas bar with a great atmosphere. Ask one of the servers to recommend you a class of Vino Tinto to start (Spanish wines are delicous!). When you get you glass of wine, you will also be served some homemade sourdough bread and some fresh aceitunas (olives) that are mixed with fava beans - you MUST try these! They are so yummy!). Aslo, don’t forget to request some aceite de oliva (olive oil) with some sea salt. I think Spain could give Italy a run for their money on olive oil - it was literally the best! The olive oil is the best when it is produced on a local Finca (or hacienda or plantation). We bought some to bring home from a local Finca that you can actually stay at in Mallorca, called Cas X’orc (another post for another time).
Beef tataki with ginger - These thin strips of beef topped with sea salt and drizzled with olive oil will leave your mouth watering for more! We actually ordered two plates of these. As you can tell, it is not a huge portion but the flavor is outstanding. There are dollops of ginger sauce on the plate that enhance the flavors of the beef.
Pork and beef homemade croquettes (bechamel-filled, breaded and deep-fried) - I must say that I thought that I would absolutely love the croquettes in Spain since it is definitely a staple tapas at most Spanish restaurants. While the croquettes were definitely delicious, they were not my favorite of all the tapas that I sampled. That being said, you still must try them!
Slow-cooked egg served on boletus cake with caramelized wine reduction (1st Prize, Sevilla en Boca de Todos 2010 contest) - This one is very interesting and worth a taste!
A cigar for Becquer. Brick pastry cigar-shaped with cuttlefish and algae) - The texture on this definitely different but the flavor was surprisingly good!
Roasted pork ribs glazed in rosemary honey - MUST get these!! These are like a Korean BBQ style short rib with incredible flavor!!
Here is a link to the entire tapas menu. We didn’t get a chance to try everything but if you’re feeling up to it, then I would recommend at least sampling a few more of their delicious tapas!
C/O EAT SPEAK WRITE
ABOUT ME:
I was born in Mississippi but raised a Tennessee girl! I attended undergrad at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where I received my degree in Biochemistry. I then proceeded to go to pharmacy school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center with my last 3 years in Knoxville. (Go VOLS!) 6 years ago I followed my sweetheart to Dallas, Texas, where I have been ever since!
I am currently a practicing Inpatient Pharmacist with a love for traveling. I love to get off the beaten path and go places/do things that are not the normal “tourist” thing to do. I love hiking and adventure travel!
—
Follow me: @thatblondetravels
Before I left for Iceland, I took my planned itinerary and made a blog post about it. If you remember it, then you probably remember that it was a little over-zealous and included a lot of activities!
Here is the updated version of my Ultimate Iceland Ring Road Adventure!
In order to see the entire ring road, I would recommend no less than 10 to 12 days. We did the entire ring road, but it involved a TON of driving. We had to cut some stuff out so that we could make it to our next destination before midnight.
Þórsmörk is absolutely breathtaking! You could easily spend 3 to 4 days in this area hiking, snowmobiling on a glacier, or taking a Superjeep Tour (See my post here about our Superjeep adventure with Southcoast Adventures.)
While our Cozy Campers campervan was amazing, I highly recommend splitting up the trip and spending a couple nights in a hotel just to stretch out your legs. While I’m mentioning the campervan, it takes a while to get organized and head out from the campground in the morning. We would wake up, make breakfast, clean our dishes, then shower and get dressed. Depending on the campsite, the showering is sometimes more difficult than at other places.
Do yourself a favor and skip the DC plane - it is a 4 mile walk round trip and there is absolutely nothing to look at during the walk - OR you can pay 2500 kr to take a shuttle bus. It was the biggest tourist trap. I felt like they just placed this plane out in the middle of nowhere and were like these stupid tourists are going to walk all this way to see this - insert evil laugh here.
Hot Springs:
The Blue Lagoon: Like Disney World for adults (If you go, I would recommend staying at Silfra so that you have your own private hot spring.) Also, VERY IMPORTANT, do not get your hair in the water at the Blue Lagoon unless you have a ton of conditioner in it or your hair will be dry for weeks!
Grettislaug Pool: There is a campground here! I would recommend camping here overnight so that you can enjoy this amazing hot spring!
Secret Lagoon: While touristy, this was one was by far my favorite. The bottom is rocky instead of slimy like others and the water does not have a ton of floating algae in it.
Snaefellsnes Peninsula - If you remember back to my full itinerary post, then you will see that this is at the end of our trip. We were exhausted by this time due to all the driving that was involved during our last few days. We had planned to start the next day with the Glymur Waterfall hike but there was a monsoon the night before and morning of so we weren’t able to do it.
These are just a few of my suggestions to changes that I would make to the itinerary that I blogged about a few weeks ago! Updated itinerary Iceland post coming soon!
ABOUT ME:
I was born in Mississippi but raised a Tennessee girl! I attended undergrad at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where I received my degree in Biochemistry. I then proceeded to go to pharmacy school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center with my last 3 years in Knoxville. (Go VOLS!) 6 years ago I followed my sweetheart to Dallas, Texas, where I have been ever since!
I am currently a practicing Inpatient Pharmacist with a love for traveling. I love to get off the beaten path and go places/do things that are not the normal “tourist” thing to do. I love hiking and adventure travel!
—
Follow me: @thatblondetravels
