Last night I attended a 90s paint & sip party at the Chattery; an event where millennials like me, now well into our 30s, could indulge in the nostalgia of our youth as we painted scenes from Clueless and jammed to the sweet sounds of Backstreet Boys, all while knocking back glasses of Pinot Grigio that may or may not have been laced with the tears of our childhood.
When you're planning a Disney trip, it's tempting to jam-pack every waking moment of your trip with park time. There's simply so much to see & do within the parks, but it's just impossible to check off every item from your Disney trip to-do list. There's also an entire world (literally) beyond just the Disney parks. From Disney Springs to resorts and everything in between, there are some absolute must-do's that don't even require a park ticket!
I was recently in Orlando (no one is surprised) visiting some friends (shoutout to the Citrus Twins!) and I got to spend majority of my trip exploring Orlando & Winter Garden (more on that coming soon). But of course, being the Disney-obsessed person I am, I couldn't be that close to Disney and not do something Disney-related. But with my friends' annual passes blocked out, the parks were just not an option, so we ended up doing Disney Springs & some resort hopping to scratch that Disney itch. I got a lot of questions on my Instagram about things to do beyond the parks, so it gave me an idea for today's post. So I'm compiling some of my top suggestions for must-do's outside of the 4 WDW parks!
If you’re looking for a fun way to get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit this year, Chattanooga has a surprising amount of options: from festive food & colorful murals to epic events, my little southern city has got you covered!
I’ve done the scouting for you & rounded up some of my favorite St. Paddy’s treats, as well as a shortlist of the most colorful & grammable spots! So are you feeling lucky yet? Let’s jump in!
I am usually the go-to girl in our friend group who seems to be "in the know" of when new places open up (probably because I'm constantly sifting through Instagram geotags!) so when new bars, restaurants or shops pop up, I'm typically the one to fire off a group text. Just think of me as a less cool version of Bill Hader's SNL character Stefon ("Chattanooga's hottest new club is....."). Except in this case, it's not a club (are those even a thing anymore?), it's a rooftop restaurant & lounge, and goodness knows Chattanooga needs more of those! For a city legit known as the "Scenic City," the restaurant & bar scene around here sure isn't capitalizing on that fact, but we're making some strides.
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| Looking for Part I? Check out the first part of the post, here! |
Picking up right where I last left off: our first park day! The whole reason I had planned our trip for February was to finally check out the Epcot International Festival of the Arts (or - more affectionately known in certain Disney community circles - as iFARTS). Pro tip: If you can plan your trip for January/February when this festival is running, do it. The weather this time of year is pretty great (though ours was a mixed bag: one day it was pretty chilly & the next it was upper 70s and kind of humid), the crowds are low (though that might be more due to covid...), and the Festival of the Arts is in full swing.
I'm a seasoned Epcot festival veteran. I've done Food&Wine more times than I can count, Flower & Garden twice, and the Festival of the Holidays just once. But iFARTS has eluded me since its inaugural year. The timing of this festival just never worked out for me, until now. And I am oh so glad I finally got the chance to go!
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| Looking for more Disney pandemic related information? Check out this guest post, here! |
I recently got back from a wonderful 5 day vacation to my home away from home, Disney World. Prior to this trip, the last time I had set foot on Disney property was August 2019, so it's safe to say a lot had changed in the time between that last trip & this one (like, a whole pandemic's worth of changes). We had been holding off our next visit because we just didn't know what to expect: would it be safe to go? Would we be sweltering in our masks? Would my daughter Lilly even wear a mask? Would it still be magical?
The moment we set foot on Disney property, all my worries were alleviated. I will say that it was definitely a different kind of trip (especially with a toddler), but having to do the whole mask thing was surprisingly - a non-issue (mostly). It was still magical and can absolutely be worth it to get your Disney fix in.
So for this guide & trip recap, I'm going to run through how it went, in case you're curious what Disney is really like during the pandemic, beyond the glittering and gilded Instagram posts and highlight reels. Plus, I'm throwing out a lot of pro tips throughout this post, so be on the lookout for those!
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| c/o Rawpixel |
We all know how much of a dumpster fire this year has been, but even through all the chaos, 2020 has been pivotal. I’ve heard so many others echoing that sentiment as well. This year was a catalyst for change and personal growth, and that’s something truly miraculous that has come out of 2020. Yes, quarantine was terrible. But you know what isn’t? Spending more time with family (or on yourself, for those of us who are separated from family and haven’t seen them for over a year now – hey oooooh); focusing on “the little things”; gratitude – for every aspect of your life.
We all get to a point around this time of year where we gear up for the following and vow to do better, be better, follow through with goals & promises. Then, inevitably, around the 2-week mark (or 1 month mark for those of you with more willpower), those resolutions tend to lose a bit of their luster, we lose steam, and ultimately fall back into bad habits. I know this because I absolutely was one of those people. But 2020 has changed me, and I’m holding myself accountable by actually putting this down in writing. I’ve never really “published” my New Year’s resolutions, mostly to save myself from the eventual embarrassment & shame around my feeble attempt to “eat healthier” for a few weeks by cutting out Chick-Fil-A french fries and maybe hitting the gym here & there. I think that by actually putting this out into the world and “speaking it into being” (or typing it, rather), holds more weight; there’s power in words.
If you're native to TN (or its nearby surrounding states), chances are you've heard of a little town called Gatlinburg (or its sister-town, Pigeon Forge). If not, let me paint a really quick picture for you: sprawling Smoky Mountains in golden hues as luminous as the sun (in fall, anyway), a bustling "main strip" filled with tourist traps (but also, kitschy/nostalgic little tucked-away gems), booze on every corner (moonshine, whiskey & wine, oh my!), and OH MY GOD SO MANY BEARS (don't worry - just bear imagery). You'll find bear images, statues, and logos everywhere (but also: real bears, too, if you're remote in a cabin somewhere, so be smart.)
One thing I love about traveling is getting to stay at a hotel (clearly, I am not the camping type). I love being able to sleep in a giant bed, enjoy all of the different amenities hotels offer, and the overall feeling of being in a new place with new things to experience (& bonus, I don't have to clean)! Travel is something that has always fueled me, whether it's a quick weekend trip or a full blown weeklong stay. Just getting away and jumping into new surroundings, with new opportunities to explore is such a thrill for me (one that I hope I get to do more of, very soon)!
Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to partner with New Hotel Collection for their newest property, located in the Great Smoky Mountains. I was already a big fan of the Smoky Mountains to begin with (it's our go-to for fall trips to see the stunning foilage), so I jumped at the chance to stay at their beautiful new property for a weekend getaway!
