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The older I get, the more I want to see the world around me. As I sat down to write my goals for 2020, I started to think about where in this world do I want to explore. A couple of hours later, my Travel Bucket List Series was born.
Throughout 2020, I will be highlighting my top 30 places on my travel bucket list to explore in the world. I have broken it down to 15 international destinations and 15 U.S. destinations. By no means is this list meant to be inclusive; it is merely the places I want to see most in the world before exploring others.
Every week or so, I will be posting about one of the places on the list. The posts will include photos, where I would like to stay, sites to see, and more. Each week I will alternate writing between an international and a U.S. destination.
Believe it or not, it was much easier to come up with 15 international destinations than
These are my top 30. Please check back each week or so as I highlight each of these magnificent places.
Today our adventure began in Genoa, Italy. Genoa is the largest and most ancient port in Italy. We docked in Genoa and started the day with a drive through Piazza Caricamento and Old Medieval Port. We saw the 1st bank of Europe and where the traveler’s check was created. We saw where Marco Polo traveled and wrote his book. Finally, we stopped at Christopher Columbus’s house and spoke to the man himself.
After meeting the famous explorer, we continued with a walking tour of Genoa and took some photos in Piazza De Ferrari.
After our walking tour, we boarded a private boat to Portofino. It was a beautiful boat ride with magnificent views.
In Portofino, we toured Castello Brown, where we watched a pesto demonstration and treated to a wonderful, one of a kind lunch in a castle. It wouldn’t be Disney, without a castle, right? The castle was on top of a hill, so we made our way up, taking in the beauty of this magnificent place. On our way up, we saw the Church of San Giorgio, breathtaking views of the sea, and so many pretty flowers. Lunch was terrific, and the focaccia bread was to die for. After lunch, we had a little time to shop and grab some gelato. Here, I began my love affair with gelato! Soon, it was time to catch a boat and head over to Santa Margherita Ligure, located in Genoa’s Tigullio Bay. Here we hopped on a bus and headed back to the ship. All had another great adventure!
In my last trip report (you can check it out here), I shared our adventures in Monaco. Later that day, we were off to the village of Eze. Eze is a hilltop town on the Cote d’Azur. Overlooking the Mediterranean, this medieval village hosts a 12th-century castle and the Jarden Exotique with its graceful statues and beautiful vistas. It was simply stunning. Throughout the village, you can find local shops and art galleries. There were lots of unique, hand-crafted gifts. I bought an adorable bear, made out of quilting material, for my nephew.
On the way back to the ship, we took a little tour along the outskirts of Nice. We stopped at the memorial to Princess Grace, and there was also a stunning view of our ship.
France was amazing, and it is a place I would like to visit again. Next stop on this tour, Genoa, Italy!
Until next time,
Heather
My family loves to cruise. It is a fantastic way to see new places. There are many different cruise lines to choose from, but our family prefers Disney. We have been on eight Disney cruises and setting sail again in February. So what is it about Disney that keeps us coming back for more? If you are a follower of this blog, it is no secret that I love anything, Disney. Their service is second to none, and they know what the customer wants before the customer even knows what they want. It is my happy place. So what is it about a Disney cruise that makes it so special? Here are our top six favorite things on a Disney Cruise.
Disney’s Service
Disney’s service is first class. Every cast member goes above and beyond to make sure you have a fantastic time. From the stateroom host/hostesses to guest services to the servers in the dining rooms, each person makes the magic happen in their own way.
Surprised Nicholas with a cake. 
A towel cake! 
Our hostess always playing games with the kids’ stuffed animals. 
Celebrating our anniversary and my first 1/2 marathon.
On our first cruise in 2010, we had the most fantastic server, Oliver. He took such great care of us. In 2018, we were once again sailing on the Disney Magic. I heard he was still working on the ship. I called Disney and requested to be seated at one of his tables. Imagine our surprise, not only was he still on the ship, he remembered us! He was excited to see us and could not believe how the boys had grown. Oliver’s service was top-notch, and his assistant server, Miguel, was just as great.
Entertainment
No one does entertainment like Disney, and the entertainment on the cruise is no exception. From award-winning Broadway shows to comedians, live music, game nights, trivia, dance parties, character interactions, dinner shows, and more, there is always something to do and see. I love catching a show before dinner. Two of my all-time favorites are Frozen and Disney’s Believe. We also enjoy the two dinner shows, Rapunzel’s Royal Table and Tiana’s Place.
Tiana’s Place 
Frozen 
Rapunzel’s Royal Table 
Rapunzel’s Royal Table
Character Interactions
By far, character interactions are one of my favorite things, whether on a cruise or at the parks. On the cruise, it is a bit easier; the lines are shorter and tend to move faster. My kids are more apt to stand in line if they know it will be quick.
Pirate Night
Where else can you dress like a pirate, watch a fun pirate show, and watch fireworks on the high seas? The night starts with a Caribbean themed menu. All the servers dress in pirate-themed clothes. Jack Sparrow and Captain Hook make their appearances. Mickey, Minne, and the gang are dressed in their pirate best. At around 10:00 pm, there is show up on deck, ending with fireworks. Did you know Disney Cruise Line is the only cruise line to have fireworks at sea? The night ends with an enormous buffet. It is a great time.
Adult Only Areas
One may think Disney Cruise Line is just for kids, but it is NOT. My husband and I have gone without kids and had a great time. There are plenty of areas where children are not allowed. This would include an adults-only pool, spa, fitness club, bars and clubs, a cafe, and adult-only dining. The adult-only dining is our favorite. Each trip, we make sure to snag a reservation at Palo. Palo serves Italian cuisine in a romantic setting. You can make a reservation for brunch or dinner. We usually go for brunch, though dinner is terrific as well. The food is fantastic. I highly recommend the chicken parmesan.
Adult only deck and pool
Pink Champagne Bar
Photo credit- Touring Plans
Disney’s Private Island
Like most cruise lines, Disney has their little piece of heaven in the Bahamas. Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island. There is a kid’s club, a family beach, and an adult’s only beach. There are cabanas to rent, snorkeling, swimming with stingrays, bike riding, and more. For all you runners, there is 5k upon arrival. There is so much to do here that I feel it needs its own blog post. Be on the lookout for that in the coming weeks. In the meantime, here is a glimpse of this beautiful island.
I could go on and on about the things we love about a Disney Cruise. These are just the highlights. If you are looking for specific information on an itinerary, I have various posts about our Alaskan and Mediterranean cruises here on my blog. Pull up a chair, grab a cup of something and take a look. Happy reading!
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One of the days we were in Amsterdam, Bill and I took a side trip to the community of Zaanse Schans. Located in the town of Zaandam, about 20 mins outside of Amsterdam, this quaint neighborhood is amidst a meadow landscape with iconic wooden windmills and other structures that have been moved and reassembled here piece by piece to bring the history of this area to life. It is a real living museum, with the 18th and 19th centuries coming to life. Zaanse Schans has farmsteads, paths, wooden houses, warehouses and windmills, ditches, and fields. Enjoy the smell of fresh cookies from the bakery museum, or take a look at where clogs are made. You should be sure not to miss the cheese factory, pewter foundry, and the various windmills.
Due to weather, we did not see as much as we would have liked, but we made the best of the situation. It was pouring rain and rather chilly. However, we were able to hit a few of the highlights.
Upon entering the parking lot, there is a photo opportunity for anyone that would like to have their picture taken. I am a sucker for a photo (I am a scrapbooker), so I made my husband stop and smile. As you can see from my fun hat, I was a bit chilly. From there, we went straight to the Bakery Museum De Gecroonde.
Stroop Waffles are amazing!
Inside we found Dutch sweets and baked goods like windmill cookies and Stoop Waffles, all of which are served warm. The smells radiating from this bakery were heavenly. Attached to the bakery is a storefront, and this is where we decorated our clogs. These made such cute souvenirs. The clog decorating area was just adorable. I had fun taking photos and playing around in the giant Dutch oven.
The next stop on our visit was to the Windmill DeKat (2). Built in 1664, this mill produces paint, chalk, pigments, and oils used by artists around the world. As we walked in, we saw a giant stone wheel grinding chalk that is powered by the sails outside. Take a look.
Inside the mill 
The pigments 
Inside the mill 
So beautiful
From the tour of the windmill, we were off to sample some cheese. The Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm is a traditional farm setting. In the center of the store is a sampling of all types of cheeses. It ranges from Gouda, goat’s cheese and flavors such as pumpkin! Why yes, we brought some pumpkin cheese home, and it as rather tasty. Note to U.S. travelers to bring cheese back to the U.S.; it must be vacuum-packed and pasteurized.
For all you chocolate lovers out there, Zaans Gedaan/Cacao Lab was our next stop. Enter this adorable shop and smell the tantalizing aroma of chocolate. Here see how chocolate treats were made in the 18th century.
Before heading back to our bus, we took a walk around the grounds. Even on a rainy day, it was such a beautiful sight. I can imagine in the spring, with all the tulips, it is stunning!
Oh, and how could I forget, decorating a clog was not enough, we had to see how the clogs were made and buy a pair as a gift. Our final stop was to Kooijman Souvenirs and Clogs. I purchased a bright red pair for my clog, loving sister.
Though I wished we had better weather, it still was a great day. There were still many things we did not get to see. When we head back to Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans will be on the to-do list again.
Last month Bill and I had the pleasure of spending two and a half days in the beautiful city of Amsterdam. It was the last stop of our Rhine River cruise, and we chose to spend an extra day to explore. We were not disappointed. Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. It is famous for its canals, museums, beautiful homes, “coffee” shops, the Red Light District, bicycles, and more. During our time there, I compiled a list of must-dos in the city. By no means is this list complete. There is so much more to see and do, and we will be back someday to this fantastic city.
City Canal Cruise
Take a cruise along Amsterdam’s UNESCO heritage canals. The city has 165 canals. As we sailed through three of the main canals of the city (Keizersgracht, Herengracht, and Prinsengracht), we passed houseboats and beautiful canal homes (a canal home is a house that overlooks a canal). These homes are narrow, high, and deep. If you look closely, each home has a hook on the front. These hooks enable the residents to pull large, bulky objects up into a window. Most homes have very narrow staircases, and moving furniture in is a challenge.
Look closely for the hooks. 
Crooked House 
Canal house & houseboats
Another thing to notice about the homes is that they are crooked or lean forward. Many of these homes were built many, many years ago, and built on wooden piles. The piles were pounded into wet soil. These piles have not been able to stand the test of time and have begun to rot and sink, leaving the homes uneven. I think it gives the houses a bit more charm.
Other points of interest are the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge), the Westerkerk Church, Anne Frank Huis, the InterContinental Hotel (George Clooney stayed there during the filming of a movie) and the Amstel River.
Skinny Bridge 
InterContinental Hotel 
Canal 
Canal 
Westerkerk 
Houseboat
Van Gogh Museum and Painting Class
The Van Gogh Museum has over 1,000 paintings, drawings, and letters of Vincent Van Gogh. The museum has the most extensive collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world. We learned about his life and came up close and personal with his greatest masterpieces such as “Sunflowers” and “The Bedroom” Unfortunately, photos are not allowed. I took this image from the museum’s website.
After the museum tour, there is an option for a painting class. The class was on a canal boat. A sketch of one of Van Gogh’s paintings was provided, as was the paint. It was harder than it looked. Bill did a great job, me not so much!
My sketch 
My painting 
Bill’s masterpiece
Rembrandt House
Once what was home to the famous Rembrandt, is now a museum. It was here he commissioned the renowned piece “The Nightwatch.” It contains an extensive collection of his etchings, and you can attend an etching workshop while there. Quick fact- Rembrandt’s wife and three children died in this home. He later lost it to bankruptcy.
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is one of the finest art museums in the world. There are over 8000 works on display, including Van Gogh, Vermeer, and Rembrandt. You can also find the blue and white pottery that is famous in the Netherlands.
Anne Frank Huis
In my opinion, this should be on top of everyone’s list that visits Amsterdam. The museum focuses on the secret annex, where Anne and her family lived for more than two years before being arrested and taken away by the Nazis. It is a self-guided tour with the use of a listening device. We walked from room to room, where each room shared a different part of their story. It is such a moving tour. The photos of Anne are thought-provoking and remind us that we need to do better in the world. We can’t forget history, and we can’t let it repeat itself. Again, no photos were allowed, but I picked up some postcards to include in my scrapbook and to use here to illustrate what we saw.
Doorway to the home. 
Portraits of Anne 
Anne’s bedroom 
The bookcase moves to reveal a door to the annex.
Walking Tour of the City
On our last full day, we took a three-hour walking tour of the city; it began at Amsterdam’s Central Station, which in and of itself is a sight to see. Opening in 1989, 250,000 passengers pass through it each day. Our tour took us through Dam Square, home to the Royal Palace, the New Church, and National Monuments. We walked around De Wallen, the medieval city center. It is home to Amsterdam’s oldest church and the famous Red-Light District. It was quite the experience to see and learn how the city handles the world’s oldest profession. We also saw De Wagg, the city’s oldest non-religious building dating back to the 15th century and once part of the city wall. We walked through Chinatown, a flower market, and ended our tour at The Night Watch Sculpture. It was a great way to see the city.
Old church 
Red Light District 
Statute dedciated to the Sex Workers
The Night Watch 
“Coffee Shop” 
City of Bicycles 
This is just a small sampling as to what Amsterdam has to offer. I have many more photos to share and will do so in future posts. For now, I hope I have given you some ideas as you plan your trip to Amsterdam.
Last weekend I attended my 11th runDisney race weekend. In total, I have run 21 runDisney races. After my Mom passed away, I decided to run a half marathon in her memory — what better place to run and honor my Mom than my favorite place, Walt Disney World.
In February 2015, I ran the Princess 1/2 Marathon and the Castaway Cay Challenge on Disney’s private island. I was
So what keeps me going back for more? Here are seven reasons to run a runDisney race.
1. runDisney races are great races for beginners.
When I decided to run my first half marathon, the farthest I had ever run was 6.2 miles. I was nervous! I was still a relatively new runner. There were many races at home that required a runner to finish within a certain amount of time. In 2014/2015, I was running about a 12:00 min mile. Based on that, I didn’t bother signing up for races around here. I was afraid I would not finish or come in dead last. With Disney, there is a time limit, but so long as you can maintain a 16:00 minute mile, you are all set. I ran that race while stopping for characters, with plenty of time to spare. This race gave me the confidence to sign up for races back home. I am a bit faster these days and rarely worry about finishing a race or coming in dead last.
2. You run through the parks.
Ever dream of running down Main Street and through the castle? Or how about running around the World Showcase as the sun rises over the lagoon? These are just two of my favorite things when running a runDisney race. Each race weekend, the courses vary, but for the most part, you will run through at least one park, two parks if you run a half marathon and all four parks, plus ESPN Wide World of Sports if you run the marathon. This past weekend, the 10k course took us through Epcot, and the half marathon took us through the Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot.
3. Entertainment along the course.
What would an event be at Disney without entertainment? It is what they do best. At the start of each race is a DJ, corny race announcers, character meet and greets, and fireworks. Along the course, you can find much of the same. For most races, there is plenty of character stops along the way. The lines can be long, but the cast members do an excellent job of moving everyone along.
4. Costumes and more costumes.
Seriously, where else can you wear a costume and not feel judged? LOL! Hands down, this is one of the best parts of a runDisney event. There are so many talented people out there. The costumes are amazing. I am not gifted when it comes to sewing, so I jump on over to Etsy and buy a costume or two. I have dressed as various princesses, Mrs. Potts, Babette the feather duster from Beauty and the Beast, Rey from Star Wars, and more. I have so much fun with it. For my next couple of races, I am thinking of dressing as villains. What do you think?
5. Photopass photographers
Disney Photo Pass photographers are out there on the course capturing all those moments. Since I have an annual pass, all photos are included, and I never have to worry about capturing a moment or going bankrupt after I want to buy them all!
6. Friends
Runners are lovely people. However, Disney runners are even nicer! I have met some great people through my runDisney races. I have rekindled old friendships, as well. Wine and Dine race weekend is an annual trip I take with my friends from middle/high school! We had lost touch after college and reconnected after my Mom had passed. One day I posted I was signing up for the Wine and Dine races and asked if I had any takers. Both ladies said yes! This was our 4th weekend together, and we are already looking forward to next year.
7. Medals
The medals are the best! These are not little tokens of thanks for running. These medals are HUGE! The attention to detail is beautiful.
Have I convinced you yet? Will you be putting a runDisney event on your calendar? I would love to see you down there!
A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I returned from our second Adventures by Disney trip. We took a cruise down the Rhine River. We visited four countries and packed a lot in those eight days. We visited storybook villages, historical sites, world-renowned cities, saw castles, and experienced VIP service throughout the trip. Last year we sailed on a ten-day Mediterranean Disney cruise and added on an Adventures by Disney package. Instead of booking our excursions through the cruise line, we booked them through Adventures by Disney. I will explain what that means later on in this post.
First, for those of you that don’t know, Adventures by Disney (“ABD”) is a guided group travel option offered by the Walt Disney company. It provides culturally immersive, once-in-a-lifetime experiences in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, South, and North America. The trips range from 3-4 days (short escapes) up to 12 days long. There are river cruises on the Rhine, Danube, Seine and Rhone rivers. As mentioned above, you may add an ABD to certain Disney Cruise Line cruises.
Being a Disney fanatic, I had heard of these trips a few years ago. We had been to Disney World more times than I can count, and we had done several Disney cruises at this point. However, two things made me shy away from them, the thought of group travel and the price. I had always loved planning our vacations. I would spend hours looking for excursions, comparing tour operators, etc. When it came to going on our first family trip to Europe, I was a little hesitant. I looked at what Disney Cruise Line had to offer for excursions and was a bit surprised at how expensive these excursions were. As I was weighing my options, a brochure for ABD arrived at my house, offering what they called an “Embedded ABD.” The add on includes preselected shore excursions, led by two Adventure Guides. Each embedded ABD is capped at 40 people. The ABD consists of a welcome and farewell reception, activities on the sea days, a case of water, and all photos taken on your excursions and the ship.
The more I read, the more I was starting to see the value in the add on. I decided to give my travel agent a call and discuss it with him. After our chat, I booked it. Unlike the land-based and river cruise trips, the deposit was refundable if we decided we could not swing the cost. At this point, I had nine months to mull over our decision. During those nine months, I poured over reviews, talked to people who had been on this trip. By the time our paid in full date arrived, I was ready to commit. OUCH! It was the most we had ever paid for a vacation. Now mind you, we paid off the cruise that day, too, so it seemed extra painful. LOL.
As the trip got closer, I started to have buyer’s remorse. Every time I told someone what we were doing, I heard how expensive it was, how I could take the trip for a lot less money, etc. It was starting to annoy me and feed into my fear that the trip was not going to live up to my expectations.
Well, can I say… the trip was worth every single penny. We had an amazing time. The guides were fantastic; the excursions were incredible; we received first-class VIP treatment from the moment we stepped on the ship until we departed. I was hooked. The Adventures by Disney experience is second to none, and I did not hesitate to book the Rhine River cruise and our next adventure, the Canadian Rockies with ABD. So, what makes the difference?
The Disney Difference
Disney is known for its storytelling. The story is told through the Adventure Guides. In addition to the two guides, you are joined by local guides that immerse you into the culture. (Side note, with river cruises, you have six guides. ) You experience the culture and traditions of the local people. The Adventure Guides provide the first-class service that Disney is known for, and all of your needs are met beyond expectations. The guides do more than take you from place to place. They provide more information you could ever dream of about each destination. They make sure you are hydrated, feed, know where the good bathrooms are (KEY!!), and the best local places to shop and eat outside of tourists traps. They are photographers and great entertainment for all. You get to know your guides, and it makes the trip a more intimate experience.
Not only do you get to know your guides, but the other families traveling with you — most groups top off at 40 people, except for river cruising. I believe 130-140 is the cut-off. You spend a lot of time with these people, and we have made friends along the way.
Are you traveling with children? ABD makes sure to build in what they call Junior Adventure activities for kids. For example, when we were at the Colosseum in Rome, one of the guides took all the kids and did a tour separate from the adults. They learned all about this amazing piece of history, all the while acting as gladiators.
Another difference between ABD trips and other group travel is what Disney calls the Insider Access. The Insider Access includes things like an after-hours tour of the Vatican, with a private viewing inside the Sistine Chapel. How about a backstage pass to Good Morning America? Or perhaps an exclusive dinner at Edinburgh castle is more your thing. These are once in a lifetime experiences, and Disney makes it happen.
Have I mentioned how easy ABD makes traveling? Need help making airfare reservations? ABD can help. Want to arrive a couple of days early or perhaps extend your trip by a few days? ABD can arrange this as well. Once your adventure begins, there is no waiting in line to check into your hotels, and there is no carrying your luggage. Everything is taken care of for you. Sign me up!
Lastly, we chose ABD for Disney’s track record when it comes to safety. Safety is their number one priority, and I have the utmost confidence that ABD will always keep our safety in mind when traveling to these various destinations.
All of this is the Disney difference, and this is why we choose to explore the world with Adventures by Disney.
If you would like to read more about our trips with Adventures By Disney check out these posts.
Last Saturday my BFF and I had the pleasure of visiting Alice in the Village over at Patriot Place. Alice in the Village is a unique store and tea room featuring the fictional characters of Alice in the Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I had wanted to go for months and was finally able to carve out some girl time and head on over.
Our tea time was at 11:00 a.m. sharp. The entrance to the tea room is a cute bakery and shop. You can drop in for a pastry, sandwiches, soup, and drinks. There is loose leaf tea for sale, along with dainty teacups, teapots and other accessories used in making and drinking tea.
Here are a couple of drink menus. As you can see, they sell much more than just tea.
The tea room is in the back of the Village. An adorable sign welcomes patrons to the Royal Tea Room.
We were the first to arrive and had our choice of tables. We picked one a couple of tables in and to the left. It gave me a good view of what was going on. The Village is not that big. Maybe it holds 50 people? It is cutely decorated and screams Queen of Hearts.
Our waitress greeted us in the most adorable uniform. It resembled the one Tweedle Dee, and Tweedle Dum wore in the movie. She handed us our menus and explained how the tea service worked. There were three tea services to choose from. First, was the Willy Wonka High Tea. This tea service runs from September- December. It includes sandwiches, quiche, soup, scones, dessert, tea, and a visit from the Candyman Trolley. The Willy Wonka High Tea is $78.00 for two or $117.00 for three people. Also, there is a children’s menu, Charlie’s Nursery Tea for $30.00 for children under 12. Here a peek at the menu.
Our other choices were the Wonderland Tea and The Queen of Hearts High Tea. We chose the Queen of Hearts High Tea. It was $110 for two or $165 for three. Honestly, I felt it was a great value.
We ordered our tea service and next had to decide what teas we would like to try. The tea menu is enormous. There are about 100 different teas, and I admit it was a bit overwhelming. Ultimately, I went with Florence and Kim went with Boston. Take a look at this tea menu.
As part of our tea service, we also were able to choose a Potion. A potion? Was the Queen trying to poison us? The “potion” is Butterfly Pea Tea. Butterfly Pea Tea is color changing iced teas.
Soon after our potions were mixed, our tea arrived. It was served in its own teapot with a choice of milk, sugar or honey. I love honey in my tea. The tea comes with is own hourglass. Once the sand runs through the hourglass, the tea is ready to drink.
Now, let’s talk about the menu. OH my, it did not disappoint. It began with a plate of cheeses, seasonal fruit, and warm french bread. Have I mentioned how much I love warm bread?
Next arrived a hot cup of tomato soup with a small quinoa salad. It had a bit of balsamic vinaigrette on the side.
While we digested our food, the tea kept coming. It was delicious. The tea was smooth and served at just the right temperature.
Next came the main course, along with the desserts, all served on a royal tower. There were four types of sandwiches, some salad, quiche, fresh scones, and tarts and dessert. It was a lot of food, but all of it looked amazing.
Wow! 
Dessert 
A little of everything. 
Macaron 
Mad Hatter’s hat 
An eclair with a gold crown.
Of the four kinds of sandwiches, the chicken salad was my favorite. I will admit, I skipped the salmon. I find nothing appealing about it. The pasta salad was pretty good, nothing special, but I enjoyed it. The quiche had mushrooms, and I believe cheddar cheese. It was excellent. The lemon tart was delicious, as was the macaron. I loved how it was in the shape of a heart. We each received a cranberry orange scone. I took that home and someone, other than me, ate it that evening. I swear, I can’t hide anything from the boys, including the husband! If our bellies weren’t full enough, we still had all these delicious desserts. The Mad Hatter’s hat was my favorite. It was filling with cream and a strawberry sponge-like cake. Yum! Also, I had put on the reservation that we were celebrating our birthdays, which was true, just a few months late. Our server surprised us with these beauties.
We had to be rolled out there! Alice in the Village did not disappoint. In addition to the fun atmosphere, (did I mention Disney music is playing throughout), the food was terrific. The service was excellent, and the details throughout the shop are incredible.
Curtain tieback 
Decor on the walls 
Look at the lights! 
Adorable clock 
Wall decor 
Place setting on tables 
The Queens chair 
Wall decor 
Mad Hatter
Alice in the Village is perfect for a girl’s day out. Perhaps a new tradition with your mom, daughter, or granddaughter. I noted on their website, Alice in the Village has some upcoming special events.
- Mad Hatter appearance during the NE patriots away games (dates TBD).
- October 25 – The Sanderson Sisters are being Resurrected at Foxboro! (tickets are needed).
- January – March: Special Harry Potter High Tea and pop-up.
Alice in the Village also hosts parties for children and adults alike. Make sure to hop on over to their website for more information. This was not a one time visit. I will back, even if it is to pop in for a hot cup of tea and a macaron while shopping.
Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. I love the cooler weather, the different colors across the trees, the smell of apples, and pumpkin spice. I mean, what is there not to like? Growing up in New England, I have been blessed with some beautiful Falls. New England has a LOT to offer this time of year, and I would like to share some of these with you.
Apple Picking
One of our family traditions is apple picking. With over 80 pick your own orchards in Massachusetts, each a bit different, it is hard to decide where to go. We have a family favorite, Honey Pot Hill Orchards in Stowe, MA.
We like Honey Pot for several reasons. First, the orchard has several varieties of apples. The orchard is quite large, and we never feel it is too crowded. Second, it is one of the few places that have ladders to climb the trees. I love that! For some reason, it makes a bit more fun and authentic. Third, APPLE CIDER DONUTS! Hello?!? These donuts melt in your mouth. Now I know many places sell them, but nothing compares to the ones we get at Honey Pot Hill Orchards. The orchard has farm animals, hayrides, three different mazes, pumpkins, a great farm store, and some food stands. New this year, a Cider Garden. They will be a Hard Cider Tent set up on the weekends. We are looking forward to trying that out.
cider donuts -photo courtesy of Honey Pot 
cute little pig – courtesy of Honey Pot
Go Leaf Peeping
The foliage in New England is GORGEOUS! Whether you want to make this a day trip or a weekend-long event, there is plenty of foliage to see among the New England states. Check out the best foliage drives here.
Pumpkin Festival
Did you know that Laconia, NH, has one of the best pumpkin festivals in the country? Neither did I until I started researching for this piece. Each year, New Hampshire residents attempt to amass the largest number of lit jack o lanterns in one place, trying to meet or beat the world record, which the festival held for many years. The festival held mid-October attracts approximately 40,000-50,000 people each year. This year it will be held October 18th and 19th. There will be amusement park rides, a beer garden, music on the streets, a zombie walk, pumpkin displays, yummy food, which of course includes pumpkin everything and a five and a 10k on the morning of the 19th. Also, there are children’s games like pedal tractor pulls, corn hole, and more. There is fun for the whole family. We will be in Maine that weekend visiting colleges, so I am sad we are unable to attend. However, I will be sure to add it to my list for the following year.
The North American Wife Carrying Championship
Yes, folks, you heard it right. Such a thing exists! Sunday River in Maine is the second largest ski resort in New England. It is also home to The North American Wife Carrying Championship. This annual event is held over Columbus Day Weekend. Ironically, it does not have to be your wife that gets carried across a 278-yard obstacle course. It can be any woman of your choosing. The woman is thrown over the man’s shoulder. She is hauled across the course with her legs wrapped around a man’s neck and her arms around his waist. The obstacle course is made up of mud, logs, dirt, deep grass, and water, where her head is bound to get wet. A Finnish couple has won the event since 2013. This event coincides with the ski resort’s annual festival with chairlifts rides, live bands, food & beer tents and craft fairs.
4th Annual Harvest Festival at the Newport Vineyards
Newport is a seaside town in Rhode Island known for its historic mansions and sailing history. It hosted America’s Cup for many years. Next to Newport is the town of Middleton, home to Newport Vineyards. In addition to being a winery, Newport Vineyard has a brewery that offers fresh craft beer and a farm to table focused menu. There are events such as
This two-day event is Saturday, October 26th and Sunday, October 27th from noon -5:00 pm. It is two days of grape stomping (yes you read that right), sipping delicious wine or beer and eating delectable food. Or perhaps you are a pie lover? There is a pie-eating contest too! The cost of the event is $25.00 per person and includes up to 7 samplings of wine or beer. Children under 15 are free.
Viewing Foliage from High Above the Trees
For the adventurous leaf peepers, Connecticut offers a unique way to see the beauty that a New England Fall has to offer. Tree climbing, ziplining, and adrenaline-pumping rock climbing is some of the ways to take in vibrant hues of the season. Empower Leadership
Hiking with the Family
Not to be missed is the beautiful state of Vermont. Vermont is known for its yummy maple syrup and over 100 19th century covered bridges. It is also a great place to take a hike and see the beauty of The Green Mountain State. We are not that family that can hike for hours. Yes, I can run a marathon, but hiking up mountains for hours is not in the cards. However, we do love the outdoors and seeing the beauty around us. Here are 5 Kid-Friendly Hikes for your family to enjoy.
Cape Cod
Cape Cod is a hot vacation spot in the summer, but did you know that the Fall is one of the best times to visit this New England gem. The crowds are low, but a fair amount of restaurants are still open. House rentals are often half the price, and the beaches are there for all to enjoy. My sister and her husband head down the last week of September each year. Last September we tagged along for a weekend. We enjoyed hanging at the house, walking to the beach and a tour to see the seals that gather each year in Chatham, MA. I highly recommend the Monomoy Island Excursion. It is quite the site to see.
Salem, Massachusetts
The best place to be around Halloween, is Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is North of Boston and is famous for its witch trials in the 1600s. There are over 500 different events during October to
- Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour Salem Witch Museum
- Peabody Essex Museum
- Halloween Cruises
- Bewitched After Dark Salem Walking Tours
- The People vs Bridget Bishop
- Gallows Hill
- Salem Witch Museum
- Salem Wax Museum
Oh, and before you leave, make sure to stop by Enchanted. It is a magical shop for “witches & muggles” It is home to Laurie Cabot, Salem’s official witch. You can read about Laurie here.
Last, but certainly not least, Sitting by the Fire
Probably one of my absolute favorite things to do in the Fall, sitting out on the patio, cuddled up by the fire enjoying the cool, but pleasant weather. As New Englanders, we need to enjoy this season much as we can because we all know what comes after Fall.
