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Magnolia Hotel St. Louis to travel and beyond where to stay st. louis

macyvolpe

SAVE time & patience when you know this 👇🏼

SAVE time & patience when you know this 👇🏼

Don’t make this mistake when going to Walt Disney World parks

This can be a major time-saving tip for Disney that most people don’t know! It also will help avoid anyone upset that they have to wait in a longer than necessary line for their favorite ride
✨✨✨
There are TWO rope drop times at Magic Kingdom, depending on if you are staying onsite at a Disney resort and how you feel about waking up early :)

One in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland and another at park opening for Adventureland and Frontierland.

The first Rope Drop is for ‼️resort guests only‼️ and will start 30 minutes BEFORE the suggested early entry time.

Notice I said “suggested” the ropes almost always drop a few minutes early. But thats not the tip!

If you want to get into the park, take pictures with the castle, and head towards some of the larger rides in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland, you will want to plan to arrive at the park *at least* one full hour before the posted park opening time. We usually aim to arrive 90 minutes before the posted opening time.

To follow this plan☝️, you will walk towards the castle and then go RIGHT.

I would start with Tron, Space Mountain, Peter Pan, or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
✨✨✨
The second Rope Drop is for ‼️non-resort guests‼️, or anyone who wants to sleep in a bit before heading to Magic Kingdom, while still getting lower wait times.

I suggest arriving 30 minutes before the posted opening time, taking pictures with the castle, and then heading towards Frontierland or Adventureland, where there will be a rope drop at the park opening (or usually a few minutes before).

To follow this plan ☝️,you will walk towards the castle and then go LEFT.

I would start with Jungle Cruise, Pirates and Big Thunder Mountain (if it’s open!).

I hope this helps makes your Magic Kingdom day more magical!

We had so much fun exploring Christmas Markets in

We had so much fun exploring Christmas Markets in 5 countries! We are tallying up our ratings about each one and can’t wait to share our thoughts on each place!

What do you want to know the most? Our favorite mugs? Best food? Most unique stalls? Let me know!

Thanks for the transition idea @abroadwife!

We are home from an amazing trip to experience Chr

We are home from an amazing trip to experience Christmas Markets in Denmark, Germany, France, Switzerland and London. We explored 28 markets total🎄

Such a bucket list trip!

✈️ 5 flights
🚞 4 trains
🚕 2 taxis
🚆many underground’s
🚋 a few street cars
🚶‍♀️an average of 20k steps per day

It was so cool to see how each country decorated and set up their markets. We loved trying a variety of food options and of course…enjoying Glühwein in adorable mugs.

We rode lots of rides, explored each city, laughed so much, and had great food. This was our first time going backpack only and Ollie did an amazing job with hers!

We didn’t have the traditional Thanksgiving holiday but I couldn’t be more thankful for having this time with Dave and Ollie ❤️

I have so much to share about this trip. From planning, packing, what we loved, what we could have skipped, lessons we learned, etc. the blog post ideas are flowing 😂

European Christmas markets | Christmas markets with kids | Christmas market itinerary

Have you visited Walt Disney World during Christma

Have you visited Walt Disney World during Christmas? The decorations around the parks are magical, but the resorts are even more special in my opinion!

Many of the resorts go all out! It’s a wonderful experience to hop around to each resort and see their decorations. Plus- it’s FREE!

It’s a great way to see the resorts decked out in their Christmas Best.

Some of my favorites are:
- Beach Club
- Wilderness Lodge
- Grand Floridian

Comment “Christmas Resorts” to receive a link to the FULL DISNEY CHRISTMAS GUIDE.

Christmas in Disney, Christmas resorts, Disney Christmas decorations, Disney resort Christmas

Sweet Peaches Coffee in Jacksonville, Florida ✨☕️
@sweetpeachescoffee

One of the cutest coffee shops I have ever visited. The colors, decor, neon signs and seating options were a whole vibe.

Their tagline is “serving others through a joyful environment in a loving way,” and I couldn’t love it more- I also totally get it after stopping by! Which is why I went back the very next day to work from there because it felt so welcoming.

The barista was genuinely interested in helping us decide between options, which was great for my husband who is new to the world of coffee 😂

The drink and pastry options were plentiful and I can’t wait to try more!

If you are in the area, I highly recommend Sweet Peaches!

Seven summers of beach days with my girl 🌊☀️

It’s a good thing we live in FL now because it took me until November to remember this year!

Book Lovers [rom com]
Bess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Macy: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
 Rating System:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ = excellent
⭐️ = skip it
✨ = half star

Book Lovers by Emily Henry is a charming romantic comedy that follows Nora Stephens, a sharp, no-nonsense literary agent who finds herself in an unexpected love story. Set against the backdrop of a small North Carolina town, we see Nora begrudgingly agree to a getaway with her sister, Libby, who’s determined to get her to relax. But things get complicated when Nora keeps running into Charlie Lastra, a brooding editor from New York with whom she shares a bit of a rocky past.

Bess’s thoughts:
Emily Henry never fails to write an easy to read, witty romance. I thought the save the day ending was quite predictable and there wasn’t as much tension between the leads as usual but I still really enjoyed Book Lovers.  Macy’s thoughts: It took me a little while to like the MC because of her hero complex and her interactions with her sister, but after reading the first 25%, I was all in. It has small town, big city vibes, is a true rom-com, and has an amazing ending!   We visited Asheville earlier this year and loved the experience. The nature, the restaurants, the activities for families and more. It’s a beautiful area of North Carolina and while we are devastated by the impact Hurricane Helene had on the area, we know their doors will be open again for visitors in the future.

Instead of sharing travel recommendations this week, we are sharing charities who continue to work to support the recovery and rebuilding efforts.

@water_mission is ensuring the hardest hit areas of Western North Carolina have access to clean water

@nccommunityfoundation provides mid and long-term recovery efforts within NC

@ashevillehumane illehumane has rescued and reunited pets found during the hurricane

There are many other charities out there still raising funds to give families the support they need- especially before the holidays! I urge you to consider donating ❤️

I also suggest buying gift cards from local, independently owned restaurants or donating directly - check out @air_asheville

Tis the season of spending time with ones you love

Tis the season of spending time with ones you love…and what better way to do it than in Walt Disney World 😂

✨✨AND if you want to know which resort is the best fit for your family- comment Resort Guide to receive a link to my ultimate guide!

Walt Disney | let’s go to Disney

MUST experience Christmas Magic in Florida🎄✨

MUST experience Christmas Magic in Florida🎄✨

The Dickens on Centre festival is an annual holiday celebration in the heart of downtown Amelia Island, Florida, that brings the magic of a Victorian Christmas to life. @visitameliaisland

✨This years experience will be December 12th - 15th - mark your calendars! ✨

Inspired by Charles Dickens’ famous works, this immersive event offers a wonderful escape to a world of twinkling lights, cobblestone streets, and Victorian-era characters in full costume, all set against the beautiful backdrop of the island’s historic Centre Street.

Dickens on Centre is a family-friendly event featuring various activities, shows, and charming shopping experiences, making it a fun family weekend for everyone!

✨Things to Do at Dickens on Centre✨
🎁 Shop the Victorian market: perfect chance to get a few Christmas gifts!

🎁 Enjoy entertainment and live performances: Carolers, bagpipers, and theatrical performances, be sure to check the schedule!

🎁 Celebrate with many kid-friendly activities: Dickens on Centre is perfect for families with young children.

🎁 Attend the Christmas tree lighting and see the light displays

🎁 Watch a parade or run in the race

🎁 Reserve a tea experience or book an igloo

✨Tips & Tricks✨
- Stay downtown if you can! We stayed at the @hamptoninnameliaisland and it was in the perfect location
- Dress in layers
- Arrive early for parking if you aren’t staying downtown. Look into the satelite parking lots in advance!
- Plan for dinner reservations if you want a sit down meal
- Check the schedule in advance, each day is different!
- Visit throughout the day

Have you experienced this magical event?

Happy birthday Dave! I couldn’t imagine doing li

Happy birthday Dave! I couldn’t imagine doing life without you by my side, especially over the last two years.

You are an amazing person inside and out. Your love for us, your care for others, your heart for Jesus, your dedication to our family (and our routines 😂), and as Ollie says, your mastery at helping adults, is incredible.

Whether we are spending a quiet night at home, rope dropping at Disney, paddling at the beach or exploring new places, I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone but you (and Ollie, too)!

I hope you have a great day and an even better year! I love you ❤️

Happy Halloween 👻 Several months ago Ollie dec

Happy Halloween 👻

Several months ago Ollie decided on a ghost for her costume and she played the part so well! Another great Halloween in the books with friends, laughter and many memories.

Listen For The Lie [suspense]
Bess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Macy: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
 Rating System:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ = excellent
⭐️ = skip it
✨ = half star

This read takes you on a journey to help Lucy discover what happened to her best friend on the night of her murder, which is now the topic of a hit True Crime podcast. All while Lucy is revealing things about her own life and piecing together details she couldn’t recall about her best friend.

Bess:
I have to admit this one stumped me - there were so many twists and turns, which I loved! However, as a reader who loves to solve a thriller, I felt there should have been more lead up and context clues to the final reveal. Even as we gained context into the past through the podcast episodes, it didn’t feel like enough for a reader to unravel the mystery of who killed Savvy.  Macy:
This was a good read! It has an interesting writing style which explores the past, present and a podcast. I was invested in the characters and didn’t start to put things together until close to the big twist being revealed. Worth the read if you are mysteries!
 Austin is a great destination for a weekend trip!

Though the book takes place in a small Texas town, Austin is mentioned a few times!

Activities:
🪴Explore Zilker Metropolitan Park.
🦍Spend the afternoon at the Austin Zoo.
💐Smell the roses at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
🤳🏼Go on a mural crawl!
🌮Eat at Torchy’s Tacos and 🍗Terry Blacks
🦇And of course…watch the Austin bats!   Follow @pattons.with.passports and @macyvolpe - two travel moms making the most of their PTO.

Books that Inspire Travel | Travel Books | Beach Reads | Book Review | Book Club | Books about Austin
#bookreviewblog #bookreviewersofinstagram

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