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to travel and beyond

California

From Here To There: San Francisco
Travel

From Here To There: San Francisco

ByMacy February 20, 2015May 12, 2016

I can’t believe it has been so long since I posted a blog about this topic. I have so many half-drafts saved, and just haven’t followed through to finish and schedule them. I am making sure this trip is different, I am actually sitting on the plane right now (a few days before you read…

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Best Tours In La Jolla: Swim With Sharks in La Jolla
Travel | USA Travel

Best Tours In La Jolla: Swim With Sharks in La Jolla

ByMacy April 23, 2014November 2, 2024

Several years after taking a swim with sharks in La Jolla I am still thinking about our experience. I’m not sure when it happened, but I am obsessed with sharks. I am totally fascinated by them. I am the crazy person who wants to go diving with Great Whites and swim on top of Whale…

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macyvolpe
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
🎆 New Years Eve in EPCOT 🎇 FIRST: There is 🎆 New Years Eve in EPCOT 🎇 FIRST: There is so much I want to share - and it won’t fit in a caption. If you want *ALL* the details, tips and tricks, comment “NYE Epcot” to get the link to the blog post sent in a message! SAVE FOR THIS YEARS NYE PLANS!! Have you ever thought about ringing in a new year in a Disney park? I’m here to tell you- DO IT! We had a blast at EPCOT- a once and a lifetime type of experience. _____ Spoiler alert- Magic Kingdom for NYE is epic too…and you can DO BOTH in the same year! More on this next week! ——— Think dance parties, non-stop excitement, and the typical vibes of EPCOTx10! All day it felt like core memories were being made. It just felt so neat to experience. How was it any different than a normal park day? Let me explain! ✨ Silent Disco. We’re huge silent disco fans, all three of us always have a blast. It was so fun to sing, dance and laugh in the World Showcase of EPCOT. ✨ DJs. Three additional DJs were setup throughout the world showcase- Japan, Italy and China. They were all great! The crowds were manageable, especially in Italy! We walked along the side and were able to get to the front with plenty of space. The DJ pumped out smoke “bubbles” which were a huge hit. ✨ Some festival booths were still open. Festival of the holidays ended the day before, but we were able to partake in some of the food and drink booths! ✨ NYE Countdown. There really isn’t a reason to have a view of the lake, we thought there would be a big show but it was mainly fireworks and a countdown. We could have been anywhere in the park and enjoyed this! ✨Crowd. It feels wrong to say this because every year could be different BUT the crowds didn’t feel crazy. It was that of a usually busy park day, nothing insane. ✨tips & tricks on the blog!✨ comment “NYE Epcot” for the link!
MUST save tips to make the most of your Epcot day MUST save tips to make the most of your Epcot day ✨ 8 tips for Epcot & why it’s the best for families: ⭐️ Read the Festival Schedule. Not all festivals are created equal, and you have a few to choose from! We love Food & Wine (late summer to mid/late fall) and Flower & Garden the most (spring). The festival food booths change for the festivals but also the decor around the park and the scavenger hunts. ⭐️ Determine your entrance and plan your route. Depending on where you are coming from, you will either enter between the UK and France or the main entrance at the front of the park. If you’re riding a resort bus, parking in the parking lot or riding the monorail you will arrive at the main entrance, if you are taking the skyliner, or walking from Boardwalk, Beach/Yacht Club or Swan/Dolphin, you will arrive at the World Showcase entrance. We prefer the World Showcase entrance, but if it’s your first trip- aim for the main entrance! ⭐️Arrive early! EPCOT has a lot to offer, but the rides aren’t the biggest draw. Therefore, if you arrive early, you are likely to get to all the rides on your list. Keep in mind, at this time the greatest ride of them all- Cosmic Rewind, is virtual queue or lighting lane only, so you’ll need to get that at 7am. The rest of the rides will have longer wait times in the afternoon but shorter in the early morning and later evening. ⭐️ If you like thrill rides- Cosmic rewind is a must! Again- it’s VQ or Lightning Lane only right now. ⭐️ Think ahead for eating. Don’t just eat the first thing you see, Epcot has endless options for a meal or a quick snack. ⭐️ Take a leisurely walk through the pavilions in World Showcase. We usually do this early in the day when it’s nearly empty and a few more times later in the day. Every country offers a unique experience! ⭐️ Meet characters. There are many characters to meet in Epcot, and a few of them you can only meet in this park! ⭐️ Head to the playground! There are a few playgrounds or areas to run around within the park. Our three faves are outside of Connections, at the end of Mission Space, and near the Encanto show. Disney family, WDW tips, Disney travel tips
Our trip to Disneyland ✨ It was so much fun se Our trip to Disneyland ✨ It was so much fun seeing another Disney park, especially during Halloween! We loved: ✨ Oogie Boogie Bash ✨ The swinging Ferris wheel (even though I started to panic on the way up!) ✨ The details at our resort, Pixar Place ✨ Churros! ✨ Avengers Campus and Cars Land ✨ Meeting characters we haven’t met ✨ Belle grabbed Ollie’s hand and took her on a walk around the castle ✨ Ollie’s first time on Space Mountain- she loved it! ✨ The Nightmare Before Christmas overlay in Haunted Mansion And of course, having another amazing vacation with Emily and Isaac!!
Save so much TIME when you do this! Ready to wal Save so much TIME when you do this! Ready to walk from Cabana Bay? We LOVE being able to walk from our resort to theme parks- and Cabana Bay is perfect for that! So where can you walk from your room at Cabana Bay in Universal Orlando? Practically anywhere you may want to go! 🚶A less than 10 minute walk on your private pathway to Volcano Bay 🚶Cross over the pedestrian bridge to walk through Lowe’s Sapphire Falls resort to get to: ✨ City Walk ✨ Islands of Adventure ✨ Universal Studios Orlando These three walks will take you to a private security entrance, and the walk is around 30 minutes, but could be faster than a bus or boat. Universal hacks, Orlando parks, universal studios Orlando
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