Quick Trip to Tampa

Itinerary for a 2-day weekend in Tampa

If you're looking for a quick weekend getaway, Tampa is an awesome place to explore, get a little sand in your toes, and taste some of that authentic Cuban flavor. I recently flew down to Tampa for a quick trip, and really loved this laid back but totally filling itinerary.

Friday

I landed in Tampa during mid afternoon and rented a car for the weekend. To find a good deal on a rental car, I use kayak.com to search and sort for the best options for my trip. Instead of going to the hotel to check in, I decided to drive around Tampa to get a lay of the land. I drove downtown by the convention center and found this fun area by the water called The Sail Pavilion. There were tons of people there for happy hour sipping on fruity cocktails, playing life-size Jenga and corn hole as well as people sitting on the dock and paddle boarding.

Photo credit: Facebook

Tip: Parking is limited by the Pavilion. There is a parking garage by the Convention center and a parking deck by the hotel across the bridge. You can pay to park at either of those locations and it's a short walk to the Sail Pavilion.

After having a cocktail and soaking up a few rays, I went down to Ybor City which was just about a 5-minute drive from 'downtown Tampa'. It's definitely got a Cuban flare. It's really seeing an up-and-coming vibe with lots of bars, restaurants and clubs at night. Don't venture too far off the main drag though, it can get a bit dodgy.

Ybor City Streets

I parked on the street and just walked around the streets absorbing it in. You can definitely tell there is a college presence in the town, very geared towards partying and drinking but nonetheless, there are still some cool spots to stop and snap a picture of some photo murals and random roosters running around.

I decided to come back to Ybor City for dinner but wanted to go check into my hotel and change. For dinner I'd suggest to head to the famous Columbia restaurant for some classic Cuban flavors and entertainment.

Columbia Restaurant

Gaspar's Grotto

 Or if you're looking for something a little more casual with live music, check out Gaspar's Grotto. You'll find your typical bar food with a Cuban flare- definitely sit outside for some chill vibes and sounds. 

Saturday

One of my favorite spots for brunch in Tampa is the Oxford Exchange. It's absolutely charming inside and the food is fabulous. I had the lavendar earl gray lemonade last time and it was like springtime in a drink. Get there early though, as they are quite popular and get full quickly. 

Photo credit: Google

After brunch you can spend time shopping around the Oxford Exchange and stock up on unique and ecclectic items such as books, jewelry, kitchen towels, candles and local-made goods. 

After a little shopping and bumming around, it'd be a perfect time to go back towards the Sail Pavilion and rent a paddle board, a 2-passenger boat, or hitch a ride on the water taxi for a view of Tampa by the water. 

Once you've worked off your breakfast-- it's time to eat again! If you want an authentic and local Cuban sandwhich, look no further than Brocato's. Whenever we come to Tampa, we have to stop here. It's truly a whole-in-the-wall-nothing kind of place but there is always a ridiculously long line. Order inside and then grab a bunch of napkins and a picnic table under the shaded shed and enjoy. 

After lunch take the short drive to Clearwater Beach and soak up some sandy rays. Clearwater is an adorable ocean town. Be patient getting onto the island because there is always traffic. Grab a public parking spot, your towel, a water bottle and sun screen and park your rear in the sand. 

After hanging at the beach in the afternoon, head back to your hotel to change and for dinner head to Whiskey Joe's. It's a tiki-inspired restaurant with an awesome view. You can have dinner inside or on the outside deck and then after dinner head down to the sandy tiki pit for a spot by the firepit on the water. It's the perfect way to end an evening! 

Sunday 

Grab a coffee and some fresh fruit and head out to the Manatee Viewing Center in the morning.
Physical address: 6990 Dicman Rd. Apollo Beach, FL 33572
It's literally right next to a power plant, so it may seem like you're driving into a place you're not supposed to be...but you'll be ok! Depending on the time of the year you may or may not see the manatee's in action but it's still a pretty view and hey, it's free (donations welcomed). There is a nice little walking path around the area to spot nature and learn more about the Florida ecosystem that is worth a leisurely stroll!

Finally before your flight in the afternoon, go to the Wat Mongkolratanaram Temple and food market. It's one of the coolest things I've stumbled across while visiting Tampa over the years. It's a Thai temple but on Sunday there is also a Thai food market right on the river. Tons of Thai vendors are there with traditional food, drinks and crafts for you to enjoy. Bring cash! 

Enjoy your time in the Tampa area! Let me know if you have hit up any of these spots. 

Dreams Do Come true- Highclere Castle

When I lived in England during my senior year of University, I traveled all over the United Kingdom. To say I'm in love with the English culture and history is an understatement. When I lived overseas I never had a television so I wasn't up-to-date on the latest and greatest shows and during that time a BBC hit had taken off back in the States: Downton Abbey. 



Well wouldn't you know it, that at one point in my trip I was all about 30 minutes away from Highclere Castle and never knew it existed?! When I flew back home my mom mentioned the show on a Friday night. Saturday I went out and bought the first season on DVD and by Sunday mom and I had finished watching the entire first season and were hooked. 

Long-story short, I vowed, that when I return to England again I wouldn't leave the country without seeing Highclere Castle. Today, that dream came true. 

When I found out I was going to go visit my friend in England one of the first things I did was go check on tickets to visit Highclere. I was shocked to see that tickets sold out a year in advance! However I found contact informationfor the castle direct and asked if there was any tickets left. They said they were sold out but each day that the estate was open they had a few tickets that could be purchased at the gate, but they suggested I get there early as once tickets are gone- they're gone. So who was at the gate at 9 o'clock? This girl! It didn't open until 10 but luckily they were kind enough to let me in and wander around the estate and gardens until the house opened.









The gardens were absolutely amazing- the flowers were beautiful and had some of the largest hydrangea I've ever seen in my life! Quickly the hour passed however and I was able to go inside the house.



Unfortunately you weren't allowed to take pictures inside the estate but it looked just like it does in Downton Abbey! It was grand, beautiful, ornate, old and stunning. I was surprised to find out that the house is still used for guests of the Earl and Countess. Could you imagine if you could actually stay in the castle?!



After touring the estate I went downstairs to the ground level 'kitchen' for a spot of tea and scone. I mean when else can you eat inside of Highclere Castle? I would definitely recommend it however eat inside, the views are great outside but the bees are crazy and attack in a second. 

I ended my amazing day at Highclere castle by walking around the grounds and taking in the amazing countryside. It was absolutely magical. For a moment it's almost like you're transported back in time to a time of elegant ladies, dapper men, high tea and the romantic era of Downton Abbey.

Bath in One Day

Bath England is one of my favorite places in the United Kingdom, it is absolutely charming and it transports you to a time that is romantic and lovely. It's a convenient day trip from London if you're in the city, but it's easily accessible from anywhere in the United Kingdom. I would recommend at least two days in Bath so you can really experience the wonderful city, but if you only have one day here is what I would recommend:

1 Day Trip to Bath 

1. Take the train in the night before (Bath Spa is the train station name). If you're looking for an adorable place to stay, I'd recommend the Kennard or the Windsor Guest House as they are charming and have amazing locations.

2. Get a good nights rest as tomorrow will be a busy day!

3. First things first, go visit the beautiful Bath Abbey. Bath Abbey is free (although they welcome donations) and it's definitely worth the visit- it reminds me a lot of a small Westminster Abbey. Take time to look at all the beautiful stained glass and all the stones memorializing people in the community dating back to the 1600s and before. I would highly recommend paying the few pounds to go to the top of the Abbey, the views of the city are just wonderful and it's not too bad of a climb.

4. After you're done with your tour of the Abbey, go across the courtyard to the Pump Room and make reservations for afternoon tea. They will up so I'd recommend to set it up ahead of time, but sometimes you can get in day-of for tea.

5. Right next door to the Pump Room is the entrance to the Roman Baths. It's a must-see while you're in Bath. There are several discounts such as student, senior, and even if you're staying in the area ask your hotel/inn for a "bath pass" which gets you discounts to local attractions. Plan on spending a good two hours in the Roman Baths. They have a free audio guided tour you can go on, or else there are great group tours as well. 

Don't forget to take a drink of these ancient waters for their minerals and vitamins at the very end of the tour.

6. Go get yourself some afternoon tea at the Pump Room. I'd recommend the Afternoon Tea which comes complete with scones with lemon curd and clotted cream, tea sandwiches, sweets and of course a lovely pot of tea. If you're feeling really snazzy, go for the champagne tea for a lovely flute of bubbly. The ambiance of the Pump Room transports you back in time. They have live musicians playing strings and piano that make you want to get up, put on a ball gown and dance about the room.

7. Once you're done with tea, take time to shop and look around Bath! They have cute boutique shops as well as chain stores. Skip the chains and go for the cute little shops to pick up tea, scarves and postcards. 

8. Make your way towards the Royal Crescent, an iconic grassy semi-circle that held some of the wealthiest people in England summer homes. It's beautiful and a great place to bring a blanket and lie in the grass.

9. If you're feeling really adventurous and have a bit of time left- stop by the Jane Austen Museum. They have a little gift shop in the front of the house if you don't have time for a tour, and you can pick up a "I love Darcy" pin. 

10. If you want a bite to eat before you head out of town- stop by a local pub for my favorite British meal...cheesy chips & a pint of cider!

By this time you've probably run out of energy or daylight, and it'll be time to collect your bags and head to the train to catch the last train out for the night back to London or wherever you'll be. Bath is a lovely town and I hope you get to enjoy the ambiance, charm and quintessential British nature of this wonderful historic town.

Jour 9 à Paris: A Parisian Birthday

Your birthday only comes around once a year, so you might as well enjoy it. Well this year I can whole heartedly say that I enjoyed every moment of my birthday. Waking up in Paris is a wonderful feeling. Waking up in Paris on your golden birthday is a whole other wonderful feeling. It was another bright and beautiful morning but being a Sunday it was quiet. Kids weren’t running around outside playing and people weren’t rushing off to work; it was slower, quieter and quaint. 

The cafés open later on Sunday so we ate a quick bite in our apartment before heading out to my birthday treat: a French baking class! La Cuisine Paris, a French baking school, offers cooking and baking classes in a multiple of different ‘themes’. We chose to do a morning baking class where you learn to bake some of the most iconic breakfast pastries: croissants, pain au chocolat, pinwheels with jam, cinnamon twists, and raisin bread. 

Emilie was our instructor and led the small group of us in making the perfect pastry dough to make fluffy French pastries. What I found out: it’s all in using rich high-fat content butter and fresh unprocessed flour. We sifted, rolled, folded and patted the dough until it was perfect. We set that dough aside and she brought out pre-made dough as it has to sit for hours before use. Then she started instructing us on the fun techniques to make all the different pastries.

In the end we had wonderful, warm, rich and gooey pastries that we got to enjoy with our tea and coffee plus we got to take the extras home!

 The class was lots of fun, Emilie was a wonderful instructor and I have to say I was highly impressed by our baking skills in the end. I wish that I could eat like that every morning and a) not get sick and b) not gain 50 pounds in a year! Wouldn’t that be a great birthday wish?!

After packing up our extra goodies we left the school and spent the afternoon in Paris! Sunday is definitely a quiet day and some of the shops are closed but I found it enjoyable and fun to just walk around the city (and buy myself a few birthday gifts too). 


Mom asked what else I wanted to do on my birthday and I honestly just loved the Jardin Tulleries so much, I just wanted to go back there and enjoy one more bottle of rosé before having to leave tomorrow. Sunday at any park in Paris is amazing because it is the epitome of rest and relaxation. There was live music, tons of families having time together, people reading, couples laughing and talking…it was just so different than what my typical Sunday looks like back in the States that it was so relaxing and wonderful- plus the rosé was amazing as usual!

Following our afternoon shopping and sitting in the park we returned to our apartment to get organized and pack up our belongings. After getting things together we packed our picnic bags, grabbed a few blankets from the couch, a wine opened and our coats and headed out towards the Eiffel Tower. I wanted to have a picnic under the Eiffel Tower and watch the lights come up and sparkle and that is exactly what we did. Kelly bought a bottle of champagne this week to toast my birthday and we enjoyed our picnic on the grass.

 As it got later and darker it was just a matter of time before the Eiffel Tower came to life and sparkled for the first time tonight and not too long after sunset, she came to life and sparkled. It was an amazing sight and it was the most perfect way to end the most perfect trip of the most perfect birthday a girl could ask for.

All I wanted for my birthday this year was to sit under the Eiffel Tower with a macaroon and a glass of champagne, and my wish came true tonight. This has been the most wonderful week ever. It makes me incredibly sad that tomorrow morning we will have to pack up and leave this wonderful apartment and this beautiful city but as Dr. Seuss once said, don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. So I reflect on this trip with smiles and memories that will laugh me a lifetime, especially because I got to take them with family. I’ve loved every moment and will dream of Paris from now until the day we get to meet again.