A Brief Visit to Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Whilst on a day trip to Niagara Falls while in Toronto to see Taylor Swift with my friends Lindsay and Chandler, we happened to stop on our tour briefly in the stunning town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Niagara-on-the-Lake has been on my bucket list for a bit, too, making our brief stop such an exciting stop!!! I had seen other fellow content creators and bloggers alike on Instagram (let’s be friends @_thepinkchickadee) share their experiences visiting this charming town that looks straight out of a Hallmark movie and was SO excited that we were able to spend some time here while in Canada. Indeed, it was a surprise to me that we were even visiting Niagara-on-the-Lake as I didn’t recall that our tour bus itinerary *even* stated that we were going to get to – LOLLL! Although we were only in Niagara-on-the-Lake for like 45 minutes, I still enjoyed our brief visit and *of course* took TONS of photos especially since the town was DECKED OUT for Christmas!

For more travel abroad inspiration, check out my exploring 50 Countries Expedition page.

About: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario sits at the peninsula where Lake Ontario (one of the five Great Lakes) and the Niagara River meet about 40 minutes away from Niagara Falls. It’s perfectly situated to boast gorgeous waterfront views and is home to several local Canadian wineries. I learned on our tour that Canadian wines locally made and sold cannot be exported outside of Canada. Hence, the wines are meant to be enjoyed and kept as a local Niagara treasure for locals and visitors, alike! Niagara-on-the-Lake is a charming town that offers several local restaurants, shops, cafes, waterfront views to stroll, and MORE!

While we didn’t have much time to explore, shop, and dine at Niagara-on-the-Lake, a few of the places of interest that we did visit include the town’s well-known Christmas shop Just Christmas, Cool As A Moose, The Owl And The Pussycat, and for coffee + pastries Doughvine. If we had more time to explore Niagara-on-the-Lake, I would’ve LOVED to have spent more time visiting the many adorable local businesses that the town has to offer. A Canadian winery visit (or two!) is definitely on my bucket list, too, as our bus driver spoke VERYYY highly of the local wineries which is also something I can’t pass down if given the opportunity to enjoy. But for now, I’m grateful to have checked Niagara-on-the-Lake off of my bucket list!

Til next time, Niagara-on-the-Lake!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Early November in New York City

I’ve had a few people ask me over on my Instagram (let’s be friends @_thepinkchickadee) about my recent early November trip to New York City. Let’s be real here: the rates are much cheaper when it comes to ALL of the Christmas fun and action in the Big Apple, yet you still get to enjoy a lot of the holiday cheer that most pay a lot more to do in later November all the way until New Years. At the same time though, you still will notice that early November truly is Fall in New York City (as-is pretty much any other United States city!) and there are some New York City Christmas staples yet to make their holiday appearance (case in point: the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree). At the same time, early November in New York City means you may have some warmer days, such as I did, too. So, plan accordingly and monitor the weather before you pack your bags. Above all else, I had an AMAZING early November time in New York City and truly got the best of both worlds getting to experience the city during both Fall and Christmas time!

In this post, I will be sharing mainly what I did and where I ate during my early November time in New York City. Given that especially early November can be an awkward Fall/Christmas time of year, I definitely did a mix of Fall and Christmas activities while there, too! And, as an avid theatre fan, I saw a few Broadway performances, too!

What I Did:

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) – Ever since I was in high school, I dreamed of seeing Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting IRL! I visited Chicago one year for Spring Break and fell in love with Van Gogh’s works via a special exhibit on him, yet missed Starry Night then as its home is in Manhattan at MoMA. MoMA was such a neat museum and I LOVED *finally* getting to gush over Starry Night in-person alongside other fellow museum visitors. MoMA also has other neat modern art displays from centuries of decades past until today. Tickets to MoMA can be bought in advance online (here) or at the door and the gift shop is pretty great, too!

Bryant Park Winter Village – Visiting Bryant Park’s Winter Village was one of the first Christmas-y activities that I did in the Big Apple. The Christmas shops at Bryant Park’s Winter Village are open until early January and they open their doors just after Halloween if not right before. I met some of the COOLEST artists and small business owners at Bryant Park’s Christmas shops! The prices on the locally-made goods are pretty reasonable, too, and a great way to support a small business. Bryant Park’s Winter Village ALSO has food + drink vendors, igloos, and ice skating.

& Juliet on Broadway – I was truly in for a treat seeing my first-ever Broadway show (!!!!!) … & Juliet at Stephen Sondheim Theatre. I had an Orchestra seat and it was seriously an AMAZING show! I ended up grabbing some wine in a souvenir cup and LOVED getting to experience the whole experience and loving atmosphere. & Juliet features an extremely diverse and empowering cast, making it such an accepting show for all. Needless to say, I would definitely see this show again on Broadway!

Central Park + The Plaza Hotel Stroll – I LOVED getting to use my camera to take some gorgeous shots of Central Park and stroll through the adjacent Plaza Hotel. Central Park is truly beautiful on any sunny Fall day – indeed, I feel I hit the jackpot on the day I went! Central Park is also filled with locals and tourists, alike, making it such a beautiful place to both people watch and socialize. While at The Plaza Hotel, I *finally* achieved my childhood dream of owning some Eloise at the Plaza merchandise including a book! The best part about a simple Central Park and Plaza Hotel stroll?!?! Both are FREE!

Central Park:

The Plaza Hotel:

Barbie Exhibit at the Design Museum – While on my way to stroll Central Park at The Plaza Hotel, I stumbled upon the Design Museum’s Barbie exhibit. I *of course* purchased a ticket and went after my lunchtime to check it out! I was truly in for a treat! I got to learn about the evolution of Barbie, from Ruth Handler’s creation of Barbie and the designing process of Barbie’s clothing by Charlotte Johnson in a studio in Japan in the 1960’s to its first designer collaboration with Oscar de la Renta to Barbie running for President and going to space and to Barbie today with the success of the 2023 Barbie movie aka a favorite of mine. There was *even* an original Barbie on display, too! I took several exhibition photos on my camera and truly felt empowered by it ALL! The Barbie Exhibit at the Design Museum costed $20 and is currently on display until February 23, 2025.

Aladdin on Broadway – I was AMAZED by the production team and the presentation of Aladdin on Broadway at New Amsterdam Theatre! I had seen Aladdin back in 2023 for my 24th Birthday (here) and was truly *even more* blown away by seeing it again on Broadway. Truly, an impressive performance that I would highly suggest any and all Aladdin fans see if they get the chance to!

Christmas Shopping on 5th + 7th Avenues – I popped into a few of the shops alongside 5th and 7th Avenues as I was walking to Rockefeller Center! Funny enough, I made my first-ever H&M purchase in 10 YEARS (!!!!!) as I became *very* impressed with what they were selling via the store windows. I also hit up Nordstrom Rack, Macy’s, and Old Navy. Macy’s was DECKED OUT with ALLL the Christmas cheer and even had some adorable small business vendors in a section of the store. I would highly recommend visiting Macy’s at Christmastime and prioritizing it, if you have limited time to do so. At the same time, I stumbled upon St. Patrick’s Cathedral on my shopping strolls, too!

Radio City Music Hall Tour + Rockettes Meet & Greet – Upon purchasing my Rockettes Christmas Spectacular ticket (more on that experience below!), I ended up paying ~$20 extra for the Radio City Tour + Rockettes Meet & Greet add-on. Let me just say that it was WELLLL worth it! I ended up arriving to Radio City Music Hall about 90 minutes before my show and the staff there got me into a tour about an hour before my show (my tickets were scanned right after the tour inside the music hall, too, making the seating process SO MUCH easier!). On this tour, I got to experience the incredible opulence of Radio City Music Hall, including the magnificent chandelier Christmas tree, learn about the incredible artwork, and Radio City’s Great Depression-age history and heritage. I learned that Radio City Music Hall’s stage is SOOO large that it can fit an actual bus on it with plenty of room to spare. The best part?!?! Getting to meet an ACTUAL Rockettes! I highly suggest anyone do this tour to get excited for the Christmas Spectacular!!

2024’s 1st Rockettes Christmas Spectacular Performance – After my tour of Radio City Music Hall, my ticket was scanned and I was off to get seated to see 2024’s 1st Christmas Spectacular Performance (!!!). The Rockettes begin their Christmas Spectacular in early November just as Veterans Day weekend commences. Tickets are definitely much cheaper to see the Rockettes in early November (or after Christmas) as opposed to in the height of the holiday season. My Orchestra seating ticket and tour of Radio City Music Hall was around $100 total for both, which can get much higher in cost as Christmas approaches. I am definitely striving to make a return to see the Rockettes for another Christmas season!

Shopping at Hill House Home at Rockefeller Center – As a HUGE Hill House fan, I *had* to shop at the Hill House Home store at Rockefeller Center! I ended up trying on two Ellie nap dresses aka my FAVORITE Hill House nap dress style before making my decision on which one to take home. The staff here were also ultra-kind and helpful in making my experience pretty great, too. I had never been to a Hill House store before, so this was a TREAT!

Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology – The Fashion Institute of Technology has a free to all fashion exhibition at their museum, which has special fashion exhibitions that change every so often! I *almost* studied fashion in college and ended up touring the Fashion Institute of Technology as a perspective college of mine. The Museum at FIT is definitely a hidden gem that ALL fashion lovers must visit!

Where I Ate:

Breakfast at Cafe Chelsea – Located inside the gorgeous, historic Hotel Chelsea, Cafe Chelsea is a stunning cafe that looks like an upscale retro diner. I ended up popping in here for breakfast, which I enjoyed via one of their retro bar stools to enjoy a delicious breakfast.

Dinner at Monkey Bar – Monkey Bar was my splurge meal while in the Big Apple and the one that I am still dreaming about for my next trip! I ended up eating at the gorgeous bar founded in 1936 in all of its gorgeous glory with its monkey-painted murals and grand millennial-inspired fabric chandeliers. I enjoyed a glass of rose while I walked in and waited a bit for a first-come, first-served bar seat. The bar staff were extremely friendly as well! Totally worth the wait and dining experience!

Coffee at 787 Coffee Co. – An adorable coffee shop focused on empowering creative minds and honoring its Puerto Rican heritage, I enjoyed a nice morning iced coffee in … an IV bag! It was SUCH A FUN New York City experience!

Late night snacks at Slice of New York – I stopped one too many times at some of the many many many Slice of New York pizza shops for a late night (or lunch) slice of pizza. In my honest opinion, nothing beats a good olde slice of New York pizza!

Dinner at Butter – Featured in Gossip Girl, I *had* to dine at Butter while in Manhattan! Butter was located super close by to the New Amsterdam Theatre where I saw Aladdin, making it a great spot for a pre-show meal. My meal was AMAZING and I was able to enjoy the happy hour wine deals at the bar alongside a delicious salmon. Given that Butter has a seasonal menu, I definitely want to check it out again during a different season!

Lunch at Cafe Ginori at Bergdorf Goodman – One of my FAVORITE lunches was at Bergdorf Goodman’s Cafe Ginori! The restaurant is gorgeous in all of its pink wallpaper glory inspired by the Ginori 1735 Italian porcelain used to serve its delicious dishes. I enjoyed a larger than life Aperol Spritz aka a dream come true for me (!!!!!) alongside an AMAZING seasonal butternut squash gnocchi. The staff here were also extremely kind and friendly and the food and drink was amazing – not to mention the vibes, too!

Wrap-Up:

Truly, early November in New York City can be such a treat as you get early bird deals and to enjoy some holiday cheer. See you in a New York minute!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Northern Ireland Coastline Travel Diary

On my final day of my solo trip to Ireland, I went on a day trip to Northern Ireland with Finn McCool Tours. Throughout my trip to Ireland, I saw several of the many many many sights to see in the Emerald Isle car-free and by way of Dublin (see a list of ideas here!), including Cork County, Glendalough, Dublin’s Trinity College Book of Kells Experience, and the Cliffs of Moher. Truly, my trip to Ireland was one of THE BEST trips I have EVER taken! While in Northern Ireland on my day trip, my tour group and I enjoyed 2 hours in the capital city of Belfast (here) where I outline the history of Northern Ireland and a bit about Finn McCool Tours. And, today, I’m going to share where most of the Northern Ireland tour was spent (well, besides the drive to and from Dublin!): on the coastline via my *very-own* Northern Ireland coastline travel diary!

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

For more travel abroad inspiration, check out my exploring 50 Countries Expedition page.

Northern Ireland Coastline Travel Diary

To kick off my Northern Ireland coastline travel diary, the tour bus took us ALL along the Northern Irish coastline, starting at Dunlace Castle, which is a now-ruined medieval castle where part of Game of Thrones was filmed at. Visitors can walk the castle grounds and explore them, too, but the tour bus didn’t allot us time to do so this time around. Next time! And, amongst all of its twists and turns via the windy Northern Irish roads, my tour bus showed us off quite a bit of the coastline, some of the scenic points of which we could see the Scottish coast off of! Nevertheless, the Northern Irish coastline is BEAUTIFUL (!!!!!).

Most of our tour group’s time was spent at Giant’s Causeway aka a STUNNING beach off the Northern Irish coastline. According to Irish mythology, it is said that an Irish giant named Finn McCool constructed a causeway to face off his Scottish giant rival Benandonner. And, hence, this beautiful and unique black sand Northern Irish beach was born. Giant’s Causeway was BEAUTIFUL and I had never seen such a unique yet beautiful beach like it before!

And, now, for some photos from the gorgeous Northern Irish coastline!

Dunlace Castle + beyond:

Giant’s Causeway:

XOXO – Katie <3

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Shenandoah National Park, Virginia Fall Travel Diary

Over the weekend, Papa and our dog Rosie and I embarked on our annual Fall tradition to see the foliage at Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. We rarely get out and hike or walk on any of the trails at Shenandoah National Park, but rather stick to leaf peeping and taking in ALL of the scenic views view the scenic Skyline Drive. We have made visiting Skyline Drive an annual tradition ever since I graduated from college in May 2021 (see more here!) and it has become a special way to celebrate the Fall season alongside the upcoming holiday season, too. Rosie has LOVED getting to take in ALL of the sights and smells at Shenandoah National park, too! And, 2024 was the first year that I had my camera with me to snap some lovely shots of the mountains in their beauty and glory this Fall season!

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

Our Experience:

One of the things that we’ve noticed this year, despite arriving at Shenandoah National Park before 9am, was the lack of visitors this year (even as we left). Papa and I believe that the recent damage and unfortunate and devastating events from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton are a big reason for this decrease in visitors. Shenandoah National Park amongst some of Western North Carolina’s and Virginia’s towns are reopening post-hurricane and are welcome to visitors. Even though these destinations may have received damage from recent hurricanes, they are still open to and eager to welcome visitors, including at Skyline Drive at Shenandoah National Park. These towns that are reopening need our business now more than ever before. While they may not be every town or place, the ones that are opening again and ready for visitors need us now to support and stimulate their economies, especially after receiving damage. That all being said, I am SOOO grateful that Papa and Rosie and I visited Skyline Drive via our annual Fall tradition especially this year.

Now, I am going to keep this post more focused on the photos I took as they encompass some of the many special memories made on our Shenandoah adventure this Fall 2024!

 

 

 

And, until next Fall!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Few Hours in Belfast, Northern Ireland

For my final day in the Emerald Isle back in April 2024, I took a day tour bus to Northern Ireland (see more day trip ideas from Dublin here!). I will be splitting my Northern Ireland day content into two posts: one of my experience at Giant’s Causeway (coming soon!) and another (which I am sharing today!) of my experience at the capital city of Belfast. Honestly, Belfast, Northern Ireland has seen its share of turmoil over the years and is one of those cities that I was initially apprehensive about visiting, BUT, when there even if only for a brief few hours, I was super impressed. The people of Belfast while they’ve been through a lot via Northern Ireland’s history, have a lot to share given their experiences and a beautiful capital city that I am blessed to have visited!

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

For more travel abroad inspiration, check out my exploring 50 Countries Expedition page.

While in Dublin, I was debating as to whether or not I wanted to go on a day trip to Galway or Belfast. I debated and debated and debated. I asked around at the hotel lobby and with my fellow Instagram besties (shoutout to y’all!!!) as to which city I should visit during my weeklong voyage to Ireland. And, in typical Katie fashion, after a few days of debate again and again and again, I landed on a day trip tour bus to Belfast and Giant’s Causeway to get a taste of both the coastal life and city life of Northern Ireland!

Planning a trip to Ireland?! Or, are you interested in learning more about travel to Ireland?! Learn more about my additional Ireland experiences in Dublin, Connemara, Glendalough, Cork County, Dublin’s Trinity College’s The Book of Kells Experience, and The Cliffs of Moher.

A Few Hours in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Tour Operator: Finn McCool Tours operated this incredible Northern Ireland day tour. One of the things that I learned during our tour, where Finn McCool graciously took care of our transportation via charter bus, is that you don’t need your passport when on a tour bus and crossing the border into Northern Ireland (which is technically a part of the United Kingdom!). Our tour guide, while I forget his name, was lovely and extremely knowledgeable and passionate about sharing the stories of Northern Ireland and his family’s experiences there as well. Truly, his insight and perspective into his father studying in Belfast during a time of turmoil in the city was eye-opening into some of the domestic conflicts that took place there fairly recently. The guide’s experiences and stories truly made me realize how far Northern Ireland has come since the Protestant and Catholic conflicts from the 1968-1998 (more on that below!) yet there’s still always room for improvement. In the meantime, learn more about Finn McCool Tours here.

About:

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is apart of the United Kingdom, sitting on a part of the Emerald Isle aka Ireland. Ireland is a predominantly Catholic nation, whereas, Northern Ireland, a British territory has a Protestant majority. Though Northern Ireland has a Protestant majority, it does have a Catholic minority and hence caused conflicts between the residents: a Protestant majority who wanted Northern Ireland to remain apart of the United Kingdom and a Catholic minority who wanted Northern Ireland to reunify with Ireland. From 1968-1998, Belfast as the heart of Northern Ireland, was central to these secular conflicts that created unrest worldwide. As a result of these conflicts, over 3,500 people died with many more people injured and a heightened level of trauma, suffering, and anxiety face and linger amongst the people of Northern Ireland to this day. It is said, according to the tour guide, that the people of Northern Ireland are known to have a darker sense of humor as a way to cope with the things that they’ve been through over the decades. And, in some towns, such as Londonderry, Northern Ireland, the Catholic people and Protestant people remain separated to some extent. I find it important to share the history of Northern Ireland as it shows the power that conflict has in our world as a whole and especially in Northern Ireland and with their people and culture. While a small part of the world, a brutal 3-decades long conflict is still significant as shown throughout Northern Ireland.

What I Did:

We only had 2 hours to spend in Belfast, SO I primarily spent my time in Belfast in the city center. Two of the most well-known places in Belfast is the Titanic Museum and the Belfast Murals (which I would’ve visited if I had more time) that depict the significance of the political uprising in Northern Ireland. Although not this time around to see more of Belfast, I did enjoy my time in city center. City center is where the gorgeous Belfast City Hall is amongst some lovely local businesses which I will share more about below!

Belfast City Hall (Donegal Square North): Located in the center of Belfast, Belfast City Hall is a civic building offering free exhibitions and entry on its first floor to all guests. The exhibitions primarily showcased the centuries-long history of Belfast to today. And, one of the exhibitions showcased the many women in leadership roles amongst Belfast’s and Northern Ireland as a whole’s government – HOW EMPOWERING! At the same time, another part of the exhibition showcased city keys from other cities across the world that had leaders from them come to visit Belfast. Through it all though, the architecture was AMAZING (!!!!!) throughout the interiors and exteriors of Belfast City Hall. I was truly impressed by the Belfast City Hall in its true beauty and glory.

Sawers (Fountain Centre on College Street): Sawers came recommended by the tour guide as a lovely local deli and market. I find it tough to find local markets and delis like these that aren’t owned by a huge chain. However, I adored the circa-1897 Sawers deli that serves locals and tourists, alike! I ended up getting a lovely wrap and salt and vinegar chips to enjoy on the bus ride home, along with some tea for family members as gifts!

Waterstone’s (Fountain Street): I popped into Waterstone’s having had some extra time on my hands before the tour bus came to pick us all up to head back to Dublin. Waterstone’s is ADORABLE and showcases local author’s works all across Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom as a whole! I NEVER go to bookstores anymore it feels like, BUT I LOVED my time at Waterstone’s browsing amongst all of the lovely books (and additional merchandise) on displays. The staff at Waterstone’s were ultra-friendly, too!

Pink City Buses: ANDDD, last but not least, one of the coolest parts of Belfast is …. The PINK BUSES!!!! The city’s Metro Network launched on February 7, 2005 via a rebranding of the Citybus Network. The pink color is distinct to showcase that they are uniquely Northern Irish, not red as in apart of England/London via the broader United Kingdom. These pink buses are also … double decker, which is SOOOO cool!!! I adored these PINK buses and they make Northern Ireland uniquely its own lovely place!

Wrap-Up:

Even though I was debating on even going to Northern Ireland, I am SOOOO glad I did! I almost just went to Giant’s Causeway via the Northern Ireland coastline, but I am SO glad I chose to go to Belfast, too. Belfast gave me a true taste to Northern Ireland and impressed me beyond words. Belfast is definitely an underrated gem, too. I definitely am honored to have gone and learned about its history, amongst its conflict and turmoil over the previous recent decades, and hope others get the chance to become aware of it too. Northern Ireland has been through a lot but it is definitely one worth learning more about and visiting if you’re ever in Ireland. I am SO glad I went and hope others get to learn more about and see this lovely place (including Belfast), too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Another 48 Hours in Indianapolis, Indiana

Over the Summer, I went on my second-ever trip to “the crossroads of America” aka Indiana to visit my fellow influencer bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs (go follow her!). I wrote more about my experiences in Indianapolis where I also visited last year (here) and brought my since purchased camera this time around. This time around, we enjoyed time catching up as well as connecting with one of Lindsay’s best friends Rica (who is SO sweet!) and our fellow influencer bestie Taia of @taiajo on Instagram (go follow her!). Overall, I came to love Indianapolis for a second time and am looking forward to a future visit!

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

What We Did:

Lunch and Sightseeing at RH Indianapolis – RH Indianapolis is a unique asset to the Restoration Hardware storefronts and restaurants! Transformed into a dining room and gallery at the Dehaan Estate, RH Indianapolis lives on the grounds of the Dehaan family’s property. The Dehaan family loved unique sculptures and artistic creations which can be seen on their lakeside mansion estate that RH Indianapolis is currently at for many guests to enjoy. Most RH locations including the Dallas and Charlotte locations that I dined at earlier this year are located on the top floor of the Restoration Hardware storefronts. However, RH Indianapolis is located on the main floor, surrounded by galleries and patios and additional floors of showrooms filled with Restoration Hardware merchandise. Lindsay and I went with her best friend (who has since become my friend!) Rica to celebrate her birthday. While we waited for our table, we went to the gorgeous adjacent wine bar to enjoy some coffee and wine before getting seated. At lunch, we enjoyed the standard RH menu in their main dining room that looked out over Dehaan Estate’s lake and celebrated Rica. Afterwards, we got lost in the gallery and back patio and pool (!!!!) and admired it all. Truly, this was an RH experience for the books and one I would indeed be down to enjoy again! At the same time, I LOVED getting to meet Rica and celebrate her, as I’ve heard amazing things about her from Lindsay and LOVED getting to make her feel special. I look forward to connecting with Rica again IRL, too!

Dinner at The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers – After an incredible lunch (and some nap time post-early morning flight and a crazy boarding process at Dulles Airport!), Lindsay and I met up with our fellow influencer bestie Taia for dinner at The Cake Bake Shop! Taia and I have become Instagram friends over the past few years and she is an in real life friend of Lindsay’s. Our dinner at Cake Bake was my first time meeting Taia IRL (!!!!). I wrote more in-depth about my Cake Bake experience last year here, but indeed, it was extremely magical to be back at this fairytale of a restaurant. This time around, I ordered the soup and salad combination with their AMAZING French onion soup and Caesar salad alongside the restaurant’s signature pink and glittery Cosmopolitan. Needless to say, it was SUCH A BLESSING to be able to finally meet Taia in-person and look forward to connecting with her more in-person, too, and *of course* enjoy a nice outing at Cake Bake!

Sightseeing at Monument Circle – Last year when I went to Indianapolis, I didn’t explore much of downtown and wanted to the next time I came. This time around, we did just that – we did some sightseeing at Monument Circle aka the heart of Indianapolis’s downtown! We *even* stumbled upon the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (which I write more in-depth about our experience at here) which is a free to all monument that commemorates and honors those who served in Indiana. I *of course* brought my camera to snap some photos of the gorgeous architecture that I admired at EVERY turn, including of the gorgeous Christ Church cathedral. At Monument Circle, there was also a super adorable station where visitors could send out postcards for free to anyone across the world and take a few for themselves. Lindsay and I did just that which made for an incredible experience at Monument Circle!

Sightseeing and Shopping at Mass Ave – After a nice stroll and climbing the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at Monument Circle, Lindsay and I headed to Mass Ave. Massachusetts Avenue (regularly known as Mass Ave) is known for gorgeous architecture, shops, hotels, and restaurants. We ended up parking by the old Coca Cola Factory and strolled by and through the gorgeous lobby of the adjacent Bottleworks Hotel. We walked up Mass Avenue and saw plenty of gorgeous architecture which I *of course* snapped several photos of (!!!!) and stopped by the adorable Francis + Fern boutique which sells several adorable Taylor Swift-themed merchandise as well as adorable clothing! We also danced a bit with the iconic dancing lady on her automated screen that I got to meet for the first time in 2023. Mass Ave is definitely a charming and beautiful part of Indianapolis!

Dinner at Maialina Italian Kitchen + Bar – Maialina Italian Kitchen + Bar was located in a unique Indianapolis district that I am forgetting the name of (whoops!) that is off of Prospect Street. The staff were super kind and the food was DELICIOUS! I definitely enjoyed the atmosphere and affordability of the food compared to Washington, DC area Italian restaurants. I would definitely come back and was highly impressed (as was Lindsay!).

And, last but not least, I got to enjoy seeing SEVERAL …. Tiffany Blue fire hydrants aka an Indianapolis signature!!!!

I always have an amazing time with Lindsay and I loved getting to know and meet those who are important to her that I have since grown to love, too. Blogging and content creation has truly taught me the importance of long distance friendships and what value they bring to our lives. Til next time, Indy!

XOXO – Katie <3

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4 Hours in Glendalough, Ireland

Long time, NO talk about my incredible solo trip to Ireland back in April of this year! While in the Emerald Isle, I went on several day trips (including Cork County and the Cliffs of Moher) across the country, including a magical 4 hours in Glendalough, Ireland – a gorgeous glacial valley tucked in the Wicklow Mountains that’s home to a 6th century monastery. Truly, getting to visit Glendalough felt as if I was in an Irish lakeside fairytale come true!

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

For more travel abroad inspiration, check out my exploring 50 Countries Expedition page.

4 Hours in Glendalough, Ireland

Day Trip Operator:

Just like my day trips to Cork County and the Cliffs of Moher, I used Paddywagon Tours for my half day trip to Glendalough. Paddywagon Tours is an affordable and well-known tour operator with several tours leaving from Dublin (and a few other Irish cities!) for the day. I LOVED how convenient the pickup location was for these tours, too, as it was *just* a couple of blocks from my hotel, making for an easy morning stroll.

About:

Located in a glacial valley with two stunning adjacent lakes within the gorgeous Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough is home to a 6th century monastic heritage sight. This 6th century monastic heritage sight was founded by St. Kevin who resided there as a hermit and attracted followers of the Christian faith who aspired to do the same. Indeed, Glendalough is a placed of pilgrimage and has been for over 1,500 years. While not much is accurately known about St. Kevin’s time at Glendalough, stories have been passed down over the centuries, some of which are of Irish mythology (which is contains a fascinating array of stories in itself!). Surrounded by natural beauty with an upper and lower lake, the Wicklow Mountains, the remains of two mining sites, and the monastic settlement, truly Glendalough is a peaceful place to simply reflect, enjoy your surroundings, and feel pride for those that have done the same before us. Learn more here, including information on the first-ever pilgrimage aka a series of walks on St. Kevin’s day on June 1, 2024!

Takeaways:

Glendalough is indeed an incredible place. Upon exiting the tour bus for approximately 90 minutes to stroll at the Glendalough (including the heritage site and adjacent lakes and trails to/from it all!), I was able to see the monastic heritage site and both lakes amongst the breathtakingly gorgeous Wicklow Mountains. Upon first glance, I found myself walking across stunning cobblestone bridges like I was *in* an Irish fairytale (!!!!!) to the monastic heritage site. At the monastic heritage site, there is a cemetery of crosses (which is *very* hard to get a slot in nowadays as its super prestigious), the monastic tower, and the cell where St. Kevin would pray and practice his faith as a hermit. Truly, it was an incredible experience to see where so many have come before us to practice the faith that they loved and were so passionate about exploring and touching others’ lives with. Glendalough is such a place filled with love, hope, and beauty!

To top it all off, after a visit to the monastic heritage site, I started my stroll on the trail to the upper and lower lakes nearby. On the way to the lakes, I saw … a waterfall (!!!!!) amongst stunning beautiful green moss. HOW MAGICAL!!!!!! And, well, the perfect home for fairies! The walk (if I recall!) is about a mile and SO worth it to be in a forest amongst waterfalls, mountainous views, and lakeside gushes of wind (when in Rome – am I right?!?!). At the lakes, it was SOOOO relaxing amongst the wind and showers of rain here and there to simply be in the moment. Bodies of water, especially lakes, given my childhood Summers spent at East Grand Lake in Northern Maine, have a special place in my heart!

And, on the bus ride home, our tour guide shared some beautiful Irish mythological stories as we drove through the Wicklow Mountains on our way back to Dublin. While I don’t remember a ton about the stories that she told us, I do remember just enjoying how perfect this morning and the moments were at and around Glendalough. It is such a special place!

Wrap-Up:

Being at Glendalough was such a magical experience. I seriously felt as if I was in an Irish lakeside fairytale. Sadly, no fairies to be seen this time around, but maybe next time!

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Lilly Pulitzer Holy Grail Moment

Ever since Bryn and I were planning on visiting our friend Maxwell in Hawaii, I had a dream photo shoot at the iconic “pink palace” aka the Royal Hawaiian Hotel located in downtown Waikiki. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is seriously iconic in all its pink glory. And, what better way to style this photoshoot of my dreams than in a Lilly Pulitzer holy grail printed shift?!?!

*Just* in case you didn’t know, Lilly Pulitzer has a few select popular prints over the years that are considered “holy grail”. Many of these holy grail prints are archived and not sold/continued to be sold by Lilly Pulitzer. Some of these prints are upwards of 10+ years old, too. I found this amazing holy grail print guide by Ayana Lage here. When people think of Lilly Pulitzer prints, they may very well picture one (or more!) of Lilly Pulitzer’s iconic prints. Holy grail prints also sell for hundreds of dollars on secondhand sites such as eBay and Poshmark. Some of my favorites include “Let’s Cha Cha” (which I’m wearing for this photoshoot!) and “First Impressions” which I have hanging in a mini skirt form on my Lilly Pulitzer wall in my cloffice (here) alongside another “Let’s Cha Cha” shift. When I started to fall in love with the Lilly Pulitzer brand and styles, I immediately fell in love with many of the well-known holy grail prints, too!

For my photoshoot at THE Royal Hawaiian Hotel, I decided to *finally* style my “Let’s Cha Cha” shift that I purchased off of ThredUp earlier this year. I initially purchased a “Let’s Cha Cha” shift off of Poshmark in a much smaller size in my college years that now hangs on my Lilly Pulitzer wall! During my latter college years, I ended up growing into my figure and sadly couldn’t fit into many of my loved clothing pieces (including many holy grail Lilly Pulitzer garments). While it took quite a bit of grieving on my part that I probably wouldn’t be able to fit into many of my previously worn Lilly Pulitzer holy grail pieces, I was over the moon when I *finally* found a “Let’s Cha Cha” shift in my now-size for a reasonable price (thanks to eBay and Poshmark, usually it would be out of my price range!). During those years of grieving, I definitely struggled to feel confident with my newly grown into figure and truly feeling like my best self. It wasn’t until Summer 2023 that I felt like my best self again figure-wise. All bodies are beautiful bodies folks! Through it all, truly, having a photoshoot in my “Let’s Cha Cha” shift IN HAWAII no less years after not being able to fit into my previous one was such a full circle moment for me. Only if 2021 Katie knew, she’d be SO excited and smiling SO big!

Indeed, my Lilly Pulitzer holy grail photoshoot was such a dream come true and truly a full circle moment. 100000% one for the books!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Manoa Falls: A Place of Natural Healing

I have started sharing A TON on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) about my weeklong trip to kick off the month of September 2024 to Hawaii. I truly had such a memorable experience visiting the Aloha State and getting to learn about Hawaiian life and culture. Indeed, Hawaii is a unique place with its own beauty and culture. I felt as if I was in a different country without having to worry about bringing my passport! One of our many adventures while in Hawaii was to Manoa Falls, which has been known (thanks to our *very own* host and tour guide Maxwell for sharing this with us!) to be a place of natural healing. Little did I know that I would feel the healing powers of Manoa Falls while there.

It was a Friday afternoon and I found myself on a week long trip to Hawaii hiking what I would consider an intense hike up to Oahu’s Manoa Falls. I wore the wrong shoes: a pair of oversized “gel” Jack Roger’s flip flops. The trail to Oahu’s Manoa Falls, located just outside of Honolulu and in close proximity to the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s campus, is a rocky one with some steep slopes that can be rather slippery and muddy. Clearly, I wore the wrong shoes and did not come prepared (nor did I pack any hiking-appropriate shoes). I also found myself screaming on the inside and moaning on the outside at all of the rocks on the rocky slopes that I kept slipping on and off of. As a self-proclaimed “Hollywood hiker” as my influencer bestie Lindsay and I both proudly say, I find myself doing nothing but paved outdoors trails. I found myself practically the entire way to Manoa Falls whining like a toddler in a 25 year old woman’s body.

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

I sat down having pretty much given up on this hike that I called “the worst hike ever” within my toddler-like whining. And, then, a release came. A release of tears. A breath of fresh air. And, last but not least, the beginning of healing for me from something from my past. Little did I know, Manoa Falls is well-known as a place of healing. Little did I know that I was in one of the best places to begin healing past wounds. Sometimes, the universe and/or a higher power (if you believe in one) puts us in places to begin our own healing and to empower us to get out of our comfort zones. Manoa Falls did just that for me while on my weeklong adventure to Hawaii. Truly, I am blessed that in those vulnerable moments I was in a beautiful place filled with natural healing powers.

After a healing release on our way to Manoa Falls, we continued our hike to see our first (for me and Bryn!) Hawaiian waterfall (!!!!). It was indeed worth the release of past pain and suffering at such a healing place. Truly, I wish everyone the power of healing that the world can bring us if we open up to it. Throughout the approximately 1.6 miles hike to Manoa Falls, I felt ALL the feels. But, through it all, I began to heal, which is a beautiful thing. Manoa Falls brought me back clarity, peace, direction, and, most importantly, healing power.

Thank you, or should I say, Manolo Manoa Falls!

XOXO – Katie <3

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An Indianapolis Gem: Soldiers & Sailors Monument

Recently, I got to visit a unique gem in Indianapolis, Indiana: the Soldiers & Sailors Monument. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I shared about my recent visit to Indianapolis, Indiana (see last year’s here) to visit my fellow influencer bestie Lindsay! Lindsay is an Indianapolis native and has been an incredible tour guide for me when visiting Indiana’s State Capitol and Chicago, too, since she frequents there often. However, even Lindsay was in for a surprise when we climbed (or took the elevator!) ALLLLLL to the top.

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

About:

The Soldiers & Sailors Monument is located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis literally in the center of its well-known Monument Circle. Originally built to honor Indiana’s Civil War Veterans with its construction starting in 1888 and opening on May 15, 1902, now the Soldiers and Sailors Monument honors all of Indiana’s Veterans who served prior to World War 1, including the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. The Soldiers & Sailors Monument is well-known for its 360-degree view of downtown Indianapolis via its observation deck 275 feet up. See more information on planning your visit here.

The best part about the Soldiers & Sailors Monument?!?!? It has FREE admission to all guests during its hours of operation which are “from dawn to dusk”, as listed on the Indiana War Memorials Foundation’s website. I truly admire how accessible this monument is to all who come to visit, just like other fellow monuments in the United States such as the Washington Monument in Washington, DC. To find the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, its address is: 1 Monument Cir, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Upon admission inside, which is spectacular on the outside, too (!!!!!), you have the option to either climb to the top or take the elevator to the top to reach the observation deck. Lindsay and I ended up climbing up about half of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument *before* we climbed back down and took the elevator up the rest of it – LOL! However, we were in for a TREAT when we reached the observation deck (!!!). We were able to see MUCH of the Indianapolis skyline (and beyond!), including the Indiana State Capitol, the stadium where the Indianapolis Colts play, and the well-known Salesforce Tower. I had a GREAT time getting to see Indianapolis literally from up in the sky!

Accessibility Note:

To reach the top of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument to the observation deck, one must climb a few flights of narrow and twisty stairs even if you take the elevator up most of the way, which may not be the most accessible to all. There are railings on each side of the stairs. The elevator is also pretty narrow and can fit up to four people in it at a time, which may be nerve-wracking for some people.

Wrap-Up:

I truly enjoyed getting to visit the this monument and getting in a half a tower climb in while at it. Lindsay and I had never experienced something neat and free like the Soldiers & Sailors Monument before and it was a REAL treat! While this monument is fun to visit and explore Indianapolis in a unique way like never before (and free to do so!!), it is also important to remember who it honors: our pre-World War 1 Veterans.

XOXO – Katie <3

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