48 Hours in Chicago, Illinois

Around this time last year, my blogger bestie Lindsay and I were embarking on our first-ever trip to Chicago together! While it was a brief and rainy 24 hour trip to see the Malibu Barbie Cafe (here), I knew that I had wanted to visit Chicago again with Lindsay (since she LOVES the Windy City and visits often as she once lived there too!). SO, this time around, we decided to double our time and spend 48 hours in Chicago. And, I was in for a major treat (!!!!). Spoiler: 48 hours in Chicago (or more!) is definitely a better amount of time to explore the Windy City!

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

Where We Stayed:

 

Just like our trip last year, we stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago – Magnificent Mile and, just like last year, it did not disappoint! The DoubleTree is where Lindsay has stayed multiple times in the past and has had GREAT experiences there. One thing that I LOVED about the DoubleTree is its central location in downtown Chicago, giving us easy access to all of the major points of interest in the Windy City, including the Riverwalk, Michigan Avenue, and several restaurants aka a great spot to spend 48 hours in Chicago at. Not to mention, the hotel rooms have incredible skyline views (!!!). At the same time, I have had GREAT experiences with the ultra-kind staff and interactions with fellow guests, too.

What We Did:

Riverwalk – Due to a fire in October of 1871, many of the Windy City’s initial buildings burned to the ground. And, to rebuild Chicago from the ground up, the beautiful buildings filled with such unique architecture and charm filled the city’s skyline to what it is today. Providing gorgeous views of Chicago’s STUNNING architecture, I LOVED getting to stroll multiple times alongside the Riverwalk, which shows off the city skyline extremely well. I kicked off our first full day in the Windy City by taking a morning stroll (before 9am) on the Riverwalk via Michigan Avenue with my camera. I was truly IN AWE by the stunning architecture that Chicago has to offer.

My biggest tip for strolling Chicago’s Riverwalk is to either stroll via Michigan Avenue before 9am or go a block (or two) off of Michigan Avenue to Columbus Street to avoid the crowds. At golden hour, Lindsay and I accessed the Riverwalk via Columbus Street, which provided such beautiful views of the Windy City’s skyline and waterfront! It truly was a magical time to see ALL of the boats (including Architecture Tours – something I aspire to do on a future Chicago trip!) go by. Golden hour on the Riverwalk was EXTREMELY majestic!

Michigan Avenue – You could *literally* spend 48 hours in Chicago simply on Michigan Avenue!! Michigan Avenue is well-known in Chicago for its shopping, restaurants, hotels, and access to the Riverwalk. You can find Ralph Lauren (including an adjacent Ralph’s Coffee!), Starbucks Reserve Roastery (which I write about more here!), the Intercontinental Hotel (which I ADORE walking by!), and *just a few* of some of my favorite places to shop such as J Crew, Kate Spade, LOFT, and Sephora. Throughout Michigan Avenue, there is TONS of stunning buildings and architecture, including the Water Tower (which is free to climb and enter), a church cathedral, and several buildings alongside the Riverwalk. I enjoyed browsing many of the shops on Michigan Avenue and admiring the gorgeous architecture at EVERY turn!

Museum of Ice Cream – Coincidentally located off of Michigan Avenue as well, Lindsay and I checked out the *very* pink Museum of Ice Cream! Offering unlimited ice cream and photo opportunities, the Museum of Ice Cream is an ADORABLE and ultra-pink place to be! Upon selecting a timed entry to the museum which guests can do on their website, we all entered in and were asked to pick out our *very own* … ice cream name! And, then, we were chauffeured into the Museum of Ice Cream where we got to enjoy unlimited ice cream in some of the many museum rooms AND interactive photo opportunities! After snapping several photos and taking in ALL of the ice cream and vibes, Lindsay and I enjoyed some cocktails (which we purchased via a drink ticket at an additional cost) before jumping into the … SPRINKLE POOL (!!!!!!).

Note that Museum of Ice Cream ticket prices vary by day and time. It is best to make reservations in advance to ensure you have a timed-entry ticket.

Millennium Park – Home to Cloud Gate aka “the Bean”, Millennium Park sits in the heart of Chicago’s downtown amongst a beautiful architectural array of buildings. I had only previously been to Millennium Park in high school in the Winter months, so it was SO nice to be able to visit Cloud Gate when it was much warmer. While a brief visit at Millennium Park to snap some touristy photos, I noticed that this place plays home to Lollapalooza several other live music events, alongside a gorgeous array of floral displays (which can be seen ALL around Chicago’s downtown!).

Lindsay and I walked from our hotel to Millennium Park (it was about a 15-20 minute walk!) via Columbus Street which is located off the corner of my hotel. On the way to Millennium Park, we stopped by the Fairmont Hotel to enjoy their gorgeous floral display that we passed by and get adorable complimentary water cartons!

Sparkling Pink Bar – Located at Lost Reef Lounge, the Sparkling Pink Bar is a pop-up bar hosted by Chicago  (learn more here). It is a ticketed event currently going on until August 25, 2024. With ticketed entry, a complimentary drink was included alongside their a la carte food/drink menu with additional items at an additional cost. The vibes were AMAZING and were ultra-PINK AND SPARKLY!!!!! I loved getting to experience this incredible pop-up bar with Lindsay and our friend Meredith.

Where We Ate:

Streeterville Social – Located at the Loews Hotel, Streeterville Social is a rooftop bar boasting INCREDIBLE views of the Chicago skyline. Me, Lindsay, Meredith, and their ultra-kind friend (whom I hope to connect with more in the future!) Faiza and I all met up for some drinks and bites. I mainly enjoyed the fries – LOLLL! – and took in all of the incredible Chicago skyline views. Streeterville Social is a GREAT place for enjoying a nice city skyline AND happy hour which they call social hour, live music, and trivia (ALL of which I read about online!) if you’re around for that.

Ralph’s Coffee – I *finally* tried a Ralph’s Coffee (!!!!). Last time Lindsay and I went to Chicago, we tried the Ralph Lauren Restaurant (more about that here). This time around, while on one of my Michigan Avenue strolls, I stopped into Ralph’s Coffee and got … a lemonade! The cafe was gorgeous and offered a selection of Ralph’s Coffee merchandise alongside drinks and pastries. I LOVED that the employees and decorations were all Olympic-themed to honor the Paris 2024 Olympics, given the Ralph Lauren campaign with ALL of the USA olympians!

HotHouse – Lindsay and I enjoyed martinis and watching the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics and the passing of the torch to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics at the HotHouse bar. The HotHouse bar is located at our hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton – Magnificent Mile, and we got to chat with the super sweet bartender there, too. Alongside an amazing espresso martini, I enjoyed some delicious fish n’ chips and time with Lindsay, too! *Even* if you have 48 hours in Chicago, I recommend stopping here for a drink simply to interact with the bartenders here who make it soooo special!

Minghin Cuisine – I passed by Minghin Cuisine on the way to Michigan Avenue from our hotel and decided to pop in for a late lunch, as I was craving Asian cuisine. After a Quick Look on Yelp at reviews and saw that this was THE PLACE to go if you want Chinatown cuisine not in Chicago’s Chinatown, I knew that Minghin Cuisine was THE place to go nearby the hotel! Boy, was I in for a TREAT (!!!!!). The interior of the restaurant was gorgeous (which I would NOT expect from looking at the restaurant’s exterior) and the food was delicious. Lindsay and I were both BLOWN away by the restaurant’s quality of food, service, and atmosphere.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery – I decided to stop by Starbucks Reserve Roastery located on Michigan Avenue again, but this time, for breakfast and a Starbucks Reserve-exclusive coffee drink (last year we went for cocktails!). I LOVED getting to try the egg Caprese breakfast sandwich and another latte with their exclusive olive oil: Oleato. While a much briefer visit this time around, I LOVED getting to visit a familiar spot from last year!

Wrap-Up:

This was my first trip to Chicago where I truly felt that I got to experience ALLL of the best of the best that the city has to offer! From strolling the Riverwalk and Michigan Avenue to seeing the stunning turquoise Lake Michigan waterfront to all of the magnificent skyline views and interactions with locals and visitors alike in between, I fell in love with the Windy City! Needless to say, I am SO excited to go back to visit Chicago, as Lindsay and I are making it a summer tradition to visit her hometown of Indianapolis and *of course* an additional couple of days in Chicago, too. Chicago is an amazing city that boasts friendly people, gorgeous architecture, great vibes, and delicious eats. Truly, a 48 hours in Chicago leaving me wanting 48 more hours to spare!! I cannot wait to go back!

Til next time, Chicago!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Annapolis, Maryland Travel Diary

I spent an incredible late July Saturday afternoon in the gorgeous town of Annapolis, Maryland! Growing up, I spent many summer days in the Maryland State Capital with my relatives who live there (and still do!) sailing, enjoying cotton candy ice cream at Storm Bros. Ice Cream Factory (which I did this time around, too!!), and walking the charming downtown streets and taking in ALL of the vibes. While I unfortunately due to family matters back at home could not meet up with my relatives this time around, there is ALWAYS a next time which I am looking forward to. Annapolis is a great stop on a road trip to the Delaware Beaches – my favorite near-to-me beach destination, which you can read my travel guide on the town of Bethany Beach, Delaware here. This time around, I brought my semi-recently acquired camera with me and snapped TONS of charming photos of Annapolis which is also known as “Naptown”. Now, I am sharing my *very own* Annapolis, Maryland travel diary!

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.

What I Did:

To kick off my Annapolis, Maryland travel diary, I got to meet my fellow Facebook and Instagram friend Jennifer of Capitol Hill Calligraphy & Design (support her here) at The Pink Crab – Annapolis’s Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store. Jennifer and I have SO MUCH in common, including ties to both North Carolina and New Jersey and *of course* the Washington, DC area, so it was destined that we meet! I am excited to connect with Jennifer now more, too. After a stop at The Pink Crab and meeting Jennifer and purchasing some of her incredibly gorgeous designs, too, I went to have a delicious lunch as I was starving at McGarvey’s and enjoyed a half a dozen of their $1 raw oysters (a STEAL nowadays thanks to inflation!), an Aviator’s Lager, and one of the most delicious salads I’ve ever had …. A shrimp & crab root vegetable summer salad. I will mention that the staff at both The Pink Crab and McGarvey’s were both beyond kind and made my experience at both places amazing!!

After *a little bit* of retail therapy and lunch, I headed for the iconic Naptown waterfront where I met an ultra-kind family from New York that visits Delaware every summer (which is where my Dad lives and my favorite summer spot, too!!!) and admired the gorgeous waterfront views filled with sail boats. Growing up, I would spend many summer afternoons and evenings sailing throughout the Annapolis waterfront with my Uncle John and cousins Jack and Laura alongside my Mom and brother Will, which I have MANY fond memories of. It was fun to see others enjoying Summer memories similar to mine! After the waterfront, I headed for the gorgeous and windy and colorful streets of Annapolis with my camera. Needless to say, it was a beautiful day and afternoon in Annapolis!

Wrap-Up:

Annapolis truly holds a special place in my heart and will for YEARS to come. I am excited to come back to Naptown and make more memories here with family and friends and myself as well.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Trinity College’s The Book of Kells Experience Review

While on one of my tour-free days in Dublin (see my tours outside of Dublin to Cork County and the Cliffs of Moher here and here), I ended up strolling through Trinity College’s campus amongst a sea of fellow tourists. I admired the gorgeous Trinity College campus at every “Oooo” and “Ahhh”! While strolling through Trinity College, I stumbled upon the Book of Kells Experience that Trinity College has to offer and booked a ticket for later in the day! Hence, my tour-free day in Dublin had a tour booked!!

Well, what makes the Book of Kells oh so special?!?! The Book of Kells is one of the world’s oldest books that has witnessed many centuries of world history. Scottish monks brought the Book of Kells to Ireland, when they were escaping from the Viking raids. The book dates back to approximately 800 AD and also contains several intricately drawn illustrations and ornamentation which even surpasses those of Insular Gospel books in its extravagant nature and complexity.

About: The Book of Kells experience is a magnificent experience! Taking place at its current home of Trinity College surrounded by several historians striving to preserve it for centuries to come, The Book of Kells experience gives visitors a glimpse into the book’s incredible and resilient history alongside its preservation. Guests get to see two open pages of the book, alongside the Old Library at Trinity College where many more books are being preserved, too. Timed-entry tickets can be purchased at the door via a QR Code or here.

I personally LOVED the relaxing nature of the Book of Kells experience! It was amazing to learn more about this beautiful and resilient book’s history and significance. It was super cool to kick off the exhibit with illuminated recreations of some of the many well-known manuscripts from the book and to then see the book in real life (although, it is worth noting that NO photos are allowed of the Book of Kells in order to preserve it). However, my favorite part was getting to see the Old Library after coming face to face with the Book of Kells, itself! The Old Library was extremely magnificent (!!!!) with its winding staircases and original-to-itself architecture. It also is home to several other historical books that Trinity College staff and historians are striving to keep alive for generations to come in an adapted climate (given climate change). The best part?!?! Seeing a Gaia on tour of planet Earth in the MIDDLE of the Old Library!

After coming face-to-face with the Book of Kells and Old Library, I headed to part two of the Book of Kells Experience, which was an illuminated recreation similar to Artechouse in Washington, DC (here) of this iconic book and its significance. One of my FAVORITE memories from this exhibition was getting to “watch” Ada Lovelace aka the founder of coding amongst several other well-known international scholars from centuries-apart have a conversation with one another in real-time. During this exhibition, it was also cool to watch a video of the story of the Book of Kells, too, as it withstood the Vikings’ invasion of Scotland and life in Ireland where it resides to this very day.

All in all, the Book of Kells Experience was a highlight of my time in Dublin and Ireland as a whole! I had SO MUCH FUN seeing the magnificent Old Library and the Book of Kells, itself, alongside “meeting” Ada Lovelace and other well-known scholars.

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Day at Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

I had an INCREDIBLE trip to Ireland back in April, which I shared about ALLLL over my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee). And, now, I am finally getting around to sharing and writing out ALLL of the details over here on the blog. Today, I am sharing about my day trip to Ireland’s iconic Cliffs of Moher via The Atlantic Way. Truly, getting to see the Cliffs of Moher within the sunshine (!!!!) was such a gift, alongside seeing these magnificent cliffs in real life, too!

After watching Irish Wish on Netflix featuring Lindsay Lohan via a virtual movie night with my best friends Holly and Lindsay a few weeks before jetting off to the Emerald Isle (where the Cliffs of Moher were featured SEVERAL times!), I got SOOOO excited to see the Cliffs of Moher myself! Needless to say, the Cliffs of Moher truly BLEW ME AWAY! As apart of my solo trip to Ireland, I took 5 day trips across the country (and into Northern Ireland) with local tour operators from my home base of Dublin. Going to the Cliffs of Moher was my second day trip throughout Ireland and one that was very much for the books.

*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.

A Day at Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

Tour Operator:

Paddywagon Tours is a popular Irish-based tour operator with headquarters in Dublin (with pick up’s literally just a couple of blocks away from both of my hotels!). I ended up doing 3 Paddywagon Tours while in Ireland (one of which I have already shared about going to Cork County, Ireland!), especially due to its utter convenience of pick-up right by my hotel!

Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are rugged cliffs that stretch approximately 14 kilometers across Ireland’s Atlantic Way in County Clare. The Cliffs of Moher are walkable and you can *even* hike across them, too, although it may not be highly suggested throughout parts of it. Just like with Netflix’s Irish Wish, the Cliffs of Moher are featured in several well-known films, photos, etc. Truly, I GASPED when I saw the Cliffs of Moher in-person, as it was such a grand sight to see!

While my tour primarily focused on spending time taking in ALLLL of the views at the Cliffs of Moher, my tour bus also drove throughout Ireland’s Atlantic Way, where we *even* took a quick stop at an Irish beach amongst the many many many twists and turns with all of the scenic views in between. This bus ride was one of THE MOST exhausting rides of my entire life due to all of the several twists and turns along the way. However, the scenic views were truly some of THE BEST that I have ever seen in my entire life.

And, along the way back to Dublin amongst all of the twists and turns via the ride home, my tour bus stopped at a BEAUTIFUL castle, Dunguaire Castle which had … SWANS!!!! At the pond nearby.

Dunguaire Castle

Dunguaire Castle is a 16th century tower house located on the shore of the Galway Bay in County Galway. It was built in 1520 by the O’Hynes clan and has since been restored. Today, it beautifully sits in all of its peaceful glory with swans hanging out all around it.

While visiting Dungaire Castle was ALSO a pretty brief stop on my tour bus, it was truly one that I will remember for the books! Seeing the swans chilling alongside the Galway Bay was such a beautiful way to close out my visit alongside the Atlantic Way!

Wrap-Up:

While visiting the Cliffs of Moher, I enjoyed getting to see some of THE MOST beautiful views that I have EVER seen in my entire life! Amongst all of its windy roads, the Atlantic Way is indeed one of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Want to Save on Wine?! Get A Wine Tasting Pass!

Do YOU love wine?! Are YOU traveling to the wine country in Virginia or California?! Perhaps, do YOU live near wine country?! If any of these following examples apply to you, then you must check out Reserve Pass app! If you know me or have been following me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) for some time, then you know that I LOVE wine! I ALSO LOVE finding a good deal and enjoying one, too! Luckily for me, Reserve Pass allows me to enjoy wine at local wineries AND score some discounts!! I have been fortunate enough to partner with Reserve Pass (which has since merged with Virginia Wine Pass!) in the past and today, I am hear to share with y’all, my experiences of using Reserve Pass.

About: Reserve Pass is currently the only app in the United States that is essentially a nationwide wine (and sometimes beer) tasting pass for you and a guest (see more here)! The key features of Reserve Pass are:

  • Explore – by simply downloading the Reserve Pass app, you can simply plan your wine tasting adventure within your own backyard or while on vacation.
  • Perks – as a Reserve Pass member, you get to enjoy exclusive perks while touring historical sites, strolling through vineyards, and tasting local wines.
  • Revisit – unlike just any old coupon, you can revisit any of the wineries you loved and get the same Reserve Pass deals with them time and time again.

Currently, Reserve Pass is partnering with over 250 wineries across the United States, being a passport for its guests to visit local wine regions both near and far. Reserve Pass’s deals and discounts vary per winery. Some places offer buy one get one free on wine glasses/flights/tastings, a percent discount on wine bottle(s) purchases, and tasting fee waived with the purchase of a bottle. It is also important to note that Reserve Pass does not partner with every vineyard/winery/brewery in the United States (and primarily its partnering wineries are in the West Coasts’ and Virginia’s Wine Country regions), meaning that there won’t be a deal at every place you may visit. However, there are several vineyards/wineries/breweries that Reserve Pass DOES partner with, especially clustered in the Virginia Wine Country/Maryland area and across the West Coast. In Virginia, Reserve Pass partners with wineries, including: Boxwood Estate Winery, Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery, & The Winery at Bull Run. Overall, Reserve Pass is truly a wine tasting pass!

Whether you’re visiting a local wine country for the first-time EVER or live nearby a wine region (such as in Virginia or the West Coast) and want to check some boxes off of your winery bucket list, Reserve Pass truly IS the wine pass for YOU! Reserve Pass allows for its users to purchase two different types of memberships:

  • Monthly ($14.99/month) – PERFECT for those looking to try local wineries while on vacation or in the Summer month(s) when you know you’re looking to try a high-volume of wineries in a given month.
  • Yearly ($99/year) – PERFECT for those who live and frequent local-to-them wineries and will be visiting them multiple times in the year.

Interested in trying Reserve Pass for yourself?!?! Use my discount code “ktloveswine40” for 40% off an annual membership today!

I have personally LOVED how unique Reserve Pass is given its app-based geographical interface to allow for users find wineries nearby their current location and whether or not there is a deal nearby. For the many day trips that I take in the Washington, DC area to the nearby Virginia Wine Country, I LOVE that I can simply log onto the Reserve Pass app and find wineries near me and their corresponding deals. For example, when planning for a day trip to visit my friend Carlin in Winchester, I was able to find a nearby vineyard offering discounts to Reserve Pass members to grab a glass at along the way.

A special thank you to the team at Reserve Pass for sponsoring today’s blog post. Please note that all opinions are my own.  

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Day Trip to Cork County, Ireland

Over on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I have been sharing ALL about my first-ever solo trip to Ireland that I took in early April over the past few months. Now, I have *finally* gotten the chance to start sharing ALLLLL about this incredible trip of mine!!! I will be splitting my content into each day trip (I took 5!) alongside one bigger guide for my home base for those amazing 8 days in Dublin (including hotels, getting there, dining, etc.). And, I am going to start my first of MANY Ireland posts over here with my day trip to Cork County, Ireland.

*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.

A Day Trip To Cork County, Ireland

Cork County, Ireland was the first of 5 day trips that I took on my trip to Ireland. I used a few different tour operators throughout my time in Ireland (more on that below!) and primarily used GetYourGuide to book each of my day journeys across the Emerald Isle. Personally, as a first-time solo traveler, I LOVED getting to simply hop on a tour bus with a ton of other people hassle-free as I got to see SOOOO many incredible sights that Ireland has to offer. And, overall, my day tour to Cork County truly BLEW ME AWAY. Not only were my fellow travelers on my tour bus pretty awesome people that I learned SOOOO much from, but I ALSO ran into my cousins’ former high school classmates while at Blarney Castle (VERRYYYY small world!) AND spent much of the day with my jaw LITERALLLY on the floor!

About:

Cork County, Ireland covers the majority of Ireland’s southwest coast upwards. From fertile farmlands and castle country to the North to rugged coastlines and peninsulas to the South, Cork County, Ireland truly has it all. It is also home to Ireland’s second-largest city and the 2nd stop on my Ireland tour … Cork! Cork is home to much of Ireland’s tech hub, having both Apple’s and Amazon’s international headquarters (including several other tech companies) located there. Some of the most notable sights in Cork County (which I saw on my incredible day there) include Rock of Cashel and Blarney Castle which is home to the well-known Blarney Stone.

Tour Operator:

Paddywagon Tours is a popular Irish-based tour operator with headquarters in Dublin (with pick up’s literally just a couple of blocks away from both of my hotels!). I ended up doing 3 Paddywagon Tours while in Ireland, especially due to its utter convenience of pick-up right by my hotel!

Rock of Cashel

Rock of Cashel was our first major stop on our tour of Cork County. Technically, Rock of Cashel is located in Cashel County, Ireland about 1-2 hours from Cork City. The significance of Rock of Cashel is that it served as the traditional seat for the Kings of Munster before the Normans invaded Ireland. Much of the structures at Rock of Cashel date back to the 12th and 13th centuries.

Truly, Rock of Cashel was magnificent! The tour bus stopped at a scenic overlook of Rock of Cashel at a distance for a few minutes and it truly was incredible to see it amongst the partially cloudy skies and green Irish pastures. Once we drove and walk up to and around Rock of Cashel, I was TRULY in awe at the magnificent structures that laid before my eyes. Indeed, Rock of Cashel was the start of many jaw-dropping moments (LITERALLY!) throughout my weeklong adventures in Ireland!

Cork City

As previously mentioned, Cork City is the second-largest city in Ireland and home to many international hubs for tech companies. Needless to say, Cork is a VERY tech-savvy city! Cork is ALSO the county seat of Cork County and our *very first* stop in Cork County. We had a brief lunch stop in Cork where I got *none other than* fish & chips at a local Irish cafe/pub. Cork was extremely colorful and gorgeous. The streets were lined with beautiful shops holding many charming antique and grand millennial inspired finds. Not to mention the fact that the buildings alongside Cork’s streets were super colorful and fun! I seriously wish we had more time in Cork to stroll the shops and colorful streets (alongside the city’s notable historic market which some of my fellow bus-mates explored!).

Blarney Castle

Located near downtown Cork, Blarney Castle was our final stop on our tour and BY FAR my favorite of them all! Blarney Castle is home to the *VERY* notable Blarney Stone. Blarney Castle is a medieval structure built as early as 1446 by the MacCarthy of Muskerry Dynasty, which is a cadet branch of the Kings of Desmond. To kiss the Blarney Stone, you are gifted with the gift of great eloquence. Alongside the Blarney Castle which provides guests with the opportunity to kiss the Blarney Stone, guests can enjoy Blarney Castle’s extremely gorgeous gardens and stroll alongside its stunning medieval structures including the Blarney House (which ALSO left my jaw dropping literally again!!!!).

My jaw was dropped THE MOST while at Blarney Castle during my day in Cork County! I opted to not kiss the Blarney Stone (however, I DID climb a bit of the stone tower that IS Blarney Castle though!!!) and the line that ensued to do so to stroll the gardens instead. While strolling throughout the gardens amongst the rain and mud and my forgetfulness in bringing an umbrella during the day, I truly enjoyed every twist and turn and opportunity to take in ALLLL of the sights and sounds and smells around me. One of the BEST parts of it all was coming across the Victorian looking home that is known to be the Blarney House. I LITERALLY gasped when I saw it! It was STUNNING!!!!! There were also some extremely gorgeous medieval stone towers amongst the gardens and green pastures around me, too. Blarney Castle was truly my highlight of the day!

Most notably, I ended up coming across my cousins’ former classmates via recognizing their high school name on sweatshirts while strolling through the gardens. As I was leaving, my cousins’ classmates and teachers were gathered getting ready to leave as well, so I *of course* introduced myself and confirmed that they were my cousins’ former high school classmates (they are in early college/post-college now!) which was a super special and fun moment!

After I left Blarney Castle’s grounds, I went to the gift shop and the Blarney Woolen Mills outlet which is the largest Blarney Woolen Mills outlet (I discovered that there are MANY of these throughout Ireland!) in all of Ireland. I got a gorgeous hot pink woolen blanket there and two wool scarves at the gift shop. Irish fashion is pretty similar to my own preppy and grand millennial style, too! It was super fun to see the similarities between my own personal style preferences and those that are considered mainstream Irish to visitors and locals, alike.

Wrap-Up:

My day trip to Cork County, Ireland was the first of MANY tours that I took throughout my 8 days in Ireland. I LOVED the people I met on my tour throughout the day alongside those that I ran into, too! I found the most similarities with people on my Cork County tour than any others, which makes it have a special meaning to me. Truly, I look back and smile when I think of this tour the most out of all of my Ireland tours.

Stay tuned for more details on the rest of my experience and adventures in Ireland in the coming weeks/months!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery Review

My first-ever activity when I turned 21 was visiting local-to-me vineyards, as it was also in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. AND, vineyard visits have since become a favorite activity of mine! SO, when I got invited to check out a winery AND brewery, Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery, I could NOT say no!

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.

About:

Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery was founded in 2002 and reimagined in 2020 with a mission to “blur the lines between beer and wine” through the power of innovation. Set in the heart of Northern Virginia’s Wine Country in Delaplane, Virginia and possessing several scenic views at everyyyy angle, Three Fox Vineyards also strives to give back to the community beyond its visitors. Three Fox is ALSO dog-friendly and family-friendly!

Three Fox has a variety of seating arrangements too. Whether it be within their indoors Tasting Room, outdoors Patio and Deck, or *even* in none other than their Grape Vines, there is ALWAYS an option for everyone and their preferences. One of the many many many assets that Three Fox has to offer is also seating literally over the hill to an onsite meadow and creek (!!!!!!!) with several benches where many fur legged LOVE to take a stroll by! If you want to learn more, look no further than here!

As for drinks, Three Fox has a vast wine and beer menu, as well as some boozy shakes! I opted for the white wine flight and was very impressed!!!

Getting There:

Three Fix Vineyards & Brewery is located off of Exit 23 via I-66 via an easy drive off of the highway and is easily within a day trip’s distance from Front Royal, Winchester, and Washington, DC. It is easiest to drive to Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery, as the nearest Metro station (Ashburn via the Silver Line) is a 46 minute drive away.

My Experience:

Overall, I was BLOWN away by my visit at Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery! The staff that I met, including Christina, Robin, and Molina (not sure if it’s spelled correctly!), were all EXTREMELY kind and hospitable. One of the things that stuck out to me about Three Fox’s interior design was the unique touch of bouquets across the tables. I later found out that those gorgeous bouquets were mostly the product of the staff’s *very own* gardens at their respective homes. HOW LOVELY!

Now, I was seated at an amazing location onsite … a table in the grape vines!!!! YES, the grape vines!!! HOW NEAT! Three Fox ALSO has a local third party pizza vendor onsite which I grabbed some lunch at alongside my complimentary white wine tasting. While seated in *none other than the grape vines* I enjoyed taking in ALL of the incredible vibes here at Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery, including a front seat row to watching … the cows come home (no LITERALLY!). I had never sat in a table in the grape vines and I truly felt like royalty thanks to the staff at Three Fox!

Wrap-Up:

I LOVED the family AND dog-friendly atmosphere at Three Fox and would highly recommend it to others looking for a great vineyard AND brewery to visit! Not only is Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery easily accessible off of I-66 and within an easy reach of Washington, DC, Front Royal, and Winchester, but it also boasts something for everyone of ALL ages.

A special thank you to the team at Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery for sponsoring my visit. 

Til next time, Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Boxwood Estate Winery Estate Pairing Review

I am truly somebody who LOVES a good wine day and will probably drink wine anywhere! However, I had yet to add enjoying a wine day in a wine … cave surrounded by French Oak Barrels (!!!!!) to the list of places that I have enjoyed a glass of wine until recently. When I heard about Boxwood Estate Winery’s Estate Pairing – a guided and curated wine and hors d’oeuvre pairing hosted in their cave (!!!!!) – I could not resist the opportunity to take part in this incredible experience! A special thank you to the incredibly kind and hospitable team over at Boxwood Estate Winery for hosting me for an Estate Pairing! Come along with me for my *very own* Boxwood Estate Winery review of their Estate Pairing!

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.

About:

Boxwood Estate Winery was founded by John Kent Cooke the former owner of the Washington Redskins football team via his lifelong dream. Cooke’s love for Bordeaux wines gave Boxwood its emphasis on curating premium red and white Bordeaux wines in-house. Given that Boxwood is proudly an estate winery, Boxwood controls all steps of the production of its wines. One of the biggest distinctions of Boxwood is the fact that it focuses on the high-quality of its premium wines versus high quantities of wines, making for an elevated wine experience when going!

Getting There:

Boxwood Estate Winery is located in Middleburg, Virginia AVA in the heart of Northern Virginia’s Wine Country, local horse farms, and Revolutionary and Civil War history. Boxwood is located a couple of miles off of I-66, about an hour’s drive from Washington, DC or a 30 minute drive from the Ashburn Metro Station (accessible via the Silver Line towards Ashburn). It is easiest to either drive or Uber to Boxwood, given cost and time to get there. Free parking is onsite at Boxwood.

Estate Pairing:

To continue my Boxwood Estate Winery review, let’s learn more about its *very own* Estate Pairing! Boxwood’s Estate Pairing takes pride in its serving of French Bordeaux tradition. Serving four of its high-end wines paired with a carefully curated plate of hors d’oeuvres, the Estate Pairing is served in Boxwood’s immaculate wine cave. All wines from the Estate Pairing are ALSO available to purchase afterwards to enjoy a piece of Boxwood at home, too! To preview Boxwood’s Estate Pairing, see below:

  • Cupola 2022 – Has aroma hints of lemon-line with notes of cantaloupe, white pepper, tropical fruits, and white flowers. 80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sauvignon Gris blend. Pairs well with shrimp tempura, smoked trout, shrimp scampi, or fried oysters.
  • Reserve 2021 – Contains whole berries fermented by variety and clones, aged 15-17 months in French Oak Barrels before its final blend containing aromas of rose petals, red cherries, and black fruit with a hint of blueberry and cherry flavors and cocoa on the palate. 53% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon. Pairs well with steak with arugula, portobello mushrooms, lamb, or London broil with garlic aioli.
  • Topiary 2017 – Dark cherry with notes cedar and white pepper and a lingering spice dark fruits. 54% Cabernet Franc, 32& Merlot, 14% Petit Verdot. Pairs well with tiramisu, roasted pork, short ribs, or root vegetables.
  • Reserve 2020 – Contains notes of blueberry, black cherries, and caramel and vanilla; 42% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Franc, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon. Pairs well with mushroom tart, tenderloin, roasted pork, or beef and mushrooms.

*Note that all wines are 100% Estate Grown Fruit from Middleburg, Virginia AVA.

To make a reservation for an Estate Pairing, look no further than here.

Wrap-Up:

To wrap up my Boxwood Estate Winery review, I will say that the drive there is amazing in itself!! It is seriously magical driving through the windy roads of Middleburg, Virginia AVA to make it to Boxwood and getting there is pretty great, too. Truly, I had a WONDERFUL experience at Boxwood Estate Winery! Not only did I feel an extremely warm and welcoming and hospitable presence by the staff and *even* the fellow guests, but I also felt in awe at the mere beauty of Boxwood Estate Winery itself. Being able to sit and stroll throughout the Cave at Boxwood, where I spent most of my time while there, was seriously an incredible experience for the books. Never have I ever been able to enjoy sitting in a Cave where many many many wines to be enjoyed by many to come are being made! At the same time, I had a GREAT time nerding out over wine diamonds (which I never knew existed until my visit!) with Boxwood’s Lisa and being given an amazing guided tour by Boxwood’s Mark.

Truly, I highly recommend a visit to Boxwood Estate Winery to anybody! Boxwood’s Estate Pairing is truly a unique experience like NO other (!!!!!). Whether you are looking for the perfect unique date night, celebratory dining, or solo experience, then look no further than Boxwood Estate Winery’s Estate Pairing!

A special thank you to the team at Boxwood Estate Winery for sponsoring my visit!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Angus Barn Restaurant Review

Flashback to Fall 2017 and I had just started college at my incredible Alma mater Meredith College. I had ALSO moved down to Raleigh, North Carolina for the beginning of 4 years living in the South (see more of my Raleigh, North Carolina dining experiences here!). During those Fall 2017 months, I had learned about the ultra-popular and nationally well-known “fine Southern dining” restaurant: Angus Barn Steakhouse. Since learning about Angus Barn, I had been DYINNGGGG to try it myself but had yet to make it! HOWEVER, I luckily had the chance to fulfill my Angus Barn Raleigh dining experience dreams this past March 2024 with my best friend Alanna who also was eager to try too!!! Today, I am sharing my Angus Barn Restaurant review.

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

Angus Barn in Raleigh, North Carolina Review

About Angus Barn:

Angus Barn Restaurant also widely known as “Angus Barn” is a fine Southern dining restaurant located in Raleigh, North Carolina serving American-style cuisine ranging from fresh seafood, upscale Southern comfort foods, and well-made in-house steaks (their notorious food!!). Angus Barn also has a vast list of wines and delicious desserts. Every Christmas season (November-January), Angus Barn decks out for the season and becomes a Christmas wonderland for all to enjoy! Angus Barn also has a first-come, first-served wine bar known as The Wild Turkey Lounge. Angus Barn also has an adorable gift shop aka their Country Store filled with North Carolina-made goods, including barbecue sauces and honey and hand-painted wine glasses dazzling with state flowers and birds. Guests over the years include Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and North Carolina-based politicians and pageant queens. Through it all, think: rustic elegance!

Dining there:

Angus Barn Restaurant in HIGH in-demand and a popular destination for North Carolinians from all across the state and out-of-state visitors, alike! That ALL being said, it is tricky to get a reserve ration especially during peak dining seasons (think warmer months and Christmas time for the notable decorations). It is recommended for ALL to get a reservation as soon as you know you would LOVE to dine there and when you know you can/are able to. Christmas reservations fill up MONTHS in advance. I booked Alanna and I’s reservation in January 2024 for March 2024.

Getting there:

CONGRATS! You’ve made your Angus Barn Restaurant reservation!!! Angus Barn is easy to reach as it’s located on Glenwood Avenue and easily reached off of I-40 with signs directing you once off the highway. There are tons of parking options, too!

Dress code:

It is important to note that Angus Barn Restaurant has a strict dress code of business casual with no tank tops, hoodies, revealing clothing, baseball caps, no offensive language, etc.

The interior design of Angus Barn Raleigh is known as rustic elegance with handmade quilts for sale on display AND taxidermy, too! There is an HUGEEE wall off of its staircase upstairs showcasing all of the notable guests who have dined there over the years. And, on the exterior, Angus Barn is LITERALLY a massive barn complete with a fireplace. One of my FAVORITE parts was simply sitting at our table and admiring the rustically elegant ambience that Angus Barn has to offer.

Alanna and I were treated like the QUEENs that we are (!!!!!) while dining at Angus Barn Raleigh. We got to sample some of their many wines on their vast list (I went with a delicious red wine!) and Alanna enjoyed a cocktail. Coming with our entrees, we got a complimentary cheese and crackers platter to share. Alanna and I both went with the steak of our choice entree combination that came with a choice of soup/salad, potato choice, and side. I ended up getting a short rib and Alanna got a roast (I think?!). All in all, the food and our server were extremely kind and took GREAT care of us!

Wrap-up:

After YEARS of wanting to try Angus Barn Restaurant, I am SO SO glad that I finally got to with my best friend who had the same desires to dine there as well. I was truly blown away by the service, interiors, and cuisines at Angus Barn. I hope to dine back at Angus Barn in the future with loved ones as many have done in generations’ past and will do for generations to come!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Experience at Chicago’s Malibu Barbie Cafe

*Just* in case you didn’t realize, I am a HUGE fan of ALLLLL things Barbie!!!! I have a Barbie Christmas tree, a few Barbie dolls (including one Christmas one!), and watch the movie *pretty* often, too. My friend Briana and I are *even* going to see Barbie The Movie In Concert this Summer at Jiffy Lube Live! SO, I *of course* had to visit the Malibu Barbie Cafe last Summer 2023 when in Chicago!

As a HUGE fan of the Barbie movie and, well, Barbie in general, I could NOT miss the chance to visit the Malibu Barbie Cafe at one of its pop-up locations back in Summer 2023. And, yes, we are *getting there* to Summer 2024, which I am SOOOOO excited for (!!!!), however, I am oh so excited for one last look back at some Summer adventures from 2023! In August of 2023, my Instagram bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs (GO FOLLOW HER!!!!) and I visited Chicago for a quick 24 hours (here) and before that Indianapolis, Indiana (where Lindsay calls home!) (here) AND ended up visiting the Malibu Barbie Cafe when it was in the Windy City. I shared about my experience at Chicago’s Malibu Barbie Cafe over on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), as well. As I am planning my next trip to the Windy City this August 2024, I am excited to share ALLL the details of this incredible experience of Lindsay’s and mine!

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

Tickets:

Lindsay and I booked tickets together a few months before visiting the Malibu Barbie Cafe. Lindsay booked the tickets on our behalf and, being transparent over here, I CANNOT seem to remember how much they were. ALL I remember is that each ticket came with a time slot and complimentary meal per person per ticket. Lindsay and I both picked a delicious vegetable quinoa bowl! Though, I do remember that time slots were required upon booking for crowd control purposes.

Our Experience:

To kick it off, we started off waiting in line to get into the Malibu Barbie Cafe about 20 minutes before our time slot. The super kind staff let each party in every few minutes at the beginning of each time slot and gave us 90 minutes-2 hours to be in the space before we were given the boot (ALL for crowd control purposes though!). And, the wait at the end of the line which was by the way filled with the sweetest Barbie-loving people of all ages, we were greeted with “HEY BARBIE” and the BESTTTT energy from all of the staff! We *truly* entered into Barbieland!!!!!

Once in Barbieland, we were seated at our table and were greeted by our waitress and given a fun cocktail menu. Drinks and any other additional food items were NOT included in the admission tickets (unlike our entrees) and we *of course* ordered pink glitter decked out cocktails and, well duh, French fries!!! Our waitress told us that we had *plenty of time* before any and all of our food/drinks came out to go and check out the merchandise AND *of course* get some photos which the photo opportunities plentiful at the Malibu Barbie Cafe. Not to mention, Barbie AND beach-themed music was played ALLL across the Malibu Barbie Cafe in *of course* true Barbieland fashion!!!

From ALLL THINGS beach to a surf board to travel and a roller rink and everything in between, Barbieland was TRULY decked out to brighten up the Windy City! Lindsay and I enjoyed SOOOO many of the photo opportunities here at the Malibu Barbie Cafe both before and after getting our food/drinks. It was a pretty gloomy day while we visited the Malibu Barbie Cafe, however, being with one another in Barbieland truly brightened both of our spirits!

Wrap-Up:

While it has been a Summer ago ever since my visit to the Malibu Barbie Cafe, I truly LOVED my experience in Barbieland with the incredible other guests and staff that brought such great energy and most definitely with my fellow Barbie loving bestie Lindsay! Summer 2023 brought about SOOOO many incredible Barbie-themed memories and going to the Malibu Barbie Cafe truly was the cherry on top of the cake of a truly incredible Barbie Summer!

XOXO – Katie <3

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