6 Free Historic Things To Do In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

***Please note that this list of 6 Free Historic Things To Do In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will be updated and recirculated periodically to reflect the city’s most up-to-date information. This list was most recently updated as of January 2026.***

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is notorious for its skyscrapers, plethora of history, and colleges. FUN FACT: Philadelphia is actually one of my favorite cities! Well, on my most recent trip to the city of brotherly love or shall I say sisterly love (!!!) included a visit to multiple affordable, historic, and free attractions! 

In this blog post, I will outline 6 free historic things to do in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to ensure you have a wallet-friendly time while visiting!

*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.

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6 Free Historic Things To Do In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Just in case you’re looking for additional activities to do in Philadelphia during your visit, use GetYourGuide to reserve your experiences today!

1 – Visit Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site

Address: 532 N Street

About: The Edgar Allan Poe House is one of 5 homes that the American authored lived in. It is one of a few still standing to this day. Currently, the Edgar Allan Poe House is owned by the National Park Service and is a National Historic Site. That all being said, it is FREE to walk in, explore, and absorb ALL the history there that there is to offer. Personally, I did not find touring the house to be all that exciting (it is only usually self-guided) with a map given per party that enters in. There’s no furniture within much of the house, but its current structure and architecture has been preserved and thus remains. At the same time, there is also an exhibit with a film, too. We didn’t stay too long here, but it was cool to see and a gorgeous, colonial-like exterior!

Plan your visit here.

2 – Tour Independence Hall, See The Liberty Bell, & Visit Independence National Historical Park

Address: 520 Chestnut Street

About: Independence Hall is currently managed by the National Park Service and is located at Independence National Historical Park. It is the home of where both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and signed by our Founding Fathers. This fundamental building to big happenings in United States and world history for that matter is also a UNESCO site. In order to visit and tour its interior, one must reserve a ticket in advance for a $1.00 fee to tour. Tours last only about 20 minutes and you get to witness where history happened aka where the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were signed. While a brief tour, it is a super cool experience! If you want to visit the Independence National Historical Park and admire Independence Hall’s gorgeous exterior, you can visit and stroll for free. While there, be sure to visit the Liberty Bell Center where you can see Liberty Bell in-person!

Please note that until January 28, 2026, the inside of Independence Hall is closed to visitors for renovations and restoration. 

Plan your visit here.

3 – Stroll Elfreth’s Alley

Address: 126 Elfreth’s Alley

About: Elfreth’s Alley is a historical street in Old City Philadelphia. It is JUST a 3 minute walk from the Betsy Ross House. To me, Haley, and Violet, this street is like an untouched part of history amongst Philadelphia’s numerous skyscrapers. The homes at Elfreth’s Alley are residential, which makes it SO unique. While not painted the colors of the rainbow, this alley felt a bit like a cobblestone and more colonial version of Charleston, South Carolina’s Rainbow Raw and Washington, DC’s Georgetown neighborhood. The BEST PART?! ALL residents deck out their gorgeous homes during the holiday season AND photos are always welcome!

Plan your visit here.

4 – Admire + Explore Philadelphia’s City Hall

Address: 1400 John F Kennedy Blvd

About: A beautiful Baroque architectural building in the heart of downtown Philadelphia, City Hall is where all of the city’s governmental affairs happen. Philadelphia City Hall was once the world’s tallest building but has since been surpassed by the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. and the Eiffel Tower in Paris as well as many other buildings. While it is free to visit City Hall and admire its ornate exteriors as well as explore its interiors although you must go through a security checkpoint to do so, there are 2 tour options for guided tours. I outline all the information on visiting and touring Philadelphia’s City Hall in this blog post and guide. While visiting Philadelphia’s City Hall, be sure to check out the onsite Visitor Center for more information.

Plan your visit here.

5 – Visit Reading Terminal Market 

Address: 1136 Arch Street

About: Reading Terminal Market is one of the oldest and largest public markets in the United States, having first opened in 1893. Located in the heart of downtown Philadelphia with close proximity to City Hall, Reading Terminal Market is an indoor market that’s open daily from 8am-6pm, providing locals and visitors alike with the opportunity to purchase grocery and deli items, specialty goods, and dine at local restaurants and cafes. Although it is not free to purchase items or dine at onsite restaurants and cafes at Reading Terminal Market, it is 100% free to enter and stroll this really neat public market. Truly, Reading Terminal Market feels like a walk through a piece of Philadelphia’s history and unique culinary scene throughout the centuries.

Plan your visit here.

6 – Snap a Photo In Front of Love Statue at Love Park

Address: 15th and John F Kennedy Blvd

About: To commemorate being in “the City of Brotherly Love,” snap a photo at Love Park‘s iconic Love Statue. Love Statue is currently one of Philadelphia’s most well-known landmarks, having been created by Robert Indiana in 1976 in honor of the United States’ Bicentennial (200 years-Birthday). More recently, the Love Statue was refurbished and repainted as a part of Love Park’s renovation in 2018. It is worth noting that Love Park is 100% free to visit and stroll. 

Plan your visit here.

Wrap-Up:

Over the years, I feel fortunate to have visited Philadelphia on several occasions! As many of us are just starting out and traveling + sightseeing on a budget, knowing that there are multiple free historic things to do in Philadelphia makes our experiences wallet-friendly, too. Til next time, Philly!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Preppy Fashion Lover Gifts Guide

***Please note that this Preppy Fashion Lover Gifts Guide will be updated and recirculated periodically to reflect the most up-to-date information. This gift guide was most recently updated as of October 2025.***

Lilly Pulitzer, Vineyard Vines, J Crew, and Kate Spade, OH MY! As a self-proclaimed preppy fashion lover and grand millennial, I could not share some preppy fashion lover items for my Christmas Gift Guides. Today, I am rounding up all of the preppy fashion lover gift ideas to complete your preppy fashion wardrobe and for your preppy fashion lovers in your life all while at different price points. In the case that you’re interested in some of my other preppy fashion shopping guides, then look no further than my blog posts on a few brands to know like Lilly Pulitzer, Printfresh Pajamas Review, Hill House Nap Dress Dupe Shopping Guide, and more. Happy shopping!!!

*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.*

Preppy Fashion Lover Gifts Guide

This Preppy Fashion Lover Gifts Guide will be divided into 5 sections based on price point: $25 and Under, $50 and Under, $100 and Under, $200 and Under, and $200+. That way, there’s a gift every preppy fashion lover in mind!

$25 and Under

$50 and Under

$100 and Under

$200 and Under

$200+

Happy holidays and happy shopping, preppies!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Biltmore Travel Guide

***Please note that this guide on The Biltmore has been updated and re-circulated to include more up-to-date information. This guide has most recently been updated in June 2025.***

A few years ago on a whim, my best friend Alanna and I decided to spend an afternoon at The Biltmore while we were on a long weekend trip to Asheville, North Carolina for our best friend Kearra’s Birthday Weekend and *JUST* happened to find that we had an afternoon free while the rest of our crew went horseback riding. Flash forward to April 2025 when I was visiting my best friend Hannah in Charlotte (see my full guide on Charlotte here!), I decided to take a solo Spring day trip to Asheville to see The Biltmore, as I hadn’t seen the interiors of it my first time there. The Biltmore is approximately 2 hours from Charlotte, making it an easy day trip to do. SO, above all else, when in doubt, take a day trip to The Biltmore!!!

*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.

The Biltmore Travel Guide

About The Biltmore:

So, The Biltmore Estate is the largest mansion built by the Vanderbilt’s on at least the East Coast and is located in the heart of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge mountains in Asheville. It is a Chateau-style mansion that was designed by George Washington Vanderbilt between 1889-1895. An interesting thing about The Biltmore was that Vanderbilt designed and constructed it when he was a bachelor. A few years later, George Vanderbilt married Edith Dresser in 1898 where he brought her to Biltmore to live and raise their only child a daughter: Cornelia Vanderbilt. George Vanderbilt was an intellectual and the interiors of Biltmore truly showcase that via vast collections of artworks and things from his travels and his massive library filled with books. After George Vanderbilt’s passing in 1914, Edith Vanderbilt continued to live at The Biltmore with Cornelia and eventually Cornelia’s husband John Cecil until the 1930s when her daughter divorced John and moved to Europe. John on the other hand resided at The Biltmore and continued to do so and he and Cornelia’s sons joined him throughout the years that followed. The Biltmore did though remain a residence for the descendants of George Washington Vanderbilt until the 1950s when it became a historic mansion. The Biltmore is proudly kept alive thanks to the several visitors that come to see and appreciate it as well as the legacy that George Washington Vanderbilt and his descendants built during their time there.

I recently read The Wedding Veil by Kristie Woodson Harvey and found it to be a great read about the women (most specifically Edith Dresser Vanderbilt and Cornelia Vanderbilt) of The Biltmore and their stories. Truly, this incredible historical fiction read dives into the thoughts and feelings of these women as they navigate the 1900s at Biltmore in the world’s ever changing landscape. I highly recommend this read before/after you plan to take a day trip to The Biltmore.

Alongside The Biltmore mansion, The Biltmore estate also has adjacent gardens and grounds (including a ticket just to explore that), special exhibitions, hiking trails, multiple onsite restaurants and cafes, several adorable shops that are all-things Biltmore-themed, and the Biltmore Winery which has its wine produced on several acres of the Biltmore’s property.

Getting There & Admission:

The Biltmore Estate is located just outside of Asheville, North Carolina in the Western part of the state. It is situated with easy access to I-40. Within North Carolina, the Biltmore (and Asheville) are located about 4 hours from Raleigh and two hours from Charlotte. That being said, a day trip to The Biltmore is easily doable from Charlotte and makes a great stop on a weekend trip to Western North Carolina from Raleigh!

It is also worth noting that on a day trip to The Biltmore that it is easiest to have a car while there (there are several rental car options). Different parts of The Biltmore, such as the grounds and gardens, the Antler Hill Village & Biltmore Winery, and special exhibitions are all on different parts of the estate’s property. There are also gorgeous hiking trails. Parking is included within all admission tickets to The Biltmore.

In 2022 on my girls trip to Asheville, there were 6 of us girls. And, since between the 6 of us for the weekend we had only 2 cars and carpooled everywhere, our friends dropped us off at The Biltmore Visitor Center. Upon dropping us off at Biltmore’s drop off only location, Alanna and I learned with the help of SUPER sweet customer service representatives there that we would have to purchase tickets for the Biltmore Express – a $15 flat fee/day shuttle service that comes on the hour to varying parts of The Biltmore Estate. I will say, though, when I went back to The Biltmore, I definitely took my car with me, as it was much easier and more convenient to get around. See more on all-things getting there here.

For my first day trip to The Biltmore, Alanna and I ended up booking our tickets to The Biltmore the night before going. Upon booking a ticket there, we had a few options of what ticket(s) to get: including a ticket just to the Gardens & Grounds, a House tour, and a guided House tour. There are also additional ticketing add-on’s, including special exhibits and carriage rides. All tickets include a complimentary wine tasting, too! Alanna and I just went with the Gardens & Grounds ticket, as we only had an afternoon to spend there and it was the cheapest option. It’s important to note that prices to visit vary per day of the week, month, and season (Christmas is definitely more expensive than all of the other times of the year). See all of the ticket options here.

What To Do on a Day Trip to The Biltmore:

There’s several things to do on a day trip to The Biltmore, alongside *of course* checking out the beautiful gardens and grounds and admiring the mansion. Check out all the things to do at The Biltmore below:

For more things to do in and around Asheville, North Carolina in addition to your Biltmore day trip, don’t fear! There are plenty of activities and tours in Asheville to choose from.

My Experience

From my first day trip to The Biltmore – gardens and grounds only:

Well, we took the Biltmore Express to the Biltmore Mansion where my jaw had absolutely literally DROPPED TO THE FLOOR! Our driver to the mansion was super friendly and made it all that more special upon arrival there. The mansion is STUNNING and even more so than in ALLL the pictures that I have seen of it. Alanna and I took photos at the front of the mansion and along the gardens and on the sides of the mansion. You can take in SOOO many views of the North Carolina mountains, too. Every part of it was jaw-droppingly beautiful. Alanna and I enjoyed strolling through the gift shops (where the Spartina 449 custom Biltmore totes were VERRRYYY tempting!), sipping the wine via our complimentary tasting (you get to choose four of their wines to taste!) which was also extremely tempting to take home some bottles of wine, and lunch at one of their cafes whose name I forget – haha! Through it all, I was in awe every second!

After about 90 minutes at the Biltmore mansion, Alanna and I headed for the Antler Hill Village and Winery where we ended our lovely afternoon there. Antler Hill Village and Winery plays homage to the Biltmore Winery, several gorgeous high-end gift shops (including some that sold Kendra Scott jewelry!!), and restaurants/cafes. The Biltmore Estate’s very own hotel is there, too. There was a gorgeous garden as well representing the Seven Wonders of the World. Not to mention, musicians were playing such relaxing, upbeat music making that the cherry on top of the ice cream cone filled to the rim with ice cream and whipped cream!! While there, Alanna and I went to the Biltmore Winery – which by the way had the most whimsical lit up entrance!!! – and enjoyed some glasses of wine while sitting at their GORGEOUS BAR! Afterwards, we browsed through some of the sweet little shops at Antler Hill Village and Winery, enjoyed some music, called our families to tell them where we were, and then head back to our AirBnB with our Kearra’s Birthday Weekend crew.

Personally, getting there between 1-2pm, I was very worried that we were going to arrive too late. I know that The Biltmore Estate gets crowded and crowded pretty fast, too. BUT, to my surprise, it wasn’t nearly as crowded as I had expected. In the future, I hope to go tour the inside of the mansion with an audio guide or via a Candlelight tour at Christmas time and bring my car with me to get around better. I know that you need to book a specific time to tour the mansion, so it definitely would’ve been more challenging to do this time around. BUT, overall, I am really happy and blessed that I was able to even see The Biltmore Estate with my very own eyes, since it had been HIGH on my bucket list for some time.

From my second day trip to The Biltmore – going inside the mansion in addition to the gardens and grounds:

After my first day trip to The Biltmore, I decided to take my car with me from Charlotte. I ended up booking a 11am tour of the interior of the mansion, as that was my biggest priority for my next time there alongside *of course* Ooooo-ing and ahhhh-ing at all of the gorgeousness in the gardens, and got to the grounds around 9am. Once my complimentary parking was secured, I checked out the gift shops (all outlined earlier in this post!) and admired the gorgeous mansion’s grounds before heading inside. One of the biggest things I’ve noticed on both of my day trips to The Biltmore is how kind and wonderful the people that work there are. They truly make a day trip to The Biltmore one for the books! 

Upon entering The Biltmore mansion, I was immediately in awe by how immaculate it was and to learn more about the history of George Washington Vanderbilt and Edith Vanderbilt, especially when it came to their service to the Asheville community and beyond. I learned that Edith served as the first woman ever to be elected as president of the North Carolina Agricultural Society, which organizes the North Carolina State Fair, greater known in the state as the “NC State Fair,” a role she took on for many years after her late husband’s passing. In North Carolina, the NC State Fair is a BIG deal – something that I learned during my college years in Raleigh. I also learned that George collected many of the items on display to this day at Biltmore throughout his travels. I imagined their daughter Cornelia Vanderbilt as a little girl running through the halls of Biltmore and how magical a sight that must’ve been to see! I envisioned myself as a guest at Biltmore, through seeing how guests enjoyed their stays there. And, I saw the inner workings of Biltmore, from the kitchen to laundry and everything in between and learned about key staff members throughout the years. Above all else, the complimentary audio guide tour of The Biltmore truly immerses you in all aspects of this magical home, from the lives of the Vanderbilts who lived there to the faces and stories of the incredible staff that made day-to-day life at Biltmore happen. Personally, I felt that the audio guide did an excellent job of showcasing all aspects of Biltmore, from the stories of those who lived and worked there to its incredible legacy that attracts thousands of visitors annually to this very day.

After my amazing audio guided tour all around The Biltmore mansion, I stopped for an early lunch at the spot I stopped at last time: The Stable Cafe. I tried a delicious pulled pork sandwich and Blue Ridge Mountain blueberry-infused cocktail. Because, when at The Biltmore?!? My waitress was extremely kind as much of the staff were!! I, then, admired the gift shops again where I had a mini version of the complimentary wine tasting as I was driving 2 hours later that afternoon where I grabbed some wine, a magnet, and a match box to enjoy at home. Next up: the incredible gardens which BLEW ME AWAY!!!! The gardens at Biltmore, situated adjacent to the mansion are truly out of a magazine. I had so much fun snapping several photos of the beautiful gardens with several mansion and mountain skyline views in between. Alllll before making my way back to Charlotte.

Wrap-Up

Ever sine my college years, I have dreamed of getting to visit The Biltmore. Several of my North Carolina-based college classmates went throughout the years, given that it is a North Carolina staple, especially during our holiday breaks. I remember hoping to go someday, too, despite it being challenging to reach from the Washington, DC area when I didn’t have a car or much room in my budget. Now, I am extremely thankful to say that I have been to The Biltmore not once but TWICE. Here’s to my next day trip to The Biltmore!

XOXO – Katie <3

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How To Launder Lilly Pulitzer

If you know me, then you know that Lilly Pulitzer is my favorite fashion brand! With its bright colors and prints coming in delicate fabrics, it may come as a challenge to launder your Lilly Pulitzer garments. As someone who values convenience over time most of the time, I am going to share some tips for taking your Lilly Pulitzer finds to the local laundromat or how to laundering Lilly Pulitzer yourself (which can even be a bonus when you are on the road!!!).

*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 sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

For more preppy style & grand millennial home content, check out my Preppy Fashion & Grand Millennial Home page.

To shop current Lilly Pulitzer products, look no further than the Lilly Pulitzer website. You can shop any product on the site using this link.

How To Launder Lilly Pulitzer

Laundromats

Wherever you may be, locally-owned Laurdromats are probably near by. The majority of them are corn-operated, as seen in the movie’s. One of my latest and favorite laundromats is The Clothes Spin. The Clothes Spin is a laundromat that is based in Lynchburg, Virginia. Unlike the majority of laundromats, The Clothes Spin has 24/7 access for all of their customers. That being said, you can easily come in and launder your garments when it best fits for your schedule. The best part of it all?! This 24/7 laundromat located in Madison Heights allows you to pay for you to wash your clothing through an app rather than with change! I most definitely do not carry huge chunks of change in my pocket anymore, and I know many others who do not either.

Tips

Whether or not you choose to go to a laundromat or launder your Lilly Pulitzer garments at home, there are quite a few do’s and don’t’s that will make it so much more helpful for you to take care of your garments to the best that you can. I have washed my Lilly Pulitzer and do pretty frequently. Knock on wood, I have not had that many issues with washing them, as I strictly follow these do’s and don’t’s as well as the tips that I also list below, too.

 

Do’s

  • Wash in cold water, in order to prevent shrinking and color run
  • Wash your white’s and colored clothing separately, in order to prevent color bleeding on your white garments (no one wants a white shirt to unintentionally become pink!)
  • Wash garments with embroidery inside out. Embroidery may include pom poms, sequins, or delicate buttons.
  • Hang or lay your Lilly Pulitzer to dry, rather than drying it! This will prevent your garments from shrinking. If the garment is 100% cotton, then most definitely be sure to lay or hang it to dry as it will shrink a size if put in the dryer!
  • Wash garments inside out, in order to prevent pilling

Don’t’s

  • Wash light-colored garments and dark-colored garments together. Darker colored clothing items can rinse into lighter colored clothing items, which can most definitely change their colors. Typically, I wash my whites separately from all of the other colored garments and have not had many issues.
  • Put 100% cotton, cashmere, sweaters, or other vulnerable garments into the dryer – they will shrink a size! It’s best to lie them flat to dry.
  • Hang popovers or Finn tees to dry. The shoulders will be stretched out. Rather, lay them flat to dry.

Detergent & Bleach

I am a loyal Tide user. Ever since I went off to college, I have used Tide detergent in the scent April Spring. To go with it, I use Febreeze Fabric Softener in the same exact scent. However, recently, I have used Kirkland’s detergents and fabric softeners from Costco that actually come in a similar scent. Personally, I am someone who is extremely particular about the way my clothing and things smell, so it works well for me. As for bleach, I find OxiClean to be one of the best out there! Not only does it do the job, but it does the job well! Luckily, the detergent, fabric softener, and bleach products that I use can easily be found at a local grocery store, Target, Walmart, or even Costco.

Along with OxiClean, my favorite alternative for stains is as simple as that: water and soap. All I simply do is have sink running, add an soap to the stain and massage the stain with my fingers. The soap that I use is simply the hand soap right beside my sink, but any soap even body wash will do. Y’all it works EVERY TIME!! This trick also works really well with period stains. It can also be done everywhere, as all you need is a sink and some soap!

Regular Wash VS Delicate Wash

When washing Lilly Pulitzer garments, it varies per item which type of wash that you would want to do on your washing machine. For most garments, I use regular, however, for some I use the delicate wash. I have listed down below what type of wash I use for which Lilly Pulitzer styles that I own!

Regular Wash

  • Sophie shift
  • Mila shift
  • All Luxletic products
  • Delia shift
  • Ophelia shift
  • Kelly pants
  • Adalee shift
  • Skirts/skorts
  • Popovers
  • Cotton tops (including cotton Elsa’s, Essie’s, and Etta’s)

Delicate Wash

  • Elsa Tops (especially those coming in silk fabrics)
  • Anything with embroidery (i.e. pom poms, sequins, delicate buttons)
  • Anything that is cashmere
  • Scarfs or wraps

Wrap-Up

However you choose to launder your Lilly Pulitzer garments, the consistency that you choose to wash them is key. Over the years, I have remained consistent in my techniques for washing my Lilly, and it has worked. That being said, whatever works for you is what you should do!

XOXO – Katie <3

A special thank you to The Clothes Spin for sponsoring this blog post. Without their support, The Pink Chickadee wouldn’t be where it is today.

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Madrid, Spain Travel Guide

After years of trying to plan a bestie trip, my college best friend Shivani and I *finally* made it happen!!! My most recent European trip was an 8-day getaway to Dublin, Ireland (here), and I am SO glad I got to do a trip across the Atlantic with one of my favorite people. We ended up doing a 2 week long European adventure throughout Spain and Portugal via Barcelona, Porto, and Lisbon, spending approximately 3 days (or 72 hours!) in each city that we went to (see what I wore over those 2 weeks here!). Over the next month, I will be sharing my itinerary and recap from each city that we went to in Spain and Portugal. The first stop on our journey that I’m sharing about with y’all today is … 3 days in Madrid, Spain!

Upon landing for our 3 days in Madrid, Spain, I was *in awe* at the unique and gorgeous landscapes from the sky to touchdown. Madrid and Spain as a whole, indeed, has a distinct landscape that I hadn’t seen until visiting! And, that gorgeous landing into Spain made me SOOOO excited for our time in Madrid! While short-lived, it was one for the books and I am grateful to have visited.

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

Madrid, Spain Travel Guide

Getting There:

Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) is the biggest flight hub in all of Spain. From my home base of Washington, DC, I had two airline options out of Dulles International Airport (IAD) around the same cost round-trip: take a connecting flight on United Airlines or a direct flight on Iberian Airlines. Given my ongoing loyalty with United Airlines and MileagePlus membership status and Mom’s and Step Dad’s horror stories flying Iberian Airlines on their Spain trip in Winter 2022, I opted to use my United Airlines loyalty and gain more miles and take a connecting flight to Madrid. My choice to fly United was NOT a regret of mine either, as I had peace of mind the entire trip that my luggage would successfully make it to Madrid as well as myself, unlike some of the stories I’ve heard on Instagram and TikTok regarding Iberian Airlines alongside my own family members’ stories. At the end of the day, I am glad I flew United and was able to gain more Miles as a MileagePlus member, too!

As for my connecting flight to Madrid from Washington, DC, I flew first to Brussels Airport (BRU) and went through customs upon arrival and transferring terminals my next flight’s gate. My next flight was on Brussels Airlines, which is apart of the Star Alliance alongside United Airlines. Funny enough, I didn’t realize that I had to check in for my connecting flight to Madrid on Brussels Airlines NOT on the United Airlines app, although I booked my trip through that, until I landed in Brussels – WHOOPS! Immediately upon landing in Brussels, I downloaded the Brussels Airlines app, checked into my flight, and was on my merry way to Madrid upon boarding my flight.

Where To Stay:

We LOVED our home away from home for 72 hours in Madrid, Spain!! We stayed at Motel One Plaza de España (C. del Tutor, 1, Moncloa – Aravaca) – a design hotel in the heart of Madrid. I book ALL of my hotel stays through *none other than* Booking.com! Honestly, upon a search on Booking.com in Madrid on my dates there, I look at the hotels whose vibes *yes, vibes!* I like the best within my budget and book accordingly. For Madrid, I ended up LOVING Motel One Plaza de España‘s vibes THE BEST online and I loved them EVEN MORE once I arrived! Upon arrival, check-in was at the hotel bar, which is already a win in my book (!!!!) and my room was ready a few hours early, which was AMAZING for my exhausted and 12+ hours of traveling-self. The rooms are beautiful and we had a nice street-view room to overlook the gorgeous narrow streets of Madrid. Shivani and I ended up enjoying daily breakfast and evening drinks at the hotel lobby (by way of the front desk bar!!) and chatted with the ultra-kind staff each morning and evening. The staff are ultra-kind and made our stay at Motel One Plaza de España one for the books! I also write a whole hotel review + guide here.

What To Do:

For many activities and things to do for 72 hours in Madrid, Spain, I highly recommend checking out and downloading GetYourGuide for booking and reserving activities. It is suggested that you reserve most activities in advance, especially when traveling during peak season and busy times during the day to guarantee that you get to go.

Shop, stroll, and sightsee at Plaza de España – Marking the end of Gran Via (Madrid’s iconic shopping street), Plaza de España is a popular square with a statue of Don Quixote and beautiful Spanish architecture. Shivani and I would shop and browse at the Zara and Mango located on Plaza de España and stroll here many times during our time in Madrid, given its close proximity to our hotel. Plaza de España is also conveniently located in the heart of downtown Madrid, Spain and a lovely place to visit when in Spain’s capital city!

Visit the Royal Palace of Madrid – The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family in the city of Madrid, even though it’s currently now only used for state ceremonies. In Europe, the Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest royal palace with over 135,000 square meters and 3,418 rooms. Shivani and I were in AWE at how magnificent and beautiful the Royal Palace of Madrid is! From the gorgeously opulent state rooms to the elegant hallways and staircases, the Royal Palace of Madrid is totally worth a visit!! Check out my full guide on visiting the Royal Palace of Madrid here.

Note: It takes about 1.5-2 hours to tour the Royal Palace of Madrid on a self-guided tour which we opted to do. It is also worth noting that tickets must be purchased to visit the Royal Palace of Madrid either via walk-in or in advance (which I recommend doing!). Advanced reservation tickets can be purchased on GetYourGuide for under $20/person!

See a Live Flamenco show – Shivani ended up booking us a Live Flamenco Show with food/drink options via GetYourGuide. We opted for tickets with a complimentary drink: Sangria! The Flamenco show was hosted on the lower level of Tablao Torres Bermejas in a BEAUTIFULLY tile-lined lounge. The sangria was amazing alongside the talent of the Flamenco dancers and live musicians. And, we *also* made friends in line and while waiting for the performance to start!

Visit the Cerralbo Museum – One of the National Museums of Spain that is also attached to the Ministry of Culture, the Cerralbo Museum is an art museum in the heart of Madrid that was a former 19th century mansion. It houses the vast artworks and antiques of Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, Marquis of Cerrablo. Today, people from all across the world flock to see these beautiful collections, from the magnificent artworks and hallways to the vast staircase of sheer elegance.

Note: The Cerralbo Museum offers free admission 5-8pm on Thursdays and all day Sundays. Free admission is on a first come, first served basis and visitors line up early. Shivani and I opted to do the free admission on Sundays and got in line around 10am on Sunday and waited for 2+ hours, as the museum is crowd-controlled (which I love and respect so much!!). It was definitely worth the wait, but be prepared to wait for a couple of hours, if you opt to do the free admission. However, if you choose to visit beyond free admission hours, admission is, I believe, around 3 Euros/person.

Climb to the top of the Catedral de Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena – The Catedral de Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena was recommended to us by a fellow Washington, DC area-based visitor we met while watching the Flamenco Show and it was SOOO worth it!! Located adjacent to the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Catedral de Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena is a less crowded with tourists (well compared to the Royal Palace!) place to visit, learn about the Catholic diocese in Spain and specifically in Madrid via an exhibit, and climb to the top of to take in ALL of the Madrid skyline views! It is a Catholic cathedral in Madrid home to the seat of the Archdiocese of Madrid. Admission at the door was around 8 Euros/person and well worth it *even* for the skyline views alone!

Shop on La Gran Via – As previously mentioned up above, La Gran Via is the main shopping street in Madrid. To me, La Gran Via also gives off the vibes of Times Square Spain edition in a much more elegant and less chaotic way! Shivani and I spent a few afternoons and evenings shopping and dining on La Gran Via. Shops that we checked out included H&M, Zara (besides the location we frequented on Plaza de España), and Primark. We also checked out a bookstore whose name I forget that carries primarily books in Spanish, which was SUCH A UNIQUE experience (!!!).

Explore the colorful streets – Madrid, Spain is home to several beautiful and magical colorful streets! One of my biggest pieces of advice for traveling is just to find the opportunity to get lost in the streets. And, Madrid has NO shortage of unique colorful streets to enjoy. Don’t forget to bring your camera/phone to snap some photos!

Next Time: Visit the Prado Museum – Although we didn’t make it to the Prado Museum this time around, it remained (and still does) high on my Madrid bucket list! Situated in the heart of Madrid, the Prado Museum is the National Art Museum of Spain, housing intricate masterpieces from Spanish and European artists.

Where To Dine:

Before I get into where to dine in Madrid, I wanted to share *just* a few observations about dining in Madrid! 1 – dining in Madrid overall is much cheaper than dining in the United States. For the two of us, dinner (including drinks, appetizers, and entrees) costed us under $50. As for the ingredients within the food, it is MUCH fresher than in the United States due to stricter food and drug regulations. Needless to say, a win, win!!

La Tasca de Ventura (C. de Ventura Rodríguez, 9, Moncloa – Aravaca) – Just a block away from my home away from home in Madrid aka Motel One Plaza de España, La Tasca de Ventura is a delicious tapas and wine bar. I ended up going here twice – once solo and once with Shivani. Both times, I ordered the lovely house wine and a variation of octopus and each time was PHENOMENAL!

La Toscana (Gran Vía, 59, Centro) – Located on La Gran Via, Shivani and I stopped into La Toscana for dinner as we were tired from the crowds on the streets – LOLLL! We were, indeed, in for a treat!! La Toscana is an Italian restaurant ANDDD the pastas and garlic bread (which we ordered both by the way!) were delicious.

La Carmen Cerveceria-Taperia (C. Mayor, 88, Centro) – Just across the street from the Royal Palace of Madrid and the Catedral de Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena, La Carmen Cerveceria-Taperia was a much-needed and devoured spot for lunch! I ended up ordering lamb shoulder + fries and a glass of red wine and would come back again for more!!

Tapa Tapa (multiple locations) – A tapas restaurant with multiple locations around Madrid, Tapa Tapa blew us AWAY and kept us coming back not once but twice! The tapas at Tapa Tapa are easily shareable or small enough for a light meal on your own.

Espresso Americano (C. de Preciados, 33, Centro) – We ended up stopping at Espresso Americano via getting lost in the streets off of La Gran Via for coffee and it was a lovely pick-me-up on a Monday afternoon filled with walking!!

Wrap-Up:

Truly, I had an incredible time getting to spend 72 hours in Madrid, Spain and hope to go back someday and spend more time museum hopping and getting lost in the city’s beautiful streets. Shivani and I had an incredible time and hope to visit again *very soon*. But for now, if you have any questions/concerns about visiting Madrid, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me via email at Katefrancesthompson@gmail.com. Cheers!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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5 Stylish + Comfortable Flats For Travel

It is Summer 2018 and you are about to board a plane to spend the next two months studying abroad in Europe ANDDDD you packed the WRONG shoes. Yep, that was ME for TWO WHOLE MONTHS in Europe. I had the WRONG shoes with me for walking 10,000+ steps a day across Europe. I remember during those long walking days feeling a lot of pain and annoyance and discomfort within my feet. At that time, I wasn’t aware of any stylish and comfortable flats for travel. However, flash forward to 2025, and I am in a VERY different place when it comes to traveling and the shoes that I wear! These days, I feel LOTS of comfort and a LOT less complaining when it comes to my feet. I am *very much* grateful to have found the right stylish and comfortable flats for travel for ME!

Me in Italy in Summer 2018 wearing the WRONG shoes!

From Ireland to Manhattan to Hawaii to Toronto to make own backyard in the Washington, DC area and everywhere in between, I ALWAYS want to dress stylishly when I travel! I have found myself opting for stylish flats on my travel days, but also wanting the comfort that I find and value in my Sherpa-lined slippers that I wear around the house. Over the years, I have found myself very fortunate to both collaborate with and discover some incredible footwear brands that focus on stylish and comfortable flats for travel – many of which also focus on ethical and sustainability within their craftsmanship. Here, I will be sharing my *very* favorite stylish and comfortable flats for travel (and also long work days, nights on the town, concerts, walks, and more!).

*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 preppy style & grand millennial home content, check out my Preppy Fashion & Grand Millennial Home page.

5 Stylish + Comfortable Flats For Travel

1 – All Birds

Out of ALL of the places that I found a pair of All Birds ballet flats, it was at the thrift store!!! And, to my surprise, the pair of All Birds ballet flats that I thrifted felt brand-new and immediately as if I was wearing slippers out in public when in reality they’re a pair of stylish flats. All Birds prides itself on making beautifully comfortable, stylish, and sustainable ballet flats aka a win in ALL avenues!

Shop All Birds flats here!

2 – Sketchers

As a kid, I remember wearing the Velcro strap-on sneakers from Sketchers in a rainbow of colors – LOLLL! These days, Sketchers truly has it all. From ballet flats to slip on’s to sneakers and everything else in between, Sketchers is truly a brand that sells a stylish and comfortable flat shoe for everybody. On my recent trip to Spain and Portugal, I regularly styled my hot pink slip on’s and am grateful that I did! I got SEVERAL compliments on my Sketchers shoes and felt oh so great (and comfortable!) wearing them, too.

Shop Sketchers flats here!

3 – VIVAIA

From long work days on your feet to dancing at the club and in the streets, VIVAIA flats are truly the shoe to do it ALL in! In 2022, I had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with VIVAIA (here) and to this very day still LOVE and regularly wear my ballet flats from that collaboration! VIVAIA takes a sustainable and ethical approach to the craftsmanship for all of their gorgeous and comfortable shoes. Truly, these ballet flats will be a staple in your closet for years to come!

Shop VIVAIA flats here!

4 – New Bella

An emerging footwear brand, New Bella is a stylish and comfortable premium shoe brand. Like with VIVAIA, I had the amazing opportunity to collaborate with New Bella over on Instagram (see my first blog post styling them here!) and still regularly style and wear my New Bella ballet flats to this *very* day! From the cobblestone streets of Dublin to the several blocks’ walks on the streets of Manhattan to the uphill trails in Portugal, my New Bella flats have truly seen it all in comfort and style!

Shop New Bella flats here!

5 – Puma

Before a trip to Winners (aka TJ Maxx/Marshalls in Canada!) while in Toronto last November for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, I learned that Puma *yes, the sportswear brand* sells ballet flats! I ended up picking up a pair of Puma ballet flats while out and shopping in Toronto and did not regret doing so! My precious pair of Puma ballet flats allowed my comfort to persist throughout the entire concert!! These flats are also super stylish and comfortable and lightweight, too – perfect for work, happy hours, concerts, and more!

Shop Puma flats here!

Wrap-Up

Wherever you may be on your stylish and comfortable flats for travel journey, just know that you WILL get to a point where you will feel less pain and more comfort. It takes time to find the right shoes for YOU. Even if that means enduring and surviving an entire Summer of painful feet in the wrong shoes in Europe, you WILL get there. I encourage you to check out the 5 stylish and comfortable flats for travel mentioned in this blog post. And, always, please feel free to reach out to me Katefrancesthompson@gmail.com with any questions or concerns you may have!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – March 2024

March 2024 started off as somewhat of a peaceful month and simply ramped up as the month evolved! After recovering from COVID in early 2024, I am OH SO HAPPY that March 2024 came and brought *none other than* Spring to the Washington, DC area (!!!!!). While a pretty busy month overall, it was also a pretty great month filled with lots of joy, memories made, and personal and professional accolades.

*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.*

My Favorite Buys:

  • The first weekend of March after a brunch, I came home to some … Black Capped Chickadee Holiday hand towels gifted by my Mom. It was SUCH A SWEET gesture of hers and such a meaningful way to celebrate my platform with y’all since *of course* this blog is named after the Black Capped Chickadee!
  • I have been recently working with an incredible women-owned t-shirt brand: Mountain Moverz! Mountain Moverz’s focus is pretty incredible too – celebrating life’s peaks and uplifting during life’s valleys. The best part?! I will be continuing to share MORE about Mountain Moverz, including my exclusive discount code: KATIET20 (!!!!).
  • In March 2024, I got a bit into skincare. Through my Ipsy subscription (I talk more about that here) and some PR packages, I had some products on hand that happened to WORK (!!!!) for me. Those products in my skincare routine include: cleanser, SPF daily sunscreen, moisturizer, toner, and hydraulic acid serum. Moving forward, I am striving to keep my skin in good company!
  • I have been LOVING J Crew Factory’s Spring 2024 collection, SO I did a little splurge in early March and snagged *just* a few pieces that I have been LOVING, including this scalloped shift, a gorgeous midi dress (skirt here), and a pink ruffle neck suit dress!

Highs:

  • Papa celebrated another trip around the sun on March 11! The weekend before, I hosted a Birthday celebration for him with family at my apartment complete with taco salad, sheet pan nachos, margaritas, and ALLL things deer-themed (!!!!). About a week before Papa’s Birthday celebrations, my Aunt Amy and I enjoyed an amazing dinner with Papa at Ozzie’s Good Eats aka a favorite of ours. If you don’t know Papa personally, Papa is a HUGE deer lover and proud deer hunter. On Papa’s actual birthday, I treated him to dinner at a Northern Virginia restaurant staple and favorite of ours: Mike’s American. I had an amazing time showering Papa with SO MUCH love and celebrating him.

  • To enjoy the start of Spring in the Washington, DC area, my best friend Liz and I went to the gorgeous Meadowlark Botanical Gardens located in Vienna, Virginia. Liz used to work at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, so she gave me the grand tour, which was AMAZING! We saw geese literally walking in our way – LOLLL! – coy fish, and a wide array of stunning flowers. Afterwards, Liz and I enjoyed an incredible meal at Westwood Country Club overlooking the golf course as we wined and dined. All in all, it was a very special day with a very special friend of mine!

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens:

Westwood Country Club:

  • My best friend Briana and I enjoyed an AMAZING brunch at a place we have been eager to try ever since it opened right on the waterfront at Washington, DC’s The Wharf … Limani! We had an incredible bottomless brunch 4-5 courses of small plates to be exact (!!!!) for a fixed price of $60 of delicious Greek fares. I LOVED the lamb, hummus and pita spread, baklava, and salmon egg scramble. I also ordered a delicious Spritz. Above all else, our experience was NOT rushed (!!!!!!!) aka a major bonus for Briana and I both and oh so nice to just simply enjoy one another’s company. The Sunday we dined was such a BEAUTIFUL day at The Wharf and around town, too! After our much needed time catching up with one another and devouring bottomless brunch, we headed up to the Penthouse which is used for private events AND will open up the public in the warmer months as a rooftop bar … HOW EXCITING!!!! All in all, an AMAZING afternoon with a great friend!

  • Cherry blossoms peaked again *just* before my trip to Ireland here in the Washington, DC area. My best friend Shivani came to town for a long weekend and I got to see the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin not once, but TWICE. I, then, hit the road for Raleigh, North Carolina for an incredible day of outreach at my Alma mater Meredith College. More on both in future posts! But, for now, I will share some photos below about my adventure to the Enid A. Haupt Garden near the Smithsonian Castle to see the gorgeous Magnolia trees before a celebratory birthday dinner for my best friend Haley. I wore a super fun PINK dress from Amazon (here) and got soooo many compliments on it, yet was also obsessed with this dress, myself!

  • After a basic search on the Visit Alexandria travel website, I found information on Old Town Alexandria’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and sent it to some of my friends. My friend Haley and I decided to go and we had an INCREDIBLE TIME! We enjoyed getting to enjoy and see and learn more about the Irish culture and heritage that is preserved in Alexandria, Virginia and beyond. We also ran into a family friend of mine, Kelly, and had an amazing time getting in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit (!!!!!). With it being an overcast day, the crowds were not as crazy as we had expected which was super nice and we even got a great spot to catch ALL of the action, too. Afterwards, we took a stroll down to the waterfront via Captain’s Row’s stunning cobblestone streets to brunch at my favorite restaurant … Ada’s On The River (!!!!). With an amazing lunch, great memories made, and an immersive local cultural experience, Haley and I enjoyed one another’s company and getting in LOTS of steps!

  • The start of Spring arrived in the Washington, DC area this March 2024. The smell of Spring in the air, the flowers (and cherry blossoms!!!!) blooming everywhere, and *of course* the Spring fashion brings me SOOOO much joy. Being transparent over here that Winter 2024 was not the easiest for me after getting COVID and then a case of lingering COVID and having to spend a bit of the early months of 2024 in isolation, so Spring 2024 has been such a fresh start. To commemorate Spring 2024 and the then-upcoming Easter holiday, I put together an Easter tablescape to enjoy the season!

  • During the month of March, I discovered a brand-new happy hour spot in my favorite spot of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia: Mia’s Italian! At Mia’s, happy hour is primarily served at the bar and with pretty good deals, too. I came here once on my own and then again with my best friend Shivani when she came to visit and we did an Old Town Alexandria stroll. I spend LOTS of time in Old Town Alexandria especially to get my steps in via quick Metro ride and am SO SO SO happy that I was able to find a new spot that I LOVE there!

  • Happy hours + networking highs + office days galore as usual – LOL! My work can bring me joy, as I always strive to find the joy in my 9-5 life. I have become someone who LOVES networking (I plan to share more on that on this platform, too!). To kick off March, I shared a bit about the Women in Data Community of Practice that I co-lead at my company for a company-led symposium showcase. I had a booth and brought some chocolates, tons of props, and LOTS of information to share. It was a GREAT time to connect with my coworkers in-person, too! The next week, my Ignite Young Professionals class had a super fun happy hour at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington’s Innovation Studio Space in Arlington’s Pentagon City neighborhood where we had the pleasure of collaging over wine and beer together. I also attended a super fun Causes & Cocktails happy hour at Crystal City’s Water Bar which is a GORGEOUS space (!!!!) and got to connect with some incredible minds in the Arlington, Virginia community. And, last but not least, I got … UPDATED HEAD SHOTS at work!!! All in all, a great time!

Lows:

  • Seasonal allergies are ALWAYS a constant with the Spring months, in all of their glory. When the pollen count is high, many of us struggle with seasonal allergies including myself. Fun times *cough cough*!
  • Burnout was REAL for me during the month of March. As I was running around A TON throughout the month from showcase to class to happy hours to an outreach trip in Raleigh, North Carolina and everything in between, the burnout for sure gets REAL. To top it all off with additional fatigue via seasonal allergies can be tough, too. Needless to say, I am oh so glad that I kicked off April 2024 with a trip where I deleted *none other than* Teams, Outlook, and LinkedIn off of my phone to completely take a pause.
  • In my family life, we have had some stressful times that make me SO grateful for those that I love. While thankfully nobody is sick or hurt, the times have been a bit stressful during the month of March, which makes me SO thankful for my loved ones and that we are all in good health. Remember to tell those you love that you love them <3

ANDDDD onwards to April 2024 and beyond!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Where I Dined in Raleigh, North Carolina – December 2023

This past weekend aka the weekend before Christmas, I had an incredible whirlwind of a weekend in my college town of Raleigh, North Carolina (see the full breakdown of what I did on my Instagram aka @_thepinkchickadee). My best friend from college Alanna had her first-ever in-person graduation (thanks, COVID aka sad face) this past weekend as she received her … Masters in Education from North Carolina State University and I *of course* came down to celebrate her and visit with those that I love and miss from my college days. One of the things that I forgot was how great Raleigh, North Carolina dining can be. Needless to say, my weekend in Raleigh was such a special weekend, and I am OH SO GLAD that I made one last trip down to North Carolina for 2023!

Where I Ate:

Here, I am essentially going to share a round-up of where I dined during my weekend in the City of Oaks. Since I have done A TON of sightseeing around Raleigh over the past few years in college and even a bit after college on my then-frequent visits back, I will be focusing on more where I ate this time around. HOWEVER, if you are interested in a bit more about Raleigh aka North Carolina’s state capital and/or are planning a trip there *very soon*, then look no further than my guides here, here, and here (!!!!).

Coquette Raleigh (4351 The Circle at North Hills Street, Raleigh)

Located in Raleigh’s North Hills Shopping District (aka where I spent A TON of time shopping, dining, etc. in my college years!!!), Coquette is a snazzy French spot that I had yet to try! My friend Shivani and I met our friend and my former roommate Sophie at this glamorous and French-inspired spot ALLLL around for brunch. The food was delicious, from the pommes frites aka French fries to the unlimited coffee to the complimentary bread and butter to the escargot aka a FAVORITE of mine and the French onion soup! Our waitress (whose name I forget) was literally the sweetest ever alongside my time with both Shivani and Sophie. My happy place in college was North Hills, and I was SOOO happy to *finally* be able to try Coquette!

First Watch (5419 Page Road, Durham)

Confession: I had *yet* to try a First Watch location aka the practically nationwide popular brunch spot until this trip of mine! Whoops!!! HOWEVER, I am glad that I got to meet my friend Bree here for brunch before we both headed back to our respective homes for the holidays the day after Alanna’s graduation festivities. We both got the traditional breakfast with eggs, home fries, bacon, and toast AND I am craving it as we speak – LOL! My time with Bree was also special, too. Needless to say, I am excited that a First Watch location is opening up near me in Alexandria, Virginia (!!!!), as I DO want to go back.

Glasshouse Kitchen (5 Laboratory Drive, Research Triangle Park)

Shivani and I did Glasshouse Kitchen together just a few hours after I touched ground in North Carolina. Shivani describes Glasshouse Kitchen as me in a restaurant, which she is NOT wrong about – LOL! The food and locally made beer was delicious, alongside the impeccable vibes. I personally found it SOOOOO neat that Glasshouse Kitchen is literally a glasshouse and located within Raleigh’s well-known Research Triangle Park (RTP) and adjacent to a laboratory, making it such a unique upscale dining asset to the Raleigh dining scene.

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille (4509 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh)

Alanna had her graduation dinner here and I felt SOOOOO lucky to be able to join her and her family to celebrate her getting her Masters after her graduation ceremony. Perry’s Steakhouse is an upscale steakhouse located near Raleigh’s well-known Crabtree Valley Mall. Before dinner, we enjoyed wine and cocktails at the gorgeous bar (which reminded me of Founding Farmers’ bar in Foggy Bottom in Washington, DC a bit!) before a delicious meal together to commemorate Alanna. I enjoyed a delicious snapper that I am STILL craving alongside shrimp with Alanna and her family as a starter. Definitely a restaurant for the books (!!!!).

Wrap-Up:

Since graduating from college and moving back to the Washington, DC area, I have truly enjoyed getting to enjoy the vast array of incredible restaurants on the slim times that I am back in my college town. The Raleigh, North Carolina dining scene was a highlight for me when I was in college and, since moving away, I have come to appreciate it even more when I do come back alongside some incredible friends who make for the BEST company.

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – November 2023

November 2023 started off with a bang and pretty much ended with a bang. Overall, I felt as if I was in a big ol’ race car ALL month LONG. I started the month off with courses for my first-ever certification through work and my November class for my Ignite Young Professionals Program and a big company party and presenting at a demo alongside a trip to Boston, Massachusetts in the mix of it ALL. The middle of November was filled with balancing burnout while feeling EXTREMELY excited to have not one but TWO visits from two of my besties – Shivani and Lindsay – back-to-back with some sightseeing around the Washington, DC area and a Friendsgiving. And, the end of November was super fun and gratitude-filled with Thanksgiving weekend given the actual day and Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping fun and a hike to see … SWANS (!!!!!). Well, sadly, there was a bit of drama during the month of November (more on that below!), as I decided that I needed to end a friendship with someone that I had hoped would be a friend for a much longer time. *EVEN* into December 2023, I feel as if I’m still riding on that race car, but the BEST PART?!?! I am enjoying EVERY second of the ride!

Highs:

  • The first weekend of November, I traveled to Boston (here) for the weekend! My cousin Sabrina and her girlfriend Nicole have been living in Boston for YEARS now, YET I hadn’t made the time to visit them both until now. I was lucky enough to be able to stay with Sabrina and Nicole in their guest room, and I LOVED catching up with them both while in Boston. I also got to connect with my blogger friends Griffin, Timmy, and Mikayla AND *even* ran into my friend Joelle in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood on a whim while exploring. The next day, Sabrina and Nicole showed me around their old stomping grounds (courtesy of Boston’s subway system the T!) at Northeastern University and we spent most of the afternoon at the absolutely incredible Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Nevertheless, I truly appreciate Sabrina and Nicole and their sweet kitty Salem opening their home up to me to come and visit them and explore Boston with them.
  • My company had a super fun $1B booking party right before Veterans Day weekend. It was A LOT of fun to see SOOO many of my incredible coworkers in-person and to connect with them beyond the computer screen. A week earlier, my company had a Technology Showcase which I had a BLAST attending and sharing more about the Women in Data Community of Practice (COP) that I lead. I truly love my company, too, and feel oh so blessed to be able to say that!!! I love getting to connect with my coworkers and truly “work the room” as my coworkers say that I do!
  • Early this November 2023, I decked the halls (!!!!!). I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas, as it brings me SO MUCH JOY. SO, I always deck the halls around Veterans Day weekend each year. I truly love having a good two months to enjoy the stunning Christmas decorations. There is just something *SO* special and unique about having the Christmas tree lit up and allll decked out as I’m simply enjoying an evening in or just anytime of day for that matter, especially as the evenings are getting darker much much much earlier. I also visited the Lucketts Holiday House (here) over Veterans Day weekend which was a GREAT way to get in the Christmas cheer! More to come in a future blog post!
  • My best friend Shivani visited during the week before Thanksgiving, as she had a few job interviews in the Washington, DC area. It was SO NICE to get some much-needed time with Shivani, too. We did one night on the town at The Wharf where we dined *yet again* at Del Mar (which wasn’t as great the second time around to be honest) and another night on the town at Old Town Alexandria where we had an AMAZING time dining at Ada’s on the River. We also strolled through some of the many shops on King Street, including Lou Lou and The Lucky Knot, and then got ice cream at Kilwins. Shivani and I also spent lots of time enjoying wine, a few home-cooked meals, freshly put up Christmas decorations, and one another’s company. Shivani is truly such a blessing in my life and I am SO glad that I got to spend some time with her!

Old Town Alexandria

The Wharf

  • *JUST* a day after Shivani left for home …. My fellow influencer best friend Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs on Instagram (go follow her!!!) came to town for the weekend. Lindsay and I had an incredible weekend which I wrote about more here. Some of our activities included: hosting Friendsgiving at my apartment, visiting Urban Roast and the Downtown Holiday Market, and dining at Old Ebbitt Grill. Needless to say, it was the PERFECT weekend to kick off the holiday season! And, just like Shivani, I am so thankful for Lindsay’s and I’s friendship and for time with her.
  • To honor the many Navy Veterans in my family, my Mom and Uncle and I hosted family Veterans’ Day tailgate. What was REALLY special about this year’s Veterans’ Day is that it happened to be on a Saturday and the day of the Navy-University of Alabama Birmingham game in Annapolis. SO, we turned on the TV to watch the game, grabbed some beer, wine, and snacks, and enjoyed the game as a family. I really enjoyed getting to catch up with my Aunts, Uncles, and cousins and truly honor the many Veterans in our family.
  • On the *very* last day of November, I got influenced to make a purchase on … LinkedIn! I NEVER thought I would say that I made a purchase thanks to a professional website, but here we are – LOL! Instagram and Shop.LTK is usually where I get the most inspiration for purchases, especially from what others share and things that I may be interested in as a consumer. HOWEVER, I have failed to mention my daily online walk through of the J Crew Factory clearance section, too! At the same time, I am working on cutting back on purchases and dining out to better plan for the future financially and focus more on experiences and time with loved ones. BUT, this LinkedIn purchase was an exciting one, as it’s from an organization selling Women in Data merchandise (!!!!) that supports the career advancement of women in data, which is VERY relevant to my 9-5!
  • My Thanksgiving weekend was definitely a special one! I took Wednesday-Friday off of work the week of Thanksgiving to enjoy much-needed time with family and friends. For Thanksgiving, my family and I enjoyed a cozy and fancy dinner at my Mom’s house. It was super nice to be altogether enjoying a delicious meal and time with each other. That Friday night, my best friend Haley and I strolled briefly around the gorgeous charming town of Occoquan, Virginia which is currently gorgeously decked out for the holidays (!!!!) and then enjoyed a nice early dinner at The Secret Garden Cafe. That Saturday morning, my Mom and Step Dad took the family on a gorgeous hike at Virginia’s Mason Neck State Park where we went to a scenic overlook to see … tundra swans that migrate from Alaska and Canada to Northern Virginia of ALL places during the winter months. We, then, checked out a gorgeous place called The Point in Mason Neck, Virginia which has a gorgeous field and beach. That Sunday evening, I winded down from the weekend’s food and festivities by watching the premiere of A Biltmore Christmas on the Hallmark channel! All in all, a GREAT weekend filled with LOTS of gratitude.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Occoquan

Mason Neck State Park

Lows:

  • Into adulthood, i have *really* despised the seasonal daylight savings time changes. I seriously hate how daylight savings throws off my sleep schedule and leaves me just feeling so so so off, especially when the first week of it I have had a super busy work schedule. The first week of the new daylight savings transition, i have woken up at 7am, 6am, 8am, 9am, and just about every time in between. And, let’s just say that it is a struggle and an adjustment that as I age I realize is a downside of the working world.
  • Speaking of daylight savings time changes, sunsets right after work is THE WORST when working a 9-5 job. It definitely feels sad to end work and not enjoy *any* glimpse of sunshine *sad face!*. However much this is a low of mine for November, I am LOVING turning the lights on my Christmas tree to brighten up the days *just* a bit into the darkness of the outdoors once I end the work day.
  • Most of November has oddly been a busier than usual month on the work front, despite it being a slow season this time of year. While I LOVE being busy and thrive off of the hustle, it definitely has gotten more overwhelming at times alongside the current holiday season that makes things busier than usual. Demands can be tough during the holidays and I think that it’s important that all of us acknowledge that, as it is more challenging to take a step back during this time of year (myself included!).
  • Post-Holiday fatigue started to hit me towards the end of November. After having two of my very best friends over at my apartment back to back over the span of 8 days and then the Thanksgiving holiday right after that, it was easy for me to feel nothing but … TIRED. While I have LOVED the time together with everyone and the joy it all brings me both sightseeing and spending time with loved ones, it can be tiring after awhile. I am glad that the last week of November I pretty much only said yes to visiting with my friend Violet who was in town on a whim one weeknight evening after work.
  • To end November, I ended up bowing out of a friendship. I did not want to end the friendship, however, I knew that this friendship was causing me more distress than joy in the end. Thankfully, with the help of some of my AMAZING friends, I was able to articulate a way to end the friendship and move forward in my life with closure. While a stressful situation for me (and some of my other friends too sadly), I am extremely grateful, thankful, and blessed (in the spirit of Thanksgiving and November!) for the friendships and family that I do have in my life and for their support through this tricky situation.

Still being on the race car ride of what is known as THE holiday season, I am definitely enjoying every minute of it ALL into December 2023! From LOTS of professional development to a great trip to Boston to hosting others both for an evening or for a few days to shopping sales to the debut of the holiday season for 2023 to everything in between, I have truly felt thankful for all that November 2023 has blessed me with and for what I will be blessed with into December 2023 and into 2024 and beyond.

XOXO – Katie <3

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48 Hours in Boston, Massachusetts

To kick off November 2023, I took a weekend trip up to Boston, Massachusetts (!!!!). My cousin Sabrina and her girlfriend Nicole live in the nearby Boston suburbs and were amazing hostesses (which I am ALSO so grateful for them opening their home up to me, too!) and I got to also meet some Instagram besties of mine and have them become in real life friends (if you know, you know!). My trip to Boston was SUCH A BLESSING to me and I am OH SO GLAD that I was *finally* able to make this trip happen. The idea of me visiting Boston on my own has been in my head for … 9 years now, and I am very happy that I have been able to make it happen almost a decade later. While in Boston, I was able to see many of the sights that this New England hub has to offer, ranging from points of interest all along the Freedom Trail, Newbury Street, Beacon Hill (including the iconic Acorn Street), North End aka Little Italy, the waterfront, all the way to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. My first full day in Boston, I walked 18,000+ steps and found myself crashed on the air mattress that night – LOL! Overall, I am SO happy and blessed that I was able to visit my cousin Sabrina and Nicole and have an incredible time up in New England (see snippets from my trip to New England in 2022 here, here, here, and here!).

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

Getting There:

Living in the Washington, DC area allows me to have MANY MANY MANY flight options for getting to and from Boston, given nearby airports and airlines. I ended up using Delta flight vouchers that I had from cancelled trips to the Carolina’s over the summer and paying $5 (!!!!!!!) out of pocket round trip out of Reagan National Airport (DCA) which is Metro-accessible for me and super close to Washington, DC. I chose to fly to Boston on a Friday evening and fly back to Washington, DC on a Monday morning, to allow for a bit of a vacation post-vacation. Over the years, I have decided to mainly stick with Delta and United Airlines (and their partner airlines) for flights, given that I have a rewards account with each and want to accumulate miles over time. The BEST PART?! Given my rewards account through Delta airlines, *somehow*, I got a free upgrade to Comfort+ heading home and found out when I went to gate check my bag which is the rows behind First Class and got to enjoy many many fun perks during my quick flight back home. I LOVED the incredible service that Delta provided on my flights both to and from Boston and look forward to flying Delta again in the future!

What I Did:

When in Boston, live as fellow Bostonians do! I REALLY enjoyed getting a taste of Boston over the weekend that I was there! The first day I was in Boston, I walked over 18,000 steps and then crashed when I got back to my cousin’s apartment – LOL! Anyhow, I LOVED getting to see SOOO many incredible sites to see here in Boston, including the many points of interest alongside the Freedom Trail, the stunning Beacon Hill neighborhood, Newbury Street, North End (including the waterfront!), and the iconic Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. I also enjoyed getting to meet up with not one but 3 (!!!!) Bostonian Instagram besties of mine – Griffin, Timmy, and Mikayla – while in town and getting to see their incredible city from their perspectives. Truly, I LOVED getting to see Boston for the first time as an adult and learn to love this stunning, charming, and historic New England city.

While there, I mostly used public transportation via their subway system known as the T. I purchased a 1 ride or 2 ride pass which was either $2.40 or $4.80, respectively. I will note that, over time, the T has become a bit more unreliable to local Bostonians, given that the trains can be super slow and delayed, which can be an issue for those with commitments and commuting to and from work. However, the T is GREAT for not having to drive in and out of the city and around the city as well as saving on Uber/Lyft fares. Compared to Washington, DC’s Metro’s fares, the T’s fares are *pretty close* to what I pay per ride on the weekends.

Boston Public Garden

The Boston Public Garden was probably my FAVORITE spot in all of Boston (!!!!!). Indeed, it felt *just* as if I was walking through a mini Central Park …. But I was in Boston! I truly loved getting to enjoy the vibes of locals, tourists, musicians, and everyone in between in this beautiful and central spot in the city. The city skyline of Boston was also a stunning aspect of the Boston Public Garden, too! I sat on a bench in the Boston Public Garden not once, but twice, and LOVED getting to literally cool my heels and take it all in, whether it be the people-watching, crisp Fall air, or city vibes.

Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill feels like Boston’s version of Washington, DC’s Georgetown neighborhood HOWEVER it has a much much much more colonial and historical feel to it. Just like Georgetown, Beacon Hill has several shops, both locally owned and bigger known names, restaurants, cafes, and several stunning windy cobblestone streets. I popped into the stunning Beacon Hill Books & Cafe, Benefit Cosmetics, Upstairs Downstairs Home, and *of course* Starbucks. I also walked down the iconic Acorn Street – which according to my cousin Sabrina is one of the most photographed streets in the United States. Acorn Street is a historical cobblestone alley essentially that still holds its colonial charm to this very day. The best part?! I ran into my friend Joelle on a whim while wondering the streets of Beacon Hill, and I was SOOOO glad I ran into Joelle and got to see her in Boston where she’s recently relocated while on this trip!

Upstairs Downstairs Home

Acorn Street

Freedom Trail

My fellow Instagram turned in-real life (!!!!) bestie Mikayla of @blissandbows gave me a walking tour of Boston’s Freedom Trail when we met up! We walked the Boston Common to the Old City Hall (which is a favorite of mine weirdly enough!) ALLL the way to Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. And, *of course* passing a prominent cemetery in between it all. I had a GREAT time getting to meet up with Mikayla in-person and see her incredible city from her perspective. Earlier in the day with my friends Griffin and Timmy, we walked by the Massachusetts State House, which was another super cool site to see. Boston’s Freedom Trail is spread out throughout the city yet it still somewhat centralized, too. I found it SO unique that Boston has sites from the colonial days still standing to this very day as well as tall buildings representing the big city vibe era of today.

Newbury Street

I *of course* did some shopping here on Newbury Street! Newbury Street feels like the shopping street of Boston. I popped into the stunning Lilly Pulitzer store which I had seen SO MANY photos of for many years. The ladies at the Lilly Pulitzer there were SO sweet, too! I enjoyed checking out some of the New Arrivals in-person and chatting with the Lilly ladies of Boston. Then, I headed to Kendra Scott which was such a STUNNING store and all decked out for Christmas, too, (just like Lilly Pulitzer was!!) and *of course* did a little bit of damage, getting the Emerald Elisa necklace. I truly LOVED the interiors of both Lilly Pulitzer’s and Kendra Scott’s storefronts. Like much of Boston, the storefronts of Newbury Street are in older buildings and possess such unique charm on both the interiors and exteriors.

Another neat aspect of Newbury Street was passing religious buildings of all kinds, whether a synagogue, church, or temple, that are still in use today. The biggest theme of all of these religious buildings was the fact that they all brought everyone together. Each place of worship had signs to show that they are a safe place for people of all walks of life, whether LGBTQ+, BIPOC, etc. It truly was a beautiful thing to see the love and acceptance and inclusivity in the air ALL around Boston.

North End

Mikayla and I walked ALL the way to North End from the Freedom Trail. Our first stop was the Boston Waterfront, which was STUNNING. We, then, strolled along the beautiful streets to dinner via Mikayla’s amazing recommendation of BenCotto (more on that below!). North End is known at Boston’s Little Italy neighborhood and is a very popular place for visitors and locals, alike to dine,

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is probably THE BEST museum that I have ever visited, alongside the Louvre in Paris and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence (!!!!!). The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is actually late 1800’s-early 1900’s Boston socialite Isabella Stewart Gardner’s mansion-turned-museum. Isabella Stewart Gardner was an avid world traveler and extremely educated and bright woman for her time. Stewart Gardner learned to read and had tens of thousands of books in her collection, alongside artworks from her international travels, including to Asia, Europe, and all across the United States. Honestly, her collection of artwork and books was STUNNING (!!!!). I was truly in awe of Stewart Gardner’s collection that still prevails to this day and attracts many many many visitors year after year. I went with my cousin Sabrina and her girlfriend Nicole who both have been to the museum in the past and LOVE it. We ended up chatting with a local Bostonian who is a fellow Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum member. He ended up telling us some really neat antidotes and facts about the iconic Isabella Stewart Gardner, who had several friends at Harvard University in nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts where she was able to be inspired to pursue her lifelong passion for learning. What a woman Stewart Gardner was before her time. I left this museum feeling beyond empowered, inspired, and in awe!

Where I Ate:

Bistro du Midi

My Instagram turned in real life (!!!!) besties Griffin and Timmy suggested that we try Bistro du Midi – a delicious French spot right alongside the Boston Public Garden – for *none other than* brunch! It was SUCH AN HONOR to be able to meet both Griffin and Timmy in-person for the first time. We had an amazing time at Bistro du Midi, too. I tried raw clams for the first time ever and enjoyed a delicious omelette with some amazing pommes frites. I also have to mention that the atmosphere at Bistro du Midi is EVERYTHING, from the bar to the second story (where we ate!) to everything in between. I also had a great time with GREAT company, too!!

Bencotto

Mikayla suggested we try Bencotto and I am SO glad that we went! Bencotto is located in Boston’s North End where Italian cuisines reign, as previously mentioned, and was such a treat. One of my highlights of Bencotto was getting to spend time with Mikayla and learn more about a restaurant that she and her family LOVE to dine at and celebrate occasions together at, too. I *surprise* got an Aperol Spritz with *none other than* a specialty pizza for dinner. Needless to say, my pizza and Aperol Spritz and pizza were well-earned and deserved after walking 18,000+ steps around town that day!

Tous Les Jours

While it is a nationwide franchise, Tous Les Jours is a favorite spot of my cousin Sabrina’s alongside her girlfriend Nicole. And, both Sabrina and Nicole take loved ones to Tous Les Jours when they come to visit them! Before Boston, I had never dined at a Tous Les Jours location and was very impressed by its unique experience. Essentially, Tous Les Jours is a French-Japanese pastry shop and cafe fusion, offering a variety of both sweet and savory pastries. Guests upon entry grab a set of tongs and can select the pastries of their choosing AND order a coffee or tea at the register when they go to pay. I got a savory quiche and a sweet chocolate-filled croissant alongside a pumpkin spice latte!

Pressed Cafe

After wondering and being in literal heaven at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Sabrina, Nicole, and I headed to Pressed Cafe located at Prudential Center. A New England/Northern-based breakfast and Mediterranean like cafe chain, Pressed Cafe was SO gorgeous on the inside and offered something literally for everyone! I definitely enjoyed the vibes at Pressed Cafe and the market-like array of goods such as hummus and freshly pressed juices for guests to purchase and take home with them. Pressed Cafe was definitely a unique spot that I would try again when in New England!

Wrap-Up:

Overall, I LOVED getting to *finally* visit Boston as an adult. The last time I went to Boston before this trip was when I was 15 and couldn’t really go off on my own and do my own thing. And, since that trip as a 15 year old, I had been wanting to go back to Boston and do *none other than* my own thing on a trip there. I am SO glad I got to do my own thing on this trip … a whopping 9 years later! This trip, I got to explore the stunning Beacon Hill neighborhood, shop and browse the gorgeous stores there at my own pace, explore the historic sites to see alongside the Freedom Trail, and visit a new-to-me museum that I fell IN LOVE with.

At the same time, I am SO SO SO grateful to have many loved ones in Boston, including my cousin Sabrina and her girlfriend Nicole who were incredible hosts during this trip. I LOVED getting to finally meet my Instagram friends Griffin, Timmy, and Mikayla and have them become in real life friends. Needless to say, I feel SOOO much gratitude for this trip and to be able to fall in love with another place in New England (growing up I spent summers up in Maine!). I ALSO am so so so excited for visiting Boston and other parts of New England in the future, as I have some friends in Boston and Newport, Rhode Island that I have yet to meet up with in their respective homes. New England is probably my favorite place in the world, given its charm and stunning coastlines to mountainous skylines. Moving forward, I aspire to visit New England at least once a year!

XOXO – Katie <3

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