72 Hours in Asheville, North Carolina!

On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I have been sharing my adventures in Asheville, North Carolina a few weeks ago for my best friend Kearra’s Birthday Weekend. Kearra did an AMAZING job getting us all ladies together for a fun weekend away to celebrate her and to simply be together. On that weekend, Alanna and I went to The Biltmore together and the Birthday crew – me, Alanna, Hannah, Aspen, Rachel, and *of course the Birthday girl of the weekend* Kearra!!! – and I also visited many other places around Asheville. Let’s get into the fun Birthday weekend for Kearra via 72 hours in Asheville, North Carolina!!!

As for The Biltmore, I decided to get into more depth on the experience that Alanna and I had there. Read more on Alanna and I’s Biltmore adventures here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/09/16/an-afternoon-at-the-biltmore/#/

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

Where We Stayed:

First thing’s first, after a LOOONGGG working day, each of us headed for our AirBnB in nearby-to-Asheville Swannanoa, North Carolina. Our AirBnB was STUNNING and perfect for all of us for the weekend. Hannah, Alanna, and I carpooled there and arrived at the AirBnB close to midnight. When we woke up in Swannanoa, we got to see breathtakingly gorgeous views of the North Carolina mountains at every angle, whether it be from our AirBnB’s balcony, driving into Asheville, or on the neighborhood streets right by our AirBnB. The mountains were GORGEOUS!!!

What We Did:

After working a half a day at the AirBnB, each of us ladies went to The Biltmore Village to Corner Kitchen – a delicious brunch and dinner place. A fun fact about Corner Kitchen is that it gets packed pretty easily so reservations (which Kearra so kindly did for us all!) are highly suggested. Corner Kitchen is only open for breakfast/brunch and dinner and both menus look AMAZING. Everything at this restaurant is locally sourced and seemingly (if I recall!!) farm-to-table. We arrived at Corner Kitchen for a 12:30 reservation and around 1-2pm, the restaurant was closing for the breakfast/brunch meal time, in preparation for dinner. At the same time, Corner Kitchen had a GORGEOUS exterior along with many many many of the Biltmore Village restaurants, cafes, and shops.

Post-brunch, Alanna and I headed for Palm Village – a Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store, while the rest of our crew went to other stores in the area. Alanna and I are the BIG BIG BIG Lilly Pulitzer lovers of the Birthday weekend crew! I got to meet Britney of @cute_classy_carolina on Instagram – a fellow Instagram friend of mine for a few years now who happens to work at Palm Village! While there, I learned that Palm Village is the largest Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store, encompassing 4 locations each with HUGE storefronts. Britney was SOOO SWEET and it was great to meet her along with the rest of the uber sweet Palm Village ladies! Alanna and I enjoyed trying on some of their many gorgeous pieces (a lot of which were on sale!) and shopping. We each purchased a few pieces – one of which for me was the Pollie Midi Dress (pictured right below!). I most definitely cannot wait to shop at Palm Village again and plan to via calling them and ordering one full-priced item for FREE SHIPPING. I highly recommend you do, too!

Friday night, we all did candle making at Hummingbird Candle Company located in downtown Asheville. Candle making was a unique experience which Kearra so kindly reserved for us all. It was neat to be able to smell several different candle scents, with the flexibility to be able to mix 2 scents together. One of the unique experiences offered in it all was getting to smell the 25+ scents that they had without knowing what the scent really was. We got descriptions of our favorite scents later – mine was Lemon Pound Cake! I mixed mine with a strawberry/raspberry scent, too. Once we chose all of our scents, we got to get to candle making, which was such a FUN, interactive, and NEAT experience! The best part?! They had a confetti wall and the most adorable merchandise, SO pictures, pictures, pictures!!!!

Saturday, we slept in before parting ways to either The Biltmore (me and Alanna) or horseback riding (Aspen, Kearra, Hannah, and Rachel). We each had a fun afternoon whatever the activity was that we did. After parting ways, we united together again to go to downtown Asheville to enjoy some of their gorgeous local shops. One of the things that I LOVE about downtown Asheville is the plethora of locally-owned shops. Whether it be fashion, art, locally made goods, restaurants, or a cafe, downtown Asheville truly has it all. Us ladies checked out one of their fashion boutiques, an Asheville-themed gift shop, and a cafe. I refrained this time around, as I shopped a lot at Palm Village, yet some of the other ladies in our crew got a few goodies. And, later that evening, we went to The Lobster Trap for Kearra’s Birthday dinner celebration and got a BUNCH of delicious seafood cuisines with fresh Maine lobster. It was a blast and especially seeing Kearra’s STUNNING Birthday cake when we got back to the AirBnB, too.

Sadly, Kearra had to leave early Sunday morning. So, the rest of us left the AirBnB for the Omni Grove Park Inn hotel – a gorgeous hotel overlooking the North Carolina mountains. None of us could afford to stay there at this point in our lives – LOL! – but we really enjoyed the hotel’s grounds. We walked around the hotel’s grounds mainly outdoors, catching scenic mountain views, waterfalls, and much more. The hotel is made out of stone rocks and was seriously breathtaking. It, perhaps, felt like a luxurious lodge in the mountains. We didn’t get any food or drinks there, but if I do go back to Asheville, that would be high on my list. Then, we all parted ways and headed home after an amazing weekend.

Wrap-Up:

Personally, I am super super super grateful for Kearra for arranging a special time and weekend for all of us to get together to celebrate her. Each of us ladies live in 6 different cities across North Carolina and Virginia and don’t get to see one another as much since our college days, so getting together was truly a blessing. Here’s to the next Girl’s Weekend with this amazing crew!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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6 Hours in Bar Harbor, Maine

If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), then you probably know that a couple of weeks ago I went on vacation with my Papa to Maine and Canada (see more here and here!) and most recently to Boston, Massachusetts (here). While in Maine, I just knew that a visit to Acadia National Park in via our 6 hours in Bar Harbor, Maine was a must-see!

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

My Experience:

From where we were staying at my family’s homestead in the Northern Maine town of Houlton, I knew that going to Bar Harbor would be at least a 3 hour drive each way. Luckily for Papa, he is an early bird so that meant that we could easily make a half a day at Bar Harbor worth our while. For the duration of the half a day, Papa and I focused on the Cadillac Mountain Summit at Acadia National Park and the iconic downtown Bar Harbor, Maine.

Papa and I also brought our dog Rosie to Bar Harbor with us. Bar Harbor is a SUPER dog-friendly town. Acadia National Park offers many places where dogs can go on a leash, including Jordan Pond, Cadillac Mountain Summit, and much more! The only place that was not dog friendly was Sand Beach (sadly – it’s gorgeous there). The downtown of Bar Harbor offers a pet store and outdoor restaurant seating for dogs, too. Bar Harbor also has a stunning town park with a fountain where MANY dogs can go to hang on their leashes with their owners.

As the main Maine planner for this trip (including our 6 hours in Bar Harbor, Maine!), I reserved a timed Cadillac Mountain Summit pass just a few weeks in advance for $6. A special thanks to my Instagram friend Kellie of @classickellie (definitely go give her a follow!!!) for letting me know that this was the case for visiting Cadillac Mountain. With the timed Cadillac Mountain Summit pass, it is one ticket PER CAR and not person – thank goodness! – and each car can enter the summit for as long as they’d like within a half hour of their timed entry pass’s timing. Since Papa and I were coming from 3 hours away, I opted for a 9am pass as opposed to the iconic sunrise which our dog walker for Rosie and her daughter had suggested to us. Personally, I LOVED being able to see the breathtaking views of Acadia National Park’s trees, lakes, mountains, and coastline from up above that it didn’t matter if it was via a sunrise or when I could see it all clearly from up above.

I felt REALLY lucky that we were able to see everything view-wise that Cadillac Mountain Summit had to offer when we went, since it was a pretty clear day. When a car gets to Cadillac Mountain Summit, presents their ticket for their vehicle at the gate, and goes up the summit, there are SEVERAL scenic views to take in on your way to the top. Papa and I stopped at several of them – both of which faced the iconic Jordan Pond where the Roosevelt’s would have tea and the gorgeous coastline filled with arrays of boats and islands. We even met a former Meredith College classmate of mine’s family friend while taking in the scenic views and asking for pictures – what a SMALL world! At the top, there’s A TON of places for parking and *of course* taking in ALLLL the scenic views. I loved that part of it as you felt ON TOP of the world. I really enjoyed see all of the stunning views of Acadia National Park and beyond from up above. Papa did, too. In fact, going to Cadillac Mountain Summit was his favorite part of the trip. Which, for me, was a major WIN-WIN, since I was nervous about being in the car 6+ hours each way just to even see the entrance to Cadillac Mountain Summit.

After going to Cadillac Mountain Summit, Papa and I tried to go to Jordan Pond BUT parking there was more than ridiculous as lines and lines and lines of cars were trying to get in. SO, to downtown Bar Harbor we went! Downtown Bar Harbor was gorgeous and had A LOT more parking opportunities than Jordan Pond or even what felt like the entirety of Acadia National Park, since we went during peak tourist times. Bar Harbor has a ton of shops, restaurants, cafes, and gorgeous colorful buildings. Papa and I went to Testa’s Bar & Grill – located on Main Street – as it was dog-friendly and *EVEN* had a pooch menu for Rosie, lobster, and outdoor seating. While pretty pricey, Papa and I LOVED the experience of getting to enjoy the downtown Bar Harbor atmosphere with Rosie while enjoying some Maine delights.

After lunch, Papa and I enjoyed some local shopping and strolls alongside downtown Bar Harbor’s Main Street. My favorite shop was The Acadia Shops, as it offers local Maine and more specifically Bar Harbor goods. I ended up buying some maple syrup for myself and Papa as well as our neighbor and friend Angela, a blueberry chocolate bar, and a stuffed lobster. Needless to say, I was tempted to buy more, yet proudly refrained from it!! I also really enjoyed browsing through the gorgeous Geddy’s Shop (they also have a restaurant on Main Street!) which carries brands such as SCOUT Bags, Hadley, and local Bar Harbor merchandise. Geddy’s definitely felt like me in a shop – LOL! As for the town park (located on Main Street, too!) where Papa and Rosie spent most of their time, the views are none other than BREATHTAKING.

Wrap-Up:

Although Papa and I were initially hesitant about a visit to Bar Harbor, we were both so glad that we did it and brought Rosie along. This visit was Papa’s first ever to see the Maine coastline, which made it ALLL that more worth it, along with a highlight for us both of the trip. Sometimes, taking that risk and longer-than-preferred day trip aka 6 hours in Bar Harbor, Maine is SOOO worth it in the end!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Visiting The LL Bean Flagship Store?! Read This First!

***Please note that this Visiting The LL Bean Flagship Store?! Read This First! Guide will be updated and recirculated periodically to reflect the most up-to-date information. This travel guide was most recently updated as of April 2026.***

Whether you’re into preppy fashion or not, a trip to the LL Bean Flagship store is nothing BUT a must-see when in the state of Maine! Growing up, my family and I spent summers on end up in Northern Maine. HOWEVER, we rarely visited the LL Bean Flagship store with the *iconic* LL Bean (Bean) boot in the front for ALL of your Instagrammable needs located in Freeport, Maine (I had been before, yet it has been at least 5 years since!!). So, when Papa wanted to go visit on our way up to Northern Maine, I knew *yet* another visit to the LL Bean Flagship store was in the cards for me (see more of our Maine adventures here and here)!

*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. Thank you for supporting The Pink Chickadee.*

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

Visiting The LL Bean Flagship Store?! Read This First!

Table of Contents

About LL Bean Flagship Store

Getting There

Our Experience

My LL Bean Picks!

About LL Bean Flagship Store

In case you didn’t already know, LL Bean is an outdoorsy fashion house that is Maine-based with many of its products being made and even handcrafted right in the state. LL Bean also carries several preppy and classic fashion staples. The Bean boot (pictured in the sculpture in front of the flagship store and linked below) is one of its well-known designs. I own a pair of Bean boots, too, and LOVE them! LL Bean also offers customizable canvas totes and bags including an in-house embroidery station at their Flagship Store, hiking gear, women’s and men’s clothing (whether it be outerwear for hiking/cold Maine-like winters or day-to-day life), back to school gear (I had and still have an LL Bean monogrammed backpack!), and winter gear. Not to mention the fact that LL Bean sells kayaks, hammocks, tumblers, fishing gear, camping gear, and much more! 

You can plan your visit to the LL Bean Flagship Store here.

Getting There

LL Bean is headquartered in Freeport – a town located just North of the Maine’s biggest city of Portland and easily accessible off of I-295 (it only took us about 3 minutes to get to the store from the highway!). Like Portland, Freeport is aligned on the Maine coastline. Along with LL Bean, Freeport also offers a variety of other shops, including: Patagonia and J. Crew Factory. At the same time, the town offers a plethora of local Mainer-owned gift shops and restaurants and even a whoopie shop called Wicked Whoopies. Papa and I went to Wicked Whoopies, a bakery honoring the well-known Maine dessert of the whoopie pie, that sells whoopie pies in flavors of ALL kinds (I got the peanut butter and Papa got the original!). When in Freeport, Maine, you will see several murals, beautiful Maine streets, LL Bean kayaks hanging practically EVERYWHERE, and food trucks selling lobster ALL because: when in Maine, do as the Mainers do and enjoy it all!!!

Our Experience

Upon entering the LL Bean Flagship store, you will see a HUGE LL Bean Boot sculpture and red backpack with likely a line of folks waiting to snap a photo in front of it before they enter the store, themselves. I am not super sure about later times in the day or weekends, but Papa and I had a quick wait in line (1-2 parties and snapped photos for others, too) as we arrived on a Tuesday around 10am. After snapping our photo with my dog Rosie who came along for the adventure, we headed into the store. The BEST part?! ALL LL Bean stores (like many outdoor equipment stores such as Cabela’s) ARE dog-friendly!, so Rosie went shopping, too!

The LL Bean Flagship store is probably the biggest LL Bean store out there! It has a WHOLE section for monogrammed goods (a customized tote with a funny saying courtesy of Instagram amiright?!) with a sewing booth done the day of, outdoor gear, women’s clothing, men’s clothing, children’s clothing, Back to School lunch bags and backpacks hanging ALL across the walls, and much more! The store ALSO had some tumblers, winter coats ON SALE (VERYYYY tempting!!!), and kayaks. Right across the street, LL Bean has a home goods store, too. We didn’t check that store out, but if I had more time, I would have done just that. 

My LL Bean Picks!

When visiting the LL Bean Flagship Store, you’ll likely be able to shop many of my LL Bean Picks (and more!) while there. You can see all that LL Bean has to offer in-stores and online here.

 

Wrap-Up

Til next time, LL Bean (with *hopefully* a visit to the home goods store, too!!)!

XOXO – Katie <3

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An Afternoon in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!!), I shared and have been sharing A LOT of my trip to Maine and Canada with my Papa and dog Rosie. HOWEVER, along our way to Maine, we stopped in the gorgeous town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire to spend the night. I had been to Portsmouth as a kid and have since always wanted to go back. We actually booked our hotel there (the Hampton Inn downtown!) just a week beforehand and it was a GREAT decision, too.

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

So, flashback to summer 2009 and I am ten years old with my cousins Jack, Laura, and Chris and my brother Will along with my Great Aunts Margaret and Alice and my Mom. We are on the way up to Maine for the summer and decided to do a week of New England sightseeing beforehand, which my Great Aunt Margaret had planned for us kids to join her on. Before Portsmouth, we had stopped in Lexington, Massachusetts and Concord, New Hampshire to see ALL the historic sights there via the Revolutionary War. We had climbed trees and explored the parks. Upon arrival in Portsmouth, we had explored the town with ALLL of us kids running up and down the historic town’s streets. And, the next day, we went to the iconic Wentworth By The Sea hotel for breakfast and all of us got all dressed up in our Sunday’s best attire for the occasion on a Wednesday morning. I remember at that time complaining because many of the other kids having breakfast at the Wentworth By The Sea hotel had had t-shirts and pajamas on, but looking back, my Aunt Margaret LOVED that hotel and dressing up which made it much more special. I have SOOOO many memories from that day and our entire week of sightseeing. After Portsmouth, we went to Bath, Maine and Owls Head Lighthouse in Maine. SO, needless to say, going back to Portsmouth, New Hampshire *even* to walk around for a few hours was bittersweet!

When Papa and Rosie and I arrived at our downtown Hampton Inn hotel for the night, I was more than pleased to see that we were just a block away from the main downtown Portsmouth area. Papa isn’t nearly as much into the downtown city sightseeing that I am (even though Portsmouth is a town and NOT a city haha!), so I went downtown on my own while he walked Rosie. Compared to my time there 2009, ALL my then-ten year old self remembered was walking around the gorgeous town in my teal GAP hoodie thinking that I was the coolest kid on the block, and then, *of course* breakfast at the Wentworth By The Sea. I really enjoyed downtown Portsmouth. The whole entire town is very European-inspired, since it is a port city along the East Coast. There’s a sign close to the Hampton Inn about Lafayette’s visit to the town during his days in history. One of my FAVORITE sights to see in Portsmouth was its Music Hall which happened to be PINK!!!! I mean, my blog’s name IS The Pink Chickadee, so my excitement was REAL strong. At the same time, Portsmouth is VERY diverse and a multicultural hub. I saw a ton of people who spoke different languages, which was super neat and restaurants of all kinds, ranging from Indian cuisines to Mexican cuisines to tiny Italian pizza places to your typical New England seafood joints (which is what Papa and I opted for as we cannot find as good of a bowl of clam chowder close to home!). All in all, I was VERY impressed with this small yet mighty town.

Portsmouth Music Hall

A fun fact about Portsmouth, New Hampshire is that it’s the last exit on I-95 before you enter the state of Maine, since it connects via a bridge to the town of Kittery, Maine. I could see Kittery when looking out over the Portsmouth waterfront while enjoying my cup of ice cream before dinner. At the same time, I really admired how much of the town’s history and original architecture is still present and flourishing to this day. Along with preserving its rich history, Portsmouth is also a very welcoming and progressive city. Several of the town’s many many many small businesses (whether it be restaurants, cafes, ice cream parlors, or stores) had signs embracing love and acceptance of everyone, such as Black Lives Matter, Love is Love, All Are Welcome, and much more. Even the town’s North Church of Portsmouth, located in the main downtown area, is notorious for being affirming of ALL people and had an LGBTQ+ pride flag to show its love for all. Portsmouth truly embraces both the old and new and it’s truly a beautiful thing.

One of the most unique things about the New England coast is the fact that the coastlines are super rugged and hilly. A fun fact about the state of Maine is that it has more miles of coastline than the whole state of California! Maine’s coastline is super rugged and gorgeous and (guess what?!) there’s SOOOO much of it, too. Portsmouth’s coastline is similar to Maine’s, too, with its VERY close proximity to the state and connection to being a twin town with Kittery, Maine. That all being said, Portsmouth is a hilly town, given its similar-to-Maine rugged coastline. Personally, I really enjoyed the town’s hilly terrain, as I got a GREAT workout in after being in the car for 10+ hours earlier that day!!

After having gone to Portsmouth for the second time since a big family trip years before, I can see why my Aunt Margaret loved this sweet little town so much. Its New England charm, stunning coastline, and gorgeous buildings make it ALL worthwhile of a visit for anyone, whether it be for an afternoon, evening on the town, or a weekend getaway. I definitely want to live out my true Aunt Margaret someday and enjoy a meal at the Wentworth By The Sea like I did with her at the age of 10 AND *of course* get all dressed up. Til next time, Portsmouth!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie!

This week is the LAST WEEK before I leave for a month full of vacation. If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I have been sharing a bit about my travel plans AND life packing and prepping for it all, too. I will be traveling to Maine, North Carolina, and Iowa with *quite a few states (more like 10)* in between!! At the same time, life has been crazy with work (which I plan to do on while on each trip, except for Maine), trainings at work, seeing friends and family before I go, and enjoying the dog days of summer in my hometown city of Washington, DC. For more on my travel plans over the next month, read on for more here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/08/07/what-im-packing-for-1-month-of-travel/

NOW, for even more updates on the life of Katie – let’s get into the fun!

  • Even MORE travel plans – Yep, you heard me right! With both family and friends, I am currently planning a few more trips in the works on the weekends for both Fall 2022 and Winter 2023. Some of these trips include going to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Raleigh, North Carolina; Danville, Virginia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Boston, Massachusetts; and my childhood hometown of Pennington, New Jersey! I also have a group of friends planning to come up my way this Fall, too. Needless to say, travel is my love language and I love love love being able to focus on making many more memories with the family and friends that I am lucky to have in my life and spend time with.
  • MAJOR clothing purge & getting on Poshmark in a few weeks – As I am getting ready to travel for the next month to several different states, I am ALSO starting to purge through many of my old clothing pieces within my closet. I have SO MUCH clothing items that I have either purchased in the past few years or had for years yet just won’t plan to wear again. I am planning on creating a shop on Poshmark when I get back from travel and may have *just a few* more pieces to add to the shop from my closet when I get back from my adventures as well. Starting a Postmark shop was something that I have always wanted to do for a few years now and am excited to *finally* kick start it myself!
  • Soaking in summer Washington, DC days – Recently, I have been spending a lot of time in the nation’s capital. Located just a Metro ride and a 10 minute drive away from my home for me, I LOVE LOVE LOVE to take advantage of ALL that Washington, DC has to offer. I follow pages such as @igdc & @dcspot on Instagram and literally (if you’re one of my close friends who lives in the Washington, DC area and regularly gets DM’s from me about me gushing about every post, then you know LOL!), gush over EVERY SINGLE POST! I love my city!! In recent times, I have gone to Dupont Circle, Georgetown (stay tuned for a post in the coming days on visiting the brand-new Glossier store!), Navy Yard, the National Mall, and Metro Center for some Washington, DC fun!
  • Buying more intentionally – Currently, I am working on buying things more with intention and less with the thought of having large quantities of items JUST sitting around. I have started creating a running wish list of items that I would like to purchase, rather than buying them at an impulse on a whim. That said wish list is CONSTANTLY updated, whether it be removed from the list, an item added to the list, or the item was bought after being on the list for awhile and much thought. Some of my current wish list items include: a Kendra Scott emerald colored ring, a Honeywell tower fan (I LOVE my mini Honeywell fan), a wired dish rack, a new set of book shelves, and a SCOUT Bags storage cubby.
  • Work training – Currently, I am in a REALLY neat training as apart of my job on machine learning in Python. Fun fact: I wrote my Honors Thesis in my undergraduate college years on machine learning using data on Lilly Pulitzer’s retail sales. It was really fun to write and I learned a lot. However, having learned machine learning concepts independently initially, it was really really really nice to be able to sit in a classroom (or live Zoom webinar!) to learn some basic machine learning concepts with an instructor and others there, too. As of right now when I am writing this post, I have sat through Day 1/4 of the training, but am really looking forward to the next days of the course before I go on leave for my trip to Maine!

NOW, I am counting the days until I leave for my travel!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Best Time to Visit the Washington, DC Monuments

Imagine that it is 85+ degrees, ultra-humid outside, and there’s a HUGE stampede of people at every corner you turn to. That’s exactly how it feels in Washington, DC and especially at the monuments during the summer time. Not to mention, the monuments, more specifically known as the National Mall, in Washington, DC are ALWAYS packed with tourists and even locals, alike. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared a bit about me and my best friend Bryn’s experience at the National Mall enjoying the monuments at night. We had planned to go see the monuments while Bryn is here for the summer time for a while before hand, BUT we were in for a splendid surprise when it started to rain and the sun started to set and the crowds *just magically* disappeared.

Before I spill the tea on my rather peaceful evening along the National Mall and experiencing Washington, DC’s monuments in their truly and gorgeous glory, the National Mall can be easily accessible via the following Metro (subway system) stations that are all accessible along the Blue, Silver, and Orange lines:

  • Smithsonian – brings you RIGHT to the National Mall and ALL of the museums. Offers the utter convenience of being in front of ALL of the action of the city’s monuments and museums, including views of the United States Capital, Washington Monument, and even the Lincoln Memorial at a distance.
  • Foggy Bottom – most reachable via a 0.8 mile walk from the Lincoln Memorial and the World War 11 Memorial, which are at least a 20 minute walk from the Smithsonian Museums and Washington Monument. However, the Smithsonian station.
  • McPherson Square – a few blocks away from The White House and right by A LOT of restaurants, including the iconic historic Old Ebbitt Grill and The Hamilton.
  • Metro Center – not necessarily on the National Mall or by the monuments: it’s rather a bit off a walk to reach them all but not a long or hard walk, with the National Mall and Smithsonian museums (specifically the Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery of Art) being closest. BUT, it does offer a wide array of restaurants and shops, both local and chains and offers a lot of historic charm along the streets. Both Ford Theatre and Warner Theatre are there, too, with tours being offered.

If you know me pretty well, then you probably know that I do not like crowds, like at all. Despite the fact that I travel and have traveled to quite a bit of highly touristy places (London, Paris, Rome, Chicago, Florence, New York City, Athens, and Philadelphia to name a few!) and even life right outside a very touristy city aka Washington, DC, crowds still really freak me out – LOL! Whenever I travel, I strive to purchase the fast passes, in order to bypass the crowds where I can – I did this at the Louvre in Paris, Parliament in London, and The Vatican. HOWEVER, the Washington, DC monuments along the National Mall are NOT ticketed entry. Rather, the monuments are open to all of the public free of charge (something that I really admire about my home city is the fact that SO many things especially main tourist attractions are FREE to all). BUT, free does have its down sides with the crowds.

When going to the monuments in Washington, DC the other night, Bryn and I lucked out when we finished our dinner at the nearby Hard Rock Cafe and headed down a few blocks to the National Mall. It started to rain a bit but not too much (no pour downs – thank goodness!!!) and the crowds dispersed. Only a few people on bikes and scooters were to really be seen. As we walked towards the Washington Monument, the crowds were still mostly gone. The sun had set when we walked from the Washington Monument to the World War 11 Memorial. The rain continued. Practically NO ONE was at the World War 11 Memorial, which I had NEVER in my life seen that place so empty before. It was nice. The reflecting pool in between the World War 11 Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial was the most quiet I had ever seen it before. The rain continued but remained light the entire time until we reached the Lincoln Memorial. The Lincoln Memorial had the most people, yet, for the Lincoln Memorial on a Friday night in the summer time, it was rather empty. Needless to say, Bryn had an AMAZING TIME!!!

When in Washington, DC, I highly recommend to ANYONE checking out the monuments along the National Mall, since it is FREE and offers so much history and significance within the United States and even world as a whole. And, when given the opportunity, I 10/10 highly recommend going to the National Mall even if it’s raining (perhaps, even a pour down) – you’ll miss out on the crowds and make SO many memories (and steps!) along the way!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Fourth of July at The Winery at Bull Run

Just last week on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared me and my best friend Bryn’s experience at The Winery at Bull Run over the Fourth of July! If you know me, then you know that I LOVE The Winery at Bull Run located in Centreville, Virginia. Well, to my surprise, The Winery at Bull Run blew me away *YET AGAIN* when we went – it was my fifth time going!

For more of my experiences at The Winery at Bull Run, look no further than here:

The Winery at Bull Run is located in Centreville, Virginia just about 30-45 minutes outside of Washington, DC. The vineyard is the closest of its kind to the nation’s capital that makes most of its own wine right where the vineyard is (a lot of wineries outsource their wine, including one closer to my home). It also offers historical tours as it is right next to the Manassas Battlefield State Park, too. So, that being said, there is A TON of history here in Virginia, let alone just at and around The Winery at Bull Run!

So, at The Winery at Bull Run, they do guided tastings indoors only. They give out free waters along with each tasting and a complimentary wine glass as a souvenir to take home. Wine tastings includes 6 wines – 3 reds and 3 whites – and cost $18 when you arrive or $10 upon pre-reservation. The guided wine tastings are GREAT in my opinion: it was Bryn’s first time ever at a vineyard and a great way for her to learn more about different wines. I even learned some things, too, and found a few new favorite wines along the way. I plan to take my Dad there sometime, too, as they also offer historical tours and allow you to see where they make the wine in-house!

The best part?! There were practically NO CROWDS there on the Fourth of July! Usually, The Winery at Bull Run is PACKED on the weekends, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it as just the opposite.

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie!

Long time, no life of Katie! If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!!), then you probably know that I have had a hectic yet fun summer so far. Recently, I have been busy with work, taking some weekend and day trips, planning upcoming vacations for the rest of the year, and enjoying my summer in Washington, DC.

*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.*

Now, into what is going on with me!

  • I Bought my Dream Flats – So, on my Instagram, I shared my recent purchase that I got while on my trip to the Delaware Beaches: the Tory Burch Minnie Ballet Flats in PINK!!!! It has been my DREAM to own a pink pair of Tory Burch flats, and I am excited to officially say that I now do. So far, I have been breaking in my gorgeous brand-new pair of flats, and I am psyched for more opportunities to get to wear and style them in the coming weeks, months, and even years.
  • Starting to get into Reading – Many of my favorite fellow influencer friends are SUPER into reading. They are SO into reading that they are making me want to get into reading some books, too! I have always wanted to for the past few months get into reading some books, yet never made it into a habit. I am excited to be able to change my lack thereof of reading into a new and future habit of mine. I have ALWAYS been into nonfiction books and more specifically memoirs. The first book on my list which I purchased with the help of the oh so sweet staff at the Barnes & Noble in Raleigh, North Carolina: Becoming by Former First Lady Michelle Obama.
  • Planning Upcoming Trips – Currently, I am in the process of planning a few upcoming trips. Next weekend, my best friends and I are having a quick Girl’s Trip weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina to see none other than Big Time Rush. My Papa and I are going up to Northern Maine and Canada for a week in August and I am also going to Asheville, North Carolina for a Birthday Weekend for the FIRST TIME EVER at the end of August, too. I also have some super exciting trips planned for the Fall, including: Iowa, South Dakota, Delaware beaches, the Virginia mountains, the North Carolina mountains, and even Philadelphia. Needless to say, travel is a big part of my love language, as I believe that experiences are intangible, and am super grateful and excited for the many more fun experiences of mine to come this upcoming Summer/Fall season.
  • New Amazon Prime Member – Recently, an Amazon Fresh grocery storefront opened up right by my house. I am OBSESSED with this gorgeous Amazon Fresh grocery store, as they have a GREAT selection of items and at prices that are cheaper than other nearby grocery stores. At the same time, I have been admiring many many many Amazon finds that I have seen others wearing and want to give Amazon Fashion finds a try myself, too. And, third times the charm, I am ALSO a new big big big fan of Liquid IV – an electrolyte drink mix that I picked up in the Lemon and Lime flavor from my local grocery store that wasn’t Amazon Fresh – and, well, Amazon sells Liquid IV for less than retail prices at the grocery store and on their website. SO, that all being said, I am *officially* an excited new Amazon Prime member!
  • MORE Work In-Person Events – Just last week, my company shared that they are hosting many more opportunities in-person to connect with fellow coworkers. As a VERY social being, I am super excited for these opportunities to come and will be taking full advantage of them all. While remote work has its pluses, there are some downsides to being at home super regularly, too, so I’m super happy about the in-person options to connect with others!
  • Thrifting Obsession – Recently, I have been SOOOO obsessed with thrifting. Initially, I planned to shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, HOWEVER, I have decided not to since I found a Hugo Boss dress AND a Nordstrom brand dress – both for work – at my local 2nd Ave thrift store. That being said, I am excited to go thrifting this weekend on a few occasions, instead. I am checking out two new-to-me stores and am super psyched about it, too! Read more on some of my favorite items that I have found while thrifting here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/07/08/items-i-thrifted/

While hectic, I am excited for what is to come this summer and I hope and KNOW that good is to come for you, too.

XOXO – Katie <3

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3 Days at The Delaware Beaches

At the end of June, I went to the Delaware beaches to visit my Dad who lives there full time and shared ALL about it over on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!). I brought my best friend Bryn, too, and my Papa and dog Rosie came along as well. Now, I am going to spill ALL the tea on our weekend at the Delaware beaches!

For more of my recent travels, read here:

So, the Delaware beaches consists of (North to South) Lewes, Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany, and Fenwick Island. Ocean City, Maryland is just South of Fenwick Island by about 5-10 minutes. My Dad’s home base is Bethany Beach. I usually visit the Delaware beaches about 3 times a year and usually once in the summer time. Each time I go and visit, I see a different part of the Delaware beaches than before. This time around was Bryn’s first time that she can remember even being in the state of Delaware, so we did some things that were new to her yet not so new to me. I am a BIG believer that a fresh perspective on a place previously travelled to is a new visit all in itself. The same concept goes for going to the same place(s) again, too, even with people who have been there before as well. Read more about my adventures in Lewes and Fenwick Island here:

What We Did

We spent both Friday morning and Saturday evening on the Bethany Beach boardwalk. Friday morning, we grabbed coffee at a local cafe on the boardwalk and dipped our toes in the ocean before starting our working remotely day. Surprisingly enough, the Bethany Beach boardwalk was already pretty packed when we got there just after 9am. So, a quick view of the waves and grab and go coffee did the trick! Meanwhile, Saturday evening, we had dinner with my family at Hideaway – an open-air restaurant super close to the beach that is only around during the Summer season. Its super gorgeous on the interiors and the food and cocktails are AMAZING, despite it being pretty packed. Bryn and I, then, went along the boardwalk and checked out ALL of the shops. Bryn really wanted to get a Bethany Beach hoodie, and I found an ADORABLE little local gift shop (whose name I sadly forgot) that sold some Lilly Pulitzer accessories, along with Scout Bags and Spartina, Simply Southern, and Teleties. I *of course* picked up quite a bit of Lilly Pulitzer – haha!

Friday evening was well spent at The Lighthouse Sound Restaurant located along the Chesapeake Bay in nearby-to-Ocean City, Maryland: Bishopville, Maryland. The views there are impeccable and the food is just as good. Read more about my experiences there here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/06/30/the-ocean-city-maryland-restaurant-without-the-crowds/#/

Saturday afternoon, we got lunch at the Ocean View Brewing Company. The Ocean View Brewing Company is located just outside of Bethany Beach in Ocean View, Delaware. It is apart of a chain of restaurants, including Thompson Island in Rehoboth Beach, that brew their own beer in-house. When going to the Ocean View Brewing Company, you can see the beer brewing in-house from the windows on the second floor of the restaurant. They have great seafood, burgers, and much more food-wise. The beer is AMAZING, too, and honestly why we decided to come! And then, after enjoying a delicious lunch with some local beer, we went shopping at the Tanger Outlets in Rehoboth Beach. A fun fact about Delaware is that they have tax-free shopping (!!!). Some of the stores that we checked out at the Tanger Outlets were: Simply Southern, J Crew Factory, Francesca’s, Bath & Body Works, Tory Burch (where I bought my dream pair of pink flats!!!!), Vineyard Vines, and Kate Spade. Needless to say, Bryn and I had A BLAST! Some of the other stores that we didn’t check out at the Tanger Outlets are: Crocs, Old Navy, LOFT, Banana Republic, Express, Coach, Levi’s, and Nike. Plan your visit to the Rehoboth Beach Tanger Outlets here: https://www.tangeroutlet.com/rehoboth

And, before we left Sunday evening, Bryn and I had a much-needed beach day at Cape Henelopen State Park in Lewes, Delaware. It was a new-to-me beach, too. It costed us $10 to enter the state park and was $10 well worth it, too. Although it was a bit crowded, we still had a great time at the beach!

The Delaware beaches are a happy place of mine! From the adorable town of Lewes and boardwalks, to the gorgeous beaches at every turn, and the food and shopping all in between, it is definitely worth the visit for me and hopefully for you someday, too.

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Ocean City, Maryland Restaurant Without the Crowds

If you have been to the beach during the summer season, then you know that it is PACKED at ALL times, whether it be the restaurants, the boardwalk, the beaches, the shops, or the traffic. Ocean City, Maryland is NO different than any of the other beaches crowd-wise during the summer months. I regularly visit my family at the Delaware beaches, which is close by to Ocean City, Maryland and its super fun boardwalk and GREAT restaurants. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared a bit about my restaurant experience at The Lighthouse Restaurant – a restaurant located along the Chesapeake Bay in nearby-to-Ocean City-Bishopville, Maryland.

Read more on my recent travel experiences on the blog here:

*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.*

Shop my dress here: https://rstyle.me/+Ic_YV2kaBOWdZcI-gdcWGQ

My family and I spent about 30 minutes driving through the backroads of the Delaware beaches. We were driving through the farms of Delaware, which are on the outskirts of the Delaware beaches. After those 30 minutes were up, we ended up at the gorgeous Lighthouse Sound Restaurant, surrounded by gorgeous waterfront views at every turn, the sound of seagulls chirping, and amazing cuisine!

The Lighthouse Sound Restaurant is located along the Chesapeake Bay and doubles as a club house. It offers both indoor and outdoor seating and gorgeous views of the Chesapeake Bay at every turn. There is a gazebo outside, hills and hills of golf courses, pathways, and the waterfront views. They even *yes, even* have a fireplace in the Wintertime for outdoor seating. My family and I sat outside in their white Adirondack chairs to enjoy our dinner, which boast adorable preppy and classic beauty vibes! At the same time, the indoor seating offered opens up to a HUGE set of windows and there is even an Americana-themed bar, too. As for the menu, the Lighthouse Sound Restaurant offers a plethora of fresh seafood dishes that are local to the Ocean City, Maryland/Delaware beaches area. All in all, it’s a great dining experience!

The BEST part of the Lighthouse Sound Restaurant?! NO BEACH CROWDS!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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