If you have never visited the The Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant, you must add it to your list…but do it before September 12th! After that date, the State of Florida is turning the concession over to a different business. (AND I am not happy about it!)
Read MoreWhile we certainly have not been to every church, or every country in Europe, we have visited a ton of churches and cathedrals in our travels abroad. While neither of us are religious people, we are always in awe of the architecture and the ornate décor that fill these structures! I always measure how impressive a church is based upon George’s reaction to the visit. Afterall, most of the time a visit to a church is not at the top of his list of “must visit places.”
With that being said, here is our list of the ten most beautiful churches/cathedrals in Europe, along with information about what makes them so special.
Read MoreThe Wild Atlantic Way is over 1500 miles of coastline that runs from County Cork to County Donegal along the Atlantic Ocean. It is along this route, that you will find some of the most spectacular views and charming towns in all of Ireland.
While it is hard to say what part of the Wild Atlantic Way is the best part, you can be assured that the whole drive will be filled with some of the MOST stunning views imaginable. Here are a few highlights that should not be missed on this epic road trip!
Read MoreIreland had been at the top of my travel wish list for over 10 years. We kept putting it off because we were waiting for the right time to travel with our son. After years of delaying this trip, we finally came to the conclusion that we could go back and visit with him at a later date. It was finally time to plan our dream trip to Ireland - an epic road trip that spanned across the entire country.
We allotted 16 days to explore Ireland. Initially it seemed like enough time to see all of the items on our wish list, but we quickly realized this was impossible. After all, how can you fit all of the amazingness of Ireland into 16 days?
Read MoreIf you are anything like us, you have limited time to see ALL of the sites of Dublin! We spent 16 days traveling ALL over Ireland, but that only left us two whole days to see Dublin.
So, how do you pack as much as you possibly can into two days? Lets us show you!
We chose to purchase the Go City Pass for two days. After figuring out which destinations we wanted to visit…and factoring in the hop on hop off bus as transportation, this really was the best value for the money! The two-day pass was only 16 Euros more than a one day pass, so it totally made sense. The total cost for the pass was 86 Euros per person…and that included admission into 36 different attractions!!! There are options to purchase the pass for 1 to 5 days.
If you would like to get $20 off of $200 or more when buying a Go City Pass: Click Here!
We started the Hop on, Hop off bus at the first location of the tour…and rode for about 20 minutes. Our first stop that we “hopped off” for was Dublin Castle.
Dublin Castle was the seat of English rule in Ireland, until the country gained its independence from the British in 1922. The castle was originally built as a fortress. In April 1684 there was a fire that caused major damage to the castle.
After this fire, the castle was rebuilt from a medieval fortress into the palace that it is today. The property is used for special events and state dinners…and has hosted some famous names like Benjamin Franklin, John F. Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, and Queen Elizabeth II. Now, you can enjoy spending some time in this beautiful and historic place too.
When we left the castle, we walked a couple of blocks to the Christ Church Cathedral. This Cathedral was originally a Viking church and is located right in city center. In fact, we joked that we passed it a million times…like we were going around in circles!
Some notes of interest about the Cathedral: Strongbow is buried here; the heart of St. Laurence O’Toole is on display (after a 6 year stint of being missing); they have a rare copy of the Magna Carta; and don’t forget to visit the Crypt to see the mummified cat and rat!
Right next door to the Cathedral is Dublinia, which is a Viking museum. The two buildings are actually connected via a bridge over the street, so if you start in Dublinia…it flows right into the church. We discovered this after our visit to the church.
Dublinia takes you right back to the times when the Vikings lived in Dublin. This interactive museum puts you right into that history. This is your chance to experience what it was like to be on a Viking ship. Learn about the clothing, the weaponry, the fairs, the disease, and the “medicines” of the time! This is a great museum for the whole family!
If you have ever seen a picture of a pub associated with Dublin, it was probably Temple Bar. This Iconic red pub is a favorite for tourists! The bar was established in 1840 and is said to have over 450 different kinds of rare whiskey.
Even with Covid-19 looming, there seemed to be quite a crowd at the pub. We did not go into the bar because we were traveling to another country in a few days and did not want to risk being around larger crowds. Check out their web cam to see the bar in real time: Temple Bar Live
Even though we did not go to the pub, we did wander around the Temple Bar Area. We decided to have lunch in this area. We ate at a BBQ restaurant – Smokin Bones. The pulled pork was the star of our meal! So, if you find yourself in the area and have a craving for BBQ, this is your place! If BBQ is not your thing, this area has just about any type of food you could be craving…so, this neighborhood is a great place to grab lunch!
If you are looking for a sweet treat, we recommend grabbing a gelato from Cloud Nine, which is right next to the Temple Bar.
After lunch, hop back on the bus and head to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This Cathedral was founded in 1191 and is the National Cathedral of Ireland. St. Patrick is known as the Apostle AND the primary Patron Saint of Ireland.
Over 500 people are buried at this church, including Jonathan Swift. Swift was a satirist who is best known for writing "Gulliver's Travels" and "A Modest Proposal." He was also a cleric who became Dean of the Cathedral. Make sure you get the free audio guide that is available with your admission.
There were a few other locations we could have fit into this day of sightseeing, but we had a date at the Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium. We were there at Christmas time, and they were hosting a Christmas Party. We sat in the clubhouse, enjoyed a fancy Christmas dinner, and cheered on the dogs! It was definitely a fun night out!
After a good night’s sleep, it is time to hit the ground running again. We recommend starting the day at The Sweetest Thing. Order one of their amazing hot chocolates…and why not have a delicious piece of cake for breakfast. After all, you are on vacation! Enjoy it!
I stumbled on this café because I searched for best hot chocolate in Dublin. After visiting this place, I can attest that it fits the bill. I got some kind of mint hot chocolate. They literally melt a Cadbury mint chocolate candy bar in the hot milk. It was divine…and I am still thinking about it a month later!
Covid-19 has changed the way we travel…and today’s itinerary reflects this. In the past, you could have showed up at Guinness or the distilleries and waited for your turn to enter. But because they are limiting the number of visitors, we had to schedule our visits ahead of time. I contacted the venues the day before via email to schedule our visits. This is great because you don’t have to wait in line, but for us the downside was that I did not plan very well around the bus schedule. So, if you want to use the hop on bus for your travels, my advice to you is to plan around the bus schedule. We ended up walking and using Uber to get around for this day of sightseeing.
A trip to Dublin MUST include a trip to the Guinness Storehouse! Even if you are not a beer drinker, this place is fascinating! The first impression…it is HUGE! They really cover EVERYTHING! The exhibits walk you through the entire brewing and storing process. They also have an entire section about their advertising past and present. There is a scent lab and an option to learn to make the perfect pour. Your tickets also include a free beverage up in their Gravity Bar, which has 360 degree views of Dublin from above! Expect to be here for a few hours, so you can really enjoy all that they have to offer!
You can either hop on the bus, walk, or Uber to the next location – the EPIC Irish Emigration Museum. EPIC is an interactive museum about the achievements and history of the Irish people. So many people have roots that can be traced back to this wonderful country. Neville Isdell, founder of the museum, was inspired to open this museum because of his own immigration experience.
At the start of your journey, you are given a passport that you can stamp in each room of the museum. The museum is very interactive and even includes an area where you can learn to do an Irish dance!
I was really excited to go to The Irish Family History Center at the completion of the museum. You give the genealogists the information that you know about your family roots and they will help you discover more. Unfortunately for me, they closed five minutes before we arrived. I was pretty bummed!
After the museum, we headed over to the Teeling Distillery for a tour and tasting. This was another venue that required an advanced reservation due to Covid. Plan ahead!
This distillery opened in 2015 and was the FIRST new distillery in Ireland for over 125 years! While this distillery is only a few years old, the Teeling Brothers come from a long history of whiskey makers (dating back to 1782)!
Our tour guide took us through the distillery where we learned about the process of distilling and storing the whiskey. After the tour, we went to the tasting room where we were able to try some of the whiskey and also a cocktail made with their whiskey.
Technically we could have probably fit in a couple of more attractions, but just based on the things we did during these two days, the Go City Pass was the way to go!!! We actually saved 36.50 Euros by buying this pass…AND it includes transportation! It does not get much better than that! See the price breakdown below! And if you want a discount when buying your pass, don’t forget to use this link: Go City
Click the link below to hear more about our time in Dublin!
Whatever you decide to do in Dublin, enjoy every minute of it!
Erin go Bragh!
If you love car rides with beautiful scenery, a road trip to Dingle should be on your itinerary! This was one of my favorite drives on our epic road trip around Ireland!
The scenery along this stretch of Ireland’s southwest coast is AMAZING! You get farmlands, the beach, and cute towns all along the route! Next time we come to Ireland, we will definitely plan a longer visit in this area!
If you don’t already know, I LOVE cows! I literally brake for cows…or at least George does! He is always the one driving, so he knows if I can get close enough to get a good look, he should probably stop the car! While driving in Ireland, the carefully placed hedges that surround people’s property really inhibited my chance to see cows close up…but the ride to Dingle change it all! See below!
We were also in awe as we were driving and saw Inch Beach! We had to pull over and take in the views! Inch Beach is about 3 miles long. I imagine that this is a very busy beach in the summer. The waves are pretty rough here, so as you can imagine it is a surfer’s delight! During the summer months, there are lifeguards here. However, during our visit we just saw some walkers and a few pups!
We did not have anything planned for our day in Dingle. It is a seaside town…and it was rainy (and during their off season), so we just wandered around, enjoyed the town, and visited some local businesses! As you can see in the pictures below, there is plenty to see here…even if you do not have a plan! Take a close look at the sign for Foxy Johns pictured below…now that is a PARTY!
While you are in Dingle, we would recommend that you visit the following local businesses!
1. Murphy’s Ice Cream - We will start with the one business that WAS part of our plan for the day. It is on our Ireland Bucket List.
This ice cream has been made in Dingle since 2000. There are quite a few locations throughout Ireland, but I wanted to get it from the original location!
The owners use fresh milk from Kerry cows, loads of cream, and free range eggs. These high quality ingredients produce a delicious treat! Pro-tip: Get the Honeycomb Caramel…and thank me later!
2. Sheehy’s Fish and Chips - Who can say no to some cheesy potatoes out of a food truck? Not this girl! But in Ireland, they take it one step further and add a Garlic Mayo sauce on top. I imagine this is their equivalent to our ranch dressing.
Don’t ask questions, just get them! You won’t be disappointed. Of course they also serve fish and burgers, but we had already had lunch a little bit earlier. So, this was the perfect late afternoon snack!
3. Bacus Bakery - This locally owned bakery serves up delicious bread and desserts. Originally started in 2009 at home, owner Orla Gowen believes that simple ingredients are the key to creating a delicious product. Their products are so popular that they are sold in shops and restaurants throughout Dingle , Tralee, and Killarney.
Because of the popularity, the bakery moved into this location in 2018. And for that I am thankful. It is here that I ate THE most delicious dessert in all of Ireland: Guinness Chocolate Cake. Trying this cake, was another item on my bucket list. I am so glad that THIS is the place we were able to try it. My only regret is that I did not buy the WHOLE cake! DO NOT MISS THIS!!!
4. The Little Cheese Shop - I love cheese…and especially sharp, flavorful cheeses. In a lot of places that we have travelled, the cheese are too mild for me. But, I was super excited to try cheese in Ireland because I knew this would not be the case!
Most of the cheeses in their shop, come from Irish pastures. If you are a fan of cheese, you must visit this shop!!!
5. Paul Geaney’s Bar & Restaurant - Because Dingle is a seaside town, there are tons of fresh seafood restaurants. We are not huge seafood fans, so we were looking for a place to have lunch. This place was recommended by one of the locals. Below is a picture of George’s lunch, which made him very happy!
They do not shy away from their portions of meat and potatoes in Ireland. If you are looking for a hearty meal while you are visiting, check this place out!
6. Kathleen McAuliffe’s - Because we own a gift shop, I am always on the hunt for cute, locally owned shops when we travel. This particular shop had clothes, candles, skin care products, art, and more.
The shop is filled with lots of cute gifts! We really enjoyed our visit to this shop…AND I bought a super cute sweater (see below)! The shop owner, Kathleen, is a Milliner. A milliner is a women’s hat maker. She studied the art of hat making at the London School of Fashion. She actually learned under the woman who makes hats for the Queen of England! Kathleen’s hats are sold in the shop!
Our trip to Dingle was definitely one of our favorite day trips. This is an area that should not be missed!
Listen to our podcast to hear more about our travel to Dingle: Off Your Beaten Path Podcast
During our visit to Ireland, we used Limerick as a jumping off point for our visit to The Cliffs of Moher.
Limerick is a city that definitely deserves more time than we had available on this trip. That being said, when we come back to Ireland, we will spend more time in this area!
Some highlights that you should not miss in Limerick include the following:
1. Breakfast at Bakehouse 22
This family run business is located in the Old Limerick Quarter. They serve a full breakfast and lunch menu, but they also have a bakery with delicious cakes and treats. It was a great way to start our day! And they even gave us a couple of free mince pies to try! If you have never tried one, George says they taste like Christmas!!!
2. A Visit to King John's Castle
This castle is right across the street from Bakehouse 22! This castle brings over 800 years of history to life! Learn about the many sieges and triumphs at this castle, which has been around since the Vikings!
There are many interactive activities throughout the castle. Due to Covid-19, some activities are inaccessible at this time (like archery)! But there is plenty to keep you busy and learning in a fun way!
The land that the castle sits on has been discovered to be inhabited for over 1000 years. While restoring the castle, they unearthed some houses that are believed to have been Viking houses. You are able to see some of the remnants of these buildings, while touring the castle.
Of course, if all that history isn't really your thing, the tour allows you to explore the castle towers which leads to beautiful views of the city! Adult ticket prices start at 11.70 Euros. There are lower prices for kids... and they even offer family pricing packages.
3. St. Mary's Cathedral
This Cathedral is along the banks of the Shannon River... and is just a quick walk from the castle! It is one of the oldest buildings in all of Limerick.
It was originally the Royal Palace for the Kings of Thomond and was gifted to the church in 1168.
The Cathedral is open every day, but we happened to arrive during Mass. Therefore, we did not want to go in and disturb the activities in progress.
The cost for admission to explore the history and art of the Cathedral is 5 Euros.
4. Hunt Museum
Also important to mention, we had two locals tell us we should visit this museum. We did not have time because we needed to make our way to the Cliffs before it got dark. However, if locals recommend it... we must add it to the list for our next visit…and we want to share it with you!
Whether you have a few hours or a few days to explore Limerick, you are surely to have an enjoyable time!
Every visit to Ireland should include a trip to Waterford, so you can pay a visit to the House of Waterford Crystal.
We love factory tours, so this was right up our alley. Due to Covid restrictions, the tours were "self-guided". However, there was a person at each place along the tour that was there to explain the process...and it was a fascinating experience.
So many times, we have had Waterford Crystal in our possession, and I never really even paid much attention to it. After seeing the process of making it, I can assure you that I will never look at it the same way ever again!
These craftsman are highly skilled in each of their areas, with their apprenticeships lasting 5-8 years. Glass blowers use wooden and hand tools to shape the crystal. Each piece is inspected several times. If it is not perfect, it is scrapped and sent to be remelted and used again.
Once the Crystal passes inspection, it is sent to the cutters. These artists use removable marker to make the geometric patterns onto the Crystal. The cutters have to learn a series of 600 cuts before they can complete their apprenticeship. It was astonishing to watch them create these cuts!
There are also sculptors that sculpt pieces from a solid block of crystal and engravers who spend hours and days engraving the crystal.
The amazing part of the tour is that you get to see these craftsman performing this work up close and personal. The cost of the tour is only 15 Euro per person.
After the tour, you can shop in their retail store...and visit the Crystal Cafe.
We made this visit in a day trip while heading to our next destination. Don't miss your chance to witness this 238 year legacy in action. You won't regret it!
Check out this video from behind the scenes!
While you are here, check out the town. This seaport has a rich history dating back to when the Vikings found the area in 914 A.D. There is plenty to see and explore while you are here!
And make sure to check out this adorable shop with great items Made in Ireland - Bebhinn!
For more information about the town, click here: Waterford
Short on time, but want to maximize your time in Kilkenny? Here is our guide for a great day in Kilkenny, Ireland.
A good breakfast is always a must when starting your day of sightseeing. That being said, we recommend that you start your day at The Fig Tree on High Street. This is also when I figured out that I should ALWAYS order hot chocolate while in Ireland…because it is SO good!
The Fig Tree is conveniently located down the street from the castle. The first stop on your ultimate day in Kilkenny should definitely include a visit to Kilkenny Castle. This was actually our first castle of many while on our ultimate road trip around Ireland! And it just so happened that admission was free during our visit!!!
Kilkenny Castle was originally built by William Marshall in the 13th century. The building of this castle was a symbol of Norman control of the area. It also marks the beginning of the Butler Dynasty, which would last for over 600 years.
The views of this castle are spectacular...and the gardens and park are definitely worth exploring too! The picture below is the view from one of the bathrooms!!!!
After the castle, we wandered down to St Mary's Cathedral. When we were visiting there was a baptism taking place, so we just observed from the back of the church.
The next stop on our journey led us to the Black Abbey. This was one of our favorite stops of the whole trip...and easily one of our favorite churches that we have ever visited. I normally drag George to all of the churches...and he is rarely impressed. But, this one was different.
Everything about the Abbey is special. You can feel the history in this place. It is dark and only inside...and the stained glass is spectacular. This is a definite must!!!
The Abbey was founded in 1225 and gets its name from the "Black Friars", which is what the Dominicans were called. It was opened to the public as a place of worship in the 1800’s...and contains the only remaining statue of St. Dominic in all of Ireland.
Another church that should be on your visit list is the Cathedral Church of St Canice. At this Cathedral, there is a tower that you can climb for great views of the city. Unfortunately, it was closed the day that we were there. Cost of admission to the Cathedral and the tower is 15 Euros.
After all of our sightseeing, we were ready for a snack. We visited Cakeface Patisserie on Irishtown. If you are looking for a sweet treat that is as beautiful as it it is tasty, you should definitely go to this bakery!
After leaving the bakery, make sure to take a wander down Butterslip Ln from High Street to St. Kiernan's Street. This cute little alley will lead you to one of the main shopping areas in town.
Butterslip Lane dates back to the 17th century. It was an area that was built below two houses and used to be flanked with stalls of butter vendors on market day. Now it is a picturesque alley that connects two busy shopping areas.
Make sure to check out the adorable shop Butterslip and The Gift Horse. Both are on the corner of Rose In Street and St. Kieran's Street.
If you are looking for a place top have a pint, stop by the Kytelers Inn. This place has been around since 1263!!! It is one of the oldest inns in Ireland. And has an abundance of history to go along with it. It was originally owned by Alice de Kyteler. She was eventually accused of witchcraft and was sentenced to burn. Luckily because of her connections, she was able to move to England before this took place! It is now a popular tourist attraction!
As an extra bonus. We were there in early December, so we go to enjoy the Christmas Market by the castle.
It was here that I was able to buy my first piece of art from a local artist. I purchased a ceramic Christmas tree for my collection of Christmas items from around the world. The market had some yummy food vendors, as well as live music playing! It was a great introduction to the happy, lively spirit of the Irish people!
We hope you enjoy this beautiful Irish town filled with history and merriment!
After forgetting our passports while traveling last time, I created a travel checklist. This has ALL important items, so I don’t forget to pack anything! It helps to keep me focused when preparing for a trip! You can download a PDF version here!
When we decided that we wanted to spend a couple of months in Europe for the winter, I knew that saving money would be a challenge. We were in the middle of a Pandemic AND we had just started a business that wasn’t making any money. In fact, we were doing just enough to get us by…in the hopes that our business would have a chance to see a real cruise season.
I had seen a post about an envelope challenge to save money. And it was then that I knew this would be a good way for us to save. You might be wondering, “How does the envelope challenge work?” In the initial post that I read, it suggested that you take 50 envelopes and write the denominations ($1 - $50) on the envelopes. Each week, you would then select an envelope. You would then put that amount of money in the envelope that corresponds with the number on that envelope. At the end of the 50 weeks, you would have saved $1275.
I knew that we were going to need more money than that for an extended trip to Europe, so I doubled the number of envelopes from 50 to 100. Each week, we pulled two envelopes from our bag…and then during that week we got the money and put it in the envelopes. Some weeks were tough. Sometimes, we used money that we would have used to go out to eat…and some weeks we used cash from tips. Some weeks, if we would pull two envelopes with high denominations, we would pick again. But EVERY week, we would pull those two envelopes. And luckily for us when tips were good, we were able to stuff three envelopes in a week.
During the course of the year, we saved $5050…just by putting that money in envelopes and NOT using it on dumb stuff throughout the year. It was so fun to go to the bank with my stacks of cash…and it was a HUGE sense of accomplishment that we were able to SAVE this money during a pretty difficult time.
Taking this trip was a priority for us…and it just goes to show that you don’t have to be rich to be able to live the kind of life you have always dreamt of!
In less than a year, you could complete the envelope challenge too! Where would you go on YOUR dream vacation? Comment below!
If you have not yet listened to the Podcast, check it out here!
With over 3 million visitors a year, there is no doubt that Cabo San Lucas is one of Mexico’s top tourist destinations. Many of these visitors arrive via cruise ship, which mean time is limited! To help you narrow down your choices, here is my list of top five things to do while in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
1. Take a water taxi ride to see the Arch of Cabo San Lucas. “El Arco” is a limestone arch that sits at the southern tip of Cabo San Lucas (the end of the Baja Peninsula). The arch has been carved by the tide and wind over the years.
Some people choose to book an excursion from the ship, we very rarely do that. We enjoy exploring on our own. We like to support the locals directly. I guarantee that there is no shortage of water taxis in the Marina. The cost is going to be significantly less and the you will have more flexibility on times and destinations compared to booking the excursion through the ship.
An added bonus to the boat ride is you have the chance to see some wildlife: birds, manta rays, whales, and sea lions!
This is definitely the iconic view of this region!
2. Visit one of the many beaches in the area. Some of the most popular beaches in the area are Medano Beach, Lover’s Beach, Divorce Beach, and the Cannery Beaches. Not all of the beaches are great for swimming, so you will need to research this before heading to your destination. However, there is no doubt that this beautiful coastline is home to some of Mexico’s most beautiful beaches.
3. Experience the adventuresome side of Cabo San Lucas. Due to the location of Cabo, there is a wide range of water and land activities available: atv tours, zip lining, parasailing, scuba, and snorkeling.
4. Explore the Marina. If you don’t want to venture to far away from the ship and the beach is not really your scene, there is plenty to see and do near the marine. Get your picture taken with an iguana, shop for local souvenirs, and of course tequila tasting at the Tequila Lighthouse!
5. Eat, drink, and experience the culture! You don’t have to venture far from the ship to find a variety of Mexican Restaurants. The pictures below were from our meal at Captain Tony’s!
If you do venture just outside of the Marina, you can have a drink at Slim’s Elbow Bar - the smallest bar. Or if you are lucky, you will stumble upon one of the best bars (with great specials)…located in the back of a souvenir shop.
There is a lot to discover and enjoy in this beautiful destination. Whether you want to explore the desert on an ATV, relax on an amazing beach, or unwind at a bar, there is definitely something for everyone! Enjoy!
Back at the beginning of 2021, I created a vision board (this was a first for me!). On that board was the word podcast! After a lot of thought and planning, we are so excited to release our very first episode!
Here is what you can expect to learn from our first episode:
How we met
Our first date
Our first trip
How many states, provinces, countries, and continents we have visited
Are there arctic monkeys in Alaska
And most importantly...How in the world did we end up in Alaska!?
We hope you will give it a listen! If you like it, please feel free to follow, like, and share with others!
Off Your Beaten Path has been in existence for 6 years now. We started as a blog, shifted focus to my photography, AND now we have a GREAT new addition!
Drum Roll Please…We have started our very own PODCAST!!!
Off Your Beaten Path is a weekly travel podcast about trading in your daily grind for a life worth living! Take a new path each week as your hosts Nicole and George inspire you to live bold and explore outside the lines. Take that trip, work with purpose, and live a life less ordinary by getting Off Your Beaten Path.
We feel that the Off Your Beaten Path Podcast is the perfect way to add to our brand!
Click below to listen to our trailer!
We hope you will take a listen, share with your friends, and subscribe!
We want to know what topics you want to hear about on the show! Let us know in the comments!
Join our family as we cruise for the first time since the restart of cruising! Explore the Majestic Princess with us…and find out if the changes affected our vacation at all!
Read MoreAre you the person who has everything planned from the packing list to the itinerary when you travel? You know what I mean…the seasoned traveler who is 100% prepared for anything and everything. That was definitely how we viewed ourselves as travelers…until two weeks ago. Travel is something that George and I have done together (as often as possible) since our first month together. In ten short years, we have traveled to all 50 states, several countries, countless cruises, and hundreds of thousands of road miles! We know how to travel. Or so we thought!!!
As with a majority of the world, Covid-19 happened and the world stopped…especially our beloved world of travel. This was finally our chance to get out and enjoy the world outside of our little bubble in Skagway. It had been over 630 days since we vacationed…and our lack of “experience” showed! If you don’t believe me…look at how we overpacked!
For some people whether or not to vaccinate became a political issue. For us, it meant that we were one step closer to being able to travel again. In fact, as soon as our first dose was completed, we booked a cruise for later in the year. We had originally planned a Mediterranean cruise for November, but that was cancelled. Once that happened, we changed gears and planned a cruise to Mexico from California.
Traveling to and from Skagway, Alaska is not as easy as one might think. You have to ferry or fly to Juneau, which always adds at least a day onto your travel plans. Since we needed to build in a little cushion, we planned to spend some time in Seattle and California before we actually left for our cruise. All I can say is thank goodness we had that cushion.
The week leading up to our trip was filled with a lot of wet weather. We had flights scheduled out of Skagway, which can always be a little iffy if the weather is not great. The morning of our trip, we heard a flight come in the morning, which was a welcomed sign…but we were still not out of the woods! About an hour before our flight, we called the airport and were super excited to find out our plane was on the way! WE WERE GOING ON VACATION!!!!
We arrived in Juneau without a hitch. We even had time for a delicious dinner at our favorite Juneau restaurant! Our flight from Juneau to Seattle was scheduled for the next morning at 5:30 am, so we planned to arrive to the airport at 4:00 am. I don’t know about you, but I can never really sleep soundly when I have an early morning flight. I was worried that we would not wake up for our 3:00 alarm, so my body was restless…and I was awake by 2 am.
We were all up by 3…and excited about our day of travel ahead! About ten minutes before we were ready to head downstairs, I decided that I would download some podcasts for our plane ride. It was moments later that panic set in…I had left our passports in Skagway!!!!!
For our flights, we did not need passports…but for our cruise they would be a required document. There was NO getting out of traveling without them! We quickly weighed the options of getting on our current flights and having passports shipped to us overnight…or changing our flights to a later flight and not leaving Juneau until we have the passports in our hand. The bad thing about a misstep like this is that you can’t just drive home and get them. It is not physically possible.
This hiccup then set off a long chain of events that made this day the longest day of our lives! Here is a glimpse of the chain of events that occurred over the next couple of hours:
· George contacted Alaska Airlines to change flights to the 6:30 PM flight.
· I contacted the house sitters to have them get our passports to a friend who brought them to the airport.
· Our passports were sent on the next available flight (as cargo) to Juneau – weather permitting.
· We cancelled our Covid tests which were scheduled for Seattle upon our arrival.
· We located a Covid testing site in Juneau and scheduled appointments for 11 am. We completed these tests and hoped for the best.
· We rented a car in Juneau, so we could complete all of our tasks and have a place to hang out once we checked out of the hotel.
· We ate breakfast at Donna’s.
· Yay…the passports arrived. We picked them up from Alaska Seaplanes Cargo.
· We tried to nap in the car…unsuccessfully.
· We arrived at the airport, excited about finally being able to complete the next leg of our trip!
· Our family unit CALMLY AND EFFECTIVELY worked through and solved all problems (SUCCESS).
Our excitement lasted until we boarded the plane and realized the three of us were in the last row of the plane…on a narrow body plane. We were shoe horned in the seats pretty good. Alex and I took turns sitting forward and sitting back, so we would have a little space. Good thing the flight was only two hours. Two hours…until we arrived in Seattle and had to sit on the tarmac for 30 minutes before we had a gate. Would this day ever end?
Because we had planned on spending the day sightseeing in Seattle, we had a rental car reserved and paid for. Now that we were arriving so late, we really did not need it. But having a car meant we would be able to go grab a quick bite to eat before we went to the hotel and CRASHED from exhaustion. What we didn’t realize is that the rental car pick up was located off site…and it was probably further away than our actual hotel!
When we arrived at Alamo, we were second in line. As we waited the queue filled up. There was one employee helping customers. And one employee who sent people in line to a non-working kiosk before she sent them next door to Enterprise and then left for the evening. There were about 4-5 groups of people in line behind us and one being helped at the counter. Then the employee announced that the computers crashed and everyone should head to Enterprise next door. We went from being the first in line to being in the back of a line of 20 people.
If that wasn’t bad enough, the employee that had been helping us in Alamo said that Enterprise computers were down also and we should rent a car somewhere else. However, we had already paid for our car with them! And it was now 11:30 at night on what was the longest day of our lives! This is at the point where we lost it. As a family, we had handled all of the bumps in the road with stride (which I was so proud of). But after all of this, we snapped. And by we, I mean the calmest one in our group lost his cool…and it quickly started to escalate. Until I corralled the guys out of the rental car place and we hopped on the shuttle back to the airport…so we could take the hotel shuttle.
We arrived at the hotel around midnight…about 21 hours after our journey had started for the day. We were tired, grumpy, and hungry. The small bit of joy that faced us was that we were in a town that had Door Dash…and restaurants were actually open past 8 PM! For most, this would be no big deal…but when you live in a rural town in Alaska where EVERYTHING closes early and options are slim, this was a small win! We got some food delivered to us and passed out!
We were done with this day!
And definitely done with this lesson. I can assure you…I will NEVER forget our passports again!!!!
When my friend from Florida booked a trip to visit me in Skagway, I decided that I would fly over to Juneau to meet her and do a quick sight seeing trip with her before she arrived in Skagway.
Here are my must do’s for anyone with less than 24 hours in Juneau.
A lot of people wonder how people travel between Skagway and Juneau. Because there is no road between the two communities, your choices are to fly or ferry. For this trip, I did both…which is definitely the way to go! For my trip to Juneau, I flew on Alaska Seaplanes. These are not the float planes that you might be thinking of…but instead, small turbo prop planes. I was worried that my flight was not going to happen because it was cloudy and rainy all day, but the clouds cleared just in time!
A picturesque view from above - Haines, Alaska.
The views from above are truly spectacular! It puts into perspective just how small we are! Once I got to Juneau, I picked up my rental car from Juneau Rental Car. I love this company because they drop the car off at the airport for you…no need to mess around with going to a desk and waiting in line! You never know what kind of vehicle you are going to get…and this time there was a Lincoln Continental waiting for me! One word…luxury!
The Lincoln Continental for the win! Luxury…
It was a mad dash to the Super 8, so I could get checked in and meet my friends for dinner. No trip to Juneau is ever complete without a trip to In Bocca al Lupo! It is my favorite choice for dinner (and dessert if you are lucky enough to get there in time to get some!) Luckily my good friends, who live in Juneau, were available to meet me for dinner! As always, I got the pizza margherita…which never disappoints. I also got a Caesar salad this time…and it was AMAZING!
***Pro tip…get the Thunderdome as an appetizer. You will not be disappointed!!!
It is always so hard to get a picture…because we are tearing into the deliciousness so fast!
After dinner, we grabbed some frozen yogurt from Juno FroYo…and then I was off to the hotel to wait for the arrival of one of my favorite people…all the way from Florida.
Yes, please! All the flavors and toppings that I want!
Marnie arrived at 11 PM…so we didn’t have much time to catch up. I knew we needed to be up early, so I could cram in as much as possible in the 8 hours we would have to sightsee!
We started our morning around 8 am! Breakfast IS the most important meal of the day…but it is also my favorite (we actually used to own a breakfast food truck!) Our first stop was Donna’s, which is a staple in Juneau! It has been there since 1984…and it is very apparent that it is a local favorite. It is located right by the airport…so there is rarely a time that we visit Juneau and do not make a stop here!
A delicious breakfast to start the day!
After breakfast, we headed straight to Mendenhall Glacier! We were hoping to beat the crowds…which was never an issue because somehow we lucked out and landed here on a no ship day! We practically had the whole area to ourselves. We did the 2 mile round trip hike to Nugget Falls and used the time to get caught up on each other’s lives (It had been 1.5 years since we saw each other)! We then wandered down to Steep Creek to see if we would be lucky enough to see any bears…but the only wildlife we saw were some salmon and a porcupine who was sound asleep in a tree.
Mendenhall Glacier 2021
The reward after a nice hike - Nugget Falls
Next stop…Breeze In, but not just any Breeze In…the Lemon Creek location (because they have a wall of donuts!) The motto of Breeze In is “More than a convenience, it’s a breeze!” I always wonder if we are just unusually excited by this convenience store because we don’t have ANY convenience stores in Skagway, but I have found that my friends from the lower 48 are usually as impressed with the donuts here too! After snagging boxes of donuts and some drinks, we headed for the Shrine of St. Therese.
The Shrine of St. Therese is located “out the road”, which is about 22 miles north of downtown Juneau. It is a Catholic church that overlooks the most beautiful section of the Lynn Canal. It sits on 46 acres, with the stone chapel showcased on the peninsula. While visiting the shrine, we took the time to follow the Merciful Love Labyrinth. It was an opportunity for us to follow the path, enjoy the experience, and for me…take some photos!
The chapel at St. Therese.
Some of the best views in Juneau are at the Shrine of St. Therese.
Next stop…downtown Juneau! On our way downtown, I made a quick detour to the whale sculpture. Takhu is an iconic, life-size, bronze sculpture of a breaching humpback whale. It was sculpted to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Alaska’s statehood. Once we marveled at the beauty and snapped the obligatory photos of the whale, it was off to the Red Dog Saloon.
The Red Dog Saloon has been in operation since the heyday of the mining years in Juneau. In those years, it was the model of hospitality and fellowship for travelers…and now it continues that tradition of fellowship for all of the cruise passengers and independent travelers that make their way through the capital city. I brought Marnie here because a “duck fart” shot is a must when you travel to Juneau! It is a layered shot of Bailey’s, Kahlua, and Crown Royal. In my opinion, you can’t really say you went to the Red Dog Saloon if you didn’t have a duck fart.
Quack, quack…
At this point, it was almost time to head for Auke Bay, which was our departure point back to Skagway…but not without a trip to Fred Meyer first! Fred Meyer would be our equivalent of a Target. And since we do not have any of these types of chain stores in Skagway, it is always a must visit. At this particular time in Skagway, we were having the “Great Milk Shortage of 2021”. Milk was hard to come by…and it was being flown and trucked in whenever possible. When the milk did arrive, we were all thrilled… but a half gallon was going to cost you about $8! So, we went to Fred’s and picked up a few gallons of milk ($2.99 a gallon).
It was now time for us to head to the harbor to catch our ferry back to Skagway! We chose to travel with Alaska Fjordlines…which is a family run business out of Haines, AK. During the summer season, they have runs between, Skagway, Haines, and Juneau. On the trip back from Juneau, you get the chance to see whales, seals, eagles, sea lions, glaciers, lighthouses, and so much more! It is definitely an experience in and of itself!
Eldred Rock Lighthouse
Looking for the ultimate day in Skagway? Here is a list of some of our favorite ways to spend the day in Skagway, Alaska!
Read MoreHappy National Lighthouse Day. Take a trip to a few of my favorite lighthouses around the USA!
Read MoreOff Your Beaten Path
PO Box 1066 Skagway, AK 99840
offyourbeatenpath@gmail.com
321-439-3585
Designed by Northwind Social Media
