Tag: USA

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Unforgettable Key West Day Trip

We had an amazing Key West day trip. We had such a great time, that I am sharing my exact itinerary with you along with some travel tips. This itinerary had something to accommodate everyone in our multigenerational travel party. We departed Miami at 6am and returned to our hotel around 9pm.

Morning

Breakfast at Café Moka

Café Moka, 91731 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier, FL 33070

We drove about an hour and a half to Café Moka. They won Best Cup of Coffee of Upper Keys two years in a row.

We enjoyed caramel macchiatos and some delicious, freshly baked pastries. If you love almonds, you have to try the almond croissants! They had an incredible flavor and were the best I ever had.

Best Almond Croissant

We bought some sparkling lemonade for the road. I only wish I had bought more of those almond croissants!

Fueled with some quality coffee and our tummies full, we continued on our journey to the Key West Butterfly Conservatory.

Paid Parking Lot Next to Key West Butterfly Conservatory

Map showing parking lot next to The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory in Key West, Florida, USA.

There is a paid parking lot adjacent to the butterfly conservatory. You can pay with ParkByApp app, online or at the meter in the parking lot. If you purchased a ticket at the meter, remember to display it on your dashboard. We purchased 4 hours, which was the perfect amount of time for us.

Tips:

  • Remember to set an alarm on your phone with enough time to renew parking or exit the lot. If you paid for your parking online or through the app, then you can easily renew on the go.
  • Take a photo of your physical ticket or retain digital confirmation of your ticket so that you can easily dispute any potential tickets issued in error.

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, 1316 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040.

Suggested Time: ~1 hour

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory Educational Center

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory was the highlight of our trip! I have been to a handful of butterfly conservatories and this is the best one yet! It was modest in size, but it made up for it in beauty. As we walked in the conservatory, I felt like I had stepped into a whole new, magical world. We were immediately greeted with numerous colorful butterflies.

Beautiful butterflies were swirling around us, and we were surrounded by lush greenery and unique tropical flowers. As we walked through the conservatory, we heard the peaceful sounds of the waterfall and chirping birds. There were seats positioned around the circuit that allowed people ample time to enjoy the scenery. We loved seeing the flamingos, other small birds and koi fish.

Although we are not allowed to touch the butterflies, you might be lucky enough to have one land on you! A couple of us were lucky enough to have some land on us.

Tickets

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory offer discounts for seniors and military. All members of party have to be present and ready to enter the conservatory when you purchase your tickets in the store. The conservatory will be warm and a bit humid. We were comfortable but cold waters are available for purchase prior to entering the conservatory.

Tip: The store offers discounts on regular adult tickets if you purchase them online.

Gift Shop

The gift shop is stocked with an eclectic assortment of unique jewelry, art, clothing, toys and more. They also offer military discount on purchases.


Ethically Sourced Real Butterfly Wing Jewelry by ChrysalisStudios


Ethically Sourced Real Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing Earrings by ChrysalisStudios

Bathrooms

Two bathrooms are located in the gift shop. We made sure to use them before we left.

Quick Photo-Op at Southernmost Point of the Continental USA

Southernmost Point of the Continental USA Landmark, 1400 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040

Estimated Time: ~5 to 30 minutes

Taking a photo at this iconic landmark is a must-do. There was an incredibly long line to take a photo that got even longer in the afternoon.

Time Saver: If you have some decent selfie skills or have a selfie stick, you can step onto the raised ledge in front of the landmark and take photos of yourself with the landmark in the background. There should be a short window of opportunity to take a clear photo in between people in line taking their own photos. Take several photos and delete the ones you do not like later.

Photography Tip: If you have a large group, stand on either side of the landmark diagonally instead of directly in front of it so you can capture the entire landmark in the photo.

Key West Lighthouse

As you walk towards the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, the historic Key West Lighthouse will be on your left. You can get a decent photo of the top of the lighthouse from the top floor of the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum.

Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

Ernest Hemingway’s Writing Studio

Suggested Time: ~1 to 1.5 hours

We explored the former residence of Ernest Hemingway. The historic home was beautifully preserved and allowed us a glimpse into his fascinating life.

Hemingway loved cats. The famous six-toed cats, descendants of Hemingway’s own pets, were roaming the grounds.

I loved his writing studio the best. When he was living there, there was a catwalk that connected his house to his studio.

Tips:

  • They provide discounts to seniors and active duty military so remember to bring your ID.
  • They offer guided tours but if you do not want to wait for the next tour, you can scan a QR code by the front door and take a self-tour.

Lunch

Lunch at Kaya Island Eats

Kaya Island Eats, 628 Rear Duval St, Key West, FL 33040

Estimated Time: ~45 minutes

We had a relaxing lunch at Kaya Island Eats. The staff was friendly and the service was excellent. They had a good assortment of Caribbean food. We tried the Caribbean Shrimp Skewers, Killer Fish Tacos with fried mahi mahi, Blackened Shrimp Tacos, and Carne Asada Steak Tacos. The food was good and the portions were generous. They also offered samples of their house Mai Tai, which were so delicious I had to get one.

Afternoon

Park at Mallory Parking

Mallory Parking Lot, 460 Wall St, Key West, FL 33040

Shopping at Mallory Square

Mallory Square is known for its nightly sunset celebrations. Although we did not stay long enough to view the sunset, we enjoyed shopping there.

Sweets at Mattheessen’s Homemade

Mattheessen’s Homemade, 106 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040

Stop by Mattheessen’s Homemade for some sweets. We had homemade ice cream and chocolate covered key lime pie on a stick. The creamy key lime ice cream was divine. However, if I only had to choose one, I would get the key lime pie on a stick dipped in dark chocolate.

Parasailing

Photo Credit: Key West Parasailing Adventure above Emerald Blue Waters

Estimated Time: ~1 hour but actual time in the air is about 10 minutes

Minimum Age: 6 years old

What to Bring: a valid, Gov’t-issued ID, a bathing suit, a towel, water, and Reef-safe sunscreen.

Purchase your tickets online.

Tip: I would recommend purchasing tickets in advance to secure your desired time slot. There were limited spots the day-of.

My daughter’s favorite part of the trip was parasailing. It was her first time and she already wants to go again. She enjoyed being high up in the air with a bird’s eye view of the crystal clear waters of the ocean. She spotted some sting rays and someone else said they saw sea turtles.

Journey Back Home

We left Key West around 5:30pm. On the way home, there was a stretch of the highway that was flanked with mangroves that we call Iguana Road. We saw so many iguanas on that stretch of road. Green and brown iguanas were laying in the grass and perched on rocks.

We also saw signs for Key Deer, which is an endangered subspecies of white-tailed deer that live in the lower Florida keys. We did not see any, but it would have been amazing experience because they are not found anywhere else in the world. If you are interested in seeing Key Deer, you may have some luck at one of the National Key Deer Refuge Trails.

Private Tour of Florida Keys from Marathon to Key West

Shark and Wildlife Viewing Adventure in Key West

Full-Day Tour of Florida Keys Including Aquarium Encounters from Key West

Key West Mangrove Kayak Eco Tour

Key West Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour

Southernmost Food & Cultural Walking Tour by Key West Food Tours

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Roswell Uncovered: Must-Do Activities for a Memorable Visit

We couldn’t go to New Mexico without visiting Roswell. Roswell is Earth’s most famous UFO crash site. The International UFO Museum is also located there. The town is full of UFO-themed restaurants and shops.

There are plenty of opportunities to take photos in front of out of this world murals and fun props. Some of the scenes were so beautiful that I decided to turn them into backgrounds for our travel scrapbook. See the before and after images below.

BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER

International UFO Museum and Research Center

The International UFO Museum and Research Center was the highlight of our day in Roswell. This museum has wonderful exhibits dedicated to the 1947 Roswell Incident, and it also has information on other unexplained UFO-related phenomena around the world.

Display made for TV Show Making Monsters on Travel Channel

We spent about two hours at the museum before shopping for gifts. We were delighted to learn that the museum had a pressed penny machine. My daughter had fun choosing her design and cranking the machine to get another beautiful pressed penny to add to her collection.

Pressed Penny Machine
International UFO Museum and Research Center Pressed Penny

The gift shop is stocked full of UFO-related items. Some of our favorite finds were alien-shaped coffee mugs, astronaut shaped-coffee mugs, alien stuffed animals and alien-themed socks.

Roswell UFO Spacewalk

The Roswell UFO Spacewalk was a quick, but fun stop. It took about five to ten minutes to complete this UFO-themed black light adventure. We were given space guns (i.e., toy guns that lit up and made sounds) to take out aliens as we made our way through the attraction. Although it was dark, the photos turned out surprisingly well. You can revisit the adventure multiple times as long as you keep your wrist band. They also have a good selection of alien-themed souvenirs.

Peppers Grill & Bar

We had dinner at Peppers Grill & Bar. This Southwestern menu had something to accommodate everyone in our party. The best part of our meal was the margaritas. I had the Mango Margarita, which is Peppers Frozen Margarita (Sauza Gold Tequila, triple sec, splash of lime juice and sweet and sour) blended with puree mango.

Mango Margarita

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Best Exotic Car Driving Experience

Drive exotic cars on race track

DriveXotic

Looking for a unique gift for a car enthusiast? Consider gifting them an experience of a lifetime and give them the opportunity to drive some amazing, exotic cars on a racetrack! If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, visit DriveXotic.

DriveXotic is a Motorsport Ranch located about half an hour south of Fort Worth, Texas, and about an hour drive away from Dallas, Texas. They have several exotic cars that you can race around their track.

Current Exotic Cars

  • Lamborghini Huracan 610-4
  • Porsche 911 GT3
  • Ferrari 458 Italia
  • Chevy Corvette C8 Z71
  • Mercedes AMG GT-R
  • Lotus Evora GT
  • Audi R8 V10
  • Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Visiting DriveXotic was an incredible experience for both drivers and non-drivers. As soon as we walked into the facility we were greeted with a friendly representative. Checking-in was a breeze. We had already booked our appointment online so all we had to do is sign our waivers, and drivers had to watch a short, informative video.

After the instructional video, drivers were fitted with a protective helmet, and met their driving instructors. The instructors sat in the passenger seat and gave guidance so that the drivers could get the most out of the experience.

Photo Opportunities

Drivers were given opportunities to take photos with the cars they drove at the end of each session. I noticed every guy that hopped out of the car had a huge, boyish grin on their face regardless of their age.

Driving Video

Each car is fitted with two cameras, microphones, and drives are automatically recorded. Videos also include an overlay of your driving stats (i.e., speed, lap times, and g-force data). All of your videos are downloaded to a USB drive, and only cost $42. It is 100% worth it and the perfect keepsake memory. However, if you are unsure, you can wait to review your videos at the end of your experience before deciding whether you want to purchase it.

Spectators

Bleachers at DriveXotic, Cresson, TX

Spectators are not allowed to ride in the cars. However, they can watch drivers race around the track from the bleachers or from the balcony of the upper lounge.

Balcony at DriveXotic Facility

If you decide you want the thrill of a ride without being behind the wheel, you can purchase a Thrill Ride option where you are driven by instructors around the track.

If racing is not your thing, you can hang out in the airconditioned lounge, sip some beverages, and watch television. Alternatively, you can take a tour of their car museum.

Car Museum

Over 30 cars that have been featured in movies and TV shows are in this car museum. For example, they have a bat mobile, the Ghostbusters car, Delorean from Back to the Future, A-Team van, Easy Rider motorcycle, General Lee car from Dukes of Hazard and more. Entry to the car museum is free.

What to Bring

  • Closed toed shoes are required. No high heels are allowed.
  • Camera with Portrait and Telephoto Lens
  • Binoculars

Estimated Time

Arrive 20 minutes prior to appointment and expect to spend 1 to 1.5 hours.

Age Restrictions

  • Drivers must at least be 16 years old
  • For Ride-Along, riders must be at least 13 years of age
  • For more information on restrictions see website.

DriveXotic Discounts

Keep an eye out for DriveXotic deals on Groupon.com. Use Rakuten to navigate to Groupon to get additional discounts that may be available. If you are new to Rakuten, use this referral link so that we can both get cash bonuses. If you are interested in finding out how I saved over $2,500 by using Rakuten, click here.

DriveXotic also has package deals on their website, and offer options to purchase gift certificates.

Wind Down in Granbury, Texas

Lake Granbury, Texas

After the experience, we visited Granbury to wind down. We walked around town, lounged on the sandy beach of Lake Granbury, and had a bite to eat at Ketzler’s Schnitzel Haus And Biergarten. We had the German Burger Sandwich and Brat on a Bun, but the pretzel was my favorite part of our meal. The giant pretzel was so soft and warm. I would have been satisfied with just that pretzel and my Steigl Grapefruit Radler. The Steigl Grapefruit Radler was bright and refreshing on this hot day. It has a hint of grapefruit and leaves a pleasant after taste.

Spaten Oktoberfest and Steigl Grapefruit Radler
Giant Soft Pretzel with Cheese and Mustard
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The Ouachita Highland Games and Mountain Market

On a whim, my husband and I decided to check out the Ouachita Highland Games and Mountain Market while we were in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The games were held at Cedar Glades Park. We enjoyed driving along the quiet road through the forest. The well placed signs led us to the event with ease.

People of all different ages attended, and a good number of people were wearing their kilts. Queen Mary of the Scots and her court were dressed in period attire.

We enjoyed watching the athletes compete in the highland games (Braemar Stone, Open Stone, Heavy Weight for Distance, Light Weight for Distance, Heavy Hammer, Light Hammer, Caber, Sheaf Toss, Weight Over Bar). There was a bleacher at one of the events but I would bring a picnic blanket or some lawn chairs next time.

There was food, beverages, Scottish-Irish music, and plenty of merchants. There were booths selling drinking horns, metal crafts, jewelry, gemstones, clothing and more.

Favorite Shoppes

Medieval Romance Crystals

There were several wonderful jewelry booths, but Medieval Romance Crystals was my favorite. This mother and daughter team love what they do and their designs are beautiful.

I bought some drop-style earrings that this talented, ten year old designed.

Rainbow Obsidian earrings (left); Amethyst earrings with matching wire wrapped amethyst ring

They also have intricate beaded earrings, and sell necklaces, crystals, gemstones, candles and more. They have an online shop, but it only shows a fraction of what they have. You can see more of their jewelry on their Instagram page.

Northman Horns

Want to drink like a viking? You can with your very own drinking horn! This booth sold drinking horns (with or without a holder), horn mugs, and blowing horns. They also sell clothing online.

I did not see viking drinking horns for sale on Northman Horns’ online store, however, KelticKaravan Etsy Shop sells them:

Large 24oz Viking Tankard Drinking Horn Mug image 1
KelticKaravan – Large 24oz Viking Tankard Drinking Horn Mug
Viking Ship Drinking Horn Scrimshaw Beer Mug Stand and Holster image 1
KelticKaravan Etsy shop – Viking Ship Drinking Horn Scrimshaw Beer Mug Stand and Holster

Odin’s Horn

Howard Allman, Blacksmith

My husband and I were both drawn to Howard’s booth. We appreciated the beauty and quality of his work. These handmade grill tools will be the perfect gift for a couple of family members who love to grill. Howard also does custom work. His contact information is below:

Howard & Kathy Allman

PO Box 1865

Hot Springs, AR 71902

(501) 276-7542

odinshorn1431@gmail.com

Overall, this was a fun event. To stay informed on future Ouachita Highland Games, follow their Facebook page.

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Cirque du Soleil – OVO Show

Cirque du Soleil OVO Circus Show

We watched the Cirque du Soleil OVO show, and it was an amazing experience! OVO is a circus show about insect life. Performers wear beautiful costumes representing a diverse array of insects as they play, find love and interact with each other.

This was our daughter’s first Cirque du Soleil show and I was curious how much she would enjoy it as a preteen. She absolutely loved it! She was captivated by the amazing acrobatics, the gorgeous costumes and the comedic element. Although she enjoyed the whole show, she was most impressed with the spider that was able to do a chin stand!

Circus performer doing a chin stand

The show lasted about two hours (including a 20-minute intermission), which was the perfect amount of time for us to fit this show on a weekday. We had an early dinner at home, attended the show, and was back before bed time.

Cirque du Soleil OVO Tickets

Cirque du Soleil OVO will perform at Rio Rancho Events Center (Rio Rancho, New Mexico) from March 3, 2022 to March 6, 2022. Then they will perform at Microsoft Theater (Los Angeles, California) from March 17, 2022 to May 1, 2022.

You can book your Cirque du Soleil OVO tickets here.

Tip: Remember to review the event center’s policies (e.g., mask policy, bag size policy, etc.) prior to attending the event to avoid any surprises. Check to see if there will be any additional fees for parking and bring money for concession stands and souvenirs. You can also take photos as long as you do not use a flash so feel free to bring a camera too!

Cirque du Soleil OVO crickets performing acrobatics on trampoline and airmat

OVO Souvenirs

OVO also sells merchandise at the show and online. My daughter chose the OVO wood water bottle. If you want to preview the merchandise selection before the show, check out their online store.