Beaches Resorts is the family-friendly branch of the Sandals Resorts brand. Families of all sizes are welcomed with open arms at Beaches; I like to say it’s truly ALL inclusive because the resorts are Autism friendly (the resorts have passed IBCCES training) and they’ll truly work with anyone with food allergies to make sure they are safe during their stay.

With 22 restaurants to choose from the resort is an all-inclusive with so many choices. That’s why I’m writing this post: I’m going to tell you my favorite places to eat Beaches Resorts Turks and Caicos.

What does all-inclusive mean?

I’ve only recently discovered the wonderful thing that is the all-inclusive resort. Our normal trips to the beach in Hawaii are to a traditional resort, where you pay for your room and then pay for restaurants separately. Traveling all-inclusive is a game changer and one of my favorite ways to travel now.

An all-inclusive resort is one that, when you book your room, it comes with all your meals and drinks (or some, depending on the resort). The price of the food is built into the overall cost, so you’re paying one lump sum for your entire stay instead of paying each time you eat.

There are many different kinds of all-inclusive resorts that range in size, offerings and quality. If you’re going to go to a resort like this I highly recommend doing your research and seeing exactly what is covered and what’s not. Be sure to also read reviews about food and drinks – if you’re at an all inclusive you’ve going to want to eat there the entire trip so as not to spend extra.

Beaches Resorts are truly all-inclusive: they include all your food, every meal, no matter how many of them you eat. All of your alcohol is included, even top shelf. You can choose anything available at the bar when you order your drink. They only charge extra for some wines outside of the ones they offer (they have a partnership with Robert Mondavi).

I haven’t eaten at every restaurant at the resort but we managed to try several, so the following are what we love about them.

Important things to note about the food at Beaches Resorts:

• There is no room service at the resort. However, you’re allowed to bring food to your room and there is a microwave and a refrigerator.
• Be sure to note restaurant open and close times. Sometimes there is a dead period in the day where only one or two are available.
• There isn’t any formal pool service. Some of the pools have a drink server, but there is no food menu. You can, however, get to-go meals at any restaurant and take them to the pool.
• Know the dress code! Most are resort casual – but that doesn’t always means bathing suits are ok. Only a few require more dressy attire (slacks and collared shirts for men).
• Only one restaurant requires reservations: Kimonos. Be sure to reserve this when you arrive by calling the culinary desk. You won’t want to miss it.

Our favorite places to eat at Beaches Turks and Caicos:

Bayside Restaurant

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Resort Casual
Key West

This restaurant is buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast and lunch are buffet; dinner is ala carte.

The food here is fine, it’s buffet food, but the view is why we love it.  We come for breakfast every morning just to see the beach and the water. It’s an open-air restaurant, wear your bathing suit with a coverup and head to the beach after you eat.

Favorites include: spicy pepper steak and the fruit bar. They also have cereal, oatmeal and all your traditional breakfast items. They’ll make an omelette or specially cooked eggs to order.

Marios

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Resort Casual
Italian Village

The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We highly recommend going for dinner! (Except on the weekends: then it’s just buffet.)

Food-wise, Marios is our favorite at the resort. There is an antipasti buffet for everyone to indulge in before they order, which includes an array of salad fixings, cheeses and charcuterie, and breads.

Their menu includes sections for risotto/pasta, mains, and dessert. The portions are small enough you can order a main with a few risottos or pastas to share. Our favorites are: the cheese ravioli and mushroom risotto, the lamb, and the shrimp main courses. Everything is fabulous

Leave room for dessert at Marios! It’s some of the best at the resort: the chocolate tart is SO GOOD. They’ll package it for you to go if you ask.

Barefoot By The Sea

Lunch and Dinner
Resort Casual
Italian Village

This is the first restaurant I ate at at Beaches Resort Turks and Caicos and we really enjoy it. Located practically on the beach at the Italian Village, Barefoot By The Sea is a sandy restaurant – literally. Ditch your shoes on arrival and eat overlooking the ocean.

It’s open for lunch and dinner but I highly recommend the dinner menu: that’s when they offer the coconut shrimp. Everyone talks about how good it is; this past weekend we ordered 11 orders of it with 12 people in our party.

Their menu is seafood centered but the kids menu is full of things kids actually like. This is also the place to try conch – the conch fritters are delish.

Kimonos

Dinner only
Resort Casual
Near French Village; across from Red Lane Spa
Reservations required!

This is the restaurant you need to reserve when you get to the resort. (During busy times I can see that it would sell out.)

Kimonos is a hibachi restaurant, where everyone sits around the grill and the chef cooks while you watch. It’s a preset menu and you get a little bit of everything. Come hungry: it’s a lot of food. You’ll get shrimp, fish, chicken, steak, vegetables, soup, fried rice and dessert. (My advice: skip the dessert.) The soup was delicious, and I normally don’t love soups at hibachi. I also loved the steak and shrimp the most.

Most of the appeal of the meal is the service: the chefs are amazing. Your dinner will be fun – be sure to show the chef how excited you are at the beginning for an even better experience. Our chef serenaded us the entire meal while we sang along. With a large group especially, this is a fabulous experience.

Cafe de Paris

All day dining
Resort Casual
French Village

This restaurant is open for breakfast and all day for coffee and pastries. Breakfast is ok, nothing special, they’re best for coffee, but you NEED to come here for dessert. They’re open late, so after a meal stop in and get one or two or eight of the small desserts to try. They’ll fill a to-go box for you and you can take them back to your room or eat wherever you want around the resort.

I enjoyed everything I tried from Cafe de Paris. My favorites were the Banana Cake, Carrot Cake, and Chocolate Tart. But honestly, you can’t go wrong here. They also have crepes in the morning and fondue and cookies at night.

Dinos / Bella Napoli

Lunch through the afternoon (11am-5pm)
Resort Casual
Italian Village or Caribbean Village

Both of these are pizza places, located in different areas. I am pretty sure they use the same recipe and are just branded differently, ha! If you’re in the Italian area, go to Dinos. In Caribbean, you’ll be wanting to try Bella Napoli.

We hit up Dinos probably five times in four days. The pizzas are made hot to order and are really good. The thin crust is crunchy and chewy and the toppings are fresh.

My favorite is the three meat but you can’t go wrong with any of their pizzas.

**They open at 11 and close at 5 so plan accordingly.**

Order a few for your room in case you need a morning carb sesh (easy to need at an all-inclusive where drinks are free flowing). Be sure to get there before 5pm!

If you want to get pizza before returning to the airport, take note of your departure time. They don’t open until 11 and the line is CRAZY because everyone has the same idea. Buy them the evening before – cold pizza is just as good and better than anything at the airport.

Mr. Mac and Cheese

Open 11am-5pm
Food truck near the kids play area

This truck is a true gem! Near the kid pool, this bright yellow food truck is the perfect midday lunch or (hangover) snack. Don’t think you like macaroni and cheese? You haven’t tried Mr. Mac and Cheese!

With more than eight gourmet mac ‘n cheese options, you’re going to have trouble finding one you want to order. (So go ahead, order them all!) I’ve tried all of them and my favorites are the Mac ‘n Cheese Balls, Taco Mac, and Philly Cheesesteak. The taco mac is by far my favorite!

They also close early, so be sure to grab one during the day.

Bobby Dee’s

Open all night! 11am-6am
Casual
By Kid Zone and the water park

While Bobby Dee’s is in the kid area, it’s not just for kids! The burgers and fries and chicken sandwiches are AMAZING. They don’t open until 11 but they’re open late for an early midnight snack. They also have popcorn and ice cream, cookies, and even slices of pizza available until they close.

Arizona’s

Lunch (Buffet) and Dinner (ala carte)
Resort Casual
By the sea behind Caribbean Village

We came here for a quick lunch and it was actually really good. There’s indoor and outdoor seating and lunch is a buffet. I wouldn’t really call this southwestern food but more southwest inspired Caribbean food. They did have tacos but also gyro fixings, fries and so many other eclectic items.

I loved the gyro meat and the jerk pork was fabulous. The curly fries are a hot commodity so grab yours while you can. Margaritas were good to!

Cricketer’s Pub

Open late: 12pm-2am
Resort Casual
Italian Village

This is a great place to grab a meal when you’re hangry. English inspired pub food is great hangover food too. Mel liked the bangers and mash and the wedge salad was really good. Great beers on tap as well.

If you love karaoke, this is where it’s held. Check the resort schedule for times!

Curls ‘n Swirls

Food Truck near kids area
Open during the day, 11am-5pm

This is a fun ice cream truck that makes milkshakes. They’ll do basic flavors but the signature flavors are fantastic. The Key Lime is my favorite! This is a great place to grab something sweet while the kids play.

Beaches Resorts Turks and Caicos has so many restaurants to choose from – come hungry!

No counting calories at Beaches! Plus I love that they serve top shelf alcohol – you just have to ask. They’ll give you anything you like if you ask!

Have you been to Beaches? What’s your favorite restaurant?

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I’ve been to Napa a handful of times but a few years ago I attended a press lunch given by Sonoma County Tourism. I’d always thought of Sonoma as a college town and Santa Rosa as just an extension of San Francisco but I was way off base: the entire area is ripe with wineries and delicious restaurants, just like Napa Valley.

After spending a week in Sonoma County I realized something: I like it so much more than Napa. It’s much more relaxed and just as beautiful with just as much amazing wine and food. From now on I will be heading to Sonoma and Santa Rosa when I plan our wine country trips (it doesn’t help I joined TWO wine clubs while we were in town!)

Sonoma County has amazing wineries and food and is more laidback and accessible than Napa!

If you’re looking for a few ideas for restaurants and wineries in Sonoma County, read on. These are some of my favorite places and I know you’ll all love them too!

Where to Eat in Sonoma County

1. The Girl and the Fig

I cannot recommend The Girl & The Fig enough. It’s an absolutely fabulous restaurant with amazing food. We enjoyed their Fig Royale (a Kir Royale made with fig liquor instead of Chambord) as well as charcuterie, several of their specialties and desserts. My favorite dessert was a Lavender Creme Brûlée that was so good. I’m making a copycat as I write this! I’ve told my husband our next wine trip will be to Sonoma, and I’m planning to eat here again (and again).

2. Cafe Citti

We stayed at a house in Kenwood which is midway between Sonoma and Santa Rosa. There weren’t a ton of restaurants super close to the house but Cafe Citti was one of them. It was recommended by two people before our trip and since we could walk from the house it was a no-brainer. It’s an order-then-sit restaurant but has waiters to bring out your food and it was so good. Italian food is my favorite and this was one of the better meals I’ve had. We tried several pasta dishes as well as a half chicken and shared them – very good! (There is no bar, just wine and beer, so keep that in mind.)

3. Palooza Brewery & Gastropub

Also down the road from our Kenwood home, Palooza was a nice find for lunch. It was easy and fresh with delicious cocktails and fried pickles on the menu. It’s a great place to grab some hearty food in between wine tastings too.

Wineries to visit in Sonoma County

Sonoma County, like Napa, is a long and spread out valley full of vineyards as far as the eye can see. Benziger, Chateau St. Jean, and La Cream are just a few of the more recognizable wineries in Sonoma County.

When you’re planning a winery tour you want to think ahead about a few things:

• How many wineries will you visit in a day?
• Transportation to and from – don’t drink and drive!
• Is there food at the winery? Or other things to do besides taste?

Personally I like one or two winery visits max in one day or I get so tipsy I can’t remember anything – and then I pass out before dinner. When I planned this Sonoma retreat I decided on one winery each day. We selected wineries that also had food pairings or experiences because I like exploring the vineyards, etc. If you’re just in and out of the car tasting, it’s not much fun.

4. St. Francis Winery

One of the wineries we visited is located on the tip of Santa Rosa and Kenwood, just 2 miles from where we were staying. The property is absolutely gorgeous and you’re allowed to walk in the vineyards while you’re on site. It was a super hot day when we were there so we couldn’t walk as much as we wanted to, but it would be fantastic to go in spring or fall when the temps are in an it’s-ok-to-be-outdoors range.

St. Francis has several wine experiences, some that are just tastings and a few that are food pairings. I’d heard amazing things about the Wine & Food Pairing and we were able to attend one while we visited.

The visit to St. Francis starts with a glass of their chardonnay as a welcome. You’re able to walk in the vineyards or lounge on the patio overlooking the valley while you wait for your tasting.

The tasting is a complete five course meal where each course is paired with one of their signature wines. The menu is seasonal, so we had their summer menu which included melon salad, an amazing pasta dish, and that cake with white nectarines and Whipped Vanilla Crème Fraîche. The meal was epic, seriously and I will plan to do it again with my husband.

After the meal I asked to taste their Rosé, and everyone else asked too, and they brought out tastings for all of us…in one carry!

St. Francis is known for their Zinfandel, but I truly enjoyed their Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé. I’m not a huge red wine drinker but the Pinot Noir was so good I brought home a bottle of that as well…and I joined their wine club so it’s only a matter of time before I visit them again to pick up my shipment.

5. Jordan Winery

Located in Alexander Valley outside Healdsburg, Jordan Winery only makes two wines: Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. My husband and I love Jordan Chardonnay and order it quite often in restaurants. Jordan Winery has been family owned and operated since 1972. The Jordan Family loved French wine and brought the French style of wine making to Sonoma County.

There are several tastings to choose from at Jordan Winery, from simple to elaborate. We were able to attend a Chateau Block Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard Tasting during our visit. This tasting takes place above the vineyard (bring your walking shoes!) on picnic tables overlooking their newest “baby” vineyard.

We were welcomed to the estate with a glass of chardonnay (my favorite!) and then headed up to the vineyard for the tasting. Our tasting included different Cabernet Sauvignon wines as well as local charcuterie from Journeyman Meat Co. in Healdsburg. We also got to taste Jordan Olive Oil which was, no joke, the best olive oil I’ve ever tasted. I brought some home to enjoy with bread and charcuterie…or in a glass.

I really enjoyed the different Cabernets we tasted and along with the view and good company I highly recommend this tasting.

Jordan Winery doesn’t have a traditional wine club per se, but instead they have a rewards system. Each visit or purchase accumulates points which you can use towards tastings, events or even staying overnight at the estate. You can join the club here.

Other fun things to do when you visit Sonoma County:

6. Rent a house instead of a hotel!

We stayed at Casa Bella in Kenwood. It was a 10 bedroom property that would be perfect for families or large groups like ours. There are other smaller options in the area too, and it’s nice to be able to go home after a long day and just make charcuterie for dinner.

Oriental Trading Company helped sponsor our trip so one night we put on a Gothic Halloween Party with their new line. You can also make custom shirts through Oriental Trading Company now. Amy from Living Locurto made us all “May Contain Wine” shirts to wear. I have to admit – I don’t normally like those printable t-shirts – they never fit right – but these were super comfortable. Best custom shirts ever, seriously.

We also made an epic charcuterie board that spanned the entire dining room table! After a day of charcuterie at Jordan Winery we ate more charcuterie for dinner…you can never have too much cheese!

Another thing I like about staying at a house is that we could make our own breakfast. One morning we made Hummus Toast (have you ever had it? SO GOOD). Sabra was a sponsor of our trip and it was so much fun to see what everyone did with their #hummustoast.

7. Shop in Downtown Healdsburg or Sonoma

After our trip to Jordan Winery, we stopped in Healdsburg to shop. The downtown square has tons of cute shops and restaurants and we spent an hour wandering around. I think it would be perfect to do as a full day trip: eat, visit the tasting rooms and shop.

We got ice cream and pie at Noble Folk. They had traditional flavors but also this maple cornflake ice cream which was surprisingly good and very refreshing. The pies were bomb too!

The 10 of us had a fabulous week in Sonoma County and I can’t wait to go back. I want to give a thanks to our sponsors: Mediavine, Danish Creamery, Tamron USA, Oriental Trading and Sabra. Also a huge thank you goes to The Girl & The Fig, St. Francis Winery and Jordan Winery for hosting us.

Photo credit for some photos used in this post: Amy from Living Locurto (my co-host).

This post was sponsored by the companies listed above. All opinions and my love of Sonoma County is my own.

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A few weeks ago I got to spend a few days in Las Vegas with a group of other food bloggers. If you follow me on instagram, you may have followed along on our eating adventures, but in case you missed it, here is a list of the best places to eat in Las Vegas, from breakfast to dessert and everything in between.

Looking for a place to stay while you’re eating Las Vegas? We stayed at Caesar’s Palace in it’s gorgeous Palace Tower rooms. The rooms are well appointed with comfortable beds and marble bathrooms and are the perfect size for when you’re staying and playing in Las Vegas.

We enjoyed several amazing meals during the three days we were there. We ordered in a few meals for while we worked and the rest of the time we got to experience some of the best restaurants Las Vegas has to offer.

Crunch Donut Factory

Doughnuts are the first thing I look for when I’m staying in a new city. Since we wanted to order a bunch of choices in, I went with Crunch Donut Factory because Postmates will deliver them to your hotel.

The doughnuts are delicious and have fun names like Snoop Doughg Donut or  the Beyonce Doughles Lemonade Donut (which is that one in the bottom corner – it was everyone’s favorite).

Poolside Cocktails at Caesar’s Palace

When in Vegas you MUST head to the gorgeous pools. Caesar’s Palace has several pools to enjoy and their cabanas are a great way to escape the intense heat. Order burgers and appetizers from the pool menu or do what we did: get a pitcher of Frosé!

The cabanas at Caesars all have complimentary waters and sodas, plus a TV and a safe for poolside fun.

Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen

Modeled after the TV show, I wasn’t sure what to expect when we arrived at Hell’s Kitchen for lunch, but I was almost immediately enthralled. I have to say: I had one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten at this restaurant.

We were served his signature beef Wellington, which was so tender it didn’t even need a knife to cut it. This was followed by the Sticky Toffee Pudding and Pineapple Carpaccio, both of which were like heaven. This is definitely worth a stop on your food tour of Las Vegas.

Voodoo Steak at the Rio

When I heard we were having dinner at the Rio I was excited: I got engaged there almost exactly 18 years before our dinner!

The Rio is off-strip but worth a trip, even if you just go have a drink at the Voodoo Lounge. It’s 50 stories up and has magnificent views of Las Vegas.

We were treated to the new Chef’s Tasting Menu, a 6-course meal including an appetizer, salad, seafood, and steak and the amazing dessert display you see above. Called “The Spell” it’s a dessert show put on by the chefs: they cover the table in parchment paper and lay out bite sized macarons and brownies along with artistic flavorful sauces and dusts, like a work of art. The entire dessert took at least 30 minutes and it was a piece of magnificence.

Voodoo Steak is also where we had their signature cocktail, The Witch Doctor dry ice cocktail. I made a copycat of this drink, which is basically Rum Punch. It was a stunning presentation and served about 3 people per cocktail.

Sin City Cupcakes

When Sin City Cupcakes realized we were coming to town, they offered to send us some of their boozy cupcakes and cake truffles. I absolutely LOVED their cake truffles – especially the champagne ones! They deliver!

Lago by Julian Serrano

We wanted a fancy night out for dinner so we chose Lago at the Bellagio. It overlooks the fountains and is a gorgeous restaurant from renowned chef Julian Serrano. I also chose it because it’s Italian inspired and because it’s all small plates: Italian Tapas, if you will. I knew that after lunch at Hell’s Kitchen we wouldn’t need a huge meal.

We ordered two of everything for the 12 of us at the table. Everything was delicious, from the Burrata to the Gnocchi to the Tiramisu and Creme Brûlée for dessert. The signature cocktail was delicious too!

Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill

The night we rode The High Roller (such a fun experience!) we wanted to eat close to the ride, so we chose to eat at Harrah’s. Toby Keith’s restaurant is there and it’s a fun country-style restaurant.

(Beware though: the waitresses wear chaps…use your imagination.)

The BBQ was good, the cocktails were huge, and the desserts were delicious. Pecan pie and fried Twinkies, what my dreams are made of.

When you’re in Las Vegas, something to know is that cocktails are expensive. In fact, everything is expensive, even Starbucks! That’s why a few of the nights we decided to have cocktail hour in the room. By doing a little grocery shopping when you arrive in Las Vegas you can save yourself a ton of money.

My new favorite tequila is Exotico – it’s so smooth and makes delicious margaritas.

And if you’re looking to have a wine cocktail hour, I suggest Sutter Home wines. I have fallen in love with their Rosé!

I want to thank all of our sponsors for the #VegasFoodieReteat: Caesar’s Palace, Exotico Tequila, Mediavine, Challenge Dairy, Sutter Home, and Goverre.

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Have you ever researched Disneyland Secrets? There are a ton out there, just check on Pinterest. They range from small (noticing the apartment above the Fire Station on Main Street, where Walt Disney used to stay) to large and explosive (that the skull in Pirate’s is REAL).

Disneyland secrets range from just knowing things, like the skull (because really, you can’t go up to check it out yourself), to things you can actually do and try to see if they work. But do you want to spend your time trying? That’s what this post is for: 6 Disneyland secrets EXPOSED. Tried and true – did they work or didn’t they?

If you love Disneyland as much as we do, you’ve probably researched some of these secrets. And if you go as often as we do, you have time to seek them out. But what if you’re visiting Disney for the first time or have limited touring time? We are taking the guesswork out of these secrets: pick and choose the ones that work that you really want to see or do!

Before we get into this post, I’d like to thank Mediavine for their support. Because of them, I was able to take my daughter and her friends who’d never been to Disneyland to visit the parks before they move. This post has been created as part of their new initiative for Mediavine, the Future Bloggers of America. Jordan and her friends were the creative directors behind the video and content below, I was just there to film it for them.

6 Disneyland Secrets Exposed: are they worth your time to explore?

Watch the video below to find out!

1. Indiana Jones Line

Pull the rope even when it says not to for a surprise!

2. Does asking a cast member how their day is get you a free pickle?

Whichever way it turns out, the Disneyland pickles are the best ones ever!

3. The Haunted Mansion…drinking ghosts?

This secret may not be appropriate for kids, but we loved it!

4. The Phone Call

You may be looking for those phones with mysterious messages all over Tomorrowland and Main Street. Check out the video to see the truth!

5. The Jungle Cruise Joke

Do the natives really talk about DISCO?

6. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

Is there an easier way to get points????

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Not only is Breckenridge, Colorado a ski town, but it’s perfect for families, couples, and yes, even girlfriend getaways. Here 6 tips for the perfect girls getaway when your’e visiting Breckenridge in October.

Tips for Visiting Breckenridge in October (bonus points if it’s a girls getaway):

1. Getting to Breck

The best way to get to Breckenridge is to fly into Denver International Airport. Break is about a 2 hour drive from the airport. You have a few different ways you can get there: rent a car, hire a car, or take a shuttle.

Renting a car is the best option if you want to have transportation in Breck. As our driver told us, Uber and Lyft are practically nonexistent so if you want to get around, you’ll need a car.

However, if you’re going on a girls weekend (read: wine weekend) and don’t need a car, then you’re left with hiring one or taking a shuttle. Shuttles are scheduled a few times per day (assigned according to your flight arrival time) and are about $65 on average per person.

If you have a few people arriving at the same time, I recommend hiring a car. Summit Express is who I hired to take us up the mountain, and while it’s expensive to hire an SUV or personal van, you’re not waiting on anyone else. Plus, it gets your girlfriend weekend off on the right foot!

(Tip: have cash to tip your driver and pop into Vino Volo at the Denver airport to get a “snack” for your ride.)

2. Rent a House

Are there more than 4-5 of you girls getting together? Don’t try and organize hotel rooms; renting a house is so much better and easier. You can cook together, drink wine by the fire, and not worry about whose room you’re hanging out in.

Pinnacle Lodgings is a great resource for finding a good house (or condo). When we went to Breck for the weekend there were 10 of us, so we rented The Overlook. It was a GORGEOUS home with enough bedrooms and bathrooms for everyone, plus a gourmet kitchen.

Seriously, I could get used to living like that. From the state of the art kitchen to the bathrooms for each bedroom and all the amenities and things everyone would need (like hair dryers), this house would be perfect for a girls weekend or a family ski weekend.

One of the best things about visiting Breckenridge in October is that it’s off season, which means housing is cheaper. You’re going to be able to rent a home or condo like this one for much less than during peak ski or summer season.

The Overlook is close to skiing for winter and hiking for summer, and it’s big enough that you and your girlfriends can relax all weekend and never leave if you don’t want to.

3. Weather

The weather in October in Breckenridge is unpredictable. The average highs are in the 50s, but it can range from high 60s to low 30s. Make sure to pack layers because you never know, plus everything indoors is heated well.

I think snow in October is somewhat rare, but when we were there it snowed. I was so excited; I’d never been in snow while it was snowing and it as magical.

That’s me, being a dork. See my full reaction here.

Basically, the weather in October is perfect if you’re not there for hiking or skiing. It’s the perfect sweater and hot chocolate (with schnapps) weather.

4. Town

Plan for a full day in town. There are so many shops and restaurants and you’ll want to see them all. We only spent a few hours shopping and we were so busy I forgot to take any photos! My friend Holly took this one of Starbucks, and it gives you an idea of how cute town is.

There are stores for everything, from souvenirs to clothing, home to kids toys and everything in between. There are restaurants and cafes everywhere too. Plan a day to shop shop shop.

I loved Marigold’s Farmhouse Funk & Junk (I bought jewelry, clothes, and Christmas ornaments made out of old spoons and hand painted), Fuzziwigs for kids souvenirs, and the Colorado souvenir store next to Starbucks for t-shirts and such.

5. Altitude Sickness is REAL

Breckenridge is at approximately 9,600 feet above sea level. Even if you think you’re used to altitude, this is some serious stuff. I never have issues in Tahoe (about 5000 ft) but every time I moved in Breck I thought I was having a heart attack. Just talking would make me breathless. It really is a blow to the self-esteem, making you think you are out of shape, but it’s just the altitude.

Luckily, the town knows this. If you’re struggling with altitude sickness or oxygenation (or have a hangover) you can get oxygen and/or IV medicine at Vida-Flo on Main Street. A gal in our party was really sick and they gave her nausea medication and fluids, as well as oxygen and it really helped.

6. FOOD!

I can’t forget about the food! Because we rented a house, we didn’t eat out much. But we did have a few good meals in and out of the house.

For a girls trip where you rent a house, it’s so fun to cook together. We were all food bloggers, so this was easy. At the end of the weekend the fridge looked like we didn’t eat anything!

Most memorable home cooked meal: Creamy Tomato Basil Soup by my friend Lynne. I don’t even like tomato soup and it was pure heaven.

We went out to eat at The Canteen and it was really good. Get the macaroni and cheese! And a cocktail because this is how they serve it:

We had pizza delivered one night from Giampietro Pizza. It was SO GOOD. I highly recommend the cannoli for dessert.

If you want a fun dinner at home Real Housewives style, get a chef to come in and cook for you. We did that the last night and he prepared a gourmet meal from start to finish. Chef Christian made a delicious meal for us and I ate every last bit.

If you’re thinking of visiting Breck, DO IT. I highly recommend visiting in October when the weather is mild, the town is less crowded, and the lodging is cheaper. Have you been to Breckenridge? Tell me what you loved in the comments!

Thank you to GoBreck, Pinnacle Lodging, and Mediavine for sponsoring the retreat. All opinions are 100% my own.

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Last month, when we were in Seattle, we ate TONS of food. My favorite thing to do when I travel to a city is not see the sights or do a museum; no, my favorite thing to do is EAT. Before I travel I spend weeks researching the best restaurants for every meal (and snacks in between). Which has the best dessert menu? What bakery should we try for breakfast? What bar has the best cocktail menu? I travel armed with a list and a personalized google map and my stretchy pants.

When we arrived in Seattle for our stay at Motif, I knew we’d be eating at one of the better restaurants in town because it was inside the hotel. We’d be enjoying dinner there our first night, as well as cocktails and breakfast during our stay because when your hotel has a gorgeous rooftop bar you take advantage of it – daily.

Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails is the destination spot for downtown Seattle, complete with regional American cuisine and a rooftop bar.

It was absolutely beautiful weather when we were in Seattle; hot even. On those days that the sun shines, a rooftop bar is where everyone needs to be, soaking up the rays. As one of the only premiere rooftop bars in Seattle, Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails is a literal ray of sunshine atop the hotel. The outdoor patio houses a modern style fireplace, white lights across the top, and lots of tables and chairs for an intimate drink or a group of friends hosting a party. (And if it rains they have a tent!)

Also: their drink menu is en pointe.

The drink menu consisted of fun drinks like an Italian Afternoon (above) or a Summer Sour (top photo). Both had liberal pours and tasted fantastic. This is also the place I fell in love with rosé.

Jordan was with us on our trip and her favorite “bar” drink is a Shirley Temple. Unfortunately, they didn’t have grenadine or cherries but the bartender offered to make a hibiscus syrup version. Jordan was thrilled and drank several of them, proclaiming them even better than her regular Shirley. She also discovered a virgin mojito and has since begged me to make them at home.

Did I mention the comfortable chairs on the rooftop? Jordan is a budding YouTube and Instagram star, so we took several shots to get the perfect “look,” which she immediately filtered Reyes (her signature filter).

The rooftop bar also houses pingpong and corn hole. Mel and Jordan enjoyed hitting other patrons with their ping pong balls. ?

At night, the two games light up neon and change colors. It was fun to watch from our hotel room, which overlooked the bar several stories above.

Jordan has a good arm, it turns out!

Of course, hanging out at the bar wasn’t the only thing we did at Frolik…we also ATE! The menu is wide ranging, since they serve every meal.

We ate breakfast there one of the mornings. I absolutely LOVED the granola. It was beyond delicious, and the coffee was GOOD, not the normal “hotel coffee”.

On our first night, Frolik hosted us for dinner. We ordered off the bar and dinner menu (and dessert) for a nice variety.

For appetizers we ordered the Cured Meats, Penn Cove Mussels (which Jordan liked!) and House Roasted Rosemary Nuts. Those nuts were one of the BEST snacks I’d ever tried and cannot wait to try and recreate them at home.

Dinner was the Grass Fed Burger (Jordan gave it two thumbs up), the Confit Duck Leg (Mel still talks about it), and I ordered the Skirt Steak Fritz (um, it had bacon on it… #winning).

Then came DESSERT!

After all that food I wasn’t hungry, but I pressed on. It’s a hard job, but someone has to do it.

(At this point, Jordan was tired of hanging with her parents and left us for the room, so we had a romantic date hour over wine and dessert, which is one of the things I love about having a tweenager.)

The first thing that caught my eye on the menu was the chocolate whoopee pie, complete with a salted peanut frosting and peanut powder. Mel’s was practically salivating (peanut butter is his favorite thing). BUT…do you want to hear something shocking?

Mel said he liked the Almond Poppyseed Cake the best.

Let that sink in for a minute.

I know, right? Still a head scratcher.

The almond poppyseed cake isn’t something I’d normally order but seeing it on the menu made me crave almond extract (which I’d drink if it wasn’t, you know, gross). This little cake was HEAVEN. Mel ate more than one bite, a record.

It was so good I had to try and recreate it at home: Almond Poppyseed Loaf Cake. Just as good…but sadly without the nice atmosphere.

Overall, our meals at Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails were fabulous. I loved every bite, plus the staff is friendly and accommodating and happy to be there. I 100% recommend it if you’re in Seattle, either a local or visiting!

Now…back to that almond cake. It’s what dreams are made of….

Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails hosted us for dinner during our stay in Seattle. All opinions are 100% my own.

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Last weekend my family and I took a short trip to Seattle, Washington. We wanted to get away for a few nights to celebrate my husband’s birthday and the flights to Seattle were affordable that weekend. Then I just had to find a good place to stay for the three of us.

It’s always challenging to find hotel rooms when you have kids. We usually stay in suite hotels, but those are often hard to find in downtown city areas where we like to stay. (I like being in the middle of everything when I travel.) If we don’t have a suite we definitely want a big room that will accommodate us without feeling claustrophobic. I searched through dozens of downtown Seattle hotels and knew I had the perfect match when I found the Motif Seattle.

The Best Hotel In Seattle: The Motif Seattle

Motif Seattle is located downtown, right in the middle of everything there is to see in Seattle. The hotel is on 5th Avenue, just steps from Westlake Center and the monorail stop. Just a few short blocks away is Pike Place Market and in between are numerous restaurants and shops. The hotel is very walkable to almost everything you want to see in the Emerald City. We didn’t need a car and took an Uber anywhere to far to walk.

Check-in is easy and painless and the staff is friendly and very helpful. They even have wine tasting at check-in time! And if you happen to arrive earlier than noon and your room is ready you can check in early for a small fee.

The Motif features 319 newly renovated rooms. The decor is minimal and urban and very comfortable. You have a few different choices when making your room reservation: two queens, a king, or a suite. We chose a double queen room and were pleasantly surprised by the size. Since we were all sharing a room I wanted to make sure we had ample space for all of us, and the Motif had that and then some. The room had two queen beds with a small sofa in between, as well as a desk area and large entry hallway, providing us plenty of space for all of our luggage and to spread out a bit. We even decided to get a rollaway bed and it fit perfectly right between the queen beds (we like our space when we sleep!)

The king rooms feature a king size bed and a pull out L-couch, with plenty of space to move around, and the suites have separate living and sleeping spaces.

I absolutely loved how the bathroom counter had plenty of room. Often in city hotel rooms there is no place to put your toiletries, and with three people we needed as much room as we could get. The desk space was also ample for working.

The best part of the hotel room, though, was the view. The rooms at Motif either have a view of the Emerald City Skyline or the waterfront. We had a water view and it was breathtaking.

Every night we sat on our beds and watch the sunset. We are a water-loving family who are land-locked where we live. Going to a city where we can see the water all day? Priceless.

In addition to the comfortable beds, gorgeous view, and urban decor, the room also offered some of the comforts of home.

Each room has a refrigerator, perfect for traveling with a family. There is a Walgreens and a Target within just a few blocks, which makes it easy to stock up on wine or waters and snacks. I even bought orange juice for Jordan in the mornings, something she loves to drink to start her day.

If nothing else, Seattle knows it’s coffee. There’s no boring hotel coffee at the Motif; they have a real Keurig that brews real K-cups, and they provide complimentary Starbucks k-cups with real coffee mugs and real creamer. I always travel with Via travel packs because I normally can’t stand hotel coffee, but the Motif has done it right. You can trust they’ll have good caffeine for you to wake up with. They even provide 2 complimentary bottles of water each night.

The restaurant hotel, Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails was fabulous as well. We ate there for dinner, breakfast, and drinks and enjoyed every sip and bite. I’ll be posting about the restaurant soon! In the meantime, be sure to check out one of the recipes inspired by our stay: Pink Rosé Lemonade.

Our stay at the Motif was truly magical. I loved every minute of being in the hotel room and I guarantee that when I return to Seattle they will be the first hotel I check for reservations.

I still can’t get over the view. I’d never get tired of that!

Motif Seattle gave me a combination media rate/comped stay to write abut the hotel. All opinions are 100% my own. I truly loved my experience at this hotel!

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Some people get excited about rides when they go to Disneyland. Some people look forward to seeing the characters or strolling main street. Me? I get excited about THE FOOD. I love all the food at Disneyland and every time I go I can’t wait to try new (and old) favorites. Usually I hit up every single bakery and buy way too many goodies, then we eat them for a week. That’s not abnormal, right?

If you’re going to Disneyland or Downtown Disney and want to get some quintessential Disney food, you must try at least one (or ten) of these 16 foods you MUST eat at Disneyland. It wouldn’t be a trip to Disneyland with out filling up your stomach or emptying your wallet, now would it?

Oh, and quick tip. You know you can bring food and drinks into Disneyland, right? (Just make sure drinks are in plastic bottles, not cans or glass.) I always pack snacks and lunch and waters, and save my money for DESSERT.

What are the best foods to eat in Disneyland? Here are my favorites – 16 things you MUST EAT at Disneyland!

1. Mickey Mouse Cake Pop

Really, any cake pop. The cake pops at Disney are amazingly good. You can find them in almost every single bakery, made for almost every character depending on the land you’re in. But my favorite is  Mickey or Minnie because they’re just classic!

2. Matterhorn Macaroon

Hands down, the Matterhorn Macaroons are the BEST MACAROON YOU’LL EVER EAT. They do something to the batter to get them almost buttery, and the white chocolate topping is the icing on the cake. I’ve even made a copycat version of them, with my BEST Macaroon Recipe. You can find the Matterhorn Macaroons at the Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe.

3. Peanut Butter Sandwiches

Hands down, these are one of my favorite indulgent Disneyland treats. Two graham crackers are sandwiched with a thick and rich peanut butter filling and then the whole thing is dipped in chocolate. It’s a meal in itself! Find them at most of the bakeries around the park, or make your own with my copycat Disneyland Peanut Butter Sandwich Bars recipe.

4. Ginormous Cookies

I always hit up the bakery on Main Street for their ginormous cookies. They have chocolate chip, peanut butter, and snickerdoodle and they’re all good, although the peanut butter is my favorite. If you don’t want to wait to go to Disneyland, try my Disney copycat Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies and XL Peanut Butter Cookies, and I’m pretty sure my Snickerdoodle recipe gives Disneyland a run for it’s money!

5. Toffee

Where else can you get a piece of toffee the size of your hand? DISNEYLAND of course. We always buy a toffee square because it’s Mel’s favorite! You can find them at the candy shop on Main Street. This toffee is a MUST EAT at Disneyland!

6. Mickey Brownie

I mean, who can say no to brownies in general, but one shaped as Mickey ears? I’m doomed…to eat the whole thing! Find them at the bakery on Main Street. Speaking of Mickey Mouse, check out these adorable Mickey Mouse Oreo cupcakes from Big Bear’s Wife. SO cute!

7. Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port (Tomorrowland)

If you need a quick lunch that’s really good (and has a shady spot to sit down), try Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port. The slices are huge and even though there will be a long line, it moves fast. Have your family stalk a table while you wait in line and you can all have a good rest before heading back out for more touring. Plus the pizza is actually really good!

Tell me that this adorable cake pop isn’t something that you MUST EAT at Disneyland… and I’ll call your bluff.

8. Starbucks (Main Street)

I know, there are Starbucks everywhere. Why go in Disneyland? Well, one because they sell Pirate’s of the Caribbean Cake Pops. And two, because you can get your Starbucks City Mug that says Disneyland. And if you’ve been in the park since 8am, you probably need some caffeine to keep going until fireworks.

(And you can train your kids to be like you and Instagram their drinks!)

9. Mickey Mouse Beignets

I never knew these existed until recently and OMG, THEY ARE SO GOOD. You find them at the Mint Julep Bar, right next to the train station in New Orleans Square. Skip the mint juleps (really, what’s a mint julep without alcohol?) and get a bag of these beignets. They’re served warm and they’re pillowy soft, plus they stay good all day…if they last that long. If you can’t make it to Disneyland for Mickey Mouse beignets, make Cafe Du Monde beignets at home.

10. Mickey Mouse Soft Pretzel

I mean…it’s a must. I get one every single time I’m in the park. The pretzel itself is mediocre compared to the perfect soft pretzel, or even the mall pretzels, but it’s shaped like Mickey. That makes it the best pretzel you’ve ever eaten! Find a pretzel cart just on your way into Frontierland (around the corner from Big Thunder Mountain) or in a cart on Main Street near the Walt Disney statue.

11. Tigger Tail

Okay, I don’t like marshmallows that much but this? THIS WAS WORTH EVERY CALORIE. Three marshmallows, dipped in caramel, then dipped in chocolate. They have them for every character just about, but Tigger is the original. If you’ve ever had spoon candy, this is just like it, but on a stick. You can find them on Main Street at the bakery or in the store next to the Winnie the Pooh ride. (That store also carries DOG GEAR, like bowls and toys!)

12. Peanut Butter Heaven

I had this a few years ago and it’s one of the best candies in all of Disneyland. It’s almost like a peanut butter Snickers bar: peanut butter nougat with caramel and peanuts dipped in chocolate. They usually have them at the Main Street candy shop or the Jolly Holly Bakery. Also check the candy shop in Downtown Disney!

13. Aladdin’s Oasis Grab-n-Go

If you’re doing the Main Street Electrical Parade and want reserved seating (which I talked about in my Disney Touring Plan post) you can reserve a meal at Aladdin’s Oasis. It can be eaten there (in the shade, a great time to rest and relax) or taken to go. There were some different choices but the kids and I both got the chicken. It’s actually a pretty healthy meal and you get a good quantity of food (although it’s as much as a character meal!) Reservations required!

14. Goofy’s Kitchen (Downtown Disney/Disneyland Hotel)

If you want to do a character meal but don’t want to waste a park day, do it at Goofy’s Kitchen. It’s located just outside Downtown Disney in the Disneyland Hotel area. Do dinner the night before you go to the park or breakfast the day after, so you don’t waste valuable touring time. You get to meet all the characters, the food is good (it’s a buffet) and you can order cocktails. Reservations required.

My favorites: the dessert pizzas, the cake pops, and that flourless chocolate tart. I could have eaten 12 of the tarts, they are SO delicious, and something you MUST EAT at Disneyland.

15. Pop Rock Cotton Candy

They sell these at street vendors in the evening. We got ours right on main street before the first parade. There are pop rocks IN THE COTTON CANDY!

16. Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen (Downtown Disney)

Looking for a nicer meal? Try Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney. The food is really good and the ambience is even better. (Ask to sit on the balcony overlooking Downtown Disney.) It’s upscale but worth it after a long day of touring. Plus, they have a full bar. Reservations recommended.

That’s where we love to eat in Disneyland…what do YOU think are the things you MUST EAT at Disneyland???

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Last month, when we went on our family vacation to Disneyland, we also visited Santa Monica for a few days. I went last year for a girls trip and realized that my family would love it too. It’s very walkable and you have plenty to do; the beach, the pier, and shopping. Plus, it’s somewhat centrally located to attractions like Hollywood and Beverly Hills for day trips into Los Angeles.

When we travel, we like to stay in a suite because that way, the adults and kids can have their own space. This time, we wanted that even more so because we brought one of Jordan’s friends with us on vacation. It would have been very awkward to all be in one room. The DoubleTree Hotel Santa Monica is the perfect hotel because it’s ALL suites. I’ve stayed there twice now and would recommend it to everyone.

Here are 7 reasons why I loved the DoubleTree Hotel Santa Monica:

1. The Rooms

Obviously, the thing that’s most important about any hotel is the ROOM. The DoubleTree Hotel Santa Monica is an all suite hotel so you never have to worry if one will be available. There are two kinds of suites; rectangular and square. We stayed in a square type room and I would recommend this room if you’re traveling with a family.

The long rectangle rooms have a living room when you enter, followed by a bathroom, then the bedroom. The square room has a living room when you enter, the bathroom too the side and the bedroom next to the bathroom. The perk of the square room is that there are two entrances to the bathroom: one from the bedroom and one from the living room, making it a jack-and-jill style bathroom. Plus, there is an added vanity area outside the bathroom, just inside the bedroom.

When you’re traveling with children, it’s nice that there are two entrances for the bathroom so you don’t have to enter where they’re sleeping during the night if you need to go. The vanity area gave us some extra room for getting ready (4 people – 3 of them girls – with only 1 bathroom!) and because the bedroom was closer to the front door it was easier for us to sneak out in the morning while the girls slept in.

The rooms also have a mini kitchen with microwave, refrigerator, and small sink, which is necessary when traveling with kids. Breakfast doesn’t come with the room, but because you have a fridge it’s easy to make cereal in the morning, or even pack lunches for the beach. Both rooms have flat screen TVs and there are plenty of plugs for all the devices to charge.

2. Free Wifi and Picking Your Room

If you are a HHonors member, you get a few extra perks when you stay at the DoubleTree. The membership is free (so why not just sign up?) and it guarantees free wifi for your stay for unlimited devices. (With a family of 4, that’s a LOT of devices.)

The other perk of having a HHonors Membership is that you get to pick your room on the Hilton app. The day before you arrive, you’re able to check-in and at that time, you can choose your room. This is important because you can make sure to get a square room AND you can choose one with an ocean view. In the app it gives a diagram of the hotel. Pay attention to the streets and you can pick one on the ocean side.

3. The Location

The location of the DoubleTree Hotel Santa Monica is perfect. While I would love to stay right on the ocean, those rooms are $500+ for a basic room. The DoubleTree Hotel rate is only $200-$350, depending on time of year. Still pricey, but less than on the beach, and it’s totally walkable. If you head left out of the hotel, it’s just a few short blocks to Main Street where there are tons of shops and restaurants. Head straight away from the hotel and you run right into the beach and the pathway that’s perfect for running or walking. Walk a few blocks behind the hotel and you’re at the 3rd Street Promenade, with tons of shops are trendy restaurants, as well as the entrance to the Santa Monica Pier.

You do not need a car if you’re staying at the DoubleTree Hotel Santa Monica, unless you want to do day excursions to Hollywood or Beverly Hills. They’re just about 30 minutes away, so this is the perfect location that’s away from the craziness of downtown LA. Plus, uber is very mainstream in Los Angeles and you can find one within just a few minutes of where you are at any given time.

4. The Pool

The pool at the Doubletree is actually really nice. It’s not a resort pool, but the hotel isn’t a resort; it’s a hotel. For a basic hotel pool, it’s perfect to cool off in after a long day of shopping, and the kids love it. There’s a hot tub and there are chaise lounges to relax in. You can also get service from the bar while you’re relaxing poolside.

If you stay in an ocean view room on the 7th or 8th floor (the HHonors floors, another reason to get the membership) you will most likely be able to see the pool from your room. This is perfect if you have teenagers who want to go to the pool and you don’t.

5. The Staff

The staff at the DoubleTree Hotel Santa Monica are wonderful. They’re kind, helpful, and prompt. The valet is always helpful with directions, housekeeping responded promptly whenever we needed anything. Room service was fast as well.

6. The Restaurant

There are three restaurants at the hotel: a Starbucks in the lobby, 4th Street Grill, and Jazz Loft. We didn’t use the Starbucks in the hotel (there is a full service one close by) but we did eat food from the Grill and the Loft.

The 4th Street Grill is a full service restaurant that’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also serve the food at the pool, for room service, and the appetizers for the bar. The food is good, hot, and made quickly.

Mainly, we enjoyed our time at the Jazz Loft. They have a daily happy hour that Mel and I attended, and you can get food brought up from the restaurant downstairs. It was quiet and never very busy, and the happy hour wine pours were VERY generous.

7. The Cookies!

Of course, the cookies. I always forget that every DoubleTree gives you cookies upon check-in. They’re some of the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had – and they’re served warm, too. Of course, as soon as I got back I had to make a copycat of them. Get the recipe for my BETTER than DoubleTree Cookies here!

Overall, I totally recommend the DoubleTree Hotel Santa Monica.

It’s perfect for families, or even a business traveler who wants to be at the beach and not have to explain a $600 room charge to his company.

If you’re looking for a great place to stay on the beach in LA, it’s one of my favorite places!

Some of my blogging friends have recommendations for other things to see and do in California, too!

Anetta (The Wanderlust Kitchen) took a California road trip to the San Francisco area, and Cathy (Noble Pig) had some California travel fun, riding the Skunk Train through the Redwoods!

The hotel provided me a media rate in exchange for social media and a post. All opinions are 100% my own.

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Are you going to Los Angeles and wondering how to do Disneyland in one day? Don’t worry, it can be done! You can get all of the best rides done – even in summer – just by following this One Day Disneyland Touring Plan. It’s the perfect touring plan for teens or adults, with a focus on the bigger rides like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, and Indiana Jones. With this plan you can get all of the big rides done before noon on a busy summer day, then fill in the afternoon with some of the rides you loved as a kid, like It’s a Small World.

Some important tips for this one day Disneyland touring plan:

A few things to know BEFORE you go:

Planning Extras

Up to 60 days prior to your visit, you’re able to make reservations for dining and “extras” on the day of your visit. This is important to do for 1-day touring. If you decide to just do rides and eat from casual restaurants, you can skip this. But if you want to watch the parade, eat at a fancier restaurant, or do character dining, it’s important to plan it out.

For a one day touring plan, it’s not optimal to do a character breakfast. Breakfast would make you miss out on the morning touring that is essential to getting it all done in one day. If character dining is a must, schedule one that is held outside the park. For breakfast, do it the morning after your touring. Each of the Disneyland Resort hotels offer a character breakfast. If that’s a must-do, schedule it outside of your touring day. For dinner, Goofy’s Kitchen is quite good (and you can get cocktails). Either plan to do it the night before you are in the park or plan it as a late afternoon break from touring before the evening festivities of parade and fireworks.

If you plan to stay in the park open to close, you’re going to need some down time. It’s good to make a reservation for a sit-down restaurant (where there is A/C) to give yourself a good break. Carnation, Blue Bayou, Cafe Orleans, and several others offer reservations and the food is good (and healthier than that corn dog or slice of pizza). You can also make reservations at many of the restaurants in Downtown Disney. Just remember: one end of the park to Downtown is quite a walking distance.

Lastly, think about the parade. At press time, the park is showing the Main Street Electrical Parade. Because of the popularity, you’re able to reserve a dining package, either for a sit-down meal at The Blue Bayou or for a to-go meal (that you can eat sitting down) at Aladdin’s Oasis. Depending on the timing of your meal (lunch vs dinner) you get a reserved area for seating for the parade. The reserved area is roped off by It’s a Small World and you don’t have to go as early to get a spot (by 8:00 is recommended for the 8:45 parade, which is better than when people start camping out at 5:00 or earlier). Plus, you have to eat!

Download the Disneyland App

The Disneyland App is perfect for managing your dining reservations (or making new ones as the day goes on), but it’s most valuable for wait times. This can let you know where to head next, what to avoid, and when to get fast passes.

Another important factor of my one day Disneyland touring plan is regarding TIME.

Get There EARLY.

I’ve been to Disneyland on one-day trips now several times and what I’ve noticed is that the park fills up as the day goes on. It makes sense to go early, but it seems many people just don’t do it. If you only have one day in Disneyland, it is absolutely essential that you get to the park at least 30 minutes before the gates open and get in line, especially if you are visiting in summer. Doing all your favorite rides before the lines get long (and it gets hot) requires you to lose a little sleep! If the park opens at 8am, plan to be parked and in the line at the turnstiles no later than 7:30am.

The turnstiles open before the park does. At this point a lot of people meander down main street, get buttons, use the restroom, shop, get coffee. Don’t do any of that: go straight to the ropes, work your way as close to the front as you can and wait for the rope drop. You can eat and shop later; when you’re tired and it’s super crowded and hot. Don’t waste the morning doing those things!

As of writing, Disneyland offers Magic Mornings on Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Magic Morning entry is granted for anyone who is staying at a Disneyland Resort or who purchases a 3-day park pass or longer. If you’re only going 1 day and not staying at a Disney hotel, avoid those days for touring. (Also, it goes without saying to avoid weekends in general.)

I recommend Wednesday for a 1-day visit, followed by Monday or Friday in order of my preference.

Eat a good breakfast.

I know, you’re up at the crack of dawn and not hungry, but force yourself. More than likely, your hotel has some sort of breakfast, even if it’s just granola bars. Go for protein.Then pack snacks and waters. You want to use as much time in the morning as possible riding rides, not waiting in line for food.

Wear Comfortable Shoes.

This Disneyland touring plan is not a “let’s see all of one land before we go to the next”. It involves a lot of walking back and forth. Get new running shoes before you go (but break them in first).

Ready to tour? Okay, so you’ve had a good breakfast. You’ve gotten out of bed and to the rope before drop at 8am. Now it’s time for the One Day Disneyland Touring Plan that’s perfect for teens and adults that love to ride rides.

One Day Disneyland Touring Plan for Teens/Adults

1. At the rope, stand to the right (towards the Matterhorn). Once the rope drops, head to the Matterhorn Bobsleds and ride it first.
2. Head to Tomorrowland and ride Space Mountain, if the wait is under 15 minutes. Otherwise, get a Fast Pass.
3. Big Thunder Mountain.
4. Head to Frontierland and ride Indiana Jones.
5. Pirates of the Caribbean.
6. Haunted Mansion (unless wait is over 20 minutes; if so and time overlaps, get a Fast Pass) and/or return to ride Space Mountain, if you got a Fast Pass. (You can get more than one fast pass at a time once the times overlap).
7. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters.
8. Star Tours
9. Get a Fast Pass for Splash Mountain (ride it if wait is under 20 minutes)
10. Jungle Cruise
11. It’s a Small World
12. Autopia (Fast Pass is recommended)

At this point, it’s hot and you’re hungry and you’ve ridden all the rides you HAVE TO RIDE. And, if I’m guessing…it’s only about noon. That’s the best part about arriving early – you can get all the big stuff done before the crowds (and before it’s hot as Hades).

Go grab some lunch, rest a bit. Then head to Fantasy Land and do anything your heart desires to make you feel like a kid again. The afternoon is great for shopping, or the train or one of the boat rides (at press time they’re closed). Get another Fast Pass for Space Mountain before the return time is too late, and ride Splash Mountain again when it’s super hot.

Plan for a sit-down dinner around 5:00 when you’re hot and tired. Take your time. If you didn’t plan it before you got to the park, use the app during the day to make a reservation somewhere either in the park or Downtown Disney (bonus: cocktails served there). (If you do Downtown, be sure to do one closer to the park; I’ve walked from Toon Town to Goofy’s Kitchen before and it’s a good 20 minutes walk.)

If you’re not interested in the parade, plan to ride more rides then. Optimal fireworks viewing is in front of the castle, near the Walt Disney statue. If you head there after the parade you’ll get crowded in like cattle, but it’ll be good viewing.

After all that, head back to your hotel and sleep for 12 straight hours. Just be sure not to miss that character breakfast you scheduled the next day!

I hope you picked up some helpful information from my Disneyland touring plan. Enjoy your visit!

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