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I fell in LOVE with the Parks at Universal Studios Florida!

A few weeks ago I talked about my resort experience at the Loew’s Royal Pacific Hotel on Universal Orlando™ property. This week I want to talk about the changes I saw at the parks since having been there last in 1994.

One thing I like to do when I travel to a place that I haven’t been in a really long time is to imagine that I have never been there. Why do I do this? Easy, then I won’t be disappointed. If I really liked a place, and it changed into something hugely commercial, tacky, with poor customer service, then I tend to be disappointed. Now 23 years ago there was no Islands of Adventure™ and Universal Studios Florida™ could be done in only 6 hours. Not on this trip! It took us a good 2 days to get through everything, but we also had a secret in our pockets, Unlimited Express Passes!

When you stay at the Loew’s Royal Pacific, Hard Rock Hotel, or Portofino Bay Resort you will automatically receive complimentary Unlimited Express Passes. This pass allows you to go to the front of the line on select rides an unlimited amount of times during your visit. (Shhh, don’t tell anyone I am comparing this but for Disney people this is like having FastPasses for almost every ride!) If you aren’t staying at one of those resorts, but are at one of the other resorts you can pay an additional fee for this Unlimited Express Pass or the Express Pass, which allows you to skip the line once per ride. I prefer the Unlimited Express Pass because you are able to go to the front of the line an unlimited number of times for your favorite rides.

Having the extra passes was very helpful on our first day in Islands of Adventure™. When I first walked through the gates, which had no lines because security is handled way before you get to the gates, I was amazed by the façade. For me it felt like I was at the North Pole and Moroccan trading marketing at the same time, which gave me a very warm happy feeling. Being on property resort guests, we were able to enter Islands of Adventure™ at 8am but we were directed to Harry Potter® world of Hogsmeade. If you are a Harry Potter® fan, walking into Hogsmeade is like the very first time you sat down to watch the first Harry Potter® movie, AMAZING! I felt like I was actually in the world of Harry Potter® . Now Harry Potter® world is split over both parks and if you want to ride Hogwarts Express you must have the park to park ticket, and as much as I loved riding the train, it was not my favorite part of the Harry Potter® worlds. My favorite part was in Universal Studios Florida™ the ride Escape from Gringotts. A 3-D roller coaster taking you on a journey through Gringotts bank while escaping from He Who Must Not Be Named! But first you have to find Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida™, which is hidden behind a huge façade.

Let’s head back over to Islands of Adventure™ because I really was amazed at how real, authentic, and alive the attractions felt to me. The amount of thought, care, and detail to plan out each attraction was the most surprising and exciting part of being there. In Jurassic World™ the dinosaurs looked so real, and the ride made me feel like I was in the movie. On the Kong ride, there were many times I felt like the truck was falling but it was just the 3D effects and mechanics of the ride. I can go into each section of Islands but this would begin to get long. One last thing I will say about Islands of Adventure™ is that no matter which section you are in, you really, truly feel like you are part of that world.

Now, let’s dive into Universal Studios Florida™, the originally built portion. It is so much larger than it was 23 years ago, but to me the attention to detail was not as strong as the Islands. It felt more like an amusement park than an experience, except when you are in Diagon Alley. However, that all changes once you enter a building to get on a ride. WOW, you are thrown head first into that attraction. You feel like you are talking to Jimmy Fallon while racing around the streets of New York City, or looking down on the headquarters of Men in Black while waiting in line to shoot aliens with lasers. The details that go into the rides, are like no other amusement park I have ever been to.

Overall, I loved my experience as Universal Orlando® and we will be taking the kids there soon. Most rides you need to be 40 inches or taller to ride, but the play lands in Islands will keep those under 40 inches entertained for hours. I must warn those who experience motion sickness on 3D simulator rides, this may not be the destination for you. There are several rides where you have to wear 3D glasses to experience the full effect. The effects are amazing, but will make you feel a bit off the rest of the day.

Call me to book your next Universal Orlando vacation with your family. If you are thinking you want to split your time between Universal Orlando and Disney, that’s easy! We can easily set that up for you.

Mary is a graduate of the Disney’s College of Knowledge and a Universal Orlando Specialist.

NOTE: All Photos taken by Mary Yohannan, Rights Reserved

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I am opening up and you may be surprised.

Liz Hough on

Why I Do What I Do?

I am sharing the REAL reason why I do what I do and you may be surprised.

I recently had a friend look over my website and told me I was missing a key element, Why do I do what I do. As I started to explain to her how I became a travel consultant she stopped me and told me that it wasn’t the “Why.” So after some soul searching and a lot of thinking, I wanted to share with everyone my “Why.”

Travel is a passion of mine and it is something I absolutely love to do. When I personally travel, I get feelings of excitement, relaxation, interest, curiosity, and a bit of anxiety. When it all comes together I have created a memory that reminds me of all of these emotions.

I have traveled to 17 European countries, and in each country, I experienced what I just described. I felt excitement when we were roaming the canals of Venice and thinking this is nothing like Italy in Epcot Center (even though it is a good replica).

I felt relaxation in Scotland when my husband and I enjoyed an anniversary dinner on Rose Street in Edinburgh drinking Scottish beer. I was interested in touching a 1000-year-old entrance to a library while in Ephesus in Turkey.

I was curious what smoked lard and Palinka tasted like in a small café in Bucharest, Romania. I was anxious going up the cogwheel train to Jungfraujoch in Switzerland while my head was pounding from altitude changes. The best part of travel is that when I am not traveling and I think of those places I instantly get a smile on my face regardless of the emotion that I felt.

Was I travel consultant when I did all of those things? No. It was because of those trips, journeys, vacations that I decided I wanted to help plan those types of experiences for other people. I wanted to make sure that when someone came to me for planning a vacation to another country that we planned something amazing and unique. A journey of memories that causes emotions which can be triggered back at just the thought of them. When I plan a customized European vacation for someone there are many times an emotion from one of our trips will come up and I just get a smile on my face. So I guess in some ways my job makes me smile, a lot. What a great job to have!

It has taken a friend who had a smile and her head tilted to one side, asking my “why” to really understand why I love my job. It is the people who I plan amazing journeys with, who I now feel are friends, it is the amazing places that I get to go and experience, and it is being able to spend more time with my family that has really made me love my job.

I want to thank everyone who has planned an amazing vacation, trip, or journey with me. You have been a great support to my business and when you work with me you are also supporting my family.

Next up…Charleston, S.C.

Liz Hough on

If you haven’t been, here’s why you must go!

Our family recently took a family vacation to Charleston, South Carolina. The last time my husband and I were in Charleston we didn’t have any children and we enjoyed the pleasures of Down Home Southern Cooking. We walked around the romantic waterfront and sat in front of the iconic Pineapple fountain while watching the sunset project beautiful hues of pink and purple onto the bay. We walked around the entire historic district taking in the sights of various mansions, quaint alleyways, and hearing ghost tales of years that have gone by. One thing about Charleston is that the historic district remains the same, not much had changed in the past 10 years since we were there last. Except, this time we had two little ones with us.

We didn’t have much time at the Pineapple fountain before one of the children had a meltdown and didn’t want to get a picture as a family, but we tried anyway. The meltdown probably came from a long day of excitement, playfulness, and good food as there is a lot of amazing things to do in Charleston with children. Every day the kids were exhausted, ate well, and couldn’t wait to get out of the hotel the next day to see where we were going next. One thing to make sure of when you travel to Charleston with the kids is to make sure they get a good, hearty breakfast. There are so many amazing breakfast places in the historic district and we found them by simply asking our concierge where to eat. There is an amazing place on Meeting Street called Toast that has homemade biscuits the size of my hand. They may be large but they are not heavy. We visited Toast on several occasions as they had some interesting breakfast items that we wanted to try, and the food was consistently good.

Anywhere we travel, if there is an aquarium or zoo, it is a must stop on our itinerary. It had been 10 years since I was last at the Charleston Aquarium so I didn’t recall exactly what was there. Our first stop was to the outdoor enclosure which was a nice surprise. It was a large pool containing several rays. If the rays come close to the surface of the pool you can actually touch them. Now if you have recently seen Finding Dory, there is a part in the movie where the animals in the “touch pool” don’t really liked to be “touched” and when the kids put their hands in the water they all start to find hiding places. I felt like this scene played out when we were at this pool as the rays clearly didn’t want us to touch them because they all stayed at the bottom! There were two windows on the bottom of the pool that you could look in and see the rays swimming around happily and that kept the kids occupied for some time.

Inside the aquarium they have several great exhibits including their large tank with a sea turtle that is my size in height. They put on various educational seminars about every half hour at various exhibits throughout the aquarium and these seminars really kept the interest of the kids. One seminar was about alligators and crocodiles, and at the end of the seminar our children actually had the opportunity to pet an alligator, which was a huge excitement for a 5-year-old. After talking with another employee about what fish and rays eat, she gave each of us a small cup with uncooked shrimp. The kids put the shrimp on the end of a rod and then they feed the rays. This was a interesting experience because the rays come up to the glass and use the glass as guidance to find the food. They are quite aggressive when it comes to food and the large rays would push the smaller rays to the side to get the food. Again, pure excitement for the kids! I would highly recommend a half-day to do the aquarium, and try to schedule it so you can see the seminars.

The Children’s Museum of Charleston is another must when visiting Charleston with the kids. It is all one floor and there are seven large rooms each with a different theme. I personally like the castle themed room, but the pirate ship was a huge hit with the kids. The seven rooms are: the arts and crafts room, the castle room, water play room, large building blocks room, pirate ship room, the baby play area, and grocery shopping room. Each room was designed to have the kids engaged in some type of activity and they were able to dress up in various characters in some of the rooms. It was fun to see the kids dressed up like pirates and running around a pirate ship yelling at each. I also enjoyed the grocery store because the kids have a shopping list and then they must go around and pick up the items. Once they have retrieved all of the items they bring them to the kids sized check-out line and the parents can scan their items. The kids pay with fake money and they can bag their own items.

If you have little ones under the age of two, there is a whole area that is enclosed so the kids can’t get out. They have soft pillows, slides, climbing stairs, and big foam blocks for the little ones to play. The time flew by so fast when we were here that we didn’t get to go outside to ride the big fire truck or do any of the other outdoor activities. I would highly recommend the Children’s Museum for either a half-day or if the weather is nice and you can play outside, a good 6 hours.

Check out next week’s ezine when I talk about how to survive at a plantation with kids!

Do you have anxiety about going to Disney?

Liz Hough on

This past weekend I had a booth at fitness expo in Allentown, Pennsylvania showcasing Disney Destinations. The expo was for the St. Luke’s Marathon on Sunday, so those who signed up to run would come in and get their race bibs and shirts. One of my independent contractors and I set up our booth, put on our glowing Minnie Mouse ears, and were ready to talk about all things Disney, and oh boy, did we talk Disney! We talked about everything from runDisney events to Disney cruises, but in our conversations with other moms, there still seems to be this hesitation or anxiety about taking the kids to Disney.

Disney should not be a vacation where anyone in the family has anxiety about going. It is known as the “Happiest Place on Earth” but for some people it can turn into the “Worst Time of Their Lives.” A lot goes into planning a Disney vacation, much more than planning a trip to Williamsburg or a cruise, but I am always telling people, you don’t have to do it alone! We are here to help!

I want to share some of the comments that I heard this weekend because it may be some of the same hesitation that you have or someone you know may have in taking their family to Disney, and what my response was to these anxious moms.

1.) Comment – “Disney is too expensive to take the whole family”

Response – “There are several resorts on Disney property that can be costly but did you know that Disney actually has three resort categories to try and fit all budgets? Maybe the first time you go you can try out a value resort which still offers many great amenities including pools and onsite eating. When promotions come out we can easily apply them to your reservation so you can even save more money!”

2.) Comment – “My kids are too young and they won’t remember it”

Response – “That is the best time to go! If you have kids under the age of three their admission to the park is free and they don’t have to be on a dining plan! If your kids watch Disney Junior and know who Sofia the First, Jake, or even the characters from Mickey Mouse’s clubhouse then they are going to have a blast. The first time I took my youngest was at 18 months and her face was so excited every time she met any of the characters, but mostly Sofia the First. There are plenty of rides that have no height restrictions, and adding Memory Maker to your package allows you to get hundreds of pictures taken that when your child gets older they can see their toddler self with their favorite characters.”

3.) Comment – “Too much to pack like car seats and strollers.”

Response – “Well let’s make sure you stay at one of the Disney resorts then so you can take advantage of the Magical Express where in the state of Florida on all buses and motorcoaches you don’t need car seats, so then you don’t have to bring them with you. You don’t want to rent a stroller from Disney as it will cost you as much as a park ticket for the entire weeks, but we have two stroller rental companies that we recommend in Orlando who deliver the stroller right to the resort so when you check-in they bring it out to you and when you check-out you just give it back to the front desk so the company can pick it up at the resort. No lugging strollers through the airport or packing in the car.

4.) Comment – “Food is expensive at Disney and so are the dining plans”

Response – “If your kids and you have specific snacks that you like I always recommend shipping them to the resort ahead of time. Go to the post office and get a medium flat rate box that will cost you around $18 to ship. Stuff the box with juices, snacks, Horizon individual milk containers, sun screen, etc. My last trip I sent down two boxes of food, one was 20 pounds which would have cost me $45 to ship by regular mail but was $17.45 in a flat rate box. I sent two boxes for under $40 and that left more room in my suitcase for clothes and shoes. Now this may make me sound like a bad travel consultant, but I am not going to sell a dining plan to someone if they aren’t going to get their money’s worth! If you plan on doing a lot of characters’ meals, and what I mean by a lot is around every other day, then the dining plan pays for itself. At that point it is like you are paying for the table service and getting a quick service and snack for free every day. And their quick service meals are a large amount of food!”

5.) Comment – “I don’t know the best time of year to go”

Response – “That is why you call me! There is a lot of historical data to show some of the best weeks to go to the parks without a large crowd of people, but let’s talk about how old your children are and when they are in and out of school.”

Disney is a great place to take the kids at any age. Whether they are toddlers and are in love with Disney junior characters or are teenagers looking for something thrilling, Disney does have something for all ages. So if you are on the fence about taking the kids on a Disney vacation, give me a call and we can talk about all the options that are available for you and your family.

A Great Place for kids.

Liz Hough on

Lancaster County is a great place to take the kids.

A few weeks ago we spent an entire week at my parent’s house in Reading, PA. When my husband has business out of town and it is easier for him to fly out of the Philadelphia airport, we pack up the family and head to Reading. For those of you who don’t know where Reading is, it is located about an hour north west of Philadelphia and an hour south of Allentown, PA. It is a large city with a fast growing restaurant and micro-brew scene, but other than that not much to do with the kids. So we pack up the kids and head 30 minutes south to Lancaster County.

Yes, Lancaster is very well-known for Amish people, sprawling farmlands, and Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine, but it is also full of great restaurants, historic sites, and nice resorts. Not only are there a lot of great activities for adults, but there many places for the kids to have fun also. These are some of my favorite places to visit:

1. Dutch Wonderland – Dutch Wonderland has been around for 60 plus years and even though they have kept some of the same exhibits that I played with when I was a little kid, they have added so many rides for those aged 6 months to 6 years. They have interactive shows, a train ride through a gem mine, and my kids’ favorite: the good old fashion log flume. They have some of the best amusement park food that I have ever tasted, and it is easily located right off of Route 30. They also have their own campground, so if you want to pitch a tent or bring the RV, you can park there overnight.

2. Hands-On House Children’s Museum– The Hands-On House Children’s Museum is not same as the Please Touch Museum which is located in Philadelphia. This is a different museum where children can learn about bugs, making music with household items, face painting, and playing postman. They have their own little grocery store to teach children how to shop and then they can play check out with real machines that add up their order. They also have events throughout the week the kids can attend but it is best to check their schedule online.

3. Strasburg Railroad – This is more than just a train ride, this is an adventure! The station has activities for kids including hand pedaling their own train car, a kids train, or they can even operate an old pump car. They also have some fun stores where you can pick up some Thomas the Train toys are grab a bite to eat before your ride. So don’t worry if you just missed the train, there is plenty to do. You can also add admission to the Train Museum across the road to your train ticket. You will see the history of trains and some very old and interesting engines. Make sure to check their website for when Thomas the Train and his friends are there. This is a fun time but tickets sell out fast.

4. Toy Train Museum and Red Caboose Inn – The Toy Train Museum is very close to the Strasburg Railroad and houses hundreds of toy trains that were played with by many for hundreds of years. Some of the trains date back to the 1800’s and some are old time favorites with pictures of your favorite characters you used to watch on TV. They have a few working models which make the kids laugh and play as they wait for the trains to come out of the model sized mountain and whiz past the tiny town. Once you step out the toys of the Toy Train Museum you will see old train cars parked in a lot. If you take a closer look you will actually find out that it is the Red Caboose Motel, which has converted old train cars into hotel rooms. Each car is its own room equipped with bed and private bathroom. There is also a restaurant onsite with an amazing gift store of all things Lancaster county.

5. Kitchen Kettle Village – Kitchen Kettle Village is a great place for all generations as there are 40 shops and restaurants where you can purchase quality Lancaster county products and foods, and fun trinkets from all over the world. Want to try Pennsylvania Dutch relish, well head over to the The Jam and Relish Kitchen where you can taste all types of jams, relishes, and salsas – all homemade. Maybe the kids aren’t into shopping but the grandparents want to buy some more great finds, well take the kids on a horse-drawn carriage ride through Amish country and to see various farms. They can decorate a Gingerbread man to look like Yummie, the mascot for Kitchen Kettle Village, or get up close and personal with some farm animals at the barnyard.

There are so many things to do and see in Lancaster County Pennsylvania so the next time you are in the area it is worth a stop. Make sure to stock up on some Shoo-fly pie or whoopie pies.

This country’s crown is crooked.

Liz Hough on

Favorite Place #1 – Budapest Hungary

I am so excited that we have finally reached my favorite destination. But first, I want to say thank you to everyone who read my last three favorite destinations and has shared them on social media to all of their friends. We have had an amazing response to each of them.

Now this last destination is not going to be a country like the others. Though I did enjoy the country side, there was so much to see and do in this city that I have to share my top five favorite places in…Budapest! If you have been to Budapest, you know how amazing this city is with its’ various periods of architecture, delicious food, interesting culture, and endless entertainment and shopping. Because there is so much that I loved about this city, it was hard for me to pick my top five favorite spots, but here they are.

Top 5 Favorite Places in Budapest

#5 Heroes’ Square or in Hungarian, Hősök tere – The square is surrounded by the Museum of Fine Art and Palace of Art, but to me it wasn’t about what surrounded it, it was about what it stood for: Freedom. In the front of the monument is a large stone dedicated to the memory of the heroes who gave their lives for the freedom of their people and their national independence for over a thousand years! That is right, a monument dedicated to those who fought in wars and battles a thousand years ago. A country that didn’t forget anyone and built a monument to remember everyone. It really is something amazing to be standing in this semi-circle of statutes and monuments that was built over a 100 years ago.

#4 Matthias Church – If you didn’t know Budapest is actually split by the Danube river into two parts, one side of the river is the Buda side and the other side is the Pest side. Matthias Church on the Buda side in the Buda Castle District. When you come upon the church you are expected to be in awe by it’s massive steeple and architecture, but what catches my eye every time is the multi-colored roof. This orange and yellow roofing stand out on top of the light gray, almost white façade. This church was where coronations of Kings, and burials of royalty took place, and when you walk into the church you can see why it was the chosen venue. Ceilings so high you think they touch the sky, and ornate stained glass windows, and a large amount of seating.

#3 – Fisherman’s Bastion – Believe it or not, the Fisherman’ Bastion is actually a terrace on the Castle hill. To me it appears to be an ornate wall protecting the Castle hill, or what we typically call the wall to a fort. This wall does get its’ name from the guild of fishermen that were responsible for defending the stretch of land in the Middle Ages, and the seven towers represent the seven Magyar tribes who settled into the region in 896. There are several stairways, and walking paths that boast the most beautiful views of the Danube river and the Pest side. On a clear day you can get amazing pictures of the Hungarian Parliament building. Since you will be doing a lot of climbing stairs and walking, just down the way is a mascarpone shop that showcases amazing edible art and demonstrations on how to make some of their pieces.

#2 – Bridges of the Danube – The Bridges that connect the Buda and Pest sides are each different. Some have enormous rock statues in front of them and other are more modern with large gateways as an entrance. When we took our tour we were told that during World War II throughout Europe several bridges where destroyed, but Budapest was one of the few cities whose bridges were not destroyed.

There are eight bridges in total, and my two favorite bridges are the Chain Bridge and the Liberty Bridge. The Chain Bridge is very close to the parliament building and gives easy access into the main cultural center of Budapest. This stone bridge was built in the early 1800’s and was the second bridge to be built over the Danube river. Stone lions guard over the passengers who come and go, and at night they light the bridge up beautifully so that you can get really good pictures of the bridge in the foreground and Castle Hill in the background. The Liberty Bridge acted as a toll bridge for some time and this can be seen by the houses that were built at both ends of the bridge. There are four Turuls statutes, one on each pillar of the bridge. If you don’t know what a Turul is that is ok, neither did I, they are falcon-like birds, prominent in ancient Hungarian mythology.

#1 Hungarian Parliament Building – I had seen pictures of the inside of this building prior to actually going into it, but seeing it in person was absolutely breath-taking. You first walk up a grand staircase fit for a king into an area where all the walls are gold! That is right, gold! It is absolutely breath-taking and unfortunately, my pictures won’t do it justice. Guided tours are the best way to get around this building as there are so many rooms, and some of them are very long with nothing in them. They are called waiting rooms, but I could fit two of my house into this long, wide room. I must say I was a bit surprised when we came upon the Holy Crown of Hungary. A beautiful crown with a slightly crooked cross on top. We had asked our guide if that was symbolic for something, and he told us no that someone has either dropped it or knocked slightly resulting in the cross tilting to one side. It surprised me that no one wanted to fix it but after 300 years of it being this way, I guess it is now a tradition.

I love ending my newsletter about the food of the country. Hungary is known for its paprika and this bright red colored pepper is used in every dish. It may appear to an outsider that the Hungarians even worship this pepper as it is embroidered onto table clothes and proudly displayed in shops. Make sure to buy some to bring back with you. If you are used to the paprika here in the states then it can be a bit overwhelming at first, but it is sure to make your tastebuds dance! I was pleasantly surprised how flavorful fresh paprika is and when properly used, can really make a dish pop in color, flavor, presentation.

Heads Up originated here.

Liz Hough on

Are you ready to pack your bags?

Favorite Place #3 – Great Britain

Many Americans prefer that their first visit to Europe be to Great Britain because the main language is English. It is an easy transition and the most people feel comfort in knowing that if something were to go wrong, they know the language and can communicate easily. One thing that we tend to feel a bit uncomfortable doing in Great Britain is driving, as they drive on the opposite side of the road and some of the lines on the roads are confusing (have you seen those squiggly lines?). A great way to get around easily, and quickly is by train. There are also several motorcoach tours with various activity levels and timeframes.

John, did you know that Great Britain is actually made up of four countries? Well, it is actually called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The island of Great Britain itself is comprised of England, Scotland, and Wales which is where I am going to pick my top 5 favorite places.

Top 5 Favorite Places in Great Britain

#5 York – York is about a four-hour drive north of London, but it is worth the drive! When you think of England and a tour with Tudor style buildings, this is that town. You can easily walk around to the various shops, enjoy a meat pie, or walk along the castle wall. My favorite part of the town is the oldest street in all England called Shambles. This street was even said to be mentioned in the 1086 book DomesDay, but to me it felt like I was walking down Diagon Alley, for all you Harry Potter fans. Crooked buildings, tight streets, crowds of people, and tiny stores make up this street and it is really something to see.

#4 Highlands – The Highlands is not a city but a region of Scotland that contains a lot of hills, lochs, and mountains. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Great Britain, and on a clear day you can really enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area. We were there in October, typically the rainy season, but each day we had beautiful weather and clear skies, which gave us the most amazing pictures. Seeing Loch Ness was really something that I always wanted to do so standing next the Loch getting our picture taken seemed so surreal and exciting. Unfortunately Nessie decided not come out that day. Taking a boat ride on Loch Lomond was another highlight as the surrounding area is so lush and beautiful. When in Scotland, make sure not to miss out on seeing a Scottish Cow, pronounced Coo by the Scottish. Also keep an eye out for jewelry made out of Heather.

#3 London – There is one thing that I clearly remember I loved about London: the public transportation. It was very easy to get around whether we took the iconic red bus or the Underground, we were able to easily get to our destination. We decided to do all things Royal so we visited the Tower of London to see the royal crown and jewels. As much as I appreciated the jewels, I was more interested in the armor and weapons that they had cached 300 years ago! Room after room, it felt like it was never ending. We also opted to take a tour of Kensington Palace to see the Princess Diana collection. So many beautiful dresses to see but the building itself was a bit outdated and plain inside. While in London, you must take a walk in one of their many parks. You never know what type of art or activity you may come across, but on a beautiful, warm day there are plenty of activities to do. Grabbing a pint at a local pub is a must, and this was where I was introduced to Strongbow a “dry” cider produced in Great Britain. Having this on draft was a smooth as a lager and not sweet like a hard cider you would get in the states. Since we have been to London, you can now purchase Strongbow here in the states and it is now produced in several flavors. I have not had it since London, as I am afraid the formulation has changed to suit the American taste buds.

#2 Bath – Bath has been a bucket list item for me since I was a teenager. The white townhouses all lined up in a half circle, the beautiful country side, and of course, the Roman Baths. Seeing pictures of people in the early 1900’s in their bathing suits soaking in the baths hoping for some healing or enjoying the warmth of the water, is something that had me curious. The Roman bath building is quite large containing the main bath area, but there are also several springs that are equally fascinating. The water is so clear that it is hard to believe that it is unfiltered. I will warn you that there is a sulfur concentration in the water so there can be an unpleasant smell while you are there, especially in warmer weather. You can also taste the water from a special fountain found in the restaurant on site. I did not as I was told it tasted really bad, and was a darker color than they had expected. There are several archaeologists that have been digging and uncovering artifacts from hundreds of years ago. You can also view and even touch some of these pieces.

#1 Edinburgh – Edinburgh is my second favorite city in all the places that I have visited. You sense the great things that happened in this town, and because the façade of the buildings has been virtually untouched, you get this feeling of going back in time. It is very easy to get around Edinburgh but make sure to bring good walking shoes, as the Royal Mile is something to really see but hard on the feet. I really enjoyed walking through “Closes” which are alleyways that sometimes underground. Many people hang their clothes out to dry in these areas, and this is also where the saying “Heads Up” originated as they would throw their bed pan material out the window to the street below. My favorite tour was of Mary King’s Close which is an underground city that has been untouched since medieval times. Seeing how people lived at that time is sad but a good reminder of how much we have progressed in the world. Edinburgh Castle is a must and if you are there when the Military Tattoo is being held, I highly recommend seeing this show. Once you are done at the castle a stroll down the Royal Mile to get in some shopping and/or whiskey tasting is must. Once at the end, make sure to visit Holyrood Palace, home of the Queen of Scots!

I always like to end these segments with food of the region! Fish and chips can be purchased everywhere throughout Great Britain, but the best Fish and Chip places that we found were those where the construction workers would eat. Once place was just a Fish and Chip store with no seating, and it was the best Fish and Chips that I have ever had. Another interesting food that is easy and quick is the meat pie! You don’t have to get meat as there are cheese and vegetable options, but these great to get when you are hungry but want to still walk around to take in the sites. Let’s end with some Haggis! A food staple in the Scottish culture and one of the most flavorful dishes I have ever had. If you don’t know what haggis is or how it is made, skip knowing, and try it. Believe me, your taste buds will thank you!

Country with the best food.

Liz Hough on

Are you ready to pack your bags?

Favorite Place #3 – Italy

Italy is a must when traveling to Europe. Most people want to visit Italy for its culture, history, and of course, the wine and food! I am no different than most people. Some of the best food dishes that I have ever had were in Italy, and it is the one place where I will actually drink wine. I have been lucky enough to have traveled to Italy on several occasions, even one time when I was in Switzerland we were so close to the border that it felt like we were in Italy. It truly is an amazing country to visit and these are the places that I enjoyed the most.

Top 5 Favorite Places in Italy

#5 Pompeii – This ancient civilization, that is unearthed more and more each year, is absolutely breath-taking. Going through people’s homes and seeing how they lived, the interlacing of the city streets, shops, and actual relics that have been unearthed gives one an understanding of how people lived at that time, and it is so well preserved. Now each time I have visited, we have taken a 3 to 4 hour tour just of Pompeii. If you really want to see all of Pompeii, you really have to give yourself a good 8 hours or more. Most tours take you to the known sites, but Pompeii is quite large and you may want to find a tour that will take you to the lesser known areas.

#4 Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo – When I heard that our cruise ship was stopping in Sicily, all I could think of was the Godfather movies and the opera house, which we did see and go inside. But there was something else that I really wanted to see, Rosalia Lombardo. Who is this person? She is an extremely well-preserved two-year girl who died in 1920. It is unknown why she is so well-preserved, but she is prominently displayed in her own section of the Capuchin Catacombs. Catacombs aren’t for everyone as they are a reminder that life is short, but I had seen several shows on this particular one in Palermo, so I booked us a tour. I was pleasantly surprised that most of the Catacomb was not underground and plenty of natural light was coming in. The paths were clearly defined and the layout of the bones was very well-preserved. Once we reached Rosalia and saw her in the small glass casket, it seemed surreal and one of the most mysterious things that I have ever seen.

#3 Sorrento city center – Sorrento is usually a stop when traveling the Almafi coast. It is a beautiful town on top of some cliffs that really give you some amazing views of the sea. The town center is filled with small alleys leading you to amazing store fronts, and seems to be decorated with the most amazing flower displays. There are three things that are a must when you go to Sorrento. First you must consider purchasing some wood art. This is where the artists use wood to make various scenes of Sorrento and is beautiful and quite unique. Anything with lemons! Limoncello is hugely popular in Sorrento and a good place to purchase some really amazing versions of it. They also have various candies with lemon, which are amazing and not too sour. Gelato! When in Italy, gelato is a must! This is one of the foods that I must try in every Italian city I visit, and Sorrento didn’t disappoint with their gelato. There is one store right down from the main square that resides in a building right in the middle of two streets. You can enter from either street and the walls are filled with famous people who have stopped into their store, and when we tried their gelato, I can see why!

#2 The Forum – Rome is a city that has so many amazing historical sites that you won’t be able to see them all in one visit. We decided to do a private 10-hour tour of Rome to see most of the well-known sites including the Forum. All I really wanted to see was the Colessum but the first thing we did that day to beat the summer sun, was walk around the Forum. Immediately I was impressed by the Arch of Titus which is the original arch that the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France is modeled after. We walked around this ancient Roman civilization for 3 hours seeing mostly city buildings and some homes. The most impressive part of the forum was when we reached Circus Maximus, where they used to race the chariots. Looking at this massive site and picturing chariots racing around while people cheered on their favorites, was very impressive to me. We did visit the Colessum, but I was unimpressed at the size after seeing Circus Maximus.

#1 The Island of Venice – My first European experience was Venice and from the moment I stepped onto the taxi boat, I fell in love. As we circled the island you can see the beautiful colorful structures and you are amazed that a city can thrive right in the middle of the water. Once on the island, there are alleyways following canals, more bridges than I have ever crossed in my life, and around each turn you have the opportunity to take an award winning picture. As we love our private tours, we opted for one through Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Square and Basilica. Our private tour of the palace allowed us to go into rooms that aren’t seen by the general public and in the old days were the private rooms of the Doge’s. Crossing through the Bridge of Sighs was eerie and surreal but I have to say one of the most memorable moments of my life. When on the island of Venice, one must purchase a masquerade mask. They are pretty much sold in every store on the island, but the ones you are looking for are made of Paper Mache and not porcelain. There are a select few artisans on the island who still make them out of paper mache so you will have to ask around where the closet on to your hotel is located.

I only briefly talked about the food in Italy, but if you have been there you already know that eating anywhere in Italy is a culinary experience. Portions are large, and the wine seems to flow like water. My husband and I always like to find out where the locals eat and eat with them at night. Eating dinner in Italy means that you will be eating dinner at 10pm, but it is worth the wait. Every dinner is as least a five course meal including an appetizer, salad, pasta, entrée, and dessert, usually in this order. Yes, pasta is a course and not the main meal. You have to also realize that dinner is enjoyed slowly over 2 to 3 hours so there is plenty of time to digest each course. Like they say, when in Rome, eat like the Romans!

Forget shopping…You have to do this instead.

Liz Hough on

Once the Christmas shopping is over, you have to check out these amazing activities only going on during the holidays…

There is so much going on around the holidays that it is hard to think of going anywhere or getting anything else done beside holiday related errands. We want to make sure we have purchased all the gifts we need and survive the holidays. Once you have done all of this, you are exhausted and it is January already. I don’t want you to miss out on all the fun activities there are to do during this time of year. Holiday lights, holiday decorated museums, and Christmas Markets to name a few! There is so much going on right in your own backyard you may not even know it. So this weekend give yourself a break, and checkout something amazing going on in your neighborhood.

Pennsylvania has a lot of amusement parks and they are great during the warmer months but did you know that they are open this time of year too? Yes, that is right. You can ride a rollercoaster in 30 degree weather while taking in the holiday light display. Amusement parks set up a holiday light display in the park where you can stroll around the park and just take in the lights. These light displays are as good, if not better, than some of the light displays that you drive or walk through. There are lights in trees, bushes, floating above you, Christmas trees that are 3 stories tall, and interactive displays. And of course all of the characters in the park are dressed in their holiday outfits. Some parks even have a musical lights extravaganza several times throughout the night, where the lights are synced with music. If you have never seen a musical lights extravaganza it is really fun to watch and they never disappoint.

Now each park is different, but they may also open a few select rides. Some parks will only open their children rides but others will have some of your favorite rollercoasters open. Riding your favorite rollercoaster in 30 degree weather is a new experience that you may only want to do once that night, but at least you can say that you did it. Since the parks only open a select amount of rides, the lines for these rides can become very long, especially later in the night. Getting to the park as soon as it opens is always a good idea. You still have some daylight and you can get on all the rides quickly. Later in the night when the park starts to get crowded you can enjoy the light displays. I would recommend checking out the amusement park’s website to see which rides are open before you go.

While you are checking the website, make sure to see if you can get discount pricing online. Some parks have advanced ticket sales online where you can get an extra discount when you purchase online. Tickets at the booth aren’t typically too expensive. Tickets are usually a third of the price of a regular park ticket during normal season. This isn’t a bad deal for all you are getting. Most parks open around dusk, so this isn’t an all-day activity. They also don’t stay open too late as it can get really cold outside. You get a few hours to see several amazing light displays and get on rides, so this is why it is important to get there before the lines get too long. You want to enjoy everything.

Museums are another great way to take in some holiday fun but this activity has you staying warm. Some of the local museums have decorated their exhibits in holiday spirit or even have a temporary holiday exhibit. One of our local museums here in Pittsburgh brings in several towering Colorado Spruce trees and decorates them with hand decorated ornaments. This has become quite a tradition as they have been doing this since 1957, and it always gathers a large crowd. Our local conservatory has a train exhibit set up and this year’s theme is Fairy Tales. Not only do the kids get to enjoy the train set but some of their storybook favorites are around too.

There is so much to see and do around the holidays and most exhibits come down right after Christmas. So this holiday season, make sure to slow down a bit and take in some of the great holiday spirit right in your own back yard. We hope your holidays are out of this world!

Is the World of Coca Cola worth a visit?

Liz Hough on

Pepsi Lovers Feel No Love in Atlanta

So if you read my previous post, then you know our adventures to the Georgia Aquarium exceeded our expectations. Seeing four whale sharks float above was one of the best experiences that I have had in a while and seeing the kids’ faces light up with excitement was even better. Having had this breathtaking experience we were ready to see what else downtown Atlanta had to offer. Next up was Zoo Atlanta, which is a bit south of the city. It is not within walking distance of the city center, so make sure you find some type of transportation to get there. After handing over our vouchers using the CityPASS®, we were in.

Zoo Atlanta boasts that it has been around since the late 1800’s. After walking around the zoo there are definitely some parts that I believe to be original and give it that old world character. The zoo is made up of four areas: African Plains, African Rainforest, Asian Forest, and the Kids Zone. They have many amazing animals including lions, elephants, and Gorillas, but the one animal that I was most excited about seeing was the giant panda. There are a few zoos in the whole United States that actually house these beautiful creatures. Despite them being called “giant” they aren’t much larger than a small brown bear. Zoo Atlanta had four of these guys playing around and eating bamboo. Our toddler’s favorite part of the zoo was the naked mole rats. Yes, rats. They have an indoor exhibit housing just these little guys, and they have it set up to really educate you on how they live. However, they are small, naked rats running around burrowed out holes so it did make me feel a bit uncomfortable.

The kid’s zone at the zoo was very large and had a lot of great activities to keep the kids occupied for several hours. There was a zoo animal themed carousel, train, climbing wall, canopy center with large slide, and an extremely large play land with unique playground activities. They also have a petting zoo area with goats and pigs but, thankfully, it was closed that day. Animals can be unpredictable and I am always cautious about letting my little ones get too close to something that is three times their body weight. With our voucher from the CityPASS® we received a bracelet for endless rides and climbs. This worked out great for us as we rode the train four times and the carousel twice. Each ride is around $3/person/ride, so it was pleasant surprise to have this included in our admission with our CityPASS® voucher.

When visiting Atlanta if you are not familiar with the drink Coca Cola, you will definitely be by the end of your time there. Coca Cola has their main headquarters in Atlanta along with a tourist attraction showcasing all things Coca Cola called the World of Coca Cola. They have everything to see from old Coca Cola vending machines, to the various looks of the Coca Cola products, and a secret vault containing information on how Coca Cola came about. They do a good job of crowd control as they have a short 10 minute presentation welcoming you and then you enter into a movie theater where they show a short movie about how Coca Cola brings the world together. Once you are through these two areas you are then free to roam the various exhibits. There is even an area where you can get your picture taken with Bear, the Coca Cola mascot.

There are several exhibits at the World of Coca Cola that I found to be quite different than what I had expected. They had a 4D movie about a scientist trying to figure out the secret formula of Coca Cola while being transported all over the world. I have been to 4D movies before but this was the first time where the seats actually moved. I don’t recommend this for someone with back or neck problems, but the kids found it fun. They also liked the taste station. This is an area that is broken up into continents where you can taste the various Coca Cola products available in certain countries. Greece had a pineapple flavor soda that was quite refreshing but my favorite soda was from Tanzania called Stoney Ginger Beer. It was very light and left a nice after taste of ginger in your mouth. It also did not have a lot of sugar so I didn’t get that sugary build up on the back of my tongue like I do when I drink ginger ale. It was a lot of fun going around to see how different continents like certain flavors. South American countries really like a sweeter fruit based drink while African countries like more ginger and lighter flavors. Something to definitely look forward to when you visit there!

One of the most interesting, and extremely innovated things at the World of Coca Cola was the cell phone or smart device charging stations located throughout the building. It was a booth shaped like a Coca Cola Bottle with various slots to put your phone or smart device into. All you had to do was swipe one of your credit cards and enter a pin number. An empty box would be selected and you simply put your phone into the box and attach it to the charger. Once you have closed the box it locks. You are now free to walk around and your phone is charging. Once you are ready for your phone you go back to the box and swipe your credit card, put in your pin number and your box opens. This is a completely free service that Coca Cola offers to you even though you use a credit card as your key card.

Last on our places to visit was the Fernbank Natural History museum which is located south of Atlanta. It is located in a very nice, scenic neighborhood where we saw Owen Wilson and Ed Helms shooting a movie (How awesome is that?!?). When you pull up to the museum you are welcomed by several statues of dinosaurs. Inside they have several more dinosaurs in the main atrium and in an exhibit, which the kids absolutely loved. With our CityPASS® voucher we were given access to an IMAX movie, so our oldest decided they wanted to see the polar bears movie.

After the movie we walked around to the various exhibits including an Egyptian Queen’s belongings but the kids really enjoyed NatureQuest the most. This indoor play and learning area for kids of all ages allowed kids to build walls with blocks, look at bugs under microscopes, find fossils hidden in the walls, and walk across and plank bridge. There was so much for them to do in this area that we stayed here for a few hours. The Fernbank really has something for everyone and is a great place for multi-generational families to have some fun together.

I have to say, I was very surprised how much I enjoyed my downtown stay in Atlanta. We didn’t have a bad experience once and all of the activities that there were to keep the kids busy and entertained kept this mommy happy!