Florida

Florida is amazing and one of my favorite states. Mainly because Disney World is there, but I will be doing a separate post about Disney World and Universal Studios at a later date. I have been here a million times (ok maybe not a million but still) and still am amazed by how beautiful this entire state is!!


Key West
The southernmost point in the US. It even has a buoy to prove it! This beautiful town is full of water activities to do, including snorkeling and diving! There is also an aquarium, a lighthouse, and Ernest Hemingway's house! All for a fee of course!

View of Key West From the cruise ship 

A fountain 

More sculptures in Key West

Southernmost Point - Don't worry you really can't miss it there are lots of signs showing you how to get there! This is showing that it is only 90 Miles to Cuba from this location!

Looking out searching for Cuba at the Southernmost Point

On the way to the southernmost point is Ernest Hemingway's House. It cost $14 for an adult to get in, but its well worth it because of the CATS! yes, you heard that right, the house is home to 40-50 cats that have at least 1 extra toe on 1 foot. They are all descendants of Ernest Hemingway's cat Snow White that was given to him by a ship's captain.

Ernest Hemingway House

Custom House 
Built in 1891, it has seen pirates and wreckers! It is now a museum and art gallery! I think it is one of the most beautiful buildings on the island

In front of the Custom House

That is pretty much it for Key West. I haven't eaten anywhere there to give you recommendations, but I'll have to go back soon!! 

Tampa
Now I'll be honest, I've only driven through here to get to Clearwater Beach (which I love) but there are still several things to do here if you want!

Busch Gardens - theme park complete with African Animals! They even have various events during the year, such as in the spring the Wine and Dine event in the park!

The Tampa Zoo and the Florida Aquarium - not together but for this instance I'm putting them in the same category. Both require separate entrance fees.

The BEACH - I love the beach, Clearwater Beach (actually any of the beaches on the islands around Tampa, are pretty much all inclusive. You can walk on the beach and there are plenty of restaurants in the area that you can walk to.



St. Augustine
When I was a kid, my parents took me here on a little day trip to see the castle and I fell in love with the town. For the longest time, I told everyone I was going to Flager college that was in St. Augustine.
They have a little town that is super touristy but awesome!

Old Town

Old Town

The City Gates

There is also the castle, which is not really a castle, more like a fort but still its super cool! It is from the 17th century when Florida was apart of the Spanish empire.

Castillo de San Marcos

Miami/Fort Lauderdale
"Welcome to Miami" -- as Will Smith says.

I really only spent time in Fort Lauderdale for a few days and I only went to the beach. But I can still give you a list of things to see!!

Everglades National Park
This is a National Park full of swamps, alligators and airboat tours! If you've been to New Orleans and did an airboat tour there (like me), I do not think it is worth spending the money to go again unless you really want to.

The Beaches 

View from our hotel (Atlantic Hotel and Spa) in Fort Lauderdale

The real reason to come to Miami and Fort Lauderdale besides the shopping is the beaches. 

Miami = South Beach 

Fort Lauderdale = Fort Lauderdale Beach

But be warned -- they are having real big problems with the red algae and there has been a swim advisory out! 

That's all I currently have for Florida
any questions let me know!
graceparsons2023@gmail.com

NYC

New York City, the city that is ever changing, ever growing and never sleeps. I have been here a few times and it always leaves me wanting a little more, but it also makes me never want to go out in public again. The last time I went there was for a weekend trip with my now Fiance to complete his dream of staying at the Waldorf. We lucked out because a good friend of mine lives there and became our tour guide or rather food guide to the city. And boy was she the best food guide ever.

Now there are so so many things to see and to do here, I'm really just going to hit the high points.

Statue of Liberty - There is one thing that I do think every single person should see is the Statue of Liberty. It astounds me that so many people who came here for a better life, that our Lady Liberty was the first thing they saw. How miraculous that would have been.
Make sure you book your tickets early especially if you want to go up in the crown or the flame.

Ellis Island - Again, to me this is one of the most important landmarks in not only NYC but all of U.S.A. It is even cooler if you can trace back an ancestor that walked through those halls.

Outside of Ellis Island

The Hall where they stood in line

The Record Book

How the process works. 

Central Park - Over 1 mile of open space is this gem of the city. Not only are there duck ponds, ice skating rinks, running trails and a zoo. You can take a horse and buggy ride for a not so small fee through the park. I've not done that yet, but I think it would be a great way to see the park and save your poor feet. One of my favorite places is the Alice in Wonderland Statue.



9/11 Memorial - I feel like this is just as important as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. People should see exactly what happened to all those people in the Towers. The entire memorial is very well done.

The Memorial

The Memorial

There is also a Museum that examines the implications of 9/11 and memorializes the victims of the attack as well. It costs $24 to get in for an adult. I thought it was a great tribute to the victims. 

Empire State Building - Once the World's tallest building, it is now just office buildings and a tourist attraction. The 86th Floor is the highest open-air observation deck and the 102nd Floor is a glass observation deck with stunning views as well. Just to the 86th floor is $37 for an adult. For both 86th and 102nd Floors is $57 for an adult. Buying tickets in advance is recommended.

Empire State Building

Empire State Building

View From the Top

Times Square - Where the Ball drops every year on New Year's Eve. Right in the midtown of Manhatten is this beautiful square filled with billboards of various Broadway shows and movies. There are numerous places to eat and shop in this square too!

Broadway - Believe it or not, Broadway is an actual place in Manhattan! Most people just refer to "going to Broadway" as making it into one of the many shows! I am a musical girl and actually got to see my first actual show in NYC in Feb. 2017. I saw the Lion King, which was absolutely perfect! This is a must do and there are multiple shows that you can check out!

I've now seen Wicked, Mean Girls and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway as well and HIGHLY recommend all of them!!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Wicked

Grand Central Station - The main transportation hub of NYC! This beautiful building that was opened in 1913 and by the 1950's more than half of the U.S.'s population had traveled through it!

Brooklyn Bridge - The beautiful iconic bridge that links Manhattan and Brooklyn. Completed in 1883, you can walk across it! :)

Rockefeller Center - A huge tourist attraction in midtown Manhattan. This is where the Ice rink and the huge Christmas tree is during the winter season. There are shopping and dining as well as the Top of the Rock which is a similar experience to the Empire State Building.


Chelsea Market - First time I've been here was this last trip to NYC and I loved it. I spent almost 3 hours roaming around this place. So many places to eat and shop! I can personally recommend Doughnuttery - because that place was fantastic!!

Coney Island - Where the rest of NYC comes to relax from the city life (well other than the Hamptons, obviously). This place was so amazing. I didn't get to experience it fully due to time constraints (Harry Potter on Broadway started at 2, didn't get to Coney Island til 12). But the beach is beautiful and the boardwalk is everything you need in a beach boardwalk. There is an amusement park called Luna Park. My friends rode the Ferris Wheel and totally recommend it!
Make sure you eat a Nathan's hotdog while there! They are world famous and host the hotdog eating contest every year!

The Strand Bookstore - if you are a huge book nerd like myself then this is your mecca. 18 miles of books, 3 stories tall and amazing.

FOOD


You have your choice of food in this huge city. Literally, there is everything available to you. But here are a few places I have enjoyed!

Do: (pronounced like dough) - it was one of the "new big things" that everyone found out about. It is edible cookie dough and let me tell you. Totally worth the 2-3 hour wait that you will probably have to endure.

Edi and the Wolf - the wiener schnitzel is absolutely fabulous! 

El Centro - by far my favorite place to brunch. The chilaquiles are TO DIE FOR! 

Max Brenner's - prepare for chocolate overload!! And it is worth every penny and calorie. Because calories don't count in NYC! 

The fondue sharing experience 

Any specific questions I'll try to answer as best I can! I am definitely not an expert but I will always try to help fellow travelers!! :)

graceparsons2023@gmail.com

Massachusetts

I first came to this state on a road trip with some friends! We came right after Halloween so the leaves were absolutely beautiful and still on the trees! Then last year Jason and I came to Boston to see his beloved Red Sox and sit on the Green Monster (must do so awesome!).


Boston
Ok, the main city in Massachusetts! It is a perfect blend of old and new with the right amount of sass. Yes, you heard me sass! Let's be real most of the people that live in this area are/were from Ireland aka the king country of sass.


Fenway Park - you have to go at least once, and if you have the means, go sit on the Green Monster and try to catch a home run (good luck they are flying up there).

On top of the Green Monster!

Sitting on Top of the Green Monster

Freedom Trail - a 2.5-mile long trail marked by bricks that hit a bunch of historical sites! 16 sites to be exact. Most of the sites are free or ask for donations, but the Old South Meeting House, Old State House, and Paul Revere House require tickets. Old North Church is included in this walking tour. You know "1 if by land 2 if by sea"! 

Old North Church

The Freedom Trail does omit the Liberty Tree (the gathering place for Revolutionists) and the Boston Tea Party (which you really should go throw some tea into the Harbor -- do not say I told you to!!)

Harvard - at least go and take a walk around the commons! It is a beautiful campus! I was lucky enough that I had a friend going to school here and he gave me a tour! Also, try out Insomnia Cookies for all your late night sweet fixes! (SO GOOD) 

Harvard

Harvard

Harvard

 Finally, the Smoke Shop in Cambridge (by Harvard) is one of the best BBQ joints I have ever eaten at!!!


Gloucester 
Easily my favorite town in Massachusetts. I will have to say when my friend begged to go, I was against it. I didn't think we had time/wasn't anything of interest here. Boy was I wrong! It is the oldest seaport in America and is quite possibly the most beautiful place I've ever seen. It's settled in the little bay like area. If you are looking out towards the Harbor on your right is Stage Fort Park and on your left is a lighthouse. There is a little boulevard like area right up on the water, where you can walk from end to end.

Map of Gloucester

Memorial on the Boulevard 

Stage Fort Park is beautiful and such a fun place to bring children! It has a little beach area for swimming in the summer as well as several paths for picnicking and exploring. 

Eastern Point Lighthouse is the name of the lighthouse you can see on your left! It was featured in the movie Perfect Storm. You are not permitted on the grounds since it is an active lighthouse, but there is a walkway out to the middle of the harbor that gives amazing views! 

Walkway in the Harbor

Pondering life in the middle of the Harbor

Salem

If you love Halloween like me, then you definitely have seen/love Hocus Pocus. The entire reason why we went to Salem was to do our own version of the Hocus Pocus movie tour. Salem also has various witch museums along with a maritime museum. 

Town Hall - where they Danced til they die! 

Memorial

Old Salem Graveyard

The Hocus Pocus house! 

The pilgrim museum where the Sanderson Sisters live 

Plymouth

I'm putting this in here for completeness. But this is not worth anyone's time. Literally, Plymouth rock is a rock in the sand with a date on it. You can't even touch it! There are some replicas of the ships Christopher Columbus came over here in, but you have to pay to see them. 

Plymouth Rock

The Replica ship

Cape Cod and Provincetown

The beaches are amazing at Cape Cod and Provincetown is an adorable little community! We drove through here and stopped to play on the beaches and then ended our day in Provincetown for dinner! There are a lot of shops and food places in Provincetown that makes it definitely worth spending your summer week on vacation here! 

One of the roads to the Cape Cod Coast

Delicious food!! 

Ok, that is all I have for now on Massachusetts!! 

any questions let me know! graceparsons2023@gmail.com