Search Results for: itinerary

How to Spend 1 Day in London like a Local

July 14, 2023

I’ve been through London countless times but each time I reminded what an incredible city it is! If you’re going to London for the first time, this probably isn’t the 1 day itinerary for you but if you’ve already done the touristy things, here is how to spend 1 day in London like a local and what to do and see and most importantly, where to eat!

(If this is your first trip to London – here are all my other tips and tricks for the city!)

To start, where to stay in London? I’ve tried a lot of hotels in the city over the years but my newest go-to is The Hoxton Holborn. The design is gorgeous and the location even better to explore like a local!

Start your day with a Swedish cinnamon bun at my favorite bakery, Fabrique. And lucky for you, there is one down the block from The Hoxton Holborn. Grab an oat milk latte and a cinnamon bun and enjoy the treat to start your day.

After breakfast, head out for some shopping. There are a lot of places in London that have amazing shopping, but some of my favorites are the King’s Road high street, as well as Sloane Square and Oxford and Regent Streets. And finally, what might seem odd but is actually a great spot to shop, is the St. Pancras Rail Station. All of my favorites have stores there like Jigsaw, Reiss, LK Bennett and more. Plus you can pick up Fortnum and Mason tea there alongside Laduree macarons!

Since you started early and are probably hungry after all that shopping, grab brunch or lunch at Granger & Co., a local London favorite. Their eggs are divine, and that’s coming from me, who doesn’t love eggs all that much! It’s worth the wait, trust me.

After lunch, jump on the Tube and head over to Borough Market. We love strolling through this famous spot on a lazy afternoon. From there, you can wander the South Bank of the Thames through London, taking in the monuments and the gorgeous views. Once you have wandered long enough, jump on the Tube and head back to the hotel.

Once it’s time for dinner, take a stroll through Covent Garden from The Hoxton Holborn and check out the Covent Garden Market. Then heading towards Dishoom for dinner, you’ll enjoy a beautiful London stroll.

For dinner, Dishoom is the place to be. This Indian restaurant is gorgeous and the food incredible. Whatever the wait is, it goes fast so put your name down and then enjoy an incredible meal. Pro tip – get the rice pudding for dessert – it was out of this world!

Then after dinner if the weather is nice, head toward Tralfager Square and take in some of London’s landmarks. Wander back to Holborn and take in all that London is and has to offer. Truly such a remarkable city, it’s best to just wander in London and enjoy it!

Headed to London?

See more of our content on London here!

How to See Ireland in 7 Days

July 22, 2022

Outfit Details:

Madewell Long Sleeve T-Shirt (similar) | J Crew Navy Vest (similar) |

Zara Purse (sold out) | Anthropologie Wide Leg Jeans (similar) | White Converse Low Tops

Last year, my cousin and I started planning a trip to Ireland. First, we’ve wanted to do a trip together for a while and second, we have a decent amount of family in Northern Ireland and we wanted to go see where our family is from and meet some of our relatives. When I started planning the itinerary for our trip, I wanted to see more of Ireland than I did on my last trip, which mostly consisted of Dublin and Northern Ireland. So this time, we basically saw about 3/4 of the island, driving each day and going through a number of cities and stops. If you’re looking for an itinerary for a trip to Emerald Isle, here’s how to see Ireland in 7 days.

Day 1

Arrive in Dublin and pick up your rental car. Buy the full insurance package as Ireland’s roads are tiny and you never know!

Drive to Waterford and have lunch and explore. Then head to the Mount Juliet Estate and spend your afternoon and evening at this gorgeous estate up in the hills. Their restaurant, The Hound is delicious!

Day 2

Drive to Cork and explore the city center. Shop at the English Market, wander the high street on St Patrick’s Street and grab lunch in a pub.

Next, drive to Blarney Castle about 20 minutes outside the city center. Now I will say this was a little touristy for me and kissing the Blarney Stone was a little traumatic, so I have this here on the itinerary only because it’s such a famous tourist spot in Ireland.

Finally, drive to Limerick for the night. While Limerick was definitely not my favorite city in Ireland, it was a good stop over for this itinerary and a good spot to spend the night.

Day 3

Start your day with a drive to Adare, a beautiful little Irish town only about 20 minutes from Limerick. Wander through the town, shop and eat and you won’t be disappointed. This place is pure Ireland.

Then head to Galway. This beautiful Irish town was one of my favorites and a perfect place to wander, have lunch and maybe stop for ice cream before you go!

Finally, drive to Athlone for the night and grab dinner there before heading to the famous Sean’s Bar for a pint of Guiness in the oldest bar in the world.

Day 4

Today, head to Northern Ireland to start your explorations there. Drive North to Belfast and enjoy the scenic drive as you cross the border into the North. Right now (as of Summer 2022), the border crossing has nothing stopping you from driving one side to the other. Though there are talks of making the Irish border different in the future, so make sure you check before you drive.

There is so much to see and do in Belfast but I would suggest exploring on foot and enjoying a pub dinner and drink at Robinson’s.

Day 5

Start your day with a tour at the Titanic Museum just outside of Belfast city. For a touristy spot, I felt like it was a pretty good museum but go early before the crowds! Then continue on by driving North to Bushmills up by the Northern Coast. Have a leisurely lunch at the Bushmills Inn and Hotel, complete with Irish tea and sticky toffee pudding.

After lunch, head to the Giants Causeway. This beautiful natural spot on Northern Ireland’s coast is breathtaking and definitely worth a visit.

Outfit Details:

Ann Taylor Puff Sleeve Sweatshirt (similar) | J Crew Navy Vest (similar) |

Zara Purse (sold out) | Anthropologie Wide Leg Jeans (similar)

Then, jump on the highway and head back to Dublin. At this point, I chose to return our rental car at the airport on the way in and taxi into town so I didn’t have to deal with parking in the city but up to you!

Have a lovely dinner in Dublin and explore on foot for your first evening there!

Day 6

Today is all about exploring Dublin on foot! See the Temple Bar, shop on Grafton Street , take a tour and explore Trinity College’s Long Library, and wander through St Stephens Green and the River Liffey waterfront.

Day 7

Grab breakfast in Dublin and then head to the Guiness Stockroom for a morning tour! We went when they first opened and it took about an hour to get through it. While this was pretty touristy and I’m not sure it’s worth the price tag, if you like Guiness or are interested in beer, it might be worth it!

That afternoon, head back to the airport and take your flight home after an amazing 7 days in Ireland!

See all the places we stayed at in Ireland here! And in Northern Ireland here!

Traveling to Ireland?

See all of my posts on the country!

How to See Chicago in 2 Days

July 15, 2022

I found out with fairly short notice that I needed to go to Chicago for work as one of my students was selected to be in a national design competition there. And while I’ve not been to Chicago before, I had previously planned a trip there for Nick and I in 2020 to visit my cousin who was living there, which sadly got canceled due to COVID. So when I was headed there in June, I reached back into that itinerary I had spent so much time on for some things to see while in the Windy City. And while I only had 2 days and I was booked for much of the time for work stuff, I did manage to get to see a decent amount of the city. If you’re headed to the Midwest, here’s how to see Chicago in 2 days and what to do and see!

Day 1

Start Early with a wander through Lincoln Park – This beautiful tree lined neighborhood is reminiscent of New York with its brown stones and beautiful row houses.

Jump on the Train and Head to The Loop – It’s pretty easy to get around Chicago on public transit and you can jump on the train and go North and South easily. Head down to the famous area called The Loop in downtown Chicago next.

Lunch near the Riverwalk – Chicago’s main downtown is famous for the Riverwalk, this beautiful water filled canal that runs through the high rises of downtown Chicago. Walk this area and find a great spot for lunch.

Wander Downtown Chicago – After lunch, spend some time just wandering through the main downtown area of the city filled with high rise after high rise.

Dinner at Ramen-San – Before heading back to your hotel for the night, stop at Ramen-San for dinner. From great ramen to karaage, this Japanese spot is delicious.

Day 2

Grab a coffee and breakfast to go and head to Millennium Park to see The Bean – This famous Chicago park and installation is located just South of the Riverwalk area in downtown Chicago. Head there early before the crowds to get your photos of The Bean and wander the park.

Walk towards Lake Michigan and wander along the waterfront back towards the Riverwalk – If you head East by the Art Institute of Chicago, you can walk along the shores of Lake Michigan and circle back up to the Riverwalk. It goes past marinas and lakeside and is pretty beautiful.

Lunch Downtown – Grab lunch downtown near the Riverwalk again to really take it all in.

Walk the Magnificent Mile – Then head North on the Magnificent Mile, a stretch of city that takes you up Michigan Avenue past some of Chicago’s most famous buildings.

Dinner at Eataly – Along the route on N. Michigan Avenue, stop at Eataly for some shopping and a delicious pasta dinner!

Traveling to Chicago?

Here are all my posts on the city!

How to Spend 1 Day in Paris

June 21, 2022

Ahh Paris, there is no where else like it in the world. It’s no secret if you’ve been following this blog for long that Paris to me, is like a second home. I feel so in-sync with the city when I visit and whether I’m just stopping over en route to somewhere else or I’m staying for several days, I’ve found my “spots” over the years that are must-see’s in the city. And while there are a ton of touristy spots in Paris, my favorites are the ones that are a little bit more off the beaten path or in more local areas so you can really get the feel of one of the most famous cities in the world. So if you only have 1 day (or you want to break this itinerary into multiple days), here’s how to spend 1 day in Paris and everything to see and do in a short timeframe.

Jardin du Luxembourg for Breakfast

My favorite park in Paris is my favorite spot to start the day. Grab a croissant and an Orangina at a nearby bakery (don’t worry, there are lots!) and take it into this park on the Left Bank. Grab a chair and just sit for a while, enjoying your croissant and watching the people walking their dogs and starting their day. It’s the most peaceful and totally Parisian way to start your day in Paris.

Notre Dame and Île St. Louis

After your peaceful start, wander through the Left Bank down to the Seine and over to the Île St. Louis and Notre Dame. This is one of the oldest areas of Paris and best early in the day before the flood of tourists. Stop for a coffee, and maybe another croissant, and just wander. The tiny cobblestone streets of the Île St. Louis are one of my favorite parts of Paris.

Hôtel De Ville

As you head through the Île St. Louis and cross to the Right Bank, make a stop in front of the Hôtel de Ville. This beautiful building has a lovely big square in front of it and it’s a landmark that most tourists don’t generally stop for but it’s worth a short trip to see it.

Right Bank Wander by the Seine

From the Hôtel de Ville, head West down the banks of the Seine on the Right Bank. You’ll get breathtaking views of Paris from here, even a little view of the Eiffel Tower on your walk. The architecture along the Seine is gorgeous and you’ll get a real feel for the city on this wander.

Louvre Tuileries

Eventually along your Right Bank wander by the Seine, you’ll hit the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens. While everyone should go in and see the Louvre at some point in Paris, I usually skip the lines for the museum and head straight to the Tuileries. These beautiful gardens have chairs all throughout that you can grab and sit for a while and just take in the Parisian views around you.

Long Lunch at a Brasserie

After your lovely slow morning, find a small brasserie off the main roads and have a long lunch with some steak frites. Lingering over long meals is one of my favorite European past times and it’s a must-do while in Paris.

Wander St. Germain

After lunch, head over the Seine again, back to the Left Bank and wander through the St. Germain neighborhood. This is my favorite neighborhood in all of Paris and there is so much to take in, from famous places like Café de Flore to beautiful Parisian architecture. You could wander through this area for hours, but I’d say to head West towards the Eiffel Tower and just enjoy the sights along the way.

Eiffel Tower + Macarons

Eventually, you’ll hit the Eiffel Tower as you wander through St. Germain and on your way to the famous monument, stop to buy some French macarons (my favorite are the chocolate macarons from Ladurée). Hold on to them until you get to your destination though! Once you get to the Eiffel Tower, head over the Seine again towards the Trocadéro. Once on the other side of the bridge from the tower, walk down the stairs to the banks of the Seine and find a spot to sit and enjoy the view with macarons in hand.

Dinner at Café St. Regis

Finally, to end your perfect day in Paris, head to my very favorite spot in the city for dinner – Café St. Regis on the Île St. Louis. This cute little Parisian restaurant has been our go-to spot for over a decade now and it’s frequented by locals and tourists alike. Order the Chicken Paillard and a glass of rosé and just enjoy your evening in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Headed to Paris?

Here are all my posts on the city.

Where to Stay in France

Exploring Cambridge on a Daytrip from London

April 4, 2022

While most of our trips through London are shorter en route to other locations, this time we had several days just in the city itself and when we were planning the trip, we really wanted to incorporate a couple day trips into our itinerary. One of the places I’ve been wanting to get to for a long time is beautiful Cambridge, home to the famous Cambridge University. After exploring Cambridge on a daytrip from London, I can say this is a quick and easy way to visit a new place that’s only about an hour train ride from London.

We purchased our tickets for the train the night before and I purchased tickets that could be used on any train to Cambridge and back to London, making it a little more open-ended on our times. The trains from London to Cambridge left from St. Pancras, one of the main rail stations in London, and were open seating. We arrived at the train station that morning, grabbed breakfast and a coffee and then jumped on the next train to Cambridge. On the way, our train stopped at several stops along the way, but on the way back, it was a direct and was under an hour, so it really just depends on which train option is there when you need it for timeframe. But either way, the ride was simple and easy.

Once you arrive in Cambridge, the train station is about a 15 minute walk to the old town city center. It’s an easy walk and we did it both ways when we arrived and when we left. Once you make it to the city center, there is so much to do between shopping and restaurants and see Cambridge University which has several “colleges” throughout the city. Each college is it’s own department and every building is really unique. We honestly just wandered around on foot and took it all in, then stopped right in front of the main Cambridge buildings for a lovely lunch outside complete with lemon sorbet and just people watched for a while as the weather was amazing. All in all, I can’t recommend Cambridge enough for a day trip from London. It was easy to get to, really charming and felt entirely removed from London for a bit!