I anticipate 2016 to be a big year! I have a few vacations and race-cations planned for 2016 as I try to fill my race calendar! We also have some exciting guest posts coming in January from my sister!
I can not believe how fast 2015 went by! My first half marathon seems like just yesterday and tomorrow I start my training regiment for my 2nd half! After a whirlwind summer vacation to England I am exciting to be planning for another beach trip in April.
The guests posts from my sister will cover two separate trips she is taking in a couple of weeks. Monday she is leaving a few days in Orlando ending with a NYE spent at Magic Kingdom! I am excited to see her photos of the final year of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights as well as the amazing NYE Fireworks Disney will have. The park is open until 2 am so I am sure they will have a fantastic time! A couple of weeks later she will embark on her first solo trip and it is to Italy! What an awesome experience for her! She will keep be giving us snapshots of her days exploring Rome as she takes over my Instagram! Make sure you follow my IG account here.
My first trip of 2016 will be a weekend race-cation to Myrtle Beach for the MB Dasani Half Marathon! I am excited to run this race as it will be my boyfriends first half! This race will be the first weekend in March so I am hoping there will be mild weather and we will be able to experience Broadway at the Beach for some post race celebrations!
Just short of a month later we will be making a trip I am just too excited about!! Is that even possible? We will be staying 6 days in BELIZE! I am sooo excited to visit Central America! The resort we are staying at looks absolutely amazing and has a dive center on site! Ambergris Caye (the island we are lodging on) has such a relaxing atmosphere and we look forward to doing just that. Interestingly enough, this will be my first trip that I do not have a non stop flight! We will be doing two flights to get to Belize City and then we must decide our options to get to the island. There is a 20 minute flight on a small prop plane or a 2 hour ferry. I know what you are thinking, the choice is obvious but with 2 flights already and it being a small plane we are a little nervous. The ferry is a good option and quite possibly we will do one arriving and one leaving. There are definitely pros and cons to both so stay tuned for our decision on that as well as more info on our excursions!
We do have a couple of trips left to plan. My best friend is getting married in October so we will be planning a bachelorette party to either Florida (she has never been, shocking I know!) or to the Bahamas which sounds fabulous. I also need to add another half to my fall race calendar and I am thinking one in Las Vegas? The Strip at Night race with the Rock n Roll Marathon Series looks like tons of fun from all the posts I saw from this year.
I look forward to 2016 and hope everyone has a fabulous New Years! Anyone have any exciting destination races or amazing vacations? I would love to hear about them!
Comment below or find me on IG or Twitter!
Tips & Tricks of all things cruising from a self professed cruise ADDICT.
Showing posts with label Runcation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Runcation. Show all posts
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Sunday, March 22, 2015
ORLANDO: Universal IOA Hogsmeade
We opted out of Disney while in Orlando for the Disney Princess Half and instead took in a day at each Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We purchased the buy 2 day Park Hopper get a 3rd day free option but just spent 2 days at the parks. I had never been to Universal Studios but I had visited IOA about 8 years ago, before the Harry Potter World addition.
Harry Potter World was the center of our visit so we headed to Hogsmeade when we first arrived at IOA. It was a Monday so the park wasn't too crowded but it was definitely busier in the HPW sections of both parks. We went to the Three Broomsticks to eat and of course to try a Butter Beer! The Butter Beer reminded me a lot of cream soda. It was good but not something I wanted more than one of.
Next stop was Olivanders, my boyfriend wanted to get one of the interactive wands that could be used to perform spells throughout HPW. They only let a small number of people into the shop at a time, about 15-20. They go through a small skit and then you are taken to the shop to choose from souvenirs and of course wands. A non interactive wand cost about $40 while an interactive one cost $50.How do you tell the difference in the shop? Wands with the gold label (see below) are interactive wands. You can select from a variety of characters wands, each coming in interactive and non interactive. Each interactive wand comes with a map showing the spell locations throughout both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.
Wanting to get in line for the rides before the lines got really long we headed to the Forbidden Journey ride. Once you enter the castle there is an area for you to rent a locker for free until an extended period of time(these can be found throughout the park and were extremely beneficial). Once all bags and loose belongings are locked up you can proceed to the line area which weaves around the back of the castle and then into the castle. Once inside the castle, the line moves throughout different areas which are sections you would recognize from the book, including the famous moving/ talking portraits in the hallways. The way Universal does their themes for both parks is very well thought out and makes standing in line much more enjoyable.
The Forbidden Journey is a 4D experience which starts as soon as you hop on the moving sidewalk of sorts to hurriedly get to your seat (4 people per car). The ride whisks you along inside and along the outside of the castle as you follow the characters through different adventures. I do have to mention that some portions of the ride had me a little jumpy so keep that in mind if you have younger kids and maybe consider an alternative ride if you think it may freak them out. If alternate reality is hard for you to enjoy, I would also recommend skipping the ride. With that being said, it was one of my favorite rides in both parks as I prefer these type of rides to actual roller coasters.
After walking around the stores and doing some spells, we headed to the Dragon Challenge. This ride is not new to the park and used to be called the Dueling Dragons. I had rode this on my last visit and enjoyed it so we rode it again. The ride no longer races the red and blue dragon against each other. The ride was still fun, a little fast and a little high for me but I am no roller coaster fanatic.
We moved on throughout IOA later coming back to take the Hogswarts Express over to Diagon Alley. Overall I liked Hogsmeade but it is very congested. There are some areas with carts, lots of people practicing their spells in front of shops and a lot of people stopping to take plenty of photos (like me). The decor is amazing and as mentioned early Universal does a great job of making the different park themes come to life.
Harry Potter World was the center of our visit so we headed to Hogsmeade when we first arrived at IOA. It was a Monday so the park wasn't too crowded but it was definitely busier in the HPW sections of both parks. We went to the Three Broomsticks to eat and of course to try a Butter Beer! The Butter Beer reminded me a lot of cream soda. It was good but not something I wanted more than one of.
Next stop was Olivanders, my boyfriend wanted to get one of the interactive wands that could be used to perform spells throughout HPW. They only let a small number of people into the shop at a time, about 15-20. They go through a small skit and then you are taken to the shop to choose from souvenirs and of course wands. A non interactive wand cost about $40 while an interactive one cost $50.How do you tell the difference in the shop? Wands with the gold label (see below) are interactive wands. You can select from a variety of characters wands, each coming in interactive and non interactive. Each interactive wand comes with a map showing the spell locations throughout both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.
Follow the map to areas on the ground (mostly in front of shop windows) with gold letters and numbers as seen below. You wave your wand following the spell and usually something in the window moves. For what it is worth, some (read most) of the spell areas were congested. It takes more than once and sometimes about 10 times before the spell you "cast" works. You have to be in just the right spot and follow the spell to the T. There were HPW cast members at most of these areas to help out with your technique but it was somewhat frustrating getting it exactly right. None of the spots do anything spectacular except for one in Diagon Alley in which your spell makes rain come out of an umbrella.
Wanting to get in line for the rides before the lines got really long we headed to the Forbidden Journey ride. Once you enter the castle there is an area for you to rent a locker for free until an extended period of time(these can be found throughout the park and were extremely beneficial). Once all bags and loose belongings are locked up you can proceed to the line area which weaves around the back of the castle and then into the castle. Once inside the castle, the line moves throughout different areas which are sections you would recognize from the book, including the famous moving/ talking portraits in the hallways. The way Universal does their themes for both parks is very well thought out and makes standing in line much more enjoyable.
The Forbidden Journey is a 4D experience which starts as soon as you hop on the moving sidewalk of sorts to hurriedly get to your seat (4 people per car). The ride whisks you along inside and along the outside of the castle as you follow the characters through different adventures. I do have to mention that some portions of the ride had me a little jumpy so keep that in mind if you have younger kids and maybe consider an alternative ride if you think it may freak them out. If alternate reality is hard for you to enjoy, I would also recommend skipping the ride. With that being said, it was one of my favorite rides in both parks as I prefer these type of rides to actual roller coasters.
After walking around the stores and doing some spells, we headed to the Dragon Challenge. This ride is not new to the park and used to be called the Dueling Dragons. I had rode this on my last visit and enjoyed it so we rode it again. The ride no longer races the red and blue dragon against each other. The ride was still fun, a little fast and a little high for me but I am no roller coaster fanatic.
We moved on throughout IOA later coming back to take the Hogswarts Express over to Diagon Alley. Overall I liked Hogsmeade but it is very congested. There are some areas with carts, lots of people practicing their spells in front of shops and a lot of people stopping to take plenty of photos (like me). The decor is amazing and as mentioned early Universal does a great job of making the different park themes come to life.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Orlando: Grande Villas Resort
While in Orlando for the Disney Princess Half Marathon last month, we stayed at the Grande Villas Resort. This resort is part of the Diamond Resort International Properties and is a time share type hotel. We booked through a 3rd party site and did not feel pressured by the staff to go to any time share presentations.
The property is beautiful and well maintained. We spent 3 nights at one of the hot tub areas (the resort has two pools) and enjoyed that very much. While staying at the resort you also have access to the property across the street. This resort has a 3rd pool/ hot tubs as well a mini golf course! We did not use this facility but it seems to be a great option for families. The hotel office/ lobby also had a schedule of family friendly events including a movie on a blow up screen at the pool, very nice touch!
We stayed on the 5th floor (the top) in a renovated unit. As described on their site, the resort is under going renovations to update all of the units. The site warns of construction noise but we did not encounter this at all. In fact, the resort was very quiet the entire duration of our stay.
Our room was a 1 bedroom suite with a pull out couch in the living area as well as a kitchenette. The suite area was large and the bed/ pillows were very very comfy! There was a decent sized dresser for a couple, though too small for a family as well as a closet in the bathroom.The bathroom is connected to the bedroom with both a bath and shower with a large 2 sink vanity area. Through the suite was also the screened in porch which was very nice. My sister stayed in the living area and opted to just sleep on the couch instead of pulling it out and putting it together everyday. She said that this was comfortable for the duration of our stay.
Suite (separated from living area with pocket doors)
The property is beautiful and well maintained. We spent 3 nights at one of the hot tub areas (the resort has two pools) and enjoyed that very much. While staying at the resort you also have access to the property across the street. This resort has a 3rd pool/ hot tubs as well a mini golf course! We did not use this facility but it seems to be a great option for families. The hotel office/ lobby also had a schedule of family friendly events including a movie on a blow up screen at the pool, very nice touch!
Pool area behind Building B
The convenience factor may have been my favorite thing about staying at the Grande Villas Resort. We were a short 10-15 minutes to all Disney has to offer, 20-25 minutes to the Universal Parks, a quarter mile to the Winn-Dixie and 5 minutes from tons of dining options. Also on the property was a convenience store with everything from coffee & snacks to playing cards and souvenirs. The Food Mart also delivers food, the lobby gives you a menu at check in.
The Food Mart
The room, property, location and price were all winning points of our stay and I have no complaints. For future trips to Orlando, we will definitely consider staying at Grande Villas again. I also will consider Diamond Resorts International properties in all my travels. To book a stay at Grande Villas Resort or for more information on additional DRI properties, please visit their website .
Pool Towels (under sink)
Extra bath towels, TP and Tissue (under sink)
Friday, January 9, 2015
RFFC: The Ports!
Taking a Run For Fun Cruise(RFFC) gives you the opportunity to run in exciting locations. During the port stops, you also have a chance to explore the places you are visiting either on your own or with a group excursion. Lets take a look at where RFFC can take you in 2015!
RFFC Caribbean February 2015- There is still time to book last minute to take a romantic Valentines Vacation with RFFC! Booking Info found here.
The February cruise starts out in Fort Lauderdale which will be a warmer climate for a lot of folks! You have the option of participating in the A1A Marathon which offers a 5K, Half Marathon and Marathon on February 15 (Sunday). Come in a couple of days early, enjoy FLL's nice weather, take the water taxi around to see the sites or head to the beach! Board the Regal Princess on the 15th (after the race) and be on your way to 3 Caribbean ports.
Wake up Feb 16 to Princess Cruise Lines private island, Princess Cays. I have never been to Princess Cays but I have been to RCCLs private island in the Bahamas and boy is it beautiful! It is so peaceful, the beach is plentiful and you can just relax. RFFC has something special planned for you at Princess Cays, take part in the Princess Cays Team Challenge and the Bahama Mama Relay!
With a day at sea under your belt, you will feel refreshed as you take on a 5K along Charlotte Amalie Harbor on Feb 18. Enjoy the rest of your day taking in some of the beautiful beaches that the USVI have to offer. Magen's Bay is often listed as one of the top 10 beaches in the world. Interested in more adventure then relaxation? Try SCUBA Diving! We took a Discover SCUBA class at Coki Beach Dive Club during our visit and had an amazing experience. If you have never seen the world underwater, I highly recommend it!
On the 19th, sail away to St. Maarten, the smallest two island nation in the world! That's right, you are in for a 2 nation treat with half of the island being French and the other being Dutch! Begin your morning with a 5K or 10K along the beautiful boardwalk. Ready to take on a full day? Visit Maho Beach where you can see the planes landing at SXM airport, a fun family adventure. Visit the French side of the island for lovely shops, cozy little restaurants and fantastic beaches. We spent a day roaming the shopping on the Dutch side ending up at a lovely beach bar and finished our day in some lovely loungers.
RFFC Alaska June 2015- This cruise to Alaska will surely be filled with adventure, book today!
Begin your journey in Seattle where you can take part in the Rock N Roll Seattle Half or Full Marathon on June 13! Enjoy the rest of the day/ night exploring such an amazing city! All Aboard June 14 to head out to a ton of amazing port of calls in a place truly different than the rest of the United States.
Ketchikan is the first stop June 16. RFFC has partnered with a local running club for a morning run. Alaska's 4th largest city, Ketchikan offers salmon fishing, native totem poles at the Totem Heritage Center, visit Alaska's Rainforest Sanctuary or wander around the picturesque Alaskan town.
June 17 sail towards the Tracy Arm Fjord. The views will most definitely take your breathe away. Keep your eyes out for an array of wildlife that call the Park home including harbor seals, wolves, bears and many birds. Continue on to your next stop in Juneau. RFFC has teamed up with Ultra Marathoner Geoff Roes for a run you wont forget in Alaska's capital. Afterwards, take in a whale watching tour, dog sledding, Glacier Gardens and more in this city with an abundance of area to explore.
June 18 lands you in Skagway, a town that began with the Gold Rush. Take the railway to experience the Yukon, stay in town to learn the history of the Gold Rush, or take a flight to see the beauty of Skagway from above.
June 20 fulfills the Jones Act by stopping in Victoria, BC Canada. Enjoy a night time run before seeing some of what Victoria has to over. Check out the beautiful butterfly gardens or Beacon Hill Park, visit the Craigdarroch Castle, or have a drink or two at an in town pub.
In choosing the Caribbean or Alaska, you can not go wrong with a Run For Fun Cruise. The ships are beautiful, the planned activities are plentiful and the ports just WOW you.
Make sure you visit RunForFunCruise.com for additional information and to get any questions you may have answered. Don't forget to tell them that LIVE from the Lido Deck sent you.
RFFC Caribbean February 2015- There is still time to book last minute to take a romantic Valentines Vacation with RFFC! Booking Info found here.
The February cruise starts out in Fort Lauderdale which will be a warmer climate for a lot of folks! You have the option of participating in the A1A Marathon which offers a 5K, Half Marathon and Marathon on February 15 (Sunday). Come in a couple of days early, enjoy FLL's nice weather, take the water taxi around to see the sites or head to the beach! Board the Regal Princess on the 15th (after the race) and be on your way to 3 Caribbean ports.
Wake up Feb 16 to Princess Cruise Lines private island, Princess Cays. I have never been to Princess Cays but I have been to RCCLs private island in the Bahamas and boy is it beautiful! It is so peaceful, the beach is plentiful and you can just relax. RFFC has something special planned for you at Princess Cays, take part in the Princess Cays Team Challenge and the Bahama Mama Relay!
With a day at sea under your belt, you will feel refreshed as you take on a 5K along Charlotte Amalie Harbor on Feb 18. Enjoy the rest of your day taking in some of the beautiful beaches that the USVI have to offer. Magen's Bay is often listed as one of the top 10 beaches in the world. Interested in more adventure then relaxation? Try SCUBA Diving! We took a Discover SCUBA class at Coki Beach Dive Club during our visit and had an amazing experience. If you have never seen the world underwater, I highly recommend it!
Take a dive in St. Thomas
On the 19th, sail away to St. Maarten, the smallest two island nation in the world! That's right, you are in for a 2 nation treat with half of the island being French and the other being Dutch! Begin your morning with a 5K or 10K along the beautiful boardwalk. Ready to take on a full day? Visit Maho Beach where you can see the planes landing at SXM airport, a fun family adventure. Visit the French side of the island for lovely shops, cozy little restaurants and fantastic beaches. We spent a day roaming the shopping on the Dutch side ending up at a lovely beach bar and finished our day in some lovely loungers.
A beach bar along the Board Walk in St. Maarten
RFFC Alaska June 2015- This cruise to Alaska will surely be filled with adventure, book today!
Begin your journey in Seattle where you can take part in the Rock N Roll Seattle Half or Full Marathon on June 13! Enjoy the rest of the day/ night exploring such an amazing city! All Aboard June 14 to head out to a ton of amazing port of calls in a place truly different than the rest of the United States.
Ketchikan is the first stop June 16. RFFC has partnered with a local running club for a morning run. Alaska's 4th largest city, Ketchikan offers salmon fishing, native totem poles at the Totem Heritage Center, visit Alaska's Rainforest Sanctuary or wander around the picturesque Alaskan town.
June 17 sail towards the Tracy Arm Fjord. The views will most definitely take your breathe away. Keep your eyes out for an array of wildlife that call the Park home including harbor seals, wolves, bears and many birds. Continue on to your next stop in Juneau. RFFC has teamed up with Ultra Marathoner Geoff Roes for a run you wont forget in Alaska's capital. Afterwards, take in a whale watching tour, dog sledding, Glacier Gardens and more in this city with an abundance of area to explore.
*Photo via Princess.com
June 18 lands you in Skagway, a town that began with the Gold Rush. Take the railway to experience the Yukon, stay in town to learn the history of the Gold Rush, or take a flight to see the beauty of Skagway from above.
June 20 fulfills the Jones Act by stopping in Victoria, BC Canada. Enjoy a night time run before seeing some of what Victoria has to over. Check out the beautiful butterfly gardens or Beacon Hill Park, visit the Craigdarroch Castle, or have a drink or two at an in town pub.
In choosing the Caribbean or Alaska, you can not go wrong with a Run For Fun Cruise. The ships are beautiful, the planned activities are plentiful and the ports just WOW you.
Make sure you visit RunForFunCruise.com for additional information and to get any questions you may have answered. Don't forget to tell them that LIVE from the Lido Deck sent you.
Friday, November 28, 2014
Want to take an EPIC Runcation? RUN FOR FUN CRUISE
You may be wondering what a Runcation is... By definition, it is a weeding. Well, that is nothing do to do with Runcation I am talking about! A Runcation is vacation where you go running! My first Runcation will be to Walt Disney World in February where I will be running the Disney Princess Half Marathon.
Now I love to travel but cruising is my favorite way to travel. I have found a Runcation that suits both my needs, Run For Fun Cruises. I came across Run for Fun Cruises a couple of months ago but was disappointed to find that it was the same week as my half. I followed them on Twitter to stay up to date with future cruises and found that they were offering another trip in June!
The RFFC is offering two trips in 2015. The first in February is for the beach bunny interested in running around the Eastern Caribbean. This 7 day cruise onboard the Regal Princess runs from February 15-22 and offers stops at Princess Cays (cruise line private island), St. Thomas, & St. Maarten. This cruise offers fun in the sun, sand and the chance to shake off the winter blues.
The second sailing on the Ruby Princess is for the cruiser looking for adventure. Join RFFC June 14-21 sailing from Seattle to Alaska including a stop to see the Tracy Arm Fjord! Other stops include Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway & Victoria, BC Canada. This cruise offers amazing once in a lifetime wild life excursions!
Now what makes these cruises a Runcation? You go on fun runs of course! Each cruise starts out with an optional Half or Full Marathon. The A1A Fort Lauderdale Marathon or the Rock & Roll Seattle Marathon take place the Saturday before the cruise departs. Then, throughout the cruise, the RFFC team has set up group runs on board and in port to take in the sights!
Look for upcoming posts that go into greater detail on the RFFC, ports of call and the ships being sailed! For more information visit Run For Fun Cruise's site. Call or email them for more information, just don't forget to tell them that Amanda Causer with Live from the Lido Deck sent you!
Now I love to travel but cruising is my favorite way to travel. I have found a Runcation that suits both my needs, Run For Fun Cruises. I came across Run for Fun Cruises a couple of months ago but was disappointed to find that it was the same week as my half. I followed them on Twitter to stay up to date with future cruises and found that they were offering another trip in June!
The RFFC is offering two trips in 2015. The first in February is for the beach bunny interested in running around the Eastern Caribbean. This 7 day cruise onboard the Regal Princess runs from February 15-22 and offers stops at Princess Cays (cruise line private island), St. Thomas, & St. Maarten. This cruise offers fun in the sun, sand and the chance to shake off the winter blues.
The second sailing on the Ruby Princess is for the cruiser looking for adventure. Join RFFC June 14-21 sailing from Seattle to Alaska including a stop to see the Tracy Arm Fjord! Other stops include Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway & Victoria, BC Canada. This cruise offers amazing once in a lifetime wild life excursions!
Now what makes these cruises a Runcation? You go on fun runs of course! Each cruise starts out with an optional Half or Full Marathon. The A1A Fort Lauderdale Marathon or the Rock & Roll Seattle Marathon take place the Saturday before the cruise departs. Then, throughout the cruise, the RFFC team has set up group runs on board and in port to take in the sights!
Look for upcoming posts that go into greater detail on the RFFC, ports of call and the ships being sailed! For more information visit Run For Fun Cruise's site. Call or email them for more information, just don't forget to tell them that Amanda Causer with Live from the Lido Deck sent you!
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