City ❀ Country ❀ Beach
Shipt This company is a time lifesaver! If you’re a busy parent or someone that really doesn’t enjoy grocery shopping, this is the company for you. With many locations around the United States, they will shop for you! I can attest to this because I …
The Cove on Ormond Beach is a Hilton Grand Vacations property directly located on the gorgeous Ormond Beach on the east coast of Florida. It makes for a great vacation spot with all the amenities a family would want. On this trip, my husband had to …
Ormond Beach has fabulous beaches making it perfect for family vacations! It is the beauty sandwiched between the more well-known Daytona Beach and Flagler Beach.
If you’ve never been to Ormond Beach, you’re missing out on a great part of what makes Florida a premier destination. For a great resort on Ormond Beach check out where we stayed at The Cove On Ormond Beach .
But aside from the obvious beach, what else is there to do at Ormond Beach? Let me tell you the best 7 things to do that we have personally found to do as a family! You can click on the numbered headers to get more information.
Even if you’re not into chocolate, you will love this tour! We, however, absolutely love chocolate so this was a must-see. Tours at Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory are free and informative. Your tour will include views of how they make the chocolate, fascinating things they usually make, and best of all…free samples! You get a choice of your free samples which is great because I’m not a fan of white chocolate, so you know they’ll be other choices. It’s also located in a shopping plaza, so there is free parking, too.
I tasted the chocolate covered potato chips and they were the best combination of sweet & savory. They were so good that I had to buy a bag!
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is a Spanish fort located in the city of St. Augustine. St. Augustine is about one hour north of Ormond Beach, but it is well worth the drive. Make sure to take good walking shoes because this won’t be your only stop in St. Augustine. This city has many things to do and see.
The fort is situated on the west shore of Matanzas Bay. Matanzas is Spanish for “killings.” Just with this name, you can guess why they called it this. You would be correct in guessing that a lot of deaths happened here back in its time. It has withstood the test of time from enemy attacks and fires. This fort is over 400 years old!
There is a lot of history here. If these walls could talk, I would have a seat and listen. Signs throughout the premises will tell you what happened in these rooms. You will be on your own here as there no guided tour.
This fort was amazing! If you have kids, like we do, then this is a piece of history they will always remember. We highly recommend it.
The Colonial Quarter is located just across the street from Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. The best way to get there, if you don’t want to pay for a trolley, is to leave your car parked across the street at the fort. That way you can park and visit the fort and Colonial Quarter and pay only once. It is not expensive to park.
You will want to spend some time at the Colonial Quarter because there are souvenir shops, dining options, snack shops and other interesting things to do that won’t break your budget. It has an old-world feel and is very quaint.
I bet that if you’re a Disney fan, you would have never guessed that you could find it here, right? Well, they do! And of course, being a Disney fan myself, I had to get one while we were here. As usual, it was delicious! I wish I would have taken a photo of mine, but it was a hot day and it was melting so I ate it quickly.
Something else you can do while you’re visiting the Colonial Quarters is the oldest wooden schoolhouse. This, especially, would be a great thing to show your younger children. There is a small entrance fee of only $5 for adults, $4 for students, and under 5 years old are free. Its grounds are so cute & pretty. They’ve taken good care of this schoolhouse.
There is a small gift shop inside as you head to the exit (just like many attractions). Here are some of my favorite items. Being a teacher myself, I can totally understand. This would also be a great place to buy your children’s teachers gifts! Just saying.
The Spanish Military Hospital Museum is only an 8-minute walk from the Colonial Quarter, so leave your car parked at the fort while you visit here.
I found this tour creepy and downright gruesome. This hospital was used to treat the wounded and because medicine was not like it is today, they used any means and tools that they could. WARNING: THIS TOUR IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART! If you get squeamish at even the thought of teeth pulling and amputations, this may not be for you.
However, will all that being said, I believe this tour was also one of the most fun and informative tours. It will give you much appreciation for today’s technology, hospitals, and medicine.
We are a Second Spanish Period Military Hospital. We offer a 30-40 minute guided presentation on St.Augustine’s Historical Spanish Medical Practices.
The Fountain of Youth is one of the oldest settlements in the U.S. and is also classified as an archeological park. If you come during the summer, make sure to bring a water bottle as it may get hot. The entire park is outdoors.
Ponce de Leon is supposedly said to see Florida here for the first time. He thought it was an island!
The Indian villages that are still here help us learn how these civilizations used to live.
The common weaponry in its time is demonstrated by some of the staff.
You’ll also see weaponry that is no longer in use, but still there.
In 1587, Franciscan friars constructed the first mission in the continental United States right here on the grounds of the Fountain of Youth.
With signed guest books stretching back to 1868, the Fountain of Youth is the oldest attraction in Florida, and the Spring House is the centerpiece of the historical Juan Ponce de Leon experience at the Park.
There are small paper cups provided for you to drink from this fountain!
Watch out for the animals here. They are very friendly.
The Daytona Boardwalk is located directly on the beach which that in itself makes for a wonderful day trip! However, there is much more you can do while you’re here. You can hang out at the beach all day and then walk to the boardwalk to grab some lunch and/or dinner. You can try out the carnival rides*, play arcade games, grab a snack, or go souvenir shopping.
*The rides will be reopening December 15, 2018, due to a ride malfunction that happened on June 14, 2018.
If you are an avid fisherman, this is also an ideal place to do that just off the bridge.
Remember the reason why you’re on vacation. It’s really nice to visit new places and sightsee, but if you get home and you’re exhausted then I say that you didn’t do things right. People sometimes forget to actually have some downtime and not schedule anything at least 1 day for a 1-week vacation and 2-3 days on a 2-week vacation. Spend time with the ones you love and chill! If you’re traveling alone, relax at the hotel hot tub or get a massage.
By the way, you can always make an excuse to come back for another vacation if you didn’t see everything you wanted!
If you have a specific question about this post, please email me.
A Washington D.C. vacation with teenagers is a like a taking a toddler to Disney World for the first time. Seeing their eyes while history came to life was inspiring to us. If you have teenagers, now is the time to take them to Washington …
***This is an updated post*** Liki Tiki Village rebranded to Aqua Sol. Everything was the same except renovations in & around the hotel. Previous branding under Liki Tiki Village Liki Tiki Village by Hilton Grand Vacations is a wonderful family hotel with a Polynesian theme. …
Universal Studios Florida™ and Universal’s Islands of Adventure™ is not just for children, it is a grown-ups playground. With so many things to see and do, you will not be bored for a minute. This theme park brings the movies and TV to life!
There are many more rides & attractions than what I write about here. These are some of our favorites that we personally experienced.
I will start here because this is the ride I was most looking forward to. It is one of the newest rides at Universal Studios Florida™. In order to ride this, you need to log in to the app and choose a time. Make sure you don’t forget to do this. It is a ride that takes you throughout the streets of New York City and it is exhilarating!
This place is an entirely new world. Even if you’ve never seen the movies, you will still thoroughly enjoy this. It is kind of creepy but very amusing. This is where Diagon Alley is located. As you enter the alley, you can’t miss the dragon that comes to life from time to time by spewing fire from its mouth.
There are many things you can do here like taste butterbeer, purchase your own wand and make it move things!
The ride is very cool. Universal’s Islands of Adventure™ has another ride so don’t get confused. There are two rides, one in each park. The other one at Universal’s Islands of Adventure is called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™.
E.T. Adventure™
E.T. is a classic. This ride never gets old because if you’re like me, you grew up with Drew Barrymore as a child star. You get on a bike and you ride through the town with E.T. It is not a fast ride and is very child-friendly.
Back to the Future is no longer a ride here, but the DeLorean car is still here! I must say, I remember this ride and I loved it. I was very sad to see it go.
Honestly, we don’t watch the Simpsons. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how funny this ride is. You really get to know the characters by just cruising through this ride.
This is one of my favorite rides! I love how the roller coaster takes you through a dark and mysterious journey. If you like fast, but are scared of the upside down and feet hanging kind of rides, this one is for! It has the thrill, but won’t make you pee in your pants!
If you’re a fan of the movie, you’re sure to be a fan of this ride. You get to step into Agent J or Agent K’s shoes while you capture aliens in this world. It really makes you feel like you’re IN The movie!
Give your feet a break from walking the park by watching a street performer. These two were some of our favorites. Marilyn Monroe struts her stuff as she sings some of her iconic songs.
These are not your typical construction workers. These “banging” performers are talented musicians who can play on virtually anything. Dance to the rhythm on the streets as you watch and hear them.
This theme park, for me, I like to refer to as comic land. All kinds of comic book heroes and villains come to life here as some of them walk the streets and greet the people.
This is the easiest and most entertaining to get from Universal Studios Florida™ to the other side of the park, Universal’s Islands of Adventure™. Just as a reminder, these are two separate parks so you will need to either buy a separate ticket for each park or buy the 2 park ticket option, which will probably be your best option economically if you plan to do both parks. Make sure to check for the Florida resident offers if you live in Florida.
This train literally gives you a story while you’re traveling. The screens on the train show you an interactive display of some of the famous characters you love from this movie. So hop on and enjoy the ride!
If you want to make sure you ride this, you need to go to this first thing in the morning. Generally, we like to be at theme parks before they open so we can take full advantage of everything the parks have to offer. This is a very popular ride that is well worth it! Make sure you stay for the Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts™ Castle! It is spectacular!
With the new movie “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” this ride has increasingly become more popular. And, with popularity comes bigger crowds. Therefore, make sure you get to this one early, too. Not many people know about this, but you and your family can get your photo taken with a flesh-eating dinosaur…so beware!
From dinosaurs to giant gorillas, prepare to have your heart jump out of your skin with King Kong. He may look cute, but don’t let looks fool you!
Who doesn’t love Spidey? He’s an iconic superhero that has been played by many actors in Hollywood. It is a Marvel-inspired exciting action-packed 3-D virtual reality ride! Kids, not just the big kind, will absolutely love this.
And, talking about kids, plan on spending some time here at Seuss Landing. Remember all those Dr. Seuss storybooks when you were a kid or, if you have children, those storybooks you read to your children now that never get old? Well, they are all here!
If you’ve been to Universal Studios Florida™ or Universal’s Islands of Adventure™, what was your favorite ride/attraction?
If you have a specific question about this post, please email me.
Have you ever been to the real Hollywood? We have. Check out more on this at:
We recently took a road trip to Virginia where we quickly learned that Virginia is not “only” for lovers. The state offers so much rich history and fun stuff for a family to do. With our sons now of teenage age, our road trip to …
If you’re looking for unique places to visit on the Big Island of Hawaii, especially if you’re traveling as a couple, you’re at the right place. This is our story of our paradise vacation without our children. We decided to visit the Big Island of …
Sea Mountain Resort on The Big Island of Hawaii is a place where you can unwind from it all. If you’re looking for a quieter secluded resort, this is the place where you want to stay. This would be the perfect place, especially for couples!
On our Big Island of Hawaii | A Couples Paradise Vacation, we stayed half of our time at the Sea Mountain Resort.
Sea Mountain Resort is located on the southeast side of The Big Island. It is a very short distance from the famous black sand beach named Punalu’u Black Sand Beach. You can literally walk to this beach from your resort.
These really cute bungalow style resort rooms add to the tropical ambiance that they are situated in. The rooms make it seem like you are home away from home. I can’t talk about any other room except ours, however, room #76 had beautiful views of the ocean.
The rooms are comfortable and also include a full kitchen. The full kitchen was very convenient because before you get there you can go shopping and you’ll be all set for your time there. There isn’t air conditioning in the rooms, however, there is no need for it. Just open the windows and the sea breeze will be sufficient.
One thing that is a lifesaver and that we always look for before booking a room anywhere is a washer/dryer. This resort has one in every room! If you look for this, there won’t be any need to overpack. I understand you’re on vacation and don’t want to “work,” but if there are only two of you, you will only need to do two loads top if you’re staying for one week. To me, being simplistic and a minimalist is a priority.
What can I say about the grounds? The old adage “a picture speaks a thousand words” is very true! The photos tell it all! The resort is ocean front and that alone is a major perk! However, I truly enjoyed their hot tub. You can sit in the hot tub and enjoy the scenery. On this day, I was literally the only one at the pool. Talk about seclusion! If you’re a golfer, you will love playing here as it’s cool and beautiful.
If you’re looking for a place to stay on The Big Island of Hawaii and don’t want the city life…if you’re looking for authenticity…if you’re looking for seclusion & relaxation….then welcome to Sea Mountain Resort!
If you have a specific question about this post, please email me.
Welcome to Royal Kona Resort located in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii! This resort will leave you breathless as you marvel at its beauty inside and out. It has everything you would want for an oceanside escape. Arriving Nearby You’ll easily spot the Royal Kona …
