Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party Guide
Halloween is one of the most magical holidays to celebrate at Disney World. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a must do event between August and October 31st.
Tag: guide
One Day at Mt. Rainier National Park
How to spend one day Mt.Rainier National Park and still see all of must-do sights.
Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth is modeled after a Bavarian village, themed during the 1960s. The city relied heavily on tourism and two businessmen wanted to revitalize the town after seeing Solvang, California (a Danish themed town). The town began to remodel their buildings and turned into a full fledged Bavarian themed town.
getting to leavenworth
Most blogs will give you directions from one to three locations to the final destination. All I am here to say is that no matter where you are coming from, the drive to Leavenworth is most likely going to be longer or more tiring than you initially thought. Leave enough time in your schedule to allow for a little bit of rest time after your drive to recharge.
things to do
Visit a Reindeer Farm
The Leavenworth Reindeer Farm hosts educational tours where you can feed the reindeer or get hands on for a sleigh ride. They are open year round and require advance reservations for tours.
Nutcracker Museum
Check out a very unique museum hidden amongst the shops. There are over 9,000 nutcrackers from over 50 countries to see. The display contains nutcrackers that range from the size of an average human to miniature. It is a great stop to check out.
Brew Tours
There are distilleries, breweries, cider houses and taprooms to try in Leavenworth. You can’t say they don’t have it all, so if you’re not into beer you can try your luck here too. It makes for a perfect rainy day or afternoon of relaxation. There are plenty of spots in town that won’t require driving, and are a quick walk from each other.
Foodie Tour
Take yourself on a foodie tour through town. It is easy to restaurant hop if you want to try one thing or another at one location, and try something different at another spot. You could even make this go hand in hand with the self guided brewery tour. Leavenworth has amazing German style food at their numerous beer garden style restaurants.
Shopping
Small shops selling everything from oddities to everyday items line the streets. You can find traditional German souvenirs like nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks, steins, music boxes, and Christmas ornaments as well as t-shirts, necessities and basic items. You won’t need to leave town to find what you need.
Seasonal Events
Your experience in Leavenworth will vary depending on the season you visit. In the fall the famous Oktoberfest takes over the town. If you visit in winter the town is a small distance from ski mountains, and is a winter wonderland of its own. During the spring and summer there are beautiful flowers and landscapes along with outdoor summer activities.
Leavenworth is a truly beautiful little town. If you are looking for a weekend away or a vacation with adventure and relaxation, this is your spot. For a bonus recommendation we suggest the Sleeping Lady Resort, just outside of town. We stayed during our visit and it was a fantastic spot.
Visiting Camden, Maine
Camden is a coastal town in Maine that brings on the charm and nautical lifestyle. A must stop town in a road trip across Maine.
Cruising to Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine is an exceptional spot to add to your cruise itinerary. The port drop off location is directly in Portland, within a short walking distance of the beautiful downtown shops and restaurants.
Maine Bucket List
Even though I have lived in Maine my entire life, I have always struggled to “find things to do”. Simply because there are too many things to choose from. This is my Maine bucket list of special things to do while you are here. Some of the items on the list are broad, such as “eat a lobster roll” because there are so many restaurants to try. I made the list simple and to the point in hopes that it will give you ideas to create your own trip the way you want to. I will give suggestions to some popular spots if there are some under each bucket list item.
1) Eat a lobster roll
There are a few hit spots to grab a lobster roll while visiting Maine. The most talked about spot seems to be Red’s Eats in Wiscasset. Our favorite spots are Five Islands (Georgetown), The Lobster Shack at Two Lights (Cape Elizabeth), Highroller Lobster Co. (Portland) and Cameron’s (Brunswick).
2) See the Puffins on a boat tour (early summer only)
Hardy Boat Cruises offers Puffin Watch cruises out of New Harbor. The cruise takes you to Eastern Egg Rock which is 5 miles from New Harbor, and circles the island for half an hour to get a good view of the puffins inhabiting the island.
3) Take a tour of a lighthouse
Certain Maine lighthouses are open for tours during the summer (to see the inside of the lighthouse), most others are open all year round to explore on your own.
4) Take a ride on a Windjammer
There are a lot of options for taking a cruise on a windjammer, the most popular places for rides are in Bar Harbor, Camden, Portland, Rockland, and Boothbay.
5) Visit Acadia National Park
Acadia is a must-see if you’re visiting Maine. Make sure you have ample time to visit, it does take some time to get there and back from the Portland area.
6) Go berry picking
Prime time for picking strawberries is in mid to late June. There are many local farms that open for berry picking by the pound, be sure to bring your own containers. Blueberry season tends to be in mid-July. You can either pick high-bush blueberries on a local farm for a per-pound fee or find your own natural blueberry spots. Most Mainers are a bit secretive about their favorite native spots.
7) Visit a Maine State Park
There are Maine State Parks near almost every major recreation spot. Each one has a unique feature to check out, and most of them offer well-priced camping.
8) Go whitewater rafting
There are three big spots to choose from to whitewater raft in Maine, the Kennebec, Penobscot, and Dead River. You’ll want to choose your location and guide company based on what level of rafting you want to do.
9) Visit the Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport
The Seashore Trolley Museum is not your average museum. You’ll be able to take trolley rides and learn about the Maine railways in the local area.
10) Visit Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, Boothbay
The spring time is magical at the botanical gardens, but so is the winter. They host Gardens Aglow leading up to Christmas, where you can walk around thousands of twinkle lights.
11) Visit the Desert of Maine, Freeport
The Desert of Maine is a giant sand dune, in the middle of a forest. Its a really cool adventure stop for your trip, and is a great place to bring kids. They have a campground, playground, hiking trails, tours, a gem hunt, and kids fossil dig site.
12) Shop or eat at the Old Port
This one is a given, and is one of the most visited places every summer. Locals and tourists alike mix in the Old Port during the high season. You’ll find some of the best restaurants and bars as well as an abundance of things to do. Simply walking down Commercial Street is a Maine experience.
13) Tour Fort Knox, Prospect
Fort Knox was built in 1844 to protect against invasions by the British Navy, but never saw battle. Today it is one of New England’s best-preserved forts. Take a tour of both the fort and Penobscot Narrows Observatory (if you’re not afraid of heights).
14) Visit Popham Beach, Phippsburg
Popham Beach is one of only a few non-rocky beaches north of Portland. It is known for great boogie boarding, Striper fishing, and sand castle building. There are two separate parts to the State Park, the beach portion and the fort. You can access sandy beach from either spot.
15) Visit Wild Blueberry Land, Columbia Falls
This spot could qualify for the world’s wildest roadside attractions and is a really cool road trip side trip. A blueberry-colored geodome surrounded by a blueberry-themed mini golf park. Inside they have pies, muffins, scones, baked goods and Maine-themed souvenirs.
16) Check out the Fairy Village, Mackworth Island
A short hike on Mackworth Island will bring you to fairy village. The forest is littered with intricate fairy houses, stay a while and build your own or admire previous works.
17) Visit the B-52 Memorial on Elephant Mountain, Northeast Piscataquis
A short hike from the parking lot is the crash site of a B-52 from January 1963. The plane was on a training mission when it crashed into Elephant Mountain. The remnants of the plane are still at the crash site as a memorial to the crew of the plane.
18) Visit the Artist’s Bridge (covered bridge), Newry
If you’re headed to Sunday River or Bethel the covered bridge is a fantastic photo op. There is a small pull-off before and after the bridge for parking. This parking area can fill up when busy, so be prepared for that.
19) Charter a fishing trip
Fishing is a great way to spend time out on the water. There are a few different types of fishing charter to hire, from Lobster fishing tours to day trips fishing for Stripers.
20) Go on a moose safari
Greenville, Millinocket, Rangeley, Jackman, Bethel, and the lake regions are amazing places to spot moose. You may spot a moose in coastal towns but it is far less likely. Season, time of day, and weather are all factors on how active moose are, and thus your probability of seeing them.
21) Go whale watching
Prime whale watching season in Maine is May through October. Most major coastal towns offer whale-watching tours, I would suggest booking in advance if you’re visiting during the middle of the summer.
22) Drive scenic Route 1
Route 1 will take you through all of the beautiful coastal towns, each one with a unique feature. If you don’t have a specific spot in Maine to visit I would suggest road-tripping up Route 1.
23) See the Lupines at peak season (late June-early July)
The best spots to go looking for Lupines are mostly in the coastal and mountain regions. Camden, Rockland and Boothbay are good coastal towns with lots of Lupine fields. Rangeley and Greenville are mountain spots that have fields overlooking the lakes.
24) Go kayaking
If you own your own kayak there is nearly unlimited options for places to go, and nearly the same amount if you need to rent. Most major towns and lakes have kayak rental locations nearby to help.
25) Try out mountain biking trails
Mountain biking has grown in popularity over the last several years, and with it new trails. If you’re looking for downhill mountain biking try out Mt. Abrams park, or try out any of Maine’s NEMBA trails.
26) Take the ferry to Peaks Island (or one of the other islands)
Leaving from the Portland Ocean Gateway terminal on Commercial Street, the ferry will drop you off on the docks of Peak’s Island. You won’t need a car for this trip unless you have a specific destination in mind. The main inn and restaurant are within a short walking distance of the pier.
27) Visit Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Perkins Cove is a beautiful summer getaway with Cape Cod vibes. Coastal shops and restaurants are the focus of the little peninsula, with the Marginal Way bike path connecting to the beach.
28) Canoe the Allagash Waterway
Not for the faint of heart, canoeing the Allagash can take over a week, you’ll face portages and minor whitewater. There are a few guide services that you can book through, or you can do it on your own.
29) Visit Baxter State Park
Home of Mt. Katahdin, Baxter State Park is another very popular recreation spot during the summer. Unlimited hiking opportunities for all skill levels. If you visit you will need to book parking in advance for Mt. Katahdin.
30) Take a seaplane ride in Greenville
Curriers Flying Service and Jack’s Air Service offer flightseeing opportunities where you can see Moosehead lake from the sky. If you’re up for an adventure they also offer flights to Mt. Kineo and Mt. Katahdin.
31) Visit L.L. Bean
Another top visited location in Maine, L.L. Bean is a must do. L.L. Bean has grown to be a nationwide store for home, hunting and outdoor gear. The Freeport location is the main campus for L.L. Bean, and they host events all year long that bring fun to freeport.
32) See Stephen King’s house in Bangor
Another roadside attraction that brings people to Bangor is Stephen King’s house. It’s eccentric and perfect to visit in the fall when you’re looking for spooky vibes. Note: It is not open to the public, you’ll have to view from outside the gate.
33) Drive by Walker’s Point, Kennebunkport
Walker’s Point is the summer home of the Bush family and is known to have had some very famous visitors. The compound is well monitored by security and you won’t be able to visit the point, but you can view from the nearby beaches.
34) Check out the Pier in Old Orchard Beach
No summer trip to Maine is complete without visiting the pier. It is lined with shops and has a restaurant and bar at the far end, overhanging the water. Next to the pier is Palace Playland, a small beachside amusement park with boardwalk games and rides.
35) Spend the day at Funtown Splashtown
If you’re looking for some thrill, Funtown is a great place to bring the family. They have classic rides from bumper cars to a wooden rollercoaster and games. Splashtown is the neighboring waterpark that has everything from raft rides and slides to pools. You can get combination or single tickets to either of the parks.
36) Spend the night in a treehouse at In the Trees, Stoneham
In the Trees has three different tree houses to choose from for your stay. The smallest treehouse is the size of a large, realistic treehouse. The largest tree house is quite literally a luxury house in the trees. It makes for a very unique stay, and who gets to say they’ve stayed in a treehouse?
37) Visit the Wire Bridge, New Portland
On the way to Carrabassett Valley is the New Portland Bridge, one of Maine’s last remaining wire bridges. It was built in the 1860’s and renovated to maintain structural integrity in 1960. It is a great spot to take photos and is the star in many New England magazines.
38) See Ripogenus Dam, Northeast Piscataquis
If you’re interested in history and structural feats this is a spot for you. The dam was first constructed in 1853 and upgraded in 1913 to give hydropower to Great Northern Paper Company in Millinocket. If you visit during the late spring after a good rain storm the water will be fast flowing and mesmerising to watch.
39) See fish swim up the Fishway, Brunswick
Visit the Brunswick Fishway viewing room to see fish swimming up river to their spawning grounds. The dam is on the Androscoggin River and gives you the chance to see Alewives, Lampreys, River Herring, Salmon and American Shad. Be sure to check online in advance for viewing room hours and special closures before you visit.
40) Go on a brewery tour
Maine has so many amazing microbreweries and full-scale operations. Foodie tours and individual companies offer brewery tours, such as the brew bus that will take you brewery hopping.
41) Go camping
There is no shortage of choices for camping in Maine. The state parks are absolutely beautiful and affordable where private campgrounds tend to have more amenities and be more expensive. Check Airbnb and Harvesthost for private campsites.
42) Hike Maine’s 4000 footers
If you’re working on your New England 4000 footers, Maine actually has more of them than you would think. Mt. Katahdin is the most popular, followed by Saddleback, Sugarloaf and Old Speck. They all have amazing views and I would suggest getting an early start in the high season.
43) Watch a lobster boat race
Work hard, play hard…right? The most popular races to watch from shore are the Portland, Harpswell, Pemaquid, Winter Harbor and Bass Harbor boat races. The boats are put into classes based on horsepower and fuel type, followed by a few other fun classes such as the tug boats.
44) Go to a fair
There are several opportunities to check out a Maine fair. Towns all over the state host their own, with the top three most popular being the Commonground Fair, Cumberland, and Fryeburg fairs. Most of the fairs are week-long affairs but some like the Commonground Fair are weekend-long.
45) Visit a museum
Depending on the towns that you plan on visiting, the type and amount of museums vary. The best museums are in Portland, Rockland, Camden, Brunswick and Bath.
46) Visit Maine Wildlife Park
If you’re looking to see Maine wildlife check out the wildlife park in Gray. There are over 30 species that live in the park after being rescued and rehabilitated, but unfortunately, most cannot be returned to the wild.
47) Take a ride on the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad
Maine has a long history of using railroads for commercial logging practices. Made specifically for Maine’s unique landscape, the 2-foot wide rails allow the trains to traverse the hills. You can book a ride on the Portland Narrow Gauge Railroad or the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway.
48) Try surfing
Surfing, boogie boarding, and kite surfing are popular in the shoulder seasons. The sandy beaches of Southern Maine are perfect for learning to surf. Higgins Beach, Wells Beach, Ogunquit Beach and a few others are good locations and have a host of surf shops.
49) Tour Long Lake on the Songo River Queen
The Songo River Queen is a replica of a Mississippi River Paddle Wheeler. Most public tours of the lake are around 2 hours, and they also offer special cruises such as sunset and concert cruises.
50) See a play at the Ogunquit Play House
A popular place in the summer months, they choose several plays to showcase during the performance season.
I hope that our Maine bucket list helps you plan your perfect trip to Maine, or reminds you of some of the most fun things to do in your home state as well. You don’t have to be visiting from another state to enjoy all that Maine has to offer, get out and explore!
Visiting Maine in the Winter
Your guide to visiting Maine in the Winer, with all of the best things to do.
Best Things to Do in Las Vegas
We broke our favorite stops in Las Vegas into “To Do” and “To See”. The stops that are “To See” are great photo ops with not much else to them. When we planned our trip I made a google map with pins of all the …
First Time Visitor’s Guide to Las Vegas
First time heading to sin city?
If so, then you’re in the right spot. Our First Timer’s Guide to Las Vegas covers everything I wish we knew before our first trip. When we were planning our first trip to Las Vegas I found that most guides were written by Las Vegas pros or locals. That should be good right? It is, but I noticed that there were some things missing that you would only think about if you had never been somewhere. We created our First Timer’s Guide to Las Vegas in hopes that we can bridge the gap so you have all the tools you need to plan your first trip.
Getting Around
To and From the Airport
You have a few options to choose from if you need to get to your hotel or Airbnb from the airport or vice versa. Your best bets are a toss-up between Uber, Lyft, and taxis depending on where you need to go. Depending on the time of day and the supply and demand of the ride-share services the prices will vary.
Tip: Download both Lyft and Uber (and make the accounts) before you go, if you don’t already have them.
Our Experience: We flew into LAS super late, and ended up not being able to step foot out of the baggage claim until 1:30 in the morning. The first thing I did was compare the fares between Uber and Lyft for the same ride to the Luxor. It was $35 before the tip for Uber and $37 for Lyft. We didn’t attempt a taxi because the ride-share pickup was right next to our baggage claim spot. This was the most we paid for an Uber our entire trip (not including the ride back to the airport from the hotel).
Walking from the airport is not really an option, trust me I looked into it. I can be incredibly stubborn and frugal to a fault and I certainly would walk if it was possible. I mean it was technically only 2 miles from the airport to the Luxor right? That would be the most painful walk and after seeing it in person I realize I would not make it all the way.
Around Town
This was one of the most confusing parts of our trip that took me a solid bit to learn. What you’ll need to take into account for getting around is 1) what side of the street is the location you’re going to on, 2) what form of transportation is there 3)how much do you want to spend.
Taking a taxi on the strip is not worth it. The traffic is bad and they take longer to get around than public transportation. The primary mode of transportation we used on our trip was our feet. We each averaged 30,000 steps a day, which is a ton of walking. If you’re not interested in walking that much or are not able to, be sure to schedule more time in your day for getting around.
Tip for the wise: Bring comfortable shoes. I mean it. Don’t wear a pair of shoes for the first time, wear your nicest heels, or even shoes you haven’t worn yet for the season. I wore my Birkenstock sandals for the first time of the season, even though they are well broken in, I got the biggest blister I have ever gotten in my entire life on the FIRST DAY of our trip.
Monorail
The Monorail is a 4-mile ride that starts at the MGM Grand and ends at the Sahara. There are 7 stops total, with the remaining five being at Bally’s/Paris, The Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Harrah’s/Linq, Las Vegas Convention Center, and Westgate Center. You can buy tickets online or in-person to ride the monorail.
There are several different types of passes for the monorail, starting with a 24-hour pass going all the way to a 7-day pass. The 24-hour pass is $13.45 and the 7-day pass is $51.75 as of October 2022.
There is also the monorail system between the Excalibur, Mandalay Bay and Luxor. The operating hours of this monorail are slightly less than the other monorail.
RTC Bus System
The RTC runs all over Las Vegas, but I will be focusing on getting around the strip. The bus you’ll be looking for is the “Deuce”. The RTC has an app that is a good guide but somewhat unreliable for bus times. We found that we used it for finding the bus stop we wanted but that was about it.
An important thing to note when taking the Deuce around town is that it stops in different locations if it is heading North or South. Buses go by each stop every 15 minutes or so. They offer 2-Hour, 24-Hour, and 3-Day passes.
Getting to Fremont Street from the strip
This is something that ended up catching us off guard on our first trip to Las Vegas. On our trip out to Fremont Street, we got on the Northbound Deuce at the Venetian stop. It took a whopping 50 minutes to get there…at 1 AM. 8 Miles in 50 minutes, that is not a good time. Taking a taxi or a ride-share is without a doubt the fastest way to get there, but also the most costly. I was so tired by the time we were done at Fremont Street, I did NOT want to wait for the bus to come back around. The RTC app was saying it would be another 35 minutes just for another bus to get there. We called for an Uber pickup at the Golden Nugget, had some issues getting an actual pickup spot, then paid $30 to get back to the Luxor. So, keep in mind how long it takes to get there, how long you want to spend there, and the ride back when you’re planning your day.
Rental Cars
If you are spending your entire trip on the strip there is really no point in renting a car. You will spend all of your time trying to find parking or spending more money than you want to on parking. If you plan on doing day trips it may be worth it to just rent the car for the days you need it.
Hotels
Where you stay is really up to you. There are budget hotels and there are world-class stays all on the same road. Book your hotel based on your budget, but also keep the location of the hotel in mind. If you don’t want to have to travel far and often, try to pick a hotel in the middle of the strip.
Resort Fees
Most hotels on the strip charge a “Resort fee” for use of the internet, the gym, the pool, etc. Basically, anything that you think should be included in the resort grounds. If you see a hotel listed for $75 a night, don’t forget they probably charge a $25 resort fee. This can make your budget hotel seem not so budget.
Pool Season
Another thing I didn’t know before we got to Las Vegas is that there is a “pool season”. We are from Maine, so any weather above 65 degrees is pool season for us. Here it is March through October, and most pools close during the other months. During our two days at the Luxor and Excalibur, their open pools closed both days due to wind.
Notes and Tips
Drinking on the strip
Open containers are legal on the strip, so feel free to grab a drink and walk around. You can bring your drinks with you from restaurants if you don’t finish them. We stopped at Walgreens and got some beer to walk the strip with for the evening. It is a lot cheaper that way as well.
Drinking while gambling is free
If you are gambling in a casino, drinks from the waiters are generally free while you’re actively gambling. We didn’t take advantage of this but you definitely should.
Show discounts or “free” things
Beware of free things. There will be people on the streets promoting clubs, shows, hotels and other events. They often promise free things or experiences for you to come but they are scams. You will even see them in some hotels trying to sell you show experiences run by the hotels. “No thank you” works pretty well.
Luggage Storage
Have a late flight but need to check out of your hotel? You can store your luggage at a hotel concierge until you need to pick it up. Ours was free at the Excalibur, but we tipped the concierge. In our situation, we were not staying at the hotel and were turning in our camper van. We had a 6-hour gap before needing to be at the airport and it worked great.
What to Bring
If you like to dress up and look nice, feel free to do so. Wear comfortable shoes though. As I noted in the “Getting Around” section I got a pretty bad blister on our first day. If you think you might get a blister, come prepared with a blister kit. If you’ll be gone from your hotel all day I suggest bringing a refresh bag-especially if it’s a windy day. I had a brush, wetwipes, bandaids, new deodorant, etc. Going from AC to the hot outside can leave you feeling gross.
I hope that our notes from our first trip to Las Vegas will help you plan your first trip. It can seem daunting to plan a trip to a new city. Las Vegas is an awesome destination no matter what type of trip you are planning. Happy traveling!
Mt. Katahdin Hiking Guide
The ultimate Mt. Katahdin Hiking Guide to successfully prepare you for your hike.