Top 5 Theme Parks

1. Disney’s Magic Kingdom

Website:  https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/magic-kingdom/

Where:  Lake Buena Vista, Florida

My Favorite Ride:  Splash Mountain

Disney’s Magic Kingdom is simply magical.  It’s a beautiful place.  A place dreams are made of.  This park is massive and has something for all ages.  I encourage people to take a couple of days to truly enjoy it.  I know that Disney World can be so expensive, but Magic Kingdom is really worth it.  Definitely take your time to enjoy this wonderful park.

2. Busch Gardens

Website:  https://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-williamsburg?webSyncID=29bd9e88-2039-9ba9-2944-93075094e58d&sessionGUID=e8bbc665-3274-723b-3dc0-932abad3b487&_ga=1.252909120.893130188.1474733436

Where:  Williamsburg, Virginia

My Favorite Ride:  Curse of DarKastle

Busch Gardens is probably one of my favorite places.  The whole place was fun and enjoyed with great friends.  I love the theme of worlds and countries.  While there make sure to check out Water Country USA, Colonial Williamsburg, and nearby Washington D.C.  A little fun and a little educational.

3. Universal Studio Orlando

Website:  https://www.universalorlando.com/Home.aspx

Where:  Orlando, Florida

My Favorite Ride:  Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges

Going here was a bit anti-climactic after seeing all DisneyWorld had to offer, so I would recommend hitting this place first.  Still it was fun and enjoyable.  It was a bit spread out and perhaps a bit overpriced.  I know that any Harry Potter fan is going to love it.  (More Importantly:  You can meet Scooby Doo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

4. Dollywood

Website:  http://www.dollywood.com/Tickets?cid=ppc_000340&gclid=COSVgpWyqM8CFUEvgQod8a4NIg

Where:  Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

My Favorite Ride:  N/A

Dollywood.  Who doesn’t want to experience Dollywood?  Pigeon Forge is a great place and it’s always worth going.  I love the fact that Dolly Parton always wanted to own a theme park and was able to make that dream come true.

5. Disney’s Epcot

Website:  https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/epcot/

Where:  Lake Buena Vista, Florida

My Favorite Ride:  Spaceship Earth

Disney’s Epcot is partly education and partly theme park.  If I’m being honest, I don’t think this one is worth the money but I do think it’s an excellent place for children.  I went as an adult and don’t really think it’s a great place for adults.  It’s entertaining and fun but I’ve also been incredibly bored at Epcot.  It’s definitely my least favorite park on this list but it’s on here because I think it caters to a specific group and if you’re in the group you’re going to love it.

American Restaurants in Paris

It’s always interesting to see what another country thinks of your native food.  The French seem to think that American cuisine revolves around hamburgers, french fries, and pizza.  That also applies to the majority of American style restaurants in Paris.  Here are a few American eateries in the City of Light.

1. The Grilled Cheese Factory

Website:  http://www.thegrilledcheesefactory.fr/

Price: $ - $$

What’s more American than a grilled cheese sandwich?  This is an excellent place for an inexpensive, quick meal.  A fantastic place for anyone who is a lover of this classic American food.

2. Bertie’s CupCakery

Website: http://www.bertiescupcakery.com/

Price: $ - $$

This is an extremely popular American-style bakery in Paris.  You can get inexpensive cupcakes or a more pricey custom cake.  Here is a place in Paris to feed your sweet tooth.

3. Hard Rock Cafe Paris

Website:  http://www.hardrock.com/cafes/paris/menu.aspx

Price:  N/A

If you’ve been to one Hard Rock Cafe, you’ve been to them all.  I still think it’s a place everyone should go at least once in their lifetime.  My cousin had a mission to visit every single one in the world.

4. Ben’s

Website: http://www.bensparis.fr/

Price:  N/A

Ben’s made the list, in part, of the fantastic reviews of their food.  There food choices include cheeseburgers and cheesecake.

5. Breakfast in America

Website: http://breakfast-in-america.com/

Price:  $ - $$

This is like a classic American diner, think Denny’s or Huddle House.  Order eggs for breakfast or cheeseburgers for lunch and dinner. There are also multiple locations.

6. Sugar Daze Bake Shop

Website:  http://sugardazecupcakes.com/fr/

Price:  N/A

Since 2008, Sugar Daze has been offering up American-style baked goods to the people of Paris.  They have an adorable array of delicious goodies.

7. Cantine California

Website:  http://www.cantinecalifornia.com/

Price:  N/A

There is a food truck and a restaurant, a good choice to make.  You can choose between tacos or burgers.  They even have yummy desserts.

8. Blues Bar-BQ

Website: http://www.bluesbarbq.fr/

Price: N/A

Choose up to three meats and a variety of sides.  This place will give you the authentic BBQ experience.

9. Joe Allen

Website: http://joeallenparis.com/joeallenparis.com/Home.html

Price:  $ - $$

The famous Joe Allen restaurant gives you a taste of New York in the City of Paris.  They also have restaurants in London and New York.

10. Thanksgiving

Website: http://www.thanksgivingparis.com/

Price:  Various

This is a restaurant and a grocery store.  Thanksgiving is a serious life saver if you’re looking for that American product you can’t find in any French stores.  If you’re looking for Cajun food in Paris, you can check out their restaurant.

All photos are courtesy of Trip Adviser.

5 Unique New York Restaurants

Today, I thought it would be fun to talk about five interesting/unique New York City eateries.  If we have to eat, might as well make it interesting.

1. Cookie Do NYC

Website:  http://www.cookiedonyc.com/#cookie-dough-confections

Price: $ - $$

This place is amazing.  They encourage you to eat cookie dough.  This isn’t your average cookie dough though.  This stuff is safe to eat raw or you can cook it into a delicious treat.  Let’s face it, we’re all eating it raw.

2. Ninja New York

Website: http://www.ninjanewyork.com/index.html

Price: $$ - $$$

This place has relatively normal prices for Japanese food.  Ninja has been nicknamed New York’s Weirdest Restaurant.  This place would be a real treat to visit because their real specialty is the show they put on.  The restaurant is designed to look like feudal Japan and the servers are trained in ninja ways.  The servers like to scare you, so be warned.  There’s a bit of magic tricks and mystery.

3. Jekyll and Hyde Cafe

Website: http://www.jekyllandhydeclub.com/

Price: $$ -$$$

This cafe has a spooky theme.  There’s live entertainment and scary special effects.  Everywhere you look, there’s something to see.  Their food has been called overpriced.  Their food is not the best in New York but is by no means the worst (probably).  But you’re paying for a unique dining experience.

4. Lombardi’s Pizza

Website: http://www.firstpizza.com/home.html

Price: $ - $$

Lombardi’s isn’t just another place to grab a slice.  Rumor has it, they are the first American pizzeria.  The guy who founded the business reinvented a common Italian recipe so that Italian immigrants could have an inexpensive taste of home. This invention is pizza as we know it today.

5. Santina

Website: http://www.santinanyc.com/

Price: $ - $$

This place integrates Italian cuisine with the history of the local neighborhood.  Located near an old farmer’s market, you get a lot of fresh fruits, veggies, and meats all served with an Italian flair.  The atmosphere of this restaurant is simply beautiful.

5 Towns that Will Make You Think You're Time Travelled

Colonial Williamsburg

Williamsburg, VA

Time Period:  1600s/1700s

Website:  https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/

Visited

I very much enjoyed Colonial Williamsburg.  This place is almost like stepping back in a time machine.  Williamsburg had everything.  There were hotels, museums, and shops.  The shops sold everything from homemade candy to antiques to old style toys and clothes.  Williamsburg would be great fun for all ages, especially for history lovers.

Juliette Gordon Low House

Savannah, GA

Time Period:  1800s

Website:  http://www.juliettegordonlowbirthplace.org/

Visited

Okay, so this isn’t actually a town but Savannah has a lot of nice historical places you can visit.  Juliette Gordon Low was the founder of the American branch of Girl Scouts, I believe the Girl Scouts on the museum.  The museum is said to have one of the most historically intact collections of any museum in America.  The house remains mostly as it did when Juliette’s family lived there.  Recommended for history lovers, cookie lovers, and Girl Scouts alike.

Old Sturbridge

Old Sturbridge, MA

Time Period:  1500s/1600s

Website:  https://www.osv.org/

Visited

Old Sturbridge is a place I haven’t been to in quite a few years.  My information might be a little out dated.  Way back when, this place was mostly museums.  This village brings the puritanical values to a modern audience.  My favorite was the town’s church, they went over some of the strict rules of people that spent an entire day in God’s house.

Nelis’ Dutch Village

Holland, MI

Time Period:  1400s/1500s

Website:  http://www.dutchvillage.com/

Visited

The Dutch were some of the earliest Europeans to colonize America.  Nelis’ has a carousel and several windmills.  There’s also a cute little village with a fudge shop and a place that makes candles by hand.  This is a great place to experience a slice of Dutch life in America, especially if you have a little Dutch heritage.  I can’t remember if it’s here or located elsewhere in the town of Holland, but somewhere they have a windmill imported from The Netherlands.

Provins Medieval Village

Provins, France

Time Period:  Middle Ages

Website:  http://www.provins.net/english-version.html

To Visit

Provins has existed since the times of yesteryear.  This town is a day trip from Paris and is right at the top of my to do list for my upcoming trip to France.  A Medieval fortress shows what life would have been like in the old time town of Provins.  There are shows and events to take you back in time.  Bienvenue to medieval France.