We braved our second airplane ride with a baby! We took the same trip and stayed at the same hotel as our first trip with a baby, however, this time she is 7 months older.  Below are the products we found most useful for traveling with an infant and a few tips based on our experience on a plane and in a hotel. xoxo

Feeding: Dr. Brown’s Travel Formula Dispenser with Lid, Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow® Anti-Colic Newborn Bottles, and OXO Tot Travel Size Drying Rack with Bottle Brush were still crucial for traveling while bottle feeding. Now that we are starting to incorporate solid foods, we did have to pack quite a few extra things. The mushie Silicone Baby Feeding Spoons and mushie Silicone Suction Bowl were easy to wash in the hotel room and dried quickly on the same drying rack we used for bottles. I typically cook all of our baby food myself, but traveling with refrigerated items sounded like such a hassle. I found these Peter Rabbit Organics pouches at Whole Foods and felt they were a clean nonrefrigerated option. We knew that we would be dining out for most meals, so I also packed plenty Comfy Cubs Muslin Baby Bibs, Hippypotamus Disposable Placemats, and the Inglesina Fast Table Chair. The chair took up most of my suitcase and we probably could have gotten along without it, but since we are new to restaurant highchairs it did prove useful on a few occasions.

Note: We traveled with a sealed container of powder formula in our carry-on suitcase. While this is allowed by TSA, a chemical on the packaging flagged our suitcase and they had to search our bag (this happened on our first trip as well). On the trip home, we put the remaining formula in our checked bag to avoid the hassle. A few friends had similar stories, so I recommend packing any formula on top of your carry-on for an easy search. TSA has different rules for flying with breast milk. I packed the baby food pouches in our checked luggage since they were less important than the formula and to avoid hassle.

Transportation: This is probably the last airplane trip where we can use the Doona Infant Car Seat, and we will greatly miss the convenience! The Padded Travel Bag, BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Mini, and Pacifier Clip Holder were once again useful on the plane ride. I planned our first trip to align with bottle feedings, so I could feed at takeoff a help with ear pressure. This trip was more difficult to schedule with feedings, so we relied on the pacifier to help with ear pressure and had no issues at all. At 10 months, we were much more aware of our surroundings, particularly the drink cart, so there was less napping on the airplane. I packed plenty of books and these Suction Cup Spinner Toys for entertainment.

Note: You do have to walk through security holding your little one (even with pre-check) and strollers will go through the belt scanner. When you check a stroller at the gate, they will also unload them at the gate and not through baggage claim. When we arrived back at DFW they were slower than we were coming off the plane and an employee told us strollers would be at baggage claim. This was not the case and we had to go back through security to get our stroller at the gate. A few friends had similar stories, so spare yourself and wait at the gate for your stroller!

Sleep: Since we were flying and staying in a hotel, it was easier to coordinate a crib in our room than fly with a pack-n-play. We had no issues coordinating this at the Hilton property we stayed at, but I did check a few hotel reviews in the area to confirm the cleanliness of rooms and cribs (you would not believe some reviews). I also packed a crib sheet and used it over the hotel-provided one. The Yogasleep Hushh Portable White Noise Sound Machine and Kyte Baby Sleep Bag made sleeping in a hotel room a breeze.

Note: When we go to the lake for a long weekend we travel with the Eufy Life S340 Smart Sock and Monitor. However, when staying at a hotel the monitor and smart sock would not connect to the hotel wifi. We ended up with the crib next to our bed, but you might consider a Bluetooth monitor or a secure hotspot to keep the crib in a separate part of the room.

Diapers: I packed our diapers in the carry-on suitcase so that no matter what happened we would not end up strapped for diapers. I also packed the Joey Changing Kit and these Ubbi Retractable On the Go Bags Dispenser for Travel for changing diapers in our hotel room. I bagged all our diapers up as a courtesy to the cleaning staff and to keep our room from stinking.

Note: I am always shocked to find most public restrooms are not accommodating for babies and airports are no exception. In both the DFW and Atlanta airport I found one changing table per restroom (always in the way of a line or the sinks) and one handicap stall that would fit a stroller. Keep this in mind when planning your diaper changes, you might have to wait for another mom to finish or for a line to die down.

Packing: It is amazing how much you have to pack for the smallest member of your family! We ended up packing all the baby necessities in a carry-on suitcase and checked a bag with our things to keep from carrying too much on the plane. I carried everything we needed during the flight in my large tote including bottles, diapers and wipes, a change of clothes for both of us, and a few books and toys. We often take long weekend trips to the lake and I can easily fit everything a baby could need in this Lands’ End Zip Top Long Handle Canvas Tote Bag.

Other baby-related posts:

Traveling with an Infant (3 months)

Newborn Essentials 

3-6 Month Essentials 

6-9 Month Essentials

Nursery

Last Thanksgiving we visited Charleston on our way to visit family in Beaufort. The week following we learned about Dottie’s Spina Bifida diagnosis, then I hit the third trimester, Dottie was born, and here I am finally sharing our Charleston Travel Guide. Better late than never! We loved every second of our time in Charleston and I am dying to go back when I am not expecting so I can fully enjoy all the fresh seafood (mainly oysters). xoxo

Mills House Hotel: We stayed at Mills House, a Hilton property, centrally located in downtown Charleston. The Delux City View Room did not have much of a “city view”, but had plenty of space for us to spend our evenings watching Office reruns in our room comfortably. I was pregnant so after a day of walking around the city I was not up for exploring the nightlife or staying up past 10. The hotel is rumored to be haunted by the Confederate army, and while I do not believe in ghosts, I loved that the building had history.

Where to Eat: 

Church & Union: The converted old church is beautiful and the food was delicious. I enjoyed the scallops and Alex had the swordfish, which was a nightly special.

Poogan’s Porch: We stopped by Poogan’s Porch for brunch because it was across the street from Mills House. We enjoyed the Fried Green Tomatoes, She-Crab Soup, and French Toast.

Miller’s All Day: The branding and freshly baked cookies in the font case are the only reasons we stopped in Miller’s for a late lunch. I am glad it caught my eye because everything we tried was delicious! We enjoyed the Pimento Cheese, Quiche, Signature Fried Chicken Biscuit, and of course a Monster Cookie.

Mac’s Pub: Our original plan was to catch the USA World Cup match at The Griffon, but they were closed for an event. Mac’s was on our way back towards the hotel and had delicious pub food and plenty of TVs. There is not a bad seat to watch a game!

Amen Street Fish + Raw Bar: This is one of the restaurants I want to revisit when I am able to eat more on the menu! We enjoyed sharing the Shrimp Scampi and Lobster Ravioli, and Alex tried an Oyster Shooter because why not?

Carmella’s Cafe and Dessert Bar: After dinner at Amen Street, we walked across the street to Carmella’s for dessert. Their Key Lime Pie and Cannolis were heavenly, everything in the case looked so good we had a hard time deciding on just two things!

167 Raw Oyster Bar: 167 Raw Oyster Bar and their sister concept, Bar 167, are both on the top of my list to revisit! Alex enjoyed oysters and ceviche at 167 Raw Bar and I had a fantastic Lobster Tostada. We stopped by Bar 167 before dinner one night to enjoy mocktails and their menu was full of fresh fish dishes.

Le Farfalle: We like to include one nicer dinner on each trip where we can sit down and enjoy each other’s company. Le Farfalle was the perfect atmosphere and we highly recommend the Braised Artichokes, Rigatoni Verde, and Fideos.

Off Track Ice Cream: There was a theme of post-dinner dessert on this trip, so after La Farfalle we walked across the street to Off Track. I always go for chocolate and had a scoop of Chocolate Fudgy Brownie, and Alex fell in love with the Salted Pretzel Toffee cold brew milkshake.

Blind Tiger: Before heading to Beaufort we walked through the neighborhoods leading to The Battery and ended our trip with proper pub fare. We shared truffle fries with wings and chicken fingers.

Other recommendations we did not have a chance to visit: Chez Nous, Husk, Circa 1886, The Establishment, The Ordinary, The Obstinate Daughter, Leon’s Oyster Shop, Fleet Landing, Maison, Zero Restaurant + Bar, Darling Oyster Bar, Frannie & the Fox, Magnolias, and 82 Queen.

What to Do: 

Old South Carriage Ride: If there is a historical city tour you will find me on it! A few carriage companies run tours through Charleston, but we enjoyed Old South. Each tour starts by receiving a “route” so you never know which part of the city you are going to see. Our tour started at the Charleston City Market and worked south through the homes leading to The Battery. I recommend stopping by Clerks Coffee, across the parking lot, to grab a coffee for the tour.

Gibbes Museum of Art: The Gibbes was very close to our hotel and we walked past the museum so many times before deciding to stop in. I am so glad we did! They have a great collection of local Charleston art and the galleries are very easy to walk through in about an hour.

The Charleston Museum: This museum was way cooler than I expected and they had something for everyone. I knew Charleston had deep American history roots, but I never realized just how big of a role the city played. We did not take the time to explore the children’s section, but from a glance, it looked very interactive.

Croghan’s Jewel Box: I really wish I was in the market for some antique jewelry or heirloom silver because Croghan’s had some gorgeous pieces. It was fun to walk around and daydream of needing novelty silver salt and pepper shakers or elaborate cuff links.

Waterfront Park: Charleston, while surrounded by water, was built further inland and has very little views of the water. Waterfront Park offers a long pier and plenty of benches to enjoy the views of the harbor. It is also home to the iconic Palmetto tree water fountain.

The Battery: Highly recommend taking a Sunday morning stroll through the beautiful homes to the water while sipping coffee and listening to all the church bells. We visited the week before Thanksgiving so a few homes were already decorated for Christmas!

Rainbow Row: The iconic colorful homes were an easy walk from our hotel to The Battery.

Fort Sumter: For the first time in my life I left one day of our trip totally unplanned. We woke up and picked a few things we had not seen or done yet to fill our day. Fort Sumter was on that list and unfortunately needed to be planned. We missed the last ferry to the island by a few minutes and were only able to visit the small museum on the mainland. This will certainly be at the top of our list for our next trip!

Angel Oak Tree: We had a little time to kill before our flight home, so we stopped by the Angel Oak Tree just before the park closed. It was incredible to see such an old and enormous oak tree in person, highly recommend going a little out of the way to see it.

Other recommendations we did not have a chance to visit: Edmondston-Alston House, Nathaniel Russell House, Aiken Rhett House, Williams Mansion, Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, South Carolina Aquarium, and Sullivan’s Island.

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We braved our first airplane ride with a baby! Honestly, three months was a great age to fly with since she slept the majority of the flight and required little entertainment. Below are the products we found most useful for traveling with an infant and a few tips based on our experience on a plane and in a hotel. xoxo

Feeding: Dr. Brown’s Travel Formula Dispenser with Lid made it easy to carry up to three bottles worth of formula in my bag through the airport and on the plane. I also carried three Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow® Anti-Colic Newborn Bottles with me and filled them with water once through security. We booked our flights around our existing feeding schedule so that we could feed at takeoff and help with ear pressure. Thank goodness our flights were on time and this trick worked well, we feed at take off and she slept the rest of the flight fuss-free! This OXO Tot Travel Size Drying Rack with Bottle Brush was the perfect tool for cleaning bottles in a hotel room and we use this same set when we drive to the lake.

Note: We traveled with a sealed container of powder formula in our carry-on suitcase. While this is allowed by TSA, a chemical on the packaging flagged our suitcase and they had to search our bag. On the trip home, we put the remaining formula in our checked bag to avoid the hassle. A few friends had similar stories, so I recommend packing any formula on top of your carry-on for an easy search. TSA has different rules for flying with breast milk or baby food.

Transportation: The Doona Infant Car Seat has served us well in daily use but was a complete game changer while traveling. We used the stroller through security up to the gate, then we put the Doona in the Padded Travel Bag and checked it at the gate. A friend also recommended this Padded Car Seat Travel Bag for Airplane that is a little cheaper and works the same as the Doona branded one. We did not travel with the Doona base and used the seat belt in our rental car to secure the car seat. Once we gate-checked the stroller, I used the BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Mini to find our seat and have a hands-free flight. This Pacifier Clip Holder saved us multiple times through the airport and on the plane to spare our pacifiers from being lost forever. I also never leave the house without the AMACOOL Battery Operated Stroller Fan, especially in the summer, because you never know when you are going to find yourself in a hot car or airplane. We had to use the fan in the back seat of our rental car to combat the 100-degree-plus heat.

Note: You do have to walk through security holding your little one (even with pre-check) and strollers will go through the belt scanner. When you check a stroller at the gate, they will also unload them at the gate and not through baggage claim. When we arrived back at DFW they were slower than we were coming off the plane and an employee told us strollers would be at baggage claim. This was not the case and we had to go back through security to get our stroller at the gate. A few friends had similar stories, so spare yourself and wait at the gate for your stroller!

Sleep: Since we were flying and staying in a hotel, it was easier to coordinate a crib in our room than fly with a pack-n-play. We had no issues coordinating this at the Hilton property we stayed at, but I did check a few hotel reviews in the area to confirm the cleanliness of rooms and cribs (you would not believe some reviews). I also packed a crib sheet and used it over the hotel-provided one. When we are not traveling by plane, we love the Graco Pack ‘n-Play Dome LX-Playard. This pack-n-play is great because it also includes a bassinet for newborns and a changing table attachment that makes large diapers a non-issue. The Yogasleep Hushh Portable White Noise Sound Machine is so easy to pack and works fantastic in hotel rooms or for a nap on the go.

Note: When we go to the lake for a long weekend we travel with the Eufy Life S340 Smart Sock and Monitor. However, when staying at a hotel the monitor and smart sock would not connect to the hotel wifi. We ended up with the crib next to our bed, which worked well for a three-month-old. In the future, we might consider a Bluetooth monitor or a secure hotspot so we can keep the crib in a separate part of the room.

Diapers: A friend warned me that airplane travel tends to cause large diapers and that was no joke! Our flight was just short enough that I did not have to change a diaper on the plane (thank goodness) but I did put on a clean diaper right before boarding and we changed again as soon as we landed. The Joey Changing Kit was so easy to use on the airport changing tables and I carried A+D Original Ointment 1.5 Ounce with me to prevent a rash. These Ubbi Retractable On the Go Bag Dispenser for Travel were so helpful when changing messy diapers in our hotel room. I bagged all our diapers up as a courtesy to the cleaning staff and to keep our room from stinking.

Note: I am always shocked to find most public restrooms are not accommodating for babies and airports were no exception. In both the DFW and Atlanta airport I found one changing table per restroom (always in the way of a line or the sinks) and one handicap stall that would fit a stroller. Keep this in mind when planning your diaper changes, you might have to wait for another mom to finish or for a line to die down.

Packing: It is amazing how much you have to pack for the smallest member of your family! We ended up packing all the baby necessities in a carry-on suitcase and checked a bag with our things to keep from carrying too much on the plane. I carried everything we needed during the flight in my large tote including bottles, diapers and wipes, a change of clothes for both of us and a few books and toys. We often take long weekend trips to the lake and I can easily fit everything a baby could need in this Lands’ End Zip Top Long Handle Canvas Tote Bag.

Other baby-related posts:

Newborn Essentials 

Nursery

This April we celebrated Alex’s 30th birthday and in lieu of a big party, he requested that I plan a surprise trip. I narrowed down the cities and decided Seattle would be the perfect destination for a birthday trip. We had a blast and are already talking about planning another trip to the Seattle area. I have outlined all our recommendations in this Seattle Travel Guide. Enjoy! xoxo

The Charter Hotel: We are loyal Hilton members and the Curio Collection hotels never disappoint. The Charter Hotel was clean, spacious, and conveniently located downtown. We booked a king bed corner room with a city view and loved the oversized windows and extra space to tuck away clothes and luggage.

Pikes Place Market: Our hotel was just a block away from Pikes Places Market, so we often found ourselves walking through on our way to other places. I wish we had planned to stay longer than five days so I could buy some of the gorgeous tulips that were in bloom, but we did buy some delicious local jelly to bring home.

Mariners Game: We are not real big baseball fans, but the Texas Rangers happened to be in town so we thought it might be fun to go to a game. The Mariners have specials on specific games and our tickets were super cheap, probably because the Rangers are horrible. While the Rangers lost, we enjoyed the atmosphere and seeing someone else’s stadium.

Space Needle: The Space Needle is such a cliche but I would still recommend it for anyone’s visit to Seattle. We bought tickets for the first time slot and the whole visit only took about half an hour. It is impossible to determine when you might have a rain-free day, but I would try to plan for a clear day since the observation deck is outside.

Chihuly Garden and Glass: When you buy your Space Needle ticket, you can bundle and save a little to visit the Chihuly Garden next door. This was also a quick museum to walk through early in the morning. Most glass pieces are inside with a handful outside in a small garden. We were blown away by the glass sculptures and loved that the museum had a photographer walking around to take your photo, which was included with admission.

Museum of Pop Culture: The MoPOP is also located next to the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden, so it makes sense to do all three at one time. I was most excited about the Nirvana exhibit and spent more time than the average person reading everything. We also really enjoyed the Pearl Jam exhibit, Jimi Hendrix exhibit, and Guitar Gallery. We kind of skipped over the horror film and hip-hop exhibits.

Great Wheel: After lunch on the pier we stopped over at the Great Wheel for a ride. There was a short line and we were able to hop on and off within half an hour. It was cool to see a different perspective of Seattle and the water, we also lucked out with a very clear day and could see relatively far.

Dimitriou’s JazzAlley: Alex has been talking about finding a local jazz bar for years, but we have not found one in Dallas. I saw that there were a few in Seattle and that Kenny G was in town at JazzAlley, so obviously I had to buy tickets. We had the best time! JazzAlley is very intimate without a bad seat in the house. Dinner is offered but we went to the late show and just enjoyed after-dinner cocktails. Kenny G was fantastic, we were pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed his show! He is from Seattle, so when he is in between tours he likes to come back to JazzAlley, 10/10 would recommend.

Bainbridge Island Ferry: The ferry ride to Bainbridge Island is an easy and punctual 25-minute scenic cruise. Once on Brainbridge, we were able to walk to the main road in town for coffee and breakfast. The island is quaint and beautiful, and we both agreed that we should go back and spend more time enjoying all that Bainbridge has to offer.

Snoqualmie Falls: We rented a car and drove a little over half an hour outside the city to hike Snoqualmie Falls. There are two observation decks to view the falls, the upper deck is easily accessible, and the lower deck is down a mile trail. Just over from the lower deck is a small trail that leads to the river and was the perfect spot for a picnic. The hike down to the lower deck was easy, but coming back uphill had our whole group a little winded. We did notice a parking lot near the lower deck that would be recommended for someone unable or not up for a mile uphill.

Lowell’s (Pikes Place Market): This was our first stop in Seattle since Pikes Place Market was so close to our hotel. We enjoyed a quick, easy, and delicious lunch with a great view. We can highly recommend the salmon Caesar salad and tuna melt.

Ivar’s Acres of Clams: Ivar’s has a huge dining room with large windows and a spacious patio I wish we could have taken advantage of. The clam chowder was amazing as was the fish and chips with fresh haddock.

Bateau: We celebrated Alex’s birthday at Bateau and, wow, it did not disappoint these Texas beef lovers. We started with the steak tartare, which was amazing, then our waiter walked us through all the daily specialty cuts of beef. We both had dry-aged steaks with bone marrow butter and a side of asparagus, topped with beef fat béarnaise, and roasted mushrooms. Highly recommend Bateau to anyone in the Seattle area!

Blackbird Bakery: We walked to Blackbird from the Bainbridge Island ferry for coffee and breakfast. It is a cute small shop on the main road in town. We enjoyed a variety of seasonal scones and muffins, all of which were delicious and quickly devoured.

2 Doors Down Burger Bar: This was not our original dinner plan, but it was close to our friend’s Airbnb and a burger sounded good. We were all surprised with how good all the burgers were for a small dive in the capitol hill area. You cannot go wrong with the classic, or green chili burger and a side of cheese curds.

The London Plane: I am a sucker for a traditional English breakfast, but this was such a good brunch! We had a reservation for our large group and I am glad we did, I would recommend a reservation for any size group since it is not a large place.

Fiasco Pizza: We ended up in the Fremont area and stumbled upon Fiasco Pizza. Our large group split a few appetizers and the pizza four-pack, everything was delicious and our service was excellent.

Le Panier: Before leaving town we grabbed coffee and pastries from Le Panier. I would try one of everything, it is that good, but I can personally recommend the pain au chocolat, á la framboise, champignons, and normandie.

The Barrel Thief: While in Scotland last fall, Alex joined the Single Malt Whisky Society. They have a handful of bars in the U.S. that serve their specially whiskies, so when I saw Seattle had one we had to stop in. We enjoyed a charcuterie board as well and the staff was very attentive and friendly.

Fremont Brewing: We had great luck and the weather was beautiful in Seattle. We were on the search for a great patio, which is hard to find, and Fremont Brewing had the largest in town.

Screwdriver Bar: This underground bar is exactly what I imagined when I thought of the stereotypical Seattle bar. Great music, tables for groups, and literally underground.

Pike Brewing Company: This brewery was also near our hotel and Pikes Place Market, so we stopped in for lunch, The food menu had a nice variety and the dining area was larger than expected. We had friends join us here and there were many tables for large groups.

Old Stove Brewing: Just past the gum wall from Pike Brewing is Old Stove Brewing. We stopped along here because the weather was once again beautiful and they had a large patio on the water. If the weather is not so nice they have a large indoor area and offer a food menu as well.

London is absolutely my favorite place in the world to visit, I don’t think it will ever get old. Alex and I visited with friends about five years ago and I have been counting down the days until we could go back (thanks to covid we pushed our trip back over a year). I have previously posted reviews for The Georgian Tea Room at Harrods, Pizza Pilgram, and the Mondrian Hotel, which has been rebranded. Below I have included a full London Travel Guide with all of our favorite places!

The Trafalgar St. James London: During our last trip to London, we stayed at the Mondrian Hotel, which has since been rebranded. I found The Trafalgar St. James London and loved the central location. We were able to walk most places on our list and felt we were in a safe part of town. The hotel staff was very helpful and friendly and our room, while the view was not great, was extremely clean!

Westminster Abbey: I was bummed that we did not have time to tour our Abbey during our last trip to London, so that was the very first thing we did on this trip. The architecture, detail, deep history, and religious ceremony were very impressive. I hate audio tour guides, so I opted for the book while Alex listened to the guide. We both left chatting about all the things we learned and saw, I highly recommend this tour for anyone.

Kensington Palace: While I was unsuccessful at spotting a royal family member, I did have the opportunity to see Princess Diana’s wedding dress while on exhibit. The tour of Kensington Palace primarily focuses on Queen Victoria and her childhood at the palace. It was a relatively quick but interesting tour.

St. Paul’s Cathedral: Similar to Westminster Abbey, the detail and history in St. Paul’s were fascinating. We bought tickets to walk (more of a hike) up 529 steps to the very top of St. Paul’s. While we were a little winded and had a few head bumps on the low staircases, the view from the top was amazing! If you are able I would recommend taking the hike to the top of the cathedral for some of the best views of London.

Big Ben: We did not have time to tour Big Ben on our first trip and it was being refurbished during our second trip. While we had incredible views across the Thames near the London Eye, it is still on my list to tour someday.

Buckingham Palace: The palace was not open for tours while we were there, but we did stop by to see the changing of the guards. You can check online to see which days they will be changing guards, but it always happens at 11:30 AM and you must walk to the palace in order to get close enough for a good view.

Churchill War Rooms: This was one of my favorite tours in London that was not related to the royal family, well not entirely about them anyways. The war rooms are just across the street from St. James Park and around the corner from Westminster Abbey. The line moved quickly, we only waited about 30 minutes, and we were able to get discounted tickets without student IDs. We ended up spending about 2 hours touring the war rooms and the museum about Winston Churchill. It is a very fascinating museum and I recommend going through and reading everything.

The National Gallery: Admission to the National Gallery is free for everyone, which was a nice perk. The building is a work of art itself and so is Trafalgar Square, where it is located. We saw incredible artworks such as The Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci, Water Lillies by Claude Monet, Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh, and Thames below Westminster by Claude Monet (a personal favorite).

Tate Modern: We spent an entire day exploring Tate Modern, which Alex still complains about to this day. There were so many incredible pieces to see, too many to name. The first couple of floors are special collections and as you go up the names will become more familiar to those who know less about modern art. I also recommend visiting the observation deck on the 10th floor.

The Shard: We booked the “essential” tickets to the top of the Shard. There was no need for the fast pass on a Friday and quickly made it to the top of the elevators. Our tickets included a cocktail at the top, so we were able to sit down and enjoy the view. There were no stairs at the Shard but I would say the view from St. Paul’s was better. The only things different you could see from the Shard were the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.

London Eye: We rode the London Eye in the evening and enjoyed seeing the skyline at night. We purchased our tickets the morning of our ride online and paid the extra $10 for fast track. I would recommend the fast track, we walked up at our designated time and skipped the hour-long line.

Abbey Road: It would not be a trip to England without seeing something Beatles-related, so we took the tube north to St. John’s Wood Station. While you cannot go inside Abbey Road Studios, there is a gift shop/small museum open to the public and a wall for fans to leave notes.

Millennium Bridge: Between St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern is the Millennium Bridge stretching across the River Thames. It is defiantly worth walking across, even in the cold rain, because the view down the river is incredible.

The Trafalgar St. James Rooftop: I booked the rooftop restaurant at our hotel in advance, I would recommend reservations, and we timed our dinner perfectly with sunset. The view was amazing, we could see all the rooftops from Trafalgar Square to the London Eye, it was like something out of Mary Poppins. The menu was mostly Asian small plates, all of which were delicious.

Bob Bob Ricard: The perfect restaurant for a special occasion, the atmosphere, service, and food were all top-notch. We enjoyed the Jersey Rock Oysters, Degustation of Three Caviars, Truffle & Champagne Humble Pie, Truffle, Potato & Mushroom Vareniki, and BBR Signature Chocolate Glory. Reservations are required and the dress code is enforced.

San Carlo: We booked tickets to see the new James Bond movie and thought we would just stop at a pub for dinner before. Every pub and restaurant we passed was full at 5 pm on a Friday! I had read how great San Carlo was and as we passed by I thought we might as well give it a shot. I wish we had more time to relax and enjoy the delicious food. Everything we ordered was fresh and delicious! I would recommend reservations and reading the dress code, both of which we failed to do on a whim and I hated myself for.

Sketch: During our first trip we booked the gallery room. I was eager to go back and try other rooms at Sketch but we decide to try someplace new. The atmosphere in the Sketch gallery room was wonderful and we enjoyed everything we ordered. Reservations are required and the dress code is enforced.

Churchill Arms Pub: We were on a hunt to watch the Manchester United v Westham match, and thought The Churchill Arms Pub would be a good place to watch. We later found out that it is not very popular to watch a soccer match at a pub, and we ended up eating dinner at their famous Thai restaurant attached to the pub. Our whole group ordered Pad Thai as spicy as it would come and most still had to add chili oil – at someone the bland food does get to you.

Harrods: We spent close to the whole day eating, shopping, and exploring the many floors of Harrods. We enjoyed high tea at The Georgian Tea Room on the fourth floor.

Below are a few photos from our recent trip to London! xoxo

Need more London recommendations? Check out my posts here:

The Georgian at Harrods

Pizza Pilgrim

Mondrian London

London Calling

Edinburgh, Scotland quickly jumped up the list of our favorite spots in the United Kingdom. We loved how walkable the town was and the history lessons on every corner. I have included some of the places we enjoyed most during our trip as an Edinburgh Travel Guide, but there is so much more will have to go back to see!

Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian: Easily one of my favorite hotels we have stayed at. The concierge was extremely helpful prior, during, and even after our stay. Our room had an incredible view of Edinburgh Castle, was well maintained, spacious, and very clean. We loved every detail of this hotel and cannot recommend it enough!

Waldorf Astoria Whiskey (Scotch) Tasting: Prior to our arrival in Edinburgh, I worked with the concierge at the Waldorf Astoria to arrange a whiskey tasting for Alex. The concierge knew Ken, our whiskey master, and set up a private two-hour lesson whiskey, or what we call Scotch, history lesson and tasting. The concierge offered many ideas to make our stay in Scotland memorable, including a round of golf with the whiskey tasting. Hopefully, the weather cooperates on our next trip for a round of golf!

Waldorf Astoria Spa: Alex surprised me with a facial at the Waldorf Astoria Spa during our stay. The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable, and helped provide a relaxing environment. The spa and gym area was well maintained and extremely clean. They offered a wide variety of services and I left with my skin feeling so much better after being dried from travel.

St Giles’ Cathedral: It is free to tour St. Giles’ Cathedral and I would highly recommend it! The Cathedral was built in 1124 and was a Roman Catholic Cathedral until 1572 when the Scottish Reformation adopted Protestantism. There is so much Scottish history to uncover during the tour, not to mention many important ceremonies for the royal family have been and are still held in St. Giles’.

Palace of Holyroodhouse: The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the royal family’s official Scotland residence. The palace and attached Holyrood Abbey date back to the twelfth century and are full of wild stories. We planned our tour in advance but could have easily walked up and bought tickets the same day during the week. There is an exhibit celebrating the life of Prince Philip for a limited time that I very much enjoyed.

Royal Yacht Britannia: I have been on many royal family-related tours, but the Royal Yacht Britannia was probably my favorite. They have left the yacht exactly as it was when the royal family retired it in 1997. The Queen’s bedroom, study, formal dining, and game room are all on display. The history this yacht covered from 1953 to 1997 made for a very informative tour. After our tour ended we enjoyed high tea on the top deck. I recommend buying tickets in advance the planning to have tea during an off time, this tour was particularly popular.

Beehive Inn: When we first arrived in Edinburgh we started with a walk through “Old Town” to find a place for lunch. The concierge at our hotel recommended Beehive Inn and it was the perfect pub for lunch. We enjoyed fish and chips and a traditional meat pie. Beehive Inn has a great front patio and was perfectly placed halfway through our walking tour of “Old Town”.

Angels with Bagpipes: The best traditional Scottish food we found in Edinburgh! The goat cheese starter, venison, and 12-hour braised beef were all delicious. The atmosphere was simple but nice and the wait staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. I recommend making reservations in advance.

Contini: We wanted to mix up our meals a little so I found a family-owned Italian restaurant. The local family who owns Contini also owns a few other restaurants in the Edinburgh area but we were missing a little Italian flair. The buffalo mozzarella, orecchiette, and torta cioccolato were all fantastic. I had a hard time finding a decent martini in the UK but Contini nailed the espresso martini.

Ondine: I had Ondine on a list of potential dinner spots, but while eating lunch an older local couple overheard we were visiting and specifically recommended Ondine. They were right, it was some of the best seafood we have ever had! Everything on the menu was local and seasonally fresh, the oysters were some of the largest and richest we had ever tried. I recommend making reservations in advance, they filled up quickly for dinner.

The Scotch Malt Whiskey Society: Ken, our Scotch tasting guide, recommended we stop by the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society to try some more unique whiskeys. Alex enjoyed learning more about the flavor profiles and tasting different types of Scotch. You can join the American chapter and there are bars that offer their special Scotch across the states but none near Dallas.

Below are a few photos from our recent trip to Edinburgh! xoxo