Travel Archives - Page 5 of 13 - The Weekend Abroad

2 Days of Magic: Wizarding World of Harry Potter Tips & Recommendations

After competing in Cotopaxi Questival in San Francisco, one of my oldest friends and I almost immediately jetted off to Orlando, Florida for some much needed pool time, shopping, local exploration, and most importantly – to get lost in the wonders of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I had high expectations, but it was even better than I dreamed. As lifelong Harry Potter fans, we nerded out to say the least. The amount of detail at the theme park is truly spectacular and we never wanted to leave! We had a lot of questions about the logistics of the Wizarding World prior to our trip so I hope to provide some essential Wizarding World of Harry Potter tips and recommendations if you’re planning to visit.

All About Cotopaxi Questival 2017: San Francisco

It’s been two years since my friends and I competed in our first Cotopaxi Questival and a lot has changed about the 24 hour “scavenger hunt” in just a couple years! Within two years, the San Francisco race jumped from 218 teams to 480 teams and they made a number of valuable changes within the Questival app. What hasn’t changed about Questival is its ability to push you as an individual and group beyond your limits to tackle dozens (or even hundreds) of experiences you never thought you could do within a day. All while laughing through hilarious blunders and unexpected situations.

5 Ways to Avoid an Airbnb Disaster

The quaint atrium at the Airbnb I stayed at in Fort Bragg, California

I’ve stayed in Airbnb accommodations almost two dozen times now and common questions I get are, “is it safe? Aren’t you scared something bad might happen?” And to be honest, I’ve never been paranoid or had a bad experience thus far *knock on wood*. The Airbnb homes I’ve stayed in have been positive across the board internationally. I’ve stayed in Airbnbs across the United States, Asia, and Western Europe and the hosts have all been very welcoming, organized, and gracious. They want those 5 star reviews!

I Locked Lips with a Giraffe at B Bryan Preserve

As mentioned in my last post on my amazing weekend in beautiful Mendocino County, visiting the B Bryan Preserve was the highlight of my trip. After talking to friends and family about the place, it’s apparent to me that it’s still very unknown, which is why I wanted to dedicate an entire article to the magical destination. B Bryan Preserve is an African wildlife sanctuary that promotes the education and conservation of animals, in which all its inhabitants are bred or raised on-site. I personally felt my experience at B Bryan was better than any zoo I’ve visited. Granted, I’m sure there are some pretty incredible zoos I haven’t been to. Here are the basics on B Bryan Preserve if you’re hoping to visit and why I loved it so much.