Thriftism

We visited Trelissick Garden on a May afternoon and lucked out with a sunny, semi-warm day that was clear and allowed us amazing views. From what we heard, the views are pretty spectacular year round. This is one of the National Trust properties so it is free to get in and park if you are a member or if you are a member of the Royal Oak Foundation (for US citizens). I highly recommend buying a membership if you will be in the UK for any amount of time as it saves a lot of money in the long run. If you aren't a member, I'd still recommend stopping here and paying the  £13 ( at time of publishing post).  This English garden seems to be where Lewis Carroll got a few of his ideas or at least where the animators of the film got theirs. We loved seeing the tree with the hole at the base and the rose trees and other fantastical sights. Was wonderful for our toddler to play around in the large grassy areas and as with many of the national trust sites, there is a lovely cafe, sho...

Thriftism visits St. Michael's Mount in the coastal town of Marazion in Cornwall, England. This is a tidal island that can be reached via the causeway during low tide or by boat in high tide. Plan ahead if you want to walk as we got a little wet walking back to the mainland. It is approximately 15 minutes to walk the causeway.  It is a National Trust property, meaning that if you're a member, you can visit for free! I highly recommend doing the Royal Oak foundation if a US citizen as you get entry to so many places and free parking as well. If not, it is still well worth the entrance fee to see. This includes visiting both the castle and the gardens. The castle dates back to ~1650 while other buildings can be dated to the 12th century. Saint Michael's Mount is a National Trust property, although thanks to a unique lease agreement the St Aubyn family still live here! St Michael's Mount island is one of 43 islands that one can walk to from Britain. Once a Benedictine mon...

We walked along the South West Coast Path today near Kynance Cove. This is an amazing spot to hike as well as enjoy a beach day out here. With tidal pools that the kids can play in to clear waters and white sands, this is a great beach spot. Watch the tide times as you can get cut off at high tide and cannot access the caves as the water returns up. There is a high tide path to access the cafe from the car park as well as the South West Coast Path without walking on the beach.  The car park is a National Trust lot meaning you get free parking with your national trust card or Royal Oak Foundation Parking permit. If not a member, I believe it is around 4 pounds to park. This is a quick sneak peak of the portion of the trail we hiked today.  The entire trail stretches over 630 miles across wide ranging terrain all with gorgeous sea views and many historic landmarks.  **HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Download maps.me for offline map access and to view your location along with hiking ...

Mullion Cove We walked along the South West Coast Path today starting at Mullion Cover heading towards Gunwalloe. This is a quick sneak peak of the portion of the trail we hiked today. The entire trail stretches over 630 miles across wide ranging terrain all with gorgeous sea views and many historic landmarks.   Link to google map of today's hike: https://goo.gl/maps/HCRvwzMLtzjbe71N6    **HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Download maps.me for offline map access and to view your location along with hiking trails. See our video on the app: https://youtu.be/kPcdiUMe1aA   For recommended routes visit: https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk   Click on "walks" to search near your desired location. Also has option to search for food, lodging and things to do along the path near your chosen walk or hike.     Embed

Located along the northern edge of the Cornish Coast,  this hamlet of Port Gaverne may not be well know, but is a lovely stop on your travels. For those looking for coastal amenities without the crowds as well as the peaceful walks, this is a must visit. The town is approximately half a mile or less than 10 minutes walk to the west and is much smaller, though still merits a visit. Keep reading for more information on things to do in the area!  How to Get Here Once you are in Cornwall, you can easily drive or bike to many of the attractions. Port Gaverne is a short 7 minute walk from Port Isaac to the West or a 20 minutes drive from Tintagel, know for its  King Arthur lore, to the East. Below are a few ways to get to the small hamlet town from some of the major destinations in the U.K. There is parking near the Port Gaverne Hotel or a large car park up the road in Port Isaac. Exeter Train Station Car Public Transportation Book Bus Tickets ...

The first time we went to Mexico I was very hesitant to take the bus. I don't know about your experience, but where I live, the bus is not convenient. You have to switch a few times and it'll take you an hour to get anywhere, not to mention the bus only comes by once an hour. Basically, I'll take the bus if it's my only option. Plus, public transport used to seem a bit daunting to me. For those of you in larger cities, laugh away, but again, I was hesitant to take on the bus in a foreign country.  Contrary to my first opinion, in most counties, public transportation is  THE  way to travel. Puerto Vallarta doesn't have an underground system (at least not that I'm aware of), but they do have plenty of buses and taxis. Taxis are great if you need to get to a specific location and you're in a huge hurry and don't mind paying for your convenience. Otherwise, buses are still pretty quick and much more affordable.  If you've seen our Cancun Buses v...

Located one block north of the Malecon on Venezuela, this quaint restaurant will blow you away. Enjoy outdoor seating to watch the passersby or step inside and watch the bartender at work on your drinks. The location is very convenient, nearby several attractions, but offers more budget friendly options than places located on the Malecon. A variety of options are available for lunch and supper ranging from snack style food to a full plate of fajitas. Our favorite was the shrimp ceviche which we would highly recommend. Be careful of the extra spicy hot sauce - it is in fact EXTRA SPICY!  $1 drink specials are available every day, but it will be well worth while to spring for the margaritas at $2.50 or 45 pesos. We have stopped quite a few places during our travels to Mexico and have yet to find a place to rival these margaritas.  Plus the margaritas are muy grande and well worth your $2.50 by sheer size alone, not to mention the flavor.  ...

Your trip is booked, you've got everything you could possibly need pack and are heading to the airport. Who cares if you have a big suitcase - you already paid to check that thing! It's smooth sailing from here right? What happens when you land and have to pick up that huge suitcase? Maybe you're only staying in one spot so it isn't too unmanageable. Just have to get from the airport to the hotel. What about if you plan to explore different cities? Sometime you can leave a bag in the car, but who wants to drag a big, heavy suitcase into the hotel every day? Not to mention if you're taking the train or other public transportation you'll have to rent storage every day (try finding a place that takes full size bags) and try to fit it in the spaces on the train. NOT FUN! Even a carryon can get irritating in those situations, so why exacerbate it by over packing? Choosing outfits for a trip can be tricky and even stressful, especially if you're planning...

Located only 10 minutes from the Austrian border, Oberstdorf is a wonderful base point for travels around Southern Germany and the Western portion of Austria. The town itself is surrounded by three major mountains: Nebelhorn, Söllereck, and Fellhorn. This means you'll have amazing views on clear days and the option of in-town attractions or the more remote mountain hikes and gondolas. Keep reading for more information on things to do in the area!  How to Get Here Hohenems/Dornbirn Airport Car Public Transportation Book Bus Tickets  ~€33.40, 2 hr 50 minutes Munich Airport Car Public Transportation Book Train Tickets  ~€20, 2 hr 20 minutes Innsbruck Airport Car Public Transportation Book Train Tickets  ~€59.90, 5 hr Things to Do Hiking /Skiing - The same mountains that are great for hiking have skiing available during winter months. Click the link for interactive hiking trail map seen below. Interacti...

Located on the Rhine River, Strasbourg is only a short walk or drive away from Kehl, Germany. It's proximity to the border makes this town a great stop on your trip to Germany. Strasbourg is also the official seat of European Parliament and may be best know for it's historic Le Petite France section featuring canals and medieval style buildings. How to Get Here Stuttgart Airport Car Public Transportation Book Bus Tickets  ~€20, 2 hr 30 minutes Paris Airport Car Public Transportation Book Train Tickets  ~€30, 1 hr 50 minutes Things to Do Batorama Boat Tours - For only €13, enjoy a 70 minute boat tour of Strasbourg. Discounts available for children. Le Petite France - This picturesque area is what Strasbourg is best known for. Be sure to bring a camera as you cross over bridges from the modern world into history. Enjoy the old architecture and surrounding parks. The best part of all, is this attraction is f...