Traveling Betty Style: Part III, Scottish Highlands

All too soon, our honeymoon time in Ireland came to a close back in April. I know that we will go back again someday, because something just clicked with us there. It was peaceful, fun, and ... homey. I'd love to spend even more relaxing time in the southern region, adding on Dublin or Belfast as a city-leg.

Thankfully for us, we didn't have to go home just yet. We were headed off for week two - this time, in Scotland! 

Both Ireland and Scotland were new-to-us places to visit, and Scotland, even more so, because we had few family or friends that had been there. We did know, however, that there were two things on our must-do list. Whiskey and haggis. Ha!

So off we went. For three nights, we stayed in a tiny B&B in the Scottish Highlands, north of Edinburgh. We chose a tiny area called Aberdeenshire as home base; close to the Whiskey Trail, and smack in the middle of a big mountain range. I really should just say we stayed in the middle. of. nowhere, as this map to the right will help to exhibit :)

Not far from us, mountains were covered with peaks of snow. Even though it was the last week of April, Scotland had been hit with a late spring snow-blast, so the daffodils were just starting to pop by the time we arrived. The air had not quite warmed up yet; we definitely needed our winter coats most days!

Life really slowed down for us out there in the Highlands. We were the sole guests at the B&B, meaning we could be as lazy as we wanted coming down for breakfast and didn't have to make small talk with other guests in the evening. While we enjoyed meeting so many people in Ireland, by Scotland, we were ready for some serious solo time.

One of the first things we did while in Scotland was take a drive out to the Whiskey Trail. On the Trail, there are countless distilleries, some more famous than others. We took a drive past Macallan and Glenlivet, and then did a tasting tour at Glenfiddich.

Since Brad is both a whiskey drinker and a beer home-brewer, he loved seeing the inner workings of the place. Plus, it was a gorgeous campus, making for a lovely day trip!

BB Tip: If you are a whiskey lover, the tours are free, as is the whiskey tasting at the end! Bring a driver if you are planning on going to more than one distillery, as the samples they pour are generous. 

One thing we learned while out in the Highlands is that they do not have pubs in every small town like in Ireland. In some areas, the nearest (good) restaurant can be a 30 minute drive through wooded lands. We stopped the first night in a nearby city, and then on our second night, made a point to go to a Hilton resort property for a proper meal.

It was here that we first tried haggis - and loved it! We went on to have haggis for a few other meals, including breakfast. Not feeling adventurous? I had vegetarian haggis for a few meals (mostly trying to save some calories for beers later!) and it tasted almost the same, without the ick factor that you might have with the real thing.

BB Tip: Large hotel properties are a safe bet for a solid meal if you are feeling a little nervous about trying some of the local cuisine. Plus, the meal was a steal at ours - two three-course meals came in at less than $50! Be sure to check a recent edition tour guide book or website in advance for ideas, as towns can be a good distance apart and restaurants, like here in the U.S., change out frequently.

My favorite thing we did in the Highlands was go for a long walk out to a huge Loch. One of the Queen's national parks, this Loch was about a mile in from the car park, winding through lowlands with big, open skies above. We didn't see a single person the entire two hours we were out there. Crazy!

It was super windy out there -- but we loved every second of it!

Other favorite moments included exploring local castles. Just like in Ireland, they appear almost around every corner, each with its own rich history. 

BB Tip: Bring some local change to put in the meters at the public parks, and pack a snack and drinks to bring along for the drive. Castles abound along the way. Some are free; others cost upwards of $15 if a historical monument.

Next up: Our last few days (tear!) ... in Edinburgh (yay!) !

Cruisin' and Boozin' ... with Brews on a Bus!

My gal pal's wedding weekend is fast approaching. It's a black-tie shindig, which I've never had the pleasure of experiencing as a wedding guest. I am so excited! For her, of course, but also for the classy, high-end ridiculousness that will ensue :)

A few weeks ago, a bunch of her fav ladies headed down to Charleston for a much-needed Bachelorette getaway. We had a beachfront house, plenty of drink on hand and what ended up being the entire city of Charleston with us out on Folly Beach (who knew that our street at the beach was considered the local's meet-up spot of choice?! Those poor home owners.)

We did the beach thing, the silly Just Dance thing, the stay-up-late and tell silly girl stories thing ... but my favorite thing we did was the cruise ... the Brews Cruise!

The Charleston Brews Cruise is run by a couple of really cool, laid-back guys that really love beer and want to share the beer-lovers experience with others. Locals and tourists alike pile into big passenger vans for a chance to be shuttled around to local breweries, sample (generously-sized) different types of beer at each spot and be given a tour and backgrounder on that brewery and it's specialties.

We had such. a. good. time. A few of us are beer lovers, and so we got to geek out a bit in the breweries (our S.O.'s have taught us well!) and ask a lot of questions about how the beers were made. We also got to purchase beer to take home with us, so we all loaded up with some growlers (64oz. bottles) and cans from our fav stops. My favorite beer? The ones from Westbrook, a place in nearby Mount Pleasant that featured a summery White Thai beer and a decadent Vanilla Tree Dubbel. I would go back in there in a minute!!

Local Atlantans, feeling a little left out? Well never fear, because Brews Cruise has come to our town, as well! I heard about their expansion and have been watching them grow up their local tour offerings. While I hope to hop on a cruise soon and share first-hand experiences, here are a few details in the meantime:



* Brews Cruise Atlanta features tours all around town - from Downtown breweries to some on the Southside! Thought Sweetwater and Red Brick were the only two around? You are wonderfully mistaken. Jailhouse brewing and Eagle and Lion are just two of the new spots you can check out on a tour.

* Tours cost $45 per person, but locals save $5 on weekday cruises! Nondrinkers and underage tickets are available for $25 each.

* The tours are offered on weekends, but the weekday tours would be a perfect way to spend a lazy summer Friday or vacation day. Also consider the tours for the next time family is coming in to town!

* Worried about drinking too much beer and not enough water? Water and snacks are available for all attendees. The peanut butter crackers were CLUTCH. Truth.

Want to find out more? Check out Brews Cruise Atlanta's website to see pictures from their first few tours and to contact Sandy, the awesome man behind the show.


Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post, but have been invited to join in a Cruise soon!

Some Quality Time

It's vacation time, kiddos. Here I am at the top of a four-day long weekend, one which I have been looking forward to since my last vacay (the beach week in April) but yet also one which has come quicker than even imagined. Time flies when you are busy, right?!

The weekend ahead holds a fun-filled destination wedding celebrating one of my BFF's (and her awesome hubby-to-be), a low-key day in Roswell with my mom and a relaxing 4th of July spent right here in Buckhead. For a long-weekend, I think it might be hard to beat this set-up.

Before I get started on all that relaxing and fun, I am taking some me-time (you know I love me some of that!) tonight with my Tivo. I love how TV today has taken on a more cyclical-season approach; there is always something new on even though the networks' top shows run just a few months a year. Right now, I am indulging guilty pleasure time with the Kardashians and spending extra time travel-dreaming with Mr. Bourdain, both of which are shows smack in the middle of new seasons. What a treat!

Tonight? One last show with Oprah, whose afternoon hours I am already missing. Lucky for me, I had her season finale(s) saved for just the right moment, and tonight I am taking in all of her last thoughts from her final episode. In lieu of more words from me, I feel more like sharing words from her right now. What inspiration!

"Do not let the trappings here fool you. Mine is a stage in a studio, yours is wherever you are with your own reach, however small or however large that reach is. Maybe it's 20 people, maybe it's 30 people, 40 people, your family, your friends, your neighbors, your classmates, your classroom, your co-workers. Wherever you are, that is your platform, your stage, your circle of influence. That is your talk show, and that is where your power lies. In every way, in every day, you are showing people exactly who you are. You're letting your life speak for you. And when you do that, you will receive in direct proportion to how you give in whatever platform you have.

My great wish for all of you who have allowed me to honor my calling through this show is that you carry whatever you're supposed to be doing, carry that forward and don't waste any more time. Start embracing the life that is calling you and use your life to serve the world."

Miss the episode, too? Read the full finale transcript online.

St. Augustine: A Destination for the Whole Family

I can't believe it's already been a week since our vacation! The week went somewhere, I know it. I'm just not sure where :)

I want to highlight some of the fun places we saw while touring around the quaint, historic town of St. Augustine, Florida. In case you are looking for a new vacay spot, maybe these ideas and attractions might help you plan.

The sunsets out behind us were fantastic every night. Check out those storm clouds a-brewin!

Trolley Tours: I learned long ago that sometimes the best way to see a new city efficiently and cheaply is to sign up for the hop on - hop off double decker bus tours. For usually a reasonable price, you can get a two- or three-day pass that takes you to all the best touristy spots in that town. In St. Augustine, they up the cute factor and do the whole thing on a trolley tour, and we really, really enjoyed it. While the city is small enough to walk around, the trolleys take you across town while filling you in about the history, perfect for those steamier days in Florida.  
Our vote: worth the price if you are staying multiple days and have a lot to see.

Historic Spanish Quarter: If you have ever visited Historic Williamsburg and enjoyed playing colonial resident for a day, this stop is for you. We got to talk with the metal worker about primitive ovens and creating unique sculptures from iron bars, and saw a demonstration of a real musket firing, too. So loud!

The best part of the Spanish Quarter is something that anyone can experience even without the ticket price, though -- the period tavern is accessible from the street, and is run by a woman, typical of the times when those positions were reserved for widows from the wars. We played a centuries-old dice game with a local, and talked about beer and the colonial life with the tavern owner.  
Our vote: A perfect spot for a quick afternoon drink. 

The Historic Tavern tap may have had current beers, but they were served in those cool old mugs on the right!

Local fish is awesome: There are so many great places to eat around town. While we spent most days and nights cooking out on the charcoal grill at our beach house, we ate lunch in town on our touristy days. Harry's Seafood Bar and Grille right by the Bridge of Lions had fantastic shrimp po' boys, and the local ice cream shops on St. George Street are a good mid-day snack. We also had a wonderful dinner out mid-week at Cap's -- definitely check out this local favorite if you are a fresh fish lover. For those homebound nights, get your seafood selections from The Seafood Shoppe on A1A at St. Augustine Beach.  
Our vote: Why eat meat when the fish is literally caught that morning?

The sunset dinner at Caps was worth the evening chill in the air!

The doctor is in: One of the most interesting tours we did while in town was with the Spanish Doctor. Partially due to the great tour guide leading the group, and partially due to the weird and fun facts that he shared with us, our group was enthralled during the entire hour. Did you know that manufacturers and food vendors use bugs (yes, bugs) still today that residents then discovered produce a red-colored dye?
Our vote: if you have curious kids or are a medical nerdo, you will go ga-ga over this stop.

Enjoying a lazy evening at home while the family cooks up dinner

Other winning spots: 

• The Tiffany stained glass-filled buildings at Flagler College -- try and pick out the original chairs from the College's original hotel days in the dining halls. Hint: the replicas have angel faces that are frowning. 
• The Old Jail tour guides act as if you are actual inmates while they show you around. Best behave yourselves. 
• The St. Augustine Lighthouse is worth the 200-step trek up for the fantastic views you will get of the harbor and the ocean beyond.

The view from the bottom of the Lighthouse was intimidating!

All in all, it was a great spot not only for history buffs, but for young adults, parents and kids alike. I'd love to return there again, and can see why it's a favorite go-to vacation spot of so many families!

Have you ever been to St. Augustine? What is your favorite Florida destination city for a family? 

I'm Back!

... But not quite totally :)

What a fantastic vacation! We spent seven luxurious days with the beach right outside our windows, drinks ready at hand and fresher fish for meals than I have had in a long time. But now that I am back, my mind isn't quite ready to get started on sharing what we saw and experienced down there in the lovely town of St. Augustine Beach, Florida.

So this is all I shall post for now, with more to come this week.

Well, this and this:

Because I just can't help but share a little beachy feel-good goodness with you going into the new week :)

The Countdown

To say my mind is wandering would be a slight understatement.

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Why is it that the last few days before a vacation are so interminable?

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Nothing else is different or unusual, but even two minutes more of traffic or three more people in line ahead of me are driving me nuts right now.

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Because in just 48 hours, we will be well en route to this.

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And honestly, with the current crummy weather we have been having here, some more of this ...

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... just can't get here soon enough :)

Watchin' The Sun Bake

GUESS where we are headed in exactly TWELVE DAYS.

Did you guess the beach? You are getting very warm. But which one?

Perhaps this clue will help: it's the oldest continually occupied European-established city and port in the continental United States. 

It's St. Augustine, Florida!

I am beyond excited. We will be spending seven days in a lovely beachfront home with the fam. It's been too long since that fabulous Caribbean cruise, and I am a certified beach addict. Plus, how can you go wrong when you wake up to views like this one?

St. Augustine is a city rich in culture and history, and if you add on the beautiful water and pretty streets of the old town, this is turning into a week of marvelousness, if you ask me. There is going to be so much to do on top of all the nothing and relaxing we have planned :)

Fair readers, get ready for some fun for yourselves, too, while we are gone! I am lining up some of my favorite bloggers to take my place, and they have some fun things planned for you.

Do you have any beach or other vacations coming up? What are you looking forward to doing on them? 



Top images from Wikipedia

Take That Vacation, Betties and Beaus

Do you all remember how relaxed I was when I came back from that much-anticipated vacay last week? Well that feeling has stuck right with me since re-entering the "real world" -- just in time for my social world to ramp up for the Fall and Holiday season. Sure, it's been tough to re-adjust to no 4pm-cocktail hours and no 10am-brunches on a random weekday, as you might expect it to be :) But the memories of that week on the high seas are enough to boost me through until my next week-long vacation (plus some) at the holidays.

Did you take your summer vacation early this year, and now are wondering if and when you will ever get away again? Are you stressed about trying to use up all of your vacation days this year? Do you have days to take, but don't want to "waste" them if you can't actually afford to get away anywhere?

Don't delay, my fellow Betties (and Beaus). Take those days! It doesn't matter if you go anywhere other than your living room. It's the mental break that is worth it. As if you need them, here are some reasons to DEFINITELY "get away," as soon as possible.

Reason #1: Americans are the most overworked country EVER. Read it and weep. Or read it and have a martini, as I was inclined to do. Not at the office though, obviously :P

Reason #2: Americans take less vacation than anyone else. We remain the only industrialized country in the world that has no legally mandated annual leave.

Reason #3: At least 134 countries have laws setting the maximum length of the work week; the U.S. does not. 86% of men and 66% of women work more than 40 hours a week. Ugh.

Reason #4: This graph. Double-ugh.


P.S. The 20-Something Finance blog is a goodie...

Reason #5: Why would you work through a day that your employer is literally giving you for free to take off? 

France gets 30 days off each year by LAW, and we can't even take our measly 10 to 15 (on average) days? This is just getting sad. What is stopping you? Start researching destinations, or staycation ideas.

And while you are at it, sign this pledge that Westin is hosting, and be eligible to win one of 200 4-night stays at one of their posh hotels. So even if you can't afford to leave town on your well-earned vacation days, you might be able to enjoy a taste of luxury right here at home :)

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation to Westin. Other than it being utterly fabulous and my hotel of choice if/when I have hotel money to splurge. Just sayin.

Cruisin' on a Budget

You spend a week exploring tropical islands, getting waited on hand and foot, and eating and drinking to your heart's content. Must be expensive, right?

Wrong! Cruises are one of the most budget-conscious ways I know of to travel, other than cashing in rewards points or getting the hook-up from your company (cough cough airline people cough). And cruises aren't just for college kids and huge families (though they are of course welcome, too). Couples, singles, young and old all can have a great time on a cruise, and each of them can stick to whatever budget they need.



First, imagine a week-long vacation to your favorite beach town. Let's pretend to add up the costs (I am estimating here, folks, give me a break) ...

Hotel/house for the week -- $120/night x 7 nights = $840
Food every day (including a few dinners out and drinks) -- $60/day x 7 days = $420
Entertainment (movies, shopping, wakeboarding, whatever you call fun on a beach trip) -- $50/day x 7 days = $350
Transportation (let's assume you drive with a friend) = $60 in gas

Grand total = $1670 per person

A beach vacation, as easy as it sounds (all you do is lay out, right?) is one heck of a drain on your bank account.

Now let's check out the cruise option. Same deal - one week, and you drive to the port. Assume another $100 for the flight, if you do that.

Housing for the week (the cruise cost itself) -- $400 total
Food every day -- included + $200 drinks (it's a week. Trust me.)
Entertainment -- included + $200 excursions
Transportation -- $60 in gas

Grand total = $860 per person

I am not joking. For approximately double the cost of the cruise itself (the general rule of thumb), you can have a fantastic time on the ship at literally half the cost of a beach trip. And even better? The quality of your entertainment is higher than things you'd go off and plan on your own. Snorkeling by coral reefs? Check. Zip-lining in the rain forest? Yep. Rum punch provided all around? Ya you betcha.

Here are some of my general tips for booking your cruise on a budget:

* Start planning early. Our trip was half as much as other cruisers that booked less than a month or two out. We booked ours 6 months ahead.

* Keep an eye on the cruise prices in the months leading up to yours. If there is a sale or promotion, contact your cruise rep and ask for the difference. We got an upgrade (one floor higher) and some on-board cash credits this way. 

* When booking excursions, stick to ones less than $80 that include alcohol and/or food. Unless you are Daddy Warbucks of course. Then by all means, go swim with those dolphins.

* Bring some alcohol on board. Legitimately, you are allowed a few bottles of wine each, which will save you from the $30+ bottles they sell on-board. There are other options for carrying on other liquids for those of you who are more daring ... :P

* Find a hotel that includes parking and shuttle to/from the port. Most port-area hotels offer this type of cruise package for no cost, and it saves you $10/day on parking at the docks.

* Skip the window rooms. You aren't going to be in your room much, anyways, and when you are, you won't miss it. The rooms are all just as luxe on the interior, and $100's less.

* Find the events on the schedule called things like "Past Guest Reception" or "Captain's Reception." Two words: Free Cocktails. Drink up, as ships don't ever do this otherwise. We found free quality champagne at one of the ship's art auctions, though I was not at all interested in buying any of the art.

Good luck booking your cruise -- I hope these tips help! Fellow past-cruisers: what other tips would you add to this list?

Freckles, Sun, and Sand

We are home from the 100+ degree temperatures of the Eastern Caribbean ... just in time for 40 degree lows here in Atlanta?! What? Where did the summer go? Oh wait, I don't care, it's my favorite season! I LOVE FALL! HOORAY!

This chilly weather isn't going to stop me from reminiscing with you a little first, though. The week we spent with the Carnival Dream family was one of the most relaxing weeks I have had in a long time. I have gone on three previous cruises, two in my adulthood. Both of those, however, were more party-time than R&R time. Don't get me wrong, party time is always a welcome diversion. You all know me -- having a Bloody Mary first thing in the AM is not something I hate to have to do, after all :P

Having a week, however, where the mood was low-key, relaxed, and rejuvenating was something we really, really needed this time.

Sure, drinks were had. Perhaps a few more some nights than others.



But mostly, there was a lot of this.



And this.



And every night, some of this.



I read books. I sat and looked out at the ocean thinking of nothing. When was the last time you actually thought about nothing? I did my own little Eat Pray Love thing and zen-ed out on the back decks during a rain shower, watching the clouds move over and past us in just minutes ...



... and yes, I also gorged myself on the 5-star food similar to the book's Eat part, but don't remind me -- I am already back on the WW bandwagon haha :)

We laughed, we sunbathed, and at the center of it all, we got back to the very nature of vacation -- unplugging from the world.



Tomorrow I am going to overview some of the highlights from the trip, just in case you are thinking of booking your own cruise and don't know where to start. Cruises are incredibly affordable, so for you fellow On a Budget savers, a vacay like this can be a reality sooner than you might think.

I'm Back!

Hi Friends!!

WOW I have missed you all. While I truly enjoyed "unplugging" for the past week (literally! The BB died with the white screen of death ugh...), it is nice to be back in the "know" with you all. I have been busy catching up on all the blogs, news, and Facebook and Twitter feeds, and it seems like you all had a great week, too.

If you have never been on a cruise, or have been debating going on another one soon, let me assure you, DO IT. They are so worth the break from reality, and are super-affordable to boot. I am going to sum up the high points for you here over the next few days once I have processed it all in my head, myself!

So while I catch up on my things here, catch up on some of our recent Buckhead Betty posts on your end, and we will recap the Caribbean soon! :)

* A fantastic round-up of OTP (Outside the Perimeter) dining options just 20 minutes from Buckhead, written up by the fab Lauren from Life with a Lab.

* Some fall clothing favs (perfect with today's chilly temps!) presented by my bloggy friend Buckhead Belle.

* An upcoming soiree that includes not only dancing and gambling, but an open bar. Yes, please!

Welcome to Margaritaville

Hello from the high seas, my friends!

Ok, not really. I am off on my seven-day cruise, and I thought ahead to post a nice goodbye to all of you. Not so that you can be jealous (sorry if you are anyways) but so that you can know that I am not dead or ill or just generally MIA :)

This upcoming week while I am gone, I have found some very lovely local-ATL ladies to take my place for a few days. I hope you will stop by and show them some love, and then head to their own blogs and show them some love there, too. I can't wait to share these virtual-friendships with you!

In the meantime, let me leave you with a little crusin' music to put you in the Caribbean state of mind, wherever you might be :)

The Thrill of the Vacation

The day is approaching ... it is almost time for us to sail off to the high seas of the Eastern Caribbean for what may be the longest-awaited vacation in my recent memory.

Every year I plan out my vacation days differently. I always, always take off the last week of the year, both to celebrate the holidays with our family in NJ/NYC and enjoy my birthday (two days before Christmas!). Then, I allot the remaining days accordingly. Last year, I spent a lot of them as "long weekends" throughout the summer months -- a 3-day weekend here, a 4-day one there. But by September, I was burned out! I decided that in 2010, I'd take a full week off during the summer, instead of short mini-vacations.

But then 2010 arrived, and we chose to plan a cruise for late September ... which in retrospect has turned into pure torture. We have been awaiting much-craved time off (seven days of luxury!) while watching everyone else head off to the beach for months now.

But whatever! Our time has come. And you know what? It's been ultimately worth it, both financially (September is a very budget-savvy month for cruises and other tropical destinations) and personally (HA everyone else is stuck at home until the holidays while I get to sip cocktails on an island HA!)

So in honor of this soon-approaching day, I'd like to focus today's Top Ten {Tuesday} on vacation thrills -- the little moments and things that make time away from the everyday so immensely refreshing.

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Oh, The Thrills of a Vacation

1. Waking up on a Monday and realizing that no, you have nowhere to be by 9AM. Or 10AM. Or ever that day. Or the next.

2. Cocktail hour every night if desired. My Alcohol-Free August will be done, and you better know that I will take a break from WW to have a 5PM cosmopolitan :)

3. That immense feeling of relaxation you get as soon as you hit the road/arrive at the airport departure gate. I can't even tell you how much I am looking forward to that exact moment.

4. Seeing new places that you have never visited before. For me, this will be all of the islands we are heading to, what an adventure!

5. One-on-one time with your significant other/spouse/BFF/new boy toy.

6. Checking something off your Bucket List. While I'm not sure the phrase "unlimited rum punch" is necessarily on mine, I think that if I had one, it would definitely have "digitally unplug for a whole week" like I plan on doing :)

7. Bonding time during the trip itself. There's nothing quite like a car ride across country or an international flight to help you bond with your travel buddies, or reconnect with yourself and your favorite music.

8. [Insert Ideal Vacation Moment Here] For me, it is lounging pool/oceanside, drink in hand, with a cool breeze, sunshine, and live [reggae-type Island] music playing. For others, it could be setting up camp after a long mountain hike, or sitting at a sidewalk cafe in some foreign city after a day at the museum.

9. Feeling refreshed at the end, prepared with albums of pictures and stories to share with friends once back.

10. Remembering as you arrive home, that there is nothing quite like your own bed, after all.


What would you add to this list? What is your ideal vacation moment?