This guide to downtown Delaware, Ohio will give you the inside scoop on some of the best shops and places to stop for an unforgettable small town experience. Plus a quick guide to entertaining and building the best cheese board.

Where to shop

The Greater Gouda

When you walk into The Greater Gouda you can’t leave without several unique cheeses and accompaniments. The owners were so friendly too! They’re one of the only high end cheese shops in Ohio that offers cheeses from Europe. They have people come from all over the state to shop there.

What we bought: Tipperary cheddar, Four Alarm cheddar from Iowa, Carway Havarti and Smoked Gouda, spreadable chorizo, gluten free crackers, summer sausage and breadsticks.

Honey and Abernathy

This adorable shop has a mixture of local goods and fresh honey. I couldn’t believe the assortment of honey they had! It’s so great to know it’s local and we’re shopping small.

What we got: fresh honeycomb!

Olivina

You can taste test the most delicious olive oil and balsamic vinegar at Olivina. The owner’s family owns a farm in Spain where they grow and make the olive oil and they’re a part of the entire shipping and import process. The balsamic is aged 20+ years and is fantastic. Grab some fresh bread and keep it in the freezer until you’re ready to serve it. You can also buy fresh sandwiches for lunch!

What we got: House Olive Oil, Raspberry Balsamic, Tuscan Herb Dipping Blend, 2 boules of fresh bread.

Edwin Loy Home

I’m a sucker for a home goods store and Edwin Loy Home is stocked full of the most beautiful pieces for decorating your home. We spent so much time browsing and awing over the unique goods and gifts they carry. We went at Christmas time and it took all my will power not to buy all the Christmas decor.

What we bought: large wooden charcuterie board, holly dip dish, festive napkins, a bowl to hold fresh bread and a trivet.

Where to Eat and Drink

Coffeeology

The very first place you need to hit on your trip to downtown Delaware is Coffeeology, the most adorable local coffee shop. When we walked in my husband said, “I want to live here.” We had a chance to chat with the baristas and they told us it used to be a bar and an antique shop before that. The coffee is out of this world good and there are so many fun goodies and gifts to buy. I grabbed a fun cocktail maker and a few small gifts on our Christmas lists too.

I shared we were going here on Instagram and the messages started rolling in about how amazing this place is. Take our word for it!

What we got: White peppermint mocha with oat milk, peppermint mocha with almond milk and avocado toast with gluten free bread.

Barley Hopsters

We stopped in around lunch and people brought their to-go lunches in and grabbed a beer for their “working lunch.” The workers were so helpful answering all of our questions and we built two 6-packs with all the custom and local beers. I’m expecting baby 2 and they even explained all the non-alcoholic options including a non-alcoholic beer and some fun custom sodas.

What we got: assortment of beers including Christmas Ales and local beers, alcohol free beer and custom root beers.

Oak and Brazen

This winery is full of top tier wine. They have a tasting room to check out for a fun activity or you can sit and have a bite to eat. Visit the shop to grab some wine to take home with you!

Speck Italian

This menu is full of modern Italian dishes. They have a seasonal menu and I was craving the squash and burrata with brown butter. Three of my favorite things!

1808 American Bistro

This restaurant is a hidden gem and should definitely be on your list! They’re committed to offering quality classics with the highest quality, local ingredients. All the things I love in a restaurant! They also serve handmade cocktails with fresh-squeezed ingredients.

DIY Charcuterie Board

The secret to the best meat and cheese boards are the quality of the ingredients you serve. Each one is eaten on their own or with each other, so it’s important to focus on the quality. We grabbed everything you see here from each shop in Downtown Delaware and it’s all local or imported from the best places. Here’s how to build your own board!

• Cheese: grab a mix of soft, spreadable, spicy, funky or fruit cheeses for everyone. Aim for 2-3 ounces per cheese per guest.
• Meats: Usually 2-3 sliced or shaved meats are good. We went with spreadable chorizo and local summer sausage.
• Things to dip: I like to have a few options, especially gluten free ones for guests. We had bread sticks, gluten free crackers and toasted baguettes.
• Dips and spread: adding something sweet and spreadable to your board is key! We went with a fig jam, a spicy bourbon mustard and fresh olive oil with an herb sprinkling. We also got local honeycomb to spread!
• Extras: a salty olive off sets some of the richness from the cheese and sweetness from the spreads. We also love adding mixed nuts too.
• Pair it with drinks: local beer and specialty wine are the best additions for people to snack and sip!

If you buy a mixture of these things you’re destined to have the most killer charcuterie board. And the best is you can tell all your friends it’s important and/or locally made. Leave a comment if you head to Delaware and let me know what you think!

This post is sponsored by Destination Delaware. All thoughts and opinions are our own!

The post Downtown Delaware Ohio: Where to Shop and Eat appeared first on What Molly Made.

A healthy guide to Austin, TX! This guide covers the best healthy restaurants in Austin as well as cafes and the best things to do. If you’re heading to Austin and want to stay healthy while you travel this post is for you!

It’s been about a month since Zach and I got back from an epic Texas trip. We stayed just outside of Austin and we had a blast in this amazing city. We made it our mission to try all the healthy food and do all the healthy things.

I can be kind of tricky to travel and feel healthy at the same time. But when you’re in a place as amazing as Austin, the healthy options are limitless. Here’s a comprehensive list of what to do in Austin. The healthy version! What to do, eat and drink in Austin!

Healthy Restaurants in Austin, Tx:

Picnik – Not only was this my favorite restaurant in Austin, but I think it might be my favorite restaurant ever. Everything on their menu is gluten free and they have so many dairy free options. They cook everything in avocado oil even though it’s 800% more expensive.  I got the Coconut Curry Lime Bone Broth to drink and it was amazing.  To eat we shared the creamy cashew queso (must order!) for an app and for our meals, I got the Harvest Hash and Zach ordered breakfast tacos. They use Siete tortillas and Zach said they were the best tacos he had in Austin! We also really wanted to try the guacamole and fried brussel sprouts! We ate at the restaurant but they also have a food truck!

Sway – We ate here for dinner one night and loved it! It’s a Thai restaurant and they have a ton of options if you’re gluten free. Be sure to ask how spicy things are because some of the dishes are very spicy. It’s a little pricy so it’s a good date night spot if you want to splurge a littler.

Curcuma– We didn’t try this because we ran out of time but we heard great things! It’s a plant-based food truck in East Austin. Everything is also vegan, gluten free and dairy free. Double check if it’s open before you go!

Flourchild – This one is a little pricey but the quality is totally worth it. They have lots of yummy bowls!

Forthright cafe – We didn’t make it here either but it was pretty much on every list we read. They have a gluten free bread that everyone raves over! It’s a great lunch spot.

Cava– This is a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant. They have tons of build your own options with salads grains and pitas. Think Chipotle, but Greek style!

True Food Kitchen– They have an awesome seasonal menu and it’s so fresh! Another great spot for lunch.

Blenders and bowls- You guess it—smoothies and smoothie bowls. They’ve got tons of fresh toppings and it’s a great spot for breakfast or lunch.

Café no Sé- They have a California style and change up some of their menu items seasonally. It’s healthy food in a rustic space and they are super accommodating for food sensitivities like gluten free and dairy free.

Sweet ritual– This is a bit of a drive outside of right downtown but it’s so worth it! They have gluten free and dairy free ice creams that have coconut and almond butter bases. I got the chocolate peanut butter and it was epic.

Best cafes in Austin for Matcha and Coffee:

Flat track coffee- They had my favorite matcha out of every cafe we went to. They use an organic matcha and I made it with oat milk. It’s a little pricey and the cup was pretty small but the taste was worth it. Zach got a coffee and loved it too.

Juice Society- You can get juice, coffee or matcha here, all great options!

Tom’s store-  Surprisingly, the Tom’s store in South Congress has a great little cafe inside and they have a great matcha and coffee. I don’t know what type of matcha or milk they use but it’s a great option.

7th flag coffee- I really liked the atmosphere and vibe here. There’s tons of seating inside and outside and it’s super cute. I was kinda bummed they only had almond milk as an option instead of cashew or coconut too, but it was still really good. Zach liked the coffee!

Houndstooth- We didn’t hit this one on this trip but I had it another time I was in Austin and loved it. Love the feel and they had quite a few milk options as well as a great chai and matcha.

What to Do in Austin:

Zilker park– there are tons of trails and open spaces to walk, relax or throw a frisby

Climb Mount Bonnel- This is more of an easy stroll up some steps vs an actual hike but once you get to the top you have an amazing view of the city and river. It was really crowded when we went but it was still beautiful.

Rent scooters- Find a couple of bird scooters and ride around the streets and neighborhoods around Austin. It’s a great way to see the city that isn’t driving through it. We had a blast seeing Austin from scooters!

Visit cool shops– Austin is headquartered to a lot of cool companies and home to some really unique stores. Some of our favorite shops we went into were Outdoor Voices, Yeti, Patagonia, and Toms.

Walk around south congress– If you want more local shops there are tons of them lining South Congress. Just take a stroll up and down both sides of the street and pop into the stores you think look fun!

Stand up paddle boarding– if it’s nice out you need to rent some paddle boards and get yourself on the water. Everyone does this in Austin and it’s a blast!

Swimming at Barton Springs– if the weather permits you should check this out too! You have to pay to get in for the day but it’s really cool. There’s grassy areas all around to lounge. I recommend grabbing some snacks, laying out, swimming and having a picnic.

If you do all these things I guarantee you’ll leave this vacation feeling light, healthy and energized! There is just a healthy culture and vibe about the whole city so it’s easy to eat healthy and do some active things!

More travel guides:

• Plan the best trip to Magnolia, Tx
• 10 Things to do in Kauai, HI
• Napa Valley Food and Wine Guide

The post Healthy Guide to Austin, TX: What to Eat, Drink and Do appeared first on What Molly Made.

This is your ultimate guide to planning a trip to Magnolia Farms, Waco TX. Where to stay, eat and shop at Magnolia Market and Waco, TX!

The silos, owned by Chip and Joanna Gaines, is the perfect long weekend getaway. The Christmas display we saw were breathtaking and we had a blast searching for all the Fixer Upper homes, eating at Magnolia Table and grabbing a GF cookie from the bakery.

This post shares tips and ideas on how to plan the best trip to Magnolia Market, Waco TX too.

We just got back from the most amazing trip to Magnolia Market in Waco. I wasn’t sure if it was gong to live up to all its hype, but it really did! I left so inspired. We loved every second.

We spent our time taking pictures of design ideas and dreaming up how we were going to build our own modern farmhouse one day. Fingers crossed!

Let’s cover a few FAQs you might have as you start to plan your trip too!

Is magnolia market dog friendly?

Yes, dogs are welcome on the lawn! You just have to make sure to clean up after them:) Due to health code reasons, they do not allow dogs inside the bakery.

What time does Magnolia Market Open?

• Magnolia Bakery hours: 7:30am – 6pm
• Magnolia Market hours: 9am – 6pm
• Closed on Sundays

We got there around lunch time, but we also went at an off season during the week.

Where do you park at Magnolia Market?

We parked for free in the parking located on 8th street near Webster. There is also street parking available on 6th Street, 8th Street and Webster.

You could also park for free in the Hilton parking lot and ride the silo district trolley for free. They will drop you off right at the front of the market!

Hotels near magnolia farms:

You’ve got a few options when it comes to staying at Magnolia Market, Waco TX! Zach and I actually stayed in a tiny house through airbnb just outside of Austin and made the drive up to Waco for an entire day. That way we could visit Waco and Austin in one trip!

If you want to stay directly in Waco:

• The Downtown Hilton is less than a mile away
• Homewood Suites is about 10 minutes away
• Stay in an air bnb! You rent out a home or room from a Waco resident. You can even stay in an old Fixer Upper home from the show! Here’s is the link to stay at the Shotgun Home.

When to visit magnolia market:

Best time of day to visit Magnolia Market, Waco: My recommendation is to go early in the morning. You can go when the bakery opens around 8am then hang out and eat your cupcake/muffin while you wait for the market to open at 9am. Weekdays are best!

Best time of year to visit Magnolia, Market, Waco: We went at the beginning of December and got to see the fun holiday installations, and it wasn’t super hot or crowded. We went the week before Christmas at the Silos, but that would have been fun too! Another good time to go is spring or during the Silobration, usually in the fall.

What to do once you get to Magnolia Market:

Grab something from the bakery: You can do this just before the Magnolia Market opens so you have time to eat it and beat the rush.

Peruse inside Magnolia Market: the seasonal installations and unique decor will awe you! Everywhere you turn there is something unique. Note: you can ship things home, but it’s rather expensive. There’s also a FedEx store close if you want to ship it yourself.

Take a picture: Or take 1000 pictures:) There are so many amazing photo opportunities including in front of the bakery, in front of the market, in front of the silos, at the picnic tables, near the seed and supply or under the “miles to magnolia sign.”

Grab some food or a drink: Food trucks line Magnolia Market in Waco, so come hungry! They have everything from meals to snack, drinks and ice cream. I recommend getting a big iced tea in a mason jar!

Hang out on the lawn: Once you grab something to eat or drink, relax on the lawn and soak it all in. This is a great place to people watch!

Visit Magnolia Seed and Supply: it’s a cute little shop in the back right of Magnolia Market and they sell all things gardening related.

My favorite thing about magnolia market: the people that worked there! Every single person we met was so kind and accommodating. They asked us questions about who we are and where we’re from and we just felt like they really cared.

Once you leave Magnolia Market, Waco, there’s tons of other things to do too! More places to eat and shop, especially!

Does Chip and Joanna Gaines have a restaurant?

Yes, Chip and Joanna Gaines do have a resturaunt called Magnolia Table. It’s just about 2 and a half miles down the road from Magnolia Market.

Pro tip: There’s usually a long wait so try to go on a weekday and go before you get too hungry because the wait can be a couple hours.

They have a huge waiting area, gift shop and tiny coffee shop you can visit while you wait for your table. I got the burger with bacon jam and it was amazing! Zach got the chicken salad. All of the brunch meals look delicious too, especially Chip’s special sandwich!

Where to eat in Waco, TX?

If you’re visiting Waco for a couple of days then you’ll probably need to eat a few times:) Besides Magnolia Market at the Silos, Magnolia table and the bakery, there are plenty of yummy places to eat in Waco. Here are a few!

Cafe Homestead: I heard this is one of Joanna’s favorite places to eat!

Torchy’s Tacos: You cannot go wrong with any taco on the menu!

Vitex: This is a BBQ place a lot of people recommended. We didn’t try it but heard great things!

Dichotomy: This is a fun coffee shop and bar. Tons of people on Instagram recommended this place!

Chuy’s: Can’t go wrong with tex mex!

What else to do in Waco besides Magnolia Market

You’ll likely have time on your hands after you visit Magnolia Market in Waco, so make sure you do some more shopping and exploring before you head out of town. Here are a few fun things to do:

• Visit Magnolia Warehouse: this was Chip and Jo’s first store and it’s still open.
• Do an official Waco tour: there are buses that take you to all the cool places in Waco and you can even see the houses that were on the show.
• Spice Village: this is a giant room filled with tons of vendors with jewelry, clothes and gifts.
• Tour Baylor: check out the Universtity while you’re in town.
• Explore more shops: there are a ton of other little shops all around downtown near Magnolia Market. Our favorite shop was Good Timber Furnishings.
• Visit the Cameron Zoo: we didn’t do this but tons of people recommended it!

We had such an amazing time at Magnolia Market in Waco and we were so glad we went. It was definitely more than I thought it was going to be and so worth the trip.

I hope this post helps you plan your trip to Magnolia!

The post Plan the Best Trip to Magnolia Farms, Waco TX appeared first on What Molly Made.

Here are the top 10 things to do in Kauai, Hawaii! This beautiful island is the most untouched island of all of the Hawaiian islands. It’s the best place to go for nature lovers! If you love to hike and lay on the beach this place is for you. After our trip we compiled this list of the best things to do in Kauai.

Zach and I got back last week from a week long trip on the island, and it was one of the most intensely beautiful places I’ve ever seen. From the white sand beaches to the mountains and wildlife, you will be amazed at just how gorgeous the US can be.

We didn’t have a ton of time (we could have spent 2 weeks here!) so we tried to fit in as much as possible. If you’re heading to Kauai, here’s a breakdown of 10 things to do in Kauai.

10 Things to do in Kauai

1. Visit a beach or 10 while you’re in Kauai. Kauai is home to some of the most stunning white sand beaches with crystal clear water. Depending on the time of year and beach you’re on you may need to stay out of the water due to strong currents but there will be signs everywhere so you know. Either way you will get some quality surf-watching time and tanning time. It’s in the 80’s basically all year! Here’s a guide to some of our favorite beaches (int his order):
   1. Ke’e Beach: this beach is at the Kalalau Trail trailhead and can get quite busy in the parking light, but it’s so worth it. The beach is white and sandy and the water is super calm almost all the time. The picture above shows you the bright blue against the coast where this beach sits.
   2. Hideaway Beach: There’s a sneaking trail behind a condo complex to get to this one. You go down this awesome trail with ropes and steps to a stunning blue beach. Definitely more secluded.
   3. Tunnels Beach: this beach is for all the snorkelers! It’s called tunnels beach because of the coral reefs that shape “tunnels.” That means lots of fish and sea turtles to explore! It’s a bigger beach and just as beautiful as the rest.
   4. Hanalei beach: We saw a ton of surfers here! It’s a larger beach and we were able to get in the water. It’s also right around the corner from the quant town of Hanalei with tons of cafes, shave ice, coffee and shops. Perfect day for a beach and shopping trip!
2. Eat Shave Ice. So while you’re there make sure you say “shave” ice, not “shaved” ice. They are very particular about that! Essentially, shave ice is a giant snow cone but better. Most of the places use all-natural flavoring. I got a guava one with fresh guava on top and macadamia nut ice cream in the middle! Our two favorite shave ice spots:
   1. The fresh shave
   2. Wishing Well (in Hanalei)
   3.  
3. Hike the KalalauTrail! This is probably the number one thing to do while you’re there. You don’t want to miss it. But you also need to be prepared because it’s kinda long and muddy. The whole trail is technically 11 miles but it’s one of the toughest hikes on earth and you have to have a permit so I recommend doing the 2 miles to the beach and back for the more novice hikers out there (aka me). It’s still a somewhat challenging hike because of water, mud and rocks, so here are my top tips for hiking the Kalalau trail in Kauai:
   1. Bring the right shoes. If you have hiking boots definitely bring them. If not, bring an old pair of tennis shoes that you don’t care if they get dirty.
   2. Bring lots of water. It’s up and down a mountain so you’re gonna get tired:)
   3. Bring your camera. This hike is home to some of the most intensely beautiful sights I have ever seen.
   4. Make the extra 2 mile trek to the waterfall (4 miles total) if you have the time and energy.
   5. Plan for a day when it’s not rainy. Rain really adds an tricky element to this hike so the less water the better.
4. Take a boat ride or helicopter along the Napoli Coast. There are tons of companies that all leave from the same harbor and take you along a very similar boat ride. They’re all about $80 ish a person for like 5 hours. Just be very mindful if you tend to get sea sick. I may or may not have gotten sea sick. If you do get sea sick another option is a
5. Napoli Coast helicopter ride. See where they filmed Jurassic Park and see the sights from way up high. We didn’t do this but really wanted to!
6. Visit the lighthouse at Kilauea point. The waters at this point are protected for Humpback whales so there’s a really good chance you’ll see a whale, especially if you’re there from December-April. We saw a few! The town of Kilauea is really close by and they have lots of shops and quick snacks. They were out when we went, but we heard the poke at Kilauea Fish Market is the best.
7. They grow coffee on Kauai so you should totally get coffee while you’re there. They also make homemade macadamia nut milk so I got lots of lattes! You can also take a coffee tour on a rainy day if you want to!
8. Drive/walk through the Waimea Canyon State Park. They say it’s the grand canyon of the Pacific! We didn’t have time to do this either but we heard it was the number one thing to do and we saw some beautiful pictures.
9. You have to eat some of the awesome and healthy food! So much fresh produce (fruit stands everywhere!) and fish and healthy eats. Here are some of my favorite place in Kauai.
   1. Kauai Juice Co: they put 5-10 POUNDS of fruits/veggies in every juice and they have Kombucha on draft.
   2. Trilogy coffee: they have awesome lattes and raw/vegan treats
   3. Java Kai: lots of coffee and smoothie bowls!
   4. Eat Healthy Kauai
   5. Any place that sells fish tacos (especially the food trucks!)
10. Going to a laua is a must when talking about things to do in kauai. We went to the Smith Lauai and it was AWESOME. We got a tour of their grounds, watched them dig the pig out of the ground, ate some amazing food and watched an awesome show.

There you have it! The top 10 things to do in Kauai. If you have the time I highly recommend fitting in all 10.

Let me know if you have any questions! These top things to do in Kauai will be the perfect guide as you plan your trip to paradise and as always, please connect with me if you have any questions! And don’t forget to check out my other travel posts! We have a healthy guide to Austin Texas and 8 things to do in Ireland and a Napa Valley food and wine guide.

The post 10 Things to Do in Kauai, Hawaii appeared first on What Molly Made.

This 24-hour trip to Frankenmuth will give you a full Christmas wonderland experience. It’s the perfect day trip with family or friends. You’ll get snow, old school carriage rides, comfort food and homemade candy. This weekend getaway does not disappoint.

Zach and I had the most impromput trip last weekend! We packed up our bags for the day and headed to Frankenmuth, Michigan for a 24-hour trip, Christmas style.

To be totally honest, we weren’t planning on following through with this trip. Zach’s co-worker told him about it that week and we had a free weekend (so rare!) so we thought it would be fun to get away. So we booked the hotel the week before.

BUT, we both decided we had too much going on so we decided we’d have to go another year. I had some recipes I wanted to finish up and Zach had some clients he wanted to connect with so the trip would have to wait.

We both got super busy during the week and when Thursday rolled around we remembered we never cancelled the hotel room. Zach gave them a call and turns out we were two hours late. We couldn’t cancel or get our money back.

I think it was the universe telling us we needed to take a break, slow down, find time for ourselves and really appreciate the season. This 24-hour trip was just what we needed.

It was the best thing that could have happened to us! Instead of working our butts off and spending time in our phones and computers thinking about checking things off the to-do list we spent the day catching snowflakes, watching homemade fudge being made, drinking hot coffee and watching giant snowflakes fall.

We both agreed not to look at our phones, unless we were taking pictures and it was so refreshing. This time of year can get crazy and the comparison trap is the last thing we both need.

There’s nothing better than intentionally being in the moment with the one’s we love. I’m trying to do this more and more lately and this 24-hour trip was the perfect time.

24-Hour Trip to Frankenmuth: What to Do:

Frankenmuth is a sweet little Bavarian town in central Michigan, home to an old German town, lots of fudge and the largest Christmas shop in the world. You can easily spend an entire day seeing all the sites! Here’s what we did while we were there and what you should do too!

• Visit the Kaffee Haus in the morning for a cup of joe. I got a chai tea latte with almond milk and Zach got an almond joy latte. All of their drinks are made with Ghiradelli chocolate and it was so good! They had windows and chairs right by the window and an old train running around the top of the store.
• Walk down Main Street and stop in the local shops. There are so many old houses turned into old shops, perfect for last minutes gifts or stocking stuffers. Everyone was so nice!
• Watch homemade fudge being made. There are a couple authentic fudge shops in town. We went to two and watched them made pounds of fudge right in front of us on large marble tables.
• Eat lunch at Tiffany’s. The inside of this restaurant was all wood with chandeleirs. It was pretty crowded but our service and food were amazing. I got a delicious Irish coffee!
• Visit the covered bridge. There’s something magical about this giant bridge. The color of the wood, the snow covering the top and sides, the quiet river it covers. Everything about it is gorgeous.
• Visit Bronner’s Christmas Shop. This is the largest Christmas store in the world! If you’re looking for an ornament you’re going to find it here. They have sections for trees, home decor and even a station to personalize gifts.
• Finish the night with a coffee (or hot chocolate) from another local coffee shop and walk the streets to take in all the gorgeous Christmas lights.

Zach and I like to work to travel and spend our free time experiencing things like trips and concerts. It’s the best way to live! We’re going to have to get creative when we get a puppy this summer, but we can bring him along!

If you need a weekend getaway, especially during Christmas, this place is for you! It’s the perfect day trip. Just enough to do, but you won’t feel like you’re missing anything

Read more about Frankenmuth here.

If you’re interest in travel, check out some more of my travel posts from the last year including Ireland and Napa.

I hope more than anything you and your family have a warm and very merry Christmas!

The post 24-Hour Trip to Frankenmuth: A Christmas Wonderland appeared first on What Molly Made.

From quaint coastal towns and breathtaking views to rich historical churches and majestic castles, the allure to visit Ireland is as strong as ever. After spending 10 days in this beautiful country, I’ve come up with 8 awesome things to do in Ireland that you can’t miss!

This guide for things to do in Ireland focuses on the western, southern and eastern portions of Ireland (not Northern Ireland) so they’re all achievable (and totally worth it) to see in one trip! Before jumping in I have some general tips about our visit that will make these 8 awesome sights easier to check out.

• Fly into Dublin! It’s cheaper than Shannon and you can start your adventure there.
• Rent a car. It’s really not as bad as it sounds to drive on the other side of the road. We loved having the freedom to go and see the things we wanted on our time without having a bus or tour guide telling us when to be where. The price of the car is totally worth it.

Now that we’ve covered the logistics…

8 Awesome Things To Do In Ireland

1. Explore Dingle

Dingle was my favorite town out of the towns we visited while we were there. Before the Age of Discovery, Europeans believed Dingle (the most western point in Europe) was the edge of the world. It has the greatest amount of ancient monuments in Ireland too! While we were driving we saw multiple Beehives and standing stones. Here are a few of my favorite things we saw in Dingle! I have a feeling you’re going to agree it’s one of the top things to do in Ireland.

• Conor Pass. The Conor Pass is the highest mountain pass in Ireland and offers the most dramatic and stunning views as you head into Dingle. It’s a narrow, twisting road that connects the towns of Dingle and Kilmore Cross.  It was really foggy the day we did this but we had had quite a few glimpses of unbelievable views. We randomly stopped and the boys decided to climb the rocks on the side of the pass to follow the waterfall. We got over a large rock and stood in amazement as a giant lake stood in front of us in the middle of the mountain. The fog was coming off the lake and a local (who had to of known about this spot) was paddle boarding on the water. Tip: right before you start Conor Pass there’s a fork in the road that will take you to Brandon Point. It’s a stunning view of cliffs and beaches—do it!
• The downtown area. It’s right on the harbor and bustling with people, boats and restaurants with fish caught that day. We ate at Sheehy’s Anchor Down Restaurant and I ordered the seafood chowder and fish n chips. So. Good.
• Slea Head Drive. After you explore downtown hop in your car for a tour of some stunning views. This drive is a circular route that is part of the Wile Atlantic Way. It begins and ends in Dingle so you can hit up downtown twice if you want. To really enjoy this drive I recommend a solid chunk of time (like 4 hours) to enjoy the journey. We were bummed we went on a foggy day and couldn’t see everything but it was still awesome. We ran into two little lambs who ran away and were walking down the route. The owner came running out of his farm and picked them both up and carried them back!

2. Be Active in Killarney National Park

Next on the list of things to do in Ireland comes Killarney. Though Dingle was my favorite town, Killarney was my favorite when it came to exploring the outdoors and it was Zach (my fiance’s) favorite town. The Town of Killarney sits at the edge of Killarney National Park and I was blown away by how stunning the scenery is. They have everything from lakes and rivers to mountains and trails. We spent a day and a half there and when we go back we will definitely stay longer. The Gap of Dunloe Day Tour was my favorite thing we did here but you can also do the ring of Kerry, shop or just hike.

• Gap of Dunloe Day Tour. The scenery is so stunning you won’t even believe it’s real life.  There are three parts to the tour:
  • The tour starts at Ross Castle where you get in a boat (that holds 8) with a tour guide local to Killarney. He takes you through 3 lakes and 2 rivers that weave throughout the mountain range. We saw sheep and goats throughout the boat tour! It takes about two hours and I recommend wearing a jacket because it gets cold on the water.
  • Lunch! This wasn’t as scenic but it was needed. There’s a small cottage that serves hot soup, sandwiches and Irish coffee. It’s the perfect stopping point to refuel for the rest of the day.
  • The second half is a tour of the Gap of Dunloe. The Gap of Dunloe is a narrow mountain pass formed 2 million years ago by glaciers. There is a little village in the mountainside here that’s the home to a total of 50 people. For this portion of the tour, you have three options to see the gap of dunloe: horse and carriage, bike or walking. It’s a 7 mile pass so you choose! We did the horse but next time we would definitely do the hike/walk instead.
  • Visit Killarney Day Tour to book your tour.

3. Walk the Streets of Dublin

This is obviously a must-do thing to do in Ireland. When you fly in you should spend a day and night exploring the city, culture and pubs. My favorite part about it was all of the colorful buildings with window boxes and flowers. You also must do the Guinness StoreHouse tour. When you grab dinner be sure to ask your waiter what the best bars and other pubs are, they’re usually local and know the inside scoop. We did this and had the best time out one night!

4. Check out the Night Scene in Galway

The moment you walk into Galway you can feel the energy. The people that reside here are so friendly and the majority of them are between 20-30 years old, which makes the night life really fun! We had dinner in Sonny Malloy’s and I order their special “Wild Atlantic Way” cocktail and it was delish. From there your pub options are endless. We went to a traditional Irish bar for Irish music then headed to The Quays (pronounced: the keys) for a louder scene. They were playing 90s American music with a mix of Bob Marley and it was perfect.

5. Tour a Castle (or 10)

There is no shortage of castles in this history-filled country. Do a quick google search and you’ll find tons of options to explore castles close to any town you’re staying in. We toured Portumna Castle in a little town called Portumna. They had gorgeous gardens on the grounds and a ton of information inside about when and how it was built and who occupied the castle over the years. There are even some castles you can stay in overnight and some that residents live in!

6. Drive the Wild Atlantic Way

You kinda of end up doing this at some point if you’re going to hit some of the places on this guide of things to do in Ireland, but it’s good to know you’re on the route! Technically, the Wild Atlantic Way is the road that takes you all around the majority of the coast of Ireland. It starts in Kinsale (see number 8) and goes around the west side of the country along the coast up to Northern Ireland. It’s a route filled with some of the most stunning views you’ll ever see, including the Cliffs of Moher (see number 7).

7. Visit the Cliffs of Moher

When it came to sight seeing, this was our absolute favorite by far. Though tourist-y and filled with people it’s that way for good reason. It’s one of those things you just have to see in person to fully understand the beauty of them. You may be overwhelmed by the amount of people there at first but it really isn’t bad. Take in the view from the starting point and head to your right to hike all way way until you can’t hike anymore. I should note this is a somewhat difficult hike with a lot of hills but I promise the farther right you go the better the view gets.

8. Take a Stroll in Kinsale on the Scilly Walk

This was a hidden gem at the end of our trip. Zach and I decided to visit Kinsale on an impromptu morning so we drove there and spent the day exploring. It’s another harbor town (can you sense a theme?) and it was beautiful. We spent the morning walking around the town and stopped for lunch at the Cosy Cafe (I got a chai latte and Veggie Bagel). We met a couple from the states who just bought a house in Kinsale and they told us about the Scilly Walk. The walk starts in town and takes you around and across the harbor so you have a beautiful outside view of the town. The end of the trail takes you to Charles Fort where you can pay to visit an old star shaped fort they used in World War I and before. By the time you walk there, visit the fort and start heading back you will have worked up an appetite so make sure to stop at Bullman’s for a pint and a snack.

If you want to see all 8 of these places this is the best way to plan it:

Fly into Dublin spend a day or so there, head over to Galway for a night or so, then drive along the Wild Atlantic Way to the Cliffs of Moher to see their beauty. From there, drive down to Dingle and stay there then head down to Killarney to explore. After Killarney cut across to Kinsale and then head back up to Dublin. Don’t forget to stop at some castles along the way!

So there you have it! These are the most amazing, majestic and stunning things to do in Ireland. Comment if you have any questions or need some Ireland advice! Next time we go we’re going to visit the rope bridge too.

The post 8 Awesome Things To Do In Ireland appeared first on What Molly Made.

Zach and I just returned from the trip of a lifetime with our dear friends Alyssa and Brad. I’m still completely jet lagged with littler energy so I’ll be watching the Bachelorette re-runs all night. But I wanted to quickly share some of my favorite photos from the trip in this Thursday thoughts! Stay tuned for more details?

The post Ireland Feels appeared first on What Molly Made.

The ultimate guide to a long weekend in Napa Valley! From the BEST wineries to visit that have full tours of their grounds to the most amazing local restaurants, this travel guide will be a full trip with links to every place you have to visit. Plus tips on easy transportation and the best places to stay!

I’ve been friends with my bestie since we were 3 (23 years) and last week was our very first girls trip we’ve ever taken together. We’ve been on vacations with each others’ families but have never done a best friend trip on our own. And we knew that needed to change. And that Napa Valley was on both of our bucket lists. So the planning begin!

We were super overwhelmed when we started planning our trip because there is just SO much information out there about Napa and there are about 300 wineries you can visit in the valley. How is one supposed to decide on the best wineries and restaurants to visit in 4 days with all of those options?!

Because Chelsea’s parents have been to Napa they gave up some advice and we booked about 4 wine tours in advance. Next time I would book them all in advance because the tasting fill up quick! So definitely do that.

Here are a few lessons learned:

• Book your wine tours in advance- this way you know you have a spot and don’t have to worry about squeezing in somewhere
• Only book a maximum of 3 tours in one day- you want to have time to enjoy each place and not drink too much wine in a day, plus still have time for meals

We were there for 3 days, but definitely could have stayed longer! We didn’t exactly follow the above rules well because we kind of winged it for a few tours and ended up at 4 one day (not recommended).

Day 1 in Napa Valley

How to get to Napa:

We flew in to San Fransisco (because it’s way cheaper than flying straight in to Napa) and we didn’t want to pay for a rental car so we took an Uber to the Ferry Building and caught the ferry to Vallejo. The ride is about an hour and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Plus the ferry building has an amazing market inside! Get there early and grab a quick breakfast and coffee and take it on the ferry with you.

Once we got to Vallejo we needed a ride to our hotel in downtown Napa (about 25 minutes). We were going to take the shuttle ($13 a ticket), but it was going to take over two hours so we opted for Uber again and it only cost $40 (which isn’t bad if you’re splitting). We checked in at the Napa Winery Inn (they were having a great fall special on their rooms) and headed to our first winery! We went to three the first day.

Wine tours day 1:

2. From there we Ubered to
3. Mending Wall: our third wine tasting this day a little off the beaten path but totally worth it. We took an Uber there and the grounds are absolutely gorgeous because it’s up in the mountains a bit. We tried an array of their Cabs and I liked the majority of them, but one turned my teeth super purple! You don’t need an appointment here either, but one is definitely recommended.

Food and restaurants day 1:

• San Fransisco Ferry Building was the perfect quick breakfast if you’re in San Fransisco for the ferry ride over to the Napa area. I got a sugar free vanilla latte and a homemade pastry.
• Rutherford Grill– we stopped here for a quick to for lunch between wine tastings and it was just what we needed. Shout out to our waitress Sherry for being so friendly and giving us the scoop on all the wineries. You HAVE to get the Grilled Artichokes and Skillet Cornbread. We ordered both and split it and it was perfect. We also hear the pretty much everything there was amazing. You may want to call in advance for a reservation because it was pretty busy around lunch time, but we snagged a seat at the bar!
• Farmstead – YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS PLACE. And you definitely need a reservation. The only time we could get in was at 4pm so we went then, but ended up sitting at the bar because it was beautiful that day and they have live music on Friday nights. It’s more of a local restaurant so there were tons of locals and we had a chance to meet a bunch of them and learn more and find out more about the best wineries. We ended up staying for 6 hours! They have a happy hour menu starting at 4 too. And throughout the night we ordered 6 appetizers to keep us satisfied.
  • Biscuit sandwiches- if nothing else you have to order these. They’re homemade biscuits with jam and prosscuitto. One of the best things I’ve eaten in a while
  • Meatballs- these were really good too, but kinda tiny.
  • Warm Burratta- This was amazing! It came with a whole roasted garlic and crispy bread
  • Pimento cheese- it was super fresh cheese and delicious, but not my favorite of the 6 we ordered.
  • Mac n Cheese- This came in a skillet and was so cheesy and good. Get it!
  • Lamb Sliders- these were perfect

Day 2 in Napa Valley

Wine tours day 2:

Restaurants Day 2:

• Archetype– this is a definite must for brunch. We sat at the bar and got to watch the chefs work their magic during the brunch rush. Everything looked so amazing and they were like a well-oiled machine. It was so cool to watch! We split the giant burrito and considered getting the sticky buns, but the burrito was so big! You could easily split a meal here.
• Ciccio– this restaurant came highly recommended from the locals who were giving us the wine tours. And they did not disappoint. It’s an Italian restaurant serving up amazing food. If you’re a pizza and pasta lover, go here!

We didn’t do any wine tours the next day because we had to catch an Uber back to San Fransisco, but we stopped at the Oxbow Market. If you have time, you have to go to the Oxbow Market. It’s a building that houses numerous mini restaurants from Oysters to ice cream and everything in between. We got pizza from Ca’Momi and it was so authentic.

After we left we did the math and realized an Uber back to the city was actually faster and only a little more expensive than taking the bus then the ferry. We opted for that and then went straight to Tartine Bakery in San Fransisco. Holy moly was this place amazing! We ordered the banana cream pie because we heard it was the best ever and it really was.

We had such an amazing girls trip and were so sad all of the festivities were over, but I was kinda glad to get back in to my routine. I hope you find this helpful and please let me know if you go to any of these awesome restaurants and vineyards!

The post Napa Valley Food and Wine Guide appeared first on What Molly Made.