A Fun Day in Cincinnati

My husband and Ialways try to squeeze in a quick day trip whenever we get the chance. Living within driving distance of a wonderful city like Cincinnati, we had to make the trek! There are so many things you can do in Cincy, it was hard to choose! We had tickets to see the Reds play later in the day, so we were on the hunt for a great half-day activity. After a bit of research, we settled on the zoo! 

The Cincinnati zoo is a place full of memories for me. My cousins and I used to go to the zoo all the time growing up (I have a lot of family in the area). We had a blast walking around and checking out the exhibits. 

Next up was lunch at Skyline. If you go to Cincinnati and don't get Skyline, you're missing out! There is nothing better than Skyline chili. Oh man, it's delicious. We met up with some family at our favorite restaurant, then still had a little bit of time to kill before the game.

We wound up doing a bit of shopping downtown - there are a few great yarn store for knitting enthusiasts like myself! It's a great way to explore and enjoy everything the city has to offer.

Finally, we headed to the Reds stadium to finish out our day with some good old fashion baseball! It was a blast. We hadn't been to a baseball game in a very long time, so we were thrilled! 

All in all, we had a great day exploring and enjoying the city. Cincinnati is a wonderful place, and I highly encourage you check it out if you get the opportunity! If you'd like some help planning your next day trip, check out my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

World Cup Winners - France! (My Paris Recommendations)

The World Cup has officially come to a close, and France will be taking home the cup. While I am not a huge fan of the French national team, I'm definitely happy for them. Winning something so huge is every soccer player's dream. The feeling must be unlike any other!

That being said, I thought I'd throw it back to my time in Paris and highlight some things you can't miss out on!

Some attractions are obvious such as the legendary Louvre. Here I am in front of the beautiful, famous pyramid! Pro tip, if you want to check out the incredible artwork, don't use this entrance. There are actually several, lesser-known entrances that will inevitably have much shorter lines.

Of course, if you are anywhere near Paris, you HAVE to see the Eiffel Tower, even if just from afar. In fact, you'll want to make a point to see it from a few angles. If you only go up close, you won't get the full effect. Although, I certainly do encourage you to go up if you can! Just be aware if it gets too windy, they will close the top and not issue a refund. Unfortunately, that's what happened to me the last time I was in town. Even from halfway up, there is still a stupendous view! This is one of those attractions that you should definitely buy tickets ahead of time. The lines can get crazy!

Finally, don't forget to check out the insane lock bridge. The legend says if you write you and your lover's initials on a lock and attach it to the bridge, you'll stay together forever. It must be true since I did just that with my husband (then boyfriend) and so far so good! 

Finally, don't forget about the food! I encourage you to do research and find the best places to eat. Bakeries, cafes and gourmet food abound, so indulge and immerse yourself in the culture as much as possible! 

I have a passion for travel, and my priority is to always respect the culture and really dive into the culture. If you would like help being a traveler and not a tourist, please visit my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com. I'd love to help you get started!

Australia/ New Zealand Planning Begins

I am SO excited for our next really big trip - Australia and New Zealand! We are aiming to go next February or March and stay for two whole weeks. Heck yes. But right now, I'm at the most overwhelming part of the trip - the planning phase! Everything looks so beautiful, and I want to see everything!

Here are some of my favorites based on reading reviews and doing some research:

Nevis Swing in Queenstown, NZ

This is essentially the world's biggest swing and is similar to a bungee jump. I had the opportunity to jump off the world's largest bridge bungee jump in South Africa, and now I'm hooked! It just looks jaw-droppingly gorgeous. I'm not sure if we will end up having time for this activity, but I will be thrilled if we can squeeze it in!

Sydney Bridge Climb

This is a classic! It looks so fun and adventurous! Right up my alley for sure!

Hikes in New Zealand

We are big hiking enthusiasts, so of course we will be doing some hiking while abroad! Though likely this will just be day hikes this time around. Some of my favorites (again, based on pictures) will be Fox Glacier, Midford Sound and the classic Volcano hike. I think we will probably pick our favorite and build that into our itinerary. We'll just have to see! But how cool is it that you can see a volcano and glacier in the same country??

Hobbiton

Finally, my husband is a big Lord of the Rings fan, so I can almost guarantee we will do something related to the movies. Whether that's a full-fledged visit to Hobbiton or just stopping to see some places where scenes were filmed, we will just have to see! 

Great Barrier Reefs

I think this one we will definitely end up doing! You see so many pictures of the Great Barrier Reef, and I just want to experience that in person! Whether that be just seeing it from a boat, snorkeling or even going up in a plane has yet to be determined. Either way, I'm excited!!

Planning a trip is a big undertaking, but I absolutely love it! If you would like some help getting your trip organized, check out my website MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com! 

Hobbiton (North Island, Nearish to Auckland)

World Cup Excitement

It's the most wonderful time of the year! And for once, I don't mean Christmas. I look forward to the World Cup, and I am always so excited when the games begin! As a life-long soccer fan, I thoroughly enjoy watching the tournament unfold. I've had the pleasure of going to several professional soccer matches, but not the world cup.... yet.

It has been announced that the 2026 World Cup will be in the U.S./Canada/Mexico! Come hell or high water, I will be at one of those games. I know it's years away, but it's going to be so much fun. Hopefully, a game will be somewhere near my house (or any of my friends/relative houses!) as I imagine hotel space will be limited and expensive. Still totally worth it.

I've been watching as many games as physically possible and am LOVING the action. It was a bit of a shocker that Messi and Ronaldo's teams were both sent packing pretty early in the tournament. I had the joy of watching the two meet a few years back in El Clasico (See photo below). 

I love watching international matches - the passion! You just don't see that soccer culture here in the U.S. Normally, the U.S. is in the tournament so there's an uptick in soccer enthusiasm, but this year no such luck. None of my top 3 teams (U.S.A, Canada and Holland) are in the tournament so I've just been arbitrarily picking teams and rooting for them. It's so much more fun when you have a team! 

I was really pulling hard for Iceland, but alas. They were knocked out. 

If you'd like to take your family and friends to a World Cup game one day, just let me know! Check out my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com for more info. 

South Kaibab Trail - Grand Canyon

Our final hike of the trip was the incredibly beautiful South Kaibab Trail. This trail is a bit shorter than the Bright Angel trail but definitely still a challenge. We did a total of 6 miles and had a blast! 

There are a few trail markers along the way - Ooh Aah Point, Cedar Ridge and Skeleton Point. It's something like .2 miles to Ooh Aah Point, 1.5 miles to Cedar Ridge and 3 miles down to Skeleton Point. Just remember if you go down, you have to come back up!

The path is fairly closed off in the beginning, but it really opens up at the aptly-named Ooh Aah Point. It's a great turn around spot for families with children or inexperienced hikers. 

From there, the path is fairly narrow and a little scary at times! I was constantly worrying about one of us slipping off the edge. Realistically, the trail is plenty wide enough and is rarely a straight drop. Just be careful and pay attention to where you are going and it will be fine!

We took a brief break at Cedar Ridge on the way down before making our way to Skeleton Point. We actually went up to the left at the end of the trail so we could get a better view of the river and it was so nice!

Skeleton Point

After resting and enjoying the view, we hiked back up to Cedar Ridge where we used the restrooms that were available (not very pleasant, but still nice that they are there!) and then enjoyed a nice lunch. It's kind of the ultimate picnic spot! I really enjoy taking leisurely hikes and just relaxing with my husband and taking it all in.

This trail is also known for having donkeys going up and down alongside hikers. If you encounter any, be sure to step off the trail and be respectful. The donkeys are used to humans and won't cause any trouble unless provoked. 

All in all, we had an awesome time hiking this trail! It was towards the end of our trip, so we were definitely tired. However, we left plenty of time, took tons of breaks and ate lots of snacks and were just fine. As always, hike responsibly, be mindful of your abilities and the weather conditions and you'll be just fine!

If you'd like any help planning your next adventure, email me at Malena@MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com or check out my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Rim Trail at the Grand Canyon

After our exciting (but strenuous) hike down Bright Angel Trail, we were ready for an easy hike. We opted to check out the Rim Trail. It's a 2 or 3 mile hike along the rim (how apt). It was a lot of fun! It's paved and there are plenty of places to stop and rest along the way. We even stopped in a gift shop and picked up some postcards. However, I think my favorite part was the views!

All in all, it was a nice, easy hike with stunning views. I would highly recommend this if you are looking for an easy trail or have young (or old) members of your party. It was nice to hike with my friends and just enjoy being in nature.

If you'd like some help planning your next adventure, check out my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Bright Angel Trail

Our first hike at the Grand Canyon was the bright angel trail! It was so fun and SO exhausting! It is inadvisable to try to hike from the trailhead all the way down to the river and back up in one day. With that in mind we decided to hike down to Indian Gardens or Plateau Point and back up. We were staying at Mather campground so we caught the free shuttle to the trailhead and started our adventure.

It's 4.5 miles from the trailhead down to Indian Gardens (which is lush and beautiful!), so it's a 9-mile round-trip hike if you choose that route. Also, side note, Indian Garden is the perfect place to relax, eat some lunch and get some water. There is also a ranger's station there, which is always good to know.

We were feeling pretty good, so we decided to go the extra mile and a half out to plateau point, adding another 3 miles onto our hike. It was so worth it! We got to see the river and really take in the views. Unfortunately, there were some people messing around on the rocks and not being very respectful. I would highly recommend being a little cautious and staying on the trail if you do decide to venture out to the point. It's really windy, and it only takes one huge gust to blow you off. Be careful! Honestly it was a really great experience.

For me, this trail was an absolute must-do. I highly recommend it! Just be safe, pack lots of water and snacks and bring a trail guide. I suggest you check out this trail guide: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/upload/BrightAngelTrail.pdf
It was tremendously helpful!

As always, if you'd like help planning your next adventure, visit MilesintoMemoriesTravel.com.