travel tips

Packing for Hawaii with Chico’s

 in General Fashion / Travel  tagged chicos / hawaii / packing / travel / travel style / travel tips by

Hawaiian luau outfit ideas

The perfect luau outfit for Hawaii: sun hat / woven tote bag / palm print dress / convertible statement necklace / statement earrings / wedges /

I’m packing for a trip to Hawaii today, and thankfully it is really easy to do! As you know, I am a huge fan of Chico’s. They have in-house artists who create the beautiful, exclusive prints you can find on Chico’s scarves and clothing. So when we started to plan our family vacation to Hawaii, I knew Chico’s would be my go-to source for island-ready prints, fabrics, and style.

When packing for a trip, it’s always important to make sure you pack clothing and accessories which can be mixed and matched. This cute little woven tote by Chico’s is perfect for travel. It can be worn two different ways depending on the outfit and/or activity. There is a detachable strap which can be worn over the shoulder, or cross body. This is great for travel since it is always nice to be able to be hands-free. It can also be worn hand-held, or on the arm with the strap detached. This is a great look for dinner, the pool, or the beach. The interior offers a zipper pocket and two slip pockets which are perfect for a phone, and other small items. The woven texture offers a tropical vacation vibe too. It’s the perfect handbag for Hawaii and summer vacation! Love!

I know you have heard it from me before, but Chico’s has the best convertible necklaces. This convertible necklace can be worn three ways. The top layer can be detached and worn close to the bottom of the neck. The bottom layer can be detached, and offers an adjustable 18″ drop with a statement. Of course, both strands worn together offers a huge statement; and isn’t it fun to be bold?! Love it! I picked up the matching earrings too in order to complete the look. I don’t need to pack any other necklaces or earrings, these will carry me through the entire week! Love that!

The first outfit pictured above, will be my luau outfit. The outfit below will be perfect for sightseeing and dinner on the beach.

Hawaiian beach dinner outfit ideas

Hawaiian beach dinner outfit: wedges / ombre dress / blue print scarf / convertible statement necklace / statement earrings / blue bracelet / sun hat / woven tote bag /

This blue ombre dress from Chico’s is absolutely beautiful! I love the shades of blue, and it looks amazing with this floral print scarf worn around the waist as a belt. Of course I am pairing it with my convertible necklace, statement earrings, woven tote, and this fabulous sun hat from Chico’s. This outfit will be perfect for sightseeing, and dinner on the beach. For sightseeing, it can be worn with flip flops or flat shoes, and for dinner, wedges dress it up!

When packing for a trip, it is always a good idea to bring basics which can be worn multiple times, multiple ways. The black pants below by Chico’s are really comfortable, and versatile for travel! I am pairing them with a classic black, v-neck tee for a base look. It can be worn with an island print kimono (mine is currently on major sale) or with a scarf worn as a belt. That’s already two outfits in one! The pants and tee can be paired with flat shoes for sightseeing, wedges for dinner, or sneakers for an aggressive walking schedule. These pants, and this tee, are a must-have for travel!

what to pack for hawaii

Sightseeing look for Hawaii: sun hat / palm print kimono (on major sale!) / statement earrings / statement convertible necklace / blue bracelet / black v-neck tee / black pants / woven tote bag / wedges / Alternate sightseeing look below: blue print scarf / black mules /

Shop my Hawaiian travel looks from Chico’s online:

I’m excited to pack all these versatile pieces for our family trip to Hawaii. Stay tuned! There will be plenty of Hawaiian vacation coverage here on the blog in the coming week, as well as on my Instagram where you can follow along via Insta-stories. If you are planning a trip to Hawaii, or anywhere this summer, be sure to check out Chico’s Traveler’s collection as well as all of their fabulous prints! They are the perfect vacation destination!

Check out my Chico’s look from NYFW, and my Traveler’s Collection looks from last summer’s Seattle trip.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

*thank you to Chico’s for sponsoring this post, all thoughts and opinions are my own

outfit ideas Hawaii

Things to do in Seattle with kids

 in Travel  tagged city guide / family / seattle / travel tips by

things to do in seattle with kid

Planning a vacation to Seattle, and wondering about things to do in Seattle with kids? Well, look no further! My family and I recently traveled to Seattle and found a few fabulous things to do in Seattle with kids which are sure to be a hit with your family too!

Seattle is a really fun city filled with history, a chill vibe, and a family-friendly atmosphere. We found the activities, and the people, to be friendly and welcoming. This is a great trip to plan as a family! Without further ado, here are the activities my kids loved; and us adults enjoyed too!

Things to do in Seattle with Kids: Argosy Cruises

things to do in seattle with kids

We took a 1 hour cruise with Argosy Cruise Line. They have several types of cruises available, at varying time lengths. We found the one hour cruise to be perfect with kids. Anything longer, and they may have grown restless. The kids enjoyed being on a boat and taking a tour; but they did get tired, so one hour was perfect. You can get advance tickets here.

Things to do in Seattle with Kids:

Chihuly Garden and Glass

things to do in seattle with kid things to do in seattle with kid

My middle child is very artistic, and really wanted to check out the Chihuly Garden and Glass. I was a little bit concerned that my other two children would find it boring, but I was wrong! All three of my kids thought the glass sculptures were really cool, and they enjoyed seeing both the indoor and outdoor portions of the exhibit.

There is a cafe attached to Chihuly, but understand it is on the pricey side; although the food is good. If you are looking for more affordable food, there is a food court across from the cafe, and there are also a handful of food carts. You can find advance tickets for Chihuly Garden and Glass online here.

Things to do in Seattle with Kids:

Museum of Pop Culture

things to do in seattle with kidthings to do in seattle with kid

My kids don’t normally enjoy museums, so I was a little bit concerned when we purchased five tickets to the Museum of Pop Culture. I was pleasantly pleased to find they had a special exhibit for Marvel, which we eagerly purchased the extra tickets for. My kids loved the Marvel exhibit, as well as the other exhibits in the museum. Above you will see a smashed guitar from a Nirvana performance, and Jimmi Hendrix’s carry-on bag. There was something for the whole family at the Museum of Pop Culture-loved it! You can find advance tickets online here.

Things to do in Seattle with Kids:

Klondike Gold Rush Museum

things to do in seattle with kid

The Klondike Gold Rush Museum in Seattle is both educational and fun! Plus, it’s free because it is run by the National park Service. Love that!

Being from California, my kids already know about the gold rush, so it was fun for them to learn a little more then what they learned in school. They enjoyed seeing the exhibits and also watching a movie onsite about Seattle’s part in the Klondike gold rush. This is a must-see when visiting Seattle with kids. It’s great to see your children learn history, and have fun while doing it. Plus, it’s free! Yay! You can learn more online here.

Things to do in Seattle with Kids:

Seattle Great Wheel

things to do in seattle with kid

The Seattle Great Wheel is a lot of fun. It goes around roughly three times, and you can see a beautiful view of Seattle from the top. It is a bit pricey for what you get; so if it doesn’t fit your budget, it’s something you can skip. On the pier, there is also a carousel and a few boardwalk-style games which are great for keeping the kids busy. You can learn more about the Great Wheel online here.

Things to do in Seattle with Kids:

Bill Speidel’s Undergound Tour

things to do in seattle with kid

Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour was so much fun! My kids loved learning about Seattle history and going underneath the sidewalks to explore Seattle’s past and present. Our tour guide was entertaining and kept our kids interested. They learned a lot about the local history and had fun while doing it! It’s the first thing they tell their friends about when talking about their trip to Seattle. This is a must-see!

With kids, I recommend going in the morning and getting in one of the first tours of the day. There will be less people in the group and you can see everything without sorting through a large group. It’s easier to be in a small group with kids too. This was our favorite activity during our trip. Be sure to check it out, it’s worth every dime! You can learn more online here.

Things to do in Seattle with Kids:

Seattle Space Needle

things to do in seattle with kid

The Seattle Space Needle is an iconic monument to see while in Seattle. You can see all of Seattle from the top, and my kids thought it was really cool. If you have small children, keep in mind that the lines are long, so try to go when they open in the morning. Also, it can be pricey, so using the Seattle City Pass might be a good idea. You can find one online here.

Seattle also has a zoo, and a Museum of Flight. We missed those attractions on our trip, but I have heard they are good too.

The Seattle City Pass is a great, money saving option if you plan to see multiple locations on this list. You can learn more about it online here.

These were our favorite things to do in Seattle with kids during our recent trip. Check out our favorite, family-friendly restaurants here. If you have family-friendly recommendations, feel free to leave them in the comments below!

Thanks for stopping by, and safe travels!

XOXO

Cathy

Great places to eat in Seattle

 in Travel  tagged city guide / restaurants / seattle / travel tips by

mcmenamins queen anne pub

We just returned from a really fun family vacation to Seattle, WA. While we were there, we ate out at several restaurants. Some of the restaurants were really yummy, while others, made you want to beg for your money back; no joke. So, to help you make the right dining decisions next time you travel to Seattle, and not repeat our mistakes, here are a few of the restaurants we ate at; these are the ones we loved!

All of these restaurants had great kids menu’s too, so these are both adult and kid approved places to eat! Love that!

McMenamin’s Queen Anne Pub

mcmenamins queen anne pub mcmenamins queen anne pub

McMenamin’s Queen Anne pub was our favorite place to eat during our vacation; we ate there twice! The photo at the top of this article is a Gardenburger with cheese and tater tots. The tater tots are soooo good! I highly recommend getting them instead of the fries with your sandwich or burger. So good!

The second meal pictured is a Queen Anne sandwich with tater tots. It has roasted mozzarella, tomato, and pesto. It’s SO GOOD! I also has a cup of clam chowder; it was equally delicious!

My kids enjoyed mini corn dogs and chicken from the kids menu. Parents and children approved!

If you like craft beer, they have really good beer. I highly recommend sipping one during your meal, they are quite good!

Also, in case you hadn’t noticed, this restaurant also has incredible decor. Each ceiling light fixture had a really cool, painted design around it. Don’t you just love it!

McMenemin’s Queen Anne is located at 200 Roy Street, walking distance from the Space Needle.

Shawn O’Donnell’s Grill and Pub

shawn odonnells grill irish pub

This was a delicious Irish Pub we stumbled upon while touring Pioneer Square in Seattle. Shawn O’Donnell’s American Grill and Irish Pub had a great selection of comfort and pub food. They also had a delicious kids menu! I had a chicken pot pie which was to-die-for! I highly recommend popping in for some cozy food when you are near Pioneer Square in Seattle!

Ten Sushi Seattle

ten sushi seattle

We cannot go anywhere without eating at least one sushi meal! We stopped into Ten Sushi on our first day in Seattle. It was located just steps away from the Space Needle. It was a little bit difficult to find the front door; you have to enter into a supermarket and go up to a mezzanine to find the front door. Once we found it, we were happy!

The food was delicious and they have very inexpensive lunch deals each day. My kids enjoyed the food, and we loved the prices of the lunch specials! If you love sushi and are visiting Seattle near the Space Needle, be sure to pop in for a bite!

Citizen Coffee

citizen seattle

We found the cutest little coffee shop at 706 Taylor Ave. N in Seattle. They have a delicious menu filled with brunch items and sandwiches; in addition to a coffee menu. The restaurant has a super cute outdoor area filled with picnic tables and a fir-pit. The decor is adorable and the food is yummy! I enjoyed egg and mushroom tacos, which were super yummy! If you are near the Space Needle, be sure to pop in to Citizen Coffee for brunch or happy hour!

Strawberry Shortcake Booth City Center

strawberry shortcake seattle city center

If you wander around the city center in Seattle, you will notice food booths. The Strawberry Shortcake food booth is SO GOOD! If you love strawberries, and you love dessert, this is your booth! It is a cup full of juicy strawberries, cream, cake, and pure heaven. Love!

Of course, if you are a huge Starbuck’s fan, be sure to stop in at the “Original” Starbucks located at pike Place Market. It’s isn’t technically the first Starbuck’s, that one closed in the 1970s, but I understand it is the oldest location still open with original signage. The line was crazy long, so I did not go inside. If you want to grab a snack or coffee from this location, be sure to arrive early while wearing your standing shoes!

If you have any favorite restaurants in Seattle, please feel free to leave them in the comments below. I would love to learn about them!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

original starbucks seattle