Travel Holiday Gift Guide

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As the holiday season approaches, gift giving becomes top of mind. I prefer to give experience gifts whenever possible, in an effort to decrease clutter and build lasting memories. I also enjoy giving smaller gifts to go along with the experience; it’s nice having something that can be unwrapped!

Peddler’s Village, Bucks County

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Halfday Garment Duffle Bag

The Halfday Garment Duffle Bag keeps dresses wrinkle-free and has space for folded clothes, shoes and accessories. While the garment duffle bag may be a bit of a splurge, the bag comes in handy for all types of trips – be it a weekend getaway or a week in Disney World. Use my referral for a 20% discount; Halfday offers also free shipping and returns.

Foldie Foldable Travel Bag

For quick getaways, I love the Foldie Foldable Travel Bag. This bag meets most airlines’ personal item size requirements and folds down compactly when not in use. It attaches to rolling luggage with a trolley sleeve making zipping through the airport a breeze.

Pixie Mood Travel Neck Pillow

The Pixie Mood Travel Neck Pillow is a package travel pillow perfect for gifting. I love the compact design and adorable color options. This lightweight pillow is one of Oprah’s Favorite Things for 2024.

Sungait Sunglasses

If a beach trip is in the cards, a new pair of shades are the perfect tangible gift to wrap up. My go-to pair of sunglasses are the Sungait Sunglasses from Amazon. I have pairs in multiple color ways, but the pink ones are my favorite.

Violet and Brooks Chloe Velvet Earmuffs

If instead your plans call for more snow than snow, the Chloe Velvet Earmuffs by Violet and Brooks makes a cozy gift. I prefer earmuffs over hats and headbands to keep my hairstyle intact and my ears warm. The earmuffs are another one of Oprah’s Favorite Things, and for good reason – they even fold compactly for packing!

Apple AirTags

Apple AirTagshttps://amzn.to/3CEEDjP have become a must have travel accessory. AirTags allow for easy tracking of checked luggage, hopefully preventing the horrors of lost baggage while on vacation.

Philadelphia Eagles Game with Kids

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Eagles Game photo

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While we had gone to games for all of the other Philadelphia sports teams, an Eagles game remained on our bucket list.

My boys are members of the Eagles Kid Club and love cheering on their favorite team in green each Sunday. Given the rowdy (but fun!) atmosphere and ticket prices for regular season games, a pre-season Eagles game was the perfect option to experience a game.

My number one tip is arrive early. I have attend many events at the Philly Sports Complex over the years, but I was still surprised by the traffic and parking challenges for an Eagles game. Parking typically opens 4.5 hours (!!!) prior to kickoff.

Eagles fan know how to tailgate. Enjoy the atmosphere or stop by Xfinity Live to grab a bite to eat before the game. Family friendly activities are held pre-game in the Pepsi Plaza.

While Lincoln Financial Field can hold approximately 65,000 fans, there truly isn’t a bad seat in the house. We enjoyed sitting in the 200 near the end zone and had an incredible view of the field. Children two and under do not need a ticket but be seated on their parent or guardian’s lap. The Eagles offer an Alcohol-free Family Section in Section 217.

There are family-friendly restrooms located throughout the stadium on each level. The all gender restrooms are individual restrooms that include a baby changing station.

The Eagles state that nursing mothers are welcome to nurse their children wherever they feel comfortable. If desired, nursing rooms are available near the Pepsi Plaza next to the first-aid station.

The atmosphere at the Eagles Game was exhilarating. If you have little ones who are sensitive to loud noises, I recommend bringing a pair of noise canceling headphones along. The Eagles Autism Foundation has created an inclusive environment for Eagles games. There is a state-of-the-art sensory room available for all guests during the event on the West Lower Suite Level. There is also a Visual Game Day Schedule in the KultureCity App.

The Eagles offer a digital First Game certificate. We stopped by Guest Services for a certificate without realizing the certificate was now digital in nature. You may receive some Eagles swag for stopping by Guest Serviced still although they were out of items when we had visited.

We had an amazing time at the Eagles game and hope to make attending a pre-season game a yearly tradition!

Game Day Flare

Looking for fun accessories to wear in support of The Birds? Check out my favorite sunglasses in the green mirrored lens style and these easy-to-wear green tinsel hair clips.

Sea Isle City Mini Guide

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Sea Isle City, New Jersey is one of my favorite towns at the Jersey Shore. It has a laid back vibe but lots of activities and places to explore as desired. I also love the central location for visiting other shore hotspots such as Ocean City and Cape May.

Sea Isle Beach

🏩 Stay: Rent a shore house from Sea Isle Realty or stay at The Dunes at Shorebreak Resorts or Surfside Suites and Apartments.

🌊 Play: Enjoy the beautiful beach, visit the shops on the Promenade and get active on the playground or the basketball court at Dealy Field. Free weekly Family Fun Nights, Outdoor Movies and Concerts Under the Stars are offered in July and August.

🍽️ Eat: Watch the setting sun at Sunset Pier (BYOB) or the Deauville Inn (in nearby Strathmere) or get take out from Mike’s Seafood or Marie’s Seafood in Fish Alley.

🍦 Treat: Pick out a scoop or two at Marita’s Homemade Ice Cream.

Sea Isle is a great choice with kids or for adult-only trips. The bar scene and BYOB restaurants make nighttime plans a snap for adults, and the boundless activities guarantee kids won’t be bored.

Favorite Shore Hotels

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Sandy toes, salt air and the waves lapping near by. As soon as May hits, I start dreaming of days at the Jersey Shore. While we enjoy spending a week at the shore in a beach house rental, I try to sneak in a couple short trips throughout the summer too. The southern end of the Jersey Shore is dotted with hotels that are perfect for quick getaways (as long as the traffic cooperates).

Port-O-Call Hotel

Here is a list of my favorite hotels that I check for availability when planning a short trip down the shore.

Port-O-Call Hotel, Ocean City

The Port-O-Call Hotel is one of our favorites that we continue to return to time after time. The (relatively) short drive to Ocean City, beach front location and boardwalk-adjacent pool make “the Pink Hotel” a winning combination for our family.

Complementary beach chairs and umbrellas are available weekends Memorial Day through June 15th and then daily through September 1st. Beach tags are also provided to hotel guests in season.

The beach front pool is open until the end of September.

Icona Avalon, Avalon

The Icona Avalon offers direct beach access in Avalon, NJ. The family friendly rooms include a small fridge, microwave and coffee maker. Beach umbrellas and lounge chairs, along with beach tags for your stay, are included in the resort fee.

My favorite part of the Icona is The Sandbar Village. The open air beach bar and lounge offers food, drinks, music and fire pits along with private cabana rentals.

The heated outdoor pool, 24 hour fitness center and free shuttle service (summer season only) throughout 7-Mile Island keep the Icona near the top of my list.

Can’t find availability at the Icona Avalon? Sister resort Icona Windrift is located next door and offers a similar array of amenities.

The Hen Houses, Wildwood

Considered a micro-resort, the Hen Houses offer six cozy beach houses themed after a MudHen beer plus the MudHen manor. The tiny beach houses have each have two bedrooms and a full kitchen. I love how the Hen Houses combine the luxuries of a resort with the space and convenience of a beach house rental. As an added bonus, you can pack light for your getaway; linens, towels and complementary beach gear are provided. Don’t miss out on the gorgeous outdoor salt water pool during your stay!

Madison Resort, Wildwood Crest

Madison Resort Wildwood Crest is one of the newest locations at the Jersey shore; this brand new resort opened in May 2024. The resort consists of two distinct towers, each named after the former motels that were renovated and redesigned for the Madison Resort.

The beachfront resort offers a beautiful setting with a South Beach vibe while also paying homage to The Wildwoods’ doo wop heritage.

Madison Resort is located in family friendly Wildwood Crest. The Crest is a dry town (similar to Ocean City) with plentiful beaches and neighbors Wildwood and its boardwalk. The resort has a beachfront pool along with complementary beach chairs and umbrellas. I am looking forward to visiting this summer!

Congress Hall, Cape May

The historic Congress Hall has been a mainstay in Cape May since 1816. The luxury seaside resort provides complementary towels, chairs and umbrellas on the beach, which is located across the street from the resort’s Grand Lawn. Beach service and private tent rentals are available.

Congress Hall also borders Washington Street Mall, the hub of shopping and dining in Cape May. A highlight of staying at Congress Hall for me is the walkability of the location; there is no need to drive to the beach or to any of Cape May’s delectable restaurants. The onsite Blue Pig Tavern restaurant is one of my favorite places to eat in Cape May; the outdoor patio is gorgeous AND family friendly.

Congress Hall guests also enjoy an onsite pool, seasonal family activities and health and wellness classes. Congress Hall is part of the Cape Resorts brand. Other Cape Resorts in town include the Virginia Hotel & Cottages, the Star Inn, the Beach Shack and the Sandpiper.

Favorite Travel Credit Cards

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I love using credit cards to travel hack. Leveraging points can help make travel more affordable and accessible. My two favorite credit cards have low annual fees with tons of travel perks and the ability to earn high value travel points.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Due to flight cancellations, we ended up being stuck in Florida for three extra days for our Spring Training Disney/Clearwater trip. While we made the best of our circumstances, I regretted that I had not signed up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card previously. The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserved cards both include travel protection benefits that would have been useful for our unexpected trip extension. The Chase Sapphire Preferred includes Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance with reimbursement up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses. The card also offers Trip Delay Reimbursement for unreimbursed expenses up to $500 per ticket.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee and includes a $50 annual hotel credit along with other tons of other perks. I took advantage of the current 75,000 point sign up bonus Chase is currently offering and am already daydreaming of where to visit with my points.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card

I love flying Southwest Airlines due to the flexibility and free bags. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card is my choice amongst the various Southwest credit cards offered by Chase. While the card has an annual fee of $149, it comes with a $75 Southwest annual travel credit and 4 Upgraded Boardings each year along earning Southwest Rapid Rewards points. The Upgraded Boardings help alleviate some of the stress that can come along with Southwest’s boarding assignment process while booking flights with Southwest points mean that I will be automatically refunded my points if I need to cancel my flight.

Favorite Weekend Getaways

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You don’t have to go far to get away. I love drivable destinations for a change of scenery. Destinations within three hours allow for last minute weekend getaways and day trips.

Here’s a list of my favorite weekend getaways from Bucks County, Pennsylvania:

Annapolis, MD

Annapolis is an excellent destination on its own or as a stopping point on the way to Washington, D.C., the Outer Banks or other points further south. The walkable center of town has historical sites, shops, restaurants and water views.

Cape May, NJ

Cape May takes a little bit longer to reach than other Jersey shore points, but it is worth the drive. The center of town offers easy beach access, shopping along Washington Street Mall, fabulous restaurants and lovely Victorian architecture – all without having to move your car.

Jim Thorpe, PA

Jim Thorpe is an easy destination from Bucks County and other locations in the Philadelphia area. Following a one to two hour drive, you can be in the “Switzerland of America.” Enjoy a scenic train ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, especially during fall foliage season and then take in the sites at the Old Jail Museum or the Asa Packer Mansion Museum.

Ocean City, NJ

When visiting Ocean City for a short trip, I highly recommend staying at the Port-O-Call Hotel. The “Pink Hotel,” as we lovingly refer to it, has a prime spot on the Ocean City boardwalk. It’s easy to stroll down the boards for a slice of Manco and Manco’s Pizza or rides at Playland’s Castaway Cove or Gillian’s Wonderland Pier.

While Ocean City is a dry town, Steve and Cookie’s restaurant in Margate is only a short drive away. Steve and Cookie’s is one of my favorite restaurants at the Jersey Shore and has a full bar menu along with incredible food. It is the perfect spot for a date night when staying in Ocean City.