Europe in a Day

Want to travel to Europe, but not experience the jet lag or expensive air fares that can come with it? Well then the EU Open House is just the event for you. On a Saturday in May, the European Union embassies in Washington DC offer a unique event where all 28 countries and the EU delegation open their doors, and allow visitors to come in and see the embassies! Through this you can learn about the country's culture, taste some of their food, and see their customs and traditions. Luckily, we got to enjoy some of the embassies this year, and learn more about different countries in Europe.

Our first stop was to the EU Delegation building, as we were able to get an overview of the event, grab a "passport", and get to grab some free swag. In addition to the normal festivities, the EU was celebrating 60 years of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, and 70 years of Marshall Plan, so they had a fun photo booth set up where you could take pictures in front of a golden back drop! We arrived at the EU building around 10:40am, and there wasn't too long of a line yet. On our short wait we had people come up and give us pens, a trivia card to fill out that you could take inside to get a prize, and we were able to get a map of the event in addition to our passports. To get into the building, you had to go through a security check point, so be sure to not wear a lot of metal, or bring in any illegal materials with you to ease with the process. Once inside we were greeted by many volunteers who gave us free tote bags, flyers, a stress ball, and lots of other treats. When we turned in our trivia cards we had the choice of getting sunglasses or a bag of chocolate. We opted to get the sunglasses!

The EU offers shuttles between certain embassies on color coded loops, but we decided to walk to the Embassy of Hungary. This was about a 20 minute walk, but it was through some pretty areas of DC. Once we arrived at the embassy, it looked like a big party! They had tents set up where you could taste some of their traditional foods, they had a quiz where if you got all the questions correct you could win a prize, and then you could buy food tickets to try a "Hun Dog". Hungary also let you see some Hungarian dog breeds, and walk around the inside of the embassy. The interior was full of beautiful architecture, and let you get a great glimpse at the country of Hungary.

One of the Hungarian dog breeds!

Some more of the dog breeds playing!

After Hungary we decided to walk over to Portugal. Once we arrived, we experienced the dreaded "long lines" which we had read about on a couple of sites. The EU did have an smart phone app that let us see how long the estimated lines were at the embassies, but we were hoping it wouldn't be too bad. It read on the app that the line was about 15 minutes, but this line looked more about 30-45 minutes, and the people were not moving. Due to this, we decided to go to an embassy that did not have a long line, but that was still close by. Our next destination was Estonia! While smaller on the inside, in Estonia we were able to see women playing their traditional instruments, see the study of the ambassador, and get to taste test some of their candy! Outside they had traditional dancers, music playing, and a tent giving out buttons and information packets on the country.

Another embassy that had a short line was Luxembourg. Similar to Estonia, it was smaller on the inside, but you were able to get a stamp on your passport, learn about what to see if you wanted to travel there, and view a traditional table setting. Their dining room had an amazing ceiling that was colorful and fun! On the way out they let you sample some of their traditional carnival food. It was a warm cinnamon covered fried donut like creation...it was delicious.

Once we left Luxembourg, it was around 12:45, and every embassy was starting to get a very long line. Belgium, Finland, and the UK were about an hour and a half, Ireland was at an hour, and most other places were a far walk. We decided to head toward Italy to see what they offered. While there wasn't too long of a line, you did have to go through a security check point, and that slowed the crowd. Once through, the Italian embassy had a lot going on...and most of it related to food. They had wine to sample, pizza to try, and gelato. Additionally they had modern dancers performing, a live band, and many tables featuring information about the country. Compared to the other embassies, the architecture was very modern and open. It was extremely crowded here though, so we decided to leave and find something for lunch.

The Italian Embassy was close by the UK, so in a quick decision, we decided to see how bad the line was...it was long...so we quickly just kept walking toward food. Since these embassies were close to the US Naval Observatory, we decided to find food around there and went to Sprig and Sprout. Our initial food choice was a place called breadsoda, but that ended up being a bar and we didn't want that. Sprig and Sprout was a Vietnamese Pho and Sandwich Shop. The pho was delicious, and the sandwich was a little spicy. Overall it was a good choice, as the weather was a little chilly out.

By the time we finished eating it was 2:45pm, and the EU open house ended at 4pm so we decided to pick one final embassy. We went with Sweden, as this was close to a metro stop, and the line wasn't too long on the app. We were 3 miles away though, so we opted to take an Uber which from Sprig and Sprout cost about $7. It was worth it after how much we had already walked. Once we arrived at Sweden, we saw there wasn't a line at all! Similar to other embassies we went through our security check point and walked around. There was a band playing some music, a line for free coffee and cookies, and downstairs they had a kid's exhibit, an art gallery, and some tables giving away free items. The inside of the embassy was very modern and sleek. There was a pretty pond inside as well.

Once we finished at Sweden, there were not any other embassies close by for us to travel to before the event was over so we decided to call it a day. It was a unique experience getting to see the embassies and learn about their cultures. If we did this again, we probably would not start at the EU building and instead head straight for an embassy, like Austria, Netherlands, or the UK. This would have let us see more places before the lines got incredibly long. It also did not help that when we went the metro was closed on the orange and blue lines after the Foggy Bottom station. The map below shows the spots we went to, including our lunch choice.

Overall, we enjoyed ourselves, and it was fun getting to travel through some European countries! The picture below shows all the items we were able to collect, which lets us have some great mementos from the day! A big thank you to the EU for putting on this event! Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to see more of our pictures and travel tips!

Blue skies,

Kat

Outer Banks in a Day

Ocean breezes, sunshine, and relaxing on the sand...sounds like the ideal life style right? Well with winter ending, and summer vacations in the minds of many I(with the help of Tomcat) thought it was the perfect time to write about the fabulous Outer Banks. Located in North Carolina these pristine beaches provide amazing views, delicious foods, and plenty of memories. While our posts normally show how you can visit a place in one day, getting to and from the Outer Banks in one day is a little challenging unless you live near by and can quickly drive there. The closest airport is Norfolk International Airport at 82 miles away, or you can fly into Raleigh-Durham International Airport(if you do this option you could always visit Raleigh as well!) If you fly into one of these places, be sure to rent a car so you can drive to the Outer Banks. The drive there is very scenic, and you can experience more of the great state of North Carolina!

The Outer Banks is made up of many different little cities and spots to stop by and enjoy the water and activities. Some of the bigger places include Corolla, Duck, Kitty Hawk, and Nags Head. In this post we will try to hit on some bigger aspects of all of these places to help fit your needs. If you want a quick trip, Kitty Hawk or Nags Head might be better to visit, while if you have more time try visiting Corolla or Duck. Duck was named one of the best dog friendly beaches in the US! As you start off your day in the Outer Banks you will probably want a sweet snack, so head on over to Duck Donuts. This "make your own donut" chain lets you mix and match and create amazing donut options that you would not be able to find anywhere else. Want maple syrup and bacon on your donut? You can have it! Want vanilla icing and sprinkles on your donut? You can have it! This shop will give you energy for the day, and let you begin your vacation.

After having a donut, find a local bike shop and rent a bike to enjoy a bike ride along the beach. There are multiple trails located all over the Outer Banks. You can rent any bikes you need at Just For The Beach which are located all over the Outer Banks. Bike trails allow you to see the beauty of the island. If you stay in a beach home, a lot of them offer bikes and give you trail maps. Otherwise check online for the part of the OBX you will be visiting for a list of bike trails.

After biking, you probably have worked yourself up an appetite, and are ready for lunch. Since you are at the beach, why not try some of the areas local seafood! If you are in the Kitty Hawk area try Awful Arthur's. Filled with lots of seafood options, everyone will be able to find something they like. Another option in Kitty Hawk to try is Steamers Restaurant. They offer dine in, take out with tables on an outdoor deck, or you could just pick up the food to go! The shrimp and fries are great!

By now you have had a delicious donut, a scenic bike ride, and a yummy lunch so you are probably ready to relax and spend some time at the beach. There are multiple public beaches located all over the Outer Banks. If you go to Kitty Hawk, there is a large pier right across from Awful Arthur's. Many of the "Just For The Beach" shops offer rentals on chairs and umbrellas, so if you are coming to the area for only a little bit this could be a great option. Walk up and down the shores collecting sea shells, or just set up a chair and sit while feeling the breeze.

Looking for more fun beach activities, why not try boogie boarding or surfing! Boogie boarding is a lot easier to pick up, so you can enjoy the water a lot quicker. A lot of stores and businesses in the area have surf classes, so if you want to learn you can. With either sport be sure to wear a rash guard as the sand can be rough on your skin! If you decide that those sound too adventurous for you, then just take in the views of the waves.

The Outer Banks offers additionally activities besides the beach, including bowling, malls, historical sights and more. If you visit longer be sure to look up the hotels in the area, or splurge and get a beach house rental! Normally these are offered in week long periods. These houses are your home away from home, and many are in communities that offer daily activities such as 5k's, themed dinners, and yoga classes! Below is a map showing the major towns in the Outer Banks, and some of the restaurants mentioned in this post. Additionally, we labeled some additionally sights you might want to visit depending on the length of your stay.

What did we miss in the Outer Banks that you would have seen? What is your favorite beach to visit? Be sure to tell us in the comments below. We are currently looking for deals on Skyscanner to Baltimore, Nashville, and Indianapolis. Want more pictures and travel tips? Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Blue skies,

Kat & Tomcat

Old Town Alexandria in an Afternoon

Looking for a fun afternoon outside Washington DC? Well look no further than Old Town Alexandria! Filled with history, shopping, and great food, Old Town has something for everyone to enjoy. Alexandria is easy to get to thanks to the DC metro, and the many airports in the DC area. The closest airport would be Ronald Reagan National Airport which is even located on the same line of the metro as Old Town is! Once on the metro, take the King Street-Old Town metro stop on the yellow and blue line, and from there it is a nice walk to get to the main shopping and historic cobble stone streets of Old Town. There is additionally a free trolley that runs from the metro to the water, if you want to skip the walking. For more information on how to get to the Washington DC area check out our DC in a Day blog post.

As you walk through King Street you will be quick to notice the fun and quirky stores along the way. There is some sort of shop that will please everyone from high end clothing and home goods such as Anthropologie, to fun consignment stores! It is sure to fit everyone's budget. If shopping isn't your favorite hobby, there are many other sources for entertainment as well. Try Escape Room Live for a fun family activity! There are multiple rooms to pick from, and they offer them for up to 12 people! Be sure to make reservations if this is something you and your group are interested in though.

If you want a free activity, be sure to keep walking down till you basically hit the Potomac River! Walk along the docks and see the different boats, see National Harbor from a distance, and take in a nice day. There are many signs explaining the history of Old Town on the boardwalk area, so you can learn about all that has occurred there. Old Town has lots of special events that take place too. When we went they had a replica Spanish sail boat there! There was a fee to get on the boat, so we just looked at it from the park. Be sure to look up what is going on while you visit!

Another free activity in Old Town is the Torpedo Factory Art Center. At one point it use to be a naval factory, but it is now a large art gallery. Walk around and see artist working on paintings, sculptures, and other pieces. There is a small area for food inside, and a couple gift shops.

Old Town has plenty of restaurants that offer amazing meals, and can fit any diet. While there, we went to the Virtue Feed and Grain. Since it was a weekend they were still serving brunch. This place was packed, so be sure to call ahead if there is a restaurant you really want to eat at if it is during prime meal hours! The buttermilk biscuits were fresh and delicious, and the hash browns were cooked very well! If you want more of a lighter meal, or just a sweet snack, check out Alexandria Cupcakes! With unique flavors, and everyone's favorite, there is a cupcake for any taste. Try the Vanilla Cupcake with Chocolate Icing, or if you like mint try the mint cupcake!

A trip to Old Town is not complete without walking around and admiring the water and the old homes of the area. There are multiple tours that you can take to give you more history into the area, or you can just explore it yourself. The cobble stone streets are great for pictures, and lots of the townhouses there decorate for all seasons. If it is a nice day be sure to admire the views.

What did we miss in Old Town that you would have seen? What is your favorite restaurant or place to eat at there? Let us know in the comments! The map below points out the attractions mentioned in the article, as well as some fun shops that we walked into.

We are still searching for more trips to take, and using Skyscanner to get us low prices for flights! Where should we head to next? We are currently looking up flights for Nashville, Denver, and other cities in Utah! Be on the lookout for more posts soon! If you want more travel tips, and to see additional pictures from our travels check out our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.

Blue skies,

K&L