U.S.A. Archives - Travel Sage https://travelsage.org/category/u-s-a/ Travel Sage Site Fri, 07 Aug 2026 22:42:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://travelsage.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/cropped-800pix-travel-sage-logo-1-32x32.png U.S.A. Archives - Travel Sage https://travelsage.org/category/u-s-a/ 32 32 Big Bend Trip Report https://travelsage.org/big-bend/ https://travelsage.org/big-bend/#respond Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:28:00 +0000 https://travelsage.org/?p=5312 My husband, Mark, is a nature guy and Big Bend National Park has been on his must-see list for years. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to get there. The closest feasible airport to fly into is Midland/Odessa, but that still leaves a 4 hour drive to the park. But in February 2025 we finally decided to […]

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Big Bend Trip Report

view down Santa Elana canyon with sunlight lighting the canyon in the distance

My husband, Mark, is a nature guy and Big Bend National Park has been on his must-see list for years. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to get there. The closest feasible airport to fly into is Midland/Odessa, but that still leaves a 4 hour drive to the park. But in February 2025 we finally decided to make the trek. I planned for us to stay an entire week there because in addition to exploring the parks, I had hoped that we would be able to sign up for at least a couple of guided activities, like rafting/kayaking, rock hounding, and/or birding. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until after I booked the airline tickets, that I received replies to my emails telling me that none of those activities would be possible. The woman who does the rock hunting tours doesn’t start until March, the birding guide had ended his business, and the river tour company only offered one day-trip paddle in February, and that was to a place that didn’t look very appealing to me. So, I wasn’t sure how we were going to fill 6 full days. But as it turned out, we didn’t do much the first 2 days because it was freezing – literally.  The lows were in the low 20’s and the high the first day was in the 40’s. (I believe that this was especially cold for the area.) Plus it was windy! Thankfully it warmed up after the first 2 days.  During the time we were there we experienced temperatures ranging from 23F to 89F.

We stayed in a “Casita” that I booked through Airbnb.  It was located in the small town of Terlingua, Texas (the closest town to the National Park) Despite the photos, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect from our casita. Well, the best way I can describe it is a stand-alone motel room with a patio and grill. Along the road that runs through Terlingua, you can see all kinds of interesting-looking accommodations. In addition to a couple of motels and RV parks, there were white teepees, tiny A-frame buildings with decks and hammocks, really tiny A-frame buildings that looked only big enough to hold a bed, and what appeared to be domed tents with ⅔ of the “ceiling” being glass for star gazing, which was excellent in Terlingua. Overall, though, this town is by no means a crowded tourist destination. You can see everything for miles as you drive down the main road because there are essentially no trees or tall buildings blocking your view.

A small casita with a white car parked outside of it
Our Casita in Terlingua, TX

The first day we didn’t leave our room until after noon due to the cold. Then we drove west to Big Bend Ranch State Park and checked out the Barton Warnock Visitor Center (indoors) which had nice displays illustrating the natural history of the region. By the time we left there it was around 2pm so the temperature was up into the 40’s and I was able to tolerate a little birding and a brief visit to Terlingua’s historic cemetery.

Some people might think cemeteries are only for visiting deceased loved ones, but for me they are a glimpse into the lives of people in the past and sometimes they are also a window into other cultures. Terlingua cemetery was unlike any I’ve ever seen. Many of the graves were simple graves with pieces of wood made into a cross but nothing indicating who was buried there. I believe these were the older graves (early 1900’s) from when Terlinga was established as a mercury mining town.

But surprisingly, this small graveyard (just over an acre) contains not only graves from 100+ years ago, but residents are still being buried there today. It makes you realize how few people have lived in Terlingua. The new graves were much more “colorful” than the ones of the town’s settlers. Many of these graves are piled high with all kinds of objects such as tchotchkes, bottles, artificial flowers, and stones. This allowed visitors a much more in-depth look into the lives of the deceased. Typically we only get clues from what’s inscribed on the tombstone, but here you can infer all kinds of things. For example, I imagine that the man whose grave is piled with empty beer and liquor bottles was quite the partier. I’ve included photos from a few of the more unique graves for you to interpret.

A wooden cross lying on the ground on top of some rocks in a dessert cemetary
A grave with a head stone and a pile of bottles with a wooden cross on top.
A western grave covered in stones and miscellaneous items including a toy dinosaur.

After the cemetery, we visited the Terlingua Trading Company. I had read that this was a great gift shop, and it did not disappoint. It had a large main room and then smaller rooms with specific items like Christmas decorations, jewelry, hot sauces, cold drinks, etc. It also had a couple of rooms with historical displays. I highly recommend it.

a desolate western scene with a building containing the Terlingua store, hotel and Starlight theatre restaurant.

Our second full day in Terlingua was again quite cold so we waited until late morning to go exploring. We decided to go into Big Bend Ranch State Park on this day because we read that the road going through the park was scenic. We figured if it was too cold to hike comfortably, it was better to miss the hikes in the state park rather than the ones in the national park. Our first stop along the road was to eat our picnic lunch at a picnic area. The teepees over the picnic tables were a nice touch.

A teepee along a road in the desert with a man wearing a red coat standing next to it

So, the drive was scenic, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations after having read glowing reviews. 

Scene of a river along a road going through Big Bend State Park, TX

Although we spent most of the day just driving, we did get out of the car a few times to walk a short distance, especially to take in scenes of the river.

On Day 3 it finally started warming up enough for me to enjoy the outdoors, so we headed into Big Bend National Park. Our first stop for taking a walk was at Dugout Wells and the short Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail. It was a pleasant walk but not much to see in February, other than some interesting cacti. I especially liked the pink/purple ones.

Pink cactus and a green cactus.

Our next stop that day was at the Rio Grand Village Nature Trail. This walk led down to the river and offered some nice views. We discovered that many of the trails that bordered the river, have Mexican tchotchkes for sale, most of which were figures made out of wrapped wire. Mexican men rode their horses across the river border to put out these handmade items. Each collection of items for sale has a lockbox next to it where you can deposit U.S. dollars. 

A scene on the Rio Grande River. A wall of rocks is on the far side.
A man riding a horse away from a river followed by his dog.

Before leaving the Rio Grande Village area, we walked through the campground because I heard it was a good birding spot. We didn’t see a lot of birds, but I did see my first roadrunner, which I was very excited about!

a greater roadrunner

The following we got an early start, and headed back into the national park. Our first stop was at the Sotol Vista Overlook. The views were spectacular but the photos don’t do them justice.

Expanse views of a desert and a flat rock face in the distance.

Our primary destination that day was Santa Elena Canyon, which was my most anticipated site on the trip to Big Bend. Despite the Sotol overlook being approximately 14 miles from Santa Elena Canyon, you could actually see it as an obvious notch in the distant mesa. And as we drove closer to the canyon we pulled over several times to get photos of it.

An arrow pointing to a notch in a distant mesa.

We stopped for a quick picnic lunch right before we started along the Santa Elena Canyon Trail. While we were eating, we got a visit from a gray fox and several roadrunners.

A gray fox

The Santa Elena Canyon Trail didn’t disappoint! The only “challenging” part of the trail was at the beginning, where you had to balance on some small logs to avoid falling in the muddy stream.

Three people balancing on small logs to cross a small stream. Two additional people are looking down from above.

After the stream the trail starts climbing up steps in the rocks, and before entering into the canyon, there’s a nice view looking back at where you’ve been. In the photo below on the right, the people on the right side of the river had crossed over just so they could say that they were in Mexico.

It was breathtaking as the trail entered into the canyon, and then after walking for a little while the trail dropped down to the level of the river. For me, this canyon was the highlight of our trip to Big Bend. But we still had two more days to explore.

A man standing in a narrow canyon
The sky reflecting in a river going through a steep, narrow canyon.
A woman standing on a strip of soil in the middle of a shallow river in a steep canyon.

The next morning we headed out pretty early to Mark’s most anticipated destination – The Lost Mine Trail. The drive there was quite scenic. 

A curved road going through a rocky desert. There is a sign along the road that says the fire danger is "high".
A road traveling through the desert with rocky peaks in the distance.

The Lost Mine Trail is 4.8 miles out and back with an elevation gain of 1,145 feet. I knew going in that I wasn’t going all the way to the top, so I just went as far as necessary to get some really great views. Then I found a nice place to hang out while I waited for Mark to return.

An elevated trail going through brush with rocky peaks in the background.
View of a valley with a fallen snag in the foreground.

After The Lost Mine Trail, we drove to the Chisos Basin and walked the easy .3 mile Window View Trail.

A man in the distance standing on a trail with scenic rocks behind him.

That day we headed back to our casita a little early so that we could get cleaned up for a nice belated anniversary dinner. Our anniversary had been 2 nights prior, but when we showed up at the one “nice” restaurant in Terlingua (The Starlight Theatre) that night, we discovered you had to get there early and get in line or you’re out of luck. So, this time we arrived about 45 minutes before they opened and we were the 2nd group in line. 

When I say it is a “nice” restaurant, I mean that it has a cosmopolitan menu with prices to match. But don’t expect fancy decor or tablecloths! Actually, it was the old-west rustic vibe that made a visit to the restaurant worthwhile. The food was nicely presented, but in my opinion, it wasn’t worth the price.

A man sitting on a stool that looks like a large woman in short, shorts. He's holding a beer and the desert is behind him.
The inside of a rustic restaurant/bar with live music in the back of the room.
2 plates of food nicely presented.

Our final day in Big Bend started wtih a stop at Terlingua Cemetary to get a few more photos in early morning light, and then we headed into the park to Daniels Ranch Road near the Rio Grande Visitor Center. I had read that this location is a great birding spot. I managed to add two more birds to my life list, we had a visit from a wild boar, and I bought a Mexican-made, wire-wrapped roadrunner in the local “shop”.

An old West cemetary with 3 rustic wooden crosses in the center of the photo.
Tschotchkes on a rock

Our final destination inside of Big Bend National Park was the Boquillas Canyon Trail. As the name suggests, the trail led down to a canyon on the Rio Grande. It was nice, but it wasn’t nearly as spectacular as the Santa Elena Canyon. As we started out on the trail, we came across a Mexican on horseback who tried to not only sell us tchotchkes, but also some home-cooked empanadas that is wife had just made. I really wanted to try one of the empanadas, but I decided not to risk getting sick the day before our trip home.

Canyon walls with a small river running through it.

Impressions and Tips for Visiting Big Bend

Overall, it was a nice trip. I was bummed about the cold weather at the beginning, so if I had to do it over maybe I’d push the trip back by a couple of weeks and go in March. That would also have allowed me to take the rock hounding tour that I was interested in. However, be forewarned, I was told that March is a very busy month in Terlingua and in the park. April also can be a good month to go, but you might experience hot temperatures. However, I understand the crowds are slightly less than March, rafting is better, and wildflowers are in bloom.

Here are some additional tips that I gathered from my experience there:

  • I think a 4 to 5 day trip would be plenty of time for most people to fully explore the area.
  • Compare gas prices before filling up, I saw some stations that were gouging people.
  • Download any information to your phone that you might need in Big Bend National Park because the cell service there was spotty.
  • Once you pick up your rental car, look for supermarkets on the way to Terlingua. The general store in town is very limited. 

If you’ve ever been to Big Bend, please consider sharing your tips and experiences in the comments below.

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]]> https://travelsage.org/big-bend/feed/ 0 Orlando Girls’ Trip: Beyond Theme Parks https://travelsage.org/orlando-girls-trip/ https://travelsage.org/orlando-girls-trip/#respond Wed, 02 Aug 2023 22:13:31 +0000 https://travelsage.org/?p=2619 Looking for ideas on the best girls’ trip destinations? Consider Orlando if your travel plans are NOT between June and August.

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Orlando Girls’ Trip: Beyond Theme Parks

Friends sitting on a lawn at Icon Park in Orlando Florida

Photo courtesy of Sea Life Orlando.

Heads Up: This page includes two affiliate links, which are marked by an “*”. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. But rest assured – my opinions are my own, I would never recommend something I haven’t or wouldn’t purchase for myself.

Looking for ideas on the best girls’ trip destinations? Consider Orlando if your travel plans are NOT between June and August. If you don’t live in the area, you probably think “Disney” when someone mentions Orlando. But there is so much more to do in Orlando beyond theme parks! A group of five of us did a weekend ladies trip to Orlando in February a few years ago to celebrate my friend’s 50th birthday, and it turned out to be a great choice! The thing about Orlando is that because there is such a variety of things to do, it is an excellent option for “girls” of all ages and interests.  You’ll find resorts, nightlife, shopping, museums, sports activities, nature, endless restaurant choices, and of course theme parks. And Orlando is only an hour drive to Cocoa Beach! Check out some specific ideas of what you and your friends can do in Orlando beyond just theme parks.

Things to do in Orlando

No matter what you and your friends’ interests are, you’ll find plenty to do here. Of course if you love theme parks, you are definitely in the right place. But let’s consider other things to do with a group of friends in Orlando.

Get Sporty

If you and your friends enjoying being athletic and/or a little competitive, consider some of the following ideas.

Try out Some Water Sports

Visit Orlando Watersports Complex and try your hand at waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing, kneeboarding, wakeskating or wakesurfing. You can get lessons while you’re there if you need them.

Photo courtesy of Matt Rini Waterski School.

And while you’re there, get silly playing on their inflatable waterpark. It’s not just for kids!

Inflatable water park at Orlando Watersports Complex

Photo courtesy of Commercial Recreation Specialists.

Play a Round of Golf

The entire state of Florida is known for golfing and Orlando is no exception. If you want to golf in the Orlando area, check out Golf Links list of 59 golf courses in the Orlando area. 

Two women golfing in Orlando

Photo courtesy of Visit Orlando.

Try out a New Kind of Golf – Top Golf

If you want to hit some balls without spending hours on the golf course, consider a visit to Orlando’s Top Golf. I’ve never golfed, but recently went to a birthday party at a Top Golf in Atlanta. It was so much fun! It’s a great concept where you and your friends tee-off from an open bay that you rent (by the hour) in a multi-story building. Your balls have tracking devices in them and automatically record your score on a screen in your bay. And they have a great menu and full bar so you can eat, drink and golf at the same time!

Groups of friends at Top Golf

Photo courtesy of Geek Wire.

Challenge Yourself to Some Rock Climbing

Even though Florida has a flat landscape, you and your friends can still have fun rock climbing in one of Orlando’s 11 rock climbing gyms.

Four women/girls climbing in a rock climbing gym.

Photo courtesy of RebounderZ.

Get Back to Nature

Orlando might be a big city, but there are still opportunities to enjoy nature.

Explore Gardens

Visit Harry P. Leu Gardens where you can explore a 50 acre semi-tropical garden with the added benefit of visiting a historical home. And it’s right in the heart of Orlando.

a scene in harry p. leu gardens

Photo courtesy of Orlando Magazine.

Walk a Nature Trail

If you’d rather to take a walk in a more natural Florida landscape, then consider a stroll along the Shingle Creek Trail. 

A winding boardwalk through woods on the Shingle Creek Trail, Orlando, FL

Photo courtesy of Burnsland.

Go on a Boat Ride

Take a scenic boat tour in Winter Park. This might be a nice thing to combine with lunch and shopping.

A group of women on a scenic boat tour in Winter Park, FL

Photo courtesy of Glassdoor.

Venture Outside of Orlando

If you are spending more than a couple of days in Orlando, consider taking a nature excursion day-trip outside of Orlando. If you don’t mind renting a car, then there are a ton of possibilities. But if you don’t want to drive yourself, below are a couple of nature tours that will pick you up and drop you off in Orlando.

Visit Homossassa Springs wildlife park and swim with manatees* … 

Underwater photo of a woman snorkeling alongside a baby manatee

Photo courtesy of MilesGeek.

or learn about Florida wildlife while enjoying an airboat ride*.

Photo courtesy of Marsh Landing Adventures.

Enjoy the Best Nightlife in Orlando

Do you and your friends like to party in the evening? If so, Orlando is an excellent option for your girls’ trip. Below are just a few of the many nightlife venues in the Orlando area.

Visit Locations With Multiple Night Clubs & Bars

Be sure to check out Universal’s City Walk on one of your nights in Orlando. City Walk is attached to Universal Studios but does not require a fee to enter. However, some of the bars do have cover charges. At City Walk you can sing-a-long at a dueling piano bar, do some late-night dancing, sing karaoke with a live band, and enjoy sipping drinks at a tiki bar. And if you’re feeling silly after you’ve had a few drinks, consider playing some horror movie-themed night-time mini-golf!

City Walk Universal skyline

Photo courtesy of Attractions Magazine.

Another venue that includes multiple entertainment and dining options is Disney’s Boardwalk. The Boardwalk offers a charming atmosphere around a lake, with street performers, midway games, a dueling piano bar and a dance club.

Disney's Boardwalk at night

Photo courtesy of Disney’s Food Blog.

Another multi-venue option is Wall Street Plaza in downtown Orlando. Here you’ll find bars with various themes, including steampunk, vintage carnival, and a tropical oasis. One bar, “Hooch”, is named for its variety of in-house flavored moonshines. You might find Wall Street Plaza to be fairly tame during the week, but on the weekend all the bars open up to a big block party.

Wall Street Plaza block party. I woman is on stage with her fist in the air and there is a big audience behind her.

Photo courtesy of Wall Street Plaza.

Party at One of the Hottest Nightclubs in Orlando

If you’d rather just focus on the hottest club in town instead of bar-hopping, then you’ll want to do more research. Take a look at Time Out’s list of the 12 best nightclubs in Orlando, or CuddlyNest’s list of the top 7 Orlando clubs.

Attend a Performance or Event

To find out what events are going on around Orlando, check out the events calendar on Visit Orlando’s website. If you are specifically looking for live music, then the Orlando Weekly is a good resource. Or consider one of the long-standing shows below.

Be Captivated by Cirque du Soleil

The Cirque du Soleil show in Orlando is put on by Disney at Disney Springs.

Choose one of the Many Orlando Dinner Theaters

The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show is rated the best dinner show in Orlando by Trip Advisor. Be sure to choose a night when their main act, Tony Brent, is performing. This might be a great option if you or any of your friends want to volunteer to get on stage as an assistant.

Photo courtesy of todaysorlando.com.

Medieval Times is one of the longest running Orlando Dinner Theaters. If you’ve never seen a medieval-themed performance with jousting and sword fights, then you might enjoy this. Note that this show is in a big arena, where you will sit and eat in rows.

Men and horses dressed in Medieval gear in a ring surrounded by people in stands.

Photo courtesy of Visit Orlando.

I’ve been to the Sleuths Mystery Dinner Shows several times. The characters mix with the audience, and the audience gets to ask questions to solve the mystery. Depending on which show you choose, you and and rest of the audience will be guests at a wedding, a lodge or some sort of party/event .If you are looking for serious detective work then you should look elsewhere. But if you and your friends are up for sipping wine and appreciating silliness, then this dinner show might be a good option.

If you’d like a dinner experience that allows you to step back in time, consider attending a Titanic Dinner Gala available on Friday and Saturday nights. Perhaps you and your friends might want dress up in clothes from the turn on the 20th century.

Another dinner theater in Orlando to consider is Teatro Martini. It’s described as an adults-only variety show. You can expect music, comedy, burlesque, improv and more.

Ladies performing on state

Photo courtesy of orlandovacation.com.

Visit a Museum

Although Orlando isn’t known for world-class museums, there are a few options for museum lovers.

Visit an Art Museum in Orlando

The largest and most well known of the Orlando art museums is the aptly named Orlando Museum of Art. Its permanent collections include American, African, and contemporary art.

I really enjoyed my recent visit to the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in nearby Winter Park. Its permanent collection revolves around the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany. 

A room inside The Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park, Florida

Photo courtesy of Art Geek.

If you like sculptures, be sure to visit the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens which is also located in Winter Park.

Explore a History Museum

If you want to learn a little bit about the history of Winter Park and the Orlando area then consider a visit to the Winter Park History Museum. 

An exhibit in the Winter Park History Museum

Photo courtesy of 407area.com.

For something different, check out the Orlando Fire Museum. This little museum located in a 1926 firehouse gets great reviews.

If you are intrigued by the history of the Titanic then be sure to visit the Titanic Artifact Exhibition.

Since Orlando is a major tourist destination, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that you can find the usual tourist-oriented museums here. These include Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and Madame Tussauds. 

Go Shopping

Orlando wouldn’t be a great girls’ trip destination if there wasn’t some fun shopping venues! So let’s talk about some of the best places to shop in Orlando.

Save Money at One of the Orlando Outlet Malls

If you are shopping for luxury brands, be sure to visit the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets. Here you’ll find 160 stores with brands such as Armani, Jimmy Choo, and Versace, just to name a few.

For those who don’t want to pay for luxury brands (even at discounted prices), check out the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores. This shopping plaza provides a complimentary shuttle to and from select hotels and resorts in Orlando and Kissimmee.

If You're Looking for a LOT of Stores, Visit One of the Indoor Malls

For a traditional mall experience, visit The Florida Mall which has over 250 stores and restaurants. But if you want something a bit more upscale, the Mall at Millenia is a great choice.

Stroll Some Local Boutiques

If the buying is less important than the shopping experience, then local boutiques are the way to go. And the best shopping experience in the Orlando area is definitely downtown Winter Park. Strolling along N. Park Avenue makes for a pleasant afternoon.

A map of N. Park Avenue in Winter Park, FL

In case you want my recommendation… If I had to pick just one place in the Orlando area to spend a day with my girlfriends, I’d choose Winter Park. There are great restaurants, a nice little boat tour, unique shops for window shopping, and a handful of museums. 

Where to Stay in Orlando

There is no shortage of places to stay in Orlando. First decide the type of place you’d like to stay. Do you want to spend your days relaxing by a pool, then a either a resort or a nice home with a pool are your best bets. If you want to keep your lodging costs down so you can spend more out and about, then a hotel/motel is a good option if there are only 2 or 3 of you, and an apartment hotel is a great choice if there are going to be more ladies than that. My friends and I stayed in the Floridays Resort. Although “resort” is in the title, this is not the kind of place I’m referring to when I talk about a resort. Floridays is more like a nice condo or apartment complex with a pool and a cafe. But the price is great if you are sharing the cost with several people. As of the time of this writing (Aug 2023), for most of the year prices for a two bedroom apartment are under $200 a night, and their three bedroom apartments sleep up to 8 people and are around $250 per night. Also, it’s in a great location right off of International Drive. 

3 bedroom floorplan for Floridays Resort Orlando
3 Bedroom Floorplan for Floridays Resort Orlando

If you don’t mind paying more for a real resort experience, then consider some of the options below.

Disney Boardwalk Villas & Inn

Photo courtesy of Disneytips.com.

The Disney Boardwalk is a fun place to go in the evening with lots of restaurants and entertainment. So when I go there I always envy the people who get to stay in the villas or inn that are right on the Boardwalk.  Prices Start Around $650/night for a standard room at the inn, or a studio villa that sleeps up to 5 people. However, there is another way to potentially book villas (including ones with 1+ bedrooms). Apparently, these villas are one of the options for people who join the Disney Vacation Club (DVC). They get a set number of points per year which they use to reserve the villas, but if they don’t use them, they sell them. If you don’t mind working a little to try to find a bargain, then check out the DVC shop where you can buy these points and immediately book a villa on available days. For more information on the Boardwalk Villas visit the Disney Tourist Blog.

This is a good option for you if…

  • you want to enjoy the Boardwalks’ entertainment & restaurants in the evening.
  • you plan to visit Hollywood Studios or Epcot (you can walk to them from the Boardwalk or take the shuttle boats).

Disney Animal Kingdom Villas & Lodge

Close-up of a giraffe looking into the camera with Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge in the background.

Photo courtesy of Virgin Atlantic Holidays.

The Animal Kingdom Lodge or Villas is another place I’d love to stay. This resort features three 11 acre savannas where African animals roam “free”. How cool would it be to wake up to a giraffe looking in your window!  Even if you don’t want to pay the extra money for a savanna view room, you will still have access to the trails in the properties where you can see into all three of the savannas. Prices Start Around $700/night for a room in the lodge or a studio villa (up to 4 adults) with a savanna view. Standard view rooms and studios currently start at $530 per night.  However, like the Disney Boardwalk Villas, you can try to find a deal by booking through the DVC shop.  Check out the Disney Tourist Blog for a review of the Animal Kingdom Villas at Jambo House.

This is a good option for you if…

  • you and your friends love animals!
  • you don’t mind staying a little farther away from the other Disney attractions.

Margaritaville Resort Orlando

A giant red flip flop sculpture and two palm trees in a resort lobby

Photo courtesy of Margaritaville Resort Orlando.

Margaritaville Resorts are popping up all around the country, so they are clearly a popular choice for those wanting a Key West kind of atmosphere. The Margaritaville Resort Orlando offers a range amenities including multiple restaurants, bike rentals, a full service spa, and several heated, free-form pools in a beach-like setting.  Hotel Room prices (up to 4 people) start around $250/night plus a $40 daily resort fee. There are many villa and cottage options to choose from with some 4 bedroom units (up to 10 people) going for just over $500. 

This is a good option for you if…

  • you plan to rent a car (this resort is a bit far from places you may want to visit in Orlando and/or Disney).
  • you and your friends are interested in a range of spa services.
  • you are traveling with a large group of friends.

Reunion Resort & Golf Club

Photo courtesy of Visit Orlando.

The sprawling Reunion Resort is another great option for larger groups of ladies.  Prices Start Around $300/night for a 3 bedroom villa that sleeps up to 6 people. Plus there is a resort fee of $35 to $45 per night depending on the size of your room/villa.  There are a ton of amenities included in the resort fee, such as seven pools, a water park, lazy river, and gym, plus access to a number of sports facilities (for an additional fee). The sport options include three golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball ball courts, bocce ball, mini-golf, and bike rentals. The Reunion property is not just a resort, it is also a residential community. 

This is a good option for you if…

  • you and your friends play golf or enjoy other sports.
  • you plan to rent a car – a lot of the amenities in this community are too far away to walk to.

Omni Orlando at Champions Gate

Arial view of Omni Orlando Resort

Photo courtesy of Omni Hotels.

The Omni Orlando offers both hotel rooms and villas. Prices Start Around $300/night for a hotel room that sleeps 4.  Two bedroom villas that sleep up to 6 people start at $500. Three bedroom villas are also available. There is also a $40/night resort fee charged for all of the accommodations. Amenities include multiple swimming pools (including one for adults only); a wave pool; lazy river; three fitness centers, access to golf, tennis, and basketball; and free mini-golf. Check out the resort map here.

This is a good option for you if…

  • you or one of your friends is traveling with a pet up to 50 pounds (allowed in hotel rooms only, not villas).
  • you prefer a resort with a lot of amenities, but don’t want it to be too sprawling.

Signia by Hilton, Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort

Arial view of Hilton Bonnet Creek's pool area

Photo courtesy of Resort Pass.

The Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort is  attached to the Waldorf Astoria, which means you have easy access to the Waldorf’s restaurants and golf course. The Hilton has an incredible 3 acre complex of pools and hot tubs connected by a lazy river.  This Hilton is an official Disney Resort which means that there is a shuttle bus that comes through every 30 minutes to take you to any of the Disney parks. Room prices (up to 4 people) start around $250/night plus a $45 daily resort fee. Standard hotel rooms and suites are the only options at this resort.

This is a good option for you if…

  • you want easy access to the Disney parks without paying the hefty prices of most Disney Resorts.
  • you or one of your friends is traveling with a dog up to 40 pounds.

If you and your friends want more peace and quiet, then consider renting a house on Airbnb, Vrbo, or Homeaway. If you choose this option, you’ll undoubtedly need to rent a car.

In case you still aren’t quite convinced that Orlando is one of the best girls’ trip destinations in the U.S., consider the fact that because Orlando is a tourist hub, it is very easy to fly into. You’ll find many direct flights from cities all over the country. So no matter where your girlfriends live, they shouldn’t have any trouble meeting you in Orlando!

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]]> https://travelsage.org/orlando-girls-trip/feed/ 0 One Day In Oahu https://travelsage.org/oahu-in-one-day/ https://travelsage.org/oahu-in-one-day/#comments Sun, 29 Jan 2023 07:42:27 +0000 https://travelsage.org/?p=70 Since we really only had one day to explore the island, we had planned our route around Oahu ahead of time. However, I couldn’t help myself from stopping every time something looked interesting.

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One Day In Oahu

Our stop in Oahu on our way to Australia was primarily to save money. The flight I found through Honolulu was so much cheaper than the flights directly to Australia that we were able to pay for 2 nights on Oahu, a rental car, and an extra night in Melbourne with the savings. 

Since we really only had one day to explore the island, we had planned our route around Oahu ahead of time. However, I couldn’t help myself from stopping every time something looked interesting. One of my first unplanned stops was at Shark’s Cove (sharks are not common). It is a Cove protected by a reef and is popular for snorkeling. I guess it was low tide when we were there because the Cove was completely encircled by the rocks but I’ve since seen photos of the Cove being open to the ocean. It was cool to watch when a large wave crashed on the reef and spilled over the rocks, suddenly the flat Cove was wavy.

Shark's Cove, Oahu, Hawaii
Calm Water at Shark's Cove

Our first planned stop was at Turtle Bay. It appeared to be an oceanfront resort but the parking lot was public and there were several easy hikes/walks to take. The scenery here was pretty but not as dramatic as some other parts of the island.

Turtle Bay Shoreline Walk

After a short walk we continued on our planned route with several scenic unplanned spots. Pounder’s Beach was one of the prettiest.

Pounders Beach

As I was driving I could see some really striking mountains behind me. I kept pulling over to get a better look but they don’t make it easy for you in Oahu. Someone needs to explain the concept of “scenic overlooks” to them. I started back tracking and got this photo but decided it wasn’t good enough.

Scene of Mountains Along Route 99 in Hawaii

I finally found a small parking area that led to a walk along an inlet.

Mountain Scene in Oahu with Trees
An Inlet in Oahu with Mountains in the Background

Our next planned stop was for a walk along the Kawai Nui Hiking Trail in the town of Kailua. We picked this spot because it was supposed to be good for birding, but as it turned out, it also had beautiful views.

View from the Kawai Nui Trail
Birdwatching on the Kawai Nui Trail
Red-crested Cardinal
Red Crested Cardinal
Common Waxbill
Common Waxbill
Java Sparrow
Java Sparrow
Juvenile Auku'u Kane
Juvenile Auku'u Kane

Our next stop was Waimanalo Beach which I had read was good for shelling. While there were no shells, it turned out to be the nicest beach we visited. If we had more days on Oahu, I would have liked to come back to this beach and spend the day relaxing.

Waimanalo Beach
Waimanalo Beach

What made this beach different was that it was uncrowded and far enough off the road that you couldn’t see or hear traffic. Most of the other beaches we saw were right on the main road. Some people were camping there under the trees.

We had planned to take a couple more walks but we ran out of time and energy.  Our last stop was at a scenic overlook (overlooks were so rare we made sure to stop at every one we saw).

Scenic Overlook in Oahu, Hawaii

The map below shows the route we took in our whirlwind, one-day trip around Oahu. My overall impression of the island was that, although it had some beautiful scenery, there were just way too many people! I doubt I’ll go back there, but I hope to visit some of the less populated Hawaiian Islands.

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