Another Universal Studios Holiday Getaway

Roll your eyes, or rub your hands with glee, because we’re virtually visiting Universal Studios Resort in Orlando, again!

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More scallops? Don’t mind if I do.

We recently spent three days in Newport, RI for a short vacation. No real reason to go there in particular except we’ve been there before and hadn’t had a chance to do any of the mansion tours. As an unplanned bonus, we had breezy 70-degree weather and avoided a sweltering weekend in the 90s here at home. It was relaxing, the weather was great, we did a few things, and just got away. We also did quite well in terms of eating. As I was in vacation mode, not blogging mode, I took zero food photos. So, again, enjoy these reviews through the glory of plain text.

Christmas at Universal Orlando Resort

Imagine the usual disclaimers about skipping this post if you’re not interested in reading about UOR…AGAIN! I know, I know, it’s not local, but I’ve got some great pictures and food talk from a short visit paid to UOR during their holidays celebration.

Universal Orlando Resort trip report early 2019

It’s that time again, off-topic lovers! More food and fun from Universal Orlando Resort during our February/March Florida trip this year. This time, after pricing up the options, we got annual passes for just a bit more than the 2-park, park-to-park passes for our trip. SOLD! 🙂 That means we just have to go back for a single day in the next 15 months to come out ahead and admission is free every day after that. Pretty cool. And with the new Hagrid coaster opening in June, well, it’s pretty much guaranteed. Anyway, below you’ll find a report on the rides and sights and stay and, especially, the food. Here’s the Islands of Adventure lighthouse from our first night for your enjoyment!

Food at Disney World and Epcot Food and Wine Festival

As I indicated earlier, we had a long-planned trip to Disney World in Orlando this fall that has now come and passed.  We spent a Saturday at the Magic Kingdom and Sunday at Epcot, then a stop at Disney Springs on Monday.  So it wasn’t a long visit, and I certainly didn’t get to eat everything AJ recommends, but I did the best I could.

On the road at Naji’s Mediterranean Cuisine

Late in the summer we took a drive out to the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge, MA.  It was nice enough,  but given the dry summer and lateness of our visit in the season, it was just OK.  I suspect it would be much more worthwhile during peak season, which is when I would recommend going.

But, being me, of course I had to scope out someplace interesting nearby to get lunch.  And, being us, Mediterranean is always a good place to start looking.  That led us to Naji’s Mediterranean Cuisine in Great Barrington.  It was a good choice and we’d happily return if in the area.

Trip report for a whirlwind day at Universal Orlando

I’ll try to make this painless if you have no interest in hearing about our theme park visit, go ahead and click over to something more to your liking.  I do have a lot of info on the food, but there’s also quite a bit on the rides, etc., which I didn’t talk about much after our last visit in November 2016.

Last year I damaged my back shortly before our trip, which meant almost no rides for me.  This time, as luck would have it, we had planned a short visit to see my parents in Florida right when Hurricane Irma was also planning to visit.  Off we went and this is what happened (but look at this gorgeous view as we flew from Upstate NY)…