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Jamie Young | Travel w/ Teens

@justsimplywander

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🌵 Arizona based | exploring the world
✈️ outdoor adventures•local gems•food & hotels
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Polignano a Mare may not be on your radar, but it needs to be! This beautiful seaside town in Italy’s Puglia region is perched high on a cliff above the Adriatic Sea and is full of history and charm. They say this is where the Italians go on holiday, and I can see why! Here’s how we spent 4 days here:Day 1:•Train from Rome to Polignano a Mare (5 1/2 hours, $55)•Check into hotel in old town (we stayed at Trame La Naca Sul Porto, San Michele Suites is also a great option)•Dinner at Pizzeria Bella Mbriana: Order the baked gnocchi and caprese •Walk around old town: Arco Marchesale, Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption, Palazzo dell’Orologio, Via Roma, and all the cute alleyways.Day 2:•Sunrise at scenic viewpoints: Pietra Piatta, Belvedere su Lama Monachile, Belvedere Grotta Palazzese, Grotta dell’Arcivescovado, Largo Grotta Ardito, Lungomare Promenade, and Ponte Borbonico Lama Monachile•Apulian cooking class & lunch with @pugliamare •Swimming & relaxing at Lama Monachile beach•Shopping for souvenirs•Dinner at Begula Club: Order the ravioli or carbonaraDay 3:•Full day trip to visit Matera and Alberobello with @pugliamare •Dinner at Neuro Ristorante Pizzeria: all of their pizzas are amazing! •Gelato at Caruso Gelateria BarDay 4:•Sea cave boat tour with @pugliamare •Lunch at Aquamarea: Smaller portion sizes, but the view of Lama Monachile can’t be beat!•Flight back to Rome (1hr 10 min, $73)*Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you our full Polignano a Mare travel guide! by @justsimplywander

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7 hours ago

We snorkeled all around Coron Island, and Skeleton Wreck was by far our favorite! We were shocked at how many fish there were, and that they swarmed all around us instead of swimming away. It was such a cool experience, and it felt like we were swimming in an aquarium!Here is some helpful information if you want to visit:📍This is a popular stop for boat tours, and is about a 20 minute boat ride from Coron Town, in Palawan, Philippines.🚤 There are quite a few tour operators that include this stop on their itinerary. We booked a private boat tour through @paolynhouseboats and the cost was $34 USD per person for a full day tour for guests staying on their houseboats.☠️ Skeleton Wreck is known for the submerged Japanese supply ship that was sunk during an air raid in WWII. The bow of the ship sits about 16 feet below the surface so you can swim down to it.🐠 The shipwreck acts as an artificial reef and attracts shoals of colorful fish, including reef fish, parrotfish, damselfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, and the occasional sea turtle.Definitely add this to your Philippines bucket list! by @justsimplywander

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3 days ago

I am convinced that Coron Island in Palawan, Philippines is one of the most beautiful places on earth! Coron Island is a popular day trip for boat tours from Coron Town, but I have a secret to beat the crowds….We stayed right on the island at @paolynhouseboats and booked a private full day boat tour. Since this is the only accommodation available on Coron Island, we were able to get an early start to beat the crowds. We went out for 4 hours in the morning to these spots:📍Barracuda Lake📍Kayangan Lake📍Twin Peaks Coral 📍Vivian BeachWe came back to our houseboat for a few hours to eat lunch, relax, and take a nap. In the late afternoon, we headed back out just as all of the tour boats were heading back in. We spent another 4 hours visiting these locations:📍Skeleton Wreck📍Atwayan Beach📍Smith Coral Garden📍Banol BeachIt was also a short 10 minute paddle from our houseboat to one of the most iconic spots on the island: 📍Twin LagoonWe paddled there in the early morning and again in the evening and we had the whole place to ourselves.This really is the best way to experience the beauty of Coron Island! by @justsimplywander

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6 days ago

We just spent 11 days in the Philippines, and the @rivonova_outdoors 30L waterproof backpack was the MVP of our trip! (ad)Not only is this a durable and comfortable travel backpack with multi-functional storage and a front pocket design for convenient access to essentials, but I love that it is completely waterproof and doubles as a dry bag! We tested out the RIVONOVA Waterproof Backpack at different locations and conditions, including…•Massin River, Siargao•Tayangban Cave Pool, Siargao•Cloud 9 Beach, Siargao•Twin Lagoon, Coron Island•Barracuda Lake, Coron Island•Coron Island boat expedition It kept all our valuables dry and safe in the rain, in the saltwater, and even when it was completely submerged while navigating through a river cave.If you’re planning to be around water on your next trip, there’s no need to take up luggage space by packing a dry bag, this waterproof travel backpack does it all! *Click the link in my bio + use code “nder10” to save 10%!#rivonova #rivonovawaterproofbackpack #travelhack #philippinestravel by @justsimplywander

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9 days ago

Rome is one of the most incredible cities in the world. You could easily spend months, and even years, exploring the city and still not see it all. However, here are 15 iconic spots in Rome that everyone needs to visit at least once! ✝️ St. Peter’s Basilica ⛲️ Trevi Fountain🌇 Spanish Steps🏛️ Pantheon🗿 Vatican Museum⛪️ Church of Saint Ignazio🏟️ Colosseum 🌷 Piazza Navona & Campo Di Fiori🌳 Borghese Gardens🛵 Vespa sidecar tour 🖼️ Galleria Doria Pamphilj🍽️ Trastevere🏙️ Gianicolo Hill📜 Roman Forum🏰 Castel Sant’Angelo*Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you our Rome travel guide! by @justsimplywander

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11 days ago

Here’s how I would spend a weekend if you’re visiting Salt Lake, Utah for the first time…📍Stay at @asheradamshotel, a historic train depot turned luxury hotel.Day 1 🥞Breakfast at @rouserslc. Order the blueberry lemon curd French toast or the Hot Shot Benny, trust me! 🛴Rent a scooter or hop on the FREE Trax train to explore downtown.🏛️Take a guided tour of the Utah State Capitol and the Historic Salt Lake City & County Building📚Visit the Salt Lake City Public Library. Check for fun events like the rooftop cinema.🕍 See the sites at Temple Square (currently under construction).🥙 Lunch at @hallpassslc food hall. 🛍️ Shopping at @citycreekcenter or Gateway Mall. 🥘 Dinner at @_therest, a cozy speakeasy hidden in the basement of @bodegaslc.Day 2:🍽️ Breakfast at @sweetlakebiscuitsandlimeade.🦬 Rent a car and drive to @antelopeislandstatepark to spot hundreds of free roaming bison.🏫 Stop at East High for a self-guided tour of the High School Musical filming location (M–F, 3:30–6 pm when school is in session).🐮 Visit @wheelerhistoricfarm (it’s free!)✈️ Fly home after a fun weekend in Salt Lake! Let me know your favorite things to do in Salt Lake in the comments below! by @justsimplywander

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15 days ago

If someone were to ask me where the most beautiful place I’ve ever stayed is, this would be it.Our family spent two unforgettable nights at @paolynhouseboats at Coron Island in the Philippines, and it’s an experience we’ll be thinking about for the rest of our lives.Here are a few things we loved about our stay:⛰️These floating homes are tucked into secluded coves surrounded by limestone cliffs and turquoise water. I’ll never get over waking up to those views.🛶 We loved taking out the complimentary kayaks, paddle boards, and snorkel gear. We were even close enough to kayak to the stunning Twin Lagoon, one of the most iconic spots on Coron Island.🍽️ You can order meals to be delivered right to your boat. Eating dinner together on the outdoor deck at sunset was one of my favorite memories of the trip.🏝️ Paolyn Houseboats are the only accommodations on Coron Island, so you can book a private boat tour that will take you to the most popular beaches and snorkeling spots before the day trippers arrive. 🛌 The houseboats are clean, comfortable, and full of charm. My favorite feature is the glass wall that opens up to the deck overlooking the water. Air conditioning is available for an additional charge and WiFi is included.🏠 They have several different boats and room options to choose from. We stayed in a Mega Glass Suite on the Mega Glass Houseboat and it comfortably slept our family of 7.✈️ Transfers to and from the airport are included (45 min drive and 20 minute speedboat ride).❤️ The service is incredible! Everyone is so kind, gracious, and accommodating. They went above and beyond to make our trip memorable.📍Paolyn Houseboats truly is a special place, be sure to save this for future trip planning! by @justsimplywander

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18 days ago

If you’re planning to be at Disneyland for the rope drop, here are a few tips you should know…💫Ticket booths and security open at 7 am. You’ll need to be to the park around 6:30 am if you want to be at the front of the line. 💫Entrance to the park opens at 7:30 am💫Walk through Main Street to reach the castle where everyone lines up for rope drop.💫There is a rope at the entrance to each section of the park (Frontierland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, etc.). Decide which ride you want to go on first, then line up at the entrance to the land it is located in. 💫The official rope drop time at the entrance to each land is 8 am.💫Rise of the Resistance is one of the most popular rides and generally has the longest wait time, so I would go there first. You get to it from Frontierland.💫Guests staying at the Disneyland Resort hotels no longer get early access to the park, instead they get a complimentary one-time Lightning Lane Multi Pass per guest.*Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you our Disneyland Tips & Tricks guide! by @justsimplywander

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22 days ago

Puglia is such an underrated region of Italy! There are countless charming towns to visit, so it’s hard to narrow down where to go. My sister and I took an unforgettable girls trip here. We stayed in Polignano a Mare and took a day trip with @pugliamare to visit two of Puglia’s most unique towns, Matera and Alberobello. It is such a great option if you don’t have a vehicle, especially since there are no train stations near these towns. If you’re visiting Puglia, Italy for the first time, you don’t want to miss these 3 incredible towns!🚤 Polignano a Mare: This city is built on a sheer cliff overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Wander the streets of old town, swim at Lama Monachile, take a pasta making class, and explore the coast on a boat tour.⛪️ Matera: This UNESCO World Heritage Site is in the neighboring region of Basilicata and is one of the oldest cities in the world, and has been inhabited for over 9,000 years! Explore the Sassi districts, grab a drink inside a cave bar at Zipa Cafe, visit the ancient churches, walk through an underground cistern at Palombaro Lungo, and take photos at the numerous viewpoints overlooking the city.💫 Alberobello: This fairytale town is known for its traditional trulli houses that are unique to this area. Wander the streets of Rione Monte packed with over 1,000 trulli homes, grab a bite to eat in Largo Martellotta, visit the Church of St Anthony, and take a photo at the gate located at Via Duca Degli Abruzzi.Be sure to add these spots to your Italy itinerary!#pugliaitaly #pugliamare #hosted by @justsimplywander

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25 days ago

After visiting Sedona, Arizona countless times, I’m convinced there’s no better way to explore the area than by e-bike!You can skip the headache of traffic and parking, ride directly to trailheads instead of waiting for the shuttle, and enjoy miles of scenic OHV trails.We put the @aventon Aventure 3 e-bike (ad) to the test this past weekend and were seriously impressed. It handled Sedona’s rugged terrain with ease while delivering a smooth, comfortable ride the entire time.Here are some of our top recommendations if you want to plan an epic weekend in Sedona…🚴‍♂️ Best E-bike Trails:Soldier PassBroken Arrow Schnebly’s Hill🛌 Best Places to Stay:Amara Resort & SpaAmbiente Tiny Camp Sedona Arabella Orchard Canyon on Oak CreekEnchantment Hotel El Portal Sedona 🏜️Best Places to Go:Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts VillageChapel of the Holy CrossGrasshopper Point swimming holeSlide Rock State ParkRed Rock Crossing at Crescent Moon Ranch 🍽️ Best Places to Eat:Pump House StationHideaway House Indian Gardens CafeThe HudsonJavalina CantinaMesa Grill 🥾Best Hiking Trails:Cathedral RockDevil’s BridgeBirthing CaveWest Fork TrailFay Canyon TrailSubway CaveClick the link in my bio and use code IN-JAMIE60 to save $60!#aventon #aventure3 #sedonaarizona by @justsimplywander

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a month ago

We spent 3 days in Lake Como, Italy, and these are our favorite spots:•Salita Serbelloni: located in Bellagio, this is one of the most photogenic streets in Lake Como.•Nesso Bridge: This medieval bridge is an iconic Lake Como landmark.•Private Boat Tour: We booked a private boat tour with @prestige_italy_experience and it was such a fun way to see the highlights of the lake.•Bellagio: This postcard perfect town is considered the “Pearl of the Lake”. We stayed at Hotel Florence here, and it was the perfect home base.•Villa Melzi: Tour the impressive gardens at this historic 1800s estate.•Orrido Di Bellano: Walk along raised pathways through this picturesque gorge.•Varenna: Spend the afternoon exploring this colorful lakefront village.•Via Lungo Lario Manzoni: Bellagio’s scenic lakeside promenade stretches along the waterfront and is perfect for a sunset stroll. •Villa del Balbianello: This elegant 18th-century mansion is one of the most famous villas on the lake. Scenes from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and James Bond: Casino Royale were filmed here.•Tourist Train: For €5 you can take a scenic ride around Bellagio.•Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini: Bellagio’s lively storybook town square with waterfront restaurants and shops. *Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my Lake Como travel guide! by @justsimplywander

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a month ago

We spent 12 days in Italy, and this Apulian cooking class with @pugliamare was one of our favorite things that we did on our entire trip! (hosted)During the 2-hour experience, we learned how to make authentic orecchiette, a pasta originating in the Puglia region. After learning the art of pasta making, we sat down to enjoy our fresh handmade pasta. It was such a fun, entertaining, educational, and delicious experience. By the end of the afternoon, it felt like we were one big Italian family sitting around Nonna’s kitchen table! If you’re planning to visit Puglia, be sure to add this to your itinerary! by @justsimplywander

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a month ago