© 2014 sarahfortune.

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Mom to Iris. Wife to Todd. Our little family lives at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We love it here and I love sharing little bits of our life.

© 2014 sarahfortune.
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Category : Travel

Sponsored, Travel

Magic Screams 2018 – Discounted Tickets & Giveaway!

This post is in partnership with Magic Springs. Get your discounted tickets here!

It’s OCTOBER – the best month of the year! And what better way to kick off our favorite month by going on an adventure to Hot Springs (for my birthday weekend, no less)? Magic Springs invited us to visit their annual Magic Screams event on opening weekend, which ended up being the best way to dive straight into autumn. We decided to make a weekend out of it so after grabbing Iris as soon as school let out, we hit the road. Typically we visit this quaint, historic town when the horse races are happening, but it was fun to see the city from a different perspective. Arriving just in time for dinner, we checked out a brewery and pizza joint Todd wanted to try, SQZBX. Tasty!

On Saturday, my birthday, we managed to sleep in until almost 9:00 the next morning, which was a birthday present all in itself. Before Magic Springs opened for the day, we wandered around Hot Springs’ charming downtown area and had nice little lunch. Getting to the park in the afternoon, we went straight for the rides. Never knowing how brave Iris will be, she impressed us by riding one roller coaster four times in a row!

But the true magic was how Magic Springs had been transformed into Magic Screams – a spooky Halloween-themed destination that’s fun for all ages. I appreciated how they had a lot of stuff for the younger (or easily frightened) folks in the earlier hours and, as it got later, everything turned a bit more frightening. The only thing is that if you want to experience Magic Screams, you gotta do it soon! For the month of October it’s open beginning at noon Saturdays until 11 p.m. and Sundays until 9 p.m. The spooks last until October 28, so if you are anywhere nearby, make a fun weekend out of it like we did. Hot Springs is only about three and a half hours from Fayetteville, less than three hours from my hometown of Memphis, and less than an hour away from Little Rock.

My favorite part of Magic Screams is that you get to experience the best of both worlds – during the day we rode all the rides our hearts desired (with little or no wait times), and then as it got closer to dark more Halloween activities started popping up. From the six themed haunted houses, to the trick-or-treat trail where kids got to play carnival games for candy, Iris quite a blast. And so did we! Did I mention that they actually have a beer garden in the park? We stopped for a drink and a jello shot, which of course was also in theme and presented in a syringe.

So if you are headed to Magic Screams, I have an insider special on tickets just for you guys! Get your tickets using this link right here. It will give you an $8 savings per gate ticket and is even $3 cheaper than the Magic Springs’ online discounted price. Also, there’s even an option to buy 2019 season passes that are not only discounted, but you can use them at the 2018 Magic Screams, all of the 2019 Season including concerts, special events, and 2019 Magic Screams. And if that isn’t enough, I’m giving away four free tickets to Magic Screams on Instagram, so be sure to check head over and check it out. The giveaway will open on Thursday evening, October 11 and will end on Friday, October 12. It’s a quick turnaround time so that we make sure the winner can use them before Magic Screams comes to a close.

As the sun went down, we could tell things were getting creepier by the minute. After we had all the fun (and spooks) we could stand, we made our way back to our hotel. We took one last Hot Springs pit-stop though at The Purple Cow where we were treated to dinner and their famous purple milkshakes. From there it was off to bed, exhausted but happy and full. And wouldn’t you know it? We managed to sleep until almost 9 am the next morning too.

Thanks for having us, Magic Screams! See you next year!

Northwest Arkansas, Travel

TRAVEL LOVE: Flamingo Springs Trailer Resort

Let me tell you about this magical land called Flamingo Springs… It’s a place that has made all of my retro travel dreams come true. And located off the back roads of Prairie Grove, Arkansas this 1950s inspired trailer resort is a one of a kind – all just about a half hour from my house in Fayetteville.

Vintage (anything and everything) has a special place in my heart. As some of you may know, in the mid-2000s I sold vintage clothes on eBay while I was in college (just one of many interesting career choices). It was so successful I was able to quit my coffee shop gig to focus solely on shopping at thrift stores (and, sometimes, focusing on my classes). At one point Todd even quit his job at an ad agency because the sales were so incredible and the more help I had, the more I could sell. I used living in Arkansas to my advantage and scoured barely picked over estate sales and flea markets for hidden treasure, but I knew that this old-school goldmine wouldn’t last forever. After graduation, I got a “real” job (the one I have now, in fact) and closed up shop. But what does this have to do with my recent visit to Flamingo Springs? I guess that it was nostalgic for me, but not in the obvious sense. After all, I wasn’t around in the 1950s when these trailers were new. I just loved being in that vintage world again, surrounded by the amazingly kitchy details, if only for one night.

The owners, Zack and Laura, have truly made this a unique place to visits. And ten years ago I never would have imagined such a thing would be nestled in the hills I once drove through, searching for vintage goods. I was so amazed by their attention to detail and, while almost everything is indeed authentically old, we still had the modern comforts of home (new mattress in our trailer, Keurig coffee pot in the game room, huge community refrigerator, etc.). We are so lucky to have a spot like this in Northwest Arkansas.

Todd was out of town when we visited, so it was just Iris and I who shared one of the six themed trailers. It’s worth noting that we went on a family-friendly night, which they have from time to time, but usually it’s a grown-ups only venue. We had a few pals come out to stay as well, so thankfully we had the chance to peek into each one. I chose the Friends theme, “The One With the Trailer,” but Iris’ clear favorite was the Lisa Frank inspired “Pink Fuzzy Unicorn.” I’m glad that we paid our first visit before the summer was over because the pool was where we spent most of our time. However, I really would like to go back this fall or even in the winter, to roast marshmallows around the fire pit and spend even more time in the game room. It rained on us just a little during our stay, but the game room was the perfect spot to hang out. With an old timey jukebox, pool table, ping pong, retro board games, old movies on VHS, and a community kitchen, we were never bored.

You might have heard me say that, due to a lot of travel, I’m a self-admitted hotel snob – and this is far from a fancy schmancy resort. But I certainly appreciate the charm of places like Flamingo Springs and went with the mentality that it’s like camping, but only a million times cuter and more comfortable. You bring your own food and drinks, and with no wi-fi and poor cell service, you’ll find yourself focusing on where you are and who you’re with. And that alone is worth the trip.

I can’t wait to book another trip, but next time I’m going to make one change – stay longer than just one night.

Travel

TRAVEL LOVE: Girls Trip to Palm Springs

Well, I was able to check an item off my bucket list this summer. I finally made it to Palm Springs, California after drooling over it on Instagram for what feels like forever. I went with six other girlfriends and we rented what is called The Lucy House. Supposedly Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz used to vacation there back in the day and, with all it’s old school charm, I don’t doubt it.

The house was amazing, the food in Palm Springs was perfection, and the weather was – insanely hot. Thankfully there was either air conditioning or a pool to jump into nearly everywhere we went. We had lazy days by the pool, very nice meals around town, and even planned a full spa day at the Miramonte Indian Wells Resort. I’m also extremely happy to report that when I suggested we go visit the dinosaurs from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, no one laughed at me and most everyone came along for the adventure!

As mentioned above, the food was incredible! On our first night we didn’t have any reservations and ended up stopping by the street fair in downtown Palm Springs. From there, we wandered over the The Tropicale Palm Springs and had no idea what we were walking into. The girl who poured our drinks was dressed up like a cat (?!) and the menu featured everything from sushi to fried chicken, all with a dark yet retro atmosphere. If it sounds crazy, it was – but it was also the perfect introduction to Palm Springs.

The next day we had happy hour / early dinner reservations at Azucar, which is inside La Serena Villas (a beautiful new boutique hotel). The restaurant was simply STUNNING, as was the rooftop bar.


Thank you Laura for the photo!

Another amazing meal that we had was at FARM where they have a prix fixe dinner menu. Everything about the evening was very charming.

And of course we can’t go to Palm Springs without going to brunch, right? Duh. Workshop Kitchen hit the spot with their $12 bottomless mimosas and Insta-worthy decor.

We didn’t have dinner reservations for our last night, but a few of us girls caught a second wind and grabbed a tropical drink at Bootlegger Tiki, a bar around the corner from our house. Afterwards, we checked out the new Kimpton Rowan Hotel and ate at their rooftop restaurant, 4 Saints Palm Springs. We then finished off our last night in true Palm Springs fashion by checking out another tiki lounge, Toucans’ Tiki Lounge, where they had a famous drag show (my first one!)

Surprisingly, the drag show was not our wildest adventure. While the massages that we had scheduled for our spa day were heavenly and very relaxing, when we arrived at the pool-side cabana we rented for the day we found another level of fun. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that former Oakland Raider cheerleaders were holding a reunion at the hotel and had pretty much taken over the pool – and I can’t explain how much fun we had with these awesome ladies! We helped judge their insane pool float contest and got to listen to stories of the good ol days from our new gal pals.

And of course, this blog post wouldn’t be complete without photos from our excursion to Cabazon Dinosaurs. It was a thirty minute Uber ride away, but well worth it for the memories (and photos of course). Two of my favorite movies growing up, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and The Wizard, both shot scenes here so for me it was pretty exciting.


Thank you Stephanie for this photo!

Overall, it was a fabulously relaxing and fun trip with some amazing ladies. I already want to go back.. Just maybe when it’s a little cooler.

Life, Photos, Rosemary Beach, Travel

Rosemary Beach, FL 2018

Five years ago I began the search for our first beach trip as a family of three. I started out looking at Gulf Shores in Alabama, but realized if we drove just a little bit further (and paid just a little bit more), we could stay in this quaint little town called Rosemary Beach. Several friends had recommended spots along 30a, but it took going there to really understand what all the fuss was about

Fast forward five years and we just took our fifth annual trip to Rosemary Beach (see all of our posts here). So far, we’ve been during the month of May every year when it’s not unbearably hot or too humid, the crowds have yet to arrive, and the pricing is much more affordable. Since we go to the same beach every year, we like to select a different house to make each trip unique. Our first two vacations included only Todd, Iris, and myself so we rented cute little carriage houses, which were just perfect for our size family. The third year our pals Seth and Ashlee joined us (where they told us they were pregnant!) and the past two years, the Jones family hopped into the mix.

I am a serious vacation planner, so I start my beach house search early. As soon as our trip was over last year, I found the perfect spot for 2018: a house ON THE BEACH. That is almost unheard of in Rosemary and, if you do find one, it’s ridiculously priced. So yes, this year we totally lucked out. Being in our favorite beach town right there at the edge of the sand made for an easy breezy vacation. So knowing all of that, you shouldn’t be surprised that our beach house for 2019 is already booked! While not right on the water, we are just a one minute walk away from the sand in a lovely, three story home overlooking Rosemary’s playground.

But that trip is nearly a year away. So in the meantime, here are some of my favorite photos from this year’s stay (with a few adventures to Seaside and Alys Beach too!).

Life, Sponsored, Travel

TRAVEL LOVE: Loews Ventana Canyon Resort

While this post is sponsored by Loews, all opinions are my own.

Some may think it’s silly to go on another trip right after your annual beach vacation, but I say it’s the smartest thing I’ve done in a while. You know the post-vacation blues you get when you realize the trip you’ve been looking forward to is over? Well as long as you have something else to look forward to, it’s not so bad. Especially if that something is Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.

This year I planned a girls trip for Iris and I to celebrate the end of her kindergarten year. With her last day of school on a Thursday, we hopped on a plane Saturday morning and headed to sunny Tucson, Arizona to stay at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. After a very busy year, I wanted a trip where we simply arrived and RELAXED (but of course still have a bunch of fun too). Usually on our trips we are always off exploring, but this time I just wanted to be still and enjoy this time with Iris.

I wasn’t exactly sure how traveling alone with her was going to go, but Iris is at the perfect age to travel solo with, and the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort was the most perfect destination. The resort grounds and mountain views were absolutely stunning. I had actually visited this property a few years back for a work meeting and, due to my busy schedule, never once made it into the pool. What a shame, right? However, it was one of my favorite meeting spots because there were so many windows, lovely views, and during every break I would take a little stroll on the trails.

But this time I got to come back with my best girl and celebrate the beginning of summer! And I must say, this entire trip was one of the very best I’ve been on – and I travel a lot. It was a perfect blend of being pampered, being relaxed, having fun, eating great food, drinking delicious drinks, and exploring. I wondered if Iris would get bored on a trip where we barely left the hotel, but the verdict? Not for a second. In fact, we both agreed that we could have stayed put at Loews for a full week.

Okay, enough gushing – back to our stay. After check-in, we made our way to our room to find a lovely suite. The extra space ended up being a nice addition, especially when Iris woke up at 5 am (thanks a lot, Pacific time zone). At least she could sneak over to the other room to watch YouTube and leave me alone with my blackout curtains. By the time we got settled on our first day it was time to head to the… spa! Iris could not have been more excited to get her nails done while I enjoyed a massage at the Loews Lakeside Spa. Now if we could just start out every trip like this.


Iris telling me to be quite in the spa lobby.

The pool was calling our names after our spa appointments, so we suited up and relaxed by the water, drink in hand, until the sun went down. The pool area is perfect – very large, tons of lounge chairs, with ample shade. The resort itself is nestled in the foothills of the Catalina mountains, so views by the pool are spectacular. You can also order food and drinks as you swim or layout (I recommend the prickly pear margarita). That evening Loews had a Dive-In Movie Night planned, so after dinner at Cascade Lounge we headed back to the pool to watch Coco.

Waking up the next morning knowing that we had two full days to do whatever we wanted felt almost as heavenly as my massage the previous day. Not having to rush off somewhere or worry about getting from here to there was such a luxury. Since Iris woke up so early, we grabbed some Starbucks from Vista Barista and spent the entire morning at the pool. In fact, it wasn’t until our 2 pm brunch reservations that we finally dried off.

We were treated to Loews Ventana Canyon’s famous Blues, Brews & BBQ Sunday Brunch which was worth the trip in itself. There were food stations everywhere, plus bottomless mimosas, and of course a live blues band. Iris was most impressed with the dessert table (shocker!) and that they served her orange juice in a fancy glass like mine.

Afterwards, we explored the resort grounds for a while. Iris’ request was that we first find the playground (yep, there’s even a playground), then go on a hike in search of the waterfall on property (yep, there’s also a waterfall… what?!). I bet you can guess what came after all that (yep, a much needed nap)! That evening was yet another night of poolside movie fun, which Iris didn’t want to miss, and dinner outside!

One of the things I’ve always loved about Loews is how well they treat their kid guests. Not only was there outdoor movies, but they provided free popcorn and glow sticks to boot. Plus they provide hula hoops and pool toys, and even had snow cones and a cookie decorating station! If you head to Loews Ventana Canyon, see what all is going on for the kiddos – we went on Memorial Day weekend and the hotel went all out. They also have a Coyote Kids Club, so you can enjoy some adult time while your little ones have their own kiddie adventures. They were extra sweet to Iris and even sent her treats to our room, which was a fun surprise.

On our last day, Iris woke up a little later (finally!) and we ordered room service for breakfast. Afterwards, we of course went back to the pool for a little more fun in the sun. Once again, we hung poolside for hours, but this time we ordered food right to our lounge chairs where I had THE best black bean burger I’ve ever had from a restaurant! Actually, I was impressed by all of our meals during our stay, probably in part to Loews’ new program, Flavor by Loews Hotels, which brings the local food scene directly to the hotel. This makes it easier to eat and drink delicious local fare without ever having to leave. Yes, please!

After lunch I could tell Iris could use another nap, but we ditched that idea because there were so many things we still hadn’t explored yet. And after all, this was VACATION! The trails were so lovely, especially during sunset so we took one last stroll. The cactus, flowers, mountains, and cotton candy sky were simply magic. And how did we spend our very last evening? With a bubble bath in THE WORLDS LARGEST BATHTUB. Okay, maybe it’s not in the Guinness Book of World Records or anything, but this thing is HUGE and comes standard with every room. It’s almost like having your own personal pool – pictures don’t do it justice.

I honestly can’t wait to go back, hopefully next time with Todd because he truly missed out! Loews just makes everything lovely and easy… I really appreciated that there were multiple spots to eat throughout the day right there onsite. And at the pool, not only did they have the pool toys, but towel service, fresh cucumber water, and complimentary sunscreen. In the lobby you could even grab a scoop of fish food and feed the fish in the Koi pond. And speaking of the lobby – whatever scent Loews uses in their hotels, I want it for my house! It’s always the first thing I notice when I arrive, yet the only thing I can’t ever share! I guess you’ll just have to go and see (smell?) for yourself. :)

Thank you Loews Ventana Canyon for such an amazing stay!