I’m hightailing it off the interwebs (after tomorrow’s Happy Things Friday + CBWC roundup) for the next week because…Kyria is coming to visit our family!!! I want to focus all my attention on showing her the beautiful sights of Nova Scotia. Looking forward to reconnecting in a week.
Your turn. Have you met any bloggers in “real” life? If I came to visit, what are the top three things you’d take me to visit in your current hometown?
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Suzanne
That is so exciting, Elisabeth!!! Hope you have a wonderful time with Kyria!
Elisabeth
I am so excited. Right now the weather forecast looks AH-MAZING. I will report back with all sorts of details <3
Kyria @ Travel Spot
Woohoo! We are going to have so much fun! If I still lived in Oakland we would go for a hike in Redwood Park, go to get Mexican food near my house (Latino neighborhood), and have dinner at home with games afterwards! Of course, if we were going further afield I would also take you to San Francisco, over to the Marin Headlands for a hike to the sea and redwoods and to the Sierra Nevadas or Yosemite if there was time.
Elisabeth
I’m glad you’re as excited as I am. I can’t believe you’re within a few hours driving time of me RIGHT NOW. How crazy is that?
I would love, love, love to hike in Redwood Park. That’s one of my long-term bucket list items. And the Sierra Nevadas and Yosemite would be breathtaking.
mbmom11
No bloggers in real life- I get to keep my illusions, and no one finds out how old I am.
If you visited my town, umm… I’m not a good tour guide.
Tour our historic downtown with cute shops, go to the college and see their library which is absolutely gorgeous (and get up close to a whale skeleton for the kids) , and hike around the lake at the park. (I’d take a Catholic guest to see the saint’s relics, which lie in a beautiful church.) I’m much better at keeping little kids amused- kids’ museum and public library would be subbed in- the park a necessity.
Have fun!
Elisabeth
I love touring libraries. One of my favourite things to do in New York City is go to the public library. The smell. The architecture. The reverent hush. Ahhhh. Such a happy space.
Sophie
How fun! Enjoy 🙂 As you know, my one and only real life blog meet up was… with you! And it was so great (wish we could do it again!). If any blog friends came to visit I would take them on a walk through the rainforest, maybe a visit to Australia Zoo (of course to pet some kangaroos), and spend a day at one of our beautiful beaches.
Elisabeth
I’m so glad we were able to connect in person. And ironic that two bloggers separated by about as much distance as humanly possible we able to get together.
I would LOVE to pet some kangaroos. I had no idea you could do that at a zoo. When I was in Sydney we didn’t make it to any zoos (or the Blue Mountains), but I really want to do both things on a return trip. And your beaches are stunning over there!!
Jenny
Oh my gosh how exciting! I can’t wait to hear ALL ABOUT IT. I’ve met a couple running bloggers, and then last January I met Stephany when I went to Tampa.
If you came to visit me, I would have a serious inferiority complex- nothing can compare to where you live. But, I’m sure we could have fun anyway. Enjoy your time with Kyria!!!
Elisabeth
I need to make it to Florida. There are so many Cool Bloggers in that part of the world. (That or the Florida bloggers need to take a roadtrip to Nova Scotia!).
I bet you would have all sorts of fun things to show me. Also, I’d visit in the winter and the only thing you’d need to do is take me outside in January in SHORTS and I would be utterly spellbound…
J
I hope you and Kyria have a FABULOUS time. If you came to my town, I’m not sure there’s much to see. I would take you to the Pt. Reys lighthouse and maybe to Bodega Bay (both a long drive from us). We would go to San Francisco as well, and if you haven’t done it before, we would walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, and maybe go look for some dim sum.
Elisabeth
I am so excited!
I have never been to the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s harder to get something more iconic than that!!!
Beth
The Golden Gate Bridge is AMAZING.
Michelle G.
I hope you and Kyria have a wonderful time! I haven’t met any bloggers IRL. If you came to see me, after the initial awkwardness, because I’m terribly awkward socially, I’d show you around the ranch, and of course, I’d show you my dollhouse and all my crafty stuff! Then you’d probably be bored to tears! 🤣
Elisabeth
I would LOVE to see your dollhouse and I have a feeling there would be zero boredom. You have such a wonderland of things to see and show me. Plus, we’d have to take a walk together 🙂
Birchie
Best reason to take a bloggy break ever! Let me tell you that when I met Kyria there was no blogging – it was 100% Be Present time. I am psychic so I can tell you that it will be a week of great conversation, fun times, and yummy food. When it’s time for her to leave you will realize that the time together was too short.
Hands down my favorite thing this year has been meeting Cool Bloggers and I hope to meet many more. Everyone has been 100% the person that you see on their blogs.
I have two answers to what we would do if you came here. If we are limited to the borders of the city where I live, then we’re going on a park hiking blitz with Doggo, we’ll hit up our town’s one museum, and we would pick a restaurant that I’ve never been to before. But if we open it up to what I have within a few hours’ drive then the agenda is: (1) the lighthouse(s) of your choice, (2) the island hopping cruise, and (3) a tour of the Cooke-Dorn House in Sandusky, Ohio since we’d be very close. I haven’t written about it on the blog yet, but it’s my favorite historic house ever, and it’s not even FLW.
Elisabeth
Aww. I’m very excited!!!
LIGHTHOUSES. You know I would be here for a big lighthouse tour. And it wouldn’t be right to not try to find some FLW house, so we’d do a little road-trip?
ccr in MA
I would say “have fun with Kyria” but that goes without saying, I know you will. I have met a couple of bloggers, but it was a long time ago!
If someone was visiting me here, I would probably take them to the beach (unless they lived somewhere beachy themselves), and out on a boat trip into the gulf or the everglades, and out to eat overlooking the water somewhere. Though for you, we would probably also have to head up to Sanibel to see the lighthouse!
(PS Is your blog looking funny to anyone else? It’s acting up for me right now.)
Maria
It looks funny to me too… but I think I’m actually replying to you (ccr in MA). I was thinking it was just me until I read your comment)
Elisabeth
Nope. See my response to ccr above. This is ALL my fault and I am gutted. How can this be happening again. But it’s 100% on me 🙁 I tried to make a fix and it was going well and then it wasn’t and then when I called in for support things got even worse. Gah.
Stay tuned…
Though it looks like despite the horrid layout, you’re still able to leave comments?
Elisabeth
I’m in with talk of beaches and lighthouses!
Yes…alas. I tried to fix something and it went horribly wrong and then I tried to get help from my hosting site and things got even worse. I am so, so frustrated with myself. Why couldn’t I leave “well enough alone.” Hopefully I’ll manage to get to the bottom of this problem soon, but maybe this is excellent timing for a week off.
Maria
Have a fantastic blogging break! Maybe now I can catch up on reading and commenting. 😉 it’s been a delight to have so many posts from you lately but I’ve been in a bit of an overwhelm/funk and blog reading and commenting tends to be one of the first things to drop. But, things are looking up so I’m looking forward to catching up on your posts.
Elisabeth
Hope things are better soon <3 I know about those seasons of overwhelm and you have so much on your proverbial plate.
sarah
LOVE this– have a great time. I’ll miss you.
Cattis
I live by a lake, in the forrest so I guess I would take guests there and to some old ruins of an ancient castle nearby. And of course stuff them full of food and baked gods, I always use guests as an excuse to cook and bake a lot. No one leaves my house hungy. I don’t cook anything fancy, but it is from scratch. I hope you enjoyed your blog break 😊
Elisabeth
By a lake! In the forest! Near castle ruins??! It sounds like a natural wonderland.
I love to have someone cook for me – such a treat – so I’d gladly be your taste tester <3
Lisa’s Yarns
We’ve hosted Kyria several times and all of us love her! I know you’ll have the best time! I have met so many bloggers. 10+ certainly. I met most of them pre-kids but have met a few post kids like Kae and Birchie! And I will meet you someday!
If you visited us, we’d go for a walk around the lake, check out an amazing kids bookstore and get ice cream. I’d also take you to Minnehaha Falls which is about 3-4 miles from us. It’s a pretty waterfall in a great park with lots of walking paths. Those are the main highlights. There is definitely more to do but we tend to check out things super close to us!
Elisabeth
I have to admit I am very jealous of all your blogging meetups!! I’m kinda out in the middle of nowhere so unlikely to be a central hub for visitors BUT I HAVE PROMISES!!!
I am so excited to meet and spend time with Kyria. The weather looks perfect.
Your lake route for running and walking looks ideal.
Cattis
You know, those ruins can hardly be seen because they’re so old. But they do have a sign and a lovely view up there. Sweden is really nice because everyone (who wants to) gets to enjoy nature here.
You’re welcome any time 😊🇸🇪
Elisabeth
I have been to Sweden once – we took the ferry from Denmark to Helsingborg and I would LOVE to make it back. My husband has been to Stockholm a few times and from pictures and his descriptions it is definitely on my Must Visit list. All of Scandinavia in general is just so lovely. (I have a brother living in Copenhagen; he married a Dane <3 ).
Ernie
Sounds super fun. I met Suz in Florida back in like 2019. I met Kari for lunch several years ago, AFTER we realized that she was at my wedding. Very wild story. And I had the pleasure of meeting up for an early dinner with a reader, Jenny in WV, in July when she was visiting Chicago for work.
If you showed up in Chicago, well – there’s a million things to do and see. I’d probably take you to the Willis Tower, a museum or the aquarium, and a Chicago White Sox game (although this year they were record breaking terrible).
Elisabeth
That’s so fun! I’m quite far away from the main blogging crowd, so I’m oh-so-happy to have now met two lovely bloggers.
I have never been to a MLB game but grew up LOVING baseball. So your plan for our imagined time together sounds perfect.
Elinoora
Enjoy your visit!
I’ve not met up with bloggers per sé, but I have definitely met up with people I knew through the Internet (chat rooms, live journal).
If you came to visit – apparently there is a museum of beach lighting in a light house not far from us, so that would be fun. We should also take a watertaxi, potentially to the Euromast to get a great view of Rotterdam. And go for a walk along the ‘old’ Maas river. Finishing off with a visit to our all you can eat Japanese sushi restaurant (a bit pricy but totally worth it).
Elisabeth
You had me at all-you-can-eat sushi and lighthouses…:)
NGS
I have met several bloggers IRL – Anne, Kaelyn, Birchie, Maya, AND KYRIA!! You’re going to have so much fun with her – she’s very easy to talk with and engage. I can’t wait to hear all about your adventures.
Elisabeth
Look at you, Engie. So many bloggers and so many adventures!
I am having so much fun with her. She IS so very easy to talk with and engage. <3
Suz
How fun for the both of you! Enjoy.
I’ve met so many bloggers over the years. *let me count* Six for sure, but maybe seven? Who can remember?
If you came to my hometown, I’d show you our lovely Gulf of Mexico beaches, the gorgeous down-town area and if we had time, we’d take a day trip to the Everglades where you could see alligators in the wild. 🙂
Elisabeth
Colour me jealous. Six!! I think it will take me a while to get to that point, I’m sure. Though, to be fair, I’ve met 2 in 2024, so if I am able to keep up at that rate, maybe not?
I have never seen an alligator and would love to. And Gulf of Mexico beaches are stunning; sign me up!