Boutique stores Archives - Travel & Experiences at Boutique Hotels and Restaurants Around the World

Candle Retail Therapy Shopping

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Does candle retail therapy exist? From my experience, I’d say it definitely DOES! And you can do local traveling to accomplish this and get your aromatherapy on!

When I go to shops and look and sniff at candles, I’m in candle heaven. Different from candy heaven but as you can see you get comfort foods in a sniff.

You don’t need to travel to the beach to get the beach sand coconut scent experience or even comfort that you can get with comfort food scents (mac-n-cheese 😁).

…and with fall in the air, pumpkin or salted caramel. That could spark coffee time ☕️

These days, the candle selections are vast and you won’t just get vanilla or apple choices. There’s a scent for everyone with special notes that’s similar to spice and perfume blends that make an overall scent unusual.

I’m waiting for the day when nail polish scents change. You probably don’t remember the raspberry, grape, and blueberry-scented markers like I do.

Or maybe the days when OPI red nail polish was popular and moved into all shades of red and now into the rainbow colors 🌈 …rarely do I see red.

Except in candles for fall.

And these are just a few places to shop for scented candle retail therapy:

Yankee Candle Outlet – at Premium Outlet malls.

HomeGoods

Marshall’s

TJ Maxx

Bed, Bath, and Beyond

Harris Teeter

Hallmark’s

And they make great housewarming gifts. You can’t go wrong with a candle gift, but you can go wrong with a wrong scent. So if you want to go for the most popular, stick with vanilla, citrusy, and evergreen scents. You can also find candles galore at Christmas stores and candle outlets near ski areas like the Poconos that’s a hop, skip and a jump from the Philly area where you can get your city and mountain experience. In the city, don’t forget to enjoy Philly Restaurant Week and maybe an overnight stay in a boutique hotel.

5 Best Raleigh Outdoor Boutique Stores

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Raleigh outdoor boutique stores are great when the weather is nice. You get to enjoy the weather and appreciate the live greenery. And my number one pick is Cameron Village.

You’ll see plenty of pink against black and white stripes and frou frou mini poodle decor, just to get a sense of the the scene ivbe. Put on your chic Jackie O’ sunglasses and get shoppin’ or window shopping.

Located closer to downtown Raleigh and Five Points area, this all-outdoor mall has everything from local honey and tea stores to clothing boutique stores (CT Weekends) that even sell Michael Stars. And look for the Carolina blue cupcakes.

And for outdoor indoor green for practical decorating, you can find a Michael’s Store at Brier Creek.

Raleigh outdoor boutique stores have green indoors too

Brier Creek Commons (near RDU Airport)- outdoors, you can drive around and stop for amazing chocolate and do all your one-stop shopping from specialty home goods, coffee, eateries, stationery gift stores, books, pet goods, wine, and package shipping.

Streets at South Point (Durham) – has small outdoor boutique stores and you can enjoy with your non-shopping partners who just want to sit down. And once in a while, you might even catch a street performance.

North Hills (North Raleigh) -this is the posh outdoor boutique store area that has all the one-of-a-kind boutiques… And get your hair cut at Salon Blu boutique hair salon in case you find yourself needing a haircut in town.

Triangle Town Center (Northeast Raleigh closer to Wake Forest)- this is a gigantic mall… and close by if you need some good fabrics for your projects, there’s a boutique-worthy Mill Outlet Village fabric store with checkers and prints and every pattern you can imagine. 🎨

And now that your head is spinning with ideas, here’s how you can optimize your time by narrowing down which outdoor shopping areas you should visit.

Which best outdoor boutique shopping area should you go to if you need…

A unique wedding gift for someone: Cameron Village

An anniversary gift: The malls, Triangle Town Center (unique mall stores) or Streets at South Point (Macy’s, Victoria’s Secret, jeweler, sports store). Belk and Nordstrom at South Point

A birthday party gift or planning a party: Brier Creek Commons (Target, Party Store, Hallmark)

Furniture: Southpoint (Lovesac, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel)

Home furnishings: Target and Home Goods at Brier Creek Commons and unique furnishing stores in Cameron Village and North Hills

Apple electronics: South Point or Crabtree Valley Mall if you want to stay in Raleigh (…and if you get hungry, you can’t go wrong with The Cheesecake Factory while you’re there).

Back to work fashion: Streets at South Point (Anthropologie, Lilly Pulitzer, Lucky Brand, Loft, Express, Free People, Gap

So now you know which Raleigh direction you’re heading in

And if you would like a nice unique spa stay in a tranquil setting, try The Umstead in Cary (that’s no longer the Contained Area for Relocating Yankees). And if you want a beachy spa experience a few hours away, you can drive to OBX and visit this Duck hotel spa.

2023 National Ice Cream Day Is Universal – Best Hot Sports

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ice cream day at Jeni's ice cream — Rewards and Deals definitely perfectly timed HOT weather for National Ice Cream Day. 🍦

National Ice Cream Day is a favorite for young and old alike, and everywhere around the world.

Every day in summer.

Some of my favorite memories are below. They’re not your typical Baskin Robbins, Friendly’s, Ben & Jerry’s or Dippin’ Dots. They’re the international ice cream flavors.

My earliest favorite memory was spumoni ice cream (cherry, pistachio, and chocolate) 🍧 that was so different than even Neapolitan (strawberry, vanilla, chocolate). Except for the similar ingredient… chocolate!

Those were the days when the Ice Cream Man used to drive by the neighborhood with its famous truck jingle 🎶

And these 2023 ice cream days we have every kind of ice cream imaginable 💭…

2023 national ice cream day with Stroopwafel in front of the Pitti Palance, Florence 🧇

ice cream day in Oslo — Rock candy bits on ice cream, Aker Brygge Boardwalk (Oslo, Norway) 🇳🇴

And hazelnut sauce for 2023 ice cream in Italy 🇮🇹 is as common as ketchup for burgers and fries in the States.

And if you’re like me you like vanilla too as a good base to start with in Bologna🍦. Like this one that never melts ⛔️ And along those lines, I like ice cream in a cup so you’re not playing the lick faster than you get a chance to enjoy game.

And of course… the famous Gelato mounds… is it ice cream worthy? For me, you bet… Yes, please. 🙋🏻‍♀️ But, you and your inner child or critic decide.

And spin the wheel of gelato fortune at the chic seen-and-be-seen Fountainbleau Hotel (Miami, Florida 🌴). Anywhere the scoop lands is a win! Nice how they even added a few sorbet selections, especially if you’re overheated… raspberry, mango, and coconut pina colada.

Variety is the spice of life at Foutainbleau’s Bon Bon and the grocery store.

Mascarpone is an Italian flavor. I think it’s repuprosed from a tiramisu dessert because some cheeses are the new dessert. 🧀

London Anyone? For Great British Baking Show Fans

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Great British Baking Show contestants made Chelsea buns — Chelsea bun anyone?

Move over James Bond, if you’re a fan of The Great British Baking Show (aka Great British Bake Off or GBBO for Brits) like I AM 🙋🏻‍♀️, then you’ve probably taken an even stronger liking to London recently.

The Paul Hollywood show actually takes place in the outdoor big white tent off the beaten path in the country, but the baking adventure definitely has brought modern appeal to the historic city. And it’s a massive one at that! If you like sweets, you’re definitely in for a treat.

If you’re in London to take a ride on the London Eye to check out the city views, come for Wimbledon tennis, to museum hop, and check out the Rosetta Stone or portraits of famous Brits, you will not be bored!

…OH, and expect a huge shopping or window shopping selection (…have you heard of the 8-floor Harrod’s Department Store?). Plus, the foodie scene. It’s not just Fish & Chips anymore if you check out Insta photos. And one boutique-y area with tasty foodie food and free outdoor entertainment I’d recommend is Covent Garden.

London can actually be very overwhelming if you’re coming and going for the first time even if you do speak English. You’ll quickly learn to speak Brit with afternoon tea and get from place to place taking the Tube or London cabs. 💂‍♂️

And this Park Plaza Westminster Hotel is central modern to your visit. Not only does it have amazing views of the London Eye wheel 🎡that you can eye throughout the hotel and maybe even your room, you can see the other iconic architectural wonders London is known for like Westminster Abbey … And you can try to keep track of time looking out at Big Ben. Now that’s a Wow-za and a one-of-a-kind city view you don’t want to miss. 🇬🇧

Plus… the hotel has its own onsite restaurants that serve French cuisine… and sushi anyone? Having worked in the hotel foodie scene (I’m a former hospitality catering sales manager) I know the inside scoop behind-the-scenes. It’s not easy to run a hotel kitchen with all the moving parts and departments. Just sayin’ you won’t be disappointed with these efforts.

Don’t forget to fit in your Great British Baking Show dessert time and afternoon tea… and a visit to Fortnum & Mason before you leave. Cheers! 🫖

Fortnum & Mason is a great place to tea shop or get your fancy scones to give as gifts back home.

South Carolina Back-to-School Tax-Free Shopping Weekend

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south carolina back-to-school tax-free weekend includes shoes — Shoe fetish anyone? 👠 Get ’em tax free while you can. Everyone needs a good occasion shoe that won’t break your neck, and so you can appreciate your everyday tennis shoes.

It’s almost back-to-school time and IT’S South Carolina back-to-school tax-free shopping this weekend in South Carolina. I grew up in Virginia that paused the annual tax-free weekend… and North Carolina ended.

So now’s a good time to head further south to South Carolina that’s the east coast hospitality 🍍 state. There, it’s a good time to buy your computer, school supplies, and clothing (including shoes in case you have a fetish!). And bed and bath items in case you’re going to back a school door room. Who came up with this creative list??

And remember South Carolina has a couple hot spots and close to the ocean water! ⛱️

Both Myrtle Beach and Charleston (the capital) are in the Palmetto State. Either would be great to fill the rest of your August Dog Day calendar and provide a last-summer effort travel escape.📆

…Myrtle Beach has hotels with lazy river pools that’s heat relief entertainment. You can go to The Breakers for one.

…And Charleston is known for the quaint city that goes back to horse drawn carriages. The Charleston Place hotel is the Ritz. And Charleston Grill in the hotel is fine dining at its best with scrumptious fare.

Now I know you’re tempted and if you can’t make it via travel, the South Carolina back-to-school tax-free can be done online! You can shop where you are… tax-free items include flip-flops 🩴, inline and ice skates ⛸️, boots 👢, and this tax-free holiday long list. I’m sure you’ll find something from these common everyday shopping lists.

And if August isn’t your time to visit, Charleston Restaurant Week is in September. You can check out the Summer New York Restaurant Week and DC Restaurants I love.

They’re an up and comin’ food destination town to come back and checkout 😉

2023 Amador County Barbera Wine Festival

Amador County Barbera wine is one of the hidden best wine areas in California. It’s off the beaten path from other big wine valley counties like Napa or Sonoma County. Amador County is east of Sacramento, CA and produces some of the best red wines if I may say so. 😊

The highest mountain vineyard terrains are compared to the Mediterranean foothills exposed to long sunny days suitable for tasty wines. And, Amador County is is also credited with cultivating the first Zinfandels.

Amador County Barbera wines are like a Syrah or Shiraz with fruit-forward jammy berry flavors like raspberries and strawberries. If that’s your jam, then a Barbera can grow on you fast.

And to get some tastes, you may want to visit the Barbera Festival (in its 10th year) with over 40 wineries to try in one fell-swoop. 🍷

Amador County Barbera Wine county grapes

Amador County is in the Sierra Nevadas mountain range. And one boutique quality vineyard in the heart of Plymouth, CA is Coopers Vineyards. The wines you taste in the boutique winery store may not change your life, but they can definitely change your wine life! ❤️

They produce winners at the Orange County Fair wine competitions with an unforgettable Petite Syrah and Primitivo Reservo and unique Sangiovese (it’s not just in Italy anymore!). From Folsom Lake, you can go south on Latrobe Road and turn on Shenandoah Road to find this winery and vineyard.

Cooper Amador County Barbera Wine prodcer in Plymouth, CA

Coopers will be at the the Amador County Barbera Wine Festival where you can sample their Barberas. The festival is in Plymouth, CA next to Coopers at the Terra D’Oro Vineyards (Land of Gold) with 800+ acres. Traces of gold are found in the vineyard land in case you’re wondering…

And in these superior lands, to make your trip planning life easy, you can turn your “gold” trip into a hotel spa trip for maximum joy or a boutique stay in the heart of downtown Plymouth, CA. That’s my two senses (and cents!). 🍇

Touring Napa, CA Wine Valleys

As I’m drafting this, today is National Pinot Noir Day. And one place in the US that is known for pinot noir grapes is Napa, CA wine valleys in California’s Napa and Sonoma counties.

If you have an artist’s eye, these wineries are like none other as there are modern art features and statue inspos throughout the wineries. All you have to do is look!

And there are distinct architectural designs to make the buildings stand out with exaggerated arches and spires. And soft, romantic touches.

There are many fabulous wine trails, but the Napa Wine Trail is world-famous. The best visits are still the larger producers, such as Robert Mondavi and Sutter Home. It’s not hype.

Quieter areas like Napa are not touristy, so you wanna visit the more happenin’ places so you don’t fall into a-nappa.

There are less people around, so you’re not dealing with crowds.

Beringer is another one that has the Harry Potter Alnwick Castle look.

Beringer Winery in the Napa, CA wine valleys

And then when inside, you’ll see they will have the tasting rooms that you’re accustomed to in your local wineries. It often feels like you’re in a cozy cave like I’m used to in Virginia wineries. And inside there are plenty of one-of-a-kind souvenirs you can take home and make great holiday gifts.

I still have an artsy painted glass coaster from Robert Mondavi that I’ve kept for a quarter of a century. So visiting the unique Napa Valley, CA wineries is definitely worth visiting at least once in a lifetime!

And of course, home to the one-of-a-kind Napa Valley wine train for a cork-and-fork foodie experience. 🍽️

On my first visit, I bought a bottle of Robert Mondavi wine sherry for cooking that was so amazing to pair with mushrooms… and enhanced the nose and tasting sensory kitchen cooking experience.

You can also explore Antinori Napa Valley in California with dominant Cabernet Franc grapes. The family winery is world-famous as a large Italian wine producer (12 million bottles in the Tuscan Hills), who’s known for Tignanello.

I visited the Italy-located vineyards in one of my 4 visits to the wine capital, Florence, Italy. I remember tasting Peppoli that’s a blend of Chianti and Sangiovese grapes. That’s perfect under the Tuscan sun that’s flowing with Sangiovese grosso grapes to make Brunello, and near Chianti. Something to dream about 💭

And when in the Napa, CA wine valleys that could be closer to you, you can drive up the trail to Calistoga… you may have heard of or been to the Hot Springs? And that’s a great place to stay for great value hotels to enjoy your day and night experience. It would be great for a birthday celebration 🎂 or girl’s weekend!

There, you can travel west to Sonoma and find a few gems like Korbel (champagne maker) champagne room in Guerneville near Santa Rosa that also has cute hotels and vintage motels (that are not your roadside roof).

Boardwalk Candy Kitchen Beanie Baby Nostalgia

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Delaware has a few Candy Kitchen Beanie Baby carrying (now TY toys) stores. — Downtown Bethany Beach

In my heart is the Candy Kitchen Beanie Baby memory… what am I talkin’ about? Keep reading…

First, I remember the 90s Beanie Baby craze from the traditional boardwalk candy store chain that’s everywhere along the Delmarva coast. Candy Kitchen stores all over Ocean City, MD and up the coast to Rehoboth and Bethany Beaches in Delaware. The first store opened around the tail end of the Great Depression, so it was a place that brought some joy to the times… and today, brings happiness. Who doesn’t love the smell o’ candy?

While Beanie-mania died down before Y2K, the candy craze has not.🍬 Those early years bring back youthful, carefree day memories…

In the 90s, I was a young adult chasing down the Beanie Babies on my weekends, looking for a Candy Kitchen Beanie Baby. There was one baby I had in mind that was either a soft stuffed cute bear, cat, dog, bird, or other wildlife creature that just came out.

Most living young and old had at least one Beanie Baby. But not everyone got them from a candy store like I did. That was my underground store I discovered.

…I remember driving hours with friends and all the way to Ocean City, MD during the heyday. I had the purple royal Beanie with a white rose and the Jerry Garcia swirly rainbow color Peace Bear. If you spout out the names now, I’d still know them… that’s how the kid at heart stays alive. ❤️

The Beanies usually were “special” because of the tag names, fabrics, and some had an emblem stamped on their chest and poems on the tag. And they’re so darn cute. I had a trash bag full of them. And that’s where there are now!

Once decorating a house and box-size computer tops, these stuffed animals were a fad that had a shelf life. And today’s TY versions look more like Furr-bies… and the kiddos love ’em not knowing the history of their plush toy maker.

…Like these unicorn babies (foals) that just woke up and have their tags on backward 😄 but still intact. They’re brother and sister. 🦄 They never met their Pegasus Beanie Baby ancestor.

…But, they are as cute as buttons, like button candy. And remind me of those Candy Kitchen 90s memories that are so ingrained in me because the sweet smell waff of chocolate fudge hit you in the face as soon as you walked in the store. And would do the same today, if you’ve never been to a CK or want to relive sweet memories.

Candy Kitchen is known for saltwater taffy 🍬, but I went for the cola gummies (not the fun gummy burgers and lips 👄)… being friendlier to my teeth and mouth. I appreciated seeing the colorful round-up pop and swirl lollipop candy 🍭 You can say I got two pops in one (candy and a cute Beanie Baby).

And today too if you visit, they still sell a few special TY tag stuffed toys like the Spiderman TY. Or you can have him and other items shipped with your candy, to brighten your day until you can find time to be a kid again. 😊

Need a place to stay? These are Ocean City hotels to check out (and checkin to!).