Shereen Rayle's Blog, page 64

Where to Spend Halloween

Do you like to be scared or to visit disturbing places, especially during the Halloween season? There are so many awesome destinations to check out. I'm partial to theme parks, ghost walks, and cemeteries, because I don't really want to get scared or depressed, but I also like a good medical museum (think Mutter Museum in Philly, the Pharmacy Museum in New Orleans, or the Old Operating Theater Museum in London). Here are some non-traditional October destinations:

How London Explorer Pass Can Save You Big

Last month I visited London. This was our third trip to the city, so we've done a lot of the regular touristy things already. Even so, we plan to return again in the future to see more, both in the city of London and outside. If you want to save big bucks in the city, then London Explorer Pass can help you see and do more for less.

I had the opportunity to work with London Explorer Pass on this last trip to show you some of the great things included on the list of attractions it can be used on...

Activities That Preserve Edinburgh's History

There was nothing that we did in Edinburgh that I thought was terrible or boring. I feel like they really know how to preserve history in cool ways. Ways you probably don't expect of a city like this, and then ways you completely expect and would be disappointed in them not having. 


As you walk around the city, make sure to look up and down at all the fun details you'll find on buildings and sidewalks. While plenty of stuff is out in the open, there are some awesome things tucked aw...

3 Ways To Find Cheap Places To Eat In London

London has a reputation for being expensive, and most of the time, it deserves that reputation. It’s a great city that has so much to see and do, but it is so expensive. Most people would think that a budget trip to London just wasn’t possible because everything is so costly, but that isn’t true. If you know what you’re doing, it is possible.
Pixabay CCO License
The thing that people struggle with the most is food because the restaurants are so pricey, and you end up eating out a lot when you...

Edinburgh Museums I Loved

I'm a sucker for a good museum, and Edinburgh is full of them. In fact, the whole of Old and New Town are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, meaning they preserve as much as possible when they can. You'll notice in my pictures just how many old buildings there are, and I'm there for it. It's amazing.



All four of the following museums are promoted by Visit Scotland, though only one charges admission. This means your day out in Edinburgh and the surrounding area can be really affordable. Save y...

Royal Activities in Edinburgh

Last month Eric and I were in Edinburgh to attend a family wedding, and while two days were taken up by wedding activities, we also packed our other four days with sightseeing and awesomeness, helped by the lovely people of Visit Scotland. 

Edinburgh, and really all of Scotland, is steeped in history and the memory of royalty long gone. We had limited time, but I'd love to go back and see more of the country. Even so, the history in the country's capitol is enough to keep you busy fo...

Making Magic at The Cauldron Edinburgh

You guys know I love magic. And if you're new here, and you don't know, you will after the next few weeks. Well, I've been following a new bar called The Cauldron that opened in London and was excited to make reservations and get brewing. Unfortunately, the Cauldron in London was going to be too far away for me get to, so when I saw an Edinburgh location was opening up, I jumped at the chance to go.

Each location has different decor and is a small, magical location perfect for a few witches an...

Edinburgh With Kids

If you're looking for a fantastic getaway for the whole family, Edinburgh is definitely it. It can be budget-friendly, it has a lot to offer that is historical and educational, while still being fun for kids and adults. This infographic gives you a few options for any kind of weather. Just don't forget to pack your rain jackets and waterproof walking shoes, because there's a lot of hiking in town, and many things on cobblestones.
Edinburgh With the Kids – Come Rain or Shine – An infographic by...

Awesome Things to Do in Edinburgh & Beyond

Over the next few weeks, you're going to be seeing a lot of posts about my time in Scotland and England, both of which I highly recommend visiting. Our time in Edinburgh was short but full, and I can't wait to go again and explore more of the country. 

For now, I wanted to give a quick preview of what we did that was sponsored by the lovely people of Visit Scotland, and then you can look forward to more in-depth posts on each.
Royal Yacht BrittaniaNorth of the city center is Leith. Surroun...

How To Travel with a Halloween Costume

We travel every fall, which means a lot of times we're able to get in on Halloween parties/activities. Sometimes we even go places where costumes are required (or more fun), like our trip to Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania last year, where we spent two days enjoying a Harry Potter festival and an evening of magic at Philly's science museum. We packed our regular clothes and then things we wanted for cosplay/costumes, and still went carry-on only.
Photo by Abby Savage on UnsplashSo,...