posts in
wanderlust
India - Kabini Safari / #JessAbroad
December 20, 2019
In the spirit of my recent inspiration to reconnect with photography, I decided to hunt through some of my favorite experiences behind the lens since I found it in 2014.
One that definitely takes the cake is my visit to a safari in Kabini National Forest in Karnataka, India. Hanging out of a safari jeep to be as close to a tiger as possible? Uh, yeah, when can I go again?!
📍Karnataka, India
ZooTampa at Lowry Park ~ #TampaLocal
December 17, 2018
As the fourth-ish post in my #TampaLocal collection, I think this one actually FINALLY qualifies me as full local, and I'm honestly a little disappointed in myself that it took this long for me to make it to ZooTampa! I am a HUGE fan of animals and wildlife photography, so naturally getting the chance to break out my camera and take photos of random creatures just makes my soul happy. And, since Julie and I almost always seem to end up at a zoo of some sort, it was only fitting we check this one off the bucket list together!
Located in Lowry Park, ZooTampa features a multitude of different animals from all over the world, as well as rides for kiddos, and (amazingly) a beer and wine garden for the adults! They also have the largest Christmas tree I think I've come across in Tampa, as you can clearly see!
Though a decent amount of the exhibits had some sort of maintenance going on, our whole trek around the zoo took around two hours, including the "Expedition Africa" safari ride. And damn, it felt so good to break out my camera and dive into the way a shot lines up and the colors and exposure.
And clearly, I might be a wee bit partial to zebras, but c'mon people, baby zebras! Lucky for me, ZooTampa features a "Pay for a day, come back for the rest of the year" free option, so I will more than likely be back another day to get some more shots!
Winter Village ~ #TampaLocal
December 16, 2018 Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N Ashley Dr, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
Christmas is most definitely my favorite time of year. I get to celebrate both my birthday and the most wonderful, hopeful holiday on the calendar in the span of a few weeks, so I am no stranger to dashing off in search of Christmas magic all around.
Since I'm now a bonafide Tampa local (three years running!) one of the most obvious ways to kick-off the holiday season is the Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown. Featuring shop stands from local businesses, coffee & treats, and ice skating, it's a fantastic way to get in the spirit and enjoy the beautiful Tampa "winter" weather.
This event is free to visit, and features light shows, "snow," and so much more that truly helps get you ready for Christmas. And I'm lucky enough to have friends (like Michelle) that let me drag them around and take 400 pictures of the whole thing!
Sweetfields Farm ~ Fall in Florida
November 18, 2018 Tampa, FL, USA
It's almost a running joke in Florida that our "fall" consists of the two nice days of cold weather we get every October. We try to pretend like our leaves are changing and that it's cold, but realistically we're still at the beach in the middle of November. Nonetheless, as someone who loves the fall all all fall-related activities, I've developed some traditions that I absolutely can't miss every time the weather drops below 80 degrees!
My absolute favorite has to be visiting Sweetfields Farm in Masarkytown, Florida. This farm features a pumpkin patch, corn maze, hay ride, and all of the farm animals you could ever hope to see. Just a 45 minute drive north of Tampa, this is definitely worth a morning trip just to get outside and spend some time together!
Though it's closed for the season, definitely consider visiting Sweetfields next fall, or in the Spring for sunflower season!
Top Places for Photos at Disney
October 29, 2018 Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL 32830, USA
As someone who’s grown up going to Disney, I often get the question: “How on earth are you not sick of the parks yet?” To most people, a day at Disney consists of rope-drop-to-fireworks nonstop, go go go activities, but for most locals and APs, we have the luxury of not having to rush because hey, we’ll just come back another day!
Recently, my most favorite thing to do at the parks is take photos. I’ve always loved photography, and combining that love with Disney has been some of the most fun ever. To wander MK or Epcot and just snap photos and laugh with friends, well, it’s my favorite!
Here are my top five places to take photos across the parks!
The Bubblegum Wall is one of the iconic “Walls of Disney.” Located just outside the entrance of Spaceship Earth, this adorable pink, magenta, and mint wall is perfect for some photos. This wall even has its own Instagram account, because what else would be more fitting for the futuristic Epcot center than walls with social media accounts?
2. The Purple Wall ~ Magic Kingdom
Now more widely known as the “Galactic Purple Wall,” this next iconic WoD lives in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom. Just like the BG Wall, this wall has its own Instagram and is known to repost some of the best pictures people take against its adorable lilac backdrop.
3. Castle Bridge & The Wishing Well ~ Magic Kingdom
One of my ultimate favorite places to take photos at MK is the bridge leading toward the Madhatter’s Teacups. This less common location tends to get skipped, as most people are content with photos right in front of the castle. This one ends up on the list because it’s less crowded, it’s a unique angle of the castle, and the wishing well has a certain element of that Disney magic to it. If you don’t believe me, trust the fact that I’ve seen not one, but THREE proposals on this bridge!
4. World Showcase ~ Epcot
I know saying “World Showcase” seems INCREDIBLY all encompassing of most of Epcot, but basically everywhere in WS is a prime photo opportunity. Whether your snapping pictures of your food and wine in front of each pavilion’s most iconic landmark or taking selfies, it’s never a dull day traveling around the world. My personal favorite locations in WS are the Moroccan fountain and the phone booths in the UK.
5. Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups ~ Magic Kingdom
Last in this post but first in my heart, my absolute FAVORITE place to take photos is the Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups. These pictures always turn out to be the cutest, because it’s hard to not capture genuine laughing candids whilst spinning at top speeds. This photo has become a tradition for me whenever I visit MK, and as I continue to visit the parks it will continue to be a part of that magic!
Now there are PLENTY of other spots that are great for photos, both in the parks and at the resorts, so stay tuned for a part 2 of this post, but for now go get snapping!
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