Dreaming About Vacations - Alicia Mitchell

Dreaming About Vacations - Alicia Mitchell Specializing in ocean and river cruises, all-inclusive resorts, Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, Disney theme parks and cruises, and Universal Studios.

09/14/2026

The pictures make Europe look romantic. Your body may have a different opinion.

This trip through Italy and Greece has been absolutely incredible—but it has also been a reminder that some of the places on our bucket lists require a LOT of walking.

Most days have been 15,000+ steps, plenty of stairs (some days 24+ flights), uneven streets, hills, cobblestones, and a whole lot of exploring on foot.

And honestly? I’m grateful we did it now.

There are so many places I want to see in this world, and I don’t want to automatically assume I’ll “do them when I retire.” Because retirement may give you more time, but it doesn’t guarantee your knees, balance, stamina, or feet will cooperate.

So if you have a bucket-list destination sitting on your someday list, maybe move it a little closer to the top.

Go while you can fully enjoy the climb.

And maybe bring good shoes. Your feet will thank you.

The Acropolis is one of those places you see in pictures your whole life… and then you’re standing there wondering, “How...
09/12/2026

The Acropolis is one of those places you see in pictures your whole life… and then you’re standing there wondering, “How in the world did they DO this?”

Seeing thousands of years of history right in front of you is pretty incredible. Massive stones, columns, temples perched on top of a hill—and all of it created without modern machines, equipment or technology.

And one of my favorite things to see? The six Caryatids. Seeing them in person was incredible.

But here’s something I’m REALLY glad we did: we hired a guide.

Our guide knew exactly how to make the climb manageable. She didn’t just march us straight to the top. She knew where the shade was, where we could stop and sit, and when to pause while she told us more about what we were seeing and why it mattered.

That made the entire experience so much better.

A few Acropolis tips:

1. Bring water. You’ll want it.

2. Wear shoes with GOOD traction and good cushioning. The ground is uneven and slippery in places, and this is not the day for cute shoes with questionable soles.

3. Book the earliest tour time you can. It gets HOT at the top, where there’s very little shade, and the crowds grow as the day goes on.

And yes… hire the guide. They know the ins and outs, they help you navigate the climb, and they make sure you actually understand what you’re looking at instead of just walking past a bunch of really old rocks saying, “Yep, that’s cool.” 😂

The Acropolis was absolutely worth the climb.

And standing there looking at what people accomplished thousands of years ago?…Pretty hard not to be amazed.

Alicia Alsop Mitchell Jeff Mitchell

Something bad happened in my hotel room before we even checked in….Not exactly what you want to hear when you arrive in ...
09/10/2026

Something bad happened in my hotel room before we even checked in….

Not exactly what you want to hear when you arrive in Athens for the final stop of your 20th anniversary trip.

We had booked a penthouse suite with a hot tub and a little sliver of Acropolis view for about €350/night. I wanted something nice and relaxing, but also a hotel I could check out for clients looking for a more budget-friendly Athens option.

Instead, we were told we’d be staying across the street at their sister property.

“No hot tub,” they said. “But trust us. It’s a really good room.”

Turns out, they were giving us a €1,700-a-night penthouse suite for the price we originally paid at the other hotel.

Ummm… WHAT?!

And now I’m sitting at my desk looking out over our private wraparound balcony overlooking Monastiraki Square, with the Acropolis and Parthenon lit up right in front of me.

I’m still very unsure what “bad” happened in our old room…

But I’m definitely not mad.

Not even a little.

Alicia Alsop Mitchell Jeff Mitchell

Mykonos is pretty during the day… but the magic happens at sunset. Yes, it has the charming whitewashed streets, beautif...
09/09/2026

Mykonos is pretty during the day… but the magic happens at sunset.

Yes, it has the charming whitewashed streets, beautiful beaches, snorkeling, catamaran trips to Delos, and plenty to explore.

But when the sun starts to dip into the horizon, everyone seems to gather around Little Venice and the windmills to watch golden hour unfold. And WOW. The colors across the sky were absolutely stunning.

We loved wandering, taking photos, and soaking it all in—even with the wind trying its best to ruin every single picture of us.

Overnighting in Mykonos makes all the difference. You get to experience sunset without rushing back to the ship… and apparently, some people decided to experience the nightlife until sunrise…I only made it to midnight!

Mykonos, you were beautiful. 🇬🇷

Alicia Alsop Mitchell Jeff Mitchell

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAYMykonos is windy. Like… REALLY windy. 😂Don’t be like me…Bring a hair tie.
09/08/2026

TRAVEL TIP TUESDAY

Mykonos is windy. Like… REALLY windy. 😂

Don’t be like me…Bring a hair tie.

Santorini… you were worth every step! 💙We watched the sunrise as we sailed in, then headed out for a private tour + priv...
09/07/2026

Santorini… you were worth every step! 💙We watched the sunrise as we sailed in, then headed out for a private tour + private water taxi — and WOW, what a difference!

Our guide knew all the best spots in Oia, took us to the less-visited east side of the island, a mountaintop monastery, traditional villages, and the black volcanic beach where Jeff got his feet in the Aegean Sea. 🌊

We finished in Fira before taking the cable car back to the ship.

15,000+ steps. 24+ flights of stairs. And still HOT! 😂

But this is exactly why I love getting boots on the ground. I’ve sent clients on this tour before, and now I’ve experienced it myself.

I can tell my clients what works, what’s worth it, and why having the right local partners can completely change your experience.

Private tour + private water taxi? Santorini WIN.

Alicia Alsop Mitchell Jeff Mitchell

Some places you visit. Some places you immediately know you’ll come back to. ❤️🇬🇷 Chania is definitely the second for me...
09/07/2026

Some places you visit. Some places you immediately know you’ll come back to. ❤️🇬🇷 Chania is definitely the second for me.

My clients have always raved about Chania, and after finally getting a little taste of it myself yesterday, I completely understand why. I could have spent hours simply meandering through the tiny pathways and winding alleyways, getting a little lost around every corner.

And then there’s the harbor. Finding a spot to sit, watching the boats come and go, and simply watching the world go by… honestly, I could get very used to that kind of afternoon.

But Chania is so much more than its beautiful Old Town.

You have the White Mountains and incredible hiking, including the famous Samaria Gorge. You can explore olive groves and wineries, wander through traditional mountain villages, discover hidden beaches and coves, or take day trips to some of Crete’s most famous spots — Balos Lagoon, Elafonissi Beach, Falassarna, Loutro and the south coast. And with a little more time, you can use Chania as a jumping-off point to explore even more of this incredible island.

It’s history. Mountains. Beaches. Food. Wine. Little streets that beg you to get lost in them.

And, of course, my favorite hotels in Crete. ❤️ But the hotel deserves its own post, so I’ll save that story for another day.

For now, I’ll just say this:
Chania, we’ll definitely be back. 🇬🇷

Alicia Alsop Mitchell Jeff Mitchell

09/05/2026

PICTURE IT… SICILY, 2026. 🇮🇹 So there we were… the Scarlet Lady decided to pull into Catania a little early, and honey, we weren’t about to waste a minute. We got off that ship and got right to exploring.

First stop? The countryside where we tasted local honey, sampled a few Sicilian wines, and then headed straight toward Mount Etna.

When I tell you Etna was ERUPTING while we were there… I mean, actively erupting. 🌋 We couldn’t see the lava, but we could see the red glow and smoke coming from the top.

Now, if we’d had more time, we could’ve taken the cable car up. But instead, we did what any respectable traveler would do… pistachio cream liqueur and Sicilian chocolate. Priorities!

We also saw the volcanic ash that had covered the entire roadway just TWO WEEKS earlier. And yes, the sky dropped some ash right onto our faces while we were there.
* Was it dirty? Maybe.
* Was it volcanic exfoliation? Absolutely. 😂

Then we headed into Taormina—the very town that helped make The White Lotus and The Godfather so iconic.

We wandered through the gorgeous streets, tucked into little alleyways, admired local artists and gardens, and took in panoramic views that looked completely fake. We even stumbled upon a wedding at one of the churches, complete with a vintage fiat.

And then came the food.

And because Sicily clearly loves me personally, I found a place with gluten-free arancini (ragu and cacio e pepe) and cipollina with local prosciutto that was absolutely AMAZING. Even Guy Fieri has given his stamp of approval.

And dessert?

A little local pastry shop with both regular AND gluten-free goodies. Jeff and I each grabbed a pistachio cream cannolo, and I sampled almond cookies in pistachio and lemon.

Because when you’re in Sicily, lemon isn’t an ingredient. It’s a lifestyle. 🍋

And then there was a statue….A statue without a head…standing there next to the port as a reminder of Sicily’s turbulent history and its fight for liberation in the 1800s.

Now, I’m not saying the Mafia did it…I’m just saying somebody did.

Either way, it felt like the perfect Sicilian reminder:
“Don’t. Mess. With. Sicily.”

We snapped a few pictures, soaked in ridiculous views, and are now headed off to our next adventure.

Would I come back? Yes. There’s still so much more to see, taste, and experience. Alicia Alsop Mitchell Jeff Mitchell

I came for the Amalfi Coast views, but loved the lemon granita. 🍋The views were incredible. The shopping was fun. But th...
09/04/2026

I came for the Amalfi Coast views, but loved the lemon granita. 🍋

The views were incredible. The shopping was fun. But that lemon? She was the star.

The Amalfi Coast did NOT disappoint. We explored Salerno, Positano, and Sorrento, and yes—the views were absolutely 🤌🏼.

But on a VERY hot day, the real MVP was the lemon granita served right inside a lemon.

Cold. Tart. Refreshing. Not heavy like gelato. Basically… vacation in a lemon.😍

Have you been to the Amalfi Coast? Which town is your favorite?

If you haven’t been yet… consider this your sign to add lemon granita to the itinerary. 😉

09/04/2026

POV: You voluntarily spend two hours walking around a 2,000-year-old city… in 95° heat… and somehow decide it was totally worth it. 🌋Welcome to Pompeii.

And friends, let me just say this: Pompeii is one of those places you NEED to see in person.

Was it hot enough to cook an egg on the ancient Roman pavement? Pretty much. 😂
Did my feet eventually threaten to mutiny? Absolutely.
Did I still walk away thinking, WOW…?

100%.

Pompeii is HUGE. We had about two hours, which barely scratches the surface. You could spend an entire day here and still not see everything. But between the heat and the amount of walking, two hours was our sweet spot.

These weren’t just random cobblestones. The Romans actually engineered the streets so rainwater could flow through them and help clean the roads. Then they added raised stepping stones across the street so pedestrians could get from one side to the other without stepping into the water.

We wandered past ancient cooking stalls, tiny living spaces, mosaics, beds, and doorways that were often around five feet tall…And apparently the gladiators were pretty short, too!

Then there’s the moment you look up and see Mount Vesuvius towering over the city.

That’s when it gets real.

People cooked here. Slept here. Worked here. Walked these streets. Lived their ordinary lives…and then one day, everything stopped.

One of the hardest things to see was the remains of a sweet little dog who was still chained when the eruption happened and the people frozen in protect positions. That moment really brings the history out of the textbook and makes it incredibly human.

Address

Azle
Fort Worth, TX

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 3pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dreaming About Vacations - Alicia Mitchell posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Dreaming About Vacations - Alicia Mitchell:

Shortcuts

Share

Category