Author: ardrice623

2020 has been the year of the unexpected !!!! Dealing with COVID-19 has been at the top of the list, claiming the lives of thousands and affecting the way we travel and where we travel for the foreseeable future. With very limited travel options outside of the country it’s a good time to see what the U.S. has to offer. Here are a few travels ideas if you are looking to getaway soon. Mask up at all times, keep your hands clean, and social distance when possible. We have been blessed to follow these guidelines and remain healthy during our traveling. Have fun and stay safe ! 🙏🏾✌🏾

In August we took a road trip with friends to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This was my third time visiting , but it is a lot of fun every time I have been. We stayed in a 5- bedroom cabin that had a jacuzzi, pool table, and plenty of room for the festivities. The first day we arrived we spent more time settling in than actually exploring the city. It was kind of hard maneuvering throughout the small city as they were hosting their annual “Jeep Invasion”. People from all over the world bring their Jeeps that weekend to show them off and admire others. During the next few days there would be plenty of time for drinks , laughs and memories. We shopped , rented atv’s , zip-lined, and did some wine 🍷 tasting amongst other things. Gatlinburg is always a good time and offers great views from the mountain. Oh and if you’re lucky you will see some black bears.

Follow my travel page on IG @a_drift_travels

The Arc de Triomphe is perhaps the most iconic of all French monuments, and without a doubt one of the most triumphal. Built between 1806 and 1836, it’s iconic in style and sculpture to the decoration popular at the first half of the nineteenth century and visitors can admire its delicate design and engravings. Instantly recognisable and deeply evocative of the military history of France, the Arc de Triomphe provides a glimpse into France’s social past as well as spectacular views across central Paris.

Ft. Lauderdale , Florida was a pleasant surprise last week! In the past I had spent time in Miami , Orlando , and Tampa Bay and had a great time in all 3 cities. If you want a combination of all three cities then Ft. Lauderdale is the spot for you . The “Venice of America” is known for its beaches , art , and cultures . As expected , a lot of venues were closed due to COVID-19 but we still had an amazing time . My favorite part of course was some of their fine cuisine !! Below I will highlight some of my favorite spots to get some good food in this amazing city 🌃.

If you’re a steak lover like I am then I highly suggest trying this place . They have drinks and cocktails 🍸 that are good . A full salad bar with some tasty appetizers before the main meal arrives . This Brazilian steakhouse offers some of the best meat your money can buy. The list includes : sirloin , beef and spare ribs . Flank steak 🥩, pork loins , salmon , filet mignon, ribeye , top sirloin , and ribeye amongst several other premium meats. If you don’t mind spending a little cash 💰 then this is the place for you !! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

If you’re looking for a fun spot to hang out along the strip check out “Rock Bar”. The food was fantastic while a live DJ plays some of the top music in all genres .

These were some of the places we enjoyed near our hotel. I’m sure there are many other restaurants but these are the ones that were open at the time of this pandemic . Thanks for reading ! ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽

I’m spending the week in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida this week celebrating my birthday. Initially, I was disappointed that more countries around the world are not open for tourism. That was the wrong mentality to have and I am thankful to be able to be alive first and foremost . Secondly being healthy and COVID-19 free is another blessing . I also found out how wonderful Ft. Lauderdale is , this city is AMAZING !!!!! I cannot wait to tell all of you about it , stay tuned!

I want to hear what others collect so that I can have some new ideas . I collect the stickers you see on my luggage in the video above . I also collect money (coins and bills) as well as sand from each beach I visit !!!

Last week I had the pleasure of spending a few days in the lovely city of Barcelona. Honestly, I wasn’t too thrilled about going because I wasn’t sure what to expect. Now, I can honestly say I loved every minute that I was in Spain. Here’s a look at some of my most notable moments from the city of Gaudi as it is often referred.

“Above all , I want to be happy, and at Barcelona, I’m happy”.

– Neymar

From the moment our flight landed , I immediately loved everything about Barcelona . The weather was amazing, especially considering it is late February and the temperatures in the states are brutally cold. Everyday the temperatures hovered between 60- 65 degrees with completely sunny ☀️ skies. My only wish would have been for those temperatures to climb into the 80’s so that we could enjoy the rooftop pool and the beach 🏖. Other than that the weather was perfect. From JFK airport the flight ✈️ was 7 hours and 15 minutes so it wasn’t too bad. However , the time difference ( Barcelona is ahead +6 hours) was pretty significant and forced us to spend the first day pretty much relaxing at the hotel and whatever was in the neighborhood. Fortunately we were about 10 minutes walking distance from Glòries (mall). We were able to grab a quick bite to eat and shop at a few stores before calling it a night.

Day 2 🇪🇸☀️

Day 2 in Barcelona is where all of the fun really began. We woke up and enjoyed a decent breakfast at the hotel and we were on in the streets. The night before as my girlfriend laid there sleep I decided it would be an awesome experience to go to an FC Barcelona soccer match ⚽️ .

The stadium wasn’t filled to capacity but they had it rocking from the start of the match ! 66,000 fans witnessed Messi put on a show. Lionel Messi finished the game with four goals as FC Barcelona cruised to an easy victory !

After the game we decided to go back to the hotel and get ready to experience the nightlife in Barcelona. I must admit I was shocked and had a ton of fun ! First stop was Ice Barcelona , the first of its kind in the world!

Next we decided to hit the casino which was located a few hundred feet away from all of the major clubs and the beach . It was a very nice and clean casino that had live dealers as well. If gambling is your thing , then this is where you need to be!

The rest of the night we just bar hopped and had too much fun !!!! Below I’ll leave some pics and videos highlighting the fun … time in later this week to find out what else Barcelona had to offer ✌🏾✊🏽