July 20, 2024

We take a short kayak trip on lake Chatuge in our Hurricane Kayaks.

Be Well, Travel Safe!

This month, Kingdom Magic Vacations turns 25 and we’re celebrating twenty-five years in the travel industry! Every day I’m going to share a memory from my archive of this crazy ride. Each day I’ll be posting a blast from the past on my FB and collecting them all here on the blog.

I hope you enjoy them, it’s been fun going back through all those years of photo memories!

25) Through all of our running and all of our cunning if we couldn’t laugh we’d all go insane. (Changes in Lattitude – J. Buffett)

So that quote and this pic about sum it… We were on a cruise, we were with friends and we were together, having fun. And that’s how the last 25 years have been. (Well most of it anyway)

We started on a journey with friends, we still have friends with us and we’re working together and having fun. It’s been a privilege to lead MLT and KMV for all these years. I thank God for giving us the idea to begin with and for blessing our businesses and our lives along the way. For every person who has helped us over the years, we’re so grateful. The people we’ve met and worked with have been the greatest pleasure we’ve had (Well most of them anyway).

And to Leslie, the one in so many of the pictures, thank you for letting me chase my dream all these years and thanks for following that dream everywhere it’s taken us. Leslie has supported and worked and given more than I could have ever expected, she simply is the best. And here’s one more Buffett quote… Some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic, but we’ve had a good life all the way. (He Went To Paris – J. Buffett)

#ThanksFor25Years #25MustLoveTravelMoments #MustLoveTravelTurns25 #25photosfor25years

24) With you I’d walk anywhere. (“Come Monday” – J. Buffett)
This pic was taken at Pulpit Rock in Norway. It’s a steep cliff 604 metres (1,982ft) above Lysefjorden. It’s about a four-hour “moderate” hike and the view and experience is totally worth the time and effort to get there. It was a pretty tough hike, not sure at all about the “moderate” category, but they warned us that we weren’t in the states anymore and there were no railings or chains, so be careful.

What’s interesting sometimes when you see a photo like this, you see the “happy couple” in the “beautiful destination”. What I remember about this is not the moderateness of the hike, or the beauty of pulput rock, but the fact that Les and I were fussing about something all the way up the trail. I don’t remember what it was now, obviously, it wasn’t that important, maybe it was about the “moderate hike” not being that moderate?

At any rate, when the camera came out, it was all smiles and happy tourists at pulpit rock. So sometimes on the Facebook, you just never know what kind of day someone is having, even if they are at one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. #timetotravel

23) I’ve always loved this pic of Leslie and me. It hangs in her office, and I see it almost every day, so I thought it was another good one to share, and it’s another “first”. This is our first trip to Alaska, it was also Disney Cruise Line’s first trip to Alaska. This was sailing up Tracy Arm, it just seemed amazing for this big ship to be sailing in the fjord. It felt like a river with high mountain walls. Later we cruised in Norway and had a similar experience and have also since returned to Alaska as seasoned travelers. There are many types of cruises and so many places to see. What’s on your bucket list, what are you dreaming of being amazed by? Now is the time to see and experience those places you’ve been dreaming of. #TimeToTravel

22) Looking back on this wild ride, there’s one person that keeps popping up in so many memories. Laura is our Director. She’s been here for a lot of our 25 years. For Leslie and I she’s been a confidant, counselor, advisor and even referee at times and more importantly, through everything, she’s been a trusted friend, loyal and true. At Must Love Travel and Kingdom Magic, she’s been trainer, coach, task master when necessary, cheerleader, encourager and so much more. She loves to see people reach for their best and enjoy what they do, because she loves what she does. We’re blessed that she’s been such a big part of team and our lives and grateful for all she does.

21) Social Siberia – (also known as, oh how times have changed) This was the end of our AbD to Germany, we were in Munich, the last stop on our trip. After a week of being in centuries-old castles with sketchy internet at best, Sarah had dubbed this trip social Siberia. Starbucks was a welcome site in Munich and we were all sniffing out the WiFi hotspot when Les grabbed this shot from outside. These are the times that bring a family together.

20) When was the last time you did something for the first time? In 25 years we had a lot of firsts. This was our first Agent Appreciation cruise on Disney Cruise Line. This is Colleen, and it was also her very first cruise. Can you tell she was a little nervous? No need to worry about the hurricane that we sailed through on this trip, but it did get a little rough.

We have had a lot of firsts, and some of it’s been a little rough at times. Like this past year, like now, but storms pass. When you’re ready to travel again, we’re still here, where we’ve been for 25 years. And whether it’s your first trip somewhere or your 40th, we know how to get you there and back from your dream destination. #timetotravel

19) That time we had a pig roast at our house… This was for our 10th Anniversary / Birthday (which is it for a business) Tony was our Regional Sales Director at Disney. He wanted to do a Cuban-style pig roast, he had the box, he brought the pig and we invited friends, neighbors, folks from KMV and Disney, and we cooked a whole pig outback. We had black beans and rice, plantains, all the fixings, but more than that we had a great time, and folks still talk about our pig roast. I know it’s one of my favorite memories, thanks, Tony!

18) 18 Summers – Isn’t that what they say we get with our kids before they are off on their own lives? This was one of our last, big “family trips” together. An Adventure by Disney to Germany. Sure, we had a few smaller trips after this, but this was a big, all together one, one the kids remembered, one we all remembered. This trip impacted Andrew, he still talks about it. I loved this trip too, the history, the castles, the food…and Les loved the local beer.

Oh, and if you’re wondering about the others in the photo, we were on our AbD, and it was about the time the movie Rapunzel was released. When we arrived at the castle in Trendelburg, in true Disney fashion, in the tower of the castle was Rapunzel, who of course let her hair down. And there was also a real German Knight, who demonstrated swordsmanship and talked of German history. Naturally, photos followed. Travel changes you, it changes your kids #travelchangeseverything

17) Growing Up Disney – Yep, when they were young we made a lot of trips there. They loved it, they knew the parks, how the transportation works, which restaurants they liked. We loved it too. Growing up Disney, growing up in Kingdom Magic Vacations / Must Love Travel

16) The Disneyland Fire Truck – Still one of my favorite memories at Disneyland in California. Leslie and I were at an after hours travel event at Disneyland park and we had stayed till the end. As we were leaving it seemed we were the only ones left on Main Street, and the Fire Truck was there waiting to give rides back to the entrance. It was almost surreal. An empty park on a still night, and just us and the cast member driving us down Main Street in the Fire Truck, Walt’s Fire Truck. I couldn’t help but ask the CM what it was like to drive the same Fire Truck Walt Disney himself drove. I don’t know what I was expecting, but his answer, “amazing” summed it up, and I could tell he really meant it.

This is Steve in the picture, and while he wasn’t the driver the night I just described, I have ridden down Main Street many times with him since that night. I make a point of it now if I’m at Disneyland and he’s driving, I catch a ride and enjoy his story’s about the Fire Truck. It’s been in the park since 1958, is the same one Walt used to drive, and was designed by Disney Legend, Bob Gurr. Catch a ride the next time you’re in Disneyland, it’s a true piece of Disney history.

15) We went to Paris – One of my all-time favorite #JimmyBuffettSongs

The pic you had to take. Hey, some photos you just have to take. You go all the way Paris, you want a pic in front of the Eiffel tower. And this was before the fence, so I’m glad we got it. And I’m glad we had lunch in the tower. And I’m glad for these memories, they are my treasures from 25 years. That and the humans in this photo.

14) When I think of France, I still think of Villefranche, a quaint relaxing coastal town in the south of France. Just a short walk or drive to Nice and Monaco, we enjoyed wandering through the local shops and chatting with the warm and friendly people there. Give me a quaint seaside village over a busy metropolitan city any day, and these two with the Magic in the background, well that’s a picture-perfect postcard memory. Nice hair Les!

13) – That time in Venice… – What do you do when you have the afternoon off on your tour? Well we like to see things like a local. We were on an Adventure by Disney in Venice. We had a busy morning tour, but a free afternoon on a beautiful day in Venice. Leslie and I, and two other couples, found a taxi driver with an amazing boat and asked for a “three hour tour” of Venice. We found a local store that had some libations and off we go sightseeing in Venice. Our taxi driver spoke very little English, and we, no Italian, lol. Andiamo! He would point things out and we’d follow along as if we understood and he tried harder to explain. What an awesome day in the middle of our “tour” of Italy. Thanks to our travel companions, Don and Char and Terry and Shelley, this was one of the best days ever, just being spontaneous and getting out there. #timetotravel

What’s in the bag mister?

12) – I had this notion in my head of our agents “skipping through the parks” because they loved their jobs so much. I think we joked about it one time when a group of us were at Walt Disney World and it stuck with me. Turns out, it’s kind of true. Check out these three. Well maybe not skipping, and you can’t see their faces, but they’re happy! We really do love planning memorable vacations for our guests, and for ourselves. Lets get out there and travel again! #TimeToTravel #MustLoveTravel

Nice Backpacks!

#11  “I work everywhere, but I work best here.” – Tennesse Williams

Over the years we’ve had some pretty cool work trips and ended up working from a lot of interesting places. This was one particular such time, working from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Not sure what year it was, but is that a blackberry? And who left their pen on the laptop keyboard? That killed many a screen. These are the times I’ll remember and cherish, working and collaborating with friends toward a common goal. #PartOfATeam

#25MustLoveTravelMoments #MustLoveTravelTurns25 #25photosfor25years

#10 He travels the fastest who travels alone.

I’ve always loved that quote. But I also love traveling with these humans. Mi Familia. We traveled everywhere with them growing up. Long plane trips, cruises, meals out, and dinners in restaurants. We did it all together. These guys were champs too, always ready for a trip somewhere, anywhere. And I think we got better over time, look at all those bags! Andrew and I counted, watched, and kept up with them all, most of the time. So travel, just go ahead and do it. Yes they’re old enough, yes they’ll remember it, more importantly, you’ll remember it, and 25 years later, you’ll have the memories, and so will they.

#9 Happy Mother’s Day. Here is a pic of Leslie with Sarah in Miami.
Leslie was a working mom, she had a regular job when we started Kingdom Magic Vacations, we both did. It was our “side hustle” She balanced everything so well as only a mom can do! So hats off to all the moms out there, raising families, running businesses and doing everything else that life requires of them, we love you and appreciate you!

#8- Get Out There! Another from the “yeah that was a good day folder” Travel is motion, it’s about seeing new places and new people, new cultures and new food! Key West is one of my favorite places to visit and on one particular trip, we took a seaplane ride out to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas. Landing a seaplane on the water seemed almost magical. Travel, travel as often as you can, as far as you can, by any and all means that you can. Planes, trains, and automobiles, … bicycles, jitneys, and mopeds, just get out there and see and do all you can, while you can. Travel changes everything. Once you’ve seen an airplane land on the water there’s no stopping you from anywhere.

#7- I thought at the outset of this trip down memory lane, I wouldn’t focus as much on individual people. Over the years there have been so many wonderful people who have blessed our lives, to mention only a few would discredit so many others who have helped us so much. But this guy is really important. This is my brother Mike, and his wife Becky. They have meant so much to Leslie and me over the years and to say we wouldn’t be here without their help would be true, but not nearly enough to describe how much they really have helped us our whole lives.

Mike was a great brother and a great business mentor to me. He taught me a lot about business and life, how to play poker, and how to enjoy it. I learned more about business at our annual poker games than I could in an MBA program.

He believed in us and our dream. I’ll be forever thankful for the times and the memories we shared. Oh and today is his birthday, and Becky’s…happy birthday ya’ll! And today is the “official” birthday of Kingdom Magic Vacations and our travel career. So Happy Birthday to us too, and to everyone who helped us along the way, thank you! And we thank God, for a great ride!

#6- The Traveler sees what he sees, the Tourist sees what he has come to see, this saying was never more true to me than on a quick trip a few years to Washington DC. It was a two-day business meeting and I had arrived a day early. I spent my “off” day walking the National Mall and taking in the sights. As I stood at the Lincoln Memorial, I was surprised at how overtaken I was and how enormous he was. This image that we’ve seen countless times over the years in news reports from the Capitol and in the movies. I stood there thinking of the history of our country, and now as I write this, years after, I’m realizing that statue, completed in 1922, will be 100 years old next year. Wow, just wow. I am so proud to be an American, I’m so proud to be a small business owner and I’m so proud of our team and our company, Must Love Travel. I’m proud of this country and what it stands for. A country where 25 years ago an idea became a business that still exists today.

#5- Happy Cinco de Mayo
Over the years we’ve enjoyed so many great trips to Mexico. Cancun, Cozumel, Cabo San Lucas just to mention a few. And one of my favorites was a trip early on, years ago to Ixtapa that I’ll never forget. As the world begins to open back up, Mexico is warmly welcoming tourism and still has incredible sights, culture, food and the warmest people.

#4 – May the 4th Be with You! Sorry, I know it’s cheesy, but with so many Star Wars events in the parks and on Disney Cruise Line, I had a lot of pictures to choose from, here’s one of my favorites with Chewy.

#3 – Working Hard? This was our first Agent Appreciation Event on Disney Cruise Line. We scheduled a “sales meeting” on our Castaway Cay day, Disney’s Private Island. I think this was one of the most productive and fun meetings we’ve ever had. Yep, when you can have a great idea and a conch cooler on a sandy beach, yeah, more work days like this, please.

Here’s #2 in my 25 photos for 25 years… This was our first trip to London, an Adventures by Disney to London and Paris. I remember Sarah ran around the house for two weeks prior to the trip, declaring, “We’re going to Paris, We’re going to Paris”! It was exciting and a great family trip. We made so many memories and grew in our travels as a family.

#1 – So here’s the first one. This is our family right about the time we started Kingdom Magic, 25 years ago. Look how young we were, what confidence, we were ready for the world, well not Sarah, she was ready for bed.

April 23, 2021

We love Key West! Here’s the photo blog for a recent video we did highlighting some of our favorite places to eat in Key West. Here’s the video

One of the highlights on the drive down is the seven-mile bridge.

And speaking of highlights, you have to get a photo with one of the most recognizable icons of Key West.

My wife Leslie at one of our favorite restaurants in Key West, Firefly.

Appetizers at Firefly are always amazing!

Paired with a great glass of wine on the porch, easy to see why it’s a local favorite

Fresh fish and other seasonal offerings combined with unique and imaginative presentations make Firefly a must-do every trip.

As you can see Camille’s also made the list as a favorite, definitely on Leslie’s list!

At Camille’s you’ll find great, hearty breakfasts 

Try the French Toast, you’ll love it!

Banana Cafe was a new discovery on our last trip, we loved it, we’ll definitely be back!

Leslie loved their crepes!

And I really enjoyed the Eggs Benedict

Speaking of local favorites, you’ve got to try Schooner Wharf Bar.

Schooner Wharf’s Tuna Nachos are amazing!

The location and live entertainment are pretty good to, defintely a must visit, every trip!

For dinner, we love Santiago’s Bodega. Small plate Tapas make up the menu, the food is always great and it’s always a good time there.

The  Sangria pairs well with most anything on the menu.

Small plate Beef Filet

Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp and Sausage Skewers

Beef Short Ribs

A funky Key West atmosphere, with great small plate food, definitely check out Santiago’s Bodega.

The Key West Roosters are famous

They make their presence known.

And to round out our list of favorite places, Blue Heaven. We love it for breakfast, but it’s great anytime.

With it’s canopied outdoor setting, this uniquely Key West restaurant is always on our list when we visit Key West

The Eggs Benedict are famous. Try the Sausage or the BLT (Bacon, Lobster and Tomatoe)

Bacon and Egg on a Brioche bun

Outdoor Tiki bar

Blue Heaven is uniquely Key West

Be Well, Travel Safe!

April 16, 2021

One of the last trips we took just before the world all changed in 2020 was a cruise on Disney Cruise Line. One of our favorite experiences on a Disney Cruise is having brunch at Palo.

Palo is an adults-only restaurant serving dinner nightly and brunch on sea days. And while we love Palo for dinner with its wonderful Italian menu, as you’ll see from the photos below, brunch is excellent as well!

Located aft on the ship, Palo offers panoramic views as you dine

Palo is very elegant from the place settings and furnishings to the Italian theme and menu.

Palo takes it’s name after the posts used to tie up the gondolas in Venice.

The seafood table offers a wide selection of shrimp, scallops, seared tuna, and especially cracked crab legs.

Stone Crabs!

The desserts are divine!

There’s a wide variety to choose from, and they’re small so you can enjoy more!

There are great pastries, freshly made sticky buns…

And Croissants!

More desserts, the chocolate covered strawberries are amazing!

There are also items you can order from the menu that your server will have prepared for you. This is veal saltimbocca.

Chicken Parmigiana is another dish offered on the menu, don’t miss it, it’s amazing!

Soon travel will once again open up and we’ll return to cruising! I can’t wait to get back and enjoy another brunch at Palo on Disney Cruise Line!

Be Well, Travel Safe!

April 9, 2021

One of our favorite road trip travel memories was a visit to a beautiful bed & breakfast cabin located just outside Asheville in the heart of the Smoky Mountains called the Wildberry Lodge. Our trip was in December, just before Christmas, with a group of friends, and had a great time. We loved the food, the lodge itself, and the location.

The scenic location of the Wildberry Lodge is both breathtaking and relaxing.

Purpose-built to be a bed & breakfast, the Wildberry Lodge is a perfect location to spend time with family and friends in the heart of the Smoky Mountains.

Great porches and scenic hiking trails pull you to enjoy the beauty of nature surrounding the lodge.

Breakfast served daily was an amazing treat at the Wildberry Lodge.

A big, open kitchen made it nice to enjoy a cup of coffee and look forward to what the breakfast menu would be.

A huge fireplace in the relaxing living room was a great setting to enjoy a glass of wine in the evening.

The lodge was beautifully decorated for Christmas while we were there.

Breakfast is served, French Toast with smoked sausage.

Accompanied with a blueberry, granola parfait.

Another view of the living room and the dining table.

The living room and the upstairs.

Downstairs there’s a game room with a pool table and shuffleboard.

The relaxing bed & breakfast feel made the lodge a great place for us to plan our day’s adventures and unwind and reflect after the day was over.

Reflection comes easier with friends and a glass of wine.

This is now one of our happy places.

Another outstanding breakfast!

And another accompaniment

Our group, “the band”, we love traveling together!

Here’s our Christmas card!

Get out of town, the snow’s coming, let’s head back to Florida and plan the next big adventure!

Be Well, Travel Safe!

April 2, 2021

One of our last trips before the world changed, was to Bordeaux, France to take a wine cruise on the AmaDolce from AmaWaterways.

The beautiful AmaDolce from AmaWaterways.

We had a wonderful dinner created by Chef Sebastion in an intimate setting

The menu for the evening

Chef Sebastion working in his kitchen to create the evening’s appetizers

Here’s the cheese board that will come later, nothing like French wines and cheese.

Our first course. Chef’s Welcome – Foie Gras – Jambon de Bayonne – Fig Spring Roll

Our view from the table, the chef plating up his delicacies.

The next course. Get the Taste – Curried Atlantic Scallops – Spicy Melon-Mint Salad – Sweet Potato Creme

Chef Sebastian prepping the soup for his guests.

Tease the Senses – White Asparagus Cream Soup – Balsamic-Strawberry – Comte Cheese Cookies

The Chef and his crew

From the Rivers – Grilled Fillet of Sea Bream – Saffron Veloute – Oven-Baked Tomato-Eggplant Salad – Chick Pea-Lentil Souk

Sherbert – Apple – Ginger-Ale – Sparkling Wine

Country Spirit – French Barbarie Duck Crepinette – Lavender-Orange Sauce – Broccoli – Braised Celeriac – Vichy Carrot Mash

Chef preparing the cheese plates to be served.

From Heaven – Frangipane Pistachio Tart – Blueberry Caviar – Cappuccino Ice Cream

There’s a close-up of that cheese, oh my!

“Warm summer breezes and French wines and cheeses” – He Went To Paris – Jimmy Buffet

Thanks, Chef Sebastion and crew of the AmaDolce for a wonderful night, and fantastic dinner and a memorable cruise. Au revoir!

March 26, 2021

This week we talk about one of the highlights of our river cruise in Bordeaux France with AmaWaterways, dining at the Chefs Table. We talk about the menu, introduce the chef and show you the cuisine. This was definitely a special evening and a special cruise in Bordeaux.

March 19, 2021

My cohort on Travel with Rick, Jennie is finally getting out of the box and taking a trip to St. Lucia next week! Jennie and I talk about her upcoming trip, what she’s looking forward to and how you can “follow” her on her trip to the island!

Join Jennie’s VIP Tour of Sandals in St. Lucia
Date/Time: Monday, March 22 at 9 am EST
Register Here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6837692802490568208

March 12, 2021

This week we talk about road trips and visiting Asheville, North Carolina. We visited there around Christmas time with a group of friends and had a great time. We stayed in a beautiful bed & breakfast cabin called the Wildberry Lodge just outside Asheville. We tell you about the food, the lodge itself and what we like about Bed & Breakfasts. Come along with us to the Smoky Mountains and learn about the Wildberry Lodge.

March 5, 2021

Jennie and Rick talk about dining at Palo on the Disney Cruise Line Ships. Palo is an upscale adults-only restaurant featuring fine Italian cuisine. On sea days Palo also offers a brunch that is just unbelievable. Find out why Palo is so special and why we love it so much!