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The Manic Wanderer

The Manic Wanderer

Home
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Blog
- Travel
- Hiking
- Fandoms
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Contact

Travel

Meet the Manic Wanderer

I’m Jillian – traveler, fangirl of every nerdy thing you can imagine (seriously, it’s ridiculous,) bookworm, hiking enthusiast, fur baby mama, mental health advocate, and outdoor adventurer. A wanderlust geek here to give you all my tips, tricks, and detailed itineraries to meet all your manic and anxious needs!

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In the heart of downtown Seattle, you can find the

In the heart of downtown Seattle, you can find the quirky museum known as MoPOP. It celebrates the stories and works that defined popular culture over the years. Interactive and immersive exhibits explore music genres 🎶, TV shows 📺, and movies 🍿 that play a big part in our lives.

While visiting the city, MoPOP was my favorite experience in Seattle. There was an exhibit for all the things I love. Fantasy, sci-fi, horror, rock music, basically MoPOP had it all. Calling all my fellow fans here because this is one place you do not want to miss!

📌 Save this post for your next trip to Seattle!

Must-see Exhibits at MoPOP:

🎸Guitar Gallery
🤘🏼Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses
🎤 A Visual History of Hip-Hop
🧛🏻‍♂️ The Thrill of Horror Film
🧙🏻‍♀️Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic
🤖 Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction
🎮 Indie Game Revolution

Need to know info for MoPOP:

🎟️ The cost of tickets fluctuates depending on the day and time of your visit. A regular adult ticket will average from $25 - $30.

⏰ MoPOP is open daily from 10 am - 5 pm.

🚞 Get to MoPOP by car, bus or monorail. If driving there are paid lots to park in. The monorail though is a convenient way to get to MoPOP in downtown Seattle.

What exhibit would you want to see at MoPOP?
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#visitseattle #mopop #seattlegrunge #thingstodoinseattle #rainydayactivities #nirvana #nirvanafans #buffythevampireslayer #doctorwho #doctorwhofandom #michaelmyers #horrorfan #harrypotterforever #georgelucas #starwarsempirestrikesback #downtownseattle

Visit Seattle | things to do in Seattle | fun Seattle activities | downtown Seattle | Seattle Museum of Pop Culture | Rainy day activities

Utah is home to a whopping 5 of America’s 63 nat

Utah is home to a whopping 5 of America’s 63 national parks which are all breathtakingly beautiful. Hitting the road for an epic road trip to explore the Mighty Five is the best way to experience them!

Ideally, you’d like to have 7 - 10 days for a Mighty Five road trip, but I did it in 6 days because of limited PTO. They’re long and exhausting days but so worth it!

Mighty Five Road Trip Itinerary:

Day 1: ✈️ Fly Into Las Vegas and 🚘 Drive to Zion National Park
🔸First Stop: Zion Canyon Overlook

Day 2:📍Zion National Park
🔸First Stop: Angels Landing Trail or the Narrows
🔸Second Stop: Zion Canyon Visitor Center
🔸Third Stop: Watchman Trail
🔸Fourth Stop: Pa'rus Trail

Day 3:📍Bryce Canyon National Park
🔸First Stop: Sunrise at Sunset Point
🔸Second Stop: Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail
🔸Third Stop: Bryce Canyon Visitor Center and Lunch
🔸Fourth Stop: Drive Along Bryce Canyon Road

Day 4:📍Arches National Park
🔸First Stop: Double Arch Trail
🔸Second Stop: Windows Loop and Turret Arch Trail
🔸Third Stop: Balanced Rock
🔸Fourth Stop: Landscape Arch Trail
🔸Fifth Stop: Sunset in Arches National Park or Dead Horse Point State Park

Day 5:📍Arches National Park and📍Canyonlands National Park
Arches National Park
🔸First Stop: Delicate Arch Trail
🔸Second Stop: Park Avenue Trail
Canyonlands National Park
🔸First Stop: Shafer Canyon Overlook
🔸Second Stop: Mesa Arch Trail
🔸Third Stop: Green River Overlook

Day 6:📍Capitol Reef National Park and Back Home
🔸First Stop: Panorama Point
🔸Second Stop: Goosenecks & Sunset Point
🔸Third Stop: Hickman Bridge Trail
🔸Fourth Stop: Gifford Homestead

That’s 6 days road tripping through Utah’s National Parks! What stop would you want to make first on a Utah road trip?

📌 Save this post for future Utah trip planning and follow @themanicwanderer for more adventure travel inspo! ✨
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#visitutah #utahroadtrip #nationalparklife #exploreutah #travelblogger #brycecanyonnationalpark #archesnationalpark #utahtravels #hikingadventures #utahtrails #roadtrip #adventuretravel

Utah Road Trip | National Park Travel | Utah Travel | National Park Guide | Visit Utah | Things to do in Utah

Whether I'm hiking, taking a day trip, or travelin

Whether I'm hiking, taking a day trip, or traveling abroad I stick to compact essentials! This convenient and sturdy wallet from @ridgewallet allows me to carry all my cards and cash on my adventures in one slim case! Plus the design is a map of one of my favorite places, the Narrows in Zion National Park.

The Ridge will meet all your adventure needs:
✔️ Waterproof
✔️ RFID blocking technology (prevents theft!)
✔️ Fits up to 12 cards
✔️ Has cash strap or money clip

Use this link to get 10% off your Ridge wallet here!
https://crrnt.app/RIDG/k8opBWEQ
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#RidgeAmbassador #Gifted #travelgear #adventuregear #adventuretravel #hikingtime #travelessentials #delawarewatergap #hikingculture

As the end of July nears I'm already counting down

As the end of July nears I'm already counting down the days to fall.

Fall for me means home and Coney Island is where I grew up. Nothing beats walking on the water in the crisp weather with the sky painted in pastels.

My new fall @vessi let me walk on the sand and near the water without getting my feet wet and matching the beautiful lavender sky. I love that I can stay comfy and dry no matter where I go in any season with my favorite shoes!

Grab your fall Vessi’s with this link to get a pair of free socks with your new shoes!
https://crrnt.app/VESSI/bko-o62Z

#vessiambassador #nomorewetsocks #FallFeelswithVessi
#coneyisland
#coneyislandbeach
#lunapark #southbrooklyn #brooklynborn #newyorkliving #almostfall #almostautumn #fallgirl #falliscoming

Entering my lavender haze era 💜 You all know I

Entering my lavender haze era 💜

You all know I love my NYC day trips and this is one in Long Island not to miss! If you want to frolic through fields of lavender that make you feel like you've left NY and traveled to Provence then visit @lavenderbythebay

📍 Lavender by the Bay - Calverton, NY and East Marion, NY
⏰ French and English lavender are in full bloom now so visit while you can!
💰Purchase tickets in advance to reserve your day and time. Admission is $15 per person.
🐝 Be nice to the bees, they won't hurt you!

Follow @themanicwanderer for all the travel inspo and day trip ideas! ✨
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#lavenderbythebay #lavender #lavenderfields #lavenderhaze #longislandevents #daytripper #newyorklife #flowerlover #thingstodoinnyc
Day Trips | Things to do in NYC | NYC day trips | lavender fields | best things to do in NY | Long Island

Happy Waterfall Wednesday! This past weekend I v

Happy Waterfall Wednesday!

This past weekend I visited the beautiful Dark Hollow Falls in Shenandoah National Park. It was the perfect hike at my 15th National Park to celebrate my 8th wedding anniversary.

📌 Save this post for your Shenandoah NP trip!

The hike to the falls might seem short and easy, but don’t let it fool you. It’s a gentle trek down but it’s quite the uphill challenge going back. Pack plenty of water and consider hiking poles for the return!

This is one of Shenandoah’s most popular trails, you’ll want to aim to arrive at the lot either before 10am or after 3pm, especially on weekends. The lot has limited parking and spots fill quickly! There are plenty of trails and overlooks in the near area so if parking is full, try another trail and then come back. It’s popular for a reason!

🥾 Dark Hollow Falls

- 1.6 miles out and back
- 583 feet of elevation gain
- No reservations or permits required

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#waterfallwednesday #chasingwaterfalls #waterfallhike #shenandoahnationalpark #visitvirginia #virginiahiking #nationalparkgeek #womenwhoexplore #getoutandexplore #hikingtrip #hikingtips #womenwhohike

📍Fire Island, NY Fire Island is located about

📍Fire Island, NY

Fire Island is located about 60 miles from NYC, making it a great day trip from the city. If you’re looking for a beautiful lighthouse close to NYC, this is the perfect spot.

As someone who can only travel part time, day trips are essential for me! I love exploring different areas in the East Coast and getting away from the bustling crowds for a day.

What are some of your favorite day trips?
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#fireisland #longislandbeaches #fireislandlighthouse #daytripper #beachday #daytripnyc #lighthousesofinstagram #lighthouselovers #beachfun #explorenewyork #incrediblenewyork #mysecretnyc

Welcome, to Diagon Alley! I can't believe it's b

Welcome, to Diagon Alley!

I can't believe it's been almost a month since my trip to the Wizarding World, but I'm happy to share that my guide and itinerary is now live on the blog! (link on bio)

📌 Save this post for your next Wizarding World Aventure!

Quick tips for a trip to Universal Orlando:

🪄 Download the Universal Orlando App -
Use for mobile food ordering, park hours, ride wait times, and more!
🪄 Purchase park-to-park tickets -
The Hogwarts Express is only accessible with the purchase of park-to-park tickets!
🪄 Understand the Ride Lockers System -
For thrill rides and for some 3D/4D rides you need to put your bags in a park locker. The lockers are on the smaller side, so consider this when deciding which bag or backpack to bring!

The best things to do in Diagon Alley:

🔥 See the Gringotts Bank dragon spire fire!
🏦 Ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
🍽️ Eat at the Leaky Cauldron
🍦 Get ice cream from Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour
🚌 Meet the Knight Bus driver
👀 Spot Kreacher at 12 Grimmauld Place

What would you want to see and do in Diagon Alley?
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#diagonalley #universalstudiosorlando #visitorlando #wizardingworldofharrypotter #wizardingworldorlando #harrypotterworld #harrypotterfan #harrypotterforever #floridavacation #travelblogging #travelbloggerlife #visitflorida #gryffindorpride

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