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Things to do in Riyadh, Saudi (save and share this Things to do in Riyadh, Saudi (save and share this post)!

1. Visit historical Diriyah! This is the birthplace of the first Saudi state, its extremely well preserved and a must see UNESCO site. We did a 2 hour guided tour and I highly recommend.

2. Have lunch at Najd Village which is a restaurant that serves traditional meals in a traditional setting (sitting on the floor, eating with your hands). The entire restaurant is built in the old Nadj lifestyle so you can see the architecture of the past. The food was amazing and the ambiance is equally beautiful.

3. Explore the red sand dunes which I highlighted in my last reel. You can do dunebashing, sandboarding, ATVing and more.

4. Walk around The Boulevard- it’s an outdoor entertainment area with shops, restaurants and more. There’s an area that replicates Times Square and then other parts reminded me on the Vegas strip, perfect place to spend an evening for dinner.

5. Face your fear of heights and walk across the skybridge at the Kingdom Centre Tower. It’s 300 meters above the ground with amazing views of the city. Don’t worry it’s enclosed!

6. Visit the National Museum of Saudi Arabia.

7. Walk around the Masmak Fort, it’s free!

8. See the Edge of the World, one of the most famous spots in Saudi.

I’m very glad I got to see Saudi for myself, next stop, exploring the city of Jeddah! Would you do any of these activities?

📸 @chrispriestley__ and @nadjowa
Things to do in Riyadh, Saudi (save and share this Things to do in Riyadh, Saudi (save and share this post)!

1. Visit historical Diriyah! This is the birthplace of the first Saudi state, its extremely well preserved and a must see UNESCO site. We did a 2 hour guided tour and I highly recommend.

2. Have lunch at Najd Village which is a restaurant that serves traditional meals in a traditional setting (sitting on the floor, eating with your hands). The entire restaurant is built in the old Nadj lifestyle so you can see the architecture of the past. The food was amazing and the ambiance is equally beautiful.

3. Explore the red sand dunes which I highlighted in my last reel. You can do dunebashing, sandboarding, ATVing and more.

4. Walk around The Boulevard- it’s an outdoor entertainment area with shops, restaurants and more. There’s an area that replicates Times Square and then other parts reminded me on the Vegas strip, perfect place to spend an evening for dinner.

5. Face your fear of heights and walk across the skybridge at the Kingdom Centre Tower. It’s 300 meters above the ground with amazing views of the city. Don’t worry it’s enclosed!

6. Visit the National Museum of Saudi Arabia.

7. Walk around the Masmak Fort, it’s free!

8. See the Edge of the World, one of the most famous spots in Saudi.

I’m very glad I got to see Saudi for myself, next stop, exploring the city of Jeddah! Would you do any of these activities?

📸 @chrispriestley__ and @nadjowa
#Ad This summer I have plans to do a lot of outdoo #Ad This summer I have plans to do a lot of outdoor activities, and protecting my skin while being out in the sun is extremely important! Since I frequently travel with others, having a sunscreen that everyone can use is a must, which is why I’m loving the new @coppertoneusa Complete sunscreen! 

It passed the most important tests for me when looking at sunscreen, it leaves no white cast on my skin, is lightweight, moisturizing, provides UVA and UVB sun protection, and is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes! 

This new sunscreen allows me to pack light while providing the entire group with the sun protection we need. What sunny summer plans do you have? #Coppertone #ItsGreatOutdoors
Saving money anywhere we can is key to us being ab Saving money anywhere we can is key to us being able to travel frequently. @Priceline makes it easy to save on hotels with their Priceline Express Deals®, which can save us up to 60% off published hotel rates for all the major hotels and more. While you won't be able to see the hotel name until after you've paid, you can filter what you see by choosing your preferred neighborhood and amenities of your choice, then let Priceline do the rest. I used it to get an amazing hotel in La Jolla on one of our trips to San Diego, what trips do you have coming up that you're looking to save on hotels? Tap the link in bio to download the app now to save on your next trip. #PricelineExpressDeals #PricelinePartner
“There’s no dream too big or too small”, tha “There’s no dream too big or too small”, that’s the mantra of the girls favorite gymnast, Simone Biles, and one we personally live by. They’re in gymnastics and swim and outside of these regular activities you’ve all seen them try skiing, surfing, hang-gliding and more. None of these come easy but they know that there is nothing they can’t accomplish as long as they work towards their goals just as Simone Biles does. They were so excited to find out Simone has her own collection at @athleta and are now convinced these outfits give them super powers🤣. Which one of these outfits is your favorite? #PowerOfShe #AthletaGirl #AthletaPartner
There’s more to Jordan than Petra and Wadi Rum! There’s more to Jordan than Petra and Wadi Rum! We got to spend time in Feynan and one morning while there Jordyn and I woke up early to go on a hike through this nature reserve. Our @nike gear from @kohls was perfect for the climate. 

We both loved that we matched from head to toe in our #nikesportswear and we’re able to find attire in beautiful colors. You can actually walk from Petra to Feynan, it only takes 3 days 😅 and lots of people do it. While the two of us did not do that we loved exploring this land of the Bedouin. 

What have been the best/most memorable places you have hiked? #kohlsfinds #kohlspartner
Happy Carnival Tuesday! The wait is over, registra Happy Carnival Tuesday! The wait is over, registration for Trinidad Carnival 2023 has officially begun with a pop up registration today for those who played Mas in 2020. 

The world is absolutely crazy right now, there is so much turmoil and inhumane things going on. Obviously Carnival is not important in the grand scheme of things but today I’m happy to have it to look forward to because Carnival brings me lots of joys. I’m ready for di road!

Have you been to Trinidad Carnival or any other carnival? Which one(s)?

If you’re interested in Carnival but don’t know where to start I have a blog post on everything you need to know about planning a trip to Trinidad Carnival on my website, link is in my bio.

#trinidadcarnival #blacktravel #caribbeangirl #thetravelingchildintrinidad

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Pedra do Telegrafo: A Must Hike in Rio de Janeiro

April 9, 2019      Brazil, Destinations, South America

This blog post is in partnership with Backcountry.com. All opinions are my own and true!

When planning our Rio de Janeiro vacation visiting Pedra do Telegrafo was a must. We’d seen photos of the optical illusion photos of people “cliff hanging” all over Instagram and wanted the same. We knew it was in Rio but we didn’t understand the logistics of getting there. It wasn’t what we expected so we want to share our experience. Here is everything you need to know about visiting Pedra do Telegrafo.

Pedra do Telegrafo couple kissing

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Taking Family Vacation Photos

How to Get to Pedra do Telegrafo

When planning our visit to Pedra do Telegrafo we had no idea it was actually a 90 minute drive from the Copacabana area. There are three ways to get there, you can take the bus, take a tour, or hire a private driver. For ease, comfort and budget we chose to hire a private driver but here’s how to take the bus to Pedra do Telegrafo if you’re feeling adventurous. I honestly don’t recommend this route unless you are comfortable speaking Portuguese and understand you may potentially wait a long time for a bus.

From Rio de Janeiro you will need to get to Terminal Alvorada. When you get to Terminal Alvorada take one of the blue express buses to Malto Alto station. Once you arrive at Malto Alto station you’ll need to take the local bus 867 towards Barra de Guaratiba. You will get off the bus at the Barra de Guaratiba stop and walk towards the yellow church. There are a set of stairs besides the church leading to an alleyway. If you’re unsure if you ask any local you see they will be able to point you in the right direction. The alleyway is where the hike to Pedra do Telegrafo starts. You will soon see yellow painted footprints on the ground which will guide you to Pedra do Telegrafo.

What to Expect on the Hike to Pedra do Telegrafo

While the official start of the trail to Pedra do Telegrafo is 1km there is about a .2km hike prior to arriving to this sign. Most people take about 40-45 minutes to make the hike but since we were traveling with a 3 and 4 year old it took us an hour. If my 4 year old can make the hike up and down by herself you can definitely make it so don’t be intimidated by the amount of time it takes.

Pedra do Telegrafo Hike

The Rio sun is no joke so thankfully the hike to Pedra do Telegrafo comes with plenty of shade to block you from the burning rays. Hiking up  there will be some steep and tight areas so be prepared for those. This not the activity to wear sandals or flip flops, you need sneakers.

If you get tired and need a break there are plenty of places to rest on the way up to Pedra do Telegrafo. Lucky for you these places are typically on a rock that has an epic view of the beach below. We also came across a gentlemen at about the halfway point that was selling water and snacks.

Pedra de Telegrafo Rest Area

Like most hikes there are no toilets on the way to Pedra do Telegrafo. If you need to use the restroom you’ll have to find a hidden place off the path and be one with nature. Be sure to hike with toilet paper and a bag to put any trash in.

Once you make it to the top you can expect the most breathtaking view you’ve ever seen. However, depending on the time you arrive that view could be obstructed by a massive line of people waiting to get their own optical illusion cliff hanging photos! We finished the hike to Pedra do Telegrafo at 10:00AM and the line was already quite lengthy. I read the line can sometimes be 6 hours to take a photo and we thought by leaving Rio at 7AM we’d beat the crowd. When we saw the line we wished we had arrived to the start of the hike at 7AM. We waited about 45-60 minutes until it was our turn to take photos.

Pedra do Telegrafo View

If there is one than one person in your group you can switch off waiting in line while the other person sits in the shaded area. There is another person here at Pedra do Telegrafo selling snacks and water for you to enjoy while you wait.

Pedra de Telegrafo Snack Stand

How to Get the Perfect Photos at Pedra do Telegrafo

Before getting to Pedra do Telegrafo I stalked other people’s Instagram photos to see what type of fun shots we wanted to take. While I knew what we wanted I honestly wasn’t too sure how we’d take them at the right angle to get the death defying effect we’d seen all over the internet. Luckily we didn’t have to worry about that! There is a photographer stationed at the top ready to take your pictures.

Telegrafo

The photographer is a pro at capturing these photos at the right angle. When we went he was charging $5 for 10 photos taken on his Nikon. Not only did he take pictures on his camera he takes them with your phone if you’d like a well. There was no obligation to purchase his professional pictures even if he took some for you on your phone. He did such a great job, I don’t know why you wouldn’t purchase them or at least tip him. He tells you exactly what to do and really we got great photos. Here is what the whole area really looks like.

If you choose to purchase the professional photos he will give you his business card with his website. You’ll be able to download your pictures that night after 9PM. He does put a small watermark of the left hand bottom corner of the photo but it is extremely easy to crop it out.

What to Bring on the Hike to Pedra do Telegrafo

You will need plenty of water to make the hike to Pedra do Telegrafo. While there is someone selling refreshments once you get to the cliff you’ll need water on your journey. CAfter our many hikes on our Southwest road trip and in Costa Rica we learned carrying large water bottles is annoying. This time we invested in the Osprey Hydration Backpack and I’m glad we did.  You can fill it with 2.5L of water and comfortably carry it on your back. There is a long straw attached to the pack allowing you to easily drink without removing the backpack. The backpack can also hold items like extra clothing.

Backcountry.com Hiking Gear

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Taking Family Vacation Photos

When I’m hiking my clothing typically doesn’t have pockets to store items like my phone or keys. This was true for our hike to Pedra do Telegrafo and that’s why I always hike with my Herschel fanny pack. To me it’s more convenient than having to constantly remove my backpack to retrieve my items.

If you are traveling with young children like we were I highly recommend using a carrier. If you’re child can’t walk or gets tired of walking you won’t want to carry them in your arms. Our favorite hiking carrier is the Dueter Kid Comfort III. We love how easy it is to get your child in and out, that is comes with a shade, and so many other features.

We got all of our hiking gear from Backcountry.com. You can use promo code HAMBRICK15 for 15% off your first purchase.

Dueter Kid Comfort III Hiking Carrier from Backcountry.com

Hiking to Pedra do Telegrafo was one of the highlights of our Rio de Janeiro vacation. When you’re done with your hike you’ll probably want to cool down and relax. There are three beaches that you will pass driving back to the Copacabana area of Rio de Janeiro. It’s a good idea to make the Pedra do Telegrafo hike an all day adventure. You can relax on one of the nearby beaches afterwards, they are much better than Copacabana beach. Grumari Beach is good for swimming, Prainha is great for surfing and Macumba Beach is good for swimming and surfing. 

We love using our Skullcandy Barricade XL Speaker at the beach. Not only is it Bluetooth capable, there are USB plug so you can charge your phone and it’s waterproof. You don’t have to worry about it getting wet and you can feel free to take it in the ocean with you! We also got it from Backcountry.com and you can use promo code HAMBRICK15 for 15% off .

I hope you get the most epic cliff hanging photos at Pedra do Telegrafo. You’ll want a good meal after this hike so check out the best restaurants in Rio. Did you find this article helpful? Please share it!

This blog post is in partnership with Backcountry.com. All opinions are my own and true!

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Comments

  1. Shever says

    April 13, 2019 at 1:46 am

    Awesome information. You made this adventure so attractive, it is now a must do on my bucket list.

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Hey, I’m Monet!

Hey, I’m Monet!

A full time working woman, wife and mama of two. I use every last one of my vacation days traveling with my kids, hubby, friends or solo. Join me as I share my travel experiences and tips to make travel affordable and easier with the little ones. You can read more about me here.

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