HOLIDAY ADVENTURE PART 2: NEW JERSEY & FLORIDA

Now for the promised second instalment of my holiday adventure, I hope you survived the first part - it did happen to be rather long. So, where did I leave you yesterday? Ah yes, after spending four days in New York we left by train, New Jersey bound to spend time with my parent's friends. Part two: New Jersey & Florida.

Belmar Beach, surfers paradise.

Having never visited a non-touristy area of the USA, I was eager to 'uncover' the real America. And boy did I. Our first stop was the beautiful town of Belmar in New Jersey, a costal stop just a way down from Jersey Shore (for real) is where my dad's best-friend Alfie and his lovely wife Sandy reside. They served as the perfect hosts and showed us the delights of this mini coastal town, where the New Yorkers flock to surf come summertime. 

Food portions don't come much bigger than this! Family run restaurants on every corner, we were completely spoiled for choice. With a (ginormous) side salad and bread, you're full before you even touch your main course, though it's expected you leave room for dessert obviously  All for less than fifteen bucks, I ate like a king every night- albeit a very greedy one with a hankering for Reece's Pieces Cheesecake.

Let me introduce you to our lodgings, akin to The Shining, if you look past the gun-loving receptionist and murderous looking swimming pool, it's really all part of the adventure!

Look at this BEAUTIFUL HOUSE! A stones throw from the beach, could I just move in? Did you know there are laws surrounding US flags on houses, it's got to be higher than any other flag you might fly. Weird but true.

We took a trip to Atlantic City (old school Vegas) where they filmed Broadwalk Empire. We spent the sunny day mooching along the broadwalk and feeling devilishly naughty by gambling ten dollars whilst the grannies around us were piling in the hundred dollar bills.

To think last year this entire Broadwalk was ruined by Hurricane Sandy it was amazing to see how it had been redeveloped.

I wish I could have bought this home with me: cheese covered steak on a flatbread and crispy onions with a side of mashed potato and veggies. I licked the plate clean.

Salted Caramel Cake - mmmm.

A trip to the US without a sneaky visit to Target, just look at all that Halloween candy.  

With my faithful Macbook tinkering on the edge of death this year, I decided it was time to upgrade to a new Macbook Air whilst away. Secretly I had been planning it for months, but whatever. With a good exchange rate and Apple's evil pricing in the UK, my Air retails at £1,129 here in London. Collective sigh. A far cry from the £729 I paid in New Jersey. BOOM! Whilst I've only just figured out where the '£' is on the American keyboard, if you are US bound anytime soon, seriously take advantage.

Then just like that it was time to move on, a sad farewell to our friends we took an internal flight to Orlando. Quickest I've ever bloody got to Florida! Staying at the pretty cool Crown Plaza on International Drive, we rented a car (and survived, driving into on coming traffic was a personal highlight) and hit up Disney Land Hollywood Studios and both Universal parks. 

A place I was very excited to visit was the Rifle Paper Co HQ. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I flew half way across the world to visit my favourite stationary shop. I practically skipped down the street into the shop, met the rudest woman ever serving behind the till, had the biggest sinking feeling ever. I had waited so long to visit, but choosing to ignore her I then proceeded to buy it ALL. A limited range is stocked in Liberty London but at astronomical prices. 

Yes, I bought a London print in America. Sue me.

This picture is pretty self explanatory. 

Next on our Florida trip was the parks. Being in town for four days, my dad and I, being big Harry Potter fans made a beeline Universal to visit Harry Potter Land at Universal Island of Adventure alongside Universal Studios. And being in town without visiting Disney would be a crime, so we popped along to Hollywood Studios for the day. I was basically having too much fun to bother snapping photos, so here are a few iPhone photos...

In short the Harry Potter rides were INCREDIBLE. My dad might have got motion sickness and I totally closed my eyes at the Voldemort scene but we enjoyed it so much, we went on it again, and again, and again. Being honest however, don't fret if you can't visit - I though the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Watford whipped it ass in terms of detail and was equally as good. And I might have told many American to visit Watford (queue their confused faces) and admittedly I did feel an urge to punch a fake American Hermione, too far?

Dreams do come true in Disney.

My staple wardrobe.

Bringing the American tuck shop home with me, 95c a box I went CRAZY! 

Don't knock Disney until you've been. It's much much better as an adult, trust me. 

There was my part two of the holiday adventure, I'm now feeling serious holiday blues. Stay tuned for my holiday hauling' tomorrow.