Stuffed Suitcase Travel

Stuffed Suitcase Travel Sharing destination ideas to help you decide where to go next and travel tips to help improve your travel skills!

Stuffed Suitcase is all about finding new ideas and inspiration for family travel vacations and family life between trips. Follow along to find tips and ideas about travel and family fun! And sometimes just a post that will bring a smile to your face!

Did you know a shopping plaza in Irvine, California is where an entire bakery chain made its first US debut?85°C Bakery,...
20/08/2026

Did you know a shopping plaza in Irvine, California is where an entire bakery chain made its first US debut?

85°C Bakery, the wildly popular Taiwanese chain known for salted coffee and butter buns, opened its very first American store at Diamond Jamboree in Irvine. People lined up for over an hour just to get in.

That plaza is still going strong. Over 20 restaurants packed into one lot, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Taiwanese kitchens sitting side by side, in a city where close to half the population is Asian. It's the reason Irvine gets called Orange County's international dining destination.

This was my udon bowl from Marugame Udon, made to order right in front of you, theater kitchen and all.

More from the trip in the comments.

Just got back from a week on Holland America's Eurodam, round trip from Seattle to Alaska. Seven days, four ports, and a...
31/07/2026

Just got back from a week on Holland America's Eurodam, round trip from Seattle to Alaska. Seven days, four ports, and a whole deck of people in orange for reasons I did not expect.

28/05/2026

Florida two-for-one: Disney World and the beach on the same trip! Let me show you how.

I had a work event at Walt Disney World and then a conference in Fort Lauderdale two days later, so I decided it was the perfect time to try out

And if you’re a cruiser, this is especially useful, because Fort Lauderdale and Miami are two of the biggest cruise ports and this train helps you connect those cities with other parts of Florida. Do the theme parks then roll straight to your ship. No rental car, no driving, no tolls, no parking fees at the port.

The train departs right from Orlando International Airport, which makes it seamless if you’re flying in. Fort Lauderdale is just under 3 hours for travel time, and the train continues into Miami just slightly farther. You will need to rideshare to the ports from the train stations but it’s so easy.

Brightline hooked me up with a PREMIUM ticket and it was so nice! Lounge access before you board with food and drinks, a quieter car on the train (with single seats if you’re a solo traveler that is a perk), a meal served during the ride, and a free carry-on plus checked bag included.

One thing to know: the WiFi was pretty slow on my trip, so I wouldn’t count on it for an intense working session. Could just be a that-day thing, but download some shows ahead of time to be safe.

Save this if a Florida two-stop trip is on your list, and drop a comment if you’ve combined theme parks with a beach or cruise trip. I want to hear how you did it!

12/05/2026

3 days in Victoria, BC via the Victoria Clipper 🛳️ from Seattle!

Save this for your next Pacific Northwest weekend getaway!

Day 1 // Victoria
Morning Clipper crossing from Seattle + Fairmont Empress Gold Floor check-in + food walking tour with Off the Eaten Track + dinner at 10 Acres Bistro

Day 2 // Cowichan Valley
Breakfast at The Bengal + wine and cider tasting in the Cowichan Valley (Merridale Cidery, Unsworth Vineyards, Blue Grouse Estate Winery) + dinner at Q at The Empress

Day 3 // Heading Home
Gold Floor breakfast + guided e-bike tour with The Pedaler + Afternoon Tea at the Empress + Clipper back to Seattle by evening

The whole trip is walkable from the ferry terminal on both ends. Book the Cowichan Valley wine tour as a Clipper Vacations add-on and you won’t need a car for a single minute of this trip.

Taking an early morning sailing? The Edgewater Hotel is right next door to the Clipper pier in Seattle and worth a night of its own. The Beatles once fished off the balconies there!

Afternoon Tea at the Empress or wine in the Cowichan Valley, which would you choose?









27/04/2026

My favorite weekend getaway from Seattle is a trip to Victoria, BC Canada!

The makes it SO easy to plan a car-free getaway from Seattle.
The fast ferry departs from pier 69 in downtown and you’ll arrive in Victoria in about 2 hours. You’ll clear customs into Canada and then can easily walk around Victoria or book local tours. You can even book a whole vacation directly with the Clipper when you’re buying your ferry tickets as they partner with many local hotels including the luxurious .

Most of the sailings are set up perfectly for weekend getaways as you leave Seattle in the morning and come back from Victoria in the early evening. Some have even done this as a day trip from Seattle! And they often add additional sailings in the summer.

What’s your go-to quick getaway from Seattle?

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