Instagram Travel Thursday

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10 Destination Photos on Instagram that Make You Want to Travel

We're kicking #IGTRAVELThursday off a little late this year.  In the future, our monthly blog link-up will be the first Thursday of the month, but with New Year's Day being on a January 1 this year, no one wanted to blog. Forgive us for the delay. However, time off  from the link-up gave me time to look over what I posted on Instagram last year and see what is becoming popular this year as I explore travel engagement via social media apps like Instagram.

10 Destination Photos on Instagram that Make You Want to Travel

The other day I remarked in a tourism story that Asheville, N.C. and the Biltmore Estate are North Carolina's sexy destinations. I called it the destination that everyone lusted after to visit. I may be on to something because this photo that I took years ago, but uploaded to Instagram for the first time a few days ago has beat out all of my other photos from 2014.

1. Biltmore Estate

Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C.; 10 Destination Photos on Instagram that Make You Want to Travel


Ok. We are going to have another number one photo because the Biltmore Estate was uploaded in January 2015. Now to 2014 for my photos that made you want to travel, based on highest number of Instagram likes.

1. Gradara, Italy (Le Marche Region)

Gradara, Italy: 10 Destination Photos on Instagram that Make You Want to Travel


2.. The Primland Resort, Dan of Meadows, Virginia

Primland Resort, 10 Destination Photos on Instagram that Make You Want to Travel

3. Renaissance Charlotte South Park (American Girl Pink Hotel Experience), Charlotte, N.C. 

Renaissance Charlotte Pink Experience; 10 Destination Photos on Instagram that Make You Want to Travel


4. Gabicce Mare, Italy (Le Marche Region)

Gabicce Mare, Italy: 10 Destination Photos on Instagram that Make You Want to Travel

5.. Morning at Emerald Isle, N.C.

Emerald Isle, N.C; 10 Destination Photos on Instagram that Make You Want to Travel


6 . Lake in neighborhood at sunset in Cary, N.C.

Lake in Cary, N.C; 10 Destination Photos on Instagram that Make You Want to Travel


7 . Topsail Sound in Topsail, N.C.

Sound on Topsail Island, 10 Destination Photos on Instagram that Make You Want to Travel


8. . Fearrington House Inn in Pittsboro, N.C. 

Southern hotel Fearrington House Inn; 10 Destination Photos on Instagram that Make You Want to Travel


9. . Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock, N.C. 

fireplace at Chetola Resort in N.C; 10 Destination Photos on Instagram that Make You Want to Travel


10. Downtown Raleigh, N.C. 


Downtown Raleigh, N.C ;10 Destination Photos on Instagram that Make You Want to Travel


I'm not sure where Instagram will take me in 2015. Where will you be going this year?

If you have a blog, join us for the IGTRAVELThursday link-up the first Thursday of each month. It's a great way to share some of your Instagram photos at your favorite attraction, restaurant, hotel, or destination. Posts need to showcase at least a few photos from your Instagram account, and around the topic of tourism. Skimbaco Lifestyle is the founder of IGTravelThursday.



Also, I'm going to enter a few N.C. photos in the N.C. Blog Network 2015 Photo Contest sponsored by Mast Farm Inn. Do you have a favorite that I showed from N.C. that I should enter. I can't enter the Italy ones, of course.
NC Blogger Network




Also linking up with: Raleigh blogger, Mom's Small Victories for her Sunday link-up. Check out the great posts and find something new that will inspire you. 
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10 Destination Photos on Instagram that Make You Want to Travel

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Hotels Can Put the "Merry" in Christmas #IGTRAVELThursday

My Instagram feed is filled with mulled cider, holiday cookies, lights, and trees. I love it! Looking at the hashtag #SkimbacoHolidays really puts me in the holiday spirit. I was at Walt Disney World over the Thanksgiving holiday, and there, I got a head start on feeling festive. Disney is always magical, but the resorts truly shine this time of year.


This photo that I snapped while staying at the Yacht Club wins "most popular" among my Instagram friends. I don't know if it had to do with the fact that it was one of the first photos I published on my trip, but it got one of the best responses of all.

I'll be sharing more holiday photos this month so I hope you visit the blog again in your spare time so you can see some of my favorite photos. Hotels can certainly do holiday decor well.  I plan to visit as many local hotels as I can this month to show some of the best like this one at the Grand Floridian. Now THAT is a tree!



I'll be instagramming from the Washington Duke Inn in Durham, N.C. on December 8 while I get to chat with Santa. I'll be sure to tell him that you all said hello.

I'll also be showcasing other holiday photos from hotels on IG  this month.  To kick things off, I am sharing my love for the Four Seasons Instagram account again.  The Four Seasons Las Vegas Hotel delighted me with this "Santa Sighting" this week.


I wonder if the Four Seasons Las Vegas barista can do "Elvis", too.  Well, in this case, "what happens in Vegas is definitely not staying in Vegas," because this coffee shot is too good not to share. PRESS, is the hotel's new lounge that is open morning through late night. This chic space overlooks the hotel's private pool. Not putting any pressure on the barista, but it would be fun to see a snowman, too. You can read more about PRESS on the Four Seasons Las Vegas website.

And finally, I leave with you the fastest hotel tree decorating in Instagram history. The Four Season Beverly Wilshire has 53 amazing trees throughout the hotel. With that many trees, they certainly need a magical elf to decorate in no time. Enjoy!



Join us for #IGTRAVELThursday.

Do you have a great Instagram travel story to share? Read the linky rules below and join us this week (but don’t forget to grab our logo {here} and link to at least one of hosts in your post). If you are not a blogger, but have an Instagram account tag your lovely travel moments with #IGTravelThursday. No blog, no Instagram? You can still join in the fun by reading our IG-related travel stories and by giving us some feedback love!

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Hotels Can Put the "Merry" in Christmas #IGTRAVELThursday
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Instagram Travel: A Look at Videri Chocolate Factory in Raleigh, NC

I had the pleasure of speaking to a great group of business owners about the use of Instagram in a special Vend Raleigh seminar over coffee this week. One thing I told these women who are just getting started on the social media tool is that your feed is unique.  It's your creative outlet. Use it how you want. But after awhile, it's easy to see what your followers like to see in your feed, and what the same followers skim right over in your feed. 

My followers like this. 


Since using Instagram for well over a year now, I've learned a few things about those of you who check my feed to see where I am on a daily basis. We all know that coffee and chocolate can't be tasted over a phone, but apparently when pictured on Instagram, coffee and chocolate still trigger a positive emotion. The pictures get liked, and liked quickly. 


My visit to Videri Chocolate Factory in Downtown Raleigh was a double delight for my Instagram followers because Videri also hosts a coffee bar in the chocolate factory. Coffee and chocolate in one place. What's not to love? 

Earlier this summer, I was the guest judge for North Carolina's sensational dining competition called, "Fire in the Triangle." On that particular night, 20 pounds of Videri chocolate happened to be the secret ingredient for the gourmet cooking competition.  I wrote a post titled, "Gotta Love Chocolate" for the News and Observer, detailing the culinary talent in this competition. 

Videri is located in the historic Raleigh Depot at 327 West Davie Street. Videri Chocolate Factory was started by group of Raleigh residents who wanted to create wonderful chocolate, from the bean, everyday. It's a cozy downtown chocolate factory that scrupulously sources every ingredient to insure a high quality, socially responsible chocolate.



The chocolate is delicious. It's high quality so a small piece of candy could run as much as $2.00 each. The splurge is worth it  though. 

I've not yet toured the factory, but I've certainly sampled their coffee and chocolate. I am a fan of the sea salt chocolate. 

Videri Chocolate Factory is also on Instagram, and delights chocolate lovers a couple of times a week with a new post. 
It is a good possibility that Videri chocolate could make another appearance as an ingredient in the Final Fire: Battle of the Champions to be held in Raleigh Nov. 20-23 at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel.  Only time will tell. 

Tickets for the final dining competition of the year will go on sale Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7 pm. Final Fire will conclude the statewide chef competition and determine NC’s champion. Event reservations cost $119 each excluding beverage, tax and service charge. 

Diners can attend as many dinners as they like. Reservations open online on October 30 at 7 pm at http://www.competitiondining.com/events/final-fire. Event organizers expect the finals to sell out in 24 hours.

At stake in Final Fire is $4,000, a hand-forged set of knives from Charlotte-based Ironman Forge and a trip to Napa Valley, CA to the pro chef program at the CIA Greystone campus, compliments of Kikkoman. The runner-up receives $1,000.

Now in its second year, The Got To Be NC Competition Dining Series has become a statewide movement. Because all people are chefs, farmers, and diners, the event’s mission is to connect and celebrate this community with a dynamic, entertaining experience.

If you have a blog, link up with us.  If you don't, just use the hashtag #IGTRAVELThursday on Instagram. Take a look at the link-up rules below before linking, and please link back to a host so others can find everyone's links. 



Take a look at the official rules on Skimbaco Lifestyle, but here are some important things to remember when linking your post.

Here are the Linky rules:
Link to a new Instagram travel post and use the permalink of your post, not the homepage URL.
Only new posts from the week of the linky and no giveaways, other linkys or sales pitches.
No links to your Instagram profile, only links to your blog.
Link back to one of the Instagram Travel Thursday hosts.
Visit a few other posts in the linky and show them some love (comment, tweet, Pin etc.).
Links that do not follow the guidelines will be removed.
The Instagram Travel Thursday linky is posted on Thursdays at 1AM EST and the linky is open until the following Wednesday.
Be sure to follow me on one or more of my social media platforms.  Twitter, Instagram ,Facebook, Pinterest, Google Plus or on Bloglovin, if you just want post updates. When traveling, I'm on Instagram the most.  My personal family Instagram account is LeighPHines.


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Instagram Travel: A Look at Videri Chocolate Factory in Raleigh, NC
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