Hey, hey, heyyyyy! My name is Jessica (aka Wayfaring Wanderer) and I am a free-spirited photographer who loves working with couples, individuals, and families who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. I've lived in the Boone, NC area since 2005 and I'm known for capturing the spirit of the folks I photograph—the expressions, gestures, and details that are outward expressions of our innermost selves. While I'm primarily a wedding + elopement photographer, I also love working w/ individuals/couples/families that are traveling to the High Country area to getaway to the mountains.  I absolutely love what I do and am so grateful to work with some of the most amazing people in one of the most beautiful places EVAR. Let’s go on an adventure!

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Preview of Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure Theme Parks | Orlando, FL

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July 13, 2011

Islands of Adventure

I became a fan of theme parks at a very early age. Disney World was the first one that I can remember visiting, it was one of my absolute favorites growing up. Our Dad took us to the Magic Kingdom every single year until I was about 12 years old. Once my sister and I got older and outgrew the beloved cast of cartoon characters, he introduced us to Universal Studios. Disney World became a distant memory after being exposed to Universal Studios. It was vastly different from what I was accustomed to, but I recall thinking that it was so much cooler than DW.
Fast forward to the present day where I recently had the opportunity to introduce the Universal theme parks (Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure) to my 9 year old nephew, Ju-ju. It’s been years (and years) since I’ve stepped through the gate of any theme park, so I was excited about the day we’d be spending there. However, I was more excited about experiencing these cherished places through his eyes, and making new memories that we could share for years to come.
We spent a total of two days in Orlando, the first day was spent visiting Islands of Adventure, and the second day we ventured to Universal Studios. One of the main reasons why I wanted to go to IOA was because I was dying to see the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter area they recently opened up. But I also thought that Ju-ju would enjoy Suess Landing, Jurassic Park, Toon Lagoon, & the Marvel Super Hero Island, since he’s a fan of cartoons, dinosaurs, and spiderman!
Universal Studios
We planned the perfect time to go, apparently, because our wait-time for ride lines was extremely short in most cases. That’s not to say, though, that there weren’t a lot of tourists there, it was still packed with people. Our plan to arrive at the gate super early, and travel in the opposite direction that the flow of foot-traffic followed helped us avoid heavy crowds. The only thing we weren’t really prepared for was the fatigue that resulted after a few hours of walking around and standing in line. It was so worth it, though. Thankfully, there were plenty of opportunities to take much needed breaks throughout the day.
It was so much fun journeying through the uniquely themed Universal parks. We rode a ton of rides and shared a lot of laughs along the way. There are many highlights to showcase from our fun-filled days at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. In the next post, I will feature some of my favorite rides, including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, so stay tuned!

When was the last time you went to a theme park?

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Thank you so much for taking the time to contact me. I'm truly grateful to do what I love and I appreciate your time and consideration in advance! My response time is 24-hours for all wedding, engagement, and family photography inquiries. I look forward to connecting with you soon! In the meantime, let's be friends on Instagram. I love sharing a behind-the-scenes look at life in Boone, NC as a wedding photographer!

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