The Perfect Vacations for Every Type of Traveler

One of the top questions I get from friends and family is where can they go for a vacation? I always struggle to answer this question because there are so many factors involved! What type of traveler are you? Do you prefer the beach or adventure or city life? What is your budget? Do you have a passport? As you can see, it’s not a simple answer! On top of that, there are literally a million places in the world that could be a perfect fit for someone- it’s really hard to narrow it down. But I thought I’d give it a try! Fair warning- while I’ve done extensive research on these locations, I haven’t been to some of them so if you end up going to anywhere of these spots, let me know your experiences!

The Domestic Traveler

This is a pretty popular stipulation I hear these days, especially with all the scary issues going on overseas. Many people just want to stay in the U.S where everything is comfortable for them and language barriers and lack of a passport aren’t an issue. Traveling within the U.S saves tons of money as well and to be honest, America has some amazing vacation destinations that are often overlooked for the flashier international tourist spots. For the Domestic Traveler, I would recommend Portland, Maine or Asheville, North Carolina. My best friend and I took a girlcation to Portland, Maine (not to be confused with Portland, Oregon!) two years ago during Memorial Day Weekend and fell in love with the cute New England coastal town. In Maine, you can photograph all kinds of dreamy lighthouses, eat lobster rolls to your hearts content, and explore the beautiful outdoors all you want. Some of the highlights from our trip was taking a sunset cruise and seeing private islands and tasting the famous brown sugar lobster roll. I haven’t been to Asheville yet (although fingers crossed I’ll be able to go in March!), but I’ve heard its hipster vibe mixed in with its bounty of breweries and gorgeous fall leaves has made it one of the most sought after vacation towns.

The Weekend Warrior

Where are my people at? I love weekend travel- it’s a great way for the full time professional to take advantage of those precious two freebie days and explore somewhere nearby. The downside of being a Weekend Traveler is if you’re planning to fly, it can mean more expensive flights since you’ll be flying out Friday night and back in Sunday night (the two most expensive travel days). Cities that are accessible by public transportation or car are the best options. When I was in New York, I went to Wilmington, Delaware and had a blast. I went on a walking tour at the gigantic duPont estate, strolled around Winterthur Mansion and Garden, drank a snickers latte at a local coffee shop called Brew Haha, and ate a delicious brunch at Scrumptious. Wilmington is a 2 hour drive from NYC so making it into a day trip is even possible. Don’t forget to take advantage of its lack of taxes on electronics and get that new iPhone 11! Now that I’m in Texas again, I love driving to Austin on the weekends and soaking in the young college life, the beautiful outdoors, and tasting the delicious barbecue. On my most recent trip, we visited a local pumpkin patch at St Luke’s United Methodist Church and waited an hour in line for mouthwatering meat from La Barbecue (featured on Jimmy Kimmel!). Austin is filled with a nice variety of activities for everyone- hiking, wineries, history, nightlife- you name it and the Texas capitol has it!

The City Slicker

I’m a city girl myself so I completely relate to the desire to experience other big cities. And what former New Yorker would I be if I didn’t recommend New York City? NYC is probably the busiest city in America and in my opinion, one of the best. There really is no other city like it in the U.S. With convenient public transportation and a good pair of walking shoes, you’ll be able to explore every nook and cranny of this bustling city. I love taking in a Broadway musical (Hugh Jackman is returning to Broadway and starring in the Music Man starting September 2020), eating a giant cheesy slice of pizza at Artichoke Bastille’ after watching a comedy show at Comedy Cellar, or taking a walk through Central Park. There’s always one time events going on throughout the city from Open House New York weekend (always in October) to a Kpop concert to a pop up art installation. New York is definitely one of those cities you’ll have to visit again and again to get your fill! London and Shanghai are also great choices for a big city vacation. I’ve been to London twice now and fallen in love with the buttery scones served as part of afternoon tea, bright red double decker buses, and how British everything is. It is also really cheap and convenient to use London’s various trains to visit other amazing cities in the U.K. As for Shanghai, the city has really become tourist friendly over the years and many signs are now in Chinese and English so getting around is relatively easy. Spend your time searching for the juiciest soup dumplings, haggling for that bargain souvenir, or taking pictures on the Bund.

The Beach Bum

I’m not much of a beach vacationer myself, but Bermuda has some of the best beaches I’ve been to. Plus, it is only a 2 hour flight from several East Coast cities making it a convenient vacation destination. Beware that although flights here may be cheap, literally everything else is EXPENSIVE. I would recommend getting a resort room and splitting it with friends- this way you’ll be in a comfortable environment and have access to the resort’s private beaches and activities. I visited Bermuda for my 26th birthday and thoroughly enjoyed swimming in a cave at Grotto Bay Resort and lying on the pink sandy beaches.

The Adventure Seeker

I love adventure and trying out new things. Hawaii sounds like it would be a beach bum vacation, but due to its varied terrain many cool activities take place here. I experienced the shark cages for the first time and it was eye opening to be able to see sharks up close and be in the “open” water. Some of my friends also rented ATVs and explored the mountain where Jurassic Park was filmed. Costa Rica is another adventurous destination as there are so many tour options for white water rafting, hiking, zip lining, kayaking, waterfall rappelling, etc…

The Budget Conscious

Looking to have fun, but not break the bank? Madrid is surprisingly a very affordable international city. Flights here average $400 from New York City during off season and there are many deals at restaurants where you buy a glass of sangria and they provide tapas for free. Who doesn’t say yes to free food? I was also able to find a centrally located hostel room for $86 for 3 days- such a steal! Being centrally located is key because you’ll be able to simply walk around without having to worry about figuring out public transportation or spending money on an Uber. A well budgeted trip is usually one that has been thoroughly researched so finding deals on the activities you most want to do is a must. I really wanted to visit the famous Prado Art Museum for its 200th anniversary and discovered that entrance to the Museum was free after 5pm on Saturdays- $18 saved! Walking around Bueno Vista Park in the early morning while soaking in the fresh air and beauty of Madrid didn’t cost me anything, but was one of the highlights of my trip!.

The International Traveler

Seoul, South Korea has come into the spotlight lately with the rising popularity of Kpop music and Korean dramas as well as the deliciousness of Korean bbq and fried chicken. It is also English friendly as many signs (including the subway) are in English and many restaurants have either English menus or waiters who can easily converse in the language. The city is also extremely easy to navigate- I managed to tour everywhere without an iPhone or data (yes this was before the time of unlimited international data). With cafes everywhere you look, 4 historical castles ready for touring, unique street markets, and a clean convenient public transportation system, I think Seoul is the perfect international destination.

The Honeymooner

I haven’t been on a honeymoon yet, so I’m definitely no expert on this topic. But, if it was my honeymoon my first choice would be the Maldives. Its a little hard to get to because once you land on the main island where the international airport is located, its almost guaranteed that you’ll have to spend another $500 taking a smaller plane out to the resorts on the more scenic islands. But I’ve heard that the clear waters and lack of crowds makes it worth it. And who wouldn’t want to relax in a luxurious resort?

The Girl Gang

I love a good girls trip. Whether it be for a bachelorette or a birthday celebration or just because, its just so much fun to spend some quality time with your girls. In January, my friends and I went to Nashville, Tennessee and had a blast stuffing our stomachs with Hattie B’s hot chicken, walking down Broadway and popping into local bars, touring the Grand Ole Opry, and listening to live music at The Listening Room. If you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway with your girls or maybe you’re looking for the perfect place to celebrate your best friend’s engagement, I highly recommend Nashville!

The Solo Traveler

Solo travel, especially female solo travel, has become a trend these days as well as a sign of independence. It definitely takes courage and guts to go somewhere foreign by yourself and not only navigate around alone, but also plan a whole itinerary for yourself. While solo travel isn’t too common in America (I’ve realized since moving to Houston there’s sort of a stigma against eating alone…), its so widespread across Europe. Its not surprising to find people dining alone or trekking across the continent by themselves. My first solo trip was to Vienna, Austria and although I only took a 4 hour bus ride from Prague (where my sister was studying) to get there, I was still so proud of myself for completing the 4 day trip alone. Safety is obviously the biggest concern when it comes to solo travel and I have to say that not once did I feel unsafe walking around in Vienna alone. Vienna is also a great launching pad to head to Salzburg or Bratislava for a day trip. There’s the beautiful Schoenbrunn palace, the interesting Spanish Riding School, and the bustling Graben shopping street all ready to be explored. Alone!

The Foodie

I realize that Los Angeles is usually known for its wealth of celebrities and all things Hollywood, but there are actually lots of fun delicious food options there. Especially if you love Asian food like me! Smorgasburg also takes place here every Sunday throughout the year (unlike New York’s Smorgasburg which ends once summer is over). While its overly crowded and can be extremely hot under the beating LA sun, the food options (and lines) here are insane. I loved Sip Matcha (made with real green tea leaves from Japan) and the famous White Rabbit ice cream from Wanderlust Creamery. Besides Smorgasburg, LA has a buzzing Koreatown filled with heavenly Korean bbq and other delicious Korean snacks. My favorite restaurant is called Yellow House and has a spacious airy patio out back, ideal for enjoying that spicy rice cake. Wander around LA and its surrounding neighborhoods and you’ll discover that there is so much more to eat than you have the time (and stomach space) for!

The Instagram Gal

I’m sure everyone has noticed the hundred of gorgeous photos of Santorini, Greece that has popped up in recent years. If you’re looking for a vacation filled with beautiful sunsets and scenery perfect for picture taking, then I think Santorini is the ideal vacation spot for you. No matter where you look, there’s a flawless photo opportunity and an epic photo in the making. I’ve never seen an ugly photo of Santorini! My friends tell me that getting a hotel room with a view and a balcony is the best way to clinch those solo photo shots. You won’t even need to leave the privacy of your abode!

The Museum Buff

If visiting and perusing museums is more your speed, Paris, France, is probably the city that has the most museums per mile. There are museums for everything and churches with museums located inside them everywhere. The most obvious stop is the Louvre where the Mona Lisa resides, however, hidden gems such as the Louis Vuitton Museum also exist and are waiting to be perused. Personally, I loved touring the Paris Opera House (even if its not a typical museum) because the guides have a wealth of knowledge and incorporate Paris history into the building’s history. Washington DC is another city that has many museums- and the bonus part is that most museums here are free! I highly recommend the recently opened National Museum of African American History and Culture (although it can be kind of difficult to get tickets) as its filled with information on African Americans in the U.S. There’s a section on African American athletes and musicians as well as a whole basement worth of history on slavery. Harriet Tubman’s shawl is also on display here.

The Nature Lover

Banff National Park in Canada is beyond beautiful. It is so beautiful that words (aside from the word beautiful) can’t even describe it. Filled with adventurous hikes, big gorgeous lakes, and tons of cozy cabins, Banff is truly every nature lovers dream vacation. I wrote a whole post about my 10 days here that you can check out!

The Family Pack

Disneyworld is obviously the most popular answer when it comes to family vacations, but will it really be fun when you’re there again for the millionth time? Instead, I would recommend Tokyo, Japan. Filled with delicious food, Pokemon themed items, glamorous shopping, and beautiful historical sites, Tokyo really has something for everyone in your family regardless of their age. Bonus- there are two Disney theme parks here! And these Disney Parks really give Disneyworld Orlando a run for their money. DisneySea is one of its kind and Disneyland Tokyo has unique snacks and traditions only found in Japan. In my opinion, Tokyo is the most tourist friendly international city because its citizens are so polite and helpful- if you’re confused with directions stop anyone on the street (even a taxi driver) and they will be able to help you find your way. Although, its rare that you’ll even get lost in the first place because everything is well labeled in English and their public transportation is efficient and clean. Be sure to sample the matcha tea, order ramen from a vending machine, and take the little ones to the Monster Cafe in Harajuku!

The Party Animal

Las Vegas would probably be the most obvious choice for the Party Animal, but because I like out of the box vacations, I would suggest Thailand (um ever heard of the Full Moon party?) and Ibiza. I’m probably the opposite of the Party Animal, so I haven’t made it out to either destination yet although I would love to go, but I’ve heard that both have an amazing nightlife.

Hope you enjoyed my vacation suggestions! As always, feel free to reach out with any more travel questions or comments!

72 Hours: Salt Lake City and Park City

Over the years I’ve really grown passionate over movies and films and Asian representation in media. When I lived in New York, I attended the Tribeca Film Festival every year and had opportunities to watch some great independent films and even hear Zac Efron speak about his recently released film. I knew that one day I wanted to attend the prestigious Sundance Film Festival and see these independent films first hand. So my best friend and I planned a #girlcation to Salt Lake City in late January with plans to watch movies, eat delicious food, and stay cozy in our pajamas. Everything that makes up the perfect relaxing trip! And after a hectic holiday season and a busy work schedule, this vacation was much needed. The Sundance Film Festival takes place for 2 weeks every Jaunary and is filled with expert panels and tons of creative films and documentaries. The Festival is usually located in Park City, but this year it expanded to Salt Lake City as well. This second location was so well received on my end because it allowed us to book a more affordable lodging option in SLC instead of an expensive Park City ski resort. We spent 72 hours in Salt Lake City and Park City exploring to our heart’s content!

Where to Stay

As I mentioned above, we chose to stay in Salt Lake City instead of Park City in order to save money. This ended up being a wise decision because all the films we watched were also located in SLC. This mainly resulted because the SLC film tickets were in less demand than the Park City ones- I’ll get into this later. We chose an Airbnb near Salt Lake City’s downtown and the airport. Coincidentally, the Airbnb location ended up being only an 8 minute drive from the theater where we watched all our films! While SLC was our base for the trip, we did make a half day journey out to Park City for snowshoeing and to check out the town. The Uber ride was about $30-40 one way- making it still more affordable than staying in Park City. Our Airbnb costed $250 total for 3 nights. Just for comparison- 1 night in Park City can range from $300-500.

What to Do

Liberty Park

It is nothing compared to New York’s Central Park, but I still had a nice stroll through Liberty Park, enjoying the winter peace and quiet. There were children playing on the playground, dogs chasing frisbees on the grass, and even a person walking a trapeze!

Park City Snowshoeing

One of the best experiences on our trip! While I had snowshoed before in Vail, my friend had not so we decided on a private tour guide to take us up the surrounding mountains of Park City. This ended up being a great choice because the guide provided tangible advice on how to traverse the snow filled hiking paths, pointed out wild animal tracks in the snow (who knew snowshoe hares were so big?), and even took photos of us in snowshoeing action. I loved experiencing the natural beauty Utah had to offer, while getting in a great workout! We booked our tour from Destination Sports and Adventures for $160 (2-4 people). The package included a private tour guide, transportation from anywhere in Park City, water and snacks, and snow shoe rentals.

Sundance Film Festival

After much deliberation (and luck) we managed to obtain tickets to 3 movies to watch during the festival. Honestly, we had wanted to see so many movies, but because of time restraint and the fact that it was SO HARD to get film tickets, we only had the opportunity to watch one film per day. Purchasing the tickets was so stressful because the tickets to the popular films would sell out in seconds. Because we were purchasing individual film tickets (instead of using a festival pass or a local Utah ID), we were in the last group to make film reservations and didn’t have the greatest film selections available. I was still satisfied with our choices though- they were films that I wouldn’t have thought of firsthand, but still were thought provoking, informative, and eye opening. The fims we watched were: The Glorias (a biopic on Gloria Steinam), Sylvie’s Love (a beautiful love story set in the 1950s about an African American couple), and Wendy (a different approach to the Peter Pan story). For Sylvie’s Love, we were able to participate in a Q&A with the director and it was interesting to hear the reason why the film was made and the concepts the director had wanted to convey. Sundance was a great once in a lifetime experience- it was amazing to be able to see the results of so many hardworking film directors and producers. The Festival only peaked my interest in films and I can’t wait to see what other film festivals are out there!

Temple Square

We started out our Sunday morning attend the Music and Spoken Word performance by the famous Tabernacle Choir at the Temple Square Conference Center. For 30 minutes, we were treated to a beautiful musical performance with voices and an orchestra. Tickets to the performance was free and the concert takes place every Sunday morning at 9:30am. I highly recommend making a stop here to hear the Choir sing because they are truly talented. We also took an hour guided tour around the Conference Center right after the performance. The tour took us to many behind the scene areas and we were able to view some of the gorgeous artwork placed around the Center. The highlight of the tour was definitely the rooftop garden where we were able to have a glance around downtown Salt Lake City.

Rebel House

No vacation is complete without a workout! All my friends judge me for taking time out on a trip to fit in a workout class, but I think its pretty cool to try out a workout that Houston doesn’t have or one that isn’t as accessible. In SLC, I took a 45 minute boxing class that was extremely similar to one of my favorite boxing class in New York, Rumble. The format of the class (5 rounds of strength and 5 rounds of boxing) was the same and even the teardrop shaped boxing bags was the same! The class costed $20 (although there is a first timers deal for two classes for $25 if you have time to do more than one class) and glove rentals are an additional $2. Prepare to sweat!

What to Eat

Banbury Cross Donuts

These donuts were highly rated on Yelp so I headed there right after I landed on Friday afternoon, but unfortunately many flavors were already sold out for the day. I ate the cinnamon donut and while it was so messy, it was delicious!

Koi D

One of my travel goals on every trip I take is to try bubble tea. I love drinking bubble tea and love trying new cafes. In SLC, we hit up Koi D to try its Royal Milk Tea. It was actually quite hard to find bubble tea in SLC- Koi D was the only one that was centrally located. It is mainly known for its rolled ice cream, but the drinks were pretty solid too.

Purgatory

A hidden find! We had wanted to eat at Curry Fried Chicken, however, it was closed on Sunday so we ended up at a bar called Purgatory. Although the service could use some work, the food was so yummy. Their cuisine is Asian fusion (one of my favorites!) and I thoroughly enjoyed the Kpop kimchi fries. the katsu rice burrito wrap, and the inventive drinks. There is also an outdoor patio portion with twinkling fairy lights so I imagine that when the weather gets warmer the bar is a lot of fun!

Eva Bakery

Everyone who knows me well knows that I love bread. All types of bread! For our Sunday breakfast we tried Eva Bakery for its freshly made flaky crust pastries. Located in downtown SLC, the bakery has a sit down area as well as a glass case in the front where customers can view their delicious pastries and order to go.

Blue Copper Coffee Room

Blue Copper was recommended to us by our Airbnb host and it was located only 5 minutes walk from where we were staying. It is your typical cafe with a strong hipster vibe and solid lattes. Slightly overpriced, but for the convenience we were willing to pay.

The Copper Onion

Copper Onion was highly recommended on Yelp and since it was located in downtown near my boxing studio, I decided to give it a try. The burger and famous cauliflower were delicious! I would pass on the fries next time though… Make sure to either make a reservation or arrive early because the restaurant gets packed.

Atticus Coffee and Teahouse

Our first stop in Park City was to warm up at the cute little cafe and bookshop, Atticus. It is the definition of cozy! There is a variety of innovative caffeinated drinks, like the white chocolate and vanilla latte called the White Rabbit, and some food options (we went with the vegan burrito). It was the perfect place to begin our Park City day.

No Name Saloon

We worked up quite the appetite snowshoeing so we stopped at the No Name Saloon for buffalo burgers and chips. I had never tried buffalo burgers before and thought the creative burger options (zesty avocado was my favorite!) at No Name sounded fun. Although I’ve since realized that buffalo is a little too tough for me, I still enjoyed experiencing this Park City institution.

Sweet Lake Biscuits and LImeade

I loved this brunch spot! If you’re looking for warm buttery biscuits (variations of biscuits like my breakfast pizza on biscuit dough) and refreshing drinks (strongly recommend the cucumber mint limeade) then this is the place for you. The prices are reasonable (my breakfast pizza was $9) and the portions are generous. What more can you wish for in brunch? I came here on a Monday morning and there was tons of tables available, but I’ve heard that on the weekends there can be quite the wait involved.

RubySnap Cookies

Every single cookie in this bakery looked too good to be true. There are so many different and unique flavors that we spent a really long time deciding. I went from telling myself I could only indulge in one cookie to buying three! Customers are allowed to sample cookies, which most likely contributed to my cravings. The best flavors at Rubysnap (in my opinion) was the cherry milk chocolate, the strawberry lemon, and the beet cream cheese. All flavors that don’t sound particularly appetizing on paper, but are definitley must eats!

I’m missing Utah already! My 72 hours in Salt Lake City and Park City were filled with everything I love: friends, movies, and food!

What to do When You’re in Banff National Park

Recently Banff has been one of those destinations that’s really gained popularity over a short period of time. It seems like everywhere I look someone is in Canada gazing over those pure blue waters or hiking up the rocky mountainside. And I can’t say I’m too upset about it! Its really time that Americans realize that there is so much beauty and nature in our northern neighbor. In a mere 3 hour flight from Houston, I was able to reach Calgary (a surprisingly Western town) and in another hour of driving I was in the middle of the town of Banff surrounded by adorable wooden buildings with the biggest mountain as the backdrop. While I love exploring Asia and Europe, its nice to know that adventure can await you close to home. Banff is probably one of the most beautiful and vast destinations I’ve ever been. The terrain includes so many unique hikes, large mesmerizing blue lakes, and the most gorgeous mountain ranges. My family and I spent 10 days wandering through this National Park and each day was filled with wonderful surprises. As Banff is seriously HUGE and there are so many things to do, I’ve compiled a list of my favorites. Plan to spend at least a good 5 days in the Park exploring at a leisurely pace because all the physical activity will make you tired! Tip- make sure to buy your National Park entrance fee online in advance because although the park rangers don’t always stop you to check, they will come up to you in parking lots when you’re preparing to go on a hike and ask to see your entrance passes. Plus, your entrance fee goes towards maintaining the Park and keeping it organized and clean for future visitors. Trust me, you’ll want clean toilets!

Lake Louise

Lake Louise is the most famous and most obvious spot on this list. That iconic big blue lake is a must see in Banff! But beware, everyone and their mother will be visiting this lake at some point on their trip and as a result it gets insanely crowded. INSANELY. As in there won’t be enough parking or shuttle bus tickets if you arrive too late. If you want to park directly at the lake, I suggest arriving around 5-6am. If you’re ok with paying some money and taking the shuttle bus over (there is a lot more parking available at the overflow lots), I suggest arriving by 8am because tickets sell out and you’ll have to wait for a late afternoon/night shuttle. A simple (but expensive) way to get around the crowds issue is to stay at the Fairmont Chateau which overlooks the Lake and provides its guests with free parking. Lake Louise is also the starting point for several popular hikes, including Agnes Teahouse and Plain of Six Glaciers (mentioned below). So if you’ve made it past the crowds to the Lake, you might as well combine your Lake photoshoot and blue water gazing with a moderately difficult, but beautiful hike.

Agnes Teahouse Hike

This was by far my most favorite hike of the entire trip. Mainly because it combined two of my favorite activities- hiking and drinking tea! After you hike for about 1.5 hours, you’ll reach a wooden teahouse that has hundreds of different tea flavors and a few options of homemade desserts. Its the perfect resting spot to just take in your surroundings while drinking some delicious hot tea. I loved the opportunity to sit outdoors and enjoy the serenity at the teahouse. The teahouse’s employees actually hike up supplies to the teahouse every morning and hike down with the day’s trash at the end of the day. They take volunteers too so if you’re interested in helping them hike down trash be sure to let a waiter know! After the teahouse you can continue on to see the Beehives or you can venture back down the mountain to the Lake. Just beware that the hike is pretty steep (and tiring!) so bring sturdy hiking boots!

Lake Morraine

Some say that Lake Morraine is arguably more beautiful than Lake Louise. I say that they are both big beautiful blue lakes, but Lake Morraine is significantly less crowded and that makes it the better choice in my book. A shuttle bus can drop you off at Lake Morraine as well so be sure to get your tickets early too- it’s not as crazy as Lake Louise, but it is still pretty crazy. The best viewing platform to see the Lake involves a short hike up a rock pile. Once you reach the top, you’ll see why Banff has everyone drooling all over it. The beauty is simply amazing and words truly aren’t enough to describe it. I strongly suggest canoeing on the Lake to get a different vantage point- this is something I really wish I had had time for. The hikes around Lake Morraine aren’t anything too great so I would say head somewhere else to hike after you’ve finished canoeing and viewing the Lake.

Plain of Six Glaciers Hike

Another hike that is located at Lake Louise and a little treacherous to say the least. There are a few hairpin turns and paths where you’ll have to take turns with the people going the opposite way. The mountainous views all along the hike are amazing and can be seen the whole time (unlike the Agnes Teahouse hike where you mainly just see trees while hiking). This is also where we saw snow in the middle of July! Crazy right? Unfortunately, it was raining steadily on the day I went to this hike so we weren’t able to finish- the paths just got too slippery and muddy to feel safe. So definitely go on a sunny day! There is supposedly also a teahouse on this hike, although not as cute as the Agnes Teahouse. I would have still stopped and drank some tea though had I reached the teahouse because who doesn’t want to sit and enjoy nature?

Johnson Canyon Hike

This was another beautiful, but very touristy hike. Its a lot easier to climb than the other two hikes and the paths are paved very well so naturally its also a very crowded hike. This hike gives you the chance to walk on suspended walkways over rushing waters between two canyons. Hold on to your belongings tightly and make sure to bring a raincoat! The Johnson Canyon hike takes you past two waterfall viewing points, at which point most people will stop hiking. If you' wish to continue, the hike can last another hour and take you up to a scenic (and noncrowded) area called the Inkpots, which is basically pools of beautiful water.

I’ve realized that I’ve used the words “gorgeous” and “beautiful” now a million times… but I didn’t know what other words to use! Those are truly the most accurate words to describe everything at Banff. Sorry if I’ve bored you with my babbling on and on about how attractive everything is at Banff- you’ll need to go yourself to see how honest I’m being!

Another Weekend in Austin, Texas- Why I can’t resist going back

When I graduated college, I thought I was done with Austin. For good. I was so tired of walking around the UT campus and seeing same old hills every day. I was ready for the next big adventure (which turned out to be New York!) and couldn’t wait to leave Texas. 4 years later, I’ve returned to my home state and can’t stop visiting Austin! I always get so nostalgic when I’m in town- so many of my memories from my college years reside here. I love grabbing a drink at the Tapioca House on the Drag aka Guadalupe Street (even though the cafe’s been cleaned up and remodeled), walking up the hundreds of steps to the top of Mount Bonnell, and stroll through the (upgraded!) Domain mall. In fact, I’ve missed Austin so much over the past 4 years I was away that since I’ve been back I’ve visited twice in just a few months and have plans for a lot more trips in the future. There’s just so much to do and eat in Austin and I can never fit everything I want to do in one weekend, hence the repeat trips. This past weekend I headed back to the city to attend a sorority sister’s birthday party for her newly turned 1 year old baby (there was lots of delicious cupcakes and even a fun piñata involved!) and had the chance to cross off a few more items on my Austin bucket list.

Pterry’s

The “healthy” burgers have been an Austin staple since I was in school, but I guess back then health was the last thing on my mind (oh too be young again!) so I never even bothered to try Pterry’s. So on this trip I made sure to stop by the blue burger drive through on my way to my friend’s house and picked up a cheeseburger and fries. While the casual fast food drive through is popular, I have to admit that the burger was underwhelming. It’s definitely a pass for me!

Knockout Austin

I’ve recently been on a workout studio kick and love trying out new unique studios in the different cities I visit. Even though I’ve been to Austin numerous times, I’ve never actually made time to check out any studios- mainly due to the round of friends I have to catch up with! So when I discovered the hip hop kickboxing class at Knockout, I knew I had to try it. It’s loud and fast and intense and there is a lot of kicking and punching involved, but I loved every single minute of it. Single classes cost $25 (although if it’s your first time there is a 3 for $50 deal) and wraps are available for purchase, while gloves are available to rent.

Better Half Coffee and Cocktails

I loved the vibe at Better Half! Located on 5th street, Better Half is near several workout studios (including both of the ones I went to on this trip) and near Lady Bird Lake trails and bike paths so its the perfect spot to start off your day. There is a decent sized parking lot out front, but it gets crowded fast (we arrived at 9:30 and it was already filling up at a rapid speed). The menu had so many yummy food items that I wanted to order, but since I had plans to also eat at Alamo Drafthouse later (see below) I kept my ordering to a minimum. I got the breakfast sandwhich on toasted an english muffin, an iced oat milk latte, and a deliciously sweet eggnog cake donut. I wanted to order the queso as well as the cauliflower tots and will have to keep them in mind for my next visit! In addition to the light filled dining area, there is also a spacious outdoor portion meant for bringing your doggies and enjoying the fresh air. The best part of Better Half was that it wasn’t just that the cafe’s aesthetics that made it wonderful, but also that the food served was so good!

Alamo Drafthouse

I’ve been dying to watch the Korean movie, Parasite, for some time now after realizing how well it was doing on the award show circuit- it was awarded the highest honor at the Cannes Film Festival where it debuted and most recently was nominated for 6 Oscars including best picture. However, since its not a mass produced American film, it was really hard to find it showing at a theater in Houston so when I discovered that the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar in Austin was showing, I knew I couldn’t pass by the opportunity. Every seat was filled and my queso was beyond delicious, but to be honest I experienced none of that because the movie was simply amazing. There aren’t enough words to describe how crazy and insane and just good the movie is. You’ll have to just see for yourself!

101 by Teahaus

Not the best bubble tea I’ve had in Austin, but 101 by Teahaus was still a nice quiet dinner spot where I enjoyed Asian fusion food and a cup of milk tea. Its located in the Crestwood plaza where a bunch of Asian themed businesses like 99 Ranch and 85 Degrees Bakery have popped up.

Love Cycling

Love Cycling was completely not what I was expecting at all. The music video spin class I took was full of an older (but extremely fashionable) crowd and a lot of head banging 90s music. And I have to say- watching the music videos did take my mind off the suffering my body was going through while spinning. After class, there are fresh smelling eucalyptus towels, bananas, and hot coffee. A wonderful start to a Sunday! Single classes are $23 (there are no new client deals unfortunately) and shoes are $2 to rent.

Fresa’s

I stopped here for a quick breakfast with a friend before heading out of Austin and while I would much rather have eaten here for lunch, the breakfast quesadilla and horchata cold brew I ordered did not disappoint. I loved the bright colorful interiors!

Fun fact- Austin is currently #27 on The New York Times’ 52 Places List for 2020. As you know from my previous post, I am obsessed with those lists! So its very fitting that my first trip of 2020 is to a spot on one of my favorite online publications lists. I’ll be back in Austin soon and can’t wait to explore more!

Toast and Travel's Top 10 Destinations for 2020

At the start of every year I love reading the top travel destinations for the new year that almost every travel online publication puts out. From CNN to CNTraveler to Frommer’s to New York Times, I probably spend hours pouring over all their lists and data. Its just so interesting to understand why each location has made it onto a particular list and it’s a great way to find out about where I should potentially travel during the year. Although I typically already have an idea of the places I want to visit, I always leave a few weekends open just for destinations that have made it onto a Top 20 list. Thanks to CN Traveler’s Top 20 List, I’ve decided to visit Lexington so look forward to my Kentucky adventures later this year! Since I’ve been obsessed with these lists for quite a while now, I thought it would be a fun idea to put together my own list of Top 10 Destinations I think are great for 2020 travel. I’ve chosen these places based on my own preferences and major events happening around the world and not on any data collected. I also tried to balance my list out with domestic and international locations.

Tokyo, Japan

Gymnastics, Basketball, Swimming, Beach Volleyball. All your favorite cities and all your favorite top athletes in one city for 2 weeks. That’s what Tokyo’s going to be all about this summer as it hosts the 2020 Summer Olympics. Attending a summer Olympics is something that can only happen once every 4 years and what better way to experience the Olympics than in a city known for efficient public transportation, quirky cafes like the Robot Cafe, and cuisine that includes takoyaki balls and ramen? Tokyo has been trending in recent years as foreign tourists start to realize that its a convenient “gateway” city to Asia since its extremely easy to navigate and the language barrier isn’t a big deal at all as mostly everyone is able to speak English. Its uniqueness lies mainly in its culture which includes the likes of Pokemon, anime, themed cafes, and manga. Its also home to the DisneySea theme park, a theme park that isn’t anywhere else in the world! So whether you’re wanting to see Olympic athletes compete at their sport or slurp rainbow colored noodles at Robot Cafe or just thrive in the hustle and bustle that is Shinjuku, Tokyo tops the list of 2020 destinations.

Dubai

Not to be outdone by the Olympics, the World Expo also occurs every 4 years and is also a cultural experience that brings the entire world together. If you’ve never heard of the World Expo, its basically a fair that has a theme (this year its “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”) and has different pavilions hosted by countries around that world. I actually had the opportunity to attend the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai and it was magnificent and truly a once in a lifetime eye opening experience. I felt like the visit offered me the chance to experience countries that I hadn’t visited yet (and may never have the chance to visit). I was able to soak in different cultures and taste all types of cuisines. Yes, the Expo was extremely crowded and that resulted in insanely long lines into pavilions, but it was still worth it. I highly suggest visiting the World Expo and as it runs from October 2020 to April 2021, you’ll have a chance to see it in 2021 if Dubai isn’t in the cards for you for 2020. Aside from the World Expo, Dubai is also home to the Burj Khalifa- the tallest building in the world. Take the opportunity to snap some timeless selfies with the structure and then head to the observatory deck on the 125th floor to look out over the beautiful city. With that as the backdrop, plus beautiful sandy beaches and a glimpse at life in the Middle East, Dubai is for sure a must for 2020.

Jamaica

As Jamaicans prepare to celebrate Bob Marley’s 75th birthday, we tourists should look forward to tons of celebrations, parties, and so much more. Jamaica is a great place to visit any year, but with the added hype this year its even more of a destination. In addition to celebrating the reggae singer’s birthday (at his own museum the Bob Marley Museum perhaps?), there’s also the option to participate in a guided hike to Ochos Rios, a gorgeous water fall, relax along the Seven Mile Beach, or tour some of the coffee plantations that dot the island.

Park City, UT

I chose Park City as my first trip of 2020 for a reason! After showcasing the cinematic gold that is The Farewell, the Sundance Film Festival has continued to increase in popularity. I love independent films and Sundance is famous for bringing to life several top notch indie films such as, The Farewell and Brittany Runs a Marathon The film festival is also set in the most idyllic winter wonderland. Park City has some pretty great slopes, tons of gorgeous mountains, cozy coffee shops, and free shuttles that bring you from site to site. Its only located 40 minutes outside of Salt Lake City so if the wintery abodes in Park City are too pricey, then staying in SLC is a really great affordable option that allows you to experience 2 wonderful cities at a much lower cost. Also, check out this standup paddle board yoga and snowshoeing adventure!

Rijeka, Croatia

Named as one of two European Capitals of Culture, Rijeka is a must visit destination for 2020. Cultural capitals are chosen for their diversity in culture and are required to host a multitude of festivals and events throughout the year. This requirement isn’t a big deal for Rijeka, which is already known for its abundance of festivals. Visitors can look forward to the Rijeka Carnival in February, the Puppet Theater Festival in October, the International Jazz Festival in November, and so much more. Bonus- its a beautiful port city, which means there’s going to be gorgeous scenery as the icing on the cake!

Galway, Ireland

Galway is the other European Cultural Capital and plans to showcase its rich history in literature, art, and music throughout 2020. The city is known for its medieval walls, pub culture, live traditional Irish music, and scenic natural beauty. Located 2 hours west of Dublin, its ideal as a day trip or as a stand alone vacation.

Orlando, FL

Trying to decide where to go in the Fall? Orlando is the perfect destination. Mainly because of 3 events- Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Epcot’s Wine and Beer Festival, and Universal’s Haunted Horror Nights. As a lover of suspense, Disney, and wine, all 3 events are a dream for me. Expert tip- reserve your tickets and lodging in advance because Disney fans are NO JOKE. Everything books up fast! Many previous attendees to Haunted Horror Nights also suggest forking over the extra cash to purchase the Fast Pass (which costs more than the actual ticket!) because the lines are crazy and there isn’t enough time otherwise to experience the 10 haunted houses plus the rides that are open at night. Word on the street is that Harry Potter world stays open late into the night!

Louisville, KY

They say that a lady must be two things- classy and fabulous. And the best place to be both classy and fabulous is definitely the Kentucky Derby, which takes place in Louisville every May. Filled with women in extravagant hats, people dressed in their Sunday hats, and the pounding of horse feet, the Derby promises to be a fun and interesting event. If you can’t make it out to Louisville in May, there are other opportunities to get dressed up and see the horse races at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky (about 1.5 hours outside Louisville). There’s also a chance to tour Churchill Downs, where the Derby takes place.

Ottawa, Canada

Unbeknownst to many people, Toronto and Vancouver are not the capitals of Canada. In fact, the smaller French city of Ottawa is! Every May it hosts an internationally recognized Tulip Festival to celebrate the tulips gifted to them from the Netherlands after World War II as a symbol of friendship. The Tulip Festival is a great opportunity to see fields of brightly colored tulips and meet people from all around the world. The festival takes place this year from May 8-18. Ottawa is also located across the Ottawa River from its sister city, Gatineau, so kill two birds with one stone and venture into another Canadian city!

Singapore

Ever since Crazy Rich Asians dropped, Singapore has been the forefront of every traveler’s mind. People are curious to see this city of wealth, cleanliness, and beauty. And Singapore does not disappoint! Its Changi Airport extension recently opened and WOW is it amazing- there is a giant mall, waterfalls, and even a movie theater! Your Airbnb kicked you out early? Hit up the Airport and experience the coolness that is Singapore. The city also boasts an amazing infinity pool located in the luxurious Marina Bay Sands Hotel, which is shaped like a boat on top of 3 buildings. Most of us will never be a crazy rich Asian, but visiting Singapore will allow us to pretend to be one at least for a few days!

I apologize for the lack of photos in this post- I haven’t been to many of these destinations myself and don’t have personal photos to share! If you’ve been to any of these locations and want to share your photo on Toast and Travel, email me!

How to Spend 4 Days in Big Bend National Park

My family closed out 2019 (and the end of a decade) with a family trip to Big Bend National Park. Located on the Texas/Mexico border, Big Bend is a collection of beautiful rivers, mountains, hiking trails, and cute towns. It took us about 10 hours to drive there from Houston, which by the way is crazy to me because even though we spent 10 hours driving and we were still in Texas. But in other states, 10 hours driving means you’ve already made it from New York to Virginia! Just goes to show how vast and expansive Texas is! Hiking is one of my favorite pastimes (aside from eating and writing so you can see while I need to partake in it often to be healthy!), but living in Texas has its limited mountains so Big Bend presented a fantastic opportunity to explore the Texas West while getting to experience some stellar hikes.

Day 1- Terlingua Ghost Town

Terlingua is the town closest to the entrance of Big Bend and when the Park’s lodging becomes full, it is the next best place to stay if you’re trying to be close to the Park. The Big Bend National Park entrance fee is only $30 per car per week that all cars have to pay whether you stay inside or outside the Park so choosing to stay outside isn’t an extra cost. There are some adorable tipis and abodes in the town, but we chose to stay at Chisos Mining Company Motel in a cute little yellow house. The Motel was definitely lacking in luxury (I mean we are in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert after all), but it made it up character. I felt like we had taken a step back into time when Texas was being colonized and mining for silver and gold was the biggest attraction for residing in West Texas. Onsite of our Motel was a beautiful Labyrinth made up of different sized rocks and other random knick knacks. It was the most perfectly odd thing to find in the middle of the desert! The ghost town has a popular diner, Starlight Theater, which we didn’t end up eating at but always saw long lines lining up well before the 5pm opening time. There is also a Trading Post for all your souvenir needs!

Day 2- Chisos Basin

The Chisos Basin Visitor Center is not only a wealth of information (all their rangers located here are volunteers and many of them are retired individuals who just love Big Bend), but also the starting point for many hikes in the area. I counted from the signs that around 6 hikes start at Chisos Basin. These hikes range from the paved 0.3 mile loop Windows View path which is handicap friendly and has 2 designated viewing spots for easy views of the desert terrain to the 12 mile in and out hike of Emory Peak. My family opted for the moderately paced 5 mile Windows hike, which let us go up close to the rock “window”. While not challenging (especially after having gone to Banff and its ruggedly steep mountains earlier in the year), it certainly took a long time and the lack of shade (remember its a desert!) made it extremely hot at times even in December. Remember to pack lots of water and apply sunscreen if you don’t want to turn into a red tomato! Our second morning, we made the decision to return to Chisos Basin area and hike the ever popular (and sometimes crowded) Lost Mine Trail. Its a 4 mile roundtrip hike with an elevation gain of 1100 feet, which is pretty steep for me so it took us around 3-4 hours in total. I would suggest arriving at the Lost Mine trail head around 7:30/8am because there aren’t many parking spaces available and once it fills up, you’ll have to patiently wait for someone else to finish and leave before being able to park your car.

Day 3- Santa Elena Canyon

We paired the Santa Elena Canyon with the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and made an entire day out of it. The Drive stretches the length of the Park from near Chisos Basin all the way to the Canyon. Along the way there are several hikes available and tons of viewing platforms to see the beauty that is West Texas.

Stargazing is the #1 activity to do when you’re in Big Bend. There are several options for great spots to look at the stars- 'I’ve heard that the Nature trail at Rio Grande Village (see below) is one popular one- but my family opted to join in a Park Ranger talk to not only see the stars, but also learn more about them. Park Rangers host star viewing parties every Saturday at 7pm at the Panther Junction Visitor Center and its so informative learning about the different constellations in the sky and little tidbits about the stars themselves. All Ranger discussions and guided hikes are free and included with your park admission so I highly recommend grabbing a flyer that lists the times and dates of them and attending!

Day 4- Rio Grande Village

Big Bend is divided into 3 sections- Chisos Basin and Santa Elena being the first 2 sections. The Rio Grande area is the 3rd section and the closest to Mexico. In fact, the Boquillas Canyon hike allows you to stand on one side of the Rio Grande River and peer into the Mexico river bank. There’s also an option to grab a ferry into the Mexican tourist town of Boquillas- remember to bring your passport for this and come early because it gets packed! The Rio Grande Village is also the location of the Nature trail, which is where we had the opportunity to see wildlife such as, javelinas, beavers, eagles, and turtles. The trail takes you up a short hill where there is a long flat area perfect for gazing into the Boquillas and the surrounding desert. Its only 0.75 miles round trip and is a relatively easy hike.

I really wish I had more time in West Texas- I still have so much left to explore! Next time I hope to drive up towards Marfa and see the mysterious Marfa Lights and snap a photo in front of the Prada Store art installation as well as spend a night at McDonald’s Observatory attending a star party. But now that I’m based in Texas again… there’s always next time!

Looking Back on 2019 + Thoughts on the End of a Decade

2019 was full of big changes for me. I left New York City and moved back to Texas. I quit my comfortable job and started working in a different type of role at a big company in Houston. I went from living in my glamorous doorman building in Midtown Manhattan to living with my family at our home in the Houston suburbs. Truthfully, the move away from the big city was difficult for me. It was hard to adjust to a slower paced life- one where not everything could be reached in a matter or minutes or a short subway ride. I had to start thinking about driving again and making the one hour commute to my office. It wasn’t all difficult though- I realized immediately how much cheaper everything was and how much money I was able to save by not having to spend half my paycheck on rent. All of a sudden, a million vacation possibilities popped into my mind for the next year. Asia, Europe, West Coast, it was all possible! Despite the many changes I went through this year, my passion for traveling has been one of my biggest constants. Yes, the weekend trip destinations changed with my relocation, but my love for exploring never ceased. Thanks to a two month break from work I was able to squeeze in so many trips. Here’s a look at my 2019.

Nashville

Started off 2019 right with a girls trip to one of the best cities to have a girls trip in! I had time to explore the country musical capital both by myself and with 2 of my sorority sisters. It was a weekend filled with bbq, live music (duh!), and laughter.

Madrid/Lisbon

It took a lot of courage, but I finally went on my second international solo trip. Vienna (my first solo trip) was 4 years ago and I had been itching to explore somewhere in Europe again so since the timing was right I booked it! And it was amazing. Madrid was one of the best trips I’d been on in a while. It reminded me again why I love solo travel and the independence and strength it gives me. I spent 4 days wandering the windy Spanish roads, eating delicious croquettes, and celebrating the Prado Museums’ 200th anniversary.

Los Angeles

A quick weekend trip to California for a friend’s wedding turned into a fun filled weekend that included Disneyland, the most bougie wedding ever, and a reunion with a bunch of sorority sisters and college friends. A bonus was definitely getting to stop by the LA version of Smorgasburg and eating some delicious food.

Wilmington, North Carolina

I headed to North Carolina (my 32nd state!) to celebrate a good friend’s wedding in the cutest little church and most hipster little bar. And I fell in love with the state… counting the days until I can return.

Nyack, New York

A short solo day trip to upstate New York to explore the quintessential New England town. Adorable houses, good tea and donuts, and a sunshine filled my time in Nyack.

London

London called my name for a second time! I spent 4 days in Great Britain going to Cambridge to visit an old high school friend and then down to the seaside town of Brighton to see what the hype was all about. The British life definitely suites me!

Iceland

Annual Song sisters trip led us to Iceland this time around. My sister and I had a fantastic time soaking in the steamy blue waters of the Blue Lagoon, horseback riding on the smallest cutest horses, and exploring a lava tunnel created by volcanic lava millions of years ago. Renting our very own car (the first we’ve done this abroad) was a highlight of our trip. It gave us the freedom to explore to our hearts desire.

Banff, Canada

Family vacations can be stressful and this one was no different, but it was worth it for the beautiful views and amazing hikes Banff provided. I loved seeing the mesmerizing blue Lake Morraine and hiking up to drink tea at the Lake Agnes Teahouse. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but 10 days in Canadian wilderness was not enough!

Myrtle Beach and Charleston

Alpha Sigma Rho National Convention 2019- my last as a proud member of the National Board. I stepped down as National Vice President after this Convention and sadly parted with a significant part of my life. Having the opportunity to serve my sorority as an alum was such an honor and a memory I’ll always treasure. I spent 7 days in South Carolina spending time with my sorority sisters and enjoying that Southern lifestyle.

Miami

Miami’s been on my list of places to go for a while now and when my friend moved there, it was a golden opportunity to visit. I spent 5 days in sunny paradise eating sushi, kayaking, walking in the sand, and day tripping to Key West.

Hawaii

I took an 8 hour plane ride to Hawaii for my study abroad 5 year reunion where I shared an Airbnb with 15 others and had the time of my life. There aren’t enough words to describe how wonderful Hawaii is. My favorite activities included snorkeling in shark cages, stuffing myself with fresh poke, watching the sunrise after a hike, and lying on the sand to enjoy the sunset.

Austin

The first stop on my Fall tour of Texas and I spent with one of my best friends eating bbq (after waiting in a 1 hour line), taking pictures in a field of pumpkins, and enjoying delicious Korean food at the giant Korean market, HMart. It was pretty cool to visit my old stomping grounds and see how my University has changed since the days when I attended and was a proud Longhorn. There’s even a Target on campus now! I was reminded of when I use to take the city bus to the nearest HEB (taking a total of 45 minutes) and how times have now changed.

Dallas

My second stop of my Fall Texas tour where I went to the State Fair for the first time and screamed my head off for 98 degrees (Nick Lachey is older but still a dream) and stuffed myself with fried foods. I also took a ton of pumpkin photos, which pretty much cemented my obsession with Fall for all I was concerned.

San Francisco

A spur of the moment trip (created when I realized my pto days at my new job don’t roll over into the next year), but the best decision ever! I had a wonderful girls trip where I got to reunite with my sorority little sister after 5 years and reconnect with 2 other sisters. We drank delicious wine in Napa, explored the mysterious Alcatraz prison, and ate a lot of yummy food. As a major city girl, I can’t believe its taken me so long to visit San Francisco!

Big Bend National Park

Our last family trip of the year was to Texas’ famous Big Bend National Park. It was a 10 hour drive from Houston (crazy I know!) to reach the vast expanse of desert that is known as Big Bend. We spent 4 days hiking, stargazing, exploring Teralingua Ghost Town, and spending some quality family time! It was a great way to close out not only 2019, but also the decade.

I seriously can’t believe that we’re at the end of a decade again. It seems like just yesterday it was 2009 and I was preparing to enter my last semester of high school. So much has changed since I was an uncertain 17 year old! Over the past 10 years, I’ve graduated high school, graduated university, started my first (and second and third) full time job, moved to New York CIty, moved back to Texas, and made so many amazing memories. I’ve discovered my love for traveling and really refined my trip planning and travel strategies. I began Toast and Travel as a hobby and now its become a necessity in my life as a creative outlet. As a 27 year old now, I have a better grasp on life and my choices (although I”m still evolving and growing) and I’m more confident in not only myself and my abilities, but also in the strength of my relationships. I have a great group of friends from childhood, college, and New York and I’m loving the prospect of meeting and making new friends in Houston. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is to always stand up for yourself and do everything with confidence. After all, if you don’t even believe in yourself then who else will believe in you? The last 10 years have changed me and I’m looking forward to seeing what the next 10 years does for me!

A First Timer's Guide to Oahu, Hawaii

Yall, I went to Hawaii in September and I’m finally getting around to sharing this post… I’m sorry! The content has been written for a while now too (I usually document everything while I’m still on the trip or immediately after so everything is still fresh in my mind), but a lot of the lateness has to do with my inability to organize my photos in a timely manner. Deciding on photos and then editing and uploading them takes forever and pales in comparison to my passion for writing. It becomes especially hard when a trip like Hawaii resulted in so my photos because of its length and beauty. Its so hard to narrow down my photo choices because I just want to share everything with yall! Hawaii is a treasure trove of things to do, places to eat, beautiful sunsets to see, and so much more. When I first found out I was going, it was so overwhelming to make decisions to fit the limited week I had! Luckily, my friends and I (we were in Hawaii for a study abroad reunion) had a local Hawaiian telling us what to do and where to go, which really helped narrow down our plans. Hawaii deceptively appears to be a laid back beach vacation, but upon further research you’ll discover that the terrain is not just for sunbathing, but its also perfect for hiking, atv riding, scuba diving, etc… My week in Oahu barely scratched the surface of everything the island has to offer. But below are a few of the basics perfect for a first time Hawaii visitor!

Shark Cages (North Shore)

If you want to see sharks in their natural habitat up close, shark cages are the way to go. I asked about shark diving, but not only can you not use an oxygen tank (meaning you’ll have to keep returning to the surface) the sharks are actually scared of large groups of people so they won’t get too close. The sharks are curious of the giant metal cages, however, and will swim relatively close to it so keep your hands and feet inside! This was one of my favorite experience of the entire trip- most likely because I love water activities and I love trying new things. We had the opportunity to see around 20 sharks big and small swimming and living their lives in the ocean. Beware though- my entire boat (except me) got seasick during the return journey. The waves are STRONG and will push you around a lot when you’re in the cage. My friend booked the experience for us via TripAdvisor and it cost about $100 per person for a 2 hour roundtrip tour. There are about 14 people on the boat and 7 people enter the cage at a time. Because you’re given a snorkel to use, you can technically stay in one spot, breathe, and hold on to the cage while viewing the sharks. However, the tour guides will encourage you to dive down to the bottom of the cage because a lot of sharks gather at the bottom and there are fewer people down there. If you can withstand the turbulent waters and the high water pressure, I highly suggest going to the bottom fo the cage as well.

Poke at Foodland

Its hard to believe that the best poke on the island is located inside a grocery store, but it is! There’s always a small seating area nearby the store so I suggest buying your poke at the counter inside and grabbing a drink as well and then taking it outside to enjoy. A poke bowl will cost you $9- a total bargain for the quality and taste. Foodland is located everywhere around the island and its fast and delicious! Something I learned about poke in Hawaii (besides the fact that its always super fresh) is that the poke bowls do not have toppings. Like that just isn’t the point of the poke bowl, which really surprised me because at most Poke chains the toppings are the highlight. Instead, the poke in Hawaii relies on its quality fish to shine and toppings are not only not encouraged, but actually cost extra money.

Pearl Harbor

Our entire Hawaii trip was more about adventures and doing the unordinary, but I knew that the vacation wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Pearl Harbor to pay our respects to the men and women who died on December 7, 1941 when Japan bombed one of America’s biggest military bases. Pearl Harbor is a free, but ticketed meaning that unless you come early to get a timed ticket there won’t be a chance to see the USS Arizona Memorial (which requires a short ferry ride out). There are two exhibits that provide a wealth of information about what it was like on that fateful day as well as World War II and what life was like back then. The memorial pays tribute to every individual who was killed and lists their names on plaques near the water. We also found out that servicemen who did not die that day but belonged to the ship can choose to be buried alongside their members upon their deaths. These members are lowered by divers through a hole in the memorial to the wreckage that exists below.

Island Vintage Shave Ice

Everyone knows Hawaii is one of the best places to eat shave ice so I made it one of my food goals to try as many different shave ice stands as I could on the trip. Island Vintage (which also has a coffee stand and a bar) was by far the tastiest ice. Although it didn’t come cheap, the flavors were so vivid and didn’t taste like simple sugar syrup. For an extra dollar there’s also the option to add a homemade mochi- totally worth it! The shave ice is served in a tiny platter instead of the typical cone, making it a little hard to eat, but that just means you’ll have to gobble down your ice before it melts! Island Vintage Shaved Ice is located on the main strip of Waikiki. Its a tiny stand though so easy to miss- keep your eyes open!

Ala Moana Shopping Center

I must have gone here 4-5 times, but every time I discovered something new. During my week it became a place I could find civilization, but not be crowded with people. The Shopping Center has everything you need- a Japanese food village (complete with Hello Kitty snacks!), tons of trendy stores, famous cookie shops like Honolulu Cookie Company, and the delicious taro bagel at Island Brewhouse. The mall is also outdoors and drenched in sunshine so just walking around made me feel more Hawaiian!

Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay

Hanuama Bay is one of those must see tourist attractions, It was built for the sole purpose of snorkeling so its crowded on a daily basis (make sure to arrive early) and the natural sealife that exists in the bay is so plentiful. Visibility is great too making it one of the highlights of my trip. I loved swimming around and getting a peak of purple sea urchins swaying in the waters, a school of giant rainbow fish moving around, and beautiful corals standing still amidst the waves.

Koko Head Trail

Not for the faint hearted! Its not a scary or long hike, but it does go straight up the side of the mountain! Koko head hiking trail was built using abandoned railroad tracks and is vertical upwards so it does require some physical endurance to reach the top, but it is completely doable. And the views at the top are worth it!

Diamondhead Trail

This is THE hike to do on Oahu because its tourist friendly (the hike is paved) and there are gorgeous (and I mean gorgeous) views at the top so expect crowds. Make sure to come early! It costs $5 to park inside the crater where the hike is located. We just got dropped off however, and only had to pay $1 each to enter the hike. Diamondhead is probably the only hike on the island that costs money, but I guess that’s why its so well maintained. There is even an audio tour you can listen to as you go up the hike. Personally, I felt like this hike had the best views because it was possible to see the beach, the city, and the crater all at once.

Lankai Pillbox Hike

Our local friend recommended this hike to view the sunrise and it was amazing! This was the very first hike we went on and since it was for the sunrise we had to wake at… 3am. The 3am wakeup call wasn’t the greatest (even for a morning person like me), but boy was it worth it. There’s just something so magical about Hawaii sunrises- the sky is filled with giant bursts of orange and yellow and pink, all against the backdrop of the gorgeous ocean and lush scenery. In the end, it was a good thing we got an early start because the hike gets packed with tourists and becomes too crowded after a while. Its also located in a wealthy neighborhood and parking is a huge problem (there are so many no parking tow away zones so be careful).

I’m so ready for my next Hawaii trip- where should I go next?

Postcards from San Francisco

For some reason unknown to myself, I had yet to visit San Francisco prior to December. Maybe it was the cross country flight I would have had to take from New York. Maybe it was the fact that I would have lost 3 hours returning the NYC. I’m still not sure why it took me 27 years to finally visit one of the biggest cities in the U.S. But better late than never right? When I discovered that my pto days at my new job didn’t roll over into the new year, I quickly did some research on where to go for a 4 day weekend where I wouldn’t have to pay exorbitant flight prices or waste too much time in transit. I’ve come to realize that Houston is not the greatest city when it comes to traveling efficiently with your time as the direct flights are limited. But when my sorority little sister suddenly messaged me, I took it as a sign to gather a group of sorority sisters, go see her, and cross off San Francisco off my travel bucket list. I know that 4 days is barely enough to scratch the surface of SF, but I feel like I’ve made a pretty good dent in the city. It goes without saying that I’ll have to revisit the city to see more though!

Day 1

Alcatraz

Highly recommend if you love history and taking informative tours! The (very expensive) ticket includes your ferry ride to the prison as well as an audio tour of the facilities. I recommend spending at least 2 hours here because there is a lot to see and a lot to learn.

Ferry Building Marketplace

I love eating at places that have tons of food stalls and this ferry departure building had exactly that. There are stands for pho, grilled cheese sandwiches, empanadas, cheesecake, and so much more. Its a 20 min walk from Pier 33 where the Alcatraz ferry departs from and returns to. There aren’t too many sitting areas so be prepared to eat while standing at a high top table.

Golden Gate Bridge

No trip to SF is complete without visiting this beautiful engineering feat! There’s something so magical about the big red bridge peeking through the clouds (and there will always be clouds in SF). Take a Lyft or bus to the Golden Gate Visitor Center for the best viewing points.

305 Fitness

305 was my favorite workout studio in New York so when I remembered about the San Francisco popup location I knew I had stop by on my vacation. The SF location is in the basement of a really cool coworking space called The Assembly and its located in an adorable blue house. Classes are $20 (a much lower fee than NYC’s $34 per class) and have the same energetic vibe that I love!

Marufuku Ramen

Be prepared to wait. That’s the biggest advice I can give for this ramen spot located inside a mall in Japantown. We waited a total of 2 hours for a bowl of their creamy pork broth ramen… Was it worth it? I’m not really sure- I was too hungry to properly enjoy slurping the noodles. My friends and I downed our bowls in less than 30 minutes.

Day 2- Napa Valley

Domaine Carneros

Known for its sparkling wine, this gorgeous chateau is located on a hill surrounded by wide open green spaces and vineyards. Even if you don’t plan to join in on the seated tasting (which costs about $35), its still a fun place to wander around and take pictures. Guests are even allowed to stay overnight here in one of their hotel suites!

RH Restaurant

I’d always wanted to try the famous RH crystal dome restaurant in New York, but never had the chance. But my dreams were fulfilled in Napa! The food is great, but the aesthetics are even better. Make sure to make a reservation because tables fill up quickly.

Castello di Amorosa

If you’re looking for delicious sweet light wines, I highly suggest Castello di Amorosa. They have a variety of white, red, and dessert wines available for a $30 tasting and includes the crowd favorite, La Fantasia wine. I ended buying a bottle of wine here and taking it with me back to Texas because it was just too irresistible. Wandering around the castle grounds is equally amazing- there’s even a moat leading to the entrance.

Day 3

El Techo

Mexican food on a breezy rooftop with beautiful views? El Techo has all those things, plus the food is good.

Stonemill Matcha

A 7 minute walk from El Techo, Stonemill Matcha is the perfect after brunch cafe filled with sunshine and delicious matcha lattes. You’ll be able to recognize this place in an instant with its line snaking out of the entrance. This place is always crowded, but its easy to understand why- the matcha themed pastries and drinks are addicting.

Mission Dolores Park

Personally, I felt like this park perfectly embodied what I thought about San Francisco. Its surrounded by tons of townhomes and has tons of green grass filled with dogs roaming around and people picnicking and skateboarding. Everyone appeared so laid back and relaxed- very different from the fast paced busy vibe of New York City. Its the perfect place to watch the sunset and people watch.

Day 4

Tartine Manufactory

Another great food find. Tartine Manufactory is a glass warehouse that smells of freshly baked bread and has the best breakfast pastries. There’s even an adorable market and tile manufacturer in the back!

Painted Ladies

A must see if you grew up watching and loving Full House!

Fisherman’s Wharf

The best place to be on a sunny San Francisco day. There’s a lot to see and eat and its enjoyable to simply walk along the waters.

Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory

I paid 50 cents to snap this photo and shelled over $15 for flavored fortune cookies, but it was worth it to support a Chinese family’s business and take home delicious treats to my family. The Factory is located in an alley in Chinatown so it can be a bit hard to locate, but just follow the smell of freshly made cookies!

Boba Guys

I’ve drank bubble tea from Boba Guys several times in New York so I wasn’t particularly wanting to stop at an outlet in SF, but when I coincidentally passed by on my way to the Wharf I decided to just step in and check it out. Best decision ever! I guess there’s some truth when people say that the original is always better because the SF Boba Guys is amazing. The menu is bigger and there are food options. Its another one of those places where a line can form though so be sure to stop by early.

One of the biggest domestic travel debates is New York or San Francisco? Prior to visiting, I’d heard people say that the cities are similar, but at the same time not similar. After visiting, I have to agree! Each city has their own reasons for falling in love with. I still say NYC will forever be my city, but SF definitely gives it a good run for its money. What are your thoughts? Do you prefer New York City or San Francisco?

My 2020 Travel Wishlist

There are so many places in the world I have yet to go and every year I make plans to cross just a few more of those places off my list. I truly enjoy vacation planning- there’s just something so exciting about discovering somewhere new and learning about it. I especially enjoy planning my trips for the new year. 365 days all available for exploring somewhere new! I love having something to look forward to- there’s always flight prices to watch, quality Airbnbs to look out for, and hot activities to keep an eye out for. Call me a travel nerd, but it all brings a sort of excitement to my blood. One other thing that’s got me excited is my new United Airlines Explorer credit card. I’ve been wavering for a while now on getting a better travel card and taking advantage of the many perks a good credit card brings and finally settled on the United Airlines card over the popular Chase Sapphire Reserve for two main reasons. 1- United has the strictest Basic Economy rules in that buying this cheap fare doesn’t allow you to bring even a carry on aboard the plane. Thus, forcing me to shell out an additional $60 to check my luggage. The credit card will allow me to not only bring a carry on bag, but also check a free bag all while still taking advantage of the cheaper basic economy flight price. With an annual fee of $95, I figured I would only need to take 2 roundtrip United flights a year to get my moneys worth. Reason 2- I’m a Houstonian now and Houston is a major hub for United. United flights from Houston to anywhere basically are frequent and direct (2 factors I value the most when choosing flights) making my loyalty to one airline even stronger. I’ll update you guys on how well the credit card actually works for me, but for now I can’t wait to use it! Here’s a look at some of the trips I’m hoping to take in 2020.

Asheville, North Carolina

I fell in love with North Carolina last year when I visited Raleigh and Wilmington for my friend Amanda’s wedding so I knew this year I wanted to make a return trip to experience further the beauty the state has. I’ve heard that Asheville has a laid back hipster vibe that is very similar to Austin and is up in the North Carolina mountains, which is a beautiful place to be. Plus ever since Taylor Swift’s Blank Space music video was released, I’ve wondered about the mansion featured. Turns out that the Biltmore Mansion is real and its located in Asheville and open for tours! Add that fact to the plentiful breweries and bagels that exist in Asheville and I was sold. They say the best time to visit North Carolina is in the fall when the leaves are turning gorgeous shades of orange and red. But I’m not sure I can wait that long to visit… so I’m considering a spring trip (May?) to see the blooming flowers and experience the fresh mountain air.

Stockholm, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark

Europe has recently been one of my favorite places to travel- mainly because there’s just so much history in literally every single European country and everything is just so different from America. It was definitely a lot easier to get on a flight to Europe while I was living in New York than now when I’m living in Houston. BUT I refuse to let that stop me! I’ve been obsessed with Oatly’s oat milk lately and once I found out that it was a Swedish brand, I knew I had to visit Stockholm. Because Scandinavian countries are all pretty close in distance, I thought squeezing Copenhagen into the week long trip would be an added bonus. Imagine bike riding through the cobble stoned town or sitting on the Nyhavn dock in the breeze while drinking a cup of Danish coffee. It sounds so picturesque doesn’t it?

Orlando, Florida

I had serious FOMO this year when I saw everyone heading to Orlando for either Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or the Epcot Food and Wine Festival or Universal Studio’s Haunted Horror Nights. If you haven’t heard of any of those events, seriously look them up because they are a big deal in the world of Halloween. So I made up my mind to attend next year and take my recently moved- to- Miami friend as well. I’ve heard that Disney vacations need to be planned in advance because everything books up insanely fast, so this vacation is pretty much set in stone. We’re just waiting for 2020 reservations to open!

San Diego, California

Warm fluffy donuts. Melt off the bone brisket. Crispy flavorful chicken wings. What does this trip sound like its going to be about? If you guessed food, you’re 100% right. I’ve been wanting to take a foodcation for a while now, but could never decide on the right city. It had to be somewhere with tons of good food (obviously), but also with beautiful outdoor activities (to work off those calories) and not too many other demanding tourist activities (that would distract me from my eating and exercising!). I settled on San Diego as the perfect location after doing brief research on Yelp and instantly realizing that YES I do want to eat juicy tacos and fried cheesy Korean corndogs while enjoying the view of the ocean atop a cliff. I don’t have a date set yet, but since San Diego is well known for its 300 plus sunny days I figured even a winter February trip would be fine with me.

Park City, Utah

When I lived in New York, I attended the Tribeca Film Festival every year and watched so many amazing independent films. I even got a chance to attend the premiere for the Ted Bundy biopic Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile and hear Zac Efron speak! I love seeing movies that aren’t mainstream, but still have relatable stories and talented cast members. When the movie, The Farewell (starring the hilarious Awkwafina) debuted earlier this year at Sundance Film Festival, I knew I had to make a trip at least once in my life to attend this film festival as well. So I convinced my best friend we could make a besties trip out of winter activities, matching pajamas, and indie films. Doesn’t that sound like a cozy vacation? Luckily, she agreed because we have two tickets booked for Utah at the end of January!

Bogota, Colombia

I’m completely unsure if this trip will happen or not because if it does it will be super last minute, but I thought I’d still include it in this post because a wishlist is only a wish right? Recently, a friend told me about this amazing travel company designed for young professionals called Here And Now Travel that creates trips for young professionals (like myself) to meet and travel with other like minded individuals. I’ve never been the type for group tours (have you ever heard me mention anything like that on Toast and Travel?) because I feel constrained by the set itineraries and the slower moving pace of larger groups, BUT the itineraries have clearly been designed with the working professional in mind because most of the tours are 4-5 days and fall on holidays such as, Memorial Day weekend or July 4 in order to allow for minimal use of those previous pto days. Plus, I’ve always been curious about Colombia, but much too scared to venture there myself. I think traveling with Here and Now will be the perfect chance to allow me to meet new friends and explore a new country! Another bonus? Because the company is a relatively new startup, its prices aren’t too high yet AND they have a promotion where your first trip is $100 off. Currently, the downside is that they only offer trips to Bogota, Tulum, and Costa Rica, but hopefully as time goes on they will expand to other countries as well.

These trips are really just the tip of the iceberg for 2020. I still have to hit my 3 country minimum! If you have any ideas or suggestions on where else I can go (on limited pto days), drop them in the comments section!

Top 5 Things to do in Miami

So lets be real- there’s about a million things to do in Miami and most of them are amazingly enjoyable. If you guys follow me along my Toast and Travel adventures, then you know that I’m that type of traveler who will do all million things when on a trip and then post about it in a super long blog post. But, this post isn’t going to be like those because this time I’m only going to pick out my top 5 favorite things to do in Miami. To say I had the hardest time doing that is putting it lightly. I was in Miami visiting a friend for 5 days and packed so many activities into each day, but in an attempt to be a minimalist, I’ve chosen the top 5 things I loved about Miami. Enjoy!

I purposely didn’t include South Beach or any other beaches on my list because to be honest, beaches aren’t really my thing. I find it quite boring to lie around somewhere for hours under the hot and unforgiving sun. Especially since I live around 40 minutes from Galveston Beach and can lie there any time I want. But also, no matter what people will always stop by a beach in Miami anyways so I felt it was kind of redundant to list it here.

 Art Deco District

If you love beautiful and unique architecture, then the Art Deco district is perfect for you. After experiencing Open House New York for 3 years in New York and learning about all the interesting buildings in the city, I knew I would be interested in walking around the district and viewing that colorful buildings that line Miami’s beach front. Spanning from Ocean Drive to Washington Street and from 5th street to 10th street, the Art Deco district includes about 200 buildings that have their own stories to tell and now house everything from hotels to restaurants to even a Sephora. Art Deco refers to a visual style that includes bold geometric shapes and bright colors. Its pretty relaxing to stroll around downtown Miami, occasionally popping into stores to escape the heat and humidity, while looking at buildings that were originally built in the mid 1900s.

Gianni’s at the Former Versace Mansion

A friend told me about the famous mansion where the fashion designer, Gianni Versace, was brutally murdered in 1997. The mansion is now a hotel and restaurant and although it does not hold public tours, there is an opportunity to dine right on the courtyard where Versace passed away. I felt like it was slightly morbid to be laughing and eating where someone took his last breath, so I chose to sit inside (bonus- there’s also air conditioning inside) instead. Thanks to the recent FX biopic The Assassination of Gianni Versace- An American Crime Story, interest in the mansion has renewed (some scenes from the biopic were actually filmed here!) and it can get pretty packed so make sure to make a reservation before arriving. The menu prices are relatively high, so I suggest coming for lunch and ordering off their pre fixe lunch menu, which includes an appetizer, entrée, and dessert for $29. For a touristy hotel, the food was surprisingly delicious! I especially loved my fried zucchini stuffed with cheese.

POC Sushi Buffet

I know there are two restaurants on my top 5 list, but I can’t help it! I have a definite talent for finding yummy places to eat while on vacation because food is such an important part of traveling! One of my food goals on this trip was to eat seafood and sushi while in Miami since it’s a seaside town, but all the sushi restaurants I looked at on Yelp had a higher prices than I was willing to shell out (remember I’m still funemployed). I was also hesitant to eat sushi at a buffet because usually the fish is lower quality. However I was still drawn to POC because all the photos looked amazing and there were several stellar reviews about the restaurant so I decided to give it a chance. POC blew away all my expectations. The sushi was fresh and there was a huge variety of rolls right there for the taking! I had never seen so many delicious sushi rolls laying out and all for only $15 (lunch price) too! There is also an extensive dessert bar that is topped off with 6 different flavors of ice cream so saving room for dessert is a must. No reservations are needed- although the place is crowded, there are always tables available.

 Lincoln Road

The Lincoln Road mall is an outdoor pedestrian street that is lined with cute cafes and restaurants as well as a variety of stores in all budget ranges. The Road begins at South Beach and goes on for several blocks so after a few hours at the beach I headed here. While I didn’t end up buying anything, I did enjoy the stroll along a pedestrian only street and drinking my favorite bubble tea drink (which can be found at Miu Tea by the way). Maybe its because I’m a previous New Yorker, but I love the concept of walking under the sun (or stars) and enjoying the sights of people bustling around running errands while doing some window shopping and cafe hopping myself.

Key West and the Everglades

I know both these areas are outside of Miami, but I had to include them as one of my top 5 because they were both so memorable. We spent two days/one night exploring Key West and on our way back into Miami, stopped briefly at the Everglades Safari Park for a very fast and loud airboat tour and the chance to see some famous Florida gators up close. One of the highlights of my trip was having the opportunity to tour Ernest Hemingway’s House with the most informational guide ever. He shared hilarious stories about Hemingway’s 4 wives (especially the one who replaced Hemingway’s outdoor boxing ring for a giant swimming pool once she found out he had cheated on her) and introduced us to the many polydactyl (6 fingered) cats that called the House home. The cats are actually direct descendants of the original white polydactyl cat, Snow White, that Hemingway and his sons owned. They are selectively bred once a year so that the 6 finger trait can be passed on and they even have their own private vet on the premises for specialized care. All the cats are uniquely named after famous people in history and are so friendly and ready for cuddles (you are allowed to pet any cats you see!). So many of Hemingway’s literary masterpieces, including The Old Man and the Sea, was written on this property in his private writing studio and it was so amazing to learn more about his adventurous life. The home costs $14 (cash only!) to visit, but it was worth every penny. I highly recommend coming at a time when a tour guide is giving a tour because that’s the best way to dig deeper beyond just a few placards placed around the house.

Miami was a weird mix of the beach life plus a more cosmopolitan scene and I think that was why I was so drawn to it. I loved the energy the city had, but also loved the dreaminess of the salty air.

2019 Sisters Trip in Iceland

My sister and I take a sisters trip annually and do our best to choose locations both of us have never been before. We’ve always gone during June because that’s when her school usually has their break so most lf our locations have been chosen with the dreamy summertime in mind. In the past we’ve gone to Rhode Island, Montreal, London, Paris, and Amsterdam. All destinations I’ve throughly enjoyed and are the perfect spots for a sisters trip! With my days on the East Cost numbered, I knew this year I wanted to finally check Iceland off the list. Iceland is only a 6 hour direct flight from JFK, thus making it an ideal 4-5 day trip. This time around I took a break from being the trip planner and let my sister create the trip itinerary. She didn’t disappoint! Iceland is one of those places where there are many famous iconic spots, but if you want to escape the tourist crowds and find the hidden things more research is needed.

How to Get Around

Renting a car is a must. Our rental car gave us the freedom to make our own itinerary and go to places that tour companies don’t go to. I was a little nervous about driving a car in a different country (it was my first time doing that), but the Iceland roads are well paved and once you leave Reyjkavic there aren’t too many cars on the road. Its also a lot more affordable to travel Iceland this way- a tour company usually charges around $200 a person for a Golden Circle 1 day tour, while we spent around $100 total for two people. 

Where We Stayed

Iceland is not cheap and the accommodation prices definitely reflected that. We also had to consider parking costs because we had a rental car with us. Somehow we managed to find a true hidden gem on Airbnb. Our spacious basement Airbnb (with windows and blackout curtains) was located 8 minutes outside of the Reykjavik city center and came with a free parking spot. It wasn’t too hard to drive into the city center to explore or eat so we didn’t mind staying in a local neighborhood. In fact, it was interesting getting to see how Icelandic people lived and where they went to school. For 3 nights, we paid a total $350, which is well below the market rate for hotels.

 What We Ate

Iceland isn’t really known for their food so we weren’t expecting too much, except that we knew we would have to shell over a pretty penny for subpar food. However, once getting there we were pleasantly surprised that the food was quite decent. Nothing special, but not as bad as we were expecting. It is definitely pricier that the same food we would have paid for in America, but hey it’s a vacation. We went to a few budget restaurants (Vagninn Fish and Chips, Iceland Street Food, Café Mokka, Reykjavik Roasters, Cafe Babalu, Braud Bakery, Sandholt, and Saegreifinn) we had looked up online and they all provided a glimpse of Icelandic cuisine. Braud had the best bread in the city and we came here twice during our stay to enjoy the delicious aromas and warm pastries. Cafe Mokka is the first espresso cafe in Reykjavik and served up a strong (and giant) cup of chocolate mocha. At Saegreifinn, my sister and I sampled our first taste of whale meat and fermented shark. Neither really appealed to our taste buds, but it was interesting to try!

What We Did 

Reykjavik

The capital of Iceland is probably the least dense major city in the world. With around 300,000, there aren’t many native Icelanders around, but that doesn’t mean their city is any less of an attraction. Most visitors will choose to make Reykjavik their base while exploring the country just because its where the majority of hotels and Airbnbs and restaurants are located. While we ate almost every meal in downtown Reykjavik, we only spent around 2 hours exploring its streets. There’s always plenty of parking and never too many people! Its also a great place to learn more about the unique Icelandic architecture.

Blue Lagoon

If I could describe the Blue Lagoon in two words, it would be: tourist trap. You can probably tell I wasn’t a huge fan of this place. Yes, it was beautiful and worth visiting as an one time experience, but boy was it crowded. I felt like the crowds of people took away from the spa like environment. Later on we went to a few other geothermal hot springs which were much more tranquil and felt more natural. The Blue Lagoon is not cheap either- we paid $100 per person as an entrance fee. This fee included towels, locker rental, a silica face mask, and one drink. Did we feel like all this was worth $100? Not really. Our original goal was to stay there all day, but after about 3 hours, we had our fill of the hot water and constant steam and pruny fingers. If you must go to the Blue Lagoon, I would suggest just going and walking around the front area (for free) to see the signature blue waters and scenery. The Lagoon is also located next to the airport so its best to go there either right after you land or before you leave.

Harpa Concert Hall

Since living in New York, I’ve grown to appreciate and be curious about architecture. There is so much creativity and thought that goes into desiging and building buildings that I now love attending tours and talks on well known buildings. Harpa Concert Hall, the home to the Icelandic Symphony, is shaped like a cube with double layered walls that light up based on the occasion. Each hall was constructed with extensive thought to what kind of performances would take place there and how the sound and space could be maximized. A 30 minute tour of Harpa costs $10 and provides a wealth of information.

 Golden Circle

My sister and I created our own Golden Circle tour filled with the must see sights as well as some hidden places we found. This was the main reason why we wanted our own mode of transportation. Many tours only take you to the first thing spots we hit and leave out many other Iceland wonders.

Thingvellir National Park - The first stop for most Golden Circle goers, this Park is beyond gorgeous. The Visitor Center brochure recommends 5 stops in the Park that are located in an easy circular hike. The brochure said that the hike would take about 1 hour, but because we kept stopping to take pictures and little detours, it actually took 2 hours for us. Everywhere I looked there was so much natural beauty. I loved looking out over the fissure that divided two continents and I loved the adorable little church that was located randomly inside the park. The Park is crowded so I recommend getting there as soon as possible in the mornings so you’re able to walk through in peace. While there is no entrance fee, parking costs $6 per car.

Geysir - Geysir and Gullfoss are both staples on a Golden Circle tour. Every guide will bring their tourists here, which only means thats both locations are extremely crowded and overhyped, but at the same time still must sees. Both don’t have any entrance fees and are very well maintained with spacious parking lots, gift shops and cafes, clean bathrooms, and paved wooden walkways. My suggestion would be to stop at both places, but don’t waste too much time at either location and move on to less crowded and beautiful stops.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Efstidalur Ice Cream - Although neither of us could pronounce the name, Efstidalur was the hidden find my sister was most proud of! Who can pass up homemade ice cream from a cow farm? The ice cream here was a sweet snack while we were in the midst of our Golden Circle drive.

Secret Lagoon - The oldest swimming pool in Iceland and it only costs $24 to enter (a huge price drop from the Blue Lagoon) and spend a few hours relaxing on a pool noodle here. The waters are heated at a nice warm degree and its interesting to be swimming in the same pool that people swam in so many years ago.

Kerid Crater - One of my most favorite places in Iceland and mostly overlooked! Kerid Crater was our last stop on the Golden Circle drive for us and we almost didn’t even stop here because we wanted to make it back to Reykjavik in time before all the restaurants closed. Thank god we decided to make a quick detour anyways! It was the best $3 ever spent. The Crater wasn’t crowded at all (I’m guessing by the end of the Circle most people were just tired like we were) and the hike around the top of it provided all sorts of amazing views.

 Horseback Riding

Icelandic horses are different from American horses so it was definitely on my bucket list to ride one of them while in Iceland. They looked so cute in pictures! The horses are smaller and shorter so they were perfect for first time riders like myself. There were several tour options online, but we ended up going with Extreme Iceland which matched us up with the Ishestar Riding Stables where we met the most amazing tour guides and the sweetest horses. There were a variety of horses that differed in size and disposition so it was easy to find one that matched your riding style. My horse Lassie was so fun to ride and was the perfect photo companion! There are also different routes you can take on horseback. WE chose to ride through the lava fields and were met with beautiful (how many times have I used the word beautiful already?) Icelandic scenery.

Lava Tunnel

If you’ve been following along with Toast and Travel for a while now, you’ll know that I’m sort of obsessed with caves. They’ve always seemed mysterious to me and I love how every cave is different. After doing some research, I discovered that Iceland has a lava tunnel that is similar to a cave. 5000 years ago when a volcano erupted in the country, lava spewed out of it in full force and a lava tunnel was created. The tunnel isn’t well paved at all so it was pretty fun getting to scramble over rocks and use the headlights on our helmets. A standard tour which lasts an hour costs $50, while an extreme tour which lasts 3 hours and involves crawling through holes costs $100.

Reykjadalur Hike

My sister found this hike while she was researching for the Golden Circle, but we were way too exhausted after a day’s worth of events and decided to postpone the hike until a different day.  The end point of the hike is the REykjaladver geothermal river. Personally,I felt like the river, while not luxurious at all and very very natural, was a way better experience than the Blue Lagoon. If anything, the river was a nice reward after a semi challenging hike. The hike is pretty well organized in that the path is clearly marked and there are helpful signs along the way. There’s also plenty of free parking and no entrance fee. Guidebooks told us that the hike would take around 45 minutes, but (again) we stopped to appreciate the views and take pictures so it actually took us 1.5 hours to hike up. There are some steep parts, but for the most part its not too difficult. Just make sure you use the bathroom before because there aren’t any on the trail. There also isn’t a covered changing room at the river, so its best to change into your swimsuit in your car before the hike.

We were only in Iceland for 4 days and I felt like we barely scratched the surface of this big beautiful country. If we had more time, I would have liked to drive down to Southern Iceland and the black sand beach. Like I always say, there’s always next time!

A Weekend in North Carolina

I’ve heard rave reviews of North Carolina (for some reason it seems like there are tons of New Yorkers from there) and thanks to a friend’s wedding I was finally able to come up with a good excuse to spend the weekend in North Carolina. I loved it way more than I imagined (I guess I thought it would be similar to Texas? But it definitely wasn’t) and I’m already dreaming up another return trip. My friend’s wedding was located in Wilmington, but because the flights to Wilmington are few in number and slightly expensive, I decided to fly to Raleigh instead and drive the 2 hours to Wilmington.

Raleigh

I can’t begin to explain my obsession with Raleigh. Prior to my arrival, and boy did I have a rough arrival (my plane sat on the Raleigh airport tarmac for an hour after having been delayed in New York for 2 hours so I actually didn’t land until 1am), I thought that Raleigh would be similar to Houston in that it would pale in comparison to NYC and have that boring big city vibe. I was so wrong! Its hard to describe what the Raleigh vibe is exactly, but it is definitely the opposite of boring. For starters, the food scene here is the best. There were so many restaurants I wanted to try and so little time that I knew I had to make another trip here. My friends and I are all fans of the James Beard award winning chef, Ashley Christensen, so we made it one of our goals to eat at her restaurants. Unfortunately, Beasley’s Chicken and Honey had an insane line out the door so we made the difficult decision to walk away (don’t worry I will be back!) and we later ate at Poole’s Diner instead. Poole’s macaroni and cheese is to die for- its also plated in the biggest bowl ever so be prepared to share with friends (although yes I did attempt to eat the entire bowl myself). One of my travel goals is to drink my favorite drink, bubble tea, in every destination I go to. So I stopped by Budacai for their cute little teas and loved how milky the drink was! Another unfortunate thing that happened to me on the trip (food related of course) was that because my flight was delayed so long I missed the dinner reservation at Bida Manda, an award winning Laotian restaurant. I had been looking forward to trying their unique Asian dishes and was sorely disappointed that I would be missing out. To help lighten my disappointment, however, my friends brought me to Heirloom Coffee Shop, owned by the same brother/sister owners of Bida Manda, where I was able to drink a delicious honey lavender coffee and eat a black sesame mochi donut. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the simplicity of Raleigh and I can’t wait to return!

Wilmington

The main reason why I was even in North Carolina to begin with was located here! I watched my beautiful friend Amanda marry the love of her life in an adorable church (and I can’t really explain how adorable it really was) on the corner of a darling street in Wilmington. I’m pretty sure many eyes teared up when the couple was exchanging vows- I know mine did!

The day after the wedding I had some time to explore the rest of Wilmington, which led me to the outdoor restaurant, Dockside. If you’re looking for southern classics mixed in with seafood, this is the place! I was finally able to get my fried green tomatoes here (something that isn’t served in the north) and the bartender was so nice that she didn’t bother charging me for my virgin strawberry cocktail.

We also walked along the Wilmington Boardwalk, which appeared like it came out of a dream with its quaint wooden buildings and clear shimmering waters. I felt as if I was in a Nicholas Sparks movie, which for those of you who don’t know, all Nicholas Sparks movies are based on locations in North Carolina. Upon further research, I realized that there are websites dedicated to visiting Nicholas Sparks filming locations so I will keep that in mind for my future North Carolina trips.

Wrightsville Beach

Wrightsville Beach is about a 30 minute drive from Wilmington and one of the most charming seaside towns I’ve ever seen. Its a very quiet and peaceful sort of place and I desperately wish I had more time to stroll its tiny stores or read a book on its sandy beach.

My newfound love for North Carolina was so unexpected! Where should I visit next in this beautiful state?

The Perfect Day in Nyack, New York

As my days in New York neared the end, I made a conscious effort to explore outside of New York City more since I knew my opportunity window to see some cute New England towns was getting smaller and smaller. After reading my favorite blogger, Cest Christine’s blog post a few years back, I’ve had Nyack, New York on my list of places to visit but never had the chance to take the short trip upstate. I love exploring the unknown and choosing to visit places where the average tourist might not normally go and finding reasons why the place is actually worth visiting. Its also nice to change up the pace occasionally and explore somewhere that isn’t swamped with selfie stick wielding tourists and over photographed on Instagram. So when someone told me that they had never heard of Nyack, it made me even more determined to explore this cute upstate town. Upstate New York can be brutal during the winter season, so as soon as the weather calmed down in May I took a quick train ride up north on the Metro North. The train does not go directly to the town of Nyack, but there is a convenient bus that stops right outside Tarrytown train station that brings you the rest of the way. Nyack is full of sunny outdoor brunch restaurants and adorable little homes. My favorite stop was the glazed donut and icy Arnold Palmer at Boxer Donuts- so delicious and such a good find! I enjoyed a day of walking around the town and then stopping by the former Rockefeller estate, Kykuit, in Sleepy Hollow on my way back into Manhattan. Kykuit is only reachable by reserving a tour ticket as a special shuttle bus and guide brings you to the home for viewing. There are three different types of tours of Kykuit- some are longer and more in depth than others so choose wisely based on your available time. While photos aren’t allowed inside the grand mansion, there is plenty of photo taking opportunities on the expansive estate grounds.

Strawberry Place

Downtown Nyack

PickWick Book Shop

Boxer Donut and Expresso Bar

Kykuit Rockefeller Estate

A Weekend in Sunny Los Angeles

After suffering through another bitterly cold New York winter (And yes sadly it is not over yet), I was really looking forward to escaping to sunny Southern California and its perfect 70 degree weather for a weekend of fun, food, and friends. As a personal travel rule, I usually don’t prefer to travels towards the West Coast just because in the 6-7 hour flight it takes for me to go there I could also be taking a 6-7 hour flight to London or other European destinations. It just didn’t seem worth my time to stay in the U.S when the same about of time could take me to a foreign country. However, since the main purpose of my trip was to attend a wedding of a close sorority sister, I decided to make the trek there. And boy did I love it in Cali! I haven’t been to Southern California since my senior year of college when I attended a weekend women’s conference in LA so I had forgotten how wonderful the slower pace of life was and how gorgeous the city was. It was a much needed change from the hustle and bustle of New York- I was able to ride in a convertible (with the top down of course!) and feel the cool breeze in my hair and not have to deal with the loud honking of cars and the constant braking for crazy pedestrians. As a 4 year veteran of New York City, I feel like I’ve been ingrained to live a fast paced life filled with activity after activity just because there is so much to do and see in the city. In LA, I felt that I could take a step back and just enjoy a carefree 3 days in paradise without actually being too bored.  

Disneyland California

 One item on my bucket list is to go to every single Disney in the world. So far, I’ve managed to check off DisneyWorld in Florida, Disney Hong Kong, Disney Paris, and Disney Tokyo. Thanks to this LA trip, I was able to add Disney California to the list, leaving me with only Disney Shanghai to visit. While this California Disney was so much smaller than I expected and sadly the castle was under construction, I still very much enjoyed my day there. We spent over 12 hours taking advantage of fast passes to ride all the classic Disney rides (Indiana Jones was my favorite!), stuffing our faces with Mickey Mouse shaped beignets and macaroons, watching the Disney characters march in a parade down Main Street, and ending our night with beautiful fireworks. I like to consider myself as somewhat of a Disney theme park expert now so here are some tips on how to navigate the overwhelming world of Disney parks:

 1.     Arrive early- If the park opens at 8am, arrive before 8am. The lines for popular rides, such as Space Mountain, can have up to a 2 hour wait later in the day, so arriving early and taking advantage of less people in the lines will definitely pay off. Also, fast passes are distributed based on time slots and each individual can only hold one pass at a time. The earlier you’re able to grab a fast pass, the earlier you will be able to return to ride the ride and grab another fast pass for a different ride.

2.     Take advantage of fast passes. Fast passes are free and included with your admission ticket. These passes allow you to skip the lines and go right into the ride, thus saving a huge amount of time. The catch is that you’re only bale to have one at a time. So read your fast pass ticket and it will tell you when you are next able to grab another fast pass. Make sure you go and get your second one before returning for the first fast pass ride!

3.     Plan your rides in advance! There are SO MANY rides inside the park so looking at the map of attractions ahead of time and deciding which rides you really want to go on will pay off later.

4.     Bring your own bottle of water. As you can expect from any theme park, bottled water is expensive. After shelling out over $100 for a admission ticket, the last thing you want to do is spend $5 on water and then spend another $5 on water later in the day. It is more economical to bring your own bottle and then fill it up at the various water fountains in the park after you run out.

Smorgasburg LA

I love the Smorgasburg that happens in Williamsburg, Brooklyn every summer, so when I realized that the LA SMorgasburg is even open in the spring (most likely because they have normal spring weather instead of the typical 40 degree March weather in NY) I knew I had to take my Texas friends there so they could experience the delicious food stands. I was really looking forward to drinking a matcha milk tea from Sip Matcha, which is co-owned by one of the funniest Youtubers ever, David So. I was also able to taste the infamous White Rabbit candy inspired ice cream from Wanderlust Creamery. White Rabbit is a Chinese candy that every Asian kid devours as a kid- it reminded me so much of my childhood! Smorgasburg LA also has a shopping area in addition to food and the market is all located in a bigger space than the Brooklyn one so not having to fight the crowds was pretty nice.

Yellow House Café

I first heard about Yellow House through the Youtube eating show hosted by Stephanie Soo. She would always order her food from here and my mouth would always water as she ate it. Located in Koreatown, Yellow House Café is a gorgeous Korean restaurant with a huge outdoor patio and tons of delicious authentic Korean food. I caught up with a study abroad friend whom I hadn’t seen in 5 years (can’t believe my Hong Kong adventures were so long ago!) over a huge plate of spicy Korean dukbooki, fried dumplings, and ramen. It was so nice getting to chat and eat yummy food while enjoying the outdoors. Bonus- any drinks purchased along with a dish here is 50% off!

Bakers and Baristas

Such a cute little spot about 20 minutes away from Anaheim that was perfect for a cozy breakfast and coffee. I discovered Bakers and Baristas while watching Youtubers Bart and Geo’s vlogs and have to say they have great taste in cafes!

 Orange County Cherry Blossom Festival

I had a few hours between the wedding ceremony and the wedding reception so I decided to go to the Cherry Blossom Festival located in Huntington Park. I was surprised that there were any cherry blossoms in Southern California, but there are a few! The Festival is filled with unique Japanese inspired foods, including this delicious fried sushi taco and this refreshing thai tea, as well as tons of Asian themed performances. Plus, dogs are allowed and as you can see I spent most of my time snuggling with my friend’s new corgi puppy, Brisket!

Broad Museum

I’ve been wanting to tour the Broad Museum ever since I saw pictures of the giant table and chairs exhibit on Instagram. Tickets to the Museum are free and distributed online starting 30 days in advance. Certain days sell out fast (like the weekends) so reserving tickets as far in advance as possible is a must. The Museum is also currently hosting the Yoya K____  Infiniti Mirror exhibit, which has attracted long lines at all the locations its been located at. While the Broad is no different, each person wanting to tour the exhibit puts their name down on a separate waiting list once entering the Museum. The Museum will then text you once your time to enter the exhibit arrives so there is no wasting time standing in a line. My friends and I toured the entire Museum during our quoted 1.5 hour wait time. The Infinit Mirror exhibit doesn’t disappoint! If it ever comes into a city near you, I highly recommend it.

I loved LA and I can’t wait to go back! What else should I see/eat on my next visit?

What I Did in Madrid: Part 3

I’ve realized after this trip that 3 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Madrid. The city isn’t that big and the most popular thing to do is it sit outside and eat tapas (which you can really only do for so long). 3 days is also the perfect amount of time for a solo trip. While I love being alone and experiencing a new city on my own terms, by the last day I was starting to miss my friends and life’s connections. I spent my last day in Madrid wandering the streets, eating and shopping and taking pictures. The weather was amazing and led to a perfect ending of a beautiful trip- Madrid I’ll definitely be back!

El Rastro Flea Market

The El Rastro flea market is only open on Sundays beginning pretty much as soon as the sun rises. It was located right near my hostel so I walked through the already crowded streets perusing through various knick knacks, clothing, and souvenirs. I wished I had brought a bigger suitcase so I could have actually bought some of the stuff! I saw the cutest faux fur coats, vintage telephones, Madrid themed silverware, and handmade jewelry, Many streets are blocked off from cars so taking a walk through the flea market was a great start to my day. I luckily made it through before the even bigger crowds arrived because I could see how pickpocketing could be a problem here.

Brunch @ La Infinito

La Infinito was heavily recommended on many searches I conducted about the Madrid food scene so I made a quick stop here after walking through the flea market. Something I’ve noticed about many restaurants is that there is always an English menu if you just ask- La Infinito was no different. Although the English menu wasn’t a super clear translation, I was able to finally order the Iberico ham (otherwise known as Jamon Iberico) and try it on top of tomato bread as many Spanish eat it. The set breakfast also came with a calming tea. I felt like a local dining in this little slice of a quiet Madrid neighborhood.

Matcha Lattes @ Ruda Cafe

I wanted to try Madrid’s coffee scene at least once before leaving so after searching online for a decent coffee shop that was open early and located around the area of the flea market (I had grand plans to sip my latte while meandering through the many streets of the flea market) I finally found Ruda Cafe. To my surprise (but should I really have been surprised?), Madrid cafes are not open that early on the weekends. Many places didn’t open until 10am… which is a huge change from New York coffee shops that open literally at the crack of dawn even on the weekends. Ruda Cafe is located on a side street about 5 minutes from the main street of the El Rastro Flea Market in a tiny hole in the wall looking storefront. My matcha latte was delicious and not too bitter (a problem I find with many matcha lattes). I loved how warm it was in my hands as I perused the flea market items.

Circular de Bella Artes

One of my favorite things to do in a new city is to see the view of the city from up above. Circular de Bella Artes is actually an art gallery, but has a rooftop cafe up top that is known for its gorgeous views of Madrid. There is a 4 Euro fee to visit the rooftop (even if you plan on ordering a drink at the cafe), probably because too many take advantage of the views without purchasing anything. I got to the rooftop right when it opened so it wasn’t too crowded yet and I was able to leisurely stroll around the barriers taking pictures of and experiencing Madrid from all angles. It was a beautiful sunny day and I felt like life was grand just viewing everything on that rooftop!

Mama Framboise

I made a pit stop at the adorable Mama Framboise pastry shop to try their berry yogurt macaroon and caramel biscuit tart. I wish I had more stomach space because I would have also loved to have a second brunch here and try their brunch menu. The cafe was packed with customers and I could barely grab a side bar space to sit down and eat my desserts. This place is so worth a stop- the pastries were SO delicious!

Monastery de las Descalzas Reales

I didn’t read the website clearly and realized after I had already purchased my nonrefundable ticket that all tours of the monastery were only held in English so while I could not understand a single word the tour guide said, I throughly enjoyed walking through a centuries old monastery and looking at their priceless art collection (and also looking everything up on Wikipedia afterwards). I definitely wish I had brushed up on my Spanish skills before going on the tour because it totally sucked not being able to hear the elaborate stories the tour guide was telling (and I do know they were elaborate because she talked A LOT and everyone was laughing… except me). The Monastery is actually affiliated with the Spanish royal family and founded by a Princess Joanna in 1559. It is filled with paintings, tapestries, and statues so if art is your cup of tea and you are tired of visiting art museums, then this Monastery should be right up your alley. Just be prepared to listen to a Spanish only tour guide!

Jardines de Sabatini

This garden was a surprise find on my walk to the Temple Debod. It is located to the side of the Palace and offers free entry to all visitors. I wasn’t sure if this was part of the Palace or if it was a separate garden, but its nevertheless beautiful! Be prepared to climb up and down a ton of stairs to reach this garden though.

Temple Debod

I originally wanted to come here for the sunset, but was so exhausted from all the walking and sightseeing I had been doing over the past two days that I decided to just go ahead and visit earlier and then call it a day and go back to the hostel. So while I wasn’t able to get those breathtaking sunset photos, I still enjoyed the free spirited park the Temple is located in and loved sitting on the benches and the edge of the Temple Debod and people watch. The Temple does get crowded the closer it gets to sunset (I saw hoards on people arriving while I was leaving) so if you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy a more peaceful scenery then I highly suggest arriving earlier as well. Also fun fact- there is another Egyptian temple very similar in appearance to the Temple Debod located in the Metropolitan Museum called the Temple Dedur that is also worth a visit!

Malaspina

This was probably the only time during the whole trip that I wished I had someone else there with me. Only because the food at Malaspina was SO GOOD and I was sadly unable to finish all of it just because the portions were too big for one person to eat. I ordered the homemade ham croquettes and the patatas bravas and stuffed myself until I thought my stomach would burst. If I had another person there I would have definitely enjoyed more items off the menu, but since I was by myself my meal of croquettes and potatoes was a fabulous last meal of tapas in Madrid. Malaspina is located on a back street in the center of Madrid and it is surrounded by tons of other bars and tapas restaurants so if I had more time (and stomach space) I would have loved to tapas hop and taste more of what Madrid had to offer culinary wise.

This was my last day in Madrid and it was the most peaceful day! I truly appreciated the quiet beauty of Madrid and can’t wait for a return trip. Now it is off to Portugal for a 9 hour layover!

What I Did in Madrid: Part 2

As you can probably see by the length of this blog post, my second day in Madrid was VERY busy. Since it was my first full day in the city and only 1 of 2 that I would have, I didn’t want to waste a single second. While I ended the day with extremely sore feet, it was such a rewarding day and the beginning of my love for Madrid.

Han So Cafe

Hanso is located in the trendy Malatesta neighborhood and thus a little further away from the typical touristy Madrid hot spots, but walking through the neighborhood to reach the cafe I simply loved how peaceful everything was and how the streets were so empty and cute! There are tiny fashionable shops lining the streets and many other adorable cafes. I was really looking forward to eating at this Spanish Korean cafe, but sadly their famed matcha and okinomiaki waffles were both unavailable (apparently they only start serving waffles at 2pm on weekends). Instead, I ate an avocado toast with scrambled eggs and tun topped with my favorite kewpie mayo. My delicious red velvet latte was beyond my expectations, although it wasn’t too strong.

Buen Retiro Park

Originally I was planning to rent a bike and ride around the Park, but when I got to the bike rental shop, Rent and Roll, it wasn’t open yet (I guess Spanish shops aren’t too prompt on the weekends…) so instead I just took my time wandering through the Park. Although I live just minutes away from New York’s expansive Central Park and am use to gorgeous parks, I loved Buen Retiro because on the clear and sunny day I was visiting everything looked so magical. I loved the crystal palace located right in the center of the park and the giant pond where people were invited to partake in rowing through the peaceful water.

Almudena Cathedral

A huge (and I mean huge) mass was going on when I visited the Cathedral so I wasn’t able to fully walk around….. but it was pretty cool listening briefly to a Spanish mass. Almudena is also located across the street from the Palace so it was a good place to kill some time before my entry time. I’ve heard that the Cathedral has a museum and a viewing area, but I wasn’t able to figure how to enter those areas because the mass pretty much limited movement inside.

Palace of Madrid

One of the things I love doing when touring European countries is visiting their palaces. The monarch history is just so interesting to me because in America we have never had kings and queens. There is something so glamorous about walking the same halls as royals and getting a glimpse of where they lived and worked. From Buckingham Palace in London to Versailles in Paris to Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, I have throughly enjoyed visiting these palaces no matter the cost. So I knew I had to make a stop at Madrid’s beautiful palace! Fortunately, I booked my ticket in advance and had a scheduled time to enter so I avoided the long line at the ticket booth. I highly recommend doing this in order to save time- a prebooked ticket allowed me to fly right in, pick up my also prebooked audio guide, and begin touring the palace in under 10 minutes. Make sure to allocate around 2 hours for the palace tour! The audio guide lasts around an hour total, but if I include taking pictures, visiting the armory museum exhibit, and just standing around soaking all the gorgeously decorated rooms in the whole palace experience definitely lasts two hours. One thing I noticed was missing from the Madrid Palace was a garden. Both Schonbrunn and Versailles has beautifully created and maintained gardens behind their palaces, so I was slightly disappointed there was no garden to walk through.

Mercado San Miguel

Hands down, the San Miguel market was my favorite part of Madrid. I enjoyed the market so much I went there twice! I love tapas, but since I was in Madrid by myself I wasn’t able to eat as much variety of tapas as I wished because I had no one else to share them with and the portions were too big for just one person. However, at Mercado San Miguel I was able to buy tapas by the piece. Meaning I was able to eat a vast variety of delicious bread based tapas, fried calamari and octopus, croquettes, quiche, empanadas, and dessert. Mercado San Miguel is a food hall located near the Palace of Madrid that has numerous vendors inside selling all kinds of tapas. It is extremely crowded though so be prepared for the crush of people and watch out for your belongings!

Shopping on Gran Via

I knew before coming to Madrid that I would HAVE to check out the Spanish headquartered Zara there as well as my all time favorite store, Primark. Although we have both Primark and Zara in the U.S, it is really not the same. Primark (a London based retail store) is absolutely huge in Europe and sells everything a person could possibly dream of having at affordable prices. The Primark on Gran Via was 6 floors and filled to the brim with cute clothing and other products. A definite destination for those traveling on a budget, but still wanting to check out the shopping. Back home, Zara is one of my favorite brands, but I’ve always felt that the prices are slightly higher than I would sometimes be willing to pay. Since the store is based in Spain, I knew the prices would be much lower and I knew I wouldn’t be able to pass up the opportunity to pick up some outfits at the Gran Via Zara.

100 Monditas

I was looking to experience the cheap tapas culture of Spain so I decided to make a quick stop at 100 Monditas and try out their 1 Euro tapas. It turns out that they only had mini sandwich based tapas so while the variety and quality wasn’t too great, I loved having nachos and Spanish omelet sandwiches for 3 Euros only. This tapas bar is a chain and located everywhere in the city. If you’re craving a quick snack in between meals, then stopping by 100 Monditas is a fantastic idea. I wouldn’t suggest it for a full meal as the portions are simply not big enough.

Flamenco Show

Flamenco dance is a type of dance that originated from Southern Spain and Flamenco performances are plentiful throughout Madrid. I had never seen a Flamenco dance performance before so I randomly bought a ticket from Teatro Flamenco, which claims to be the first Flamenco theater in the world, and sat down to watch a show on Saturday night. While it wasn’t what I was expecting at all (I thought the outfits would be more red!), I really enjoyed watching the natural talents of the musicians and dancers and learning a little bit more about Spanish culture. Tickets were 16 Euros for students/youth and 25 Euros for adults so its pretty affordable. The show lasted about an hour so I was able to make it out in time for…. dessert!

Chocolateria Valor

After my first night at San Gines, I desperately wanted to eat more chocolate and churros, but one of my main travel rules is to never repeat the same experience twice while traveling because there are just way too many things to experience (although I later broke this rule because I couldn’t resist going to Mercado San Miguel twice). After some quick Google searches, I discovered that Chocolateria Valor is also known for its churros, which are slightly different from San Gines’. There was also an option to have 4 different types of chocolates for dipping, which I immediately went for. It was interesting to try the clear sugary chocolate as well as the Madrid version of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and drinking chocolate. Also, what is with the length of the churros in Madrid? I could get use to these giant churros! American churros need to definitely take note.

How I Carried My Stuff- One of the main worries tourists, including myself, have when visiting European countries like Spain is pickpocketing. Pickpocketing is so common in Europe and the thieves are so smooth and skilled that most victims don’t even know something is missing until much later. This was one of my biggest concerns because the last thing I wanted was to be stranded in a foreign country alone without my phone, wallet, or passport. To avoid having to deal with this issue, I decided to use my Longchamp Le Pilage Large Nylon Shoulder Tote instead of my usual backpack (where weight is more evenly distributed and thus results in less shoulder strain). I suffered through one shoulder always feeling weighted down and managed to avoid getting anything stolen by having the zipper in front of me instead of behind and always keeping a hand on the zipper. The Longchamp tote is also spacious so there is plenty of room for a water bottle, camera, leather jacket, souvenirs among other belongings.

Hope you enjoyed my Day 2 in Madrid adventures! What are you most interested in doing if you have the chance to visit the city?

What I Did in Madrid: Part 1

I finally hopped on the solo travel bandwagon and headed to Madrid for four tapas filled days this past President’s Day weekend. I honestly didn’t know too much about Spain before I started planning for my Madrid vacation (which by the way I booked super last minute in January) so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the country. When people think about Europe, they mainly think about London or Paris or Amsterdam. Madrid, when compared to all those more mainstream cities and even its more popular Spanish counterpart city Barcelona, is always kind of under the radar or overlooked. But WOW it is an amazing country. I fell in love with Spain during this trip and I can’t wait for the next opportunity to go back. I loved how easy it was to get around using English, how the Spanish people come outside on sunny days to chat and eat delicious tapas, and how affordable everything was!

Plaza Mayor and Plaza del Sol

If I could describe both plazas in one statement it would be: Madrid’s TImes Square. The plazas are packed with people with stores lining all sides and different entertainers (aka people dressed in creepy costumes asking you to give money to take a picture). Throughout my trip I was constantly walking through both Plazas so it appears that they are pretty central areas of Madrid. Don’t miss out on the famous Bear and Strawberry Tree statue in Plaza del Sol!

Prado Museum

2019 marks the Prado Museum’s 200 year anniversary as it was officially opened to the public on 1819. Because of this 200 year celebration, there was a special exhibit inside the Museum detailing 200 years of the Museum and it helped land Madrid on numerous 2019 travel bucket lists. Insider Tip- The Prado Museum is free from Monday to Saturday from 6-8pm. Although there is a long line to enter, it is worth it to save almost 15 euros! The line moves pretty quickly and there is plenty of time to wander through the museums. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of art and museums. I find them kind of boring and dry and I would much rather be outside walking the streets of the city I’m in or experiencing the city’s food scene. But some museums are just must sees! Prado is definitely one of them and going during the free hours makes it less burdensome to have to spend lots of time there. I wandered through the museum for about 1.5 hours (its actually a huge museum) and then was on my way to dinner.

San Gines Chocolateria

A quick Google search of what to eat in Madrid will easily lead you to the San Gines Chocolateria- famous for its chocolate and churros. If you’ve only had American churros and hot chocolate, you will definitely be in for a shock. The chocolate is thicker- almost like it was just melted chocolate in a cup and slightly more bitter. The churros are a lot bigger and not drenched in cinnamon sugar. They are still sweet though! There was a small line when I arrived at San Gines after dinner, but it moved quickly. After finding an open table, guests give their already paid for ticket order to a passing waiter who then brings out the food after a few minutes. Everything moves fast so even if there are no tables available when you go, one will open up soon. At 4 Euros for chocolate and churros, San Gines is a great deal for a late night dessert.

La Mallorica

This popular (and crowded!) pastry shop is located on a corner of the Plaza del Sol. While most tour guide books will tell you that anything surrounding these touristy plazas is not worth eating, I really feel like La Mallorica is the exception. The pastries here are exceptionally made and very appealing. Look how adorable my strawberry macaroon was!

La Fragua de Vulcano

One thing I desperately wanted to eat in Spain was seafood paella. Ever since my trip to New Orleans last summer, I’ve been a little obsessed with paella. Who knew rice in tomato sauce could taste so good?? One of the downsides of being a solo traveler in Spain was that I had noone to split my tapas with so I was forced to order less variety and eat all of it myself. Next time, I will definitely be coming to Spain with someone else! When I arrived at La Fragua it was around 7pm- prime dinner time in the U.S- but in Spain it is considered a relatively early time slot to be eating dinner. I dined in a largely empty restaurant until the very end when the Spanish finally began dining (and I was headed back to my hostel for an early night due to jet lag…). I love how different cultures are around the world. Its so interesting to escape your tiny little American bubble and experience how other countries do even simple things like eating meals late.

Where I Stayed: 2060 Newton Hostel

This was my first European hostel experience and I came away from it with mixed feelings. While I was able to save a lot of money (all three days only costed $86) and the central location was a huge bonus (everything was basically within a 20 minute walk), it was slightly uncomfortable sharing a room with 6 other girls who all had different schedules. Because I was an early riser, there were a few times when I wanted to turn on the room light so I could find my clothes and get ready for the day, but I felt a bit bad about disturbing the other sleeping girls. Having the privacy curtains definitely helped though- especially because I usually knocked out around 11pm due to being so active during the day. Sharing a bathroom was also a big change for me- I didn’t even do that in my college dorm! Taking turns with 6 other girls all wanting to use one tiny bathroom was one of the biggest difficulties, I always felt that there was so much hair (I get it girls do shed a lot!) on the ground and so many shampoo bottles lying everywhere. I decided that I would only do the hostel experience again if it was a 3 day or less stay because any longer and my germophobe body probably wouldn’t be able to handle it anymore. Despite all this, the hostel management was really sweet and did everything they could to make my stay comfortable. There was free churros and tea/coffee every morning for guests and free walking tours every day at 11am. I didn’t take advantage of any of the free walking tours since I had my own schedule planned, but next time I decide to stay at a hostel I really want to fit one in. A tip I would give a future first time hostel stayer would be to bring shower shoes (aka flip flops) and bring your own lock to lock up your belongings because there is no guarantee that the hostel locks are strong or secure.

Have you been to Madrid? What was your favorite thing to do?

Postcards from Luxembourg

I know its 2019 and I know I went to Europe back in Summer 2018, but as I spend a few much needed weekends back home in New York City, I thought I would share some posts from my previous travels that I was unable to post earlier. I had the opportunity to work from Brussels for two weeks due to a client being located out there and I took a few day trips on the weekend to see more of Europe. Seeing as how Luxembourg is a completely landlocked country that's known for being, well, tiny, I knew if I didn't take the chance to visit while in Belgium (one of its neighbors) I probably wouldn't ever go. Basically, I wanted to visit out of sheer curiosity so I took another Viator tour and headed to the Belgium border. If I could use one word to describe Luxembourg it would be YELLOW. Everywhere I looked I saw yellow. From the sunshine to the yellow painted buildings all my memories of Luxembourg are awash in yellow. The country is definitely small (there isn’t too much to do besides walk around and gawk at its natural beauty) so I would say a day trip is enough to get your fill of Luxembourg. I mostly walked around the city wall and the city center soaking in everything I could about this tiny country.

What do you guys think of Luxembourg? Would you visit?

A Few Nashville Favorites

Many of yall know that I prefer traveling alone or with one other person just because of it is usually easier to plan and organize a successful trip. Large groups can be slower (its hard to get everyone to show up on time!) and everyone has their own separate opinions on what to do and where to eat (it can be very hard to agree on an itinerary). Nevertheless, there is also the upside of experiencing your travels with so many of your friends and learning about the destination through their perceptions and lenses. So I decided to organize a girlcation with some of my sorority sisters and head to Nashville for MLK weekend! Although, I do have several solo trips coming up (Madrid!) I was really looking forward to hanging out with some of my close friends and being back in the South (aka I was dying to eat fried chicken). I made sure to bake some extra time into Nashville so that I could still experience some of the city on my own. Side note- this time last year I had the fiasco with a cancelled Quebec City vacation (so much false hope and so much wasted time at the airport) so when I saw that snow was in the forecast again for MLK weekend I was prepared to be snowed in and booked several activities last minute when I was sure that my flight would not be cancelled. Luckily, the snow held off and I made it to Nashville! I’m so used to the hustle and bustle of New York and how brusque New Yorkers can be (yes I admit to be one of them too) so I loved how Nashville embodies Southern hospitality. Everyone I met was so kind and welcoming! 2019 is definitely off to a good start.

Suzy Wong’s House of Yum

When I heard that there was a drag show brunch in Nashville (because how fitting is that!) I knew we had to eat there. Bonus- the food is Asian fusion and I love a good fusion restaurant. The drag show at Suzy Wong’s occurs every Saturday and Sunday in 30 min intervals and costs an additional $3 (a small fee when you consider the how much the drag shows in New York costs). In reality the show was a bit of a disappointment as only one performer performed at a time and it was surprisingly all lip syncing. Nevertheless, we had a good time interacting with the drag queens and chowing down on some delicious katsu chicken and waffles and breakfast potatoes. There were so many bachelorette groups here so I guess its the place to be for girls wanting to have a good time!

 Crema

My own personal motto is that no vacation can kick off without a cup of aromatic coffee. It’s the perfect pick me up after the stress of flying and getting into town late and puts everyone in a good mood for the rest of the trip. Crema has such good reviews on Yelp and is located near the Cumberland River so I headed there before brunch to savor my iced Cuban latte (made with sweetened condensed milk). I wish the weather had been better because it would have been so nice to sit outside on the patio in the sun and enjoy. But I’ll have to save that for my next Nashville trip because I will definitely be back!

East Nashville

I arrived in Nashville a day earlier than my friends (I had to get some solo time in!) and chose an Airbnb in East Nashville because its often an area overlooked by many tourists for the hyped up downtown Nashville neighborhood. Instead of eating a cold bagel sandwich on the plane (like I usually do), I opted to wait until landing to Uber to Five Points Pizza and try a slice of their delicious prosciutto and basil pizza. It didn’t disappoint! Of course motto #2 is to never end a meal without dessert so after my pizza, I walked next door to Soda Parlor to try their famous waffle and ice cream combo. I definitely wish I was able to bring my friends to these places because I know they would have loved how yummy everything was, but it was nice to soak in my first few moments of Nashville alone. I highly recommend staying here if you’re in the East Nashville area! The hosts were so sweet and the room was so comfortable and huge.

 Listening Room Café

I love listening to live music and as Nashville is the live music capital of the world, I knew I couldn’t leave without experiencing some of it. The famous Bluebird Café (of which celebrities like Taylor Swift have performed) was impossible to get tickets to so instead we opted for the equally famous, but much bigger, Listening Room Café. Cover is $10 (we booked in advance) and there is a $15 food and beverage minimum, which isn’t a big deal since most shows start around 6pm, making it perfect for either dinner or a pre dinner drink. Simply put, I loved the Listening Room. The songwriters performing were beyond talented and amazing and you could tell they were so dedicated and passionate about their craft. We had the privilege of listening to Corey Batten (who wrote Blake Shelton’s She Wouldn’t Be Gone) and Jesse Lee (who wrote Kelsea Ballerini’s Peter Pan) perform live in such an intimate environment. I loved that we got to hear the brains and talent behind the hit songs that are usually sung by other famous individuals. Another highlight of our night was definitely hearing up and coming artist, Jesse Labelle, sing songs off his newly released album. We even took a picture with him at the end of the night so if he ever makes it big we can say we heard it first at the Listening Room! Definitely come here for live music if you’re in town.

 Grand Ole Opry Backstage Tour

While we weren’t able to see a show at the Grand Ole Opry (again tickets sold out in a flash because Sara Evans was performing that night), we managed to get tickets for a backstage tour. At $35.50 a piece these tickets weren’t cheap, but were so worth it. The hour long tour allows for an inside glance at one of the most famous music venues in the world and the opportunity to learn a bit about country music history. We were able to see the dressing rooms where the artists get ready in before each performance and we peered out into the audience pews from the stage where the artists performed every Saturday night. Of course the highlight of the tour was being able to step into that well known ring and hold the same mic that is used by so many great country legends.

 Hattie B’s Hot Chicken

When I first told people I was visiting Nashville over MLK weekend, the first recommendation most people had for me was to try Hattie B’s Hot Chicken. They all claimed that it was the best they’d ever tasted so even though I’m not the biggest fan of hot chicken (it can be a little too spicy for my tastes), I still wanted to try it. Luckily for me, Hattie B’s has different spice levels for their chicken- no spice, mild, medium, and hot. I went with the mild because I did want to eat a somewhat spicy chicken to get the Nashville experience and the chicken turned out to be amazing. I scarfed down all the food because it was simply irresistible! Be prepared to wait in a line if you’re wanting to indulge in Hatti B’s chicken though because it is long.

Vanderbilt University and Centennial Park

I had a few moments on Monday before heading to the airport so I thought I would check out Vanderbilt University. I’ve always been curious about how other University campuses are and what it would be like to be a student there. After visiting, all I can say is that Vanderbilt University students are very lucky because their campus was gorgeous. So many stately buildings and beautiful architecture. I loved seeing all the students walking around- it made me miss my alma mater UT! Across the street from Vanderbilt is Centennial Park- a spacious area filled with swinging benches, a giant lake, and the stately Pantheon replica building. I took a quick stroll around the Park and marveled over how peaceful everything was. Definitely a nice change from the city!

Country Music Hall of Fame

I didn’t plan to visit any museums while in Nashville just because I wanted to experience walking around the streets of the city and seeing everything. Unfortunately for me, the weather on Sunday in Nashville was way too cold (even for this New Yorker!) so I decided to spend some time indoors at the Country Music Hall of Fame and learn a little about the musicians that have made Nashville famous. From Roy Acuff to Willie Nelson to Dolly Parton to Carrie Underwood, the Hall of Fame museum provided a wealth of information on some many successful and talented individuals. The best part of the museum was walking into the airy and bright atrium where the plaques of all Hall of Fame inductees is located. It was so interesting walking around and reading about who was part of the Hall of Fame and why they were chosen to be inducted.

Nashville Farmer’s Market

I also wasn’t originally planning to visit the Farmer’s Market because it was a bit on the outskirts of central Nashville, but in the end couldn’t give up the opportunity to try bubble tea in Nashville. For those that know me well, they know I have a strong obsession with bubble tea (as any Asian does?) and I love drinking bubble tea anywhere I go. I’ve had it in its original Taiwan, across America, and even in London and Brussels. While Nashville lacks good Asian food and Asian culture, there was one spot in the entire city, Bubble Love, that served up my favorite drink. While at $6 it is quite expensive, I thought it was still a pretty accurate taste. Since it was winter the Farmer’s Market fresh fruit and vegetables were sadly not being sold, but inside the indoor portion of the Market plenty of food stalls were open and ready to serve the hungry public. I recommend coming here in the summer time to get the full Farmer’s Market experience, but savoring a delicious bubble tea is worth a trip as well.

12th Avenue

On my last day in Nashville I was again on my own and decided to stop by the highly rated Five Daughters Bakery to try its popular 100 layer donuts. I have a love hate relationship with donuts- the first bite is always SO good, but a few more bites in it becomes too sweet and it starts to seem too big to finish. I was doubtful on how good these donuts could possibly be, but boy was I wrong. This is for sure the place in Nashville to get your sweet tooth fix at. There werent too many seats available for eating the donuts and I wanted to wash down my donut with a nice cup of coffee, so I chose to go next door to the Frothy Monkey café and sip a Monkey Mocha (chocolate and banana infused coffee) while savoring my oatmeal whip donut. Something to note- the Frothy Monkey was SO packed when I arrived (and at 9:30am too!), but there are a lot of seats available in the back including a few communal tables so don’t be discouraged if it looks like there’s nowhere to put down your coffee cup. One of the things I loved most about 12th Ave was that it had the same laid back casul vibe of Nashville without the frenzy of Broadway street. There were so many adorable shops lining the street and plenty of eateries and cafes along the way. I was even able to take a picture with Reese Witherspoon’s store Draper James! 12th Ave reminded me so much of Austin- it even made me a little nostalgic for my college life when I was so many Vanderbilt students studying inside Frothy Monkey.

And there you go- that was my Nashville trip in a nutshell! There were just way too many things to do, places to eat at, and live music venues that I was unable to fit into my short 3 day weekend so I’ll just have to come back to Nashville someday! Taking recommendations for my next trip…….