72 Hours: Mexico City

Living in Texas, I’m shocked I haven’t traveled to Mexico more seeing as how the country is only about a 2 hour flight away. I blame it on the fact that I’m really not a beach vacation person (my skin burns SO easily) and the majority of Mexico trips seem to always involve lounging under the sun by the water. So I when I looked into Mexico City for a sister trip destination, I was hooked on the fact that there are so many amazing coffee/taco/food choices, beautiful architecture and museums, interesting cultural sites, and most importantly no beach in sight. Mexico City was my first trip of 2024!

Where We Stayed

I always stay in hotels on international trips for safety and comfort reasons and this vacation was no different. We chose the Sheraton Mexico City Maria Isabel Hotel for its convenient location along the Paseo de la Reforma (a large and grand avenue modeled after Paris’ Champs Elysees), its high ratings, affordability ($400 for 3 nights in a 2 bed room), and safety (the US embassy is literally right next door and there is a ton of security nearby). The hotel is located about 20 minutes from the airport and walking distance to lots of food and cafes and the Chapultepec Park. I loved everything about our stay at the Sheraton on this trip and can’t recommend it enough!

Explore Bosque de Chapultepec

Chapultepec Park is a huge green space in the middle of Mexico City that is 3 times the size of New York’s Central Park. There are public bathrooms inside, plenty of vendors selling snacks and water and toys (we saw so many kids wearing fuzzy monkeys on their heads!), and tons of walking trails. But the main attraction of the park is Chapultepec Castle. The Castle is currently the National Museum of History, but in the past its also been the location of a military academy and the presidential residence of several Mexican presidents including dictator, Porfirio Diaz. Entry tickets are about 100 pesos ($5) and since food and drinks aren’t allowed in the Castle, it’ll cost another 10 pesos for a locker rental. Half of the exhibits are in Spanish only (thanks to Google Translate we were able to understand the basics here), but the main exhibits including the period rooms are in both Spanish and English. My favorite part was when we walked upstairs into the floral garden and observatory and got to see a gorgeous view of Mexico City as well experience so many colors. The Castle is located up a hill so the climb up can be tiring, but its totally worth it!

Floating Gardens of Xochimilco

Xochimilco was high on my list of things to do in Mexico City ever since I saw the colorful boats on Instagram. The Floating Gardens of Xochimilco is located in the Southern part of the city and is basically a series of canals where boats can float down and enjoy the surrounding scenery. The name Floating Gardens comes from the fact that there are gardens located along the canals that are built on land floating alongside the canals. These gardens are all family owned with the family usually living behind the gardens. There are also plenty of vendors selling anything from flower crowns to elote to sliver jewelry to alcoholic drinks on the canals and its pretty fun to spot these floating shops and have a snack on the water. And I can’t forget the mariachi bands! There are boats filled with mariachi musicians floating on the canal and for some pesos they will board your boat and perform a few songs of your choice to complete this Mexican experience. The canal can get crowded in certain areas and I was so impressed by the skill and strength of the rowers (yes each huge boat is manually rowed) navigating through the tiny congested canals. After your boat cruise finishes back at the original starting point, there is a small market along the dock that sells kitschy souvenirs and photo opps. I’m sure its possible to Uber to the Xochimilco area yourself and haggle for a colorful boat, but my sister and I chose to join this small group (there were about 10 of us) Airbnb experience that included roundtrip transportation, boat rental, and a tour guide. It made the experience much easier on us (the tour even picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel) and we were able to learn about the history and secrets of Mexico City as well. Although I feel like the overall experience was drastically overrated, it was still such a fun morning!

Take a Tour of Coyocan

Everyone knows who the amazingly talented and mysterious painter Frida Kahlo is and no doubt is she one of, if not the, most famous Mexican citizen. Frida Kahlo put her neighborhood, Coyocan, on the map and its now one of the most exclusive places to live in the city (I’m talking million dollar homes). The second half of our day tour took us through the streets of Coyocan to eat a delicious stuffed churro, to eat tostadas and shop in Mercado Coyocan, and learn about Frida Kahlo’s life at the Frida Kahlo Museum also know as Casa Azul (for its striking blue exteriors). This was one of my favorite parts of our entire trip because the neighborhood was bustling with so many people and sights and history! My sister and I had shrimp, chicken mole, and pork belly tostadas inside the Mercado Coyocan (the tostada stand is the most crowded but just wait and seats will appear) and bought some unique souvenirs after perusing all the shops. The market is huge and there was so much to see! Located about a 10 minute walk from the mercado is the beautifully blue Frida Kahlo Museum. Make sure to prebook timed tickets (or join a tour that takes care of tickets like we did) because this is one of the most popular attractions in Mexico City and sells out all the time. The Museum is self guided and includes exhibits on Frida’s life, her colorful dresses, her artwork, and her living quarters with her husband Diego Rivera. It was so interesting seeing Frida’s art studio and imagining her painting or drawing inside and equally as fascinating to view her bedroom and imagine her suffering from her many physical injuries and ailments. The Museum isn’t too big and takes about 1-2 hours to explore, but it provides a great in depth look at Frida Kahlo’s life and legacy.

Biblioteca Vasconcelos

Its no secret that I love books and anything book related! So when I saw pictures of this architecturally beautiful library in Mexico City I knew I had to stop by and explore. Biblioteca Vasconcelos is free to the public to visit and is spread out over 400,000 square feet. We were amazed by the “hanging” bookshelves that line the library and how big the entire structure was. The easiest way to get to the library is to take a (cheap) Uber, although there are bus stops and train stops nearby. Since we came all the way to the library, we also decided to walk 5 min to a nearby taco shop called Tacos El Paraiso to try their chicharron and mole verde tacos. This local taco shop is standing room only, but offers some of the most delicious tacos ever.

Walk Through the Mercados

Mexico City is filled with markets everywhere you look. From flowers to ready to eat meals to fresh vegetables and fruits to artwork, there are markets selling everything you can think of. My sister and I love browsing markets so visiting a few in Mexico City was definitely on our to do list. We chose the Mercado La Ciudadela and the Mercado de San Juan due to their close distance to the places were were planning to eat, but sadly both markets were not the bustling centers of shopping we thought they would be. In fact, I was pretty disappointed when wandering through both markets because there were barely any locals inside (the markets felt like tourist gimmicks) and the quality of the food and products sold looked subpar to the amazing food and crafts I’ve seen on the streets of the city. La Ciudadela was suppose to sell local crafts, but instead the stalls were filled with basic souvenirs that could be found everywhere including the airport. San Juan was suppose to have all kinds of local Mexican foods, but instead offered exotic meats such as lion meat, which both of us felt unethical eating. Its safe to say both markets aren’t worth stopping by (unless you are just curious to see what a Mexican market looks like) during your Mexico vacation, however, the Mercado Coyocan that I mentioned earlier, is completely worth it and in my opinion, the superior market. There are so many markets in Mexico City so I would encourage doing additional research to discover the best one for you.

Free Mexico City Walking Tour

I participated in my first free walking tour though Guru in Budapest (a 3 hour Jewish quarter tour) and was so impressed I knew I wanted to do it again in a different city. I booked this historic Mexico City tour on our last full day, which was a Monday, in the city because everything in Mexico City is closed on Mondays (yes all museums) and luckily this walking tour takes place on the streets of Mexico and not inside. Our tour guide took us to from the Metropolitan Cathedral to Zocalo Plaza (where we learned about Mexican independence) to Aztec ruins (where we learned about the creation of Mexico City by the Azetcs) to Santo Domingo Plaza and finally to the Palacio de Bellas Artes (where we learned about Dia de los Muertos). Our guide even introduced us to a delicious fermented drink called Tepache, which is made from pineapple rinds and sweetened with brown sugar and powdered cinnamon. The walking tour was a great opportunity to learn more about the country we were visiting and I loved seeing the historic sights with a more knowledgeable lens. While the tours are offered as free, its best practice to tip the tour guide at the end, especially if they did an amazing job!

Try the Mexican Pastries

Both my sister and I are huge foodies, but I’m the one with the huge sweet tooth. I knew I wanted to try the famous churros recommended by Eva Longoria in her show, Searching for Mexico, and I knew wanted to spend my mornings indulging in Mexican bread and pastries. Our very first stop (besides our hotel) in Mexico City was Panaderia Rosetta, a bakery in the Roma Norte neighborhood, which comes very highly rated. There was a short line when we arrived, but it moved quickly and 10 minutes later we were at the counter ordering our pastries. Rosetta is famously known for its guava danish so we obviously ordered that, but we also got an apple croissant, a dulce de leche cruffin, and a blueberry foccacia bread. Everything was delicious and the flavors were spot on. We ended our first day in Mexico City with a bag of crunchy churros and hazelnut and chocolate dipping sauces from Churreria El Moro. These churros were featured by Eva Longoria on her show and are a chain of cafes around the city- there was a location right behind our hotel. The churros may not taste like your average churros from home because they are made using only flour, water, and salt (instead of butter and eggs), but they are mouth wateringly good! On our last morning in Mexico City we visited the highly recommended Pasteleria Ideal near the historic city center. A little blue box means something different here as locals leave the bakery with their purchases tied up in bright blue and white pastry boxes. There are so many different kinds of bread, jellos, cakes, sandwiches, and pastries offered here that your senses will most likely get overloaded! But just take a metal tray (like we did) and wander through each row of baked yumminess to decide what to order. We tried the mushroom empanadas and a variety of sweet bread and we even walked away with 4 boxes of cookies to bring back to Houston.

Eat as Much Tacos and Mexican Food as Possible

There were so many types of food we wanted to eat in Mexico that there simply wasn’t enough time (or stomach space). We picked our restaurants based on variety since we wanted to try as many local foods as possible. It was really hard to narrow down our options (and we’re already planning what places to eat will be on our next trip), but here is what we decided on:

• Restaurant Testal - A cozy and aesthetically decorated restaurant located in Roma Norte that serves the best octopus tacos and chicken flautas. Its also clean and service is great!

• La Casa de Toni en zona Rosa - A Mexican chain restaurant owned by the richest man in Mexico, Carlos Slim. There are several locations around the city and some of them will have a wait. All of your favorite classic Mexican dishes will be on the menu. Because we went for breakfast, we ate plates of chilaquiles, a bowl of _______ soup, and arroz con leche.

• Cafe de Tacuba - My favorite meal of the whole trip! Located in downtown Mexico City, this beautifully decorated and popular restaurant serves a menu of delicious Mexican dishes. We ate the tamales, squash and pork quesadillas, mini fried bean and cheese taquitos, and caramel flan.

• Taqueria El Califa - Another chain restaurant, but this one specializes in all types of tacos! We had cheese taco shells here, but I also loved the cactus leaves we ate.

The main takeaway was that food in Mexico is GOOD. Actually, its more than good- its AMAZING. So most likely wherever you decide to eat will be delicious, Just be careful of street food and stay far far away from tap water!

Visit a Cute Cafe

If it were up to me I would have gladly spent the whole trip cafe hopping because there were so many cool cafes I wanted to try in Mexico CIty. But since this was a sisters trip, I agreed to just 1 cafe a day… and I spent a good amount of time selecting the 3 cafes below.

• Cucurucho - A Japanese Mexican coffee shop that is located within 10 minutes walk of the Sheraton. There is no indoor seating, but there are a few chairs set up outside and with the glorious weather Mexico City had all weekend, it was the perfect morning activity to sit outside with our drinks. My iced coffee and my sister’s iced matcha latte (and our canelé) were amazing. I liked my coffee so much I bought a bag of beans to take home so my dad could enjoy this Mexican coffee too.

• Curva Cafe - Another coffee shop that roasts its own beans and accents its drinks with neutral aesthetics. Curva is located near the historic center of Mexico City and about a 15 minute walk from Pasteleria Ideal. I tried my first expresso tonic here and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was!

• Almanegra Cafe - Our first cafe of the trip! Located just 5 minutes from the Panaderia Rosetta, Almanegra has a descriptive coffee menu with so many options and a dark and moody aesthetic as well as plenty of outdoor seating. This was my favorite cafe out of the 3 because of its high quality coffee beans and dreamy location.

• Jing Cheng Con Leche Cafe - I make it a point to try bubble tea in every single city I visit and I was so happy to see that Mexico City had so many boba options. We walked by Jing Cheng on our way to eat more tacos and saw that there were so many people inside and knew we had to try their boba.

Final Thoughts

I’m a city girl through and through and Mexico City is the biggest metropolitan area in North America (5th biggest city in the world) so its no surprise that I loved it! While I was initially worried about safety and the possibility of getting food poisoning, I’m so glad I didn’t let my fears stop me from making this amazing trip and having a great time. Mexico City is a city filled with rich culture, delicious food, and so many unique museums and experiences. I’m starting out 2024 travel on a strong note and can’t wait to see what the year brings!

I’m already making plans for a return trip to work remote in Mexico City for a few days- let me know any other recommendations!

11 Best Things to Do in Portland, Oregon

I’ve been reluctant to explore Portland because I had heard of its downturn during the pandemic, but when my mom invited me to join her on a business trip there I couldn’t say no to a free hotel room (I love saving money ok!) so i decided to tag along. I’m grateful to report that Portland has made a comeback and is back to its glory as a city known for its beautiful outdoors, good food, and cultural diversity. I spent a glorious few days exploring the city and here are the 11 best things to do in Portland.

Shop Til You Drop

Oregon is a no sales tax state and if you live in a high sales tax state like I do, shopping in Portland is a must. Everything, no matter the price, has no additional sales tax! The price you see on a price tag or on a menu is the price you pay. Its basically free money back in your pocket! However, because Portland isn’t the biggest city, stores may not have everything you want in stock, so its a good idea to shop online prior to going to Portland and ordering pickup at the store. Tax is charged at the point of pickup, not the point of sale so it doesn’t matter if you purchase your items while at home, as long as you pick it up in Oregon, there wo'n’t be any tax added. I spent way too much money at Best Buy (yes a Theragun is a necessity when you’re in your 30s!) and finally bought the Burberry backup I had my eye on for years. But one of the best stores to stop at while in Portland has to be the Adidas Employee Store. Anyone can shop there (you don’t have to be an Adidas employee), just make an appointment on the Adidas app for that specific store. Everything is 50% off- its like shopping in an Adidas heaven!

Try a Food Truck!

Food trucks are popular in Portland for a reason- they serve GOOD food. The food trucks in Houston mainly serve fried foods or juices and there is only so much of that you can eat. But in Portland, food trucks serve a variety of foods from Burmese to Korea to philly cheesesteaks to bubble tea to Chinese noodles. The best thing to do is to find a food truck court (a large space where a bunch of food trucks are parked) and let everyone eat what they want. We went to Hawthorne Asylum where there were about 10 trucks parked and ate the best Burmese noodle soup and rose cream tokbokki and finished off with with boba we picked up on the drive there from Boba Cat. There was ample space for seating and the atmosphere was so relaxing.

Hike Multnomah Falls

11 switchbacks. 11 long winding breathless switchbacks. I barely made it up the Falls to see the view from above (because 11!) but it ended up being such a rewarding morning hike (yes get there as early as possible because parking is scarce) and the fresh air was so nice. The view from the bottom of the Falls is actually better than the top (which is great because anyone can access the bottom portion), but the hike to the upper Falls allows you to see more scenery and truly experience everything Multnomah Falls has to e offer. Even though the Falls is one of Portland’s biggest tourist spots (being only 30 minutes away from the city), it was still one of the highlights of my trip because I remember growing up staring at a photo of the Falls my dad had taken when he lived in Oregon while in college. It was so amazing finally seeing the Falls in person so many years later!

Go on a Donut Tour

Portland is synonymous with the word donut. Donuts are everywhere in the city and the most famous one, Voodoo, is a household name. I choose the Underground Donut Tour and had zero regrets starting my Saturday on a 2 hour walking and donut eating tour of Portland. The Donut Tour not only took me to 4 different local Portland donut shops and explained the history behind each one, all while also highlighting the history of Portland. The two tour guides were so sweet and friendly and the donuts were all different and delicious! Here are the donut shops the Tour stopped at:

• Sesame Donuts- Owned by a Lebanese American family, Sesame started near the Portland State University campus and has expanded to several locations around the city. They serve classic donuts, but are mainly known for the sesame donut holes. The sesame donuts were an interesting twist on regular donuts because they were savory!

• Coco Donuts- 3 Oregon friends decided to open a pink themed donut shop after graduating college, which turned out to be a great decision because the mango mochi donuts at Coco were so yummy that it would have been a real miss to not have eaten them. Another flavor that was popular with our tour group was the lavender cake donut (this seemed dry to me so I ranked it lower).

• Toki Restaurant- Not really a donut shop, its more of a Korean fusion brunch restaurant. But Toki actually served my favorite donuts on the trip! They were so chewy and the mix of flavors was SO GOOD. I loved the pomegranate basil flavor so much! The flavors rotate all the time so its definitely worth another trip.

• Voodoo (duh!)- The tour guides prefaced our visit to Voodoo that they didn’t have the best tasting donuts, but since they are an extremely popular donut shop originating from Portland (and now all over the country including Houston), the tour had to stop there. Since I’d had Voodoo donuts several times before, I knew what to expect. The donuts are huge and the flavors are interesting (we had the maple bacon and peanut butter chocolate), but other than that, the donuts are average. Its still a Portland institution though so still worth a visit! The original pink shop is located on Third Avenue in Old Town.

Stay Caffeinated

Amazing coffee and adorable coffee shops are all over Portland and as a huge coffee lover, I knew I had to hit up a few cafes while in Portland. There were so many options (and lets be real, so little time!), but because I didn’t have access to a car, I wanted to choose cafes located near other places I was planning to go. I decided on the cafes below with a certainty that I was going to have to revisit Portland one day and try the coffee shops I didn’t have time for on this trip.

• Prince Coffee- My first experience with Portland coffee was off to a great start at Prince. The cafe was so bright and refreshing and my stroop latte (think caramel ice cream vibes) was on point! I chose the Northwest District location because its actually located just a 10 minute walk from the popular Ken’s Artisan Bakery where I stopped by after for a grapefruit macaron.

• Keeper Coffee- Keeper had the cutest exteriors- I thought I was in California when the Uber first dropped me off! The interiors are also aesthetically pleasing and the food is displayed in a way where everything looks so delicious and I had to take forever to decide what I wanted, I ordered the jasmine elderflower iced latte and the scone with lemon curd and had a quiet morning reading in this adorable cafe.

• Jim and Patty’s Coffee- Located on a corner in the Fremont neighborhood, Jim and Patty’s is a huge airy coffee shop that usually has a line out the door waiting for their coffee and unique breakfast snacks. I tried the Friggin Fremont Latte (a latte made up of honey, cinnamon, and vanilla and somehow isn’t super sweet) and a pig newton (a sausage and cheese wrapped in a cheddar chive biscuit) and thoroughly enjoyed reading my Kindle while gazing out the giant windows into the foggy Portland sky.

• Snow Bunny Coffee- A cute bunny themed cafe in the Pearl District that serves Asian inspired drinks. The Tokyo Banana tea latte was so unique and creative- I loved it! The cafe was the perfect place to take an after hiking break. Its also located across the street from The Fields Park, which is a newly built park with plenty of walkways and green spaces to enjoy the beautiful Portland spring weather.

• Pip’s Original Donuts and Chai- Donuts and coffee? I was so excited to go here and Pip’s did not disappoint! The donuts are mini and come in sets of 6- each with a different flavor. I loved the nutella donut and the raspberry flavor the best, but they were all a great mid day snack. The chai is made in house and comes in different flavors as well.

Pedal Around the City

Portland has so many bike routes and remains a dedicated cyclist city despite being part of car dependent America. My mom and I joined a bike tour from Cycle Portland and cycled around the city for 2 hours all while learning more about the city. The tour was strenuous at times thanks to the many hills of Portland, but overall it was a great opportunity to see the city in a different way.

Smell the Trees at Hoyt Arboretum

The collection of amazingly tall trees at Hoyt Arboretum is breathtaking. We don’t have trees like that in Texas so it was nice to wander the paths of the Arboretum exploring redwoods and magnolias and many other different types of trees. The Arboretum is located in Washington Park, is open 7 days a week, and has free entrance.

Don’t Forget to Smell the Roses at the International Rose Test Garden

The roses weren’t fully in bloom when I was in Portland in mid May, but come June and July, the colorful roses should be out in full force. The International Rose Test Garden is also located in Washington Park across the street from the Portland Japanese Garden and also has free entrance. The Garden has all kinds of rose bushes and the other flowers and is beautiful to walk around. I saw a group of girls having a picnic while I was there and it looked so fun!

Hike to Pittock Mansion

Kill two birds with one stone by hiking the Lower Macleay Trail in Forest Park to Pittock Mansion. This was my first solo hike ever so I picked a short 1 hour uphill trek in the well populated Forest Park, located in the middle of Portland. Its just unfathomable to me that such a huge green forest can be in a bustling metropolitan area! The Lower Macleay Trail starts in the Lower Macleay Park- the best way to do the one way hike (although it could be both ways if you have time) is to get dropped off by Uber here. The trail starts by passing through a vivdly green group of trees and over a trickling creek. It then goes uphill to a Witch House and then further uphill to Pittock Mansion, a house museum located at the other end of the Park. Pittock Mansion was the home of Henry Pittock and his family, who made their money in the newspaper industry by owning The Oregonian. I booked a behind the scenes tour of the Mansion and had the chance to walk around the basement, attic, and maids’ quarters to see how the home was ran in the late 1800’s/early 1900’s. Hiking to the Mansion was one of my favorite things to do in Portland- it combined nature with a museum! What could be better?

Eat Pizza

My donut tour guide said that Portland doesn’t have its own style of pizza because its too busy excelling at everyone else’s pizza style. And I have to say I agree. Pizza is everywhere and its DELICIOUS. We tried Detroit style square pizza, which was my absolute favorite, at Ranch PDX. Their homemade ranch matched with their pepperoni pizza slices was beyond delicious- I wish I could fly back just to eat here again! I also tried Neopolitan pizza at Oven and Shaker and was amazed at how crispy and flavorful the garlic mushroom pizza was and how cheesy the arancini balls were. Make sure to make a reservation because Oven and Shaker is highly rated and crowded every night!

Powell’s City of Books

I love reading- no surprise if you’ve read my posts here and here (and here!). And I love checking out book stores when I’m traveling because they’re all so unique and diverse, plus it feels great to support local independent book sellers. Powell’s City of Books is THE largest independent bookstore in the WORLD so spending hours wandering through its various color coded rooms was a must for me. Any kind of book you can dream of is here- from memoirs to comics to rom com bestsellers to #booktok picks! I loved it so much here I visited twice and picked up some great read for my upcoming travels.

Oregon was such a beautiful experience and I’m already planning to go back next year to see the Tillamook cheese factory and drive the coast AND hike the dreamy beaches. Got any Oregon recommendations? Let me know in the comments!

10 Things to Do in Cincinnati, Ohio

The Midwest! I‘ve made it! I booked a last minute trip to Cincinnati after seeing a very affordable United AIrlines flight and finding an equally affordable hotel room out in the Blue Ash suburb (located 20 minutes to the downtown area). After my initial research into the city, I was shocked at how much there was to do in the area, including a donut trail! I had been to Ohio (Columbus) once before for a friend’s wedding, but never truly explored the Midwest so I was excited to see what the Midwestern lifestyle was all about. Check out my Cincy adventures below!

American Sign Museum

I’ve never been to a museum all about signs before and thought it would be interesting to check out. There are so many photo ops at this museums due to the giant unique signs hanging all around. The museum is very comprehensive in its history on signs and has about 3-4 galleries to wander through. The museum costs $15 for an adult ticket and was definitely a highlight of my trip to Cincy.

Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Cincinnati has so many great museums, but the Underground Railroad museum has got to be one of the best. As the city was on the Underground Railroad route, its fitting that its also the location of a museum that tells the story about slavery, the brave people who escaped, and how those escapes happened. The rooftop of the museum has an eternal flame that never goes out to honor freedom. It’s a must visit for Cincinnati and the opportunity to educate yourself on an unfortunate part of our nation’s history.

Suspension Bridge

Located right across the street from the Underground Railroad Center, the John A Roebling Suspension Bridge connects Ohio to Kentucky (so you can visit two states in one trip!) and offers beautiful views of both states. It’s a great opportunity to take some amazing photos while getting some exercise!

Lucky Cat Museum

Probably the most unique museum I’ve ever been to! The Lucky Cat Museum is owned and operated by one woman who put her private Japanese Lucy Cat collection on display after years of collecting. Visits are only possible through timed appointments since its an extremely small space (crowded with cats!) and last about an hour. There are so many cats inside that I thought I was seeing double (or triple?) everywhere I looked and there was also a few adorable games involving these cats that any visitor can play. I loved seeing how one person turned her passion and hobby into a money making opportunity!

Buck County Donut Trail

One of the main reasons why I came to Cincinnati in the first place was to do the Butler County Donut Trail. And to eat some donuts! There is an official trail map that can be found on the Butler County website which lists around 15 participating donut shops, however, its up to the participant to build their own personal route. The key is also to start early because donut shops open literally at the crack of dawn and are pretty much sold out or closed by noon. I chose these donut shops to eat donuts at and while I was sick of donuts by the end, it was a really cool experience!

• Kelly’s Bakery

• Mimi’s Lil Kitchen

• Donut Spot

• Jupiter Coffee and Donut

• Donut Hole by Milton

• Holtman’s Donuts

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park

I didn’t know what to expect at this Sculpture Park and was honestly just looking for a place to take a break from donut eating, but wow Pyramid Hill ended up being SO impressive. There is something similar to Pyramid Hill in New York called Storm King and its basically the same concept. The visitor center where tickets are bought provides a map of the Park, which clearly marks where the sculptures are located and the recommended driving route. The Park is huge and while its possible to rent golf carts to get even close to certain sculptures, I opted to just drive my car and park in the specified spaces and take a short walk to see sculptures. Because I arrived right when the Park opened, there was barely anyone else there and I was able to just pull over on the side of the road and jump out of my car to look closer at the sculptures (and take some really cool photos!). Admission is $10 and it takes about 1.5-2 hours to see the entire Park.

Jungle Jim’s International Market

I never thought I would spend hours in a grocery store on vacation, but Jungle Jim’s was one of a kind and one of the most recommended non donut stops on the Donut Trail. Its a huge (and i mean HUGE) grocery store that sells food and items from all around the world. The aisles are appropriately labeled by area of the world and country. I sadly only brought a small carry on suit case to Ohio so I knew I wasn’t going to be able to do a grocery haul, but I was able to buy some unique candy and a bottle of siracha garlic salt! The most popular aisle in the store has to be the soda aisle though- there were all kinds of strange and creative soda bottles. If you like cantaloupe soda, definitely make a stop!

Underground Tour

Cincinnati was a huge beer town and when Prohibition happened in the 1920s, the city’s talented brewers had to find other ways to make, store, and serve their liquid gold. And that’s the reason why there are hidden underground tunnels and underground storage rooms located all under the city- with many of them being in the Over The Rhine district. I joined American Legacy Tour’s Ultimate Queen City Underground Tour and joined a small tour group to learn more about the history of Cincinnati and see some hidden underground tunnels. The tour lasted 2 hours and took us down some (very) narrow stairs to a church crypt as well as beer storage facilities. I couldn’t believe that so much was located underground! The tour was fascinating and a great way to understand more about Cincinnati.

William Howard Taft National Historic Site

I love learning about history and Ohio has its fair share of presidential history. I didn’t want to leave the state without hitting up at least one presidential site. As with all government sites, its free to visit the Taft Historic Site. There are timed guided tours of Taft’s former home where he was born and raised and a few interesting exhibits inside the Education Center on the Taft family legacy as well as 15 minute informative video. Its a quick one hour detour and well worth it!

Eat and Drink!

Midwest food is what one might expect in the Midwest- farm to table inspired, classics, and reasonably priced. The food was good, but nothing was amazing. However, these spots I stopped at served up some solid meals and drinks!

• Pepp and Dolores- Solid pasta restaurant and bar in Over The Rhine neighborhood. Make sure to make a reservation because its a popular spot!

• Skyline Chili- Cincy chili is NOT like chili in other parts of the US. The chili is served over a bed of spaghetti, although it can also be served over french fries, and is then covered in a GIANT mound of shredded cheddar cheese. The bigger the cheese mound, the tastier the chili!

• Agave and Rye- Super creative giant tacos in an (extremely) decorative restaurant! I got the Mongolian beef taco and it came with a hard and soft taco shell plus sticky rice and flavorful stir fried beef.

• Milk Jar Hyde Park- Can’t leave Ohio without trying local boba! Surprisingly, mid western bubble tea is not bad!

• Taste of Belgium- I met an old college friend here based on her recommendation and was shocked at how crowded the restaurant was and how tasty the waffles were. My chicken and waffle plate was so delicious I couldn’t put my fork down!

• Brown Bear Bakery- Be prepared for a line that wraps around the corner, but also be prepared for some unique and delicious pastries! I loved the matcha pound cake, but honestly there were so many mouthwatering options to choose from.

• Coffee Emporium- A relatively big coffee shop that sells a variety of coffee beans (like a Mackinaw Island fudge flavor!) and a variety of caffeinated beverages. I ordered the Bumble Bee Buzz latte (iced honey vanilla latte) and loved it! There were also several large tables to sit around and read so I spent in hour here enjoying my morning. It was a great start to my day and my Cincy trip!

• True West Coffee- I started my donut trail experience with a large glass of cold brew from True West (and to balance out the sweet donuts). True West was located in the small town of Hamilton, Ohio in a green house that had such cute interiors.

• Collective Espresso- I decided on a iced honey latte from Collective Espresso to start off a rainy Monday and had a great time hiding out from the rain reading and sipping my excellent drink. The coffee shop is located inside of a tiny (its so tiny there are only 2 tables available so come early) glass building that is hidden on the outside and accessible through a small alleyway.

Cincinnati was a random last minute trip and a place I hadn’t considered going (until I saw the $200 flight ticket on United), but I actually really enjoyed exploring this Midwestern city and seeing how unique it is! The whole experience made me want to explore more underrated cities in America, so where should I go next?

A Weekend in the Burgh

Flight prices in 2023 have been crazy- $500 for a roundtrip to California? No thanks. So this year I’ve had to be a bit creative with where I travel, which included searching for places that had lower flight prices and also following the genius Instagram page Escape Houston that always finds the best travel deals. Thanks to Escape Houston I was able to book a solo weekend trip to Pittsburgh and experience a beautiful spring weekend in the Burgh.

Where I Stayed

I found the cutest Airbnb in the Southside neighborhood of Pittsburgh- a renovated gas station turned loft home! The Airbnb is the actual home of a local Pittsburgh architect (I love supporting Airbnbs like this instead of ones owned by bigger businesses) and is filled with her eclectic artistic tastes and thoughtful design ideas. There was also a parking spot, which I later realized was such a perk in a city that lacks serious parking spaces.

What I Did

Mattress Factory

The museum that spurred my interest in Pittsburgh in the first place! I heard about the art installation based museum way back when I was living in New York and have wanted to check it out ever since. Specifically, the Yayoi Kusama infinity mirror room and polka dot room! Most Kusama exhibits require long waits or advance tickets, but at the Mattress Factory, its just another gallery in their museum so you can just walk in. The museum has a total of 3 buildings located near each other and each one contains fascinating and unique exhibits. In addition to the Kusama rooms there was a Dan Flavin installation where the viewer sits in complete darkness with the occasional colored light which leads to optical illusions. Another building has been set up as a haunted dollhouse that you can wander through. This is now one of my favorite museums and is for sure worth a stop!

Randyland

A weird artsy junkyard of a local Pittsburgh home that is filled with toys that have been collected by the owner over the decades. It can get crowded, but if you come early (Randyland opens at 10am daily), there will be plenty of peace and quiet and space for you to peruse the various items that fill this colorful yard. Randyland is located a 2 min walk from Mattress Factory so combine the two in one trip!

Andy Warhol Museum

One of Pittsburgh’s most famous former residents- his museum is definitely worth a visit! The Andy Warhol Museum is located at the end of the bright yellow Andy Warhol Bridge in a 7 floor building that has been set up like an art factory, with each floor representing a decade of Warhol’s life. The earliest years of his life are at the top while the lowest floor showcases an exhibit of young artists who have been inspired by Warhol’s work. Many of the more famous Warhol art, such as the Marilyn Monroe paintings, are located in other museums around the country so I felt that this Museum’s galleries were a bit sparse. It only took around 1.5 hours to explore all 7 floors and then I headed to the waterfront right outside the soak in the beautiful weather and breathtaking Pittsburgh views,

Strip District

No this area isn’t full of strip clubs! This is apparently a common misconception due to the neighborhood’s name, which is actually named after the fact that it is a strip of land. The Strip District is one long street filled with international grocery stores, souvenir shops, restaurants, and other shopping. I wandered into the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company (they import their dried pasta directly from Italy!), a macaron and pastry bakery, a dried flower shop that was so cute, and way too many black and yellow Pittsburgh sports themed stores (Pittsburgh is one of the only cities where all the sports teams have the same colors). Parking is a nightmare here (as with many parts of the city) so make sure you come at an odd time or be prepared to drive around the streets for a while.

Duquesne Incline

What use to be used by Pittsburgh workers for transportation from their homes to work is now a popular tourist attraction that brings visitors from the bottom of the hill up to a beautiful view of the city. The Incline is still considered a mode of transportation though so prices are kept low at $2.50 each way (must have exact change in cash!) and transportation cards are permitted.The view at the top is truly breathtaking- I never expected Pittsburgh to be such a beautiful city (its not covered in smog at all like most people think).

Bike The Burgh

Pittsburgh is known for its gorgeous waterfront and even has a bike trail, Three Rivers Trail that is located along the water. There are options to rent bike at various docking stations around the city, but I opted for a bike tour led by a tour guide so that I could learn more about Pittsburgh. The bike tour is 3 hours long and goes all around the city, across many of Pittsburgh’s 464 bridges and stops at various points of attractions. Its a great way to explore Pittsburgh!

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden

Another Pittsburgh attraction that was one of the main reasons why I wanted to visit the city! The Phipps Conservatory is located near Carnegie Mellon University in a huge glass building. Because I went in the spring, I was able to see their annual flower show in all its glory and view peak bloom. The Conservatory has several themed rooms that are set at temperatures for plants that otherwise would not survive in Pittsburgh’s normal weather to be able to live. My favorite was the Hawaiian room that grew bananas! I visited in the afternoon so it was quite crowded and the lines moved slowly and there was no parking left, so plan your visit accordingly.

Where I Ate

I had low expectations over Pittsburgh’s food options because the city is located on the cusp of the East Coast and is pretty much the Midwest, but I was pleasantly surprised. When I first started researching, there was so many places I wanted to check out and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to eat everything. The places I ended up selecting were chosen based on location and convenience and what I was craving. One restaurant I saved for my next trip is Pusadee’s Garden- a Thai restaurant located in a garden!

Delanie’s Coffee

First coffee stop of the trip! Delanie’s was located a 2 min walk from my Airbnb in Southside and is a loft styled cafe filled with the sunlight streaming through its large windows and plenty of space to park yourself for an hour or two and read. Which is exactly what I did! I finished one of my favorite books of this year, Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting, while sipping on a pistachio matcha oatmilk latte with honey.

Divvy’s Buns and Coffee

Delanie’s didn’t have too many food options so I headed to Divvy’s near the University of Pittsburgh campus to eat their sweet and savory buns. The pink themed cafe is known for its sweet bun options (I got a chocolate peanut butter one!) as well as its savory bun options (the breakfast sandwich with bacon is delish!). Its a minority female owned cafe so I loved supporting them!

DiAnoia’s Eatery

DiAnoia’s is located at one end of the Strip and is famous for its handmade pasta.and bread. I had such a hard time deciding what I wanted to eat with my limited stomach space- in the end I went with fried artichokes and the aglio e formaggio (which the waiter promised was basically a garlicky mac and cheese). The food was amazing! The pasta is melt in your mouth good and everything was flavored super well. It can be hard to reserve a table here during weekend dinners so make sure to either book a table well in advance or come early (I sat down around 4:30pm).

Big Dog Coffee

Big Dog was really highly rated and when I arrived I knew exactly why. The coffee shop is located in a small neighborhood and is filled with comfortable couches and tables and even a fireplace. Drinking coffee and reading here is like being in your own living room. Like most places on my list, there is only street parking available so come early!

Five Points Artisan Bakery

Another neighborhood gem- this bakery is located in the Jewish neighborhood of Squirrel Hill and has a line out the door. But don’t worry, the line actually moves pretty quickly and you’ll be able to grab your crispy croissant and buttery pies in no time. The bakery doesn’t have anywhere to sit (their indoor dining is still closed) so I grabbed my pastries and headed to the nearby Frick Park to enjoy the fresh air.

Tsaocaa

My love for bubble tea is no secret and I’ve always made it my mission to try the drink everywhere I travel. Pittsburgh had so many different options all around the city, but I chose Tsaocaa because of its popularity and location in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood. As with anything popular, there was a wait here, but my peach milk tea with tapioca was SO good that I forgave the longer wait. There are so many drink options here that its guaranteed to find something that suits your taste.

Primanti Bros

Primanti’s is synonymous with Pittsburgh and I couldn’t end my trip without trying one of their famous french fry sandwiches. Primanti’s started out as a small family owned deli and now has locations all over Pittsburgh- there happened to be one located right next door to my Airbnb! My cajun chicken sandwich with fries inside (of course) was interesting and yummy, but not something that really stood out to me out of everything I ate in Pittsburgh. Still, worth a taste though in order to satisfy my curiosity!

I got a lot of comments on why Pittsburgh and what there is to do there. These comments about cities I’m traveling to have always annoyed me because every city has its hidden gems and its wonderful spots. There will always be something interesting and fun to do during a short weekend trip! My advice is to be open minded and curious and adventurous when you travel so that there’s the opportunity to learn something new and see something different. And do your research! Pittsburgh had so much more to offer than I originally thought- I’m already planning my next trip because there was just too much more left I wanted to do. Next time I’ll be hitting up the Frick Center and the Heinz History Center!

72 Hours: Vancouver, Canada

My first international trip of the year! It was just a 2,5 hour drive over the border from Seattle, but it still involved my passport (and a million border patrol questions about why a Texan is driving over the Washington state border) so I’m counting it as an international trip. It was also one of my first weekend trips of the year and I was so excited to squeeze in as much fun and exploration in the 2 days I would be in town. Check out my Vancouver adventures below!

Where I Stayed

I booked a hotel way back on Black Friday when I initially heard I had a Seattle work trip coming up in March so I was able to score a great deal on Hotels.com (highly recommend booking refundable hotels on Black Friday for these insane deals). Because it was my first time in Vancouver I wanted to stay where the action was, which meant downtown Vancouver. The Sandman Hotel in downtown Vancouver was under construction while I was there, but I never heard any noise and business was in full swing- the hotel was packed. The location allowed me to walk all over central Vancouver instead of having to deal with the Vancouver parking situation.

What I Did

YTR Cycle- I love working out on vacation and checking out the different studios that a city offers. Anyone who knows me well knows that spinning is my favorite workout, so when I saw that this studio was offering a Kpop themed class I knew I HAD to attend. I’m obsessed with Kpop music and have always wondered why spin studios didnt hold theme classes for it because the music is just so catchy and fun! The class felt like a Kpop concert honestly and was one of the best workouts I’ve done!

Robson Street- The US dollar is a lot stronger than the Canadian dollar so shopping at all your favorite brands on Robson Street is a must. I bought a ton at the Lululemon store because Lululemon is actually Vancouver based and the prices are extremely competitive. One of my favorite stores, however, was the Indigo bookstore. I love bookstores and loved checking out this Canadian one!

Biking Stanley Park- I debated on skipping this activity because it was slightly too cold for me and I didn’t want to push it after just recovering from a cold, but its such a classic Vancouver thing to do that I decided to just rent the bike and go. And I’m so glad I did! The bike path around the Park is clearly marked and maintained and passes by most of the Park sights (like the Totem poles!) and scenery points. It was a great way to explore the Park without having to walk or drive around. The whole route (which is one way) took about 1.5 hours. I rented my bike from Spokes Bike Rentals for $7 an hour, which wasn’t the cheapest option but was the closest shop to the bike route starting point.

Vancouver Art Gallery- If it wasn’t so rainy and cold the days I was in Vancouver, I most likely wouldn’t have stopped at this Art Gallery because its so small, but I really needed a break from the cold air that day. There were two floors of exhibits that took about an hour to walk through. It wasn’t the most interesting art of the best museum, but it was located in the middle of downtown and a great place to hide from the cold for a bit.

Granville Island- A little island located south of downtown and one of the coolest places in Vancouver! There is limited parking on the island so I would suggest either taking an Uber or parking along the streets outside of the island and walking on the bridge over (its a short walk). There is a bustling market at one end of the island and plenty of artsy shops and boutique stores all over the rest of the island. The Public Market has some of the most popular food- I loved Siegel’s Bagels, Lee’s Donuts, and Bon Macaron. Its also a great place to enjoy the fresh air and the beautiful views of the city!

What I Ate

I never ate so well in my life. The Asian food selection in Vancouver is amazing! I didn’t expect Vancouver to offer so many diverse cuisines and extremely good coffee so it was such a nice surprise. I spent so long each day deciding where I wanted to eat because there were too many great options and I’m already planning my next trip to the city because I didn’t get to eat everything I wanted! Here were some of my favorite spots:

La Foret Cafe- A Korean owned bakery that is in a huge building decorated with plenty of greenery and serves a variety of coffee, pastries, and sandwiches. There were so many options and everything looked so good in the display case that I had the hardest time choosing what I wanted. If you’ve ever been to Korea, you’ll know that Korean cafes place an lot of emphasis on aesthetics (both with food and interiors). La Foret didn’t disappoint on both fronts!

Kouign Cafe- Located in Chinatown, Kougin Cafe, which I discovered on Instagram, serves Asian inspired savory and sweet snacks and specializes in buns.

Noodle Arts- Handmade, knife shaved noodles! That was enough to convince me because chewy knife shaved noodles is seriously lacking in Houston. Noodle Arts serves solid Chinese food and with its location on Robson Street near Stanley Park, its the perfect dinner spot to hit up after shopping or exploring the Park.

Pizza Maru- I was SO tired after a day of exploring and decided to order Pizza Maru’s popular Korean pizza from UberEats. Best Decision Ever. Korean pizzas are another missing food group in Houston and with its unique pizza toppings like potatoes and corn, it was something I couldn’t wait to eat in Vancouver. Delivery ended up being a great idea too because the line for dine in at Pizza Maru is long.

Saku- I love tonkatsu, the deep fried Japanese pork cutlets, and was so excited to try this tonkatsu only restaurant in Vancouver. All they serve is different varieties of tonkatsu, and still I had a hard time deciding what to order. I ended up picking the cheese tonkatsu and spent the next hour in cheesy fried meat heaven. Saku is also located on Robson and has a waitlist at times (that I recommend joining prior to arriving at the restaurant!).

Coffee: There are so many coffee options in Vancouver- evidence that Canadians take their caffeine very seriously. Since I only had 2 short days in the city, I left with a long list of coffee shops I needed to return to Vancouver to try. But there were 3 cafes I managed to squeeze in on this trip! Revolver Coffee, Nemesis Coffee, and Timberline Coffee are all within walking distance of each other in downtown Vancouver and all serve up some strong delicious coffee. I learned that Canadians don’t do cold brew in the winter, but have plenty of iced americanos ready for those like myself who prefer cold coffee anytime of the year. Nemesis Coffee also has a variety of really great food options and pastries that are extremely tempting sitting in their pastry display cases.

Vancouver is consistently rated one of the top ten happiest cities in the world and after visiting its hard to not understand why. The air is so fresh and clean, the people are nice, and the food is amazing. I loved my Vancouver weekend trip and cannot wait to go back in the summer to experience the Richmond Night Market, bike around Stanley Park again, and trek to the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

24 Hours in Birmingham, Alabama

I’ve been wanting to visit Birmingham since I had a lot of spare time during he pandemic and looked up a bunch of interesting cities around the country. But flights from Houston to Alabama have always been overpriced so it took until 2023 for me to make the trip to my ____ state. Yes, I’ve crossed another travel goal off the list! Instead of paying for an expensive flight, I decided to fly to Atlanta to visit a few of my sorority sisters and drive the 2 hours to Birmingham for a day trip. I wish I could have had more time in Alabama because there were way more coffee shops on my list than I had time for, but they will have to be saved for another time (should I visit Mobile one day?).

Relevator Coffee

There were so many cute coffee shops that I saw on Google Maps prior to my trip that I had a very hard time choosing which one to go to on my day trip. I went with Relevator because it had the most positive reviews and was centrally located.

Bandit Patisserie

Our original plan was to grab some croissants and head to our tour pickup spot, but because we completely forgot that there was a time zone change during the drive from Atlanta (east coast time) to Alabama (central time), we actually had an extra hour to spare and got to enjoy our deliciously flaky pastries in the cutest little French inspired bakery.

Birmingham Breadworks

We also had time to make another stop at this popular bread factory where I got to eat the most delicious cheese and ham biscuit. I had such a hard time choosing between all the amazing options in their display case though- definitely a place I will be returning to next visit.

Civil Rights Walking Tour

This walking tour was the catalyst in my desire to visit Birmingham. It had rave reviews on Tripadvisor and Viator and for a good reason. The half walking half small bus tour is hosted by the family owned Red Clay Tours and the tour guide was amazing and so knowledgable about Birmingham’s role in the Civili Rights Movement. I learned so much about a horrible and embarrassing time in our nation’s history- so much that isn’t recorded in our school’s history books and so much that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to learn about. We visited significant neighborhoods in Birmingham and covered the Children’s March and 16th Street Baptist Church bombing (although I discovered on this trip that Birmingham was nicknamed Bombingham because there were bombs going off all the time due to the KKK’s constant racist presence in the city), and the Bethel Baptist Church.

16th Street Baptist Church

Armed with knowledge from the morning’s Civil Rights tour, I took an additional tour of the famed 16th Street Baptist Church that was the sight of the bombing tragedy where 4 innocent little black girls were murdered when a bomb detonated inside the Church. I wanted to personally tour the inside of the Church to further understand and visualize how something so ugly and horrendous could have happened in such a dark moment in our nation’s history. Tours can be booked Monday to Saturday on the hour between 9am and 3pm and cost $10 per person.

.Railroad Park

This green space located in the middle of Birmingham downtown is so peaceful and sunny- we had a lovely time walking around and enjoying the great weather Birmingham had that Saturday. There was even a marriage proposal set up going on! The city did a great job revitalizing this area and making it into a walkable neighborhood.

It was such a fulfilling day! Our drive to Birmingham from Atlanta was only 2 hours each way (no traffic!), but Birmingham was a completely different vibe from Atlanta and I was so glad I made the trip to learn about a dark time of our nation’s history. Our tour guide recommended 2 other Alabama cities, Montgomery and Selma, to experience more history so I plan to make other day trips the next times I need to go to Atlanta!

First Trip of 2023- A Weekend in West Texas

And just like that 2023 is here and along with it comes a whole new year of places to visit, things to do, and exciting travel opportunities. At the start of every year I like to outline some travel goals for the year and this year I just went with what popped into my mind on Jan 1. Take advantage of my United Gold status and visit more international locations, Travel to at least one new state, Explore more of my home state of Texas. So the perfect start to 2023 was obviously checking one of my travel goals off- by taking a girls trip on MLK weekend to Marfa aka West Texas.

Midland, Texas

There are no direct flights to Marfa (that should say something about how remote the town really is) so the two closest airport options are El Paso and Midland. Both airports are 3 hours away from Marfa so I ended up choosing the cheaper flight, which was Midland. Living in Houston meant that I technically could have made the 10 hour drive to Marfa by car, but since my friend was flying from California there was no way I was going to make that drive alone. The 1 hour flight to Midland plus the 3 hour drive to Marfa was still faster too!

George W Bush Childhood Home

Midland is the childhood home of former President George W Bush and visitors can take a quick 10 min tour of his old house where he grew up with former President George HW Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush. There are exhibits on the Bush family’s early life as well as their love for baseball.

Far West Coffee

I spent the rest of the day in Midland working from a coffee shop (typical working girl life) and managed to find the cutest coffee shop with a western/desert theme. The brown sugar brown butter latte was delicious and there was plenty of tables for getting some work done. I wish I could have tried the pastries through- they sold out so quickly!

Valentine, Texas

Everyone has come across the Insta famous Prada Marfa store on social media and most everyone knows that the store is fake and does not sell any bags, however, it’s not commonly known that the store is actually not located in Marfa. Instead, the art installation is located in Valentine, Texas, about 30-40 min outside of Marfa. The Prada store is definitely worth the drive though because its such a unique sight amongst an empty desert. Pro tip- make sure to arrive early because there is a line to get pictures! A good thing though because it ensures pictures without people in it… Another pro tip- stop along the road from Marfa to Valentine to grab some pictures of the billboards that honor the movie Giant (which was filmed in Marfa) and the Welcome to Marfa sign.

Marfa, Texas

The air in Marfa and West Texas in general was SO dry- I’m so glad I packed eye drops and body lotion and plenty of water because it felt like my whole body was dehydrated all the time. Besides the dry air, everything about Marfa was so adorable and Instagrammable. Here are a few of my favorite photo spots around town!

Greetings from Marfa - Located outside the Frama coffee shop. Iced green tea is super refreshing!

Central Fire Station- Cute pink building located at 110 E Lincoln St

Marfa arch- Western looking Marfa sign located on the corner of E Lincoln St and Highland St

The Get Go- Grocery store that has literally everything (even Harney & Sons tea!) located at 208 S Dean St

The Sentinel- Deliciously fresh breakfast plate and make sure to try the winter citrus and walnut latte! Its a pretty spacious cafe and store located at 209 W El Paso St next to its namesake newspaper office.

Wrong store- Probably the most unique and artsy amongst all Marfa shops and located on the main street too

See Mystery Lights- Although we didn’t see the mysterious Marfa Lights that the town is so popular for (we didn’t feel like waiting in the dark and cold for the potential chance that the lights would appear), I did capture this cute mural that is located on the side of the Thunderbird Hotel.

The town of Marfa has been synonymous with art for the past few years and it was all one man, Donald Judd, who really put Marfa on the map for art. Judd fell in love with West Texas when he was traveling from Alabama to California to be deployed during the Korean War and he came back to the area after establishing a name for himself in the New York art scene in order for his art to be displayed in a more spacious environment. There are two foundations in town that honor is life, work, and art collection and both are able to be viewed via tours. Visitors can also tour The Block (Judd’s home), however, it was closed for renovation during the time I was in Marfa.

Judd Foundation

Chinati Foundation

The coffee in Marfa was a pleasant surprise. I thought it would be mediocre because it is the middle of a desert, but the baristas in town work so hard and create such amazing coffee. Aside from The Sentinel and Frama, there is also Do Your Thing and Big Sandy.

Do Your Thing

The coffee is what people come for, but the toasts are what they stay for.

Big Sandy

Located in a renovated silver trailer, Big Sandy serves up a refreshing cold brew and a spicy hot brisket and cheese kolache (made by local bbq Convenience West).

Marfa Burrito

Not a coffee shop, but also a Marfa experience. The huge breakfast burritos here are so famous that celebrities such as Matthew McConaughey and Mark Ruffalo have stopped by. Make sure to bring cash!

Fort Davis, Texas

Fort Davis is located about 20 minutes north of Marfa and has its only small town charm (there is a soda fountain here!) as well as a State Park. We drove through town to get to something that has been on my bucket list for a while- stargazing.

McDonald Observatory

Not many places in the world are dedicated as part of the Dark Sky Program (meaning that no open lights can be on after a certain time to preserve a truly dark sky), but Texas just so happens to have a place like the University of Texas funded McDonald Observatory. The Observatory hosts Star Parties every Friday and Saturday nights where visitors can get a constellation tour as well as the chance to look through 5 extremely powerful telescopes to view different stars and galaxies. Stargazing was a truly amazing experience and one that I will never forget!

My West Texas weekend was so relaxing, although I have fully come to terms with the fact that I am a city girl and could never survive in a remote desert for longer than a weekend. I’m so happy I was able to kick off 2023 with a unique vacation in my own state! Where else should I travel in 2023?

48 Hours: Louisville, Kentucky

Where to Stay

We chose to stay at the AC Hotels in the Nulu neighborhood because of its central bustling location. The Nulu neighborhood has tons to eat and shop and is a very walkable area. So many of the places we wanted to eat at were just within walking distance! I stayed at a AC Hotel in Kansas City and loved its clean relaxing vibe so making the Louisville branch our base was a no brainer. The hotel has spacious rooms and has all the amenities you need for a great weekend.

Quills Coffee Firehouse

A friend recommended Quills Coffee (which has a few locations around Louisville) and when I discovered the one closest to our hotel was not only a 5 minute walk away, but also located inside a renovated old firehouse, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. I loved their refreshing lattes and cute little outdoor table sets.

Please and Thank You

Do not miss out on their chocolate chip cookies! I came here solely to buy their cookies (and yes I bought a whole bag full) and had no regrets.

Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs

A Louisville trip would not be complete without a visit to the famous Kentucky Derby racetracks. This was the #1 spot my mom and I wanted to see on our 2 day vacation so we made it our first stop Saturday morning and booked the 90 minute Behind the Scenes tour.

Old Louisville Mansion Tour

I love touring old homes (actually homes in general) and when I discovered the Old Louisville Mansion tour would be held the same weekend I was in town, I knew it was fate and that I had to attend. The tour is self guided and starts off at the Conor Caldwell Mansion located smack dab in the middle of Old Louisville.

Louisville Mega Cavern Bike Tour

After going on a ebike tour in Hawaii and a mountain bike experience in Miami, I’ve recently become obsessed with bike tours (I’m not sure why I never discovered them earlier…). I had been wanting to see the largest underground cave in America and pairing it with an underground bike tour seemed like the perfect fit.

Royals Hot Chicken

I’ve had delicious hot chicken in Nashville (Hattie B’s!) before and thought that nothing could top their finger licking good chicken, but Royals friend chicken tenders came very close. It was just the right amount of spice to make the chicken delicious, but not too much spice to where it would have been painful to eat. Their mac and cheese is also a huge hit!

Biscuit Belly

Biscuit Belly is a cute blue and yellow brunch cafe located in Nulu (about 10 minute walk from AC Hotel) and serves a large menu of biscuit sandwiches and some of the best hash brown bites.

Big Four Pedestrian Bridge

Walking from one state to another is something that’s unheard of in my huge homestate of Texas, but in Louisville its something people do regularly on the weekends. Walk (or bike!) across the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge and you’ll be in Indiana in less than an hour. My original plan had been to walk around Indiana and grab an ice cream, but time didn’t allow for that so instead I soaked in the experience of traveling to another state on this short weekend trip!

Louisville Slugger Museum

I’m not the biggest fan of baseball, but I have to admit the Lousiville Slugger Museum was an experience! We went on a tour of the basball bat making factory and got to see bats being made real time.

The Eagle

Best Fried Chicken Ever. That’s all you need to know about The Eagle. Oh and it has a huge backyard patio for outdoor dining so its a perfect spot for pandemic travel.

Muhammad Ali Center

No trip is complete without a history lesson so I made a stop at the Muhammad Ali Center to learn more about one of the greatest athletes and political activists in American history.

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience

When people think about Kentucky as a state, the link to Kentucky bourbon is inevitable.

Louisville Cream

What vacation can end without dessert? Not any one of mine!

I’m loving all my midwest trips and can’t wait to go one more! Where should I go next?

72 Hours: Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas

Its been so long since I’ve explored a brand new city in a state I’ve never been to so I decided back in April that I was going to pick a weekend to fly somewhere new as a celebration for getting vaccinated. Kansas City seemed like the perfect spot because it was only 2 hours away from Houston via my favorite United Airlines and was located in the midwest, an area I rarely visit.

Where to Stay

I usually love staying at Airbnbs when it comes to exploring new towns because I feel like it gives me more of a chance of being a “local”, but the urge to stay in a popular area of Kansas City overtook me and I ended up staying at the gorgeous AC Hotels. The hotel is clean and welcoming and is located in a central area of the city with plenty of free parking.

Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Park

We stopped here on our way back to our hotel to begin our workday and it was the most serene little park. Surrounded by beautiful blooms and a peaceful fountain, the Memorial Park was the perfect way to start our day.

Filling Station

Drive through coffee at a former gas station? Check! Filling Station served a great iced honey lavender latte in the most socially distant way ever.

Meshuggah Bagels

I’m always craving bagels now that I’m no longer a New Yorker with plentiful bagels at my fingertips so when I discovered that Kansas City had a hidden gem of an old school bagel shop, I knew I had to make a stop. Every bite of my bagel sandwich was mind blowing!

Donutology

Bagels always taste better with a sugary donut on the side! Donutology’s colorful shop (which is located just across the street from the Filling Station by the way) displays a variety of yeast and cake donuts and has something for everyone- plus this RBG mural makes for a great photo opp.

Joe’s Kansas City BBQ

I came to Kansas City for barbecue and I wasn’t going to leave without trying the famous Z Man bbq sandwich at Joe’s- no matter how long the line was. Luckily, the line was only(!) 20 minutes long and the sandwich was worth every single minute. Its hard to use words to describe how delicious the combination of Joe’s special bbq sauce with crunchy crispy onion rings and brisket and cheese is. But don’t take my word for it, try the food at Joe’s yourself!

Messenger Coffee

This coffee shop was one of my favorite places in Kansas City because it had delicious pastries, strong coffee, and was housed in a beautiful light filled warehouse. Messenger Coffee’s warehouse cafe has 3 floors and a rooftop that overlooks downtown Kansas City. It was an amazing start to our Saturday!

City Market

I love farmers markets and love exploring them in different cities- I love the variety and the local vibes and the bustle! City Market is Kansas City’s biggest outdoor market (so make sure to arrive early for parking because it can get crazy) and has craft vendors located outside in a pedestrian only area, while the food vendors are located in the covered area. Start off any weekend with a trip to the Market and you’ll be sure to have a great day!

National Museum of Miniature Toys

This Museum of Miniature Toys was one of my must see items on my Kansas City list because who doesn’t love tiny toys and beautiful dollhouses? For $8, I spent a few glorious hours wandering the quiet rooms of the museum filled with nostalgic toys from my childhood (and beyond because I’m really not that old!) and outrageous dollhouses.

TWA Museum

I’m not big on airplanes and don’t know many airplane facts, but I love history and how nostalgic it can be to reminisce about something that no longer exists. The TWA airline is such an important part of the US airline industry past and I really enjoyed learning more (on our tour!) about the TWA planes, flight attendant fashion, and how plane travel use to be. The Museum is located inside a small plane hanger and costs $10 to tour.

National Museum of Airline History

Similar to the TWA Museum, the National Museum of Airline History consists historical planes from America’s past and tons of facts about the airline industry. There is also the amazing opportunity to walk through a old TWA plane and imagine how travel must have been in the 70’s.

Jack Stack BBQ and Country Club Plaza

Shopping and bbq- need I say more? Jack Stack BBQ is located on the corner of Country Club Plaza, the best outdoor shopping plaza in Kansas City, and serves up some of the tastiest ribs and pulled pork mac and cheese in town. And yes, I still dream about that mac and cheese! There can be a wait though, so I strongly suggest exploring all the shopping the Plaza has to offer and the green walking trail nearby and cup of delicious bubble tea at Bruu Cafe (which I went to twice, no shame). Country Club Plaza is not only a shopping haven, but its also surrounded by a beautiful river and walking trail.

Black Hole Bakery

A don’t miss mochi donut bakery! And don’t let the line out the door deter you because there is plenty of donuts (and brownies) for everyone and the line moves relatively quickly. Black Hole’s mochi donuts was by far my favorite thing I ate in Kansas City- I may even need to make a trip back to the city just for these delicious chewy donuts!

National WWI Museum

After visiting the National WWII Museum in New Orleans and loving the wealth of information and interesting facts (yes I’m a nerd) the exhibits provided, I was really looking forward to touring the WWI Museum in Kansas City. Although much smaller than the New Orleans one, this museum also provided so much information regarding the war in a way. Upon entry, there is a glass bridge that overlooks a huge field of poppy flowers that represents the soldiers and individuals who gave their lives during the war.

The Roasterie

Kansas City loves planes. If that isn’t already obvious with their multiple airplane themed museums, its even more apparent when you notice the giant (real) airplane located on top of The Roasterie’s coffee shop and local roastery. Tours of The Roasterie occur every hour and cost $5 to join in. The tour includes a brief coffee tasting at the end and provides so much knowledge on their coffee beans and just coffee in general. Afterwards, make sure to grab a latte created by onsite baristas and visit their store, which sells their coffee in all forms (beans and kcups!) plus the obvious souvenirs (mugs!).

Buffalo State Pizza Co.

Our stomachs started grumbling after all the museums and for some reason we were CRAVING pizza so we stopped downtown at an pizza restaurant with a huge backyard patio. The pizza at Buffalo State is hot and cheesy and so yummy its making my mouth water even as I type this!

Kansas City was my first foray into America’s midwest and I have to say I’m impressed with what I say and most importantly, ate! Where should I go next in the midwest!

48 Hours: Dallas, TX in the Spring

I’ve been to Dallas several times over my lifetime as a Texan (I even interned in the city for 3 months during my college years), but somehow I’ve never truly explored the city nor really found anything that connected me to it. So when I found out about the gorgeous bluebonnet fields in Ennis, Texas (located an hour south of Dallas), I decided to give Dallas another chance to impress me and make a weekend trip out of it. I was honestly surprised at how fun Dallas turned out to be!

Bishop Arts District Hotel

I’ve never stayed in a hotel in Dallas before since I usually opt to stay with friends, but this time I wanted to stay in a trendy boutique hotel and Bishop Arts District Blueloft Hotel totally fit the bill. It was locally owned, with just a few uniquely decorated rooms and a private gated parking lot, and a comfortable lobby and free coffee for working the day away. I booked the Blueloft on Airbnb, but the hotel also has its own website where rooms can be booked as well. I had such a great experience staying here and can’t wait for my next trip!

Ennis Bluebonnet Fields

The Texas state flower blooms in the springtime and covers the side of highways and a select few fields with dots of bright blue. Every Texan knows that the best place to see bluebonnets is in Ennis, Texas, located just an hour south of Dallas. Every April the tiny town of Ennis hosts a Bluebonnet festival (entry tickets are just $5 and go towards the town!) and opens up 4 huge bluebonnet fields for viewing and photos. It truly was an amazing experience seeing these gorgeous blue flowers up close for the first time ever.

Bishop Arts District

The Bishop Arts District so so underrated and I really don’t know why more people don’t come and explore the area because its so cute and fun. There are so many Instagrammable eateries, adorable boutiques, and delicious cafes that line the streets of the District. I loved living so close to all the shops and cafes on this trip because it made everything so accessible!

Lync Cycling

Not the best spin studio I’ve ever worked out at (there was something off about the bike that I couldn’t put my finger on…), but I still enjoyed starting off my Sunday in Dallas with a sweaty workout.

Paradiso

I told my friend to find the bougiest restaurant in Dallas so that we could dine in Instagram style and she did not disappoint! Paradiso is located in the Bishop Arts District and consists of a posh outdoor garden as well as a a glass enclosed building. The food is nothing to write home about, but the dining experience more than makes up for it!

Emporium Pies

I have a huge sweet tooth and the pies at Emporium Pies satisfied it completely. I had such a hard time deciding which pie to get (the flavors do rotate!), but finally settled on the salted caramel buttercream slice because salted caramel is seriously irresistible.

Bonton Farms

I discovered Bonton Farms thanks to Instagram and couldn’t wait to try their lattes at their cute farm location. Bonton Farms is more than just a popular cafe and brunch spot though. They provide homegrown vegetables and food for the underprivileged South Dallas community and also teach students how about healthy eating. Many of the local kids are employed by Bonton Farms too! The Farms is known for their famous honey butter (trust me its delicious!) and their farm to table food and their relaxing outdoor dining. Don’t forget to come early because it will get crowded on the weekend!

White Rhino Coffee

Another Instagram find… why does my Instagram know me so well! White Rhino has 2 locations in Dallas, but the Bishop Arts District location has a gorgeous sun filled space and serve a delicious German Chocolate latte. Pro tip- Sign up for their loyalty program and your first drink is free!

Salty Donut

I’ve loved Salty Donut ever since trying their delicious donuts in Miami. So when I found out there was a Dallas location, there was no doubt in my mind that I had to come eat some more donuts.

The Taco Stand

It can be so easy to pass by this tiny little red and white taco stand in the Bishops Art District and miss out on their yummy puffy tacos and creamy queso dip. But then you would have missed out on one of Dallas’ hidden gems!

Joy Macaron

Macarons are definitely God’s gift to humans and ice cream macarons are desserts that are simply out of this world. Joy Macaron is decorated so cute and serve the most adorable fruity pebbles and milk ice cream macaron.

Village Boulangerie

Ever since leaving New York, I've missed all the local bakers who line the city streets with their little bakeries and pastry shops. Village Boulangerie on Greenville Avenue made me so nostalgic of all the French pastries I use to eat.

Bird Bakery

Located in the upscale Highland Village, Bird Bakery is an adorable sidewalk cafe that serves the best cupcakes and nutella bread.

La La Land Kind Cafe

If a cafe could embody Instagram, this is it! La La Land Kind Cafe not only has unique lattes (check out my blue butterfly latte), but its located in the brightest yellow wooden house with a white picket fence and a perfectly manicured green lawn.

Three Egg Muffins

I’m always looking to support Asian businesses and loved the opportunity to check out this Korean owned brunch cafe that specializes in a variety of homemade egg muffins.

I’m glad I gave Dallas a second chance and that it proved me completely wrong! I’m thinking I’ll have to make a final trip here before moving from Texas… what else can I eat/explore/do?

36 Hours: Tyler, Texas

I fell in love with East Texas during my Longview trip and knew that I had to see more of the area before I moved from Texas next year (Have I mentioned that my new job is actually located in Seattle and I’m currently working remotely in Houston for a year? No? Well its a long story that will have to be saved for a later day!) so I decided very last minute to make a 1.5 day trip to Tyler to live the ultimate small town life. Tyler is located about 3.5 hours from Houston and is considered one of the larger East Texas towns. It is famous for being the Rose Capital of America and is filled with tons of small town charm. The residents are friendly and welcoming, their food is amazing and doesn’t have the typical long lines you see in big cities, and their main street is filled with quaint cafes and boutiques!

Cafe 1948

Cafe 1948 is located on Tyler’s main street and looks like it belongs in New York because its adorable white interiors are so Instagrammable. Their menu is also filled with not only your basic breakfast foods, but also unique waffles (have you ever heard of a London Fog waffle) and a variety of unique coffees. I grabbed their signature latte and headed out to explore Main Street Tyler!

Tyler Rose Garden

A visit to the Rose Capital of America isn’t complete without a stop at the famous Tyler Rose Garden. This Garden is Tyler’s claim to fame because it is actually the largest public collection of roses in the U.S. The Garden is in full bloom in May (perfect timing!) and features more than 32,000 bushes. There is also a Rose Museum located inside the Garden Center building and while touring the Garden is free, the Museum does have an admission cost. The roses are all so beautiful and there are several benches located throughout the garden for visitors to simply sit and enjoy the beauty.

Stanley’s Famous Pit BBQ

I was so excited to try the food at Stanley’s because every Texas town has its own famous bbq stop and Tyler is no different. Many reviews raved about the Mother Clucker sandwich so I had no choice but to try it for myself. I don’t usually order chicken at a bbq restaurant, but several people I was waiting in line with all recommended their chicken is to die for. And they weren’t wrong! The Mother Clucker was beyond delicious and paired with a brisket taco, was the perfect lunch.

Tyler Berry Farm

Next up, picking strawberries at a Berry Farm! Although blueberries are mainly what this Farm is known for, blueberries are not in season until late June. Luckily, they have a rows and rows of strawberry patches available for picking in May! I’ve never picked strawberries before, but it seemed to me that these strawberries were perfectly red and juicy. I was able to easily fill up my basket with a pound of strawberries and couldn’t wait to make smoothies from them. Tyler Berry Farm is truly a small business so the berries do cost a bit more than your typical grocery store, but it felt great to support a local business.

Goodman LeGrand Museum

I love visiting old homes and mansions when traveling so I made a stop at Goodman LeGrand Museum, which is located inside the family mansion to learn a little more about Tyler’s past. Admission is free (although they do suggest a $2 donation) and tour guides can lead your through the house or you can choose to opt for a self guided tour.

McClendon House

McClendon House is another old Tyler home open to the public- it costs $7 for a tour guide led tour.

Kiepersol Winery

One of the best kept East Texas secrets is their wine. While Texas Hill Country is usually the more popular stop for wine, East Texas wines are sweeter (which fits so much better with my sweet tooth) and their wineries are more spacious and less crowded. Kiepersol is located 25 minutes south of Tyler on a large vineyard. Tastings are conducted inside their Grand Room and cost $2 per wine. I tried a total of 4 wines and loved each one!

Lago del Pino

I discovered the Lago del Pino restaurant thanks to another travel blogger and was so thankful for the recommendation because the restaurant grounds are gorgeous. It is located in a large building that sits right next to a huge lake. Outside seating is encouraged and they often have live music at night. While their restaurant is beautiful, their upscale Tex Mex menu isn’t the greatest. People definitely just go here for the views. I would recommend skipping dinner and just coming for happy hour drinks!

Foundry Coffee House

Tyler loves their indoor outdoor spaces and many of their eateries have options for both indoor and outdoor eating. Foundry Coffee House is located inside a giant warehouse, but their outdoor patio is equally spacious and is surrounded by greenery and twinkling lights. They have an extensive coffee and food menu and everything is worth trying! Parking is free and plentiful across the street in a garage.

The Grove Kitchen and Gardens

My last stop in Tyler was to brunch at the Grove Kitchen and Gardens, another beautiful restaurant with an stunning outdoor space. One of my favorite parts of Tyler was dining outdoors in the Texas spring air and I was so happy that I got to end my trip at The Grove’s well maintained garden. The restaurant is crowded on Sunday mornings so make sure you have a reservation. The food is alright (my pimento cheese sandwich and garlic fries had a lot of room for improvement), but the views and vibes are top notch.

Hope you guys enjoyed my Tyler, Texas post! What other Texas towns should I visit before the big move?

48 Hours: Beaumont, Texas

Located only 1.5 hours away from Houston, Beaumont is a highly underrated town. In the past I’ve only driven past the town on my way to Louisiana/New Orleans and never given it another thought, but thanks to a blog post by MyCurlyAdventures, I was inspired to actually make a visit. But I was still skeptical over exactly how many things I could actually do in Beaumont that my original plan was to just go for a day and return back home. However, after spending a day there I quickly realized that Beaumont had a lot to offer and that I would definitely need a second day. The beauty of exploring somewhere close to home though is that plans can be made last minute and remain very flexible. After all, a 1.5 hour drive is nothing in Texas!

Rao’s Cafe and Bakery

Coffee and a cupcake from Rao’s was the perfect way to start the day. I have to credit Mycurlyadventures for the recommendation because this place was a real find. The cafe looked very nondescript on the outside and was located in a shopping plaza, but inside was full of yummy sweets. There are 2 giant cases of any type of dessert you can possibly imagine- cakes, cupcakes, brownies, cheesecakes, muffins, macarons- you get the idea. They even have a big variety of gelato flavors! Rao’s was really just a wonderland for dessert lovers and those with a major sweet tooth. I had the hardest time deciding (seriously- it took me a few minutes and I had to let people waiting behind me pass me), but in the end I went with the snickers latte (Where else can I have a snickers bar inspired latte? And it wasn’t as sweet as it sounded!) and a caramel turtle cupcake. If you’re headed to Beaumont, Rao’s should be your first (and last) stop!

Tia Juanita Fish Camp

I was so surprised by the quality of food here because generally small towns have only ok food, but everything was SO good! I actually want to come back to Beaumont several more times just to try more of Tia Juanita’s menu because their entire menu looked mouthwatering. I couldn’t decide (this was a familiar problem all day basically…) between the seafood platters or the cajun poboys or the tex-mex inspired tacos/queso/quesadillas, but ended up choosing the boudin quesadilla because that was something I had never seen at other restaurants before. Plus, I love boudin! Tia Juanita is located near the middle of Beaumont and has a decent amount of outdoor seating (we came for lunch and there were plenty of seating available).

Tyrell Historical Library

A church or a library? Tyrell Historical Library is (was) both! The public library is housed in a former church in downtown Beaumont. It is free to visit and take pictures in, but is only open during the week. Because of Covid, there was strict contact tracing procedures in place so when visitors arrived, they had to write down their names and email addresses in a guestbook. Any books you touched during your visit have to go onto a special cart so they can be wiped clean. I saw photos of the library on Instagram and knew it would be worth a stop. The intricate stained glass windows are worth a peek alone!

Cattail Marsh

The marsh here looks unreal. It looks like something out of a book or movie (actually it did remind me a little of the book Where the Crawdads Sing, which takes place in the North Carolina marshes) and is beyond beautiful. We came on a sunny perfect day and the marsh framed with the sunny blue skies was just a dream to see. It was so nice that I decided to return on day 2 and take the free outdoor yoga class that is offered every Saturday at 9:30am. While the yoga class is free, tickets/advanced reservations are required due to Covid restrictions. The class actually takes place on the long pier or on the balcony overlooking the pier and is the most relaxing way to start off your Saturday. The yoga isn’t too difficult and is meant for beginners!

Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum

For those of you who don’t know (and I didn’t know this either even though I grew up in Texas), but the oil boom really began in Beaumont. This museum is a remodel of a 1830s Texas oil town is based on the industrial town of Gladys City, which was originally created as place for oil workers and their families to reside. Visitors can go into every single wooden building on site and experience what it was like to live during those times. Buildings include a dry goods store (similar to a clothing store), a barber shop, a general store, a photography studio, a drug store/soda fountain, horse stables, and other buildings related to engineering and oil. Each building has artifacts and items that are genuine and collected from the appropriate period. The center of the outdoor museum is a reconstruction of the Spindletop gusher, which exploded with oil (for 9 days straight!) in the early 1900s and kicked off the oil boom in Texas. There is so much to learn here and the history of how oil became huge in Texas and landed Beaumont on the map is fascinating. The Museum is located on Lamar University property and costs $5 to enter. Masks are required while on museum property.

Cha Cha Tea

If you’ve been following Toast and Travel for a while now, you know that I love trying bubble tea everywhere I visit. No matter if I think it will be tasty or not, I make an effort to try local bubble tea shops. It’s basically my travel tradition! So one of the first things I did when planning my Beaumont trip was research if there were any bubble tea options in the town. Beaumont isn’t known for their Asian population so I was pleasantly surprised when I managed to discover Cha Cha Tea. Cha Cha Tea is located inside the Parkdale Mall and while the drinks aren’t the best, I definitely appreciated the owner’s attempt to bring Asian culture to this Southern Texas town.

Sweet Basil

After getting Cha Cha Tea, I was in the mood for more Asian culture, so I decided on a ribeye banh mi sandwich and french fries with spicy mayo for lunch. Sweet Basil is a casual Vietnamese restaurant located near Parkdale Mall in a small shopping plaza- the inside space is huge, but I opted for takeout so I could safely social distance away from others. The food was great and I highly recommend checking Sweet Basil out if you are in the area! Everything is reasonably priced as well.

McFadden House Museum

I love touring old homes and mansions whenever I travel so when I discovered that Beaumont had the McFadden House Museum, which delved into the McFadden family during the early 1900s, I knew I had to stop by and check it out. Due to Covid, the House is only open for self guided audio guide tours of the first floor so I missed out on having an informative tour guide (they are the best for house tours!) take me around the lower and upper floors. But the audio guide tour was also interesting and divulged a lot of information on what it was like to be a wealthy family in Beaumont during that time period (which was the height of the oil boom). There is also a carriage house behind the house which includes the servants living quarters and exhibits on the family cars and gymnasium.

Willy Burger

The burgers at Willy Burger have such great reviews on Yelp and the silver airstream themed diner is always so busy. However, and this may be an unpopular opinion, the burgers and the shoestring fries are only mediocre. Although, the burger types are very creative, I felt like the actual making of the burger and the resulting flavors were rushed and careless. There is another Willy Burger outlet in Katy, Texas, however, so that one may be different! I did love their menu and looked forward to having the Hew Haw burger (homemade pimento cheese, fried green tomato, bacon, and red pepper jelly on a speciality beef patty) and parmesean garlic fries for dinner outside.

Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum

This tiny museum on the famous athlete, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, also doubles as the Beaumont Visitor Center and is free to visit and explore. There are several glass casings of artifacts, photos, and information on Zaharias, who is a worldwide renowned athlete (in SO many sports, including cross country, basketball, and golf) and who is originally from Beaumont. I was fascinated by the sheer talent Zaharias had for all those sports- I can barely even play one! The exhibits take about 30 minutes to read so this museum is a quick stop.

Largest Working Fire Hydrant

This giant dalmation themed fire hydrant was actually given to the city of Beaumont from Disney in celebration of the release of the movie, 101 Dalmations. Such an interesting fact! I had no idea our great state of Texas even had Disney memorabilia! The huge fire hydrant stands outside the Texas Fire Museum, which I have heard is extremely fascinating and great for children. I visited the Hydrant on a Sunday though and the Museum is closed on Sundays so I didn’t get to check it out (this time!). Viewing the fire hydrant is a wonder in itself though- it truly is huge!

And that’s a wrap for my Beaumont 2 day trip! I hope you guys are liking all of my blog posts on my Texas travels and find some inspiration to explore my beautiful state!

48 Hours: San Antonio, Texas

Two months ago I started working my dream job and I’ve been enjoying every minute of finally having my hard work pay off. But, things have been busy and sadly I’ve had to put Toast and Travel on hold for a few months. The good news is, I haven’t stopped traveling or exploring! In fact, I’ve been fully vaccinated, which has given me the ability to start flying comfortably again and has continued to open up so many new places for me. I have so many trips lined up to share with y’all on Toast and Travel- starting with San Antonio! I went on my first solo trip in a long time 3 hours north of Houston to San Antonio during my few days of unemployment and had a blast exploring this historical Texas city.

Things to Do

Spanish Governor’s Palace

This tiny white building houses some interesting history regarding San Antonio’s past and the people that resided in the governor’s home. Fun fact- it wasn’t just governors! Admission costs $5 and must be purchased online. The entire home (its not a palace!) takes about 30 minutes to walk through. Don’t miss out on the gorgeous garden out back!

San Antonio Museum of Art

The SAMA houses an eclectic collection art from around the world- it is the perfect place to wander around and spend a rainy afternoon. I loved the temporary movies exhibit that housed the Transformer robots and even the Batmobile! Museum entrance is $20 and takes about 2 hours to explore. I also really enjoyed walking the river behind the Museum and getting some fresh air after exploring indoors.

San Antonio Botanical Garden

Pleasantly surprised at how amazing the Botanical Garden was here. There was even a cool origami sculpture exhibit that was ongoing on the time. I loved walking around the many gardens and pathways and searching for the unique origami sculptures.

McNay Museum

McNay is another art museum in SA, but completely different from the San Antonio Museum of Art. The artwork is located in a mansion renovated museum and is simply breathtaking. One of the best exhibits are the biblical tapestries used in many old Hollywood movies. But, the true highlight of the museum is the building its located in and the surrounding gardens- everything is so beautiful.

Japanese Tea Garden

The Tea Garden was my favorite thing to do in San Antonio! I arrived early in the morning before there were other people and honestly, that was one of the best decisions I made. I was able to wander and enjoy the garden in peace. The path around the garden is narrow so having the whole place to myself was a big plus. There is a cafe located inside the entrance area and serves a variety of bubble teas and snacks. The garden is free to visit and open to everyone!

Joyride Cycling

One thing I love to do when traveling is trying out the workout studio scene and taking a class. This trip I chose to spin at Joyride Cycling, which had been recommended to me by a friend in Connecticut. While Joyride isn’t beat based, it was still a great workout, complete with silent headphones. The best part? The spin class is held in a open covered bay with plenty of social distancing and clean bikes. Its the perfect Covid friendly workout!

San Antonio Riverwalk Kayaking

Being able to kayak the San Antonio Riverwalk was truly a once in a lifetime experience. The Riverwalk only recently opened to kayaks on the weekends and tickets have been selling out so fast. Thankfully, I was able to get a Friday morning ticket and spent the early morning hours (kayaking starts at 8am) rowing peacefully through the still waters. It’s not cheap to kayak along the Riverwalk (tickets run up to $50), but completely worth it. The River is empty aside from a few cleanup barges, meaning that the typical tourist boats aren’t crowding up the waters.

Food

Mi Tierra Cafe

Located in Market Square (a historic Mexican square with a large market), Mi Tierra Cafe is a quintessential lunch spot serving up delicious authentic Mexican food and pastries. There is plenty of seating in the highly decorated space and diners are treated to mini mariachi band performances. Don’t miss the delicious bakery items in the entrance area of the restaurant!

Lustea

I never go on any trip without trying the local bubble tea and San Antonio was no different. The Asian influence in San Antonio isn’t huge so there aren’t too many locally owned bubble tea shops, so I headed to the Park North Shopping Center to try Lustea milk tea. It was pretty expensive for the size of the drink, but I’m glad I was able to support an Asian business.

Pete’s Tako House

San Antonio’s Hispanic population is large so while I had eaten Mexican food at Mi Tierra already, I couldn’t leave the city without also trying their take on Tex Mex. Pete’s Tako House came highly recommended to me and has equally great Yelp ratings so I stopped by to try their queso and tacos.

Smoke Shack BBQ

Smoke Shack is toted as San Antonio’s best barbecue and it lived up to the hype. I loved everything I ordered here and wished my stomach was bigger so I could have eaten even more! Pro tip- order online to avoid the wait.

Press Coffee

Press Coffee’s beautiful glass building is often the main draw for visitors, but their coffee shouldn’t be missed out on either. The airy coffee shop is located near the Japanese Tea Garden and is the perfect start to any day.

The Art of Donut

I came across the Art of Donut on Instagram and was instantly drawn to their colorful array of donuts. On top of that, my mouth was watering! Their donuts looked so delicious and unique! The hand crafted donut shop is located near the Japanese Tea Garden so I picked up a couple of donuts and headed to the Garden to enjoy them.

Bakery Lorraine

Located at the Pearl District, a super trendy outdoor area near downtown, Bakery Lorraine is not only smells delicious upon entry, but also is filled with a huge variety of pastries. I love handmade pop tarts and couldn’t wait to eat the heart shaped strawberry pop tart. It was so flaky and made my sweet tooth very content!

Local Coffee

Local Coffee is also located at Pearl District (which by the way has free garage parking) and is amongst the many boutique stores around the campus. Local Coffee is owned by a husband and wife team and specializes in freshly roasted coffee.

I haven’t been to San Antonio as a tourist since I was a kid and it sure has changed. I couldn’t believe how different everything was! Just goes to show that revisiting places is always a good idea.

48 Hours: Longview, Texas

I’ve never thought much about East Texas so when a friend invited me to visit her in Longview, Texas I wasn’t too excited but was curious enough to take her up on her offer. After all, with the pandemic still ongoing I didn’t think it was a bad idea to continue my Texas explorations. If you haven’t seen my Texas trips series you can check out my Fredericksburg, Conroe, Dripping Springs, Marble Falls, Waco, Fort Worth, and Galveston trips right on this blog. A lot of people ask me what there is to do in these smaller Texas towns and they often fear that their trip will be boring since naturally there isn’t as much to do as a bigger city. However, I think its good to remember that a weekend is actually very short. It doesn’t take much to fill up a short 2 day weekend! East Texas ended up surprising me by all its hidden gems and I truly enjoyed my weekend here. And if you know me, you know I’m already plotting a return to the area…

Silver Grizzly Espresso

No trip can ever be started without the proper amount of caffeine! I had my doubts on the quality of coffee shops in Longview, but Silver Grizzly lattes were great. I also enjoyed the casual vibes at the cafe!

Shivers Natural Snow

Wow, I can’t believe this adorable silver shaved ice truck is located basically in the middle of nowhere? The owners are a couple who are pillars of the Longview community and their shaved ice is some of the tastiest I’ve every had. Natural ingredients are used in their ice and corn syrup doesn’t ever make an appearance. I loved their unique flavors- the Raindance is the best!

Tuscan Pig Italian Kitchen

I’m often not impressed by small town food (just read my Waco post), but the Longview food scene was actually pretty great. This Italian restaurant had so many pork themed dishes from ravioli to mac and cheese to past that I honestly couldn’t decide what to order. Its easy to get a table (aka no 2 hour wait like New York Italian restaurants usually have), which makes the food all the better.

Red Bus Cupcakes

Cupcakes on a real double decker bus! It doesn’t get any more exciting than that in a small town. Red Bus Cupcakes has a huge assortment of cupcakes (so many different varieties that it took me a solid 5 minutes to decide), but the best part is that it lets customers bring their sweet treats up to the second floor of their bus to eat! The Bus travels around, but I was able to find it on Main Street Jefferson that Saturday afternoon.

Jefferson Main Street

If you’re looking for a quintessential small Texas town, look no further than Jefferson, Texas. Their bustling main street looks like it came out of an old Western movie and is filled with plenty of nostalgic vintage shops and delicious local eateries. We spent a fabulous afternoon wandering in and out of boutiques and stopped by a delicious bbq restaurant for a bite to eat. Jefferson’s residents are all open and friendly (although don’t expect many masks here some come vaccinated) and our afternoon here was so nice and quaint.

Uncertain, Texas

I had heard about Uncertain, Texas on Instagram where the story was told that the founder of the town didn’t know what to name it, hence the name Uncertain. The town only consists of a few run down streets and a rather large flea market, but I still had to sop by and take a picture with the sign because how often do you come across a town named Uncertain?

Caddo Lake

The real highlight of our trip was kayaking on Caddo Lake. I can’t believe this beautiful lake is in Texas! I later learned that it is the largest collection of cypress forests in the country. Although, that fact shouldn’t have surprised me because there were so many large gorgeous trees everywhere we rowed. Kayaking on the lake is a popular activity so kayak rentals are a bit overpriced at $40 for half day. They are contact free though so the kayaks are left on the river bank with your name on them for you to pick up. I loved exploring the dense forest by rowing through them- definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity. Beware though, rowing upstream is extremely hard!

Enoch Stomp Vineyard

I feel like this entire blog has been just me gushing about how great East Texas is, but everything was truly great! The single best thing I discovered about Longview though was this winery. I’ve been to wineries in Napa Valley, upstate New York, the Hamptons, Virginia, and Fredericksburg and I have to say that Enoch’s has some of the best wine I’ve ever drank. I’m usually not a fan of red wine, but their Potter’s Hand bottle was beyond delicious. It was the right amount of sweet and I really felt like I was drinking grapes. Highly recommend this winery if you're ever in the area!

Evergreen Coffee and Dessert

No trip can ever end without local bubble tea! If you’ve been following Toast and Travel, you know that I LOVE bubble tea and I love to try the drink in the various places that I travel to. I was shocked that even a small town like Longview had its own bubble tea shop and knew that I had to try it before leaving town. Evergreen is owned by a local Korean family and on top of solid bubble tea and coffee, it also serves a variety of korean shaved ice (bingsoo) and french pastries (macarons and madeleines). The wait was slightly long (there were a ton of people waiting), but seeing as how this is basically the only cafe open on Sunday mornings I can’t really blame them for being slow.

If you can’t tell already, I loved East Texas. I’ve been a Texan basically all my life and I’m so mad at myself that I didn’t explore this area of my home state earlier because it is so great!

24 Hours: Seabrook, Texas

The coastal town of Seabrook is only 20 minutes from my home, but aside from visiting the occasional restaurant, I’ve actually never explored the area. And, as I found out recently, Seabrook has so much to offer! I explored the little town on a perfectly sunny Sunday morning and had a glorious day filled with fresh air, delicious coffee, and happiness. One of my favorite parts was driving around and finding the different uniquely decorated seagulls that can be found throughout the neighborhoods. Isn’t this preacher seagull adorable?

Seabrook Waffle Company

The Seabrook Waffle Company is one of the most popular breakfast spots in the area and for good cause- they have delicious Belgian inspired waffles! The menu offers a variety of both sweet and savory waffles, such as chicken and waffles and strawberry nutella. I went with the cookie butter strawberry waffle and had no regrets! The restaurant is located in a little wooden house and has both indoor and outdoor seating.

Damn Fine Coffee and Fried Pies

My sister first discovered Damn Fine’s cold brew at our local farmer’s market and deemed one of the best cold brews she’d ever had so when we decided to explore Seabrook, I knew we had to make a trip to its original location. The cafe actually also serves both sweet and savory fried pies as well as smothered tater tots (which I’ll have to try next time). I loved my caramel apple pie and chicken and dumpling pie with spicy mayo, but the true highlight was definitely my cold brew with sweet cream. There is plenty of outdoor seating available- perfect for social distancing.

Seabrook Hike and Bike Trail

I had not heard about these walking trails that surround Seabrook, but ended up discovering them when I pulled over in an off the road parking lot after spotting the trails from the road. And what a great surprise! The trails are wide and well maintained- there are also benches that line the meandering river and lots of room to maintain a distance from others.

Maas Nursery

My family has been coming to this nursey for years now to fortify our backyard with greenery and for household plants, but this was my first time making the trip. I was pleasantly shocked at the variety of flowers, plants, and trees that were available for purchase. The place was like a giant maze of green! I loved how knowledgable all the employees were of the different plants. I ended up buying a little juniper bonsai tree after discussing how to properly care for it with a lovely gentleman. I’m so excited to finally be a plant parent!

Loved exploring my own backyard! The pandemic has impacted the travel industry so much and I’m so happy that things are finally starting to return to normal.

72 Hours: New Orleans

For my last trip of 2020, I wanted to leave Texas but also avoid any more air travel (read my New York posts for my experience traveling to another state during a pandemic) so I headed to New Orleans, Louisiana for a much needed vacation. Nola is located about 5 hours from Houston and is pretty much a straight shot on the I-10 highway. The French inspired city is filled with tons of great jazz music, fun dance spots (which we obviously didn’t experience this time around), interesting museums, and delicious food and coffee. On top of all that, one of my friends from high school recently moved to New Orleans so I was excited to reunite with her. Check out my 3 day New Orleans adventure below!

What To Do

National WWII Museum

This museum surprised me with how comprehensive it was and how huge it was! We spent about 2 hours on a rainy Sunday afternoon wandering through the exhibits of the museum and learning SO much about World War II. There is so much information in the museum that there is actually an option to pay an additional $7 to come in for an additional day. While the museum did mainly focus on the US during the war (our military experience and the experience on the home front), there are two large galleries that do provide information on the European and Asian involvement and experiences during the war. We ended up paying a bit more for the 4D movie, Beyond All Boundaries, as well, which journeys through the entire WWII and is narrated by Tom Hanks and is a moving tribute to the millions who died during the war. My favorite part of the museum, however, was that each visitor got to obtain a plastic dog tag that contained information about a participant in the War (whether it be a nurse or a soldier or a politician) and there were several interactive stations placed throughout the exhibits that allowed visitors to save interesting facts they were interested in as well as follow along their ID holder’s story. I highly recommend allocating a solid afternoon for the National WWII Museum because it is honestly one of the best historical museums I’ve ever visited!

Longue Vue House and Gardens

I love visiting old homes when traveling and learning a bit more of history through someone’s familial home. Longue Vue is not a Southern plantation home (although those do abound in the area), but instead belonged to the wealthy Stern family in the late 1800s and 1900s. Touring the house can be done by purchasing a tour ticket and entering the house with a tour guide (tours are limited capacity and the one I went on was private to only my group). The gardens are free to walk around on your own and take photos in because they are gorgeous and serene.

City Park

Ever since watching the Disney movie, Princess and the Frog, I’ve wanted to visit (and ok dance to jazz music!) City Park. While not huge like New York’s Central Park, City Park does have its own natural charm and lots of great walkways. There is also an outpost of the popular Cafe du Monde with lots of space and very little lines. So if you’re craving their fluffy beignets, but don’t want to stand in the French Quarter cafe’s long lines, this is your spot! I loved listening to children laughing and playing and street musicians playing slow jazz music.

Exploring Magazine Street

Everyone knows about Bourbon Street, but I feel like Magazine Street is often overlooked when it shouldn’t be! There are so many wonderful local shops and cafes located on the streets and not to mention, all the gorgeous homes. After grabbing donuts at District Doughnuts, we meandered through Magazine street, popping into a few boutiques here and there and really just enjoying the fresh air and the empty street. Magazine Street is a great alternative to the crowded French Quarter if you’re looking to social distance, but still be a tourist.

What To Eat

Cafe Beignet

The number 1 thing I wanted to eat in New Orleans was beignets (duh!) and nothing was going to stop me from trying as many beignets as I could so you’ll see many many photos of the treat in this post. Before I arrived, I googled top beignet destinations besides Cafe du Monde (because that one is so obvious) and found that some locals actually preferred Cafe Beignet to Cafe du Monde. So I knew I had to make a stop so I could form my own decision. But first, doesn’t Cafe Beignet’s storefront remind you of a little Parisian bakery? It’s so adorable and there is plenty of outdoor seating for social distancing! My opinion on the beignets? While they are pillowy and huge, I don’t feel like they are as fluffy as Cafe du Monde and I can see why Cafe du Monde’s beignets are famous worldwide. Still, the beignets at Cafe Beignet are DELICIOUS and worth a stop!

Cafe Du Monde

This one is a no brainer- who visits New Orleans and doesn’t stop for some of Cafe Du Monde’s famous beignets? This time around I went to the outpost within City Park to avoid the crowds and we didn’t have to wait at all! There was also plenty of seating under the green awning of the building and around the Park as well. Highly recommend coming to this location instead of the crowded French Quarter one.

New Orleans Coffee and Beignets

We stopped here on a whim when we realized that our coffee shop, Bearcat, was located within 5 minutes of these beignets. Most beignet shops sell giant beignets in groups of 3 and while New Orleans Coffee and Beignets does have that option as well, I thought I would try their beignet bites this time around to get a different experience. Although I still prefer the larger beignets, these tiny ones were so crispy and fluffy at the same time and all together yummy!

Banh Mi Boys

I can’t remember how I heard about the creative and delicious banh mi sandwiches at Banh Mi Boys, but I’m so glad I did. The classic banh mi sandwiches are served here, but there is also Cajun inspired twists on some of the sandwich options which is what makes this place special. I went for the fried cajun shrimp banh mi and had zero regrets. This place is so delicious! Banh Mi Boys is located next to a gas station and has plenty of heated outside seating.

Vivi Bubble Tea

I didn’t mention Vivi in my New York post because I knew I was going to mention it here and I didn’t want things to get repetitive. Vivi’s was my all time favorite bubble tea shop when I lived in NYC (I had been going there since I was a college senior interning in the city) and when I discovered there was actually an outpost in New Orleans I knew I had to make a stop. The bubble tea was just as delicious as I remembered and I’m so sad there isn’t a location in Houston. The New Orleans Vivi is located in the Metairie neighborhood near Banh Mi Boys.

French Truck Coffee

I’ve seen the bright yellow and blue colors of French Truck Coffee all over Instagram and was dying to try their coffees when I came to New Orleans. They have several different brick and mortar locations as well as an actual yellow truck- this is the Magazine Street location. The coffee shop sells coffee beans as well as ground coffee and serves a variety of pastries in addition to their coffee options. I went for their classic drink, the New Orleans Iced Coffee!

Bearcat CBD

There are two locations of Bearcat in New Orleans, but we heard from multiple sources that the location in Uptown on Jena Street is better than the Carondelet location. While brunch is also served inside the cafe, we stopped by for their popular chai lattes and caffeinated drinks. Iced drinks are prepackaged in cute bottles, while hot drinks are made upon ordering. My iced chai latte was one of the best ones I’ve had! Parking is a little tricky at the Jena Street location (you’ll have to park on a side street) and there may be a crowd of people waiting when you arrive, but the coffee and lattes are great.

District Doughnuts and Sliders

What better way to start your day than with unique donuts? District Doughnuts doesn’t have a wide donut flavor selection and its donuts aren’t cheap, but they are big and different! I went for the biscotti cookie butter donut and loved how rich and creamy the flavor was. District Doughnuts is located right on Magazine Street so its the perfect way to begin a sunny Saturday morning.

Willa Jean

Willa Jean’s brunch is to die for. I know that sounds very dramatic, but it’s true! Their pastries and bread are baked in house and that literally makes all the difference. My flaky key lime pop tart and fluffy egg and sausage biscuit were some of the most delicious items I ate on this trip- and that is saying a lot because I had a lot of good food in New Orleans. I was so full by the end of the meal but everything on the menu (including my friends’ avocado toasts) seemed so appetizing that I wish my stomach was bigger. Willa Jean can get crowded at times so make a reservation if you can! If you just want to sample their pastries and baked goods, there is an efficient to go line at the front of the restaurant that lets you see all the pastry options for the day. Pro tip- go early because once their bakery items sell out, they are done for the day. I almost lost out on eating the pop tart, but luckily managed to buy the last one!

I loved exploring this calmer side of New Orleans and felt that it was a great getaway from Houston. I can’t wait to explore more of Louisiana this year!

48 Hours: Galveston, Texas

I’ve lived basically 30-40 minutes from Galveston my whole life and while I’ve been to the beach several times, I’ve actually never taken the time to explore the island in depth. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to finally stay local and explore Galveston along with all my other Texas trip posts! Galveston has become notorious during the pandemic for its overly crowded beaches and raging beach bars, but there is so much more to the island than its touristy beaches and bars. In this post, I made an effort to highlight other areas of Galveston that I think are hidden gems and are worth a visit. I’m bypassing places like Moody Gardens, Stewart Beach (although I’m a huge fan of this beach because they have the softest sand!), Schlitterbanh, and Pleasure Pier because everyone already knows about those attractions and to be honest, those places aren’t the greatest to be while Covid is still around. Follow me on my adventures below as I explore the real Galveston!

Sugar Bean

Located in the most beautiful and idyllic neighborhood, Sugar Bean is a cute little coffee shop that serves all different types of caffeinated beverages and has a huge variety of syrups. Although the coffee was great and the cafe had plenty of tables for studying and outdoor seating, my favorite part was strolling around the neighborhood and checking out the adorable homes that surrounded the large lakes. I also loved the many bridges and gazebos because they made me feel as if I was somewhere completely different! There was barely any people in this area so it was easy to social distance and enjoy my coffee in peace.

Jamaica Beach

Jamaica Beach is located in Jamaica, Texas, which is the western end of Galveston Island. The beaches here are less crowded as most people who enjoy them are renting or own beach houses in the area. There aren’t that many day trippers, which means social distancing is possible and you can actually enjoy the beauty of the ocean! The best part is definitely getting to drive your car and park right on the beach.

Shrimp N’ Stuff Food Truck

Shrimp N Stuff now has a brick and morter location in downtown Galveston, but it got its start as a popular food truck roaming around the island. Now parked in a gas station parking lot, Shrimp N Stuff serves up some of the most delicious seafood in town.

The Bryan Museum

I only discovered this museum after doing some research on Galveston and I really don’t know why the museum is relatively unknown because it was an amazing insight into Texas history. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11-5pm and entry costs $14. The building use to be the Galveston Children’s Home, which house abused and neglected children as well as children whose families temporarily could not take care of them. The Home withstood the 1900 hurricane that destroyed most of Galveston and killed thousands of its residents and not only saved its occupants (29 children included), but provided shelter for many evacuees. The middle of the building was damaged, however, and rebuilt into the structure seen today. It was eventually bought by the Bryan family and transformed into a museum. There are a lot of artifacts and information on Texas and Western history from Texas getting its independence from Mexico to Texas’ participation in the Civil War to the Wild West influence on the state.

Bishop’s Palace

I’ve driven by this beautiful mansion several times on my way to the beach and have always wanted to take a peak inside, but never got the chance. The mansion was originally built for the Greshman family (they had 9 children so I can see why they needed all this space), but later was bought by the Galveston Catholic Archdioese for their bishop and eventually purchased by the Galveston Historical Foundation who renovated it into a museum for the public. The mansion is open Wednesday through Monday and costs $15 to enter. On the third Saturday of every month, there are $30 guided tours of the entire house, including the third floor which normally is closed off to visitors. There isn’t a parking lot available for visitors, but I was able to easily get free street parking right in front of the house. While the house was beautiful, I felt that many of the gorgeous rooms were empty and overall the tour didn’t give that much information or insight into either the bishop or the family that lived there previously. I was looking forward to spending a few hours wandering though the house, but found myself finishing the self guided tour within an hour. I’ve toured so many historical homes over the course of my travels (its one of my favorite things to do) and I have to say the Bishop’s Palace can’t compare to the likes of the Breakers Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island or the Winterthur home in Wilmington, Delaware.

Moody Mansion

Moody Mansion is owned by the same family who also own Moody Gardens and are major philanthropist to various endeavors around Texas. My communications college at UT Austin is actually named after their family! I’ve driven by the mansion so many times over the years (its a giant imposing red brick house along Broadway so it can’t be missed), but I’ve never actually stopped to tour the home until recently.

Galveston Railroad Museum

The Railroad Museum was a great look into the past history of trains in Texas.

Island Bicycle Company

I love riding a bike and did so often along the Hudson River when I lived in New York. There are too many scenic bike trails in Houston, however, so when I discovered that many people rode bikes along the Seawall in Galveston, I put it on my to do list. Island Bicycle Company is located in a yellow wooden building along Seawall Blvd and rents single bikes out for $10/hour or $30/day. They also have tandem bicycles and 4 seater surreys for rent. I loved riding along the beach and seeing the shimmering water and sandy beach!

Suki Poke at the Sea

If you’re looking to support Asian businesses in Galveston, Suki Poke is a great choice. The cafe offers a variety of sushi rolls, noodle bowls, bubble tea, and poke bowls. My tuna and spicy salmon poke salad bowl tasted fresh and spicy- just the way I like it!

Teaside Tapioca

I saw Teaside’s adorable whale logo on Yelp and knew I had to support such a cute local business! Teaside is located in a small shopping plaza along the Seawall Blvd and has a variety of bubble teas and coffees on its menu. I went with the classic milk tea with tapioca and while it wasn’t the greatest drink I’ve had, it was still an enjoyable experience drinking tea among the salty air.

This was my first official trip of 2021 and I had a blast exploring Galveston. I’m so excited for everything that 2021 will bring! Fingers crossed this year is better than 2020!

A Week in New York City : Part 2

As promised last week, here is part 2 of my New York City adventures! This post is all about FOOD, which I ate a lot of in the week that I was visiting the city.

Scarpetta

I’ve been dying to try the handmade pastas at Scarpetta for a while now, but the high price tag on their foods prevented me from going earlier. Now that I no longer pay NYC rent (what a relief!), I can finally afford a night out at Scarpetta! The Italian restaurant is located at the James Hotel and has a beautiful outdoor dining setup complete with heaters and flowers. My friend and I dined on fried mozzarella, tomato spaghetti, and duck ravioli as well as a scrumptious bread basket. Everything exceeded my expectations and I can’t wait to return!

Boqueria

Ever since I visited Madrid, I’ve become a little obsessed with tapas and I had heard that Boqueria has some of the best tapas in town so I knew I had to give it a try. And I wasn’t disappointed! I loved the crispy and creamy croquettes as well as the savory seafood paella and the rich nutella churros. There are several Boqueria locations in the city- I went to the Upper East Side outpost.

Uluh Tea House

I discovered Uluh on Instagram and couldn’t wait to try their unique dim sum options while eating in my own private outdoor bubble. The food here is not cheap, but the quality and taste can’t be beat. Make sure to order the pumpkin puffs, crab tofu, shredded duck pancake, and the matcha bang bang drink! Also, the bubbles are heated and limited to just your party so its social distancing at its finest!

Scarr’s Pizza

Is a New York Trip complete without pizza? While Scarr’s didn’t turn out to be my favorite pizza spot (I’m not a huge fan of super thin pizzas), I still enjoyed checking off another pizza restaurant off my list. Scarr’s is located in the Lower East Side and currently allows in person ordering outside their entrance.

Best Bagels

A New York trip isn’t complete without bagels either! I have dreams about the perfectly chewy bagels from Best Bagels and could not wait to reunite with them during this trip. Usually there is a line around the block for their bagels, but due to the pandemic the giant bagel shop was practically empty and my chicken pesto sandwich was ready in just a few minutes,

Machi Machi

This new Ktown bubble tea shop came over from Taiwan and was made popular by the Chinese pop singer, Jay Chou. Hence, the long lines... The drinks come in reusable plastic containers with lids and taste just ok. I had the milk tea with panna cotta and wasn’t that impressed. There are better bubble tea shops in New York!

Ralph’s Coffee

Can it get any more New York than Ralph Lauren’s cafe? I stopped at this classic Upper East Side cafe after visiting the Met for a peppermint hot chocolate. Customers aren’t allowed to enter the cafe anymore- ordering takes place at the door and there are several coffee tables lining the sidewalk now.

Keki Modern Cheesecake

Keki’s wow tarts use to always sell out so I’ve never had the opportunity to try them until this trip. 2 wow tarts and 1 ube cream puff later, I have to say their desserts are life changing. Keki Modern Cheesecake has two locations- one in Koreatown and one in Chinatown.

Sushi Lab

If you haven’t seen Sushi Lab’s Instagrammable rooftop dining photos floating around social media, then where have you been? Sure, the sushi, especially the omakase is great and affordable ($60), but what everyone is really here for is to dine on a roof covered in beautiful flowers overlooking the city. Sushi Lab was such a great lunch experience- the food was so yummy (make sure you get the taro chips as well!) and the service was exceptional. We were one of two groups dining there that day so I didn’t feel crowded at all.

Nonono

I walked by Nonono so many times when I use to work in the Noho neighborhood, but never had the chance to dine at the Japanese inspired restaurant. And I’m so sad I didn’t their delicious food any sooner! Even though many menu options weren’t available for whatever reason, they still had several awesome ramen/udon and yakitori choices. My spicy pork tonkontsu ramen and egg wrapped bacon yakitori was beyond delicious and filling. Another great thing about Nonono was their outdoor dining- each party has their own enclosed heated dining box. Talk about private dining!

Nowon

Nowon’s outdoor dining is unique as well in that each table is divided by solid silver shields, which gives the illusion of private dining. Their Korean fusion food is top notch and delicious. I loved the cheesy rice cakes and honey butter tater tots and royal kimchi fried rice! Everything is extremely flavorful and shockingly good. This East Village restaurant is 5 stars in my books.

The Alley

I have tried prepacked bubble from The Alley in my local Chinatown grocery store and was curious about trying their freshly made drinks so I stopped in one afternoon for a taste. I have to say the two are actually similar, although the fresh drink was definitely better. Their bubble tea drinks aren’t too sweet and doesn’t leave behind an unhealthy feeling like you just drank too much sugar. The Alley is located in Cooper Square.

Tasty Hand Pulled Noodles

This nondescript and often overlooked noodle shop is one of my favorite Chinatown eats. The handmade noodles and dumplings here are beyond delicious- I can’t fully explain how wonderful the food here is, you’ll have to try it yourself! For Covid precautions, they have actually built tiny heated wooden huts so I felt perfectly safe dining in my own personal enclosed hut. Food was delivered to me through a tiny side opening above the table. My roasted pork knife shaved noodle soup and pan fried dumplings were my favorite things on this trip! The noodles can actually be made in different methods (hand pulled, knife shaved, etc…) so pick whichever speaks to your heart (or your stomach)!

Bibble and Sip

I use to live down the street from Bibble and Sip and would always stop by for the lavender lattes or delicious cream puffs. The lines for Bibble and Sip use to be out the door so coming here and witnessing it empty was slightly painful for me (cafe lines are such a New York thing!), but I was so grateful to see tons of beautiful cream puffs available for sale. I tried their new brown sugar bubble tea flavored puff and was floored by how flavorful and wonderful it was!

Crop Circle

I saw that this North Chinese snack had made its way to West Village so I knew I had to stop by and check it out. I went with the spicy pork “guokui” and felt instant regret that i didn’t buy two! The outside is perfectly crispy and the meat inside is well spiced and tasty- its the best winter on the go snack.

About Coffee

West Village coffee shops are plentiful and always spot on with great coffee and cafe culture. I knew I wouldn’t go wrong with any cafe I chose so I went with one closest to my hotel- About Coffee. Their caffeinated drinks are slightly bigger in size than the normal coffee shop so be prepared for an adrenaline rush!

The Elk

Located in Greenwich Village, The Elk is an adorable neighborhood coffee shop that is actually Asian owned. I wanted to support a fellow Asian’s business venture so I stopped by on a windy Wednesday morning for a delicious matcha latte. The Elk is tiny inside so if you see a small line formed outside, don’t worry! The wait won’t be too long- and the drinks are worth it!

PinkLady Cheese Tarts

I spotted these colorful and mouthwatering Asian cheese tarts on Tour de Luste’s Instagram story and knew that whenever I visited New York I would have to try them. So…. I ended up buying every single they baked! Flavors include ube, chocolate, matcha, original cheese, blueberry cheese, and black sesame. The ube was my favorite!

Alimama Tea

I’ve never actually had the drinks at Alimama, but their mochi donuts? I’ve had almost every flavor! Their mochi donuts are to die for- so chewy and flavorful. The tiny (and I do mean tiny because there is no room to eat inside) cafe is located on a nondescript street in Manhattan Chinatown. It can be easy to bypass their small entrance so keep your eyes open for their floral themed outdoor dining setup.

Hope you guys enjoyed my 2 part New York reunion trip recap! I can’t wait for my next trip back to the city (fingers crossed it will hopefully be June 2021!) so if you have any ideas on what I should do or eat next time please drop a comment below!

A Week in New York City: My Reunion with the City!

I lived in New York City for 4 years and it was the best time of my life. I miss the city so much and Covid has put a damper in several of my plans the past few months to return for a visit. Luckily, New York state quarantine requirements was lowered to 3 days (instead of 14 days) and my office returned to a fully remote work environment so I quickly booked a flight to Laguardia (only $150!). This is going to be a long post (I was in the city for a week after all) so prepare yourself!

I want to preface by saying that this trip looked different than a normal vacation because of the pandemic. I did NOT want to catch Covid while in the city and have to remain there under quarantine for 14 days. Additionally, I followed all the travel guidelines outlined by the State of New York (you can find the guidelines here if you’re interested in traveling to the city anytime soon). Under these guidelines I had to obtain negative CDC approved Covid test results at a maximum of 72 hours prior to boarding my flight, fill out the traveler declaration form on the state website, quarantine for 3 days after landing in NYC, and obtain negative Covid test results on my 4th day of being in the city. It was tough, but my love for the city made it all worth it. Plus, getting my favorite foods via delivery wasn’t hard at all! New York City has a much lower Covid case count than my home state of Texas so I wanted to do my part in slowing the spread. The city cares SO much about keeping its residents safe- masks are worn everywhere (indoors and outdoors), outdoor dining was strongly encouraged, social distancing was strictly enforced in many places I visited. As a result, I felt extremely safe and felt like I could enjoy my vacation in peace. I had a lot of fun visiting my old home state and I’m so excited to share my trip with all of you!

Where to Stay

Arlo Soho

This is actually one of my first few times staying in a hotel in NYC- I’ve always had my apartment there so never had the need for a hotel room. I was pretty excited to experience the hotel scene and Arlo Soho did not disappoint!

What to Do

Metropolitan Museum

Due to capacity limits and social distancing, there are long lines to enter the Museum, although they do move relatively quickly. If you go with a New York resident or Museum member (like I did), entrance is free. Otherwise, the ticket is $25. Preregistration is required for some of the more popular exhibits, but its equally nice to just wander around the museum exploring the wide variety or artifacts displayed here.

AKC Museum of Dog

This Museum had just opened up when I was leaving New York and as a long time dog lover, I knew I had to visit it once I returned. The Museum isn’t crowded at all, making it a great social distancing attraction. There are 2 floors of exhibits and it takes about an hour to see the entire place. There are tons of paintings of dogs through the decades as well as a fascinating exhibit on presidential dogs. To keep visitors safe, a stylus is given to each person to use for any interactive exhibits and also to push buttons in the elevator.

Palace Hotel Christmas Tree

Skip the crowded Rockefeller Christmas tree and take your annual city tree photo at the Lotte Palace Hotel Christmas tree instead! This tree is located in the hotel courtyard located on 52nd street between Madison and Park avenues.

Strand Bookstore

After watching Dash and Lily on Netflix, I became so nostalgic about the Strand bookstore (a good chunk of the show is filmed inside the store) and popped in to take a look one day when I was wandering the streets. The Strand is a local bookstore and definitely needs our support during these difficult times. I love feeling like I stepped into a warm cozy home whenever I enter- the staff actually leaves little notes on the shelves regarding their favorite books! The Strand is located on 12th street and Broadway.

Fotografiska

I use to walk past the Fotografiska building all the time while it was being constructed wondering what would be inside. Sadly, the museum opened after I left New York so I knew I would have to visit once I returned. The museum centers around photography and has a handful of rotating exhibits at a time. When I visited, there was an exhibit on Death Row exonerees that was so eye opening and moving and inspirational. Each featured exoneree was shown up close in video format while his story played for the listener to hear. There were a few times when I was moved to tears hearing their situations and seeing their own faces react to their ordeal. Fotografiska costs $24 to enter and can be crowded at times so booking a timed ticket in advance online is the best option. The museum is located on the corner of Park avenue and 22nd street.

Central Park

There really aren’t words to describe how beautiful Central Park is at all times of the day during every season, so I’ll just have to show you! These were take a little before 5pm in early December.

The Edge Observatory

This is a new attraction that opened recently in Hudson Yards (a new development in the city) and while it costs quite a lot to go up to the 100th floor observatory ($36), I have to say it is worth it. The view is amazing- just be sure to go on a clear day so you can see as far as possible! The rules do allow you to change your ticket once so if you do happen to have booked a ticket on a foggy or rainy day, they will change it for you to a different day (this happened to me). Masks have to be kept on the entire time even though you are outdoors, except for when you are posing for a picture. Security is strict and will request that you mask up if they see you without a mask for too long. A pro tip is to go up right when the Observatory opens (less chance for crowds!) and to line up for a photo at the corner nearest the Empire State Building. That corner is super popular so prepare for a frenzy of photo taking as each group only gets 2 minutes (or less if the line gets too long!) in the corner.

Hudson Yards

When I moved away from New York, the Hudson Yards area had opened to the public, but much about it was still unknown. Now, it was become a spot for high end shopping, waterfront viewing, and fine dining. The Edge (see above) is located inside the huge luxurious mall and so are stores and cafes like Lululemon, Van Leewen ice cream, Camp, Zara, Shack Shake, and Fuku. Hudson Yards is connected directly to the High Line so my friend and I opted from explore both the elevated train track park along with the mall and the iconic Vessel (also located at Hudson Yards).

Bike Riding along the Hudson River

One of my favorite pastimes when I lived in New York! Its a great way to get fresh air and exercise while viewing the beautiful Hudson River and exploring the western side of Manhattan. There are several great parks along the way and photo opportunities. I use Citi Bikes through the Lyft app, which costs $3 for 30 minutes. There are docking stations all along the bike path so it makes for a very convenient and safe ride. I’m terrified of bike riding in the actual streets of New York so this separated bike path is definitely more my speed. Highly recommend!

Bryant Park Winter Village

The Winter Village has always been one of my favorite holiday traditions when I lived in the city and when I discovered that it was not cancelled by Covid, I saved it for my last day in New York. While there are significantly less vendors and still a lot of people (I didn’t remove my mask once while exploring the Village), it is still just as magical and festive as I remembered. I walked around the corner to pick up the decadent hot chocolate from the new Angelina Paris cafe (prepare for a line) and throughly enjoyed my last afternoon in New York here.

Dr. Scalp

I first discovered Dr Scalp from Youtuber, Michelle Choi, after I had moved away from New York and was so disappointed I wouldn’t have the opportunity to get my hair and scalp treated by their scalp professionals. So when I was first planning my reunion trip, visiting Dr. Scalp was my #1 thing I wanted to do. The scalp care salon specializes in not just hair washing, but also treating your scalp for whatever condition afflicts it (they have a machine that first checks out your scalp to determine what type of treatment you need). I opted for an oily scalp treatment and spent 2 hours having my scalp treated, washed, and massaged. It was glorious! The pricing option isn’t cheap- I spent about $150- but it was definitely worth it. My scalp felt so refreshed afterwards.

Sundays Studio

Getting my nails done in NYC was always something I considered a luxury because I usually preferred to spend my money on food and traveling. But since I was on my reunion trip to the city and I wanted to support a local studio, I decided to get a manicure at Sundays Studio. Sundays is a Korean owned nail salon that specializes in their exceptional service and non toxic nail polishes. The nail studio has two locations in Manhattan- Hudson Yards and Flatiron district. They had so many Covid protections in place including mask wearing and a plastic shield between the nail technician and the customer. For an hour, I relaxed and was pampered to the fullest!

Brooklyn Bridge

No New York tourist trip can ever be complete without a visit to the Brooklyn Bridge. It is such a beautiful architectural feat and symbolizes the city so well. Even on a cloudy day, I enjoyed walking along the wooden path and looking out over the city.

Pier 17

Located at the edge of the Financial District and bordering the East River, Pier 17 is one of the newest attractions to hit the city. In the summer, Pier 17 hosts free outdoor movies on their rooftop lawn and free fitness classes on the pier. There is a variety of cafes and restaurants located inside the building and even a really cool members only lounge for Chase cardholders. In the winter time, there is occasionally a rooftop ice skating rink or winter cabin dining options. There is really so much to do! But my favorite thing is just sitting at one of the many wooden chairs that line the edge of the pier and overlook the River. New York City is so beautiful and I will never get tired of looking at it!

What to Eat and Drink

This post is getting way too long so I’ve decided to cut it in half because I honestly ate a LOT in New York. Stay tuned for all my NYC food adventures next week!

My whole return trip to New York City was such an emotional experience for me. I spent 4 wonderful years living there and reminisce about those years all the time. Being back for a week allowed me to live that time in my life again (even for a short period) and was one of my highlights for 2020. I can’t wait to return (once Covid is over though because plane travel during the pandemic is just too stressful) and experience the city even more!

My 2021 Travel Wishlist

Yes, I am still making a travel wishlist for the new year because no travel isn’t dead! I just had to put more thought and creativity behind the locations and I had to do a bit more research into the safety measures being enacted at each destination. But all that is worth it for the opportunity to continue to travel and to travel safely. My list this year doesn’t look the same as previous years- there won’t be an Asia or Europe destinations- because many countries still have travel bans against US citizens since our country has basically the highest Covid case rate in the world. Instead, my list this year will include plenty of Texas cities (If you haven’t checked out my recent blog posts, they have all been about my explorations in my home state of Texas) and a few other US spots I’ve been wanting to check out. Covid isn’t going anywhere anytime soon (although the recent vaccine distribution has been exciting news!) and I don’t think it should force us to stop traveling. Travel is what heals the soul! However, keeping yourself and others around you safe should be a top priority. I’ve chosen the locations below while keeping in mind that a mandatory mask mandate should be in place (I excluded states where masks aren’t mandatory because it honestly really scares me to see an unmasked person in public now) and that the location shouldn’t be too crowded (the ability to social distance is a must). Hope you guys can draw some inspiration below!

Corpus Christi, Texas

I have wanted to head to this Texas beach town for a while now because I’m dying to stay at the Lively Beach hotel. Lively Beach has its own private beach access (making it easier to avoid the crowds) and the rooms are spacious enough to enjoy time on your private patio or indoors as well. There are activities in Corpus Christi like horse back riding on the beach (!) and checking out the Selena Museum (owned and operated by her family to keep her legacy alive) and eating a lot of seafood!

Ennis, Texas

Ennis is famous in Texas for its bluebonnet trail, which comes into full bloom in the spring. There are tons of bluebonnet trail maps and guides online that identify where the ultimate viewing areas are and I’m hoping that next year I’ll be able to enjoy the emblematic Texas state flower as well. Ennis also hosts a bluebonnet festival every April, although due to Covid the festival was canceled this year and I’m not sure it will be held in 2021. But even without a festival, the town promises lots of gorgeous flowers and plenty of space to enjoy them.

Spicewood, Texas

In October of 2020 I visited Marble Falls which neighbors Spicewood, but didn’t have enough time on my weekend trip to check Spicewood out as well so I knew that I had to come back to the area in 2021. There is an adorable airstream available for rent on Airbnb that honestly seems like the coolest experience ever. Other things I would love to do on this trip include wine tasting at Spicewood Vineyards, filling up my stomach at Opie’s BBQ, and swimming outdoors at Krause Springs.

Wimberley, Texas

Another town with plenty of adorable Airbnbs! My best friend and I loved staying at a tiny Airbnb in Waco this past year so when I discovered that Wimberley has even more tiny Airbnbs available, I was to add the town onto my 2021 travel wishlist. While I would be tempted to just stay indoors all day enjoying the Airbnb, I would definitely try to force myself outside of the house to enjoy things like the swimming spot, Jacob’s Well, hiking Mount Baldy, and exploring Blue Hole Regional Park.

Boerne, Texas

This small town is located an hour outside of San Antonio and is often overlooked due to its popular neighboring city, but definitely has a lot to offer on its own. My goal when visiting here is to stay at this Airbnb airstream (yes airstreams are my newest obsession) which comes with its own kayaks and to check out the Sister Creek Vineyard, Cave Without A Name, and Cibolo Nature Center. During the summer, Boerne City Lake even has SUP yoga classes on Saturday mornings!

Vermont and New Hampshire

The photos of the fall foliage in Vermont is enough to make anyone want to visit the state! Currently, both Vermont and New Hampshire have quarantine rules for incoming visitors so hopefully by next October these rules will have been lifted or at least eased a little. I want to start my trip in Stowe, tasting ice cream at the Ben and Jerry’s factory, and make my way to Montpelier for fall foliage viewing against the backdrop of their white church, all the way staying at the Sound of Music family’s Von Trapp Family Lodge. I am a huge fan of Sound of Music and can’t wait to experience the hotel created by the real family behind the musical. New Hampshire will hopefully cap off my trip with its beautiful lighthouses and coastline!

Sedona, Arizona

Arizona is the ultimate hiking destination and I’m shocked at myself that I’ve never been! From Cathedral Rocks to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend and also the Grand Canyon, the state is full of outdoor hiking opportunities and experiences that don’t involve being in crowds. I’m excited for a hiking and outdoor yoga tour to a vortex (areas of spiritual energy), horseback riding under the Arizona sun, and lots of relaxing in an amazing resort!

Jamaica

After extensive research, which included reading Jamaica’s 150 page safety manual, I decided that Jamaica would be my first international trip in over a year. I chose this country because they are open to Americans and have some very strict safety protocols that all visitors must follow. Masks are required everywhere in public and everyone has to obtain negative Covid test results within 10 days of boarding the flight to Jamaica. A lot of resorts have enacted safety measures to ensure that guests have fun while remaining safe and that has done a lot in making me interested in visiting this beautiful Caribbean country. I can’t wait to relax on a white sandy beach and gaze out at clear blue waters!

For international travel, its worth it to check out the CDC’s page on travel to see which risk level a country is in. Otherewise, use your own judgement based on your own health and those you live with to make decisions on travel! Covid tests continue to be covered by most insurances and there are a lot of free testing spots around the country so its a great idea to get tested before meeting with others after you have been traveling. Remember to always wear your mask (masks have been proven effective!) and social distance! Happy traveling!