Travel, USA

Best California Road Trip Rest Stop

The past couple years have taught me to slow down and enjoy more of my beautiful home state, and showed me that California has more to offer than I could’ve ever imagined. Towering redwood trees, unparalleled coastlines, otherworldly desert landscapes, magical spring florals and fabulous cities full of vibrant culture and delicious food. As one of the few places you can snowboard and surf in the same day (we’ll have to try this sometime!) we have come to love traveling to places like Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Sequoia National Park, Death Valley, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree and Carlsbad/La Jolla/San Diego within days of each other.

Of course, doing any of these trips would take several hours of driving. California is a vast state, so embarking on a road trip can take anywhere from a three to twelve hour drive. A good rest stop is a must for any epic road trip, and we’ve recently discovered The Oasis on I-5 as our new favorite place to take a break on a long drive to refuel our car and refuel ourselves before continuing on our journey!  

Conveniently situated between Bakersfield and Los Angeles, California’s premier travel stop on I-5, the Outlets at Tejon, have tons of options for food, fuel, fashion, hotels, art galleries, open areas for pets and more!  We have stopped at the outlets on our way to several local adventures: taking photos at the almond blossoms in Bakersfield, visiting family and friends in the bay area and on our way to different national parks like Yosemite and Sequoia.  It’s even served as a great stop for those last-minute gifts you might need to purchase for family or friends (or yourself—I won’t judge!).

Shopping
The award-winning Outlets at Tejon feature more than 40 stores and brands with deals up to 65% off.  From clothing and jewelry to home goods and sports supplies, there’s something for everyone here. With great deals and a good variety of recognizable brands, we were able to quickly shop for clothing for upcoming birthdays for a few family members, as well as find things for ourselves.

By making these purchases, we later found out that we could show our receipts at Guest Services to receive $15 gift cards which we were able to use to buy lunch later, and also enter into the monthly sweepstakes (more on that below!).  During this month’s sweepstakes (March 2022) for example, you can win a $500 Airbnb gift card or a $200 gas card.  We also received coupons from Guest Services which we could use at these stores so it ended up being a fantastic, high-value shopping experience.

Stores Options Include:

  • Adidas
  • Aerie
  • Aeropostale
  • American Eagle Outfitters
  • Auntie Anne’s
  • Banana Republic Factory Store
  • Bath & Body Works
  • Bird Dog Arts
  • Calvin Klein
  • Carter’s
  • China Max
  • Cinnabon
  • Coach
  • Columbia Sportswear
  • Cosmetics Company Store
  • Cotton On
  • Express Factory Outlets
  • Famous Footwear Outlet
  • Fragrance Outlet
  • Gap Outlet
  • Guess Factory Store
  • H&M
  • Hot Topic
  • Journeys
  • Kate Spade
  • Kevin Jewelers
  • LE Creuset
  • Levi’s Outlet Store
  • Lids
  • Lucky Brand Jeans Outlet Store
  • Michael Kors
  • Nike Factory Store
  • Old Navy Outlet
  • Oshkosh B’gosh
  • Perfumes-4-U
  • Polo Ralph Lauren
  • Puma
  • Rack Room Shoes
  • Skechers
  • Sunglass Hut
  • The Children’s Place
  • Tilly’s
  • Tommy Hilfiger Company Store
  • Zumiez

Fuel & Electric Charging
In addition to 100+ fuel pumps and dozens of EV chargers, did you know that Tejon Ranch features the 2nd biggest Tesla charging station in the world?  We didn’t, but using the Tesla Supercharger gave us a much quicker charge than a normal charging station, taking the car from a low 8% charge to a full charge in less than 30 minutes.  Not even enough time for us to eat and shop, so if we were really in a rush this would have been extremely convenient!  The area also felt extremely clean and safe, so if we had to charge a car late at night on a drive home, we absolutely would not hesitate to stop here.

Food & Drink
There are more than 30 restaurants and food options to choose from here, from sit-down restaurants to drive-thrus, dessert and casual cafes.  Lots of options for different dietary restrictions.  There are even some awesome food trucks and stalls here.  The first time we visited Tejon Ranch, we found a delicious Mediterranean food truck and devoured our meals before we remembered to get a photo.  And the last time we were here on our way to check out the almond blossoms in Bakersfield, we swung by the Starbucks drive-thru and grabbed a quick pick-me-up before continuing on our way. My husband is always happy to stop for In-N-Out though seeing a place to get a good Philly Cheesesteak sandwich made him reconsider and get that instead, and we got some donuts for my father while I grabbed a smoothie.  With this range of options, there’s really something for everyone.

Food Options Include:

  • Arby’s
  • Auntie Anne’s
  • Baja Fresh
  • Baskin Robbins
  • Black Bear Diner
  • Burger King
  • Carl’s Jr
  • Charley’s Philly Steak
  • Chipotle
  • Denny’s
  • Dunkin’ Donuts
  • Firehouse Subs
  • The Habit Burger & Grill
  • In-N-Out Burger
  • Iron Skillet Restaurant
  • Jamba Juice
  • McDonald’s
  • Panda Express
  • Pieology
  • Pizza Hut
  • Popeyes
  • Starbucks
  • Subway
  • Taco Bell
  • Wendy’s

Art Museum
One of my favorite things about Tejon Ranch is a hidden gem—an art gallery called Bird Dog Arts that features original contemporary artwork from more than 85 California artists.  Not only do they sell artwork and feature receptions, lectures, artist demonstrations and performances, but they also have the cutest local cat named Turkey.  Turkey’s backstory is he was rescued from a tree on the premises, and now he lives a cushy life offering a-meow-zing tours to visitors and encouraging folks to support local artists.  This is one of the more fun and colorful spots in the area and provides a great chance to take things slow and relax as well as an opportunity to browse.


Exciting Rotating Offers
The Outlets at Tejon also have promotions and events that always keep things new and exciting.  Stop by Guest Services when you arrive and see what offers they have going on.  Currently there is a monthly sweepstakes for travel prizes ranging from Disneyland passes, hotel stays, Airbnb or Gas gift cards, or other special deals, usually for hotels and activities in different cities such as Paso Robles, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Napa, Ojai, Anaheim and more.

Last month in February for example, the prize was a vacation on Mammoth Mountain, covering a 2-night stay at The Village Lodge and two ski equipment rentals.  My husband and I have yet to go on a winter vacation together where we’ve done activities in the snow like skiing or snowboarding, so I know we would have loved to win that prize!  Other upcoming prizes are also tied into local vacations: April will feature a 2-night stay at The Ojai Valley Inn and 2 vouchers for golf, May winners will receive a 2-night stay at The Archer Hotel in Napa along with two wine tastings at the hotel’s winery, and June’s prize is four Disneyland tickets and a gas card.  We definitely miss our Disneyland passes so will make sure we’re entered into June’s sweepstakes.  Just looking at the list of future prizes gets us excited about other California destinations! J

Currently, there’s also a deal where you can bring your receipts to Guest Services and get a $15 gift card* to spend at Tejon Ranch for every $50 purchase (that includes any combination of gas/food/convenience store purchases).  We did some shopping for my sister’s birthday, and were able to bring our receipts and pay for our lunch that day.  Pretty great deal!

Guest Services also offers Travel Tejon Passports, which you can get stamped per receipt from shopping, dining, refueling or hotel stays.  For each stamp, you’ll get entered into the monthly sweepstakes.  Up to three stamps per category (shopping, hotels, dining and gas/convenience).  No minimum dollar amount for these entries. 

*Limit 1 per person, receipt(s) must be from the same day to be eligible, supplies on a first come first serve basis. Visit TejonOutlets.com/contests-sweepstakes for full terms and conditions.

Nearby Getaways
As we mentioned up top, the I-5 freeway is a long, connective highway that can take you from San Diego in the southernmost areas of California (or even down to Mexico if you like!) all the way north through the Shasta-Trinity Forest and into Oregon.  Lots of major cities exist near the 5, and other major freeways and highways connect to it, taking you to a huge variety of beautiful cities and environments.  There is so much more to California than just the great coastal cities, and taking the 5 allows you to see how much this state really has to offer!  And of course, you can always get to Nevada (Las Vegas/Lake Tahoe/Valley of Fire State Park) from here relatively easy as well.

If you need some ideas of places to explore from Tejon Ranch, here’s a variety of suggestions ranging from a short hop to a trip you’ll definitely want to grab some snacks and supplies for:

  • Bakersfield (30 miles / 30m drive)
  • Angeles National Forest (32 miles / 35m drive)
  • Los Angeles (84 miles / 1hr 30m drive)
  • Santa Barbara (120 miles / 2hr drive)
  • Sequoia National Park (122 miles / 2hr drive)
  • Pismo Beach (122 miles / 2hr 10m drive)
  • San Luis Obispo (135 miles / 2hr 20m drive)
  • Fresno (140 miles / 2hr 30m drive)
  • King Canyon National Park (160 miles / 3hr drive)
  • Lone Pine / Alabama Hills (177 miles / 3hr drive)
  • Palm Springs (190 miles / 3hr drive)
  • San Diego (204 miles / 3h 10m drive)
  • Death Valley National Park (182 miles / 3hr 15m drive)
  • Yosemite National Park (200 miles / 3hr 20m drive)
  • Joshua Tree National Park (215 miles / 3hr 27m drive)
  • Anza Borrego State Park (233 miles / 4hr drive)
  • Monterey (237 miles / 4hr drive)
  • San Jose (258 miles / 4hr 3m drive)
  • Big Sur (227 miles / 4hr 15m drive)
  • Mammoth Lakes (277 miles / 4hr 40m drive)
  • San Francisco (300 miles / 4hr 45m drive)
  • Las Vegas (300 miles / 5hr drive)
  • Lake Tahoe (400 miles / 7hr drive)

Hotels
If your journey has led you to Tejon in the evening and you’re looking to spend the night near the Outlets, there are four reasonable hotels to choose from that all seem great for families.  In the visitor center we also saw nature photographs of the Tejon area so if we spend the night here in the future, there definitely seemed to be nice spots nearby for exploration and to watch the sunset or sunrise.

  • Best Western Liberty Inn

Eco-Friendly Property, Free Parking, Breakfast, WiFi, Accessible, Indoor Pool
Phone: (661) 858-7777

  • Day’s Inn

Free Parking, Outdoor Pool, Breakfast, Pet-Friendly, Fitness Center, WiFi
Phone: (661) 248-1530

  • Hampton Inn

Free Parking, Indoor Pool, Breakfast, Accessible, Pet-Friendly, Business Center, WFI
Phone: (661) 241-7100

  • Microtel Inn & Suites

Free Parking, WiFi, Breakfast, Business Center, Accessible
Phone: (661) 241-6666

A Pet-Friendly Haven
The Outlets at Tejon also have a lot of open space and are a great place to take your pets out for some fresh air.  Dogs can get weary on long road trips too, so of course we let took our Golden Retriever-Great Pyrenees mix out to enjoy the grass, the sun, and friendly people who wanted to pet her.  We saw a number of other dogs stretching their legs and enjoying themselves as well.  She was thrilled!

Outlets at Tejon Information

  • Open Daily: 10:00am – 8:00pm
  • Guest Services Daily Hours: 10:00am – 5:00pm
  • Phone: 661-858-2155
  • Address: 5701 Outlets at Tejon Pkwy, Arvin, CA 93203
  • Located off I-5 and Highway 99 just south of Bakersfield


In Summary

The Outlets at Tejon have become an essential part of our road trips that we look forward to—a rest stop where we can get gasoline, coffee, In-N-Out, see our favorite art gallery cat and maybe even get some shopping done before resuming our journey.  It’s a fun, clean, safe and welcoming space that always has fun surprises to offer, and is a perfect stop on anyone’s California road trip up the I-5.



Lifestyle, North America, Travel, USA

Top 10 Things to do in Lompoc, CA

In my mind, California’s central coast is one of the most beautiful and underrated regions in the state. When my husband and I had the chance to visit Lompoc one weekend with Explore Lompoc, we jumped at the opportunity! This area was first inhabited by the native Chumash people, and the name “Lompoc” is derived from the Purisimeño language meaning “lagoon.” Since then, the city was incorporated in 1888, and became known for its flowers, art, diatomite mine, Vanderberg Air Force base and wine.Lompoc-Flowers-4From our weekend in Lompoc, here were our top 10 favorite things to do:


  1. VISIT THE HISTORIC LA PURISIMA MISSION

Mission-10This beautiful mission is part of the La Purisima State Historic Park, which covers 1,928 acres of land. The mission was originally built in 1787 near the southern part of Lompoc city, but after an earthquake destroyed in the mission in 1812, it was relocated a few miles northeast. The mission was rebuilt in linear fashion to better withstand future earthquakes, making it the only California mission not designed in a quadrangle. This beautiful and uncrowded mission is my favorite in the state!

 


  1. TAKE A SCENIC HIKE UP BODGER TRAIL

Bodger-Trail-4Bodger Trail is the top-rated hike in Lompoc. This steep 0.7 mile incline leads to a breathtaking panoramic view of the city and the flower fields, making it a short but sweet climb to a beautiful vantage point.

 


  1. GAZE UPON THE STUNNING LOMPOC FLOWER FIELDS

Lompoc-Flowers-5Speaking of flower fields! Lompoc is known as the “City of Arts and Flowers,” and also is known as the flower seed capital of the world. If you’re visiting between April and September, chances are you will see some beautiful blooms somewhere in the city—whether they be wildflowers or commercial flower fields. Be sure to check out Lompoc’s Flower Tracker before you go!


  1. WANDER OLD TOWN LOMPOC’S MURALS

 

There are 40 murals distributed throughout this adorable small town, and a map for that can be found here. The murals highlight Lompoc’s heritage, and are a great way to learn more about the history, economy and culture of this adorable place. Swing by the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitor’s Bureau to grab a map and tips on what to do/see along the route!


  1. SUNBATHE AT JALAMA BEACH

 

Do the 30-minute drive from Lompoc town through some beautiful vineyards and rolling hills to get to Jalama Beach and catch some waves, nap in the sun, stroll along the coast or explore sea caves. You can also bring your furry friends ($3/dog) or try camping (starting at $30/night) here!


  1. GO WINE TASTING IN THE WINE GHETTO

Montemar-Wines-7Taste some of the best wine that the Sta Rita Valley has to offer. Lompoc’s wines are delicious, and you can be sure that you’ll have some great conversations and meet wonderful people as you explore Lompoc’s Wine Ghetto! Our favorite winery is Montemar Wines, which has some amazing pinots/syrahs and a large outdoor patio complete with games, live music and an organic garden. Also, this spot features the first ever wine barrel ceiling!


  1. GRAB A COFFEE AT SOUTHSIDE CAFÉ

 

This local favorite café features adorable, colorful art and some delicious coffee options. My favorite from here is the dark chocolate mocha with lavender! Southside Café sits right in the heart of Old Town Lompoc, and is a great starting point as you embark on your mural hunt.


  1. EAT A TASTY MEAL AT HANGAR 7

 

Also located in the heart of Old Town Lompoc, Hangar 7 is a charming gastropub that has delicious flatbreads (all of which you can sub gluten-free crust for at no additional charge!) and local wine/beer options. The aviation theme is apparent all throughout the lounge, and you might even find a helmet signed by Elon Musk.


  1. LOUNGE BY THE POOL

 

Lompoc has incredibly temperate climate and never really gets too hot or too cold. This is part of why it’s so ideal for growing flowers, and also makes the town a great place for a pool day! We enjoyed an afternoon lounging at the Hilton Garden Inn.


  1. SWING BY THE OLD DRIVE-IN

Lompoc-Drive-InThis now abandoned drive-in theater is a great place to swing by for a quick photo on your way to the mission. Fun Fact: this drive-in was heavily featured in the 2004 film SIDEWAYS, starring Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen.


BONUS: VISIT THE AMERICAN WILD HORSE SANCTUARY
We unfortunately didn’t have time to do this in our whirlwind weekend, but Lompoc’s Return to Freedom horse sanctuary is dedicated to preserving America’s wild horse population through conservation, advocacy and education. These 5,000 acres span four different locations and are home to over 500 horses and 42 burros. You can tour the sanctuary by reserving a photo safari in advance!

 

Lompoc is a beautiful and underrated California gem, and I hope I’ve helped convince you to add it to your list the next time you drive up the central coast!


This guide is written in partnership with Explore Lompoc. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you so much to the City of Lompoc for making our weekend here a trip to remember!

 

Africa, Morocco, Sahara Desert, Travel

3 Day Sahara Desert Tour

When you think of Morocco, it’s likely that two things will come to mind: the bustling souks of Marrakech, and the vastness of the red Sahara Desert.

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(Okay, maybe you also think about the blue pearl, aka Chefchaouen. But we didn’t make it there this trip so that sadly won’t be covered on here…yet!)

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Back to the Sahara, the desert was truly a highlight of Morocco for us. It was UNFORGETTABLE to sleep under the Milky Way, climb atop a dune for the sunrise, try our hand at sandboarding and meet our friendly camels—Mahmoud and Jimmy (YEP, my camel’s name was JIMMY).

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The first thing you really need to know before you plan a trip like this is Morocco is BIG. You might be thinking, “Let’s do a day in Marrakech, a day in the Sahara, a day in Chefchaouen.” Nope, it doesn’t work like that. Driving from Marrakech to Merzouga (the city bordering the Sahara) will take you about 8.5 hours. And then Merzouga to Fes would take at least 7 hours.

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We did the tour in November (American Thanksgiving week), which was good for smaller crowds and cooler weather. It did, however, make the mountains and Sahara Desert feel very cold indeed (30-40 F / 0-4 C)! Also, with the shorter daylight hours, we felt pressed for time to see locations in the daylight, and sort of wished we could have traveled either in earlier November or October to make the most of our time.

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So what do you see on the way to the Sahara Desert from Marrakech? Or from Fes? Well, let me tell you!

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Day 1
We booked a tour with Explore Sahara Tours based on my dear friend Amelia Leung’s recommendation. Hassan picked us up at 8am sharp from our hotel in Marrakech (the lovely Le Riad Yasmine), and with that we were off. He was a young man who was incredibly kind and insightful about the local Berber culture and knew various fun facts about Morocco. But he often spoke softly with the window open, so we struggled to understand him at times.

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We stopped in Tizi N’Tichka to gaze out at the Atlas Mountains, the terrain of which reminded me much of the meandering hills in California. We also swung by an Argon oil cooperative, where a local Moroccan woman walked us through the process of extracting the oil and also had different oils and butters for us to try. We had run out of our Moroccan Dirhams at this point because we forgot to withdraw more from the ATM in Marrakech, but they allowed us to pay for some oils and soaps in Euros.

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We spent a good amount of time in the car after this, but by lunchtime, we had arrived at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou. Seeing the breathtaking ksar was truly a highlight for us, and we only wish we had more time here.

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Crossing a bridge over to the famed film location (famous for GAME OF THRONES, GLADIATOR and more), we learned that only a couple families still lived within this ancient fortified town on the road from Marrakech to the Sahara—most moved across the river for running water.

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We climbed to the top of the ksar and enjoyed the view, but were unable to stay to find the rooftop tea house that I had been curious about. Oh well—guess that just means we’ll have to go back!

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After this, we dined on a traditional Moroccan lunch at the town across with a view of Ait Ben Haddou behind us. Since lunches weren’t included in the tour, our guide loaned us cash (lol!) since we were out, and we just had to wait until we got to the next big town (Ouarzazate) to withdraw more to pay him back.

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We only briefly passed through Ouarzazate and saw Atlas Film Studios from the outside, but did not enter. Since we were traveling during winter, our daylight hours were brief and we could tell our guide wanted to spend minimal time at locations and hit the road as quickly as possible. I completely understood why he didn’t want to drive in the dark, but it was still a bit of a shame to feel rushed in all these interesting locations.

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We arrived to Hotel Babylon in the Dadés Valley after sunset, and gladly accepted hot mint tea upon arrival. We sat outside with our guide, Hassan, where we finally got to learn a little more about him, his family, hobbies and had conversations about the different languages he spoke and kinds of tourists that would come through.

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After dropping off our bags in our room, we met in the hotel’s dining room to have soup and tagine. We explored the hotel a bit, but turned in early so we could begin our next day first thing the next morning!

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Day 2

We awoke at 6:30am to a buffet breakfast equipped with yogurt, fruit, breads and OF COURSE, mint tea. Hassan met us at the reception desk at 7am, and we took off to see the Monkey Finger Rocks (formations created by winds and weather) on our way to the desert.

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We continued our drive up and down meandering mountainous roads to reach the Todra Gorge, where we were informed many rock climbing enthusiasts would go. A river ran through the valley, and we strolled along it for a bit.

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We then were taken to a cooperative to look at rugs. We enjoyed mint tea as the shopkeeper explained to us the method of weaving and whether they used camel or sheep hair to do it. We were then shown a wide assortment of rugs.

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While this was an enjoyable experience, even with our bargaining, the rugs we ended up purchasing were not in a price range that we felt comfortable with. The stop at the rug cooperative blindsided us a bit because although we knew we wanted to purchase a rug on our trip, we hadn’t researched at this point to see what a fair price would be and how to inspect the rugs to ensure we weren’t being cheated.

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Ultimately, we bought two rugs that we love for half of what we were being asked to pay, but I think we could have bought the rugs cheaper elsewhere (like Marrakech or Fes). The people there were very kind, and we did love the designs we got as well as the explanations for each Berber symbol we were given. We just felt obligated to make our purchase there, and I wish we could have done rug shopping on our own accord.

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We stopped for lunch somewhere along the way, and continued onto Merzouga, the last town before the Sahara Desert. Here we dropped off our bags at a local hotel where we met the tour owner, a different Hassan, and we took out the bare minimum of what we’d need in the desert and packed the items in our backpack.

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Finally, the moment we had been waiting for. We climbed on two friendly camels that took us into the Sahara desert!!! Michael and I were led by a friendly young man named Mohammed, and there were two Canadians in our caravan. We chatted with them both until our group stopped halfway to the camp to watch the sunset over the sand dunes.

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We separated from the new Canadian friends we had made who were en route to a different camp. When we arrived at our campsite, I was thoroughly excited with what I saw.

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I was surprised by how luxurious the campsite was! Not only was there electricity, but there was running water, showers and beautifully decorated tents.

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The campsite was extensive, but because it was off season, we were literally the only people there apart from an Australian couple that we quickly befriended. We were originally put on the “regular” side of the campground, but our local Berber staff Mohammed and Ali offered to move us over to the “luxury” side of the campsite to be closer to our Australian friends. We jumped at the opportunity to check out another fun space, but both tents were positively lovely and we would’ve been happy with either one.

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We gladly drank mint tea to stay warm, and ate a deliciously filling homemade dinner. After dinner, we gathered around a fireplace together and joined our new Berber friends in singing and playing African drums.

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My favorite part of the campfire experience is a silly one—the staff had a desert cat named Bissy that lived at the campsite. Bissy came over to hang out with us, jumped in my lap and slept there for the rest of the evening!! So everyone else had drums, but I had a warm friendly cat in my lap, and I think I really won.

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We learned about the history of the Berber people, about their thoughts on religion and life, their carefree perspective on education and learned a charming love story about a Japanese tourist who got lost in the Sahara, met a Berber family that saved her life, and married the son of that family who now lived in a bordering town where they opened a Japanese-Berber restaurant. Talk about a life-changing experience!

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When we asked the staff about the stars, Mohammed nonchalantly said, “Oh, shall we turn out the lights so you can see shooting stars?” We were surprised and asked if there was a meteor shower, but the staff said that no, every night you could see shooting stars! I guess when you’re so far into the desert and disconnected from light pollution and civilization, you can see all the beauty of the galaxies that God created.

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We laid out together atop the campsite picnic tables and were in awe of the Milky Way sprawling out before us. I had seen a lot of stars in French Polynesia out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, but this might have been the most stars I had ever seen in my life. Around 11pm, we finally decided to try to sleep in our private tents. It was below freezing, but my husband and I huddled together for warmth and stacked probably five different blankets on top of us.

Day 3

We woke up a half hour before sunrise (around 6am) to climb a sand dune to see the sun come up. This ended up being one of the best experiences ever, but it was MUCH harder to climb the dune than I expected!!!

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I was thinking, “I hike up sandy hills all the time, this is like sand at the beach, right?” NO. Not at all! We were huffing and puffing up the hill, and had to stop multiple times to take breaks. We finally made it in time for sunrise, but oh my goodness, I have a newfound respect for camels!!!

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After the unforgettable experience of seeing the sun rise above the sand dunes, we had fun trying our hand at sandboarding down to the campsite! We then were able to have some nice warm cups of tea before hopping back onto our camels (JIMMAYY) and heading back to civilization.

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Although, naturally, we stopped to take pictures.

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Once we got back to Merzouga, we were able to consolidate our bags and have a quick, delicious breakfast before hitting the road again. Hassan (not our tour guide but the owner of the tour company) gave us each an ornate glass bottle filled with Sahara sand, which was such a kind and wonderful gesture.

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The trip from Merzouga to Fes took about seven hours. While there were many familiar views of rugged landscapes and hidden valleys, this drive also took us through many an autumnal forest, which took our breaths away.

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We stopped near Ziz Valley quickly and got out of the car to look out over the beautiful oasis of palm groves, which we were informed contained the best dates in Morocco. After the quick pit stop, we again drove for a long time until we made it to Midelt to stop for a delicious lunch.

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From Midelt, we drove through the Atlas Mountains and Cedar Forests. The scenery was unlike anything we had seen in Morocco so far, and there were even monkeys that we were able to feed peanuts to!

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Some monkeys were a little aggressive, but then there was a very wise-looking quiet monkey that we really enjoyed feeding and photographing.

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Then, we drove through Ifrane, which is known as the Switzerland of Morocco. It apparently has its own airport, an international university and the most European-style homes of anywhere in Morocco. We were completely surprised by it, and Hassan showed us pictures of himself snowboarding here when the snow would fall.

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While there was no snow here in November, there were lots of gorgeous autumnal trees and I begged to get out and explore a bit. Hassan kindly pulled over the side of the road for us to hop out and take a few pictures, and I would love to return to this charming little town someday!

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From there, it took us a couple more hours to get to Fes, where we were dropped off at our hotel around 7pm. We were tired, but happy after our once-in-a-lifetime trip!

MOROCCO TRAVEL TIPS

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Tours: From my understanding, pretty much any tour you do with any group to the Sahara will be roughly the same and take the same route. We had friends book with a completely different tour group (and starting in Fes), but they hit all the same stops as us—and even had a camel named Jimmy! So I would say that you could even wait until you arrive in Morocco to choose a tour.

Cost: For two people with a private tour guide/driver, hotel pick-up/drop-off and inclusive of meals (apart from lunch), gas, lodging, water, camels and sandboarding, we paid 595 euros. However, this price will vary depending on the number of people and the start/end location of the tour.

Currency: MAD – Moroccan Dirhams (I would advise to have cash on you, but some places do take credit cards and some will also take euros if you have them)

Languages: Arabic (official), Amazigh (aka “Berber,” official) / French (unofficial) – some also speak English)

Transportation: For this trek around the country, a car was a must. We hired a driver as part of a 3-day tour, but we also met other travelers who rented a car and drove around the country themselves. I think this is certainly a viable option!

Food: Tagines are a must-try, as are various barbecued meat options! And I think you already know my obsession with Moroccan mint tea.

Safety: As I’ve stated prior in my Marrakech blog post, we never felt that our safety was threatened, and going around with a guide we knew we were never going anywhere sketchy. However, there were certainly times we felt pressured to purchase things. The hardest thing about doing a guided tour was getting taken to co-ops for rugs or argon oil factories where you felt obligated to purchase something and couldn’t exactly walk away because your guide was your only mode of transportation.

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Africa, Marrakech, Morocco, Travel

2 Days in Marrakech

At long last, we’ve made it to the continent of Africa!! Marrakech has LONG been on my travel bucket list, and I’m so grateful that my hubby and I were able to make it here over American Thanksgiving. <3

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Pro tip for my fellow Americans: International travel during our Thanksgiving domestic holiday is MUCH cheaper than it is during Christmas, so if you don’t have big family gatherings or traditions during Thanksgiving, I’d so GO GO GO!

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We booked a flight to Paris through London because it was much cheaper than booking a flight to Morocco (more on that another time!), and this ended up being such a great way to spend a day in Paris first before hopping over to Marrakech on a cheap European airline. We saved a little under $1,000 by this method!

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I’ve heard Morocco described as an “assault on the senses,” and I can say that this is certainly true. The variety of bright colors and beautifully intricate architecture, the abundance of smells and spices everywhere and the bustling of the vibrant city. It’s a beautiful city and an amazing experience, but certainly could be overwhelming or take you a bit aback if you’re not expecting it.

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We went in November, which is supposed to be a wildcard in terms of weather, but were blessed with sunshine and 70-80 degree temperature (20-25 C).

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WHERE TO STAY

Le Riad Yasmine – No doubt you’ve seen this extremely photogenic hotel on Instagram! We booked our stay at Le Riad Yasmine four months in advance of our travels here, and I actually snagged the last available room.

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The room was 90€ (so 45€ / person) and included breakfast each morning, which we thought was a great deal for the beautiful amenities! It’s also conveniently halfway between Jardin Majorelle and the center of the Medina (Jamaa el-Fna), about a 20-min walk to both.

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Riad Yasmine was everything I hoped and dreamed it would be. The pool, the wonderful staff and incredible service, the delicious food and the resident cat, Bowie.

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Upon arrival, we were served Moroccan Mint Tea, and I must say that the tea at Riad Yasmine was the tastiest of any tea we had our entire trip! We ordered it many times in our two-day stay.

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Also, the rooftop area cannot be overstated. It was a little chilly in November, but the space was a perfect mix of comfy couches and prickly cacti. I enjoyed my mornings here with Bowie.


WHAT TO DO

Ben Youseff Madrasa – If you do nothing else, this is a MUST. This is the oldest Madrasa (old Islamic college) in Morocco, and it is positively stunning. Get here right at opening so you can wander the halls alone for a bit and take in all the breathtaking wonder before the tour groups start showing up! The entrance fee is 20 MAD/person.

Dar Cherifa – This was HANDS DOWN the best meal we had in Morocco. OH. MY. GOODNESS. If you can, GO HERE. It’s a little difficult to find, but the food inside this hidden gem of a riad is tasty and phenomenally spiced.  We got a variety of traditional Moroccan salads, Harira soup and two tagines (lamb and kefta). We also got a saffron crème brulee for dessert.

Jamaa El Fna / Souks – This is what comes to mind when I think of Morocco. Vibrant street shops, busy squares, spice stacks galore and Moroccan rugs! I would highly recommend trying to do all your shopping here (and bargaining as much as you can—more on that in the “Tips” section below), because it will likely be much cheaper than if you do a tour and they try to convince you to make purchases at various co-ops.

It can be a bit overwhelming to wander, and you should definitely keep your belongings close and beware of children looking to pickpocket, but it is truly an unforgettable experience.

Koutoubia Mosque – Non-Muslims cannot enter this mosque, but it is certainly worth looking at. It is the tallest mosque in Marrekech, and can be seen from all around! The hubby and I glanced it in the distance, and went on a pleasant 20-min walk together to see it from the outside.

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La Mamounia – You may recognize this exquisite hotel property from “Sex and the City” (I mean, so I’ve been told—I’ve never seen it!). My dear friend recommended we go here and do a day pass (and she has an incredible blog post on Marrakech here).

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For those of you who can’t afford to stay at this lavish hotel (like us), a day pass is an incredible option to experience the beautiful grounds! This was truly the most relaxing we did our entire trip.

There are two day pass options: 500 MAD for just access to the grounds/hotel, or 1500 MAD for an hour-long massage or hammam (traditional Moroccan scrub) and a delicious 3-course lunch at one of their restaurants. We opted for the $150 option, and it was worth every penny.

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We both selected to do a hamman, which was a unique and reinvigorating experience that left our skin feeling as soft as a newborn baby.

For lunch, we ended up at the hotel’s Italian restaurant, which was positively divine and had many options for me with my gluten sensitivity.

And of course, we eagerly checked out the beautiful pools—and were shocked to find them completely empty, save for a few people that stopped by every now and again to snap photos!! Seriously, I’m sure November is off season for Morocco travels, but the hotel seemed fairly full—I’m amazed that more guests didn’t use the breathtaking pools!

We also checked out a beautifully instagrammable courtyard, which you must ask a staff member to unlock for you. I was not aware of this fact going in, and felt so anxious as we tried to figure out how to get in! Thankfully, my husband is the calmest man with the most amiable demeanor, and they unlocked the door at his request (and even took a few photos for us!).

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Majorelle Gardens – These beautifully vibrant blue-and-yellow gardens were designed by Jacques Majorelle, a French artist who spent nearly 40 years of his life designing the beautiful space. In 2010, the property was purchased by Yves Saint Laurent, and has since been managed by a non-profit.

In addition to the beautiful fountains and cactus gardens, there is a Berber Museum and variety of Majorelle’s paintings. We did not pay extra to go inside any of the exhibits, but admission is 70 MAD (35 MAD if you have a foreign student ID).

Royal Mansour – This is another breathtakingly beautiful hotel that boasts beautiful architecture and sophistication. We did not have time to book a spa appointment and couldn’t afford to spend a night here, but the staff was incredibly kind and allowed us to explore. I’ve heard they have a lovely bar and restaurant, but we did not stop by either.

Starbucks Coffee – You will laugh at me, but I make an effort to find a Starbucks wherever we go to get a country-specific souvenir! Also, coffee is not terribly great in Morocco, so for coffee addicts like me, the Starbucks is a lifesaver. We wandered to Starbucks from the Majorelle Gardens, which took about 20-minutes of wandering through the new town. We really enjoyed the experience (this is the only Starbucks in Marrakech, and one of three in the entire country), and also had fun roaming the adjacent local mall to see the variety of cultures alongside each other there!

Palais El Badii & Palais de la Bahia – We didn’t have a chance to go to either of these spots, but I have heard that they are lovely and worth checking out!

MARRAKECH TRAVEL TIPS

Currency: MAD – Moroccan Dirhams

Languages: Arabic (official), Amazigh (aka “Berber,” official) / French (unofficial) – some also speak English)

Transportation: Our preferred mode was by foot as there is much to see close together, but there are also taxis, private cars and carriages pulled by horses. If you opt to take taxis, make sure you negotiate the price ahead of time. Going from the airport to the Medina, you should definitely pay no more than 150 MAD. Another thing to note is if you take a taxi, it’s very possible you won’t be able to get dropped off right by your hotel/riad, depending on where you’re staying. To avoid the headache of negotiating and potentially getting lost right off the plane, we opted to have our riad send a car to pick us up, and we paid 150 MAD for a pleasant and stress-free ride.

Food: OF COURSE, you must try tagine. Chicken tagine, lamb tagine, kefta mkaouara tagine, vegetarian tagine—there really is a delicious option for every dietary restriction. Also, Moroccan mint tea is the tastiest sweet, caffeinated beverage ever. Keep in mind that you will likely be offered tea as a sign of hospitality wherever you go, and it would be considered slightly rude to refuse. The good news is it’s so delicious, why would you refuse?

Safety: We never felt threatened for our safety in Morocco. However, it is VERY important to be mindful and cautious, especially in terms of directions or purchasing things. Some tips I would keep in mind:

  • DON’T ASK FOR DIRECTRIONS: Kids/locals will offer to help you with directions if you look lost. Do NOT take them up on this, as it is never free and they will always ask you for a tip (and will often take you through more complex winding alleyways than need be).
  • DOWNLOAD OFFLINE MAPS: Our riad advised that we download the free app maps.me, which ended up being quite helpful. It’s a map that you can download offline and use to find your way around the Medina.
  • BARGAINING: Bargain for everything you purchase in the Medina/Souks—don’t be afraid to start at 1/3 or 1/2 of the price they originally offer you. Don’t be afraid to walk away slowly as a bargaining tactic. And don’t set your heart on any one thing too much or you will likely end up overpaying for it.
  • SAFETY: If you are a woman, I would advise that you do not travel alone. Traveling in a group of women is an option, but honestly, this might be a place where you’d want to take a man with you. I am very grateful I traveled with my husband, but even standing beside him (and while wearing a scarf to cover myself up), various men would call out crude comments toward me. The best thing to do is ignore these comments and keep walking—with purpose!

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Europe, France, Lifestyle, Paris, Travel

3 Days in Paris

At long last, finally a blog post about my favorite landlocked city in the world!  (Yes, I know that’s oddly specific.)

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We went to Paris as the last stop in our 2-week whirlwind honeymoon of 12 cities, eight flights and six ferries.  What better place to end a honeymoon than in the city of love?  It was my third time in Paris, but my husband’s first, so we had to make the most of our time there!

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Which meant seeing all your quintessential Paris city sites, PLUS Versailles and Disneyland Paris!

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Wednesday Night (Day 0.5)

We arrived in Paris around 4pm on a Wednesday, and lucky for us, the sun doesn’t set during the summer until almost 10pm.

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We stayed in an adorable Airbnb in central Paris that I would ABSOLUTELY recommend!  It was much cheaper than a hotel, but very cute and central.  Being near Châtelet-les-Halles, it was a straight shot via RER lines to the Charles de Gaulle Airport, Disneyland Paris and Château de Versailles.

We checked into our Airbnb and then took public transit to Montmartre, home of Sacré-Cœur Basilica.  It was a beautiful evening to walk around!

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The only thing I regret is not properly checking hours of operation ahead of time.  We were able to walk around Sacré-Cœur, which was our objective, but couldn’t climb up to the observation part because it had just closed.  Regardless, the view of Paris was lovely from the hill, and the church is just so beautiful.


We then walked to dinner at a charming bistro called “Chez Michel.”  It was probably the most authentic French food we had on our brief trip, and everything from the pate to the famous Paris-Brest was delicious.


They also brought us a variety of complimentary dishes—champagne, sea snails and strawberry dessert.  Because we were on our honeymoon!


We then strolled around and explored until we retired to our Airbnb in order to wake up early for Notre Dame and Disneyland!!!

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Thursday (Day 1.5)

We walked from our Airbnb the next morning to Notre-Dame Cathedral, a must on anyone’s Paris list.

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The cathedral opened at 7am, but silly us, we didn’t check what time the tower observation decks opened!  So once again we didn’t get a high vantage point of Paris/the Eiffel Tower.  However, it was still worth it to be there early in the morning before other people were.


After this, we took the RER A line straight to Disneyland Paris.  We did research ahead of time to see what was unique to these parks.


We had such a blast!  We only spent a half day between the two parks, but we planned our time out carefully.  I won’t take too long detailing our trip, but here are the highlights I would recommend:

WALT DISNEY STUDIOS PARK

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  • RIDE: Crush’s Coaster – Line up for this one when the park opens as there are no fast passes for it. This is a unique “roller coaster” that simulates riding a current in a shell.  It’s righteous, dude!
  • RIDE: Ratatouille: The Adventure – Get a Fastpass for this one and journey along with Rémy as you shrink down to his size and follow him in the kitchen in a 4D experience.
  • RESTAURANT: Bistrot Chez Rémy – You MUST go here!! We made reservations two months in advance, and it was totally worth it. Sit down and enjoy a meal prepared by “Rémy” as you take in the darling décor set up so that you feel the size of a rat.  Every set meal comes with ratatouille—of course!

Also, fun story–I was obsessively photographing the 25th Anniversary chocolate that came with my espresso. A puzzled server noticed and asked me, “You are photographing the chocolate?” Embarrassed, I said, “I like chocolate.” He disappeared and then brought me MORE CHOCOLATE!

DISNEYLAND PARIS

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  • RIDE: Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain – This is very different from the other Space Mountain rides at the other Disney theme parks. It’s more thrilling and intense, and the Star Wars aspect of it is taken seriously.
  • RIDE: Phantom Manor – If you ever wished the Haunted Mansion was a little creepier and actually had a narrative, this ride is for you.
  • ATTRACTION: Dragon – There’s a dragon under the Sleeping Beauty castle (which in itself you should walk through, because it’s so charming and magical)!!

After this, we grabbed some refreshing iced coffee in Disney Village (Paris’ Downtown Disney) and spent the remainder of the evening walking around Paris and exploring Le Marais and the general area around our hotel.

We turned in early because the next day we woke up at dawn!

Friday (Day 2.5)

I’m lucky to have such a kind and patient husband.  He cheerfully allowed me to wake him up at 5am so we could get to the Place du Trocadéro by 6am for sunrise pictures!  We had a magical time taking in the views and having the place to ourselves—save for a few other couples who were actually getting professional engagement pictures done.


In comparison, we were no professionals—I kept setting my camera up on random ledges or piling our bags and hats underneath it (I had no tripod!), and then running into the frame for shots! I can only imagine how silly we must have looked to everyone else.

But got some magical shots—one of which has been printed and hung above our bed. <3

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After this, we continued on to Versailles Palace.  To avoid lines, we had purchased in advance a guided tour: The Private Apartments of the Kings.  I would HIGHLY recommend doing this!

For 7€ extra a person, we got a guided English tour through the Kings Quarters—areas of the palace that the general public doesn’t get to enter!

This included Louis XV’s bedchamber, clock room, clothes cabinet, the dogs’ room (yes, for the king’s favorite dogs), private chambers, library (which a door hidden in a bookshelf!!) and many other fascinating areas.

I so badly wanted to sing songs from the “Beauty and the Beast” soundtrack while walking throughout the palace.  Chateau de Chambord may have been the original inspiration for the 1991 film’s castle, but Château de Versailles had so many charming and grand things that reminded me a great deal of the movie, too!

We were able to skip all the long lines and learned a great deal of fascinating information.  Also, at the end of the tour, our guide opened a secret wall that allowed us to get back into the Hall of Mirrors—which was incredibly crowded by this point!

We continued wandering around, and grabbed Ladurée macarons before heading outside to sit out and gaze at the gardens.

We could only make a tiny dent in exploring the grounds!  They’re so vast and beautiful, but we were there on a particularly hot and humid day.  After we had gotten our fill of seeing the mazes and fountains, we headed out to Rue de Satory outside the palace to find lunch.


Once we had eaten and rested, we went back to our Airbnb and plotted our next moves.  First up—find crepes.  Second up—go to our early dinner we were able to reserve at Bistroy Les Papilles!
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I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Paris.  The food quality is amazing for the price you pay.  It’s a 4-course meal for 38€/person, plus extra for a bottle of wine.  There is no flexibility whatsoever with the meal, and you can’t know in advance what you’ll get—you arrive, sit down, and the chef comes out and explains the menu.

We had a DELICIOUS deconstructed mushroom soup (broth was poured on top of the ingredients), homemade chicken pesto, cheeses (naturally) and mango panna cotta.  Safe to say we were very stuffed at the end—and very pleased!

Walking back to our Airbnb, we stopped at Le Cavaeu de la Huchette—an underground jazz club.  I didn’t get any pictures due to how dark it was, but this was one of the highlights of our trip for my husband!

Saturday morning (Day 3)

At long last, our last half day in Paris.  Our flight was departing at 3:20pm, so we woke up early to go explore the Champs-Élysées.  While we didn’t go inside the Louvre, we enjoyed exploring the grounds when they were completely empty.

We then grabbed breakfast and hot chocolate at Angelina.  Delicious, quintessentially French and very rich!  It was a little pricey, but the experience was so lovely.

After this, we walked down to the Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile.  I took my husband because this is a must for anyone visiting Paris for their first time.  Gazing out over the city and staring at the romantically moody Eiffel Tower, it was a fitting way for us to say goodbye to Paris.

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Conclusion

And there you have it!!   Of course, we wished we had more time to spend in Paris and there were many things we had on our list that we didn’t get to do.  But if you want to see a wide variety of Paris and still get in Versailles and Disneyland Paris, this is how we did it.  I can undoubtedly say that we will return very soon to the City of Love.


PARIS TRAVEL TIPS

Currency: Euro

Languages: French (some people speak English, but try to learn a little bit of French to be polite!  Even starting a sentence with, “Pardon, parlez-vous anglais?” can go a long way)

Transportation: The public transit system in Paris is incredibly easy to use. We purchased a 3-day Navigo pass at the airport from a help counter (which includes the RER lines, metro, buses), and it was perfect for us.  I strongly recommend getting this all taken care of at the airport or lining up at an official ticket counter for help—I regret to say one of my first trips to Paris I was scammed by someone offering to “help” me at Gare du Nord station when I was trying to figure it out myself at a ticket booth.  Always be safe!!

Food: Pretty much everything is delicious in Paris, but you would be remiss to not get pastries, local cheeses, foie gras, duck confit, wine and crepes…yum!

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Europe, Greece, Lifestyle, Rhodes, Travel

A Day in Rhodes, Greece

Hi Everyone!!!

This post is reaaallllly overdue, but I want to tell you all about this beautiful and thoroughly underrated Greek island that quickly became one of my favorites.

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First off, we really did not have enough time there, but we made the most of the time we did have.  This was our first island stop on our whirlwind honeymoon, and we loved every moment of it.

BACKGROUND
A bit of history—Rhodes is technically part of Greece but is located closer to mainland Turkey, and therefore has a lot of Turkish influence.  You’ll likely find that people speak Greek and English, but also speak Turkish and sometimes Italian and German due to the rich history of cultures.  Basically, they’re pretty cool.

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Rhodes’ nickname is “The Island of the Knights,” due to the medieval Catholic Hospitallers (or the Knights of Rhodes) that were based there.  The Medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes is a World Heritage site, and Rhodes was also home the Colossus of Rhodes—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

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Rhodes is the largest island in the Dodecanese chain, and as such I would highly recommend getting an international driver’s license and renting a car.  Many of the sites we were interested in were 1+ hour away from each other, and buses are fairly frequent but often shut down operation early in the evening.  To avoid the trouble (and frequent stops), we decided to get ourselves around.

OUR ITINERARY

We arrived around 9:45am to the Rhodes International Airport.  We quickly got our rental car and then drove ourselves about 45 minutes to Rhodes Town, where we stayed at a small hostel called “Hotel Anastasia” which was run by an adorable couple and situated in the middle of Rhodes Old Town.

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While the location was convenient, figuring out parking gave us a headache—there are signs and colored curbs, but we weren’t sure what any of it meant and as a few locals told us, the locals didn’t care much about following parking rules, so it left us confused about what to do.  After unsuccessfully trying to street park, some helpful locals pointed us in the direction of a paid parking lot across the street from “Parko Therme,” right next to the Palace of the Grand Master Knights.  It wasn’t too expensive, and we could leave our car there overnight, which was fine with us.  I’ve heard people say there is free parking near Mandraki Harbor, but we didn’t stumble upon it ourselves.

Once we were settled, parked and the owners generously let us check in early, we set out on foot to explore the Old Town!

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The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes (or simply the Kastello) is a medieval fortress and one of the few Gothic structures in all of Greece.  It was built in the 7th Century as a Byzantine citadel, but would later be occupied by the Knights Hospitallers.  Even after that, it would become a holiday home for King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, and Italian architects would restore the castle.

Once you get inside the palace, your breath is taken away.  Cobblestone, grand arches and stone mosaics as far as the eye can see.  I would advise to get here early in the day before it gets too crowded and kitschy with the souvenir carts and fast food places trapping tourists (honestly, the worst meal we had in all of Greece was inside here).


It’s a grand, beautiful place to explore and you will want to spend a decent amount of time walking around and willing yourself to believe you didn’t step back in time.

After we were done exploring, we hopped into our car and drove out to Lindos Town (30 miles/48 km), while making sure to stop at beaches along the way.  Even with our beach stops, this drive took us about an hour (while a bus would take 1h 30m).

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Our beach hopping was certainly a highlight, because many of these areas were completely unspoiled and breathtaking in the shadow of the mountains.  We also found quite a few mountain goats—one even tried to jump in our car with us!!!

Whereas Rhodes Town feels medieval and Gothic, Lindos Town has a truly Greek charm with white-washed houses, donkeys, cats galore and—oh yeah—its own Acropolis.

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Once we reached Lindos, we parked in a free parking lot just outside the town and walked in.  The town of Lindos, although steep, is tiny and is strictly traversed by foot or donkey.  To save the poor donkeys some grief (and to also get ourselves into better shape), we opted to walk around.  Most other tourists did the same.

We hiked up the long path to the Acropolis, and let me tell you—it did NOT disappoint!!  Truly, this was one of the highlights of our honeymoon.  The first thing we came across when we entered was an ancient fortress of the Knights of St. John (14th Century).  Once we climbed up the fortress, our eyes were greeted by the beautiful Doric Temple of Athena Lindia—which dates back to 300 B.C.

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While the Athens Acropolis is truly remarkable and a must-see in your lifetime, I would actually say that I enjoyed this Acropolis just as much if not MORE.

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We were able to walk freely throughout this Acropolis, stand under pillars, take in the sights in awe and look out AS THE ACROPOLIS IS SURROUNDED BY WATER.  Seriously.  You get amazing views of Lindos Town, but also of the beautiful Aegean Sea and a beautiful heart-shaped bay.

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It was a thunderstorm-y day, and I was very lucky to capture this LIGHTNING BOLT shot!

The bay, known as St. Paul’s Bay, is supposedly where the Apostle Paul shipwrecked in 51 A.D.  it is said that Paul was caught in a storm, and a lightning bolt split a rock in two—opening up this bay and providing him with safe haven to land.  He then went on to preach Christianity to the local Rhodians.

An icon (and some believe it was a coin) of Paul was unearthed in this bay in 1920, which led to a small church being built in 1951 to commemorate his visit.

After our visit to the breathtaking Acropolis, we walked back to the town and got in our car again to go down to St. Paul’s Bay to a restaurant called “Tambakio.”  It’s a little off the beaten path, but I would highly recommend going here!

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You are literally situated in the bay and it is a wonderful place to watch the sunset over the Acropolis.

What’s more—“Tambakio” means “tannery,” and a tannery is what Pauls’ church was built over.  They’re very proud of the history, and have placemats to tell the story about it!

The tiny beach restaurant was also one of our favorite meals.  We were one of two couples there, and at times it felt like we had the entire place to ourselves.  The seafood is fresh and delicious, the prices are good and the seating areas are all on the sandy beach.  Eating dinner while the ocean waves gently lapped against the shore was nothing short of romantic.

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After dinner, we hopped in our car once again and made one last stop before driving back to Rhodes Town—at Lindos Ice Bar!  I had been to an ice bar in Barcelona, and my husband was fascinated by the concept and thrilled to check it out.

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The location is the only longstanding ice bar in Greece, and is certainly an experience to remember.  we paid 12€ for entry, which included a parka, gloves and a drink.  Once inside, we chose cocktails in cups made of ice (premade) and huddled together while enjoying the chairs and structures made of ice.

Couldn’t stay inside too long, but really enjoyed the experience!

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After that, we made the drive back to Rhodes Town and slept in eager anticipation of our next day—which was a day trip out to Symi Island.  You can read all about that here!

We also had time early that morning to see the windmills of Rhodes and grab a quick coffee before our tour boat left the next morning at, funnily enough, a Starbucks right in Mandraki Harbor.

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And then after we came back from the day trip, we had just enough time to head over to Tamam Restaurant for dinner.  This meal was another delicious highlight, and I would highly recommend it as well.

And that’s it!  The next day we had to wake up around 4am to get to the airport in time to make our  6:40am flight through Athens to Santorini.  We left, bleary-eyed but bushy-tailed and quite happy with our Rhodian experiences.

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RHODES ISLAND TRAVEL TIPS

Currency: EUR (Euro)

Languages: Greek (official), Turkish, many people speak English, Italian and German

Transportation: Rental Cars, Buses, Taxis

Food: As in any coastal region, fresh seafood is always an excellent choice!  In addition to that, any traditional Greek foods (particularly Souvlaki, Gyro and SAGANAKI) will be tasty—especially if they have a Turkish fusion flavor to them.  Also, Italian food is surprisingly good here!

*NOTE: I have a gluten allergy and actually wasn’t feeling too good during the evening.  This was really my fault, though, as I was being too shy to ask questions about what was in certain meals.  Plenty of places in Rhodes seem to cater to gluten allergies if you ask them—in particular, Tamam is good about accommodating!

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Lifestyle, Mexico, North America, Travel

Hotel Review: The Cape, a Thompson Hotel

Ah, Cabo San Lucas.  The most relaxing trip of our married life so far!

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For us, it was important that wherever we stayed on this trip be a convenient, beautiful and relaxing place that we didn’t have to leave if we didn’t want to.  This is contrary to our usual travel habits (we usually barely spend any time at the hotel), but we had gone on a variety of exhausting whirlwind trips and were ready for something chill!

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The Cape, a Thompson Hotel was definitely one of the most beautiful resorts we’ve ever stayed at without it being too pricey.

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We actually went from one Thompson property (the Thompson Toronto) to another (The Cape, a Thompson Hotel)—not because they sponsor our travel (although we wish they did!), but because both properties had a discount we could afford on the weekend we were visiting, while still providing us with a luxury experience.

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If you want details on our trip to Mexico, check out my post here.  For the Cape Hotel review, keep reading!

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FIRST IMPRESSION / SERVICE

We arrived to the hotel in our rental car, and immediately were greeted by a friendly staff member who took our bags for us.

 

Walking down to the hotel entrance, we were taken by the unique, modern building that stood before us.  And the giant driftwood whale.

 

Upon entering, we had to stop and catch our breath a moment when we saw the beautiful property: positioned perfectly on the beach with a stunning view of El Arco Cabo San Lucas, waves crashing on the shore, beautiful pools and a terrain of palm trees and cacti everywhere.

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We checked in, and everybody was incredibly kind and provided us with a delicious ice cold cider.

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We then went up to see our room and take it all in!

THE ROOM

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Location

A really nice thing about this property is that literally every room has a view.  The rooms face the ocean and have a lovely balcony to spend time on, complete with a couch swing.

 

The property itself is a 15-20 minute drive from the main Cabo San Lucas town, so it’s close enough to get around to other things with a taxi/car, but still far away enough to feel like a private getaway. If you are looking for a place to stay that’s walking distance from town, however, this is not for you.

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Amenities

Our room had a lovely King bed and fun robes/slippers for us to wear.

 

We had two separate shower heads (you know, for when you think, “Gee, I wish I could have alternating temperatures/water pressures on me right now.”) in the bathroom, and even had a fun copper-colored bathtub.

 

Wifi was a little tricky to figure out here initially, but once we went down to the front desk they helped us get all set up on our devices.  Pro tip: If you’re trying to connect and it’s not loading, try going to CNN.com.  Once connected, the Internet was high-speed and covered most of the extent of the resort grounds.

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THE FOOD

We really enjoyed the meals we ate here, as well as the view that accompanied those meals!

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The Ledge

This contemporary Mexican restaurant was our first spot where we grabbed a late lunch upon arrival.  We had the restaurant entirely to ourselves, which felt incredibly relaxing and romantic.

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We opted to sit outside, where we had a lovely view of the ocean and the Arch.  We started our meal with white sangria, which they brought in adorable champagne glasses.

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I was pleased to see that everything on the menu indicated whether it was gluten-free.  We ordered Baja’s Fish Ceviche Tostadas (with guacamole, carrot, cucumber and Cholula sauce) and Slow Roasted Duck Tacos (with soy-tamarind marinade and celery & sweet pepper salad).

 

All restaurants on the property use Tamari (gluten-free) soy sauce in their cooking, which I was very excited to hear!  It’s often very difficult for me to find places that do, even in Los Angeles.

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Manta Restaurant

We had dinner at The Cape’s signature fusion Japanese-Peruvian-Mexican restaurant our first night in Cabo.

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The thing that stands out most about this restaurant is THE VIEW.  We were seated at the perfect table overlooking the ocean and the Arch, and watching the sunset was positively breathtaking.

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The staff was all incredibly helpful, and very accommodating of my gluten allergy.  There was a dish we wanted that was made with flour tortillas, and they willingly swapped it out for corn for us.

 

They also were willing to take pictures for us whenever we asked (and would offer even when we didn’t!).

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We ordered Beef Yakitori with spicy Ponzu Sauce, Black Miso Fish Tacos, a mushroom taco dish and another beef dish (alas—don’t remember the names and can’t find an updated menu online!).

 

We also tried some Asian-inspired drinks (yuzu and shiso-infused)!

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Overall, this was an incredible experience.  The food here was very good—not excellent—but quite tasty and 100% worth the view.

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Glass Box

The Glass Box is a beautiful piece of architecture, and one of the first things you notice when you walk into The Cape.

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We didn’t stop inside here until our last day, when we grabbed a quick coffee before heading out.  It’s certainly a nice place to hang out, and the coffee is decent.  They also have pastries (we didn’t get any), and at night the café doubles as a bar.

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THE PREMISES

Had to add a section for the general hotel property, because man, this place was gorgeous!!  We honestly could have stayed here for a week and never left the property.

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There are two gorgeous pools—one is an infinity pool that has a swim-up bar.  Oh, it also has lounge chairs IN the pool!  The bar at the pool makes a great piña colada, and they also kindly have sunscreen tucked away in case you forgot to bring your own!

 

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The other pool is a smaller, unmanned one hidden between rocks under The Ledge restaurant.  We spent a good amount of time here as well!

 

The lobby area is also great fun to spend time in.  We played a fun game of pool together while looking out over the Pacific Ocean.

 

In the evenings, they will often have a band in the lobby playing music.  Sometimes it’s jazzy, and sometimes it’s rock classics.  The hotel definitely has a young vibe, but we saw people of all ages there!

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We also took some evening and morning strolls along the beach.

 

It’s a gorgeous view, but the hotel staff recommends that you do not go in the water as the waves are quite rough and it’s primarily surfers who are out there.

 

We did not wander into the ocean, but we walked along the shore and admired the surfers’ skills from afar.

 

The hotel lobby also has a gift shop, which sells souvenirs as well as travel essentials.  My poor sunburned husband was able to find a honey cream here that helped him a lot.  There is also a rooftop bar that often hosts events at night—we didn’t make it up, but it seemed like a very popular place to be!

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MEANINGFUL EXTRAS

This seems to be a staple for many luxury resorts in Cabo San Lucas, but we were brought up a complimentary “tequila amenity,” which turned out to be an entire bottle of tequila (we were barely able to make a dent in it!) with lime and salted chili dried mangos.

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(Note: They did forget to bring this up until the second day when we asked for it—no big deal, but just remember to ask about it!)

 

CONCLUSION

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Overall, this hotel is a beautiful, relaxing and easy place to stay that is filled with charm and breathtaking views.

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The staff are all incredibly friendly, helpful and speak phenomenal English.  We truly enjoyed our stay at this beautiful place, and would return in a heartbeat!

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Lifestyle, Travel

8 TIPS FOR PACKING YOUR 2-WEEK TRIP INTO A CARRY-ON

Those of you who know me know that I’m all about cramming as much as possible into my trips.  Life is short and vacation time is hard to come by, so if you have the opportunity to go somewhere, why not try to experience as much as possible?  I am all for squeezing in a ton of things to do in a variety of different cities, even if they’re not close together, because I am able to sleep in transit fairly easily whether via planes, trains or automobiles (…or boats).  Do lots, eat lots, see lots, take power naps in between!

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One of the struggles of this sort of travel, though, is packing.  Nobody wants to drag around a heavy suitcase while going to a bunch of places in a short amount of time!  You might get stuck lugging your bags around until your hotel/hostel/Airbnb is ready—plus, there’s a chance you might be going around cities with lots of stairs and no elevators.

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And don’t get me started on checking in luggage for flights!  As more and more domestic U.S. airlines or European budget airlines start charging for check-ins, it just makes carry-ons seem like an even better idea.  Also, there’s a nice reassurance of knowing the airline won’t lose your luggage, or that you’ll make your connecting flight if you’re switching airlines and hopping from country to country and don’t have to go through customs to pick up your checked bags.  We’ve definitely had a few times where the magic of carry-ons helped us catch our connections after a delayed flight!

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He thought he was cuter than the flat lay I was working on, and I kind of have to agree. =^.^=

So now that I’ve sung the praises of carry-on luggage, how does one go about packing for a trip?  Sure, a weekender is easy enough to bring a backpack on, but what if you’re spending two full weeks traveling without having time to wash clothing?

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I recently went on my honeymoon consisting of two countries, 12 cities, eight flights, three layovers and six ferries and only brought a carry-on, so it is definitely possible!  Here are some tips for packing light on your long trips:

 

1) Mix & Match

I feel like this is a tip plenty of bloggers share, but it really is helpful!  With a variety of  shorts/skirts/pants, it feels like you have a different outfit every day even though you’re reusing key parts.  One of my favorite honeymoon pieces was a 2-piece dress from Lulus that I was able to wear three ways: as a dress, as a skirt or as a top.

2) Limit the Heels

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These wedges were my one and only pair of “heels” on our honeymoon!

As a short girl who loves a little lengthening, this one is hard for me.  Still, you save SO much room in your suitcase if you limit yourself to a pair of sandals, sneakers and MAYBE some tiny wedges.

3) Bring a Shawl

Shawls are such a great and versatile thing, because you can wear it as a cover-up when you attend a more conservative area if you need to hide your shoulders, use it as a scarf, or just have it to keep warm on summer evenings that get a tiny bit chilly.  Our honeymoon was during late May/early June, so the one shawl and one cardigan was enough to keep me warm.

4) Limit the Books

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This might be a little controversial—I know my husband loves bringing novels, guidebooks and language pamphlets whenever we travel, but my preference is always to research and print out a sheet of paper with a few key words/phrases, or screenshot maps on my cell phone that I can reference.  There’s always the risk that your phone will delete items or that you won’t find an outlet to charge your devices, so this is up to your discretion!

5) Bring Sample-Size Toiletries

If I want to bring a fragrance, I’ll often pack teeny tiny samples I’ve stashed away from Sephora or other cosmetic stores.  I also save face wash or lotion samples I get from the Korean store I frequent for my skin care supplies, and bring tiny packets along on my trips.  I’ll also save hotel toiletries from previous trips (e.g. shampoo/conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste) and bring them on my next trip!

6) Get Creative with Containers

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Best mini “foundation cases” ever!

If you don’t have sample/travel-sized items to bring with you, portion them yourself!  One thing I always do is take a contact lens case and empty my liquid foundation into it.  This also works for lotion and other liquids, and helps as a space-saver and way to stay below the liquid limit for carry-ons (3.4 ounces/100ml).

7) Bring a Rolling Carry-On + Backpack

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Hubby and I had no problems getting these items onto planes as carry-ons!

…Or shoulder bag, satchel, tote—really anything that can function as your “small personal item.”  I would also recommend bringing an extra tote/drawstring bag in your carry-on that doesn’t take up much space, but which you can use for overflow if you need to check in your bag on the leg home due to acquired items (*ahem* souvenirs and new clothes!).  Bring a suitcase that’s also expandable, but still meets the carry-on size requirements (this will vary depending on airline and carriage size—research your planes ahead of time!).

8) Wear Your Heavy Items

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This gorgeous maxi dress is a perfect example of a large must-have item for me that I wore on a couple flights to make space!

If there’s a trench coat, boots or a flowing maxi dress that you REALLY want to bring but it doesn’t quite fit in your carry-on, consider wearing it.  Yes, it might be annoying—but even weighing the idea can help you figure out whether that item is worth bringing!

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So there you have it!  Hope these tips are a little bit helpful for your own packing, and if you’re curious about #whatsinmybag, check out my Instagram for photos of what I pack for my trips!

Disney, Disney World, Lifestyle, North America, Travel

Half Day in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

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Ahh, Hollywood Studios.  The very last Disney theme park in the world for me to check off my bucket list! We went here late in the afternoon on the second day of our 2-day Disney World adventure, so really, this was more of a 3-hour adventure as opposed to a half day. For the general overview of our time at Disney World resort, click here. For Hollywood Studios, keep reading!

I will confess that this theme park was probably our least favorite of the four.  We still had a blast, but a few hours sufficed for us to spend there.  Especially if you have access or have been to California Adventure in Anaheim, I would recommend either skipping or spending very little time in this theme park.  It’s a bit smaller, tackier and more overtly Hollywood-themed, which we were feeling a little “meh” about coming from Los Angeles.

The first thing we did was hop on Tower of Terror (Fast Pass), which was definitely worthwhile to do.

The attraction is a lot of fun, and if you ever rode the (former) Anaheim attraction at California Adventure, it’s a little bit different.  It also maintains more of a “Twilight Zone” feel to it than its international counterparts do.  I would highly recommend it!  After that, we wandered the Star Wars launch bay a bit, but decided not to go for Star Tours or Toy Story Mania, as both were the same in the Anaheim theme parks.  Instead, we watched the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!

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After that, we wandered a little bit more before leaving the park, changing and hopping onto a bus to make our 7:15pm California Grill dinner reservation (which we were 20-minutes late for, but they still took us!).

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When we got to California Grill (atop the Disney Contemporary Resort), we were immediately met with great customer service.  They knew we were there to watch the 9:00pm firework show, and encouraged us to take our time and gave tips for going out on the observation deck to watch.  They were also well aware of their allergy-friendly options (I highly recommend asking, because sometimes you can modify things on the menu that aren’t noted on the allergy listings).

We ordered our food and some wine, and slipped outside to watch the sunset over the Magic Kingdom while waiting for our cheese plate and entrees.

We popped back inside the restaurant to eat a little bit before slipping back onto the observation deck five minutes before the fireworks started.  Honestly, the food here was decent, but a little forgettable.  The main reason you’d want to eat here is to watch the fireworks, so plan your dinner accordingly!

Then the fireworks.  The fireworks from the rooftop were magical.  The music was pumped throughout the observation deck as we watched the show over Sleeping Beauty Castle and Space Mountain.  Although much of the show involved lights on the castle that may have been better viewed from inside the park, it was a hot and busy weekend, and we enjoyed being able to sit in our comfortably air-conditioned restaurant instead of staking out a spot in front of the castle hours in advance of the show.

After dinner and fireworks, we walked from the Contemporary Resort to the Magic Kingdom, where we caught a bus that got us back to our hotel around 11:30pm.

 

 

Disney, Disney World, Lifestyle, North America, Travel

Half Day in EPCOT

EPCOT

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We adventured to EPCOT the second morning of our insane 2-days at Disney World. For an overview of our trip and tips (as well as links for the other parks), click here. For details on EPCOT, keep reading!

After a very restful night’s sleep following our crazy 20-hour day, we woke up and headed over to EPCOT: the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.  I remember watching Disney video tapes (yes, I’ve just dated myself—90s kid!) when I was little and seeing promos for EPCOT in all the Disney World ads.  I would stare at that giant golf ball-esque sphere and think, “WHOA!  I’m going to go there someday.”  20 years later, that came true!  Honestly, I was still giddy when we first stepped into EPCOT, and so ready to take on the day.

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We had woken up at 7:30am-ish and hopped on a bus around 8:15am to get to EPCOT by 8:30am to start our day.  We hung around Future World until 11:00am, which gave us enough time to ride Spaceship Earth (Orlando-specific, Fast Pass), The Seas with Nemo & Friends (Orlando-specific) and grab a Starbucks coffee (of course).

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Around 11am, we made our way over to World Showcase, where we spent the majority of our time (and also where most of my Disney Instagram pictures came from).  It goes without saying that World Showcase was my favorite part of the park, and honestly probably of Disney World as a whole.  I adored the building facades and country-inspired international foods.  It’s difficult to choose a favorite pavilion, but we really enjoyed Japan (some bias there), Morocco, France and Canada.  We circled the whole World Showcase display twice before lunch.

MEXICO: This pavilion is quite pretty from the outside, and nicely air conditioned on the inside.  We didn’t spend a whole lot of time here, but really enjoyed walking around it.

DSC_0879NORWAY: This one was really more of an Arendelle pavilion, to be honest.  Almost everything around it was Frozen-themed, and while it was pretty, we didn’t get as much out of it.

CHINA: The Chinese-themed pavilion was fun to walk through, and we really loved the 360 “Reflections of China” film.  I’ll confess I’m a little biased since I used to live in Shanghai, but it’s definitely worth a walk-through.  Also, fun fact: this pavilion served as the music video location for Christina Aguilera when she sang “Reflections” for MULAN!

DSC_0881GERMANY: This one looked like a cute German town, and has a model village with toy trains to the side of it that my husband really enjoyed.  We didn’t spent a whole lot of time here since much of it is a Biergarten and there’s not a whole lot of German food I can eat with my gluten allergy.

ITALY: We didn’t spend much time here, either, but we loved the architecture.  This pavilion has recreations of Saint Mark’s Campanile and Doge’s Palace, which give it such a classic feel.

USA: To be honest…we completely skipped this one both walkarounds. I don’t even have a photo to share. From the outside, it sort of looked like a rehash of Liberty Square at MK.

 

JAPAN: The gorgeous pagoda (again, bias from living in Tokyo), replica of the Imperial Palace and Itsukushima Shrine make the Japan pavilion a standout.  This is one of the original pavilions, and has a cute little shop inside that we struggled to resist purchasing anything at.

MOROCCO: Did you know that the Moroccan government actually aided in the design of this one?  It shows!!!  The architecture at this one was our favorite of all the pavilions, and really added fuel to our desire to visit Morocco someday.  There’s not a whole lot to do here, but definitely stop by to take in how pretty it is.

FRANCE: Meant to look like a Parisian town, the French pavilion can definitely make you feel like you’re in a scene from Ratatouille.  We grabbed ice cream here at L’artisan des Glace, and really loved it.  This area carries so much charm, and I only wish we had enough time to watch “Impressions de France.”

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UK: Honestly, we weren’t too impressed with this pavilion.  It was fun to walk around and see the Twining’s tea shop, but it wasn’t as rich in culture as I felt it could have been.

CANADA: Truth be told, we really liked this pavilion.  We had fun watching the 360 “O Canada!” film with Martin Short, and found the waterfalls to be quite pretty.  But most of all, OUR LUNCH AT LE CELLIER was soooo good.  We managed to score a reservation there on Canada Day, so the place was packed.  Le Cellier has great lunch deals and also has substantial allergy-conscious selections.  We were able to have a refreshing poached pear salad, delicious steaks (me a ribeye and him a filet mignon), the BEST truffle-wine poutine ever and a maple crème brulee.  Easily one of our top two favorite meals!

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After our (long and worthwhile) lunch at Le Cellier, we finally made our way over to Hollywood Studios.  We opted to take a ferry boat from one park to the other, and while walking may have been a faster option, it was quite fun and ended up being a nice place for us to nap a bit to recover from our food coma.  Plus, it was raining a bit, so it was great to be covered.  We finally arrived at Hollywood Studios close to 4pm, and just had a few hours to spend there before our dinner reservation!

For Hollywood Studios, click here.