5 Things to do in New York City

New York is such a vibrant, enchanting place. I have visited it on one occasion and it provided me with some of my favorite travel memories to date! I’ve written about my adventures in New York here a few times, but I thought I would share a post of various things to do in this city like I have done with several others.+ Chelsea Market
Chelsea Market is a great place to walk around and get different local foods and items from artisan shops. It is nice to spend an afternoon wandering around here!+ Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
It isn’t too long of a walk, but it is such a nice feeling to walk from Brooklyn into the lights of Manhattan and it is a lovely way to take in the skyline.
+ Get cheap broadway tickets at TKTS and go to a show
If you go to Times Square in the afternoon and wait in line, you can get majorly discounted tickets to many different shows playing that evening. If you are open to seeing any show, this is a great way  to save some cash and still get to experience NYC broadway.+ Visit Highline Park
This park is definitely best enjoyed in warmer months and is unique because it was built on an old railroad track.+ Eat pizza
This is obvious, isn’t it? We ate pizza pretty much every day of our trip!Have you ever been to New York? What would you recommend doing there? I need to go back again soon!

xoxo
Jess

*all photos by Jess unless otherwise noted

5 Things to do in San Diego

Though I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, I am originally from San Diego and my heart is torn between Northern & Southern California. So, since I know quite a bit about the San Diego area, here are 5 things you could do on your next visit there!

+ Go to the beach
This is obvious and definitely my favorite thing to do! I particularly love the beaches in Encinitas and Coronado.

+ Visit the Carlsbad Flower Fields
Every spring time, the flower fields in Carlsbad bloom and they are a gorgeous sight. You can get up close and see them for yourself.+ Explore Old Town
This is a great place to explore if you want to learn more about the history of San Diego and its beginnings.

+ Go to Balboa Park
If you enjoy museums, this is definitely the place for you! Balboa Park is also just a very pretty, historic area to walk around.

+ Visit the Oceanside Pier
Walking along the pier on a nice day is one of my favorite things to do. There is also a diner at the end that you could reward yourself with a milkshake or burger at too.

+ Bonus: Go to the San Diego Zoo, Legoland, Seaworld, or the Safari Park (formerly the Wild Animal Park). These are obvious, touristy things, but worth mentioning in case you are interested in them 🙂

These are just a handful of things you can do in San Diego! There are definitely plenty more things and places to explore.

xoxo,
Jess

*all photos by Jess unless otherwise noted

Things You Should Eat in Hawaii

We all know that one of the best parts of traveling is eating all kinds of food! I have been dreaming of the things I ate in Hawaii ever since I got back, so I thought I would share them with you all!

+ Acai bowls
Acai bowls are hands down my most favorite thing that I ate in Hawaii. They are just so good. They are simple, yet delicious and not to mention, beautiful! I tried acai bowls at several places  during our trip, but Haleiwa Bowls is the best one in my opinion! I’ve been trying to recreate acai bowls at home, but it just isn’t the same as being in Hawaii.

+ Scones from Diamond Head Market
I know this seems like an odd thing to recommend in Hawaii of all places, but I promise you, these scones are like heaven. You know how scones can be dry and gross sometimes? Well, these are the complete opposite. They are so moist and almost cake like. We had to stop on our way to the airport to get a couple more for our flight because they were just that good.
+ Malasadas from Leonard’s Bakery
These are like little donut pillows filled with flavored custard, and let me tell you, they are amazing. Get some and you won’t regret it! Also, eat them while they’re still hot.+ Loco Moco
I had a dish called loco coco for the first time when I visited Hawaii. This dish is essentially rice with a hamburger patty, egg, and a gravy on top. I had it at a couple places, but the one from Heavenly in Waikiki was definitely my favorite!

+ Poke
 I am not really a fan of poke, but I know this is definitely something Hawaii is known for! My boyfriend enjoyed some during our trip. Maybe next time I will give it a try too!

+ Shave Ice
This is another Hawaiian staple! I had some the first day we got there…and then about three other times too! Shave ice is just so nice and refreshing on a hot day.
+ Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
We had heard about this shrimp truck on the North Shore and knew we had to give it a try! I am not really into seafood much, but this garlic shrimp we had was really yummy. It is a pretty long wait, though, so beware!Other places to visit:

• Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade
• Arvo Cafe
• Diamond Head Cove Health Bar
• Matsumoto Shave Ice
• Island Vintage Coffee
• Marukame Udon
• Rainbow Drive-In

All I can say is… Take me back!

xoxo
Jess

* all photos by Jess unless otherwise noted

5 Things to do in Seattle

Seattle has quickly become one of my favorite cities to explore. I have been there twice now, both times in winter, and for a coffee lover like me it is just one of the coziest cities. It is so easy to get around via public transportation, there are so many good places to eat at, and it is beautiful, even in rainy weather.

Here are five things that you could do on your visit to Seattle:

+ Visit the Pinball Museum
I know this might sound like an odd thing to do, but when my boyfriend and I visited Seattle, we stayed here for over 2 hours! It was just so fun checking out all of the cool pin ball machines and getting our fill of playing time. The museum is essentially a small arcade and you pay a flat fee to play unlimited games of pinball. They also have a few other older game machines too. I definitely haven’t found anything like it since!+ Check out the view from Kerry Park
This is the place to go for a stunning view of Seattle. If you have a car to drive here, that’s ideal, but it is also accessible by public transportation. It just requires a nice walk up a big hill 😉

+ Take a food tour
On our first trip to Seattle, we took a food tour of Pike Place Market and it was a lot of fun! It was a great way to try a lot of different foods in the market and to learn about the history of the area.+ Visit coffee shops
Seattle is obviously known for its coffee, so I definitely recommend trying local shops whenever you get the chance. Highly caffeinated is the way to do Seattle! Since Starbucks is also from Seattle, they recently opened a Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room. Starbucks, of course, isn’t really considered “local”, but the roastery is pretty cool.+ Wander around Pike Place Market
This is the most typical “touristy” thing to do in Seattle, but there’s a reason it is an iconic place! Pike Place Market is a wonderful place to get lunch, pick up some fresh flowers, or shop for handmade gifts at, and a place you simply have to go to at some point during your visit.

Well there you have it! I hope that this is a helpful little guide for your next trip to Seattle! Now I think I just might have to take a look at plane tickets for myself…

xoxo
Jess

* all photos by Jess unless otherwise noted

5 Things to do in San Francisco

As you may know, I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and have accumulated quite the list of places to go, things to do, and itineraries for friends & family’s visits, particularly for the city. I thought I would share a few tidbits of that info for your next visit to San Francisco!
+ Hike Lands End
There are many different spots around the city to get a nice view from, but the view from the Lands End trail will forever be one of my most favorite. Lands End is a fairly moderate, dog-friendly hiking trail that gives you the sense of being somewhere far away, while still being in one of the greatest cities. The reward for your hike is breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge that definitely won’t disappoint!+ Visit the Ferry Building
The Ferry Building is a marketplace filled with many local artisan eateries and companies. It is a wonderful place to have lunch, do some shopping, and get a cup of Blue Bottle Coffee. It is also on the water and offers lovely views of the newly reconstructed Bay Bridge.+ Have a picnic at Dolores Park
On a warm, sunny day in San Francisco, Dolores Park is the place to be. Gather a picnic and a couple close friends and enjoy taking in the view of downtown. Bonus tip: get ice cream from Bi-Rite Creamery right across the street from the park. You won’t regret it!

+ Visit the Museum of Modern Art
The MoMA was recently closed for 3 years of renovations and just opened back up this year, so you should definitely check it out. It was pretty great before the renovations, so I can only imagine how amazing it is now!+ Go to Off the Grid at Fort Mason
Off the Grid is a gathering of food trucks that happens around different parts of the Bay Area throughout the week. The largest and most “happening” one is on Friday nights at Fort Mason Center, right on the water. It only happens during the spring/summer months, so check the Off the Grid calendar ahead of time!

I hope this has given you some ideas for your next trip to the wonderful City by the Bay! It was fun putting this post together and has reminded me it is time to visit some of my favorite spots in the city again!

xoxo
Jess

5 Things to do in Oahu, Hawaii

The most recent trip that I took was to Oahu, Hawaii. I had never been to Hawaii before and absolutely fell in love with it! I have been dreaming of those soft sandy beaches and warm crystal blue water ever since, and my boyfriend and I are already scheming ways we can make another visit there soon 🙂

For now though, I’ll take a little trip down memory lane and share with you all 5 things you can do the next time you’re in Oahu.+ Hike Diamond Head
One morning we got up at 5:30am to make the popular hike up to the top of Diamond Head, a volcanic mountain that provides a breathtaking view of Waikiki. I am admittedly not much of a morning person, but it was definitely worth the morning workout to make it the top and be rewarded with such a lovely view. It gets crowded and the day gets hot pretty quickly, so I recommend getting an early start!+ Go zip lining
I’ll be honest, I was kind of on the fence about zip lining because of how expensive it is, but we decided to just go for it. I am so glad we did! We zip lined at Keana Farms, which had 8 different lines and stunning views. It was a really awesome, exhilarating experience!

+ Go to the KCC Farmer’s Market
After our hike at Diamond Head, we went to the KCC Farmer’s Market, which was conveniently just across the street! This isn’t really a typical farmer’s market that you would go to for your general produce shopping… It is more of a place you should go to when you’re hungry and can try foods from many different local food companies. It reminded me a bit like a street fair. They had such a variety of things like fresh juices and smoothies, poke, ice cream, pizza, burgers, fish, and other local treats.

+ Jump off the rock at Waimea Bay
I am not one who enjoys heights much, but I really enjoyed going to the beach at Waimea Bay and jumping off the huge rock there! I had seen photos of this beach and the rock, so when I got the opportunity to experience it for myself, I jumped at the chance (no pun intended). The jump is about 25 feet high and you land in a sandy bottom area that is about 10 feet deep. Even if you’re not up for the adrenaline rush, Waimea Bay is a nice beach and watching others jump off the rock is pretty entertaining.+  Snorkeling
We went snorkeling at a small beach on the North Shore and it was perfect! There were sea turtles out feeding on algae near the shore and we were able to get very up close and personal with them. One even accidentally bumped into me! We also saw some fish, but of course the sea turtles were the main attraction. We never got around to snorkeling more during our trip even though we wanted to (so many things to do and see!), though I highly recommend doing it at least once!

I could go on and on about how wonderful Hawaii is forever, but I will spare you and end things here! I just may get a bout of wanderlust and write another post filled with things to do–or better yet–things to eat when in Hawaii  🙂

Have you ever been to Hawaii? What were your favorite things that you did there?

xoxo
Jess

* all photos by Jess unless otherwise noted