All posts filed under: Travel

Travel

Gems of the Pacific Northwest

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One of the really incredible things about living in Sacramento is how close you are to so many different climates and scenery.  Within roughly two hours you can be at the beach, the mountains, a forest, or the desert if you so desire.  If you hop on a plane, you can be in Washington in the same amount of time.  And I must say, it is one hundred percent worth it. Josh and I went up to the Olympic National Park for this birthday weekend, and it was spectacular.  It helped that the area was experiencing relief from the ever present rain that weekend.  The sun was out and the weather was absolutely perfect.  We decided to rent a car and take a little road trip around the perimeter of the park so we could see a good portion of it on our short weekend trip.  We made a few stops along the way, which I am eager to share with you. Stop #1: Port Angeles I love being around water.  On it, in it, …

Paris Restaurant Guide

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  Oh Paris…  You were wonderful.  Beautiful views, spectacular architecture, and absolutely incredible food.  It should be, right?  I mean, Julia Child wouldn’t have totally changed the focus of her life after having your sole meunière if it wasn’t something truly scrumptious.  Traveling to Paris and watching Julie & Julia on the plane ride home had me itching to come back and offer up a few eateries for you to try on your next trip. Le Mary Céleste Located in the Marais district of Pairs, this little gem should not be overlooked.  Especially if you like oysters.  I don’t even like oysters, and I could’ve eaten the entire half dozen we ordered.  They were fantastic!  Cold and flavored perfectly with a slightly spicy citrus sauce…  Don’t stop there, though.  The tapas style menu allows you to sample as many delectable dishes as you choose.  While the menu changes daily, I definitely recommend getting the braised beef if it is available.  Braised for 24 hours, you aren’t going to find a more tender, deliciously seasoned beef …

36 Hours in Your Home: “Staycation” Essentials

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Text conversation with a friend: Her: Hey, would you be interested in seeing La La Land with me tonight? Me: Oh man, yes I would but we are in San Diego… Her: [Crying emojis] Bummer. What days of the month are you typically home? Me: Tuesdays haha Her: So Tuesdays you guys are home and you go to your jobs on those days? Otherwise you’re in Texas, Chicago, SD, or Bangladesh? Ok, so maybe my husband and I go places a lot (Bangladesh is a stretch)…  It’s true.  With our families living in different states and our love of seeing new places, we travel all the time.  In fact, we were supposed to be going to Florida over our long weekend, but plans changed.  I have to say, though, that staying home has its advantages.  No delayed flights, mediocre airport food, time changes, or jet lag. Staying home can also be the perfect time to focus on yourself and get in a few things you enjoy before starting the work week again.  I love taking weekends …

Packing Light for the Chronic Over-Packer

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  AHHHH!!!  I’m going to Europe again!  In case you weren’t fully able to interpret the capital letters at the start of this post, I am extremely excited.  I can’t wait to experience new places with my favorite person. My husband and I plan to visit a few different cities in Spain and then spend a couple days in Paris.  Our trip is scheduled for February, and we plan to take only one backpack a piece.  Packing is definitely going to be a challenge as we will need to make differing winter climates and limited space work together. Let me take you back a few years before traveling (by plane) was really a thing that I did on the regular.  Let me take you back to a time before my husband.  I was a chronic over-packer.  When my family would go on road trips, I would pack multiple suitcases for a week long trip.  And these suitcases were not small.  I had this idea that essentially everything I owned needed to come with me on …

A Day in San Francisco

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Have some time to spare in San Francisco?  I highly encourage you to visit the following places to make your trip more memorable. Eats: The Mission District As a self-proclaimed foodie, I was so excited to explore San Francisco’s Mission District.  It is becoming more well known for it’s creative ventures into the world of food.  Definitely stop in at Tartine Bakery in the Mission District for a minimalist environment with maximum taste.  I definitely recommend their Bavarian fruit cake.  Enjoy a few small, tapas-style plates from the Peruvian influenced restaurant Limon Rotisserie.  The truffle mac & cheese will not be a disappointment.  Walk over to Dandelion Chocolate to see a small-batch chocolatier in action and obviously indulge in decadent morsels.  The Dulce de Leche Bar is a really beautiful thing… Views: Baker Beach Catch a gorgeous view of the Golden Gate Bridge from this local beach hangout.  I was thankful to have the view of the timeless bridge without the excessive number of people trying to walk or bike over the bridge as is …

Travel: Experience Los Cabos

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  Oh, Mexico, how I miss you.  My husband and I decided to take our slightly belated honeymoon in Cabo, and we couldn’t be happier with our experience there.  We went in mid-February, and the weather was absolutely perfect!  Of course, being on the coast makes the weather pretty perfect most of the time, but it was great to leave the chill of northern California for a week in the Mexican sand and sun.  As we come into the summer vacation months, I wanted to recommend a few places and activities should you be planning a trip to Cabo. Number 1: Stay in San Jose del Cabo I can not stress this recommendation enough, especially if you are the type of person who prefers a quieter, more local experience over the intense tourist traps.  San Jose is a short drive from the more popular Cabo San Lucas, but is definitely worth the trip.  We were able to find an amazing spot through Airbnb that honestly made our trip.  Our host, Kim, was fantastic.  She was …