A Day in the Life

In honor of my last post, I decided there is no better place to end than in Happy Valley:) Welcome to State College!

While our time here has been short, I have already sought out some of my favorite spots! First up is obviously Old Main. While this may seem mainstream, I found it to be the perfect place to get some fresh air and sunlight — especially during COVID.

When the weather was warmer, I enjoyed bringing a blanket out and laying on the lawn in the evening. It was extremely peaceful considering the chaos and new-ness in the beginning of the semester.

My absolute favorite spot to grab breakfast on Saturday mornings is the Bagel Crust. While Pennsylvania bagels just don’t compare to Jersey bagels, the Bagel Crust holds up a pretty good bargain. Personally, my go-to-order is from their lunch specials: Baja California. The blend of chipotle sauce, pepper jack cheese, and avocado is SO perfect; it adds a caramelized taste to your sandwich. Okay, I’m done being a food critic now but I absolutely love it<3

Next up is my favorite place to go shopping. If you’re looking for a cute, hip boutique to shop at, People’s Nation on College Ave is the place to be. However, while I love their collection, it can be pricey at times.

A little road trip off-campus helped me find Uptown Cheapskate. This trendy thrift-store sells up-cycled clothing for cheap. It’s a steal! Unfortunately, you can’t walk here from campus but it’s about a 7 minute car ride away! My favorite part is the discounted Penn State merch — they have an entire aisle dedicated to it:)

Aside from the creamery, my favorite spot to grab dessert is Duck Donuts. Their warm, freshly-made donuts are to die for… literally. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating but I HIGHLY recommend them. You can customize what you want on your donut PLUS you get to watch them make it!

Although I’ve had a great time going out and exploring this new town, I’ve also really enjoyed experiencing fall in State College. All of the trees and fall colors make it truly beautiful. My favorite part is having leaves fall all around me, when the breeze blows. I think it’s safe to say I’ll miss it.

You’ve now spent ~a day in the life~ with me in State College! I hope you enjoyed:)

Today, I’m gonna be showing you guys around one of my absolute favorite places EVER. You probably didn’t guess it, but it’s the Jersey Shore!!!

And NO, it is nothing like the tv show.

Before we get into the details, we need to establish something. You can’t go to the beach and not be a ‘water’ person. It simply doesn’t work that way. If you’re going to the beach, you best be jumping the waves and cooling off, in the water. That’s the only way to do it. (I used to be a competitive swimmer, that probably has to do with my obsessiveness with water).

Over the summers, you can probably find me at the beach at least 4 of the 7 days in a week. If you couldn’t tell, I live at the beach.

My personal fav is Belmar Beach. I find that it’s the perfect mix of lively, yet not overcrowded. Plus, they have all of the classic beach-food-favorites that you could want. Specifically on 8th ave, they have the iconic Playa Bowls, Coney Waffle, Jimmy’s Place, and The Beach Bum — a little gift shop on the corner. Of course there are more snacking joints along the coast and on Main Street, however, these are the ones located off of the prime spot — 8th ave.

For those who didn’t know, Playa Bowls‘ very first location was actually on 8th ave in Belmar! The owners lived above the pizza place (Jimmy’s Place), and made acai bowls right out of their home:) Jimmy’s Place is fairly popular as well. You can get a variety of different pizzas, paninis, and burgers, along with the occasional live entertainment.

If you hadn’t noticed by my enthusiasm on Belmar, I have an opinion about everything there. My favorite joint on 8th ave is Coney Waffle. Coney Waffle is hands-down my favorite spot to get ice cream. Their large variety of flavors, famous milkshakes, and waffles+ice cream are all MUSTS!!! Personally, I think the “Rich n Famous” on a waffle cone is the way to go, but “Cookie Monster Blue” comes in a close second.

While I spend most of my waking moments at the beach, I also like to switch it up. By this, I mean sunrises or sunsets at the beach. Before you judge, I have to say they are well worth it.

If you’re planning to go see the sunrise, it’s actually so fun waking up at the crack of dawn — actually before — to race to the beach. It’s an adventure within itself. I would recommend wearing your suit, even though it is like 6 am. I assure you, you will be amazed by the sudden urge to jump in the water, no matter the time.

Once you’ve gotten your ~morning swim~ in, you have to indulge in some jersey bagels. I recommend Joe’s Bagel and Grill. The line does start early, but it’s worth it:)

Now, if you’re planning a sunset by the beach, you should be equally as excited. A popular dinner spot by the beach is Surf Taco. However, I prefer to do take-out so that I can eat while watching the sky turn pink. I love 10th ave Burritos. If you’re more of a restaurant person, they have a beautiful seating area, which is equally as pleasing.

I hope this was as exciting for you as it was for me:) You have now ~spent a day in the life~ with me at Belmar Beach! Hope you had fun!!

Heyyy friends! Today we’re gonna be exploring London!! 

London has a plethora of sights to visit, but we’re going to start in the heart of it all… Buckingham Palace. 

Buckingham Palace is a beauty, inside and out. One of my favorite things to experience was the Changing of the Guards Ceremony. The changing of guards occurs every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from August to May, and everyday in June and July. 

This ceremony is when the group of soldiers currently protecting the palace are replaced by new soldiers. Lasting a span of 45 minutes, 1,500 soldiers, 200 horses, and over 400 members of the Massed Band take part in this formal ceremony. 

Watching soldiers in their red staple uniforms is thrilling. The poise, the seriousness, the perfection… it really is extraordinary. 

Another visit must be made to the London Eye. The good news is, you can kill two birds with one stone, for this one. The London Eye is basically a ferris wheel that gives you an aerial view of the city. It’s been named the #1 visitor experience for the past decade and is a short ride that allows you to take in the city, all at once.

After your little joyride, you can walk the famous Westminster Bridge towards the Big Ben. The architecture of the buildings is breathtaking, and the bridge overlooks the Thames River! It makes for a great photo-op:)

Another similar bridge is the Tower Bridge. Now, I truly felt like I was in a movie walking through this one! The views, the vibes, the energy… truly immaculate.

 

I saved the best for last… duhhh! If you have the time to make a day-trip just outside the city of London, I HIGHLY recommend a trip to Windsor Castle. Personally, this was my favorite part of the trip.

A second home to the queen, this castle is kept more private. While they offer tours, a very limited amount of rooms are open to the public for viewing. One of our most memorable tours was the tour of the kitchen. Did you know the chefs make about 50 extra servings of food during state dinners, in case of a spill? This was more common a few decades ago, as they didn’t have an elevator and spills are more likely when using the stairs. 

Excuse my random facts, but learning about the castle was quite fascinating. If you’re more of the exploring type, the views from the terrace are beautiful as well. The open space ahead of the castle highlights the magnificent architecture. The Castle also makes their own dairy, and therefore, their own ice cream! This ice cream was probably the best ice cream I had on the trip and I would go back just for it.

I hope you enjoyed the inside scoop🙂 You have now spent ~a day in the life~ with me, in London!

 

Obviously, I couldn’t have just one blog post on NYC… I mean c’mon… it’s the BEST CITY in the world!

Last time, I walked you guys through some of my favorite things to do in the city; however, they were quite touristy and had a lot do with Times Square and Central Park. Today, we’re traveling to Brooklyn… a gem in disguise, if you will:)

In the city, you must walk EVERYWHERE to really feel like a real new-yorker. Nothing is ever too far… it’s just a little whiles away. Therefore, the only real way to experience Brooklyn is by walking the Brooklyn Bridge to enter the borough.

In order to beat the crowd, you should walk the bridge in the morning or later in the evening. Despite being a tourist attraction, thousands of New Yorkers use the Brooklyn Bridge as a mode of transportation — either biking or brisk-walking it in order to get to-and-from work.

My favorite time to walk the bridge is during sunset so that you can watch the sun dip under the horizon, with the skyline in the background. If you’re planning a trip to Brooklyn, I would recommend walking the bridge into Brooklyn around lunch time. This way, you can enjoy the sunset on your way back into Manhattan, and get the ‘city life’ experience once it gets darker outside and the skyscrapers light the sky.

Once in Brooklyn, there are a plethora of places to explore… but first food.

I’m sure you’ve all heard about “Brooklyn Pizza”. Yes! Brooklyn Pizza is in fact amazing! You can’t go to Brooklyn and not eat pizza… it just doesn’t work that way.

Di Fara Pizza is known as the best pizzeria in New York City — and it does not disappoint!! The wait to eat here can be crazy (all of the time), but as thousands attest, “it is well-worth the wait”.

Once you’ve stuffed yourself with some New-York styled pizza, take a trip to DUMBO. Named for being “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”, DUMBO is one of liveliest places in Brooklyn.

You can visit the Brooklyn Bridge Park. Aside from its astonishing views, the park sets up weekly events in the summer to bring the community together. This includes Movies With a View. Every Thursday of July and August, the Brooklyn Bridge Park sets up an outdoor movie. Now it’s not just a movie… it’s a party. They even hire a DJ and food vendors to set up, until it’s dark enough to start the movie.

I was fortunate enough to experience this a couple years ago. I watched Wonder Woman and they had Smorgasburg for food. To say this experience was phenomenal is an understatement. Truly one of my favorite memories from the city:)

While the movie with a view is quite amazing, there’s still plenty more to explore. You’re probably gonna want to document your trip to Brooklyn, and what better place to do that than the “Photo Spot” of Brooklyn. Famous for the way Brooklyn’s red brick buildings, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Empire State building can be captured all in one picture, this street is a true beauty.

You can also visit Brooklyn’s famous flea markets to try and find a vintage buy, or take a stroll along the water. The views are beautiful as Brooklyn overlooks Manhattan. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can visit Jane’s Carousel. It’s nearly a century-old, and has been refurbished and encased with a glass cube around it. The good news is that you can still ride it and it makes for some cool pictures!

I hope you can go out and explore these beautiful sites in Brooklyn, one day! For now, I’ll just reminisce my past trips:( You’ve now spent ~a day in the life~ in Brooklyn!

Today we’re going back to Costa Rica since we only got to explore La Fortuna last time!

We’re gonna be starting off in Manuel Antonio, a small oceanside village. You can explore a wide variety of activities from their National Park to their water sports!

If you plan on visiting the Manuel Antonio National Park, I highly recommend getting a guided tour! During their peak tourism season, they only allow 600 people into the park, at a time. But don’t worry! With a tour guide, they are able to get in line early in the morning and save you a spot! It’s completely worth it:)

Once inside, you can walk around and explore the rainforest. The biodiversity is breathtaking — you can find up to 109 species of mammals and 184 species of birds! Some of the most popular animals you can encounter include sloths, iguanas, monkeys, and snakes. You can even enjoy some hiking, while taking in the breathtaking view!

Once you’ve hit your adventure maximum and just want to relax on the beach, you can head over to the extensive coast. Because the number of people allowed into the park is so limited, the beach is rather spacious and uncrowded. Fortunately for me, I wasn’t too lonely as a couple of iguanas decided to share our spot in the shade!

Personally, I spent a lot of time at this particular beach. It was rather relaxing and calming. All you could hear were the waves crashing, feel the heat beating your skin, and smell the crisp ocean air. It was amazing. To say I returned to my hotel burnt, is an understatement.

Aside from the National Park, you can also spend some time walking around the village and doing some shopping at their shops. I found they have an extremely unique jewelry collection as they incorporate a large variety of stones and beads into their designs. It made for the perfect gifts:)

You can also take part in some sports including surfing! I’ve always wanted to learn and I saw this as my shot. They have surfing lessons available right at the beach and can have you riding a wave in about 2 hours! Unfortunately for me, my below-average beginner skills were no match for the people who had grown up surfing in Costa Rica:(

For good eats, my favorite restaurant was El Wagon. Their specialty is pizza
(which was very good), but my favorite item on the menu was their strawberry-banana smoothie, hands down!!! I went back the next day just for a smoothie…

But jokes aside, the ambiance was phenomenal. From their mosaic tiled floors, to the gorgeous view of the rainforest, to their rocking chairs at each table. It was lovely. The vibes at this restaurant screamed Costa Rica.

If you have any additional time during your trip to Costa Rica and have already explored La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio, remember to give San Jose a visit! San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica and the perfect city to close out your trip!

Filled with monuments, museums, and amazing architecture, it’s a beautiful place to walk around. The perfect mix of urban development and historic architecture is breathtaking!

You’ve now spent ~a day in the life~ with me in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica! I hope it brought some more insight to the different attractions encompassed in this small, but beautiful, country:)

Next up, we’re going to New York City! City trips have always been a staple in my childhood as we live about an hour away.

I feel like you can never go wrong with NYC. I love experiencing the holiday bustle, spending a summer day walking the streets, and getting dinner with some friends and a skyline view.

Some of my favorite things include exploring the streets and walking around, while trying new foods! My sister and I try to find the most unique dessert shops during each of our trips, and honestly, they never fail to please. We once walked 36 blocks to find a crêpe place… it was worth it:)

If you ever find yourself in SoHo, I MUST recommend the Dominique Ansel Bakery. It’s nothing short of the cute little bakery of your dreams. Filled with creamy goodness, the warm sweet scent hits you the moment you walk through the door. Famous for their cookie shots, you can expect the line to go down the street. Served exclusively after 3pm, these shot glass-shaped cookies filled with milk are well worth the wait. The warm cookie melts in your mouth while the milk adds the perfect blend of cold.

If you’re a foodie, you must seek out a location for Smorgasburg. Smorgasburg is essentially a street filled with food vendors, offering the best foods of all cuisines. It’s truly a foodie’s dream. You can spend hours just going around, convincing yourself that you must try each food because it just looks so good. They typically set up somewhere with a nice view, some music, and loads of food. As expected, it’s very easy to get carried away. Personally, I’ve visited their locations by World Trade Center and Brooklyn. They never disappoint.

When visiting NYC, there are some touristy locations that should definitely be on your list to visit. This includes Times Square… duhhh. I would recommend seeing it at nighttime, but walking around during the day is extremely lively too. There are always street vendors set up; street artists ready to spray-paint a NYC skyline,  sketch your portrait, or dance for you; and of course the people dressed up as Disney characters. This used to be

even more special before the Toys-R-Us in Times Square shut down (sad) — their Ferris Wheel is missed. Visiting the M&M Store is super cool as they have a plethora of flavors, colors, and sizes offered — something you don’t see at your local grocery store.

Walking around Central Park is incredibly special as well — especially in the fall. My family has spent countless days biking, walking, boating, and laughing in Central Park. In the summers, they have boat rentals for you to enjoy some time at the pond, model sailboat racing, and a Bubble Man who religiously stands by the Bethesda Terrace. We rent row boats almost every summer, and take in the beautiful view that Central Park offers. They also almost always have a model sailboat race at Conservatory Water, which is interesting to watch. And of course, the Bubble Man. This simple, yet super cool concept has always amazed me. He uses some soapy water, rope, and two sticks to create the most mesmerizing bubbles. As you can expect, I have spent quite a few dollars trying to get the perfect bubble.

If you couldn’t tell, I LOVE the city and can probably talk about it for HOURS!! With the countless places to explore and new foods to try, you can never be bored. You have now spent ~a day in the life~ in New York City. I hope you love it as much as I do:)

We’re back and better than ever! Today I’m taking you guys to one of my favorite places ever… Costa Rica!

When you think of Costa Rica, the first thing that may come to your head may be their beaches. You’re not wrong — their beaches are amazing. I’m more of a tropical beach person myself, however, my favorite place in Costa Rica is their rainforest.

That being said, we’re starting off in La Fortuna. La Fortuna is a small town, but it is located at the center of geological wonders. This includes the Arenal Volcano.

The Arenal Volcano is an active (but resting stage) volcano, surrounded by hot springs at its base. Most resorts in the area are close enough to the volcano to have the hot springs in their resort — usually connected to their pools. Although Costa Rica is warm enough without pool heaters, these natural hot springs were amazing to experience. It was quite surprising to feel how hot these springs could actually make the pool water… there were times when I had to take a break because I was sweating in the pool!

Aside from the breathtaking views, La Fortuna hosts a plethora of
hiking opportunities. Along the hiking trails, there are even opportunities to

walk the hanging bridges and zip-line across peaks. My family decided to take on an adventurous challenge and took a day to rappel down waterfalls, cliff jump, and white water raft. To this day, I greatly cherish these memories as it is something I’ve never

experienced before. Rappelling down the side of a cliff with a mere rope tied around my waist brought on a weird thrill. These experiences were magnified due to the wildlife that flourishes here. From tropical flowers to sloths and iguanas, I guarantee there is much to see.

If you’re still missing the water while in the rainforest, you can journeydown to the Catarata Fortuna (La Fortuna Waterfall). This beautiful waterfall requires a hike down 500 steps, but it is all worth it! Make sure you bring your camera and a swim suit — after the short hike you’re gonna want to go swimming in this cool water.

I’m not sure if the hot springs had spoiled me, but the water at this waterfall was quite chilly compared to everything else! Nevertheless, it was beautiful and definitely a must… just watch your knees as you navigate through the slippery stairs to get there!

Now that we’ve got the activities in La Fortuna covered, lets tackle the food aspect! Personally, I loved the unique cuisine they served — especially the Gallo Pinto.

Costa Rica is known for their coffee. With numerous plantations throughout La Fortuna, coffee beans are one of their major exports. Capitalizing on their world-famous coffee, it is very easy to find a coffee shop to regroup in. My favorite coffee shop was located right near there plantation. Sitting by the window, you had the view of a beautiful plantation with the Arenal Volcano in the background… it sounds surreal.

Along with their coffee, you can’t miss their chocolate-covered coffee beans! They’re a real treat — and even make for a thoughtful souvenir for friends:)

You’ve now spent ~a day in the life~ in La Fortuna, Costa Rica. Hope you enjoyed!

 

For our next adventure, we’re going to Paris! I know it’s a very touristy area, but the Eiffel Tower is not the only thing in Paris. It’s a beautiful city… that’s why there’s so much hype!

Obviously, if you’re visiting Paris, taking part in the touristy activities is a must. The views from Eiffel Tower are awfully scenic, and you can actually climb the stairs up — don’t worry, only 704 of them — and eat dinner at a restaurant, on the second level of the tower. If you choose not to eat up there, I would highly suggest a trip up just for the views!

Another touristy must is walking along Le Seine and shopping aux Champs-Élysées. Le Seine is a 485 mile long river that flows through the heart of Paris. It’s surrounded by cafés and restaurants, Notre Dame (which is being rebuilt soon), and the Eiffel Tower; it’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy nature.

Can’t forget about Le Champs-Élysées. Comparable to NYC’s time square, this street is always lively. From live music, to amazing restaurants, and high-end designer stores, you’ll never be bored. This avenue runs from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe — truly a grand avenue.

When in Paris, you can’t not get chocolate! My favorite place was this little shop off of the Champs-Élysées, called Jeff de Bruges. With a wide assortment of chocolates, they even doubled as an ice cream parlor! As you would expect, the line went down the street almost every night. For breakfast, I enjoyed a croissant sandwich almost everyday I was there. Filled with fresh mozzarella and basil, tomatoes, bacon, and a creamy sauce, I almost wish I was there getting one right now!

Saving the best for last, anyone who visits Paris must see the Chateau de
Versailles (the Palace of Versailles). I know I said Paris is beautiful, but this palace is just drop-dead gorgeous. About a 35 minute trip outside of Paris, the Palace of Versailles sits on a large estate. The gardens alone, take up about 1,977 acres of land.

Walking through the gardens, you’ll probably run into smaller villas (trianons). Yes, there’s more paths carved behind the trees + bushes; there’s tiny mansions that extend throughout the estate.

Exploring on a hot summer day calls for some fresh-squeezed orange juice. Luckily, they have little stalls set up throughout the garden selling exactly that! Aside from the beautiful garden, the orange juice was the next best thing:)

According to me, all of these are musts, (haha) but thank you for exploring with me! You’ve now spent ~a day in the life~ in Paris, France:)

Today, we’re gonna be traveling across the world to Mumbai, India. Both of my parents are from Mumbai, and as a result, we visit almost every other year.

For those who have never been, Mumbai is India’s New York City. Just like NYC, driving can be a real hassle in Mumbai. Nobody follows the lanes that are painted on the roads. Instead, they just scatter wherever they please. However, driving in India does scare me more than NYC. Aside from being oblivious to the clear lanes that should exist, nobody really cares to stop at a red light either. Most people will run a red light likes it’s second nature.

Obviously, those who grew up driving there are perfectly comfortable and know how to maneuver their car.

I, for one, will never drive there.

My absolute favorite place to visit when in Mumbai, is Marine Drive. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a long road along the coast, where you can drive. Watching the sun go down along the horizon here is amazing, but when the lights come on and you can see the skyline, the view is breathtakinggg!!!

It’s about a 40 minute drive from where my family lives, but even the drive is enjoyable. We usually take the Bandra-Worli Sea Link — a relatively new bridge that connects Bandra (Suburbs of Mumbai) and Worli (South Mumbai).

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m a sucker for oceanic views. A couple years ago, I was in Mumbai during the monsoon season. I decided I wanted to experience “Mumbai’s rain” the old-fashioned way — the way locals do it.

My sister and I figured out that high-tide would be around midnight, and naturally, we were ready for an adventure. We got to Marine Drive, only to
witness the waves crashing over the wall… they were more than 6 meters tall.

We spent the next 2 hours running under the crashing waves, getting drenched in the middle of the night. Those are the kind of nights I live for.

Aside from going to Marine Drive every-other-night, I love shopping in Lokhandwala Market (Low-khund-vul-a Market), getting coconut water from street vendors, and stopping for some pani-puri.

Lokhandwala Market is a shopping area that is almost always crowded. Here, you will mostly find street vendors, small boutiques for ethnic clothing, and a very lively ambiance.

On a hot, humid day, coconut water and some pani-puri is my go to. The coconut is cut so that you can drink right out of it and toss it when you’re done. Pani-puri is an Indian snack, both spicy and tangy. It’s another street snack that is essential when visiting.

I hope my adventures inspire you to go out and explore new cultures! You’ve now spent ~a day in the life~ with me in Mumbai, India!