Month: February 2020

Italy is the home of pizza, pasta, fashion, and all things limoncello. Italy is filled with some of the most fascinating and historical places on this earth. Visiting Italy is rarely a one-time thing. Instead, it usually takes multiple trips to capture even part of the country. On my most recent voyage to Italy, my parents decided to visit possibly one of the most visited places in Italy, Venice. Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is a place entirely out of this world. The floating city itself has received the coined names of the “City of Water,” the “City of Bridges,” and the “City of Mask”…all things that make Venice Venice. This city comprised of 100 small islands has no roads, and the main form of transportation is via the canals with boats or gondolas. There is a multitude of things to do and explore in this Renaissance and Gothic place.

First things first, depending on where you enter the city, you may or may not get dropped off in front of the most famous sight, St. Mark’s Basilica, located in the famous Piazza San Marco Square. St. Mark’s Basilica opened in 1094 and is well known for its Italo-Byzantine architecture, attracting over 25 million tourists each year.

It is the home to some of the world’s most angelic mosaics crafted over eight centuries ago and made of gold. If you want to take a look or tour inside the church, you will need to make sure to have your shoulders covered and bring a pair of pants to cover your legs. In case you forget your pants, scarfs are sold outside the church to make a long skirt. Also located within the Piazza San Marco Square is the Doge’s Palace. If you decided to visit the Palace, I highly recommend taking a tour! This Palace is dreamy, and the best part is you get to stand in the infamous Bridge of Sighs while hundreds of tourists look up at you (lol).

Don’t get me wrong, the sight-seeing is breathtaking, but the food, the food is mouthwatering even thinking about it. If you are looking for traditional, wood-fired Italian pizza, you’ll only be able to find it at two restaurants in Venice. Venice isn’t allowed to have wood fires. However, there is an exception for two restaurants, one being the Rossopomodoro Venezia. Not only do they have great pizza and pasta, but excellent gnocchi, fish, and more (including wine and sangria).

If you are shopping for souvenirs, you should know that Venice is famous for glass blowing art. Hundreds of little shops sell anything and everything made of glass. On top of that, Italy as a whole is renowned for its leather and leather goods. In all different textures and colors, find the purse, belt, wallet, or coin purse of your liking.

There is so much more to do and experience, but if you can, you must ride in a gondola. Yes, you will feel like so much like a tourist, but this is truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Oddly due to lack of snow, I seemingly want it to snow here. And when I think of snow, perfect powdery snow, my mind travels to South Lake Tahoe. In my mind, Tahoe gives me a similar warm feeling of home. Growing up, my family’s spring break trips were often to Tahoe for some quality skiing and west-coast sunshine. Now when I was younger, sometimes I hated this because come spring break I just wanted to travel somewhere warm like all of my other friends, but every year my mother explained how she liked the cold. Looking back, I’m so thankful for her to choose Tahoe. 

Lake Tahoe as a whole is straddled between California and Nevada and is the largest freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada. Tahoe 71 miles long is famous for its “beaches” and ski resorts that surround it. To get to Tahoe, my family often flies into San Fransico to spend a day in the city before making the three and a half-hour drive to Tahoe. Some quick must-dos in San Fran is walking on the Golden Gate Bridge, dine at the Cliff House restaurant for a breathtaking view of the ocean, visit the original Ghirardelli Square, and if time allows you MUST boat to Alcatraz. Once the day is done, grab an In-N-Out burger and head to Tahoe. 

 

The drive to South Lake Tahoe is one of the most scenics yet car-sickening drives that I love dearly. But once you are there, you know you’re there. Being a ski town, there a bunch of places to stay in California, on/near the California Nevada border, and a few more in Nevada. We often stay at the Marriott’s Timber Lodge, for there is a gondola that takes you right to Heavenly Ski Resort. 

Let’s talk about skiing. In the area nearby, there is prime skiing at Heavenly, Kirkwood, Squaw Valley, and more. From all ski resorts, while you shred down the slopes, you overlook the beautiful, bright blue lake, the magnificent pine trees that surround it, and the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains. Squaw Valley, in my mind, is a must; part of the reason is that it was the home of the 1960 winter Olympics. While taking a break from the slopes, you can cruise through the history in Olympic Museum. 

Not only is there skiing, but there are also fantastic hiking and must-see sights. This includes Tahoe’s Emerald Bay, which you can take a 2 hour Cruise along on the M.S. Dixie II. You can also walk around the lake along the “sandy beaches”. Take the Bayview Trailhead for a view like this:  

And if you are into gambling, you’re in luck! Every time we visit Tahoe, my family takes the drive across the border to Nevada to eat at the Timber’s Restaurant, located in the Lakeside Inn and Casino. The food is relatively good, but we go more for the experience of rustic, tradition, and historical feel of Tahoe. 

If you ever get the chance to visit South Lake Tahoe, GO! 

 

Throughout this dreary week, my mind has recently been traveling to the glorious spring break. Four weeks out, all I can think about is my last spring break to Kauai. Kauai is one of the eight Hawaiian islands and is named for its beauty as “The Garden Isle.” I have been fortunate to visit five of the eight Hawaiian islands, but my family’s favorite without question is Kauai. From all the lush green to the breathtaking Na Pali Coast, the famous Hawaiian Mai Tai and surplus amounts of sun and fresh sushi…what’s there not to love! 

Given that Kauai runs on Hawaii Standard Time, quite literally “Hawaiian time,” the entirety of the state is either 5 or 6 hours behind Eastern Standard Time. (Hawaii doesn’t have Daylight Savings). When you first land in Kauai, you’ll be flying into the island’s main airport, Lihue Aiport, possibly the most beautiful, laid back airport I have ever flown into. From the minute you step off the plane, you can smell the ocean air, smell the makhana flowers, feel the warm, vibrant sun, and hear traditional calming Hawaiian music. 

When in Kauai (any island really), you MUST go to the Smith Family Garden Luau. Hands down the best Luau on the island. Here you will have a traditional Hawaiian imu feast, be served endless Mai Tai’s, and experience an elaborate show telling the story of the Pacific islands through hula and music. 

If you enjoy the outdoors, your next stop should be to Waimea Canyon. Waimea canyon is 3,000 feet deep, 10 miles long, and overlooks part of the magnificent Na Pali Coast. You can hike along the canyon ridge free of snakes, but not free of the sun. SUNSCREEN and water are musts. Before you can hike, you have to drive up to the canyon through windy unmarked roads. But along the way, little vendors are selling traditional Hawaiian snacks and goodies. Try the malasadas, which little deep-fried donut-like pastries often filled with cream. And if you are truly daring, take a bite into a spam musubi. 

Following the adventurous trend, something my family partook in and that we all loved was an ATV Tour through Princeville Ranch that included zip-lining and waterfalls. But the ATVing was, without a doubt, the best part. Below is a picture after my brother drove through an unexpected mud puddle. 

And lastly, for the coffee lovers, Kauai is home to Kauai Coffee. The warm Pacific sun, rich volcanic earth, abundant mountain rain, and the cool trade winds of Kaui create the ideal conditions for growing coffee. Outstanding coffee, rich in flavor, Kauai Coffee Company is the largest coffee grower in the U.S. They have flavors ranging from chocolate macadamia nut to coconut caramel crunch. You can visit the estate and try as much as the coffee as you would like. 

There is so much more to Kauai that I’d love to share: shaved ice, the beaches, surfing, the waterfalls, snorkel spots, helicopter tours, and much much more. But for now, good friend, Aloha (which means both hello and goodbye).

While watching Outlander this past weekend, I couldn’t help but dwell on my time in Scottland, aka the Scottish Highlands, and how much I missed this scenic country. Oh, what it would be like to be able to travel back in time to experience being a lairds wife of a clan and to have a barin.

To this day, the culture of kilts, the highlands, bagpipes, and food express the beauty of the country. And let’s not forget about the most badass queen of all time, Mary Queen of Scots. Their national animal is the Unicorn, they are famously known for Haggis (which I will talk about later), the country is made up of nearly 800 islands, and has the largest proportion of redheads in the world…but that’s not all.

While traveling through the English countryside into rolling hills of bonnie Scotland, I couldn’t help but admire all of the untouched lands. As you travel across the border from the one country into the next, we were greeted by a large stone inscribed with the word “SCOTLAND” and a Scottish lad standing next to it, kilt and all, playing his bagpipe. (I kid you not, this is the truth)

 

We were on our way to Edinburgh, the “Athens of the North.” Possibly one of the most magical cities of all. Rich in history and culture, the town is overlooked by Edinburgh Castle, high in the skyline and able to see all that is below. While there, we toured the castle. If you are fascinated by torture, I highly recommend visiting the dungeon to check out all “special” fixings they use on prisoners back in the day.

The city is split into two, Old Town and New Town. Spending most of the time in Old Town, you must travel along the cobble street Royal Mile to get the real feel of gothic, medieval Scotland.

The nightlife in Edinburgh is supposed to be fantastic, however when we visited my brother and I was not of age yet to drink. (The legal drinking age in Scotland 18ish; you can drink beer at 16.) However, this did not stop my parents from eating at a famous pub; Arcade Bar; Haggis and Whiskey house. Two things scots are famous for. My parents live by, “When in Paris, you must do as the Persians do.” Thus in Scotland, we did what scots do, and that is to eat Haggis. In case you didn’t know, Haggis is sheep’s or calf’s offal mixed with suet, oatmeal, and seasoning and boiled in a bag, traditionally one made from the animal’s stomach. Luckily for me, this was my brother’s dinner and not mine. To be completely honest, it wasn’t awful. But it also wasn’t something I would ever want to eat again. Later that evening, while walking under the street lights, my brother threw up the Haggis in a back alleyway. Try it if you dare!

Someday I hope to go back to be able to spend more time in this majestic country. To visit Glasglow is a must, and to go off the beaten track into the highlands is a dream.