So this past weekend Jhonathan and I took and impromptu trip to Seattle! Since this was the first time visiting there for the both of us, and seeing as we were only going to be there for the weekend, we wanted to pack in the best spots possible for the time-frame we had. So if you ever find yourself on a layover in Seattle, or just have a day to explore there, here are some must-see places!
Where We Stayed
Our accommodations were at the W Seattle. This hotel is not only beautiful with modern appointments, but it also features great live entertainment in the evening, comfortable spacious rooms, excellent customer service, and is walking distance from a lot of sights!
Favorite Breakfast
Sweet Iron seriously has the best waffles EVER! Just two short blocks from our hotel, this trendy breakfast spot was a must! Jhonathan and I tried two from the menu, one sweet, the chocolate dipped waffle, and one savory, the bacon with maple syrup, and loved both! The waffle is so soft and made to order. All ingredients are fresh and served to perfection. I also ordered hot chocolate, which was the optimal choice to finish off breakfast.
For Pictures
I know everyone wants to see the space needle, but how do you get a great picture of it? Go to Kerry Park! Kerry Park is on the Queen Anne hill, about a 15 minute drive from where our hotel was located. This park is on a hill, and provides the perfect view of the skyline, and on a clear day, Mount Rainier! We weren’t so lucky to get a glimpse of the mountain, but we were able to get the skyline.
The Market & Starbucks
After breakfast, we walked over to the market and stopped at the very first ever Starbucks! I of course had to pick up a few souvenir mugs, coffee, and get myself a hot cider to drink.
The Pike Place Market was not at all what I expected! It was so large with many floors and seriously has a shop for everyone! There are levels of stores, from fish, tea, to magic stores, comic books and collector model cars…everything! You could honestly spend an entire day here, there is just so much to see!
Quick eats
One of my favorite things about NYC is the easy access to food, i.e. street food (hotdogs and chicken kabobs) We found a park area across from Macy’s that had just the thing!
Speaking of Macy’s, since we were visiting in December they had their window displays set for Christmas and it was totally amazing!
And yes, if you a breathing, I am sure you have heard of Christian Grey. Well this is where he lived in the movies and the books. Sooooo obviously I had to take a quick snap of the Escala on our walk.
Bars
So the two bars we had to check off of our list on this trip were: Canon and The Nest.
Canon is a whiskey bar with a spirit collection of over 4,000 labels serving AMAZING specialty drinks in quirky serveware, with the perfect amount of gastro/old timey vibe!
The Nest is a rooftop bar in the Thompson hotel. It features beautiful views of the city and an amazing space to relax and have a drink while watching the ferry, ferris wheel, and city life.
Seattle is such a great city, and I cannot wait to visit again! Even though it rained the entire trip, that didn’t take away from the fun! I will mention I did not expect the amount of hills! LOL so yes, keep that in mind if you plan on walking, phew! But I did love that even with the rain my hair did not mess up! There is not all the humidity like we have here in Houston so I could actually fix my hair and it would hold through the weather!
The buildings are beautiful, the transportation is easy and convenient, the food is great and I cannot recommend it more! Next time I’m planning on checking out the mountains so I guess a spring or summer trip is is store?!
Hi Friends! So last month I vacationed to Acapulco and wanted to share some of my favorite stops with you!
If you are interested in seeing my layover adventures in Mexico City, I’ll have that blog post up soon!
Acapulco is such a lush and tropical beach destination just a few short hours (by plane) from Houston! For this trip, we decided to stay at a resort and the one we selected was The Grand Mayan – a Vidanta property. Just a short 10 minute taxi ride from the airport and we were there!
The resort was absolutely breathtaking! We checked in at night so we left exploring for the morning. That evening we stopped at the bar and watched the evening performance.
The room was spacious and comfortable with luxurious bedding and toiletries. After a good night’s sleep we woke bright and early to start our first day of adventuring.
While exploring the property I sported my Stronger athletic wear. This brand is so comfortable and perfect for any climate! After we checked out the grounds it was time to change and venture off property.
Favorite Places / Activities
So the two things I think everyone needs to stop and do/see when in Acapulco are: releasing baby sea turtles and visit the Diego Rivera mural.
Releasing baby sea turtles was seriously one of the coolest things I think I have ever done! Before the release you watch a short film on conservation and the life cycle of sea turtles that way you fully understand the importance of this release!
Holding the tiny turtle and watching it take its first steps to the ocean was so touching!
As for the Diego Rivera wall, I was taken aback by the sheer size of the mural, which seems to come out of nowhere! It is just off of the side of a building on a random street, as if it is nothing special…perfect for a photo op! There is so much detail in this piece, that I wish I could have captured it all for you! The mixed materials and mosaic design are so beautiful and entrancing, a must see!
Here are a few photos from our other Acapulco stops, enjoy! From learning about gemstone mining and jewelry, to food, poolside drinks, local iguanas, and scenic outlook spots.
New York is beyond my favorite city. I will take a trip there any chance I can, which is why Jhonathan and I headed up there a few weekends ago.
This trip was just for fun. To get away, and spend some time in the city. On this trip, we visited a few of our regular stops, but added in some new places that really made this particular trip unique.
Food:
While in New York street food is a MUST! I always get myself a hot dog and a chicken kabob first thing! There is just nothing in the world quite like a Manhattan hot dog. We also stopped in at John’s Pizza. This is by far my favorite pizza spot in the city! Located in a converted church, this brick oven pizzeria is not only delicious, but also extremely beautiful!
After dinner we walked over to Junior’s to get some cheesecake – yes this is another “must” stop for me! I have a massive sweet tooth and their cheesecake is simply the best.
Our other food stops included the Chobani cafe in SOHO which was excellent! I have never visited a Chobani restaurant before, and was extremely impressed with the ingredients atmosphere and variety. Our next stop was The Wren we ordered brunch there and had a few drinks. This bar is so lively and offers a delicious assortment of curated options.
Shopping:
I will say I kept the shopping to a minimum on this trip to really enjoy the sights and the city, but I did make the time to stop in Birchbox SoHo to create my own box and check out their store! This was such a fun experience, I truly felt like a kid in a candy shop! There is makeup, skincare and hair products galore! I wanted to spend all day in this shop, and was so glad we decided to stop in. I also made a trip over to the flagship Henri Bendel location to walk through and check out their new offerings, and amazing wall art! Henri Bendel is one of my favorite handbag and accessory locations, so it is inevitable, every time I step in one I have to get myself something!
Aside from these stops, we also strolled through Central Park, Grand Central Station, and over by the Brooklyn bridge. I have to say this was one of my most loved trips to New York. Not because we had a million places to go, but because we didn’t. This was a relaxing trip to really explore the city and enjoy enjoy all it was to offer.
Last month I was blessed with opportunity to vacation to Rome. This trip was my first to leave the continent…so it was a very big step for me. While on my trip I visited Rome, Tavullia, Naples, and Pompeii. From what I had the chance to see, Italy is a beautiful country. There is just so much to see! The history, the wine, food, people, views, I tried to absorb as much as I could on our 4 days there. Here are a few of my favorite images from the trip. Enjoy!
I recently had the opportunity to travel to Louisiana, and stay at the beautiful Houmas House. All I can say about this plantation is; it’s totally breathtaking and…when can I go back? Every little detail of the property is perfectly thought out and elegant. Walking through the beautiful gardens on property will seriously transport you through time. All thoughts of city life seem to fade away and its just you, in the moment.
Our cottage was decorated to perfection and included a sitting room, working desk, and coffee bar. I loved all of the wood accented carvings and antique furnishings. No detail was left unturned, and even though our group took up the majority of the cottages, you still felt the quiet and peacefulness the vast plantation and gardens had to offer.
We ate at the restaurant on property which was decorated beautifully and was beyond elegant. I was taken aback by the size of the main room and the vast table we were served at. Each chair was upholstered and armed. Mixed patterns added charm to the room and the high ceiling with intricate carved crown molding and crystal chandeliers seriously gave the appearance of old world glamour and timeless beauty.
Thankfully while here the weather was pleasant, and the mosquitoes were tolerable, as I have an allergy and would have not been able to explore the grounds otherwise. I took full advantage of daylight and walked the beautiful gardens taking in all they had to offer.
Now, what brought me to Baton Rouge may not be what you have expected. No, I did not come out for vacation or to see the sights but actually to volunteer with the Red Cross and assist in the efforts of helping the victims in need after the devastating floods hit that region.
This was my first time volunteering with the Red Cross so I was a bit anxious and unsure of what to expect. All I knew is I wanted to help in anyway I could, and give back. After checking in I was assigned warehouse duty and spent my time volunteering loading totes of cleaning/household supplies into care packages, being prepped to be delivered to families in need. It took some practice but before long we were a streamlined assembly line. I’m not going to lie, this was hard work but is totally fulfilling. Knowing that my time and work was doing going to help someone else in need is an amazing feeling. Being sore and uncomfortable for a few days seemed trivial in compassion, and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to help out.
I definitely recommend volunteering if you are able to. It is an amazingly fulfilling and humbling experience and touches so many lives! Also, if you are looking for a wonderful place to stay near Baton Rouge I would hands down recommend the Houmas House! It was so wonderful, I could not have asked for a better stay.