travel guide

Napa Wineries – Fall 2019

- Stephanie Leave a comment

We took a Fall trip to Napa Valley and enjoyed a few days at the wineries! It was our second time visiting Napa and we always have a great and relaxing time. We focus on the wine, since, that’s what Napa is known for, but also had a lot of great food experiences as well. Here are a list of the wineries we did tastings at!

— Day One

Hess Collection
We made appointment online to reserve a tasting spot. It was very personable and laid back, the tasting was in a large cellar-like room with a round counter. Tons of classic winery vibes on the outside, with a modern art gallery on the inside (You can stay and wander the gallery for however long you want.)

Alpha Omega
This tasting was free because the concierge at our hotel called ahead and made us an appointment. Alpha Omega was very informative and detailed when giving us tastings. And also personalized! We had one person wait on us the whole time, so we got to know him. We sat near the fountain under the trees and umbrellas. Good vibes, very relaxing.

Hess

— Day Two

Black Stallion
We walked in and didn’t wait long for a tasting spot. They had a large covered outdoor patio with comfy chairs and a nice ambiance. They were very personable. We liked Pinot and Poseidon Chardonnay (which we bought a bottle of). Kinda wasp-y, we were clearly the youngest there (we’re 30).

Beringer
We did a formal cellar tour. Our tour guide David was quite the storyteller. The caves were winding and cool. They gave us three tastes, which I felt like was stingy especially for the price of the tour. But it was good wine. There is a nicely manicured patio garden and outdoor space to sit and rest/chat as well.

Freemark Abbey
We walked in and had no wait for a tasting, and it was complimentary because we got a voucher from our concierge. This place was pretty small, but has a cool history, being the first woman-owned winery ever. Bosche Merlot and Cab were faves.

Black Stallion

— Day Three

Mondavi
Tasting on the large porch area. It was confusing to figure out where to ask for a tasting, and the people helping were not personable. Our seat on the patio had great up-view of vines and mountains. It was really really busy, busloads of people came while we were there. Not a must-do.

Grgich
They had a small cellar-like tasting room with a good ambiance. The server gave us extra pours for being super interested and asking lots of questions about wine 🙂 We bought 2 bottles, so the tasting was free.

Markham
We got a two for one deal from our hotel. The tasting space is within a gallery of eclectic art. That being said, it was only an ok vibe. Our server was talkative and gave us so many extra pours, and even had a few tastes herself :0

— Day Four

Frog’s Leap
This was by far my favorite ambiance and experience. It had such nice grounds and gardens, and the tasting took place on the porch of a huge gorgeous farmhouse surrounded by trees and plants. They served nuts and cheese as part of the tasting. After the tasting, we walked around the grounds with another glass of wine, and we were followed around by the winery cat 😉

Raymond
They have the infamous french bulldog mascot, and the John Legend wine. We’d been here once before and stopped by again because we had a little time to kill. This place is eclectic and worth a visit.

Frog’s Leap

So yeah, we had a pretty great trip to Napa! We hit up Gott’s Roadside for burgers and fries two days in a row. Loved loved Ritual Coffee for morning brew and egg sandwiches. And Eiko’s was a great & vibrant sushi spot right downtown!

KAUAI GUIDE | What to Do on Kauai

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Nate and I went to Kauai for our honeymoon in 2012, and back for our 5th anniversary in 2017! It is one of my top 3 FAVORITE places on earth. It’s gorgeous, magical, colorful, relaxed, adventurous, inspiring, artsy, earthy, outdoorsy, and basically perfect. I wanted to share some of our favorite things to do, see and eat on the island.

Ke’e Beach

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES:
Kayaking the Wailua River: There are many different kayak rental companies in Kapa’a. Some have tour guides, some don’t. If you’ve never been kayaking there, I would say take a tour because they will take you to the Secret Falls (this includes a muddy one mile hike to get to the falls). Or just rent a kayak and explore the river on your own!

Driving up Waimea Canyon: It’s a long drive, I think 15 miles total? There are many places to stop off and enjoy the incredible views. The main view, what most people are there to see, is of the colorful canyon. And at the very tippy top, the Napali Coast cliffs from above. I had a spiritual moment up there, looking down on those cliffs and ocean. It was magic. Like straight up magic.

Biking the coast: You can rent beach cruisers and ride up the large biking/walking path in Kapa’a. Bring a bagged lunch and stop to eat near the ocean (There are proper picnic areas, or you can just pick a spot in the wild.) Biking every morning was one of my favorite memories from our 2017 trip!

Biking along the coast
My magical moment at the top of the canyon

BEACHES:

Hanalei Bay: In Hanalei! Our favorite beach! It’s huge, and half moon shaped, and surrounded by mountains, so there is no bad view. The water is calm and warm! Perfect for just floating and enjoying the views. We’ve spent the most time at this beach!

Ke’e Beach / Haena Beach Park: This is north of Hanalei. There’s a little adventure wrapped up in this beach, mostly because it’s the northernmost spot on the island that a car can get to. The beach is long and skinny, and we saw the most AMAZING sunset there. This is also where you access the Napali Coast trails.

Salt Pond Park: This is in Hanapepe, on the southern part of the island. Big beach and really nice sand! We saw a sea lion here! It was kind of scary because I was swimming and DEFINITELY thought it was a shark at first :O The sea lion swam up on shore and sun bathed and everyone was very respectful of it’s space.

Cool street art in Kapa’a

FOOD/DRINK:

The Local Kauai, Kapa’a: Recommended to us by a local, so you know it’s legit. I still dream about the coconut shrimp appetizer and papaya jam & brie pizza we ate. So so so so so good! It also has a nice bar.

Java Kai, Kapa’a: Cutest, trendiest little coffee spot that we biked to every morning from our condo. If I lived on Kauai, I would be here allllll the time.

Pat’s Taqueria, Hanalei: This was a food truck in the parking lot of Hanalei Bay beach! Super convenient and soooo good. Omg the fish tacos y’all. Take a few back to your beach chairs and eat them while enjoying the ocean view. And then go back to get more tacos, and repeat the process.

Lappert’s Ice Cream, Hanapepe: Best ice cream on the island, promise.

Bubba’s Burgers: Fave. Super chill, diner-style place with the most delicious burgers. There are a few locations, we’ve been to the one in Kapa’a and in Poipu. Great option for a quick lunch or dinner.

Captain Andy’s boat tour

List of miscellaneous cool things to do/see:

Opaeka’a Falls – Kapa’a area
Spouting Horn – Poipu area
Explore the artist’s village of Hanapepe
Brave the narrowswinging bridge in Hanapepe
Captain Andy’s Napali Coast boat tours – leaves from Poipu area
Treat yourself to a traditional luau experience!

Couple other tips:
– You’ll definitely need to rent a car! Most of these places you will need to drive to.
– Check VRBO for condo options! Hotels are more expensive.
(I’m sure Airbnb is also good, we’ve just used VRBO both times)
– Take your shoes/sandals off when you enter a house! Hawaiian tradition/respect.
– Shave ice is everywhere! I don’t have a specific rec because it all kinda tastes the same 😉

If you have any questions about this amazing place, leave them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them!

Stephanie

BARCELONA GUIDE | What to do in Barcelona

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In 2009 I lived in Barcelona for a summery 6 weeks and fell head over heels in love with everything about this artsy, vibrant, loud & colorful city. In 2016 I finally went back and got to share the experience with my husband. It was so surreal to be back there, and made me fall in love all over again. I wanted to share some of my favorite things to do in the wonderful city of Barcelona!

First of all, the BEST and most important advice I can give you for how to see Barcelona is to walk and wander!! Barca is a very walkable city, especially through the older parts of town and the Gothic Quarters. There are so many hidden architectural details, shops, squares and even cathedrals, you never know what you will find. If you can, stay in the Gothic Quarters – it’s a great starting point for so many adventures. Check AirBnB for apartments!

TO SEE: 

PARK GUELL 
Park Guell is one of Gaudi’s masterpieces. Barcelona is filled with them, but this gorgeous park was my favorite. With architectural detail, mosaics all over the place and fantastic views of the whole city (find the top of the hill with the stone cross!), it’s super artsy and has plenty to explore. P.S. You can walk all around the actual park for free, but to get into the mosaic area, you need tickets, and you need to buy those in advance.

CATHEDRAL of BARCELONA
You can take an elevator to the top for an awesome view. Try to go around noon – you will get swept up in all the church bells around the whole city ringing at once.

ART MUSEUMS
Picasso Museum
Joan Miro Foundation
Poble Espanyol – a museum of Spanish architecture
Museum of National art of Cataluyna – even if you don’t go inside this one, at least go see the building, it’s stunning.

LA BOQUERIA 
La Boqueria is a crowded, busy, smelly, yet wonderful and authentic open-air food market.You can buy 10 apples and a whole baguette for like 2 euro. So cheap! It’s a good place to grab a quick lunch or a days worth of snacks. The market is off of the famous street La Ramblas, which is very overwhelming and kind of like the Times Square of Barca. Aka, too touristy, so you don’t have to stay long. Just hit La Boqueria and you’re good!

LA SAGRADA FAMILIA
Another amazing Gaudi creation! Each side of the cathedral looks different. One side is very modern and geometric, while the other is kind of… well all I can say is that it almost looks like a drip sand castle. It sounds weird, but it really is beautiful! Walk around the outside and be amazed by the incredibleness. If you go across the street to the park, Placa del Gaudi, you can get a full view of the ‘sand castle’ side. You can also take a tour of the inside of the cathedral, but it’s a little pricey to get in, so stick to the outside for a great, and free, way to experience it.

FC Barcelona game at Camp Nou
If you are in town at the right time and can catch a game, do it! One of my faaaaavorite memories from my first time in Barcelona. Exhilarating and electric and so much fun!

Before we continue, let me take a minute to remind you that walking and wandering around is the best way to experience this city. There are so many hidden gems that aren’t in a tourist guide or blog post. From the tiny shops to even the insane displays of street art. Walk, walk, walk!

PLACES TO DRAW, RELAX &/or PLAY:
The boardwalk along the beach. Head towards the neighborhood called La Barceloneta and you’ll find it. Barcelona has a vibrant beach culture – outdoor gyms, volleyball courts, of course swimming, and tons of good restaurants along the water. There’s a LOT to do in that area!
Park De Ciutadella is a great place to relax & people watch It has a wonderful fountain, lots of street performers, and few cool sculptures hanging around.

OTHER THINGS:
Artsy people, bring your sketchbook! There’s SO much to sketch and observe and memorize. My sketchbook pages are always my favorite souvenirs from wherever I travel, and that idea all started in Barcelona. Sitting, looking & sketching helps me take a minute to actually remember a view with my brain and not my just camera.

Drink cafe con leche (it’s basically a latte, but it sounds more authentic that way 🙂 ). And eat a chocolate croissant. Preferably together. Also eat paella, tapas, croquetas, basil gelato.

I actually have a few things that are still on my Barca to-do list. Castell Monjuic is one of them, as well as taking a tour of all the various Olympic sites from the 1992 Olympics. Someday! Hopefully soon! 🙂

Talk to me! What are you hoping to see in Barcelona? If you’ve already been, what were your favorite highlights?

10 Tips for Traveling in Ireland (that no one ever told you!)

- Stephanie 5 Comments

My family and I went to Ireland! We were there during the last week of April, and as expected, temperatures were still pretty cold. I think the highest temp we saw was mid-50s, but the wind made it feel much colder than that. My favorite sights were Giant’s Causeway, Slieve League, Dunluce Castle (all on the Northern Coast) and the Kilmainham Jail in Dublin. Read below for some tips I learned along the way!

  • Most, if not all, restaurants in small Irish towns stop serving food at 9pm on Monday and Tuesdays (though they may still serve drinks.) If you are on a ‘travel day’ and won’t arrive to your destination until the evening, just know that you may not get a real dinner. But Apache Pizza’s are open late… I might speak from experience. 😉
  • Related: Pubs typically stop serving any food at either 4 or 5pm and only serve drinks. Also Related: Try to eat dinner between 4 and 7! Most restaurants have an ‘early bird’ special, so dinner will be cheaper.
  • We did ALL of our trip via public transportation. It was a little limiting at times, due to our schedule revolving around the public transportation schedule. BUT if you aren’t really keen on driving on the opposite side, or would rather someone else drive you around, then it’s worth it. Just gotta be flexible.
  • We quickly learned that everything in Ireland is all word of mouth – so just ask! About anything! Especially in the countryside. It seemed like everyone knew everyone, even if they weren’t in the same town, and they are more than happy to give you suggestions and tips.
  • PRO TIP: Paddy Byrne‘s boat tours of Slieve League cliffs is a must-do. It was the BEST experience of our whole trip.
  • Utilize the people who work at the tourist centers – they know things and they know people. We basically planned the second half of our trip with the help of Jane, in the Derry tourist center. You might not want to look like a tourist, but really, just ask for their help.
  • We got this pro-tip right from a bartender himself: Ask the hotel bartenders for recommendations! They know lots of cabbies and local info, probably more than the hotel receptionist. Plus, bartenders will lead you to the cheapest option. (seriously, our bartender promised us that!)
  • Pack small spray bottle of a refreshing essential oil/water mix that you can spray over your suitcase to keep things fresh. I brought lavender and it worked great. (This is a good tip for traveling anywhere, tbh)
  • Dublin tip: Stay in the Trinity College area. Everything that we found worth doing was in that area, but unfortunately our AirBnb was not. Lucky for us, the bus system is pretty simple to figure out, but it would have been nice to be able to walk out our doorstep and be in the action, instead of taking a 25 minute bus ride.
  • The weather in mid-late April is NUTSO. It could be sunny one moment and sleeting the next. I’m not kidding! One constant, though, was wind! All. the. wind. Especially along the Northern coast. Bring a rain jacket/wind breaker combo and layer with a sweater underneath, and you should be all set.

Are you going to Ireland soon? Refer back to this list when you start to plan! And comment below with any questions you might have!

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A Day In Boston

- Stephanie Leave a comment

A few weeks ago our friends from college, Kate and Devon, visited us in Boston! Nate and I happily played tour guides for them, but also, I ended up sort of feeling like a tourist as well! Having lived here for 5 years, you’d think I would have already been to most of the touristy spots in town, but there is always more to see!

First we toured the Old State House and learned more about it’s history. It’s the tiniest, most character-filled building right smack in the middle of modern Boston. You can’t miss it, with it’s gold dome and small stature. It’s an oxymoron because it’s so small, but it just sticks out! Right now it’s main function is that it’s a museum, but back in the early days of Boston it was everything. It was the town hall and the meetinghouse, it was government offices, it even had a stint of being a merchant marketplace. I had no idea! I’m telling you, every time I learn something new and cool about vintage Boston, I fall a little more in love with the city. The Old State House tour was no exception.

Then we walked over to the North End to see Paul Revere’s House. Unfortunately we didn’t plan our time right and it was closed, so we set off for the Old North Church instead. It’s pretty much a classic New England church, but if you think about this crazy history of it, it kind of blows your mind. Of course we enjoyed our share of pizza and cannoli. Had to. It’s the North End rules. 😉 Maybe it seems like the North End is one of the most obvious places to visit when you come to Boston, but I stand by it being the best little area to explore in town. I’m a wanderer + a watcher. The North End is small, but there are so many hidden gems that you wouldn’t see if you just hit the ‘tourist spots’ (but also hit those spots, you’ll definitely have time). I feel a similar way about Beacon Hill. Luckily the two areas are a walkable distance from each other, so if you wear your favorite comfy shoes, you’re going to be in for one cute and explore-y day. FOR EXAMPLE:

A Day of Walking around downtown Boston:
Breakfast
There are endless coffee + pastry options, but I’ll throw out Flat Black & George Howell as my top two faves.
Old State House Tour
— Time: 1.5 hours for the tour plus reading and looking around on your own
— Cost: $10
Walk to the Boston Public Market (10 min walk from OSH)
— Large market of local food vendors, grab a snack, be happy
Walk to the North End (6 min walk from BPM)
— Stop and enjoy all the public art and statues along the way
Old North Church
— Time: 30 minutes, or however long you want to stay
— Cost: free
Wander the North End some more
— Time: until you feel like you’ve seen it all
Lunch
— Rina’s for pizza by the slice or
— Limoncello’s for a sit down, nice Italian meal
Non-negotiable dessert at Modern Pastry
— Time: Depends on the line, but average I’d say probably 15 minutes (busier on weekends)
— Cost: Depends on what you get, but one cannoli is like $3.50 and beyond worth it
Walk to Long Wharf (10 min walk from NE) 
— Endless minutes of gazing at the ocean and/or people + airplane watching
Continue along the Harbor Walk (30 min walk)
— If you’re ambitious, you can make it all the way to Harpoon Brewery on the Seaport to have all sorrrts of fun
— If you’re not ambitious, at least you’re getting some pretty views
OR
Walk to Beacon Hill (20 min walk from LW)
— Wander the tiny streets extensively
— Acorn Street. It’s cliche, but SO CUTE
OR
Walk back towards Quincy Market (10 min walk from LW)
— Don’t break your ankles on the cobblestones, seriously though
— Head straight for dinner at Durgin Park, I am begging you

Walking times are approximate. I also stop a lot to take photos, so maybe you’ll go faster. Either way, you’re very welcome for this sort of helpful, but probably not really at all helpful, walking tour of Boston. I hope you enjoy it. Don’t get lost. Eat a cannoli.