Things I love about Los Angeles

Los Angeles has it all an amazing night life, delicious food, beautiful scenery, and outdoor activities. Also, the famous Hollywood sign and you can’t forget the amazing weather. It’s a perfect place to eat outside, sit on the patio, and just walk around the city to enjoy all the great neighborhoods. It’s a city where you will never get bored. There’re endless opportunities in LA. I had the chance to visit this past weekend. Friday night-Sunday. I was lucky to get a local visit of LA, thanks to some friends of mine. Here were some of my LA favorites:

Restaurants:

1. Home: We came here my first night in Los Angeles for dinner. My friend doesn’t live to far from the restaurant and it’s one of his favorite restaurant’s. The restaurant is located in The Los Feliz neighborhood. They have the best fish tacos and cocktails. My friends and I had a great time catching up, drinking our delicious cocktails, and having a nice dinner.

 

2. Millie’s Cafe: This is a great brunch place they have different flavor pancakes. It’s located in the silver lake neighborhood. I got chocolate chip pancakes with the usual. Meaning it comes with your choice of meat, eggs, and potatoes. It was an amazing breakfast and it’s definitely worth the wait. We sat outside, enjoyed our breakfast, with some coffee, and talked.

3. Grand Central Market:  is located in downtown Los Angeles. They have a variety of food vendors. They also host game nights, movies, and other events. When I came here I had some Mexican food along with some McConnell’s ice cream. Stop there have breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert and walk around.

Coffee:

1. Alfred Coffee Silverlake: I got a matcha latte here and it was not only pretty but it hit the spot. It was perfect to have after brunch. I loved the environment at this coffee shop.

 

 

2. Madison Park Coffee: is a new coffee shop in West Hollywood. I got my usual, vanilla latte with a crossisant. My friends got a chai latte and a Rose Latte. Yes, you heard that right, a Rose latte. It even has roses in the latte.

Bar:

The Dresden: This bar provides live entertainment seven nights a week. They have a jazz performance by couple (Marty & Elayne) and they have been performing for 40 years. The couple performs five nights a week Tuesday through Saturday night. I came here after having dinner at Home and The Dresden is walking distance from the restaurant. My friends and got a table in the lounge and enjoyed watching Marty and Elayne perform. Head to this bar to experience a classic performance along while drinking some cocktails.

Views:

1. Griffith Observatory Park: This is where I saw a great view of the Hollywood sign.  We drove and found parking and headed to the observatory. We didn’t pay to see the Observatory we just walked around. When you come here, keep in mind parking and paying to park. At the park, you can see people having a picnic, taking pictures, and hiking. They have trails below the Observatory Deck. The Observatory showed me how beautiful Los Angeles is, if I lived here this would be my place to come and relax.

2. Queen Mary: is in Long Beach but it is worth the drive to see this ship. Long Beach is 26 miles. However, it can be longer with traffic. Queen Mary is a floating hotel with restaurants, shops, and tours. We tried to do a Haunted tour but it was sold out. The ship has a lot history and beautiful views of the beach. I even had an amazing seafood dinner that night. A great meal for my last night in south California.

So many things to do in lovely LA. I had so much fun experiencing the city with my friends. I got to eat at great restaurants, see beautiful sights, have amazing coffee, and cocktails, and most importantly spend time with my friends. I really want to come back and explore more of Los Angeles.

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San Diego Zoo

When you research the best zoo’s in the world, San Diego is always on the top of the list. My lyft driver on the way to brunch in San Diego, even had a membership for the zoo. It’s The Zoo to visit in the United States. I had a whole Friday to spend in San Diego and I thought, why not visit the zoo after brunch. My admission ticket was a 1 Day Pass that was $54.00 dollars and It included a guided bus tour, kangaroo zoo, and skyfari aerial tram. I thought I would spend maybe an hour, 2 tops at the zoo, I spend 5 hours there and I still didn’t get to see everything. Here are my tips on visiting the amazing San Diego Zoo:

1. Do the guided bus tour first:

the bus tour is about 30- 40 minutes and it shows you the whole Zoo. Sit on the right side by the window, you can see a better view of the animals. A tour guide will tell you more about the zoo and how you can help with donations. The guided bus tour help me know where the animals I wanted to see were and other things the zoo offers.

2. The Kangroo Bus is very helpful:

it’s the city bus for the zoo. They have 4 bus stops around the zoo. I would ride the bus when I had trouble finding something or got tired of walking. They have a tour guide on the bus that tells you what each stop is. Basically, the way the Kangaroo bus works is you wait at one of stops, a bus picks you up and you get out at the stop you’re going to.

3. The money is worth it:

they have 1 day passes and 2 days passes. They have a 1 day pass that includes a 4D movie, which is the most popular admission ticket. Mine didn’t include the 4D theatre. When I started to look at ticket prices for zoo, I was thinking about not going because I felt the prices were high. Now, I don’t regret it. I actually wish I could of gotten a 2 day pass to see the Sarfari Park. The money is worth it and a family can spend the whole day there. I spend 5 hours and I wanted to stay longer. The San Diego Zoo is worth every cent.

It was time for my Afternoon Tea

This past Saturday I got my chance to experience Afternoon Tea. It was for my friend’s 30th birthday. Reservations were made at Hotel Ella in Austin and it was $25 dollars per person. To help us choose our tea, our sever let us smell the teas. I got the tea called Tropical green. It consisted of green tea, with pineapple and papaya.  I think I made a good decision with my tea because it was delicious. When we got our tea stand, our server told us to start from the bottom. He told us to start on the bottom because that was the unsweet option and the top was the sweetest. The bottom was cute finger sandwiches. My favorite was the chicken salad sandwich. The middle was blueberry scones with jam, and the top was macaroons and chocolate. All delicious and it hit the spot. The service was excellent and our server was very informative about the the tea’s and food. Also, Hotel Ella in Austin is beautiful and it was the perfect setting for a friend’s birthday.

Happy 1 Year of my Blog

It’s official today marks 1 year of my blog. A year ago today, I published my first blog entry called Work Mornings. It was a Wednesday night and I expressed how work mornings can be a hassle. However, I expressed its the little things that can help you push through. Like a latte or short vacation. It wasn’t my most viewed blog but it was my first one. I’m proud of that blog entry, it helped bring me here.

One of the main reasons I started my blog is I’m a wanderluster. I love to travel and experience new restaurants or attend different events and I like to talk about them. Wheather it’s in Austin, another Texas city, or out of the country. Also, I’m a writer it feels great to say that. I love writing. I don’t know what it is but I like putting my thoughts down. It nice to be able to put your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in words. It’s another reason why I still journal.

Thank you for reading my blog, the follows, the likes, the comments. I really appreciate them. I’m also thankful for my friend that gave me the idea of starting a blog. So here is to 1 year of my blog and hopefully many more years!

Goat Yoga in Austin!

This weekend was my first time doing yoga. I know there is many different types of yoga’s like hot yoga and aerial yoga. Since I have a variety of yoga’s to choose form there was no excuse for me to not try yoga.

For my first yoga experience, I decided to try goat yoga. It’s yoga with baby goats, GOGA. I had heard of GOGA before and I had liked the idea. I immediately signed up when I heard there was Goat yoga in Austin. There is one goat yoga in downtown Austin called GOGA. They host beginner level classes with baby goats. Some of the money goes to charity as well. The fact that baby goats can sleep and jump on you during yoga sounded like a great idea and what attracted me to it.

My yoga was on Saturday at noon and it lasted 45 minutes. I definitely  put up a sweat with yoga but I also felt relaxed. The goats were so cute and made the experience more memorable. One goat got on my mat and started to chew my on shoe lace and another two I got to hold. The second goat was given to me to hold, when I was trying to do yoga poses and the other was at the end of yoga. I want to continue practicing yoga and I want to try different places in Austin or look at videos at home too. I especially want to try goat yoga again.

Where I Like to Blog

Last weekend for the first time, I blogged at a coffee shop.  It felt nice sitting down with my blueberry smoothie and blogging on my phone. Coffee shops are relaxing and there is other people using laptops or their phone and that inspires me. I realize it is easier to type on a laptop but a phone is more convenient. My phone is not a lot to carry and it connects to WiFi just like a laptop. Also, on my phone I can blog just about anywhere; On the bus to work, a coffee shop, at home, or between breaks at work. However, my favorite place to blog is at home with my phone. At home I have many options where I can switch to my laptop if I want to use a bigger screen and I can sit in the comfort of my own couch. I can get distracted at home, which why it’s good to keep my options open about where I blog. I’m just happy that I have many options and resources of technology to blog. I’m also happy that blogging exits in general. Where is your favorite place to blog? Tell me in the comments below!

What to do in San Antonio TX

I lived in San Antonio Texas for 9 years and I have never written a blog about it. Now this is my chance to talk about the amazing city. San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the United States and it’s known for its culture, Tex-Mex food and tourist attractions. One of the best times to visit is from October to March when it’s not hot. I feel like San Antonio has many attractions. Some popular ones would be The Alamo and the Riverwalk.

Food:

San Antonio has a variety of restaurants but Tex-Mex is what its known for. You can definitely get your delicious Tex-Mex fix in San Antonio. The following restaurants are some of my favorites.

Sangria on the Burg:

The menu consists of a combination of Tex-Mex,  bbq, and Mexican Spices. They have mimosa and sangria flights. They also change their food menu often, so you can get a different food item, each time you visit.

La Panaderia

This restaurant, is a family owned bakery that serves sweet bread and great sandwiches. It revolves around Latin American bread and culture. I think it’s a great place to have lunch with friends. All the sandwiches are amazing and it comes with Fideo (soup). They have two locations in San Antonio, one on broadway street and downtown.

Data Point

Data Point is a good place for Tex-Mex food even late. Like after the bars late.  Datapoint originally started as a food truck but now they have a brick and mortar store. It’s not only good for dinner but breakfast or lunch. They have amazing breakfast tacos. However, my favorite is their cheese enchilada plate.

Data Point

Attractions:

Tower of America’s

Here you can get a great view of San Antonio, grab a drink or an appetizer and enjoy the view. They also offer tours, if you’re interested. The Tower of America’s is located in Hemisfair Park near downtown.

Pearl Brewery

The Pearl Brewery  is located north of downtown San Antonio, It was an operating brewery from 1883 to 2001. Now it’s a retail space that has dining options, green spaces, and a riverside amphitheater. Come here walk around, take pictures, or grab a drink. One of my favorites is La Gloria to grab a margarita or get a coffee at Local Coffee Shop.

Southtown

This neighborhood is known for its historic homes and artsy district. One of the best times to visit is for First Friday of the month, they have an art scene at The Blue Star Arts Complex. Southtown is also known for its nightlife, coffee shops, galleries, studios, and restaurants. They also have amazing views of the residential part of the Riverwalk.

Mission Trails

The trails are located along the San Antonio River. It’s a great place to bike or walk along the trials and explore old neighborhoods. They have four Spanish Colonial missions: Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan, and Espada.  I have actually only visited one of the Colonial missions, Concepcion. I hope to visit the others soon.

Riverwalk

A touristy area but worth a visit. The Riverwalk is beautiful, along the river there is restaurants, the Riverwalk mall, and candy shops. I love to go to the Riverwalk just to walk around, and enjoy the river. One of my favorite times to go is during Christmas when they have all their Christmas decorations

 

San Antonio is one of my favorite cities and I love to visit often. This blog talks about some of my favorite things to do there. I know I didn’t mention the Alamo because I wanted to talk about other things you can see. The Alamo is great to visit and its near the Riverwalk. If you haven’t visited San Antonio, I would plan a trip to try that Tex-Mex food and see/experience the amazing attractions.

At the Alamo

Trips for 2018

I feel if I write down future trips, the likely of me going on them is higher. So, 2018 is a new year to go on new trips and create new memories. Here is my list:

Palm Springs CA: a close friend of mine wants to spend his birthday in Palm Springs and I’m up for it. It looks gorgeous and it’s always great to spend time with close friends.

Chicago: my friend will be getting married this summer and I’m hoping to go celebrate her wedding and explore Chicago.

Pack up & Go Trip: when I heard about this travel company, I got interested right away. They set everything up for you and plan a surprise trip on your likes. All you have to do is fill out a profile of trips you recently been on (so they won’t send you there) and of course, your likes. I really want to set up a trip with them and find out where they send me.

Marfa TX: is located in West Texas and its known for its artsy hub. Marfa holds exhibits, concerts, and “Marfa lights”, where phenomenal things can sometimes be seen. It is a bit of a drive for me but I have heard great things and I’m willing to make the drive. I’m hoping to go for my 31st Birthday.

Marfa TX!

Italy: im really trying to plan this for December. I have been wanting to go to Italy for a while and this can finally be my chance. I want to spend a week there and do all things touristy and locally. Of course, gelato and Italian pizza is a must.

These are trips I’m trying to plan for this year. I haven’t set anything up but I do have southwest credit and I’m saving for Italy. I also, don’t want to miss my friend’s wedding. Hopefully, I can get the days off work and budget enough for these amazing trips.

 

Hamilton Pool

One of my favorite memories of 2017 was visiting Hamilton Pool. Hamilton Pool Preserve is a natural pool located in Central Texas. The pool is located in a city called Dripping Springs and is about 23 miles from Austin. I had been wanting to visit this natural pool for a while and it’s not a far drive for me. Hamilton Pool is even on my Texas Bucket List on a past blog that I wrote. I kept seeing beautiful pictures of the pool, read about it in articles, and heard about it from friends. So this past summer, I went. A friend of mine made a reservation and we met up in Dripping Springs and drove to Hamilton Pool. We brought snacks, drinks, towels, and of course our bathing suites. Swimming status at Hamilton is determined by the bacteria levels and recent rainfall. Unfortunately, during the time we visited we could not swim. Which in a way was a good thing because it made the area way less populated. There was a couple of other families there but it was not crowded. We were able to lay down our towels, eat our snacks and drinks, take pictures, and catch up.

When we first got to Hamilton Pool, there is an employee that asks for your reservation. In the summer reservations fill up. Even weeks in advance, so you have to book early. After, we parked we had to hike about 5 minutes to get to the pool. The pool was beautiful better than any picture I had seen.  The pool is surround by large slabs of limestone with a water fall that makes the pool stand out. You can climb by the slabs and go under the waterfall to get a better view.

Even though it was a hot day and a swim would have been the icing on the cake. I still had a great time. I enjoyed my time with my friends, I got to see beautiful views, and it was not crowded. The drive and parking were easy and we had plenty of space to have a picnic. I couldn’t ask for a better day. I do hope to go to Hamilton pool, maybe a day where it’s not to hot but still perfect for a swim. Hamilton Pool is now checked off my Texas Bucket List!