Category Archives: D.O.T.W.

things to do, see, and experience in cities we love

A Foodie’s Guide to a Week in Paris

Name a city you’d rather be whisked away to than Paris. Go on, think about it – I’ll wait. Whether you’ve never been to the City of Light or you’re there so often it’s practically your second home, Paris never fails to disappoint. There is always something new to discover and (likely fall in love with) hidden among the city’s rambling streets, gardens, and bustling cafes.

Lucky you (and me), there’s also never a bad time to go to the city. Paris is magical no matter the season—if you’ve never been you might want to avoid going in August when the city basically empties, although there’s something to be said about feeling like you have the whole city to yourself—especially for foodies who will find culinary delights at every turn. The next time you find yourself in Paris let your stomach guide you around. Think of this foodie guide to a week in Paris as your rough itinerary; after all, one of the best things about the city is the unexpected surprises you’ll find.

 

Getting there + where to stay

It’s so easy to get to Paris it’s almost as if the city is inviting you to come. You’ll find flights from all major cities (from NYC, it’s possible to find nonstop roundtrip flights for less than $500). Once there, between the public transportation, taxis, and your feet, getting around is a snap, but depending on how familiar you are with the city and what you want to do, I’d stay in either the  2nd Arrondissement (full of cafes and shops and the charming Hotel des Grands Boulevards), the 1st Arrondissement (full of attractions), or the 7th Arrondissement (Eiffel Tower).

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What to do in Paris (that isn’t necessarily about food)

Throw your Paris game plan out the window. The city is all about wandering. Here are a few places to start:

The 3rd Arrondissement: This historic district is a must-visit for trendsetters. You’ll find everything from fancy boutiques selling high-end designer clothes to musty antique shops.

Take in the Eiffel Tower at Dark: OK – it’s super touristy but no matter how many times I’ve been, I always make a point of stopping and appreciating the Eiffel Tower at dark.

Buy a book at Shakespeare and Company: Just do it. The English language bookshop is straight out of a fairy-tale.

Walk Along the Seine: Get a little lost strolling by The Seine. Explore the bridges, walk around the Tuileries Garden, and take in Monet’s “Water Lilies” at the Musée de l’Orangerie.

 paris 2

A foodie’s guide to Paris

From Michelin star restaurants to hole-in-the-wall creperies to melt in your mouth croissants, Paris was made for foodies. Here’s where to eat and drink:

Les Vignerons Parisiens: You can’t go to France and not spend some time learning about and tasting wine. This urban winery makes its wine on site (most of the grapes are from France’s Rhone Valley).

Café Oberkampf: Don’t be fooled by the exterior, this unfussy coffee shop has one of the best brunches in all of Paris. Anything you order off the small menu will be incredible.

Take a Cooking Class: There’s no better way to take Paris home with you than by learning how to cook like a Parisian chef. Try La Cuisine Paris for an éclairs class or learn how to cook from ingredients picked up at a Paris market with this Market Visit and Cooking Class with a Parisian Chef class.

Pierre Hermé: Buy macarons for all your friends at home (it’s ok if you accidentally eat them all).

Marché Bastille: Give yourself plenty of time to explore Marché Bastille. One of the biggest markets in Paris, you’ll want to visit on Sunday morning if you can. You’ll find the largest and  freshest selection of freshly picked fruit such as strawberries, tons of baked goods, pungent cheeses, and so much more.

La Fontaine de Mars or Chez l’Ami Jean: Make sure you have at least one old-school French bistro meal while in Paris. Go on and order the escargot.

paris 1

Bonhomie: Settling into the blue leather stool at this welcoming cocktail bar you’ll feel like a 1940s movie star.

Le Mary Celeste: For a mid-day or late-night snack this fairly new restaurant is great for sharing small plates over a bottle of wine or cocktails.

La Crêperie Bretonne: Bet you can’t order just one crepe from this neighborhood spot that has been dishing up some of Paris’ best crepes since the 1930s.

Top 5 Pains Au Chocolat in Paris

Crisp upon crisper layers of puff. Firm, dark chocolate in every bite. Buttery flakes of pastry that melt on your tongue…but then, Stendhal famously said, “Pleasure is often spoiled by describing it.” Experience the nuances of the perfect pain au chocolat on this tour of Parisian patisseries that promises an array of interpretations for your sweet tooth. French pastries are really just mouth art because from one chocolate croissant to the next, each one will bear the distinctive signature of its chef. One thing is certain: they’ll all be sublime.

 


 

1. bread & roses

62, Rue Madame | 75006 Paris | 01 42 22 06 06

Before or after a visit to the gorgeous Luxembourg Gardens, enjoy one of the few organic bakeries in Paris. Situated right outside the gardens, it’s a patisserie with the kind of tearoom you can easily sit in for hours. And naturally, enough pastries to keep you busy for just as long. But, you know what you came for, so start with what many deem this the #1 pain au chocolat in the city.

 

Bread & Roses

 


 

2. Du Pain et des Idées

34, Rue Yves Toudic | 75010 Paris | 01 42 40 44 52

Those seeking the “simple yet intense happiness with something as simple as a piece of bread,” will appreciate the pastry chef’s attention to the craft of time-honored methods found here. Dating back to 1889, original interiors transport you to a Paris of a different time. Named the best French bakery in Paris by Gault & Millau gourmet magazine in 2008, it’s more than just its elegant ambience, though; it’s the pain au chocolat that locals and globetrotters avow is the best of the best.

 

Du Pain et des Idees

 


 

3. 134 r.d.t.

134, Rue de Turenne |  75003 Paris | 33 1 42 78 04 72

While the rule of thumb with most Parisian bakeries is to arrive early, this simply appointed boulangerie in fact does have the locals lined up at dawn’s break. Located in the charming medieval streets of Le Marais, the place is busy all day (including the daily flock of Parisian children who swarm the place afterschool for their French pastry treats), so be prepared to wait a bit. It’ll be worth it when you behold the exquisite feuilletage (flakiness) of the pains au chocolat here.

 

134 r.d.t.

 


 

4. Gérard Mulot

76, Rue de Seine | 75006 Paris | 33 1 43 26 85 77

One of the most celebrated patisseries in all of Paris, the bliss of this establishment begins before you even enter the front door. Have your camera ready to snap some of the most gorgeous pastry displays in all of Paris. Positively architectural confections beckon you to a veritable Shangri-La of tarts, cakes, éclairs, caramels and of course, pains au chocolat. Of all the selections on this list, this one boasts the deepest, richest dark chocolate within its flaky layers.

 

Gerard Mulot

 


 

5. Des Gâteaux et du Pain

63, Boulevard Pasteur | 75006 Paris | 33 1 43 26 85 77

Another photogenic entry, this beautiful bakery is amongst those known as a bijouterie, owing luxuriant interiors reminiscent of a luxe Parisian jewelry shop. After you absorb the visual splendor, sample the pain au chocolat that makes our list for being airy, and if it’s possible, the lightest version of this delicious classic pastry.

 

Des Gateaux et du Pain

Images courtesy of Damaneke Santiago

London City Guide: Things to See And Do in the Big Smoke

Jetting off to lands afar? The English capital is sure to be on everyone’s travel hit list – and so it should be. Home to over eight million people, the city is a thriving metropolis. What’s more, you can find most anything you might fancy, which leaves you with something of a conundrum. Where on earth should you start? Luckily, we have some ideas. Here is our London city guide.

Hang Out at Foodie Markets

Rather than booking fancy restaurants – or, more likely, getting waitlisted – why not try some authentic street food? Food markets are a huge deal right now with stalls popping up all over the UK, never mind in London. If you fancy getting on board, here are some of the best places to start.

KERB Food Markets

NEW #INKERBATOR ALERT! @yunricenoodle will be joining our fifth clutch of inKERBators starting this Tuesday down at #KERBontheQuay. We discovered them a few weeks back down at Bricklane serving up these delicious Yunnan SW Chinese ‘#douhua’ rice noodles, (captial city “#Kunming’s favourite”), then David and Yaofang turned up at our #KERBWorkshop, and they’re the first people to do Yunnan cusinine on London’s kerbs • Above: savouring the angel-rope slippery soothe-tubes down on a peaceful piece of concrete with East Ldn grafitti man glaring at our bowl. Like extremely feather light udons spouting up beneath a beautiful texture-collage of warm silken tofu, simmering pork mince crunchy peanuts and YUN signature pickles – hypnotising stuff and the softest noodles we’ ve eaten, (can’t wait to see the lunch crowds trying to street-stance them down with chopstick claws) • Go ➡📷 for photos and to meet @yunricenoodle, and for one of the lovliest descriptions we’ve ever seen on a takeaway website: “if you feel sad, go and taste it, then your sadness will go with wind since it is too spicy so that all the feeling you have is spicy taste” • Coming this Tuesday to West India Quay (InKERBator Tuesdays) – kerbfood.com/west-india-quay for full menu & line up.

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Looking for a lunchtime bite that hits the spot? Avoiding overpriced, overcrowded chain restaurants? You can’t go wrong with the KERB Food Markets. From Camden to King’s Cross, you can find these quirky daytime street food markets all over central London.

Each market has a load of unique vendors from which to choose and the array of options couldn’t be wider. You can find food from all over the world right here. Highlights include the Taiwanese dream that is Bian Dang and the ever-popular Baggio Burger. Opening times vary depending on which area you’re visiting, so it’s well worth checking online ahead of time.

Leather Lane

Far from your typical tourist spot, the unassuming sounding Leather Lane is a must-visit place for food-loving fiends. During the week, the street is packed full of food stalls and has a truly authentic community vibe to it. You’ll find a mix of standard fruit and veg stalls nestled in among the more modern street food vendors. Plus, there are loads of cute, indie coffee shops to keep your caffeine levels at an all-time high.

Urban Food Fest


Saturdays in Shoreditch mean just one thing – the Urban Food Fest. Head down to Euro Car Parks between midday (that’s 12:00 p.m.!) until midnight and you’ll be in for a real treat. With around 15 food trucks pulling up every time and a wide variety of cuisines on offer, you’re sure to find something to fall head over heels in love with.

Of course, it’s not all about food – you’ll need something to wash it down with. Luckily, at UFF, that’s not a problem. The drink vendors change regularly, but you can usually get what you need: craft beers, wines, cocktails in jam jars. You know the drill.

Take the Road Less Traveled

You could spend your time in London hitting up the tried-and-tested tourist spotsthe London Eye, the Shard, Big Ben – but why not mix things up a little? If you want an experience that differs from every other tourist’s, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some attractions you might not have heard about already.

Magnificent Seven Cemeteries

Traipsing around cemeteries might not be your idea of a good time – unless you’re unleashing your inner goth – but the Magnificent Seven Cemeteries in London are not to be missed. These sites date back to the Victorian era, which means the architecture is just exquisite. Expect huge tombs and striking monuments.

As though that weren’t enough to pique your interest, each of the cemeteries comes complete with a whole horde of bizarre stories. Fancy a day of ghost hunting? Check out the interactive map from The Londonist for all the details and where to find each cemetery.

Ride the Mail Train


Who could say no to the “immersive underground experience” that is the Mail Train? The Postal Museum is one of London’s most underrated tourist attractions and a place you should visit if you want a unique look at the city’s inner-workings. Before you head to the museum, be sure to book your ride slot.

The Mail Train will take you on a journey back to the 1930s through stalactite-filled tunnels. With theatrical moments and surprises along the way, this unique experience is one of the best ways to learn about the history of the city while having a blast.

Visit Brockwell Lido

Planning a summer trip to the Big Smoke? While the weather in the UK is miserable around 90% of the time, the country does get the odd day of sunshine. Should your trip happen to align with some good weather, there’s only one place you should head. Brockwell Lido is a huge outdoor swimming pool surrounded by a chic Art Deco building.

While the lido has been a fixture in London since 1937, it is now part of a thoroughly modern fitness center. However, the pool has kept much of its original charm and you don’t have to be a member to use it. Just pay a small entrance fee and get swimming.

See the City for Free

Are funds a little tight? If your vacation budget is small, there’s no reason you can’t have a wonderfully cultural experience. While London is by no means the cheapest place in the world – in terms of food, drink, and general living – it is home to a whole load of free things to see and do. Here are just a few things to put on your list.

V&A Museum of Childhood

Our #curatorial team are integral to the day to day running of the Museum. They are in charge of preserving & researching the diverse objects in our collection, finding new acquisitions, & displaying our objects in a way that engages & informs visitors of all ages. #professionsMW. . Here’s a look into our stores! Assistant #Curator, Lauren von Bechmann, gives us a tour of some of the wonderful historic & beautifully crafted dolls in the Museum’s collection. The Museum stores are where objects from the Museum that are not being displayed are stored for safe keeping. . #museumweek @museumweek #museumofchildhood #vamuseumofchildhood #vachildhood #victoriaandalbertmuseumofchildhood #dolls #dollcollection #bethnalgreen #eastlondon #londonmuseums

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Over in the East End of the city, you’ll find a charmingly nostalgia-packed museum that is 100% free to visit. The V&A Museum of Childhood is just what it says on the tin – a museum that looks at what it is to be a British child. Here you can find interactive exhibits, old-fashioned toys, and even artwork. The displays tend to change regularly, which means you can never be sure what you’ll find. Plus, there’s a great cafe where you can refuel!

Regents Canal Walk

Regents Canal is a nine-mile long waterway that runs through the heart of the city. Should you wish to escape the hustle-bustle of the main streets, you can take a quick excursion along this space. Not only will you find gorgeous cobbled paths here but you’ll be able to spot canal boats and heritage buildings along the way too.

Don’t panic – you don’t have to do the whole nine-mile trek. One of the most popular walks along this stretch takes you from King’s Cross to Camden. If you take it at a leisurely pace, you should find this four-mile walk takes you a couple of hours to complete. Don’t forget to bring your camera; there will be plenty of photo ops along the way.

Grant Museum of Zoology


Imagine coming face-to-face with the skeleton of a South African zebra or a weird and wonderful collection of animal brains. It may sound odd and a tad gross but the Grant Museum of Zoology is no place for the faint of stomach. The museum is part of Museum College London and is free to enter, which makes it a cost-effective place to pass an hour.

The highlight of this attraction is something many will never have witnessed before now – dodo bones. The ancient birds have been extinct since 1681 when they were hunted into submission. The museum has a selection of bones along with a wealth of information to help us learn from our past mistakes. Intriguing and educational.

Natural Beauty and Culture in Auckland, New Zealand

Every day of every year, New Zealand is the first country in the world to see the sun rise. And although there are countless mountain peaks, green valleys, sheep-lined hills and cascading waterfalls to view morning’s glory, one of my favorite local places is a black volcanic sand beach named “Piha,” located just up the road from Auckland.

Sunrise in Auckland, New Zealand

A quick hike up Lion Rock

Lion Rock, Auckland, New Zealand

and the curvature of the Earth comes into view

View from Lion Rock, Auckland, New Zealand

Surfer at Lion Rock, Auckland, New Zealand

while surfers take off on multiple peaks, jetting left and right.

Surfing in Auckland, New Zealand

Windsurfing in Auckland

Windsurfers ride the beach, seals peek at the sun and yellow-headed gannets scan the ocean for a sushi breakfast to bring back to their nesting chicks atop the volcanic cliffs. If raw fish doesn’t sound great for a morning snack, you’ll find a typical breakfast just down the road (or path) at The Piha Diner where you’ll find what they describe as “Hand Made, Free Range, Organic, Yumminess.”

A 45-minute drive down a twisty mountain road, one soon spots Auckland in the distance, its Sky Tower marking the top of the city that often from a distance looks like The Emerald City from the Wizard of Oz. Inside the city, there are plenty of gems and many of them can be found at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Auckland War Memorial Museum

new zealand museum

Inside, you’ll find a treasure trove of medieval next to Samurai warriors and chain-mailed horses. You’ll also find hand-carved Maori pottery and canoes telling the history of the people who first settled this amazing land where sheep still outnumber people.

One of New Zealand’s most famous explorers is Sir Edmund Hillary and the pick axe he used to first conquer Everest can also be found in the museum, modestly hanging at the base of a twisting stairwell.

Outside the museum, you’ll find a great view of the 52 volcanoes that comprise the majority of the water-surrounded city.

J;K

And possibly a view of one newly famous taco truck, The Lucky Taco.

Owners of the Lucky Taco

Otis Frizzell (a famous local graffiti artist) and his wife, Sarah, have brought Mexican food like no other to the country, after spending a long vacation in Mexico. Lucky Taco has literally brought Mexican cuisine to New Zealanders with fresh fish, carne, pork, shrimp and veggie tacos.

tacos

Their little truck began as a passion project and has since blossomed into a line of taco kits and hot sauce carried throughout the nation in grocery stores. If you’re in town, find their location on Facebook and enjoy some freshly squeezed lime juice over tortillas just down the road.

taco sauce

The Lucky Taco menu

After lunch activities could include paddle boarding, running along the waterfront or a ferry ride

OUIO

over to the bohemian island of Waiheke.

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This relatively small island offers panoramic views of the city as well as thousands of grapevines emerging from its volcanic soil.

New Zealand

Vineyard in Auckland, New Zealand

Family-owned vineyards dot the rolling hills, including Mudbrick, where you can sip on the famously good Sauvignon Blancs and snack on fresh olives covered with bits of orange rind and herbs, or cheese that’s made right on site. If you’ve still got the room, lunch is also available courtesy of the vineyard’s award-winning team of chefs. Just don’t forget your credit card.

Olives

sfs

gdf

The white sand beaches there are nothing to turn a blind eye to, either, and you can access all of them by cheaply renting a bike or local dirt road-faring taxi.

Auckland

Before the sun completely sets, the last ferry arrives in Waiheke, welcoming local Auckland commuters back to their island home, and giving tourists the chance to head back into the city. Atop one of the volcanic hills back in the city sits K (Karangahape) Road, a slightly shabbier area of town filled with vintage clothing stores, smoke shops and Asian food halls where some of the best food in the country is served hotter than your mouth can handle. New Zealand’s proximity to Asia makes it a great place to find Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese food. The cafeteria-like food halls don’t have the ambiance of a Four Seasons, but they usually do have TVs playing rugby. If the All Blacks are playing, they take on a sort of Asian fusion beer hall vibe. New Zealand is quite isolated from the rest of the world, so the people who call it home tend to treat each other as family, no matter where they’re from.

After the rugby and cricket are done for the day, much of Auckland turns in early. It’s not known as being an all-nighter type of place, but if you do find yourself sleepless, you can usually sing yourself some lullabies or an awesome 80s Warrant tune with your suitemate at one of the private karaoke bars.

The joints are authentically Japanese, offering customers couch-lined private rooms where you can belt out your best or worst till at least 4 am.

By that time, the sun will be about to rise for the first country on earth to see once again, warranting a trip back to the black sand beach for a bit of a surf in Piha.

9 Beautiful Movies About Travel

We watch movies to laugh, to learn, and to feel something new. In large part, we watch them to escape reality. We experience something through the screen that we might not experience otherwise. It’s a glimpse into someone else’s life—a chance to put your own mind on mute while you live in another world for a few hours. And while nothing beats packing your bags and leaving on an adventure, an inspiring travel film comes in second. Maybe your schedule doesn’t allow a getaway; or perhaps you haven’t found something budget-friendly. Maybe you simply want to cure your case of wanderlust without having to get up off the couch. Whatever your reasons may be, if you’re looking for some of the most beautiful movies about travel, you’ve come to the right place.

1. Eat Pray Love

Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) seemingly has it all: the career, the husband, the home. But after going through a rather painful divorce, she’s left feeling lost and isolated. She embarks on a journey around the world to rediscover herself, indulging in delicious food in Italy, learning the power of prayer in India, and finding peace and love in Bali. Eat Pray Love is not just visually stunning; it grabs a hold of your heart and doesn’t let go.

2. Into the Wild


Here’s something many of us considered doing at one point in our lives: After graduating from college, Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) leaves behind all his belongings, gives his savings to charity, and hitchhikes to Alaska to experience and live in the wilderness. What makes this even cooler is that it’s based on a true story.

3. Wild


You’ll never forget Reese Witherspoon’s portrayal of Cheryl Strayed after the end of her marriage and her mother’s passing. Hopeless and self-destructive, Strayed embarks on a thousand-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail—alone. This movie makes you feel unlike any other film will, as you share in her journey of fear, finding hope, and ultimately, healing.

4. The Beach


This is certainly a movie of unpredictable adventures. While traveling in Bangkok, American backpacker Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio) comes across a map that reportedly leads to an isolated island paradise kept a hidden secret from most. He’s able to make his way to this beach utopia but soon learns that everything is not as it seems. DiCaprio’s performance is, as always, unforgettable.

5. Under the Tuscan Sun


Similar to Eat Pray Love, this movie follows a woman named Frances (Diane Lane)—a professor and author—who has just found out that her husband is leaving her for the woman he’s been having an affair with. She escapes her home in San Francisco for a trip to Tuscany with the help of a friend, and in a series of somewhat odd events, ends of purchasing a run-down villa. It’s a beautiful story of heartache, healing, and remembering how to love yourself.

6. Lost in Translation

An unlikely friendship forms between aging movie star Bob (Bill Murray) and recent college graduate Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson)—both of whom are a little lost in life—when they cross paths in Tokyo. The movie portrays not just the isolation they feel being in a strange country, but also the obstacles they face in their own personal lives.

7. The Bucket List


Full disclosure: This one is a real tearjerker. But it’s hard to resist the touching story of Edward (Jack Nicholson) and Carter (Morgan Freeman)—two men from very different walks of life with one thing in common: their terminal illnesses. Together, they decide to ditch the hospital to scratch off the items on their bucket lists. While their adventures certainly brighten their days, it’s ultimately the friendship they form that gets them through their troubles.

8. Vicky Cristina Barcelona


Gal pals Vicky and Cristina are enjoying their summer in Spain when they meet and are immediately fascinated by an artist named Juan Antonio. While he finds himself attracted to the both of them, he’s still hooked on his ex-wife, who is quite the emotional (and also unstable) character. The film won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy.

9. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants


Based on the book by Anne Brashares, this flick follows four best friends who spend the summer apart. While they can’t be together, a pair of jeans that magically fits all of them is passed between them, keeping them together in another way, and sharing in their adventures.

Yo Quiero Mexico City in One Day

It would be easy to spend a week exploring the vast metropolis of Mexico City, but if you only have a day, here’s an itinerary that will let you sample the tastes and culture of this beautiful city. A clean, efficient and inexpensive public transportation system makes maneuvering around the city fairly easy.

 

 

Pastelería Ideal

flickr Yusuke Kawasaki Pasteleria Ideal
Photo by: flickr/Yusuke Kawasaki under license CC BY 2.0

With its high ceilings, chandeliers, security guards and line of cashiers along the walls, Pastelería Ideal has the feel of an old-world bank. But instead of piles of gold, there are piles of pastries, breads, buns and cakes heaped on tables throughout the expansive interior. Grab a tray and go hunting for your favorite sweet and savory treats. When you’re satisfied, bring it to one of the cashiers and have them wrapped in a vintage-looking box that looks like it was designed when the bakery first opened in 1927. At less than dollar apiece, the pastries are as affordable as they are delicious.

 

Museo Frida Kahlo

flickr momo Museo Frida Kahlo
Photo by: flickr/momo under license CC BY 2.0

This meticulously preserved house and garden was the home of legendary Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, for most of her life. A brutal trolley accident she endured as a young girl rendered the artist bedridden and in severe pain for a large part of her life, so she completed many of her masterful self-portraits lying on her back in bed. That same bed and mirror can be seen up close in the bedroom where she spent so much of her time.

 

Mercado de Coyoacán

Flickr Flying CrimsonPig Coyoacan
Photo by: flickr/FlyingCrimsonPig under license CC BY 2.0

Located just a short walk from the Frida Kahlo museum is Mercado de Coyoacán, a labyrinthine market where locals buy everything from produce to party favors under one roof. Explore the winding aisles and let your nose guide you to one of the food stands in the center. There, you can ask an attendant to build you the taco of your dreams.

 

Museo Nacional de Antropología

flickr Antony Stanley Museo Nacional de Antropología
Photo by: flickr/Antony Stanley under license CC BY-SA 2.0

Housed in a stunning mid-century building on the edge of Chapultapec Park, Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology is packed with murals, dioramas, artifacts and recreations that span pre-Columbian times to present day. Even those who’ve never considered themselves archeology aficionados will find something fascinating in this comprehensive museum. Spend some time peering at the meticulous dioramas that make ancient life feel visceral and alive, and then relax for a bit by the multi-story tree fountain and reflecting pool.

 

El Pialadero de Guadalajara

El Pialadero de Guadalajara
Photo by: Sara Huneke

Qué rico. You might have to wait for a table at this popular restaurant down the road from the Museum of Anthropology, but you’ll be glad you did. Specializing in cuisine from Jalisco, El Pialadero serves some of the best tortas ahogadas and ceviches outside of Guadalajara. Wash it all down with a michelada, the popular Mexican beer-based cocktail that’s served in a salt-rimmed glass.

 

La Botica

flickr alejandro de la cruz La Botica
Photo by: flickr/Alejandro De La Cruz under license CC BY-NC 2.0

Mmmmm mezcal. The smoky liquor made from a form of agave native to Mexico has enjoyed a surge in popularity throughout the country. And there’s no better place to try the drink than at La Botica, a hole-in-the-wall mezclaría located not too far from El Pialadero. You can sample one of dozens of varieties of the liquor each with its own story, flavor profile and tanginess.

6 US Destinations for Cheese Lovers

Cheese has come a long way from the orange plastic stuff of school lunches. Throughout the United States, cheesemakers are whipping up flavorful goat cheeses, rich, sharp cheddars, mild bries, and so many more varieties. Whether you like your cheese straight up, on bread, with fruit or chocolate, or in creamy mac and cheese, there’s a cheese for you. And along with these cheesemakers’ creations are artisan cheese shops, cheese trails, festivals, and classes. Here are six destinations cheese lovers won’t want to miss.

Madison, Wisconsin

No list of destinations for cheese lovers would be complete without Wisconsin, and while the whole state could easily be on this list, it’s a big state. To cover the most Wisconsin cheese ground, head to Madison. The state’s capital city is full of specialty cheesemakers, restaurants, and artisan shops selling varieties from throughout the state and beyond. They go great with the many breweries that have popped in recent years as well. Make sure you order a batch of Wisconsin cheese curds at least once during your stay.

Visit: Fromagination, Brennan’s Market, Babcock Hall Dairy Store

cheese tasting

New Orleans, Louisiana

The Crescent City may be known for beignets and hickory coffee (and you should have those when you go) but in recent years, New Orleans has become a foodie paradise. From brewers to bakers to cheesemakers, New Orleans is a delicious weekend getaway. Throughout the city, you’ll find restaurants serving fancy cheese boards, casual cheese tastings, and shops specializing in all things cheese. And if you head just outside the city, you can even visit a farm producing cheese.

Visit: St. James Cheese Company, Belle Ecorce Farms

New York, New York

Photo courtesy of Riverdel

You can’t go very far in New York City without running into cheese. The city is home to every imaginable type, including a Brooklyn shop that specializes in all vegan cheese. Yep, you read that right. The most famous of NYC cheese shops though is probably Murray’s Cheese. Visit them in Grand Central Station or in Greenwich Village, or sign up in advance for one of their many cheese classes.

Visit: Murray’s Cheese, Riverdel Vegan CheeseSaxelby Cheesemongers

San Francisco, California

With so many farms just a stone’s throw from San Francisco, it’s no wonder the city is home to some amazing cheese shops. It’s also the location of one of the Cheesemonger Invitationals, which puts the best cheesemongers from around the country in one room.  Yum! Diehard cheese lovers should sign up in advance for a three-day intensive cheese program at The Cheese School. If that’s too intense, the school also has cheese tastings and pairing classes. Or simply pick up classic San Francisco sourdough and pair it with your favorite cheese from one the city’s many shops.

Visit: Cowgirl Creamery, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese CompanyBi-Rite Market

brie cheese

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Cheese and New Mexico probably don’t seem like they go together, but the state is the fourth largest cheese producer in the country with roughly 150 dairies. Head to Santa Fe for a weekend of exploring art (the city is home to both the Museum of International Folk Art and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum) and hiking in the area’s National Park, followed by tasting cheese from some of those many dairies.

Visit: Cheesemongers of Santa Fe, Bountiful Cow Cheese

Vermont

The small state packs a big cheese punch. Vermont is home to more cheesemakers per capita than any other state and those cheesemakers produce more than 150 kinds of cheese. To make the most of this cheese destination, plan on a road trip through the state following the Vermont Cheese Trail. It’ll take you by breathtaking scenery, quaint small towns with cheese tastings, and buying opportunities at every turn. It’s a dream come true for cheese lovers everywhere.

Visit: Vermont Creamery, Maplebrook Farm, Willow Hill Farm

Koh Rong but So Right: Go Off-Grid on This Small Island in Cambodia

Nestled about 15 miles off the coast of Cambodia in the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand is a beautiful unspoiled island of treasure just waiting to be explored. That island, with the sparkling white sand beaches and views to die for, is Koh Rong.

The second largest island in Cambodia and only recently developed in 2000, Koh Rong is just a short one hour trip from Sihanoukville, the popular tourist destination on the mainland of southern Cambodia. The island is pretty small, not even six miles at its widest and just nine miles long, but boasts almost 40 miles of coastline.

Because the island is so recently developed, there are no high buildings, shopping centers or surprisingly, even 7-Elevens. So if you’re looking to get a high-end gel manicure, this is not the place.

Accommodation

Koh Rong caters both to backpackers and families. You can find a room in a guesthouse for as little as $5 per night or a bungalow on the beach with air-con for around $40 per night. Even in high season, you can find a room pretty easily, and since many of the guesthouses and hostels aren’t registered online (Wi-Fi is spotty at best), it’s much easier to just find a place once you’re on the island. That way you can have a look around and decide what’s best for you. For families, the nicer accommodations are usually available to browse on booking sites.

koh rong beach shack cambodia
Koh Rong, Cambodia

Things to Do

Most of Koh Rong’s coastline is graced by beautiful white sand beaches, while the interior is almost completely covered in lush forest. If you like to hike, there are trails throughout the island, leading to rushing waterfalls hidden deep in the thicket. If you’d rather relax, there are 28 beaches on the island that offer stunning views of the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand and absolutely spectacular sunsets. Most beaches are just a short (and cheap) longtail boat ride away.

cambodia koh rong boat ferry
Boat and ferry pier in Koh Rong

Boat tours go out every day to different beaches around the island. There are many companies running tours, which are more or less the same, and will run you about $8 for a full day of snorkeling, fishing, free barbeque lunch and drinks and a guaranteed stunning seaside sunset. Yes, $8.

sunset police beach koh rong cambodia
Sunset from Police Beach in Koh Rong | Photo: Alexa Albanese

Most tours stay out past sunset to allow swimming with bioluminescent plankton, a natural phenomenon that causes little sparkles of bright blue light in the dark ocean water. You can also see the plankton when swimming off the beach at night but it’s more intense in the deep ocean after sundown.

There are a surprising number of shopping opportunities on the island, selling handcrafted products made right on the island, like little Buddha bracelets and hand painted t-shirts. Lace crop tops, silver earrings and denim cutoffs make appearances as well.

gulf of thailand
Beautiful turquoise water in the Gulf of Thailand | Photo: Alexa Albanese

Depending on weather, you might feel like just hanging out in a hammock all day long and that’s okay too. The vibe on the island is very chilled out during the day, with most people lounging around, sunbathing, reading books and sipping cocktails. Check out CoCo’s on the main beach for comfy circle chairs and a cold draught beer.

Nightlife

Koh Rong parties. If you’re traveling with a family, you’ll probably want to stay off the main beach as it’s lined with bars and hostels that go full throttle every night. There are hippie bars, local bars and even a reggae club with a dance floor that gets down around 10pm.

main beach koh wrong cambodia
Candlelit dinner on the Main Beach in Koh Rong | Photo: Alexa Albanese

Everywhere on the main beach starts to shut down at midnight, after which the party moves to Police Beach. A 15-minute walk from the pier, Police Beach is deserted during the day but hosts a huge party with live music that goes late into the night every night. The locals are friendly, the drinks are strong and the scenery is beautiful.

Safety

There is no hospital on the island and if you get injured, you’ll need to take a private boat back to the mainland which will set you back around $250. Keep that in mind when you’re walking around barefoot at night, or in the sea with sharp coral.

Like most islands in South East Asia, Koh Rong attracts a young crowd looking to have some fun. Always watch your drinks and leave your valuables at home. Swimming after a few drinks is also not a great idea, no matter how beautiful the bioluminescent plankton is.

Sand flies are an issue on Koh Rong. They’re tiny little insects that you don’t notice biting you until after you’ve acquired a very red and itchy rash. It’s not pretty. Coconut oil keeps them away so be sure to slather yourself when going to beaches without a lot of foot traffic.

coconuts
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

As is to be expected, the sun is quite strong on the island and sunscreen is a daily necessity. Always drink plenty of water and go easy on the alcohol if you start to feel sun poisoning coming on.

Getting sick on Koh Rong is not an unusual occurrence and sometimes there’s nothing you can do to avoid it. Only drink bottled water, stay away from food that has been sitting out for too long and be careful when consuming fruit shakes, as the ice isn’t always safe.

Conclusion

Your experience on Koh Rong will be what you make it. There’s potential to have an absolutely beautiful vacation on an underdeveloped island rich with gorgeous beaches, lush forest, friendly locals and stunning sunsets.

pier koh rong cambodia
Pier in Koh Rong

The island is admittedly less accommodating to those used to a more glamorous style of traveling, but if you can just accept the fact that you’ll probably be without Wi-Fi, hot water and possibly even power while you’re there, you’ll have a great time. Those looking for an authentically South East Asian island experience with access to some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world will find it in Koh Rong, Cambodia.

Getting Lost in Semuc Champey: That Hidden Jungle Life

I was 21 and spending the summer in western Guatemala when I kept hearing about a place called Semuc Champey. “You have to go,” said a friend of mine; and after a quick Google Image search, I needed no more convincing. I scrolled through photo after photo of terraced pools of turquoise waters while mentally selecting a day in mid-July to make the trek.

The trip was amazing, and I did learn a few things. I mean, of course I did. Travel is about finding a home in the unfamiliar, after all.

A photo posted by Sarah Fownes (@sfownes) on

1. Semuc Champey is More Remote Than it Seems

Getting to Semuc Champey, which is deep central Guatemala, is indeed a trek, as my travel buddy and I soon discovered. First, you have to get to Lanquín, the closest town to Semuc, and Lanquín is pretty far from any larger cities. At the time, I was living in Quetzaltenango, also known as Xela, which is in the southwestern part of the country close to Lake Atítlan. Despite Guatemala being a relatively small country, travel is slow, and the trip took us at least 10 hours.

We opted to save some quetzales by taking one of Guatemala’s famous chicken buses from Xela to Guatemala City and switched to a nicer bus from Guatemala City to Coban. In Coban, we walked around the city and waited for our turn to squeeze into one of the smaller buses that sort of feel like a van belonging to a family with far too many brothers and sisters. The ride to Lanquín was shoulder-to-shoulder and a little nauseating.

2. Expect Some Bumps

semuc champey

The last leg of the journey, from Lanquín to Semuc, is on a dirt road. As the sun was beginning to set, we pried ourselves from the seats we’d sunken into during the voyage from Coban to Lanquín, shouldered our backpacks, and followed a brusk guy to a small red pickup truck, where he urged us to hop into the pickup bed.

Google Maps tells me this final stretch of the journey takes roughly an hour; but in my memory, it went on for several. Over bumps that threatened to knock us out of the truck, we were holding on for dear life in the darkness — wondering where in the heck we were.

3. Pick a Hostel Ahead of Time

We didn’t do this, and we were completely fine, but we were traveling in the off-season; and in the future I’d definitely do more research. It was fairly late at night when the pickup came to a stop in front of a lamplit hostel with hammocks hanging from the front porch, and we were just grateful to actually be there.

It seemed as good a place as any to stay, so we ordered beers to wash away the sweaty day of traveling and ate whitebread sandwiches while we chatted with the hostel owner. We were the only guests, we couldn’t see much around us in the dark, and we knew only that we were deep in the jungle.

4. Throw Away Your Itinerary

A photo posted by Sarah Fownes (@sfownes) on

In hindsight, I’m grateful for all this travel inconvenience. Visiting Semuc Champey is an experience in which it’s important to feel a little disoriented. There, you’re truly off the grid, trapped to some extent on a remote stretch of jungle with very few other people.

Over the course of the next few days, we wandered through a mossy rainforest trail to overlook the turquoise pools of Semuc Champey, floated on an inner tube down the river, read books in our hammocks, lazed around, drank cuba libres, snacked on mangoes in the cabana, and pretty much just lived that jungle lifestyle. It gets so humid and sticky, you might congeal if you try to move to fast. So it’s best to just chill out. I mean, you’ve come this far, right?

The 7 Most Beautiful Forests in the World

Forests are wind-blocking, sound-muffling, toxin-pulling powerhouses: they gobble up carbon dioxide, turning it into twisted trunks, knobby knees, and braided branches.  Three trillion trees strong, forests cover almost a third of the Earth’s surface. They also tie 1.6 billion people and 4.3 million species together—and we often don’t appreciate them until they’re teetering on the brink of extinction. Ready to rewild and reconnect with the natural world? Try immersing yourself among ethereal green bamboo, umbrella-shaped Dragon blood trees, or J-shaped pines. From Colombia to Namibia, these are seven of the world’s most beautiful forests.

 

Cocora Valley

Quindío, Colombia

In the rolling green foothills of the cloud-capped Andes, there’s a valley where 200-foot wax palms tower like the Truffula Trees in Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax.  Slender, shag-topped, sturdy, and wax-covered: Cocora Valley’s wax palms—Colombia’s national tree and the world’s tallest palms—scratch the wispy underbellies of rain clouds. During the Monsoon Season, they bend, almost to the point of being horizontal to the ground, but never break, spinning like floral pinwheels above muddy fields of grazing cows and horses.

Dragon’s Blood Forest

Socotra, Yemen

With their umbrella-shaped crowns, straight trunks, and deep-red resin, Socotra’s prehistoric Dragon blood trees look like something straight out of John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids. After breaking through beds of limestone and granite, the 32-foot-tall trees channel sea mist, drizzle, and fog into their tightly-gnarled limbs and wax-covered leaves. Then they sprout small, fragrant, white flowers which, over five months, produce berries that turn from pale green to pitch black to neon orange, oozing “blood” as they ripen.

Crooked Forest

Gryfino, Poland

In West Pomerania, Poland, there’s a forest of pine trees that’s become famous because of one little “twist”: all 400 of the trees that were planted there, sometime around 1930, buckle out 90 degrees, creating bark-covered potbellies that drag just above the earth, oddly, all pointing in the same direction—north. No one is certain exactly how or why the trees were bent, but the Crooked Forest is generally thought to be the result of human intervention. The most common theory suggests that farmers manipulated the trees when they were 7-to-10-years-old to create naturally bent timber for furniture or ships. Others blame strong snowstorms, gravitational pull, or Nazi tanks.

No one knows why these trees all bend in the same manner. . While we were strolling around we ran into a man who said he had been working in this park for 15 years and he thinks furniture makers trained the trees so they could be later harvested into benches and sleds. . One thing is for certain he told us – over the years the number of crooked trees has diminished and one day this will just look like any other forest. . So go out and explore now because you never know if it will still be there tomorrow… . . . #crookedforest #poland #polska #polandsights #polandways #polandphotos #igerspoland #europe #ig_europe #nikon #travelphotography #sheisnotlost #beautifuldestinations #beautifulplaces #nationalpark #travelstoke #optoutside #artofvisuals #aov #natgeotravel #bucketlist #dametraveler #traveltheglobe #instatravel #travelgram #passionpassort #darlingescapes #sorel #wanderingwheatleys

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Rockefeller Forest

Weott, California

The Rockefeller forest—located in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, which is almost twice the size of San Francisco—has the largest remaining contiguous old-growth coastal redwoods in the world.  While the average redwood in Rockefeller forest is roughly 600 to 800 years old, it’s widely known for having trees of all ages. There are “dog hairs”, young, thin redwood trees that cover the ground in patches, and 2,000-year-old redwoods that are covered with spider webs that almost look like beards and have so-called “goose pens”, which are burnt-out caverns in the base of the trees that are as big as playhouses. Oldest of all are the decaying stumps, who shallow-roots were ripped from the fertile earth by high-winds. Rockefeller’s most-famous fallen redwood is the Dyerville Giant.  Weighing in at 1 million pounds and standing 362 feet high—that’s two feet taller than Niagara Falls and comparable to a 30-story building—it was considered the tallest tree in the forest before its fall in 1991.

Have you ever wondered what the roots of a massive redwood tree look like? A few huge specimens from the Saddler Grove in Humboldt Redwoods State Park were blown over in a violent windstorm many years ago and they now lay horizontal, exposing their huge undersides. . Check out the new category “Giant Tree” on my website for pictures of enormous trees from California and Washington State! http://www.lucascometto.com/#/giant-tree/ . . #tree #hugetree #giant #forest #redwood #SaddlerGrove #HumboldtRedwoods #HumboldtRedwoodsStatePark #RedwoodNationalPark #coastredwood #California #championtree #natgeo #nationalgeographic #awesome_earthpix #picoftheday #wanderlust #earthoffical #wow_planet #ourplanetdaily #earthfocus #awesomeearth #nakedplanet #fantastic_earth #igworldclub #discoverglobe #earthfever

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The Amazon

Named after the female warriors of Greek mythology,  the Amazon is itself a place of nearly mythical status.  The largest tropical rainforest in the world, covering a size approximately equal to the lower 48 United States, it spans across eight rapidly-developing countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela, and Suriname.

Considered “the lungs of the world”, the Amazon supplies 20 percent of the world’s oxygen, stabilizing the levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It’s also home to 10 percent of the world’s known species. However, if you’re expecting to see scarlet macaws perching at the top of every tree and pink river dolphins peeking over your canoe, you’re going to be disappointed. In fact, the Amazon’s true beauty lies in the little things: listening to the otherworldly cry of Howler monkeys, swinging in hammocks, and canoeing on the world’s largest river.

 

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Kyoto, Japan

One of Kyoto’s top attractions and one of Japan’s most recognizable landmarks, the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove has seemingly-endless emerald stalks. They’re so thick that the city’s noise completely disappears. All that remains is the creaking sound of the wind blowing through bamboo—a sound designated by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan.

Let’s play bamboozle! 🎋#guessthetvshow

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The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove’s main path, located between Tenryuji Temple and Okouchi Sanso Garden, is only 1,640 feet, but it accommodates pedestrians, bicyclists, and rickshaw rides. Admittedly, on weekends, national holidays, and Kyoto Hanatouro, camera-clutching foreigners and the city’s best artisans, who handcraft bamboo baskets, coasters, and chopstick sets, pack in like sardines. Though, the slight-suffocating crowds are well worth it, because on sunny, breezy days, you can experience komorebi: a Japanese word used to describe soft, dappled light as it filters through leaves and branches.

 

Deadvlei

Sossusvlei, Namibia

Cradled between the tallest sand dunes on Earth—some 1,312 feet high, which is almost as lofty as the Empire State Building—there’s a forest where nothing has bloomed since the First Crusade. Deadvlei, which means “the place where everything ends”, was once a fertile desert claypan.  However, some 1,000 years ago, it began drying up after encroaching sand dunes cut it off from the Tsauchab River. The camel thorn trees that lived within the marsh eventually died, and even though a millennium has passed, they’ve yet to decompose. Set against a striking blue sky, fiery-red hills, and bleached white clay, these carbon-black, mummified trees are hauntingly beautiful.