10 Beautiful Cities to Visit in the U.S.

by with No Comment lifestyletravel

With the current pandemic, it will be a long time before we can go back to traveling internationally. This is a great opportunity to concentrate on our country, as there is so much to see here in the United States.

Here are 10 beautiful cities to visit in the U.S.:


1. Chicago 

Chicago has a steadily growing population and is one of the future megacities of the world, expected to become one by 2030.  It is the third most populous city in the United States, but with its location on Lake Michigan it has a mix of city and also gorgeous nature views. A famous site to see here is “The Bean” located at Millennium Park. 


2. Philadelphia

Philadelphia is the largest city of Pennsylvania that makes it on many people’s East Coast travel itineraries. Most notably, it is home to a standout UNESCO World Heritage Site, Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed that is worth a visit. 


3. Portland 

Portland, Maine is a popular destination for summer and autumn, as it gives that New England vibe with an extra hint of quirky elegance. 


4. Boston

Boston is a characteristic city that has a split ‘old world’ and ‘new world’ feel to it. It is often referred to as the city with two souls, historic and modern, as well as being the ‘Athens of America’. You can walk the Freedom Trail here, as well as visit numerous museums, the Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera, the Symphony Orchestra and more. 


5. San Francisco 

San Francisco is a city full of character. Often referred to as a hippie town, San Francisco is the hilly city located right on the Bay of San Francisco with a lot to see, do and experience. You can visit the beaches, head to museums, explore Golden Gate Park, see a show at the Fillmore, and explore the side streets with so much character.   


6. Charleston 

Charleston is a coastal city full of character. It has an old-world aesthetic, with gorgeous golf resorts, art galleries, and architecture that is unique to Charleston.


7. Virginia Beach 

Virginia Beach is a coastal city located where the Atlantic Ocean meets Chesapeake Bay. There is a boardwalk, gorgeous oceanfront, and a blossoming culinary scene. 


8. Honolulu 

Honolulu, Hawaii is a gorgeous beach town on a volcanic island with a ton of culture, making it an absolute must see. The food scene here is booming, the sunsets are incredible, and the city continues to draw visitors consistently every year. A trip here makes it seem like you are traveling to another country and is a destination to check off the bucket list for everyone living in the United States. 

 
9. Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City, Utah is a city to visit if you love dining, nightlife, performing arts, and especially winter sports. Popular ski resorts near the city are Brighton, Snowbird, Alta and Solitude, which could make for the perfect winter holiday this year. 


10. Columbus 

Columbus, Indiana is a popular spot to visit for those who love architecture. The Exhibit Columbus show shows modern architecture, and it has helped draw a number of visitors over the years. 

The United States is rich in beautiful cities, and while international travel is off the table, we are reminded of how many gorgeous places there are to visit in our own country. 

Local Discoveries – The Who, What, Where #DiscoverTorrance

by with No Comment adventurecommunityentertainmentleisurelifestylereviewsshoppingtravelwellness

Shopping, adventures, and foods oh my!

As you saw from my last article, I visited the neighboring city of Torrance last month and I’m so happy to share my discoveries with you. Where we shopped, our explorations, local eats … all the things! We stayed at the Best Western Plus Avita Suites and they provide a complimentary breakfast buffet so we only had to find lunches and dinners … and saucy sips … oh and desserts 😉 There’s so many options and I got so many of your recommendations from Instagram, thank goodness discovertorrance.com exists which helped me narrow down all my choices! Pssst and thank YOU for your recs <3

So day one was all about settling into our suite and enjoying dinner at our hotel, so the next morning after we enjoyed the buffet we visited the Farmer’s Market for some lunch and local goods.

It was such a beautiful day in Torrance that it was easy to walk around for three hours before I decided I wanted a mid-day pick me up. We headed to the best boba in town… 7 leaves cafe

That would be my macarons and cafe over there chillin’ next to the Moana tree haha. Sooo good, please go there and get the Taro milk tea boba! The Depot was high on your recommendation list as it was on the discovertorrance.com site so that’s exactly what we did for dinner and let me tell ya… I’m a martini kinda lady and their martini’s cannot be matched! So perfectly paired with a filet and mashed potatoes dinner. Umm and that would be pistachio butter you see next to that fresh baked bread *drool*

P.S. that’s the Chef! Of course I asked to take a photo with him, it was one of the best meals evaaaar! And what better way to wrap up day one than a night cap?! We walked over to a neighboring hotel bar and enjoyed one more saucy sip… can you guess what I got? And of course- a bar pretzel is the best choice duh.

Perfection ah. With time in the books I was already fully enjoying my time in this city. Day two began the same as the previous morning but we switched up routine by having some Hawaiian lunch for the first time. I learned that Hawaiian food and Chamorro food (it me!) are very similar! Think spam and rice haha This was The Loft in Torrance and they did not disappoint.

Musubi and Hawaiian fried chicken for the win! Since I’m the type of person who plots my next food venture WHILE still having the current meal (ha!) I decided we’d go to Brio for dinner AND dessert and enjoy some home made donuts… they had me at donuts let’s be real.

We wrapped up the day by finishing our holiday shopping at Del Amo Fashion Center, which by the way is just a hop and a skip away from our hotel… winning! It was such a perk considering I shopped ’til I dropped.

Why yes, I did purchase this camo cropped pull-over *hail hands* I ended up completing all of my holiday shopping AND shopped for myself so… treat yo self. Day two was a smashing success and when I tell you I slept like a baby, trust.

Before leaving on our final day in Torrance, I ran one last time at our hotel gym, enjoyed a homemade waffle and took time with every bite, and just had to make one last stop before checking out of my staycation dream. Enter Strand Brewing for some FUNS!


Ending my staycation in Torrance could not have been any more fun than enjoying a flight of local beers, playing some games, and sports!

I had the best time and feel so lucky to have partnered with such a welcoming and hospitable community to showcase some of the best places in Torrance to eat, visit, explore, and shop <3 I hope you get a chance to visit our new home away from home and I’ll link you to all the places that helped make our stay so memorable and easy to navigate!

Have you added ‘more adventure’ to your New Year goals yet? Let’s do this! 

https://discovertorrance.com/stay/

https://discovertorrance.com/hotels/best-western-avita-suites/

www.discovertorrance.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discovering Torrance – Best Western Plus Avita Suites- Cheers to venturing more in 2020!

by with No Comment adventurefitnessfoodholidayholidaysleisurelifestylemom lifereviewsself care sundaytips and trickstravelwellness

It’s a new decade darlings, can you believe it?! Welcome to 2020… we’re in it and we’re also just coming off of a two week break where we didn’t know what day it was, what time it was, and if we were ever going to change out of footed pj’s. So now that we’re back into the full swing of things I want to share a few of my personal goals with you. I think it’s so wonderful when we can get real with each other and spark creativity in one another. I read a great quote the other day that had so many meanings to me, “one year closes so another can open”. 

So good right? So one of my goals this year is to travel more, to hit reset on my mind and my heart when I need it, and to not feel guilty about it. Even if it’s just jumping in my car and visiting a neighboring city, I’ve got to do it in the name of adventure. I was inspired to take more time to explore my own city when Discover Torrance reached out to me for a staycation. ‘Ummm yes please’, is what I think I responded with. 

The idea of a staycation always encourages me to relax without worrying about taking a flight out or being too far away from family and financial responsibilities. So I packed my bags and headed to the Best Western Plus Avita Suites in Torrance. Sweet Suites, it’s an award-winning-all-suite boutique hotel and was so close to everything I wanted to do during my stay I couldn’t wait to get there. So with my itinerary in hand I checked into my suite and found it very difficult to peel myself from the cozy bed to hit the town on our night one haha. 

My next article will share in detail all of my recommendations for where to go, what to do, things to eat, best desserts to find, and local favorites in Torrance. Today I want to share my experience at this beautiful hotel and share that you can book with them here! 

I wouldn’t usually describe lobbies as inviting and beautiful but let me tell you, this lobby was inviting, comfortable, and beautiful. I actually blurted out at the front desk, “how pretty is this?! I have to take some photos before I check in”. 

It was bright and festive, the staff was so welcoming… and so was this cushy bed! Every room is a suite so they each have a seating area, office area, and kitchenette. Here’s a fun walk through…more like dance through of my room! Imagine Mariah Carey’s voice singing as I dance you about the suite.

Once I settled in and unpacked… P.S. am I the only one who get SO excited about hotels that I have to unpack all of my belongings before doing anything else? AKA I hang my clothes in the closet, utilize the robe, put my keys in the safe, and place all of my toiletries out ha! I’m saving the rest of my excitement to share all of the things we did, the foods we ate, the drinks we drank, the desserts we hunted, ALL the things that we took in during our time in Torrance.

For today you get to hear me dish all about these digs and the hospitality and generosity we were shown while on our staycation at the Best Western Plus Avita Suites in Torrance. Can we just talk about how much joy complimentary breakfasts bring us all? Haha talk about breakfast, this was a full blown buffet with options like home-made waffles, a yogurt and bagel station, fresh fruit, and every cereal and topping you can imagine. 

I indulged and had a little bit of everything Cafe Avita had to offer, here’s a peek above. After all that yummy food I had to get some cardio in and build energy for the day’s events to eat our way through the town! It’s so nice when the place you’re staying at has a gym, it encourages you to stick with your goals, and it completely helps that they have weights and not just a standard treadmill…yayy options! 

It was truly so relaxing to stay at this destination for two nights and made coming back after a fun filled day of adventures and foodie times just all the more spectacular. I do hope you get a chance to visit our home away from home, Torrance which is just a town over from us. The staff, the amenities, the views, the food, all of it … I’m so grateful to have been able to relax for a few days before heading back to reality of the grind and hustle. 

This was just before the holidays and could not have come at a more necessary time. Please scroll back through and enjoy the images, I hope you loved my dancing walk through of our suite, and come back on Monday for my complete guide to Torrance <3

Staycations… you ever been on one? What is a destination close to home that you’ve been dreaming of visiting? I hope Los Angeles is on your list and I hope you check out Torrance and where I stayed while you’re here! 

I’m including links for you here because that’s love haha xx 
https://discovertorrance.com/stay/
https://discovertorrance.com/hotels/best-western-avita-suites/

 

 

 

Antelope Valley Poppy Blooms! Travel California

by with 5 Comments adventurecommunityinspirationlifestyletravel

It’s kind of a big deal here in California when things actually bloom! So you can imagine how we straight F L O C K to sights like these poppy blooms in Antelope Valley. Fields of rolling hills and open spaces just covered in vibrant flowers –  it was an Instagram dream!

There’s distinct trails that you’ll want to trek along when visiting the blooms and if you detour off path not to worry, a park ranger will be sure to kindly redirect you LOL


How marvelous are these meadows! Pro tip: stay on track to avoid snakes (or so we hear?) and please be careful not to step on or disturb the flower beds. We saw a lot of spectators running around in them and I cringed at the thought of a crawly critter jumping up BUT also them stomping the beautiful blooms away! As our camp director once said, “leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures” lol

Leaving you with some hill-hiking fashion courtesy David, Corrine’s boyfriend who helped her capture all of these beautiful images! I hope you make your way to find some flowers and fun adventures for yourself this summer! Picnics out in nature are one of the best things ever given to us by the world, do it!

Do you have trails of blooms where you live? Does it cause quite the commotion like our breathtaking poppy fields do? Share pictures! 

 

 

 

 

TRAVEL GUIDE: TOP 3 PACKING HACKS!

by with One Comment adventurefashioninspirationlifestyleorganizationtips and trickstravel

Imagine if you will, 8 outfits, 3 pairs of shoes, 4 bikinis, and 4 cover ups all in ONE carry on bag! Not to mention the additional toiletries, cosmetics, and electronics! Yup, all the necessities into one bag! That’s exactly what I did when we went to Vegas for our 6 year anniversary a few weekends ago!

I carry that feat with great pride, like someone who carries 8 bags of groceries from the car to the garage all in one trip. *ahem also me! lol* So today I’m sharing with you my tried and tested, very professional top 3 packing hacks! And by professional I mean I’m winging it and so far it’s worked for me so I hope it works for you too so there.


  1. Roll it up baby! – Use the rolling method to pack all of your clothing, rolling the softer items and folding the heavier, bulkier pieces. If you’re unfamiliar with this method here is a step by step HERE. I was able to fit 8 outfits, 4 bikinis, and 4 corresponding wraps to go with because of it!
  2. Pack versatility into your wardrobe! – And your shoes! Shoes are bulky and take up so much space. Tote along a pair of shoes that can easily go with any of the outfits that you pack. Opting for a pair of flip flops that are a bit fancy can easily take you from the beach to brunch! Throw in a pair of wedges that are comfortable for sight seeing yet cute because, fashion! If you’d like to see the outfits I packed for this trip and how I coordinated them read all about it HERE! 
  3. Think ‘need’ over ‘want’!- Like, “I ‘want’ to bring all 5 of my perfumes but I ‘need’ to pack all of my other toiletries, so I’ll pick my favorite ONE!” Personally, I have the most trouble with this one because I like to pack everything but the kitchen sink, but in this case when you don’t want to check a bag or you just want to be able to roll and go, less is literally more! The less you pack, the more use you’ll get out of the things you did!

Pro Tip: Pack any items that could bust open or overflow out of their containers, into their own spill proof bag! Then, in the case of a shampoo or something else opening during travel, nothing in your suitcase is ruined! Wahooo!

It’s amazing the items you’ll actually use when you’re forced to consolidate! I especially found this helpful when I packed my cosmetic and skin care bag. I only brought along 1 of my 17 serums, makeup that were multi-purpose in use, and travel sized products for lotions and toiletries. I also hope you find this helpful for your next trip or vacation getaway!

What is your number one packing hack?! I love reading your comments and incorporating your tips, it’s like we’re really friends! You like me, you really really like me! *quick, where’s that from?!* 

 

 

 

TRAVEL GUIDE: SUMMER BUCKET LIST CHALLENGE!

by with No Comment adventurecommunityinspirationtravel

Over the past few weeks I’ve had the urge to just get up and go and I don’t know if that’s because the open road is calling my name again or if I just need some change. Whatever the reason, it’s inspired me to challenge myself, and you, to write out a bucket list for this summer and slowly but surely check every adventurous thing off of it!

I hope this post encourages you to write out your own summer bucket list and join the challenge! So here we go! 1) Do something that scares you! 2) Go to more music festivals! 3) Enjoy the stillness! 4) Fill up on art and knowledge! 5) Practice gratitude!





These are all photos from last summer’s fun times and amazing memories. From rock climbing in Joshua Tree, attending our very first Coachella, slow walks on the beach at sunset, and admiring the floors at every museum we could find! This will be my inspiration for this summer’s excitements! I have to stop myself sometimes and remind myself to be present and to be grateful for every day, even the slow ones. Create the slow days, enjoy the stillness, and then enthusiastically attack the next day with tenacity!!!

What’s on your summer bucket list?! Do you have any suggestions for me for our next adventure?

 

 

YOSEMITE SNOW DAY AND HOW TO GEAR UP!

by with No Comment adventureget the looklifestylesportstravel

If you’ve been following my adventure series than you know I’ve been on some pretty awesome excursions these past few months!

Our latest explorations brought us to Yosemite, CA with our good friends Esther and Jacob of Local Adventurer, who invited us to join them on a snow-shoeing snow-day extravaganza! Before hopping into the car and excitedly making our way from the sun to the snow though, I of course, had a meltdown … WHAT WAS I GOING TO WEAR?!?!?!

We live in L.A. so we’ve become a little lot accustomed to our ‘clear skies, perfect 75 degree, surf and swim’ conditions. So to prepare for what was predicted to be a winter storm with 10+ inches of snow and icy roads, I told myself, “meh, five layers will be fine!”

I searched high and low for good deals on the internet for a few reasons, 1) I had t-minus 4 days to get my butt in gear, literally 2) if you haven’t been in the market for snow gear lately, insider-tip: they’re expensive! 3) I’m not an insider so I have zero clue what I need, where to get it, or what I will actually use verses what I will buy just because it’s CUTE, hashtag Wanderlust.


So this is what I ended up purchasing, and I have to say, I did pretty good! *high fives self* I got most things on sale and on time (hallelu Amazon Prime)! I also got a few things in child sizes because, cheaper. I’m a size 5 1/2 in women’s shoes so that makes me a child size 4! Pro tip: you can apply this kind of calculation for purchasing Uggs and other expensive shoes that you’d like to pay 30-50% less for.

I didn’t know how ‘active’ we’d be on this trip and a lot of the gear was labeled ‘low to moderate’ activity. How does one quantify the level of activity snowshoeing will bring? So I assumed it wouldn’t be THAT strenuous (1st lie I told myself). So I layered up (pictured below), featuring the bottom layer, and I also wore some tights underneath and a huge winter coat over top.

1. weatherproof thermal shirt 2. thermal bottom layer 3. waterproof pants 4. thermal socks 5. lightweight waterproof jacket 6. waterproof gloves 7. winter snow boots 8. snow googles

Emphasis on waterproof for as much of the apparel as possible because when snow melts it becomes cold ice-water. You don’t want that pressed up against your skin when changing isn’t an option (oh you’ll be cute with less layers they said, it’s not that cold they said. Hashtag Wanderlust).


Well here I am, all geared up, layered up, and ready to go! How cute are Esther and I?! This is us attempting to throw a snow ball. Jacob snapped a few photos of us and then we all frolicked in the snow until we were ready to go inside to thaw out.

Snowshoeing with everyone this weekend in this snowy winter wonderland was wonderful! Also, it was a workout! Midway through the hike up a hill (that felt like it was an 80% incline but was probably not steep at all, 2nd lie I told myself!) I removed two of my layers and rolled them up into Joe’s backpack and honestly I was just fine for the rest of the trip. Blame it on sweaty me, huffing and puffing up the hill, but I didn’t need the extra layers at all.


This was the entrance to the short cut that Joe and I took back to the lodge to meet up with the group for lunch. How incredibly beautiful are these trees? Snow makes everything even more magical, but so does Joe’s photography skills.


This is tunnel view, looking out onto half dome when we first arrived into the park on Friday. Just moments before this photo was taken the clouds were dark and we thought we’d missed seeing the sun look over the mountains. Then, wouldn’t ya know it, mother nature peered her beautiful face through the clouds and we all went nuts!


This is from our second trip to tunnel view this weekend and the landscape looked completely different from the 24 hours before. Ominous and moody, I was happy that we could appreciate the contrast in views and see the beauty in both.


I was sad to leave this enchanted forest but I’m excited to come back this summer! It’s pretty remarkable the ways you experience nature just given the change in season.

I hope this post inspired you to visit a snowy scene near you AND informed you of how to properly layer up! To see more photos from this weekend’s trip check out the hashtags #yosemitesnowday #tenayalodge and #yosemite_dn. While you’re at it, catch up on all of my #FindYourPark happenings by typing in the hashtag and scrolling through!

I really had a superb time with all of these marvelous people; I loved meeting new faces and spending quality time with long time friends, so please head over to Esther and Jacob’s blog and check out their adventures! They inspire me so much!

What winter wonderland activity would you most like to do?! P.S. If you haven’t tried snowshoeing than you should because, easier than snow boarding!

Abbott Kinney

TRAVEL: A DAY ON ABBOTT KINNEY

by with No Comment adventurecommunityfoodlifestyletravel

 

We recently spent a day at Abbot Kinney street in Venice, California, and strolled about and explored. This is what we found:

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When we had worked up an appetite, we stopped at a place called 3 Square Cafe. Here, we ordered a quinoa burger with shoestring fries and a strawberry lemonade. It was absolutely delicious! When we finished, we were delighted by a little box of complimentary lemon meringue pie, it was divine.

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If you’ve ever been to Abbot, then you know there is an endless variety of specialty stores, florists, cute little nooks and small, adorable shops to stop into. On our little journey we found this absolutely incredible, to-die-for pomegranate currant candle.

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As always, more retail therapy was sought, and the day ended with a happy tummy and not so happy wallet, but happy nonetheless!

Happy explorations to you!

– C