Recent Travels
Anaheim, California
10-06-2017
The opportunity to travel is something I see as a blessing. Experiencing different cultures, meeting new people, seeing amazing sights. Whether you're traveling halfway across the world or to a neighboring city, the thrill of traveling never ends.
My most recent trip was to Anaheim, California. I've been to California before, but not Anaheim. This trip was not what I was expecting. It was full of surprises, twists and turns, and overly-priced water.
Anaheim - the home of Disneyland (a magical place where dreams come true and water bottles are over-priced). Besides paying $3.00 for a bottle of water, Disneyland was truly a magical amusement park. From riding roller-coasters throughout the day to watching fireworks at night, there is an endless array of activities for everyone to enjoy at Disneyland and even more characters to take pictures with. There are parades throughout the day and many, MANY, shops to get your Disneyland gear at. Whether you enjoy riding the teacups or eating churros, Disneyland is worth the waiting in line!!! And it might be worth it to get a fast pass.
Anaheim - just a short drive to a beach. Best advice for when in Anaheim- wear sunscreen! Anaheim is only a short drive away from beaches like Seal Beach, Huntington Beach (a.k.a. Sunset Beach), and Laguna Beach. All of these beaches have their own unique characteristics and wildlife. You can relax under the sun, get a tan, play in the sand, learn to surf, or snorkel above reefs. Whether you're falling off the surfboard (after 5 seconds of balancing) or laying under the sun, being a short drive from the beach makes Anaheim a go-to destination.
Anaheim - where In-N-Out Burger is ALWAYS packed. I had never had In-N-Out before and let me say, I LOVED it! Quick and delicious. I'm not a big fast food fan, but In-N-Out might be the exception. Fries with the right amount of salt and burgers with the right amount of each condiment. Definitely a must try in California!
Anaheim - a place filled with twists and turns, overly-priced water, sun and sand, and delicious burgers. While I was only there for 4 days, I made the most of it and tried all I could!
Traveling is about exploring. Traveling is about finding yourself through new experiences. Sometimes, traveling is about fitting as much as you can into a short period of time because you never know when you'll be back (or get to have In-N-Out again).
10-06-2017
The opportunity to travel is something I see as a blessing. Experiencing different cultures, meeting new people, seeing amazing sights. Whether you're traveling halfway across the world or to a neighboring city, the thrill of traveling never ends.
My most recent trip was to Anaheim, California. I've been to California before, but not Anaheim. This trip was not what I was expecting. It was full of surprises, twists and turns, and overly-priced water.
Anaheim - the home of Disneyland (a magical place where dreams come true and water bottles are over-priced). Besides paying $3.00 for a bottle of water, Disneyland was truly a magical amusement park. From riding roller-coasters throughout the day to watching fireworks at night, there is an endless array of activities for everyone to enjoy at Disneyland and even more characters to take pictures with. There are parades throughout the day and many, MANY, shops to get your Disneyland gear at. Whether you enjoy riding the teacups or eating churros, Disneyland is worth the waiting in line!!! And it might be worth it to get a fast pass.
Anaheim - just a short drive to a beach. Best advice for when in Anaheim- wear sunscreen! Anaheim is only a short drive away from beaches like Seal Beach, Huntington Beach (a.k.a. Sunset Beach), and Laguna Beach. All of these beaches have their own unique characteristics and wildlife. You can relax under the sun, get a tan, play in the sand, learn to surf, or snorkel above reefs. Whether you're falling off the surfboard (after 5 seconds of balancing) or laying under the sun, being a short drive from the beach makes Anaheim a go-to destination.
Anaheim - where In-N-Out Burger is ALWAYS packed. I had never had In-N-Out before and let me say, I LOVED it! Quick and delicious. I'm not a big fast food fan, but In-N-Out might be the exception. Fries with the right amount of salt and burgers with the right amount of each condiment. Definitely a must try in California!
Anaheim - a place filled with twists and turns, overly-priced water, sun and sand, and delicious burgers. While I was only there for 4 days, I made the most of it and tried all I could!
Traveling is about exploring. Traveling is about finding yourself through new experiences. Sometimes, traveling is about fitting as much as you can into a short period of time because you never know when you'll be back (or get to have In-N-Out again).
San Francisco, California
03-09-2018
San Francisco, California – known for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge – is a city full of rich history, beautiful sites, Ghirardelli chocolate, and hilly roads. Spending a week there was absolutely not a waste and highly recommended.
The trip started off with tourist stops like the Ghirardelli factory and the famous (and creepy) Alcatraz Prison. What’s better than a whole area of a city dedicated to chocolate, all things chocolate, and more chocolate? Can’t come up with anything? Me neither haha. In the Ghirardelli Square, there are tons of little themed stores (which you can get a free piece of chocolate at the door) that were super fun to explore throughout the week. Safe to say that we definitely enjoyed going back (almost) every day to try something new.
Alcatraz Prison was like going into a haunted house during the day for me. It was super interesting, full of history, and kind of scary. Obviously there aren’t any prisoners there today, but it weirdly felt like there was a ghost following you the entire tour (no joke). There was also an ex-prisoner there who wrote a book about his stay and was signing autographs in the gift shop, which was so interesting for me. Side note: I did not even get close to him. The island itself is full of nature and wildlife for you to interact with.
My second favorite part of the trip was the Redwood National and State Parks nearby. It’s truly wonderful to see the gorgeous Redwoods towering above you and beautiful landscapes all around you. There’s also a lot of wildlife to see in the forests. I loved seeing a baby deer that was just born and one of the most adorable things in the world. The sight of these forests is best when experienced personally.
The city itself is great to explore and walk around during the day. There are a countless number of historic sights and fun things to do. While I’m normally not much of a touristy person during trips, I prefer to explore on my own, I do recommend doing a Segway tour around the town. There are tons of hills which makes the tour really hilarious at points. It’s the best way to get a lot in during a short amount of time and get a good laugh.
Last but not least, the ocean and Golden Gate Bridge are a must see out there. Great for pictures and to just take in the sights. I recommend doing it towards the end of the trip to wrap up and get a good feel for what San Francisco is all about. It truly summarizes how iconic that city really is.
03-09-2018
San Francisco, California – known for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge – is a city full of rich history, beautiful sites, Ghirardelli chocolate, and hilly roads. Spending a week there was absolutely not a waste and highly recommended.
The trip started off with tourist stops like the Ghirardelli factory and the famous (and creepy) Alcatraz Prison. What’s better than a whole area of a city dedicated to chocolate, all things chocolate, and more chocolate? Can’t come up with anything? Me neither haha. In the Ghirardelli Square, there are tons of little themed stores (which you can get a free piece of chocolate at the door) that were super fun to explore throughout the week. Safe to say that we definitely enjoyed going back (almost) every day to try something new.
Alcatraz Prison was like going into a haunted house during the day for me. It was super interesting, full of history, and kind of scary. Obviously there aren’t any prisoners there today, but it weirdly felt like there was a ghost following you the entire tour (no joke). There was also an ex-prisoner there who wrote a book about his stay and was signing autographs in the gift shop, which was so interesting for me. Side note: I did not even get close to him. The island itself is full of nature and wildlife for you to interact with.
My second favorite part of the trip was the Redwood National and State Parks nearby. It’s truly wonderful to see the gorgeous Redwoods towering above you and beautiful landscapes all around you. There’s also a lot of wildlife to see in the forests. I loved seeing a baby deer that was just born and one of the most adorable things in the world. The sight of these forests is best when experienced personally.
The city itself is great to explore and walk around during the day. There are a countless number of historic sights and fun things to do. While I’m normally not much of a touristy person during trips, I prefer to explore on my own, I do recommend doing a Segway tour around the town. There are tons of hills which makes the tour really hilarious at points. It’s the best way to get a lot in during a short amount of time and get a good laugh.
Last but not least, the ocean and Golden Gate Bridge are a must see out there. Great for pictures and to just take in the sights. I recommend doing it towards the end of the trip to wrap up and get a good feel for what San Francisco is all about. It truly summarizes how iconic that city really is.