World Tour: Final Stop- London art exhibit

Activity: Ai WeiWei exhibit in London

Rating: 4.2 of 5 Stars

Website: https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/ai-weiwei

Description: I went to the Ai WeiWei exhibit at the Royal Academy of Arts in London for the last leg of my trip. The exhibit is about Ai WeiWei's experience in jail as well as other representations of political protests. The most interesting part of the exhibit is the diversity of installations. There are wooden chairs, crabs, vases, chandelier of bike parts, wall paper, etc. Each were very unique and represented an important belief of Ai WeiWei. 

Tip: book tickets in advance or through a booking as the lines can be long 

World Tour: Fourth stop South of France

Activity: South of France wedding with stops at Rothschild Mansion and Monte Carlo, Monaco

Rating:  5 of 5 stars

Website: Rothschild Mansion and Monte Carlo

Description:  I was very fortunate to attend a wedding in the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France which is approximately half way between Nice and Monaco ( 20-30 minute drive from the Nice airport). The wedding guests stayed at the Hotel Royal Riviera which was walking distance to the Rothschild Mansion. Before the rehearsal dinner we walked over to see the mansion. The house itself was quite nice, but the real selling point is the garden. The garden(s) were gorgeous and included a large fountain with a water show to classical music. The entrance fee was no more than 20 Euros to be generous and I think it was worth the cost of admittance (if you can't tell from the pictures above).

On the night before the wedding we took a taxi to Monte Carlo Casino. I have been to the casino in Vegas and I have always wanted to go to the real thing. Also, Monaco counted as a country I hadn't visited and I am trying to increase the tally over 30. The casino was nice, but much smaller than I expected. I could feel the pressure trying to learn the slot machine strategy without any luck. Fortunately, my friends were luckier and came home with some extra euros.

Two thumbs up for South of France in October!

World Tour: Third stop Berlin

low:Activity: Touring Berlin- Hop on, hop off bus tour. Berlin Wall- Eastside Gallery, and Berlinische Art Gallery

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Website  Bus Tours,  East Side Gallery, and Berlinische Gallery

Description: Berlin was my favorite city in Germany. It is artistic, fun, and full of things to see. The first day we did another bus tour to make sure we hit all the major sites. We were able to see all of the below: 

Stop 1 - Tauentzienstrasse 16
Stop 2 - KaDeWe
Stop 3 - Potsdamer Platz
Stop 4 - Martin-Gropius-Bau (Mauerreste)
Stop 5 - Checkpoint Charlie
Stop 6 - Gendarmenmarkt
Stop 7 - Mühlendamm
Stop 8 - Alexanderplatz (Park Inn Hotel)
Stop 9 - Alexanderplatz (Alexa)
Stop 10 - Rotes Rathaus / Neptunbrunnen
Stop 11 - Lustgarten/Musemsinsel/Altes Museum
Stop 12 - Brandenburger Tor
Stop 13 - Hauptbahnhof (Washingtonplatz)
Stop 14 - Siegessäule (Großer Stern)

After the bus tour we went to the Eastside Gallery of the Berlin wall. This was one of my favorite sites to see all the famous murals.  

The next day was rainy and chilly so we went to a lovely brunch and then to the art museum (listed above). The museum was in the top 5 of Berlin art. There were more galleries near Checkpoint Charlie that were recommended as well.

We also wanted to go to the top of the Reichstag Building with a glass dome, but the lines for the same day were very long and advance tickets require time to process personal details. After the art museums we went to KaDeWe to shelter the rain and had some snacks at the fish and cheese bars.  For dinner we tried this Asian inspired burger place that was delicious--Shisho Burger.

Overall, Berlin is a must see city to add to the Bucket list!

World Tour: Second stop Hamburg

Activity: hop on, hop off bus tour of Hamburg

Rating 3.5 of 5 stars

Website: http://www.hamburg-travel.com/experience/events/sightseeing-tours-tours/

Description: We chose to go to Hamburg to experience a city in Germany that is not on the traditional tourist route. It is a relatively wealthy city that is on the water with canals running through parts of it. The canals are do not run throughout the city as they do in Venice, so do not expect any gondola rides.

In order to see the majority of the city on our quick trip we did a city bus tour. We also had a quest for the best Hamburger (assuming Hamburg would be the perfect location) but we were unsuccessful. Instead, I did extensive research on the best waffles and found a delicious local spot that allowed you to pick your favorite toppings and flavors! 

World Tour: First stop Munich Oktoberfest & Neuschwanstein Castle

Activity: Traveling to Munich, Germany-- Oktoberfest and Neuschwanstein Castle

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Website: Viator tours of Munich

Description: I had never been to Germany so I thought a great place to start was Munich. My friend and I were able to make it for the last day of the iconic Oktoberfest. I had always wanted to experience this tradition first hand. I knew the last day would be very busy and from internet research is was mostly for locals, so I decided to book a tour package. Typically, you can get a reservation for a time slot as long as you purchase two beers and some chicken, however reservations are hard to come by and often passed down to those that have been for many years in a row. I do recommend confirming reservations well in advance, but beware of expensive tours in the $400 range. Any tour should be less than $200 for the day all inclusive. 

The Oktoberfest tour was a full day event. First, we had a tour of the area where the guide pointed out German traditions. I did not expect Oktoberfest to include a carnival, but that is mostly for children in the day. As it gets later the men often go on rides after some beers and it can be quite a show. After the tour of the area and main tents, we arrived at our tent. The tables were very tightly packed, just as I had imagined. Water is quite expensive so I highly recommend brining your own if possible. A fun fact we learned is that waitressing for the event is a job that is handed down through lineage and a waitress in the two week period can make over 50,000 Euros!

The next tour was of the Neuschwanstein Castle. This castle was the inspiration for sleeping beauty and it lives up to the reputation. We arrived for our tour at a train station where we had tickets ready. The train took about 2 hours. When we arrived we had time to describe the options to get to the top of the castle for the tour. You could walk which is approximately 45 minutes up a paved incline, you could take a bus for 10 minutes and 1.60 Euros, or you could take a carriage ride. At the bottom of the town you could also see the Hohenschwangau Royal Castle. The tour described the elaborate decor as well as the innovation in running water at the Castle. The only let down was the sparse food selection- schnitzel/pretzel/etc. There were a couple restaurants, but the timing of the tour did not allow for a sit down meal. Overall, it was worth the trip to see the castle in person as it is more picturesque than in photos.

Adventure day: Repelling down the moaning caverns

Activity: Repelling down the Moaning Caverns

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Website: Moaning Caverns

Description: The moaning caverns are located about 2.5 hours from San Francisco. It is an adventure park from limestone caves where you can go on a cave tour, repel down the cave, or go on an all day tour including crawling in the caves with a guide. 

They do not allow reservations in advance unless you have a large group so make sure to arrive on time. Fortunately when I got there I did not have to wait. I paid, watched a short video, then I was instructed to put on the harness and ropes. The guide was there to set me up and answer any last minute questions. I was surprised that you do not go with a guide, instead you can go with a group or alone. The repel could take 15-40 minutes depending on how comfortable you feel going down. As I was going down the cave a group from the walking tour was able to see my shuffle down. At the bottom there is someone to help you with the harness and then you take a long flight of stairs back to the top. The only photos allowed for safety reasons are from a go pro strap to the helmet so make sure to bring any equipment that you may have.

The repel was a little frightening, but it was worth the spectacular view!

Day trip to Santa Cruz: Beach, Mysteries, and Greek Food

Activity: Mystery Spot Tour and Beach day at the Boardwalk

Rating: 4.2 of 5 stars

Website:

 https://www.mysteryspot.com//  

http://beachboardwalk.com/

Description: The first part of the day we went to the Mystery Spot. The Mystery spot is a place of gravitational quirkiness. You can do a short tour where you go to the stop of the area and watch a few demonstrations of gravitational weirdness- meaning that gravity's effect is the opposite of what you would assume. I won't ruin it by telling you the secrets, but I do recommend taking the tour that is only $6. I suggest booking in advance as tickets the day of may require you to wait. Parking is also available for a fee.

After the Mystery Spot my friend and I went to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and enjoyed a lovely beach day. We even had the chance to see a lot of sea lion's up close which is not a rare occasion for the area as well as kayakers and even a beach wedding. On our way home we went to Greek food that was inexpensive and delicious. The overall vibe of Santa Cruz is very laid back. 

I highly recommend Santa Cruz for a day trip. There are plenty of things to do in this beach town. 

Bucket list item: Bioluminescence Tomales Bay

Activity: 4 hour night kayaking tour in bioluminescence Tomales Bay

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Website: Bioluminescence Kayaking

Description:  Bioluminescence is defined as:  "the biochemical emission of light by living organisms such as fireflies and deep sea fishes."  There is no easy way to describe the experience except to see it in person. In the meantime I can attest that it is by far one of the coolest things to see in nature. 

First, you arrive at the point of departure for the tour (bundle up!). There are only a few places in the world that have these bioluminescence tours so if you live in the bay area you have no excuse because there is one close by- Tomales Bay/Point Reyes. The other locations include Maldives and Puerto Rico. From pictures these locations are more spectacular because conditions lend themselves to brighter beaches full of bioluminescence, however I still recommend going to Point Reyes for this tour.

Once you arrive at the destination there is a safety and introductory section. Then you and your partner (kayaks are tandem) suit up in jackets, pants, and skirts (that go around the kayak to prevent water from coming in) and start the journey to the beaches. If you go from Point Reyes you will pass Hog Island. As you are kayaking it becomes very dark (this is standard as these tours only go during the summer and into Oct). After a few hours of kayaking, you arrive on a beach to take a break and learn about bioluminescence with some hot chocolate. Once the instructor has described the experience (ours said it would look like "fireworks, diamonds, or glitter!") you get back into the kayaks to go to the cove with the most activity. Once your paddles are in the water again, the area starts to glow. You can put your hand in the water to see it light up and make designs of your own.  There are even fish that swim around in bursts of light. I can not describe how incredibly beautiful and interesting it is to see this in action. 

Recommended: couples, groups of friends, outdoorsy people who are not afraid of the dark

Weekend Getaway Wedding edition: Delaware beaches

Activity: Wedding guest in Wilmington, DE and beach house guest in Dewey Beach, DE

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Website: Dewey Beach

Description: The wedding was at a beautiful estate in Wilmington, DE. The food was delicious, the band played the favorites [I'm with the band ;)] and friends were rejoicing (playing corn-hole for example). Since most people can not replicate this experience I will elaborate on the post-wedding festivities. 

I traveled from Wilmington to Dewey beach by car and then traveled back to the Philadelphia airport. Dewey beach is a a good destination to rent a house with a large group of friends. In this particular case I crashed a college reunion so I can attest to larger groups are better. There were plenty of places to go out and the beach was nicer than I had anticipated. A holiday weekend would be a good time as I am sure the area is more lively with young adults during the holidays. The only draw back is that it is not easily accessible from an airport. The best way to travel was by car, so if you are from the east coast you may have been before.  

As a California native, I always enjoy a good paddle ball competition and a swim in the ocean.

Weekend Getaway: NYC ladies who luncheon

Activity: Hats, heels, and high tea for friend's birthday

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Website: Crosby Street Hotel

Cost: inexpensive, price depends on what you order

Description:  For a friend's birthday her mom organized a surprise party/girls luncheon with the theme of "hats, heels, and high tea." The theme was perfect for a beautiful afternoon in the open patio/garden area. The tea selection included an entire page of options and the sandwiches were delicious and exactly as you would expect for a high tea. They also offered Champagne and other drinks for the afternoon. 

The hotel was beautiful and perfect for photo shoots.

Recommended: Ladies gathering :)

Trampoline park for adults

Description: Trampoline park for kids and adults...but mostly adult children

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Cost: $25/hr

Website: http://www.houseofair.com/

Description:  You can pre-register for one hour increments to the Open air section of the trampoline park. The one hour includes a brief tutorial on how to land and jump correctly. I recommend booking the open section as there will likely be many small children in the other arenas, especially on weekends for birthday parties.

The venue is located in the presidio in an airplane hanger. On a nice day they open the main doors to let in fresh air. The staff was mostly nice and helpful. 

Recommended:  Couple, two-three friends, families, 

Weekend Getaway: Denver's Red Rocks, hiking and ice cream

Activity: Weekend trip to Denver including Red Rocks concert, hiking a St. Mary's Glacier, Paddle-boating and ice cream

Rating: 4.6 of 5 stars

Website: 

- Red rocks: http://redrocksonline.com/

- Saint Mary's Glacier- http://stmarysglacier.com/

-Indian hot springs- http://www.indianhotsprings.com/

-Washington Park Paddle boats- http://wheelfunrentals.com/Locations/Denver

-Little Man ice cream- http://www.littlemanicecream.com/

Description: This weekend getaway was jam packed with entertainment. Friday night my friends and I went to a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater outside of Denver. The venue was amazing. It is said the the acoustics of venue are much better due to the surrounding rocks. The venue was nicer than I expected, but be sure to get there early for a good seat!

Saturday my friends and I went on a hike at St. Mary's glacier (short hike) where my friend went cliff jumping into the water. Although I love adventure (and rarely pass it up), glacier water is where I draw the line. After the hike we had a lunch at a great BBQ place nearby. Afterwards, we went to the Indian hot springs where you can pay a fee to go into natural springs that are over 116 degrees! It was so relaxing!

Sunday: We enjoyed brunch at Devils Food and then went to Washington Park. In the park we paddle boated for about an hour. It is a fun pastime on a lazy sunday and slightly more of a workout then we were hoping for. Afterwards, we ended the weekend with a ice cream cone at the famous Little Man's Ice cream.

Recommended: Friends, Family, and the outdoor adventurer

Outsidelands: Music Festival in Golden Gate Park

Activity: Outsidelands Music Festival Golden Gate Park

Rating:  3 of 5 stars

Cost:  Daily tickets for GA $135 or $325 for the weekend

Website: http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/

Description: Outsidelands is a popular music festival in Golden Gate Park. Over the years it has become even more popular and therefore even more crowded. This festival is unlike others due to the scenery. For example, Coachella is hot and dry, Outsidelands is in a lush part of the park and can get pretty chilly. There is also a greater presence of wine vendors considering the proximity to Sonoma/Napa. 

Pros: line up was full of popular artists new and old (Elton John included), the food was delicious, the wine tent was a nice calm break from the music

Cons: in the late afternoon/early evening the park becomes VERY crowded and lines for the bathrooms are ridiculous-- essentially the same problems of any mainstream music festival

Recommended: Post college group of friends

Weekend getaway: Shasta Lake water sports adventure

Activity: House boating on Lake Shasta

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

Website: http://www.houseboating.org/Lake-Shasta-Houseboat-Prices

Cost:  $100 per person for the weekend, excluding food and activities

Description: A friend found a deal on houseboats through Travelzoo and we booked 4 total for a weekend in July. The link above includes other boats that are available to rent.

Accommodations: The boats were not luxurious, but it had all the necessary amenities. There were four bunk beds, two larger than the others and a pull out bed. There was a full kitchen with refrigerator, stove, coffee machine etc. Pre-planning our meals made it very easy to coordinate food supplies prior to arriving. We also brought speaks for music, electric pump for floaties, and plenty of trash bags/paper towels/bug repellant.  The nights were really warm during the summer so I recommend to pack light clothing and a light sleeping bag. 

There was plenty do to for one weekend: swimming, lounging on floaties, wake boarding, skiing, and playing games with friends. The wake boarding and water skiing was an additional cost, but relatively inexpensive. We rented a speed boat for the water sports and the docking station rented out the sports equipment for those that did not bring their own. 

Recommended:  Great trip for large groups of young friends. 

Do you like fine cooking?

ingredients for Baklava ice cream

Ingredients for Greek Salad

Final product

Activity: Cooking class at Sur la Table in San Francisco

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Website :http://www.surlatable.com/category/cat2211278/Cooking+Classes

Cost: Originally $65-79 and on sale for $35! (subscribe to newsletter for sales or wait for last minute discounts)

Description: I took a 4 course cooking class that focused on Mediterranean cuisine.  The menu included Baklava ice cream, chicken skewers, Greek Salad, and grape leaves stuffed with feta. The meal was delicious! Do not go hungry or you will be starving at the end of the 2-3 hour class. 

I highly recommend Sur la Table because they have last minute deals on classes, all the prep work is done beforehand, there is no cleaning, and you get the recipes and full meal at the end. 

I will say space was tight and you had to take turns in groups of 3-4 to prepare the meal, but the recipes are simple enough that you can watch along and feel comfortable trying at home. 

The classes also vary quite a bit depending on the season so there is constantly new genres to try!

Recommended: two friends,. couple, small group