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

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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. 

Weekend Getaway Wedding edition: Delaware beaches

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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.

Happy Birthday America!

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Activity: On the fourth of July holiday weekend I flew south for the Winter (aka SF summer) to Los Angeles. I went to Hermosa Beach/Redondo, Venice and Santa Monica. 

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Website: 

Description: I started the weekend going to Huckleberry's brunch in Santa Monica which was delicious. The line was long, but it went quickly. From there my friend and I went to the Venice Canals which I had not been to in many years. It is very serene to walk around on a nice day. In the link above there is an events calendar including boat parades. 

On the 4th of July I went to a friends house in Redondo Beach for their annual family and friends reunion. Afterwards my friends and I made it to Hermosa beach for a bit before I  headed back to Santa Monica for a friend's BBQ. Nothing better than a warm beach filled day with good friends and food!

For those looking for fun LA summer activities, check out the Thursday night free concerts on the Santa Monica Pier!

 

Welcome to Miami. Bienvenido a Miami: Tips for a weekend getaway

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Long weekends are the best of times and the worst of times. The best is having that extra day that allows time to travel out of town for the weekend. The worst part is that extra day makes you (or at least me) overly ambitious as to all the things you can do. Somehow the time flies faster than a normal weekend where expectations are lower.

During MLK weekend (Jan 17th) my friends and I met in Miami. Although it was a quick trip, it was just what I needed- friends, fun, sun and some local activities. 

Below are a few things we did during the weekend. I can't wait to go back again and explore what the locals do. Email me any suggestions for the next trip!

Adventure:

Even a relaxing weekend was no excuse to pass on an adventure. I had the perfect plan in mind- JET SKI Rental. After calling no less than 10 companies, I settled on Jet Ski South Beach. I chose this company because they were the most flexible with their reservations and the friendliest on the phone. A few companies had better prices, but they were sold out earlier in the day. Jet Ski South Beach accommodated a last minute request, stayed open late, and let my friend and I share a jet ski for a reasonable price.  They also took us out pretty far so we could enjoy a view of South Beach on the way back. Two thumbs up!

Cocktail Hour:

  • The Villa by Barton G-  Italian Designer Gianni Versace's mansion was converted into a boutique hotel. They have an upscale bar, but be prepared to dress well!
  • Broken Shaker- Very cool atmosphere for a drink with some friends. They have a few bars throughout the venue all around tiki lights and a pool. 

Food:

  • Upscale:
    • The SLS Hotel has a great restaurant -the Baazar by Jose Andres. Favorite dishes included the scallops, beef, and of course the must have Foie Gras PB & J. :)
  • Casual Dining:
    • Sazon- delicious and inexpensive cuban cuisine. The chicken and rice was tasty and large. It was great to share if you want to try a few appetizers. 

Until Next Time. Stay tuned.