Tag: Frontiers

I’d never been to Los Angeles, and then last year, I went three times in eight months. Each time, I found new facets of the city to love. There are so many things to see and do that it can be hard to cram it all in a few days. Or even a week. (But, if you are spending a week in the LA area, you might as well make the hour and a half drive to Anaheim to hit up Disneyland. It’s worth it.) Each trip largely involved filming at the hottest restaurants, cafes and bakeries in the area, and at each stop, I’d ask people for their recommendations on where to go next. Out of everything I tried — which, some days, meant visiting four or five places in an afternoon — these are the things I’d hit up again and again.

 

FOOD:

Gracias Madre 
You’ve never had vegan Mexican food that’s this good. People ‘gram the snow cone margaritas, but I’m all about the classic marg and the Bowl Uno — a blend of brown rice, black beans, romaine lettuce, tempeh chorizo, guac, pico de gallo, pumpkin seeds and a cashew crema that’s so creamy you won’t even miss the cheese on this deconstructed burrito.

California Donuts
Not only are these some of the freshest, fluffiest donuts I’ve ever had, this shop’s open 24 hours a day and features all kinds of flavors, including one that’s stuffed with an entire, molten Snickers bar. If you go, you have to get the iconic panda donut, just for good measure.

 

FUN:

Little Tokyo
There are endless places to shop and wander here, and if you’re hungry (it always comes back to food for me, doesn’t it?), head to Marugame Monzo. The owners of California Donuts introduced me to this spot, which has a Carbonara Udon that’s out of this world. Cheesy, bacon-studded sauce and thick, hand-pulled udon noodles? Yeah, it’s worth the hype.

Santa Monica pier
Rollercoasters, carousels, carnival games, all overlooking the water. Yes, it’s packed in the summertime, but for good reason: It’s a guaranteed good time.

Duff’s Cake Mix
If you’ve ever wanted to take over Duff Goldman’s bakery and try your hand at being the Ace Of Cakes, this is your chance. It’s like Paint Your Own Pottery, only with cakes. You choose a fondant-covered treat in any color of the rainbow, grab whatever tools, frosting, sprinkles or other toppings you like, and go to town. You can make your own custom cake, or follow a tutorial to make any one of the shop’s designs, like Spongebob Squarepants, a unicorn, or Minion.

 

FULFILLMENT:

Mosaic Church
Okay, this is actually on my bucket list for my next trip to LA. After reading several of Erwin McManus’s books and seeing him talk in Australia, I’ve been meaning to make it out to his actual church for a service. The church’s messages are engaging, enlightening, and motivating. It’s the type of experience that makes you want to jump up and take action, leaving you feeling refreshed.

Venice Beach
Walk down the boardwalk, catch the sunset, take in a new perspective.

 

Lead Photo by Ryan Waring on Unsplash

When you’re planning a trip to Las Vegas, there’s no shortage of things to get your attention. The Strip is literally glittering with signs all pulling you in a million different directions. Sure, there are buffets to hit up, casinos to lose (or, hopefully, win) money in, and shows to watch, but what’s really worth your time? Here are the ones we’re talking about weeks after our last visit.

FOOD:

Rosina
The Venetian, 3325 S Las Vegas Blvd

When in Vegas, you might as well have one night — or one drink — where you go all out. This is that place. With an art deco, Great Gatsby vibe, this glam bar features velvet-curtained cabanas with their own champagne-on-demand buttons (press and bubbly’s delivered to your table). But the real gem is its seasonal secret menu. Every four months, the bar chooses an underappreciated cocktail and offers several riffs on the treat, like the six takes on mint juleps currently offered. All of its syrups are made from scratch in-house, using fresh fruit, meaning they’re more flavorful without being overly sweet. Just be warned: It’s pricey.

Truffles & Bacon
8872 S Eastern Ave #100

This restaurant’s about 20 minutes away from the strip, but it’s worth the journey. Truffles & Bacon’s become famous for its Belly Of The Beast burger, a whopping 10-pound wonder that’s loaded with two 2-lb beef patties, 2-inch-thick strips of pork belly, four fried eggs, and a glorious hash made out of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, tater tots, tomatoes and jalapenos. There’s a single-serving version (The Hot Beast), as well as tons of other creative twists on favorites, like its purple Ube French Toast.

Paris Le Village Buffet
Paris, 3655 S Las Vegas Blvd

You’ll feel like you’re stepping onto the set of Beauty & The Beast at this buffet, with its cobblestone streets and dining stations designed like quaint, turn-of-the-century French shops. Each station’s themed like a different part of France, serving roast duck, made-to-order crepes and penne alla puttanesca, though they also offer other fare, like mac and cheese and crab legs. For $13, you can add on all-you-can-drink beer, wine, and bloody marys.

 

FUN:

Baz musical
The Venetian, 3325 S Las Vegas Blvd

If you love Baz Luhrmann’s movies, you’ve got to see this musical tribute to three of his cinematic hits: Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge, and The Great Gatsby. The singing, dancing, and acting are all Broadway-caliber, and it’s right next to Rosina, so you can grab a drink, catch the show, and party the night away.

Hotel Hopping
The Las Vegas Strip

C’mon, this is Vegas. Every hotel on the Strip is worth gawking at, particularly Paris, Bellagio, Wynn, New York New York, Venetian, Luxor, Caesars Palace, and the Cosmopolitan. Several are themed and have their own exhibits and diversions within them. You can go for a gondola ride inside the Venetian, vacation-within-a-vacation in Paris, check out the musical fountain show at Bellagio, ride a Big Apple-themed rollercoaster at New York New York, and stop and smell the (millions of) flowers on display at the Wynn.

 

FULFILLMENT:

The Neon Museum
770 N Las Vegas Blvd

Check out the graveyard tour to see all of Vegas’s most famous (and okay, even many of the lesser-known) neon signs. A guide will tell you the stories behind all of them, like the Ugly Duckling, which cost its owners — a used car dealership — a whopping $250,000 … and put them out of business six months later. Not all of the stories are so grim, but it’s an enlightening look at the city’s history and culture.

Downtown Container Park
707 Fremont St

Zappos CEO Tony Hseih poured $350 million into revitalizing downtown Las Vegas, helping create a home for 165 new businesses. There’s a whole shopping center built out of shipping containers, featuring bars, restaurants, clothing and tchotchke stores. Part of the budget went toward local art, and it’s a great way to scope out all kinds of mom & pop businesses and learn their stories, rather than hitting up the same old chains on the Strip that you see everywhere else in the U.S.

Despite growing up in Florida, I never spent that much time in Miami. You’re on a peninsula, where a beach is never more than an hour away (and rarely more than 20 minutes), so I never felt that compelled to make a 5-hour road trip. But whoa, was I missing out! After a few trips over the years — and some excellent recommendations from friends in the area — here are the places I’d recommend hitting up again and again.

FOOD:

Bodega 
1220 16th St., Miami Beach

Oh. My. Burritos. If you’re looking for a creative taco or burrito, look no further. All the classics are here — carnitas, baha fish, chicken — but you can also find surprising mixes, like a Philly cheesesteak-inspired taco. Hands down, though, my favorite dish was the Cubanito, a combo of refried black beans, roasted pork with ends crisped to caramelized perfection, oaxaca cheese, pickled onions and stone ground mustard. There’s a tanginess that hits you with every bite and leaves you wanting more, more, more. Until you’re about to burst. Plus, at night, there’s a secret bar in the back — through what looks like a Porti-Potty door. Sounds scary, but it’s actually amazing.

 

Airport Cafe & Liquors 
4427 NW 36th St, Miami Springs

Nobody makes more creative burgers than Chef Reuben. Every day’s a new special, and the toppings range from jalapeno mac & cheese and chorizo to cherry-Jack Daniels glazes and Doritos-crusted, deep-fried cheese. It’s right by the airport, so make it your last stop before you catch that flight.

 

Bazaar 
1701 Collins Ave, Suite 100, Miami Beach

If you splurge on one meal and one meal only, grab drinks and appetizers at the outdoor bar at Jose Andres’s restaurant. The Salt Air Margarita has a frothy, salty top that reminds you of foam caps on the ocean, and the marg is perfectly balanced without being too sweet. The papas fritas are more like creamy, salty wedges of magic, but the true standout are the ham and cheese croquettes. Crispy on the outside, pure gooey, cheesy, salted pork bombs on the inside.

 

FUN:

Museum Of Ice Cream
3400 Collins Ave, Miami Beach

From now through April 29, you can catch the Museum Of Ice Cream’s Miami outpost, which features its iconic sprinkle pool, along with four floors of fun, interactive, pastel-colored exhibits. It’s not so knowledge-heavy — more made-for-Instagram eye candy — but it’s a heck of a good time. Plus, every floor features a frozen treat, from chocolate-covered frozen bananas to key lime pie ice cream cones.

Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop
2818 N Miami Ave, Miami

Straight-up food porn. Every single dessert fits the bill here with its OTT decadence. There’s no defined menu, because the whole idea is to order with your eyes. Look at the display case, full of brownies the size of your whole hand, three-layer cakes in every flavor imaginable (sold by the slice, of course), and pies of all flavors. The ice cream sundae pie is a doozy, with a thick layer of ganache atop its graham cracker crust, sliced bananas, and a Funfetti cream pie top layer that’s as creamy as gelato. It’s the perfect mid-afternoon hangout, when you just want to catch up with a friend. And take some outstanding ‘grams.

 

South Beach

C’mon, it’s Miami! You have to go to the shoreline, even if it’s only to stick your toes in the sand. While there, hit up Nautilus for a frose (AKA a rose slushy). It’ll be pricey, but you deserve one frozen drink during your trip, and theirs isn’t a syrupy sweet mess, like some spiked slushies.

 

FULFILLMENT:

Wynwood 

Take in some killer art — all for free. This district, about 15 minutes from South Beach, features an outdoor museum you can explore any time of day. Wynwood’s streets are covered in mind-blowing murals by renowned artists. Plus, it’s a great way to get your steps in. Especially after downing a slice (or pie-topped shake) from Fireman Derek’s nearby.

Little Havana

Take a walking tour one afternoon, explore the shops, order a cafe con leche, and uncover the incredible Cuban culture that gives the city so much of its vibrance and personality.

 

Looking for other getaways?

Check out our guides to:

• Florida Keys, FL
• New Orleans, LA
• Austin, TX
• Dallas, TX
• Nashville, TN
• Portland, ME
• Chicagoland, IL
• Bruges, Belgium
• Brussels, Belgium
• Sydney, Australia

 

Despite being born and raised in Florida, I’d never been to the Keys. I’d been to Miami a few times, but never made the 4-hour drive to Key West (or even the hour and a half to Key Largo). That all changed this summer, and after spending a few days there, I can’t understand what took me so long to go. I mean, really. The water is unbelievably crystal blue — so blue you’d swear someone’s filtered the heck out of it if you saw a pic on Instagram.

It’s got everything you’d want from a tropical vacation, without having to fly halfway around the world. If you get the chance to go, GO. Don’t waste a second debating it. Don’t begrudge the long drive from Miami International Airport, or even the road trip from wherever you happen to live, if hopping in a plane isn’t your thing. Just go. You won’t be disappointed.

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Just about every time Nate and I told people we were headed to Belgium, they immediately asked whether we were headed to Bruges, followed shortly by: “Have you ever seen In Bruges?”

It wasn’t in our immediate plan — I was headed to Brussels for work, so really, Brussels and chocolate, chocolate, CHOCOLATE! was all that was on my mind — but when I kept hearing rave reviews about Bruges, and how it was considered the “Venice of Belgium,” with all of its canals, we knew we had to make a trip. It’s only an hour’s train ride from Brussels, so you can easily squeeze in both during a stay in the country.

Here are some of our favorite spots:

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Just weeks after visiting Brussels, terrorist attacks in the airport and a nearby metro station killed 32 people and injured several others. Nate and I were heartbroken to learn this news, and we pray for the families of everyone affected. I wrote this post before the tragedy, and now it seems just as important to show the city beyond the attacks; one that’s rich in culture, full of warm, charismatic people.

When Godiva offered about a dozen U.S. journalists the chance to explore its factory in Brussels, Belgium, I felt like Charlie Bucket the moment he found a golden ticket. I jumped at the chance to see how the 90-year-old brand makes its chocolates (more on that coming soon to Delish.com) — and the opportunity to explore the city.

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When we had the chance to spend a week — or, in Nate’s case, two — in Australia, we had to live it up. That meant going FULL TOURIST. And taking any excuse to grab a bite to eat. And, on occasion, using a selfie stick to document the whole darn thing.

And we’re unapologetic about it all.

We can’t claim to be experts (we’ll leave that to the locals — or anyone who’s spent more than 14 consecutive days in the continent), but after two weeks of eating, exploring and ruthlessly taking photos of everything, we wanted to share some of our favorite stops during our stay. This post focuses primarily on Sydney, Australia, but we’ve woven in a few stops in Cairns, just in case you want to sneak in a trip to see the Great Barrier Reef. [Full disclosure: You’ll need to take a three-hour flight — or 13-hour drive — to experience both cities. Australia sprawls out more than U.S. suburbs.]

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By Aide Sierra

Caught up in the hustle and grind of daily life in your city? Come to Dallas! I’ve lived here a considerable amount of my life; long enough to know the city won’t disappoint. We like to go big and go hard; after all, our nickname is the Big D. For the men, we have sports, for the women, we have men in tight jeans (mostly hipsters but you’ll find an urban cowboy from time to time), and if you are married, don’t fret — there are plenty of places you can enjoy each other’s company.

Here a few of my favorite places (and some tourist sites) you must experience.

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In the past decade, Nashville has undergone a radical shift. When a new restaurant opens up, it’s not a barbecue joint or cheap Tex-Mex—it’s probably destined for a write-up in The New York Times. East Nashville, a neighborhood once known for an ice cream truck that drove around at midnight (spoiler: it was not selling desserts), is now lauded as a national cultural destination. It’s been rewarding and a little bizarre to see Nashville’s star rise so rapidly, but it’s definitely easier to impress out-of-towners with our big city–style amenities— coupled with downhome charm, of course. If you decide to take a jaunt down to Music City, here are just a few of the highlights.

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Whoa, Austin. I was not prepared for your awesomeness. Even after a day of Pinterest-scouring, getting recommendations from friends and obsessively mapping out every detail (including Plans B and C for things to do, if our A-game didn’t work out), Austin surpassed my expectations in every way.

Austin, I think I love you. Mean it.

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In our second installment of Frontiers, blogger Meghan R. Rose lets us tag along on her trip to New Orleans (AKA NOLA), where she takes in all the city has to offer, from beignets to voodoo museums.

Frontiers: New Orleans, LA

For the last months of 2014, my man and I had been planning a trip to New Orleans for my birthday in January. We were on all the travel sites, Pinterest, YouTube, everything, before we decided on staying at the Hotel St. Marie, right in the heart of the French Quarter. It was built in the 1860s and had additions in the mid-1960s, and American Horror Story fans may recognize it from the Coven storyline.

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