California

San FranciscoItinerary· The Tipsy Pig restaurant and bar· China town · Pier 39· Fisherman's wharf· Golden gate bridge· Mr. Homes Bakehouse· Sutro baths· Cliff house for meal· Full house house· Painted ladies· Lombard street- most crooked street in the worldTips· Hotels near airport have shuttles to and from airport· Uber is incredible in the bay area as most people do not have cars· Be prepared to see or not see the Golden Gate bridge based on visibility

My Reflection 5/22/18

San Francisco, the bay area that everyone knows as the place Frank Sinatra left his heart, has always had a fond place in my heart. I returned to the area after years apart, yet everything felt very familiar. This place always brings a nostalgic feeling each time I am there, as if I am Princess Mia roaming the streets or a member of the Tanner family, about to run into Kimmy Gibbler living next door. Maybe it is because I can connect my childhood with this city that I feel a strong connection to each place. Regardless of the nostalgia, it is a beautiful and quirky destination that only invites you in more with each stop you make. Perhaps I left my heart in San Francisco, too.

Los Angeles ItineraryLACMA lights fieldGlobal Angel wings projectBumsan Organic Milk BarThe BroadThe Last Book StoreGrand Central MarketDisney Concert HallHoneymeeThe HatHow to Get Away with Murder house/ USCNewport BeachLake Hollywood Park on Canyon Drive near the Hollywood signUniversals StudioDisneylandWarner Brothers Studio Tours

My Reflection 2/12-2/19

My mom grew up in a suburb of Los Angeles before moving to Chicago when she was 22. Ever since I was able to fly we have been making trips to La Habra and Brea to visit Grandma and my moms family and friends. I could go on for days about the connection I have with my grandmother and the reason I will never turn down a trip to LA because of that reason, but for this blog I will keep to the details of my trip. Usually my family stays in the Suburbs when we visit, only straying from the small towns for trips to the beach or Disneyland excursions, but this time I traveled ahead of my parents to explore downtown LA since it has been something I have wanted to do for some time. I stayed with my friend Chiara, who I met in high school, for two days while I explored Los Angeles as she is a student at USC right outside of the downtown area. I arrived to the city during a much needed rainy season for the area with temperatures ranging from the high 50's to the low 40's. It was not the warmth I was hoping to encounter, however coming from a recent polar vortex in Chicago with temps reaching negative 50 with the windchill, it was a nice escape. The first night when I arrived, my friend and I took an uber to Bumsan Organic Milk Bar to enjoy the most boujee ice cream around, and it was well worth it. The sun came out to greet me on my third day in town and I pretty much refused to be inside, as most Chicagoans in the winter season would. My friend and I made our way to LACMA for a quick photo shoot in the rain at the outdoor light field which is an LA staple. We continued on to the Global Angel Wings project to admire the mural and embrace our inner earth angels, then eventually made our way to the Broad where we encountered pop art and well known pieces such as Andy Warhol's -Marilyns, self portraits, Campbell Soup Can, as well as Yayoi Kusama's infinity room, Roy Lichtenstein's pop art and The Broad's newly infamous balloon animals. We had lunch at Grand Central Market which is a booming food market in the heart of DTLA. I enjoyed a stroll alone after my friend made her way back to her apartment, I stopped at the Disney Concert Hall and took in the familiarity of the architecture which can be found in Chicago at Millennium Park as well. Before leaving my friends block, I was sure to snap a quick photo of Annaliese Keating's home from How to Get Away with Murder, 1130 W 27th Street right outside of the USC campus. My family and I had lunch at The Hat, a must visit for the best pastrami and gravy fries on the planet. We made our way to NewPort beach the next morning with family friends and enjoyed the sunshine on walks at the park and a hike in Fullerton California. I am looking forward to visiting Hollywood park, Universals, Warner Bros, southern California, and Yosemite in the future.
Overall, California is always a pleasure and I can't wait to explore more in my adulthood. I would definitely recommend being with a friend or two in DTLA and exploring more in the suburbs for less crowded and dirty scenery. Always be aware of your surroundings in DTLA and make sure you are being smart wherever you go.

ItineraryStay at The Pearl in Point LomaOcean BeachSunset Cliffs Natural ParkLa JollaBalboa ParkZooBotanical Gardens

My reflection 4/20/19

San Diego is the epitome of Southern California laid back living. There is absolutely nothing about this place that does not showcase the surf life of California. If you have not seen the Californians skits from SNL you should watch it before heading to San Diego because it just makes sense. This trip was the perfect spot for a two day getaway that you wish was longer. Sunshine, sand, waves, and some pretty great tacos at El Camino, all worth the trip. This is a place in the states I would recommend people embrace entirely and hang back to enjoy.

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