The best way to learn about a new city is to join a tour, and if you are a foody, then a tasting tour is a must.
After some research, I decided to go with Taste Santa Barbara Food Tours. They offer two food tours in the Santa Barbara area with the option to make it a private tour.
We decided to go with the private tour for two due to Covid and to customize our tastings.
New York City has been described as the cultural, financial, and media capital of the world. It has a significant influence on commerce, entertainment, research, technology, education, politics, tourism, dining, art, fashion, and sports.
It is also the most photographed city in the world and home to the headquarters of the United Nations.
Some even go as far as labeling it the capital of the world.
With its densely packed population, especially on the tiny island of Manhattan, you would think it is a place to avoid – and I did avoid it for a very long time.
I finally broke down and spent a few days in this magnificent city, and I am glad I did.
Every time I go to Vegas I see new construction going on. New mega-resorts pop up every few months. So there is no shortage of places to stay. You just need to pick the right place for you based on location, taste and budget.
If you are on a budget and you really want to save on accommodations, then venture outside the strip for great deals. You can try Rio; Hard Rock; LVH; Palace Station and Red Rock. Some of them go as low as $20 a night.
Rio All-Suites Resort is a very good choice.
If you insist on being on the strip, you still can find some bargains at hotels like Luxor; Excalibur; Planet Hollywood; Stratosphere, and Tropicana.
I always like to stay at Luxor. I love the Egyptian decor and the slanted elevators.
If you like to stay in luxury, you must try the Venetian, Bellagio, and Wynn to name a few.
I recently stayed at the Venetian and loved every minute of my stay. See the review here.
I love the feeling of flying over a forest canopy while admiring the nature around me.
Well, I wasn’t exactly flying, but sitting in a harness and sliding on a long zipline is close enough.
And I wasn’t admiring nature too much as it was zipping under me way too fast, but I still loved every minute.
While visiting Denver, I decided to go on this zipline adventure with Denver Adventure and chose the 6-zipline adventure with a media package.
This tour company offers Colorado’s longest and fastest ziplines ranging from 850ft to over 1,900ft long, with speeds up to 60mph and up to 250ft above the ground!
The ziplines are located in a beautiful nature park nestled in the Rocky Mountains, only 30 minutes from Denver.
I stayed at Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn on several occasions and loved every stay.
The location is a little isolated from the main attractions, but it is a beautiful resort with many activities and entertainment options.
If you stay here, you should plan on spending most of your time at the hotel and the surrounding area.
The District is a large open-air mall with many shops, restaurants, and entertainment options.
How large, you ask? The mall covers comprise a million square feet and cross several streets.
It is an excellent place for OC residents to get their shopping done or enjoy a night out – or do both on the same day.
When visiting San Diego, I always return to this waterfront Marriott resort for comfort and amenities.
The hotel is a short walk away from the Gaslamp Quarter, Convention Center, Seaport Village, and excellent waterfront dining and destinations.
The most important part of a hotel is the rooms, and they don't disappoint. The beds are comfortable with a couch and a desk, and the bathroom is well-appointed with fluffy towels, the TV is excellent, a coffee maker, a fridge, and the WiFi is dependable. What more can you ask for.
Texas is the largest state in the contiguous U.S. and was an independent republic for a short while before joining the union.
They say everything is bigger in Texas. We experienced it firsthand as we crossed this huge state. It took us 2-days to cross, and along the way, we saw megacities like El Paso, San Antonio, and Houston.
Interesting facts: Texas had 6 flags over the years — those of Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the United States, and the Confederacy—which inspired the name of the Six Flags amusement park chain.
So, what things are actually bigger in Texas – other than the Texan egos?