For those of you who don’t know, Paris is my favourite city in the world. Michael, my partner of over eight years, and I sparked our flame in Paris on a school trip, we celebrated our first anniversary by taking our first trip away together to Paris, we lived there for a year shortly after graduating from uni and we have been back every year since moving back to England. In holds a very special place in my heart and all things considered I know Paris better than my closest city at home.
For that reason I decided to make an itinerary for you that covers all of the popular sights over a long weekend. A trip that any first timer to the city of love can make to experience everything they’ve seen in the movies, one that a budding Instagrammer can do to shoot all the best locations for their feed, a historian or artist can take to enrich their cultural admiration of the city, or a long time lover of gay Paris can make just to enjoy the art of being a flaneur (the French name given to person who saunters around observing society).
Day 1
Watch the sunrise from Trocadéro
Eiffel Tower
Walk along Avenue de New York
Avenue Montaigne
Champs Élysées
Arc de Triomphe
Ladurée
Place de la Concorde
Jardin Tuileries
Pyramide du Louvre (Le Café Marly)
Le Louvre
Day 2
Opéra
Galleries Lafayette
Jardin du Palais Royal
Rue de Rivoli (shopping)
Notre-Dame
Walk along the Seine (Rive Gauche)
Eat in the Latin Quarter
Day 3
Montmartre
Sacré Coeur
Place du Tertre
La Maison Rose
Moulin Rouge
Day 4
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Catacombs
Montparnasse Tower
Rodin Museum
Les Invalides
Napoléon’s tomb
Pont Alexandre III
Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel)
The Iron Lady is undoubtedly one of the most iconic structures in the world. After two years of construction, she was built to commemorate the French Revolution but was only meant to last 20 years, after which she would be pulled down. Luckily the addition of a wireless telegraph transmitter is what saved her and now she’s welcomed over 250 million paying visitors (figures given in 2017), making it the most visited paid-for monument in the world.
You can buy your tickets for the Eiffel Tower here and they cost as follows
Ticket with lift access to second floor:
Adult: €16.30
Youth (12yrs – 24yrs): €8.10
Child (4yrs – 11yrs) and for people with a disability: €4.10
Children under the age of 4yrs go free.
Ticket with lift access to the top:
Adult: €25.50
Youth (12yrs – 24yrs): €12.70
Child (4yrs – 11yrs) and for people with a disability: €6.40
Children under the age of 4yrs go free.
Ticket with stair access to second floor:
Adult: €10.20
Youth (12yrs – 24yrs): €5.10
Child (4yrs – 11yrs) and for people with a disability: €2.50
Children under the age of 4yrs go free.
Ticket with stair access to second floor and lift access to the top:
Adult: €19.40
Youth (12yrs – 24yrs): €9.70
Child (4yrs – 11yrs) and for people with a disability: €4.90
Children under the age of 4yrs go free.
Opening times
14th June – 31st August by lift: 9am – 12.45am
14th June – 31st August by stairs: 9am – 12.45am
1st September – 13th June by lift: 9.30am – 11.45pm
1st September – 13th June by stairs: 9.30pm – 6.30pm
The Eiffel Tower is lit up from sunset until 1am in winter and 2am in summer. She will sparkle for 5mins every hour on the hour.
Of the nine years I have been going to and from Paris, my absolute favourite time to see the Eiffel Tower is at sunrise from Trocadéro. For more information on how to get here, see PFH’s 10 best Instagrammable places in Paris.
Avenue de New York
For a gentle stroll and charming views of the Eiffel Tower from across the river, take a walk along the Seine down Avenue de New York.
Avenue Montaigne
Take Avenue Montaigne to the Champs Élysées from Avenue de New York and drool at all of the haute couture shops because you’ll pass each and every one you can imagine, including the very famous facades of Plaza Athénée and the House of Dior. Both are featured in the final few episodes of Sex and the City, when Carrie moves to Paris. The avenue is particularly breathtaking with its Christmas lights lit up at dark.
Champs Élysées
It’s the most famous street in Paris and it will take you all the way from the Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre.
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is a monument that was erected in the 1800s to commemorate the armies of the Revolution and the Empire. It also serves as one of the craziest roundabouts as it connects to 12 roads. For this reason, if you want to take photos of the whole thing it’s easier to take them from afar and not from the roundabout because you won’t be able to step back far enough.
It is possible to buy tickets to go up to the top for the view but honestly you’re better off just taking photos and getting on with your day.
Ladurée
Though I am yet to try all of the macarons in Paris, out of the ones I have, Ladurée’s are the very best, which is why they have popped up all across the world in places such as London, Los Angeles and Dubai. The service at Ladurée is exquisite but the seasonal flavours of the macrons is better yet. Take them to go, buy them as gifts in delicate display boxes or sit in and maybe even try something a little more elaborate. You won’t be disappointed.
Jardin Tuileries
I spent so many sunny days in this park when I was living in Paris. It’s perfect in all four seasons to stroll through, sit by the water features or have a picnic. It will take you all the way up to the Louvre.
Last year the Christmas market was relocated from the Champs Elysées to Jardin Tuileries. It also hosts the annual summer funfair.
Pyramid du Louvre (Le Café Marly)
Pei’s Pyramids serve as a functional work of art as they are also one of the entrances to the Louvre. For more information about them take a look at PFH’s 10 best Instagrammable places in Paris.
Don’t forget to take your classic tourist snap of yourself pinching the tip of the pyramids or be a bit more creative by lining them up behind each other.
Le Louvre
The Musée de Louvre is the world’s biggest art museum and is home to some of the world’s most recognised pieces of art such as Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Delacroix’s Liberty leading the people and of course, Pei’s pyramids. There is so much to see in the Louvre that each of the three wings, Sully, Denon and Richelieu, require at least a day to explore so if you are strapped for time I suggest you plan ahead.
Ticket costs
€17 if purchased online in advance (you get to skip the general admission ticket queue)
€15 if purchased at the museum
Children under the age of 18 go free
Europeans aged 18yrs – 25yrs go free with proof of ID
Opening times
Monday: 9am – 6pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 9am – 9.45am
Thursday: 9am – 6pm
Friday: 9am – 9.45pm
Saturdays and Sundays: 9am – 6pm
The first Saturday of each month is free and open 9am – 9.45pm
PFH Top Tip: To avoid the queues at the Pyramid entrance, try using the one in the shopping centre, Carrousel du Louvre.
Opéra and Galleries Lafayette
The opera house of Paris is a very grand building and is very close to Galleries Lafayette, the most beautiful department store in Paris with its ornate dome. Galleries Lafayette is particularly worth a visit at Christmas when the giant tree is suspended from the dome.
Jardin du Palais Royal
Tucked away a few streets behind Rue du Rivoli are the beautiful grounds of Jardin du Palais Royal. The neoclassical palace built in 1633 is now home to the French Council of State. However, the gardens and surrounding shopping arcade are open to the public, and a lovely way to spend a lazy afternoon. It’s also home to the black and white striped platforms better know as Les Deux Plateaux but also known as Colonnes de Buren.
Opening times
October – March: 8am – 8.30pm
April – September: 8am – 10.30pm
Notre-Dame
Who else ran around the house with a doll wrapped in a blanket, banging on the door yelling “sanctuary” as a child after seeing Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame? Just me? Ok. Thanks to that film, every time I see the real thing, it brings a tear to my eye. To think that this magnificent cathedral took 100 years to build and is still functioning at 856 years old is MIND BLOWING!
I spent many days seeking sanctuary in Notre Dame when I was living in Paris. Remember when I referenced Carrie Bradshaw’s days in Paris earlier? Well a lot of mine were like hers in the beginning; Michael worked all hours, I hadn’t made any friends yet, my French was minimal and at that time Paris just wasn’t as romantic and whimsical as I had first thought. So I spent many rainy days sitting in Notre Dame and Sacré Coeur because they were peaceful and although no one approached me, I felt like I wasn’t alone. Poor sad little me (don’t worry it did get better for me once I got a job), anyway, my point is it’s a wonderful place and worth a visit no matter what your reason is.
Ticket costs
To enter is free but if you wish to walk up the steps to the belfry the tickets cost:
Adult: €10
€8 for Europeans aged 18yrs – 25yrs with proof of ID
Children under the age of 18yrs go free
Heads up there are 387 stairs up which you also have to take down, and as amazing as the view was, my legs were jelly climbing them so, I really only recommend you do this if you have good health.
Opening times
Open everyday from 7.45am – 6.45pm (7.15pm on weekends)
Montmartre
Montmartre was formerly the artists’ village that was home to multiple windmills, vineyards and the likes of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. The winding streets never lost their artistic charm and there is so much to see up the hill that Sacré Coeur sits on top of. I’ve listed a few of the things worth seeing in Montmartre below.
PFH Top Tip: Montmartre has the highest concentration of souvenir shops, all of which are competing with each other’s prices. Save your souvenir shopping for when you get here.
Sacré Coeur
The Basilica of Sacré Coeur stands proud at the summit of Montmartre, and as it’s the highest point in Paris, its steps offer sweeping views of the city of Paris. It took 61 years to construct opening in 1919, and is now one of the most visited monuments in Paris.
Entrance to Sacré Coeur is free.
Open Times
Daily 6am – 10.30pm
PFH Top Tip: Watch out for men who are carrying coloured strings in their hands at the base of the steps up to Sacré Coeur. They are trying to catch tourists so you get stuck as they make you a bracelet and force you to pay them money for it. They are aggressive and I’ve seen a lot of people get trapped by them. Just pretend like you cant hear or see them and keep walking fast until you reach the steps.
Place du Tertre
Place du Tertre is the artist square located at the back of Sacré Coeur. The square is surrounded by cafés and restaurants all with terraces that look out to the artists who have gathered to sell their paintings. It’s a nice place to stop for a coffee.
La Maison Rose
This picture perfect restaurant has been documented all the way through the evolution of capturing an image. It was first made famous in Maurice Utrillo’s paintings and now it can be seen all over Instagram!
Before realising it was such an Instaworthy spot, it’s one of the many places I spent summer evenings dining with friends, out on their terrace. Bittersweet memories mind you; as a young Brit I ordered my steak medium and it came out with more blood than a Tarantino movie.
Stop for a coffee, a meal, or just for a cute photo op, but know that they don’t appreciate loitering photographers. The streets around this restaurant are particularly photogenic though.
Moulin Rouge
Another landmark in Paris that gets me all emosh after yet another fictional film is the Moulin Rouge. The Moulin Rouge has had a rich history as it has transformed into a cabaret, theatre, dance club, cinema and music hall.
In my 7th year of returning to Paris I finally got to go to a Feerie show at the Moulin Rouge. It’s an interesting experience to say the least! Firstly I dressed UP and was very disappointed to see many people wearing hoodies and jeans, the show itself featuring the girls dancing the cancan is incredible though! The music, costumes and routines are dazzling, but then the, I guess I can only describe it as the half-time show as they didn’t break like a matinee, was filled with some very bizarre acts. How so? Well, one of them featured a man repeatedly spitting out ping pong balls which he then juggled… Yes, not my cup of tea. Despite that, I am very grateful to have finally seen the girls of the Moulin Rouge throw their legs up to the clouds in perfect unison in very glamorous costumes!
Ticket costs vary depending on date and time so check here in advance to your trip.
Of course if you don’t fancy it or can’t go to a show, you can just pay the windmill a visit from the street. It’s better to visit in the daytime for photos but it’s particularly wonderful at night when it’s all lit up.
The gift shop, should you wish to go, is located around the corner up Rue Lepic.
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Cimetière Père Lachaise is the largest cemetery in Paris and is the final resting place of many famous people such as Frédéric Chopin, Molière, Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf and Oscar Wilde.
Opening times
Daily 8am – 6pm.
Catacombs
The catacombs is the underground network of ossuaries. I have been trying to go to the catacombs for years and for some reason the universe has put something in the way of it every dang time! Last year it was the yellow jacket riots that closed down central Paris for many weekends. Although I can’t give my personal account on a trip down into the catacombs, I am still eager to go one day, so I definitely recommend a visit if you can go.
Ticket costs
Adult with audio guide: €29
Adult without audio guide: €13
Child aged 4yrs – 17yrs: €4
Children under the age of 4yrs go free
Opening times
Tuesday – Sunday: 10am – 8.30pm
Closed on Mondays and certain holidays (but they’re never posted on the website so check in advance to the date you are planning to visit).
Montparnasse Tower
The best views of the city are from Tour Montparnasse – you know how everyone says the view of NYC is better from the Rockefeller Centre because then you can see the Empire State Building? Well it’s the same with Tour Montparnasse because you can see the Eiffel Tower.
Ticket costs
Adult: €18
Student: €15
Child aged 4yrs – 11yrs: €9.50
Family (2 adults and 2 children aged 12yrs – 17yrs): €64
Family (2 adults and 2 children aged 12yrs – 17yrs): €80
People with a disability: €8.50
Children under the age of 4yrs go free
Opening times
Sunday – Thursday: 9.30am – 10.30pm
Friday – Saturday: 9.30am – 11pm
Rodin Museum
In 1908 Rodin donated his entire life’s work to the French State for it to be displayed within the grounds of Hôtel Biron, his former studio, which was to be known as “Musée Rodin”. It has since been listed a historical monument and is home to some of the world’s most critically acclaimed pieces such as The Kiss, The Thinker and The Gates of Hell.
Ticket costs
€12 for entrance to the museum and sculpture garden
Europeans aged 18yrs – 25yrs go free with proof of ID
Opening times
Tuesday – Sunday: 10am – 6.30pm
Closed on Mondays, 1st January, 1st May and 25th December
Les Invalides and Napoléon’s tomb
The Hôtel des Ivalides was built in 1670 to provide a home and hospital care to wounded soldiers. In 1840 the dome at the end was commissioned to house Napoleon Bonaparte’s tomb which can still be visited today.
These days, Les Invalides is now home to one of the biggest military museums in the world, Musée de l’Armée.
Ticket costs
Adult: €12
Children under the age of 18yrs go free
Europeans aged 18yrs – 25yrs go free with proof of ID
Opening times
1st April – 31st October: 10am – 6pm
1st November – 31st March: 10am – 5pm
Closed 1st Jan, 1st May and 25th December
Pont Alexandre III
As you’re strolling back to wherever you want to end your day, take a walk across Pont Alexandre III bridge. It’s very pretty when it’s lit up in the evening and it offers views of the Eiffel Tower.
This itinerary contains a lot more things to do than the average person would whilst visiting Paris, but I’ve suggested them all so you can pick and choose what you want to do based on your interest in visiting Paris, whether it is romantic, educational, artistic etc.
For more on Paris take a look at the following blog posts:
One of the greatest things to come out of America is ring shaped donuts, boy do they do it well. In my quest to create this blog post I have eaten my body weight in donuts to find the very best ones to recommend to you. The weight gain is real, as is the breakout on my forehead but it’s been worth it just this one time to bring you the best donuts in L.A.
1. Bob’s Doughnuts and Coffee
I first visited in L.A. during the summer of 2016 and it was then that I found Bob’s Doughnuts and Coffee in the Farmer’s Market next to The Grove. Every time I come back, going to get a sugar raised donut from Bob’s is pretty much the first thing I do. I don’t have a very strong sweet tooth so I keep it fairly simple with the sugar raised ring, but Bob’s one is by far my favourite donut in the whole world! It’s so light I can and have eaten more than one in a row.
Michael on the other hand has the biggest sweet tooth and he is gaga for their maple bacon bars which we actually recommended to the person behind us in the queue and they agreed that it was the best one they have ever had.
Park in the Farmer’s Market parking lot and get your parking comped at Bob’s.
PFH Top Tip: They only take cash.
Where?
6333 W 3rd St #450, Los Angeles, CA 90036 – Farmer’s Market
My dear friend Kim, @kimhashai, took me to SK Donuts & Croissants whilst I was staying with her and thank goodness she did!
I was too full to eat the one I purchased on the day so I ate it for breakfast the next day and I don’t think I’ve ever had a donut the day after and it taste so fresh! The chocolate melted in my mouth and the dough was so light.
Arrive Early to get the best choice and you won’t be disappointed.
If you have a really sweet tooth, go for any of the S’mores, Reece’s PB cups or Oreo Blast donuts. They also have a huge selection of Vegan donuts and are also well known for their Cronuts and Skronuts, in the following flavours: strawberry, chocolate, maple bacon, glazed and blueberry.
I both praise and blame my friend Hannah, @hannah.rose.says, for introducing me to a complete donut revelation! Krispy Kreme came to England in 2003 but I always knew it to be all about custard filled donuts, along with all the other outrageously filled and topped donuts. I never knew what they are actually famous for and honestly I can’t decide if I am happy or not, because to say they’re addictive is an understatement!
What am I talking about? Two words “HOT DOUGHNUTS”! Krispy Kreme’s Original Glazed doughnuts hot and fresh off the production line are out of this world! Be prepared for a queue but it will be worth it! If you queue inside you’ll get to see the whole production line from start to finish including the wall of glaze, plus you get rewarded for the long wait with a “free sample” which is actually just the freshest hot Original Glazed doughnut you’ll ever have. If you don’t fancy being on your feet though you can join the drive through. I dare you not to get a dozen of those hot babies though, hot or cold, they will melt in your mouth and leave you wanting more!
Unlike the others above, Blue Star is more of an artisanal donut shop. They have a very select menu with only one of each flavour displayed behind a small glass counter. Don’t expect to find your classic chocolate donut here, oh no, you’re looking at Chocolate Almond Ganache and Mexican Hot Chocolate. Each creation is a wild ride of flavours with the likes of Orange Olive Oil or Passion Fruit and Cacao Nibs.
DK’s Donuts is probably one of my favourites for the brightest and most fun donuts. As I mentioned, I don’t have a big sweet tooth but I was tempted by almost all of them because they looked so fantastic! Unicorns, rainbows, red velvet, s’mores, Snickers, peanut butter, fruit loops… I could go on and on! They all looked incredible! I could only take a few bites out of my Rice Cripsy donut which was glazed and topped with Nutella and chunks of Rice Crispy treats, but boy was it good!
Sidecar probably had the most elaborate flavours of doughnuts I’ve ever seen! I mean have you ever heard of a Basil Eggs Benedict doughnut? Fancy! Their donuts are dense and almost a meal in theirselves, go with an empty stomach.
Their doughnuts change seasonally and the theme when we went (March 2019) was Girl Scout Cookies so they had Thin Mint which was chocolate topped with a chocolate glaze, a mint cream and fresh mint leaves, the Samoa – which is probably the heaviest doughnut I have ever held – is coconut flavoured which has been topped with a coconut glaze and a chocolate and caramel drizzle which has then been smothered in toasted coconut and their Rosemary Lemon Drop is something from another planet I swear! It’s glazed with a rosemary honey, filled with a lemon curd, sprinkled with a rosemary and pink peppercorn crumble and topped with a sprig of rosemary! INSANE!
Excursions are such a great way to experience more of the country you’re visiting. Many require some planning and preparation, especially if you’re spending the day doing something particularly active. I’ve been on many excursions, tours and day trips, heck, my last trip had eight alone! I use this list as a starting point every time to pack the night before, so here it is for you to use. With this thorough list, you will be ready for whatever the day holds.
General
Backpack
Pretty obvious I know, but I did say it was thorough! It doesn’t have to be a backpack but I strongly suggest it is. After years of not using one because, well, you know: fashion, I can say a backpack is your best option. It distributes the weight evenly and it provides the space you’ll need for the items below.
Money
Souvenirs, tips, drinks, food, rentals – there could be any number of extra costs, some hidden, some not, keep some cash and a card to hand just in case.
Camera
To document your day of course!
Phone
Duhhh…
Phone charger
Chances are it’s going to be a long day and whatever you’re doing is undoubtedly going to be well documented on your phone. Don’t get caught out with a flat battery, bring your charging cable and a pre charged power bank.
Food
Water
STAY HYDRATED – she says for the gazillionth time!
Prevent single use plastic waste by filling a reusable water bottle. Most hotels have water dispensers in the lobby, you can ask coffee shops and restaurants to fill it or you can use a water fountain. I take my water bottle out almost everywhere I go (even the supermarket) and the only time I can recall having issues filling it was boarding my flight home from Singapore: the final security check is as you board the plane so you can’t take any liquids over 100ml on. I just had the flight attendant fill up my bottle on board to prevent using a plastic cup.
Snacks
Excursions usually involve you being active so keep those energy levels up with snacks.
I usually pack up quinoa/cereal bars, fruit and beef jerky.
Breakfast/lunch/dinner
The food you pack will be dependent on what time you’re setting off, how long you’ll be out, where you’re going and what’s included.
If I’m heading out before 10am I’ll pack up cereal bars for breakfast.
If lunch or dinner isn’t included on my tour or I’m not intending to eat out I will pack up sandwiches, crisps (potato chips for my American readers) and fruit and pop them into my travel cool bag to keep them fresh.
PFH Top Tip: Use beeswax wraps and reusable cutlery to prevent plastic waste.
Sun protection
Sun cream
Be ultra prepared with sun cream for your body and face. I always travel with SPF 15 and 30 and 50 if we are going somewhere exceptionally hot.
I swear by Hawaiian Tropic for the following reasons:
It is “reef safe” which means it doesn’t contain oxybenzone and octinoxate which are harmful to coral reefs. When worn on humans they convert harmful UV rays to safe heat on our skin, but when they wash off into the water, they have the complete opposite effect on corals. Instead it strips them of the layer that protects them from bleaching under the sun.
It’s moisturising as well as protective, so it has a better chance of preventing your skin from drying out under the sun. I don’t apply suncream on my hands as often as I should and they always dry out the most!
It smells so good! It will take you to a tropical paradise wherever you are.
Sun hat
Nobody wants a sore, itchy and burnt head, plus it will shield you eyes from the sun and even cover up a bad hair day!
Sunglasses
Protect your eyes and see better with a pair of sunnies to hand.
Clothing
A change of clothes
Based on what you’re doing, make sure your outfit is appropriate and well equipped.
If you are going in the water bring swimwear, flip flops, a cover up and a change of clothes for afterwards should you not have time to dry. Don’t forget underwear if you started in your swimsuit and you don’t want a damp bum!
If you are hiking, make sure you have sports socks, durable footwear and moisture-wicking clothes.
If you are going somewhere where you are likely to get wet, I’m not talking swimming, I mean waterfalls, rainforests, snow etc., bring some waterproof over-trousers and a rain jacket.
Health and beauty
Makeup
It’s not really practical, or comfortable for that matter, to wear a full face of makeup whilst you’re either somewhere hot or doing something active. To make me feel a little better about my bare face I bring a few minimal products that lift my face but also won’t irritate my skin in the sun or water.
These products are:
Concealer. I have to be honest, I am embarrassed of my tired eyes (the life of travel and working for yourself) so I am rarely seen without concealer under my eyes. If I look tired and like I’m not wearing it then give me a heads up because I obviously need to buy a better one!
Tinted eyebrow gels – it will fill in, colour and shape them with little effort.
Lip tint – unlike lipstick, it won’t rub off and unlike lipgloss, your hair won’t get stuck in it (if you have longer hair). I always wear this if I’m doing a water based activity because it brightens my face without being too extra.
If I need a little extra help, I will bring my Charlotte Tilbury 5 minute palette. It has three eyeshadows, two blushers, highlighter and contour all in one compact palette with a mirror to see where you’re applying what.
Hand sanitiser
If you’re planning on eating keep some on you just incase you touched something nasty.
Hair tie
If you have long hair and you’ve got an active day ahead, it’s best to have the option to keep your hair out of your face.
PFH Top Tip: If you are prone to frizz and you’re going to be getting your hair wet, pack a headscarf that you can tie around your hairline to keep that frizz in check.
Bug spray
Always be prepared with bug spray. It amazes me how you can visit two areas of a country and go from a mosquito-free paradise to bug buffet central. In Mexico we spent 11 days in and around Cancún without the need for bug spray but 10 minutes (no exaggeration) in Tulum and I had collected seven mosquito bites. Even on my latest trip, out of my 16 nights in Hawaii on two different islands, 15 were bite free but the one day we drove to Hana, I was a mere 30 seconds late putting on bug spray and I now have six mosquito bites from my butt down to my ankles – if you catch me wiggling in my seat at any moment in the next week, that’s me trying to scratch my butt bites inconspicuously.
I can hear my Mum’s voice in the back of my head telling me “don’t scratch or they’ll scar” and she’s not wrong. I have a cluster of old mozzie bite scars on my shoulder that supports her. So on that note, also pack some cream/ointment for itch relief. I use either calamine lotion or Lucas Paw Paw.
Lip balm
A change in climate can cause chapped lips, especially if you’re prone to that. If you’re going out to sea the salty air and water will cause them to prune and if you’re spending the day in the sun they are likely to dry out and possibly burn. Try to use one with SPF if you’re going to be out in the sun.
Water-based activities
Snorkel and goggles
Pretty much all snorkel tours will provide you with snorkel gear, some even let you keep it! Thanks to our snorkel tour with Aquaworld Cancún, we now have our own snorkels. I always travel with my goggles because I cannot open my eyes under water without wailing in discomfort. Of course snorkel goggles are better, but they’re bulky and I’m trying to save space.
Swimsuit
Yes, I know, obvious, but you don’t want to forget it, so it’s on the list. Plus if you’re like me and want multiple photo opportunities, you’ll want options.
PFH Top Tip: Do your research for the area you’re swimming. Some reefs are cold even in summer so think about wearing a surf suit or bringing a rash guard. If you’re surfing for the first time, check your company provides them, if not you’ll want one because my legs still have a board rash nine days later, God only knows what my top half would look like without a rashy.
Towel
Packing a microfibre towel is a game changer! They’re compact so they take up absolute minimal space compared to the days where you’d be stuffing in a borrowed hotel towel. You can also wear them as a sarong and bonus, they dry really quickly!
Dry bag
For keeping things dry on the boat and putting the wet stuff in when you’re done! This was one of the best travel gifts I have been given. I use it on pretty much every trip.
Waterproof camera/phone case
I picked up one of those waterproof phone pouches in Maui so I could record the whales singing, it cost about $20 but I’ve found one on Amazon that will do the same thing for much less. We actually have an underwater camera case if we’re doing a more professional shoot, but this one is so handy for just taking out to sea to keep my phone at hand and our hotel key card.
It was really useful when we went whale watching because I could keep my phone dry on the way out so it was ready to use when we stopped.
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Of course this packing guide is quite extensive and covers a variety of activities, so just adapt it to whatever you’ll need. I use it every evening before an excursion to make sure I don’t leave anything important behind.
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Aloha, Gabriella
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For those of you who don’t know, I’m Gabriella Wisdom, creator of this here; Postcards from Hawaii, a travel blog for the organised and environmentally conscious traveller.
Today, 22nd February 2019, I am celebrating the first anniversary of Postcards from Hawaii! To commemorate this I have decided to create a blog post that shares all the ways that travel has change me.
Despite travelling my entire life – I’m not exaggerating here, I literally mean my entire life, I’ve been travelling since I was still cooking in my mummy’s tummy – it still changes me for the better with every trip I go on. Travelling around the world, has made me a better person inside and out.
Health
During 2014-15 I was living and working in London. I was the Meetings and Events Coordinator at a quirky 4 star hotel in west London. You’ve probably heard bloggers from all around the world say how they were working in the corporate world before embarking on their self-employed adventure, and I think there’s really something to be said about that. It was no secret that I wasn’t enjoying all aspects of my job. I loved the planning and organising side of things but I was terrible with all things sales and figures related. I really wanted to be good at my job, I would spend most evenings working in the office two hours longer than I required just to get a handle on things but every morning and night, as I rode the Central line from one side of London to the other (oh yes, the Central line!) I dreamed of getting out and seeing the world.
As a result of over exerting myself, sucking at my job, long commutes and little time or desire to cook when I eventually got home I ended up eating my sorrows. In the 12 months I was living in London I gained 19lbs! I spent many weekends sitting on the floor of my wardrobe crying because nothing fit me.
After leaving London and moving back to Norfolk, Michael and I decided to go on a round the world trip* that we mapped out ourselves to cover seven countries over 16 weeks departing May 2016. It was upon booking this trip late 2015 that I decided I needed to get into shape. I started going to the gym regularly for the first in my life and I hired a personal trainer which combined with a healthy diet that removed the endless takeaways, frozen pizzas, chips, McDonalds and whatever else that should be eaten in moderation but wasn’t from my daily consumption. Within 6 months I Iost those 19lbs, became the fittest I had been up to that point, gained confidence over my body and felt amazing!
Of course my weight bounces around a few pounds now and then because it’s hard to keep a steady exercise routine whilst on the go, but a life of travel has continued to inspire me to stay fit and healthy. Whilst I’m away on a trip I make good use of hotel gyms and exercises routines that I can do in my room and I am careful not to overeat, and when I’m at home I have a pretty packed gym schedule. In the last three years I have been inspired enough to maintain my weight loss whilst enjoying the food I want to in moderation.
Travel and wanting to be able to partake on active excursions is what gave me the push to look after my body and that is a pretty big deal.
Travel has completely opened my eyes to how much waste there is in the world and the effects that my contributions were having. Seeing real life mounds of discarded single use plastics, videos of animals’ tummies full of plastic and rubbish, animals being harassed for tourists’ amusement and beaches scattered with rubbish – it’s hard to ignore what irresponsible behaviour can lead to. It’s important that we all do our part to stop being so wasteful, to protect our planet from the damage we’ve caused so that future generations of animals and humans don’t suffer by what we’ve done.
You can read some of the ways that you too can help to prevent more waste and to reduce your single use plastics in my previous blog post 7 items to buy to become a more sustainable traveller. I am currently working on a part 2 so keep an eye out for that.
New and improved
Travel has made me want to be a better person. I’ve seen a lot of poverty on my travels which is very humbling and it’s hard not to take a good look at yourself and try to find ways to improve yourself and the impact you have on the world.
This goes hand-in-hand with being environmentally conscious. Over the year that I’ve been blogging my efforts have been:
Donating between 6-12 tins of food in the food shelter donation basket in our local supermarket per month.
Donated a sum of money to Epilepsy Research UK (an organisation which is close to my family’s heart).
Bought a 4ocean bracelet after researching organisations that help to clean up and protect our oceans – who knew that one purchase would lead to one of my biggest opportunities to help do just that by being invited to become a partner.
Donated blood, signed up to be on the bone marrow donor list and I’ve chosen to have my organs donated should the worst happen to me.
Donated to the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to help put a stop to the mass deforestation to farm palm oil.
Donated money Could You Cup to provide menstrual cups to disadvantaged girls to keep them in school.
If there is an opportunity to add money to a purchase that goes towards a charity or buying a bag where the proceeds go to charity, I will do it.
When I’m buying something from Amazon I only shop on Amazon.smile now so that proceeds of my purchases go to one of their select charities.
Spare change goes into charity donation boxes.
Every little thing helps to make a big difference. It’s a satisfying and rewarding feeling to know your money is doing something good.
Of course the other thing I’ve done to help people is blogging itself, I aim to make every blog post helpful for someone’s travels. When I get feedback saying how I’ve helped or even inspired someone, well that’s just one of the greatest feelings!
Food
Despite being half Mauritian and basically growing up in a curry house, I am a little bit of a fuss-pot and I cannot handle spice, like not one bit. The other day when I was in Oahu I was starving and the hot wings I ordered were so hot even Michael rejected them. I ploughed through though, tears streaming down my face, mouth on fire… Boy did I pay for it the next day!
I digress, travelling the world has opened up my tastebuds to a multitude of sensations. I have tried so many things I never imagined I would, dishes I didn’t know existed.
I strongly recommend seeking food outside of your hotel. Granted not all street food is safe, so keep your wits about you, but you can grab a great meal by straying from the beaten path. If eating street food is asking too much, try going to local or independently owned cafés and restaurants. That’s something which is becoming increasingly easier thanks to Instagram, give it a go.
Priorities
To say my priorities had changed would be an understatement! For years I thought I would be married at 26 with a house and looking to get pregnant with the first of three children. Could you imagine?!
I just turned 27 three days ago, I’m not engaged let alone married, I haven’t decided where I want to settle let alone buy a property there and I swear if I get pregnant before my 30s I screwed up real bad with my contraception.
It’s not just the long term plans that changed though. Two years ago we were seriously thinking about getting engaged, one year ago we were looking into buying a house to rent it out, and luckily my cousin made two children for me play with so broody was never an option.
The only thing that stayed the same year in year out, was the desire to travel and see the world.
Ambition
Travel has undoubtedly given me ambition, a driving force to succeed. Before blogging I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do for work. I had previously worked as a waitress for far longer than I should have, an au pair, one of those girls that hand out leaflets in a shopping mall, a meetings and events coordinator (as mentioned above) and a sales assistant. I plodded through life working just so I could travel. I would put huge chunks of my pay checks away into an account dedicated purely to travel.
You see, Michael and I aren’t party people (that sentence right there supports that!) we don’t spend any evenings out drinking, we have very few friends in Norfolk and because we are both self employed we work more than anything else. What I’m trying to say is we don’t really have much of a life outside of travel and work. Is this a complaint though? No. Sure it would be nice if we could work less and earn more – preach, right? – but we work our butts off because we enjoy what we do. For the first time, I really enjoy what I do.
Of course it’s incredibly hard work and entirely time consuming. I am never not working; I am always writing, pitching, researching or shooting. It’s easy for people to think my trips are holidays, I hear it all the time, but right now I’m spending a beautifully sunny day in Maui indoors writing because I have a blog post to put out for you all, I spent all morning shooting for brands and I struggled in the wind to tie up three balloons with an amused audience to create content that will hopefully inspire you to travel or at the very least make you smile.
At the end of the day, I finally harnessed my passion to create a career for myself. Travel blogging is finally something that I wake up excited to continue, stay up working on and put in a lot of overtime for because I enjoy it and it makes me happy. After the jobs I’ve done, I can say it is very important to be happy. I won’t lie, a hefty savings account and Michael’s job are the reason why I’ve been able to go on this journey, it is impossible to go into travel blogging without a decent amount of finances to get you off the ground, the phrase “it takes money to make money” doesn’t go amiss here, travel blogging is a huge investment both financially and into yourself. I can honesty say though, I there is nothing else I would rather be doing at the moment.
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On that note I will wrap this up by saying mahalo for being on this journey with me. I am so grateful for each and every one of you from my dedicated returning readers to my new ones!
I always make a playlist for each destination I’m travelling to. If you haven’t already listened to my other published playlists, click the links below:
I’ve put together 44 hella chill Hawaiian songs into one beautiful playlist.With classics such as Aloha Oe, popular soundtrack listings from Blue Hawaii and The Descendants and a whole bunch of surf themed hits from The Beach Boys, it’s the ultimate Hawaiian playlist.
To save you the hassle of having to put together the perfect Hawaiian playlist I have made the PFH Hawaiian mix tape playlist public on Google Play here and on Spotify here.
If you don’t have access to either of these I’ve listed them down below:
Hawaii, The Beach Boys
Aloha Oe, Elvis Presley
Hawaiian Air, Friendly Fires
Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride, Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu
Blue Hawaii, Elvis Presley
Honolulu, Bing Crosby (not available on Spotify)
Hawaii Five O, The Ventures
Better Together, Jack Johnson
Almost Always True, Elvis Presley
Hawaii, Don Ho
No More, Elvis Presley
Can’t Help Falling in Love, Elvis Presley
Surf City, Jan and Dean
Rock-A-Hula Baby, Elvis Presley
Ke Makani Ka’ili Aloha, Gabby Pahinui
Moonlight Swim, Elvis Presley
He Melo No Lilo, Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu
Ku U-I-Po, Elvis Presley
Over the Rainbow, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Surfers Rule, The Beach Boys
Beach Boy Blues, Elvis Presley
Wipeout, The Surfaris
Slicin’ Sand, Elvis Presley
Banana Pancakes, Jack Johnson
Catch a Wave, The Beach Boys
Aloha Oe (Farewell to Thee), Friday Night at the Movies
It’s no secret that matcha is so hot right now, it’s what everyone is drinking! Aside from its elite status as bloggers’ #1 drink, what are the actual benefits of drinking matcha? Well, organic matcha powder contains high levels of vitamin A, C and K, folic acids, potassium and iron. It helps to improve your immune system, aids weight loss by boosting your metabolism, it’s rich in fibre, lowers cholesterol levels, improves muscular and neurological functions, it works as a natural detox and contributes towards the maintenance of your bones.
Wow, right?! No wonder Chinese Buddhist Monks have been drinking the stuff since the 7th century. That’s 14 centuries of intelligent tea drinking that we are only now getting onboard with because it makes a good photo – it’s a mad world we live in! Anyway, here I am jumping on the bandwagon for you all.
This simple recipe only has three ingredients, which means it’s cheap, easy and quick to make. Plus, just like matcha, the remaining ingredients, orange and lemon/lime juice, are packed full of vitamins A and C and therefore also help with weight loss, digestion and boosting immunity. It’s these ingredients that make matcha taste better too, let’s face it matcha is an acquired taste. So if you like the health benefits of matcha but want to know how to make matcha taste better the additions of vitamin rich ingredients such as lemon, lime and orange will help make matcha more appetising.
The first time I tried matcha was in Tulum, Mexico. It was here that inspired my previous blog post for an Açai smoothie bowl recipe, which you should also check out if you’re interested in getting more fruit into your diet that both looks and tastes great. I digress, so it was at Matcha Mama that I first tried matcha and I hated it! The weather was crazy hot so I thought it was a good idea to order a cold brew matcha… It smelt like the food I used to feed my sea monkeys and if I had ever tried it, I’m pretty sure that’s what matcha tastes like.
So why am I sharing a recipe that has matcha in it? Because I’ve found a way to receive all the health benefits of matcha whilst disguising the taste of it! It’s not unlike hiding your dog’s medicine in their food! Yes I just made that comparison, moving on…
Aside from it being good for you, it’s sure to wake you up! Thanks to its zingy taste it’s going to give your tastebuds a jump start. It’s only little, so you can chase your morning coffee down with it or knock it back in the afternoon for a little pick me up.
The recipe below makes one 100ml shot.
Ingredients
The juice of 1/2 lemon or lime
(Heads up, it’s a real zinger! In experimenting to make this recipe, I tried it with both lemon and lime juice because it’s really tangy. If you don’t mind sour then go for lemon, if your want to take a little of the bitterness out, try lime juice).
90ml orange juice
1tsp matcha green tea powder
Shop the exact matcha powder I use from amazon with the link here.
Equipment
Chopping board
Sharp knife
Citrus juicer
Measuring jug
Small whisk
Teaspoon
Method
1. Slice either the lemon or lime in half.
2. Squeeze the juice from one half using the citrus juicer.
3. Tip the juice into a measuring jug.
4. Measure out 1tsp of matcha powder and tip into the measuring jug.
5. Whisk until both ingredients are combined without lumps. It only takes a minute (girl) – sorry I’ve spent a lot of time with Michael’s Nanny watching Take That videos recently.
6. Top up the mixture to 100ml with orange juice.
7. Give it a quick whisk again to mix together.
8. Pour into a glass to serve if you’re fancy or down it from the jug if no one is watching you. (Someone was watching me).
When you’re done, don’t throw out the lemon rind – waste not, want not! Pop it in your water bottle for the day or in a glass of water. Lemon infused water will help your metabolism throughout the day.
The bracelets featured in this blog post are from 4ocean, for every bracelet bought, one pound of rubbish is pulled from the ocean.
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If you give this a try let me know how it goes. Use the hashtag #postcardsfromhawaiiblog so I can see it!
Enjoy!
Aloha, Gabriella
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*Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but please know that I recommend the product above from personal use.
Before you read this blog post I want to acknowledge that number 9 was originally published as Lost in Translation which I have since removed. I am letting you know this so you too (if you didn’t already know) can recognise the insensitive de-humanisation and frequent mockery of Asian people, specifically Japanese, in this film. Since reflecting on the how the film’s stereotypes are degrading and not actually funny as I once disrespectfully thought, I have decided to remove it as I do not knowingly want to promote a film that is racist.
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I want to share with you my top ten films that have either inspired me to travel to the place they’re set or have lead me to add that destination to my bucket list. I’m keeping it light with the genres covering comedies, rom-coms and musicals (mostly musicals) and taking you from the 1950s through to last year!
I am 100% the type of person who likes to disappear into a film. Second best to travel, it’s my way of escapism. I am drawn into a new world, I invest in characters and I often text Michael telling him I’m going to be a mess for about 30mins after if it was a particularly emotional film. I came home from watching Mary Poppins and I had to sit on my own for about 10mins before I could tell Michael that I enjoyed it without crying about how good it was.
This list shouldn’t provoke too many tears but if they do, they should be happy tears! Alright, I’ll stop talking about crying over made up people and situations and leave you with my top 10 films set around the world to inspire you to travel.
1. Blue Hawaii (1961) – Hawaii
Directed by Norman Taurog.
Staring Elvis Presley, Joan Blackman and Angela Lansbury.
Plot:
After returning home from the Army to Hawaii, Chadwick Gates (Elvis Presley) chooses to work as a tour guide for his girlfriend’s (Joan Blackman) travel agency rather than work at his family’s pineapple plantation. Chad isn’t exactly the most loyal of boyfriends and finds it hard to resist when he catches the eye of many young ladies. Eventually he has a decision to make whilst filling the film with a great soundtrack sang by the King himself.
Trailer published by YouTube Movies.
Filmed in Ohau and Kauai, the scenery in this film will have you longing to hop on a surfboard to ride waves until the sun goes down when you can party the night away at a luau. Not only is this one of my top films to inspire travel, but it’s also one of my favourite films of all time! It’s funny, it perfectly showcases the beauty of Hawaii, the soundtrack is so romantic and it has Elvis! I’m not going to pretend like Chadwick’s infidelity is charming, it’s super questionable actually, but that aside, it’s a lovely film.
PFH Fun Fact: Blue Hawaii was Elvis’ most successful film.
Available to rent on Amazon Prime.
2. Boy (2010) – New Zealand
Directed by Taika Waititi.
Staring James Rolleston, Taika Waititi.
Plot:
Set in the mid-eighties, Boy (James Rolleston), an 11 year old obsessed with Michael Jackson, forms a relationship with his criminal father (Taika Waititi) who returns home to find a bag of money he buried before leaving after the death of Boy’s mother.
Trailer published by FilmBuff Movies.
Boy is a very sweet and comical film with quotes that will have you practicing your New Zealand accent for years to come. The first time I saw Boy was on my first trip to New Zealand so it has a very special place in my heart. Once you’ve watched Boy you must follow it up with Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016), another brilliant New Zealand comedy from Taika Waititi.
PFH Fun Fact: Taika Waititi went on to direct Thor Ragnarok.
Available to rent on Amazon Prime.
3. Come September (1961) – Italy
Directed by Robert Mulligan.
Starring Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin.
Plot:
Every September Robert (Rock Hudson) pays his beautiful Italian lady (Gina Lollobrigida) and his almost as beautiful holiday home a visit. This time he’s a little earlier than expected and his housekeepers are more than a little surprised, as is Robert when he finds out he won’t be home alone.
Trailer published by KayRHvids Cellar.
Come September is a very fun and upbeat film that makes light of old vs young. It has an all star cast and the fashion is beyond dreamy. What’s more, it’s set up in the mountains looking down on the most spectacular views of the Italian coast. The whole movie was filmed in Italy in Cinque Terre, La Spezia, Liguria, Ostia, Rome, Portofino and Liguria. If endless photos of Cinque Terre on Instagram haven’t already persuaded you to travel there, this beautiful film sure will.
PFH Fun Fact: It was on the set of Come September that Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee met and fell in love.
Available to rent on Amazon Prime.
4. La La Land (2016) – Los Angeles
Directed by Damien Chazelle.
Staring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.
Plot:
This contemporary musical love story follows Mia (Emma Stone) and Sebastian’s (Ryan Gosling) romance as they begin as nobodies both trying to succeed in Hollywood, otherwise known as La La Land.
Trailer published by Lionsgate Movies.
The opening scene to La La Land gives me chills every time I watch it. I had the soundtrack to this film on repeat for months when it came out. It takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions as you watch the highs and lows of Mia and Sebastian’s relationship. If you’re a fan of classic 40s-50s musicals such as On the Town you’ll appreciate the film’s nods to such classics.
PFH Fun Fact: Ryan Gosling took piano lessons so that he could play every piano scene without the need for a hand double.
Available on Netflix.
5. Brooklyn (2015) – New York
Directed by John Crowley.
Staring Saoirse Ronan, Julie Walters and Emory Cohen.
Plot:
Set in 1950s Brooklyn, Eilis is a young Irish immigrant who moves to New York on her own to start a new life that has far more promise than if she were to stay at home. She falls in love with a charming Italian local (Emory Cohen) but, when a reason for her to go home occurs she is quickly swept up in her past life, and must decide between the two countries and the lives she has made for herself.
Trailer published by FoxSearchlight.
In all honesty, apart from a very lovely scene set in Coney Island, there isn’t a huge amount of New York sights in this film, but it is one of the most beautiful and endearing films I’ve ever watched, and one of my favourites. This film fuelled my desire for the American Dream, that’s for sure.
PFH Fun Fact: This was the first of Saoirse’s films where she spoke with an Irish accent, but it wasn’t actually her own dialect.
Available to rent on Amazon Prime.
6. Roman Holiday (1953) – Rome
Directed by William Wyler.
Starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.
Plot:
A bored princess (Audrey Hepburn) who had done nothing but live life by everyone else’s rules makes a run for it on a royal visit to Rome. American journalist, Joe (Gregory Peck), who seizes the opportunity to make headlines with this once in a lifetime opportunity, takes her in. It isn’t long before sparks fly between the two and the pair are both left with difficult decisions to make.
Trailer published by Miguel Garcia.
My itinerary for my trip to Rome a few years ago was entirely inspired by Roman Holiday. The Spanish Steps, Mouth of Truth, Trevi Fountain, Colosseum and the Roman Forum are all featured in the film and worth a visit at least once in your life.
PFH Top Tip: Despite Audrey Hepburn’s scene where she eats gelato at the base of the Spanish Steps, eating on the Spanish Steps is forbidden and you will be swiftly removed. We found that out the hard way…
PFH Fun Fact: Princess Ann’s screams of horror followed by laughter in the scene with the Mouth of Truth are real. Gregory Peck decided during filming to hide his hand in his sleeve and Audrey Hepburn wasn’t expecting it.
Available to rent on Amazon Prime.
7. Crazy Rich Asians (2018) – Singapore
Directed by Jon M. Chu.
Starring Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan and Michelle Yeoh.
Plot:
Nick Young (Henry Golding) takes his girlfriend Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) home to Singapore to meet his family. What she doesn’t know is that he is Singpore’s most affluent bachelor and what he doesn’t know is that his mother does not approve of Rachel. Watch Rachel try her best to fit in to his former hilariously over-the-top and dirty rich life.
Trailer published by Warner Bros. Pictures.
When Crazy Rich Asians came out, I had a trip to Singapore booked and I had been before a few years back but I swear if I hadn’t already had one booked I would have bought my flights when I got home from the cinema! Whilst telling a very endearing and rather hilarious love story, this film shows off Singapore beautifully and considering the ending was painfully close to my dream engagement scenario (a girl can dream) I’d say it’s pretty spectacular. From street food and very apt sweating to Gardens by the Bay, Raffles and Marina Bay Sands, this film will make you fall in love with Singapore.
PFH Fun Fact: This was Henry Golding’s first film. He is actually one of the hosts of the BBC’s programme “The Travel Show”.
Available on Amazon Prime.
8. The Sound of Music (1965) – Austria
Directed by Robert Wise.
Staring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.
Plot:
The Sound of Music is a musical adaptation of the true life story of the von Trapp family. Maria (Julie Andrews) leaves her covent to become the governess for Captain von Trapp’s seven children who she befriends with the help of sing-a-long moments and playful days in the hills of Salzburg.
Trailer published by Fox Family Entertainment.
The many scenes of Maria and the children frolicking in the Austrian countryside are breathtaking and if I had the opportunity to do the same I would drop everything to go.
PFH Fun Fact: The helicopter that filmed the opening scene, where Maria is spinning and singing against the mountainous back drop, kept knocking Julie Andrews down due to the wind it created. The scene had to be filmed multiple times.
Available to rent on Amazon Prime.
9. Call Me by Your Name (2017) – Italy
Directed by Luca Guadagnino.
Staring Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet.
Plot:
It’s the summer of 1983 in the Italian countryside where Elio (Chalamet) resides with his parents. His whole world changes when his father hires an intern, Oliver (Hammer), and intoxicating romance begins.
Trailer published by Sony Picture Classics.
Aside from Oliver serving up some major style inspiration, I mean major props to Giulia Piersanti for the costumes, they make smart casual look effortless, Call Me by Your Name is one of the most transcendent “coming of age” films out there both visually and emotionally.
It’s possible that I should have written an individual blog post on films set in Italy as this is the third one on this list, but my gosh, Italy is a beautiful country to film!
PFH Fun Fact: Call Me by Your Name was adapted from the novel of the same name by André Aciman.
Available to rent on Amazon Prime.
10. The Darjeeling Limited (2007) – India
Directed by Wes Anderson.
Starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman.
Plot:
Three brothers embark on a train journey across India as an attempt to bond with each other. Each of them have their differences which consistently albeit humorously come to light throughout.
Published by FoxSearchlight.
Michael was watching Wes Anderson films before Wes Anderson films were cool. The first one he made me watch was The Life Aquatic and I was impressed mostly because it made him grow out his beard and wear a red beanie. Thankfully that stopped but luckily me watching a few more of Anderson’s films didn’t. His films are incredibly aesthetically pleasing (yeah I have an A level in Film Studies so I can use fancy terms) and beautifully capture the scenery of the location the film is set. You might not want to partake in this questionable train journey in particular but you will be drawn into India’s charm.
PFH Fun Fact: To keep up his character’s limp, Owen Wilson kept a lime in his shoe throughout filming.
I’m sharing one of my biggest tricks for relaxing and getting a good night’s sleep. Whether I’m jet lagged and feeling like a zombie, on a plane desperate to catch some Z’s, stressed with a lot on my plate, sore from being cramped up on a plane for hours or just in need of a little pampering, lavender is my go-to natural pain and stress reliever on my travels.
As well as smelling great, lavender is a good alternative for many problems, especially if you’re not into taking painkillers for a headache or sleeping pills*. Just take a look at the many ways you could benefit from lavender:
It’s an anti-inflammatory and can be used to relieve muscle ache, menstrual cramps and headaches.
It has a soothing effect on the nervous system so it can relieve the feeling of stress, anxiety and nausea.
It helps you to fall asleep faster and go into a more relaxed sleep and is therefore helpful for aiding jet lag and insomnia.
*I do not recommend using lavender in place of taking prescribed medication.
First of all I’m going to take you through all of the variants of lavender products that I use, then I will run through which products I use for the following routines:
My bedtime routine
My travel routine
My anti jet leg routine
My stress and anxiety reducing routine
1. Pillow Spray
Norfolk Lavender
This linen spray is my all time favourite lavender product and I haven’t gone a night without spraying it since I bought it last summer. The bottle is a bit cumbersome for trips so I simply decant some into a smaller spray bottle and take that with me.
I spray about 3-4 squirts onto my pillow at night before hitting the hay.
To purchase the Norfolk Lavender fragrant sleep linen spray click here.
2. Facial spray
Mario Badescu Aloe, chamomile and lavender
My cousins bought me the Mario Badescu Aloe, cucumber and green tea facial spray as a gift and I love it so much that I bought the lavender one. What’s great about these two is that the lavender and chamomile one puts me into a relaxed and sleepy mode whereas the cucumber and green tea one is really refreshing and seems to do the opposite so I use the purple one at night and the green one in the morning.
Aside from helping me to feel sleepy the other great benefits of this facial spray is that it hydrates and combats skin-ageing free radicals, plus it’s cruelty and paraben free!
3. Candles
Wax Lyrical English Lavender and Sainsbury’s Lavender & Geranium
Now don’t get me wrong, I love a fancy candle, my collection of Yankee Candles is growing, but you don’t have to spend a lot to get a decent smelling candle. Take two of my favourite lavender candles for example. Both are under £7 and even with the lid off and unlit you can still smell them as you would with a really good air freshener.
I light one of these candles either for a bath just before bed or for an evening if I’m winding down with a bit of TV about an hour before my intentions for lights out. It fills my room with the scent of lavender and helps soothe me off to sleep. I don’t burn them every night, usually on an evening where I just want to switch off and feel extra relaxed.
To purchase the Sainsbury’s lavender and geranium candle click here. You can also purchase Wax Lyrical candles from Morrisons.
4. Bath oil
Norfolk Lavender
When it comes to lavender infused baths, I prefer to use oil over making a bubble bath because it’s so much more nourishing for the skin plus the steam and oil combined makes it so much easier to inhale the lavender scent.
I draw myself a lavender bath when I want to really unwind, when I’m feeling exceptionally stressed or I’ve got home from a long haul flight and need to relax.
Allergy warning: This bath oil contains nuts.
To purchase the Norfolk Lavender bath oil click here.
5. Hand cream
L’Occitane Lavande
My lavender hand cream is specifically for bedtime. The very last thing I do before going to sleep is massage a pea sized amount of the L’Occitane Lavande cream into my hands. I usually sleep with my hands near my face so this way they smell good and help me drift off to sleep.
6. Self heating eye mask
Optrex warming eye mask
I was recently introduced to these and whilst they are really comfortable and soothing especially on cold nights, I am on the fence about them because they are single use. If you do choose get them I suggest getting a few more uses out of them by spraying some lavender pillow spray on it. It won’t warm up more than once but at least you don’t have to throw them out after one use.
7. Self heating patch
MegRhythm Good-night steam patch
I picked up a couple boxes of these whilst in a pharmacy in Singapore. Much like the warming eye masks they are great on a cold winter’s night but they are particularly good for helping to relieve aches and pains in your back and neck. They are also single use so I won’t get them again.
8. Stress gel
Norfolk Lavender
The combination of lavender and chamomile are said to be a natural remedy for stress and anxiety which is strongly linked to insomnia. What I love about this gel is that although it is lavender scented, it doesn’t have a strong smell so it’s enough to relax you but not make you feel sleepy. It’s also cooling so it came in so handy during the heatwave last summer.
At first I was quite sceptical about whether a gel could really bring down stress levels, but I used it throughout various trips to the hospital last year and it actually helped to calm me down more than I imagined. Maybe it was the essential oils, maybe it was the cooling effect or simply the motion of massaging it into my neck and temples. Whatever it was, it helped.
To purchase the Norfolk Lavender stress gel click here.
9. Headache gel
Norfolk Lavender
Lavender oil is amongst the list of essential oils that work as an anti-inflammatory. Combined with peppermint, another anti-inflammatory, this gel works to soothe, cool and reduce swelling. This headache gel is a good and natural alternative to pain killers and unless the pain is blinding, I will opt to use gel over taking medication. To apply, use a small amount of pressure and massage the gel into your temples and smooth some onto the back of your neck and the inside of your wrists.
Just like the stress gel, it is also useful for cooling down.
To purchase the Norfolk Lavender headache gel click here.
10. Muscle balm
Norfolk Lavender
As mentioned above, lavender is used as an anti-inflammatory. This muscle balm will target aching limbs and is especially handy for relieving tender muscles either post work out or after being cramped up on a plane for hours.
It’s a solid balm so you’ll need warm hands for the product to transfer to your fingers.
To purchase the Norfolk Lavender muscle balm click here.
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My bedtime routine:
Apply two squirts of facial spray
Spray 3-4 squirts of linen spray to my pillow
Massage in a pea sized amount of hand cream
My travel routine:
Apply stress gel to my temples and the back of my neck because it’s soothing
Spray 2-3 squirts of linen spray to my travel pillow
My anti jet leg routine:
Take a lavender infused bath
Massage muscle balm into my neck, shoulders and calf muscles
Apply two squirts of facial spray
Spray 3-4 squirts of linen spray to my pillow
Massage in a pea sized amount of hand cream
My stress and anxiety reducing routine:
Take a lavender infused bath
Light a lavender candle
Apply anti stress gel to my temples
There are lots of lavender products here so I don’t actually travel with all of them. Here are the core products I take with me on my travels:
Stress gel
Headache gel
Pillow/linen spray
Facial spray
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You’ll see that many of my lavender products are from Norfolk Lavender. Norfolk is where I was raised and also my base at the moment so I love supporting this local business. Last year I took a couple of trips to their shop and fields and – thanks to the heatwave – I really felt like I could have been in Provence! Honestly, I actually started to feel like I’d found some life hack by driving an hour along the coast rather than flying overseas to another country to do exactly the same thing: prance around in lavender fields in full bloom!
The best time to visit Norfolk Lavender is when it’s in full bloom from mid June to the end of August. Particularly between 2nd July 2018 – 12th August 2018 as that’s when you can go on a tour in their fields. The tour costs £5 per person which includes a talk about their plants and the history of the company, time to walk between the rows to take your own photos and the opportunity to pick your own bouquet of lavender from their very best plants.
Tours take 15 people per slot and operate at 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm.
Of course, if you don’t wish to pay to visit the field, there is still plenty to do for free at Norfolk Lavender. They have many varieties of lavender plants in the garden to walk around, you can learn about and even watch how they extract the essential oils from their lavender plants, there’s a café serving all sorts of lavender infused treats such as cakes and ice-cream and best of all, they have a huge gift shop selling every type of lavender product you could possibly imagine.
So now you know one of my biggest tricks for getting a good night’s sleep no matter how much travel I’ve done. I can honestly say the amount and quality of sleep I have gotten since using lavender products has greatly improved. Given the choice, I wouldn’t want to travel without it.
Aloha, Gabriella
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*Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but please know that I recommend all of the products above from personal use.
Also, I am not working in association with Norfolk Lavender. I personally love their products and just want to support a local business.
Let me take you on a tour of 10 of the best places to get killer photos for the ‘gram in the most romantic city in the world: Paris, France.
1. Trocadéro
For the best place to get photos of the most famous landmark in Paris, the Eiffel Tower, or as it’s known in French, Tour Eiffel, head to Trocadéro.
From here you will get an unobstructed view from the walls and stairs looking out at the Eiffel Tower from Palais de Chaillot.
Get to this spot by taking the métro to Trocadéro (line 9) and walk 1 minute to Palais de Chaillot.
This area gets busier as the day goes on so be prepared to wait your turn if you go in the late morning or afternoon. These photos were taken at sunrise on a morning in December which was 7.45am, that will change seasonally though so check when sunrise is for the day you’re planning to go. I cannot guarantee you will have a sunrise like this though, in all my time in Paris I have never seen anything like it.
Located within the grounds of Musée de Louvre, why not dine out with one of the best views in Paris. Look out at the museum and the Pyramids from the outside seating and down at the sculpture hall from the indoor seats.
Get to Le Café Marly by taking the métro to Palais Royal Musée du Louvre (line 1 and 7) and walking 1 minute through the gates opposite the station. The café is on the right just past the gates.
Le Café Marly is open daily from 8am – 2am.
We went in December and it was virtually dead but it is a very popular spot in the summer, so arrive early.
Musée de Louvre is the world’s biggest art museum but it’s probably more famous for being home to Da Vinci’s masterpiece, Mona Lisa. Should you not wish to venture into the museum (even though you really should) you can visit another work of art at the Louvre for free, Pei’s Pyramide du Louvre.
PFH Fun Fact: The Louvre Pyramids turn 30 this year.
Get to Musée de Louvre by taking the metro to Palais Royal Musée du Louvre (line 1 and 7) and walking 2 minutes through the gates opposite the station.
This area can get very busy from early on, no matter what time of year. Whether it’s people queueing to enter the museum (the big pyramid is also one of the Louvre’s entrances), coming to take photos, shopping at Carrousel du Louvre or simply walking around, it will be tough to get an unobstructed photo unless you come first thing.
We got this photo not long after 8am and by then a lot of people were walking between the Pyramids, we just had to wait for people to pass and snapped in the moments it was clear.
The grounds of the museum and pyramids are open 24/7.
I have been to Paris eight times and lived there for a year and even now I still find new Métro sign designs that I have never seen before. Some date back to the 1920s and have so much character, much like the one featured below.
You can find this entrance to Franklin D. Roosevelt (line 1 & 9) where Avenue Montaigne meets the Champs-Élysées in front of the Gucci store.
Any time of day is fine to shoot at this location, it doesn’t get busy. The only thing you have to be aware of is the bus stop behind and that you might have to wait for buses to move out of your shot.
Tucked away a few streets behind Rue du Rivoli are the beautiful grounds of Jardin du Palais Royal. The neoclassical palace built in 1633 is now home to the French Council of State. However, the gardens and surrounding shopping arcade are open to the public, and a lovely way to spend a lazy afternoon.
Of course, before you’ve eaten your picnic by the fountain, enjoyed a coffee at Le Kitsuné and done a spot of shopping, snap a few photos of you frolicking between or hopping over the black and white striped platforms of Les Deux Plateaux, also known as Colonnes de Buren.
Get to Jardin du Palais Royal by taking the metro to Palais Royal Musée du Louvre (line 1 and 7) and take the Place Colette exit.
Open every day from 8am – 8.30pm from October – March and 8am – 10.30pm from April – September.
It can get quite busy around here, not just people coming to visit the art installation but it’s also used as a short cut so it’s best to get here first thing. We were here at 8.15 and shot for about 20mins then stopped when a school group came in and we were surrounded by 30 children running in-between the platforms.
The river Seine is the river that runs through Paris dividing it into two. For the best place to get a photo of the Seine which also happens to feature the Eiffel Tower, head for Avenue de New York, it’s the road that runs parallel to the river on the opposite side to the Eiffel Tower.
To get to this spot get off the métro at Trocadéro (line 9) and walk through Palais de Chaillot, down the steps and slope all the way to the river. Turn left and continue on for about four minutes. BE CAREFUL on the wall, safety comes before getting a good Instagram photo!
You can shoot here any time of day, it’s a long wall, there’s room for everyone!
Christian Dior is one of the world’s leading haute couture fashion brands and has been shaping the way women dress for seven decades.
If you’re reading this post I have no doubt your Instagram feed featured the Dior shop on Avenue Montaigne over this Christmas just gone. I still see it now!
Of course, it’s particularly glamorous at Christmas when its grand decorations go up. In fact the whole avenue is worth a visit at Christmas because thanks to all of the designer stores’ Christmas lights and those in the trees lining the road, the whole place sparkles and it’s magical.
PFH Fun Fact: This was the Dior that Carrie Bradshaw took one of the most dramatic falls on television in the last few episodes of Sex and the City. Also, the hotel she stayed in with a view of the Eiffel Tower from the balcony, Plaza Athénée, is just up the road on the opposite side and has a spa that uses Dior products.
To get here, take the métro to Franklin D. Roosevelt (line 1 & 9) it’s the one featured in number 4. Walk down Avenue Montaigne for four minutes.
There isn’t particularly a best time to shoot here. It’s on the corner of a cross road and there is valet parking out front so you will need patience to get a clear shot. The best place to take a photo is from the other side of the road but be mindful of pedestrians and traffic depending on where you wish to pose. The best time is when the lights are red for cars and no one is crossing.
The chances are if you’re here it’s because you’re curious of how to get here for this shot. It’s seen all over Instagram but not everyone is hot on sharing its location.
To get here you want to walk along Rue de l’Université heading west right to the very end where it meets the Champ de Mars, the park surrounding the Eiffel Tower.
It’s an incredibly popular location to take photos. Get here FIRST thing, and honestly, it’s going to be a case of pot luck whether you have vehicles parked in the bays at the end of the road. We had a good 20mins of shooting before a street cleaner came into frame and a builder’s truck arrived for work. It’s a residential area too, so always expect cars, it’s up to you how you crop as to whether they’re in the photo or not.
One of the best things to do in Paris is sit at any café terrace with a tea or coffee and watch the world go by, particular in winter when the outdoor heaters are switched on above your head.
There are some really pretty ones on Rue du Rivoli and Rue Saint Honoré, but this one in particular is La Station Rambuteau which is behind the Pompidou Centre. Le Nemours is also great for photos because it has a large outdoor seating area and also serves delicious food.
What’s the second most magical thing in Paris after you’ve seen the Eiffel Tower sparkling against the night sky? Seeing the Magic Castle sparkle against the night sky of course! Who doesn’t love a good photo op that also comes with a great experience? A day at Disneyland Paris is fun for everyone whatever their age.
Park hours and ticket prices vary on the day, season and whether you want access to one park or two. For accurate pricing click here for the Disneyland Paris website.
Welcome back to my Round the World activities itinerary! Thank you for reading part 1 and just in case you missed it here’s the link Round the world trip activities itinerary Part 1. It features a road trip down the North Island of New Zealand, diving in the Great Barrier Reef and jungle trekking to waterfalls in Malaysia, go check it out if you haven’t and if you have, read on!
Just to refresh your memories in 2016 Michael and I went on a 16 week long round the world trip instead of saving for a house or a ring or whatever else people told us we should have done at the time. Our trip planning began with us picking out destinations based on where we had friends and family that we could visit/mooch free accommodation off. Those ended up being Australia, New Zealand, California and New York, the rest was decided by places close by and ones we had always wanted to go to.
The full list of where we went and for how long goes as follows:
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia x3 nights
Singapore x3 nights
Palm Cove, Queensland, Australia x10 nights
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia x14 nights
Auckland, New Zealand x2 nights
Rotorua, New Zealand x4 nights
Taupo, New Zealand x2 nights
Tongariro, New Zealand x2 nights
Masterton, New Zealand x8 nights
Napier, New Zealand x3 nights
Wellington, New Zealand x3 nights
Ohau, Hawaii, USA x2 nights
Maui, Hawaii, USA x12 nights
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA x2 nights
Grand Canyon, Nevada, USA 1 night
Los Angeles, California, USA x7 nights
Santa Maria, California, USA x1 night
San Francisco, California, x6 nights
Seattle, Washington, USA x5 nights
Portland, Oregon, USA day trip
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada x7 nights
New York City, New York, USA x8 nights
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil x3 nights
Due to the size of this trip and the amount that we did I decided to split this itinerary into two to prevent information overload. In part 2 I will be taking you through our two week-long unwind in Hawaii, a road trip that took us up the west coast of America, our first experience of Canada, summer in New York and our first time to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Michael’s favourite country).
As I mentioned in part 1 I was not blogging and had hardly used Instagram up until that point, stories didn’t even exist back then. All of our photos were taken on a GoPro and phones, not a professional camera which means there are far less photography-based locations on the itinerary, you can expect wide-angled warps and awkward compositions though.
It’s been three years since embarking on this trip so things have changed but I have made sure to give you all the current 2019 information and ticket prices.
Are you ready for part 2? Let’s go!
USA
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
4th July Fireworks
Of course I realise this isn’t something you can do 364 days of the year but just in case you find yourself in Honolulu on the 4th of July I want to let you know where you can catch a firework display. The biggest display in the area can be seen from Ala Moana Beach Park.
Pearl Harbor Visitor Centre
Visiting Pearl Harbor was definitely one of the most poignant things we did on this trip. It isn’t an easy place to be, especially when you stand at the The Remembrance Circle and Waterfront Memorial looking out over the water and the USS Arizona Memorial. In fact it’s rather harrowing to imagine the devastation that took place on 7th December 1941, but it is also humbling and it’s impossible not to be overwhelmed with gratitude for those incredibly brave people who fought for our freedom right until their untimely death.
The centre will take you through Pearl Harbor’s past, the events that happened in 1941 and its journey to today through documentary films and exhibitions. There is also an opportunity to visit the USS Arizona Memorial which again is free but tickets are in high demand and will become unavailable very early on in the day. 1,300 tickets are given out for free from 7am and if you are not there for when it opens, chances are you won’t receive a ticket. You can however reserve one online by paying a non refundable $1 booking fee here.
The USS Arizona Memorial is closed until March 2019 whilst repairs are being made to the visitors loading dock.
Open daily from 7am to 5pm excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Admission into the Pearl Harbor Visitor Centre is free.
However as Pearl Harbor is still an active military base, you are not allowed to bring any bags onto the premises. If you do, you are required to pay $5 to check it in, the queue for this can be long so arrive early or just don’t bring one and have your purse/wallet and phone in your pocket.
Please keep in mind that this is a memorial and that it is important we respect those who gave their lives fighting. I cannot tell you how many people I saw taking selfies there, it’s not right.
Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach is on the South shore of Honolulu and is possibly one of the busiest beaches I’ve even been to, Waikiki is lined with high-rise hotels and designer stores. The atmosphere is buzzing as surfers fill the azure water and beach bunnies speckle the sand. Even if a busy beach isn’t your jam, you have to pay it a visit if you are there just to stand in the famous waters that have hosted many legendary surfers and Hawaiian royalty!
King Kamehameha I statue
It’s one of many statues that honour the monarch who founded the islands of Hawaii but it’s probably most famous for standing outside of the Hawaii Five-0 HQ in both the original 1968 TV show and 2010 remake. Tickets? No need to book ‘em Danno, they’re not required.
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii
Kāʻanapali Beach
Kāʻanapali beach is one of the best I have ever been to. Even in the height of summer it was so quiet. Palm trees line the golden sand, the turquoise waters hold the promise of sea turtles and their friends and the sky is graced with a rainbow or two at least 80% of the time. No joke! There’s a reason Hawaii is called the Rainbow State. There’s a breeze not strong enough to create waves to surf, but it is enough to cool you down as you lay under the sun. The waters are calm so it’s great for families, but there’s not enough of them there to disturb the peace.
I am not aware of it being a public beach which is probably why it is so quiet, so if this beach tickles your fancy, consider a hotel along Kāʻanapali beach.
Lahaina town
Having not stayed anywhere else on the island my opinion is rather bias, but Lahaina was the perfect location to stay in Maui. It’s quiet, the beach is beautiful and there are two shopping malls and a town just a stone’s throw away.
Lahaina town is right on the seafront which is sparsely lined with restaurants so you can grab lunch with a view of the ocean. I can’t say it isn’t aimed at tourists as your restaurant selection includes Hard Rock café and Bubba Gump but there are some local options available too.
Outlets of Maui is their outlet mall so just in case you have an itch for those good old American bargains you can pick one up at all of the classics: Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Gap etc.
Open daily from 9.30am – 10pm.
Opposite the outlet mall is a supermarket where we picked up food for our hotel room to save money on meals.
Take a stroll along the front street for an array of boutiques and craft shops selling every thing you could ever want to buy from Hawaii, from ukuleles and Hawaiian shirts to spices and soaps.
Whaler’s Village Shopping Mall
Whaler’s Village was just a short walk from our hotel, Royal Lahaina. It’s a small outdoor shopping mall that has a stark contrast of shops from Kate Spade and Tommy Bahama to craft shops selling goodies made on the island. There is also a good selection of restaurants should you grow tiresome of your hotel’s menu.
Furthermore, what’s great about Whaler’s Village is that it offers the following classes should your hotel not:
Hula dancing
Ukulele
Lei making
They also have Hula shows and live music, check it out here.
Open daily from 9.30am – 10pm.
Haleakala Crater National Park Sunrise Tour
If you read part 1 you will know by now that we did not have much luck with weather on this trip, and it’s actually becoming a thing for me that no matter where I go in the world, if I’m up a volcano, the weather is going to be awful!
The Gray Line Haleakala Sunrise tour started at 2am when we were picked up by bus and driven 2 hours to the crater. There was no hiking involved in our tour, it just required a very short walk from the car to the viewing area. We then waited 2.5 hours in the freezing cold for the clouds to disperse and reveal a sunrise that filled the sky with oranges, pinks and yellow. Unfortunately for us that never happened and so we stood in the rainclouds for 2.5 hours to see more rainclouds only to be called back to the bus to thaw out and head back down for the breakfast (included at a nearby golf club) before returning to the hotel.
PFH Top Tip: Never go up a volcano with me if you actually want to see something from the top!
Having seen photos of the sunrise I would recommend trying this excursion because it could be beautiful, it just wasn’t for us. Though it is rare for the weather to be bad, it does happen and unfortunately in our case we were not refunded our $200 for the tour so just keep this in mind, but don’t be discouraged, I just have really bad luck on volcanoes.
This is very important to take note of. Even in the middle of summer, it can be very cold at the top of Haleakala. Do not be deceived by the warm weather you have most likely been experiencing whilst in Hawaii. When we went it was about 30˚C the day before and 28˚C when we got back down but whilst up there we were soaking wet and frozen because we had been standing in a raincloud waiting for a sunrise that NEVER showed! To give you an idea of how cold it was the well informed girls next to us had an actual duvet wrapped around them.
What to wear:
On top of Haleakala.
Thermals
A fleece
A light raincoat or windbreaker
Trainers or hiking boots
Thick socks
Hat and gloves
For when you get back down:
T-shirt
Shorts
Sundress
Sandals
If you do this tour, book out the evening for catching up on sleep on the beach or poolside.
Ticket costs are:
$176 aged 12yrs and over.
$113 per child aged 3-11yrs.
Children under 2yrs go free.
Molokini Crater and “Turtle Town”
Hands down our snorkel excursion with Pride of Maui was my absolute favourite day of the entire trip for three reasons:
We got to swim with green sea turtles in the wild!
We made friends with a couple from Canada who have become some of our closest friends! (They’re the people we stayed with in Toronto last summer.)
We got to freaking swim with green sea turtles in the wild!
The tour lasts about 5hrs and includes breakfast, a BBQ lunch, cocktails or soft drinks, snorkel equipment and they take you to two snorkel sites: Molokini Crater to swim with the fishies and “Turtle Town” to float with the green sea turtles.
In the spirit of listing things, here are three great reasons to book an excursion to Molokini and Turtle Town with The Pride of Maui:
They have a BBQ on the boat and will make you the best lunch you can have out on the ocean.
They are incredibly conscious of the environment you’re in, they do not and will not allow chasing or touching of the animals, and they provide ocean friendly suncream which doesn’t release harmful chemicals into the reefs.
The crew are great company and they make good cocktails!
What to bring:
Water (more is provided on the boat)
Sun cream for after the swim and when you’re sitting out on the boat in the sun
Swimwear
Mircrofibre towel
Dry bag
Change of clothes
Ticket costs are:
$99 per adult aged 13yrs and over.
$69 per child aged 3-12yrs.
Children under 2yrs go free.
Tickets are $25 cheaper (the price quoted above) if you book online. Fuel cost and tax not included.
Luau
A Luau is a traditional Hawaiian party that centres around a huge feast which feature poke and Kahula pig, Poi, Haupia and so much more. Hula dancing and live music takes you into the night as you sip on your Mai-Tais under the stars.
Luaus aimed at tourists usually consist of a giant one-visit-only buffet serving up traditional dishes en masse, a complimentary lei, a show that tells the story of Hawaii though music and dance, an open bar serving up your classic tropical cocktails and the chance to get up and dance.
Though we really enjoyed ours, there were a lot of people so if you want something a little more intimate you don’t have to stick to the one in your hotel, shop around to see where you would like to go.
Ti Leaf Lei and flower lei making class
We actually did both of these with our hotel, Royal Lahaina, they had someone come in and teach us how to make both the Ti leaf and Orchid leis. At the time our class cost $5 per person to do and you got to keep what you made afterwards. Take a look at what your hotel offers because we really enjoyed them and it’s a hands on way to get to know the culture better.
Lomi Lomi Massage
Check with your hotel or a local spa for a Lomi Lomi massage, a traditional Hawaiian treatment. The technique uses long strokes in a gentle motion and includes light stretching. Everyone needs to look after their mind and body and where else better to do than on the massage table?
Las Vegas, Nevada
I’m going to prepare you for disappointment now, we are not party people. I’ve been to Vegas twice now and both times I intended to party like Stu and the guys from The Hangover but alas, both times I failed and probably saw less nightlife than Carlos (the baby with the sunglasses). It’s not all disappointing though, I can still share the basic tourist must dos!
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Gamble
I have only done this once in Vegas and I had no idea what I was doing. We paid $5 into a random machine, lost a bit, lost again, won a little more than we put in, argued because I wanted to take our winnings and Michael wanted to play them, Michael pressed the button, we lost again, again and again until we wished our $5 sayonara.
I do not recommend gambling your money away, however, spare $5 for the experience so you can at least say you tried!
Fountains of Bellagio
You may know them from the Hangover Part III, Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic music video or, most famously, Oceans 11 (2001).
The $40 million Fountains of Bellagio is a show that anyone going to Vegas must see! The show lasts 15mins as the jets of water dance along to opera, classical, Broadway and pop tunes, the most popular being Elvis’ Viva Las Vegas.
On Saturdays and Public Holidays the show is every 30mins from 12pm – 8pm and every 15mins from 8pm – 12am.
On Sundays the show is every 30mins from 11am – 7pm and every 15mins from 7pm – 12am.
From Monday – Friday the show is every 30mins from 3pm – 8pm and every 15mins from 8pm to 12am.
Fremont Street
Fremont Street is the second most famous street in Las Vegas and is home to the classic casinos such as 4 Queens, Fremont Casino and Golden Nugget. The main attraction is now the Fremont Street Experience where a light show is projected across the world’s largest video screen which is suspended 90ft over the street creating a tunnel of light. The show begins by turning off all of the building, street and casino lights – which is unheard of anywhere else in Vegas.
The show lasts a mere 6mins and runs every hour from 6am – 1am.
Fabulous Las Vegas sign
Did you even go to Vegas if you don’t have a photo with the Fabulous Las Vegas sign as proof?
Hit up this spot as early as first light for two very important reasons:
There is ALWAYS a queue, this city also never sleeps.
It’s the desert, it’s hot and there is NO shade in the queue.
Bring water!
Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace
Oh my goodness gracious me! You want it? They’ve got it! There’s a reason this unbelievable spread has been been ranked the No. 1 Las Vegas buffet by USA Today. The buffet runs nine individual cuisine stations with a large amount of food being cooked fresh in front of you. This is definitely not your typical stale and bland all inclusive buffet, this buffet means business. Choose from crabs legs, oysters, steak, ribs, pizza, pasta and SO much more. The dessert station won’t disappoint you either. There’s everything from over the top ice cream sundaes to dainty macrons!
Be prepared for a queue and not being able to eat straight away unless you pay top dollar for the reservation package. You are allocated time at the buffet entrance and depending on peak times, you might have to wait a while. Luckily there’s a bar and casino right behind, how convenient.
Open Monday – Friday from 7.30am – 10pm and 8am-1pm on the weekend.
Buffet cost is:
$54.99 per person for the weekday brunch served 7.30am – 3pm.
$54.99 per person for the weekend brunch served 8am – 3pm.
$64.99 per person for the weekday and weekend dinner served 3pm – 10pm.
$15 per person for the all you can drink Draft Beer, House Wine or Mimosa package.
For guaranteed entrance, book the VIP Reservation package here for $98 per person. It includes a dedicated reservation time, full access to the buffet, the all you can drink package and a VIP seafood tower.
Heads up, you only get 2 hours to enjoy your time at the Bacchanal Buffet so good luck trying to balance your time between stuffing and not running out of steam at the beginning. On this trip Michael fell asleep at the table and when we went again last year I got meat sweats half way through!
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Saddle n’ Supper package
We decided to experience the Grand Canyon in a more immersive way, so we booked a night at the Grand Canyon Western Ranch and boy did we get an experience!
We added on the Saddle n’ Supper package which includes a horseback ride (western style) through the desert to a look out point where you watch the sunset from your saddle whilst sipping on a glass of bubbles! You then ride back down arriving back at the ranch as the light is just about hanging on to head into the dining room for a steak dinner which you can enjoy whilst being serenaded by an actual cowboy. It doesn’t end there either! After dinner, everyone heads outside for what was one of the most memorable nights of my life. Gathered around a campfire, you can toast as many s’mores as you can stomach, watch the moon rise, yes rise! We actually saw the moon rise from behind the mountains high into the sky whilst the same cowboy continued to sing and play any song we requested. Of course I wasn’t brave enough to request Britney Spears, so I don’t know that he could play every song, but he played every song that everyone else requested.
Package cost:
The Saddle n’ Supper package with one night stay $225.65 (including tax) per person.
Helicopter ride through the Grand Canyon
We did our Grand Canyon helicopter ride through the Western Ranch and it was a decision made literally on the day. We had planned to do the Skywalk before driving 370 miles to Hollywood but we had been informed by people who did it the day before that it’s very time consuming and you don’t get to take your own photos whilst you’re on there. Looking for a quick way to experience this natural wonder we arranged with the ranch to take a ride in their helicopter.
The tour lasts 25 mins and takes you over and into the Grand Canyon and you’ll forget just how pricey it is when you look up to find the Skywalk miles and miles above your head! It really is a spectacular way to experience the Grand Canyon.
PFH Top Tip: Don’t wear anything that you’re going to have visible sweat patches in. I wore a green strappy vest and I had sweat marks across my chest, stomach (where the seatbelt was) and back. The helicopter will have a lot of glass so you can see as much as possible but it also means you’re in a green house in the desert! Bring water and suncream!
Contact the Grand Canyon Western Ranch for a helicopter ride quote, but keep in mind that Grand Canyon helicopter rides are also operated from Las Vegas if you’re strapped for time or don’t fancy the drive out to Arizona.
“Welcome to Hollywood! What’s your dream?” – Pretty Woman, 1990.
Over 2,600 stars cover 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, belonging to world famous musicians, actors, comedians, presidents, astronauts and more! To find out exactly where your idol’s star resides check out this awesome website where you can search any star’s whereabouts. The star ceremonies are free to attend (if you don’t mind crowds), they start at 11.30am and the dates are released here 10 days prior.
The stars aren’t the only thing worth visiting on Hollywood Boulevard. Pop your hands in the imprints of the greats at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, marvel at the home of the OSCARs ceremony, Dolby Theatre, feel Marilyn Monroe’s presence at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel and purchase just about any Hollywood souvenir you can imagine in one of the multiple shops.
Are you a Disney fan? No? Then read ahead. If you answered yes, take a look here to see which Disney film is showing at El Capitan Theatre, Disney’s interactive cinema. From current Disney films to classics showing on “Throwback Thursdays” every film has a little something extra to get you in the mood, whether it’s a musical show or prizes, it’s fun for all ages! We went to see a showing of Lilo and Stitch “(of course we did) and before showing the film the writers came on stage to talk about their creative process, there were prizes being given out left right and centre and everyone got a free lei made of candy (that’s sweets in American)! Check it out!
Take a moment to look here for any premieres that might be happening on Hollywood Boulevard, you might catch a glimpse of a movie star. The last time we were in Hollywood they had the premiere of Ant Man and the Wasp. If you’re not interested in film premieres look it up anyway because you do NOT want to get caught up in that traffic when the road gets shut down.
Celebrity Home Tour
You just can’t go to Hollywood without paying good money for a tour of the closed gates and walls blocking the homes to the stars! (If I could I would have put the cry-laughing emoji). I couldn’t not do this during our first time in Hollywood, but I mean, I’m pretty sure it was NOT that easy for us to do a U turn in Justin Bieber’s driveway, you get me? It’s good fun though and a quick and easy way to tour the city. The 2 hour tour takes you down Hollywood Boulevard, the Sunset Strip and Rodeo Drive, past the Beverly Hills sign, the Playboy Mansion, the Beverly Hills hotel and a bunch of star’s homes. I must say though, the commentary from your tour guide is worth the ticket price anyway, they’re so sassy!
The basketball season was over when we arrived in LA so we couldn’t watch any Lakers or Sparks games at the Staples Center which is what we would have done. However, thanks to the build up to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, there were a few non league games going on so we bought a couple of tickets for USA vs China which was an AMAZING game!
If you do go during the NBA or WNBA season check out tickets here, prices vary, a lot.
The Grove
The Grove is my favourite shopping mall in L.A. for two reasons: celeb spotting and the farmers market.
The doughnuts at Bob’s Coffee in the Farmers Makert are THE BEST DOUGHNUTS I HAVE EVER HAD! They’re open 6am – 9pm and take cash only.
Santa Monica Pier marks the end of the Route 66 trail and after all that driving you’ll be rewarded with an afternoon of fun. It not only offers views of the beach, it’s also jam packed with restaurants and souvenir shops and it has Pacific Park, an amusement park that sits right over the Pacific Ocean.
The park hours vary so check ahead here for opening times.
There’s no admission fee for the Santa Monica Pier or Pacific Park but ride and attraction tickets are individually priced between $5-$10.
Venice and Muscle Beach
Stroll along the promenade from one to the other, snap a photo under the Venice sign along the way and witness super-human strength at the outdoor beach gym.
Hollywood sign.
For everything you need to know about hiking to the Hollywood sign check out my very popular post How to hike to the Hollywood sign.
Long beach
Dang that beach is long, no joke. We went – with only a few hours to give – hoping to catch a glimpse of RMS Queen Mary, we parked and walked for an hour and she was still a dot in the distance! My advice is park wisely depending on what you want to do, but know that there is plenty to do and it’s a lovely beach so set aside a day for it.
PFH Top Tip: Use the toilet in a restaurant unless you’re cool with having only a few feet of wall between each toilet. I walked in, I walked out, not cool.
Rodeo Drive
“Rodeo Drive, baby” – Pretty Woman, 1990.
Name a designer store, go on. Yeah, it’s there. This 2 mile long road oozes money from Prada to Gucci to Chanel and Dior! Stop me there, my mouth is watering. Don’t judge me! Aside from shopping and celeb spotting you can also see the store from Pretty Woman, you know the one, and the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
PFH Fun Fact: as we were leaving L.A. to drive up to San Fran, we decided to take one last cruise down Rodeo Drive and lo and behold, who do we see? Only the freaking Kardashians, Khloe, Kim and Kris to be precise, filming the episode which turned out to be when the girls take Kris to the “Pretty Woman” penthouse suite at the “Bev Wilsh” (yes, I’m milking my Pretty Woman quotes). Michael threw me out of the car and after waiting outside Rolex for 10mins this is what I got…
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I haven’t put in a section for Santa Maria because it was just a place to stay overnight to break up the road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
San Francisco, California
Golden Gate Bridge
A trip to San Francisco wouldn’t be complete without catching a glimpse of the world’s most photographed bridge, Golden Gate Bridge. Check out my blog post 3 of the best places to get photos with the Golden Gate Bridge to see where you should be going!
Sausalito
If you do decide to drive over the bridge to take photos at Battery Park, come back down to have lunch in Sausalito. It’s a pretty little seaside town with a bunch of independently owned restaurants and shops. Last time we were in Sausalito we went to a little Indian restaurant called Sartaj India Café, it was the little pink flowers climbing the wall outside that drew me in but the menu that made me stay. I strongly recommend an authentic curry here. Another place I definitely recommend going is Sausalito Stationery, it is the sweetest little stationery shop selling a huge selection of cards (better than Paperchase and Scribbler combined, yeah I said it) and design based souvenirs – by this I mean hand drawn designs on prints and notebooks, not bog-standard keyrings etc – and there’s even a party section with so many unique goodies the whole room looks like a well thought out Pinterest board.
Painted Ladies
“Everywhere you look, everywhere you go, There’s a heart, a hand to hold onto…”
If you know that song then you’ll recognise these very ornate Victorian houses from the opening credits of Full House. Of course they were famous long before that though which is why they’ve been featured in an estimated 70 films, TV programmes and advertisements.
Located opposite Alamo Square why not pack up a picnic or bring along a good book to read whist you take in all the fabulous details of these magnificent ladies.
Golden Gate Park
Get lost taking a stroll through Golden Gate Park and you won’t be disappointed. The park is just over 3 miles long and has a science museum, a fine art museum, a music hall, a boat lake and so much more.
Union Square
Union Square is the central shopping and theatre district in San Francisco. It’s also the area to be in to pick up one the cities famous cable cars. To get the most out of your trip Pick one up from Powell St and take it all the way up and down (and up and down) to Fisherman’s Wharf.
PFH Top Tip: To avoid the ridiculously long queue that builds up at the turn table, pick up a cable car on the corner of Powell and Ellis Street, right outside of Urban Outfitters. It must be one of San Francisco’s greatest secrets because I’ve never seen more than 6 people get on from there and they always got on!
Cable cars run every 10mins from 6am – 12am.
Click here to see a really dodgy GIF of the routes.
Tickets for a cable car journey are $7 per person per journey.
Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf is undoubtedly the most popular and busiest tourist area in San Francisco and for a good reason too, just check out all the things below that attract people to the area:
Views of Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz
The best clam chowder you’ll ever eat, and it’s served in a bowl made of bread!
Pier 39 which is packed with shops, restaurants, cafés, street performers, souvenir shops and a carousel
Sea lions – dozens of Californian sea lions have made pier 39 their social hang out spot
Bay and whale boat tours
Yosemite National Park
As booking our RTW was out first experience of booking flights en masse and we had no idea Skyscanner existed we booked our 18 flights with STA (can’t say I would recommend it). We also booked one tour with them from their USA brochure which was this tour. In hindsight I would recommend renting a car because it’s a long day and most of it is spent cooped up on a bus which isn’t fun. Renting a car means you get a better view out of the window, you can stop whenever you want and you can stay as long as you want. We didn’t get much time once we actually got to Yosemite which made us hesitant to go walking too far in case we missed our bus ride back.
Just in case you want to know about our tour it was the Yosemite Giant Sequoia Tour with Extranomical Tours and is $179 per adult aged 12yrs and over and $165 per child aged 12yrs and under. It picks up from central San Francisco between 6am-7am and lasts 15 hours. The first stop is at Tuolumne Grove* to see the giant Sequoia trees, the second is at Tunnel View lookout which is probably one of the best photo spots in Yosemite, the final stop is in Yosemite national park. It does not include food.
Like I said though if it’s a possibility for you, rent a car and drive yourself. If you do decide to do that the vital information for the park is as follows:
Yosemite National Park is open 24/7 for all 365 days of the year.
The entrance fee is:
$35 for a seven day pass for a non commercial car, RV or van with 15 or less seats.
Knee-length sports shorts or cropped running tights
Quick dry short sleeve top
Hiking boots
A complete change of clothes if you don’t want to drive home sweaty
What to bring in a backpack
Water – 1 litre at the very least
Lunch
Snacks
Insect repellent
Sunhat
Microfibre towel (for mopping sweat)
Camera
*Tuolumne Grove involves a 1 mile hike down from the car park to the Sequoia trees, the hike back up has an elevation of 500ft and is rather strenuous for some people. Bring plenty of water.
Alcatraz
Take a tour around the most notorious maximum security prison in America. Alcatraz State Penitentiary otherwise known as “The Rock”.
The tour of Alcatraz is one of the most fascinating things I’ve ever done. It departs from pier 33 for a 15mins boat ride over to the island. Upon arrival a National Park Ranger will give you a brief introduction of the island before directing you on to your 45-minute Cellhouse Audio Tour. I have to say out of all the audio tours I have listened to, this was the best. There’s a good mix of fact, myth and personal accounts from both prisoners and guards, plus the directions are very clear.
Some of Alcatraz’ infamous inhabitants include Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, Frank Morris and Alvin Karpis (America’s first Public Enemy No.1).
If you were to watch one film featuring Alcatraz to enhance your experience touring the prison it would be “Escape from Alcatraz” (1979) starring Clint Eastwood. It’s Hollywood’s adaption of the true story of how Frank Morris and twin brothers Clarence and John Anglin broke out of inescapable Alcatraz.
As the tour dates are seasonal and subject to change, please click here for up an updated schedule of tour departure times. Alcatraz is closed: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.
PFH Top Tip: Alcatraz is a very popular tourist destination and the island fills with people pretty quickly. I advise going as early as possible to be able to move freely around the cell blocks. We went on one of the early bird tours and it was significantly quieter compared to when we were ready to leave.
Tour prices:
Day tour:
$46.35 per adult aged 12yrs and over.
$31.50 per child aged 5-11yrs.
Children under the age of 5yrs go free.
$44.10 per senior aged 62yrs and over.
Night tour:
$53.50 per adult aged 17yrs and over.
$52.50 per junior aged 11-17yrs.
$35.05 per child aged 5-11yrs.
Children under the age of 5yrs go free.
$50.25 per senior aged 62yrs and over.
Seattle, Washington
Kerry Park
At just 1.26 acres it might be the smallest park you step foot in but it offers the best view of Seattle hands down, even better than the Space Needle because the needle is in it! Worth a visit, trust me. Plus it was a location for season 14 of Grey’s Anatomy!
Pike Place
You know when the elevator doors at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital open in Grey’s Anatomy and nine times out of ten there’s a big photo of a red Public Market sign? Well that’s Pike Place, a waterfront farmer’s market. Established in 1907 it’s a beloved piece of Seattle’s history and a great place to eat! For Pike Place’s full history click here.
Space Needle
Built for the 1962 World Fair, this flying saucer inspired building is a testament to how the Space Race took the country by storm. The 185 metre tall building located in Seattle Center (an education centre) is one of the most photographed structures in the world and has featured in many films and TV programmes such as Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and the title sequence of Frasier (1993-2004).
Open Monday – Thursday 10am – 7pm and 9am – 7pm from Friday – Sunday.
Ticket costs vary based on the time of day you visit:
Morning (10am – 12pm)
$32.50 per adult aged 12yrs and over.
$24.50 per child aged 5-12yrs and over.
Children under 5yrs go free.
$27 per senior aged 65yrs and over.
Afternoon (Midday 12pm – 5pm)
$35 per adult aged 12yrs and over.
$26 per child aged 5-12yrs and over.
Children under 5yrs go free.
$30 per senior aged 65yrs and over.
Evening (5pm – 6pm)
$35 per adult aged 12yrs and over.
$26 per child aged 5-12yrs and over.
Children under 5yrs go free.
$30 per senior aged 65yrs and over.
The Original Starbucks
Whilst you’re at Pike Place join the longest queue for a coffee you’ll ever stand in. Why? Because why go around the corner for a Starbucks coffee without a queue when you could get the EXACT same coffee in x10 the time at the original Starbucks. (Ooo I’m so salty, must be the pretzels I’m eating whilst I write this). You do get the chance to have a picture with the “First Starbucks Store” sign and it’s the only Starbucks that you can buy the Pike Place collection.
PFH Fun Fact: The Original Starbucks isn’t actually that! The first ever Starbucks was actually at 2000 Western Avenue from 1971–1976. They moved to the current location (1912 Pike Place) and it has been there ever since.
Pier 57
It’s somewhat similar to Pier 39 in San Francisco, in that it’s a tourist attraction with great seafood! Check out Miner’s Landing at the end which now has shops and restaurants or take a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel.
Canada
Vancouver
Gastown
Gastown is Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood having been founded in 1867. The area is best known for its steam clock which is one of very few remaining in the world.
The quaint streets of Gastown are full of Victorian houses, fashion boutiques, shops selling homeware, souvenir shops, art galleries, some of the best restaurants in Vancouver and multiple cocktail bars.
Stanley park
Our bike ride around Stanley Park was such a lovely day out. It didn’t take long to pick one up from Spokes Bicycle Rental. We took a couple of bikes around the outer cycle path of the park and up to Prospect Point Lookout for views of Lion’s Gate Bridge.
We took a picnic out with us so we could sit and eat looking over the water but there are cafés and restaurants dotted around the park.
Spokes Bicycle Rental is open daily from 9am – 4.30pm. Bikes must be returned one hour before closing.
Bike rentals at Spokes are charged by the hour, I took a speed cruiser which is currently $8.57 per hour and Michael took a city bike which is now $10.48 per hour.
We had our bikes for just under 4 hours from pick up to drop off.
Wild Whales Vancouver
By far my favourite thing that we did in Vancouver was take a tour out to watch wild Orca pods out in open water. We took a tour from Granville Island with Wild Whales Vancouver.
The really great thing about this tour was their true love and respect for the whales. Crew members have studied them for years and will be able to answer all of your whale related questions. Plus they come loaded with cereal bars to keep your energy levels up and ginger sweets to settle your stomach – it’s a rough ride out there. Furthermore, whale sightings are guaranteed and if you don’t see one on your tour you are given tickets for a second tour for free.
As wild animals are unpredictable the tours can last from 3-6 hours to give you the best chance of seeing either orcas or humpback whales. Laws prohibit boats from hanging around a pod for longer than one hour so the whales don’t feel threatened by the boats or people so once your time is up you will head back to shore. Before finishing though, you will be taken to other wildlife sites for the opportunity to see seals and eagles.
Tours depart:
April – May at 10.30am11am and 12pm.
June – 12th September at 8.30am, 9am, 10am, 12pm and 2.30pm.
12th September – 31st October st 10.30am, 11am and 12pm.
Tickets cost:
$135 per adult aged 12 and over.
$85 per child aged 3-12yrs.
Children under 2yrs go free.
$110 per seniors and/or student.
All ticket prices above do not include tax.
Granville Island
Grab breakfast, lunch or dinner on Granville Island and you won’t be disappointed. This little peninsula is bustling with artisanal cafés, restaurants, bars and pubs each specialising in something delicious. Imagine if Wholefoods was a village, that’s Granville Island.
Take a tour around Granville Island Brewery or The Liberty Distillery, grab lunch from one of many delicious spots, follow it up with a donut or crêpe, grab a drink at one of the bars looking over the harbour and finish with a trip to the Public Market to buy more freshly made sweet or savoury treats to take home.
Lynn Canyon park is 617 acres of forest and has several trails, waterfalls and a 50 metre high suspension bridge at the entrance. If you’re active it’s easy to spend a day here walking around, bring a picnic, a swimsuit for cooling off on a hot day in one of the natural swimming holes, and a sense of adventure.
Lynn Canyon park is located in North Vancouver and will take about 30min by car or 1hr by bus.
The park is open daily from 10am – 5pm June – September and 12pm – 4pm October – May. It is closed on Christmas, Boxing and New Year’s Day.
Entrance to Lynn Canyon park is free.
SkyRide Grouse Mountain
Take the cable car up to the top of Grouse Mountain where you’ll find views of the city, hiking trails, bird shows, bears and a lumberjack show that will put a smile on everyone’s face.
In summer you can catch a tan at the top of Grouse Mountain, enjoy all of the shows and catch a glimpse of a grizzly bear. Come winter though snow transforms this mountain into a maize of ski trails.
Mountain admission is:
$56 per sold aged 17-64yrs.
$29 per child aged 5-16yrs.
$49 for seniors aged 65yrs and over.
Children under 4yrs go free.
For a full seasonal list of what you can do up Grouse Mountain click here.
Poutine
Poutine originates from Quebec and is made from french fries topped with cheese curd and gravy. A real stodgy treat for those who love it.
I googled a list of the best Poutine places in Vancouver and La Belle Patate Vancouver came up. Their elaborate menu offers over 20 varieties of the classic Canadian dish. You can pick up an original for under $10.
USA
New York City, New York
Statue of Liberty
Originally named “Liberty Enlightening the World” the Statue of Liberty represents freedom and hope. It took nine years to create the 305 foot statue in Paris, where it was then disassembled into 350 pieces, shipped to New York City, and reassembled in four months. She was finally unveiled on October 28, 1886.
There are many options for tours to the Statue of Liberty, the standard is the Reserve ticket which includes:
PFH Fun Fact: The internal structure of the Statue of Liberty was designed by Gustave Eiffel, the man who designed the Eiffel Tower.
Empire State Building
Without a doubt the most famous building in NYC is the Empire State Building. The 1,454 foot Art Deco sky scraper offers unparalleled 360˚ views of the city from the highest open air observation deck in New York.
Open every day, including all holidays, come rain or shine, from 8am – 2am.
Ticket costs are:
Standard
$38.15 per adult aged 12yrs and over.
$31.95 per child aged 6-12yrs.
Children under 6yrs go free.
$36.05 per senior aged 65 and over.
In-season
$39.15 per adult aged 12yrs and over.
$33 per child aged 6-12yrs.
Children under 6yrs go free.
$37.10 per senior aged 65 and over.
Peak
$40.20 per adult aged 12yrs and over.
$34 per child aged 6-12yrs.
Children under 6yrs go free.
$38.15 per senior aged 65 and over.
PFH Top Tip: Aim to be at the top for about half an hour before sunset, that way you will get daylight for clear views of the city, sunset for pretty photos and nighttime for the magical sight that is NYC lit up and sparkling all for one ticket price!
Times Square
Times Square is in the theatre district in Manhattan. It’s a beautiful thing to see the faces light up of those who are seeing Times Square for the first time. It’s hard not to get swept up in the magic of the city that never sleeps when you’re standing under the bright and ever-changing screens feeding you everything from fashion to the weather, news headlines and food! These lights are on 24/7 365 days of the year with Earth Hour being the only exception! It’s Sat 30th March this year if you’re interested in experiencing lights out at Times Square.
Coney Island
For a classic day out, spend a whole summer’s day at Coney Island! Spend the morning lazing on the beach. Chase hot dogs down with milkshakes followed by candy floss for lunch. Play a round of crazy golf and try to bring up the hot dogs on the Wonder Wheel or Cyclone. Then cosy on up for the Friday night firework display at 9.30pm which runs from the last weekend in June to the Friday before Labor Day.
Open every day from Easter to Halloween from midday until late, (sorry guys, I couldn’t find what time late was).
Entrance to Coney Island is free but rides and attraction tickets are individually priced.
Ground Zero
Pay your respects to the lives lost on 9/11 at the memorial fountains that mark where the iconic Twin Towers once stood.
5th Avenue
5th Avenue is the most famous street in all of New York. Why? Because it has everything! Shop ’til you drop from the likes of H&M to THE Tiffany & Co from Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961). Get your culture fix at one of the many museums on the avenue. Head to a concert or game at Maddison Square Gardens, take an exit off it to go for a stroll in Central Park or go to the Top Of The Rock for the best views of the city WITH the Empire State Building.
For a full list of what 5th Avenue has to offer click here.
Central Park
Central Park is an urban park in Manhattan, it’s the fifth largest park in New York but most definitely the most popular one attracting millions of people every year. There’s so much to see and do in the park, the most popular being Strawberry Fields, boating on the lake and Bethesda Terrace. Click here for the full list of attractions.
Open every day from 6am – 1am.
Lunch at Katz’s Delicatessen
“I’ll have what she’s having” – When Harry Met Sally (1989).
Have lunch at the EXACT seat from the “YES! YES! YES!” Scene in When Harry Met Sally, how will you know which one it is? Easy, there’s a sign above it pointing it out, oh and there will be queue of people who are desperate to sit in it next!
PFH Top Tip: Don’t eat a big breakfast, there’s about four inches of meat in their sandwiches, no joke!
Dumbo
Head to the intersection of Water Street and Washington Street in Dumbo to get one of the most iconic angles of Manhattan Bridge. Then walk directly towards to waterfront to take a stroll through Brooklyn Bridge Park for great views of Manhattan’s skyline.
Museums
We visited the following museums for various permanent and temporary exhibitions:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The MET is the largest museum in America and is home to more than two million pieces of artwork.
Open every day excluding the first Monday in May, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Sunday – Thursday 10am – 5.30pm.
Friday and Saturday 10am – 9pm.
Ticket costs are:
$25 per adult aged 12yrs and over.
Children under 12yrs go free.
$17 per senior aged 65 and over.
$12 per student with a valid ID.
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Founded by Solomon Robert Guggenheim, an American businessman and art collector. What was once his private collection of modern and contemporary art became a public museum, The Guggenheim, in 1937 after setting up his non profit foundation for the arts.
Open daily from 10am – 5pm except for Tuesdays and Saturdays when it’s open until 8pm.
Ticket costs are:
$25 per adult aged 12yrs and over.
Children under 12yrs go free.
$18 per senior aged 65yrs and over.
$18 per student with a valid ID.
Every Saturday, from 5pm – 8 pm, you can pay what you wish for admission with cash (only). The last ticket is issued at 7:30 pm.
Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum
Cooper Hewitt is the only museum in the nation which is entirely devoted to historic and contemporary design.
Open daily from 10am – 6pm with Saturdays open later until 9pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Ticket costs are:
$18 per adult aged 18yrs and over.
Children under 18yrs go free.
$12 per senior aged 62yrs and over.
$9 per student with a valid ID.
Every Saturday from 6pm – 9pm you can pay what you wish for admission.
Buildings
Buildings? What do I mean by buildings? Here’s a list of buildings that we didn’t actually go in but we made a point to visit the exterior either for the design or most likely because it was featured in a film I love! The list is as follows:
Rockefeller Centre
Radio City Music Hall
Grand Central Train Station
Chrysler Building
New York Public Library
Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
Before I tell you about what we did in Rio I feel like I need to explain it. We went in the week between the Olympics and the Paralympics (not on purpose, it just timed out that way) and although we realised it would probably be the safest time to go because the security would undoubtedly be high, we were still nervous about what we would encounter. Though I had travelled plenty before it was our first solo trip (excluding Paris) and we were being cautious so we didn’t go up Sugarloaf Mountain or visit Christ the Redeemer, and therefore it isn’t mentioned below. I do regret it somewhat but we also do plan on going back one day so that we can do it.
Copacabana
Located in the south zone of Rio, the 2.5 mile long Copacabana Beach is the most famous beach in Brazil. It has hosted musicians from the likes of the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart, the 2016 Olympic volley ball matches and each year it hosts the country’s biggest NYE fireworks display.
Sit back and enjoy local food and caipirinhas bought from one of the many pop up shops along the beach.
FYI: Contrary to popular belief topless sunbathing is not actually permitted on the beaches of Rio. No one will bat an eye if your bum is out though, so there’s that.
Head into town too for some great restaurants and street food serving up national treats such as Pão de queijo or coxinha.
Ipanema Beach
Ipanema is about a half an hour walk from Copacabana and a fairly safe one. We went out with very little and walked there in the morning and didn’t encounter any trouble. It’s another beautiful beach lined by one of Rio’s famous black and white tiled Portuguese promenades. The beach was made internationally popular with the release of Antônio Carlos Jobim’s classic The Girl from Ipanema. Tall and tanned, his statue stands on the tiled promenade as a tribute and in honour of the 30th anniversary of his death.
Feira Hippie de Ipanema
Translation: Ipanema Hippie Fair. It’s the best open air market around for souvenirs and handmade local goods. Stalls selling goods in every colour under the sun by characters just as colourful buzz as people all around are laughing, bartering and shopping ’til they drop. There are so many good crafty bits that are so unique you know no one else will have anything like it at home.
PFH Top Tip: Bring small notes to hand over after you’ve bartered your price down.
The market is less than a 10 minute walk from Ipanema beach.
It is only open on Sundays from 7am – 7pm. On the plus side it’s open come rain or shine, Feira Hippie de Ipanema has been open every Sunday since 1968.
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So there you have it, all of the best activities from our round the world trip! The idea of this post isn’t to brag, I’m well aware of what a “once in a lifetime” trip it was. It’s here to help inspire you to tick some of these adventures off your list and help you plan your itinerary or see more of the world.
