Bal Harbour, Florida

February 20, 2017



Bal Harbour is a Village in Miami, Florida. I have been to this destination twice and both trips I had an amazing stay! There are so many things to do here because of the amazing weather, beach and  amazing shopping! Bal Harbour is a great choice because you are not directly in the craziness of the busy city of Miami, but rather in a quiet, relaxing location minutes away from the city!

Where to Stay 


Saint Regis Bal Harbour : This is the Hotel I have stayed at both times I have went to Bal Harbour. The first thing I would say about this hotel is the incredible staff members that approach guests with such kindness and generosity. This hotel is beautiful and includes a pool, beach, gym and amazing food options.
Ritz Carlton Bal Harbour : This is a beautiful hotel right aside the beach of Bal Harbour. This hotel includes a pool, hot tubs, and luxury cabanas right on the beach. This hotel also has an amazing spa and food options.
Sea View Hotel : This hotel is a great option if you are on a budget but also want a nice hotel right on the beach. This hotel has a pool, gym, and of corse seating right on the beach. Sounds great to me!

What To Do: 

 The Bal Harbour Shops are located at 9700 Collins Ave. This is a high end outdoor mall that seems to attract celebrities because of how luxurious it is. This mall also has a number of outdoor restaurants that are very popular. This mall has everything from a book store to Chanel.



Take a boat ride tour. Nothing better than being out on a boat in the sunshine states amazing weather! This was a great experience getting to see parts of Miami I had never seen before, all on a boat! The guide took my family around to see some of the mansions including Beyonce and Jay Z's home!



Perez Art Museum Miami: This is a contemporary art museum that is located in downtown Miami. This museum offers tours, programs for children and even dining. I have personally never been to this museum but if i went back to Bal Harbour I definitely would check it out!

Where to Eat: 

Makoto  : This is an elegant restaurant featuring modern, upscale Japanese entrees. This restaurant is located in the Bal Harbour Shops mall. It offers indoor and outdoor seating. This is by far my favorite restaurant I have tried in Bal Harbour! Amazing food and service.
Cafe Ragazzi : This restaurant has amazing Italian food at a nice white table cloth setting. This restaurant is right near the resort area of Bal Harbour and is a convenient place to walk to!

 How to Get Around: 
Walk: With the amazing weather Bal Harbour has to offer, my family and I did the majority of our getting around by walking. You can even walk to the grocery store and pharmacy right on Collins Ave. The Bal Harbour shops and restaurants are also walking distance.
Uber: If you want to explore more into the city of Miami, Uber is a great option! My family and I used uber a couple nights to go into downtown Miami to walk around and explore!

Bermuda

February 16, 2017



Need somewhere to spend a vacation with two parents, a lazy older sister, and a brother who constantly needs something to do? No need to fear! Bermuda is the place for you. You can take an easy three hour flight in, or join the fun and take a 7-day cruise, which is what my family did. This mode of travel is full of entertainment and fun. Bermuda is beautiful and the water is breath-taking (literally). This island is astonishing, and the sight-seeing, food, close-knit community, and history will blow you away. 

WHERE TO STAY
  • If you decide to cruise, then there you have it. Sleep is included on your voyage. You can stay in a suite, stateroom, or a penthouse with a balcony that provides a gorgeous view for sight-seeing and a beautiful look at the water around you. The cost will vary depending on room size and whether you want a room with a balcony or not. 
  • Valley Cottages & Apartments: This very inexpensive apartment-style hotel is located in Paget, Bermuda. It is within a one mile radius of many points of interest such as Elbow Beach, Paget Marsh and Nature Reserve, and Fort Hamilton.
  • Coco Reef: The location of this hotel is prime. It is just 10 minutes outside of Bermuda's capital, Hamilton. It is also within a 5 mile radius from the popular Horseshoe Bay beach as well as the Bermuda Aquarium, Zoo, and Museum. Guests rate it 4.2 stars out of 5 and mention it's delicious restaurants and great service. The pricing is reasonable and fair.
  • Fairmount Southampton: This five star luxurious hotel is one of the more expensive hotels, but it is worth the money. This hotel is conveniently located right along the water, and a thirty minute ride from the airport. A three minute walk to and from Horseshoe Bay beach can be replenished with the gourmet food served from one of it's nine restaurants.  
WHAT TO DO
On the 14 level cruise ship:
  • Go to the one of their six pools or three hot tubs to sun bathe, and just relax. You're on vacation! The pool deck lights up at night in fluorescent lights and I recommend taking part in the cruise-wide themed party nights!
  • Catch a play, some stand up comedy, or dance ensemble at the Stardust Theater. This will make time go by with the satisfaction of pure entertainment.
  • Check out the casino! You'd be surprised at how many people win on the ship. The casino is full of slot machines, table games, and tournaments. It's open until 5am, 7 days a week. 
  • Teenage siblings, family friends, whoever, can enjoy the Teen Zone located on the 13th deck level. This gives teenagers a good place to be kept busy and socialize with other kids on the boat.
  • Most kids play in the designated T-Rex Pool Kid Zone so there is never concern about kids running around everywhere.
  • Play over-sized chess, table tennis, half court basketball, swing some golf balls at the netted driving range, and walk the track all on the top deck with an amazing view during your travels.
  • Hit up the gym and work on that summer bod while on vacation 
There is no way you could get bored during your travels to and from Bermuda. The cruise ship has countless amount of actives, themed nights, chances to win money while vacationing, bingo nights, open-mic nights, everything!
In Bermuda:
  • Tour the Crystal and Fantasy Caves. The underground tour of the Crystal and Fantasy Caves will take your breath away. During your tour, you will be told the history of the caves and how they were found by two teenagers playing a game of cricket in 1907. This location is one of Bermuda's most well-known attractions for tourists as well as its residents.
  • Go to the beach. Horseshoe Bay beach located in Southampton is ranked amongst the top beaches in the world. It's pink sand, large climbable rocks, and clear blue-green water makes this beach one to remember. However, it's very crowded due to it's popularity. Elbow Beach is located in Paget and it's named after it's curve shape along the shore; it's shaped like an elbow. This beach has a private section owned by Elbow Beach Hotel, but there is a large section open the public. Elbow Beach Hotel also runs an on-beach bar and bistro which is available to anyone.
 
  • Scuba dive and snorkel. Tobacco Bay is located at the East End of the island. It has a shallow bay that is great for snorkeling. You can bring your own snorkel equipment to this bay full of unique rocks popping out of the sea and you can explore it's rocky coves.
  • Go shopping along Front Street. There is no sales tax when you shop in Bermuda. One of the best products to buy in Bermuda is perfume. The perfumes are produced locally and are often inspired by the ocean and the sky to capture the nature of the island.
WHERE TO EAT
  • AQUA. Located on the 7th deck of the cruise ship, this restaurant was the go-to for my family. We ate here every night for dinner. It provided no room for disappointment and a great deal of friendly service. They served delicious food in a space full of blue and green tile; an aquatic touch. The cost of our meal was included in the payment of the trip. The best meal to order is the steak which comes with potatoes and asparagus and a chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream for dessert. You can't go wrong.
  • Ocean Club. This seafood restaurant is located in Southampton. On average the customer rates it 4.2 stars out of 5 for it's delicious meals, great service, reasonable prices, with the addition of the charming view of the island. It can be as casual as just wearing a beach cover-up, to more formal wear for celebrating an anniversary.
  • Devils Isle Cafe. This cute, welcoming cafe is located in Hamilton. It is the Best of Bermuda winner of 2016 for their "Best cup of Java" and "Best Salad: Kale Caesar". Many recommend it for it's friendly service, hearty atmosphere and delicious menu.
  • The Pickled Onion. This restaurant is found in the strip of shops along Front Street in Hamilton. This restaurant provides live entertainment while indulging into a variety of reasonably priced seafood.
This is the ice cream I had while we were waiting for the ferry to arrive. It remains as the prettiest ice cream I've ever had.

HOW TO GET AROUND
  • Walking is your best bet. You get to sight-see, take in the view, look at the pastel colored surrounding buildings, and experience the culture. The roads are very narrow and full of aggressive and speedy drivers. It's definitely cheaper to get from place to place by foot. Walking is especially the best route if you are trying to access a beach nearby.
  • Take a ferry. Taking a ferry will get you from point A to point B while experiencing a nice breeze on the top deck and a nice chance to socialize with the people on board with you. If you want to stay warm, sit in the enclosed bottom deck seating area. If you don't mind wind, and want a beautiful view of the island and it's water all at once, then sit up top.
  • Call a taxi. If the restaurant, shop, beach, or cafe is out of walking distance, then call a taxi. The car size depends on the amount of passengers. My family of five was driven in a mini-van. From our experience, the taxi driver acted as a tour guide. He chatted with us and filled us in on historical information about such areas we were passing. We went through a set of traffic lights during our drive and he informed us that there are only 2 sets of streetlights in all of Hamilton, and that we had just gone through one of them. 

Edinburgh, Scotland

February 14, 2017


When traveling to the UK, most tourists will choose London as their go-to destination.  However, I think Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland for that matter is a must see!  I spent a semester abroad in Edinburgh my junior year of college and immediately fell in love with the city.  While it does have its tourist traps, there are quite a few hidden gems!  One of my favorite aspects of the city is just how walkable it is and how much you can accomplish.  Also, if your a Harry Potter fan, Edinburgh is home to much of the inspiration to the books.

WHERE TO STAY
  • Ibis Edinburgh: This hotel is in one of the best locations in the city.  A little off the main street, The Royal Mile, you are super close to great shopping and restaurants.  Depending on the season, the rooms aren't too expensive as well.
  • Principal: This is a little more upscale because it is located on the expensive shopping street, George Street.  However, its location is also one that cannot be beat.  Within walking distance of Calton Hill and all the shopping you can think of on Princes Street, this is a wonderful spot.
  • The Balmoral: As one of the nicest hotels in Edinburgh, this iconic hotel is known as the location where J. K. Rowling finished the Harry Potter series, wiring Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in room 552.
  • Hostels: Edinburgh has numerous hostels scattered throughout the city are various price points so if you are looking for something cheaper definitely look into them!

WHAT TO DO
  • Climb the hills.  Edinburgh is known for the many hills that are scattered around the city.  Arthur's seat provides a beautiful view of the city and Calton Hill has a few monuments including Edinburgh's own Parthenon.
  • Walk the Royal Mile from Parliament and Holyrood Palace to the Castle at the top of the hill.   I would recommend walking around the inside of the unusual Parliament building as well as touring Holyrood Palace (home to the British Monarchy in the summer and the former King and Queen of Scots).  Touring the inside of the Castle is definitely something you can skip however.  The Royal Mile has a lot of touristy spots but it is definitely something not worth missing.
  • Harry Potter tour.  You can definitely join a tour or you can do this one completely yourself.  The Elephant House coffee shop is where J. K. Rowling famously started writing the series on a napkin.  Behind The Elephant House is a graveyard where many of the names used in the series can be found.  Victoria Street, located a block away, was the inspiration for Diagon Alley.
  • Museums.  Every museum in Scotland is free!  you could easily spend hours walking through them all but The National Gallery and the National Museum are two great options.
  • University of Edinburgh.  Founded in 1582, the campus of the university has some beautiful architecture that sprawls throughout Old Town.

WHERE TO EAT
  • Tea and scones anywhere in the city.  A few of my favorite coffee shops are Black Medicine, Kilimanjaro, Eteaket, Papi.
  • Civerinos has great pizza and definitely try the Nutella calzone!
  • Mary's Milk Bar has delicious ice cream and hot chocolate. You can even try them together!
  • El Cartel Mexican restaurant has delicious plantain chips and guacamole as well as a wide variety of margaritas.
  • Bramble Bar is a cozy drink spot hidden away in the basement of a building.  However with comfy seating and creative drinks, you can't help but stay a long time.
  • Also, don't be afraid to try Haggis.  While it might not sound appealing, the amount of spices added gives it a very unique taste and its a must try while in Scotland.

HOW TO GET AROUND
  • Walk everywhere!  While you can take a bus or taxi, with the amount of traffic you are usually quicker if you walk.  Plus, while walking, you can discover all the amazing nooks and crannies that the city has to offer.