California Dreaming

This year I took my first trip to Cali... I know it, like who hasn't been to Cali! ...I am one of those people, well up until February.

I have to be honest, Cali is beautiful, the vibe is amazing but as a southern girl, for me, Cali is strictly a place just for visiting, not settling down.

The weather was perfect. Coming from Georgia in February where it was winter weather to sunny Cali was amazing. Summer clothes in the winter, i'll take it! I realized more than anything that I was a southern girl on this trip. I've never really considered myself southern, since I'm originally from Cleveland, but I guess it's time to claim my southern roots!

I think us Southern folks like thing slow and chill.. to me Cali felt very much the opposite.

The Hollywood Sign

What's one thing everyone wants to see when they got to Cali, If you guessed the Hollywood sign, you're probably right. Imagine seeing the Hollywood sign, it seems to be in the near distance, you keep walking and then boom, 40 minutes later you still aren't there and it's further away!

Needless to say, we didn't get too close up on the sign, but seeing it waaaaaay off in the distance, in person was pretty cool.

but on the way there I was able to snap this awesome photo... I love how the palm trees line the street. Nope the camera isn't crooked, the tress all lean to the left. I wonder why that is???

Rodeo Dr

After the Hollywood Sign search we ventured to Rodeo Dr. We walked around the fancy area of town for a hour or so, the area was beautiful and was exactly what I would imagined it would be.

Walk of Fame

Again, I had a totally different perception of what the Hollywood Walk of Fame was.. I pictured some sectioned off part of town, somewhere near a big building, maybe an eternal flaming burning... ok I was way off, it's basically a bunch of side walks with stars on it. I was underwhelmed, can't lie, but again it was cool to see it in person

The Food

We of course had to check out Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles....listen! the food was sooooo good. I'm a huge chicken and waffle fan so I knew this was a must try. I was not disappointed!

We also checked out Catch, I'm not much of a seafood person, but from what I heard from everyone the food was great. I stuck with the chicken...But the entrance to the place was beautiful. These lights and greenery made the perfect area for photos.

Well Cali, thank you for being so nice to me! It was real! It was my first time, but it def won't be my last!

No Passport? Visit 3 Awesome Places in Puerto Rico

So you want to go to an island, but you don't have a passport. If you are in the U.S, without a passport there are a few place you can go...and Puerto Rico is one of them.

I am one of those people without a passport, which is limiting, however it is not the end all. My sisters and I recently took a trip to Puerto Rico, that was pretty awesome. There was plenty to do there, here are 3 of the places we visited that you can put on your checklist for your next trip there!

Isla Verde Beach, Carolina PR

Isla Verde Beach was one of the first spots we visited. I loved how calm and relaxing the beach was. We went in December, which we heard was cold for the locals, but for us the 80 degree temperature was perfect.

The thing I love most about this beach were the little food and bar stands. I hit a couple of them up for a Daiquiri in a pineapple and chicken on a stick. Delish! The water was beautiful too. Not super clear and blue, but was really nice.

Behind the beach is a street filled with plenty of stores to hit up. There's also a tiki bar in close proximity. 

Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico

If you are looking to learn more about Puerto Rico culture you will really want to check out this museum. The art ranged from large pieces that spanned the whole wall to 3D life size murals.

I won't give away all the goodies with my pictures but I will say I was not disappointed. The museum is three stories high and even offers more pretty things to look at in its garden. The fish pond in the garden was beautiful!

Old San Juan

Old San Juan was amazing. When visiting this area, put on your walking shoes! There are literally so many streets to walk on that you probably won't see everything unless you dedicate a whole day to it. In the courtyard there was a live show. Ladies dressed in white showed a packed crowd dances that were native to Puerto Rico. Also apart of the show, was a female drum band. It was so interesting watching and learning more about the culture.

I loved the painted shops. Every building was a different color that blended together beautifully. We ran across an alley so pretty that we could not resist taking a picture.

We did quite a bit of shopping here for souvenirs. So if you are in need of some this would be the area to visit to find some great unique items.

So now you see, no passport, no worries! There are still options out there. Tell me, have you ever visited Puerto Rico? What were some of your favorite places?