5 Can't Miss places in Kauai Hawaii

 Hey all!

I just came back from a wonderful trip to Kauai, Hawaii. Also known as The Garden Island and boy was it the most beautiful place I have ever been. The food, culture, beaches, and people all make this small island the perfect oasis. Now, I usually focus on budget, but Hawaii itself is expensive and deserves more than a weekend getaway. So let's save our pennies and go to Kauai!

1. Hanalei Bread Company

This breakfast joint is only open from 6 am to 12pm because good things never last. When I say the food and coffee are THE BEST I have ever had in my life, I am not exaggerating. The coffee has ruined other coffee for me for the near future. Bye Starbucks! I got the Carmel macchiato and Clovis got the Mocha. We were supposed to try somewhere new, but after tasting this heavenly food, we went EVERY day. Food in Hawaii are pricy ranging from $14-$25 a place, but the serving sizes are huge, so you can share.

2. Kauai Coffe Company

Kauai has its own coffee plantation and you don't have to guess, it's delicious. On the west side of the island, you can stop by, grab a cup of coffee and take a stroll along their free informational tour. There are signs on the path that walks you through the process. There are options to take a guided tour, taste test, and coffee bean plantation tour, but those do cost extra. While you are there make sure to check out the gift shop, they have cool items and of course lots of coffee!

3. Poipu Beach

Since you will already be on the west side of the island, make sure to plan your sunset to Poipu Beach. I was present for this sunset, but it looks fake. The beauty of the sky, rock, and water is jaw-dropping. 

4. Ha'ena Beach

While in Hanalei, maybe after going to the Bread Company, take a left and follow the two-lane
road all the way down to Ha'ena Beach. The drive goes around the base of the mountain and has a deck of views to offer. Ha'ena beach has a parking spot to the right, and oh yeah, a CAVE to the left. You can actually walk under a cave!!! The waves are intense here, so be careful, but the sand is soft and we even found polished shells! There is a white food truck that sells local fresh fruit, shaved ice, hot dogs, and more. We bought pineapple and bananas and they were delicious!

5. Local Markets

If you love farmer's markets, then Kauai is your place. Every day there is a market around the island. We were able to make it to one. and got beautiful matching crystal bracelets. 

There are so many things to see and do on this island, but make sure to take in the beauty!

Thank you for traveling with me!

-V

3 Days in San Francisco

 

Hey all!

Do you only have three days in San Francisco? No worries! This itinerary is jammed packed, so let just jump in.

Transportation: 

From and to the airport/ hotel, we used uber. We traveled late and very early so public transportation was not an option. 

Around the city: Public bus - you can get a day pass for about $5. The bus can take you anywhere you want o go!

Day one:

Pier 39: Check out the shops, and grab breakfast or snacks. You can view Alcatraz from the pier, take great pictures, and see live performances. I personally love the Christmas Ornament shop and candy store! Don't miss out on seeing all the seals relaxing a little left of the pier. 

Alcatraz Island: Buy your tickets ahead of time, and catch a ferry ride to Alcatraz. You can wander around the island (the parts they allow) or take a guided tour. You can stay as long as you want, it takes about 1-2 hours to fully see everything and check out the shop.

Punch Line Comedy Club: For some nighttime fun, check out the Punch Line Comedy Club for fun laughs. There is a two-drink minimum even if it is water. 

Dinner: Get some great ramen from Hinodeya Downtown.

Day two:

Wake up early and head to MyMy's. They open at 9am. You can sit outside and the food is delicious.

Asian Art Museum: Reserve your time and ticket online and immerse yourself in Asian culture.

Golden Gate Park: Take a walk through the giant Golden Gate park and enjoy seeing flowers, art pieces, and playful animals.

Japanese Tea Garden: In Golden Gate Park, stop and enter the Japanese Tea Garden. Along with all the beautiful flowers and trees, they have a wonderful cafe with tasty tea and cookies.

Beach: The water in northern California is a little cold, but enjoy walking in the sand while you head to your next location. 

Sutro Baths: There is a steep hill to walk from the beach to get here, but the ruins of the old bath house near the ocean are something to see. Don't miss the cave! Walk through to hear and see the ocean hit the rocks below.

Golden Gate Bridge: If you are in San Francisco, you need to see the Golden Gate Bridge. We took some amazing photos, walked a quarter of it, and checked out the gift shop. 

Dinner: Halal Wing Plus - Best wings I have ever had!

Day 3:

Breakfast: Honey, Honey Cafe & Creperie - I got the burrito and it was amazing!

San Francisco Zoo: Next to the beach, enjoy the animals and walk around. P.S. they have penguins!

Japanese Mall: Located in Japan town, there are a ton of cool stores, food, and desserts.

Dinner: Marfuku Ramen - Best Ramen I have ever had. They have different spice levels, and it is just an experience. 

I hope you enjoy!

Thanks for traveling with me!

-V

Colorado Weekend Trip

 

    Only have Friday afternoon through Sunday for a vacation? Perfect! Let's go over some things you can do for a quick road trip to Colorado.

Stay: For this trip, you will want to stay near Old Colorado City. There are great small stores and restaurants. We stayed in an Airbnb that was comfy and peaceful. Old Colorado City in Colorado Springs is also a good in-between location for all of your activities.

Friday: Get to your Airbnb and relax, check out some shops in Old Colorado City

Saturday: After having a good breakfast, hit the road, because you'll be driving for one hour to Canon City to ride the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. Ticket prices vary depending on the class and time of year, but the view is beautiful no matter what. The train follows a quiet river, through a gorge. There are open-air train cabs that give you the opportunity to take in the fresh air and snap a good picture. 

The service inside serves hot food, signature drinks, and Colorado brews. On our ride we purchase the sample tower, to test all of the local brews offered. The total ride takes 2-3 hours but is relaxing and an irreplaceable experience.

After the train makes sure you spend some time walking around. There is a park area next to the river, stunning wood bridges, and even areas to get right next to the water. For all the coffee buffs there is a caboose coffee shop next to the train station that has a variety of options.

Next, Denver!

Remember we are on a road trip, and this time, there is a lot of driving. There is so much to do in Denver, so take your pick of anything you want to do. We went to the aquarium, then walked downtown. When we were there they had free public transportation downtown, so make sure you look for that. If you are traveling in November
there is a street downtown decorated straight from a Hallmark movie. If you find or know the street name, comment below!

My boyfriend and I are not much for nightlife. So after a warm dinner and stroll, we headed back to our Airbnb.

Sunday:

Time to pack up the Airbnb, but don't worry we have one more adventure. Get a filling breakfast, because we're headed to the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Alamosa Colorado. These sand dues exceed their title as great
and are massive. The sand is soft and can be sled down. The pictures taken here look fake, but it is just one of those places you need to see to believe. 

Last, but not least, drive 45 minutes to the Colorado Gators Reptile Park. For a small entrance fee, you can feed tortoises, hold a baby alligator, and see a TON of reptiles. The park is such a blast and you get a certificate of bravery for holding the baby alligator. 

After all that fun it's finally time to head home and get ready for the week!

Thank you for traveling with me!

-V

Search for the Best Ramen

 Hello all!

My boyfriend and I are traveling the world and in search for the best Ramen! I can't wait share the list with you.

Ramen is a popular Japanese noodle dish that has many varieties. There are a lot of options, in broth, noodles, and add-ins that add to a great noodle dish. 

From November 2021 - Current, my boyfriend and I have visited 6 states with 9 trips, and try a Ramen dish every time we can. We being from New Mexico, of course we have some local restaurants!

Here's our list, let me know if you have ever tried any of these and your thoughts!

10. SoSoBa - Flagstaff, AZ

9. JINYA Ramen Bar - Denver, CO

8. Tokyo Bangkok - Albuquerque, NM

7. Yoko Ramen SLC - Salt Lake City, UT

6. Fun Noodle - Albuquerque, NM

5. Menya Ramen & Poke - Denver, CO

4. Akami Poke & Noodle Bar - Durango, CO

3. Naruto - Albuquerque, NM

2. HINODEYA Downtown - San Francisco, CA

1.  Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco, CA

This list will continue to be modified as we visit more locations! I can't wait for you to join us on this journey!

Get to know V!

 

Hello all! 

My name is Vanette and I'm a traveler. I am also a student and a full time worker. Over a year ago I realized I was missing something. After looking around at what makes me happy, I realized that traveling and experiencing new things makes me the happiest. So that is what I did. I used every free moment, day off, and a little extra money to take a trip. 

I have three pups, who sometimes will make an appearance on our travels. I mostly travel with my boyfriend, so a lot of our trips can be couple focused. We also have a goal to find the best Ramen, so food will always be a topic discussed. I am a huge fan of reading, so you will also be provided with the local book finds!

My adventures have a focus on short trips and maintaining a budget. I live in New Mexico so a lot of the short road trips are around the Southwest. However, there are times we are able to make short flights, and longer timed trips. So I hope this place can be a one and all for your travel needs. 

The farthest place I have traveled to was Italy. The prettiest place I have traveled, has been Wyoming. I can't wait to share these stories with you!

-V