Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles is as smog and traffic filled as you’ve heard, but it is also a city with some of the best beer in the world and plenty of fun things to do!

LA Tips: 

• Rent a car. I don’t always recommend renting a car, and you may think I am crazy with what you have heard about LA traffic, but I do recommend it. The city is massive and very spread out so a car is the easiest way to get around. Plus, rideshares like Uber and Lyft are quite expensive in the LA area.

  • If you are planning to Uber/Lyft from the airport you will need to take a shuttle from the terminal. You can’t actually order your ride until you get into the pickup zone but there are cars waiting for riders there.

• Intentionally plan out your time. There are several cities within the Los Angeles area worth exploring—downtown, Anaheim, Costa Mesa, the beaches, and more—that are all spread out, so be sure to have a plan of attack for your visit.

• If you are in town on a Monday or Tuesday be prepared that a lot of businesses (especially breweries) are closed.

• Downtown LA and tourist sites like the Hollywood Walk of Fame are pretty run down—overall I found central LA to be quite dirty. It’s not quite the glitz and glam that movies make it out to be.

• San Diego is closer than you think! It is about two hours from one downtown to the other, but both cities are sprawling so much that you can easily traverse between the two! I highly recommend exploring San Diego while you’re in the LA area—check out all of my San Diego recommendations here!

• Doing a road trip? Check out my Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park guide here and my Las Vegas guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Los Angeles Recommendations: 

• Monkish Brewing Co: Monkish is arguably one of the best breweries in the country. Their original taproom is located in Torrance, conveniently close to LAX if you are flying in/out of the city. They are best known for their New England IPAs which are absolutely spectacular, but their funky beers are delicious as well. They have a great patio space and food pop-ups Thursday-Sunday.

  • Monkish has a second location in Anaheim next to Farmer’s Park and the Anaheim Packing District. Parking can be a challenge here when the market is busy but it is worth it for their fantastic beers.

• Bottle Logic Brewing: A powerhouse brewery specializing in Stouts located in Anaheim. They have a nice patio, a large tap list, and phenomenal beers.

• Green Cheek Beer Co.: A top-notch brewery with locations in Costa Mesa and Orange. They have a wide array of beers to choose from, including a few guest taps, and they are best known for their Lagers. They also have a small food menu.

• Windsor Homebrew and Bottle Shop: A curated bottle shop and homebrew supply store with locations in Anaheim and Costa Mesa. Their bottle shop selection is incredible and the Anaheim location also has a selection of beers on tap that are hard to find and highly rated.

• Traveling with a group? AvantStay has some amazing larger homes for rent! Use my link here to save $250 off your booking!

• Highland Park Brewery: A fantastic brewery in downtown Los Angeles with a wide variety of beers and delicious food. Chill vibes, great beers.

• Kings Brewing: Located in Rancho Cucamonga, Kings is best known for their thicc Fruited Sours but they also highly value a good crisp Lager. They have a massive tap list and a friendly team.

• Homage Brewing: Homage has two locations—their original taproom is in downtown Pomona and they have a smaller secondary taproom in the Chinatown neighborhood of downtown LA. They are best known for their Saisons and Lambics which are top-notch.

• The Bruery: The Bruery is a highly awarded brewery creating uniquely delicious beers. Their main brewery and taproom is located in Placentia, right near Anaheim, Their second location, Bruery Terreux Tasting Room, is 5 minutes away in Anaheim proper. This location houses their Lambics and Wild Ales, but you can get those on tap at the main taproom as well.

Monkish Brewing

Los Angeles Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Griffith Park: A massive park with hiking, an observatory, access to the Hollywood Sign, a Greek Theater, the L.A. Zoo, tennis courts, a golf course, an equestrian center, and more!

  • I enjoyed the Glendale Peak Trail in Griffith Park that was 3.6 miles long and 67 flights up. It is quite exposed so be sure to bring lots of water. The trail can be popular but on a weekday morning I only saw a few folks. You get great views of the skyline, Hollywood Sign, and surrounding mountains.

• Hit the beach! Whether it is Santa Monica, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, or any of the smaller beaches in between, spend some time at the Pacific Ocean.

• Getting a picture of The Hollywood Sign: While in L.A. this is basically a must do, but it turns out it’s a bit harder than you would expect. You can go to the top of the park but then you are behind the letters and can’t actually read them, so I set out to take a photo from the front of the letters. As a heads up, Google says you can do this from “The Last House on Mulholland” but you cannot, they have closed the road. The entire Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood that is in front of the Hollywood Sign has signs up throughout it preventing parking and there are several roads closed because of tourists. I managed to snag a quick photo near 3389 Deronda Drive, but even that was technically not allowed.

• Elysian Park: Another massive greenspace in the city! There is a good view of the skyline at Angel’s Point.

• Check out the Top of the World: I did the Top of the World via Canyon Acres Trail in Laguna Beach that led to a great viewpoint of the surrounding mountains, ocean, and city. You can also drive up to right below The Top of the World if that is more your style. For the hike it was short but steep—2.7 miles long and 70 flights up. It is very exposed so be sure to bring lots of water. Overall it took me just over an hour and was a great workout with great views.

Griffith Park

Other LA Things To Do:​​

• Radiant Beer Co.: Located in Anaheim, Radiant is a young brewery with vibrant branding and a nice patio. Their beers are solid and they were named 2021 GABF Small Brewery of the Year.

• The Camp: A cute development in Costa Mesa with a bunch of shops and restaurants to explore.

  • Slurpin’ Ramen Bar: A small ramen bar located near The Camp in Costa Mesa with delicious ramen and other appetizers and sides.

• Mumford Brewing: A solid brewery in downtown Los Angeles.

• Sandbox Brewing Company: Sandbox is a small spot known for their Fruited Sours. They are located in an industrial complex in Montclair.

San Diego, CA

San Diego is as glorious as you are imagining. Great weather. Great Beaches. Great Beer.

San Diego Tips: 

• San Diego is massive. The county is quite spread out and encompasses multiple different cities within itself. I would recommend only a couple of days in the downtown area and then get yourself to a cute beach town and relax for a few days.

• There are over 150 breweries in San Diego, so it can be quite overwhelming to start planning your San Diego trip. Don’t fret! A lot of those breweries have multiple taprooms throughout the San Diego area, so once you decide what areas you would like to visit you can narrow down your selection.

• Expand your trip into the Los Angeles area! I loved getting to roam around SoCal and was surprised at how close the two cities are to each other because of their large sprawling sizes. Check out all of my LA recommendations here!

• The airport in San Diego is central to downtown so it is very convenient to fly in/out of.

• Doing a road trip? Check out my Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park guide here and my Las Vegas guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top San Diego Recommendations: ​

• Pure Project: The best brewery in the San Diego area. Pure has several locations to check out—Vista, Miramar, Balboa Park, and Carlsbad. They also have a North Park location that will be opening soon. I visited Balboa Park and Carlsbad and thoroughly enjoyed them both!

  • Balboa Park: This location is, you guessed it, right off of Balboa Park in downtown San Diego. They have a cute patio, a biergarten across the street, and pizza onsite from Urbn Pizza.

  • Carlsbad: This location fully emits the chill, beach vibes of Carlsbad. They have a nice set-up with a fire table, casual seating, plants, and super friendly staff.

• Mostra Coffee: An absolute must-visit while in the San Diego area! They have 3 locations—Banker’s Hill is the closest to central SD, Carmel Mountain Ranch is the original spot, and the 4S Ranch location has a great selection of craft beer. I loved the Crème Brûlée Latte and Choconana Cold Brew.

• Eppig Brewing Waterfront Biergarten: A cute taproom directly on the marina. The seats are right along the ocean and you can see the San Diego skyline and surrounding mountains in the distance. The Lagers here were great. Eppig also has another location in Vista.

• Traveling with a group? AvantStay has some amazing larger homes for rent! Use my link here to save $250 off your stay!

• Societe Brewing Company: A great brewery with delicious beers and an onsite food truck, Chachos Tacos, serving up really tasty eats.

• Mujeres Brew House: San Diego’s first Latina-founded community brewing space. The beers here are tasty and they have the option to do a chamoy rim which I highly recommend. They also have a cute patio space and a food menu.

• The Lost Abbey: This Belgian brewery has four tasting rooms in the San Diego area—The Main Tasting Room in San Marcos, The Church in downtown San Diego, The Sanctuary in San Marcos, and The Confessional in Cardiff-By-The-Sea.

  • I visited The Confessional that is housed in a shopping center with multiple food options around that you can grab takeout from and enjoy at The Lost Abbey. This taproom is quite small and has beachy vibes. Their Barrel Aged beers are great.

• Get lost in the Miramar brewery scene: This industrial area has over 15 breweries within just a couple of miles. Many of these breweries have other locations as well.

  • AleSmith Brewing Company: This Miramar brewery is one of the older breweries in San Diego and one of the most popular. They are best known for Speedway Stout and the different variants they make of that beer. Their taproom is very large and commercialized with a full gift shop and tour buses frequently stopping in, but the beers are solid and worth checking out.

Pure Project Carlsbad

North Park Recommendations:

• North Park Beer Co.: A solid brewery with chill vibes. Their West Coast IPAs are top notch. Mastiff Sausage Company has a location inside for food.

• Bottlecraft: A great beer bar and bottle shop with 12 taps and a plethora of cans and bottles to choose from. They are also home to Venissimo Cheese so you can enjoy charcuterie with your beers. Bottlecraft has several locations throughout the San Diego area.

• The Original 40 Brewing Company: Another solid brewery with a wide selection of taps to choose from. They have a full food menu and their pretzel is particularly delicious.

• Pariah Brewing Co.: Another brewery option a bit further north. The beers were tasty but the environment was a lot. Beer pong and staff getting drunk at the bar is not particularly a great look.

• Rouluer Brewing Company: An average brewery with a full food menu.

Oceanside Recommendations:

• Bottlecraft: A great beer bar and bottle shop. This location is smaller than North Park but they still have a fantastic selection of beers. They also have a restaurant inside, Shootz, that specializes in fish tacos. Their back patio has great vibes, and from 4-6pm they have no corkage fee so you can enjoy a something from their can/bottle selection at list price.

• Craft Coast Brewery & Taco Stand: A solid brewery that has a patio, a full food menu, and is quite popular.

• The Buccaneer Cafe: A cute little shack right across from the beach that is a great spot to grab breakfast. I would not recommend their coffee drinks, but the food is delicious.

• Booze Brothers Brewing Co.: An average brewery in the heart of Oceanside. You can order food from Rosewood, the restaurant next door, if you are hungry.

• Kilowatt Brewing: I was super unimpressed with Kilowatt. They intentionally create a party vibe with their loud music, bright lights, and games, which might be fine, but there were several people that were absolutely trashed that the bartender continued to serve. The Sour I tried was tasty but the rest of the beers were not good.

Carlsbad Recommendations:

• Burgeon Beer Company: A great brewery with a wide variety of beers to choose from. This is one of the few spots in San Diego without outdoor seating, but the beers are worth leaving the sunshine behind for a little bit.

• As I noted above, Pure Project Carlsbad is a fantastic brewery with a great vibe. They have a nice set-up with a fire table, casual seating, plants, and super friendly staff.

• Carlsbad State Beach: The large beach that runs through Carlsbad! There are volleyball courts and it is a great spot for dolphin watching.

• Café Topes: A cute spot for breakfast/lunch but overall I would say the food was average at best.

• Pizza Port Brewing Company: One of the OG’s of the San Diego beer scene, Pizza Port now has 6 taprooms in the area: Solana Beach, Carlsbad, San Clemente, Ocean Beach, Bressi Ranch, and Port Side in Carlsbad. My intent was to visit the Carlsbad location but it was an absolute madhouse when I visited. The wait for one small pizza was an hour and 45 minutes and the line for beer was winding through the entire restaurant.

La Jolla Cove

San Diego Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Mission Beach: A great beach to lounge at and watch the surfers. I enjoyed the Ocean Front Boardwalk Trail for a morning stroll. There are several access points to the beach so you can make your walk as long or as short as you’d like. I saw a plethora of dolphins from the shoreline which is always fun. They also have beach volleyball and free parking at this beach.

• Children’s Pool at La Jolla: You can see seal pups here December-May or the beach is open the rest of the year. There were a ton of seals in the area when I visited in January, it was awesome to see. Heads up if you wander onto the little bridge you may get soaked by a wave!

• La Jolla Cove: So. Many. Sea. Lions!!! Extremely cool spot to check out. This is again seasonal, but highly recommended if you are in the area in the winter/spring months.

• Windansea Beach: Not actually a beach, but instead a cool rocky area where waves smash into the coastline.

• Cowles Mountain from Big Rock Trail: Cowles Mountain is the highest point in the San Diego area so the views from the top are fantastic. There are a few different trails that can lead you to the top, but this one was quiet until you joined the other trails at the top. The last section is very steep, but overall it was still moderate. Overall this trail was 5 miles and 99 flights up. As a forewarning if you do this hike from this starting point there is no bathroom at the trailhead.

• Explore Balboa Park: This massive greenspace is home to the San Diego Zoo, several museums, walking/hiking trails, a golf course, Japanese gardens, and so much more!

• Ocean Beach: A cute little beach town to explore. There a fun little cafes like The Template and a large fishing pier. They’ve also got a solid beer scene with Pizza Port Brewing Company, California Wild Ales, and OB Brewery.

• Sunset Cliffs: It’s recommended you visit at sunset for awesome views, but it is still a cool sight to see anytime of day. There is also a hiking trail you can follow along the cliffs—Sunset Cliffs Trail.

• Torrey Pines State Reserve: There are a lot of different hikes in this park to explore, but be aware that it is either $20 to park inside the park or you can park on the road but then for most trailheads you have a long uphill walk to the trail. I enjoyed the Torrey Hills State Beach and Broken Hill Trail Loop. It was a 3.3 mile/28 flights up hike that was quite popular. It was a beachy hike with nice overlooks.

• The Cedros Design District in Solana Beach is a cute area to explore!

• Drive the Coronado Bridge to Coronado Beach. The bridge has great views of downtown and the ocean. The beach is pretty and the sand is very soft here. There is free street parking throughout the area.

• Point Loma Tide Pools and Cabrillo National Monument are two popular spots to check out as well, but be aware that the road closes after 5pm. It is $20 to access the area unless you already have a National Park Pass.

• Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala: A beautiful old mission established in 1769. There is a $5 entrance to access the interior.

Mostra Coffee

Other San Diego Things To Do:​​

• Et Voilà!: A French Bistro in a cute part of town worth hopping around. They have a great Happy Hour, a cute back patio, delicious food + drinks, and fantastic service.

  • Blind Lady Ale House is also in this neighborhood but had shortened hours when I was in town.

• California Wild Ales: An interesting brewery specializing in Sours. Their original taproom is near Torrey Pines and their second spot is in Ocean Beach. I think they have the potential to make some great beers but they did not have a great tap list when I visited.

• Panchita's Kitchen and Bakery: A quick stop for delicious breakfast burritos.

• Border X Brewing: A brewery focused on community, culture, and Mexican craft beer. They also have a food menu.

• Abnormal Beer Co.: A restaurant-style brewery with a cute patio and a full food menu.

• Half Door Brewing Co.: An average brewery in downtown San Diego. The space is super cute in a converted house-style setting with a porch and upstairs balcony. It is right by the baseball stadium and has food as well.

• Best Pizza and Brew: A brewery, beer bar, and pizza spot with a bit of ocean views in Cardiff-By-The Sea.

• Spill The Beans: A cute coffee shop in the heart of downtown with tasty food

• Harland Brewing: An average brewery with several locations in the San Diego area. The Bay Park location has a cute patio but there is very limited parking and the beers are just okay.

• Chicano Park: An area under the freeway filled with street art.

• Resident Brewing: A brewery in the heart of downtown San Diego housed inside The Local. Overall it had restaurant vibes and a full food menu. The Stouts were great but other beers didn’t quite hold up.

• Duck Foot Brewing: An average brewery in the Miramar area with a variety of beers to choose from.

• Torrey Pines Gilderport: A spot on the coast to watch the hang gliders. Overrate in my opinion, but some people really enjoy it. There is a little cafe onsite as well.

Lake Tahoe, CA

Lake Tahoe is a gorgeous place to visit that I absolutely loved & highly recommend!

​Tahoe Tips: 

• Make South Tahoe your base! There are far more things to do in the South Tahoe area than any of the other spots you can stay around the lake.

• Tahoe is primarily a ski town and a lake town, so most folks choose to visit in the snowy months or June-August for the most lake usage.

• There are bike paths throughout the city and a trolley in town that you can utilize as well.

• Hop around the South Tahoe Beer Trail! I detail the breweries below, but this website has a handy map and information.

• There are a ton of great hikes in the Tahoe area, most are about 20 minutes from town. Many trails will either be closed or difficult to hike due to snow for a majority of the year, so be sure to check conditions ahead of time on websites like AllTrails. Also be bear aware! Tahoe is full of bears both in neighborhoods and on trails.

• Stateline, Nevada is directly adjacent to South Tahoe. This city is full of casinos and somewhat trashier vibes.

• Doing a Northern California trip? Check out my San Francisco recommendations here (update coming soon!) and my Yosemite National Park Guide here.

• Bend, Oregon has very similar vibes to Tahoe, so if you like one you’ll like the other. My Bend guide is linked here.

South Lake Brewing Company

Adventures & Ales Top Lake Tahoe Recommendations: 

• The Hangar: My absolute favorite stop in Tahoe! The Hangar is a beer bar and bottle shop with a fantastic beer selection. Their outside area is truly majestic. They also have frequent food pop-ups.

• DL Bliss State Park to Emerald Bay State Park via Rubicon Trail: This section of the lakeshore is incredibly beautiful. There are a couple of access points to the water as well. The route I took was 6.8 miles long, 62 flights up, and took about 3 hours.

  • While I do love this trail, I would highly recommend not actually doing the AllTrails route. This route has you park on the side of the road, walk down a very steep section, walk across the road, walk through a campsite, and then join the Rubicon Trail. This first stretch has zero views and is just unnecessary. Park at the Rubicon Trail access point, at DL Bliss State Park, or at Emerald Bay State Park.

• South Lake Brewing Company: A fun brewery with delicious beers and great branding. They have a nice beer garden on the side of the building and a small patio space out front. South Lake offers flights in the form of skis and snowboards which is adorable and their beers are arguably the best in Tahoe. Get Rad pizza is also based here for your food needs. South Lake will soon be opening a second taproom in the village neighborhood near Stateline.

• Stay at The Jeffrey Hotel: A super cute and very Tahoe-esque hotel. Enjoy contact-less check-in, a fireplace, a mini-kitchen, and a plethora of thoughtful touches. They also have a fantastic upper patio space with a firepit and chill vibes. The Jeffrey is within walking distance to a TON of different spots in The Village and Stateline.

• Secret Cove: This is a fun “secret beach” on the Nevada side of the lake. The water in insanely pretty here and I highly recommend a visit. It is a little difficult to access—you can park at Chimney Beach when that lot is open, but it is not year-round, so when it is closed you need to park on the side of the road. Depending on where you are able to get a spot it can be a very steep start down to the beach, so be prepared. It is about a half mile from the road to the beach. This is a nude beach, but early in the morning you can generally avoid anything too crazy if you want to.

• Dragonfly Bagel: A delicious bagel spot that also serves beer and wine at night with some New Orleans flair. Located directly next to Sidellis Brewing.

• South of North Brewing Company: A fun brewery housed at the Base Camp Hotel with a fantastic outdoor space. They have a full food menu with delicious sandwiches and snacks. They have live music every night, fire pits and are super dog friendly. South of North exudes chill vibes, their beer is solid and they also have several guest taps.

• Eagle Lake Trail: This a great hike to an absolutely stunning lake back in the woods. This trailhead is in a popular area near Eagle Falls and Emerald Bay, so start early. You will also get to see Upper Eagle Falls at the start of this trail. Overall this hike took just over an hour, was 2.5 miles long, and 36 flights up.

• Cold Water Brewery & Grill: A delightful woman-owned, food-focused brewery. Their food menu rotates seasonally and is the perfect spot for dinner after a day of adventuring. They have a large and diverse tap list as well. In the summer they open an adjacent taproom, The Runoff, to allow for more service and seating outside.

• The Idle Hour: A cute wine bar right on the lake. You can choose between a glass of wine, a tasting or a bottle. They also have a small food menu. This is the perfect spot to catch the sunset and beautiful views of the lake.

• Sidellis Brewing: Sidellis is a barrel aging and sour-focused brewery, but they always have a variety of beers on tap that can please anyone’s palate. Their kitchen serves up a simple but delicious menu to accompany their brews. There is also a nice back patio space. Their flight boards are shaped like Lake Tahoe, and their Stouts are particularly delicious!

Eagle Lake

Lake Tahoe Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: 

• El Dorado Beach: A large public beach with restrooms, a snack shack, picnic tables, and kayak and stand-up paddle board rentals. The water is extremely clear and stays shallow for quite a long distance out into the lake.

• Inspiration Point: A nice viewpoint to stop at while you’re around the trails. There is a box for a $5 fee based on the honor system. I highly recommend going early, I was the only one there at 8am and there were cars backed up trying to get into the parking lot all afternoon long. There are restrooms and nice informational signs here as well.

• Cascade Falls Trail: This is a pretty easy trail that was 2.5 miles, 28 flights up, and took just over an hour to complete. It is essentially a straight line from the trailhead in the campground to the waterfall. There are great views of Cascade Lake nearly the entire hike. There isn’t a great viewpoint for the waterfall itself since you end at the top of it, but it is still a nice hike overall.

• Lakeside Beach: Another nice beach with restrooms, a snack shack, and a playground. This is a great spot to catch the sunset, but bring bug spray. There are fees to enter from Memorial Day to Labor Day when a gate attendant is present.

• Fallen Leaf Lake Trail: There are multiple access points to the Fallen Leaf Lake Trail, so you can choose where you’d like to jump in. The trailhead is inside a campground, but you can keep to the left to drive along the road with the trail. If you follow the AllTrails route it is 3.6 miles and mostly flat. The water here is gorgeous (like everywhere in Tahoe!) and there are views of Mount Tallac.

The Jeffrey

Other Lake Tahoe Things To Do:​​​

• Kings Beach: The public beach for North Tahoe. There are kayak and stand-up paddle board rentals on this end of the lake as well.

  • JavaHut: A solid coffee shop right along Kings Beach.

• Cuppa: A cute bookstore, café and coworking space. The staff here is super friendly and the pastries are great—I’d skip the bagel though.

• Monkey Rock Trail: This is a nice 2.7 mile long, 22 flight up hike to Monkey Rock—which actually looks exactly like a monkey. It takes just about an hour and has great panoramic views from the Nevada side of the lake. You do have to pay to park at the trailhead, they will 100% give you a ticket if you don’t.

• Alibi Ale Works: An average brewery with a full food menu. They have 3 locations in the area: the Brewery & Barrel House in Incline Village, NV, Incline Public House in Incline Village, NV and Truckee Public House in the city of Truckee.

• Free Bird: A cafe with two locations in town with coffee, smoothies, and a small food menu.

• Lake Tahoe AleWorX at the Y: A self-pour beer bar and pizza restaurant offering mostly local brews. They have a great shared outdoor space with the neighboring businesses.

  • Lake Tahoe AleWorX Stateline: This is the Nevada location for AleWorX with more self-pour taps, a full bar, and a food menu.

• Revive Coffee and Wine: A cool spot with a nice outdoor space, but be aware that their hours are not always accurate.

• Stateline Brewery & Restaurant: A very mediocre brewery with below average beers and below average service. Highly recommend that you skip this basement spot. Also to note if you do choose to visit, it is called Stateline but it is actually in California, not in Stateline, NV.

The Bay Area, CA

I absolutely Love the Bay Area—it is stunningly gorgeous, there are tons of great breweries, and the hiking is incredible!

The Bay Area Tips: 

• This area is massive. San Francisco itself is a huge city that takes several days to explore, and you can spend several days exploring the areas to the south side of the bay and several more exploring the north.

• While you are in San Francisco be sure to soak in all the architecture! Everywhere you look there is unique and beautiful buildings

• While you are in San Francisco always carry a rain jacket! Even if there is no rain in the forecast it still happens all the time, and the fog makes things generally damp.

• Avoid driving if you are just staying in San Francisco itself. The city is known for car break-ins and parking is really a nightmare.

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations for San Francisco:​

• Mission Dolores Park: A perfectly placed park that provides fantastic views of the skyline in the heart of the Mission District​​. This is the perfect spot for a picnic and the park is also very dog friendly.

• Hike! I started at Fort Point and followed the coastal trail. There are amazing views of the bridge, hang out at Baker Beach (heads up this is a nude beach), and then you can do the Land's End section as well that takes you around the peninsula down to Golden Gate Park. This trail on AllTrails is similar to what I did but I did it in the opposite direction & went further down the coast to Golden Gate Park.

• Cellarmaker Brewing: Arguably the best brewery in SF! They have two locations—the original taproom and their House of Pizza which has phenomenal Detroit-style pizzas with their beers. HOP is quite small so try to visit during an off time or you will need to wait for a table.

• The Rare Barrel: A fantastic brewery in Berkeley specializing in Sour Barrel Aged beers. They also have their own IPA and Lager subsidiary, Hello Friend.

• Toronado: One of the top beer bars in the country! They have an insane tap list and 40 taps. This spot is cash only and has dive bar vibes.

• Holy Water: A religious-themed craft beer and cocktail bar. They have a great tap list and chill vibes. Located in the Bernal Heights neighborhood.

• Barebottle Brewing Co.: A great brewery with a wide variety of beers, but specializing in IPAs. They have a large taproom with games and a nice little beer garden. As a forewarning if you go the flight route they are quite expensive, but the beers are great.

• Breakfast Little: A cute spot for delicious breakfast in The Mission. They have breakfast burritos, tots, coffees, and more.  

• The Monk’s Kettle: A tavern in the heart of The Mission with a top-notch tap list and tasty food. Overall a cool spot with fun vibes.

Tartine Bakery in Mission Dolores Park

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting in San Francisco: ​

• Tartine Bakery: Located in The Mission & worth the wait. Amazing breakfast and baked goods. Pro tip—grab some baked goods and walk over to Mission Dolores Park. 

• The Golden Gate Bridge: Duh. It's stunning. But also don’t be surprised if it is hidden in the fog.

• Muir Woods: A national monument in the Redwoods! This is an extremely popular spot since it is close to San Francisco and easily accessible. It is $15 to enter unless you have a National Park Pass and you are required to book your parking ahead of time, or you can also book a seat on the shuttle. Learn more about both here. This area is very lush and there are a variety of hikes/walks you can choose from to explore.

  • I did the Fern Creek, Lost and Canopy Trail which was 5.1 miles and 69 flights up to the top of the Redwoods. The AllTrails map is not quite accurate so just follow the signage on the trail. If you’d rather just have a nice flat and easy walk you can do that at the base of the Redwoods as well.

• Ferry Building Market: A cute indoor market where the ferry stop is. Fort Point Brewing has a little mini tap room here as well

• Clairon Alley: Social justice murals line the alley

• Ghirardelli Square: So touristy. But also chocolate, so it's worth it. San Francisco Brewing is here as well.

• Fisherman's Wharf: So touristy. See the sea lions, but then escape!

• Crane Cove Park: A nice green space on the water right near the Chase Center.

Holy Water

Other things to do in San Francisco: ​​

• Original Pattern Brewing: A hazy IPA focused brewery in Oakland. The also partner with Good To Eat for dumplings onsite.

• Magnolia Brewing: A solid brewery on Haight Street with a full food menu and restaurant style set-up.

• Almanac Beer Co.: A popular brewery in Alameda known for Barrel Aged Stouts and Wild Ales. They have a large outdoor space and are super dog friendly.

• Faction Brewing: Another brewery just down the road from Almanac that has views of the San Francisco skyline and Golden Gate Bridge. They are part of Spirits Alley with distilleries and wineries surrounding them, so you could make a day of bopping between businesses.

• Southern Pacific Brewing: A popular brewery with a large space, full food menu, and solid beers.

• The Page: A fun dive bar in the Lower Haight neighborhood.

• Standard Deviant Brewing: A solid brewery in The Mission with an outdoor patio and several TVs for sports.

• Harmonic Brewing: Another brewery option. Located in an industrial area with frequent food pop-ups and average beers.

• Laughing Monk Brewing: A solid brewery in an industrial area with food pop-ups and games. Their tap list mainly focused on IPAs and easy drinking beers.

• Barrel Head Brewery: Solid beers and yummy pretzels, what more could you ask for? 

• Noe Bagel: A nice spot for a bagel in the heart of the Noe neighborhood. Pop up the street to Bernie’s Coffee for a drink to pair with your bagel.

• ThirstyBear Brewery: Organic beers and a large space!

• 21st Amendment Brewing: Solid beers that are largely distributed around the country

Humble Sea Brewing

Santa Cruz County Recommendations:

• Santa Cruz is an adorable little beach town full of great breweries, wineries, and restaurants.

• Sante Adairius Rustic Ales: SARA is one of the top breweries in the world and has two locations—their original taproom in Capitola and The Portal in Santa Cruz. They specialize in Rustic Ales, so be sure to try their Saisons. In Capitola they are located at the end of an industrial road with a quaint little taproom and outdoor patio. The Portal has a small patio out front and larger taproom inside. Here they partner with Bookies Pizza for Detroit-style pies and be sure to ask what Private Press Brewing bottles they have for onsite consumption as well.

• Humble Sea Brewing Company: This fantastic brewery has three locations: Santa Cruz—Located right in the heart of downtown, this is their main taproom and brewery. It is a cute spot with killer beers and they have Fonda Felix empanadas. Pacifica—This taproom is right next to the beach and has a full food menu and a great outdoor space. The Tavern—Located in Felton and has a full food menu and cocktails as well.

• Natural Bridges State Park: This is a nice beach with a very cool rock formation. If you are staying longer than 20 minutes you have to pay for parking, or you can park on the nearby street and walk over.

• Woodhouse Brewing & Blending: A nice brewery in Santa Cruz with an IPA-heavy tap list. This is a popular spot with frequent live music and food trucks. They have a nice outdoor space as well.

• Discretion Brewing: A solid brewery in Soquel with a wide variety of beers and a full food menu from Sugo Italian Kitchen onsite.

• Firefly Coffee House: A nice little spot in Santa Cruz for coffee and bagels.

• Beer Thirty: A bottle shop and beer bar in Soquel. It is a cute spot with mostly local draft beers but they are quite pricey.

• Santa Cruz also has a large boardwalk and amusement park along the beach which are quite touristy.

Big Sur Recommendations:

• Explore this gorgeous coast and do some hiking along the way! Be sure to start your day early because the parking at each viewpoint fills up quickly.

• Don’t miss: Rocky Creek Bridge, Castle Rock Viewpoint and Bixby Creek Bridge. There are a ton of different viewpoints along the road, so just pull over whenever you want to check it out!

• For the hiking in Big Sur there is a $10 admission fee that is good at all of the state parks in the area for the day.

• Partington Cove: This hike has nice views of 2 different coves, make sure you check out both. There is not a fee here, you just park along the road. This is a short and quick trail at just 1.3 miles long, 24 flights up, and about 25 minutes.

• McWay Falls: It is about .7 of a mile from the parking lot to the Falls viewpoint and back. There is also a longer trail but it was closed for maintenance while I was there. The $10 entrance fee also applies here. McWay Falls is a small waterfall that you are viewing from high up, but the bay view is very pretty.

• Pfieffer Big Sur State Park: There are several trails here after you pay the $10 entrance fee. The Valley View Overlook trail and the connection to Pfeiffer Falls is a nice hike. From the parking lot take the River Trail past the visitor center to the trailhead. Prepare for lots of stairs and quite a bit of incline as you are gaining 500ft of elevation in less than a mile. From the summit there is a nice view of the surrounding valley out to the ocean. Pfeiffer Falls is a small waterfall but it is still nice and it is an easy add-on to make the trail a loop. Overall it was 2.6 miles, 48 flights up, and took just about an hour.

The Lone Cyprus on the 17-Mile Drive

The Monterey Peninsula Recommendations:

• Carmel Beach: A beautiful beach with incredibly white sand in Carmel-By-The-Sea

• 17-mile Drive: You guessed it, a 17-mile drive around the edge of the Pebble Beach peninsula. It is $11.25 to drive it or if you spend $35 at a Pebble Beach restaurant it is reimbursed. There are a ton of different viewpoints along the drive and they give you a map at the entrance. Some of my favorites were the Ghost Trees at Pescadero Point, the Lone Cyprus, and Seal Beach.

• Wander Monterey—this cute little beach town is quite fancy.

• Alvarado Street Brewing: Alvarado Street has two locations—one in downtown Monterey and one in Carmel-By-The-Sea. Their Monterey taproom has a front and back patio space, full food menu, and restaurant-style vibes. Yeast of Eden is their Wild Ale subsidiary so occasionally they have one of those beers on draft and bottles available.

• Fieldwork Brewing Company: Fieldwork has a ton of different taprooms around the Bay Area, so be sure to check out at least one while you are in the area. Their Monterey spot is an outdoor beer garden with a huge tap list and a wide variety of beers. The service was exceptional and West Coast IPAs were great.

• Point Lobos is just south of the Monterey Peninsula and has several different hiking trails. Parking can be absolutely insane—go early because the parking lot and surrounding road fill up quickly.

Watsonville Recommendations:

• Fruition Brewing: A great brewery in Watsonville! They have a front patio space, restaurant onsite specializing in oysters, and impressive beers.

• Beer Mule: A bottle shop and beer bar in Watsonville. A cool spot with great beers and frequent food pop-ups.

Iron Horse Vineyards

Sonoma County Recommendations:

• When you drive into Sonoma County there are wineries and sheep everywhere—the views are great!

• Russian River Brewing: One of the best breweries in the world! They are located in downtown Santa Rosa and make insanely good, award winning beer. It is a popular spot for both locals and tourists so expect it to be busy. I recommend doing a flight to try a variety of their beers—you can do their California style beers, Belgian inspired beers, the full tap list, or build your own. They also have a full food menu. The beer for both onsite and to-go is quite cheap which is delightful coming from such a world class brewery.

• Stay at Cambria Hotel Sonoma Wine Country: I loved my stay at this new and budget friendly hotel in the heart of wine country. It was 1 mile off the highway, 10 minutes from Russian River, and had great amenities. They have an outdoor pool, workout room, fire pits outside, and a great bar and restaurant inside.

• Check out the wineries! Obviously Sonoma County and Napa Valley are best known for their wine so be sure to check it out. There are wineries everywhere in the region and most require reservations in advance and have limited hours, most spots are generally 10am-3pm.

  • Iron Horse Vineyards is where I chose to visit because they have a great view and are known for their sparkling wines. The tasting was $30 for 5 pours and takes about 1 hour. It is a nice set-up with super nice staff members and lovely views.

Argentina

Argentina is a beautiful country with diverse landscape and fun places to explore!

Argentina Tips: 

• Everything in Argentina is incredibly cheap. Taxis, restaurants, Airbnbs—you name it. The whole country is very budget-friendly.

• Many businesses don’t have websites and you can’t fully trust their Google hours, social media is more reliable.

• Check out my Brazil guide here!

Buenos Aires Recommendations:

Buenos Aires is a pretty cool massive cosmopolitan city! Walk around as much as possible—traffic can be annoying and Ubers are very cheap but sometimes difficult to book.

• Strange Brewing: A great brewery with tasty beers and a good selection on their tap list. They also have a food menu and nice staff.

• Recoleta Cemetery: A massive above ground cemetery that is very cool to explore.

• Check out a Tango show: We went with La Ventana and really enjoyed our experience. The performers are wildly talented and the show was very entertaining. It is touristy but worth it! You can book with or without transport and with or without dinner.

• Rebelion: A cute spot for dinner in the Palermo neighborhood. Tasty eats and cocktails and nice patio seating.

• Coma, Veggie: A good spot in the Palermo neighborhood for empanadas and pizza.

• Jardín Japonés: The Japanese Gardens are a bit disappointing and overcrowded, but the entrance fee was less than $1 so not too shabby.

• Parque El Rosadel: A pretty rose garden that is a 10 minute walk from Jardín Japonés.

Laguna de Los Tres

Patagonia Recommendations:

El Chalten things to do—

If you visit one spot in Patagonia let it be El Chalten! This town is super cute and the hikes in Parque Nacional Los Glaciers are incredible! Everything is very walkable (even the trailheads you can walk to from town!) and the views are superb.

• Laguna de Los Tres Trail: This trail is 15.2 miles long with 3,500ft of elevation gain and takes about 8 hours to complete. It is absolutely stunning all throughout the trail. Fitz Roy is truly magical to see in person. This is definitely the more popular trail in the area so start early to avoid the crowds. The last section is brutally steep, but it is absolutely worth it!

  • If you need hiking poles (would recommend for this trail in particular) there are plenty of gear shops in town you can rent them from for just a few bucks.

• Laguna Torre Trail: This trail is 12 miles long with 1,644ft of elevation gain and takes just under 5 hours to complete. It is a great hike with beautiful views and not too difficult. The lake is gorgeous and you can see Fitz Roy from a different angle. Be sure to bring bug spray for this one!

• Laborum: A delicious spot for pizza—12/10 recommend.

• La Cervecería Chaltén: A brewery with a nice little beer garden outside and restaurant inside. They have homemade pasta that is delicious along with a few beers on tap and cocktails.

• Fresco Bar: A cool little brewery in a greenhouse building with a small food menu.

• La Vineria: A wine bar with a small beer menu, food, and a nice view.

• Bandidos Patagónicos: A solid beer bar and pizza restaurant.

• Patagonicus: An average spot for pizza and beer.

El Calafate things to do—

El Calafate is where you’ll need to fly into to visit El Chalten or El Calafate. It is home to a massive glacier and a cute little town.

• Perito Moreno Glacier: This is the main attraction in this area and a must-visit! The glacier is massive and such a unique thing to explore. You can visit the glacier with a tour company but they’re all quite expensive and very long days. It is very easy to visit on your own either with a rental car or via bus.

  • Walkways Trail: The metal walkways take you down and around the glacier for various viewpoints. It is about 2.5 miles long with 300ft of elevation gain to do the entire walk in one direction, and takes about 1.5 hours. After paying the park entrance fee you will park then take a free shuttle to the walkways which runs every 10 minutes. You can either shuttle back to the parking area after seeing the glacier or take the trail back.

  • You can also do a boat tour to get closer to the glacier which is neat but a bit boring, and there is also kayak tours here.

• Pura Vida: A stellar spot for dinner. Great vibes, friendly staff, delicious and fresh entrees, plus tasty cocktails.

• La Trinchera: A fantastic spot for craft beer, wine and they also have a small food menu. This bar is super cute, their team is so nice, and their canned beer selection is superb.

• Wanaco Tradicional Bar: A cool bar with patio seating. They have a full food menu and pitchers of cocktails.

• Shelby: A cute little spot for gin tonics and a bottle shop. The upper balcony space is a nice spot to hang out.

• La Oveja Negra: A craft brewery and distillery with a food menu and patio seating.

• Olivia Coffee Shop: A solid spot for breakfast and coffee that opens earlier than most spots in town.

• There are no Ubers here but you can reserve a taxi on WhatsApp from various companies online.

Ushuaia things to do—

Ushuaia is home to the end of the world! It is a decent sized city home to a busy port and lots of tourists heading to Antarctica. The surrounding views of the mountains are gorgeous from all around town. As a heads up, most businesses close in the afternoon and don’t reopen until 6 or 7pm which is pretty inconvenient for travelers and Google hours are not reliable.

• Stay at Arakur Hotel: This hotel was an absolute dream. Everything is incredibly nice and the views are astounding. The outdoor infinity pool and hot tubs are magical.

• Tierra del Fuego National Park: This park is home to the post office at the end of the world! Send someone a postcard and see how long it takes to arrive. The Coastal Path is a nice serene walk along the water with lots of mossy trees and pretty views. Getting to and from the park is a bit of a hassle, I would recommend scheduling a taxi ahead of time because the shuttle is unreliable and there is no phone service for Ubers. You can also take a tour.

• Jeremy Button Gintoneria: A fun gin distillery with food, cocktails and beer. There are nice views and good vibes.

• Martial Glacier Trail: This trail is 4.7 miles long with 1,667ft of elevation gain and takes just over 2 hours to complete. It is very steep—particularly the last third of the trail. It is a popular hike but not crowded by any means. There are great views of the city and of the Beagle Channel on the way up and down from the glacier. There is also a tea house and beer spot at the trailhead.

• Salumeria Don Fidel: A great little wine spot with cheese, pizza and empanadas as well.

• Laguna Encantada Trail: This trail is 5.6 miles long with 1,446ft of elevation gain and takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete. It is a pretty, serene start and then becomes extremely steep. There are wild horses, views of the Vinciguerra glacier, and a pretty lake. This hike also shares about half of the trail with Vinciguerra Glacier Trail and Laguna de Los Témpanos which is more popular and a lot steeper and longer.

• Isla Vegana: A cute spot for vegan eats.

• Van Gogh Beer House: A bar that is open in the afternoon unlike most spots and has solid cocktails.

• 1884: An average bar and restaurant with beers and burgers.

• Skip Casa Olmo: It’s a cute spot but the service was wildly slow and the cocktails were not good.

Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls Recommendations:

Iguazu Falls are absolutely stunning and well worth exploring! They are shared by Argentina and Brazil, and I would recommend visiting both sides. The Argentina side is nicer to stay on and smaller town, though expect a lot of panhandling. Check out my recommendations for the Brazil side here.

Exploring the Argentina side of the falls:

• Upper and Lower Circuits Trail: This is a combination of metal and paved pathways that takes about 1.5 hours to complete. It is a bit crowded at points but absolutely incredible to explore the largest waterfall system in the world.

• The Devil’s Throat: Unfortunately the Argentina side of The Devil’s Throat was closed when we visited due to post-flood construction, but this is the most famed part of the falls. You take a train to a short trail to a viewpoint over The Devil’s Throat. You can also see it on the Brazil side!

• Keep your eyes peeled for monkeys and coatis! Do not feed them.

• Take a boat tour—there are options on both sides of the falls and you don’t book in advance for either. The Argentina side runs every 1 hour and 15 minutes.

• The park is right outside of the airport so if you are flying in or out it is very convenient—they have luggage storage at the entrance that is first come, first serve. If I were to do it all again I would fly into the Argentina side one morning, taxi straight to the falls, stay in Puerto Iguazu for the night, taxi to the Brazil side of the falls in the morning where there is also luggage storage, and then fly out of the Brazil side airport that afternoon/evening.

Puerto Iguazu Recommendations:

• Botánica: A beautiful garden space for dinner and drinks. Delicious eats and a serene setting.

• La Republica del Taco: A great spot for Mexican with outdoor dining and happy hour.

• Tacopado: A cool spot for Mexican eats with indoor and outdoor seating. The food and drinks are tasty and they offer happy hour. Don’t visit if you’re in a rush.  

• Patagonia Brewing: A restaurant-style brewery with a small outpost across the street as well. Average beers.

• There are no Ubers on the Argentina side of Iguazu Falls, so you’ll need to use Taxis to get around. It is easiest to just schedule pick-ups with a local driver—we rode with Claudio and he is the best! His WhatsApp number is: ‪+54 9 3757 45‑1543‬

Flora

Montevideo, Uruguay Recommendations:

Montevideo is just across the water from Buenos Aires. It can be reached via direct ferry or bus + ferry combination through Colonia del Sacramento. Boquebus and Colonia Express are the two transport companies to book with in advance.

Montevideo is a cosmopolitan city that is very walkable and quite small—we spent just over 24 hours exploring and that was perfect! Recommendations:

• Cerveceria Malafama: Great beers, delicious pizza, and a cool space. Fantastic spot!

• Enjoy the sidewalk café culture in the old city! There are tons of spots for outdoor dining and it’s a great part of town to bop around.

  • El Vermú de la Aduana was a favorite for delicious cocktails!

  • Ciudadelza is also a solid bar with a food menu and a few local beer taps

• Flora: Highly recommend this spot for breakfast or lunch—it is delicious and super cute.

• Indica Beer: A nice spot for beers right near Mercado del Puerto. Their selection was tasty and their team was super nice!

• Oso Pardo: A solid brewery with a nice patio space, a food menu and good vibes.

• Plaza Independencia: The famed plaza in the heart of the city, a quick must-see.

• Mercado del Puerto: The city’s iconic market that is full of restaurants and shops. Expect it to be quite busy!

• Museo del Carnaval: The city’s museum for Carnaval is full of costumes and documents the history of Carnval in Montevideo.

• Walk La Rambla: This wide sidewalk follows the coastline and is a popular spot with locals. Unfortunately the water has a lot of silt so the beaches aren’t super pretty.

Brazil

Brazil is a pretty country full of cool cities and stunning nature!

Brazil Tips: 

• Brush up on your Portuguese! Even though the surrounding countries predominately speak Spanish, there is no Spanish in Brazil. Google Translate is another great option.

• Be aware—Brazil is not somewhere I would recommend for a solo trip or for inexperienced travelers. The crime rates in the cities are quite high, so it is a place to be aware and make good choices.

• Check out my Argentina blog here!

Iguazu Falls Recommendations:

Iguazu Falls are shared by Argentina and Brazil, and each side offers different perspectives. The Brazilian side is slightly more impressive because you can really take in the expansiveness of the falls. Check out my recommendations for the Argentina side here.

• Both sides offer luggage storage so if you are flying in or out it is very convenient. Once you enter the park there is a bus that will take you to various stops for the trail or safari. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for coati and monkeys!

• The Circuit Trail has several lookouts along the way offering different viewpoints of the falls. At the end of the trail it ventures out over the river in front of The Devil’s Throat and you will get quite wet. There is also an elevator you can go up for a different view here. It takes about 1 hour to complete the trail.

• Get out on the water with Macuco Safari: This tour starts with an electric trolley through the jungle followed by a short hike and then a boat ride. You will get absolutely soaked going under the falls. There is no need to book in advance, the tours go every ~20 minutes. It is quite expensive for what you do.

• Foz do Iguaçu is the city on the Brazilian side of the falls. It is a much larger city than Puerto Iguazu in Argentina. Maki Sushi is a delicious spot for lunch or dinner.

• Venture into Paraguay: Walk across the border and then grab an Uber to Monday Falls. This is a large waterfall with a couple of different viewpoints. The admission fee is $12 and cash-only.

Iguazu Falls

São Paulo Things TO Do:

São Paulo is a really cool city. There is lots of street art, some great breweries and overall good vibes.

• Croma Beer Co.: My favorite brewery in town! They are located in the Pinheiros neighborhood and have a huge tap list. The beers were all great and they also have a food menu.

• Trilha Cervejaria: A great brewery with a few different taprooms across the city. The Perdizes space is a cool spot with a small food menu and friendly staff.

• Bareō Cervejaria: A smaller brewery making stellar IPAs. Worth going out of your way for!

• Wander Avenida Paulista: This is the main street of the city that is full of shops, restaurants, bars and more!

• Museu Afro Brasil: A large museum focused on the Black experience in Brazil. There are a plethora of different exhibits here. The entrance fee is $3.

  • Parque Ibirapuera: The museum is located inside this massive park! Many folks rent bikes to explore the park that is home to a few museums, gardens, and more.

• Check out the Liberdad area for ramen: This neighborhood becomes a madhouse during the lunch rush, so prepare for crowds and waitlists, but it is a cool experience. We ended up at Ikkousha which had tasty ramen and delicious Gyoza.

• Dogma Cervejaria: A solid brewery with a few locations across the city. The Pinheiros taproom has a small food menu and chill vibes.

• Nellos: A fantastic spot for authentic Italian eats. This is a popular spot amongst locals.

• Esconderijo Juan Caloto: A unique brewery with Western vibes near the park. The tap list is Sour heavy and the Sours are indeed great. They also offer cocktails and food.

• Batman Alley: An alley of street art that is pretty cool.

• Pinacoteca de São Paulo: A unique art museum with a variety of exhibits. The entrance fee is $6.

• Mug: A coffee spot with a few locations in town—the coffee is great, but the food was very disappointing.

Sugarloaf Mountain

Rio de Janeiro Recommendations:

• Rio is a quick one hour flight from São Paulo and arguably a must-visit while in the area. Rio is a place where you should be very aware of your surroundings due to the crime rate and favelas.

• Christ the Redeemer Statue: This is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and an iconic place. You will take a tram up, which you can get tickets for in advance to skip some of the line. Expect crowds and prepare for it to be potentially cloudy at the top even if it is a clear day on the ground.

• Hocus Pocus DNA: A solid brewery with 14 taps and a food menu. The vibes here are great. Located in a row with Pizzaria Secreta and Over Hop.

• Pizzaria Secreta: A delicious spot for pizza and cocktails. Highly recommend!

• Over Hop Brewpub: Another brewery option next to Hocus Pocus with a smaller tap list. They also offer food.

• Hit the beach! Rio is full of beautiful beaches with warm ocean water.

• Teva Deli: A delicious spot for breakfast and lunch in Copacabana. Their sister restaurant is open for dinner.

• Brewteco Botafogo: A beer bar with cocktails and a full food menu on the rooftop of a mall with stellar views.

• Prana: A tasty spot for lunch in the Lebelon area. They have a vegan and vegetarian menu with good vibes.

• Escadaria Selarón: A pretty but very crowded staircase—it’s a bit difficult to appreciate or see the stairs with the number of people.

• Sugarloaf Mountain: This mountain is reached via a cable car that leads to a nice view of the area. It is very crowded and takes a very long time to complete even if you buy tickets online, but it is pretty.

• Parque Lage: A nice park that is home to a Palacio that you can pay to enter, but expect long lines.

• Museum of Tomorrow: This museum looks really cool but unfortunately it didn’t logistically fit into our plans. I wanted to include it as a recommendation because I think it looks awesome!

New Zealand's South Island

New Zealand tips:

• Don’t forget sunscreen! Even on a cloudy day sunburns are common.

• Download a free currency converter app and a kilometers to miles converter app before your arrival to make things easier.

• Download offline maps of the area you’ll be visiting ahead of your arrival so even if you don’t have cell service driving directions will still work.

• Not a tip but a fun fact—sheep are very loud! It’s not quite a “baa” but more of consistent yelling.

• Internet is generally better than most folks say and my expectations. Most websites said WiFi wouldn’t allow streaming, uploads and downloads, but I had no issues.

• It is not that expensive and I found it to actually be cheaper than traveling in most major US cities—particularly when you take tipping into account.

• Be prepared to go with the flow—weather changes rapidly and cancellations are common. I had an Air New Zealand flight, a kayak trip and a ferry all get cancelled last minute.

• If you’re flying in the country Queenstown and Christchurch are quite small airports. If you’re connecting from a domestic flight to an international flight in Auckland, it is a ten minute walk outside from the domestic terminal to the international terminal at the Auckland airport following the green line on the sidewalk—or you can jump on the bus.

• I didn’t need cash anywhere in my 13 day trip, I used my credit card everywhere which was great to not have to worry about having too much or too little currency.

Check out my guide to New Zealand’s North Island here!

• South Island tips:

  • The ferry from the North Island arrives in Picton, the gateway to the South Island.

  • Some rental car companies require you to switch cars between islands so be sure to read the fine print and know what to expect. Budget/Avis does not require this.

  • There is generally less cell service on the South Island than the North, so be prepared.

  • North Island guide coming soon!

• Driving in New Zealand:

  • Many folks choose to rent a camper van and camp throughout the country, you can choose whatever style of travel you are most comfortable with. I went for a rental sedan and hotels.

  • If staying in hotels be sure to note check-in times ahead of arrival—many spots end check-in around 7 or 8pm.

  • There are many one way bridges throughout the country, especially on the South Island so be sure to read the signs and understand when to go and when to yield.

  • In New Zealand you legally must let folks pass if there are cars backing up behind you—pull left and allow them to pass. This is great on the frequent two lane roads where otherwise there would be delays.

Lake Marian Track

Christchurch Recommendations:

• It is a 4.5 hour drive down the coast to Christchurch from Picton. You’ll drive through two wine regions, Marlborough and Canterbury, so consider stopping at a scenic winery along the way.

  • My intent was to stop at Waipara Hills Winery which is 45 minutes north of Christchurch, but my initial ferry was cancelled so the timing unfortunately didn’t work out, but it looks like a great spot!

• Pomeroy’s Old Brewery Inn: A cute English-style pub, brewery and hotel. They have their own beers and a good selection of guest taps. Pomeroy’s has a full food menu and a beer garden out back. 

• I stayed at The Parque which is an apartment-style hotel near central city and the botanical gardens. 

• It is a four hour drive from Christchurch to Mount Cook with beautiful views along the way. Be sure to stop at Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki and soak in the sights. 

Mount Cook National Park

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Things to do:

• Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand and part of the Southern Alps. The top of Mount Cook has snow year round. There is also a Dark Sky Preserve at the park. 

• Sealy Tarns Track: This is a hard trail that is 4.5 miles long (not 3.2 as AllTrails says) with 1778ft of elevation gain via 2200 stairs. It is a difficult cardio burn but not *that* hard and worth it for the views. At the summit it overlooks Mueller Lake and Hooker Lake with beautiful views and takes about two hours and forty minutes to complete. This trail has a complex avalanche risk and also connects to the Mueller Hut Track at the top. There are several trailheads that share this parking lot so go early to snag a spot and beat the crowds. 

• Hooker Valley Track to Hooker Lake: This trail shares the same parking lot as Sealy Tarns and is a 6 mile long hike with 626ft of elevation gain and is rated as easy. It is a popular trail due to its accessibility and beautiful views. There are three suspension bridges along the way, a bathroom at the trailhead as well as about 2/3rds of the way through. Hooker Lake is a gorgeous glacier lake with icebergs looking at Mount Cook. It takes about two hours to complete. 

• Tasman Glacier View: This is a short .9 mile trail with 255ft of elevation gain straight up to Tasman Glacier. It is a 20 minute walk up stairs to the glacier lake and glacier itself. The views are beautiful of the shining bright blue lake. The trailhead is a ten minute drive from the main Mount Cook area parking.

• It is 2.5 hours from Mount Cook National Park to Wanaka. 

Noods on Lake Wanaka

Wanaka Recommendations:

• Wanaka is a cute little town on the lake that serves as the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park. You can easily walk all of downtown and there is a nice long, rocky beachfront. 

• There are a ton of food trucks in Wanaka that are worth checking out. Noods is a great spot for ramen. 

• Black Peak Gelato: A delicious and award winning spot for gelato.

• I stayed at the Clearbrook Motel which was an average spot on the river. 

• Speights Ale House: A brewery and restaurant in downtown Wanaka across from the lake. They have a nice patio and solid beer and food. They have numerous locations across the country.

Rob Roy Glacier Track

Mount Aspiring National Park Things To Do:

• Mount Aspiring National Park is at the end of a sketchy road about one hour past Wanaka. An SUV or high clearance vehicle is recommender to traverse this road due to the river crossings on the road. Also be aware of livestock on this gravel road.

  • There are many “temporary waterfalls” coming out of the mountains on this road that are quite pretty, keep your eyes peeled!

• Rob Roy Glacier Track: An 8.3 mile trail with 1548ft of elevation gain (not 6.2 as AllTrails says). This is a quiet trail, probably due to the difficult road passing and avalanche risk, and it takes about 3.5 hours to complete. It starts off meandering through a pasture with many sheep then crossing a beautiful bright blue river before heading into the bush. It is a steady somewhat steep hike up to two lookouts—the lower lookout has an obstructed view and then it’s about 30 minutes further to the upper lookout with views of Mount Aspiring, waterfalls and the river. There is a complex avalanche risk between the lower and upper lookouts. There is a bathroom at the trailhead and near the upper lookout. There is no cell service in this area so be sure to be prepared. 

• The road the National Park is on is a dead end so you will turn around and drive back to Wanaka after your hiking/adventuring. From Wanaka it is a pretty 3 hour drive to Te Anau—particularly the Crown Range Summit Viewpoint about 45 minutes into the drive.  

Key Summit with Garage Project in hand

Milford Sound + Fiordland National Park Recommendations:

• Fiordland was my favorite National Park I visited and overall favorite day in New Zealand. The entire area is insanely gorgeous and honestly quiet—I expected hoards of tourists and traffic and did not experience that whatsoever. There is no cell phone service once you enter the park so be prepared. 

• Stay in Te Anau: 

  • Te Anau is the closest town to Fiordland and worth staying in to reduce the drive time. It is a bit of a touristy little town but there are still a few good spots and nice views everywhere. From Te Anau it is 2 hours to the end of the park at Milford Sound and about a 1 hour to drive to the first stops in the National Park.

  • La Toscana Pizzeria: A cute little Italian restaurant in the heart of town. Solid pizza.

  • Ditto: A popular spot for Asian street food that started off as a food truck. They have great reviews but unfortunately were closed for private functions both days I was in town. Check it out for me and let me know your thoughts!

  • Stay at Fiordland Lakeview Motel & Apartments: This is a nice spot to stay with lake views and low prices. They offer large apartment-style rooms with thoughtful touches. It is a 10 minute walk into central downtown.

• Lake Marian Track: This trail is rated as hard due to the steady steep climb over many rocks and roots. It is 5.2 miles (not 3.7 as AllTrails says) with 1350ft of elevation gain and takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete. First you’ll cross a suspension bridge and then follow the river up through the bush until you reach the lake. The views at the lake are stunning and it is worth the effort of the hike, though going down the mountain is even more difficult if it is even remotely wet on the rocks and roots. This is a quiet trail (I saw 2 people total) and there is a bathroom at the trailhead and another near the lake. The trailhead is one hour and ten minutes from Te Anau. 

• Café and Tourist Information Building: This is right at Milford Sound and a great place to grab a coffee and a snack before or after exploring the Sound itself. The Sound parking lot is here as well, you’ll need to pay $25 for 5 hours of parking for your Sound exploration. 

• Milford Foreshore Track: A short .6 mile/10 minute walk along the water near the parking lot for Milford Sound. 

• Take a boat cruise on Milford Sound: There are several different companies to choose from—I went with Southern Discoveries for the timing and price point. The cruise is one hour and 45 minutes long and provides incredible views of the fiord. You’ll cruise alongside waterfalls and the glacier-formed mountains out to the Tasman Sea. Keep your eyes peeled for penguins and seals as well! This is definitely “touristy” but absolutely worth it for the insanely gorgeous views. There is complimentary coffee and tea available on board along with beer, wine and snacks for purchase, and a bathroom on board as well.

  • There are also kayak and helicopter tours offered of the Milford Sound.

• Key Summit & View of Lake Marian Trail: This is a gorgeous hike which is 5 miles long with 1374 feet of elevation gain. It takes about two hours to complete. The trail is a steady climb up through the bush until you pop out to gorgeous views with several switchbacks that lead to the summit. At the summit there is a compass and walking ten minutes further takes you to a view of Lake Marian. This trail has incredible views and was one of my favorites in all of New Zealand! There is a restroom at the trailhead and near the summit. Keep your eyes peeled for kea, these birds are populous in the area. This trailhead is a 30 minute drive from Milford Sound back towards Te Anau.

• The Chasm: A popular trail with waterfalls—unfortunately this was closed for construction during my visit but it looks fantastic. 

• Mirror Lakes: A quick 5 minute walk along a boardwalk. The water reflects the nearby mountains on clear, calm days. 

• From Mirror Lakes it is a 2.5 hour drive to Queenstown with beautiful lookouts along the way. 

Queenstown Hill Walkway

Queenstown Things To Do:

• Queenstown is the biggest city on the South Island but it is still pretty small overall. There are lots of trails and walkways throughout town which is nice and it is a popular ski town in the winter. Overall it is a touristy town but still worth a stop. The weather here changes very quickly due to it’s location on Lake Wakatipu with mountains all around so be sure to wear layers.

• Altitude Brewing: A great brewery across from the lake with delicious beers, fun vibes and frequent food trucks. Their Sours are what they are best know for but each style they make is good. The ski-themed taproom also has a nice patio space. 

• Explore downtown: Queenstown’s CBD is full of restaurants and shops to pop around to and is very pedestrian-friendly. It is a fun and popular area.

  • Reservations are recommended if you’d like to eat dinner in central downtown, everything gets quite busy. 

• Queenstown Hill Walkway: A steep hike up to gorgeous views overlooking Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. The trail is 3.6 miles long with 1300ft of elevation gain and takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete. It is straight up and then straight down. The first half is through the forest and then you’ll pop out onto the exposed mountaintop with views the rest of the way to the summit. Keep your eyes peeled for wild mountain goats! 

• Atlas Beer Café: A solid beer bar with 24 taps on the wharf. It is a cute and eclectic little place with some outdoor seating as well. They have a small food menu of snacks and tacos. 

• Queenstown Beach: A small beachfront on the lake downtown. Great views!

• Searchlight Brewery: A great brewery in an industrial neighborhood just outside of downtown. They have a nice outdoor patio, a small food menu, a cute brewery dog and tasty beers. Parking is limited in this area.

• Vudu Café: A delicious spot for breakfast and lunch overlooking the lake and mountains. They offer both sit down or take away options. This is a popular spot so be prepared to wait a bit for your food and drink. 

• Drive the scenic Glenorchy-Queenstown Road: A pretty route leading up to where the road ends in Glenorchy. There are several viewpoints and parks along the way. Wilson Bay and Bennetts Bluff are fantastic stops. The drive takes about 45 minutes each way with zero stops, so allot at least two hours. 

  • In the quiet town of Glenorchy there are a few little shops and water access. The Trading Post is a good option for coffee.

• Bardeaux: A cute and cozy little wine/whiskey/cocktail bar with a small food menu.

• Tanoshi: A Japanese restaurant with three locations in town—Ramen Ramen, NAME and 5 Mile Shopping Center near the airport. The gyoza from Tanoshi was delicious. The ramen at Ramen Ramen was average at best. 

• Moke Lake: A quiet mountain lake 20 minutes outside of town. It is a nice spot for a picnic and there are a few hiking/biking trails here as well. The road leading here is gravel for the last stretch with lots of cattle so drive carefully. 

• Whakatipu Brewing is also here but their hours are listed incorrectly on google so I was not able to check them out—let me know how it is if you go!

Check out my guide to New Zealand’s North Island here!

New Zealand's North Island

New Zealand tips:

• Don’t forget sunscreen! Even on a cloudy day sunburns are common.

• Download a free currency converter app and a kilometers to miles converter app before your arrival to make things easier.

• Download offline maps of the area you’ll be visiting ahead of your arrival so even if you don’t have cell service driving directions will still work.

• Not a tip but a fun fact—sheep are very loud! It’s not quite a “baa” but more of consistent yelling.

• Internet is generally better than most folks say and exceeded my expectations. Most travel websites said WiFi wouldn’t allow streaming, uploads and downloads, but I had no issues.

• It is not that expensive to visit New Zealand and I found it to actually to be cheaper than traveling in most major US cities—particularly when you take tipping into account.

• Be prepared to go with the flow—weather changes rapidly and cancellations are common. It will be hot and sunny one minute and cold, rainy and windy the next. I had an Air New Zealand flight, a kayak trip and a ferry all get cancelled.

• If you’re flying in the country Queenstown and Christchurch are quite small airports. If connecting from a domestic flight to an international flight in Auckland it is a ten minute walk outside from the domestic terminal to the international terminal at the Auckland airport following the green line on the sidewalk or you can jump on the bus. Customs is strict around hiking gear and food items to protect their native species—be sure to clean your hiking boots before leaving your home country.

• I didn’t need cash anywhere in my 13 day trip, I used my credit card everywhere which was great to not have to worry about having too much or too little currency.

Check out my South Island New Zealand guide here!

Driving in New Zealand:

• Many folks choose to rent a camper van and camp throughout the country, you can choose whatever style of travel you are most comfortable with. I went for a rental sedan and hotels.

• If staying in hotels be sure to note check-in times ahead of arrival—many spots end check-in around 7 or 8pm.

• There are many one way bridges throughout the country, especially on the South Island so be sure to read the signs and understand when to go and when to yield.

• In New Zealand you legally must let folks pass if there are cars backing up behind you—pull left and allow them to pass. This is great on the frequent two lane roads where otherwise there would be delays.

View of Auckland from the ferry

Auckland Recommendations:

Auckland is a very large and spread out city so be sure to plan ahead to ensure you’re not traversing back and forth across the city.

• Garage Project Kingsland: The Auckland taproom for Wellington-based Garage Project is absolutely stellar. Their beers are easily the best in the country. They are located in the Kingsland neighborhood and also have frequent food trucks.

• Climb up Mount Eden: The Maungawhau Summit Trail is 1.3 miles long with 223 feet of elevation gain. There are very nice views from the top of the skyline and surrounding water. If you only have time for Cornwall Park or Mount Eden do this trail for better views.

• One Tree Hill at Cornwall Park: This is a super pretty park with a trail up to One Tree Hill. It is a little over two miles long with 344 feet of elevation gain. The park is full of sheep and gorgeously lush.

• 16Tun: A great beer bar in the Wynward Quarter neighborhood near the wharf. This is a cool spot with a good selection of beers and outside food is welcome. 

• Urbanaut Brewing Company: A solid brewery in the Kingsland neighborhood. They have a wide selection of beers available and food as well.

• The Beer Spot: A fun beer bar with 40 taps and wine. They rotate food trucks each week, they are dog friendly and they have a nice patio space. They have 5 locations in the greater Auckland area, the Kingsland neighborhood spot is right across the street from Urbanaut. 

• Epic Beer: A warehouse brewery in South Auckland with solid beers. They only have four taps but they also have cans, bottles, wine, spirits and a small food menu. 

• Just Like Martha Cafe:  A cute, popular spot for coffee, breakfast and lunch. You can have a sit down meal inside or on their nice patio or grab take away pastries and coffee. 

• Best Ugly Bagels: A popular bagel spot with several locations around town. The menu is unique but delicious!

• Dr. Rudi’s Rooftop Brewing Company: A fancy-ish brewery near the waterfront. They have beer, wine and cocktails and a full food menu. They have great views of the bay and harbor from the rooftop.

• Auckland War Memorial Museum: A popular museum in the Auckland Domain Park featuring people, place, world and war. I found it to be average, but I did enjoy some sections more than others. Entry is $28 NZ for international visitors and free for New Zealand residents.

• Take the ferry to Rangitoto Island: You can purchase ferry tickets online ahead of time and soak in the views from the boat. The ride is 40 minutes each way with a stop at Devonport along the way. This is a completely desolate island that is the youngest volcano in the Auckland area.

  • The Rangitoto Island Summit trail is 4.3 miles long with 744 feet of elevation gain and takes about two hours to complete. There are fantastic views from the summit! You’ll hike across dried lava which reflects the sun back, so be prepared for it to be more hot and humid on the island than the mainland.

  • You can also check out the lava caves that are 15 minutes off the summit trail each way. They are pretty cool and a bit spooky.

  • You can also kayak to Rangitoto via Kayak Auckland. This was my original plan but my trip was cancelled due to expected storms.

• Pop around Ponsonby Street! This is popular area full of restaurants, bars and shops.

  • Brewport: A small brewery with a few house beers and guests taps. They have a nice beer garden style space with a small food menu of dogs and fries as well.

  • The Tinted Rose: A cute little bar that is a nice spot for a cocktail or glass of wine. They partner with a neighboring restaurant for a small food menu as well.

  • Hoppers Garden Bar: A nice majority outdoor beer garden/bar/restaurant.

  • Ponsonby Central: A mixed used space with food hall vibes and shops.

• Brothers Beer: An average brewery with several locations around town. Their City Works Depot taproom also has Juke Joint BBQ inside.

• The Rolling Pin: A yummy spot for dumplings, bao and boodle salad bowls. They have two locations in Auckland.  

• Williams Eatery: A nice spot for dine in or takeaway breakfast, lunch and coffee. Located in the Wynward Quarter.

• I stayed at the Travelodge and it was fine overall. It is in the Wynward Quarter neighborhood and walkable to many spots. The staff is not very helpful and provided incorrect information about parking, but overall the room was clean and well priced. 

• From Auckland it is a 2 hour and 45 minute drive to Mount Maunganui.

Mount Maunganui Track

Mount Maunganui Things To DO:

Mount Maunganui is a popular little beach town centered around an extinct volcano.

• Mount Maunganui Track: A 4.2 mile long trail with 830 feet of elevation gain that takes just over 1.5 hours to complete. This trail essentially combines each of the trail options at Mount Maunganui. It is a really pretty trail along the beach and even though it can be quite popular it is absolutely worth it for the views. Keep your eyes peeled for seals here too!

• There are a ton of restaurants in town for lunch after your hike or breakfast/coffee beforehand.

  • Tay Street Beach Cafe is a bit further out but a delicious spot for breakfast or lunch. It is right across the street from the beach and a lovely atmosphere.

• From Mount Maunganui it is a 1 hour drive to Rotorua.

Waimangu Volcanic Valley

Rotorua Recommendations:

Rotorua is a town set on Lake Rotorua that is home to geothermal activity and Maori culture. All of Rotorua is a bit smelly due to the sulfur associated with geothermal activity.

• Waimangu Volcanic Valley: Home to volcanic craters, hot water springs, unique plants, and geothermal activity. There are walking trails and a boat cruise on Lake Rotomahana here. The full walk from the trailhead to the lake is 2.7 miles, but you can choose how far you’d like to walk thanks to free shuttles inside the area. The boat cruise is on an active volcanic crater formed from Mount Tarawera and takes about 45 minutes. It is definitely very touristy but extremely cool and I highly recommend. There is also a café onsite. Advance reservations are recommended.

• Hell’s Gate Geothermal Reserve: A geothermal walk and mud spa that is Māori owned. A touristy stop but it is very cool to see all of the geothermal activity. There are a few different looks for the walk, the longest being 1.25 miles. Advance recommendations are recommended and the afternoon is much quieter than the morning. Home to the largest hot waterfalls in the Southern hemisphere as well!

• The Fainting Goat: A cute spot downtown for lunch, dinner or drinks. They have a good selection of beers on tap and the food is tasty. Advance reservations are recommended but not required.

• Crater Lake: An extremely bright blue lake that is just a short ten minute walk from the parking lot for Rainbow Mountain and Crater Lake Outlook Track. I did not have enough time for Rainbow Mountain but it looks fantastic!

• The Beer Garden: Located inside Eat Street Food Market which is a cool outdoor area with restaurants. This is part of Good George Brewing and Craft Bar and Kitchen. The beer here is average.

• Okere Falls Track: A nice and easy 1.5 mile stroll with 250ft of elevation gain. If this happens to be on your route into Rotorua it is a few nice waterfalls, but don’t go out of your way for it. The trail takes about 30 minutes and there is also rafting and zip lining here.

• Okere Falls Store & Craft Beer Garden: A nice spot for a beer sitting out back. They have a great selection of cans and bottles to choose from, 14 taps and a food menu as well. It is a two minute drive from Okere Falls.

• Kuirau Park: A large park with mud pools, foot baths, green space and a playground.

• Lakefront Park: A nice park on Lake Rotorua for taking in the sights with a playground and benches.

• Blue and Green Lakes Lookout: There is a trail system here but the views overall are mediocre. Blue Lake has a nice beachy area with views.  

• Guidough’s Bakery: A solid stop for baked goods and coffee, two locations in town.

• I stayed at the Best Western and would not recommend it. It was only $99 and it was fine overall, but there was no shampoo/soap/etc., the plug situation was inconvenient, the check-in times were limited and it was a very dated property.

• Wai-O-Tapu: Another popular spot for geothermal activity in town but they have very limited hours.

• From Rotorua it is a 1 hour drive to Taupo.

TaupO Things To Do:

Taupo is a touristy town on the volcanic Lake Taupo that is popular for biking and lake activities.

• Stay at Edge Hill Hut Airbnb: This is one of my favorite places I’ve ever stayed around the world. The views here are absolutely incredible—Lake Taupō, Mount Kaweka, sheep, rainbows, you name it. It is private, serene and relaxing. There is an outdoor tub, fire chimney, bbq, heater, lights, comfy seating and more outside with games, a full bath, TV and kitchen inside. The entire space has thoughtful touches and it was truly magical.

• Huka Falls: An incredible waterfall with an obscene amount of bright blue water flowing through. It is a very popular spot since it is just a couple of minutes walk from the parking lot to the falls. The Loop Trail is quiet and just half of a mile. There is a great view of the falls from Arariatia. Huka Falls is just 5 minutes drive from downtown or a 6k walk/bike.

• Beehave Craft Meadery: One of the first meaderies in New Zealand! The mead here has lower ABV, is thinner and is less sweet than American meads. Everything was very tasty and it is a great stop in town. The owner is a former beekeeper who is very nice and be sure to say hello to the meadery dog as well.

• Two Mile Bay Sailing Club: A cute spot on the western side of the lake with pizza, breakfast, beer, wine and cocktails. The pizza is solid and the vibes are great.

• Jimmy Coop’s Lakehouse: Home to Lakeman Brewing with a large beer selection, full food menu and cocktails. They have an outdoor patio facing the lake as well.

• Craters of the Moon: If you did not visit Rotorua or do a geothermal walk this is another option very close to Huka Falls.

• From Taupo it is a 1 hour and 15 minute drive to Tangariro National Park around Lake Taupo with nice views.

Tama Lakes

Tangariro National Park Recommendations:

• Tama Lakes Track via Taranaki Falls Loop: This is supposed to be one of, if not THE, best trail on the North Island. I unfortunately had a bad weather day that prevented me from fully enjoying the hike or getting very many views. The trail is very exposed and I experienced rain, snow and 40+ mph winds, so be extra mindful of the forecast when planning to visit. It also includes a river crossing so depending on how much rainfall the area has had recently it might be shallow or in my case almost knee deep, so be sure to have waterproof shoes.

• This hike is on an active volcano out to two lakes, Lower Tama Lake and Upper Tama Lake, with Taranaki Falls here as well. Unfortunately I did not visit Upper Tama Lake due to the weather—the section up from the Lower Lake is quite slick and rocky on a normal day let alone in those conditions so it did not feel safe. From the trailhead to the lower lake and back via the falls was 8 miles with 1500 feet of elevation gain and took just shy of 3.5 hours.

• I only saw one other person on my hike, but again it was a poor weather day so I would recommend starting early as the parking lot is quite small. There are two portable restrooms—one near the falls and one 10 minutes before the lower lake.

• Tangariro Crossing is another popular trail here.

• From Tangariro National Park it is a 4.5 hour drive to Wellington. Sections of the drive are a little sketchy with mudslide risks so be prepared for potential rerouting and delays. There is not much along the route but Bulls is a city halfway that has coffee, gas and food.

Wellington Things To DO:

Wellington is the southernmost city on the North Island and the windiest city in the world! It reminds me a bit of San Francisco with hilly neighborhoods, coastal views, and overall a large but cute city.

• Parrotdog Brewery: A great brewery on the south side of the city near the airport. Their Hazy IPAs are superb! They have a large indoor space and a spacious patio.

• Mount Victoria Lookout: A great viewpoint with 360 degree views of the city, Wellington Harbor and the Cook Strait. You can hike via a large park or drive to this lookout.

• Mean Doses: A solid brewery that is takeaway only. They are working on opening a taproom, but they’re currently only able to offer their beers to-go. The Stout I got was delicious.

• HeyDay Beer Co: An average brewery with a small tap list and a few guest taps. They also have a small food menu but skip the cheese board. They have a front patio and are located on the popular Cuba Street.

• Garage Project: New Zealand’s best brewery has 3 locations in Wellington:

  • Cellar Door: This is their production space and home to cans and bottles to-go and a few taps

  • Aro Taproom: This is their main taproom in Wellington located in the Aro neighborhood just a few doors down from Cellar Door. It is an intimate spot with a small food menu.

  • Wild Workshop: This spot is in central Wellington and is home to their sour program. Hours here are limited.

• Noble Rot: A cute wine bar right off Cuba Street with a small food menu, extensive wine selection, cocktails, some beer.

• Explore Cuba Street: A long pedestrian road with cute shops, restaurants, bars, and more.

• Wander the wharf: A public space on the waterfront with a playground, marina, boat tours, and a handful of bars and restaurants.

• Te Papa: The Museum of New Zealand has free entry and focuses on nature, war, people’s impact on the land, people, native history and culture + art. It is a very nice and well-done museum.

• Old St Paul’s Church: A pretty, old church. Heads up the parking situation here is quite limited.

• Wellington is where the ferry to the South Island departs, and I highly recommend exploring the South Island. It is somehow even prettier than the North Island and a great place to adventure.

  • There are two companies who operate ferries—Interislander or Bluebridge. Be sure to book in advance. The ferries are huge and run daily at different times across the Cook Strait into the Queen Charlotte Sound to Picton. Sit up top to soak in the views along the way—they are absolutely stunning! Just be sure to wear layers as it does get incredibly windy. There is also the potential to see dolphins and whales.

  • The ferry ride itself takes 3.5 hours but check-in ends 1 hour prior to departure. If you have a car/van it is a lot of sitting and waiting. You can bring food and drink on board (no alcohol) and I would recommend this as the food selection is quite limited but they do have a good coffee, beer and wine offering.

Check out my Guide to New Zealand’s South Island here!

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is now one of my favorite cities in the world. I absolutely loved exploring the different neighborhoods and the chill vibes of the city. Highly recommend!

City by the Bay Tips: 

• If you are flying into Melbourne from abroad, prepare yourself for the easiest customs ever. I was so impressed with the systems in place, shout out to the Australian government, the rest of the world could learn a lot from their entry processes.

• Depending on where you are staying in the city, the Skybus from the airport might make sense for you. It drops off in the CBD, the Southbank, St Kilda, and some of the city’s suburbs. It is quick and easy to use.

• The city’s public transportation is great! The trams and buses are super easy to use. Get a Myaki card from a station and utilize it for both trams and buses. If you are running low on funds you can top up online, at stations, or at 7-Elevens around the city.

• When you order a beer they are going to ask if you want a pint or a pot—a pint is 20 ounces, a pot is 10 ounces

• Check out my Sydney recommendations here!

Adventures & Ales Top Melbourne Recommendations: ​

• Stomping Ground Brewery: This was my favorite brewery in Melbourne, it is a very cool space, with tons of plants, a full food menu, a plethora of beers on tap, and a retractable roof. Snag a table first if you plan on ordering food so you know your table number for your order. Their sour series is great, especially the Watermelon Gose.

• Carlton Gardens: Gorgeous park to spend some time relaxing in. This is where the Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building are located as well.

• Fixation Brewing Co.: They are fixated on IPAs! Their entire tap list is IPAs—West Coast, New England, Milkshake, you name it. It is a bright, airy space to hang out in with a couple of sidewalk tables as well. If you are hungry you can get pizza delivered from next door.

• Moon Dog Craft Brewery: A very eclectic taproom with tropical vibes. They have pizza, free popcorn, and couches to lounge on, plus a secret door that leads to their event space. Lots of delicious beers here!

• Mountain Goat Brewing: A large industrial space with fun vibes. They also have pizza and delicious beers!

  • Pop down from here to walk along the Main Yarra Trail to soak in some river views

    • If you walk along the trail to where you see the highway you can pop out directly to Burnley Brewing

• Burnley Brewing: More restaurant vibes than brewery vibes, but they’ve still got good beers. They have board games, a DJ on Sundays, and a full food menu

• Take a day trip down The Great Ocean Road! Check out my blog post with recommendations here!

Stomping Ground Brewery

• The Mill Brewing Co.: A small spot in Collingwood with an outdoor patio as well. The beers are delicious and the atmosphere is chill. They have a permanent onsite pizza van run with Fatboy's Food Trucks.

• Eat Italian food on Lygon Street—namely at Zia Teresa, you won’t regret it!

• Wander the Fitzroy Neighborhood, namely Brunswick Street. My favorite spots:

  • Slowpoke Espresso: Delicious food and coffee, plus a small back patio

  • Grub Fitzroy: An airstream turned restaurant with a cute indoor/outdoor space

  • Black Cat: A cozy coffee shop with a nice outdoor space

• Tallboy & Moose: A brewery with an extremely colorful space, good beers, a nice patio, and a full kitchen

• 3 Ravens Brewery: This one is definitely off the beaten path but it is a cool converted space with really good beer. Worth the hike if you’ve got extra time!

• Temple Brewing: This is located right off Lygon Street. It is a popular spot with a nice outdoor space. They’ve also got a full food menu and their nachos are delicious!

Brighton Bathing Boxes

• The Kettle Black: An adorable coffee shop in South Melbourne, near The Shrine of Remembrance.

• Ponyfish Island: A bar in the middle of the Yarra River! You access it via the pedestrian bridge. Surprisingly good prices for being right on the water. Great views of the city.

• Henry Street Brewhouse: a cool neighborhood spot with indoor and outdoor seating. In Kensington. Lots of pale ales

• Higher Ground Cafe: Another super pretty cafe, be sure to get here early, it fills up quickly. Located in the CBD.

• South of Johnston: Sojo as the cool kids call it, is another great cafe. They’ve got $5 mimosas on Sundays

  • Gertrude Street around the corner is full of bars and restaurants to explore

Milk The Cow St. Kilda

Top Touristy Spots in Melbourne Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Brighton Bathing Boxes: These colorful beach huts are every Instagrammers dream. They are super cute, but prepare yourself to see a ridiculous amount of people and a ridiculous amount of photo shoots happening.

  • The sand here is a little rough, St Kilda is softer if you want to soak up some rays.

  • There is a nice trail connecting the beaches that I recommend walking (Brighton to Elwood to St Kilda)

    • Keep your eyes peeled for the Brighton Dog Park if you are a dog lover, it is filled with pups enjoying their off-leash beach time.

• Watch the sunset from St Kilda Beach, and don’t miss the penguins at the end of the pier.

  • St Kilda also has lots of bars and restaurants down Fitzroy Street. I HIGHLY recommend Milk the Cow. They have got awesome flights of cheese, wine, beer, cider, gin, you name it.

• Immigration Museum: Interesting and informative museum on the history of immigration and immigration policy in Australia. $15 AUD to enter, worth it.

• Fitzroy Gardens: A huge public park that is a popular spot to stroll through or picnic. I would say skip Captain Cook’s House unless you are right near it or extremely interested. It’s your typical old shack that you have to pay to tour one bedroom.

Fixation Brewing

• Shrine of Remembrance: A war museum in the Queen Elizabeth Gardens. Admission is quite expensive. Be sure to wander the gardens while in this area.

• Flinders Street Station/St Paul Cathedral/Federation Square: These are all in one area along the river, you’ll want to wander by at some point. The station is incredibly old and beautiful from the outside, but otherwise it’s just a train station. The Cathedral is gorgeous. The Square is essentially a public park with some cool architecture.

• Hosier Lane: A trendy graffiti-filled street

• People will tell you to go to the Block Arcade—it’s essentially just a pretty mall. I did not find it at all interesting or worthwhile, but perhaps you will enjoy the old architecture.

• Similarly, people will tell you to go to the State Library. The dome of the library is pretty, but it is not impressive enough to make it a worthwhile visit. It is just a library, nothing special.

• Queen Victoria Market: A massive market with so. many. stalls. It is relatively organized which was a nice surprise compared to most markets. Go earlier in the day for the best experience!

• Melbourne Museum: I didn’t love the Melbourne Museum personally. I expected it to be more informative specifically about Melbourne and Australia, but most of the museum was not related to either. There is one exhibit on the history of the city that was interesting, but the remainder of the exhibits were about unrelated topics.

The Great Ocean Road

Other Melbourne Things To Do:​​

• Explore the Thornbury Neighborhood, namely High Street

  • Welcome to Thornbury: Fun bar with food trucks. Lots of outdoor space, inside there are arcade games

• Hopscotch Melbourne: An urban beer bar near the river with retractable doors for indoor and outdoor seating

• Thunder Road Brewing: Located right off of Lygon Street, this brewery has a fun outside space, permanent food truck onsite, and average beers.

• Westside Ale Works: Located in Southwest Melbourne, this brewery has got a tonnn of beers on tap. It is a pretty small spot overall, but they are moving across the street soon to larger space. They have pizza, lots of IPAs, board games, and even a brewery pup!

• Degraves Street: A pedestrian-only street with many bars and restaurants. It’s pretty touristy but worth venturing down.

  • Little Cupcakes: Adorable little cupcakes… oh did you see that coming from the name?! Yummy cupcakes right at the Flinders Street side of the street

  • Walk through Degraves Street north to Centre Place, another street with the same concept. Very European-style street seating

• Hardware Lane is another pedestrian-only street filled with bars and restaurants

  • PSA the happy hour at Claypots Barbarossa starts earlier than the other restaurants and has great deals

• Rooftop Bar: Yes that’s the name of it. A little tricky to locate—it’s inside the Curtain House, take the elevator to level 6, then take the stairs up to level 7. Overall a cool spot, but the chainlink fence kills the vibes a bit. They’ve got a burger shack onsite.

• Bonehead Brewing: A pretty small brewery with solid beers. They frequently have food trucks for your hunger needs. The industrial space has a retractable door and wood burning fire pit. Located in the Kensington neighborhood.

• Aunty Peg’s: If you are really into coffee, this is a super unique spot for specialty pours

Sydney, Australia

Sydney is an awesome city made even better by the surrounding neighborhoods and beach towns. It’s clearly a must when visiting Australia!

The Harbour City Tips: 

• Take the train to and from the airport into the city, it’s super easy to use and quick—Just snag an Opal card at the airport train station. The Opal card works on the buses as well as the trains in the CBD and the neighboring beach towns.

• Definitely plan to spend some time at the various beaches surrounding the city. The sand is soft and the water is relatively warm year-round.

  • I preferred the city scene of Melbourne over that of Sydney, but Sydney’s beaches > Melbourne’s beaches

• The sun is strong, don’t mess around! No one wants a sunburn to ruin their vacation so plan for success

• Check out my Melbourne recommendations here!

Adventures & Ales Top Sydney Recommendations: ​

• Spit to Manly Walk: An awesome scenic walk that I highly recommend! Check out my full guide to the walk here!

• Manly Beach: North of Sydney, this was my favorite beach in the Sydney area.

  • 4 Pines Manly: A brewery with an outdoor balcony and frequent live music. Overall a cool spot.

  • Manly Beach: You’re at the beach so…go to the beach. Admire the surfers and be on the lookout for Jaws (it is Australia after all)

  • Manly Wine: SO adorable. Beach views, awesome vibes, a great Happy Hour, and plus they have cheese plates!

  • Take the ferry back to the City Center at the end of your time at Manly. I would recommend you time it with sunset for the best views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, and CBD. Sit outside in the front for the best views but beware of sea splash!

• Take a day trip to The Blue Mountains! Check out my full guide here for recommendations on how to plan your adventure!

• All Hands Brewing House: Located right on King Street Wharf so you can gaze at the boats from their abundance of outdoor seating. They’ve also got a full food menu.

• Redoak Beer Boutique: Restaurant on one side, brewery bar on the other. They’ve got good Happy Hour deals and are located right in the City Center. It’s a cute spot and their beer wins tons of awards.

• Wayward Brewing: Located in the Camperdown neighborhood, this brewery is definitely off the beaten path, but it’s a cool spot. It exudes ‘local bar’ vibes in the garage-style set-up. They’ve got free popcorn, occasional food trucks, guest taps, and good beer.

• Yulli’s Brews: In the industrial section of the Alexandria neighborhood, this garage-style brewery makes some delicious beers! They’ve got a full kitchen and really friendly staff!

Spit to Manly Walk

• Coogee to Bondi Walk: Another great coastal walk! This one is definitely more 'traditional beach walk’ and you follow the coastline the the whole route. Overall it is about two miles from Coogee Beach to Bondi Beach.

  • Start your day with breakfast at The Diver Cafe at Coogee Beach—it is delicious!

  • End your walk at The Bucket List Bar on Bondi a great place to sip a beer and watch the surfers!

• The Marrickville Neighborhood Brewery Hub:

  • Batch Brewing: Solid beers, food trucks every night, chill vibes, good prices

  • Stockade Brew Co.: Some of the best beer in Sydney. A cute taproom with a burger food truck that lives onsite

    • Note that it is quite literally a one minute walk between Batch and Stockade so be sure to plan to visit both because why not?

  • Sauce Brewing: A really nice outside area/beer garden and lots of good IPAs

  • The Grifter Brewing Co.: A very interesting space in a dark basement with old school vibes. but the beer is good!

    • There are a few more breweries in this neighborhood that I didn’t get to visit but they are in this same hub:

      • Willie the Boatman—They were closed for moving while I was in town

      • Wildflower Brewing and Blending—Unfortunately they are only open on Fridays and Saturdays

      • Young Henry’s—They close at 7pm every day so if you definitely want to visit be sure to head there earlier in the day

    • While in this area Enmore Road is a lively street with lots of bars and restaurants

The Opera House from the ferry

Top Touristy Spots in Sydney Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Ms. Macquaire’s Chair: The chair isn’t what you’re here for, it is the gorgeous views! If you walk up from the east side of the peninsula it is a gorgeous walk along the water, then you can soak in the views from the tip of the peninsula, then walk south through the The Royal Botanic Garden. Follow the water’s edge around the peninsula to the Opera House

  • There are lots of runners here, don’t get run over yo

• Sydney Opera House: The Sydney classic. It is quite expensive to tour, so unless you’re really into opera just soak in the views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge

  • Keep your eyes peeled for the ‘Seagull Patrol’ at the restaurant right next to the Opera House. The ‘patrol’ is an adorable dog running around scaring the seagulls away from the patrons

• The Rocks Neighborhood: A historic neighborhood just North of the city center. There are tons of bars and restaurants in this area to check out

  • Squire’s Landing: Drink a beer and gaze at the Harbour Bridge at this outpost of James Squire Brewing. Not the best beer in the city and definitely touristy, but the views are great!

• Walk the Harbour Bridge: Take in cool views of the Opera House, Harbour, and CBD. It’s nothing Earth-shattering but it’s something you’ve got to do!

  • You can also climb the bridge if you’re feeling adventurous, but that does come at a steep price

• Sydney Town Hall: Pop by and check out the gorgeous architecture

  • The Queen Victoria Building is right across the street and also a super gorgeous building to admire

The Blue Mountains

Other Things To Do in Sydney:​​

• John Mantagu Cafe: A cute coffee shop in the Woolloomooloo neighborhood (yes that’s a real name). A good starting point to walk up to Ms. Macquaire’s Chair if you want to take in the wharf and full peninsula. The cheddar and sage toastie is simple but delicious!

• Rocks Brewing: This brewery has a nice outdoor space and a full food menu. Heads up it is located in a weird industrial complex in the Alexandria neighborhood, so when you walk/drive up don’t be discouraged

• Sydney Brewery Surry Hills: Kinda weird vibes because it’s technically a hotel bar. Solid beers but nothing out of this world

• Glider Cafe: A cute coffee shop right near Kings Cross Station in the Potts Point neighborhood

• Observatory Hill Park: A quick stop on the way to the Harbour Bridge walk. Just a different perspective of the bay and Bridge

• Darling Harbour: A touristy area with restaurants and shops, not super impressed

• Frenchie’s Bistro and Brewery: Located inside The Cannery Rosebery, this brewery is a small spot with food and average beers. I would recommend you go during the day so the other shops are open, it’s got weird vibes at night because it’s empty

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver is a beautiful city surrounded by mountains and the water!

Vancity Tips: 

• Use public transportation! It is super easy to use and reliable. You use the same Compass Card for the Skytrain, buses, trains, seabuses, etc. Also Uber and Lyft don’t exist in Vancouver so this is a great, cheap alternative to taking traditional taxis.

  • It also runs to/from the airport so just hop on the Skytrain when you’re coming and going!

  • For the bus, you do not tap off, you just tap on. For the larger transport options you will need to tap out to exit the terminal so have your card ready as you’re leaving.

  • Plan ahead because if you don’t have a Canadian credit card you can only refill your Compass Card at London Drugs stores or certain terminals.

• Be conscious of the weather when planning your visit. I went in late August and early September and it was absolutely perfect. Vancouver can get cold and rainy if you visit at certain times so just pack appropriately!

• Rent a bike! Vancouver is super bike friendly and since it is a small city it’s a great way to get around! The city bikes you can rent are called Mobi and they are super convenient to be able to pick up and drop off all across the city. I paid for the month pass so that I could use the bikes throughout my whole trip.

  • Do note that you use them for 30 minute increments with the passes, if you have it for more than 30 minutes you get charged extra—to avoid this just set a timer and return the bike for a couple of seconds then recheck it out, easy peasy.

• For the most part, pints are 20oz in Vancouver and glasses are 12oz, so be aware when you are ordering!

Adventures & Ales Top Vancouver Recommendations: ​

• Superflux Beer Company: Easily the best brewery in Vancouver. They have a restaurant-style space with an interesting array of foods on their menu. The have two taprooms—the OG in the Strathcona neighborhood and their Cabana space downtown.

• Bike Stanley Park: A really pretty park that you can walk/run/bike around. It is 5.5 miles around the island. If you are biking just be aware that it is one way!

• Luppolo Brewing Company: A great brewery with a Lager-heavy tap list and a full food menu. They have a side patio for outdoor seating or a colorful inside space.

• 33 Acres Brewing: Tasty beers in a buzzing space. They have a kitchen onsite and I highly recommend the pizza and the cheese board. They’ve also got a coffee bar here.

• Electric Bicycle Brewing: A small retro-style brewery with great beer, board games, and a grilled cheese menu.

• Prado Cafe: A cute coffee shop in Gastown with delicious food and drinks.

• House of Funk Brewing: A cool brewery with skyline and water views in North Vancouver. They have all “funky” beers that are delightful!

33 Acres Brewing

• Kitsilano ‘Kits’ Beach: It is a cute neighborhood overall and the beach is nice with volleyball and tennis courts, a playground, and lots of space overall.

  • I would recommend biking from Kits Beach to Spanish Banks Beach and stopping at the various beaches in between, it’s a nice ride and a good way to explore each of them! It’s about 7 miles round trip.

• Visit Port Moody: A neighboring city with 5 breweries in 2 blocks—that’s the kind of ratio I can get down with! Easily accessible via public transport from central Vancouver. Check out my full blog here!

• Parallel 49 Brewing: 40 taps and a full food menu on the street kitchen side or a smaller/quieter taproom connected. Delicious beers and food!

• Check out all of the awesome street art in the city!

Top Touristy Spots in Vancouver Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Go Whale Watching! I went on a tour with Prince of Whales and it was incredible. It’s pricey and I usually don’t love tours but I wanted to see some whales and it was so worth it!

  • Pro tip if you go: You meet outside to get some information before walking to the boat—when you do so, walk towards the front of the group so that you can choose the best seating option! I power-walked and got to sit in a prime seat on the top deck. Also layer up! It is chilly on the water.

• Take a day trip further north:

  • Hike the Garibaldi Lake Trail: This is one of my favorite hikes I have ever done! It is located in Garibaldi Provincial Park and is hard—13.8 miles long with 3211ft of elevation gain. It took me just under 6 hours with spending 40 minutes at the lake. There is ample parking here but you do need a day use pass if visiting in the summer months. The lakes are absolutely stunning and you can also see Sphinx Glacier. It is definitely a challenging hike but absolutely worth it! 

  • Backcountry Brewing: A great spot for lunch after hiking in Squamish, 25 minutes south of the trailhead. Their food and beer are both fantastic, highly recommend.

• Gastown Steam Clock: Very touristy but it is a fun little show at the top of the hour. Don’t go too far out of your way for it—if you aren’t nearby at the top of the hour it also releases steam on the 15, 30, and 45.

• English Bay Beach: A nice beach with cool logs to sit or lean on (like all of the beaches in the area).

• Granville Island: A touristy island with lots of shops and the Granville Island Public market that is full of food stalls and local goods.

  • Granville Island Brewing is located here and has solid brews and a small food menu. It’s quite popular so expect a wait.

Lions Gate Bridge

• Hike Grouse Mountain: I did the BCMC trail because the Grouse Grind is super crowded and touristy and it was quite the hike! It was incredibly rugged and barely a “trail” because of all the roots and rocks, but it is very easy to follow with markers all the way up. It is quite hard and steep—you gain 2,595ft of elevation in just a couple of miles.

• Grouse is accessible via public transportation if you don’t have a car, unlike most mountains. If you drive you do have to pay for parking in the lot

• You are not allowed to hike down the Grouse Grind Trail and I would definitely not recommend it on the BCMC trail unless you are very experienced and have hiking poles. The Skyride is your best option and costs $15 for the journey. You can also take the Skyride up if you want to see the top/do the activities at the top without hiking such as the lumberjack show, ziplining, and more

Other Vancouver Things To Do:​​

• Strange Fellows Brewing: Another brewery option with a small beer list and food menu. Their Sours are my favorite!

• Strathcona Beer Company: Solid beers and a cute airy space. They have a small food menu as well that includes pizzas and salads.

• Beere Brewing: A solid brewery in North Vancouver that only offers flights! They’ve got views of the skyline and water as well.

• Brassneck Brewing: A cool spot with lots of good beer options!

• Bridge Brewing: Good beers, an outside patio, and a small food menu featuring tacos. Overall very chill vibes!

• Hang out in the Shipyards area of North Vancouver that has a bunch of bars and restaurants.

• Craft Beer Market: A beer bar and restaurant with a large beer list and full food menu.

• Three Brits Public House: A bar/restaurant overlooking English Bay Beach.

• Bomber Brewing: A very small taproom with solid beers.

• Far Out Coffee Post: A cafe with great breakfast burritos and coffee that doubles as a small arcade.

• East Van Brewing: A cool spot to hang out with good beers and a small food menu with paninis.

• Arbutus Coffee: A cute little neighborhood café in the Kits Beach area.

• Faculty Brewing: Another brewery option near Electric Bicycle. They were at capacity with a line when I visited that did not seem worth the wait so I moved on, but if you go let me know what you think!

Holbox Island, Mexico

Holbox Island is a quiet little touristy island off the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico

HBX Tips:

• Traveling here is no joke. After arriving at the Cancun airport and fighting through customs and the herds of people trying to get you to take a taxi with them outside you’ll need to take a 2.5-3.5 hour long shuttle, a 30 minute ferry, and then a golf cart taxi to wherever you’re staying. You should also anticipate delays. It makes for quite a long day of travel.

• Get Pesos ahead of time. The ATM at the Cancun airport and on Holbox were both broken when I visited so I had to pay with a card everywhere which tends to be about 5% more. Use Pesos as much as possible.

• The island is very laid back—the locals are all very friendly and there are no cars on the island (only golf carts).

• Holbox is quite pricey all around. It’s an island, so that’s to be expected, but it’s more comparable to a major US city than anywhere in Central America.

• There are tons of bars, restaurants and shops on the island—bop around and see what sparks your interest! Basically everything we ate on the island was insanely delicious—everything is super fresh and handcrafted.

Adventures & Ales Top Holbox Island Recommendations:

• Alma: An awesome rooftop bar with a pool, hammocks, food menu and cocktails. Their tower is also the highest point on the island so it has great views of the entire area. Highly recommend!

• Complemento Café Holbox: This is a fantastic spot for breakfast and coffee. The latte was one of the best I’ve ever had and the breakfast was also superb. On top of all of that their team is super nice too!

• Bah Bah!: A beautiful spot for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Everything here was delicious!

• Salma: A delicious restaurant with awesomely spooky vibes. Right across from the beach—highly recommend.

• Crónicas Taproom: A beer bar with full food menu alongside cocktails and wine. They are located right on main square. Upstairs has a nice airy space or downstairs has bar seating.

• Luuma: A great restaurant a block from the beach. The food and drinks here are super tasty.

• Alta Gula: A cute and tiny spot for lunch. They have fantastic empanadas and sandwiches. Further inland so the prices are great.

Other Things to Do on Holbox Island:

• Bikini Bottom: A dive bar on the beach with swing seating. The drinks here are quite cheap and delicious.

• La Playa de Ñaña: A tiki bar and restaurant on the beach. Super cute spot but definitely a bit pricey.

• Stay at Ser Casasandra: This is a very nice hotel with an onsite restaurant, private beach, and gorgeous pool. Morning yoga and breakfast is included in your reservation and the team here is very nice. It is definitely on the pricier side, so if that’s not for you there are tons of cute hotels on the island.

  • Mojito Beach Club: Casasandra’s beachside restaurant and bar. They’ve got nice seating options and tasty eats.

• Clandestino Cafe: A small coffee shop with outdoor seating and breakfast options.

• Mandarina: A restaurant and bar on the beach owned by the same folks as Luuma. The food here is not quite as good as Luuma and a little pricey, so I’d moreso recommend it for drinks.

• Carioca’s: Another fun bar/restaurant on the beach. They’ve got a full food menu and swings.

• La Combi: A fun spot for live music, food, and drinks.

• Birrateca: Unfortunately they closed early so we weren’t able to try their tacos but we heard amazing things from several friends so I wanted to pass those recommendations along!

Costa Rica

Costa Rica miiiiight be my favorite country on Earth. TBD. If you have not been, GO! If you’ve been, GO BACK!

Costa Rica Tips: 

• Get out of San Jose. You should try to spend a very tiny amount of time in San Jose. Get into nature!

• They have shuttles that say things like “meet at the Denny’s off x road”—it seems really sketchy, but it’s legit

• If you’re looking for a quiet beach vacation with some hiking/waterfall options I highly recommend Playa Hermosa, near Jaco. There are two Playa Hermosas—one in the north and one in the south, so be sure you’re looking at the right one!

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations—Day trips from San Jose:

• Poas Volcano: At 8,800 feet, this volcanic crater is an incredible sight to see. Bring layers and be prepared to freeze your tail off. Amazing when the clouds clear to see the crater and beautiful water inside of it!

• La Paz Waterfall: This waterfall is part of a waterfall trail system. It’s a little touristy but it’s a convenient way to see some killer falls

• Doka Estate Coffee Tour: See how coffee is made and sample a variety of coffees. The estate is filled with beautiful rainbow eucalyptus trees as well!

La Paz Waterfall

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations in Playa Hermosa, Jaco

• Playa Hermosa is an isolated beach town near the large city of Jaco. It is a large surfing community and very chill

• Stay at Tortuga Del Mar: I absolutely loved my beachfront room. The owners are so sweet and it’s nice and small so there’s barely anyone else around. The black sand beach is gorgeous, there are a couple of restaurants and a store within walking distance.

• Day trip to Bijagual Waterfall: I did an amazing adventure where I got to actually hike to and hike up 10 different waterfalls. Highly recommend getting to the waterfalls of the region!

• Grab a cab into Jaco and explore after spending the day at the beach outside your room

  • Green Room Cafe: it’s a cute little nature filled bar. They have beer flights here, and I loved the hibiscus saison from Domingo 7.

  • Surfing: Jaco is a huge surfing destination and lessons are available for beginners, but beware, the rip currents here can be brutal

Playa Samara Sunset

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations in Playa Samara

• Playa Samara is super chill and an amazing little beach town!

• Stay at Sunset Chill Out B&B! Francisco and Herman, the hosts, are incredibly nice and so is their dog Josefina who roams the property. Their garden space overlooking the water is incredible! You can also walk to town via the beach which is nice, but it is still off the beaten path and relaxing.

• Cocos Mexican Restaurant/2 Gringos Brewing: A brewery within a restaurant in town. They’ve got 13 taps and an open-air setting.

• La Dolce Vita: A super cute restaurant on the water with Italian food.

• Playa Carillo: A neighboring beach with no hotels or restaurants but lots of locals enjoying the sand and water.

• Samara Trails: Hiking with Samara Adventure Company at Werner Sauter Biological Reserve. They offer a morning or afternoon guided hike, I was lucky enough to be the only one on my “tour”! It was incredibly informative as we hiked through various flora and saw several animals as well. The peak of the hike offers a great view of the bay.

• Lo Que Hay: A restaurant and bar right on the water, burgers, tacos and frequent specials.

• Microbar Samara: A craft beer bar located in town with a slue of options!

Cervecería Independiente

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations in Playa Flamingo & Playa Potrero

• Playa Flamingo is a very Americanized beach town with soft sand and beautiful water. It is touristy but not as built up as nearby Tamarindo or Playa Del Coco.

• Neighboring Playa Potrero is a more isolated beach than Flamingo, but the water is definitely murkier than the clear water on the Flamingo side.

• Coco Loco: A bar and restaurant right on Flamingo Beach with great views. They have a small selection of craft beers to enjoy.

• Cervecería Independiente: A brewery with outside seating and solid craft beers. You can get food delivered and it is next to El Garden and Perlas, two other bar/restaurants in Potrero.

• The Beach House: Another bar/restaurant on Potrero with a large menu and a nice place to watch the sunset. They’ve got 3 craft beers on tap.

• Las Brisas is a bar and restaurant on Potrero with nice beach views, the food was just okay, so I’d say just grab a drink!

• I would NOT recommend booking with Native’s Way for any day trips. There are other companies, go for them or go on your own.

• Day trip ideas:

  • Llanos del Cortés: A pretty, albeit touristy, waterfall that you can swim under

  • Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio: Take a short hike to Río Celeste, the popular bright blue river. It’s not always the color that pictures show depending on rainfall

  • Nicaragua Day Trip (see below)

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations in Monteverde:

• Monteverde Cloud Forest: The reason to visit Monteverde! This biological reserve is full of trails to explore. It costs $25 to enter, but you absolutely do not need a guide to hike the cloud forest—the trails are well marked. It wasn’t super cloudy/misty when I visited but it was very peaceful and green which was nice. Pack some bug spray when you visit!

  • Each trail is a little different, I hiked almost every trail and it took about 3 hours and was about 5 miles.

    • Sendero Bosque Nubosco to Sendero La Ventana takes about 45 minutes one way and it gets steep closer to the viewpoint. The lookout is at the Continental Divide, this was my favorite trail.

    • Sendero Camino: It was quite boring, I would recommend going the Roble route instead for a challenge. The swinging bridge is definitely cool!

    • Sendero Tosi and Quebrada Cuecha lead to a nice waterfall lookout

• Monteverde Beer House: A Mediterranean restaurant with craft beer options. They’ve got a great outside seating area

Rio Celeste

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations in La Fortuna & Arenal:

• La Fortuna is very touristy and pricey compared to the rest of Costa Rica. I enjoyed the waterfall and volcano, but they were not as epic as other waterfalls and volcanoes in the country, I probably won’t return to this area of Costa Rica.

• Stay at Ti-fakara Boutique Hotel & Birding Oasis! It is a ten minute walk from the waterfall, the pool and hot tub are really nice, and some rooms have views of Arenal Volcano.

• La Fortuna Waterfall: A large waterfall that is pretty cool to check out. You can sometimes swim under it, depending on the currents. It costs $18 to enter and it is a man-made staircase to get down to the falls.

• La Fortuna Pub: 40 craft beers in bottles and two drafts with a nice outdoor patio.

• Arenal Volcano: Hike around the volcano in this national park! It costs $15 to enter and takes about 2 hours to hike all the trails. You can have a taxi drop you off and come back to get you if you don’t have a car, they’ll actually come back for you. You absolutely do not need a tour guide/group here—everything is well marked and easy to navigate.

  • Make sure to go to the lookout to see the volcano and cross over the dried up lava!

Tortuga Del Mar

Another Idea: Day Trip to Nicaragua

Personally I did not love my day trip to Nicaragua, but I might have enjoyed it more with a different company/on my own, so here are some highlights if you decide to check it out:

• You can literally walk across the border, it’s pretty wild (for an American)

• Granada is a colorful city full of people trying to sell you things unfortunately

• Masaya Volcano National Park: A large volcanic crater surrounded by dried lava from the last eruption

• Apoyo Volcano & Lake: A little artisan market with benches over looking the volcanic crater that is now a lake

Panama

Panama is up there among my favorite places to adventure. From the beaches of Bocas del Toro to the excitement of Panama City and the tranquility of the mountains in Boquete—there is something no matter what you are looking for!

Panama Tips: 

• Panama is pretty dang cheap and they use the US dollar so that’s really convenient

• Panama City is awesome but I would highly recommend exploring some more of the country as well

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations in Panama City:

• Isla Taboga: Highly recommend a day trip from Panama City to this gorgeous island a quick boat ride away. There are wild horses, insanely cheap drinks, friendly locals, and it is beautiful.

• Do a day trip to the jungle!

  • We did this incredible day trip from Panama City with Jungle Land Panama where we got picked up at our hotel, taken to a boat where we cruised through the Panama Canal and Lago Gatun to a floating lodge where we had lunch and hung out in hammocks over the water, then kayaked through the jungle to a hidden waterfall. We also got to hang out with some cool monkeys. Cannot recommend this enough!

• Rooftop bar at the Hard Rock: The views are insaneeee (only open at night, as a heads up)

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting—Panama City:

• The Panama Canal: One of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. The locks are actually very intense and very interesting.

• Casco Viejo: The old part of town where you want to spend a majority of your time. This is where to eat/drink/explore

Other ideas—Panama City:

• La Rana Dorada: Panama’s first microbrewery! Right as you enter Casco Viejo the brewery greets you. Great beer, fun place to hang out and soak up the culture

• Ancon Hill: A giant hill overlooking the city. It’s an aggressive climb to the top, but all paved. You get fantastic views on your way up and from the top.

• Casa Sucre Coffeehouse: A great coffee shop in Casco Viejo

• Panama Viejo: The ruins of the ancient city, cool to explore. Bring bug spray.

• Bridge of the Americas: There’s a lot of hype about this bridge, but it’s just a bridge. You can see it from the top of Ancon Hill and if you’re driving in certain parts of the city, so I wouldn’t recommend just going to the bridge itself

Casco Viejo

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations in Bocas Del Toro:

• Beach. It. Up. Duh, that’s the whole point

• I’d recommend staying at Popa Paradise, it’s gorgeous, the staff is super friendly, and we truly loved it. The food was fantastic and not some crappy buffet like a lot of resorts in the area, everything was made individual to us and the place is quite small so you’re not overwhelmed by other guests. There were max 5 people there while we were there

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting—Bocas Del Toro:

• Green Acres Chocolate Farm: Explore the jungle, see how chocolate is made, and eat some amazing chocolate while you’re at it!

• Red Frog Beach: Depending on what island you’re staying on Red Frog is either going to be way bigger than your island (as was the case for us, we stayed on Isla Popa) or way smaller (if for example you stay on Isla Colon, the main island). It’s a cool place to hang out

Popa Paradise

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations in Boquete:

• Volcan Baru: I woke up at 3:30AM to Jeep it up to the top of the highest mountain in Panama. Seeing the sunrise over both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea at the same time is unreal [also very very cold, come prepared]. You can also hike to the top if you’re ambitious

• The Lost Waterfalls: Amazing hiking just outside of downtown Boquete. Take a cab, ask them to return 2-3 hours later (they’ll actually do it, so that’s cool). Hike through the cloud forest to three different waterfalls-or just one or two, whatever you prefer. The hike is pretty intense with lots of ups and downs, so be prepared. Totally worth it!

Other ideas—Boquete:

• Boquete Brewing Company: Boquete’s only brewery! Fun place with live music and a food truck. Beer is just okay, but what do you expect in a small Panamanian mountain town!

• Los Cangilones: Take a day trip to the canyons, you can jump in and swim!

• RetroGusto Restaurant: The best restaurant in Boquete and one of the best restaurants I’ve ever eaten at. It was incredible

Ecuador

Ecuador is a gorgeous South American country with so much to explore!

Ecuador Tips: 

• They use the US dollar which is really nice and easy!

• Similar to what I say about everywhere in Latin America—get out of Quito! Quito is fun and awesome, but the nature side of Ecuador is gorgeous. I highly recommend checking out Banos

• Elevation is real—beware. Quito is one the highest capital cities in the world, so pace yourself. Also Quito is insanely hilly, prep your thighs folks

• Also, this is semi-random and may have just been the app I was using—but the weather that was predicted was drastically different than what actually happened. I would recommend packing layers and a variety of clothes to be prepared

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations in Quito:

• Bandido Brewing: An awesome brewery!

• Day trip to the equator!! Now I used to be a geography teacher, so it could just be my nerdy side coming out, but the equator was one of the coolest things ever. Do it up. There are two, in theory. Most day trips take you to both sights

• Quilotoa Lake: An insanely gorgeous lagoon inside a crater. Cute little town here, lots of tourists of course, but the hike is great, the view is great, and I saw a double rainbow over the crater, so I’d say do it up

• Cotopaxi National Park: Glacial volcano at 13,000 feet, complete with wild horses and a lake on top. What more could you ask for?

Other Ideas—Quito:

• Take the teleferico: You’re for real in the clouds at the top—awesome views!

• Check out the churches! Not a statement that always leaves my mouth, but Quito is overflowing with gorgeous churches. Basilica del Voto Nacional is the most stunning

• Parque Itchimbia: Hike up to this pretty park to overlook the city, see the giant Quito sign, and hang out in the greenery

Quilotoa Lake

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations in Banos:

• Stay at La Casa Verde just outside of downtown. It’s an eco-hostel, super relaxing, and the hosts are SO nice. There are hammocks, delicious snacks, and great views.

• La Casa Del Arbol: Translating to tree house, this is where “the swing at the end of the world” is located. So fun! So cool!

• Take La Ruta De Las Cascadas: The waterfall route. There are a few different ways to do this: taxi, rental car, bike, or chiva. If you have a car, done deal. You can also bike it, but I was warned the biking can be aggressive and intense, so I decided against that. I thought the taxi sounded like not much of an experience. So, I did it via the chiva. I was the only non-Ecuadorian on the chiva and it was awesome. It’s basically an open air truck that takes you along the route to waterfalls and ziplining and such. Very cheap, very fun, very local

• Hike the Mirador Tungurahua trail—depending on what you do from the trail it is an 8+ mile loop with views of Tungurahua volcano, the entire city of Banos, and lots of greenery. You can also swing to a cafe, which is what I tried to do, but be sure to double check their hours before you leave for the hike

  • There are plenty of other hikes in the area as well, including some awesome ones to waterfalls! Jump on it

Peru

Peru is fantastic. The prices are magical, the people are nice (and they speak Spanish nice and slow), and pisco sours are delicious!

Peru Tips: 

• Lima can be seen in just a couple of days, you don’t need more time than that here

• Prepare yourself for lots of car honking in Lima. For no apparent reason whatsoever.

• There is a lot of inequality in Lima. For example, Plaza Mayor, below, is gorgeous and ritzy, then directly on the other side of the palace you can see the poverty of the city at it’s prime. Do something good while you’re visiting.

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations in Lima:

• Plaza Mayor: The center of the city and home to the Presidential Palace

  • Pro tip: check out the changing of the guards at noon every day!

• Barrancco: The artsy district famous for the Bridge of Sighs and the little cobblestoned path leading from the center of the district to the beach, past the bridge. The bridge itself isn’t all that fancy but the views from it are gorgeous, seeing all of Lima and the Pacific.

Parque del Amor

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting in Lima:​

• Kennedy Park: A cute, artsy park, but sadly surrounded by KFC, Starbucks, and other American imports.

• Parque del Amor: The Park of Love! The perfect place to catch a Lima sunset

Chile

Chile has so much to offer and can please anyone’s version of adventure! From the beaches in Northern Chile, to the bustling city of Santiago in the center, to the glacial hiking in the South, Chile is definitely a country that should be on your list.

Chile Tips: 

• Chilean Spanish is INTENSE! Chileanos speak extremely fast, they don’t pronounce the letter ‘s’, they throw ‘po’ to the end of a lot of words sporadically, and there is a ton of slang.

• The most common food you’ll see across the country is completos—they are hot dogs with a variety of toppings. There are also amazing empanadas and sopapillas on the streets. Highly recommend street food here.

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations in Santiago:

• Beer is the same price as water. Drink beer.

• The Museum of Memory and Human Rights was absolutely amazing. Highly recommend it! Definitely a dark historical overview of the Pinochet dictatorship, but extremely good.

  • After the museum if you need something bright and cheery I would recommend going to Quinta Normal, a huge park right across from the museum, and sit by the fountains and watch the kids and dogs playing for a while!

• Bellavista neighborhood: The artsy part of town with lots of bars and restaurants.

• Climb San Cristobal Hill: There is also a furnicular you can ride up/down if you prefer. The top provides amazing views of the Santiago skyline and the surrounding Andes!

  • Pro-tip: Get yourself some Mote once you make it to the top! A delicious part tea/part fruit/part granola-esque drink.

• La Vega Central: A veggie market near El Mercado Central. Everyone talks about Mercado Central like it is some amazing place but it is really just a fish market, bleh. Lots of markets are lined up in this area so wander around and grab lunch!

  • The markets are near Plaza de Armas, home to some beautiful churches and people watching.

Valparaíso

Day Trips from Santiago:

Take a day trip to Valparaíso! Chile’s historic and colorful port city just an hour and a half long bus ride from Santiago.

• I’d recommend starting your adventure in Plaza Mayor

• Tours for Tips provides a very informational, but fun tour of the city

• Valpo is deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site which has brought the tourism industry and greatly helped the city’s economy. The ascensores are a major part of the UNESCO site, elevators that lift you up or down Valpo’s crazy steep hillside

• Check out El Pimiento restaurant, delicious food & beers!

Arica from El Morro

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations in Arica (Northern Chile):

• Beach it up! The Pacific Ocean is fabulous

• Check out the sea lions! Near the port the sea lions gather and wait for fish as the fishermen come in for the day. They are super cute!

• Climb El Morro. The hill overlooking the city provides great views of the town, ocean, and surrounding desert.

Chilean Drinks:

• Terremoto: grenadine, white wine (Pipeño), fernet and pineapple ice cream piled together for a delicious–and super strong–drink. Terremoto means earthquake in Spanish, which is the appropriate name for what you feel after you drink just one of these. 

• Pisco Sour: Both Chile and Peru claim the pisco sour as their national drink, Chile’s uses Pisco, sugar, lemon juice, and bitters, and is served in champagne flutes. Peru uses Pisco, simple syrup, key lime juice, egg whites, and bitters, and is served in a normal bar glass. Both recipes are strong and delicious, but I think Peru wins based off of taste and size—just don’t tell anyone in Chile!

• Carménère: A red wine the world thought was extinct until they found some more grapes in Chile, this fruity drink is extremely good.

• Schops: beer is served in schops most of the time in Chile, basically like giant liter sized bottles. Nom. Sometimes they put salt on the rim of the glasses they serve it with, which is also surprisingly fantastic.

• On the non-alcoholic end, if you order a jugo (juice) don’t expect it to taste like juice. Jugo is incredibly sugary in Chile—you can feel the grains of sugar in your mouth with each sip, so don’t sit down to breakfast and expect a nice smooth OJ.

Paris, France

Paris is usually a top destination when visiting Europe and for good reason—it is gorgeous and full of things to see and do!

City of Lights Tips: 

• You do not need a car anywhere in Europe. Period. Point Blank. Simple. Even the cute little towns you want to visit you can do so on public transport. Use public transportation or Ubers/taxis if you’re fancy.

  • For public transport your tickets work on both the metro and buses, they are 1.90 each 

• If you’re flying in, Charles De Gaulle Airport is 45 minutes north of the city. Le Bus Direct is $18 for a one way adult ticket. The pick up is directly out front and it comes every half hour. Follow the signs for the bus and you can pay either at the bus counter or the ticket machine.

  • You can also take the metro into the city depending on where you are staying. Google Maps can give you the best option to your destination for which form of public transit is best!

• I found 3 days to be the perfect amount of time for me in Paris to see and do everything that I wanted. Some people spend 3 days just in The Louvre, so it really just depends on what your goals are.

• Museum Pass: I usually don’t do museum or city passes but it financially made sense with all that I wanted to see in Paris so I would recommend looking into it. You can do a 2, 4, or 6 day pass and get it at any participating attraction. I got mine at The Louvre and it was super easy there.

• London is a super quick train ride away and is one of my favorite cities! Check out my guide here! I enjoyed exploring the Alsace region of France after my time in Paris—check out my full guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Paris Recommendations: ​

• La Fine Mousse: A craft beer bar and sister restaurant across the street from each other. I visited the little rustic bar that has 20 taps of all great beers! They even had the ever-popular Cantillon on tap when I visited.

• Liquiderie: An awesome craft beer shop and bar. They have a fantastic selection of beers, three taps, and a small food menu. It is a cute little spot right in the heart of the Folic-Mericourt neighborhood. Their staff is super nice as well!

• Musee d’Orsay: An art museum in an old railway station. I loved this museum—the space is awesome and there is some amazing artists on display. My favorite area was the 5th floor gallery!

  • This was the longest I waited to get into any museum even with my museum pass, but I went on a Tuesday when The Louvre is closed, so if you have the option avoid Tuesdays so the masses don’t go to The Orsay with you. The Orsay is closed Mondays—so try to visit Wednesday-Sunday if possible.

• Maison BAPBAP: A tiny little brewery with a super chill taproom and a small food menu. A 5 minute walk from La Fine Mousse!

  • Hop Malt Market is a bottle shop next door as well!

• Sainte-Chapelle: A gorgeous church! Be sure to go upstairs as well, the stairs are on your left when you walk in. The museum pass saved me a lot of time here as well

Top Touristy Paris Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• The Louvre: A must! So much art, be sure to get a map when you go in. Expect crowds always. I HIGHLY recommend reserving a time slot ahead of time online, which you can do here. You get to go in a much shorter line. You can also go in the back entrance through an underground mall, The Carrousel du Louvre.

  • Closed on Tuesdays!

• Arc de Triomphe: Awesome views of the city from the top, definitely try to go on a clear day! If you have a museum pass you can skip both lines here. Access via the underground tunnel on the Avenue de la Grande Armee side of the circle.

• Eiffel Tower: You can go up the tower for a fee and for a large chunk of your time, but I would recommend just hanging out in the gardens in front instead. Be aware of panderers in the area, they are quite annoying, but bring a picnic & some drinks and enjoy the view!

• Jardin des Tuileries: Right near The Louvre, these gardens are super pretty and a great place to relax

• Notre Dame Cathedral: Closed due to the fire, but still worth walking by as they work to repair

• Explore the Latin Quarter: A bustling neighborhood full of bars and restaurants. Rue Mouffetard is a great street to explore here.

• Luxembourg Gardens: Pretty gardens to relax in near the Latin Quarter

• Pont de l’Alma Bridge: A historic bridge and a good spot for pictures of the Eiffel Tower 

• Ô Chateau: A wine bar that offers wine tastings. I would recommend getting a flight to try a few different things. They also do a wine and cheese pairing lunch and dinner if you’re looking to treat yourself (it is quite pricey). Overall it is a bit touristy and a bit pricey, but I did enjoy my wine flight

Sainte-Chapelle

Other Things To Do in Paris:​​

• Mozaic: A craft beer shop and bar. They have a great selection, including Cantillon, and a few beers on tap as well

• Explore the Folic-Mericourt neighborhood: A cute area with a bunch of bars and restaurants

• Paname Brewing Company: A brewery on a canal that is quite touristy and overpriced, but a cool place to hang out with solid beers. They have pizza and other food from 3pm onward.

• La Cave de Bulles: A craft beer bottle shop with a few taps and good beer selection. The space is a bit odd if you’re looking to enjoy something onsite as there is only one table

• Le Willi’s Wine Bar: A famous wine bar known for their posters, it can be a bit touristy but overall it was a nice spot for a glass of wine

• We Are Brewers (WAB): A brewery with solid beers, happy hour, and a small food menu.

• Explore the Montemarte neighborhood: Some cute cobblestoned streets full of bars and restaurants

• Sacre Coeur: A large church on a hill. The inside is nothing special but the outside is gorgeous. Free to visit!

• The Shoah Memorial: Paris’s Holocaust Museum. Not as impressive as what I’ve seen in some other cities, but it is free and if you haven’t visited many before it is worth a stop!

• Explore the Pletzl neighborhood: A cool area with lots of bars and restaurants

A Day Trip to Fontainebleau:

• I chose to visit Château de Fontainebleau over the Palace of Versailles because it is less touristy and crowded.

• To get to Fonainebleau:

  • Go to the Gare de Lyon Station and then follow the signs for the main line train. There are ticket machines right by the platforms, get a ticket towards either Montereau, Montargis, or Migennes. Make sure to validate your ticket at a machine before boarding. The train takes about 45 minutes and you will get off at Fontainebleau Avon.

  • From the train station take the #1 bus towards Les Lilas or you can walk 35 minutes to the Chateau. Quai 1 is where the bus picks up outside of the train station, it comes every 15-20 minutes. You can check the schedule posted at the stop to see when the next arrival is. You use the same tickets for this bus as your Paris public transit tickets, just be sure to validate it when you get on.

  • Get off at the Chateau stop and use Hotel de Londres as your destination to walk to—it is very confusing to enter the Chateau, the main entrance is directly across from this hotel so that is much easier

• You can use your Museum Pass here as well!

• It is a very pretty chateau and the grounds are gorgeous as well. There are information cards throughout and audio guides as well.

• To return to the train station you will get on the #1 bus again from the numerous stops throughout town towards Avon. The last stop is the train station!

Alsace, France

Alsace is a region full of adorable little villages for you to explore—with a glass of wine in hand of course!

Alsace Tips: 

• Make sure to drink the local wines! This area is bursting with wineries producing some delicious vino

  • Gewürtztraminer and Riesling wines are the main wines produced in this region. They also have unique wine glasses here too that are smaller and have a long green stem

• Overall there is an extremely heavy German influence in Alsace since it is nestled on the border—you’ll see riit in the architecture, food, and drink especially

• Be sure to try Tarte Flambee/Flammekueche: Very thinly rolled out dough topped with cheese/cream and topped with onions and bacon. There are many varieties of this with different toppings

• Trains between Strasbourg and Colmar (the two biggest cities in the area) run every 30 minutes and cost ~$27 round trip. You can grab a ticket at the station or use the Trainline website or app which is easier to navigate

• It is definitely not necessary to have a car when visiting this region (or anywhere in Europe in my opinion). The wineries that this region is famous for are all in the villages and walk-able, not up on a hill an hour outside of the city like a lot of places

• To explore the smaller villages from Colmar you have two bus options (the villages are too small for train stations):

  • Local bus—Fluo Grande Est: I chose this option because the timing was better for what I wanted to do. You can see the stops and times on the website in advance and they are posted at each stop as well

    • If you are starting in Colmar take a right out of the train station towards the bus loop and Line 106 is the last post on the right which makes the loop between Colmar, Riquewihr, and Ribeauvillé.

    • Make sure you have cash for the bus. You can buy a day pass for $15 or pay for each journey individually

  • Hop on hop off style bus—Kutzig: This is obviously the more touristy option, but the prices are the same for either one. This bus runs less frequently but goes to more places

• Each city and village is quite small, you can see a lot in a day or two

Colmar

Strasbourg RecommendationS:

• You can walk everywhere in Strasbourg, but if you need to hop on public transit there are trams and buses all over

• If you’re in town during a busy time (I was there during a German holiday) consider making reservations for dinner, places were packed!

• Sights to see while wandering the small town:

  • Barrage Vauban: A historical covered bridge that you can walk on top of

  • Ponts Couverts: Where the bridges connect, leading into Petite-France

  • Petite-France: The central toursity area of town with photogenic canals

  • Place Klebar: The main square of town

  • Place Gutenberg: Another large square with a historic carousel

  • Cathedrale Notre Dame: Absolutely stunning. You can see the Cathedral from all over town (it actually used to be the tallest in the world), but it’s worth getting up close and personal to see the detailed design. You can also go up the Cathedral for views of the city

  • Palais Rohan: An archaelogical, decorative arts, and fine arts museum

  • Place du Marche Gayot: A cute little tucked away square with lots of restaurants

  • Place Broglie: Another square, this one has a frequent market

  • Neustadt: The “German Quarter” across the river. The gardens of Place de la République when you cross over the river are a nice area to sit and enjoy the city

  • Eglise Reformee Saint-Paul: A beautiful church on the river

  • Krutenau neighborhood: Across the river, this area is more local

  • Le Comptoir d’Eugene: A brewery with traditional Alsace food

Gewürtztraminer

Colmar Recommendations:

• Colmar is a small city south of Strasbourg that is a good jumping off point for the nearby villages. I would recommend having your base in Strasbourg and taking the quick train to Colmar, wandering around town a bit, then jumping on the bus to explore the villages

  • The city center is a fifteen minute walk from the train station so it’s easy to explore without needing transit

• La Petite Venice: The main area of town with quite literal gondolas to make you feel like you’re in well… a petite Venice! It is a touristy area but it’s worth swinging through

Brasserie du Vignoble

Riquewihr Recommendations:

• A tiny little village that is absolutely adorable and absolutely touristic

• There are tons of wine bars to enjoy some of the local wines at, all very reasonably priced

• Brasserie du Vignoble: An awesome little brewery and beer garden overlooking the vineyards. They have three beers on tap and a bottle selection

• Hotel Restaurant Au Cerf: I enjoyed a fantastically priced cheese plate and glass of wine on the front deck here. The signs out front just say Hotel Wistropub as a heads up.

Colmar

Ribeauvillé:

• A slightly bigger, slightly less touristy village in the area

• Wander through, have a glass of wine, and admire the architecture

Obernai:

• Another cute little village

• Fun fact: the main square has had a market every Thursday since 1301!

Lucerne, Switzerland

Lucerne, or Luzern, depending on where you’re reading this is absolutely gorgeous

Lucerne Tips: 

• Switzerland is insanely expensive. I’m sure you’ve heard how expensive it is before, but truly it is the most expensive place I have ever been. Be prepared.

  • Also on the money front, Switzerland does not use Euros like most of the continent, they use Swiss Francs. Personally I did not need cash for anything, so it was not an issue

• I stayed at Hotel Bellevue which was just outside of the main city center via an easy bus ride. The views of the lake and mountains were really great!

  • Most hotels come with a Lucerne Visitor Card that gets you free access to public transportation and discounts on various attractions

• Overall the city is tiny, you can see it all in 24 hours!

• The city is quite touristy overall which is not my favorite vibe, but it was nice that English was everywhere as a result

• If you’re on a Swiss adventure, check out my guide to Zurich here!

Adventures & Ales Top Lucerne Recommendations: ​

• Relax by the water and soak in the gorgeous views of Lake Lucerne and the Alps!

• Rathaus Brauerei: Brewery on the water lots of outdoor seating. Get. The. Soup. It is basically a mixture of beer cheese and potato soup and truly incredible!

  • All of the other breweries in town had really weird hours so I wasn’t able to visit them but as a heads up there are a couple others

• Bierliebre & Friends: Craft beer bar also on the water right next to Rathaus Brauerei

• Pastarazzi: Super fresh pasta restaurant where you build your own dish

Rathaus Brauerei

Top Touristy Spots in Lucerne Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Wander the town! Lucerne is really small and you can walk everywhere very easily. Here are some highlights to see:

  • Chapel Bridge: A historic covered bridge—be sure to actually walk across it to see the inside

  • Spreuer Bridge: A second, smaller covered bridge

  • Museggmauer: The old city wall. It is a relatively steep climb up but absolutely worth it for the views of the city

  • Weinmarkt: One of the main squares

  • Rathaus Stadt Luzern: Old town hall building

  • Kornmarkt: Another large city square

  • Jesuit Church: A pretty church overall but nothing overly impressive

  • St Peter’s Chapel: Another historic church, right next to the covered bridge

Mount Rigi Views

Go up a mountain!

• I chose Rigi and Pilatus is another popular option.

  • There are several different ways you can choose to go up Mount Rigi—there’s a combination of trains, cogwheel, boat, cable car, or if you’re extremely ambitious—hiking!

    • For my route up I took the Voralpen Express for a short but gorgeous ride to the Arth-Goldau stop to switch to the Rigi Cogwheel that leads you directly up to the summit. This process takes around two hours to get to the top of Rigi from Lucerne.

      • The signage to the cogwheel is not great at Arth-Goldau as a forewarning, it is up above the rest of the normal trains.

  • The views from the top of Rigi are stupendous. They are absolutely breathtaking in each direction! It is freezing at the top of the mountain, as is the case with most mountains, so be sure to dress in layers

  • There is a restaurant at the summit that you can grab a hot chocolate, beer, snacks, or a full meal at. I would recommend planning for an hour at the summit, as the cogwheel runs on the hour

  • For my journey down I took the cogwheel to the Vitznau station then took the boat from Vitznau back to Lucerne. The cogwheel ride down provided gorgeous views—I would recommend sitting on the right side for the best vantage points

    • The boat ride was pretty, though not as “epic” as I thought it might be. When you buy your ticket you choose first class (upper deck) or second class (lower deck), the views are not drastically different from either

  • Overall the round trip journey was really quite expensive (almost $150) which is way more than I would’ve liked to pay but as I said above, Switzerland is really expensive so it was to be expected. It was my favorite thing I did in Switzerland—getting into the Alps was worth it for me, but just be aware of what you’re getting yourself into