Travel Plans for 2016: What Actually Happened

I was looking back at a post from the beginning of this year, where I plotted out my travel for the year. Some of the trips were on the books already, and others came about because I moved mid-year.

There were also some destinations that I thought about that didn't make the calendar for 2016....fortunately there's a whole new year ahead!

Where did I actually go in 2016?

Oahu 

Started the new year off right visiting a friend 

Big Island 

After 2+ years in Hawaii, I finally went to see the volcano.   And the southernmost bakery in the United States (important!).    

San Diego

When the year started, I didn't know where I would be moving, but it seemed likely that my next career move would happen in 2016.     I moved from Maui to San Diego in May.   Of course, this opened up a whole new city to explore, so I did a lot of local things over the second half of this year.

Some of my San Diego / SoCal experiences this year:  Balboa Park, USS Midway, Bike the Bay, Bike MS Bay to Bay, People-watching during Comic Con, Knott's Berry Farm,  Harbor Cruises, Going to a Padres game, Hiking Torrey Pines State Park, Moonlight hike of Cowles Mountain, Taste of Adams Ave, Taste of South Park, and the San Diego Santa Run.  

A Hui Hou Maui!

Hello San Diego!

Door County, Wisconsin 

I usually go every summer to fill up on cheese curds and kringle while visiting family.     This year, I'm also going for Christmas.   The real feel today was supposed to be -9 degrees.    My Hawaii / SoCal blood is NOT ready for that.    

Green Bay in summertime 

Colorado 

This is another annual trip, for the Jazz Aspen Music festival over Labor Day.    Also my best opportunity to visit with my family and friends in Denver.     I took a second spontaneous weekend trip in November, just because I'm back on the mainland and I can.

Always so beautiful, Colorado

Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania

I visited a friend who is a missionary in eastern Hungary and then went on a river cruise from Budapest to Bucharest with my mom.  

Cabbage Festival Time

Mexico 

When the year started, I thought I might be going to Playa del Carmen in the spring, but in reality, I took a day trip to cross the border here in California to go wine tasting in the Valle de Guadalupe.

Baja Coast

What adventures near and far did you have in 2016?   

Where are you going in 2017?

Budapest By Night

Hello Friends and Happy Mid-October!

My big trip for 2016 just finished last week (sniff).    This was my first foray into Eastern Europe and I visited Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.    There's lots to share, including cabbage festivals, river cruising and hiking dogs, but first:  Budapest.  

Budapest, Hungary, is beautiful by day, but at night it shines.     Walking along the Danube River or enjoying one of the many evening river cruise options is a great way to see all the buildings, monuments and bridges lit up.

A few glimpses of Budapest by night

Ready to plan your trip?    

National Parking: Cabrillo National Monument

Is it just me, or did summer fly by?

August went so fast that between two trips out of state, a week long visit from Mom and the normal business of work, that I haven't shared my most recent adventure in National Parking.  

While Mom was visiting San Diego, we fully enjoyed being tourists together.    We went to an Elvis themed Steel Beach party aboard the USS Midway, sailed in the sun on a harbor cruise, sipped margaritas and beer, and jammed out at Bluegrass Brunch.    And that was just in the first 48 hours.

Steel Beach Party

Part of our weekend of exploring was our visit to Cabrillo National Monument.    Mom and I are always on board to watch educational videos in the visitor center.    One of the most interesting facts is that there weren't any paintings or drawings of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who was leading the expedition that explored San Diego Bay.       Why is that interesting?   Because there is a statue of him at the park and I'm curious who they based his likeness on  

Cabrillo NM has two main sections,   the visitor center, scenic lookout and Old Point Loma Lighthouse on the top and the tidepools at the shore.    It's an easy site to visit in 1-3 hours, depending on if you're doing any hiking or tidepool exploring or just taking in the views.    Word is you can see Pacific Gray whales during their migration from December through March, so that will be my cue to go back and visit.  

Views of the city and the bay

Looking good lighthouse!

Visiting Cabrillo National Monument?

• The park is only open during the day
• There are entrance fees for cars, cyclists and pedestrians
• The Bayside Trail and Tidepools close earlier than the rest of the park

Other National Parks to Love:

Hawai'i Volcanoes NP

Valor in the Pacific - Pearl Harbor  - Oahu

Haleakala National Park - Maui

Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle

Black Canyon of the Gunnison - Colorado

Mount Rushmore - South Dakota

Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming (home of my favorite summer job)

What National Park have you visited recently?

Wisconsin Week: Frozen Custard

This week I'm celebrating the state of Wisconsin, just because I can.   
There is ice cream and there is frozen custard.    Both are delicious.
When I'm Wisconsin-bound, I like to get my custard on!

Wisconsin Week:  Frozen Custard

Wisconsin can't take the credit for creating frozen custard, but I see it there more often in WI than anywhere else.     According to Wikipedia, a shop in Coney Island was the first commercial producer back in 1919.   It made its way to the Midwest for the 1933 Chicago World's Fair.  

As you may know, it's not very far from Chicago to the Wisconsin border.
And it's not that far from the border to Milwaukee.    Milwaukee totally got on board the frozen custard express.

Milwaukee has highest number of frozen custard shops per capita.  

When I fly into Milwaukee, I'm committed to supporting these custard shops.    My sister lived in Milwaukee for years and she's partial to Kopp's.  So here I am, dragging from a red-eye flight from Hawaii to Wisconsin ready to take on the world now that I have custard in hand.  

#sorrynotsorry

Fun facts about frozen custard:

• Per the FDA it must contain 10% milkfat,  why do you think it tastes so rich and amazing?  
• 1.4% egg yolk solids....if it's less than that, it's merely ice cream
• Butterfat and egg yolk give frozen custard it's creamy and dense texture
• Most custard shops serve vanilla, chocolate and a flavor of the day

Trivia from Wikipedia

 If you can't make it to Wisconsin....other frozen custard spots I recommend:

• Denver:   Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard  - bonus, they offer Paw Benders for your furry friends
• Indianapolis:  Ritter's Frozen Custard & Burgers
• Champaign, IL:   Jarling's Custard Cup (totally brings back memories of college)
• Various locations:  Culver's (based in Wisconsin, but has locations in other states)

Have you tried frozen custard?   Do you have a go-to spot?  

Wisconsin Week: Cheese

This week I'm celebrating the state of Wisconsin, just because I can.   
The love of cheese is real.   

Wisconsin Week:  Cheese  

Wisconsin is known for it's dairy.   Cheese in particular.    For me, no visit to Wisconsin is complete without multiple servings of cheese curds.  

For many people, cheese curds may be just a thing of whispered legend.
Are they fried bar food?   
Are they served at fairs and festivals?   
Are they fresh and squeaky?  

Cheese curds are all of those things.    Cheese curds are a part of the cheese making process.   Before cheeses like cheddar are formed into blocks or wheels and aged, they start out as curds.   And yes, fresh curds squeak when you eat them.


Enhance your cheese curd knowledge at Eat Curds.   The Wisconsin milk marketing board wants YOU to know and understand the wonder of the cheese curd.  

Fun Wisconsin cheese and dairy facts to impress your friends:

• Wisconsin has 127 cheese plants, more than any other state 
• It takes 10 lbs of milk to make 1 lb of cheese
• On average, each American eats 34 lbs of cheese each year (that's a LOT of cheese)
• More than 96% of Wisconsin's dairy farms are family owned
• Wisconsin was named America's Dairyland in 1930
• Wisconsin is nation's largest producer of Cheddar cheese
• The first ice cream sundae was served in Two Rivers, Wisconsin (and yes, I've been there to celebrate that fact in person)

Trivia from America's Dairyland

Wisconsin makes it very easy to get your cheese fix.   Just look for a sign.  A big sign that says CHEESE.  

If you're in southern Wisconsin near Kenosha, perhaps a visit to the Mars Cheese Castle is in order?  

And when you're up near Door County, in Algoma or Sturgeon Bay?   A visit to Renard's is a must!

Or a mouse.

Let's celebrate with some cheese!

Wisconsin Cheese Curds for the win!

Do you love cheese too?

Wisconsin Week: Green Bay Sunsets

This week I'm celebrating the state of Wisconsin, just because I can.   
The love of water, among other things, runs deep in me.   

Wisconsin Week:  Green Bay Sunsets

I love sunsets and will hop up out of my chair, walk down to the water or step out of a restaurant to go and enjoy the moment.   Yes, I am that person.  In fact, I'll be that person again in just a few days.

Wisconsin is blessed with an abundance of water, so you can have your sunset shots at your choice of rivers, lakes and streams.   For me in the past 10 years, my favorite shots have been in Door County of the sun setting over Green Bay.

Fun Wisconsin water facts to impress your friends:

• The Great Lakes contain a fifth of all the liquid surface fresh water on earth
• Wisconsin has more than 15,000 lakes 
• Almost 3% of Wisconsin's total area is lakes
• Wetlands and abundant high-quality water make Wisconsin the nation’s top producer of cranberries and 10th-largest producer of trout
• Wisconsin has more than 500,000 registered motorboats—about one for every 10 residents

Trivia from Wisconsin's Water Library

Let's celebrate with some beautiful Green Bay sunsets!

 

Do you have a favorite sunset spot?

National Parking: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Hawai'i has so many unique and beautiful places to explore.   I was excited to have a chance to island hop over from Maui to Big Island this spring to finally see it!

Compared to Maui, Big Island is exactly that...big.   Big roads, bigger distances, and stretches of highway where you can't see the ocean (gasp!).     We flew in and out of Kona so that we could fly Mokulele.     Hilo is the airport that's closest to the park, though.   

Friends who visited me in 2015 stayed at the Volcano Inn and recommended it, so that's where we stayed as well.   It's in a perfect location for hiking the park and for going back at night to see Kīlauea at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Kīlauea Crater is an active volcano.   To see the glowing lava, you'll want to come back to the park at night.    During the day, its bright enough that you probably won't see anything, although you may smell it.   

Breakfast area at the Volcano Inn 

On the Kona side of the island, it's dry and hot.  If you are anywhere on the Hilo side of Big Island, you need to be prepared for rain.  At any time.   We hiked the Kīlauea Iki Trail and alternated between coats on /coats off, and hats on / hats off.   This hike is about 4 miles through the still steaming Kīlauea Iki Crater.   The visitor's center has a good video that shows the eruption in 1959.   

The Kīlauea Iki Crater from above

Part of the trail involves following the ahu.  There are stacked rocks that guide your way through the crater since the lava doesn't lend itself to an easily followed trail.  

You know what to do
Follow the ahu!

Rainforest all around the crater

Hiking into the unknown

After your hike, you're going to be hungry.   Good news, Ken's House of Pancakes is open 24 hours a day in Hilo.     Might I suggest corned beef hash eggs benedict?   Not pictured:  the pancakes with tropical fruit syrups that went with this.   But know that they were consumed with enthusiasm.

Heading to Big Island to visit Volcanoes National Park? 

• You'll be renting a car, so plan ahead.
• Volcano Inn has great rates, and partially because they don't take credit cards.  You'll need to mail your payment in advance to book your room.
• A 7 day pass as of June 1, 2016 is $20 per vehicle.   If you're planning to visit both Volcanoes NP on Big Island and Haleakala NP on Maui, you can by the Hawai'i Tri-Parks pass for $25 and that's good for a whole year.   
• Bring your beach clothes for the Kona side and your rain gear for the Hilo side.
• If you're driving the whole island, you'll definitely want to stop at the Punalu'u Bake Shop for lilikoi malasadas.    It's the southern most bakery in the United States! 

So ono!

Other National Parks to Love:

Valor in the Pacific - Pearl Harbor  - Oahu

Haleakala National Park - Maui

Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle

Black Canyon of the Gunnison - Colorado

Mount Rushmore - South Dakota

Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming (home of my favorite summer job)

Hiking the Waihee Ridge Trail, Maui

Every hike I've taken in Maui has been different and wonderful.    

What I can't believe is that it's taken me 2+ years in Maui to hike Waihee Ridge.  

Waihee Ridge is a part of the Na Ala Hele trail system.   There's a designated trailhead and the trail is easy to follow. 

Follow uphill, that is.    To get to the ridge, you need to climb up.    Legs burning, climb up.  

If it's rainy, the trail will be slippery and treacherous.      You'll also want to start early - not because you like getting out of bed, but because the views are better in the morning before the clouds come in....although walking in the clouds is an experience of its own. 

If you hike all the way to the top, the hike is about 5 miles round trip.     If you don't want to go all the way, hike as far as  the 1.5 mile marker.   You'll have beautiful views of the ocean, the green mountains, and maybe even a waterfall or two.   We enjoyed some wildflowers and baby ferns covered with dew on our hike as well.     It's a hike that showcases so much of the scenery that Maui has to offer.

How to get to the Waihee Ridge Trail:

Drive through Wailuku and then Waiehu.    You'll be on Kahekili Highway (340).    When you see the gate for Mendes Ranch  on the right hand side (ocean / makai) of the road, you know you're almost there.   The trailhead and parking is on the left hand side  (moutain / mauka) - you'll see a sign for a Boy Scout Camp.      You'll park, then walk through a gate marked with the trail sign.     

There's a steep cement road for the very first part of the trail and then it becomes dirt.     Mile marker signs  are clearly marked throughout the trail.    Bring your hiking shoes and water.  

After your hike, I'd recommend stopping at the Wailuku Coffee Company for coffee and a pastry or an early lunch.   Their food is ono!

Do you have a favorite Maui hike?

Wheel Cooking School, Bagan, Myanmar

I love food.

I love cooking.

This is not a secret.

I was so happy to see an afternoon cooking class on our itinerary when we were in Myanmar in December.    Food is how I connect to a destination.   

Getting all up in the local food?

Let's do this.

If you've been to a cooking school or class before, you may have gotten a printed copy of the recipes. At the Wheel, if you want to have the recipes, you need to take notes.    I was the official note taker for our party.       Just know that there is a lot of garlic and/or ginger in everything, and you'll be set!

We were making a whole wheel of dishes, so the school provides kitchen helpers - lovely ladies who kept us on the right track, minded the pressure cooker,  and laughed along when I grabbed the pestle and started making up songs, such as "Do You Want to Make Some Curry?" to the tune of "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?"

We had a great time and if you're in Bagan, I'd definitely recommend it!

So many fresh ingredients!

Shallots for everyone

My sister crushing things like it's her job

Our fabulous kitchen helpers

Too many cooks in the kitchen?  No way!

Our lunch, Wheel style

Do you take cooking classes at home or when you travel?   
If so, what was your favorite experience?