my favorites: 8 stunning views

Posted on January 26, 2015 by jaunt blog

bixby bridge in big sur, california

every year around this time, i start to get a bit of cabin fever. it’s officially “busy season” for me at work, and i leave civilization for awhile and hibernate in conference rooms around the dallas metroplex. inevitably, the travel itch comes along as i dream of warmer weather, exotic locations, and – due to lack of windows in the aforementioned conference rooms – a better view.

central california: farm to rail to sea.

there’s no sense in fighting it, so i’ve compiled a few of my favorite views from my travels. seeing these sights in person have produced gasps, “ah ha!” moments, a bewilderment at this crazy amazing place we call earth, and a larger-than-i’d-like-to-admit terrifying fear of heights. enjoy the views, and please let me know some of your favorites that i’ve missed!

the view of cape town from table mountain

my husband and i traveled to south africa this past summer, and absolutely fell in love with the country. read more about my trip to cape town (and table mountain!) here.

new york, my love, as seen from brooklyn. it doesn’t get better than this. period.

a year ago,during a work trip to new york, i fought the urge to stay in manhattan and crossed the river to brooklyn for the entire weekend, and was more than pleasantly surprised. more brooklyn tidbits here.

santorini, aka my favorite place the whole entire world.

ok, so santorini seems fake. the photos that look fake? they’re not. the entire island looks exactly this perfect (at least, when it’s not erupting). read more about santorini here. spoiler alert: it will steal your heart.

barcelona, as seen from park guell

barcelona is a city of color and life and art. my best friend and i visited two years ago and it has stayed with me since. if you only have a limited amount of time in europe, this is a must-see city. you can read more about my favorites in barcelona here and here.

oregon pine trees, as seen from the window of our train, en route to seattle from los angeles

the amtrak from los angeles to seattle was so unique and reminiscent of bygone days that i keep dreaming of my next train trip. read more about the adventure here.

the stunning mcway falls in big sur, california. this was one of my favorite vacations to date…must write about it soon!

my favorite products: SoLA

Posted on September 10, 2014 by jaunt blog

i know it’s already mid-september (how?!), but i keep wanting to hold on to those last few scorching hot days. temperatures of 100+ degrees and crazy humidity? bring it on. as long as i get my warm nights and endless amounts of sun, i’m one happy camper. so i’m pretty thrilled that i stumbled upon sisters of los angeles (SoLA), founded by three amazing angeleno women, who, between them, add architect, author, product development specialist, manufacturer’s rep, fashion/lifestyle publicist, and marketing expert to their resumes. SoLA sells unique city-themed gifts that immediately brought back memories of living in los feliz and soaking up the sun.

and hark! SoLA sells products for a variety of cities, though los angeles-themed goods make up their largest selection. here are a few of my favorite gifts from their site. (fact: i doubt i can live without that los angeles beach towel/sun or smog tumbler set.) which are your favorites?

los angeles beach towel, $40:

dallas candle, $15:

new york friendship brackelet, $7:

golden state rocks – sun or smog, $48:

boston mug, $15 – 50% of purchase price will be donated to onefundboston.org which was founded by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino to help the people most affected by the tragic events that occurred in Boston on April 15, 2013.

beaches women’s t-shirt, $42:

las vegas mug, $15:

big san diego beach tote, $35:

my jaunts: claremont, california

Posted on June 19, 2014 by jaunt blog

as i mentioned last week, a long weekend in claremont, california has convinced me of the smaller-town lifestyle. while in town for a wedding, i explored the town (population: 35,000) 33 miles northeast of los angeles that feels more like a weekend retreat than a suburb of the second largest city in the US. the more i travel, the more clearly i articulate my ideal city. it is becoming in my mind something very close to claremont: a smaller town with education and culture (i’m realizing the smaller towns with performing arts, galleries, speaker series, etc. all surround college campuses), a thriving local economy (i.e. locally owned shops and businesses), and access to a city. the only other town i have found that is close to this is san luis obispo in central california.

seaver house at pomona college, one of the claremont colleges. lovely amongst the lush trees.

the locals refer to claremont as the town full of trees and PhDs, and it’s easy to sese why: trees line and cover the streets of claremont, instantly tranporting you as you exit the 10 freeway from the craziness of LA into the laid back lifestyle of this college town. the claremont colleges are located here, adding youth and culture that is evident in the many festivals, performing arts, and speaker series that occur throughout the year.

the pomona college museum of art, just across the street from the claremont village

in the middle of town, just east of the colleges, is the claremont village (see map below), which is nine square blocks filled with eclectic shops, locally-owned restaurants, and the most adorable city hall you’ve ever seen (a group of friends was eating a picnic on the grounds when we walked by…is this real life?). my favorite stores included vintage odyssey, where i purchased my usual vintage travel photos, and barbara cheatley’s gift shop, where i could have spent the entire day browsing through their unique gifts (as it was, i settled on a copy of fitzgerald’s on booze).

vintage odyssey in the claremont village

on the southeastern edge of the village sits the packing house, a large, open, former citrus packing house filled with a dozen or so stores and restaurants inside. i loved its locally owned bookstore, claremont forum bookstore and gallery, where i bought a travel photography coffee table book from the 60s, which i ogled over later that evening. packing house wines is located next door, and offers a large selection of wines by the glass or bottle with live music.

the claremont forum bookshop and gallery

we didn’t have time to eat many meals in claremont, but the two we did enjoy were fantastic. dr. grubbs is a quick and casual restaurant in claremont village and has large portions of freshly made, flavorful, and healthy foods. i had the grilled pesto chicken over couscous for something like $11. the next day i tried the mediterranean food a few blocks south at saca’s. both restaurants were casual (ordered at the counter), yet delicious.

just a typical picnic outside claremont city hall

who should go: angelenos who need a break from the LA grind (you can even take the metrolink directly to claremont village!)

nearby cities: visit claremont as a day trip while visiting los angeles, or stop by after a trip to palm springs (claremont is located just west of ontario, where the closest major airport to palm springs is located)

1. dr. grubbs, 353 west bonita 2. saca’s mediterannean cuisine, 248 west 2nd 3. packing house wine merchants, 540 west 1st 4. vintage odyssey, 201 west bonita 5. barbara cheatley antiques, 215 yale avenue 6. folk music cent, 220 yale avenue 7. the claremont forum bookshop and gallery, 586 west 1st 8. cloud nine paperie, 216 west 2nd

my jaunts: a little of this and a little of that

Posted on June 13, 2014 by jaunt blog

the past few weeks have been exceptionally crazy with planning for all of my upcoming travels. this is by far my favorite time of year, if i could just keep up with everything! i’m currently exploring claremont, california, which may be my new favorite small town (full of trees and Ph.D.s as one local described last night), and i can’t wait to share a few thoughts in more detail next week. for now, here are a few of my favorite adventures from the past couple of weeks. happy friday!

you can’t go wrong with the view of the griffith observatory and hollywood sign from the oversized armchair at the cottages of silverlake

staying at the cottages in silverlake, los angeles – a longer post will be needed to do this place justice (stay tuned), but suffice it to say that this is one of my happiest of places. the owners are always so accommodating, and the view alone makes me curl up in that oversized arm chair and do nothing but read and ponder.

deep ellum brewing co.’s dallas blonde.

exploring dallas’ craft beer scene – following d magazine’s beer issue, i am even more psyched than before to try new local beers. my favorites so far have been deep ellum’s dallas blonde and peticolas‘ golden opportunity, which my husband and i used to fill up a growler at the new lakewood growler in lakewood, dallas. this bar/growler stop also lets you bring in food from nearby restaurants to make an evening of things. will definitely be returning. often.
such a jaunty poster in dallas county health’s foreign immunization office!

shots, shots, shots, shots, shots, shots…everybody – yep. travel immunization time! a quick jaunt to dallas county health department proved to be a) helpful and b) memorable. and how cute is their bulletin board on international travel? it made my four shots (only slightly) more bearable (did i mention i am afraid of needles?)! this safari better be flipping fantastic

seaver house at pomona college, one of the claremont colleges. lovely amongst the lush trees.

discovering claremont – ok, in all seriousness, this town is amazing. tree-lined and covered streets filled with vibrant flowers and a cute little family eating a picnic in front of city hall that is in the center of the town’s village, which is filled with delightful boutiques and restaurants (and a perfect bar for watching game 1 of the world cup), all abutting the beautiful claremont colleges. i want to move here and then convince all of my friends to move here, and we shall each own a perfect craftsman and subscribe to american bungalow.

what adventures have you been uo to recently? i’d love for you to share in a guest post, as well!

my favorites: letterpress stationery

Posted on May 23, 2014 by jaunt blog

a collection of some of my favorite letterpress stationery and notes over the years

in honor of the national stationery show (nss) that occurred this week in new york city, i thought i would devote this week’s post to my love of pretty paper. i’m not sure when it happened, but somewhere after college i fell in love with all things letterpress. as someone who still prefers handwritten letters over emails, i find so much joy in a colorful or witty or charming notecard that has been made locally (anyone want to join my challenge to write one letter per day in july?? i totally stole that idea from someone, so apologies if it was you!). see below for a few of my favorite stationery stops across the US. and learn more about some of the best stationery in the business here (anyone want to go with me to nss in 2015??).

the bishop arts location of we are 1976 – must.take.letterpress.workshop.

1. we are 1976, dallas, tx – this store has it all. from greeting cards and graphic posters to felt donuts and handmade jewlwery, i could spend hours here. with a couple of stores in town, i have found that my favorite is the bishop arts location, which i visited several weeks ago. my heart just about skipped a beat when i saw the giant letterpress behind the counter and learned they also offer classes for cards, posters, and business cards! can you even imagine how delightful teal pressed jaunt cards would be? i can.

lovely words from sugar paper los angeles, next to my international vogues and venice postcard…bliss.

2. sugar paper la, los angeles, ca – what started as a small venture in the brentwood country mart has turned mega popular across the US thanks to their recent target line. i adore their polka dots and gold inlay and basically anything they write in script, like my “work hard and be nice to people” poster i purchased from them a few years back. they have the most pleasing cards and colors, and never cease to outdo themselves (seriously, check out their new kate calendar for 2015…never too early to plan!).

ten years ago this summer (sigh), shopping for stationery with my bestie and coming out with too, too many finds (my bag not pictured!).

3. kate’s paperie, new york city, ny – i stumbled in here on a trip to new york with my best friend, and we instantly fell in love. first, it’s huge. second, it has cards you’ve never even dreamt of. perhaps this was the moment i fell in love with letterpress. i’m pretty sure we spent a couple of hours (and many, many dollars) at kate’s, and came away with some delightful treasures.

do you have any favorites i should add to my list?

my favorite time of year: the summer travel season

Posted on April 7, 2014 by jaunt blog

the summer 2014 travel lineup

somehow, miraculously, my busiest time at work is over. it seems too good to be true, but after several 80+ hour weeks, and many more 70+ hour weeks, i’m ready to explore something other than a corporate office. thanks for your patience these past few months – more frequent blog posts to return shortly.

while not necessarily recommended, work stress does have one positive impact on me: it forces me to plan vacations. i love having something to look forward to, a celebration for the end in sight. or in this case, not just a single celebration, but many! i am so excited for the travel lineup this summer, i can hardly wait. after agonizing over the budget with my husband (we set aside a certain amount each month to make sure we can travel to the extent we like, foregoing other luxuries like nicer cars or a bigger house), we’re booked for the following locations:

the stunning texas hill country

road trip through texas – my husband is going on a bachelor party road trip through central and southeast texas, complete with bbq, biking, and beer. i tried to insert myself into that soiree, but apparently it’s not very traditional for a female to join. shame. at least the wedding is in hill country, too. thinking of buying myself a pair of boots for the occasion. yeehaw.

the devil’s backbone, outside of wimberley in texas hill country

new york, new york – then it’s my turn for a bachelorette party in the city of cities. my all time favorite, and this time i don’t have to plan a thing! the last time i was in new york, i focused only on brooklyn, hardly venturing into manhattan. while fantastic (and something i would definitely recommend), i’m ready to again be in an empire state of mind.

let’s hear it for new york…

los angeles (x2) – does it count as a vacation if you’ve lived there before? i think so. i’m looking forward to seeing old friends and partaking in several father’s office burgers (if you are ever in LA, you absolutely must try this burger. as someone who counts cheeseburgers among her favorite foods, believe me when i say this burger is incredible). and staying at the cottages in silverlake is always a treat.

the view from our cottage in silverlake, a favorite stay in los angeles

new orleans, louisiana – is it crazy that i have never been to n’awlins before? i think so! so thrilled that my friend, stephanie, pushed our friends to book this trip. it is shaping up to be a fabulous time with good food, great friends, and (hopefully) lots of jazz. did i mention good food?

new orleans, as shot by ed bierman at https://www.flickr.com/photos/edbierman/10798203675/

south africa – yes! we booked it! it’s official! i fell in love with southern africa after reading brendan van son’s blog last year when he rode a motorcyle through africa, and i couldn’t wait to see it myself (sans bike). we’ll be taking the beginner’s guide to south africa as i like to call it, which includes about five days in cape town and five days in kruger national park. so excited to explore the winelands, table mountain, and see the big 5 (the lion, rhinoceros, leopard, buffalo, and elephant). one of our safari lodgings includes canvas walls so that “you can hear the animals and be that much closer to nature.” scared. out. of. my. mind.

cape town, south africa, as shot by eGuide travel at https://www.flickr.com/photos/eguidetravel/2919101197/

mystery location – yes, you read that correctly. it’s time for the biannual bestie trip, and we cannot decide where to go. solution? let’s wait until the last minute and play travel roulette and follow the deals! we may end up in boise, but hey, i hear boise has it going on.

please, please tell me about your adventures this summer! where are you going? and would you like to write about them in a guest post? i would love to feature them and hear more! i get so inspired from others’ vacations.

my favorites: canals

Posted on February 6, 2014 by jaunt blog

the canals of tongli in western china

ok, i admit, have a list of favorite canals is a stretch. and strange. but here’s the thing: writing about venice on tuesday really got me in the mood for that other-worldly venetian spirit. and i think canals have something to do with that. two cities immediately come to mind with the same spirit of venice that somehow only a boat in a narrow green canal can create:

the canals of venice in los angeles

venice, california – it still amazes me that most angelenos don’t even know of the venice canals, though it was always on the top of my list for visitors (and the town’s namesake). south of santa monica, tucked away just east of the crazy beach and west of eclectic abbot kinney, the canals wind through blocks of stunning houses, each creative and different from the next, connected through narrow alleys and steep foot bridges. i could spend an afternoon wandering the canals, peeking into residents’ lush yards (probably not recommended?), and then spending the evening strolling abbot kinney and eating at one of its many famed restaurants. the hardest part? finding the canals. good luck!

just some family fun along the venice canals in los angeles

tongli, china – referred to as the venice of the east (sensing a theme here?), tongli was my favorite city on my tour of western china. during a cruise along the canals, i overheard women singing at a restaurant, waved to elderly chinese men taking an afternoon stroll, and listened to the patter of light rain on the stone bridges as we passed underneath. i also witnessed a truly absurd fishing habit. an older woman had tied the ankles of large black pelican-type birds to her rickety boat. on command, the birds would dive for fish, catch them, regurgitate them into an empty bucket, and then get their necks wrung by the woman. extremely strange.

the site of the bird fishers. seriously mad ritual!

which places have you visited that are simply magical?

street/canal signs in tongli

my favorites: pizza

Posted on January 28, 2014 by jaunt blog

just a good veggie pizza at pizzeria regina in boston

what’s better eating than a good slice of pizza? pizza has always been a favorite food (does anyone not like pizza?), and here are a few of my favorites throughout the united states:

di carlo’s in los angeles – hidden in a non-descript building near the corner of hollywood and sunset in los feliz, this was my regular pizza joint for the duration of our time in los angeles. it doesn’t look like much from the street, but the pizza is amazing, and you can have the leafy back patio with strung lights to yourself on most nights. the owner is great (he’ll set aside the patio for you if you want to have a party), it’s byob (not even a corkage!), and the diavolo pizza is a personal favorite. can’t go wrong here.

celebrating on the back patio at di carlo’s in los feliz, los angeles

pizzeria regina in boston – an oldie, but a goodie. serving pizza since 1926, this north end tradition is sure to not disappoint. i went a few years back with a good friend, and tried some pizza over a cask of chianti (i’m starting to see a trend here with the vino). the pizza was amazing and the people were friendly – not sure what else you could want!

cask chianti at pizzeria regina in boston

new york pizza, of any kind, provided it is cheap and sold by the slice – while i like a great pizza with wine and atmosphere, there’s nothing like stopping in a hole-in-the-wall pizza parlor in new york, chilled from the wind and the elements, ordering a slice of piping hot pizza, and perching against a standing-room-only table to wolf it down. the entire process embodies new york for me almost as much as the obligatory morning bagel and chic evening cocktails.
the classic and delicious new york pizza by-the-slice

what are some of your favorite pizza stops? i’m on a hunt for the best, so don’t be shy!

my jaunts: the coast starlight

Posted on November 4, 2013 by jaunt blog

view of mount shasta in northern california from the coast starlight

about a year after i moved to LA, los angeles magazine mentioned huell howser as one of their top 50 favorite things of LA. not one to miss out, i instantly googled huell, and learned he was a popular los angeles tv personality (he has since passed away, RIP HH), with multiple shows on public television that chronicle his travels through california. i instantly fell in love. huell was an extremely charismatic man, who was paid to travel through california, meet people, and talk about their adventures on television. dream job!

after setting up a series recording for all of his shows (he has many), i learned he would be appearing at train day at union station. sounds nerdy, but we went and met huell! we also were able to tour many of the trains at union station and learn of the routes. it is here that i learned of the coast starlight, the amtrak train that travels from los angeles to seattle over a 36 hour period. sold.

meeting huell howser at los angeles’ train day at union station

two years later, we boarded the coast starlight at union station, found our roomette, and off we went! our car attendant brought us champagne as a send-off, which only helped to reinforce the fact that we had made an excellent decision. since we had a sleeper room (“room” is a bit of a stretch, but the space served us well), we had access to the parlour car, which included personal dining (with a delightful and witty waiter, greg) and arm chairs in which to relax and enjoy the views. we also visited the sightseer car, with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the dramatic landscapes.

a champagne send-off on the coast starlight in los angeles. all aboard!

the early afternoon of day 1 was spent enjoying the breathtaking ocean views of the southern and central california coast. though we had taken a trip through central california earlier that summer, the train meandered through the rarely seen views from vandergriff air force base, which is off-limits to drivers. a guide who formerly worked on the base peppered us with some interesting tidbits about the area and the base. we enjoyed a wine and cheese tasting in the dining car that afternoon (all included in the price of our ticket), which included wine and cheese from regions we passed on our route.

coastal views in central california, just north of santa barbara

when we woke up on day 2, the scenery was completely different: deserts and coastal cliffs now turned into mountains and pine trees as we travelled through oregon and washington. we met more of our fellow travelers (i had no idea such a large train community exists!), and swapped stories from our respective hometowns.

views of oregon on the second day of our coast starlight train ride

the most memorable part of the trip, though, was the relaxation that ensued. on a train, i was trapped. i couldn’t work (wifi is available, but only works about half the time), i couldn’t run errands, and i couldn’t worry about delays (and there were many delays; definitely do not make plans at your destination for the four-hour period after you are scheduled to arrive). instead, i spent time reading, chatting with my husband, and meeting people from all over the world. i enjoyed the diverse views, and finally had some time to think, without caring about the urgencies of my everday life. how often do our trips afford us that luxury?! next up: the empire builder line from seattle to chicago. montana, here i come.

the dining car in amtrak’s coast starlight

who should go: explorers, those looking for some time to relax

who should not go: the high maintenance

what to read: a murder on the orient express, agatha christie

what to watch: darjeeling limited

what to pack: rooms are small, so pack light. a scarf and cardigan will protect you from the changing temperatures on different cars. a camera is a must.

my jaunts: san diego, california

Posted on October 28, 2013 by jaunt blog

the sunset cliffs in san diego just south of ocean beach

at the request of two jaunt readers, i am including a post on san diego today! san diego embodies southern california to me. it has all of the relaxation of the beach cities with a little bit of urban edge. mix in a strong mexican culture (seen in its abundant mexican food restaurants and over-the-top dia de los muertos festivities), along with a strong armed forces culture (the navy is everywhere in this town from the uss midway aircraft carrier and museum to the naval base at point loma, and the marines have a huge base just north of town) and you have a city rich in personality.

i never know where to start with san diego because there is so much to do and so varied of choices. let me give you just a taste of my favorites:

balboa park in san diego

the culture – balboa park is home of the zoo, 15 museums, and gorgeous grounds, and is an absolute must-see. i really enjoy strolling the pedestrian areas near the lily pond and japanese friendship garden. for a quick (and perfect) break, enjoy happy hour at the gorgeous prado restaurant. a nearby bandstand has an enormous outdoor pipe organ, and provides concerts throughout the year. the old globe theater is also inside by the museum of man. i am not a big fan of zoos, but the san diego zoo is a definite stop. it’s famous, and there is a reason why. the peacocks roam freely throughout the park and the pandas are too cute for words. the orangutans are right there in front of you, hanging out inches from the glass that separates you. my friend, nic, swears the dc zoo is better, but i haven’t been there, so you’ll have to be the judge. the safari park is also supposedly amazing, though i have not visited, and it offers a zipline over the elephants, giraffes, etc.

cuuuute panda at the san diego zoo

the food – little italy is full of restaurants (mostly italian) and always packed with people. everyone argues over the best italian restaurant, but i’ve enjoyed the pizza at isola, one of the newer restaurants in the area. a stop at extraordinary desserts afterward is necessary if for no other reason than to ogle at the beautiful pastries and cakes. nearby, just north of the airport, lucha libre offers the largest and most inventive burritos i’ve had. as seen on diners, drive-ins, and dives, this place is known for its large and delicious burrito concoctions in an atmosphere filled with luchador mexican wrestling memorabilia. the lines are long, so try to go during non-peak times.

the dining room at lucha libre in san diego – crazy big burritos!

the beaches – i stayed at the beach cottages on pacific beach during my last trip to san diego, and the beach culture is something else. walking along the boardwalk, every house had a surfboard over the balcony/veranda, with wetsuits hanging on clothes lines outside. beautiful people bike, skate, and run by carrying surfboards, walking dogs, or just grabbing a beer at one of the many establishments along the beach or mission bay drive. lahaina beach house provides amazing views with a great patio, as does woody’s just a few doors down. the olive cafe on mission bay has a warm atmosphere, as well. also check out the embarcadero, a stretch of land along the san diego bay filled with public art, grassy knolls, and shopping.

brunch and view at lahaina beach house on ocean beach

the nightlife – the gaslamp district near downtown is full of bars, restaurants, clubs, and some of the city’s nicest hotels, and is completely walkable. on one of my trips to san diego, we were able to walk from our hotel to petco park (home of the san diego padres), then to dinner, and later out for dessert and drinks. altitude sky lounge at the top of the marriott was named by travel + leisure as one of america’s best outdoor bars, and there are plenty of late night bars that offer reverse happy hours that run until midnight!

the dia de los muertos festival at old town in san diego

who should go: beach-goers, photogs, the overworked looking for some relaxation

what to listen to: mexican institute of sound

what to pack: a swimsuit, a camera, and a picnic for balboa park or the embarcadero

some of the desserts offered at extraordinary desserts in san diego’s little italy

jaunt: one girl's search for adventure

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