Reykjanes Peninsula Tour

On October 12, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Iceland, International TravelLeave a comment

The Reykjanes Peninsula may be known as the home of the Blue Lagoon, but the rest of this amazing landscape should not be missed! Because it is also the home of Keflavik Airport, so it’s typically the first glimpse of Iceland that most people get. The Peninsula is a geothermally active, otherworldly landscape full of wonders. I’m so glad that I got an in-depth look.

I booked this tour on a whim after enjoying the South Coast tour so much. It was relatively inexpensive and only took the afternoon, so it was a perfect choice for my last day in Iceland. A Grayline Bus picked me up from Hotel Holt and shuttled me and the other passengers to the main bus terminal (right near the AirBnB I stayed at!). From there, I took another bus to the Blue Lagoon to catch yet another bus, which would take us on the actual tour.

I didn’t feel the pull to actually visit the Blue Lagoon, but I’m really happy that I got to see it at least because it is BEAUTIFUL. I checked in with the tour guide, DeeDee, to make sure I had time, and then ran off to take some photos of the bright blue water. There’s a path that winds around the Blue Lagoon Spa where other people were also wandering around in awe like me. It was such a gorgeous site to behold.

I was smiling so hard that my cheeks hurt by the time I boarded the bus to get on with the tour. I really enjoyed this tour guide because she was quirky and talkative (her first line of the tour was “BUCKLE UP EVERYBODY, THERE’S A WOMAN DRIVING!”), and made sure to stop anywhere and everywhere that we might want to take pictures. So, naturally, our first stop was a scenic overlook of the lava fields that cover a lot of the area.

We did a quick driving tour of the fishing village of Grindavik, which DeeDee narrated, spouting out interesting facts as we went. Like, did you know that fishing was the #1 industry in Iceland until last year, when tourism took its place? The drive along the peninsula was stunning. We had volcanoes to our left and the Atlantic Ocean to our right. Our next stop(s) were in the geothermal area, starting with the Green Lake and moving on to Krysuvik, a bubbling, sulfuric area.

The green lake was beautiful and its smooth surface resembled blue and green agate; it was amazing. We hopped back in the bus after taking our pictures and drove across the street to the active geothermal area. We walked through it on a boardwalk that zigzagged over the steaming ground.

The colors were gorgeous, from shades of orange and red to deep purple. The sulfur smell made us all try to breathe exclusively through our mouths, but it was a beautiful place to explore. From there, we drove down the road a ways to Kleifarvatn Lake, one of the largest lakes in Iceland. It was freezing and windy over by the water, so we ran to take our pictures of the moody, choppy lake set amongst the green-topped hills.

Recently (in 2000), an earthquake caused the lake to drain a bit and the water level went down a significant amount. This, plus murder of course, became the plot of a famous crime novel written by one of Iceland’s most well-known authors. We also stopped up the mountainside so we could take in the view of the lake from above, which was a thoughtful addition to the tour.

Our last stop of the tour was a whole area of the peninsula devoted to drying fish heads to be shipped out to whoever buys dried fish heads. It was quite the sight to see; all those fish heads dangling from wooden posts.

Deedee drove us back to Reykjavik and dropped us off wherever we wanted to go. And where I wanted to go was the Sea Baron in the Old Harbor, but more on that later…

Have you visited the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland? What was your favorite spot there?

Black Sand Beach, Vik, Iceland, RebeccaWanderlusting

South Coast Tour Part Two

On October 9, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Iceland, International Travel1 Comment

The first half of the South Coast Tour was jaw-droppingly beautiful; full of lush, green land, gorgeous waterfalls and world-renown hiking trails. The second half was a completely different landscape, much like how the landscape of Iceland as a whole changes from mile to mile. Our first stop after the waterfalls was the quaint south coast fishing town of Vik, Iceland for a lunch break.

On our way there we passed miles of farmland and mountains, all of which was spotted with fluffy, little sheep. The tour van took the hills and curves at about 50mph, which was thrilling to say the least. We came over a hill to view Vik for the first time in all its cute, small town charm. Siggy, our tour guide, brought us to a roadside café for lunch. It was an order-at-the-counter kind of establishment, so our group made quite a long line. There were a lot of great looking local options, most of which came in the form of a stew. By the time I got up to the counter, I ordered a cheeseburger out of pure indecisiveness. It was pretty good! From the diner we could see the backside of the Black Sand Beach, with its telltale stone pillars lining up into the ocean.

We finished up our meals and were ushered back to the bus. We drove on to the front entrance to the beach and were set loose to explore. I love being anywhere near the sea, so this was my favorite stop of the day. The waves were quite large, and crashed onto the black stones on the beach, slipping through the cracks between them and sending tourists scurrying away from them to avoid getting soaked.

In addition to the stunning view of the ocean, the surrounding hillside and rock formations were strange and beautiful. Opposite the water was a hillside comprised of what looked like stone jenga pieces stacked up behind each other. Just to the right of this sculpted hill are the two stone pillars sticking up from the ocean.

If I were on my own schedule, I could have sat on the rocks watching the waves roll in all day. However, I was on tour time, so we moved on after spending 30-40 minutes admiring the Black Sand Beach.

Our next and final stop of the tour was the Solheimajokull Glacier, which was a little ways away. Siggy got out with us and walked us the half mile towards the glacier, giving us the facts as we went. Along the way, I got to talking to two retired teachers who travel together frequently, one was American and the other was Canadian. As it turns out, they were going to Copenhagen next too, so we made tentative plans to meet up there.

The tour stopped a bit away from the actual glacier and Siggy explained that the year before, the glacier had come up to the point where we stood. It’s been receding rapidly, and even when we moved up to stand next to it we could see the water running out from underneath.

The glacier didn’t look how I thought it might look; it was black on top with white and icy blue beneath. We walked up the glacier a couple steps, but only a couple because none of us had the spiked shoes needed to glacier hike. On the glacier, there were cracks that went through to the bottom, where I could see the water running underneath.

It was a lot colder by the glacier, so by the time we had to go back to the bus, most people were more than ready. The bus ride back to towards Reykjavik was pretty quiet as I think everyone was reflecting on all the beauty we got to see. The tour bus dropped us each off at our hotels, where we each thanked Siggy as we got off.

When I arrived back in my hotel room, I quickly changed and headed back out to get some dinner. I wanted to go to the Sea Baron, but the line was out the door, so I set about finding something else that was in my budget but wasn’t fast food. This is kind of a struggle in Reykjavik, because a lot of the restaurants are pretty pricey. After thirty minutes of wandering, I landed at Fish & More for their specialty, which was a sort of fish casserole served with broccoli, sweet potatoes, rice and rye bread with a Viking beer on the side.

It was either really delicious or I was really hungry. The restaurant had a really fun vibe, with stacks of National Geographic magazines on the side tables, comfy benches along one wall and bags of water (like the ones you’d bring a goldfish home in from the state fair) hanging from the ceiling. Their playlist was also really good, with bands like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Death Cab for Cutie. It was a great place to end a day full of adventuring.

Stay tuned for more adventures in Iceland!

Have you ever been on a tour through Iceland? Which one and what did you think?

South Coast Waterfalls

On October 5, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Iceland, International Travel2 Comments

The morning of my South Coast Tour, I waited outside Hotel Holt for the Extreme Iceland bus to scoop me up. I had a rocky start to the day after I spilled a cup of coffee all down myself and on my notebook while I was trying to enjoy the complimentary continental breakfast. This unfortunate event sent me running back to my room to change while apologizing to everyone I passed for making a mess. I tried to salvage the outfit, but it was no good so I changed and hurried back downstairs to jump on the bus, still smelling a bit like coffee.

We had a relatively small group of seventeen people plus our guide, Icelandic Harrison Ford (aka Siggy), and everyone was chatting excitedly as we left Reykjavik. The landscapes we passed were otherworldly; scruffy green hills, golden fields for miles, mountains and ridges. We passed Icelandic horses (shorter and prettier than American horses) and tons of fluffy sheep (fun fact: there are three sheep to every one human in Iceland).

The bus stopped briefly for a bathroom/coffee break before moving to our first South Coast stop of the day: Seljalandsfoss. This gorgeous waterfall stopped me in my tracks. This is exactly what I came to Iceland to see and it hit me right in the gut. The waterfall cascades from a cliff into a small pool, with an inlet carved out behind it so it’s possible to hike all the way around the fall. Sets of stairs were situated on both sides that were perfect for photo ops. The view from behind the waterfalls was breathtaking. Jagged rocks led down to the pool where the falls landed, where it was possible to wade in a bit.

It was also very wet, and everyone came out on the other side a little damper than before. We were given thirty minutes to explore this waterfall and the area around it, which included a couple other small waterfalls and green grass as far as the eye could see. I bonded with a mother/daughter team from London during the first stop. They were from right by where I lived when I studied abroad in London, which gave us plenty to talk about. Making friends on the tour was really easy because we were all on the same small bus for the whole day, which was very nice. Of course there were some rotten apples in the bunch, but only a couple (I’m looking at you girl who ate a stinky sandwich on the bus and loudmouth that absolutely had to be the center of attention at all times).

Once we all piled back onto the bus, we headed to our next site, another waterfall named Skogafoss. While this waterfall is very different from Seljalandsfoss in appearance, it is equally as beautiful. Skogafoss is wider and taller, with a staircase snaking up one side that leads to a hiking trail (Laugavegurinn pass) that National Geographic named one of the 10 best in the world.

A rainbow stretched across the bottom of the falls, where a pool stretched over the rocky ground. There are three vantage points from which to see this waterfall: from the ground, halfway up and from the top. At the halfway point, there is a very small peninsula of land jutting out from the cliff, no railings, no safeguards. I have just a small fear of heights so it was a little scary on that ledge, but the view was beautiful.

At the top of the waterfall, there’s a barbed wire fence with a slanted wooden ladder to climb over it. This leads to the famous hike that goes along the Skoga River, where there are more waterfalls and lush green hills. The scenery here looks like something out of Lord of the Rings, it’s stunning.

I would love to come back and hike the trail; it was really tempting not to go off and let the tour go on without me. Unfortunately, I resisted the urge to split from the group and made my way back down from the top of the waterfall back to the bus. The next stops were going to be the fishing town of Vik for lunch, the Black Sand Beach and the Solheimajokull Glacier. Stay tuned for the second half of the South Coast Tour, coming soon!

Have you ever taken a group tour? Where at? And did you enjoy it?

Elding Whale Watching Tour, Reykjavik, RebeccaWanderlusting

Elding Whale Watching in Reykjavik

On October 1, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Iceland, International TravelLeave a comment

Ever since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by the ocean and everything in it. I think watching the movie Jaws at an impressionable age had something to do with it. For this reason, the whale watching tour in Reykjavik was the first thing I booked for my Iceland trip. I had read plenty of reviews on tour companies there, and Elding Whale Watching Tours was the one that stuck out the most to me, so that is who I booked.

I took the tour on my third evening in Reykjavik, choosing to board the boat that left at 5:00pm. The tours depart from the Old Harbor, and all of the different companies have offices along the pier. I went to pick up my ticket from the Elding Whale Watching storefront and the woman who worked there offered me a sea sickness tablet due to the choppy water conditions and high wind, which I gladly accepted. To enter the actual boat, I walked through a boat that stayed docked which housed a gift shop and bar. When the Elding staff ushered us onto the boat we’d head out on, they offered us more sea sickness tablets and red jump suits to keep warm.

The boat had a lounge with a bar below deck, but everyone on the boat stayed up top. The guide was a marine biologist and was wonderfully informative. For the duration of the tour, she kept up a running commentary on whale facts in between shouting out things like “MINKE WHALE TEN O’CLOCK, HEADED EAST!” Every time she yelled such directives, everyone on the boat, myself included, ran to try and catch a glimpse of the whale. I’m sure this was hilarious to watch, considering the fact that the boat was rocking back and forth and we all staggered from side to side like drunkards.

The view from the boat was fantastic; Reykjavik was behind us and the mountains and never-ending ocean stood in front of us. We saw quite a few minke whales jumping out of the water, and a pod of harbor porpoises jumping alongside the boat. The tour lasted about two and a half hours and once we headed back to the harbor, most of the guests on the boat moved into the lower deck to warm up.

The excitement of being out on the sea and searching for whales made you forget about the cold, but it was quite chilly and windy out there. Once the boat was docked, the crew announced that their restaurant, Mar, would give a 15% discount for Elding tour guests, so that’s where I headed next. There are quite a few restaurants along the pier there, and Mar is at the far end.

I walked in and asked for a table for one, and seeing since the huge restaurant was mostly empty, I figured I would be seated right away. This was not the case. The host, a good-looking young man, informed me that they had a large party coming in and they wouldn’t have availability for another two hours. Thinking he was joking, I said “oh sure, I’ll just wait here then”. He was not joking. So I left and looked around outside for a party of 50-60 people that were going to take up this whole restaurant. There was none, and I won’t lie, I felt a little defeated after that. But! It turned for the best because I went across the street to Reykjavik Fish Restaurant and wound up sitting next to two American girls (one from Chicago!) who I had a great conversation with.

These ladies, coupled with the amazing fish and chips at the restaurant made up for the not so great experience at Mar. The fried cod was so light and delicious; I was very glad I ended up there for dinner. After dinner and saying goodbye to my fellow travelers, I wander around Reykjavik a bit, wondering if perhaps it was even prettier after dark. Either way, I was very happy to be there, taking it all in.

Have you ever taken a whale watching tour? Did you see any marine life?

Solo Trip Snapshots, Iceland, RebeccaWanderlusting

Hiking Mount Esja, Iceland

On September 20, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Iceland, International Travel3 Comments

Mount Esja, which can be seen in the background of Reykjavik in most photos, is just a quick hop, skip and jump from downtown. I was very lucky to have such amazing AirBnb hosts that drove me there on their way to a family event. As we got close, Hulda pointed out her old neighborhood, school and stomping grounds; this area was where she grew up.

When they dropped me off in the parking lot, they explained how I would get back and were off. When I reached the trail head, I made my best guess as to which trail was the scenic route to the top, as the sign was in Icelandic.

I chose a path to my right and walked happily along, realizing about a half mile in that I was headed in the opposite direction as the mountain I wanted to be on top of. The walk was beautiful, taking me through fields of wild flowers, wooded areas, and on wobbly bridges over streams.

Eventually I made it to the top of a hill where a couple were taking photos, and I asked them how to get to the top of Mount Esja. They pointed me in the direction from which they came and said I would come to a fork in the trail, which would put me on the right path. While the detour was very pretty, I was happy to be on my way.

The path consisted of loose gravel and was extremely steep, and after each switchback it became even steeper than before. I had to bribe myself with water and bites of cliff bar to keep going. Truth be told, this is probably one of the hardest hikes I’ve ever done. The views from each switchback was gorgeous, especially with the sun coming up, reflecting off the lake below and making it look metallic.

There were two paths that went to the top, and I chose to go up the steeper trail and down the longer, more scenic trail. I thought the steeper trail might be quicker, and maybe it was, but it was also pretty rough. The terrain was rocky and a little precarious in places, so much so that I had to move in an awkward crawl, pulling myself up the steep hill with my hands.

When I reached Steinn, the first summit, I stopped for some water and tried to decide if I wanted to keep going. The wind had picked up and the path to the very top looked a little intimidating. I asked a man passing by if it was safe to keep going up with the wind as it was, and he said “Ehhhh yeah, is not so bad.” Then I asked him if it was OK for beginner hikers and he said “Sure it is.”

So I started climbing up. The path was tricky, with multiple paths sprouting from what I thought was the main trail. I saw a climber above me slip, and slide down the gravel until he caught himself on a rock, which was my cue to head back down. I wasn’t confident that my legs, which felt like jelly, wouldn’t betray me and send my clumsy butt tumbling down the mountain.

As I turned to go, I saw the gentleman I was speaking with earlier pass me going up a different path. I waved and kept moving. As soon as I started down the longer path back down to the bottom, I slipped on the gravel and fell right on my ass, scraping my hands on the way down. I brushed myself off and kept moving, glaring at the super humans that were actually jogging past me like it was a high school track and not a rocky slip’n’slide.

The scenery was so beautiful that I felt like I had accidentally walked onto a movie set. There was a creek that ran along the path that was crossed a couple of times along the way over the most picturesque bridges and stepping stones. I really couldn’t believe how stunning the view was, which was probably why I kept tripping over my feet.

The last 15 minutes of my hike were probably the most tiring, a feeling that was made worse by the sight of the bus back downtown pulling out of the parking lot as I was getting so close to the ground. The next one was an hour and a half away, so I stopped into the café at the bottom of the mountain for a late lunch. Esjustofa Restaurant opens daily at 11:00am and serves soups, sandwiches, pizza and beverages. I got a sandwich and a latte and settled in to write for a bit. The food was typical café fare, but the guy behind the counter was very kind and helpful.

I caught the #57 bus to a bus terminal closer to downtown, and then the #12 bus back to the Airbnb (which can also be taken to downtown Reykjavik). When I got back, Hulda explained that it was probably good that I didn’t hike to the top because a few people fall down the mountain and break a couple bones each year. So I guess I made the right decision! Mount Esja was a wonderful, beautiful, challenging hike, and, with its close proximity to the city, it is a perfect day trip from Reykjavik. Here are a couple of tips if you choose to visit Mount Esja:

Bring plenty of water and a snack, you will need it
Wear good hiking boots or gym shoes and warm clothes
Bring a hat that will cover your ears and fight the wind
Enjoy the scenery! But maybe stop walking to do so
It’s okay to only make it up to Steinn, most people turn around there too

Have you ever hiked in Iceland? Where’s your favorite hiking spot there?

Budget-Friendly Ways to Indulge Your Wanderlust, RebeccaWanderlusting

Exploring Reykjavik

On September 18, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Iceland, International Travel8 Comments

I landed in Iceland at 7:00am after a restless flight, so I was tired and a little bit crabby when I found the Grayline Bus that would take me into Reykjavik. But, by the time it arrived into the main station (just outside the city) the surrounding scenery had roused me out of my half-conscious; my first impression of the impressively beautiful country did not disappoint.

The main station was very close to where I was staying, in an AirBnB. I had to walk along a highway to get there and cross into a neighborhood that housed the apartment where I would be staying, Mount Esja looming behind me the whole walk. My hosts very graciously allowed me to drop off my bags well before check in time, and then, going above and beyond their hosting duties, drove me downtown so that I could start exploring.

My host, Hulda, pointed out where I would catch the bus back to their apartment and dropped me off at one end of the pedestrian walkway, where I started walking with no real direction in mind. The streets in Reykjavik are pretty easy to navigate once you get the hang of it, and most of the shops and restaurants are on two main strips. Because it was so early when I arrived, not many places were open quite yet, so I strolled and window shopped.

Café Paris was one of the few places that were open, so I jumped at the chance for some breakfast and went in. It was a seat yourself kind of place so I sat and ordered a latte and a croissant with ham and cheese and jam when prompted. The café, turned bar in the evening, was cute and relaxed in the way that all European cafes seem to be. The food was good, and they served Illy espresso, which is my favorite so I was a happy camper.

From Café Paris, I walked over to the harbor to see the Harpa music hall and the Sun Voyager. This walk along the coast was so peaceful and gorgeous. I think it was at this moment, being next to the sea, walking in the sunshine that I felt like I had made it, and I was so happy to be in Iceland. The Sun Voyager, which was swamped with tourist hopping of buses to take a picture with the famous statue, had a beautiful view behind it, with the ocean in the forefront and the mountains beyond.

Back towards the downtown area was the Kolaportid Flea Market, which is only open on the weekends. The market was certainly interesting to walk through, though I didn’t buy anything. It’s funny how the kitschy gifts and antiques differ from country to country. This market has a little bit of everything, from the itchy wool lopapeysa sweaters to books and records to antiques to classic Icelandic cuisine. It was a lively place to be, with locals and tourists alike browsing through the stalls.

I decided to walk over to the famous church in Reykjavik, Hallgrimskirkja, to see the view from the top. The church is at the top of the pedestrian walkway. Outside, the church is architecturally beautiful, and inside it is stunning, especially the huge, gilded organ on the wall above the entry.

The ticket to go up to the top of the church is $8, and well worth it for the views. After taking a small (6 person max) elevator to the 8^th floor, you have a 360 degree view of the city, which can be seen from the church windows, while standing on a step stool for a better vantage point.

Once I left the church, it started raining, which it did on and off for the rest of the day, so I dodged in and out of shops and restaurants along the pedestrian street. Many of the stores along this popular street are adorable, but very expensive so I didn’t end up purchasing anything. I did love the beautiful clothing at Geysir, the cute designs at Aurum and the charming home goods and accessories at Hrím Hönnunarhús. I popped into Svarta Kaffid, a restaurant that serves only soup in bread bowls and drinks to go with it.

This hearty meal was exactly what I needed after being out in the cold, wet weather. It was a small, cozy restaurant with Icelandic beer on tap, and I was happy to settle in for a bit to try and wait out the rain. It eventually cleared up and I headed over to the Iceland Culture House Museum which was free to enter and offered a unique look into Icelandic art and history.

It wasn’t very crowded, so I was free to take in the exhibits at a leisurely pace. The general theme was how Icelandic Artists interpret their country’s history in various mediums. I really enjoyed visiting this museum! At this point, jet lag set in hard, so I found a convenience store, where I purchased a ten ride pass for the bus (a decision I later regretted – such an unnecessary expense).

I took the bus back to my Airbnb, a 15 minute ride outside of downtown, and took it easy for the rest of the day. Reykjavik is such an easy city to fall in love with; it’s walkable, easy to navigate, and cute and colorful. After one day of exploring, I was already smitten.

Have you ever been to Reykjavik? Which city attraction was your favorite?

Trip Planning Milwaukee, RebeccaWanderlusting

Trip Planning: Milwaukee, WI

On September 9, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning3 Comments

A couple of weeks after I return from my trip to Europe (which I am currently enjoying – Hello from Copenhagen!), Mike is taking me on a little weekend getaway to Milwaukee, WI. While I have been to this city a few times, mostly for concerts, this will be my first time staying overnight there. Funnily enough, the original reason we were going to Milwaukee in the first place is because we have tickets to a Thrice (one of Mike’s favorite bands) show at the Rave/Eagle’s Club (the last time I was at this venue was to see All American Rejects when I was 15 and in love with Tyson Ritter). Because I am going solo to Europe, we thought it might be nice to have a little romantic weekend away together once I came home, so we made a trip out of it. Milwaukee is only an hour and a half drive from Chicago, which makes it a perfect destination for a quick vacation. It will be very nice to get a little time to ourselves while exploring a new city together. Here is the breakdown of our trip planning Milwaukee, WI:

Trip Planning Milwaukee, Visit Milwaukee — *Photo Via Visit Milwaukee*

Where we will be staying:

The Hilton Milwaukee City Center*

*Mike picked this swanky hotel and surprised me with the reservation. I think he did pretty good!

What we will do:

The Lakefront Brewery Tour (which came highly recommended by almost everyone I talk to about Milwaukee)
The Public Market
Cactus Club for cocktails and live music
North Point Lighthouse
Wisconsin Cheese Mart (my personal version of heaven)
Milwaukee Arts Museum
Riverview Antique Market

What we will eat:

County Clare for brunch
Cafe Benelux
Leon’s for custard
Comet Cafe
Kegel’s Inn for Friday Fish Fry

Resources:

Adventurous Kate – “Milwaukee Rocks! Who Knew?“
Drink Tea & Travel – “Sunday City Guide: What to Do in Milwaukee, USA“
Twirl the Globe – “Bikes, Brats & Beers Tour in Milwaukee, WI“

Have you been to Milwaukee? Please share any Milwaukee, WI travel tips in the comments!

Favorite Travel Memories, Top Five Friday, RebeccaWanderlusting

New Orleans, Louisiana – Revisited

On August 30, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Louisiana, US Travel1 Comment

The city of New Orleans, Louisiana had captivated me long before I ever visited it. I had romanticized the city so much that I knew it needed to be my next trip. Enter Michael. On something like our fourth date, I mentioned my obsession with New Orleans, and he simply said, “well, let’s go then.” I didn’t really think he was being serious, but a few weeks later we were booking our hotel and planning a road trip there. We drove to New Orleans with an overnight stop in Nashville, TN, arriving in Louisiana just in time for dinner. That was two years ago today. Our time in New Orleans was amazing, and though we encountered a few bumps along the way, we didn’t fight once, which is no small feat for a new-ish couple during a 16 hour drive!

Each day was a new adventure, and each night was spent wandering on and around Bourbon Street, Big Ass Beer in hand. My favorite memory of this Louisiana trip is our first full day there: we walked all day, in the rain, popping into stores and bars to try to get dry and toasty. In my humble opinion, New Orleans is prettiest in the rain. While we were there, it was also Southern Decadence, which is NOLA’s pride celebration. This meant that in addition to rain drops, beads and small tubes of lube also fell from the sky. It was a fun festival to partake in and I am glad that our time there fell on the same weekend. This trip is among my all-time favorites for a lot of reasons, but here are nine places and activities that made it so great:

Omni Royal Crescent Hotel: This hotel is a real class act. We ~~lied~~ told them it was our anniversary and they upgraded our room and sent champagne up right after we checked in. Their beds are the comfiest clouds of white linen and their bathrooms are huge. Plus, the location was perfect for us – out of the excitement, but close enough that we could walk almost everywhere we wanted to go.
Cochon Restaurant: We had our first meal in New Orleans here and it gave such a great first impression. Everything we ate was delicious and the atmosphere was very warm and inviting. The restaurant is in the Warehouse District of the city, so it is the perfect place to start out your night if you plan on going out in style. Fair warming: make reservations!
William Faulkner House: Located in a cobblestone alley next to Jackson Square, the William Faulkner house sits perfectly preserved in time. The first floor is a charming bookstore, featuring beautifully bound copies of all the classics. Faulkner wrote his first novel here and it’s a very inspiring place to visit.
Verti Marte: This hidden gem is about a ten minute walk from Bourbon Street and makes the most amazing sandwiches. We had the All That Jazz Sandwich which featured shrimp, deli meat and veggies and was easily one of the best meals we had in New Orleans. The sandwich shop is within a small market and tends to have a line running through it. Be patient though, it’s worth it!
Barataria Preserve: I touched upon this in last week’s blog, but I really, really loved this portion of the Jean Lafitte National Park. We took a four mile hike through the swamp in search of gators and it was amazing. BUT! Learn from our mistake and bring water, not coffee, to quench your thirst while you hike.
Mango Mango: I know, before you say it, I know these slushie/pizza joints or one like it are on every other corner in New Orleans, but hear me out. After hours of drinking and wandering, the pizza at Mango Mango is a lifesaver. It’s perfectly cheesy and thin-crusted and just greasy enough to give you a second wind.
Louis Armstrong Park: If you want to get away from the drinking and debauchery of Bourbon Street, or just want a quiet place to drink your Mango Mango hurricane slushie, Louis Armstrong Park is the place to do it. The park is beautiful and peaceful with well-maintained grounds, ponds and statues of Jazz Greats, like Mr. Armstrong himself.
Carousel Bar: Located in Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter, the aptly named Carousel Bar is truly unique. They offer classic cocktails that are freshly made in the center bar as you rotate slowly around it. The drinks are delicious and the bar is gorgeous. The spinning may cause a tiny bit of motion sickness, but I promise it is worth it.
City Park/Lake Pontchartrain: Both of these must-see spots are just a short drive from downtown, and are so, so pretty. You could easily spend a whole afternoon at either destination, but we visited on our last day of our trip which means we were rushing a bit. Both locations would be perfect for a picnic. We strolled through City Park, enjoying the gardens and then moved to the lake to soak in the Louisiana sun on the concrete steps surrounding it.

There were a couple things we missed during this trip that we really wanted to see, including Preservation Hall, Longue Vue House and Marie Laveau’s grave that definitely would have made this list had we been able to visit them. Hopefully that means that we can go back soon and check them out!

Have you ever been to NOLA? Which are your favorite places there?

Top Five Friday #15

On August 26, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Top Five Friday2 Comments

Happy 100 Year Anniversary National Parks System!

In honor of the 100^th Anniversary of the United States National Parks Service (which was actually yesterday, I know), this is a very special Top 5 Friday post. These parks are a huge part of what makes America truly beautiful. The National Parks have been a huge part of my personal relationship with travel. Thanks to my parents, I grew up learning about geysers in Yellowstone National Park, climbing mountains in Olympic National Park and hugging sequoias in Yosemite National Park and visited countless other beautiful parks on family vacations.

I have many, many fond memories of enjoying these parks when I was young, alongside my sister and parents. Recently, I’ve been lucky enough to explore new (to me, at least) US National Parks with Mike. Among the many great experiences I’ve had exploring the National Parks, of course I have some favorites, which is where the top 5 comes in! So, below in no particular order, are my top five favorite National Park memories.

Yellowstone National Park – This list would not be complete without the first National Park I’ve ever visited. The year was 1998 and I was 8 years old. We drove across the flattest parts of the country to a world so unlike my hometown that I was convinced it was magical. The smell of sulfur permeated the car as we got close to the park. We witness Old Faithful, hiked on boardwalks through color changing geothermal areas, and rode horses across fields. On this same trip through the West, we visited Mount Rushmore, The Badlands in North Dakota, and The Grand Tetons. In other words, we got a lot of National Park bang for our buck, which was a great experience for a National Park first-timer.
Haleakala National Park – My family visited this park on a vacation to the island of Maui in Hawaii. I distinctly remember being roused out of bed in the early, early morning to watch the sunrise from the dormant volcano of the same name of the park. My sister and I were bundled up in our blankets, huddled between our parents, watching the sun make its way into the sky. It was an experience that I would be hard pressed to forget. In fact, the whole trip was one of my all-time favorites, from driving to Road to Hana in our bright blue Mustang convertible (thanks, Dad!), to jumping off the tops of a waterfall only to smack painfully into the water on my 10 year old butt… it was all perfect.
Jean Lafitte National Park – This park will always hold a special place in my heart because Mike and I visited it on our first ever trip together. The Jean Lafitte National Park is just a short drive from New Orleans, and it is definitely worth a visit. The portion of the park that we explored was the Barataria Preserve. There, we walked through the forest/swamp on a boardwalk path and peeled our eyes for alligators. The walk took us through the humid swamp, under spiders as big as my head and alongside other critters, like lizards, snakes and birds. The park was beautiful and lush. We eventually found an alligator, a baby one, and it made the walk through the swamp complete.
John Muir National Forest – Just outside of San Francisco, this park is just too pretty to miss. This coupled with the drop dead gorgeously scenic drive along to get there makes it a must see in my book. Mike and I walked into the park and instantly fell silent to marvel up at the trees. We hiked into the forest, making several Star Wars references as we went (Return of the Jedi was filmed here). We chose a path that wound up into the mountains and lamented the fact that we both chose to wear Chuck Taylors. Despite our aching feet, the hike was one of our favorite parts of our trip to San Francisco.
Smoky Mountains National Park – Started with the first and now ending with the last one we visited. Smoky Mountains National Park was amazing for multiple reasons but mostly because I had my whole family and Mike with me. We hiked as a crew and ate picnic lunches together in the picturesque rest areas and enjoyed the city of Gatlinburg in the evenings. My favorite memory of the trip was ascending the slow, cement spiral to the top of Clingman’s Dome and taking in the view of the whole park from there. We had to take turns going up to the top so someone could watch the stroller, but being there all together made it perfect.

What was the last National Park that you visited? And which is your favorite?

Top Five Friday #20 - Favorite Travel Writing Tools, RebeccaWanderlusting

EuroTrip Budget

On August 24, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning1 Comment

Way, way back in the beginning of this year (gosh that feels like such a long time ago), I was formulating a plan to go on an international trip in the early fall. I, much to my chagrin, am not one of those last minute jet setters that can take off at the drop of a hat. A lot (read: most) of my travels take a bit of planning and forward thinking due to my work schedule and need for budgeting to make them possible. So, back in February, I started looking into where I might go, and how much it would cost to get me there and so on.

I stumbled upon the IcelandAir Stopover offer and was attracted to the idea of a two for one vacation. I played around with the second destination and length of time I could spend in each to see which flights were the cheapest and which destinations were the most solo travel friendly. Eventually, I landed on Copenhagen and booked the ticket a couple weeks later.

Fast forward five and half months later, and here I am, counting down the days until I depart and saving up every last penny. A large portion of this trip so far was bought and paid for by my tax return from last year. In fact, most of my tax returns sort of act as travel gift cards. Do you think maybe next year the IRS can pay me back in airline miles?? Just kidding…

Anyways, this means that my flight (which was around $800) was paid for upfront with my debit card. Everything else so far has been charged to my travel credit card (gotta get those points!). The rest of my budget for this trip is as follows:

Flight: $800
Accommodation: $100/night x 10 nights = $1,000
Food & Beverage: $60/day x 10 days = $600
Tours/Activities: $400
Souvenirs: $100/country x 2 = $200
Emergencies: $200
Total: $3,200

In the interest of total honesty, I already blew it on the accommodation portion of the budget, by $150. But, in my defense, these are two very expensive cities to visit! I’m just really glad I booked when I did, because as of a week ago, most of the hotels were booked or increased in prices. In terms of tours and activities, here’s what I’ve got going:

Elding Whale Watching Tour: $82
South Shore Tour: $105
Copenhagen Card: $95
Total: $282

So far so good on that front! When I return from this Scandanavian Adventure, I’ll check back in with how I did. In the meantime, please share any budgeting or Iceland/Copenhagen tips in the comments!