Travel – Page 10 – …on the B.L.

Eating in L.A.

July 21, 2017 RaeAnna

I love to eat. I mean, I really love to eat. When I lived in France, I tested every patisserie in Aix-en-Provence, the city I lived in. Eating is a major part of my everyday life. You can only imagine how it figures into my travel plans. While I was in California I ate at the obligatory: In and Out and Del Taco of course. I try never to eat places I can eat at when I’m at home.

Sprinkles Cupcakes is a now famous cupcakery. It was founded in Beverly Hills, California in 2005, and since then, has grown into an iconic treat for people across the country. They rose to national fame for their delectable cupcakes, but became an instant hit when they introduced the cupcake ATM. You read that right! A cupcake ATM for those days you just need a cupcake now. If you’re like me, it’s happened more often than I’d like to admit. I actually have a Sprinkles here in Houston, but I had to go to the original to truly reach happiness. I enjoyed a chocolate marshmallow cupcake, which was delightful. I wouldn’t necessarily suggest the Beverly Hills Sprinkles as a quiet reading destination because there are so many people coming and going. It’s an upbeat place, which brings smiles to a lot of people of various ages.

I think part of my trip to Los Angeles was planned around this restaurant… Badmaash. I saw it on Buzzfeed or something on Facebook. I already knew I was going to LA, but I really got excited to go when I found out about this Indian restaurant. I love Indian food, but this takes it to a whole new level! They are known for their Indian mashups. I personally had the traditional comfort food of Butter Chicken as well as the Tikka Poutine. Poutine? you’re thinking. Yes, Tikka Poutine. You are not seeing things. It is an amazing mashup of the Indian Tikka Masala with the Canadian Poutine. They have tons of other mashups, but I’m only one person with limited stomach space. I could rave on and on about this place and their food. The decor was just awesome. The walls had Gandhi wearing different colored sunglasses. I would not suggest this as a reading spot. Though the food is top notch, it’s definitely young, hip, and loud but in a good way.

One of the last places I ate at in Los Angeles was La Brea bakery. It was awesome. The coffee was delicious. The food was delicious. I ended up going home with three loaves of bread because vacation and carbs. Who doesn’t love carbs? I love carbs. As far as reading, this is the best place to read. There are comfy booths, it has a quiet atmosphere. It is more like a local cafe than a bustling restaurant. I would go back in a heartbeat!

Experiences, Travel

Los Angeles Trip

July 20, 2017September 8, 2019 RaeAnna

I had not been to Los Angeles in… twelve years. So, you know, I was completely old enough to remember everything but at the age where you’re just along for the ride. This is the first time since I was fourteen, I’ve done anything more than fly through LA.

If you can’t tell from the over-saturated book theme of this website, I’m not a big partier. I prefer to spend my nights on the couch with a blanket and book or at cafes with, again, a book or my laptop writing. There will be no tour of nightclubs here; it is a strictly daytime fun and embarrassingly touristy list of things to do.

I had been wanting to go to Urban Lights in downtown LA pretty much since it went up in 2008. A public exhibit consisting of 202 antique cast iron street lamps restored by Chris Burden dating from the 1920’s and 1930’s. The lamps are solar powered after the sun goes down. Sitting right outside LACMA – Los Angeles County Museum of Art – it is in the heart of the museum district and historically gorgeous. It’s incredibly touristy yet a wonderful place for taking pictures. Instagram is saturated with the lamp photos, including mine, of course! Urban Lights is a can’t miss. Being such a huge tourist attraction, it gets quite crowded around noon. In the morning, it makes for an ideal reading spot. It’s beautiful to just wander around and look up. The lamps vary size and shape but are uniformly painted a light grey.

Rodeo Drive is world famous for the shopping; of course, I absolutely cannot afford to shop there. Maybe someday, I’ll write a book (or a million) and be able to afford socks on Rodeo Drive. I call this my California dream. Anyways, Rodeo Drive is also a beautiful street to walk up and down peeking in windows, people watching, and grabbing a cupcake from Sprinkles because I can afford to spend $4 on a nibble of yummy cake. There are some really beautiful areas to sit down and read a book on Rodeo Drive if you can tear your eyes away from all the beautiful things and people.

I walked up and down Hollywood Boulevard. It’s not a place to read. It is, however, an interesting place to look at the stars in the floor. The amount of talent is enormous. Actors, producers, singers, writers, directors, and more line the street. I stopped to take a picture of a book, but the photo is about all the bookish things that can be done on that street. Too many people walking to and fro. Also, I had to hurry along because the sidewalk is black, and my dog had hot paws. So we did not tarry long on Hollywood Boulevard because the beach was calling our name!

The last thing we did before leaving Los Angeles and California was spend the afternoon at Venice Beach. It’s been almost twenty years since I had been to Venice beach. It’s just like I remember along the boardwalk. People everywhere in nothing but swimwear. There is so much going on; I do not suggest reading here. Nowhere comfortable to snuggle in with a book except for the sandy beach, which is not dog friendly. The boardwalk is fun because loads of people are wandering around with and without dogs. Lots of spots for pictures. Muscle beach is great for looking at men. Venice Beach is a huge touristy spot, but my favorite part was just off the beaten path walking up and down the historic canals of Venice Beach. The houses are in the style of bungalow, modern, cottage, and more running along the canals in every color of the rainbow. There are delicate, white wooden bridges criss-crossing the canals. I loved walking up and down the waterways. Beautiful and serene.

I really enjoyed LA more than I thought I would or at least more than I remembered. The traffic sucks. After living in Chicago and Houston, I am extremely used to it! So for me, it wasn’t that bad.

Experiences, Travel

Pasadena 2017

July 18, 2017September 8, 2019 RaeAnna

I’m a huge fan of vacation and travel. The combination of books and travel bring meaning to my life. I wish I were joking.

When I’m not visiting friends, I like to stay in Airbnb’s. They’re great! This time the Airbnb led me to Pasadena. I had never had any interest in the area outside of the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day. I liked being close to the mountains, so the drive was worth it. I ended up really enjoying Pasadena. Also my Airbnb was just about perfect, so that never hurts. It was a small cottage with an overstuffed leather couch, comfy bed, cute kitchenette, espresso machine, and Beau was incredibly happy there because of the chickens. All truly good Airbnbs must have chickens, right? Beau sure thinks so. It was more than idyllic to reach for a good book in the morning and snuggling up with a book in the afternoon because, let’s be honest, I’m not really out that late. Overlooking the mountains, it was only eight minutes from downtown Pasadena, which is full of cute restaurants and buildings.

Right outside the front door of my Airbnb was a mountain road, which I took my car up one afternoon. I am normally a devastatingly careful driver, but this road made me drive with even more caution due to the immense twists and turns. Once at the top, it overlooked the San Gabriel Valley to the South and the mountain range the rest of the view. If you look at my Instagram, you can tell I draw a lot of joy and inspiration from being outside surrounded by nature. (Which is amusing because nature constantly tries to kill me due to my severe allergies.) I’m always in awe of nature and the beauty it holds. I really wish I could look out on mountains and trees as well as the city like I did every day in the Airbnb. For me, it would be the perfect reading-writing balance being able to venture into the city for distraction or wander through the woods for inspiration. If only Houston had that, but alas, we are flat.

Downtown Pasadena is great. It is full of buildings evocative of ye olden times. The city hall is a towering creamy stone. Kitty Corner to the city hall, there is a foundation for girls housed in a brick building with stained glass windows holding up curtains of thick ivy; I couldn’t help but to be taken back to London looking at that building. Walk half a block down the road, you’ll find brick buildings with sliding wooden barn doors. Great restaurants are in abundance! I found a chinese restaurant, which took me back to my childhood with their sizzling rice soup. I was in a little bit of heaven that day. The fashion bloggers were out in droves for all the picturesque spots in downtown Pasadena. I had never come across a several story Target with its own parking garage until Pasadena, but I guess, there’s a first for everything. Downtown is crowded with spots welcoming readers with open arms.

In downtown Pasadena, there is a park with a memorial. I didn’t know what it was at first, so I wandered my way towards it. It ended up being a memorial for the first public library. Unfortunately I couldn’t get near it because it was fenced off plastered with warning signs about falling rocks. Still it was very beautiful, and I love that there is a memorial to a library. Truly made my heart sing.

Experiences, Travel

San Diego

July 16, 2017September 8, 2019 RaeAnna

San Diego is one of my favorite places to visit. I was six the first time I visited, but have made it back many times in my twenties because it has a really laid back atmosphere, tons of beautiful beaches, great food, and a lax dress code.

The Hotel del Coronado is both historic and beautiful. It is known to be haunted, but has been visited by some of the biggest names in the entertainment business like Marilyn Monroe. Located on Coronado Island, it is the focal point with its white walls and red roof surrounded by beach and palm trees alike. A little paradise. It is incredibly fancy, and you’ll feel fabulous just walking around the grounds. It’s pricey, but I’m sure it’s worth it; I’ve never been able to afford it myself. I always grab an ice cream at MooTime Creamery to keep me company while I walk around until I find the perfect bench to read at.

I love Ocean Beach! I have for years. It’s where the hipsters congregated before the word hipster entered the vernacular. It has been a safe haven for the weed smokers before it was legal. It has welcomed dogs as people before it was cool. Known for the dog beach, the pier, the cliffs, the array of people, and Hodads, it’s a fun place to spend an afternoon. I would not recommend it for reading; you’ll be too busy people watching. That is, if you’re not too uptight for the laid-back, coolness that is Ocean Beach. It is bright and bustling all day and well into the night. Lots to do and eat and smell all along the beach. So be prepared to take part or sit and watch!

The dunes are everywhere they can make themselves in San Diego. These particular dunes take up a good deal of space on Coronado Island between the ocean and the ocean wall. They are vast, deep, and rolling hosting all sorts of plants and probably even some critters too. The plants are beautiful and flowering… I have no idea what they are, but they’re pretty and prominent. People can wonder in them without being seen except from above. By the dunes there are beautiful stone life guard huts… Although, I wouldn’t call them huts; they are fairly substantial buildings reminiscent of lighthouses from days of yore.

Oceanside is not actually a part of San Diego, but is often lumped into San Diego because it’s identity is so closely tied. It’s about an hour North of San Diego downtown without traffic, and an hour and half South of Los Angeles. It’s incredibly centralized between the two. It is a hub for the Marine Corps because of Camp Pendleton’s proximity. It has changed a lot in recent years with lots of good food and a cute downtown. I was personally drawn to the Oceanside Public Library. I didn’t even realize it was a library at first because it looks more like the mirage of a desert oasis to me. Whoever designed this library needs to design my future house because I would happily sit down to read a book with a wading pool, palm trees, a fountain, and architecture and coloring reminiscent of Mykonos, Greece. With a pastry shop right across the street, I would often be found in front of this library. I didn’t get a chance to go in, but I’m sure it is spectacular because the outside is so memorably bright and lovely.

Travel, Travel Guides

San Diego Beaches

July 15, 2017September 8, 2019 RaeAnna

I meant to post as I was on vacation… Time ran away with me, and I ended up reading far less than I meant to.

I was really feeling myself on the beach at Coronado. It’s a beautiful beach with a view of the ocean and Point Loma. The sand has flecks of gold in it; well, I don’t know if it’s gold, but it seems like it’s gold.

I have loved Coronado since I was little. My parents brought me here when I was very young. I went back by myself at nineteen, which is when I really fell in love with the island. I visited several times during college for vacation. I love staying on Coronado because it is bustling during the day quieting down a lot after dark. You don’t even need a car once you’re there because everything is so close by. The food is great. There are tons of super fancy hotels to choose from. I highly suggest Coronado as a place to stay for a weekend or a month, if you can afford it. I have read many books by the beach here. Also the houses are amazing, so I suggest walking around just to look at the beautiful houses, gardens, and gates.

Due to traveling with my beautiful boxer-mix Beauvoir, Beau for short, I ended up at more dog beaches than people beaches. And by more I actually mean: I only went the the beach once without her. She was a sandy mess, but so worth the exhaustion it brought on!

San Diego is so incredibly dog friendly. Almost every beach in the area has a section that is dog friendly. My favorite dog beaches being: Coronado Dog beach, Ocean Beach dog beach, Fiesta Island dog beach, and Del Mar. All of which are super dog friendly! It’s amazing. Although, it’s not an ideal place to read! Lots of barking. Lots of running around. Lots of fun for everyone but the books! Coronado Dog Beach is West from the Hotel Del Coronado and bumps up against the Naval Base on the island. Ocean Beach Dog Beach is a few blocks away from the main drag in Ocean Beach. Beau really enjoyed this beach because there is an area more inland with very few waves. Beau is scared of waves, so this was a winner for us. The whole neighborhood is extremely dog friendly. There are awesome cliffs to climb next to the pier. Fiesta Island has a reputation for being one of the best dog beaches in the country; it’s gorgeous. Del Mar is North of San Diego. It’s a really beautiful dog beach, but the downside is that dogs have to be leashed during the summer. Beau was a bit upset by this. She couldn’t run around and be her normally social self at this dog beach, but she ended up having a good time anyways.

I had a great time hanging out at the beaches in San Diego. They are some of my favorite, but the ocean is chilly. Be prepared!

One of the best doughnut shops in the country (no exaggeration), is in downtown San Diego. Donut Bar has amazingly creative concoctions and yummy coffee too. I didn’t want to eat in downtown, so the donuts and I went to the beach with Beau! Before leaving, one of the employees brought a treat out for my dog. “No dog left behind.”

Anyways, I enjoyed a book, donuts, and coffee on the beach at Coronado. It was a rough way to spend the day!

Experiences, Travel

Bald Head Island

June 1, 2017September 8, 2019 RaeAnna

I actually visited Bald Head Island, North Carolina over Memorial weekend. I took so many pictures around the island for my Bookstagram. Between the fact I loved the island immensely and all the pictures I took, it is very easy to write about the lovely little island just South of Wilmington.

Bald Head Island is home to Old Baldy Lighthouse, a vast swamp, gorgeous wildlife, and a lovely collection of houses. It can only be reached by ferry, an expensive but worth it ferry. On the ferry, you see islands and gorgeous houses, which epitomize the North Carolina style with windows overlooking the sea and sprawling front porches. Sailing into Bald Head Island’s harbor, the lighthouse is visible past the trees and buildings. Along the coast you’ll see beautiful houses, beaches, and wildlife stretching behind. Right off the ferry, there are restaurants and a few shops lining the harbor.

Walking off the gang plank, I made a beeline for the lighthouse. On the way, the first thing I noticed was the utter lack of cars. No cars. None. The people got around by way of golf carts, bicycles, or their feet. The houses lack garages. At first, it’s disconcerting, but then I noticed there are miniature garages tucked into the tree line by the houses to accommodate the golf carts. I love the absence of cars. Golf carts have a quiet hum, unlike the rev of car engines. It provides a quiet background, allowing the sounds of nature to permeate the soul and calming the inner chaos life imposes.

The lighthouse is a towering structure dating back to 1817. It was an active lighthouse for over a hundred years between 1818 and 1935 bearing witness to the civil war. It is the oldest standing lighthouse in North Carolina. It takes a few minutes to climb to the top, but it is worth it. Climbing stairs until the very top, you have to climb up a short ladder and through a narrow hole. The top is a 360 degree wall of mirrors looking out onto the ocean and the entirety of the island. Below you can see the church steeple poking out through the thick tree tops. It’s hot at the top of the lighthouse with very little air movement, but the view is worth it.

There is a beautiful bridge crossing from the harbor over the swamp to the lighthouse, a quaint church, historical places, and houses surrounded by trees. Unfortunately, Nicholas Sparks and his movies have put the image of North Carolina in everyone’s minds. I’ve spent some time in North Carolina over the past few years because my best friend is stationed there in the military. I had never seen the North Carolina Nicholas Sparks depicts until I wandered around Bald Head Island, and begrudgingly I understand why he writes so obsessively about the state… It’s beautiful and serene. As ridiculous as it sounds, the post office even subscribes to this calm North Carolina aesthetic.

It is amazing how happy and welcoming the citizens of Bald Head Island are. Everyone smiled and waved at everyone else. It was like being home in the Midwest but on steroids. It’s how genial I image the North Pole to be on Christmas Eve. The island is populated with older people who have decided to retire there, vacationers, and those who spend holidays in their houses on the island.

I fell in love with every aspect of the island. Every spot is a reader’s paradise. The sounds of nature help you get lost in your book if you can pull your focus away from the natural beauty surrounding you. There are so many beautiful spots to cozy in with a good book. The church has a beautiful front garden with benches shaded by trees; it’s what I’ve always imagined the secret garden to look like. There are spots overlooking the harbor and simultaneously the swamp with views of the lighthouse and everything nature.

I didn’t have enough time sufficiently explore the island, but I think I could spend weeks walking around acquainting myself with this beach side community. Someday, I hope to rent a house for a month on the island to read, write, and wander. A girl can dream.