Day Trip – …on the B.L.

Reno, Nevada

September 21, 2019September 20, 2019 RaeAnna

Places To Stay. Things To Do. Food To Shove in Your Mouth.

I just got home from my trip to Reno and Lake Tahoe. It was a quick trip, but I was able to enjoy a little bit of everything the city has to offer. There were so many activities crammed into a short amount of time; I wouldn’t have it any other way. Reno is known as The Biggest Little City in The World, and I can see why. A new direct flight by United was launched, so it’s even easier to visit!

The people of Reno are some of the nicest most interesting people I’ve met in my travels. People can make or break any place, and the people definitely add to Reno’s charm. Almost everyone I talked to chose Reno; they weren’t natives. Many had left and came back because they found it called to them. There is this mentality of embracing who you are no matter how weird. No one judges as long as you don’t encroach on their own brand of weird. People were happy to chat and tell me everything they love about their city. I have a whole list of places to see, things to do, and food to eat based off their recommendations, which I didn’t have time to get to this go around. Everyone was passionately in love with their city, which rubbed off on me.

Reno is a city full of energy. There is so much to do and enjoy. I can’t wait to go back and dive further into this great city. For now, here are the wonderful things I experienced. I loved every minute of it so much, I know you will love it as much as I did.

Places to Stay
I stayed at the Atlantis Resort and Casino. I’m not a gambler, but there are so many other things to enjoy about the hotel, like the spa, indoor and outdoor pools, restaurants, cafes, fitness center, arcade, fabulous views, and incredibly kind staff.

I slept with my drapes open because the view was so incredible. I was on the 23rd floor with windows the width of the room from floor to ceiling. The city view was incredible at night, but it was even better during the day with views of the skyline and the mountains. I’m still in awe of it.

The spa is the best in town. I can personally attest to how great it is. From locals to staff, everyone swears by the spa and restaurants. You absolutely can’t go wrong here. I was great by such a fabulous swag bag, my suitcase almost weighed too much.

Things To Do

Art The art in downtown Reno is incredible. There are murals everywhere, and they are always changing. Burning Man takes place in the desert just a few hours away. Reno has a ton of Burning Man art on full display throughout downtown. It is amazing.

National Automobile Museum I love cars. The National Automobile Museum is in downtown Reno and has cars from the very beginning. You can follow the maze starting at the start of the automobile era to the more modern era. It’s beautiful and educational.

Ax Throwing Ax throwing has become all the rage, and Reno is home to a great place to do just that. You can even order food from Liberty Exchange while honing your skills.

Reno Arch It used to be red but was painted blue in 2018 to reflect University of Nevada, Reno’s colors. It’s a great photo opportunity! Located on Virginia Street and Commercial Row.

Spa I love the spa. It’s such a wonderful way to relax and unwind, which should be a part of every vacation. I spent an afternoon enjoying everything the Atlantis Spa had to offer. It was the best experience.

Gambling Reno is home to a ton of casinos, so if gambling is your thing or something you enjoy at the end of a busy day, there are tons of opportunities big and small.

Day Trips Reno is so close to hiking, water sports, skiing, and so much! Virginia City and Carson City are only 45 minutes away.

Food to Shove in Your Mouth

Liberty Food & Wine Exchange has amazing food. It is all locally and responsibly sourced. The pancakes are the best I’ve ever had; they taste like pound cake without the heaviness. You really need to go. They make pasta and bread in house daily. Their woodfired oven makes a whole bunch of food. They butcher everything in house and the FDA inspects it daily. It is delicious.

Bistro Napa is located in the Atlantis. Even the locals rave about their happy hour, so you know it’s good. I ate so much, I thought I would explode because it was beyond delicious. This is a fairly classy place, and the service is impeccable they make great mocktails.

Purple Parrot is also located in the Atlantis. It’s open 24/7 and has great breakfast food and service. It’s like a diner, but a little classier and definitely comfier.

Escape Lounge should be a part of everyone’s airport experience. It’s an airport lounge without the exclusivity. You can pay to get in or if you’re an AMEX holder. They have great food, comfy seating, fabulous views, and the service is awesome. I seriously enjoyed it.

Wonderful Things About Reno

It only takes fifteen to twenty minutes to get from one side of town to another.
Hiking and water sports are everywhere.
San Francisco is about a three hour drive away.
You can learn so much about the Native American tribes in the surrounding areas.
The mountains and desert make for a beautiful backdrop any time of day.
Reno is 45 minutes from Carson City, the capital of Nevada.
Lake Tahoe is less than an hour drive from downtown Reno.
Virginia City is home to wild Mustangs and is only 41 minutes away.

Experiences, Travel

New Bern, North Carolina: Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola

September 8, 2019 RaeAnna

Drinking Pepsi in front of the Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola.

Enjoying a refreshing Pepsi in New Bern, NC.

The ginkgo trees covered in Spanish moss.

An adorable front door in an alley in downtown New Bern, NC.

Literally one of my favorite pictures I have ever taken. The outdoor sanctuary in New Bern, NC.

I have been going to Jacksonville, North Carolina for years. Other than having a ton of trees and ocean views, there isn’t much going for it. Luckily, it’s nicely situated in between a lot of cool places. Unfortunately, I hadn’t looked into many of the surrounding areas until the last couple of years; even then, I didn’t look very hard. I’m kicking myself because I’ve been missing out.

New Bern, North Carolina is just one of those places I’ve been missing out on. A small town on the Neuse River only an hour north of Jacksonville. An easy day trip. With my never ending well of charm mixed with persistence, stubbornness, lack of self-respect, and my willingness to beg in combination with Alex’s complete ambivalence towards our activities as long as he’s gotten enough sleep, I managed to convince him a trip to New Bern, North Carolina wouldn’t be a terrible way to spend an afternoon.

Pepsi-Cola outside the shop in front of the Bradham Pharmacy sign.

I think every town has a claim to fame; this is absolutely refutable. New Bern, NC doesn’t have a small claim to fame. They’re the origination point of Pepsi-Cola; it’s a huge claim to fame. Pepsi is the soda I grew up on. Caleb Davis Bradhem ended up opening a drugstore on a corner in downtown New Bern. In 1893, he invented “Brad’s Drink” as a healthy way to help digestion. In 1898, he renamed it Pepsi-Cola after dyspepsia, or indigestion. By 1903, Pepsi-Cola was an official company and trademark due to its popularity. You can still visit the site where Pepsi was created on the corner of Middle Street and Pollock Street. The soda shop serves Pepsi and popcorn, and there’s a gift shop on the other side of the soda fountain. The store opened its doors in 1998, one hundred years after the creation of Pepsi-Cola. Alex and I bought matching shirts because we don’t know if we’ll ever be back. I’m a Pepsi girl, and he loves his Mountain Dew, so it was fitting.

New Bern isn’t just home to Pepsi, it is the second oldest town in North Carolina having been founded in 1710. It served as the first state capitol. There’s a gorgeous church standing across the street from the Pepsi shop. The church yard is home to headstones with faded lettering dating back to the eighteenth century. Ginkgo trees sheathed in Spanish moss shade the outdoor sanctuary. It really is stunning. The downtown is full of picturesque spots and well kept buildings. There are over 150 buildings and homes on the historic registry. It’s easy to get lost in the small town charm of this waterfront town.

I wish I had known about this town about five years sooner. If you’re ever in town, grab a glass bottle of Pepsi and stop by Wiener Haus because it has some pretty good food.

bisous und обьятий,
RaeAnna

Travel, Travel Guides

San Antonio Day Trip

April 4, 2018June 23, 2019 RaeAnna

Attention!!! Books are no longer my only friends in Houston. I have human friends in my most recent home city. It’s a very exciting development for me.

Even better, I’m growing close with another blogger. A business blogger and digital nomad (goals) from New Zealand. Elise runs the blog House of Brazen! She has limited time in the US, and we’re exploring as much of it as we can before she’s off on her next adventure. Where? No one knows.

On Thursday, we hopped in the car early heading West on I-10 until we ran into the San Antonio River Walk…. There were a couple turns, but not many. Being the non-early birds that we are. Starbucks was our first stop. Quickly followed by the first Buc-ee’s we saw. If you’re not from Texas and happen to be in Southern Texas, find a Buc-ee’s, go to the bathroom, buy a kolache, and try some beef jerky. I guarantee you have never seen anything like it before. It’s the most Texas gas station you’ll ever encounter, and we are absolutely bonkers over them.

Three hours later, we hopped out of the car and headed right to the river walk. We walked along the river looking at the beautiful architecture, bridges, art, and people watching.

The river walk is such a beautiful place. It stretches on a long while in several directions. There are areas where the tourists congregate, and areas where you hardly pass anyone. Sidewalks, usually, run on both sides of the river. They aren’t very wide, so you often have to “think thin” as people pass. Restaurant patios spill into sidewalks. You won’t have to search far for food, and everything smells amazing.

The river walk is teaming with life. People. Flowers. Water. Wild life. I really can’t tell you how gorgeous it is. The architecture is beautiful and varies. The bridges across the river keep changing. My favorite, however, was a bridge covered in bright green ivy… I don’t know if it was ivy, but that is what I’m going with.

Elise and I headed to the Alamo because, well, it’s the Alamo. It’s not very big. It’s beautiful. It’s always crowded. You could probably walk around reading every plaque for hours if you wanted. There are guided tours and audio tours. We weren’t that concerned with more than strolling through, which is free! Save money where you can to spend it on things like day trips to cool places or saving to visit her in New Zealand. (Fingers crossed you’ll all follow my adventures there.)

After the Alamo, we went to lunch at Rita’s. Elise threw chips for the birdies to eat. I stared at a gorgeous dog who sat next to us. We ate Mexican food completely content with our lives. Finishing up, we walked around the river walk for a little while longer.

After a fun day in San Antonio, we hopped back in the car for the three hours home… But also another stop at Buc-ee’s because duh. More kolaches were consumed. Beef jerky was bought to be taken home – I highly suggest the Bohemian Garlic. I dropped Elise at her place before heading to mine. Beau was ecstatic to see me. I – the non-morning person I am – crawled straight into bed.

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.