What I did: Explored downtown- Asheville felt like a mix of a mountain culture and a hippy culture. Many hikers will stop in Asheville as a resting area (and some may take an extended stay). The town has a very laid back feel. Visited Parks and Fountains- Asheville has many good parks that can be used for free. They also have fountains that can be fun to play in on hot days. Spent time with family- I met up with family members in Asheville, and got to spend some great time with them. Asheville YMCA- I worked out at the Asheville YMCA. The staff there were very nice, and it was a good facility. Where I ate: Curate- Curate is an amazing tapas restaurant in Asheville. We sampled a variety of dishes, and each one of them were amazing. White Duck Taco Shop- White Duck Taco Shop has very good tacos at very good prices. Also, many of the tacos are very unique. Wicked Weed Brewing- Asheville is known for their craft beer scene, and Wicked Weed is at or near the top of the list in Asheville. They had very good beer, a good environment, and nice food choices such as steak carpaccio. Double D's Coffee- Double D's is a coffee shop in a double decker bus. The coffee was good, but the novelty of the double decker bus is more exciting than the coffee they had to offer. High Five Coffee- High Five is my favorite coffee spot in Asheville. The coffee was very good, and they have a nice, laid back environment. French Broad Chocolates- French Broad Chocolates is an excellent dessert place with a large amount of amazing tasty options. If I am going to eat something unhealthy I want it to be worth it, and the dessert I had at French Broad Chocolates was well worth it. Izzy's Coffee Den- Izzy's was a good, but not great coffee shop. It was a nice, relaxed place. However, they only have one barista working, leading to extensive wait times for a drink. Where I stayed: I stayed at an AirBnB just outside of town with some family members. How I got around:
My family rented a car, so we drove to most of the places we visited. Asheville can sometimes be a pain to travel around. While the hills and mountains can be very beautiful, it means that many roads go around in circle. It would be especially difficult to drive there during the winter when there is snow or ice on the roads. My favorite thing: My favorite thing about my trip to Asheville was the opportunity to spend time with family. Specific to Asheville, I liked the laid back vibe to the city, and Curate was an amazing restaurant. My least favorite thing: The roads can easily aggravate the stomach of anyone prone to car sickness. There is rarely a straight path anywhere in Asheville. While that can be part of the appeal, it can also be frustrating at times. For next time: Next time I would like to explore the famous Biltmore. I would also like to check out more of the breweries such as Highland Brewery and Burial Beer.
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What I did: Heidelberg Project- The Heidelberg Project is part politcial protest and part art project. After the riots in Detroit in 1967, parts of Detroit resembled a war zone. Also, Detroit has been hit hard economically in recent years, causing many people to try to burn their houses for the insurance money or just abandon them in search of a better life somewhere else. The Heidelberg Project makes art out of this rubble. It is very interesting, thought provoking, and worth checking when in Detroit. Henry Ford Museum- The Ford Motor was started by Michigan native Henry Ford in Detroit. The museum that bears his name contains many interesting historical items such as John F. Kennedy's presidential limousine, a record breaking race car, the first plane to fly over the north pole, and a Dymaxion House. Greenfield Village- Greenfield Village is located next to the Henry Ford museum. Henry Ford had the idea of bringing various buildings of historical significance to Detroit. Some of the buildings now in Greenfield Village are the Wright Brothers (inventors of the airplane) house and workshop, Harvey Firestone's (Firestone Tires) house, Noah Webster's home, and a replica of Thomas Edison's laboratory. Explored downtown- Downtown Detroit has a number of things worth exploring. There are already four major professional sports teams located downtown, and rumors of a fifth coming soon. There are various monuments, impressive buildings, and other interesting things to see and do downtown. There is also a great riverfront area. Where I ate: Slows BBQ- Slows is a great barbecue place located in the Corktown area of Detroit. It is definitely worth checking out when visiting Detroit. The Sugar House- The Sugar House is a nice cocktail bar also located in Corktown. They have a nice selection of Absinthes as well, including some locally made in Detroit. Green Dot Stables- Green Dot sells a variety of different sliders (miniature hamburgers). They have very unique types of burgers. My favorite burger there had a peanut butter and kimchi topping. Astoria Pastry Shop- Astoria is a great place to go when you want to indulge a sweet tooth. There are a variety of tasty, albeit unhealthy, options to choose from. Atwater Brewery- Atwater is a local, quality brewery in downtown Detroit. They offer flights of their brews, and also offer food. Great Lakes Coffee- Great Lakes Coffee Company is a great place to grab a cup of coffee. Their nitro cold brew is excellent. They also have good quality food options. American Coney Island- American Coney Island, along with rival Lafayette, are two of the most famous places to eat in Detroit. I thought the coney was good, but because it is not very healthy, it is not good enough to get me to have another anytime soon. It is still worth trying though. Dime Store- Dime Store is a great breakfast spot. Unfortunately their nitro coffee was not working while I was there, but the food was excellent. Parks & Rec Diner- Parks & Rec is a great diner in the old Parks & Recreation building. The building itself is very cool, and the food is great. I had smoked salmon with pickled vegetables and a duck egg. Since the place is so good, you may need to wait a bit for a table. Cafe D'Mongo's- Cafe D'Mongo's is a local Detroit place that has been frequented by various celebrities. Although celebrities will stop by, it is much more of a "homey" place and not a fancy place. The drinks were good (and relatively cheap) and their famous grilled cheese was the best thing I ate in Detroit. Where I stayed and how I got around:
I stayed with family in nearby Livonia. I was able to travel around with them while in the Detroit area. My favorite thing: My favorite thing about Detroit is the potential they have and the direction they are moving. They are coming back as a city and have good food, multiple sports teams, and some cool things to see and do. My least favorite thing: While Detroit is making a strong comeback, they still have some growing left to do. Also, while I was there the weather was very good, but it can be brutal for much of the year. For next time: Next time in Detroit I would like to spend some time at the Eastern Market, and I would like to get some barbecue from Greedy Greg’s Sold Food. What I did- Baseball clinics- Baseball is the sport of the Dominican Repbulic. Many of the stars in Major League Baseball are Dominican. As a former college player, I had the opportunity to help out with some baseball clinics while there. Winter league baseball game- The winter is the offseason for Major League Baseball. Many double AA and AAA players, including many local Dominican players, play in the Dominican winter league during their offseason. The environment at these games is amazing. While I have been to many Major League Baseball games in the United States and the level of play there may be slightly higher, I would much rather attend a Dominican winter league game because of the environment. There are bands in the stands, cheerleaders on the dugouts, and it seems like all of the fans are into every pitch. Beaches- While there aren’t really any beaches in Santo Domingo, the southern coast of the Dominican Republic has some very good beaches. I had the opportunity to visit beaches in Juan Dolio, Boca Chica, and Catalina Island. La Peñita- La Peñita is an amazing spot to go cliff jumping on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic. It has amazing views and crystal clear water. Orphanages- I had the opportunity to visit a few orphanages just outside of Santo Domingo. There are some amazing people doing some amazing work there. Explored La Capitol- There is a large amount of history in Santo Domingo. Christopher Columbus is believed to be buried there, as it was the first place he arrived after departing Europe. The Catedral Primada de America is the oldest cathedral in the Western Hemisphere. Also, there is a lot of interesting history in areas such as the Zona Colonial, the Alcazar de Colon, the Calle de las Damas, the Parque Colon, the Pantheon Nacional, the Plaza de Armas, and Fort Ozama. Where I ate:
Most of meals I have had in the Dominican have been with friends, and I have not eaten out at many restaurants. However, here are some of the standout Dominican dishes I have eaten there: Mangú- Mangú is a dish made from mashed green plantains. Many people consider it the national dish of the Dominican. It is similar to mashed potatoes. Sancocho- Sancocho is a very good Dominican stew. It contains a vast array of ingredients, and the exact ingredients typically vary. Arroz Blanco con Habichuelas Guisadas (Rice and Beans)- Rice and beans is a staple food in the Dominican. Pollo Guisado- Pollo Guisado is a chicken dish that is usually accompanied by rice and beans. Tostones- Tostones are a made by cutting green plantains, pan-frying them, then pressing them and re-frying them. Maduros (Sweet Plantains)- While mangú and tostones are made from green plantains, maduros are made from yellow to brown plantains. They are a very tasty side dish. Where I stayed and how I got around: I stayed with friends while in the Dominican, and I also rode with them in my travels around the southern part of the island. My favorite thing: My favorite thing about the Dominican Republic is the people. I have made some great friends there, and I also enjoy the laid back culture. My Least favorite thing: Although I was able to stay with friends while there, the Dominican Republic does not have a large amount of good hostels. Most of the accommodation there consists of resorts. For next time: I have been able to see much of the southern coast of the Dominican Republic, but I would like to see some northern areas such as Samaná. What I did: Texas State Capitol- Austin is the Capitol of Texas, so the State Capitol building is located in Austin. They offer free tours of the building, and they also allow people to watch the political process in action. Barton Spring Pool- Barton Springs is a natural spring in Austin. Because it is a natural spring, the water stays cold even on hot days. The area is also “top optional.” The springs flow out of the pool into a river where I was able to rent a paddle board. Zilker Park- Zilker Park is a nice, large area where you can play a variety of sports. While I was there people were playing volleyball, soccer, and frisbee. Dogs are also able to run free there. Graffiti Park at Castle Hills- Graffiti Park has walls filled with graffiti. Apparently, the graffiti is painted over and changes regularly. Onnit Academy- The Onnit Academy is probably the best workout facility I have ever been to. They have equipment that it oftentimes not available at other gyms. The environment there was awesome, the people were very nice, and everyone was focused on personal improvement. They even have a cafe with great, healthy food. 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Austin- 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu is a famous No-Gi jiu jitsu family of gyms. The people at the Austin location were super cool. Bat Watching- Each day around sunset, bat fly out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge. It interesting to see such a large number of bats in a city. Rainey Street- There are a large number of restaurants and bars on Rainey street with good food, good drinks, and good live music. Where I ate: Franklin BBQ- Franklin BBQ has some of the best barbecue in the world. The meal I ate there is one of the best meals I have eaten in my life. However, be prepared for a long wait, and if you arrive late there is a chance they may be out of what you wanted to order. I would suggest going with a few friends and something to keep you entertained for a couple hours. Home Slice Pizza- Home Slice is a top rated pizza place in Austin. I’m not a huge pizza fan, but it was very good. Amy’s Ice Cream and Lick Honest Ice Cream- Both of these places had great tasting ice cream and very unique flavors. Açaí Hut- Açaí Hut is located in a food truck park near Barton Springs. It is run by Brazilians that make authentic açaí bowls. Craft Pride- Located on Rainey Street, Craft Pride offers some of the best craft beer in Austin. Also, they had a food truck on site while I was there. Veracruz Tacos- Veracruz Tacos is a great taco place in Austin. It was called one of the top taco spots in America by the Travel Channel. La Barbecue- While I didn’t like it quite as much as Franklin, La Barbecue had some great barbecue food and a short wait time. Cuvée Coffee Bar- Cuvée coffee offers a great nitro that they can and send across Texas. Floppy Disc Repair Company (Red Headed Stepchild)- Though it appears to be a repair store for old computer equipment, things aren’t always as they seem. The door has a keypad that is unlocked by a four digit code that changes weekly. I got the password next door at the Handlebar after grabbing a drink there. After entering the passcode and going in the door under the Floppy Disc Repair Company sign, I entered the Red Headed Stepchild speakeasy. They offer great, unconventional drinks in a cool environment. The Firehouse Lounge- The Firehouse Lounge is located behind a set of bookshelves in the lobby of the Firehouse Hostel. They offer good drinks and snacks. They also feature live music on select night. Torchy’s Tacos- Torchy’s Tacos is a great taco place in Austin. I suggest ordering from their “secret menu.” Whole Foods Market- Whole Foods got their start in Austin, and have since spread across the world. They offer a variety of healthy food options. They were recently bought out by internet giant Amazon. Mozart’s Coffee Roasters- Mozart’s had a great cup of nitro with a nice waterfront view. Halcyon and Houndstooth Coffee- Both of these coffee shops offered a good cup of coffee. Where I stayed: The Firehouse Hostel- The Firehouse Hostel was a nice hostel in downtown Austin. Although the bedrooms and common room were relatively small, there was a speakeasy behind some bookshelves in the lobby. HK Hostel- HK is an old house that has been converted into a hostel. It is across the street from Veracruz Tacos and is very close to La Barbecue. Also, the gas station next door somehow doesn’t only have a great craft beer selection, they also serve nitro coffee on tap! How I got around:
Busses- Austin has a fairly good public bus system. Also, bus passes can be purchased online through their transit app. Lyft, Uber, Fasten, and Ride Austen- Lyft and Uber had been made illegal in Austin, but they were both allowed to operate again before I arrived in Austin. Fasten and Ride Austen are local rideshare apps. My favorite thing: My favorite part of Austin was the Onnit Academy. There people there were super cool, and it had a great environment. They have a cafe, workout facility, Muay Thai gym, and Jiu Jitsu gym all on site (and all top of the line). My least favorite thing: There wasn’t much to dislike about Austin. However, if it was a little closer to the ocean and had a beach, it would be even better. For next time: Next time in Austin I want to spend more time at the Onnit Academy. Also, I want to check out a few more speakeasies in Austin. Google Flights offers a great resource to use for many different reasons:
Search Everywhere- If you know from where and when you want to travel, you can search “everywhere” to see different flight prices around the world. You may be surprised, as sometimes far away destinations can be cheaper than more local destinations. I use this tool to get ideas if I am deciding where to fly. Interests- You can also search by interests. The interests include: adventure travel, beaches, culture, ecotourism, food, honeymoon, islands, nature, outdoor recreation, shopping, wildlife, and winter sports. Search “any airline” or by alliance- As opposed to searching each airline individually on their websites, you can search them all at the same time. Also, if you are frequent flyer or have points with a specific airline, you can search by that airline’s alliance. Search from multiple starting points- If you are unsure what airport or are planning to fly out of, or you have the flexibility to fly out of various airports, you can enter multiple airports into the origin search box. Flexible dates- If you have flexibility with your departure and arrival dates, you can search a variety of different dates to find the best price. You can search by month and see the price for each day. Continent or Country- You can also search by continent or country. This is particularly helpful when flying into Europe from another country. Europe has some budget airlines that can offer cheap transportation once you are in the country. However, flights to Europe can vary significantly in price. Alerts- You can set an alert on google flights that will email you when prices go up or down on a particular flight. Know future prices- Google flights can let you know if a flight is likely to go up or down in price, allowing you to make a more educated purchase. You can also see a graph of prices for that route. Recommendations- If you search for a particular flight, Google may recommend a better day to fly that could save a lot of money. They will also recommend the best flights for a particular day. Arrival and Departure times- You can also filter by arrival and departure times if you don’t want to be in the airport at crazy hours of the night, or if you need to reach your destination by a certain time. Search by number of stops- If you want to spend less time traveling and more time being at your destination, you can limit the number of stops in your search. Connections- You can also choose from different connecting airports if you would prefer to spend your layover in a specific airport. Amenities- Google Flights will display potential amenities such as legroom, entertainment, power, and WiFi. Although I rarely book through Google flights, it is almost always my first stop when researching flight prices or future trips. |
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