Someone told me there’s a girl out there with love in her eyes and flowers in her hair… Goin’ to California!

Hello fellow bloggers, I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted (and I will take *full* responsibility), but I am hoping this post makes up for at least some of our lost time…

I just got back from a trip to Los Angeles (!!!) and would love to share some of the adventure with you!

• Hollywood Walk of Fame
• Hollywood Sign (HIKE)
• Santa Monica- Third Street Promenade, Ferris Wheel and Pier
• Runyon Canyon (SUNSET HIKE)
• The Grove
• WeHo
• Melrose- Urth Cafe, Paul Smith Limited, DASH, Japan LA, Vivienne Westwood
• Venice Beach
• Rodeo Drive & Beverly Hills
• Downtown LA- Art District, The Last Bookstore, Korea Town
• LACMA
• Universal Studios Tour
• Griffith Park Observatory
• Malibu Day Trip- PCH 1, El Matador State Beach

In my opinion, LA and the surrounding areas are INCREDIBLE. Before visiting, everyone I talked to who had been before me either LOVED or HATED this legendary city. Their gripes? Too much traffic, too much smog, too many people, too expensive, and way too overrated. Their likes? “I mean it’s California, so obviously the weather is going to be great and you’ll be by the ocean…But I mean, still, it’s not THAT great”

My small poll in no way, shape, or form did this place justice. Los Angeles is a melting pot of lifestyles and cultures. From bougie socialites and entertainment moguls to easy going surfers and students, you feel like you are traveling to a different country even though it is only a span of 20 miles. What I loved most though, is that, regardless of these differences, there is a common thread in this city: Anything is possible.

And you feel it. You walk down the street and you feel it. The people here are passionate. They love to live life. There is this gusto to learn and create. Simply being surrounded by this groove and mentality inspires you to not only do better, but be better.

So where do I fit in? Somewhere between Beverly Hills and the beach… A ‘Beverly Hippy’ if you will 😉 Until next time Los Angeles! …And there will *definitely* be a next time.

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For your Wanderlust…

As expert travelers, we all know that there is no cure for our wanderlust until the next adventure, but I’ve found that these travel & lifestyle blogs can really help:

• A Modern Wayfarer
• Mister Weekender
• Miann Scalan
• The Love Assembly
• Vagabondish
• The Culture-ist
• HonestlyWTF
• Tuula Vintage
• Thrillist

Each blog has a unique take on the different facets of travel. The Culture-ist has some great think pieces and photo essays, Thrillist is known for their love of adventure and crazy attractions, Tuula Vintage and The Love Assembly combine fashion and travel in a flawless manner, and my new favorite, A Modern Wayfarer, has great personal posts in addition to interviews with other rad globetrotters!

Check them out and let me know what you think! Also, if you have any other recommendations leave them in the comments below! I don’t think you can ever follow too many good blogs! 🙂

Greetings from Sunny VA!

In addition to visiting Washington, D.C., I spent a little time in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.

http://instagram.com/p/n27O3BTH4S/

This city is super cute and has a really European feel to it…Although I couldn’t quite pin point what other city it reminded me of. Anyways, I loved just strolling around the streets here. Most of the buildings retain their original 1800s style and structure which is super impressive. King Street is the main road here, and if you follow it all the way to the bottom (which I did) it will take you to the Potomac River. There you’ll find an adorable boardwalk complete with more shops, cafes, and the like. I was lucky enough to stumble upon a local farmer’s market on my way to the river as well!

View this post on Instagram

No shortage of vitamins at this little farmer's market #yum 💖

A post shared by Alice Naser (@alicenaser) on May 11, 2014 at 7:21am PDT

If you want to see more snapshots from the trip, you should check out my Instagram! I’ll be updating my Flickr soon!

A Weekend in Detroit

Downtown Detroit

Store Front

The Heidelberg Project At Night

Side Street Graffiti

More Graffiti

Abandoned Train Station

Exploring an Abandoned Church…

Inside of an Abandoned Apartment Building

Detroit Rooftops

Detroit Rooftops Pt. 2

Dusk in Detroit

Tigers Game

Comerica Park

As a Metro Detroit native, it’s really a shame that I don’t get down to Detroit more often. Every time that I do visit, however, I’m reminded of just how powerful the city is. Although there is a lot of work that still needs to be done, the city is booming and the people are proud. What I like most about Downtown is that it has a character all its own. There isn’t a city like Detroit out there and our spirit emanates from every corner. My cousins and I had quite the weekend in the city:

• Driving around Downtown: Side streets, The Riverfront, Heidelberg project, etc.
• Breaking into Abandoned Buildings: Detroit has over 78,000 of them and as long as they are not schools or buildings that are being restored it is OK to trespass. We ventured inside of a church and a 15-story apartment building.
• Visiting The Henry Ford Museum: This museum is like stepping inside of a time machine! It’s super interactive which makes it impossible to not have a good time. There are all sorts of relics that showcase just how innovative the American people are.
• Attending a Tigers Baseball Game at Comerica Park: Great food, great beer, great company. The atmosphere inside of the stadium is amazing.

Voyage D’Etudes

 

I love this blog!!! I just came across it today and have already spent the better part of my afternoon reading through the various posts. What I like most about Voyage D’Etudes is that it is a unique collection of  moments and memories which have been organically captured through photos, scraps, and objects during different travel experiences. Basically, this is everything I wish my blog could be! Read more here (and enjoy!)

Gypset Travel

“Gypset [is used] to describe a new lifestyle that fuses the carefree ethos of a gypsy nomad with the sophistication of the jet set. Gypsy + Jet Set= Gypset.”

Just got my hands on the most amazing book! Gypset Travel (a follow-up to Julia Chaplin‘s fabulous first book, Gypset Style) explores the lesser-known enclaves for gypsies around the world. Featuring places like Deia, Spain to Montauk, USA, the pages are filled with amazing photography and first-person stories about the new bohemian world of artists, designers, and bon vivants. This was definitely a great purchase and a perfect new addition to my coffee table collection!

La Dolce Vita

La Dolce Vita, a new series by photographer Gray Malin, captures some of the most amazing beaches in Italy. The vintage inspired set is a result of a 2,000 mile coastal road trip from Cinque Terre to Capri and everywhere in between.

“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” -Rosalia de Castro