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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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!

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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!

Travel Is…

This advertisement for Intrepid Travel is simply inspired. Made with 14 months of globe-trotting footage, this video is sure to make you smile.

PS- If you love the song that’s playing during the video, it’s called “Mine” and it’s by the group Spirits of the Red City.

The Window Seat.

I was scrolling through my Instagram feed earlier and saw this amazing picture:

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Take off just after sunrise… ☺️💛⛅️

A post shared by Jessica Stein (@tuulavintage) on Mar 24, 2014 at 4:22pm PDT

There is truly nothing better than a window seat when flying and I think that this photo captures the beauty of the experience perfectly.

“The sign of intelligence is that you are constantly wondering. Idiots are always dead sure about every damn thing they are doing in their life.” -Vasudev

“And if travel is like love, it is, in the end, mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, in dimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.” -Pico Iyer

NOLA: Spring Break 2014

NOLA/ Nawlins/ New Orleans was hands down one of the craziest cities I’ve ever been to. Admittedly, we did get there just in time for Mardi Gras 😉 …But trust me, this city has NO shortage of activities. 

The Big Easy treated us very well, and if you haven’t been yet, you are missing out on, what is in my opinion, one of the best cities in America. 

New Orleans is beautiful–inside and out. I was swoon from the get-go. The culture of this place is unparalleled to any other city I’ve been to in the U.S.. The music, the food, and the pure love of life that exudes from every street corner is something to revel in.

My friends and I were in New Orleans for 5 days and by the end of the trip we were all wishing we lived there. The vibe of NOLA is super relaxed and if you just let yourself wander, you’ll stumble into the most incredible things and truly get the most out of this city:

• The French Quarter
• Bourbon Street (Hand Grenades & Huge Ass Beers)
• Frenchman Street (Live music >>>)
• The French Market & Shopping District (The flea market and vintage shops are to die for!)
• Take the trolley up and down Canal Street (Hop on, hop off, get lost!)
• Any and every side street (Seriously, they’re all great and have something unique to offer.)
• Hole-in-the-walls for local food (I can die happy knowing I stumbled upon the best Creole food in New Orleans…)

Who’s been to New Orleans before? I’d definitely like to go back again and would love to hear more suggestions!

PS- If you want to see more pictures from my trip, check out my Instagram and Flickr! xx