30-something Travel

Beer from the Land Down Under - Little Creatures Brewery, Western Australia

2012-02-13T07:04:00.000-08:00

If you find yourself in WA (that's Western Australia) plan a stop at Little Creatures, our favorite Australian microbrewery. Nothing quite hits the spot on a hot summer day like a cold beer so when we were recently passing through Fremantle, a short drive from booming Perth, Australia we headed over to Little Creatures. We were looking for a great beer (and found it), but also good

Best Travel Books of 2011

2012-01-09T00:27:00.000-08:00

Goodreads, the largest site for readers and book recommendations, has released its list of the Best Travel Books of 2011 based on over 600,000 member votes. We've noted the top five below and added some of our own favorite travel books from last year. Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal, Conor Grennan ($10) Voted the best travel book of 2011, Little

Granger & Co.

2012-01-06T01:00:00.000-08:00

A London outpost of our favorite Sydney breakfast spot has just opened...and we couldn't be more excited for our next trip and our lucky friends in London. Photo credit: www.bills.com.au/blog We have raved about Bill's in Sydney (see City Guide - Sydney). We have tried to make his recipes at home from his cookbooks. Now the talented Australian chef, Bill Granger, has brought his cooking to

Top Spots for New Year's Eve

2011-12-30T00:12:00.000-08:00

2011 is behind us. Resolutions are ahead. But on New Year's Eve, it's just time to have fun. Champagne, parties and kissing...what's not to love about NYE. At 30-something Travel, we have a goal to spend New Year's Eve in as many different places as possible. So far, that includes North America (New York, Miami, San Francisco, Whistler B.C.), South America (Venezuela), Europe (London, Paris

Gift Ideas for Travelers

2011-12-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

We've scoured the globe (and the web) for gift ideas that will be a hit with anyone on your list that loves to travel. All available online and in time for Christmas delivery. The Travel Book - For the armchair traveler on your list, this book covers every country in the world with stunning photography and details about each place. If this doesn't inspire travel, nothing will. Lego

Fodor's Top Hotels 2011

2011-11-10T18:22:00.001-08:00

Fodor's just announced its Hotel Awards for 2011 featuring 100 properties around the world. We especially love the categories, like Clubby Atmosphere and Casual Chic, making it easy to find a hotel that suits your specific tastes. Plus, we were thrilled to see some of our favorite hotels make the list. 21c Museum Hotel, Louisville, Kentucky One of the top "Clubby Atmosphere" hotels, we love

Best Lunch in Paris - L'As du Fallafel

2011-09-17T22:07:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's in every guidebook. Yes, there is a long line. And yes, it's that good. It's hard to say what makes these falafels the best in town. For one thing, the falafels are small, crisp and flavorful. The toppings, like crisp cabbage and cucumbers, are generous, but perfectly balanced, not too much or too little of any one ingredient. The harissa, a Tunisian hot chili sauce I had never

Weekend in Victoria, B.C.

2011-08-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

Friends from London who now live on the west coast of the U.S. travel to Victoria B.C. to get a little taste of home. It's true you'll find tea, pubs and British weather there, but Victoria has a personality of its own. It's a short and beautiful, but often choppy ride from Seattle to Victoria through the San Juan Islands and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, on the Victoria Clipper, a

My Little Paris

2011-07-23T11:43:00.000-07:00

Wish you knew all the places where Parisian's really spend their time? Now you do. If you've read the website, you know that My Little Paris is a wealth of information about all the secret places in Paris that are off the beaten path of tourists. Well, the ladies at My Little Paris have just announced their new book so we can all have their secrets at hand on our next visit to Paris. Here

City Guide - Louisville, Kentucky

2011-05-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

Best known as the home of the Kentucky Derby, Louisville is also the starting point for exploring bourbon country and is both a foodie destination and a historic city in its own right. Breakfast, betting and bourbon was on the agenda for this trip, and that's because all the research I did before leaving pointed to these three things. My personal goal in the three days we had in

In search of the perfect cocktail...in Seattle

2011-03-10T07:48:00.000-08:00

Better known for microbrew beers, Seattle is becoming a hotbed for cool cocktails. Something is going on in Seattle. Condos and grocery stores have opened in the downtown area where a decade ago no one would have considered living. Trendy restaurants and bars are popping up with killer happy hours that give suburban professionals a reason to hang out a bit after work. And people are creeping out

Back to the Grind: 5 More Top Coffee Shops around the World

2011-02-20T10:50:00.000-08:00

The quest for the perfect espresso continues as we build on our original top 5 list of the best coffee shops around the world with five more of the best places we've found for a great coffee. Mecca Coffee, Sydney 67 King Street (and other locations), +612 9299 8828, www.meccaespresso.com As usual, we spent our first few days in a new city searching out the best espresso in town. Mecca is the

Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin

2011-02-16T22:45:00.000-08:00

I'm thrilled to announce that Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin, a children's book that I have been working on since we returned from our Antarctica Cruise and visit to the Galapagos Islands (i.e. for years!), has finally been self-published on Amazon for Kindle. It's the tale of an Emperor Penguin from Antarctica that is always cold, so he sets his sites on the Galapagos Islands and there he

30-something Travel Store

2010-11-28T21:16:00.019-08:00

We are excited to introduce the 30-something Travel Store! Now you can find all the products that we highlight in posts and other specially-chosen items that are available for seasoned travelers. Great gift ideas for the holidays, on-the-go beauty products and even souvenirs that you can buy online. We'd love to hear what other categories you'd like to see, so let us know what you think.

Photo Journal of Vietnam - Day 5 in Nha Trang

2010-11-26T13:43:00.000-08:00

In need of some relaxing beach time, we head up to Nha Trang for sun and laid-back feel. Cafe sua - half coffee, half condensed sweetened milk. Beaches, ocean and lots of off-shore islands to explore. Typical Vietnamese fruits: Dragon Fruit, Rambutans, Bananas and Green Oranges. Lunch of Vietnamese-style steamed grouper. A Nha Trang institution...Lac Canh.

Photo Journal of Vietnam - Day 4 in Ho Chi Minh City

2010-11-25T20:21:00.000-08:00

Another day in HCMC, a bit of sightseeing, a great meal and a lot of rain. First stop, cafe sua da (iced sweetened coffee) at Cafe Soi Da. Saigon Notre Dame Basilica, in downtown Saigon, established by the French in the 1800s. Scooter guy taking a break in front of two cool Vietnamese posters. The pink pagoda. Amazing lunch at Quan An Ngon, a restaurant combining the best local

Photo Journal of Vietnam - Day 3 in Ho Chi Minh City

2010-11-24T20:46:00.000-08:00

Quick flight down to Ho Chi Minh City where we met up with friends and went out on the town. First stop, lunch. Banh Xeo might look familiar if you are an Anthony Bourdain fan. The dish the place is named after, Banh Xeo, is a pancake filled with shrimp, pork, onions, mung beans and bean sprouts. Another dish from Banh Xeo in which these meat rolls are placed in lettuce leaves and

Photo Journal of Vietnam - Day 2 in Hanoi

2010-11-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

Cooking class + mausoleum + puppet show = a perfect day in Hanoi. DAB, our favorite coffee shop in Hanoi. Coffee in Vietnam is so strong, dark and sweet, it's like drinking melted dark chocolate. Built in spite of his wishes (he wanted to be cremated) Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum is a site not to be missed. A visit to the Hanoi Market Fresh vegetables like mustard greens and

Photo Journal of Vietnam - Day 1 in Hanoi

2010-11-22T17:53:00.000-08:00

A photo journal of Vietnam. Pictures can't capture the sounds and smells on the streets of Vietnam, but here's a snapshot of what you'll see when you are there. The Huc Bridge on Hoan Kiem Lake Night driving in Hanoi - No light, no lines, no problem Fish meal at Cha Ca La Vong Painting at entrance of Huc Bridge Local beer Bia Hoi Hanoi Street vendor - BBQ pork

A Word about Jeans

2010-11-20T23:01:00.001-08:00

If you've ever traveled for an extended amount of time, you've probably been told not to bring jeans along. Here's why you should ignore that advice. When my husband and I left for our year-long honeymoon/trip around the world, we read a lot about traveling for months at a time. The most consistent advice was to pack light. (One guidebook even advised to drill holes in your toothbrush to save

Best Travel Books of 2010

2010-11-14T21:20:00.013-08:00

Amazon has released its list of Best Books of 2010 and we found some great travels books on the list. Around My French Table: More Than 300 Recipes from My Home to Yours ($22) Dorie Greenspan, who has been a correspondent for Bon Appetit and written a variety of cookbooks, just published this lovely cookbook that offers a huge selection of home-style French recipes. The New York Times

Alice's Tea Cup - Best scones in New York

2010-10-26T14:04:00.002-07:00

Lucky for me, this adorable little tea shop was only doors down from my friend's flat in New York. And even luckier, today Alice's new cookbook is available so I can make their amazing scones at home...well try at least. Alice's Tea Cup: Delectable Recipes for Scones, Cakes, Sandwiches, and More from New York's Most Whimsical Tea Spot I'm not sure about "whimsical", but Alice's is the

AYCJ Bermuda

2010-10-07T21:13:00.077-07:00

On our last free flight on the Jet Blue All You Can Jet Pass, we headed across the country for a "dark and stormy" weekend on the pink sand beaches of Bermuda. There are a few things you need to know about Bermuda before you go: Bermuda is only 1 1/2 hours off the coast of Boston. I am shocked at how close this beautiful island is from the US. How did I not know this when I lived on the

AYCJ Barbados

2010-09-14T09:53:00.017-07:00

It's quite a haul from San Francisco to Barbados with a red eye followed by a 5 hour flight. But when its free (prepaid?) and you step outside to warm tropical weather it is worthwhile. Even if it's only for two nights. And you get stuck an extra four hours on the way back by weather. And have to land to refuel. And you end up sleeping on the floor of JFK Terminal 5 that night.

Jet Blue - All You Can Jet

2010-09-06T21:18:00.001-07:00

One ticket, one price, one month....all you can jet. One day last month, my husband sent a casual e-mail about a deal on Jet Blue where we can fly all we can book from September 7th to October 7th for one set price of $500. Within seconds I had said yes, and even though we're juggling jobs and moving, we are going to max out this deal. On the agenda: San Francisco - Wedding, shopping,