Exploring at the city hall courtyard in Paris

1. Research: Does the accommodation have a laundry facility available? Will you have a kitchen? Will you be mainly driving or walking around in your destination? We have opted for staying at Airbnb homes with kitchens so that we could easily prep meals (for eating in or on the go), clean up, do laundry, and have a bit more space so we don’t have to hang out in the bathroom while the baby is napping or sleeping as we would in a hotel room.
2. Essentials: Plan for a supermarket trip as soon as you arrive in your destination to pick up the essentials. This is for diapers, wipes, fruits, and veggies. More on food later, but this will save you from trying to fit days or even weeks of diapers and wipes in your luggage, which really can add up. If you are visiting family, consider ordering online and shipping diapers and wipes to the family house. Bring diapers and wipes for the traveling days.
3. Baby toiletry kit: Our has a 3-oz travel bottle for the baby shampoo, first aid kit, toothbrush, tooth paste, hair brush, a handful of facial cotton pads and q-tips, and a couple of wash cloths.
   

   Hair brush, Jack n’ Jill tooth paste, wash cloths, tooth brush/holder, nail clipper, thermometer, and bulb syringe. Not pictured: Honest Co. baby shampoo in a 3-ounce bottle

4. Clothes: If a laundry facility is available, I usually pack 5 baby undershirts (white onesies), 4 sets of outfits and socks, 1 sun hat, and 1 jacket (thickness depends on the season). Layering is key.
5. Food: This can vary depending on the family lifestyle and the baby age. For us, our daughter was exclusively breastfed, so we didn’t bring the pump or bottles on the road when she was younger. Since she began eating solids, we have served her various foods cooked without salt (but seasoned with natural herbs and spices). We also opted for not giving her any artificial sugar as a family choice. When we are on the road, some fruits and veggies we have brought with us include: avocados, bananas, washed blueberries, apples, fresh mozzarella string cheese, and edamame. I have brought some homemade meats that I chop up and freeze in Tupperware and then let it thaw with hot water. Airport securities have been very friendly about baby foods items in our experience. When we arrive in the destination, we stop by the grocery store for eggs, yogurt, milk, grains/bread, meat and veggies so that it’s possible to cook up some simple bento boxes. Along with the actual food, I usually pack her travel utensils, bibs that can be rolled up and wiped clean, straw cups, and water bottle in my bag.

What about a stroller or car seat? This can look different depending on your choice of airline seating, how walkable your destination is, and how you feel about rental car seats. For us, we use a travel stroller, which can fit in the inflight overhead bin and we love, and we haven’t brought a car seat with us. I use our own seat strap covers when we rent a car with a car seat, but otherwise I wear my daughter in a carrier through airports and in taxis/Ubers rides. We’ve enjoyed not having to lug a car seat around unless it is a road trip with our own car.

Shop some of our beloved travel gears:
TeamFar Toddler Utensil Flatware
Soft Silicone Feeding Bib
THERMOS FOOGO Insulated Stainless Steel Straw Bottle
Mountain Buggy Nano Stroller

What does packing for a family look like to you? If you have any tips, share with us in the comments below.

Happy traveling!

Here are five of Mesa’s best outdoor attractions.

Hike The Superstition Mountains

Lace up your hiking boots and hit the Apache Trail to take in breathtaking views of volcanic cliffs rising 2,000 feet from the desert.  Enter the spectacular Tonto National Forest and follow the footsteps that Native Americans and hopeful prospectors took over 100 years ago. Visit the Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum to see the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountains and surrounding region.

Explore Agritopia

This innovative urban farming community has been getting a lot of attention lately. Recently profiled in New York Times, Agritopia has become a symbol of the growing farm-to-table movement spreading across America. The innovative urban village  has a working farm as the central focus of the close-knit, welcoming neighborhood. The Agritopia community is made up of 160 acres, including five acres dedicated to organic farmland. A patchwork of specialty crops, including lettuce, artichokes, peaches, dates, are grown here depending on the season. Same-day harvest is sold at the nearby Farm Stand, an honor-system farmers market, as well as being served at Joe’s Farm Grill, the renowned farm-side restaurant. Curious visitors to Agritopia can stroll the farm’s pathways to view the crops and see firsthand how fertile Arizona’s desert landscape truly is.

Visit The Queen Creek Olive Mill

Can olives grow in the middle of the Sonoran desert? You bet. And, they’re actually pretty tasty. Visit Arizona’s first working olive farm and mill to sample fine olive oils infused with just about any tasty ingredient you can dream of – chocolate, basil, chili and lemon (the list goes on). Try tasty balsamic glazes in various flavors like strawberry and fig and bring home some treats to share with family and friends. Enjoy a full-length tour of the mill and tasting before indulging in house-made gourmet sandwiches and moist cupcakes made with olive oil. Take your lunch outside and enjoy the warm Arizona climate in the mill’s lush olive grove.

Go StandUp Paddleboarding 

Standup paddleboarding in the desert? Yes, you read that correctly. On Saguaro Lake you can paddle your heart out while surrounded by spectacular desert scenery. Located in Tonto National Forest, the lake is ideal for standup paddleboarding as its waters are calm and the sun shines all year round. No Snow SUP, Mesa’s premier standup paddleboarding shop, rents paddleboards at great rates and offers lessons that include transportation from the SUP shop to Lake Saguaro.

Stroll Through Desert Botanical Gardens

The world’s finest collection of arid-land plants from deserts around the world. On five outdoor trails, you’ll learn about desert living, the plants and people of the Sonoran Desert, and stunning local and international desert wildflowers.  Established at this site in 1939, the garden now has more than 21,000 plants, including 139 species which are rare, threatened or endangered. Time your visit to catch an outdoor concert performance – after dark the gardens are lit beautifully.

Photos courtesy of Visit Mesa and Desert Botanical Gardens

January

Following Carmel, we visited Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley. I’m grateful for the opportunity to explore this beautiful vineyard – experiencing my first barrel tasting, meeting new friends, and sharing stories over food and wine.

February

April

May 

June

August

September

December

The host led us upstairs past the crowds by the bar, and the noise quieted down as we walked up to the second floor.  I lay down the pink rose and my purse, and we seated ourselves. To my right, was a piece of art work – a piano soundboard with strings hung on the wall. To our left were other tables on the loft.

J and I had planned for dinner at 6pm, but he surprised me with a pink rose and a box of chocolate outside of my office. It was time for our date night. We walked to Per Diem which was only a few blocks away.

Here are some memorable dishes from the evening.

Pork belly. The pork fell apart as I cut it with my fork. It was accompanied by chard, quinoa, and grapes.

Bone marrow with escargot. The acidity from the capers and tomatoes gave a refreshing balance to the savoriness of  the bone marrow. As I chewed on the escargot, I thought of the meal I had with my mom on the Seine back in Paris.

Lamb Sugo. I absolutely loved the lamb. The meat was so tender. The sauce had intense flavors. It was fragrant and savory, perfectly balanced with the polenta and vegetables.

Beignets. These beignets were light and fluffy, and not too sweet. I went for seconds.

It was a delightful meal and a quaint atmosphere for a date night.  I asked Chef Matthew Bousquet if he sous-vide’d the lamb, and learned about his experiments between sous-vide style and traditional braising. (Guess which approach he prefers?) Bousquet talked about the intensity of flavors in the sauce with a passion, and I knew we were in good hands.

Will be back gladly.

Per Diem
43 Sutter St
San Francisco, CA 94104

Disclosure: Per Diem has graciously hosted us, but I’m not compensated in any way, and all opinions are mine. 

Amid pristine forests, Canadian Shield rock terrain, rustic wood lodges and sparkling waterfalls, Nordik Spa Nature offers a unique opportunity to purify one’s body and spirit. Located just outside Canada’s capital city Ottawa, the luxurious spa features 7 regenerating outdoor baths, 8 steam and dry saunas, a gorgeous infinity pool, a tasty restaurant and lounge, as well as outdoor hammocks, hanging beds and fireside relaxation areas. With a whopping 41,500 square feet of interior space and 80,000 square feet of outdoor space, Nordik is the largest spa in North America, a true gem in the Gatineau region of Quebec.

Nordik’s spa experiences are inspired by ancient thermotherapy techniques that alternate between hot and cold. Spa guests are encouraged to follow a heat therapy circuit technique that goes something like this: warm up in a sauna or steam bath for 10 to 15 minutes, pass under a cold Nordic waterfall or take a dip in the cold or temperate pool for a few seconds, rest fifteen minutes, then repeat the cycle three or four times before immersing in a warm whirlpool. In addition to promoting relaxation, this heat therapy technique is purported to help eliminate toxins, relax muscles, improve sleep quality, boost the immune system and increase body oxygenation. 

Nordik’s beautiful baths, saunas and relaxation areas are enough to occupy visitors for the better part of a day, and a range of body treatments and indoor and outdoor massages are also available. But that’s not all. Nordik features a number of offbeat and delightful experiences that may be unlike anything you’ve seen before. Here are five must-try experiences at Nordik Spa Nature.

Float weightlessly in North America’s only Kalla pool 

There are only two saltwater floating pools in the world, and one of them is at Nordik Spa Nature (the other is in Switzerland). Nordik’s knee-deep, 95°F underground pool is meant to reproduce the regenerating effects of Dead Sea. In water saturated with 12% Epsom salt, the entire body floats weightlessly. 30-60 minutes of floating in the Kalla pool is supposed to help purify the body, improve circulation and release physical and intellectual tensions. Before entering the pool be sure to cover any small cuts or tears with petroleum jelly, and avoid rubbing your eyes while you’re in the pool. It’s so salty that it can sting.

Try a weird & wonderful “Aufguss” ritual

Every hour or two at Nordik, an Asian-style gong announces the start of a new “Aufguss” infusion ritual.  In a large Finnish style sauna, water infused with essential oils like lemongrass and lavender is steamed over heated stones. Guests sit upright on one of three wooden bench levels while hot, humid air is waved around the room by an official “Sauna Meister” using a towel. Participants sweat for 10 to 15 minutes while instrumental pop music is piped in through the sauna speakers, and the Sauna Meister speaks to the group. The Aufguss ritual, which originated in Germany, can be surprisingly lively. This is truly a new take on the traditional sauna experience, and a definite must-try.

Party in your swimsuit on DJ lounge nights

Relaxation never looked better than on Thursday nights at Nordik, when beautiful guests indulge in the elegantly lit pools and saunas after dark.  A cocktail bar and DJ booth is set up beside the infinity pool, and groovy lounge beats are pumped throughout the spa. Festive Asian lanterns are hung throughout the grounds, and guests can wander around the grounds in their swimsuits and robes with drinks in hand until the spa closes at midnight.

Slip into a scenic infinity pool

Nothing makes a spa seem more luxurious than a gorgeous infinity pool. Nordik’s oval shaped infinity pool measures 52 x 25 feet. The heated pool is surrounded by trees, wildflower gardens and lounge areas, with an expansive view of the bucolic Ottawa Valley.

Lay on a hot stone bed

In a cabin-like room reminiscent of a high-end dorm hostel, half a dozen stone beds made of quartz radiate warmth at 100°F. These heated slabs are part of an Asian heat therapy tradition called “Ganban’yoku” in Japan, or “stone bed bath,” meant to provide the same thermal benefits as saunas. Known as “Tellura” at Nordik,  the unique experience is recommended for 20-30 minutes, putting guests in contact with the earth in its most ancient form. Pillows are provided to keep the whole body comfortable. 

 Ah, bliss.

Photography is not permitted on site. All photos courtesy Nordik Spa Nature.

Recently, my husband and I had a chance to go to Los Angeles and meet up with two dear friends visiting from Florence, Italy. We had to be back the following evening, so I examined our itinerary carefully – prioritizing the destinations and eateries and strategizing the commute in between for the brief time we had.

Yes, 48 hours is short, but when planned ahead, you can still see a lot and experience the cultural diversity in the City of Angels.

Our flight arrived mid-morning on a Friday. Upon picking up our rental car, we headed to The Getty. Both of us had gone to the museum separately and talked about visiting together again, so it was a no-brainer. The tram took us from the parking structure to the center, and it was like entering a whole other world, so light and airy with the sunshine reflected off the beautiful architecture. I took a sip of John’s ice latte from the coffee stand and smiled. We were ready to enter the exhibitions.

As we strolled from one gallery to another consisting of Renaissance art, I had flashbacks of “The Badia Polyptych” by Giotto di Bondone. I had spent days tracing patterns of its tempera paint and gold leaves on the high-res digital scan and analyzing the pigmentation through the Terahertz equipment one summer in Tokyo. As a lover of impressionism, I spent more time looking at this piece of Renaissance art than I thought I ever would. Who was Giotto? I really didn’t have much connection to him besides my time staring at the paint and gold on the screen. The following fall, Marcello, my Florentine friend, geology scientist from the national art conservation research institute in Italy, took me past the lines outside of Uffizi Gallery into a private tour. Before I realized, we were in front of The Badia Polyptych. A new appreciation was born.

We made our way to the garden. John instructed me to walk down the maze-like paths and stand next to a lamp post with the garden behind me. I closed my eyes, “Tell me when you are ready to take the photo, and then I’ll look!” The sunshine was so bright that day.

Despite running the risk of hitting traffic, we drove over to Blockheads for a shaved snow ice cream before heading east. The black sesame shaved snow ice cream, topped with mochi, crumbled Oreos, and coconut milk, was heavenly and refreshing especially on a warm day. There was no regret. I scooped the fluffy shaved snow ice cream in the sauna-like car, one spoonful for John, and another for me, and we headed east.

Have you guessed yet? We were heading over to Arcadia, where we planned to meet Andrew at Din Tai Fung for dinner. Growing up in Taipei, with the original Din Tai Fung just around the corner to my middle school, I had seen the line around the block outside of the dumpling shop. Many times after school, I wondered what the crowds were there for. Now, I was excited to introduce the pork dumplings (xiao long bao) and beef noodle soup to my food-loving husband. We stuffed ourselves at Din Tai Fung with various types of dumplings and beef noodle soup.

And we didn’t forget dessert! We picked up milk with boba from Half & Half and went back to Andrew’s home, where we had the privilege of viewing Andrew’s final edition of a documentary film that had been developing for 3 years.

The next morning, Andrew took us to De Cafe Baristas for coffee. I ordered my first cortado, inspired by many beautiful #mydailycortado shots on Instagram. Mine had a full body, sophisticated balance of milk and coffee, and perfect look. It was a love at first sip. We chatted at our window-seats and shared a coffee cake and cronut. The cronut was a first.

We spent the rest of the afternoon with Sirpa and Marcello, our Florentine friends, over Californian summer fruits and Italian biscuits in the West Covina home backyard. The backyard was the same as I remembered from four years prior. Here we were, the five of us, with new stories and adventures to share with one another. Time flew by. We hugged and said, Tanti baci, see you again soon somewhere in the world. It was true, from times in Tokyo, Pisa, Florence, Arrezzo, and West Covina, the world did not put a distance in our friendship.

John and I picked up freshly baked breads from 85C Bakery. We returned our car and boarded the plane while munching through the marble taro bread at LAX. The wind at dusk welcomed us home as we stepped out of the airplane at SFO. I thought, it was a lovely day in the San Gabriel Valley.

The Getty
1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Blockheads Shavery Co.
11311 Mississippi Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Din Tai Fung
1108 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, CA 91007

Half & Half Tea House
141 N Atlantic Blvd Ste 112, Monterey Park, CA 91754

De Cafe Baristas
500 N Atlantic Blvd Ste 121, Monterey Park, CA 91754

85C Bakery Cafe
2626 E Garvey Ave S West Covina, CA 91791

One of those tourist “traps,” Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour gets you underground into the passages and tunnels of old 19th century Seattle. The tour comes with some amazing historical insights and some interesting scents (you’re underground and its “rainy” Seattle – musty anyone?). It’s discounted if you have a student ID and tours are very frequent (every hour) so just head on down to Pioneer Square to hop on the tour. My favorite joke of the tour was, “This map is in Seattle’s favorite colors: grey and light grey.” Absolutely the perfect tour for history buffs, the underground tour is a sure delight. I did want to take a nice hot shower immediately afterwards though.

There is also a darker version of the tour for the 21+ crowd which covers the red-light district.

Here are some sneak peak underground photos:

Directional arrows to tell you where you are.

An old door to what was a bank

Look up! There are people on top of you.

Tea and boba (or bubble/pearl, as some would say) are unlikely “tourist attractions” and certainly not what visitors come to the Big Apple for. For a Southern California, San-Gabriel-Valley-spoiled tea snob like myself, however, anchoring that go-to tea and boba shop as a new resident of New York was my first order of business. Why, you ask?

Because the one shop in which I intend on becoming a regular customer will help me find a piece of home, away from home.

Nothing reminds me of home more than a cup of freshly brewed tea. I enjoy the taste of high-quality tea and its positive health effects, but I also hold many fond memories associated with this particular beverage. Tea was a shared, nightly consumption with my father when I lived at home. To date, we still continue the tradition when I visit. Tea and its various creative forms (ie: milk tea) have carried me through my nocturnal undergraduate days. They have done wonders to satisfy cravings, been my faithful international travel companion, and served as a medium that sparked and deepened many friendships I have come to cherish. A good heart-to-heart was often over a cup of tea.

Needless to say, when I had my first Shiny Tea, I knew it was the one for me in New York. Shiny Tea brews their tea with a generous amount of loose tea leaves, cooks their boba to a chewy perfection, adjusts sugar, milk, and ice levels according to your preference, and offers discounts to those who have a student ID to show. They also have weekly deals that feature a drink on or off the menu with a free size upgrade! With a high average cost-of-living in NYC, your wallet will be grateful for Shiny Tea’s extremely reasonable prices.

Just in case you missed my obvious enthusiasm for this place, my avid tea and boba lover self will make it a point to state that Shiny Tea’s drinks are compatible in quality and in cost to that of California’s, and may be even in the game with that of Taiwan’s.

Several of my favorite menu items include Oolong milk tea, honey Tie Guan Yin, and the seasonal Jiang Mu (ginger) tea/milk tea. The first two are tasty both hot and cold, with or without boba. The seasonal ginger drink (with ginger scraps inside, might I add) is, of course, intended to warm your insides during the miserable NYC winters. If you prefer stronger tea flavors over the cream and sweets in a standard milk tea order, I recommend going for half sugar, less milk, and no/less ice.

So there you have it, one of New York’s finest, cheapest, and under recognized boba tea shops! If, for whatever reason, you stop by the city and find yourself craving some high-quality, strong Asian tea and boba, consider making the trek to downtown Flushing for a cup of amazingness! It surely will not disappoint.

For me, Shiny Tea went well-beyond the satisfaction of taste buds. It reminded me of the people and familiarity I missed during a difficult transition from CA to NY, but simultaneously allowed for additions to my evolving concept of “home”.

Shiny Tea
136-19 38th Ave
Flushing, NY 11354

Grimm’s: No cover. Downstairs is a sitting and bar area. Upstairs is the Butterfly Lounge with a bar and dance floor. Depending on the hour of the night, the dance floor is open and/or has cover. Typically crowded on Saturday nights and has a line outside. Line is reasonable and you’ll probably get in within 10-15 mins. Chill place.

Barca: No cover. Two floors, downstairs has a bar and upstairs has a bar. Tends to be very crowded downstairs and you’ll either stand or try to find a table upstairs. Reasonably priced drinks.

Paquitos: No cover. It’s actually a nice Mexican restaurant with a huge bar and fireplace. I like to hang around the fireplace.

Capitol Cider: No cover. The upstairs is a more restaurant/bar area and downstairs is the bar with a game room. All different types of cider and all different types of games (i.e. board games, shuffleboard).

Garage Billiards: No cover. Sign up for a billiards table and bring on the beer. Bowling alley lanes and billiards are all available for nightlife.

Neighbours Nightclub: A gay club and pretty much the only thing open past 2am. You still need to get your dance on even though it’s past 2am? The default catch phrase you’ll hear around town is, “Neighbours? Yeah Neighbours.” There is a cover though. I hear “Let’s go to Neighbours” all the time.

Linda’s Tavern: No cover. Just your regular old bar with drinks and seating. Hang out with your close buddies here to catch up and chat. Dark and super chill. Relax and just do it.

Party hard in Cap Hill my friends. It’s a good place to be.

Vancouver is known to have some of the best sashimi in the world, and Miku Restaurant located on Vancouver’s waterfront, is living proof.

The word ‘aburi’ (炙り) originates from the verb ‘aburu’ which means to scorch. The idea behind aburi sushi is that a light sear direct from the flame, adds flavour to the taste of the fish. Though this isn’t a new concept for sushi, the sauces and sides at Miku is what makes this restaurant’ aburi exceptionally tasty.

I decided to take my Mom to Miku for Mother’s Day Lunch. It was only fitting that I take the best Japanese chef I know, to one of the best Japanese restaurants in the city.

Miku is located in a highly tourist-dense corner of the city. Located by the beautiful waterfront, the Pan Pacific Hotel, and Vancouver’s new Convention Center it’s hard to imagine this as a place for a quiet lunch. However, Miku somehow manages to tuck and hide itself away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Before we get into the dishes, lets just take a moment to enjoy this view from the dining room…

Photo from Miku Restaurant Website

Next, the calamari.
O-EM-GEE. This is NOT your ordinary calamari. The squid is pillowy soft,  the batter is light and fluffy, and the tosazu sauce is nothing like the usual aioli or tarter.

Calamari

Next, we had the Miso baked Sable Fish and the Coal Harbour Roll. The perfect balance of creamy sable fish and crisp and refreshing sushi.

Miso Glazed Sable Fish

Coal Harbour Roll

Then of course, some aburi sushi. Here we have tuna, salmon and yellowtail.

Aburi Sushi

…and finally, dessert!  The Passion Fruit Praline Dome was truly a work of art. The sparkle and shine to this passion fruit dome was really THE prettiest dessert I have ever seen. My sad cellphone camera really does not do this bling any justice.

Passion Fruit Praline Dome

If you’re a sashimi and sushi fan, then Miku should and will be a stop on your next visit to Vancouver. The pure innovation, and presentation alone makes it worth the trip.

We had a lovely lunch here, and Mom (tough Japanese food critic) was thoroughly impressed, full and happy!

P.S…I’m still thinking about the calamari.