Considering Oahu was our first vacation destination with our six-month-old, we kept it super chill. Here are some easy activities to do with a baby in Oahu, not too far from Honolulu in the popular resort areas of Ko Olina and Waikiki.

#1: Wade in a kiddy pool or a hang out at a splash pad with your little one.
If you’re concerned about water safety or your baby bursting into tears as soon as he touches a giant body of water…hang out by a splash pad or gently wade in the shallow end of a kiddy pool! Bring floaties and inflatable toys if you think it’ll help entertain the kid and ease your nerves. Before booking a place to stay, call to see if there is a family-friendly “zero entry pool” where the ground gradually eases into the water. Most resorts will have multiple pools designed for different types of use. If you choose to stay somewhere without easy pool access, here’s a great list of fun spots to get wet at.

#2: Watch a free show if a luau is past bedtime.
We stayed at the Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club, which is where the Fia Fia Polynesian Luau is held on Tuesday nights, but we ended up not booking the show given our son was still too young to enjoy it and would be asleep the whole time. We were still able to enjoy the free festivities happening on the lawn while the sun was still up—and duck out when needed. If you’re staying on a resort, ask for a schedule of events to see which ones would be fitting for your family. Malls such as the International Market Place are also great places to catch free shows, just check the schedule in advance.

#3: Take a dip in the ocean near calmer shores and catch a glimpse of the sunset before bedtime! 
With shallow shores and wide beaches, the lagoons in Ko Olina are a great option for this. Ko Olina Beach Park has a publicly accessible lagoon if you’re not staying on one of the resorts. If you are, there is a walking path that connects most of the beachfront if you’d like to go for a stroller walk during nap time.

Ko Olina Beach Park
92-100 Waipahe Pl, Kapolei, HI 96707
Open daily, 6am-10pm

#4: Ride along a historical railroad from Ewa to Kahe Point with the Hawaiian Railway Society.
If you’re looking for an easy activity to do on the weekend, go for a 90-minute leisurely train ride on a historic rail and enjoy the breeze! You’ll learn a little bit of narrated history while the baby gets to nap or look at the moving landscape. Towards the end of the line, you’ll see ocean views at Kahe Point. Opt for the 3pm train ride if you’d like to stop in Ko Olina for ice-cream. 

Hawaiian Railway
91-1001 Renton Rd, Ewa Beach, HI 96706
Rides are Sat: 3pm, and Sun: 1pm & 3pm
Ticket sales start 2hrs before the ride and are on a first-come, first-served basis.
http://www.hawaiianrailway.com/

#5: Go for a stroller walk at the International Market Place, an open air mall with ample shade from a giant banyan tree. 
The International Market Place sits on historic ground, as it was once part of a royal residence and then the start of Waikiki Village in the ’50s. The Market Place has since been completely renovated from the ground up and turned into an upscale mall, but the original banyan tree still sits towering in the center.

If shopping isn’t your thing, continue along Kalakaua Avenue to point out interesting architecture to your little one, such as the Waikiki Galleria Tower—a fusion of Polynesia and post-modernism with a beautiful, “tropical” lattice structured shell. The historic Moana Hotel with ionic columns and archways is another architectural gem to see.

International Market Place
2330 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Open daily, 10am-10pm
https://shopinternationalmarketplace.com/events

#6: Visit the Waikiki Aquarium and spot a giant clam!
The aquarium is located just south of the Waikiki beachfront and park areas, about a mile away from the main shopping area, if you’d like to go for a nice stroll away from the crowds. The aquarium has indoor and outdoor exhibits featuring marine life you’d typically spot snorkeling along Hawaiian reefs but also some unique creatures, such as the ancient nautilus, beautiful seahorses, and a giant clam that could one day reach 500 pounds! Our son really enjoyed looking at the leopard shark swimming up close to the tank.

Waikiki Aquarium
2777 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Open daily, 9am-4:30pm
https://www.waikikiaquarium.org/

#7: Spot savanna animals, various primates, and even native Hawaiian wildlife at the Honolulu Zoo!
Since we only spent one day in Waikiki, we didn’t visit the zoo after the aquarium, but I thought it was worth mentioning given that it’s next door to the aquarium. If the weather is mild and you’re not concerned about spending too much time outdoors, the zoo would be a great place to point out various animals including native birds like the nēnē (Hawaiian goose) and the koloa (Hawaiian duck). 

Honolulu Zoo
151 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Open daily, 9am-4:30pm
https://honoluluzoo.org/

All in all, our first vacation as a family of three was super laid back, and our baby still got to touch the ocean, see some sea life, ride a train, and watch some flame throwing before bedtime! 

What were some other activities you’ve done in Hawaii with a baby? Let me know in the comments! 

Instead, this guide is for the Instagrammer seeking a treat within a beautiful backdrop; the family looking for kid-friendly options and no judgement; and the foodie in search of a muffaletta sandwich or beignet better than Cafe Du Monde’s.

Instagram-worthy spots with good food and great interiors

#1: Couvant (at the Eliza Jane)
The Eliza Jane is a hotel renovated from seven historic warehouses (knocked through to create enough space), boasting original brick and metalwork throughout. The beautiful lobby is worth walking through, before ending up at Couvant, the hotel’s French brasserie housed within the original Peychaud’s Bitters factory. The menu is updated daily based on what’s in season and found at local farmers’ markets.

Couvant at the Eliza Jane Hotel
315 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
$$$ | Website | Yelp

#2: Justine
Looking for a seat at a bar with antique-brass finishes or in a light-filled cafe area with Monstera leaves peeking out behind you? How about an artsy tiled wall or a hot-pink neon sign to pose next to? Justine is furbished with a more modern and updated aesthetic while situated in the heart of the historic French Quarter. The menu offers quintessential French classics with hors d’oeuvres like onion soup and escargot, and entrees from croque monsieur to steak and moules frites, to bouillabaisse.

Justine
225 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130
$$$ | Website | Yelp

#3: Auction House Market
Located in the hip Warehouse Arts District, the Auction House Market is fittingly both warehousey and artsy. This indoor food hall serves up everything from Filipino lumpias to Indian dosas, to dimsum and empanadas stuffed with gumbo…and more. The interior aesthetic is industrial-modern, softened with some cushioned seating and a generous sprinkling of green foliage.

Auction House Market
801 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
$$ | Website | Yelp

Kid-friendly restaurants near top attractions

#4: Palace Cafe
Located along Canal Street at the foot of the French Quarter, the Palace Cafe is a great dinner option after a full day of fun at the aquarium and the insectarium. The spiral staircase in the center of the restaurant may make this place seem too formal for young kids, but the atmosphere is surprisingly casual with a very accommodating waitstaff. The kid’s menu offers classics like chicken tenders, angel hair pasta, and grilled cheese—and they can even make adjustments for dietary restrictions. (Our son has a dairy-protein allergy and the breading in the chicken contained dairy, so our waiter suggested grilled shrimp with fries instead—which was a hit.) As for adults, this award-winning Creole restaurant is best known for their signature crabmeat cheesecake. As for entrees, I recommend tasting the shrimp tchefuncte and the catfish pecan. Make sure to make reservations in advance as this place gets booked up.

Palace Cafe
605 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
$$ | Website | Yelp

#5: MOPHO
Located next to City Park (on the south end where the NOMA and the Children’s Museum are), MOPHO is a family-friendly Vietnamese-fusion restaurant with a local twist. You can build your own pho bowl with premium toppings like duck confit or order a vermicelli bowl with proteins like Louisiana jumbo shrimp. There are also “Po-Mi” sandwiches (think po’boy + a banh mi) with options like hot sausage or fried shrimp. The kid’s menu offers smaller portions of simpler flavors, like a chicken noodle pho or a meatball rice bowl. The food was so good, I forgot to take photos—but I did manage to snap one of the dessert: a lemongrass ice-cream sandwich with gingersnap cookies. Incredible.

MOPHO
514 City Park Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
$$ | Website | Yelp

#6: Reginelli’s Pizzeria
Located near Audubon Park and the zoo, this pizzeria is a decent option for picky eaters given that there aren’t many restaurants in the residential neighborhood to begin with. In addition to specialty pizzas, the menu also offers sandwiches, baked pastas, salads, and a wide range of appetizers. One of the more interesting offerings was the “Reginelli gumbo” pizza topped with andouille sausage, shrimp, and pickled okra.

Reginelli’s Pizzeria
5961 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
$$ | Website | Yelp

Vacation-mode noms worth the calories

#7: Cochon Butcher
Cochon has a full staff of butchers who make all of their cured meats, sausages, and fresh cuts—claiming to butcher, craft, smoke, and cure over 2000 pounds of meat each week. All of their bread, pickles, jams, sauces are also house-made while the rest of the ingredients are sourced directly from local farmers. The sandwich menu offers a wide range of options from pastrami to cubano to cheese steaks, but given that New Orleans is the birthplace of the muffaletta, that is Cochon’s most popular sandwich of all.

Cochon Butcher
930 Tchoupitoulas St b, New Orleans, LA 70130
$$ | Website | Yelp

#8: District
District’s donuts are made from scratch with all natural ingredients (down to their sprinkles) with a rotating set of options every week. The biscuits and buns for their breakfast sandwiches and sliders are also baked fresh daily while the other ingredients are sourced from local farmer’s markets and vendors. If you love donuts and breakfast sandwiches, it’s worth trying the croque madame here.

District Donuts Sliders Brew
2209 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
$ | Website | Yelp

Coffee & beignets better than Cafe Du Monde’s

#9: The Vintage
Transport back in time at The Vintage and enjoy some coffee, wine, or cocktails with various bites and beignets. The fancy cream-filled beignets are worth trying and a lot crispier than Cafe Du Monde’s. There is no table service, so please order at the bar or counter.

The Vintage
3121 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
$$ | Website | Yelp

#10: French Truck Coffee
If you’re looking for craft coffee with a broad range of options from espresso drinks to pour overs and cold brews, French Truck Coffee is the place to go in NOLA. The New Orleans iced coffee is a popular option, which is a dark cold brew served with chicory and milk.

French Truck Coffee
217 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130
$ | Website | Yelp

#11: Stumptown
Coffee connoisseurs know that Stumptown isn’t unique to NOLA, but this one is attached to the Ace Hotel, meaning the interior is drop-dead gorgeous and definitely worth a visit. (The coffee is of course, really good, too.)

Stumptown Coffee Roasters
610 Carondelet St, New Orleans, LA 70130
$$ | Website | Yelp

Honorable mention…
If you really must try Cafe Du Monde’s conveyer belt beignets and machine drip coffee, instead of waiting three hours in line outdoors at the French Market location, I suggest visiting the City Park location housed in the renovated, historic Casino Building. Afterwards, you have the option of walking off the calories in the 1300-acre park!

Cafe Du Monde City Park
56 Dreyfous Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
$ | Website | Yelp

Got unique finds or memorable eats not mentioned above? Let me know in the comments! Looking for things to do in NOLA with your kids? Check out my post on 14 kid-friendly activities including museums, parks, and local flavor!

Kid-friendly attractions

#1: Touch stingrays at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
Located at the end of Canal Street along the riverfront, the aquarium is walking distance from many hotels near the French Quarter. If the weather isn’t too hot, one good option is to stroll along Woldenberg Park next to the Mississippi River and then visit the Aquarium when your family is ready for some air-conditioning. Inside the museum, our family’s highlights were looking up at stingrays through the tunnel in the “Great Maya Reef” corridor, learning about the sharks and sea turtles in the giant “Gulf of Mexico” exhibit, and walking through the open “Mississippi River” gallery where we spotted an owl and an alligator! Ticket price includes entry into the Entergy Giant Screen Theater. 

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Tues-Sun: 10am-5pm
https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/aquarium

#2: Walk through the butterfly garden at the Audubon Insectarium
Located just two blocks up Canal Street from the aquarium, the insectarium is housed in the historic U.S. Custom House, so expect a full security scan to enter this federal building. Inside, watch leafcutter ants at work, taste some chef-prepared waxworms (if you can stomach it), and walk through the Japanese-style butterfly garden.

Audubon Insectarium
423 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Tues-Sun: 10am-4:30pm
https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/insectarium

#3: Encounter exotic animals at the Audubon Zoo
Located six miles away from the aquarium and insectarium, the zoo is situated at Audubon Park in historic Uptown, a residential neighborhood. What is unique to this zoo is that there a Louisiana Swamp Exhibit featuring Cajun culture and animals like alligators, black bears, red foxes, blue crabs and more. You’ll also find Asian elephants, Malayan tigers, and the Indonesian babirusa in the Asian exhibit, while you’ll spot lions, giraffes, and zebras in the African Savanna.

Audubon Zoo
6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Tues-Fri: 10am-4pm
Sat-Sun: 10am-5pm
https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/zoo

If you plan on visiting all of the above, I recommend buying the bundled Audubon Experience (which includes all three and saves you up to $30 per person).

#4: Take selfies with a 280-year-old oak tree dubbed the “Tree of Life” at Audubon Park
Walking distance outside the zoo is a famous live oak tree that’s as old as the city itself. It’s covered in magnificent Spanish moss with massive, low-hanging branches perfect for climbing. There are a few benches nearby to take a break on and contemplate what it must be like to live almost 300 years in the same spot. There is also a sign that talks about the tree’s lightning protection, the harmful effects of vandalism, and the benefits of mulch, which you can read and share with your kids. 

Tree of Life (Audubon Park)
East Dr, New Orleans, LA 70118

#5: Ride the historic streetcar to City Park
If the 350-acre Audubon Park wasn’t enough greenery for you and your family, there’s also City Park—at a whopping 1300-acres (50% larger than New York City’s Central Park). Assuming you’re staying in or near the French Quarter, hop on the historic red Canal Streetcar at the foot of Canal Street and ride it all the way up to City Park, five miles north. The streetcar still sports vintage wooden benches, and it was a lot of fun watching the train conductor manually swap the seats around when headed back down in the other direction. 

$1.25 one-way
http://www.norta.com/Getting-Around/Our-Streetcars

#6: Follow your food from farm-to-table at the Louisiana Children’s Museum
Once at City Park, the family-friendly options are endless, but the icing on the cake for our family was visiting the Louisiana Children’s Museum. The City Park location only opened late-summer 2019, and the architectural details and interactive exhibits were spectacular. Our son absolutely loved splashing with tactile toys in the mini Mississippi, tumbling around the expansive jungle gym (complete with a sensory lagoon), and standing inside a giant bubble. The most impressive and comprehensive exhibit was the farm-to-table display on the first floor that featured everything from a garden to a grocery store (with miniature checkout registers), to play food trucks, kitchens, and so much more. Of all the suggestions on this list, this one would be the “Must Visit”. Make sure to book ahead in case tickets are sold out!

Louisiana Children’s Museum
15 Henry Thomas Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
Tues-Sat: 9:30am-4:30pm
Sun: 11:30am-4:30pm
https://www.lcm.org/

#7: Roam free in the New Orleans Botanical Garden 
With clearly-defined paths, meticulously-pruned gardens, and grassy lawns in-between, the Botanical Garden was a safe space for our toddler to roam around freely. Some features that stood out include the “magic jumping fountain” near the entrance, a round reflecting pond filled with blooming lilies, and a miniature hay maze for seasonal flair when we visited in October. 

New Orleans Botanical Garden
5 Victory Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
Mon-Sun: 10am-5pm (last entry is at 4pm)
https://neworleanscitypark.com/botanical-garden

#8: Meet classic fairytale characters at Storyland and ride the historic carousel at the adjacent Carousel Gardens Amusement Park
While we did not purchase admissions to Storyland given that our son is only a toddler, we did see a lot of eager families visit Storyland before or after visiting the Botanical Gardens. (The parks are adjacent to each other with a shared ticketing entrance.) Paid admission to Storyland also includes admission to the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park next door.

Storyland
5 Victory Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124
Mon-Sun: 10am-5pm (last entry is at 4:30pm)
https://neworleanscitypark.com/in-the-park/storyland

Nap-friendly strolls

If you have a young child who needs to take naps during the day, here are some quieter stroller-friendly places to visit. 

#9: Snake through the Sculpture Garden and admire over 90 works of art situated in a picturesque landscape
If your child prefers to nap underneath the warm sun to the sounds of nature, the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden in City Park is a great option on a clear day. It’s also FREE and open to the public seven days a week! Atypical of most sculpture gardens, this 11-acre garden is located within an existing mature landscape of pine trees and oak trees surrounding two lagoons (complete with pedestrian bridges), so there is variation in shade and vantage points. 

Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden (NOMA Sculpture Garden)
1 Collins Diboll Cir, New Orleans, LA 70124
Mon-Sun: 10am–5pm (open until 6pm in the summer)
https://noma.org/sculpture-garden/background/

#10: Browse a varied collection of artwork at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)
With a permanent collection of 40,000 art objects ranging from French and American to African and Japanese art in various media, the NOMA is sure to have something to inspire, provoke, or delight you. The NOMA is honestly also a great place to get some air-conditioning after many hours outside in City Park. 

New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)
1 Collins Diboll Cir, New Orleans, LA 70124
Tues–Fri: 10am-6pm
Sat: 10am-5pm
Sun: 11am-5pm
https://noma.org/

#11: Appreciate Southern-American art at the Ogden Museum of Art
Located in the vibrant Warehouse Arts District just down the street from the WWII museum, the Ogden houses a unique collection of Southern art that helps you A) visualize and imagine what life was like in the Southern past, and B) appreciate and understand contemporary artists from the region. 

Ogden Museum of Southern Art
925 Camp St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Mon-Sun: 10am-5pm (with after-hours on Thurs until 8pm)
https://ogdenmuseum.org/

#12: Stroll along the Mississippi riverfront and end up shopping (or cooling down with AC) at the Riverwalk outlets
The mile-long pedestrian path along the waterfront (adjacent to the French Quarter) is a great place to watch the ferries, catch a mild breeze, and take a break from the crowded sidewalks just a few blocks inland. Start at the northern end at Moonwalk Riverfront Park and make your way south to Waldenberg Park and then to the Spanish Plaza (which was under maintenance when we visited in October 2019). At the southern end of the pedestrian strip is the Riverwalk, an indoor outlet mall where you can grab some Cafe Du Monde beignets without having to wait in too long of a line (compared to the popular French Market location). 

The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk
500 Port of New Orleans Pl, New Orleans, LA 70130
Mon-Sat: 10am-9pm
Sun: 10am-7pm

#13: Escape the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter for a brief respite at Jackson Square
The French Quarter is a must visit for New Orleans, but it can also be difficult to navigate with children. The sidewalks are narrow and bumpy for a stroller, and it can get quite rowdy as evening approaches. If you’re looking for a quieter spot to let your kid nap after lunch, Jackson Square is a great little fenced off plaza in the heart of the French Quarter, just across the street from the French Market. The walking path is a perfect circle if you’d like to do a few loops, or take a break on one of the benches. Right outside the square, artists display their paintings for sale while street performers delight crowds gathered around.

Jackson Square
701 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Mon-Sun: 8am-7pm

Honorable mention

#14: Take a sobering history lesson at the National WWII Museum
I hesitated to mention this one because the war material and raw footage really isn’t kid-friendly, but given that this is the #1 attraction in New Orleans and the #3 museum in all of the US, I felt it at least warranted an honorable mention. We also spent a good five hours here with our toddler napping and chilling in his stroller (without really paying much attention to what was going on around him)—the longest we’ve spent in any one destination in NOLA. If your kids are old enough for the material, this is a great educational museum to spend a good amount of time in during the day. If you’re concerned about the main exhibits being too explicit for children, there are also some minor exhibits focused on the submarines, tanks, and planes. 

The National WWII Museum
945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Mon-Sun: 9pm-5pm
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/

Got any more kid-friendly activities to do in NOLA that we didn’t get to check out? Let me know in the comments!

The contrasting difference between colorful, idyllic Santorini and the haggard, sobering appearance of Athens was a bit jarring, so two days was just the right amount of time for us to explore the ancient ruins and wander about Plaka, the more interesting part of town. It was also a great way to end our mini tour of Europe and “recalibrate” ourselves to yearn for the states, again.

As for our first airbnb experience — it wasn’t too bad! I was a bit concerned on the way to the rental, since we passed by what clearly was the redlight district, but then the neighborhood cleaned up dramatically as we got closer to the tourist spots. Prices are also a lot more reasonable in Athens, food is decent, and navigation and communication are both easy. (They even have an Uber-like app for taxis, which came in handy for our early morning flight out!)

Our first stop: The Acropolis Museum.

Afterward, we walked to the actual acropolis, right before sunset to avoid the scorching sun:

We then walked through the touristy part of Plaka, with alleyways lined with souvenir shops and a plethora of restaurants:

The next day, we walked around another part of Plaka and through the flea market:

From there, we continued to the ancient agora, where we were caught in a sudden torrential downpour:

We sought out shelter in the Stoa of Attalos (which now houses a mini museum) until the rain subsided:

Goodbye, Athens!

When the whole town’s built into a cliff, nearly every restaurant has a spectacular view of the caldera:

With just a carry-on each and nearly three weeks abroad, I collected photos instead of trinkets as my souvenirs; but when we stumbled upon this sandal maker and his store, I felt compelled to watch him work — and eventually — buy a pair. The style that I wanted had only one pair left in my size, but it had already suntanned to the rich cognac color that usually comes with handling and usage. I wanted a pale “virgin” pair in the beautiful neutral vachetta, so I could experience it change color over time. (This proved a bit difficult to explain at first, as he kept assuring me that the neutral tan would turn cognac within a week’s time, and that they were all the same, “I promise!”) In the end, he made a new pair for me (in 30 minutes, for 30 euros) <3 [gallery type="rectangular" ids="5376"] [gallery type="rectangular" ids="5377,5378,5379,5380,5381"] We walked around in circles until it was time to watch the sunset: [gallery type="rectangular" ids="5372"] [gallery type="rectangular" ids="5368,5371"] Nighttime snack: [gallery type="rectangular" ids="5373,5369"] Goodbye, Santorini. You were definitely my favorite <3

Fira
We arrived late at night and stayed at a more inland hotel (without ocean views but still in/near Fira), so as we were walking to town the next day, I was eagerly looking for the picturesque views Pinterest users have come to recognize. Needless to say, I was initially confused and disappointed to come across a seemingly plain-looking town…

…until we walked a bit further and more toward the cliffs:

Then on we trekked toward the next cliff town, Imerovigli:

Pretty soon, Imerovigli faded behind us, though the road was still paved:

…and then it wasn’t.

The clear lack of people in sight should’ve been a telling sign that it was too hot to keep going, but alas, TripAdvisor said it was the best thing to do and we only had two days! …so we picked up the speed and kept going.

Pro-tip: After you pass this church, the road gets narrower, steeper, and rockier:

There was a point somewhere near here where the path got really narrow, my foot slipped a little, and my acrophobic heart started panicking…thus a gap in photos. The fact that I was able to take these snapshots meant that the road had already flattened out and widened up, and I felt somewhat “safe”:

Civilization!…for the briefest moment before the longest stretch of…nothingness.

Shade!!! …or not, because we kept pushing forward for water.

Never in my life have I been so happy to spot civilization!

We passed by a few small towns (and chugged water like nobody’s business) before arriving at Oia, our final destination and the northern-most cliff town on the island:

Among the many feelings I experienced in the Vatican were 1. shock at how small and unassuming the Sistine Chapel really is, and 2. awe at how enormous and spacious it actually is inside St. Peter’s. #awestruck (And the former requires you to have all shoulders and knees covered, with absolutely no photography allowed; the latter does not.)

Funny thing: when we got on the metro from the train station, Ryan commented that there was a strangely familiar San Franciscan vibe, and when we got off, we ran straight into the gay pride parade, which we had to cross twice (with our luggages) to get to our hotel. Fun first impressions are always good, eh? Then, as soon as we dropped off our luggages and set off on foot for the famed piazzas, palazzos, and fontanas, I commented that the steep streets shaded by stone buildings showed a striking resemblance to San Francisco as well. Were we just imagining this?! Perhaps it was the Chinese restaurants, Indian businesses, and general diversity that just felt so welcoming after a few weeks in Europe — truth be told, a feeling I did not expect from Rome. Regardless, as soon as we exited a narrow alley that opened up into a giant plaza or stood in awe at the foot of an ancient ruin, we knew we were in Rome.

All within walking distance from one another is the Trevi fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and the Spanish Steps at Piazza di Spagna:

The Roman Colosseum, up close and personal:

Across from the colosseum is the Roman Forum, which I would almost not recommend walking through on a blazing hot 90 degree day:

On the other side of town, a short walk from the Vatican:

Just off the main path after you cross the bridge (from the castle) is a narrow road on the left, called Via dei Coronari. It is lined with cute shops, amazing restaurants, and pretty much the best gelato I’ve ever had:

If you walk to the end of the street, continue onto Via delle Coppelle, then walk to the end of that and make a left turn, you’ll run into Giolitti, the oldest ice-cream parlor in Rome:

I wish I had taken more photos of [non-ancient] Rome, too…

Buona sera!

You start to believe that the labyrinthine world was actually built as a tourist trap, until you look up, see all the laundry lines, and realize that people actually live here. In Venice. A world without cars, street lights, greenery, or even stores necessary for daily life (like Costco and Apple)… a world surrounded by water and separated from “real” civilization — and somehow once a major maritime power and wealthy renaissance city.

Welcome to…
Disneyland : The Happiest Place on Earth :: Venice : The Least ADA-accessible Place on Earth!

But when your opera houses and city halls look like palaces and roundabouts exhibit [former] imperial glory…you can’t help but be charming and dramatic at the same time, like the residents.

Best meal in Paris, at Pirouette:

I’m so proud of my phone for taking most of these!