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Where Paris is all bustle and grandeur (two qualities I adore about it), Bordeaux, located just two hours south by train, offers much of the same joie de vivre, but invites you to slow down.

Why Go to Bordeaux

You Love Paris

Like Paris, Bordeaux has stunning architecture, world-class restaurants, museums, markets, sweeping cathedrals, public gardens, and lively cafe tables spilling into the streets.

Unlike Paris, you can get most anywhere on foot.

Should you prefer not to walk, the tramline is simple with just a few lines (much less confusing than the useful-but-sprawling Paris metro).

Both cities have their own character and deserve to be viewed distinctly, but they share many qualities. If you like Paris, you’ll like Bordeaux.

You Love Food

Bordeaux bills itself as having the most restaurants per capita of any city in France, and while I can’t verify that statement, I can say that walking down the streets, it seems totally plausible. I could live there for years without scratching the surface.

You Love Wine

You probably know Bordeaux as a wine region first, and it makes some of the best in the world.

Several years ago, Ben and I did a two-day wine tour of the region, and we had a fantastic experience. See below for my recommended tour guide.

You Want to Practice French

People in Bordeaux are, overall, more friendly and patient than people in Paris, just the way you might expect the average person in Columbus, OH to be more friendly and patient than the average person in Manhattan.

This extends to helping you practice your language skills.

In Paris, I find that waiters immediately hear my accent and switch to English, while in Bordeaux, they were more willing to engage with me in French, even offering subtle corrections from time to time.

(To anyone who says the French are rude, I strongly disagree, but perhaps that is a post for another time.)

OK, now that we’ve laid the groundwork, let’s get to the yummy stuff!

Best Bordeaux Restaurants, Bakeries, and Wine Bars

I’ve included a recap of everywhere I ate and drank, PLUS a list of personal favorites from a long-time Bordeaux resident.

You will not find this list anywhere else online. It’s locally sourced!

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Something I love about ski trips is that skiing is actually just one part of the total package experience (unless you are talking to Ben). It also comes with great food, drinks, and some hard-earned relaxation.

Here are a few off-the-slope highlights!

Japanese Breakfast

Breakfast is a BIG deal when you ski. It’s your chance to fuel up for the day.

Some extreme skiers even prefer not to break for lunch, opting for beef jerky or a protein bar on the lift instead, so as not to miss a minute on the slopes.

For this reason, many ski-centric hotels include a large breakfast buffet, including everywhere we stayed in Japan.

Because the crowd in Japan is international, the dishes cater to both Eastern and Western diets, which makes for a very interesting fusion.

My Typical Breakfast:

• Japanese rolled omelette. Called tamagoyaki, it’s slightly sweet, fluffy rolled eggs that are folded into layers. It has a delicate, almost custard-like texture and is served cold.

• Ochazuke. Rice topped with hot dashi broth and toppings like dried fried tofu, grated egg, and seaweed. Comforting and savory, like a deconstructed soup.

• Grilled mackerel. Japanese breakfast leans super savory, and mackerel (and sometimes salmon) is a popular breakfast protein. I found it tasted surprisingly good with eggs, as well as flaked into the ochazuke above.

• Warm silken tofu. Tofu in Japan is SO GOOD, bearing little resemblance to the bland, rubbery stuff that may have scarred you in the past. For breakfast, I had it scooped into a bowl, then topped with spicy chili oil, fermented seaweed, grated ginger, and green onions.

• Cold marinated vegetable salads. Roasted pumpkin tossed in a citrusy dressing with minced chicken; fried eggplant with chili; sesame steamed bok choy. You really can get your day’s veggies in first thing in Japan.

• Mini pancakes and maple syrup. One hotel had a machine that spit them out one at a time, like a conveyor belt. I’m sure they were good, because the line was always so long, I didn’t bother (or maybe people were less willing to have grilled mackerel at 7:45 a.m. than I was?).

Ben’s Typical Breakfast:

• Sausage (which in Japan tastes more like a hot dog), bacon, scrambled eggs, croissant, O.J.

• Second round of the above.

I guess that’s the beauty of a buffet, right? Everyone gets what they want!

Japanese Onsen

Hokkaido was COLD (“real feels” around 7°F). I suffer from Raynaud’s, a blood circulation disorder where, basically, my body overreacts to cold and cuts off the circulation to my fingers and toes. (I don’t have to be on a snowy mountain either; it happens when I grocery shop the freezer section.)

Once I lose circulation, often the only way I can get it going again is to take a hot shower. Fortunately, Japan has the perfect solution for me: the onsen!

Onsens are public baths fed by natural volcanic hot springs. Men and women are typically separate, and no clothing is allowed, not even a swimsuit.

Was it weird? Honestly, no.

I suppose it helps that an onsen was not my first rodeo in the public nakedness arena—and I’m not talking about using the YMCA locker room as a teenager and being embarrassed by the naked old ladies changing after water aerobics.

In Istanbul, I visited a Turkish bath, which is even more up-close-and-personal because someone actually bathes you.

At the onsen, you arrive, strip down (you don’t even get a towel until you return to the locker room), then first cleanse yourself in a small, open stall (to keep the purity of the onsen water). From there, you tiptoe into a shallow, hot-spring-fed pool to relax, along with the rest of your new birthday-suit acquaintances.

So yes, you’re totally naked with a bunch of strangers, but I promise it’s less uncomfortable than it sounds.

Everyone keeps their eyes to themselves, there’s a sense of community, and there’s also no point being self-conscious, because everyone in there is as naked as the day they were born right along with you.

Honestly, I think public bathhouses could be good for mental health. It’s a super refreshing reminder that the polished, perfect bodies we see glittering on Instagram are a facade.

When I opened my social media feed after visiting the onsen, I almost had to laugh at the absurdity of what I was being presented as “real” and “ideal.”

Bodies come in all shapes and sizes. They have lumps and bumps, and they jiggle. It’s so totally normal and healthy and beautiful. The onsen reminded me of that.

Where We Skied

We skied at three different resorts, each about an hour apart, which presented the trip’s most immediate logistical problem: finding a rental car large enough to hold Ben’s THREE snowboards (he assured me that each was essential), my skis, three pairs of ski/snowboard boots, all of our big bulky skiwear, and then everything else you’d pack for a 10-day trip.

Japan is not a land of giant SUVs and pickup trucks.

We barely made everything fit, thanks to Ben’s packing prowess. Nothing satisfies that man like optimally loading luggage into an overly packed vehicle.

Where We Stayed

Rusutsu - The Enchanted Forest

This is the dream location if you enjoy skiing in trees, but don’t want to be in continual fear of running into them.

The trees are decently spread out and the slope isn’t too steep, which makes it easy to maneuver.

I love tree skiing because it makes me feel like I’m in an outdoor adventure game. I can pick my own path, and the scenery makes it feel like I’m going for a walk in an enchanted winter forest…just on skis.

Since the town doesn’t have much going on, your resort hotel becomes home base.

In addition to a big breakfast buffet as I described above, the Westin Rusutsu, where we stayed, had a lovely dinner buffet plus a reservations-only teppanyaki restaurant.

If you visit Japan, a teppanyaki dinner is a quintessential experience.

Think Benihanana (the chef cooks on a flattop right in front of you), except way nicer and you don’t smell like fried rice when you leave.

Kiroro - Small but Mighty

The smallest of the mountains, Kiroro is a great choice for expert, out-of-bounds terrain, which Ben loved. I loved how quiet and uncrowded it was.

Meal-wise, there’s not really a town, so anyone staying overnight eats in their hotel restaurant (ours was Yu Kiroro).

The food was good, but if you crave a different scene every night, Kiroro probably isn’t your place.

Niseko - The Party Village

The largest and most famous ski town in Hokkaido, Niseko is also its most crowded.

Lift lines can get super long, but I found that once we were on the mountain, the waits were never more than five minutes.

The nightlife and the food scene in Niseko are fantastic.

You’ll find everything from food trucks, to $300-per-person omakase dinners, to tiny sushi counters, to Japanese steakhouses where you order waves of beef and grill them over coal fires right at the table.

We’ll Be Back

I don’t think I’ve even seen Ben as emotional about a trip as when we were leaving Japan (he called the airlines so many times inquiring the price to change his flight, Verizon eventually slapped us with a long-distance charge).

If time and circumstances allow, I hope we’re back next Japan-uary.

I’m optimistic I’ll be a better skier…and even if I’m not, there’s still plenty of sushi to be had!

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Yes, I might openly dream about living in Paris, but of all of the countries I’ve visited, Japan is the one that left the biggest impression.

Ben and I went in 2019 as one of our out-of-the-country Thanksgiving adventures (London, Mexico City, Thailand, and Istanbul are a few others). We bought our tickets after several years of one friend after another telling us, “You have to go!”

Well, let me tell you: even those friends undersold it!

Japan is one of the most magnificent, unique, and delightful countries I’ve ever visited. In fact, we loved it so much we are heading back this week!

Before I delve into our upcoming trip (an entirely ski-focused adventure on the northern island of Hokkaido), I wanted to take a moment to reflect on our first experience. I still think about that trip more than any other.

We divided our 10 days in the country between Tokyo and Kyoto.

The combination of the two cities—hypermodern Tokyo and classic Kyoto—made for a robust experience that gave us a first look into Japanese culture and history.

Why I Love Japan

Imagine a world in which the default way for an individual to operate was to put respect and courtesy for others before oneself. That is Japan.

It’s why you’ll never see a piece of trash on the sidewalk, even in Tokyo, the world’s most populous city with 40 million residents. (You also don’t see any public trash cans; I carried an empty to-go coffee cup with me for three hours waiting to find a place to dispose it.)

It’s why strangers behind you in line at the ramen ordering kiosk will step in to help you navigate its myriad of buttons, instead of rolling their eyes and wishing you’d hurry up.

Trains run on time to the millisecond, public restrooms are so clean even the 10-second rule applies, and no one would dream of cutting in front of you in line.

It’s mesmerizing to observe a city as populous as Tokyo operate in such an orderly and calm fashion. I couldn’t get enough.

Meanwhile, Kyoto feels like a step back in time to old Japan. The beautiful countryside and temples exude inner peace and history.

Ben and I were lucky enough to be in Kyoto during the peak magnificence of fall colors, which happened by total coincidence; we picked our trip dates to maximize Ben’s Thanksgiving vacation days.

(In the six years since we visited, I have heard that Kyoto has become overrun during the fall season, so keep that in mind if planning your own trip, and if you do go, please leave the selfie stick at home.)

Below are some of the places we visited, as well as tips I’d wish I’d known before I visited (and will be taking with me on our next trip!)

Tokyo

Yes, I knew that Tokyo was massive, but nothing prepared me for its grand scale, both in terms of buildings and in terms of the wall-to-wall current of humanity that flows over every open sidewalk. (Yes, it’s the most orderly flow you’ll ever see, but WOW. It’s something to be around this many people All. The. Time.)

Check out this video of the world’s busiest crosswalk, Shibuya.

Getting Around: The Two Tokyos

The metro is THE way to get around Tokyo (please don’t bother with Ubers or taxis; they are prohibitively expensive), and underground metro stations are worlds unto themselves.

Within a single metro station, you’ll find streets of shopping malls, multiple food courts, convenience stores, shoe stores, and some of the absolute best ramen in the city.

A single station’s infrastructure usually extends underground for blocks and blocks. They are essentially their own metropolises operating below the city day and night.

Google Maps can help you navigate the metro lines flawlessly, even to the point of advising you which train cars are the least likely to be crowded. Just be sure you pay attention while walking through the stations…it’s easy to get lost.

Where in Tokyo you choose to stay is pivotal because, even with the pristine metro, the city is massive. Getting around takes time.

We stayed in the Shinjuku area at the Keio Plaza Hotel. Shinjuku is the largest metro station in Tokyo (3.5 million people pass through daily), so you can easily get anywhere in the city.

Tokyo Dining

Whether you spend $1 for a bowl of soba or $600 on an omakase sushi dinner, you can eat extremely well in Japan. The food is one of the reasons I am most excited to go back!

Tokyo Restaurants

For as efficient and modern as Japan is, most websites are shockingly outdated—as in, 1993 called and it wants its website back. So, don’t judge a restaurant based on its online presence, and don’t expect to be able to make reservations online.

I had success calling restaurants via Skype during their opening hours (that required some time zone math). I also emailed our hotel to see which reservations they could make on our behalf.

One of the numerous wonderful quirks we enjoyed about Japan is that many of the great restaurants are nearly impossible to locate.

We’re talking turn down an alley, look for a blue curtain, descend the stairs behind the curtain, then knock on the door of what looks to be an abandoned basement warehouse. It’s all part of the adventure and fun of travel!

I’ve listed our favorite restaurants below (including the hidden one in the basement!).

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Arrival in London

London marked our seventh year of eating Thankgiving dinner in another country.

Initially, we started leaving the U.S. over Thanksgiving weekend when Ben was an attorney, because that Thursday/Friday were the only two consecutive vacation days he had without taking further time off.

Some years, we’d just travel for a long weekend and visit one city (Mexico City and Barcelona being recent favorites).

Others, we’d take the entire following week off to extend the two free vacation days into a 10-day trip (Thailand, Vietnam, Istanbul + greater Turkey, Japan).

Since Ben left the law firm to work with me on Well Plated full-time, we do have the flexibility to travel at other times of year, but we’ve stuck with our international Thanksgiving tradition for a few reasons.

Our team takes time off (which makes work quieter than usual), and as soon as Thanksgiving day (the equivalent of the food blogging Super Bowl) has passed, greater America takes a break from cooking.

London was an easy choice for this year’s Thanksgiving. I’ve always wanted to see the city at Christmas time (it’s magic!). One of our very first friends in Park City, Jess, is from an hour outside of London and is home taking care of her mom. I have family in London myself, AND we can fly direct. Destiny!

A note on jetlag: Despite my God-given ability to fall asleep literally anywhere, including airplanes, our first order of business when we travel overseas is a nap.

You’ll read a variety of theories as to the best way to overcome jet lag your first day. One is to power through to reset your internal clock—it’s never worked for us.

Ever since Ben almost faceplanted into his tempura while nodding off during our first dinner in Tokyo, we’ve implemented a 60-to 90-minute arrival nap.

One of my favorite things about Europe is the ease of train travel.

After our initial afternoon and evening in London (complete with a trip around the London Eye, an amazing meal at Elystan Street, and the aforementioned nap), we hopped a train from Waterloo, and one hour later were jumping into Jess’ arms.

As an extra fun twist, Jess’ husband Sam extended his stay and surprised us by still being in town. It made for a cozy ride in the Mini Cooper with four bags, four adults, and one very enthusiastic golden doodle.

English Countryside: A Weekend Straight Out of The Holiday

Jess’ village felt like a page torn from a romantic holiday movie, and that’s because…it is.

The movie The Holiday was filmed in the surrounding area. I channeled my inner Cameron Diaz cashmere vibes and kept an eye out for Jude Law.

Ben and I stayed in a room above Bel and the Dragon, one of the town’s two pubs, which sit side-by-side on the town’s main street, referred to as the “High Street.” It was beyond charming.

Pub culture is one of the things about England that I treasure most, and I don’t think we really have an equivalent in the U.S.

Morning, noon, or night, you can come to the pub, have a cup of tea or coffee, grab a meal, or sip a beer for as long as you like. Your neighbors will probably pop in at some point, and you’ll chat. You’re encouraged to linger.

Whether you’re in Odiham (population 900?) or London (population 9 million), a pub is a place to socialize, to feel safe, to simply be.

Which is how we wound up taking breakfast, lunch, happy hour, AND dinner at the same pub. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Pub food is HEARTY—steak and kidney pot pie; fish and chips; sausages and mashed potatoes, you get the idea. On a cold, drizzly England day (which from my sample size is most of them), it sure hits the spot.

Two of my favorite meals on the trip were the “full English breakfast” and a Sunday roast.

A traditional full English breakfast contains eggs, beans, hashbrowns, sausages, one or two types of bacon (in England if you say “bacon,” your server will think you mean Canadian bacon; American bacon is referred to as “streaky bacon”), black pudding (the friendlier name for blood sausage), toast, and—almost as an afterthought—a roasted mushroom.

At home, I’m more of a protein overnight oats sort of breakfast girlie, but W-O-W. The “full English” really slaps, especially after a night drinking at the pub.

Sunday roast is a tradition I was less familiar with, and it quickly became one of my favorite aspects of English life.

A “roast” is an ample plate of roasted meat (usually beef, though pork and even turkey are popular too) served alongside potatoes, carrots, gravy, and Yorkshire pudding, which is similar to a popover but made with beef fat.

Further accompaniments can include pigs in a blanket (sausages wrapped in bacon) and sausage stuffing.

This is all before you get to dessert, which, puzzlingly, is referred to as “pudding,” though it is not to be confused with Yorkshire pudding.

A Sunday roast can be served at any hour, though it’s traditionally enjoyed sometime between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. You can find it at pubs uniquely on Sundays, and families will cook it at home, hanging in the kitchen to chat as the meat slowly cooks away.

I’m making it a bucket list item to cook a Sunday roast this winter (I even have my Grammy’s popover pans), even if I never live up to The Mill House’s exquisite spread.

As good fortune would have it, our visit to Odiham coincided with the annual Christmas Extravaganza.

The High Street shut down from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and filled with food stalls, carnival games (including a “human slot machine” in which volunteers sat side-by-side in homemade cardboard slot windows and simultaneously held up actual pieces of fruit), and three different options for mulled wine, all of which we sampled.

A few other favorite Odiham area stops: Caviste wine shop (where we sipped English sparkling with the owner Charles), Newlyn’s farm shop (home of the tallest English muffins I’ve ever seen, pictured above), and The Folly (for many a cappuccino to shake the remaining jet lag).

There’s also oddly a Four Seasons right down the road, so if you fancy a bit of posh, you can nip in and have your fill (<—did I sound British there?).

But mostly the time was special because we spent it with great friends in Jess’ hometown, laughing and swapping stories.

As you make friends in adulthood, the opportunity to see where they grew up isn’t built-in. I’m grateful for this window, because the privilege brought me closer to a dear friend.

Back to London

After a jam-packed, yet relaxing two days in Odiham, we were back to London and in full sightseeing mode.

I’ve added our favorite restaurants and activities to my London Guide. We found some great ones, so if you’re heading over anytime soon, be sure to check it out.

Being in London at Christmastime was pure magic and really set me in the spirit. In fact, it’s part of what inspired me to write this list of 35 Ways to Make Your Own Holiday Magic.

From elaborate storefront displays, to lights crosscrossing the boulevards, to the fact that cozy pub culture feels tailor-made for the holidays, if you have the opportunity to visit around the holidays at any point, I highly recommend it!

If you need me, I’ll be off watching The Holiday for the second time this year! I have some flirting with Jude Law to do…

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I woke up to the sound of water gently lapping the walls. I closed my eyes more tightly, trying to remember where I was. You know that disoriented feeling when you’ve woken up someplace other than your own bed, but you can’t recall exactly where that “someplace else” might be? I knew that feeling well now.

We’d been in a different city every night for two weeks, and…HA LONG BAY, VIETNAM.

Our location rushed back to me. My eyes snapped open. I quickly pulled my hoodie on over my tussled hair and rushed to the boat’s upper deck.

It was early, but the sun was already bright above the bay. Rocks and cliffs jutted out of the water at odd intervals, giving the entire landscape an otherworldly, almost prehistoric feel. I squinted into the distance, half expecting to see a dinosaur sunning himself on a cliff.

What I saw instead were dozens and dozens of tourists boats exactly like ours.

They were at a short distance and becoming increasingly visible through the haze, which I was beginning to suspect wasn’t early morning fog so much as dregs of pollution.

This, Ha Long Bay, was why we had come to Vietnam. Do a quick Google image search for it, and you’ll understand why: piercing turquoise waters, shining cliffs, an endless clear sky—that’s what Ha Long Bay promised.

Although we enjoyed the experience enough, Ha Long Bay ended up being our least favorite part of our time in Thailand and Vietnam.

It was quite an ordeal to make it out there (2 days of traveling), and the views were compromised enough by pollution not to feel 100% worth it.

Vietnam as a whole, however, was a completely different tale. We’d chosen Vietnam for the second leg of our journey primarily because it came as a packaged deal with Ha Long Bay. We didn’t expect it to be the country we’d miss most.

In keeping with the theme of the rest of our trip, Vietnam was full of surprises.

Even though I adored Thailand (both Part 1 and Part 2), I didn’t leave that country with an immediate need to return. Vietnam? I’d book my plane ticket tomorrow.

It’s hard for me to articulate what exactly about Vietnam captivated me so deeply. It’s not that its people were friendlier than in Thailand (people are very friendly in both places), that they spoke more English (they actually speak noticeably less), or that I preferred the food (I ate my noodle-loving heart out in both places); Vietnam, at least the sample of it that I experienced, just felt more…real.

We spent time in only two cities—Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)—and did one overnight trip to a tiny village along the Mekong River.

The time wasn’t enough. The cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, fascinated me with their blend of Western culture, Vietnamese tradition, and complete chaos, and the Mekong River Delta was a place of peace and local life.

In place of the backpacker outposts we found in Chiang Mai, Vietnam offered a less-spoiled look at a people and culture on rapid economic rise.

It catered to tourists, without compromising its own order (or lack thereof, depending upon your attitude).

If you are at all interested in Vietnam, I urge you, go now. The change has already arrived, and while I’m happy for the Vietnamese and the way their country is developing, I know the influx of tourists will change it too.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This post was originally published 9 years ago. If you’ve been to Vietnam recently, I’d love to hear your impressions!

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Hanoi

Hanoi is a circus. Motorbikes, ladies selling baguettes from giant baskets, short tables filled with people eating, eating, eating, improvised fruit carts staffed by women slicing enormous jackfruits, kids on their way to school, bicycles, and more pack every square inch of the old city, and I’m only talking about the sidewalk. The actual street? Forget about it.

To cross a street in Hanoi, approach the curb. Ignore the rushing current of motorbikes flowing towards you. Make eye contact with the driver of the bike closest to you then…walk.

The motorbike will slow as you pass, then immediately accelerate as soon as you’ve cleared its path. Keep walking, shifting your eye contact to the next driver, then the next, then the next, on across the street. The motorbikes directly in front of and behind you will continue to accelerate, but if your pace is steady and your heart fearless, they will not hit you.

Crosswalk? What’s a crosswalk?

To find something to buy in the old quarter, you first need to locate the proper street. You also need to be specific.

The old quarter is essentially an enormous market, where competitors rent shops side by side. Need a bra? Go to the clothing street and find the three bra shops selling…bras. And only bras.

How about a new cake pan? That’s the kitchen street. At the cake pan store.

A zipper? Three shops down from the bras, there are four stores selling zippers in every hue of the rainbow.

Hungry? Not for long. Pick a place that’s serving something that looks good, then hold up your fingers to demonstrate the number of orders you’d like. Unless it’s a nicer sit-down restaurant, most restaurants only serve one dish, which you can identify either by the restaurant’s name (most are named for the dish they serve, followed by their address), or simply look at what everyone seated at the low tables placed outside the restaurant is eating.

Hanoi can be maddening at first, but if you give way to its rhythm, if you spend your time piecing together not if it works but how it works, I solemnly believe it will steal your heart as it did ours.

Hanoi, Places to See

Café Pho Co. Your mandatory order: EGG COFFEE. It’s a specialty of Hanoi, and despite its odd name, it is outstanding and unlike anything I’ve ever tried. I became so obsessed, we went to three different coffee shops in less than 24 hours. Café Pho Co had both the best view and my favorite rendition.

For the curious: based on my research to determine how exactly I could replicate this nectar of the gods, egg coffee is rich Vietnamese coffee smothered in a thick, foamy layer of sweetened condensed milk that’s whipped with egg yolks and magic. Go to Hanoi, order it for yourself, and see if you agree. Don’t like sweetened coffee? Me neither, and I still couldn’t get enough!

Hỏa Lò Prison. A little creepy, but very interesting.

Walk the French Quarter. The French colonial influence makes for some beautiful buildings.

Ngoc Son Temple, located on Hoàn Kiếm Lake in the heart of the city (it’s the body of water you see beyond the cup of coffee in the photo above).

Museum of Ethnology. A bit farther afield, but worth the hike.

Get caught up in the old city. See if you love the chaos as much as we did.

EAT. Anything and everything that looks good.

Ho Chi Minh City

Formerly called Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is the capital of the South. We really only had a few hours here (and at this point in the trip had lost our debit card and burned through all of our remaining cash), so I can’t give you the most accurate recap.

We did spend time walking around, and I was struck by how new the city felt. The West’s influence and monetary investment was clearly visible in the grandeur of the buildings, the presence of major luxury retailers, and even how the streets were arranged.

We did have one of our best meals of the trip in a restaurant here (Hoa Tuc), a spot we picked for its combination of good reviews and the fact that it took credit cards (not joking about the lack of funds).

Since it was our last night, we ordered with abandon and loved every dish so much, the hassle of losing our debit card felt worth it, because I don’t think we would have chosen the restaurant otherwise.

Mekong River Delta

Less than two hours outside of Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll find the Mekong River Delta, and along its shores, small cottage industries operated by a people who have been living in much the same way for hundreds of years.

We booked a river boat tour of the Delta via Intrepid Travel (the same company I used to plan our hike through Thailand), and I am incredibly glad we did.

This area of Vietnam is tropical and lush. Many of the Delta people are tropical fruit farmers.

In addition to the fruits with which you may be familiar like mangos and papaya, we sampled a whole variety of fruits whose names I’d never heard before: custard apples, milk fruit, longan, sopodilla, and jackfruit, the enormous specimen I’m holding in the photo below, as well as the flavor inspiration for Juicy Juice gum.

I spent every day we were in South Vietnam attempting to eat my body weight in tropical fruit. I can only imagine that my Vitamin C intake was on point.

If one fruit could rule them all in the Mekong, it would be the coconut. This area grows and processes thousands of coconuts every day, 365 days a year. Every part of the coconut is used, from the more obvious milk and flesh (cooking and coconut candy making) to the outer fibers (blankets).

Most of the processing occurs directly outside of people’s homes. Villagers work for hours to process the coconuts, which are then picked up by trucks that belong to larger companies.

We spent our last night at a peaceful homestay along the river’s edge. I’d booked this dorm-like accommodation thinking that we’d have one final night of disconnection from the outside world. Little did I expect that our little dorm would have the strongest Wi-Fi signal of our entire trip.

But I suppose that summarizes our experience in Vietnam: a blend of the old and the new, where a traditional, foreign (to me) culture blurs with familiar trends and innovation.

Take Vietnam with a spring roll in one hand, a smart phone in the other, and a heart open to new experiences, and I suspect you’ll fall for this country as hard as we did too.

To the ends of the earth.

Thank you so much for following along on this adventure with me. It has been a pleasure to share these snapshots of what I know will be one of the most special trips of my lifetime with you. I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I enjoyed reliving it!

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It had taken me three days of picking my way through thickly forested jungle, slippery, muddy paths, and the occasional mountain stream to reach the tiny hilltop village where I was spending the night.

I shifted uncomfortably on the bamboo floor, tucked my mosquito net around my sleeping mat for the third time, and closed my eyes slowly, savoring the warm, satisfied feeling from that evening’s dinner: sticky rice, fragrant curry, bamboo soup, and spicy minced pork. It had been one of the best meals of my life, and I ate it out of a plastic bowl on a floor mat.

As I lay quietly, images of the past few days’ events flipped through my mind like a slideshow.

Not the pretty, set-to-Coldplay, wedding sort of slideshow—this was more like the steady, rhythmic ones my sixth-grade science teacher played in class. Click. Click. Click through the slides.

The images burned brightly and silently in the dark. They taught without words. Sometimes, you need to see to understand.

If you’ve ever traveled in a developing country like Thailand or Vietnam, the incredible places I had the pleasure of visiting for two weeks, you might agree with me that it is impossible to board your return flight without a mixed set of emotions.

That night in the bamboo hut, set in a tiny village whose primary livelihood was farming rice and pineapple on steep mountain slopes, mine were more mixed up than the three different dishes our jungle guide, designated snake-killer (his services in this regard were blessedly never needed), and cook prepared for dinner that night.

I was both exhilarated by the splendor of the mountains—northern Thailand is unquestionably the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen—and exhausted by them.

Although I felt honored to experience a tiny fraction of life in this tiny village that few will ever visit, I was also forced to admit that, in that moment, a large section of my person would have gleefully opted for the Holiday Inn.

I mourned the absence of an actual toilet, while being proud of myself for surviving without one. I had been too shy to participate in the local soccer match, but when a little girl from the village wanted to sit beside me on my mat and press the button to turn the pages of my Kindle, I didn’t hesitate.

The funny thing I’ve discovered traveling in developing countries is that the aspects of them that drive me most batty are also the ones that make the journey most worthwhile.

I’ve also learned that the parts of the trip that I anticipate will be my favorites often are not.

Thailand and Vietnam were articulate reminders of this truth in ways large and small.

One little example: before hiking, I’d left our last major city bummed that we didn’t have another night to enjoy its packed restaurant and bar scene, only to be floored by the meals that Ado, our aforementioned machete-wielding chef, prepared on a single gas burner with groceries he carried in a schoolboy backpack.

His food was the best of our entire two-week trip. Every night, I ate myself silly and licked the pan clean. No matter how much Ado served, I was always hungry for more.

In short, I loved Thailand. I loved Vietnam too (perhaps even more), which I’ll be sharing all about in a future post.

And the parts of the trip that made me hesitate? The squat toilets and the lack of mattresses and the fact that for 17 straight days, every meal HAD to somehow involve rice? I needed those aspects to love Thailand too.

I knew going into this trip that parts of it would make me uncomfortable. I anticipated the sore shoulders from carrying my backpack for hours each day, the chill of showering from a single hose hung over a bucket, and even the frustrations of dropping from my operative Western speed of 1,000 mph and constant connectivity to one in which the minutes are long and the cell phone signal bars are short.

Anticipation and experience, however, are different beasts.

The days we spent hiking were my hardest of the trip. They were also my favorite.

In fact, I wrote the majority of this blog post in an actual paper notebook with an actual pen on our flight home. I didn’t want to forget a thing before I arrived home to tell you all about it.

Hiking was actually the second leg of our trip (we began with Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and the Golden Triangle), but I actually wrote this post first because a) it affected me the most directly, and b) it represents the mix of positive and negative emotions that permeate any trip to a developing country.

The people we met, the scenery we encountered, and the flavors we tasted in northern Thailand were awe-inspiring. The reward was worth every step.

Hiking in Northern Thailand: Planning Tips & Tidbits

• Although I knew I wanted to hike through northern Thailand, I am by no means cool enough to plan or navigate by myself. Many tourist business exploit ethnic groups in northern Thailand for monetary gain. To ensure that we were not supporting unethical practices, we worked with Intrepid Travel, a responsible, sustainable travel company with which I’ve traveled in the past, to plan Ben’s and my itinerary and airport transfers. Intrepid assigned us two (for lack of a better word) chaperones: our local guide, who translated for us along the way, and Ado, our chef supreme/snack watch. Intrepid did a fantastic job overall, and if you are looking for help planning an off-the-beaten path adventure and aren’t fussy about your lodging, I’d recommend them. (NOTE: This post is not sponsored. I just think Intrepid did a great job for us!)

• We carried all of our belongings for 3.5 days. If you do something similar, please pack lighter than I did.

• We stayed in three different villages (always on the floor of a bamboo hut).

• No, we really didn’t have flushing toilets, warm water, or traditional showers.

• Yes, we had easy access to safe drinking water and, happily after a long day of hiking, a refrigerator of cold beer.

• Ado really did carry a machete. Primary uses: cutting back branches so we could pass through densely forested trails; picking herbs, vegetables, and even flowers to add to our dinner; teeth cleaning (I’m serious).

• Friendship bracelets gifted to Erin: 1

• Goals scored in village soccer match by Ben: 2

• Pineapples consumed in transit: 4,572

• Times I openly questioned my own sanity for choosing jungle hikes and barebones accommodations for my vacation: 1 million.

• Regrets: ZERO

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Some Thoughts on this Experience 9 Years Later…

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That’s how I felt sipping this pitcher of red oolong tea. We were in a remote area of in northeast Thailand, in a tiny town that was little more than a single road with a market.

Tea was the year-round cash crop, and the steep sides of the mountains were lined with orderly rows of tea plants.

Like the rest of northern Thailand, the tea leaf fields were verdant green. They also smelled heavenly.

I’d never smelled fresh tea leaves before, certainly not in collective like this, and I couldn’t breathe deeply enough. I’ve never craved a scent before, but now as I look back, I miss it. The tea leaf plants perfumed the mountain air with the most fresh, relaxing smell. I wish I could have bottled it up and taken it home with me.

I’m sure this village was exactly like dozens of others all dotting the same mountain range, but just that night, when Ben and I had slipped our local guide, walked down the mountain road away from our lodging, and stumbled upon this little tea store, it felt like we were having a private experience all our own.

It was also Thanksgiving. Or at least it was for us. We were 13 hours ahead of both of our families, and technically, they hadn’t woken up yet. Here we were, in our own private tea shop, with our own private holiday.

This moment—these precious 30 minutes with a pitcher of tea while I begged the sun not to set—was not only one of my favorites of the trip; it was one of the most special of my life.

Unlike the elephants and the Thai cooking classes (which I also loved and will be telling you about a bit further down the page), this stop wasn’t on our agenda. I couldn’t have planned it if I wanted to.

This is so much of why I travel: the unexpected, unplannable moments that take my breath away, for their beauty, their singularity, or for the company with whom I share them. This Thanksgiving night with the pitcher of tea—this was one of those moments. I knew it as I lived it.

Oh dear. I just wrote you nearly 400 words about a cup of tea. How will we get through this?

Tea. We need more tea. Or wine. Whatever your beverage of choice, pour yourself a cup and get comfy. It’s Thailand Travel, Part II: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and the Golden Triangle. There will be elephants! There will be pad Thai! Pull out your virtual passports. We are heading east.

Bangkok

If you crave serious variety in your travel agenda, look no further than Thailand. While the country has a uniting undercurrent (I think I’d call it friendly and spicy?), the cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and countryside like the tea leaf fields I described above offer completely different experiences.

We started our trip in Bangkok, where our flight touched down at 2:35 a.m. After 30+ hours of traveling, my body had absolutely no idea what was happening. It did, however, know it wanted pad Thai. Lots and LOTS of pad Thai.

Two highlights of the trip were Thai cooking classes, one hosted by The Peninsula Hotel (meal pictured above), and one with a lovely couple in their home (details below), were two of the most delicious meals of the trip.

Our stay in Bangkok was short, but we did manage to squeeze in a visit to a night market on the outskirts of the city, where we grazed the food stalls.

Top bites: fried squid, beef soup, spicy minced duck, banana waffles, coconut egg pudding, fish balls (don’t ask), and fried caterpillars. Or rather, caterpillar. We each ate just one. They tasted like Cheetos, minus the cheese.

We also visited the sparkling Grand Palace, but honestly, it was so miserably hot and humid, this part of the day is a bit of a blur. We snapped a few photos, dragged ourselves aboard a water taxi to the airport, then headed north to…

Chiang Mai

We had two days in Chiang Mai, a city that has a reputation for a stellar food scene and that I anticipated would be my favorite part of our entire vacation. I was wrong.

Now, do not mistake me. I really enjoyed Chiang Mai, especially our cooking class, but it wasn’t what I expected.

Much of the city has become quite touristy, and the old quarter is positively overflowing with cheap bars and the backpackers who keep them in business. I’m happy to see the city doing well, and it’s wonderful for the Thai economy, but I couldn’t help but pick up the vibe that we’d arrived about ten years too late. After a few less-than-stellar restaurant meals, we started wondering why the city had the sterling food reputation that it did.

Then, we took a Thai cooking class at Cooking at Home.

Cooking at Home Thai Cooking School

If you scour restaurants in Thailand looking for the best Thai food of your life, you’re searching the wrong places. We ate A LOT on our trip, and over and over again, the very best meals were the ones prepared by home cooks like Pom and Vasin of Cooking at Home Thai cooking school in Chiang Mai.

Pom and Vasin, the world’s cutest married couple and Thai cooking dynamos, picked us up at our hotel for what turned out to be some of the most enjoyable six hours of my life.

We escaped the city crowds and shopped at a small local market near the couple’s home. I was fascinated by the wide array of exotic produce, poultry, tropical fruits, and candies. Even the selection of chilis was enormous! Ben basically had to carry me back to the van so that we could start the cooking lesson on time.

The cooking school is held at couple’s home, in an outdoor area by a lovely field. The setting was serene, the instruction approachable, and the four courses? OH MY. The meal we prepared with Cooking at Home was one of the best of the trip. I am still dreaming about that pad Thai and mango sticky rice.

In addition to offering their culinary skills, Pom and Vasin also offered themselves. We ended up staying an extra hour chatting about Thai culture, the impact of tourism on the country, and all the reasons we both love to cook. By the end of the day, I felt like we had become friends.

Elephants!

Elephants are an integral part of Thai history, culture, and lore. Visiting one of the dozens and dozens of elephant parks around Chiang Mai is a top tourist attraction. Unfortunately, like many natural resources, elephants are commonly exploited and mistreated for monetary gain. If you travel to Thailand and would like to visit elephants, please carefully research the company and elephant park that you decide to visit and, through that visit, financially support.

Ben and I choose to support Elephant Nature Park, an elephant sanctuary dedicated to rehabilitating elephants rescued from the logging industry, abusive tour companies, and other harmful practices. We had the opportunity to feed and bathe these beautiful creatures, and to learn about their back-stories too. A few of them had pasts so tragic, I was actually moved to tears.

I know it might sound silly to cry over an elephant, but when you are stroking their warm trunks and looking into those big, sad eyes, it’s hard to feel anything but passion and sympathy for these intelligent, powerful creatures.

Golden Triangle

From Chiang Mai, we headed north once more to The Golden Triangle, the northern most point of Thailand where three countries—Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos—all intersect.

This area earned a notorious reputation for its role in the opium trade. Deaths, dollars, and eventually solid gold (at one point, gold was the only acceptable currency for opium) have soaked this area over the centuries. Although the opium cultivation is now illegal in Thailand, its borders are not immune to drug passage.

If you do decide to visit the Golden Triangle area, I recommend stopping at the Opium Museum, even for half an hour. Parts are a bit sobering, but it is an important part of the area’s history, even if it is a less flattering one.

Tea Fields

In case the first 400 words of this post didn’t cover it, I loved seeing the tea plantations in northern Thailand. We were outside the village of Mae Salong, where sprawling rows of oolong plants sweep entire mountainsides. We enjoyed a tea tasting and peeked inside tea factories, where the leaves are still picked and processed entirely by hand.

We spent the night in this region with a local Thai family, who served us what Ben has declared as, “one of the top 5 meals of my life.” I have to agree. And we made it in this outdoor kitchen! It’s clearly not what you have; it’s how you use it.

The tea fields and Golden Triangle area are an easy stop between the more popular Chiang Mai and hilltribe village hiking, which I describe in detail in this post. While I probably could have skipped the Golden Triangle, our homestay and seeing the tea fields make the trek to the far north worth it.

This is my last post covering Thailand (we’ll be off to Vietnam next!). As always, thank you so much for reading my travel adventures. I love sharing them with you, and I know that I’ll often refer back to this post when I need a little virtual trip back east. I hope my words and the photos took you there with me too, even if just for a moment.

Is anyone else craving pad Thai? Right. Off to refill my tea.

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If you’d liked this post, don’t miss the rest of our Thailand and Vietnam adventure!

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My first look at Sedona, and I wondered at how a landscape this etherial—the red rocks rising out of sand as if they’d been summoned, the electric pink light show that plays across their faces at sunset, the brightest stars I’ve ever seen—could exist in the same country as my hometown of Wichita, KS. Was I even on the same planet?

Part spa town, part artist colony, part adventure paradise, in Sedona you can hike in the morning, pick up some good energy at a crystal shop afterwards, refuel with tamales at lunch, lounge by the pool in the afternoon, then end the evening with a 5-star meal.

It’s active meets relaxtion with some fabulous food—Ben’s and my favorite way to travel!

If you’re planning a long weekend, here’s how we spent ours, including our favorite hikes, where we stayed, and the best food in town.

Where (and What) to Eat in Sedona

Sedona’s food scene punches above its weight for a small desert town. You’ll find everything from upscale Latin-inspired dining to casual cafés.

We focused on spots that balanced good food with great atmosphere — because when the view looks like this, you want to enjoy it.

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Istanbul has been on my bucket list since fourth grade, when we had to memorize the countries of Europe and Asia.

Straddling both continents, this ancient capital is the literal meeting point of East and West. I still remember putting a glittery gel pen dot right on the border.

We’ve traveled a lot, and Istanbul is easily one of my favorite places I’ve ever been. It’s fascinating and boasts some of the best food (for the best prices!) you’ll ever eat.

Istanbul can be chaotic (it’s sprawling and the traffic is legendary), so if you don’t plan well, you’ll spend more time stuck in a cab than sipping Turkish coffee on a terrace.

That’s why you have ME!

This guide has been carefully vetted both by ourselves and by two different age groups who followed it last month with rave results. You’re in good hands!

See More of My Travel Guides

Read on for everywhere we ate, everything we did, and the one breakfast I still dream about.

Where (and What) to Eat in Istanbul

We planned our meals with care, reserving tables weeks in advance, stalking menus online, and asking locals where they eat. It paid off!

Fun fact: several of the spots we picked landed on the Michelin guide a few weeks later when Istanbul was featured for the first time. Consider our food radar officially validated.

Most nights, we stayed close to Karaköy (the lively neighborhood where we intentionally selected to stay) to avoid traffic.

Turkish Breakfast: My Actual Definition of Heaven

Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı) is one of the best food experiences I’ve ever had. As someone who loves to taste a little bit of lots of things, I could not get enough!

It’s a long, leisurely meal meant to be shared, with the table covered in little plates of cheeses, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, jams, honey with clotted cream, fresh bread, and eggs like menemen (scrambled with tomatoes and peppers).

Each individual item is simple, but together it’s nothing short of bliss. BONUS: a full spread for two—with about 14 dishes—costs around $11.

Our Favorite Turkish Breakfast:

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The wonderful thing about New York, and one of the primary reasons I keep going back, is that the dining options are effectively endless.

No matter what kind of food you love, you’ll find it in the NYC. Picking a spot to snag a breakfast pastry, let alone spend a precious night’s meal, can be overwhelming.

I’ve spent more hours than I care to admit researching, asking friends, and losing myself down review rabbit holes in search of the best New York restaurants.

And by “best” I do not mean the fanciest or the most expensive—I mean a place where I can enjoy excellent food in a pleasant atmosphere that feels worth my dollar and a precious spot on my NYC eating agenda.

I’ve broken the restaurants on this list down by category to help you narrow the options. I've also included categories for places still on our list, as well as those that, despite glowing reviews or fame, we found underwhelming.

Warning: this list is long and, if I do my job right, will make you hungry too!

The Best Places to Eat in New York City

Favorite Dinners

Barbuto. (West Village) I could eat here every time we are in NYC. Come on a nice day as the restaurant opens and grab one of their tables outside, along with a glass of wine (glowing personal recommendation). The legendary roast chicken lives up to its hype.

Cotenna. (West Village) This cozy, elbow-to-elbow Italian spot is what you hope for when you’re dining in the West Village. Fabulous pasta and a great value.

Fedora. (West Village) A gem of a neighborhood restaurant that made us feel like family, a rare find in NYC.

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Napa is polished and easy to plan, with beautiful tasting rooms, excellent food, and some of the best wine in the world.

It’s also OVERWHELMING. I’ve got everything mapped out for you to help you make the most of your precious time!

How this Guide is Organized

• The Tips You Need To Get Around. SPOILER: You can’t rely on Uber/Lyft (it’s unfortunate).

• Where to Stay. Different towns each have pros and cons. I’ll lay out the options and share my favorite.

• Wineries. Listed south to north with travel times between each, so you can build days with minimal backtracking.

• Restaurants. Because you’ve got to soak up all that wine somehow! I’m also spilling the beans on whether or not I thought The French Laundry was worth it.

• Sample Itineraries. Two fabulous days, all laid out for you!

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If the best way to know where to eat in a city is to talk to a local, I can do you one better: many of these recommendations come directly from a local chef! My talented sister-in-law is the CDC (that’s chef de cuisine) at one of SF’s most beloved restaurants, and she shows Ben and me the most delicious time whenever we visit.

I’ve had the opportunity to play like a tourist and a local many times since my first visit to San Francisco in 2016. Even if you only have a few days, you can see iconic sites around the city—and eat a few fabulous meals in between.

San Francisco Restaurants

From fancy dinners, to feet-in-the-sand seafood spots, to stellar cultural cuisine, San Francisco has something for everyone.

Our Favorite Dinners

Flour + Water. This Mission District gem delivers elevated, seasonal Italian fare in a warm, lively setting. The pasta is hand-rolled and exquisite. For the full experience, splurge on the rotating tasting menu.

Penny Roma. Penny Roma feels like a cozy dinner party in the best way. Tucked in a quiet alley, it serves rustic Italian dishes with serious soul and modern twists. Silky pastas, stuffed angelotti I still dream of, bright crudos, and a vibe that says “stay for one more glass.”

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I had one initial reason for visiting Charleston, SC: the epic food scene.

I’d proceed to fall in love with all of it: the food (better than I dreamed!), the architecture, the walkability, and the pace.

Charleston offers plenty to do between meals to allow you time to digest—but not so much to do, you feel guilty if you decide to sit in a cafe for hours, eating oysters and staring dreamily at the water.

I’ve returned to Charleston for a total of three trips and am happy to report it’s better than ever.

Read on for all of the best Charleston restaurants and activities, whether you’re with a partner, group of friends, or even co-workers.

Restaurants, Bars, and Sweet Treats

I researched our dining destinations for this trip exhaustively, visited with other foodies who had explored Charleston, and introduced myself to total strangers on the plane to gain their local perspective.

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Whether you are looking for some destination inspiration, are planning a trip to Maui yourself, or simply want to join me for a virtual tropical escape, this post has everything you need to plan your own Maui itinerary.

I’ve included our favorite Maui restaurants, beaches, activities, and a stellar hotel recommendation, too.

Restaurants

Mama’s Fish House. Make your reservations MONTHS in advance. It was absolutely one of my favorite meals I’ve ever had. Come prepared to spend and to stay for hours. The experience will be absolutely worth it.

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Kauai’s beauty is striking in a way that does not grow old.

For 10 straight days, I lost my breath every time we drove over a new hill to reveal a fresh expanse of green pasture against craggy mountain peaks, or the sun burst from behind a cloud to illuminate the canyons below. I could look at the same water crashing into the same line of rocks for hours and feel just as awestruck when we left as I did when we arrived.

I don’t know if you can ever “get used to” Kauai, only that I never even came close.

If you are looking for a special place to travel, I highly endorse Kauai, and I’d bet you my last sip of shaved ice that it will steal your heart, too.

To help with your vacation planning—whether it’s a mental, wishful one or you have actual plane tickets booked—here’s a recap of some of our favorite eats, sights, and activities.

Kauai Eats

Two seafood lovers trapped in a landlocked state, Ben and I, made it a personal mission to eat it as much and as often as possible. We succeeded.

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Maybe it’s confirmation bias, but lately everyone I meet is either headed to or just got back from Mexico City. It’s for good reason: this city is pulsating with color, life, and a touch of chaos that works its way into your body and eventually, your heart.

After hearing rave reviews from foodie friends, Ben and I traded turkey for tacos and spent last Thanksgiving in Mexico City. It lived up to the hype!

We’ve developed a habit of leaving the country on Thanksgiving, not because we don’t love our families (or because we hate turkey), but because back when Ben worked at a law firm, it was the only time of year he had two consecutive days off, so we could maximize our vacay.

Nowadays with a Well Plated team of our own, Thanksgiving is still the easiest time to step away because they’re enjoying time off too (and because I can answer your turkey 9-1-1’s from anywhere in the world).

It turns out that sushi (the 2019 Thanksgiving we spent in Tokyo), Massaman curry (‘16 in Thailand), paella (‘18 in Barcelona), and most recently, the best mole of my life can make a person feel quite thankful, even if it doesn’t come with a side of mashed potatoes and stuffing.

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With a population topping 22 million and a sprawl of more than 3,000 square miles, Mexico City is one of the largest urban areas in the world.

We had four days to squeeze in as many of its amazing eats as we could, and I am pleased to report that we did excellent work.

I really can’t overstate this—Mexico City is HUGE, and the traffic is awful. Looking out our hotel window at night was like staring into a maze of taillights that stretched to the horizon, without a single one of them moving.

Rather than spend our time stuck in taxis, we accepted the fact that with four days, we’d barely scratch the surface and opted to dine most evenings in the Condesa neighborhood, which is lovely and only a half-hour walk from our hotel.

We felt very safe in this area, even walking back at night. Navigating any big city takes street smarts, and I wasn’t any more nervous here than I would be in a large city in the U.S.

Without further ado, here are our favorite Mexico City restaurants and bars.

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A good friend who studied abroad in London once described it as “the world in a city.” After having visited London a fourth time, I must say that sums it up perfectly.

Each voice you hear speaks English with a different accent than the last. Diversity and tradition are represented proudly, and as a tourist, I truly felt as if the city offered me the best of both.

If you’re planning to visit London soon (or if you feel like taking a few moments to go on a little mental vacation), this post has all the highlights of our favorite London activities, London restaurants, and bars we visited too!

Dinners, Drinks, Desserts

As you plan where to eat, be sure you check out where the restaurant is located relative to your planned activities that day. London is large, and if you aren’t careful, you could end up spending unnecessary time commuting.

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While the Dutch may not be renown for their food (at least compared to the Italians and French), Amsterdam proves that you can still eat some excellent meals in the country’s capital.

During my three days in Amsterdam with my monther-in-law Danielle, we ate (and drank!) super well. These are my recs!

Brunch/Lunch

Mortimer. Located in a charming old building, you’ll feel like you’re upstairs in someone’s home. Delicious, super fresh brunch favorites featuring seasonal produce and local ingredients. I had the avocado toast topped with roasted tomoatoes and poached eggs, along with a side of the cured salmon, as I was worried I wouldn’t get enough protein. It turns out the toast was PLENTY filling (though the salmon was excellent, so I regret nothing). Danielle ordered an omelette and they were some of the best eggs we’ve ever had.

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Bakeries

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