It’s no secret that travel can be an expensive interest – even for those of us who are down to travel on a budget. That being said, you don’t always have to hop on a plane to feed your travel bug. Sometimes a weekend trip in your own backyard can satisfy your curiosity too. My ‘backyard’ used to be the west coast of the United States and then briefly the east coast. Well now, it's the Midwest. The go-to Midwest city experience is Chicago, but after that, you might be left scratching your head wondering ‘Where else can I go?’. You're then presented with the opportunity to think of cities and places you may have overlooked. Case in point: Cleveland. 

I’ve heard a lot about Cleveland having a renaissance of sorts, so when my friend Amanda and I decided to opt for a location closer to home, we chose Cleveland. 

Believe it or not, in all my years of traveling, I’ve never gotten to do an actual girls’ trip. Sure, you might meet up with friends along the way or make new ones, but a planned vacation just for the girls? Nope, never. 

Needless to say, I was stoked to take a road trip with one of my oldest and dearest friends. We were ready for a much-needed weekend away from the grind, some great conversation, and exploring a new place.

We hit the road Friday afternoon after finishing up work at our individual jobs. Amanda, coming from Grand Rapids, picked me up in Lansing on the way. We were looking at about a 3 ½ hour drive from Lansing. Not bad at all for a weekend trip.

As far as lodging goes, we wanted something in the heart of the city where we could just walk around and not have to worry about driving. We opted for the Crowne Plaza Cleveland at Playhouse Square. As the title suggests, we were right in the heart of the city’s theater district – a win for this theatre major I must say. They had valet parking available, which cost us an additional $36 a day, but when you split the price, it’s not so bad.

Once we were settled in, Amanda and I were ready to grab some dinner and see some of the city. Luckily for us, the entire weekend was gorgeous in regards to the weather. We had our first meal outside at a place called The Republic, which was a few blocks down from our hotel on Euclid Ave. A nice way were able to save some money (and not waste food) was to split a meal between the two of us. The food here was awesome. We got the chicken, and I’d totally recommend it in a heartbeat.

After dinner, we hit up a cool rooftop bar/lounge near our hotel called Azure. Surprisingly, for being a chic rooftop bar in the heart of a city, the crowd wasn’t too douchey. Yeah, you know the type…

A drink at Azure ranges in the $10-$15 range, so not terrible considering the prime location. That was definitely a spot I’d recommend if you’re looking for a nice place for drinks in Cleveland during the summer.

The next day was our big day to really get lost in the city and explore. We had some suggestions as well as spots we looked up on our own. One area multiple people recommended to us was The Flats. This is a popular area along the water there. 

We walked from our hotel to The Flats. It’s at least a solid mile walk from Playhouse Square but totally doable. We hit up the aquarium over there, where I tried and subsequently failed to touch a sting ray. Listen, I’ll go skydiving or climb a mountain, but apparently touching a sting ray somehow freaks me out. I guess my adventurous side comes and goes.

After the aquarium, we stuck around The Flats for a late lunch and ate at one of the coolest restaurants I've been to. It’s called Lindey’s Lake House, and as you can imagine, it looks and feels exactly like a gorgeous lake house along the water. It’s a very open restaurant, with both inside and outside parts to it. It's such a pretty spot, especially on a beautiful summer day. Granted I was with one of my good friends, but if you’re ever in Cleveland and also need a good summer date spot, this place is perfect. I imagine it’s just as great in the evening there too.

As far as food goes at Lindey's Lake House, I opted for the Chicken Tinga Tacos. They were delicious and even came with a cucumber salad, which I hadn’t had since LA. So good!

By the time we were done with lunch, the two of us were ready for a nap. A cool fact: you can catch a free trolley to take you to different areas of the city, which you can bet we took advantage of on our way back to the hotel. It was super convenient. There’s a trolley stop right by Lindey’s Lake House, and it takes you right back to Playhouse Square. 

Once we rested up for a bit, it was time to enjoy our Saturday night. Shout out to my friend Amanda for discovering Chocolate Bar, which is located on Euclid and 4th. They have the coolest selection of unique martinis that you can pick from. If you’re looking for a cute place for a photo op, head right across the street to a restaurant-filled alley decorated with lights. It’s prettiest at night (obviously). We enjoyed some bar hopping and ended our Saturday night back at Azure for a great time. 

After checking out of our hotel the next morning, it was back to Michigan – but not before stopping at the Christmas Story house. This was the one thing I had to see while I was there. A Christmas Story is my favorite Christmas film! I can think of an endless array of classic Christmas Story quotes as I type this. Even though the film takes place in Indiana, they filmed it in Cleveland – hence the name of the street Ralphie lives on is ‘Cleveland Street’. The house came decorated with Christmas lights and even that iconic leg lamp in the window. Talk about the ultimate Christmas in July experience.

If you’re wondering why the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame wasn’t mentioned, well, that’s because we didn’t make it there. That’s the thing about traveling with other people: sometimes you have to compromise. 

And speaking of rooftop lounges, coming up in September, I’ll introduce you Grand Rapids’ hip rooftop lounge you have to experience while the weather’s still nice. And after that, it’s Ireland 2019! Stay tuned….

The last thing I remember about Niagara Falls was being 4 years old and getting pummeled by water on the Maid of the Mist, so this time around I was glad to skip that portion of the experience. I’m also not a fan of crowds in tight places. I imagined this boat experience would be less about meeting Leonardo DiCaprio and more about avoiding the iceberg that is pushy tourists. 
When I say the only part about Niagara Falls that I remember is getting soaked, it’s totally true, so heading there again as an adult kind of felt like experiencing it for the first time. That being said, when I re-discovered Niagara Falls over Memorial Day weekend, it was not at all what I imagined. Now listen: this is a famous place that, yes, of course you should see it at least once in your lifetime. In my naïve mind though, it was going to be more of a nature experience. Instead, what I found was a hodge-podge Vegas/Universal Citywalk mash-up that had my adventurous soul feeling like I wandered into tacky tourist land. And yeah, I get it. These types of places are popular with a lot of people, but not me. Hey, you know what though? Live and learn. That’s what I’m sharing this with you. If you head to Niagara Falls, expect more of a tourist hub than an adventure spot. 

On the plus side, the weather perked up, which was a welcome change from a chilly and rainy Toronto. After settling in, my folks and I made our way through the crowds down to where the actual falls were. It’s funny how you remember things bigger as a kid – even for those us who are practically still the same height as some children. While still cool to see, I genuinely found myself more fascinated by the fact that the state of New York was just across the way. As I began to reminisce about being in New York City at the same time last year, it suddenly occurred to this Superman fan that we were standing in a filming location for that 1980 classic Superman II. 

For those of you unfamiliar with the film, toward the beginning, Lois and Clark are covering a story at Niagara Falls and posing as a couple on their honeymoon. Well, that also happened to be where my mom and dad took their honeymoon back in the day, so I thought it’d be fun to take a picture of them standing in one of the same spots Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve were at in the movie. Then, I could put the photos side by side as sort of a fun anniversary post for them. Well, I thought it was a cute idea anyway… 

Easier said than done. The whole time I thought the pushy tourists would be confined to the boats. Meanwhile, there were plenty of pushy tourists on land. You could barely get through to the edge of the railing overlooking the falls. Unfortunately, we never got to make the photo happen, but we definitely had an adventure trying. 

One of the most surprising things we discovered in Niagara Falls was just how expensive it is to eat there. And sorry kids, no Trader Joe’s to be found. So, if you’re traveling on a budget, definitely bring your own food to save yourself some money. 

Something else to check out though is Niagara Falls at night. They light up the falls with different colors. Thank you, Dad, for the suggestion on that one. 

We closed out the Niagara Falls portion of our Memorial Day weekend trip by indulging in a little cheesy tourism… by going through one of those haunted houses they had near the falls. Hey, I wasn't lying when I said this place was like a knock-off Universal Citywalk in LA. I have to admit, while I had gone through haunted houses before with friends, experiencing it with my folks was downright hilarious. It felt like something straight out of an Ellen Show segment with her producer, Andy. 

All in all, I’ve had my fill of Niagara Falls, but I’m happy to report that since their honeymoon, Mom and Dad have upgraded their travels. And while I didn’t make the Superman II photo happen, I can at least dedicate this blog post to my parents and publish it on their anniversary. Happy 36th wedding anniversary, Mom and Dad. I love you guys! May we all be so lucky to find someone wonderful to take adventures around the world with. 

Even though almost all my travel adventures involve seeing the world on my own as an adult and the friends I go with or meet along the way, there’s something to be said about a good old-fashioned trip with the family. After all, that’s how I developed the travel bug in the first place. Despite being back in Michigan for a little while, life can get crazy busy and having the chance to actually spend some time quality time with my parents can still feel few and far in-between. As a television producer, time off is about as rare as it gets, so when you can take it, you TAKE IT. 

We used my 3-day Memorial Day weekend to go on a short trip. The question though, was where to go.  We were down to the wire trying to figure out something cool when it was my mom who suggested Toronto. I hadn’t been to Toronto since I was a little kid, which really equates to not remembering much of it at all. It was the perfect idea. It’d be like discovering the city again. Plus, it still counts as international travel too, so there you go. My folks, who are enjoying trips all over Europe and Mexico in their retirement, are well-versed in booking Airbnb, so they set it all up while I was just counted the days to the mini-vacation. 

The pre-Memorial Day Friday rolled around and my folks swung by my apartment and away we went. Because of my crazy work schedule, I happily volunteered to nap in the back seat. It was just like the old days - except for instead of being a kid tuckered out from playtime, I was an adult tuckered out from an overall lack of sleep. Life, am I right? 

Anyway, after a few “Are we there yets?” we finally made it to our Airbnb in Toronto that evening. We took it easy that night so we could hit the ground running the next day bright and early.

Saturday morning was the start of our big day to really explore the city. We had some suggestions and used those as a reference point for places to check out. Now, let me tell you something, navigation is always an adventure, but perhaps even more so when you’re with your parents. To be honest, I’m not sure what we spent more time doing: seeing the sights or trying to figure out how to get there. Oy vey. Either way it felt so good to be back in an actual city again. You think you’d never miss a subway after living in LA and New York, but you’d be surprised how much you do. God bless decent public transportation. Michigan, step it up. 

Eventually we made our way near St. Lawrence Market, which was recommended to us. The surrounding neighborhood kind of reminded me of Soho in New York, with some similar architecture in parts. Before heading to the market though, we stopped to grab some coffee. As we sat there trying to map out our day, a super-friendly local guy (who clearly could spot these confused Americans a mile away) must have overheard our conversation and proceeded to give us some great tips on things to do. Canadians really are as friendly as you’d think. 

As I began to wonder if universal healthcare truly was the key to friendliness, it was time to go St. Lawrence Market. Basically, it’s an indoor market inside a building that is, according to my research, over 100-years old. It’s a pretty cool space actually. Inside though, it was super busy, so if tight crowds aren’t your thing, you’ll probably just want to appreciate it from the outside. All in all, it’s a spot worth checking out and grabbing a bite to eat, but it’s not a place you’ll need to spend a long time at.

After St. Lawrence Market, we headed over to the Distillery District. The aesthetic here is brick roads and old-school brick buildings. It’s a neat place to walk around and maybe even grab a drink but like the St. Lawrence Market, you won’t need a ton of time to explore.

Our final stop of the day was the Kensington Market, which was my favorite place on the trip. This felt more like a neighborhood really than a confined market space like St. Lawrence. It has much more of an eclectic, hipster vibe to it, which might be why I gravitated toward this place more. Unfortunately, shortly after we arrived, so did a thunderstorm and downpour of rain. We got cover inside a local bar, where we ended up meeting some fellow Americans in town from Buffalo, New York. Shout out to William and Leola. They were really cool. That’s one of the best parts of travel for me: those unexpected, awesome people you meet along the way. 

Stay tuned for Part II in Niagara Falls, including our attempt at recreating a famous movie moment. 

Coffee shops in Grand Rapids are popping up more quickly than ever.  With all kinds of new places around town, it's hard to keep up with what Grand Rapids coffee shops there are to check out, so two of the city's top entrepreneurs and creatives joined forces to make it a whole lot easier. Nicole Kosheba (@nico_sheba) and Santiago Gomez (@santiagoproperties) are the authors behind the digital guide book Espresso the Love, which breaks down all of Grand Rapids' best coffee spots. Read on to find out more about Nicole and Santiago, their new book, and what they love most about Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

How long have you called Grand Rapids home?
Nicole: Roughly 20 years 

 Santiago: 25 years, 10 months and 2 days


What inspired you to write Espresso the Love?
Nicole: We're both coffee lovers who love exploring our quickly growing city. In the book's introduction, we mention that there was a day where we were looking for a "hidden gem" 
coffee shop - something we hadn't yet discovered. That moment sparked the idea and the rest is history!

Santiago: Like Nicole mentioned, that day we were searching for a "hidden gem" that we hadn't yet discovered really started the conversation and ideas flowed from there.  


Do you focus solely on locally-owned coffee shops?
Both: Yes.  


I love that it breaks it down by neighborhood, which makes it easy to read. How do the coffee shops between Grand Rapids neighborhoods differ?
Nicole: I'm not sure that the neighborhoods necessarily encompass coffee shops with a similar vibe, but, there are certain coffee shops that are long known neighborhood staples for example; Sparrows on Wealthy, Common Ground on the East end of Fulton, The Bitter End on the West end of Fulton. 

Santiago: I'd say we brought the neighborhood aspect into play more as a way of making it easier to read like you mentioned. People tend to go to coffee shops that are near where they live, so breaking it down by neighborhood just seemed logical. 


Right now, this is available in digital, which is great if you’re on the go. Do you guys plan to publish a printed version as well?
Nicole: We have certainly looked into it! :-)

Santiago: Stay tuned ;-)


What do you love most about Grand Rapids?
Nicole: I love that Grand Rapids is a growing city and that we get to be a part of it's growth. I also love the cleanliness. Whenever we travel we always include some city exploration - we've been to some really great places, yet time and time again, we come back to Grand Rapids and it always feels good to be back; the air is clean, the streets and sidewalks are busy, but clean. It's great. All large cities eventually encounter challenges with trash and dirtiness, I hope that as GR continues to grow we as a community will continue to find ways to maintain the beauty that is here. 

Santiago: I love the small town community feel, yet it's still big enough to have a variety of really excellent restaurants, breweries, and of course, coffee shops.          


Grand Rapids has grown so much in the last decade. What’s the biggest change you’ve noticed?
Nicole: There are so many new restaurants and shops popping up that we can't keep track. On top of that, I've notice a significant amount of increased traffic everywhere we go. 
  
Santiago: All of the neighborhoods, including the ones that some may have once considered to be less desirable, are becoming vibrant and thriving.   


Do you think you’ll release other types of guides for Grand Rapids?
Nicole: Perhaps! We haven't ruled it out! :)

Santiago: Stay tuned ;-)
 
​
Last but not least, do you have a personal favorite coffee shop feature in the book?
Nicole: Aaahhh the question that everyone asks! :-) Honestly, I have my favorites, but the whole coffee experience is so nuanced and subjective that it wouldn't be fair for me to promote any one over the others. I keep telling people that that is up to them to decide, and I encourage readers to do the same- go visit some of these shops and determine what you like best :-)

Santiago: It's hard to pick a favorite!!

When asked the question “What is your favorite food?”, I’ll answer “Mexican” probably even before you finish saying the word ‘food’. I love travel and trying new dishes from all cultures and places around the world, but when it comes to what I’ve loved most, it’s definitely Mexican food. 

That being said, I’m a bit of a snob when it comes what I deem ‘good’ Mexican food. Having lived in Puerto Vallarta and visiting Mexico over 20 years, I've been exposed to some of the best Mexican food one could imagine. Delicious tacos, quesadillas, mole, ceviche, fresh fruit, shrimp - you get the point. It was incredible! Therefore, when I go out for Mexican food now, I’m looking for as close to authentic as possible. 

The good news is that people living in or visiting West Michigan actually have a really great place to go, and let’s face it, when it comes to the best Mexican food in Grand Rapids, go authentic or go home. 

Tacos el Cuñado is a small, local restaurant at the corner of Burton and Towner on the southwest side of Grand Rapids. It can get a little confusing since there are multiple venues with this same name.  I couldn’t tell you if all the locations are owned by the same people or it’s just a coincidence they share the same name, but the venue I’m sharing with you is definitely where it’s at. Plus, it's more of a hidden gem, and if you're looking for something that not everyone else already knows about, then consider this your insider Grand Rapids travel tip. 

Immediately upon walking in, I felt like I was back in Puerto Vallarta grabbing a meal – well, minus the palm trees, warm weather, and ocean – but other than that it felt familiar! 

You can order items à la carte or a full plate of food. Tacos run for only $2.50 and honestly, just a couple tacos and you’re full. I ordered one shrimp taco and one fish taco. If you’re going to be authentic, you’ve got to order it with cilantro. They serve the dishes with pieces of lime as well, so be sure to squeeze some lime juice onto your taco as well. If you haven’t tried that yet, trust me you will love it! It adds some great flavor.

I enjoyed those two tacos with the delight of kid on Christmas morning, occasionally distracted by the Latin sports announcer yelling “Goal!” from a nearby television set.

Last but not least, you MUST top off your meal by ordering horchata to drink. This is a traditional Mexican drink made out of rice, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. It’s one of my favorites! 

You can bet I’ll be back at Tacos el Cuñado again. One trip just isn’t enough and I’m so in the mood for some ceviche now...

You’d think growing up a mere 3 hours from Chicago, I would have experienced a St. Patrick’s Day there already, but no. Shortly after I was old enough to even have a Guinness, I was packing my bags for Los Angeles. So, upon returning to the Midwest I made it a point to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, which is notorious for going all-out for the annual Irish holiday. Even though I handle alcohol about as good as Aunt Becky’s kids handle college admissions, I still like to get in on the spirit of the day. 

The plan was to spend the weekend in Chicago. I’d leave Friday morning and come back Sunday. I’ll admit, the Midwest is still catching up with the whole public transit thing, so routes aren’t always as convenient or as frequent as say New York, but thankfully I was able avoid taking a car. 
I caught a bus from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo and then a train from Kalamazoo to Chicago. I bought my ticket through Amtrak, so technically the bus was part of that booking. You just need to transfer onto an actual train once you reach Kalamazoo. Don’t ask me why. 

The Kalamazoo train station is an interesting place full of characters. To be honest, it had me feeling like I was back in LA all over again. A word of caution: I’d definitely avoid the Kalamazoo train station at night. 

The train for Chicago finally arrived. The only warning the conductor issued was to avoid the back car due to the noise factor. It was then that it hit me: I was on a train full of people going to the Big Ten game, to party, or both. It was like an Irish Spring Break. 

I arrived in Chicago safe and sound and puke-free. I was staying with a good friend of mine who’s a local, so it was perfect. Since I was so tuckered out, we kept it low-key on Friday, and then I would hit the ground running on Saturday. 

Saturday morning, our first stop was the to see Chicago’s famous green river, but not before grabbing some coffee first. I clocked this in at exactly 8:15 am. There was a line outside…of a bar…at 8:15 in the morning. If you had any doubt about Chicago taking St. Paddy’s Day seriously, reference that tidbit. 

Okay, back to the river. Every year the city dyes the Chicago River green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, so naturally, everyone is trying to get a good look at it. Thankfully, other onlookers were pretty cool about sharing the space. I mean, how long do you need to look at a green river? It’s not changing colors anytime soon. 

After that, we grabbed brunch at Beatrix downtown, just a block over from Michigan Ave. It’s a cool, kind of swanky place that’s great for a nice brunch spot. If you’re into the healthy food options, you’ll want to go here. I haven’t seen avocado toast on a menu since Los Angeles. I wanted to be adventurous though and try something new, so I went with the rainbow toast. It sounded fun and I had never heard of it before. Good news: it was delicious too. Basically, this toast comes cut into three sections. They all have ricotta cheese and each section is topped with a different colored fruit, hence the whole ‘rainbow toast’ name. You get one with strawberries, one with pineapple, and the third one with blueberries and blackberries. I definitely recommend both the rainbow toast and the restaurant itself. The best thing about this place is that considering the prime location and the good food, the prices are super reasonable. My toast only cost about $5! Budget travelers for the win.

Following brunch, I was on my own until it was time to meet up with another friend later in the day. I had the afternoon to explore Chicago, and it was the perfect day to do it. We had sunny skies and it wasn’t too cold, which for Chicago is a blessing.

I walked along the coastline until I reached Navy Pier. Lake Michigan is not the first place I would think of to have turquoise blue water, but it was absolutely gorgeous that day with the sun shining. 
Navy Pier was fun. It’s one of those tourist spots you kind of have to check out when you go here, but it has great views of the water. I walked along the pier, where I saw boats, a Ferris wheel, and even a 20-something’s Instagram photo shoot. Not sure what was most entertaining. 

​After the pier, I made my way back uptown to the Hancock Building. Now, this is one of those great Chicago spots where you can get a skyline view of the city. My plan was to head up to the building’s Signature Room and Lounge, grab a drink, and check out the view. Unfortunately, I soon discovered it was also the plan of a bunch of other people too. I wasn’t keen on the idea of waiting in a long line, so I figured I’d check out the view and head out. The good news is that there’s no cover, so you can just go up there and not worry about paying for a view. When I was up there though, I learned a travel tip that you’ll definitely want to remember when you head to Chicago: the best view in the entire venue is in the women’s bathroom. I kid you not. If there was ever a reprieve for the long bathroom lines women have had to deal with over the years than this was it. I even asked if the men’s room had the same view. Nope, just the women’s one.

After that, it was time to meet up with another friend of mine over in Wrigleyville. If you’re looking for the party area of Chicago, this is definitely it. The neighborhood was alive for St. Patrick’s Day with the smell of whiskey and the sound of frat boys trying to start fights with each other. There were pubs with lines out the door all along Clark Street. If you do find yourself on Clark Street, keep walking though, because eventually you’ll hit Wrigley Field where the Chicago Cubs play and that’s pretty awesome to see. We ended up going to a bar called Casey Moran’s. No cover but a terrible DJ. 

Once Sunday rolled around it was time to head back home, but per usual, the adventures didn’t stop there. Once again, I had a stop-over at the Kalamazoo train station. This time I even had to report a woman smoking in the bathroom. Full disclosure, I slightly feared for my safety here and was never more excited to get on a crammed bus to Grand Rapids. 

Upon arriving in Grand Rapids, I called a Lyft ride, where I was met with a driver who looked like a serial killer version of Wallace Shawn from The Princess Bride.  After all, St. Paddy’s Day is anything but dull. 

​

Paris! The city of lights, romance, and occasionally, a few rats. Hey, nothing’s perfect right? It truly is a magical place, and I would recommend it in a heartbeat. However, packing up and actually traveling to Paris takes some planning and saving. So, how about a budget-friendly alternative for a little French escape on a dreary winter day in the Midwest?

I recently came across Le Bon Macaron on Cherry Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This Parisian-inspired café is locally-owned here in Michigan, and although it has coffee and tea, its real draw is the macarons. This traditional French treat was one of my favorites to try in Paris, so naturally, I was thrilled to enjoy some once again. 

The assortment of colors that macarons come in are just as fun too. I tried 3 flavors while I was there: Rose, Violet, and Salted Caramel. Hands down, my favorite was the Violet. If you have a tough time deciding though and want to take some for the road, you have the option to buy 6 for $12. 

Make sure to get a seat right by the window, so you can people watch as you sip your cappuccino and enjoy your macaron. They’ve only been open for a few years, but it’s clear this a neighborhood favorite. There are several other locations too in East Lansing and Ann Arbor. 

We’ll always have Paris, but in the meantime, we also have Le Bon Macaron. 

If you head to Le Bon Macaron and have a macaron suggestion for me to try, leave a comment below letting me know which one. 

Coming up later this month: Want to go to a real party? Join me for a St. Patrick's Day travel adventure in Chicago. 

I am also a regular contributor for other travel sites as well. Check out some of my work for Tiplr and ARTRPRNR Magazine below.

Welcome to Brisbane: Everything to Know About Queensland's Capital City
artrprnr.com/welcome-to-brisbane-everything-to-know-about-queenslands-capital-city/
​
The World's Best Beaches
www.tiplr.com/travel-blog/the-worlds-best-beaches

Los Angeles Off the Beaten Path
​tiplr.com/travel-blog/los-angeles-off-the-beaten-path

Moving to New York City
​tiplr.com/travel-blog/moving-to-new-york-city

​
​

​The city of Grand Rapids, Michigan is growing every single day. What was now a sleepy downtown where some companies did business is now a popular place to live and hang out – just look at the overpriced high-rise apartments and lack of parking. All joking aside, I remember going downtown on a Sunday and you could swear the apocalypse had just arrived; There was no one around. Nowadays, there’s crowds spending time in the city all-year long. 

With so much going on, that also means Grand Rapids is becoming a Midwest travel destination in the United States. Obviously, one of the most prevalent travel topics is food, and there’s plenty of old favorites and emerging new restaurants in Grand Rapids that travelers and locals alike can enjoy.

I’m a foodie and love to try new things, so when I heard about a brand-new Cuban restaurant on GR’s east side, I just had to check it out. 

Danzon Cubano opened up just last year and is already bringing a unique flair to the Grand Rapids food scene that has usually been delegated to major cities like New York or Los Angeles. This restaurant not only brings its A-game to food and drinks, but more importantly, to entertainment! Their Facebook page is filled with all sorts of fun music and dance events. On Thursdays, there’s Salsa dance lessons, and on weekends you can catch live music performances. Coming up this month, Danzon Cubano is hosting two performances with the Afro-Caribbean and Salsa band Grupo Aye. If you’re curious about the entertainment, check out their Facebook page, which includes plenty of videos featuring entertainment that the restaurant puts on.

I had the opportunity to visit Danzon Cubano this past weekend, and while I didn’t catch any entertainment that night, I was able to try out some incredible food. My friend Julie and I split an appetizer, meal, and dessert, which is a great way to go. It’s just enough food and for young people on a budget, it’s a great way to save a little too.

I ordered a Cuba Libre to drink. I had never had one before, and since I’ve already tried a mojito, I figured let’s go with this one. It was really good!

For the appetizer we had the Tostones Rellenos - or stuffed plantain chips – with rice and beans. For dinner, we ordered the Churrasco al Danzon (Danzon Steak). It’s a Cuban style flank steak, served with rice and beans, maduros, and mojo. And then for dessert we ordered the Flan. It comes with a piece of Guayaba fruit to top it off. Perfect finish to a great meal.

The food was honestly some of the best I’ve ever had, but what I think sets this place apart is the addition of entertainment. It’s not just a restaurant or a nightclub, it’s a cool combination of both. It’s perfect for a girl’s night out, a date night, birthday party, everything. Feel free to dress up here too. Get in the spirit of going out and actually getting dressed up. 

So, if you’re visiting Grand Rapids - or just live in GR and are looking for a new place to go out to - I would definitely recommend Danzon Cubano. You can be sure I'll be back again. ¡Salud! 

It's the weekend before Christmas and all through the house, everyone was stirring...because they gotta go Christmas shopping!

Have you gotten your shopping done yet? Don't worry, Humor Travel Life has you covered. Unfortunately, I'm not Santa and can't cover the entire world, so this post will focus on where to shop in Los Angeles. Technically, this blog post can apply all year 'round, so feel free to reference back anytime.

The first thing to know about Los Angeles is that it is rather annoyingly spread out, which means that shopping can greatly depend on where in LA you're located. The good news though, is that there is plenty of shopping almost everywhere in LA, so let's break it down by neighborhood.

If you're in...

West Hollywood
                    The Grove /Farmer's Market
                                   The Grove is also a major tourist spot, so be aware of that. It's a beautiful outdoor shopping destination and is one of those LA places where it also feels like people go to be "seen" - mainly because it's also a spot where you're more likely see a celebrity. As far as shopping goes, it really doesn't have a ton of stores to choose from and tends to cater to more expensive brands. However, there are stores like GAP and Barnes and Nobles there as well, so there is some budget variety. The coolest part of The Grove, however, is the farmer's market next door. This is a great spot to get locally-made gifts like popcorn and candies.

                    The Beverly Center
                                           The Beverly Center is set up like a traditional mall. The good news is that it's not nearly as busy at The Grove and offers more shopping. It's got both the fancy brands and the budget-friendly brands. The worst thing about The Beverly Center is that it can be confusing to navigate but other than that it's a pretty good shopping experience.

                      Melrose Trading Post
                                             This weekly event happens every Sunday from about 9AM-5PM in the parking lot of Fairfax High School. It's costs roughly $3 to get in, and it's a great local flea market in the heart of WeHo. This is a perfect LA spot to shop for original, unique gifts that you won't find in regular malls. Plus, you can venture over to the local stores along Melrose Avenue once you are done.

Hollywood
                  Hollywood & Highland
                                       If you actually live in LA, you're less likely to do your shopping at Hollywood & Highland. The biggest reason being that it is also the epicenter of Hollywood tourism. Nevertheless, there are plenty of residents who actually live in Hollywood and might prefer to stay nearby. This mall features popular stories like American Eagle, Forever 21, and GAP. Fun fact: it's also connected next to the Kodak theater, which is the home of the Academy Awards ceremonies.

Beverly Hills
                    Rodeo Drive
                                         I'm no aficionado when it comes to shopping in Beverly Hills, but it's true that Rodeo Drive is the main street for shopping in this famous Los Angeles neighborhood. If you have the budget for it, this is where you'll find those designer brands. 

West LA
                   Westfield Century City
                                         Another confusing outdoor mall, but the Century City mall offers popular chains like H & M, Banana Republic, and an Apple Store. 

Santa Monica
                 3rd Street Promenade
                                            You're probably sensing a theme that there's a lot of outdoor shopping in Los Angeles...and you would be correct. The 3rd Street Promenade is no exception. It's another popular tourist spot because Santa Monica is a top tourist destination in LA, so be aware of crowds. However, the shopping here is fantastic. Bonus points for being right off the ocean.

Burbank
                   Burbank Town Center
                                  Bubank is located in what's known as 'The Valley', which basically refers to the LA neighborhoods over the hill. It's a literal valley, go figure. The valley's not so bad really, and it seems to have more of a suburban feel to it. Don't be fooled by the suburban demeanor though - it's also where major movie studios like Universal, Warner Bros, and Disney are located. The Burbank Town Center is a traditional type of mall located in downtown Burbank, which is a cute neighborhood to hang out in. This mall is great for those regular chain stores we all know and love. There's also more shops outside the mall in the downtown center as well, including an Urban Outfitters.

Studio City
                  Ventura Blvd.
                                  Starting at the cross street with Laurel Canyon, you'll find stores located along the busy Ventura Blvd. Plenty of popular chains like Urban Outfitters, Banana Republic, and GAP offer clothing varieties, but there's also local spots to pick out more unique items as well.

Glendale
                   Glendale Galleria/Americana at Brand
                                          Technically, these are two different shopping centers, but since they are right across the street from each other, I'll  combine the two. The Glendale Galleria is a massive indoor mall with plenty of great shopping. Just across the street is the Americana at Brand. It's an adorable outdoor shopping space designed just like The Grove (without the tourists). 


My Top Pick:
When it comes to shopping in Los Angeles, my top pick is....the Glendale Galleria/Americana at Brand. 

Ironically, I didn't go there often because I never lived in Glendale and that traffic through Los Feliz can be brutal. That being said, when I did visit, it was awesome. The fact that you have two very different malls right next to each other means that this shopping space offers more than the majority of LA shopping centers. Plus, the Galleria is HUGE. That mall seems to go on and on and has every store imaginable. I felt like the Galleria offered everything, and if it didn't, just hop across the street to the Americana.

Well, that marks the last Humor Travel Life post for 2018, but I'll be back in 2019 with plenty of great travel tips and funny stories.

Coming up in 2019:   Ireland, Chicago, and much more! Stay tuned.