Search Results for: food

The Best Small Towns in the Pacific NW: Mt. Angel, Oregon

August 15, 2018

For most of my life I’ve craved being in a city, the rush of energy, the access to everything, the great food and the quick paced life. But I’m a woman of contradictions and as much as I still love the city, I either love being in the center of it or the complete opposite. And over the years of traveling, I have acquired a deep affinity for small picturesque towns, where everyone knows each other and you walk to the Main Street to accomplish whatever errands you need to. There is just a draw to small towns that pulls at me and I have often told those closest to me that I see myself retiring somewhere in a beautiful little town, wandering to the market and relishing in the quiet and slow pace of what small towns can offer.

After a Summer visits to Oregon and Washington’s small picturesque towns, I decided to compile some of the best small towns in the Pacific NW and showcase them here on LOM. Maybe you crave small town life too? Maybe you want to visit and relish in the quiet beautiful streets of small towns in the Pacific NW? Well look no further than my newest series on Land of Marvels: The Best Small Towns of the Pacific NW. Today we’re jumping off with Mt. Angel, Oregon – a beauty all its own!

More Small Towns of the Pacific NW

Which to Choose : Provence or Tuscany

August 13, 2018

I often get the question, if you had the choice to travel to place A or B, which would you choose? Or do you think I’d like place A or B better? And to answer that question, it really depends on the destinations you’re looking at choosing between. There are some cities that many people try to choose between if you only have one opportunity to head somewhere so if you end up having to make that choice, here’s how I’ll best help you decide in this new Land of Marvels series.

So, you’re headed to Europe and you’re wondering if Provence or Tuscany would be a better choice for you to explore small towns and rolling hillsides?

Well… both are great options to feel like you’ve been transported to a movie, but if you can only pick one, here’s my best information to help you choose!

Choose Provence if you…

Want to see the purple lavender – Provence is famous for the fields and fields of lavender in the Summer months that turn the hillsides purple!
Like little street markets – you can’t go wrong wandering little French markets and buying all the fresh food.
Want tiny little towns with colorful shutters – the tiny little Provencal towns that dot the countryside are full of stone buildings with colorful shutters that look straight out of a movie set.
Love croissants and all French pastries – you’ll never taste anything better than a fresh croissant straight out of the oven in a tiny little bakery in France.
Want great antique shopping – Many of the tiny towns in Provence have incredible antique shops!
Want a French feel – Obviously being in France, Provence feels very French.
Are looking for an escape from reality – Provence is one of those places that totally transports you away from anything that feels routine and normal.

Choose Tuscany if you…

Want some of the best food of your life – Italy is world renowned for its amazing food and in Tuscany, you’ll find incredible offerings.
Want rows and rows of Cyprus Trees – We’ve all seen the tried and true Tuscan Instagrams.
Want to feel in the middle of nowhere – Tuscany isn’t all that far from major cities like Rome and Florence, but out there in the rolling hillsides, it feels like your miles and miles away from everywhere.
Love history – With tons of tiny old, old, old Italian towns and villas dotted through Tuscany, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time.
Like Churches – The little Tuscan towns are filled with churches, I mean, it is Italy after all!
Want to stay close to Italy’s main hubs – You can be in Tuscany in an hour just outside of Florence or just about 90 minutes outside of Rome… if you want to stay close to the major cities but still get a feel of this beautiful area, it’s super easy and close!

A Guide to Portland’s Neighborhoods

July 27, 2018

Portland is such a vibrant and amazing city and there is so much to explore! But like most large cities, each neighborhood is specific and has certain quirks. Visitors to Portland might like to know more about each area before visiting, so here, from my own perspective as a Portland local, is my guide to Portland’s neighborhoods (most of them anyway), both on the West and East sides of the River.

NW

I lived in this neighborhood for a long while and it’s still one of my favorites. NW Portland is basically anything North of Burnside and West of the 405 freeway. It encompasses a bunch of tiny smaller NW neighborhoods like Nob Hill and Slab Town but overall you’ll find old historic homes and small local shops and restaurants in this area.

Don’t miss: A wander through the old Victorian houses scattered around Nob Hill and NW 23rd.

Goose Hollow

The neighborhood where Nick and I lived for 10 years in SW Portland is hilly and very green with old trees. Goose Hollow is where the Timbers play, so game days can be hectic up there but it’s the perfect place to see old homes and views of the city.

Don’t miss: A Timbers game!

Downtown

Downtown really encompasses the main financial and shopping hubs of the cities, as well as Portland State University. Here you’ll find high rises, great views and a city vibe.

Don’t miss: The Farmer’s Market in the PSU Park Blocks on Saturdays!

South Waterfront

Since OHSU added a bunch of buildings to the South Waterfront, it’s really boomed down in this neighborhood. This area is a little South of downtown but right on the Willamette River and has great public transport to connect you to Downtown. Here is where to go if you want beautiful glass high rises overlooking the River with a small village type vibe.

Don’t miss: A stroll along the Willamette River!

Pearl

The Pearl District is one of Portland’s most famed neighborhoods and while once it’s claim to fame was that it was mostly renovated old warehouses turned into swanky lofts (a la our version of Brooklyn), now it’s morphed just into more high rises unfortunately. The district is still one of the most expensive to live in Portland but does house some of the best restaurants and shops in the city.

Don’t miss: Ice cream from Cool Moon and a stroll through Tanner Springs Park!

Hawthorne + Belmont + Division

Hawthorne, Belmont, and Division are three main roads on the East Side of Portland that house most of the shops and restaurants in that area of SE Portland. This area feels neighborhood-y without feeling suburban. You’ll find old Portland bungalows here and some of the best food in Portland!

Don’t miss: Lunch at a food truck pod!

Williams

This road in North Portland has grown up a lot in the past few years! You’ll find a lot of new building going on here, the streets are wider, there are less trees than SE and it’s a younger vibe overall.

Don’t miss: Dumplings and dim sum at XLB.

Mississippi

The Mississippi area is known as an artsy center of Portland, a long road that stretches North and South, Mississippi is where you’ll still find the grungier side of Portland along with some amazing art and shops and restaurants.

Don’t miss: A stroll along Mississippi on a warm Summer evening as the neighborhood comes alive.

Sellwood

Sellwood is a gem. Feeling like a little village but still only 15 minutes from downtown, Sellwood offers an old world charm with amazing selections of shops and restaurants. It’s also a hub for antique stores so you’ll find plenty of those in Sellwood too. Think old tree lined streets with historic homes in this area.

Don’t miss: Antique shopping at the many little local antique stores!

Headed to my home town of Portland?

See all my posts on Portland here!

Which to Choose : Hong Kong or Tokyo

July 20, 2018

So, you’re headed to Asia and you’re wondering if Hong Kong or Tokyo would be a better choice for you to explore and base yourself?

Well… both are great options to get the feel of some of Asia’s famous destinations but if you can only pick one, here’s my best information to help you choose!

Choose Hong Kong if you…

Want amazing Dim Sum – the city is famous for its Dim Sum and dumplings!
Are looking for a hub on the mainland continent of Asia – Hong Kong offers a hub on mainland Asia that is easy to get anywhere from there.
Want amazing skylines – the horizons of tall buildings all over the world have nothing on Hong Kong.
Are looking for an International community – due to Hong Kong’s history, the city is very international from people all over the world and houses a large expat base
Want amazing shopping – Hong Kong has every type of shopping you could want from street markets to high end couture
Want a vintage vibe – the city definitely has new modern areas, but it’s the vintage old school Chinese areas that are the best in Hong Kong
Are looking for warmer weather year round – Because of its location, Hong Kong stays fairly warm year round but can also get really humid.

Choose Tokyo if you…

Want some of the best food of your life – I live on Ramen when in Tokyo but all the food in Tokyo is out of this world amazing.
Like clean, organized cities – Tokyo is the epitome of organized and is one of the cleanest cities I’ve ever traveled to.
Are looking for easy transportation – the Subway and Train systems in Tokyo and throughout Japan are some of the best in the world and as big as Tokyo is, it’s super easy to get around.
Love color – Many neighborhoods in Tokyo are full of color from huge outdoor TV screens to colorful signs up and down the buildings everywhere you look.
Enjoy new cultures – The Japanese people and culture is one of my favorite things about Tokyo!
Want an easy flight from the West Coast of the USA – You can be in Tokyo in a matter of hours on a direct flight from the West Coast of the USA and is an easy destination in Asia with a relatively easy hop across the Atlantic.
Like to bring home souvenirs – Tokyo has no shortage of amazing hand made goods to bring home as beautiful souvenirs.

Do’s and Don’ts of Travel Experiences in Asia

July 9, 2018

Asia is one of my favorite continents and there are so many amazing places within the continent of Asia that sometimes it feels impossible to know what to do and see. I hear from a lot of people that they want to visit Asia but aren’t sure what to prioritize and want to know what’s amazing and what’s not so amazing for a traveler. So today here are my Do’s and Don’ts of travel experiences in Asia to help you narrow down what to do and where to go on your next trip to Asia!

Great Wall of China – DO!

I have a lot of people ask me about the Great Wall and if it’s worth it or not. And I will preface this by saying I think this is one of those spots that greatly depends on the time of year. We went in the Winter, in late November, and had one of the magical mornings of our entire life as we explored the Great Wall of China in the snowfall. I had an incredible experience there and would say it’s definitely a DO! However, be mindful that if you visit in peak tourist season it might be a different experience.

Sunrise at Angkor Wat – Don’t!

When in Cambodia, one of the things that is pushed a lot and you see a million photos of is sunrise at the Angkor Wat temples in Siem Reap. I would caution travelers NOT to do this. First off, it’s packed with people, like walls of people. I actually got really claustrophobic with how crowded it was (and that is not typical for me). Second, unless you have an incredible sunrise, the view is really just ok. I would recommend doing sunrise at one of many other temples in the area that will be much less crowded!

Light show in Hong Kong – Don’t!

While in Hong Kong earlier this year, we met up with my parents there who were on their way home from China. We had heard that the light show over the harbor was something not to miss so we all made our way down there early so we could get seats. We waited and waited and waited and after watching the 7 minute light show, left feeling very disappointed. It was fine, but really not worth waiting around for and battling the crowds!

Cherry Blossom Season in Japan – Do!

We happened to time our Spring trip to Japan perfectly to match up with peak cherry blossom season this past year and it’s a definite Do if you can make it work! The blossoms were out of this world and the whole country was brightened up with the pink blossoms everywhere. The peak bloom fades fast though so be sure to time it just right!

Street Food in Bangkok – DO!

I’ll preface this by saying do this one with caution. When we visited Bangkok a few years back, we relished in the opportunity for Thai street food and I loved it! However, while I was totally fine, Nick got really sick from what he ate… hence the caution. If you are up to it, and you feel like your stomach is up to it, street food in Bangkok is a definite must!

Temple Hopping in Seoul – DO!

Seoul is one of those cities that is not necessarily high on peoples’ lists for Asia, but it’s such an amazing under the radar city! The metropolis of Seoul has everything but it also has incredible old temples scattered through the city that are a must DO while in Asia. Wander yourself or hop on a bus and explore the amazing old temples that sit right next to modern skyscrapers.

The Best Small Towns in the Pacific NW: Mt. Angel, Oregon

Which to Choose : Provence or Tuscany