Brandy, Author at Travel & Experiences at Boutique Hotels and Restaurants Around the World

30 DC Restaurant Week 2023 Insider Picks

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1789 is doing dc restaurant week — Handmade ravioli postage stamp shapes made in a 1789 cooking class 🧑🏻‍🍳

Getting ready for DC Restaurant week? These are my 30 faves for the DC Restaurant Week 2023 summer edition. DC is a transient area as people come and go, and restaurants come and go just as easily. But some (most on this list) have withstood the test of time, and one or two are 2020ish newcomers that are on that trajectory. 🎉

I know these restaurants and areas intimately, living-working in the DC metro area for decades after growing up there and working in hotel & restaurant events management, and enjoying brunch meetups. So yeah, I consider myself a foodie and a distant local no matter where I am in the world. ❤️

… And, If you’re a sushi or pizza lover, you’ll love this list (…plus, you and I will get along very well! 😁)! Raw and baked are high on my list. And for 2023 DC Restaurant Week they’re serving a $25 brunch/lunch and $40/$55 fixed dinner price menu.

Some of these restaurants you will find on my 2019 DC Restaurant Week List which is a good sign. While prices have gone up some 😏 , the Restaurant Week prices are still price fixed so you know what you’re getting yourself into if you’re on a budget (and easy to calculate if you’re with a group. And some of the Restaurant Week picks are on my group brunch picks).

1789 – They are owned by the same Clyde’s Restaurant Group who own Clyde’s, Old Ebbitt Grill, and The Tombs. From time to time they have cooking classes and they are the creme de la creme of restaurants.

2941 – out in a tranquil setting in Fairview Park outside of the bustling Tysons Corner area, this is a fine-dining restaurant for a special occasion. …Maybe consider Restaurant Week to test out?

Al Dente – was founded and once owned by Chef Roberto Donna. This casual restaurant is in the ritzy Palisades area (where the Clintons once had a home) is not far from Georgetown.

Al Dente is participating in dc restaurant week 2023 — I’m a diner as much as someone who knows what it’s like inside restaurants 😋

Bastille – near Old Town Alexandria, this Parker-Gray neighborhood restaurant is one you’ll enjoy if you want to get off the busy and touristy King Street, but still have the high-end historic town vibes.

Birch & Barley – owned by the Neighborhood Restaurant Group who also own Rustico, Evening Star, Vermillion, and Bluejacket on this list to name a few. You can’t go far and not run into one of their restaurants.

Black Salt – serves find-dining seafood in the Palisades (…scallops and black squid ink come to mind 💭… maybe that’s all you needed to hear).

Bluejacket – this is comfort food near Nats Stadium in Navy Yards. Working in the biz, we took a tour of the metal beer barrel production.

Cafe Milano – this was the see-and-be-seen restaurant in Georgetown before others flocked to the Italian foodie scene. My fave is Fiola, but they are not on the 2023 Restaurant Week menu 🫤 But there are many other Penn Quarter restaurant choices on this list 🍽️

dc restaurant week fiola memories — Fiola in Penn Quarter

Chart House – on the Alexandria waterfront, and is a local treasure. You can’t miss the restaurant that looks like a beach restaurant.

China Chilcano – read about this restaurant as Jose Andres’ latest restaurant adventure (future foods) at ThinkFood Group.

Earls – sushi alert! Let the food board speak for itself… 🍱

DC restaurant week 2023 — Earls across the new Tysons Corner greens area that sometimes has live concerts

Evening Star Cafe – in DelRay (in between Alexandria and Arlington) off the main street. DelRay is a 50s neighborhood with old-fashioned porches, and is dotted and lined with restaurants along Mount Vernon Ave. (DelRay’s King Street). And a few are on this DC Restaurant Week list.

Farmers Fishers Bakers (Georgetown) – this is a popular farm table restaurant that’s one of the newer additions to the Georgetown waterfront (The Washington Harbour). They’re owned by the Founding Farmers Group.

Founding Farmers – are restaurants that bring in seasonal menus in a modern setting. Like Neighborhood Restaurant Group, ThinkFood Group, and Clyde’s Restaurant Group, the Founding Farmers Group’s restaurant concepts are all over the DC metro area serving sensible modern American eats. In other words, you don’t have to travel far to find another one under their umbrella.

Hen Quarter – southern fare comfort food with an upstairs and downstairs in Old Town Alexandria. Maybe a great brunch meeting place? You can’t miss the red corner as a great directional detail that makes it easy to point out.

Kaz Sushi Bistro – creative sushi and Bento boxes and has been around before Y2K. You can find the more traditional rolls and some artistry touches.

Matchbox – upscale pizza chain you can find in DC, MD, and VA including Penn Quarter, Rockville, and Mosaic District (the new shopping center in Merrifield near Fairfax). This is a good meeting place as you can’t go wrong.

Officina – in the newest hangout area of the DC Waterfront with amazing water views. It’s the coolest restaurant, good for a date. 😘 More on this waterfront Wharf District below.

Oceanaire – …Baked Alaska lit at the table comes to mind, but that’s my sweet tooth talking. This is one of the older, established seafood restaurants around. You can find this in DC near 14th Street (another revival area) and Baltimore in the new Harbor East section (by The Four Seasons and Under Armour if you need a compass 🧭). Baltimore is growing beyond the Inner Harbor.

Oyamel – Jose Andres’ colorful restaurant that serves tasty bits (tapas-style_ and dishes, and a great mole (mo-lay) if you’re into that! Nothing is served brown on the plate, it’s always brightened with natural food colors like pickled purple onions and yellow edible flowers that match the restaurant vibes.

Passion Fish – sushi, oh my! One of my fave as a modern concept in the 90s built Reston Town Center.

Ris – if you’re near Dupont Circle, Ris is owned by the local chef who made a Washingtonian magazine debut back when 1789 was getting its name.

Rustico – rustic pizza wood-fired and a great neighborhood place for beer lovers! And Neighborhood Restaurant Group fans.

Sequoia – Georgetown waterfront is a longstanding restaurant on The Washington Harbour that’s as popular today as in the 80s and 90s.

Tony & Joe’s – has outdoor seating with branded patio umbrellas that have been there forever… a great stop for visitors to get a feel of The Washington Harbour

The Melting Pot – what about fondue when you want a fun day!? This is an area chain restaurant that can be hours of entertainment, whether you choose cheese or chocolate… and fondue cook your own meat at the table (tip: bring a cook or someone who’s good at keepin’ minutes ⏲️).

The Wine Kitchen – in Leesburg (Northern Virginia), it’s a quaint Italian restaurant that’ll make you forget you’re in a major metro city.

Unconventional Diner – near the DC Convention Center, and is probably one of the newest comers… and comes with unconventional presentation stacks where southern eat meets modern diner… would love to know whatcha think!

Vermillion – King Street Old Town Alexandria – is a fan favorite and has been closed for a few years, and is now back open!

Zatinya – Penn Quarter Greek-Mediterranean known for serving lamb dishes and mezza. It’s one of Chef Jose Andres’ near the Portrait Gallery (one of the free Smithsonian museums to checkout!).

And if you’re needing a place to stay, an area that has transformed from a smelly fish market where the boats docked and you could see the moving waters below, is now the swanky Wharf District that has become high-end boutique restaurants, shops, and hotels. There’s even a Milk store, in case you’re into cereal desserts like I am. I like the birthday truffles 🎉 and yuzu parfaits.

A new boutique hotel has joined this newest revival district. And if you’re coming for a convention and want to make this bleisure (business and travel), then these are convenient convention-friendly hotels you can consider.

Today’s Wharf District waterfront fish market all lit up

Cool Pool Hotels With Cooling Vibes

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One of the coolest things about cool pool hotels is that the pools run cool year-round (getting the theme…cool?). I found hotel stays in Miami and Myrtle Beach that have cool beachfront pools… so don’t even think about going elsewhere! 😉

…A pristine pool that you can jump into (not limited to and sandwiched in between Memorial and Labor Day) brings a serene cool vibe to your wellness. Maybe it’s an infinity pool or a design pool with curvy shapes, outlines, and colors.

Below are some fave cool pool hotels you can check out with these features.

The Raleigh Hotel in Miami, Florida

I discovered this hotel in the early 2000s when black and white stripes were popular… and they’re back again! You may have seen them in the resurgence of Barbie hoopla. It conveys j’aim tout!

The Savoy Hotel and Beach Club in South Beach is oceanfront and has cool shape pools that blend into the blue ocean waters behind… The location of this SoBe hotel is ideal on the 400 block of Ocean Drive. This made my visit stress-free, fun, and relaxed. 🏝️

Anderson Ocean Club and Spa in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is the quintessential hotel pool with indoor and several outdoor pools against the beach backdrop. There’s putt-putt too. ⛳️ You may never to leave the hotel club and spa!

…And if you’re with the kiddos 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦, they’ll love the lazy river pool at The Breakers… and you will too! One of my fond memories is The Hard Rock Park that’s gone, but Myrtle Beach is one big amusement park. You can find all kinds of fun for all ages… and Margaritaville-ish places especially around Barefoot Landing where there’s no shortage of restaurants to choose from.

And all kinds of knick-knacks and retro vibe stores. I think I met the tallest man on stilts in one of the restaurants. Happy times ✌️in South Carolina, and they have perks as they just had their tax-free weekend if you plan ahead! Charleston, Kiawah Island, and Hilton Head are other great SC travel destinations.

18 Old Town Alexandria Restaurant Week Picks

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Alexandria Restaurant Week King St. corner — View from Mia’s on the popular King Street corner (formerly Carluccio’s)

Old Town Alexandria Restaurant Week is a comin’! If you like trying restaurants, fixed price ($35, $45, and $55 to be exact), and easy 2-3 choices, then this is the way to go! And maybe you’re in town and wanna do something foodie exciting… and if you are, these are my picks that you might love! Each left an impression on me and could leave one on you too 😋:

Old Town Alexandria Restaurant Week Restaurants

A La Lucia is on the north side of Alexandria that’s starting to build out closer toward Potomac yards. It’s a small tasty painted place that gets bigger as you enter with a cute restroom (…just sayin’, I notice those details 😉).

Bastille Brasserie and Bar – they started as a small neighborhood restaurant and have turned into a destination restaurant with a name. That’s what good eats and a quaint atmosphere can do. I call this French Alexandria Restaurant Week because the dish titles are

Blackwall Hitch – this is one of the newer restaurants on the waterfront. There’s patio seating options and inside seating great for groups. And plenty of event opportunities. Try it out during Alexandria Restaurant Week and see for ya self. 🎉

Brabo is in the high-end Lorien Hotel both in luxury and location closer to the Masonic Temple. In case you’re not familiar that’s the opposite end from the waterfront where fireworks happen, literally! 🎆

Chart House – closest to the water’s edge, this is a landmark in always because it has been in Old Town forever. But who’s counting?

Cheesetique – in Shirlington Village and Delray, this is a cute place where you’ll find a cute menu that’s good for you and me and a petite mouse. If you need to find a wine gift, you could kill two birds with one stone in one visit!

Clyde’s at Mark Center – with a boating theme, you can visit this restaurant that has a koi pond, and outdoor and indoor seating. I remember it’s open in 1998 (…was a good year in many ways).

Del Ray Cafe – this is a good brunch place (one of my faves) where you can choose from croissants to omelets and steak.

Evening Star – another dynamic Del Ray restaurant and sometimes entertainment establishment, you should visit this great corner spot.

Gadsby’s Tavern – historically this is as old as George Washington and the food is surprisingly revolutionary. Give it a try with a variety of dishes from seafood to chicken and beef, and take in the Historic Alexandria vibes.

Hen Quarter – this is a Southern comfort delight. There’s plenty of seating upstairs and downstairs in this unique restaurant that’s good for gatherings.

Hummingbird – inside the Indigo Hotel that’s becoming a boutique brand-name hotel. This one is new to 2018 and is good if you want to be near the water and in a quieter eating environment where you hear your guests and not the guests around you voicing their fun time!

Mason Social – in the Parker-Gray neighborhood this is a bustling restaurant that has a following. If you’re looking for a friend’s place with delicious appetizers to share, this is a good place to go to.

Rockland’s Barbecue – this is closer to Carlyle area/Duke Street (north end of King Street) barbecue joint that’s like driving up to a garage

The Warehouse – this was surprisingly good upstairs and is fine-dining in food and casual in spirit.

The Wharf – Probably the seafood restaurant with the biggest reputation. Score an outside table and watch the people go by (and they’ll watch you eat your scrumptious meal!).

Union Street Public House – this is a historic landmark near the Christmas Shoppe if you know where that is, on Union Street, and definitely one you want to visit.

Vermillion – A foodie gem that’s known in the area and Old Town Alexandria Restaurant Week could be the perfect reason to eat out and in!

Best Maryland Crabs

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How do you like these bite-size Maryland crabs?

Maryland crabs are famous. They’re tossed with Old Bay and you can find them all the over the Mid-Atlantic states in seafood restaurants. It’s easy to find them along the Atlantic Ocean Coast, and these are from Havre de Grace, Maryland. 🦀 They are the real mouth-watering deal!

And if you want to check out the landmark lighthouse waterfront festival in the heart of town, they showcase famous local seafood and blue crabs. It’s a small town so you can’t get lost.

You can also find an abundance of Maryland crabs around the Memorial Bay Bridge on the Eastern Shores. Take a drive over the Bay Bridge and you’ll find Kent Island, the largest island in the Chesapeake Bay.

And you can find these blue crabs served up in Annapolis, the capital of Maryland (along the Chesapeake Bay). Annapolis is a great vacation getaway with room water views and modern leather features and farm door design character.

Annapolis restaurants love to serve the Maryland king crabs straight up raw for your entertainment… in meaty male crabcakes… or sometimes paired with Alaskan King Crab claws… proving crabs on both sides of the coast can get along. 😉

You can also find Maryland crabs in best DC restaurants along marina towns like this one in Old Town Alexandria along the Potomac River.

It’s in the water (the foodie water that is… where they import in tasty oysters from around the world!). Are you a fan? I like them straight up, with lemon, horseradish, or red sauce.

And year-round, you can find a seafood lovers smorgasboard variety of orange-color seafood: lobster, crabs, and shrimp. 🍤

While Maryland crabs are close to home 🧡, on the east coast you don’t have to go far to find them. You can find all kinds of crabs and seafood at your local seafood market or many grocery stores. One of my memories is the Waterfront fish market in DC that’s now an adult hangout spot!

I also like the Fish Market on King Street where you can buy prepared seafood that you can take on a waterfront picnic to the Oronoco Bay Park steps away.

This is a Dunedin, Florida seafood market that serves steamers and Floridian stone crabs with no MD crabs in sight.

Lobster Season Maine Roll, Please!

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lobster season means lobster roll and Maine lobster is year-round

If you’re a lobster lover like I am, I need to add nothing to get you to drool 😋over these lob-stahs in prime lobster season! 🦞🦞🦞 I haven’t met a bad one YET.

And Maine lobsters are available year-round. And you can find all kinds of rolls: Maine, Connecticut, and sushi rolls… and continuing on a roll… dishes like paella and lobster macaroni.

It’s a good thing I’m not fasting today because lobster talk is making me hungry for lean protein packed with Omega-3s. And sardines, well… just doesn’t compare.

You can get these locally live in your coastal city and fresh from Maine. Once upon a time I worked in a beach town that gave one lobster per buffet ticket… And if you’re close, you could take a drive to where the lobster action is and…

Maine Lobster Fest is happening (…different than the local restaurant!) in Rockland, Maine. If you keep going north, you can stay at an amazing Bar Harbor spa resort that has an oceanfront and go boating or whale watching as one adventure. 🐳

And then come back to enjoy the lobster boat and have others watch your eyes pop out and your smile grow bigger in lobster season 😃

lobster season means lobster at every enjoyable meal

Epic European Eurovision Holiday

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This mossy rock scenery reminds me of landscape from the Eurovision movie. — Rerouting back to nature in Europe

If you want to travel for holiday (as in European holiday) that’s popular in August and Christmas too!… below 👇is a Eurovision singing competition holiday travel suggestion that’s also good for a Christmas in July (or your travel month of choice)…

One of my favorite months is May because that’s when spring really gets into high gear and peony-bright flowers open up and the fresh berries 🍓are ripe! Away from the cold, it’s not too hot yet.

…Plus, I’m reminded because I love the Eurovision movie. The real LIVE singing competition takes place annually in May, so a Eurovision holiday is another reason May is my month! 💕

The movie is about the Icelandic singer duo in the song contest (played by Actor Rachel McAdams from The Notebook or more recently Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, and hilarious Will Ferrell who doesn’t need a movie reference).

But May month is neither here nor there…

And if you’re feeling the heat today, Iceland could be your cool summer Holiday instead of a Roman Holiday one you may have been planning. In Rome and most of Italy, inside air-conditioning is not always available.

Natural cooling methods are traditionally baked inside the ancient ruins or vespas, and that’s why they escape to the beaches for Ferragosto summer holiday break when stores close down. 🏝️

Soooo… if you prefer cool vibes, Reykjavik, Iceland is a different stride. The Keflavik International Airport is one of my favorites that I’ve seen because it’s a lot like an IKEA with the language signage.

The Northern Lights ceiling theme in other parts of the airport feel like you’re in a silent disco or a moving solar system light experience. I knew I was in for my adventure to Paris when my layover was in this airport with a dramatic ride on a sharp incline where the escalator encased with an arched glass, felt like a ride 🏔️ On the escalator ride up, you could see that part of the airport was cut out and built in between and on rocks like my photo above of the waterfalls.

In Iceland, you can focus your time there in awe over the natural wonders.

Picture yourself against green rolling hills and horses that date back to the Vikings times… Or spend your time by calming mineral-rich water sources… and get wet in the famous Blue Lagoon. 👙

If that’s your mission or destination 🙋🏻‍♀️, you could choose to stay very close to the Blue Lagoon feature that’s also a resort.

Another wonder on your bucket list (or cool-off agenda) could be to check out as many fosses (waterfalls) as you can, or just one or two.

Detifoss is Europe’s most powerful foss curtain of water, that’s more miraculous than any fountain of water. ⛲️

…And after you’ve had your time fill in Iceland, you can build a vacation buffer to stay in vacay mode. With just a hop, skip, and a jump flight, you can continue across the Atlantic to Paris ✈️ (from the U.S. you’re already halfway or more there!).

You can go to Paris, baby! 💋

Why Paris? It’s just so darn cool there!… it’s less busy during summer Holiday (unless it’s 2024 Summer Olympic Year). You can chill and see sights in a slower-paced way after the Tour de France has come and gone.

When you’ve deplaned you can walk to cobblestone Rue Mouffetard and get your smell-o-vision on! Enjoy a French crepe to please your wanderlust desires.

You can find deals in the 5th Arondissement Latin Quarter. Many shops are closed, so less people come to the City of Lights. ⭐️

The natural light at night and twinkling lights all add to the romantic warm vibes that the city is about. ✨

And to mix-it-up, you can go the other route where you start in Paris and end in Iceland. In December, Iceland is just kicking into performing high-gear with long, dark nights and moody Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) shows. It’ll be a nice contrast from the Paris Lights, so you get two experiences in one Eurovision holiday vacation! 🗺️

Restaurant Future Foods: Cultivated Meat (Trending)

China Chilcano is one of the two restaurants in the nation that has already started this future food trend.

Chilcano in DC is one of the first to offer restaurant future foods such cultivated meats. — Moody good dishes at Chef Jose Andres Chilcano restaurant

Here at The Insider Travel Scoop, you’ll always get the inside scoop on restaurant future foods because I grew into FOOD as a passion, having worked in the restaurant industry before coming of age… from pizza maker in the busiest Domino’s Pizza in the world, to pantry salad and dessert prep at Paolo’s Ristorante that had the first restaurant espresso maker I learned to use, and then as a food delivery driver before styrofoam and plastic bags were common.

These days we’re further along, and we’re looking for more sustainable ways to save our planet. 🌎

In line with that, cultivated meat is one of the newest idea trends that are following the heels of plant-based protein… and cultivated chicken is already on a few restaurant menus!

If you want to be one of the trendsetters, World Chef Jose Andres has added the new plate to his China Chilcano Asian-Peruvian restaurant concept.

Reservation availability for the chicken is limited, and starting on Tuesday’s only.

And if you can’t get a reservation today, you can always stop in for their Pisco Hour (aka Happy Hour!). Or you could schedule a weekend brunch meal with friends and family.

China Chilcano is in my old restaurant stomping ground where I grew into a foodie. 😋 Penn Quarter is where I worked in catering and promoting a neighborhood nearby tapas place, and also where Jose Andres has a few restaurants.

With all his exciting food concepts, it’s no surprise he’s one of the first to lean into NEW restaurant future foods.

A few years later, I remember Chilcano’s opening week when I was stoked to try the new restaurant vibes and Japanese-infused flavors.

Chilcano blends in the sea of restaurants under the Chinatown golden arch. Also known as Chinatown, the restaurant and storefronts have Chinese character translations under their signs preserving the new Gallery Place (named after the metro stop) historical roots.

And in this lunar year district of the city, busy parts of the 7th Street is shut down for a Chinese New Year parade that comes through each year. 🐉

Chilcano is very close walking distance to Capital One Arena, the area’s busiest indoor, covered arena that fits its surroundings.

The Maroon 5 concert at the Capital One Arena (formerly Verzon Center) is one of a handful of concerts I went to that performed in the arena… and the one that prompted my visit to Chilcano their opening week

And you may have a concert or a similar opportunity as the Gallery Place arena is fully entertainment utilized year round …and In my days, I remember 💭 Pink flying all around the indoor stadium… and other lively concerts with avant-garde dressed Lady Gaga, and where Ed Sheeran sang his heart out. And in full use spirit, the arena is transformed during hockey season into a hockey rink where The Capitals play at home.

Getting hungry? Check out my DC weekend brunch and restaurant lists.

South Carolina Back-to-School Tax-Free Shopping Weekend

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south carolina back-to-school tax-free weekend includes shoes — Shoe fetish anyone? 👠 Get ’em tax free while you can. Everyone needs a good occasion shoe that won’t break your neck, and so you can appreciate your everyday tennis shoes.

It’s almost back-to-school time and IT’S South Carolina back-to-school tax-free shopping this weekend in South Carolina. I grew up in Virginia that paused the annual tax-free weekend… and North Carolina ended.

So now’s a good time to head further south to South Carolina that’s the east coast hospitality 🍍 state. There, it’s a good time to buy your computer, school supplies, and clothing (including shoes in case you have a fetish!). And bed and bath items in case you’re going to back a school door room. Who came up with this creative list??

And remember South Carolina has a couple hot spots and close to the ocean water! ⛱️

Both Myrtle Beach and Charleston (the capital) are in the Palmetto State. Either would be great to fill the rest of your August Dog Day calendar and provide a last-summer effort travel escape.📆

…Myrtle Beach has hotels with lazy river pools that’s heat relief entertainment. You can go to The Breakers for one.

…And Charleston is known for the quaint city that goes back to horse drawn carriages. The Charleston Place hotel is the Ritz. And Charleston Grill in the hotel is fine dining at its best with scrumptious fare.

Now I know you’re tempted and if you can’t make it via travel, the South Carolina back-to-school tax-free can be done online! You can shop where you are… tax-free items include flip-flops 🩴, inline and ice skates ⛸️, boots 👢, and this tax-free holiday long list. I’m sure you’ll find something from these common everyday shopping lists.

And if August isn’t your time to visit, Charleston Restaurant Week is in September. You can check out the Summer New York Restaurant Week and DC Restaurants I love.

They’re an up and comin’ food destination town to come back and checkout 😉

Visit San Diego Baseball Park When In Town

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Historic Gaslamp Quarter near the San Diego baseball stadium

If you’re a baseball fan, San Diego Baseball is one of San Diego’s identities and the schedule is in full swing … like many major American cities, it has its own national baseball stadium and team. It’s not named after one animal, but many kinds and not just oriole birds or cubs… it’s the Petco Park Stadium that appreciates cats and dogs alike. 🐱🐶 And their owners. 😊 That includes Padres (means father). Go Padres! ⚾️

And you can catch a glimpse of this San Diego baseball park from the hotels and buildings nearby.

One such hotel is the Omni Hotel that you can’t help but get in the batting zone frame of mind. Decorated with famous baseball player bats and balls throughout… um, have you heard of Babe Ruth and Yogi Berra? Regardless, you will in this baseball vibe museum hotel.

legendary Babe Ruth san diego baseball bat in hotel — Babe Ruth bat

San Diego is an area that is a popular dream place for young professionals. It’s low in humidity and known for its better weather reputation close to the water and mountains. Hello, sunshine and relaxtion! ☀️

I have many memories in San Diego and Pacific Beach with family and friends including my Carbsbad wellness memories a little up north. And at the Omni you can catch some wellness rays at the pool or get a massage especially if you’re there for a convention like I was!

And walking distance to the convention-centric San Diego hotel is the downtown San Diego Convention Center. Getting there, you may stumble over some Bird scooters… are those still around? 🛴

I tried one around the city in the Gaslamp Quarter and discovered it’s not safe or reliable. It could die on you at any time which works for its drop-off anywhere convenience (or inconvenience if you trip over one 🤨). It’s tempting to ride with flip flops with the beachy relax vibes minutes away. 🩴 But save them for the sand.

Electric bike could be a better-controlled ride. Just sayin’! And don’t forget to get a nearby bite along the San Diego Bay water by Seaport Village. A good place to do that is next to The Kiss or The Unconditional Surrender statue you can find in other palm-lined states (hint: it’s on the east coast and the largest producer of oranges that’s not California 😉).

Cactus thrive in dry weather like San Diego

Copenhagen Amusement Park Hidden Gem

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Tivoli Copenahgen Amusement Park on the exterior

The Copenhagen amusement park scene needs to be on your bucket list if you like amusement. Maybe you visit the happiest city in the world for your birthday or an anniversary. 🎂

The park is close to city center but far enough to stand out on its own.

City center is reminiscent of many cobblestone streets in Europe and a clean, modern vibe without the downsides of city life. You may hear an occasional bicycle bell but that blends into the calm living air that’s not crowded.

And part of this calm Copenhagen living, is cycling around town. With the summer’s Tour de France 🚴‍♀️🚴🚵‍♀️ competition that happens further south, we learn that Jonas Vingegaard has won for the 2nd year in a row.

Famous Nyhavn and storybook building fronts are near the Copenhagen Amusement Park

It’s no surprise he’s Danish because Denmark is the top bicycle city. And you don’t have to look far to see a cyclist in the city. They bike everywhere and confidently along highway streets.

And whether by wheels or feet, when you want to shake it up, Tivoli Gardens amusement park is a good spot to hang out. Start off with your visit in the day where you can appreciate the gardens, whimsical design theme choices, and architecture, but be sure to stay for the lights at night (and maybe plan for the Friday live music entertainment).

It’s kinda like souped-up Busch Gardens (if you’re familiar with the Williamsburg, VA theme park) where you want to see and appreciate park details and landscape outlines in the day, but also get the dazzle of the European-style carnival night life that’s lit up.

Tivoli Gardens is a smaller theme park and not too crowded. But don’t let that fool ya! Tivoli Gardens also has fireworks 🎆 during certain occasions like Easter 🐣 Summer is also a good time to go.

It’s also one that Disney modeled some of their theme parks after 🦄, and caught the unconventional inspiration from with all its creative rides and colors. And when you visit, you’ll understand why.

Before you freak out on the ticket prices, note it’s in Danish Krona (that today in writing this is about 7x the US Dollar, and that’s a lot less than half or a third of the price you’d pay in a U.S. theme park).

Inside, if you like the circus environment, you’ll love this Copenhagen Amusement Park that’s full of sightseeing surprises 🍭🎠

You think you’re riding into the future or somewhere Far East (or maybe outside this Universe 🪐). And at the least, you’ve never seen these wild-bending rides. Here’s one ride shot below… but for the others, you’ll have to check it out for yourself!

And they have 70 (and maybe some 70s decade-inspired) gourmet eatery, cafe, restaurants, and one-of-a-kind shops… and fantasical shop fronts, like a Marshmallow Shop (how fun!).

Foodie foods range from churros, lobster, and sushi, plus fun boardwalk faves like bougie ice cream, popcorn, and cotton candy, to name just a few. If you’re not entertained with just the food scene ambiance and fun-decorated shops, I’d be shocked! And if you’re not hungry (that I think you will be 😋), I’ll be wondering. 💭

There’s also free entrance to the Tivoli Food Hall in case you’re meeting up with people who don’t want to go to the Amusement Garden Park.

And being the planner that I am (and for a decade), a cute place to stay that is walking distance to the Copenhagen Amusement Park is an affordable hotel find called the Imperial Hotel that you can walk comfortably to with your friends or companion, as I did on my visit. 💕

What I love about the hotel is the simplicity, and the room headboard is huge so it makes the ceiling look expansive. There are also homey velvety touches that soften the tight bed corners.

You can full chill-ax after you’ve got your fill of amusement. And the bathroom has spa-esque calm colors with thoughtful warm lighting. ✨ I’ll be back!