Ocean views at Cafe Agua Azul in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Tuna tostadas piled high with ahi tuna, avocado, and cream sauce

After a long day of hiking at Manuel Antonio National Park, I stopped by Cafe Agua Azul for drinks and food without knowing anything about the place. From the road, the building looked like it hung off a cliff with just air, jungle, and ocean below. After I parked out front, I walked up the set of stairs into a wonderful open air dining room. I was right, the views were amazing. This is why I decided to stop here …

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Sights you should not miss at night in Tokyo’s Shinjuku ward

Neon lights in the maze that is Tokyo

When you dream of Tokyo and Japan, you dream of Shinjuku and its neon lights, department stores, bars, love hotels, shrines, and futuristic skyscrapers. During the day, Shinjuku is a great place to visit for its Shinto shrines, endless shopping, and art galleries. As the sun goes down, Shinjuku comes alive. The neon lights, the crowds, and the energy make Shinjuku one of the most fascinating and bustling places in Tokyo. It’s everything you think Tokyo should be. A quick …

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10 things I learned on my first trip to Istanbul

Hagaia Sophia, one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world, in Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul has always been on my list of destinations to visit. Everything from the people, to the sights, to the food just seemed so interesting and mesmerizing to me. In February, 2015, I finally made my first trip to Turkey. I was a little bit nervous, a little bit excited, but most of all was not exactly sure what to expect. Here are a few things I learned from my first trip to Istanbul, Turkey. Visiting a mosque was a …

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9 things I learned on my first trip to Seoul, South Korea

Downtown Seoul

Seoul is an amazing city of contrasts. Old Buddhists temples and 500 year old palaces next to modern skyscrapers and mega malls. Here are a few things I learned on my first trip to Seoul. 1 – There is more to Korean food than just BBQ When I first visited Seoul, I had this idea that Koreans mostly ate BBQ and that there would be a BBQ restaurant on every corner. While there were tons of tasty BBQ restaurants in …

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Historic core of Istanbul walking tour inspired by Rick Steves

Sultanahmet, the center of old town Istanbul

If you only have a few days in Istanbul, or even one, and wondering what to do, then the historic core walk is your best bet. Sultanahmet, the center of old Istanbul, is home to many of Istanbul’s must see sites including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, and the Hippodrome. The walk begins at the park between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia not far from the Sultanahmet tram stop. You are now standing in the heart of …

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Twisted Fork: Scallops and shredded duck confit in Vancouver

The beautiful Marinated Scallops

It was my first day in Vancouver. After a long day of traveling, I was hungry and willing to eat anything within walking distance. Near my hotel on Vancouver’s Granville Street, I discovered Twisted Fork, a French-inspired bistro offering dishes with a Canadian twist. Twisted Fork is a no-fuss, non-pretentious bistro that prides itself on making everything in-house from scratch. They use seasonal ingredients, which results in fresh, high-quality dishes. I knew little about Twisted Fork except for a few …

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How to get from Nagano to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

Snow monkeys hanging out at the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park near Nagano

One of the main reasons you should visit Nagano is for the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, a unique onsen, or hot spring, filled with wild Japanese Macaques. Yes, you read that correctly. There is a hot spring with wild monkeys that you can visit in Japan. The park, located northeast of Nagano, requires a little work to reach, including a 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) trek on a narrow pathway through a beautiful snow-covered (in the winter) forest. If you are …

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6 Things I Learned On My Rainbow Falls Hike in Mammoth Lakes

Rainbow Falls in Mammoth Lakes, California

I’ll start off my story by letting you know that I am a novice hiker. I hike a few times yearly, and luckily, I have never had any issues or gotten lost until today. Today, I decided to hike a quick 3 mile round-trip trail to Rainbow Falls in the town of Mammoth Lakes, California. The hike out to the waterfall was easy, but on the way back I got lazy, made a few mistakes, and got a little lost. …

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My 4 must eat places at Seattle’s Pike Place Market

Even though Pikes Place Market is surrounded by tourists, you can still find some great food

When you travel to a new city and want to find some great local food, usually you know to skip the tourist trap spots that love to jack up prices for mediocre food. This is mostly true except for the case of Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington. Yes it is touristy, and you should avoid a few shops, but you can still find great food at decent prices if you know where to look. You can find it all …

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My 9 favorite locations to visit in Italy on a first trip

Rome, the Eternal City

Italy is one of the most amazing places to visit in Europe or anywhere else in the world. Choosing which locations in Italy to visit, whether it is your first visit or even tenth visit, can be difficult considering the amount of amazing choices. This is my list of places in Italy that should be at the top of your itinerary if you are visiting Italy for the first time. Rome (Roma) No visit to Italy is complete without a …

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