At 5,000 ft elevation, Cuernavaca, the capital of the Mexican state of Morelos, is a short 1.5 hours drive south from Mexico City. It has a historic colonial city center, which was once home to the (in)famous Spanish conqueror, Hernan Cortes. Cuernavaca is the place Mexican nationals go for respite to escape from the constant hustle and bustle of Mexico City. Many even retire or keep vacation homes in Cuernavaca. Although the entire state of Morelos was greatly affected by September 2017’s earthquake, the citizens of this quaint city have maintained their optimism through community and resilience.

Sayulita was once a hidden beach village off the beaten path until Pinterest, Instagram and Bachelor in Paradise took over. It lies just 25 miles north of Puerto Vallarta along Riviera Nayarit and the Madre Occidental Mountain range. It’s not only a small and sleepy beach town, but it’s home to some beautiful artisans, great beaches and surf. Not to mention it’s next to Mexico’s version of the Galapagos, the Islas Marietas. We had a long weekend to explore this colorful town and knock the islands off of our bucket list.  Here’s how to do it all in one day (because you can #SiSePuede)…

It’s not too late to plan a trip to Yosemite this fall! Check out this article I wrote for Redwoods in Yosemite on the must-do’s for the season.

Most people agree that Joshua Tree is a magical place. Situated between California’s Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert, it’s home to the native Joshua Tree (hence the name), Joshua Tree National Park and Little San Bernardino Mountains. Due to its beautiful topography and nature, it has a long history of luring in artists, hikers, rock climbers alike. Only located 2.5 hours away from both Los Angeles and San Diego, it’s no wonder why so many Angelinos and San Diegans purchase second homes here. Joshua Tree has quite a bit to offer, whether you’re there for a day, the weekend, or forever. Here’s our must-dos…

Wrote an article for Celiac.com on my travels through Texas' four biggest cities, and the best gluten-free / celiac friendly options I found during my road trip. 

I was able to write about this giant for Redwoods in Yosemite, before revisiting it in June 2018… It is truly a sight to behold.

I attended the Women’s Rally at the Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas this past January, and although this isn’t my favorite city in the world, or in the USA for that matter, it is surrounded by some amazing natural beauty and delicious allergen friendly eats (perhaps even worth revisiting). If you find yourself in, or passing through Las Vegas, do check out this must-visit-and-eatlist for your enhanced enjoyment on, and off the Las Vegas Strip.

Guanajuato is an old colonial city, college town, and the birthplace of the famous muralist, Diego Rivera. This city is full of history, color, culture, food, and fun. It is built on a series of tunnels, originally designed to prevent flooding, which nearly wiped out the city twice before. The underground tunnels have since been transformed into actual roads, leaving very little surface space above ground. We haven’t stopped thinking about it since we left, and hope to return back soon, especially for Dia de Los Muertos. This is how to do it all, and do it right traveling to Guanajuato in just one day…

The Ferguson fire that roared through the Yosemite region was scary but was no match for the brave firefighters who defended our amazing National Park.  Now that the park re-opened, we have compiled a list of must-sees and dos during your next visit. Late Summer is a great time to jump in the cool water, take a hike on a misty trail and visit the phenomenal high country. Read more via the link... 

The state of Washington is just beautiful. You can have the best of both worlds; the awesome city of Seattle, and the surrounding natural countryside, including majestic waterfalls, mountains and forests. Sitting just 30-45 minutes east of Seattle, the city of Snoqualmie is a stunner and is also known as the fictional town of Twin Peaks. So, rent a car and follow these steps to make the most out of the city and country in one day... 

I’d been wanting to visit Vancouver, Canada for quite some time. Most of my family lives on the east coast, in Toronto, but I had a feeling this little city in the PNW would tug at my heart strings, and I was right. We decided to visit in the spring, which felt like the perfect season. The air was crisp, but not too cold, perfect for outdoor exploring. Although there is tons to see and do, we felt like we got a lot done in just one day with the help of a rental car. Here is our guide... 

I had the privilege of spending a few weeks in South Korea, specifically in the city of Daegu. Although I worked the majority of the time, I had some free moments to explore the city. Through my own trials and tribulations, I can tell you how to do things right, especially in just one day.

Also, yellow dust is a real thing. 

We can all agree that living with an autoimmune disease such as Celiac, or with any food intolerances or allergies is not very fun, or convenient, for that matter. Especially when trying to find something tasty! The amount of San Diego restaurants who cater to these communities, makes it feel almost effortless to find allergen-friendly food! As someone diagnosed with Celiac and other food intolerances, who is San Diego based, I have tried and tested most of what America’s Finest City has to offer time and time again, and the results have been delicious! I have compiled a list of my ten favorite spots that I regularly visit, and I recommend them to anyone visiting or living in San Diego.

I can’t stop dreaming of our recent trip to Havasupai, Arizona. Miles of hiking through the deepest reds of the Grand Canyon’s walls, only to find an isolated Native American reservation, home to hidden cascades of bright turquoise blue waters running off ancient cliffs, hugged by the greenest of flora and fauna. It’s magical, to say the least. However, planning to check this off the ol’ bucket list wasn’t easy. As you have heard in other blog posts, this paradise is both physically and logistically difficult to reach, but entirely worth it. The information below is based off my own experience and information I found prior to our trip, and while within the reservation. 

We had a lot of fun in Seoul this past spring and I was able to get my fill of Korean BBQ, KoMex (nm, no such thing as too much KoMex), Korean cosmetics, and raccoons (yes, raccoons). The highlight was visiting the infamous (?) Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates North Korea from South Korea. Here are my favorite places, and more importantly, food items, and what’s worth visiting if you only have one day.

We had the pleasure of being able to hop over to Japan, after our visit to South Korea. I fell in love with Kyoto, and honestly expected to be overwhelmed by Tokyo. Well, it didn’t overwhelm me, but the quaint neighborhoods stole my heart with their intricate personalities, the new mixed with the old, and the spiritual and historical elements. Although it would probably take living there extensively to see and truly experience the city’s highlight and underrated spots, I came up with this easy one-day to-do list. I hope you enjoy the city as much as we did (minus ending up in the ER for anaphylaxis - long story), and I look forward to returning.

I recently ventured to South Korea with the American Red Cross' Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) program to facilitate workshops on Communication for children and adults on military bases. During my free time, I got to venture around South Korea, and even visited the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the border between North and South Korea. This was a little nerve-wracking, considering I was present for two of North Korea's failed missile tests. Once our program was over in South Korea (City of Daegu), I hopped on a train to the southern city of South Korea, Busan and took a 3-hour ferry across the Sea of Japan to the southern city of Fukuoka. This was so much fun, and much less expensive than a flight. From there we took the train to Kyoto and later Tokyo, to explore and enjoy the culture, food and amazing surrounding Japan has to offer. It was a blast, and I look forward to returning back and exploring more of both countries in the future.

When you visit America's Finest City aka San Diego, California, you’re probably going to start with our world-renowned San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, amble around the museums in Balboa Park, run up for a day at Legoland, and take your family to Seaworld (what Blackfish?).

Tucked in the mountains of San Jacinto, and just a hop, skip and jump away (aka 2 hours) from both busy metropolises of Los Angeles and San Diego exists the beautiful and quaint town of Idyllwild. The town serves as nice escape for anyone. Whether that’s a solo getaway, camping trip with friends or family, or a romantic adventure, driving up the hill will sure be worth it.

I wrote this article for Matador Network on some of the hottest spots in California, that we may be keeping a secret from you...