Category: Travel

Travel

3 More Weeks Until Summer…..

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There are only three more weeks until summer and each day just seems to be going by slower and slower. For my last blog post of the school year, I decided to fill you in on the plans I am looking forward to this summer; first being Spanish classes. Next week I will begin taking Spanish 101 and I am excited to become more familiar with the language. I wasn’t too happy to discover it happens during the summer, but I think it will be very beneficial.

Secondly, I am excited to be working at the ESPY gifting lounge for my internship with Luxury Experience and Co. It will be taking place on July 9th and we have already begun sending emails to brands and getting in contact with talent. The Coachella event was so successful so I can’t wait to see what they have planned for this one!

After school gets out, I will also be starting work at the Beach House. I am really looking forward to being able to see all their new clothes, meet new people, and spend time with my brother. This is the first summer I am able to drive so I am excited to have that freedom as well. Finally, my family will be moving back to the south so I will spend time helping my parents pack up the house, take care of all of the animals, and get settled into a brand-new home. I am eager to be somewhere new and get the opportunity to meet a bunch of people, but I am definitely nervous about what the future holds. I will be beginning cross country in the fall so this will be a great opportunity to connect with others.

As I am getting ready to leave the west coast many people ask me, “Are you sad to leave?” Truthfully, I love how beautiful California is, but nothing compares to me than being surrounded by southern people. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend the last two years in California. It has been such an amazing experience for my family and I and I have learned many new things, but it is time for a new chapter! Hope everyone has a great summer!

Travel

Two Weeks in Europe

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Europe is a magical place and I was fortunate enough to be able to spend my Christmas holiday here with my family for my mom’s birthday. I had been to Europe twice before when I was younger, but it wasn’t until this trip that I felt that I had appreciation for the culture and its beauty. We visited Amsterdam, Prague, Vienna, Venice, Florence, and Rome and each place was uniquely different and special.

We spent a short time in Amsterdam and during our time, we visited the Anne Frank House. I really enjoyed getting to see it because I read her diary and had learned a lot about her life. It was crazy seeing all the things I read about and being in the place she hid for her life. After Amsterdam, we went to Prague.

I had visited Prague once before and begged my parents to take a trip back here. There aren’t enough words to describe how magical this place is. Because it wasn’t hit during the war, the architecture is beautiful, old, and you feel as if you are in a fairy tale. They have many markets with stands full of food, drinks, desserts, jewelry, statues, and other products from Prague. It’s so easy to mesh with the locals here because they are welcoming and friendly. I would love the chance to live here for a couple months. We went to see the Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral.

Next, we spent Christmas in Vienna. Even though we were used to spending Christmas day at home, my parents made it feel like home. They had a mini Christmas tree put in the room and we spent the night watching our favorite Christmas movies. My family also went to watch a symphony. Both of my brothers are into music, so this was definitely on their bucket list, but I still enjoyed it.

Venice was our next stop. It is unique with the water ways and we rode a gondola around the city. Our second to last stop was Florence. We visited the Galleria dell ‘Accademia which displays Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture along with the Uffizi Gallery which exhibits  Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation.”

Finally, we spent New Year’s Eve in Rome. We saw the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, and got to go through catacombs.

We also got to see the Pope speak which was such a special experience. Italy is known for having the best leather, so the shopping was great! I browsed through many leather coats and found a black one that I loved. I wear it with everything and every time I wear it, I am reminded of Rome. Overall, we went to many cathedrals and palaces as well as ate such delicious food. I am so thankful to have gotten to go on this trip especially with my family. I look forward to going back soon!

Travel

Days in Paradise

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Traveling. A step out of an everyday routine. An escape from reality. An important part of my life and my favorite pass times. Traveling plays a key role in my life because it helps in defining me as a person. I enjoy pretending to live someone else’s everyday life and waking up in a new place to conquer. Each place special and uniquely different. This spring break I had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii with my best friend Camille. Surprisingly enough I had actually never been here considering this is where my dad was born. Hawaii was just as I had imagined. We had spent our time on Kauai. The minute I stepped off the plane I felt the warm breeze and the smell of beach fill my nostrils. Not just any beach though; the salty and sweet smell of fresh pineapples, comfortably warm ocean water, and loads of beach bum sunscreen. The first two nights were spent at a hotel on the ocean. It was just as I had seen in the movies. Everyone wearing luaus and smiling; tossing around “alohas” and “mahalos”. Because of the time change, I woke up at the crack of dawn to watch the sunrise.

Camille and I spent the days laying out on the beach listening to music. As much as I admired the beach and the sun, I didn’t realize the magnitude of the sun’s rays here unlike in Santa Barbara and soon enough, I felt fried despite the pounds of sunscreen I had applied to my skin, but a dip in the ocean fixed it right up. It was truly paradise. A city covered in nothing but nature and free spirits. Endless nights of fresh fish and late night swims. Sunsets like I have never seen before. The following nights were spent at a hotel on the edge of a cliff. Here we enjoyed the relaxing pool atmosphere along with the hot tub right outside our room. One of the most special spots we discovered was a beach cove. Here the water was clear and we were surrounded by palm trees full of coconuts and rocks. Our last day we spent the night at a small sushi restaurant and enjoyed miso soup, tuna rolls, and California rolls. I was sad to leave but I look forward to returning again soon.

Travel

Local for the Day

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New York City is known as the city of dreams. It is a place like no other known for its business industry and the beauty of its meticulously structured buildings. It is known for having hot tourist attractions such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Time Square. I have been traveling to New York for as long as I can remember and as much as I love seeing these sights, there is so much more to see deep inside the roots of New York City that many people aren’t aware of so today I will be filling you in on places you can’t miss on your next trip! The two places I will be sharing with you are not only unforgettable, but they will also give you the opportunity to bond with locals.

The first place is a restaurant I hold very close to my heart called Rue 57 which I have been going to ever since I was nine. From the outside it appears to be just your typical french bistro, but deep inside there is a sense of culture, and of course delicious food. They offer a wide variety of food on their menu so that anyone can come here and find something they like. This restaurant truly makes you feel like you are living there and gives you the opportunity to bond with the locals, especially the friendly waiters, because it isn’t very touristy. At Rue 57, I have tried everything from there spicy king crab roll to the french onion soup to the chicken meatballs to the scrumptious fried oreos, and finally my favorite appetizer of all, there freshly made truffle fries that have been cooked to perfection. I have been to this restaurant about what feels like a hundred times and I am never disappointed. It is the perfect place for the family, a couples night out, business meeting, and for me personally, a safe haven to forget everything back home and simply lay back to admire the wonders New York City has to offer.

The second place that I recommend is located at the McKittrick Hotel, which for those of you who don’t know, was intended to be “New York City’s finest and most decadent luxury hotel of its time.” After six weeks before the opening and two days after the outbreak of World War II, the hotel was condemned and locked permanently to the public until now. Within the dark mysterious walls of this old hotel lies the magical and twisted show performed by the mentalist Scott Silver’s. This man pushes the boundaries of his craft by creating stylish, smart, and critically acclaimed performance pieces that mesmerize audiences across the globe. This experience is a night you will never forget and is perfect for a date, a bachelorette party, or a Sweet 16 celebration. It is interactive and will leave you speechless. So the next time you go to New York, make sure you plan a night that is packed with Rue 57 and a trip to the McKittrick Hotel!

Travel

To pack, or not pack, that is the question.

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Whenever I hear that I will be going out of town the first thing I think about is packing. Some people love it, some people hate it. Personally, being a very indecisive person, the thought of planning out my outfits for the next few days is stressful. You never truly know what the weather will be like or how fancy or casual you want to go. Being someone very passionate about traveling, I’ve thought a lot about traveling and tips and tricks to making the trip easy and fun; step one being making sure you have all your essentials and look cute. The first thing is to pack the few things you know you will need no matter what, such as undergarments and toiletries. My advice is to always pack more underwear and socks than you feel like you need because it’s better to have more than not enough. I also always make sure to toss in a swimsuit just in case of emergencies! When it comes to toiletries, I would recommend finding a travel sized tooth brush and tooth paste because that is one thing that you can easily squeeze in. Next, I would always bring your personal shampoo and conditioner because it’s not worth ruining your hair over hotel soap. When out of town you want your hair to look its best! When trying to save room, purchasing a pill case to hold your pills is worth it because it helps with easy access and gives you the ability to count out the amount of pills you need. Be sure not to forgot a good moisturizer, deodorant, and sunscreen!! Moving onto the attire, I have had many cases where I was frantically stuffing 5 pairs of shoes into my bag because each outfit needed a different style. Because I LOVE SHOES, I have found that choosing a color scheme for your trip will help minimize the pairs that you need. For those of you out there who are very into accessorizing, I know how painful it can be to leave your favorite jewelry pieces at home but grabbing your hoops and a simple necklace will save you from loosing any valuables. Lastly, I strongly recommend bringing a nice dress and a pair of pumps because you never know when you are up for a fancy night out. Packing is crazy and stressful but it’s worth taking the time to do so thoroughly so you can feel confident in your trip attire and rock it!! No more picking through useless clothing items and tiredly going to the nearest pharmacy searching for a toothbrush and having to pull up your hair into a messy bun because it is so greasy. Hopefully these tips will help create an organized and stress free packing experience. Bon voyage! Safe Travels!

Travel

Back to My Roots

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Moving to California was a life changing experience. I still remember the late nights of packing, days of stress, and the chance that I might regret this decision. I love the sun, the sea, and the sand but I am a southern girl through and through. My name is Kayla Stern and I am a 16 year old who has a passion for travel, fashion, and family. I was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. I like my tea sweet, saying y’all, and engaging in small talk conversations with random people at the grocery store. Moving to Santa Barbara was something I have always wanted to do, but I never realized how much it would impact my life. What I have realized over the past year is the staying somewhere for a month as opposed to living somewhere is very different. I love the fact that I spend more time outside because of the gorgeous weather as well as having the beach at my feet and I live a healthier lifestyle but I miss my southern people, the big malls, and the privacy of a big city. By moving to this whole new environment, I have learned a lot of valuable lessons about staying true to yourself and the importance of boldly embracing where you’re from because this is something that will stay with you forever and it is a key part of who you are. I am a southern girl and no matter where you spot me on the map, I will always be a southern girl. From living in California though, I often get the question… what’s it like living in the south? For the most part I have come across people who believe that the southern culture is kind of ridiculous. Sweet tea. Lots of churches and crazy religious attitudes.  Every corner having woman in spring, floral-print dresses with too much makeup telling you, “Bless your heart.” But these beliefs are just misconceptions. There is rich history and a hard work ethic. There is humility, faith, and a strong loyalty to family and town as well as an appreciation for what we have and where we come from. The weather is hot but thankfully there is plenty of sweat tea to keep you cool! Faith and culture play an important role because people show freely their faith in God and offer prayers to strangers they may encounter which is something I personally haven’t seen anywhere else. Being someone who has indeed questioned their faith, I admire that Christianity is neither forced nor apologized for there. Lastly, there is no place in the world that can relate to the Southern Hospitality demonstrated here. If you live in the South, you will hear your fair share of “sirs” and “ma’ams,” and a culture where civility and chivalry aren’t extinct. The South may not be for everyone, but I can definitely see myself moving back there very soon and raising my kids there.