My article written for the examiner about day trips in California. It covers the more undiscovered hidden gems of from the north or south. Enjoy!

Summer is almost here and I can’t wait! I love Los Angeles in the summer time. Planning a visit can be fun and a little overwhelming. The best advice I can give to those visiting California is to plan out a budget and make sure you include car rental, hotel, and lots of food money,

California essentials to pack:: Sunblock, face moisturizer with spf, lip balm with spf, swim suit, big beach towel, tote or back pack, a hat or visor, car charger for the phone, camera, cardigan, sunglasses, hiking shoes, work out shoes, optional yoga mat, cushiony socks, sandals, and a water bottle. Packing these things can save you vacation time by eliminating a visit to a drug store.

Plan: A list of places and activities you’d like to do. It doesn’t have to be an exact day by day minute by minute plan, but a pre made laundry list will save you lots of precious time once you are in California, this is a general rule for any form of traveling. Also planning is a great way to get excited and learn more about the destination.

my laundry list of must dos in California
this is a list I use for my guests who visit me in California, its always changing too
The Griffith Observatory: Fascinating historical structure that features lots of information and fun science ranging from interactive public telescopes that look at the star to movies in the planetarium they also have a tesla demonstration.

Schramsberg Vineyards: The first vineyard in Napa Valley. Also visit Solage for a nice lunch.

Audrey K: In Burbank where Tim Burton grew up is a beautiful blvd known as Magnolia. Audrey K is a local designer that focuses on vintage American 1950’s wear. The store has a clean modern twist and she also retails other local artist and designer works which are all made in the USA. The whole surrounding area is filled with vintage boutiques.

The Misfit: Santa Monica’s Art Deco teak restaurant and bar that will impress everyone. From the gastro eats to the masterfully mixed drinks, to the grand interior this fine establishment will bring you back to the lower east side of New York or maybe I even Paris. They pay attention to the food and drink menu like its going to sink. They are doing everything they can go keep people wanting more and they are doing a really fine job.

Brian Kest’s Power Yoga: the no bull$?/& yoga. A guru of power yoga. Authentic, no music, this will be the toughest hour and a half to two hour work yoga session you’ve ever experienced. There’s no heated room gimmick, just straightforward yoga. This is a donation place, lets be classy about it and note that its recommended to donate $15 at least, people donation doesn’t mean it’s free, karma.

Exploring Griffith Park: Also known as the Central Park of Los Angeles, but of course on a much larger scale. The trails are infinite and so is the beauty. It’s a very well maintained establishment and the visitors do a good job on their part to keep it litter free. It’s the picture perfect place to run, hike, celebrate a birthday with a BBQ or even ride a horse. It’s like a mini national park. Bring lots of water, apply SPF and wear a hat.

Venice Beach: This big bustling tourist trap is also loved by many Californians. It can also be one of the most romantic environments for yourself or with someone special. Bike rentals are a little steep but its worth every penny. It’s one of the best ways to experience the strip and get In a little work out. Rollerblading is also popular there. Bring lots of water, tissues, hand sanitizer, and SPF.

Hope this can inspire you to plan a trip to California or anywhere. Traveling can be fun and budget friendly if you just dedicate time in booking a ticket 3 months in advance, rough laundry list planning, packing the right clothes and tools, and being proactive.

Have fun planning!

Are you on a budget and want to go somewhere exotic and cold? Iceland may be the answer! Skogafoss a beautiful natural untouched waterfall just a few miles away from Eyjafjallajökul the volcano that erupted in 2010. The Blue Lagoon is a deliciously hot hot spring that’s opened rain, blizzard, or shine and can be quite surreal when you’re swimming while it’s snowing. The Great Geysir is also a unique visual splendor to witness in action. 

My trip budget for Iceland was $1,500 USD. Usually when you book a ticket to Europe the ticket alone starts at $1,200 USD round trip, this was not the case with Iceland. My ticket was $400 USD, roundtrip from New York City. Five hours later on a direct flight and you are transported to Mars. Our luxurious 4 star hotel was confusingly cheep for $80 USD a night… 7 nights split between two people is roughly $300 USD per person… so total just on air and board was $700… in some respects that is cheaper than a trip to Thailand, Canada or Mexico on air and board alone… The part that will stab you in the heart and twist your mind is the price of food, it’s pretty expensive and non climatic. The jump from bad to good food in price isn’t that great, but the quality is and it’s worth spending a little more for the good food.

Pack: Rain boots that are good enough to stand in a two foot puddle of water and have good grip on the bottom so that you don’t have to pack separate snow boots. Water proof gloves. Backpack/Daypack. A super warm dorky puffy jacket, preferably one that goes past your waist, the longer the better. Digital SLR to capture all the visual candy from your fun adventure. Chap stick, duh.

Spend it on: Rental Cars are a fabulous way to see the more exotic parts of Iceland, they can get pricey for Automatic cars, so this is where your car obsession skills will come in handy. If you can drive stick the rental cost is literally half the price. Taxis are pretty much non existent when you’re in Reykjavik because it’s so small… you will however pay for a shuttle from the airport to your hotel and vice versa.

Benefits: Pure air to help your lungs breath better, at least for the visit. The tastiest mineral rich water that will nourish your entire body inside and out and literally restore your skin and hair also known as miracle water. Friendly people that want to know you so bad because it’s such a small Island, only a population of 300,000 people for the whole country.

Hope all of this information helped. I love Iceland and I think everyone should visit this icy tundra once in their lives.

5 day itinerary- a trip that will make your heart soar

photo 1. Hindu Temple -  drive to the canyon and find yourself lost in a visually and spiritually monumental landmark that will blow your mind. Remember to take your shoes off and be respectful. http://www.malibuhindutemple.org

photo 2. Sandstone Peak - hike to the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains. This 2.8 mile round trip hike will change your perspective on Los Angeles. While you are up 3,111 feet above sea level you will hear peace and see inspiration all around you. http://www.yelp.com/biz/mishe-mokwa-trail-to-sandstone-peak-malibu

photo 3. Union Station - stop by and visit the closest thing to Grand Central in Los Angeles. This historical train and bus station has been running since 1939. It’s incredibly well preserved and open to the public. Also it’s located across Olivero, “Mexico City” also known as the birth place of Los Angeles, which is also a beautifully cultured part of LA. http://www.yelp.com/biz/union-station-los-angeles

photo 4. Wombleton Records - located in a cute hispanic neighborhood is a very posh record store filled with tons of gems. From the unique found glass lamps to the rich blue and gold wall papers, the plethora of vinyls resting in black painted wooden drawers everything here will bring you back to the good old days. http://wombletonrecords.com/

photo 5. the Getty Villa - J. Paul Getty, an oil tycoon, opened the Getty museum to house his extensive classic arts collection. Another extravagant project was the Getty Villa he opened adjacent to his home in Pacific Palisades in 1954, this was re opened to the public in 2006. http://www.getty.edu/visit/

photo 6. Hidden Treasures - Nestled right in the heart of Topanga Canyon is Hidden Treasures. Dresses made in the 1950’s, coats, hats, scarfs, glasses can be found here. They also have a big selection of aboriginal-esque carpets, shoes, and objects. The merchandise is ever changing and the visit is always a good time. http://www.yelp.com/biz/hidden-treasures-topanga

photo 7. Santa Monica Pier - Hard to miss but easy to skip is a visit to Santa Monica Pier. The Ferris Wheel which can be seen from miles away on Pacific Coast Highway or the beach is worth a visit. Absolutely romantic and fun. http://www.yelp.com/biz/santa-monica-pier-santa-monica

photo 8. Griffith Observatory - For those who arrived with curious minds. It’s not only an educational and historical landmark, it also has one of the best views for the Hollywood sign and most of Los Angeles. http://www.griffithobs.org/

photo 9. Neptune’s Net - Delicious seafood!!!! http://neptunesnet.com/

photo 10. The Satellite - Cute little indie music venue that finds really amazing talent. Free! http://www.thesatellitela.com/
 

The Madonna Inn Experience. if you find yourself road tripping on the 101 freeway near San Luis Obispo (SLO), then keep your eye open for the Madonna Inn.http://www.madonnainn.com 

opened in 1958 by Alex and Phyllis Madonna. the inn has 110 rooms that are all completely different from one another. the cave man room is the most famous. the family is very sweet and one of the most generous. they helped move the trees to Hearst castle back in the day amongst other things for the city of SLO. we had the honor to meet phyllis on our visit just 4 days ago right after we had finished up breakfast and going to the gift store.

the colored glasses are the water glasses used in the restaurant, they are available for purchase and there are over 17 colors. love them, have them all! hand made in america, support your local craftsmen!

this place is a piece of history… there are so many details in the architecture and interior. they are most famous for having the pink, phyllis loves pink. this is a family business that isn’t going anywhere.

PINK CHAMPAGNE CAKE, by the slice. 

Here’s a list of some of my favorite websites that I use to discover new places, songs, activities, artists, and more. 

1. www.yelp.com : a word of mouth type of website that lets you read reviews, and review any business. It’s free for all. 
2. www.grooveshark.com : i’m still amazed at how this website works. you can search any song, create playlists. it’s free for all and commercial free. its a giant step up from pandora.
3. www.thecoolhunter.net : art, music, industrial design, the list goes on and on. i’ve found many audio visual artists that have inspired me.
4. www.yellowtrace.com.au : i came across this website when i was searching for my uncle jeff nishinaka’s work. lots of detailed hand crafted projects posted here.
5. www.houzz.com : a fabulous website to look at for inspiration in architecture and overall interior design. it’s like looking through an ikea catalog, you just want to get everything.
   
6. www.pinterest.com : people argue that this website is targeted towards house wives. i use this for inspiration in a huge range from clothing to food to parties.

Scuba Diving in Hawaii was one of the best experiences in my life. It’s physically and mentally demanding and takes a lot of courage to put yourself into deep waters. I had the opportunity to Scuba Dive in Hawaii while I was out visiting the Island for my cousin’s wedding. No one in my group was capable of swimming and so I went… alone. 

Oahu Diving is a local company that takes uncertified beginners diving. Eric is the leader of the pack and he is responsible for making sure everyone understands how to work the equipment and teach us the procedures. 

We dove under for thirty minutes and while I was down there I saw a small shark, lots of colorful fish, and an octopus amongst other sea creatures.

I definitely recommend Oahu Diving to anyone who is visiting and wants to go. www.oahudiving.com

Sandstone Peak Trail in Southern California. Winter is the perfect time to treat yourself to a hike. This is a mild 5 mile day hike located on Yerba Buena Rd. 

Help get my design printed. Vote a 5 for my design. Thank you and happy holidays!

My yelp review that has been publicized on one of my favorite restaurants, Carney’s. Click the above yellow link “Carney’s Hotdog Fan Recognition” to see what I had to say about this classic Los Angeles joint.

Get your name or initial painted on your body by Victoria Bellavia or have her make a custom hand lettered design for you or a loved on. She’s located in Manhattan and known for her hand letter project. www.handletterdesign.com

Despite the overcast weather and down pour through out our drive to the Central Coast of California we managed to find our way to the beloved Danish town of Solvang. It’s a mix up of Scandinavian countries but it’s population is mostly from Denmark. I’d say it’s roughly a 5 mile radius of Scandinavian roots.

1. Roughly a 30 minute drive to Los Olivos, CA. This town features one of the classiest restaurants, Los Olivos Cafe. Spectacular and unique food that is classified as Mediterranean. They offer wine tastings or pairings with your meal. I got the wine tasting and entree for a very reasonable amount and was satisfied with all the wine flavors and foods. The portions are ginormous, and the waitress was so nice and awesome. Their pizzas are fantastic especially the mushroom with wild arugula.

2. Legitimately feel like you are in Europe. Okay okay, it’s a little bit of a tourist trap however if you go there during off season or on a rainy weekday, then you’ve got a pretty good chance of catching the European ambiance. 

3. Unique hand painted wooden signs. I’m a sucker for design, if you didn’t know then maybe you should revisit my website www.trisharaewong.com but I love me some typography and all that jazz. You can find endless amounts of wooden hand painted signs in Solvang.

4. If you want to confuse your friends and family this is the time to do so. 

5. This is a foodie’s paradise. Here’s a photo of my parents getting just a dozen danishes from one of the local bakeries. If you have a sweet tooth you can fulfill your every desire. Waffle houses, candy stores, salt water taffies, bakeries, ice cream shops, it’s quite insane.