6 Most Instagrammable, Pretty, Colorful Ice Cream Shops in Los Angeles, California

6 Best Instagram Ice Cream Spots in LA

You know I love ice cream… especially pretty ice cream pictures! You can go to places like Black Tap and get crazy Freak Shakes for $15 or you can go to a local ice cream shop and get something just as tasty and Instagram worthy! Los Angeles has tons of Instagram Ice Cream shops, you just have to know where to look. Influencers, tourists, Angelinos - here is our list for your next perfect social media ice cream pictures!

Related Post: BEST ICE CREAM SCOOP SHOPS IN LOS ANGELES (Rated, ranked, and map included)

After’s Ice Cream in Venice

Afters Ice Cream

Locations: All over LA (this photo was taken at the Venice Beach location)

Afters Ice Cream has tons of tasty flavors and some are bright in color! Cookie Monster ice cream is blue and tastes amazing, but caution, it will temporarily leave your mouth blue! Totally worth it though. The Venice location is nice with a picture-perfect beach background, however, keep in mind ice cream can melt pretty fast!

They also have witty sayings like, “ruining diets everywhere.”

See more photos in our full review: AFTERS ICE CREAM REVIEW

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Little Damage Ice Cream - Downtown LA

Little Damage

Location: Downtown LA - 700 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

This devilish, black, charcoal waffle cone gives a unique look against contrasting colorful soft serve or bright sprinkles. Flavors often rotate as they make their ice cream in small batches with local ingredients from organic dairy farms and zero preservatives.

See our full review here: LITTLE DAMAGE ICE CREAM REVIEW

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Milk Bar LA

Milk Bar

Location: 7150 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Shopping in Melrose? Momofuku’s Milk Bar is open in Los Angeles and people are flocking from all over for these tasty treats! Cookies, cakes, and soft serve will leave you happy and full! 

Lots of hot pink colors here! Outside there is a cake painted on the side of the building that is a full story high! See it in our full review: MILK BAR REVIEW

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Sloan’s Ice Cream Shop

Sloan’s Ice Cream

Locations: Santa Monica and Woodland Hills

These pretty pink stores are vibrant and can be seen a mile away! Inside, you’ll find walls with sprinkles and lollipops with fancy chandeliers hanging. Sloan’s also has amazing ice cream flavors and serves up generous portions!

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Bumsan Organic Milk Bar

Bumsan Organic Milk Bar

Location: Koreatown - 534 S Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90020

Ok, don’t these pretty ice cream cones just scream Instagram ME!? The colors, toppings, and fancy swirl give these classy cones an edge. Bumsan serves premium 100% organic soft-serve ice cream from the leading organic dairy producer in Korea.

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SomiSomi Ah-Boong Fish Shaped Waffle Cone with Ice Cream

SomiSomi Soft Serve and Taiyaki

Locations: Santa Monica, Glendale, Little Tokyo, Koreatown and more!

SomiSomi serves a very special Korean dessert known as “Ah-Boong,” which is a fish-shaped waffle cone with your choice of filling and topped with soft serve.

Flavors include: Milk, Matcha, Ube, Black Sesame and more.

Filling stuffed inside the taiyaki cone include: Custard, Nutella, Red Bean, Cream Cheese and Taro.

Don’t forget a topping like Oreo crumbs, Strawberry, macaron, Graham crackers, Fruity Pebbles, or rainbow sprinkles (always my fave)!

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Please note this is not a sponsored post and based on my own personal experience, all thoughts are my own.

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6 Most Instagrammable, Pretty, Colorful Ice Cream Shops in Los Angeles, California

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10 FUN things you must do in Wailea - Maui, Hawaii

Top Ten Things to do and See in Wailea, Hawaii

First or sixth trip to Hawaii? Doesn’t matter, check out these fun things to do in Wailea! It’s a pretty coastal drive if you’re staying in Lahaina or a great place to stay for a few nights! We stayed at the Grand Wailea and fell in love with Wailea! Here’s a list of what to do in Wailea, Maui:

1. Go for a Hike in Wailea

   Wailea hikes are the best way to start the day! At the end of Makena Road just past Wailea, there is a trail to hike around old lava fields. We were lucky enough to find a Hawaiian Monk Seal that had just given birth days prior and was on the shore with her pup. We took the Haopili Trail to Hanomanioa Light where at the end of the trail is one of those natural pools that you often see influencers float in on Instagram. If you’re lucky, you’ll come across some black mountain goats along the way!

Hike to the natural pools in Wailea

2. Find a Secret Beach in Wailea

Maybe it’s not such a secret if I’m telling you. Again, At the end of Makena Road just past Wailea, if you’re not in the mood to hike (see #1), there are little beach coves that only fit a few people so you can jump in the water, do yoga, read a book, have a picnic lunch, or take a nap! It’s a private beach all to yourself! Pro Tip: Claim your spot early.

Secret Beaches in Wailea

3. Enjoy a day by the beach!

Beach chairs are provided by most hotels, you just have to get there early to nab one. We stayed at the Grand Wailea and would grab a few chairs around 8am to be in the front row.

4. Snorkel around Turtle Town

Wailea has some great spots for snorkeling, but you have to check out Turtle Town. Turtle Town is where the turtles come to have the cleaner fish pick off the algae and other parasites living on their backs! We also saw quite a few turtles right near our hotel (Grand Wailea).

Related posts: Best Snorkel Spots in Maui and Best Scuba Spots in Maui

Snorkel around Turtle Town in Wailea

5. Visit the Turtles in Wailea

Right off the back of a Makena Landing parking lot (5083 Makena Alanui, Kihei, HI 96753), you’ll often find turtles resting in the sand/rocks. Don’t disturb them, but admire them from the trees! Also, there were tons of chickens chasing each other in the parking lot.

Resting Turtles in Wailea

6. Go Shopping in Wailea!

I always love shopping! The Shops at Wailea have everything you need from high-end stores like Louis Vuitton to the ABC Store! Lappert’s ice cream can be found here and you’ll smell the fresh waffle cones wafting in the air when you get close! Soha Living has the cutest coastal decor, which makes great souvenirs! The Island Gourmet Markets is the best Wailea grocery store and their coffee shop brews a delicious coconut macadamia nut latte!

7. Pineapple Wine Tasting

There is a vineyard on Maui and it’s not far from Wailea! Have a taste of Maui Wine’s famous pineapple wines, exclusive small production estate wines, and sparkling wines.

FUN FACT: The King’s Cottage was originally built in the 1870s to welcome King Kalākaua himself, the last reigning king of Hawai’i. He would come to ‘Ulupalakua to enjoy a little royal vacation time with lavish dinners, dancing, champagne, and celebration. Maui wine continues that celebration today, this time inviting all of you! Complimentary guided tours of the historic estate, production area, and wine cellar.

8. Golf in Wailea

Josh loves to golf and there is a fantastic course (Wailea Golf Club) with gorgeous views in Wailea. The Wailea Gold Course is not only gorgeous but one of the top 100 courses in America!

Wailea Golf Club

9. Restaurants in Wailea

Do some fine dining - you’re on vacation! Monkeypod Kitchen is a MUST, their mai tais are my favorite on the island (food is fantastic too)! We also really liked Lineage (Top Chef, Sheldon Simeon’s restaurant), conveniently located in The Shops at Wailea shopping center.

10. Spa Day in Wailea

You’re at the beach in Hawaii, RELAX! Go for a nice massage and then grab a drink by the pool. Many of the resorts have spas, don’t be afraid to try them. This is the ultimate vacation life!

Grand Wailea Luau - Best in Wailea

BONUS TIP: Don’t miss the Grand Wailea Luau!

If you walk along the pathway at night, you’ll hear the drums and luau music play. You can kinda see what’s happening on the luau stage as you stroll by, but you should experience the show along with a traditional Hawaiian dinner! The Marriott Wailea luau puts on a good show too. Get a great price on luau tickets with Activity Authority!

Maui is part of ListForAll.com’s TOP 25 TROPICAL VACATIONS and I think these are some good reasons for Maui to make that list!

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Things to do in Wailea - Maui, Hawaii

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Best Scuba Dive Sites in Maui, Hawaii - Reviews and video included!

I’ve always loved swimming and have a love for marine creatures. Maybe it was watching the Little Mermaid hundreds of times when I was little! I was so happy when Josh wanted to get scuba certified so we could explore what is really under the sea. 5 years later and with over 35 dives all over the world, we can’t get enough! We go scuba diving every time we visit Maui, and have discovered some great dive sites. We’ve also encountered some great dive shops which make it easy for us to just show up and they bring the gear! We usually bring our own fins and masks so we can also snorkel around the hotel - See BEST SNORKEL SPOTS IN MAUI if you’re interested in snorkeling!

Let’s get into the reviews and don’t miss our video of these sites at the end!

Lanai’s First Cathedral

Best Dive Sites in Maui

Maui Reef Fish Guide

The great part about Maui is that you can hop on a boat and get to a great dive site anywhere from 20-45 mins. Some hotels and dive shops will do beach dives where you can walk right into the water and start exploring right off the shore! When traveling to sites by boat, we typically stay on Kaanapali Beach and prefer to depart from Lahaina, but if you stay in Wailea there is another marina that is nearby.

Click HERE to check dive conditions in Maui for the day before you head out. If the visibility is poor and the current is strong, the dive is not pleasant. It’s often warm enough that we can just wear a rash guard and not need a wet suit!

Molokini Dive Sites

Molokini is a small inactive volcano visible from the south end of Maui. There are relatively shallow areas to snorkel as well as deeper areas to dive down to. Here are some great Molokini Snorkel Charters.

Molokini Crater was once used as a practice area for bombing in World War II! Learn more about the crater history and check out their really cool infographic HERE!

On our first trip with Lahaina Divers, we went to dive sites known as Aquarium and Reef’s End. We disembarked from Lahaina and it took us about 45 mins to get there. There were many vibrant colors of coral and fish, including angelfish, butterflyfish, Moorish idol (black and yellow banded fish), Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby, White Spotted Pufferfish, Barred Filefish (‘O’ili), Parrotfish, and a spotted eel. We even saw reef sharks and a barracuda - catch it at the end of the Molokini section of our video below!

On our second trip, we decided to check out the Backwall and had two dives with Maui Diamond Sea Sports. We were staying in Wailea and took off from Maalea Harbor (behind the Aquarium) which took around 25 minutes to get there. Once we jumped in, the water was so clear and so blue! We caught a white-spotted eagle ray swim by, a spotted eel, and many beautiful fish including white-spotted puffer and spotted butterflyfish - both native to the area.

Molokini Backwall - Spotted Eagle Ray

Lanai Dive Sites

From Kaanapali Beach and Lahaina, you look directly across to the island, Lanai, which looks like it is so close! With a quick 20-30 min ride from Lahaina Harbor, there are quite a few dive sites to explore at the south tip of Lanai.

My favorite site is the First Cathedral. Crafted from a lava tube, once you swim through a tunnel there is a large area, about 2 stories high with holes in the back that look like stained glass of a cathedral and a rock in the middle that is known as the alter. Within the “cave,” you will often find lobsters on the sidewalls and pufferfish swimming around.

Wash Rock is also a great site that has gorgeous coral formations and a lava tunnel called the ‘Tunnel of Love.‘ Within the tunnel, we found a sponge crab, as well as sculptured and regal slipper lobsters. Look out for giant moray eels and tiny nudibranch, they’re both in this ecosystem! See all of this in our video below!

Wash Rock - Regal Slipper Lobster

The Secret Cove dive site was buzzing with tons of fish when we visited! Plenty of long nose butterflyfish, yellow are typical, but the all-black long nose butterflyfish are native to the area. We swam around the cove and through it!

Lahaina and Kaanapali Dive Sites

Carthaginian II Shipwreck is a great site to explore! There is a long history to the ship, it was originally built in 1920 in Germany and after a few rebuilds over the years, it was eventually named the Carthaginian and was even featured in the 1966 movie, Hawaii. After filming, Carthaginian was purchased by the non-profit "Lahaina Restoration Foundation" (LRF) and in 1967 was flipped to a whaling ship museum and tourist attraction. However, Carthaginian was destroyed after it ran aground on the Lahaina Reef on Easter Sunday 1973. A replica was made of the Carthaginian from the ship, Komet. After installing 15 short tons (14 t) of cement and steel ballast to balance the rigging, it was renamed Carthaginian II and restored over several years. In 1980, the ship was opened again as a floating whaling museum. However, the addition of ballast allowed moisture to seep into the inside of the steel hull, which rusted to a point where it nearly split in half. As it was too expensive to keep it afloat, the LRF decided to sink it and make it a tourist attraction. On December 13, 2005, the boat was towed and sunk to create an artificial reef in the water at a depth of approximately 97 feet (30 m), 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) off the coast near Puamana Beach Park. 

When we dove the Carthaginian, we saw an undulated moray eel under the ship, a small white tip reef shark lurking around, butterflyfish, endemic cleaner wrasse, yellow fingeat fish, and Spongebob attached to the side of the ship.

Carthaginian II Shipwreck

We love to stay at the Sheraton Maui beach resort and we’ve heard the night dive is pretty great on Black Rock. We have yet to do it, but we did a night shore dive at the site, Airport Beach, and saw bioluminescence glow at the bottom! Once we went shore diving during the day, Airport had a pretty Hawaiian coral reef, an abundance of fish, and a few eels that we encountered.

Olowalu

Just south of Lahaina is Olowalu and a long stretch of beach. Just off the shore is a great dive site Olowalu Reef, also known as turtle reef, where turtles often come in to have their shells cleaned by other fish. Rumor has it that there is a rare manta ray cleaning station and a blacktip reef shark nursery, but we didn’t see them. We did see a turtle swimming around and precious corals that were very vibrant with plenty of tropical fish to see.

Olowalu Reef Turtle

Best Dive Charters and Shops in Maui

Great dive shops and companies make it easy to just show up to the boat and they provide all of the dive gear along with great dive guides: Extended Horizons, Lahaina Divers, and Maui Diamond Sea Sports.

We’ve had the most dives with Extended Horizons, and we even got our advanced certification on one of our trips! We love their crews and guides! The guides would group us into small groups with those at a similar caliber that can keep up with each other. There are usually 2-3 groups with 3 pairs in each group. Water is provided and a light snack between and after dives. At the end of each trip, they put everything we need for our dive book on a board so we can easily remember and document our dives! If you’re looking for a dive school to get your certification, contact Extended Horizons or click here for more!

Lahaina Divers and Maui Diamond Sea Sports are very similar to Extended Horizons, but their boats are a little bigger and usually have more people. They also provide gear, water, snacks, and have great dive guides.

Extended Horizons always makes it easy to remember our dives!

Whale Watching in Maui

If you dive between November and May, you have a chance of seeing or hearing the blue whales as they migrate past Hawaii. Usually, you can see them spout water then after a few minutes if you’re lucky you can catch them breach or a glimpse of their tail come up and out of the water! If you listen to the beginning of our video below, you can actually hear them in Molokini! We didn’t see them underwater, but they did come up and breach the water a few times when we were on the boat! Book your whale watching tour with one of these tours on Activity Authority - recommended by a local!

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BEST SCUBA DIVE SITES IN MAUI VIDEO

Most of the dive sites and tropical creatures mentioned above can be found in this video:

Scuba Diving Packing Essentials for Maui Divers

Don’t forget to pack the following for your dive:

1. Sunscreen

2. Towel (we take the pool towels from the hotel)

3. GoPro or underwater camera - with batteries

4. Sunglasses

5. Fins

6. Mask - I love the Cressi Pano 3, finally a mask I can see out of and it doesn’t leak for a fairly inexpensive price

7. PADI or dive certification card

8. Dive book

9. Tote to hold all of these things!

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Please note, this is not a sponsored post, and based on my own personal experience, all thoughts are my own.

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See all Hawaii Posts, or the latest and greatest:

Ice Cream for a Cause from an Ice Cream Doctor

I think I found my dream job, I want to be an Ice Cream Doctor when I grow up! Dr. Maya Warren, known as “The Ice Cream Doctor,” and Mona Lipson have teamed up, using ice cream to make a difference in the world! Also, check out how the heck you can become an ice cream scientist as well as myths about ice cream and healthy eating. An ice cream diet is life!

Ice Cream for Change

Ice Cream for Change

Ice Cream for Change is a platform created by Dr. Maya Warren, also known as “The Ice Cream Doctor” and the face of ice cream, as well as Mona B. Lipson, AKA Miss Mona Makes Ice Cream, to bring together ice cream lovers and makers advocating for social change and civic action. From dismantling racial injustice to fighting climate change, their goal is to use the power of ice cream (it really does have a special way of bringing people together) as a force for good by helping to raise money and awareness for organizations that are driving solutions and making a real-world impact across the globe.

Learn more by visiting www.icecreamforchange.org

Dr. Maya Warren on HOW does someone become an ice cream scientist?

• Anyone can become an ice cream scientist through passion and being determined enough to do it. You can go to college for the pedigree of knowledge in food science or chemistry. 

• You don’t need to get a PhD. You can get a master’s and have the same distinction, but if you “want to make a solid connection with ice cream to be an ice cream scientist” getting the PhD is one way to go. You’ll never forget all the little details and the impact every single ingredient has on a product in ice cream. 

• A lot of becoming an ice cream scientist is following your passion to become an ice cream scientist. Work hard. 

• Work smarter, not harder, and do what you need to do to get to the next level.

• Know what you want to do with your degree. If you want to be an expert and consult people, so they call on you to fill certain issues, the PhD helps elevate you. 

• The road to get a PhD is very different for different people. I would highly recommend people follow what their passion is and figure out what they want to do with your degree. 

• Know what the PhD behind your name means. When I go to countries and speak, that degree comes with more respect. Getting this degree is just something I did. I never wanted to go back to school, and now I don’t need to!

Dr. Maya Warren on the biggest myths about Ice Cream and healthy eating?

(proof that ice cream is good for you! 😉 Huzzah!)

1. Not everything on the shelf is ice cream - in the US, Ice cream has to be 10% or more milk fat. So we have all these non-dairy products, which in the science world, we call frozen errated desserts. The word ice cream isn’t on these containers when you look closely at them

2. Frozen errated desserts - you can make these desserts with any kind of milk. If you don’t want to use cow's milk, you don’t have to, but the fats that are in other dairy products are different from cow fat, so the texture will be different. Depending on what the animals eat, this will change the taste of the milk, making the ice cream taste different too.

3. Dairy replacers - coconut fat is better than others because it behaves similarly to milk fat. It gives a good texture.

4. All ice cream at room temperature melts - that has to do with the microstructure of the product. Even if it doesn’t look like it it’s melting, it is. Just at a slower rate because of the ingredients inside of it

5. Sugar substitutes - Not all ice creams are made the same. They don’t all have the same amount of sugar. If you’re diabetic, going with something with a sugar substitute may be better, but it can mess with your digestive system.

6. The big word ingredients aren’t always bad - These ingredients help for many different reasons. One being so it doesn’t melt right away. Other ingredients explain why freezer burn happens in some ice cream, but not all.

7. You don’t have to have a machine to make ice cream! You can control what you put in homemade ice cream. If you want to use alternative sweeteners, you can! You can put real fruit in with some agave or honey, maybe even water. The fruit might be sweet enough to put inside without a lot of sugar! In order to freeze your ice cream though, you do need some sort of sweetener. Otherwise, you’ll end up with something that’s too solid. One way I like to think about it is this: If you live in a cold state, they use salt to melt the snow. For ice cream, you use sugar so it can melt.

National Ice Cream Day 2020

This year, Ice Cream for Change brought the ice cream community together including scoop shops, ice cream companies, and home ice cream makers to help raise funds for organizations leading the fight to help dismantle structural and systemic racism. I saw so many scoop shops including some of my favorites such as MILK, Smitten Ice Cream, Coolhaus, all offering to donate to organizations such NAACP, Center for Healing Racism, Showing Up For Racial Justice, and others advocating for social change & civic action.

What’s next?!

Follow Dr. Maya Warren on Instagram and join her on Ice Cream Sundays for some ice cream fun and great recipes to enjoy with the family! Stayed tuned for more from her!

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Ice Cream Scoop Shop Review: Supercool Creamery | Los Angeles, CA

Supercool Creamery

SUPERCOOL CREAMERY

• Location: 4469 Sunset Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027

• Website: supercoolcreamery.com

• Pricing: Hearty scoop and show make it worth the price!

• Dietary Restrictions: Dairy-free Options Available

• Take-out: Local delivery service available

NOTE: They are TEMPORARILY CLOSED! I’m spreading the word so you can come back when they reopen!

With a name like SuperCool, I wasn’t sure what to expect! I was pleasantly surprised when we walked in and the ice cream artists were dressed like performers and put on quite a show!

SUPERCOOL ICE CREAM MENU AND FLAVORS

STEP RIGHT UP! The best ice cream can be found within! With the magic of liquid nitrogen (which is -320 degrees), the cream base I chose, turned into ice cream before my eyes. They call it nitro-artisan ice cream made by hand - yeah, that’s accurate! They have great flavor options such as Key lime with dark rum, Coconut Chocolate Chip, Coffee Toffee, and Berry Sorbet (dairy-free). You can always get a float or a shake if you’re in the mood! It took me a while to figure out what I wanted, but I ended up with Coffee Toffee!

Supercool Menu - so many great flavors!

Here is a little video from my adventure:

THE ICE CREAM MAGICIAN

Once I had my selection, the ice cream magician went to work. Ok, I don’t know if that’s what they actually call themselves, but go with it… He was so animated and funny, it was definitely an experience and not just going into Baskin Robbins for a scoop. Even shops like Creamistry or Smitten will use a mixer of some sort, but Supercool does it by hand!

SUPERCOOL CREAMERY LOCATION AND CATERING

Located in Silver Lake, they are right next to the Vista Theater. I noticed the ice cream sign, otherwise, I would have thought it was part of the theater! They also cater events and parties which would probably be really fun as the ice cream magicians are so enthusiastic! They’ll even spike their ice cream for events, so keep that in mind for your next party! I know I will!

Ta DA!

Supercool is a win in my book! Check them out when you can!

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How to Spend 3 Relaxing Days in Moorea - Complete Itinerary

What to do for 3 Days in Moorea, French Polynesia - Complete Itinerary

On our Honeymoon, we stopped in French Polynesia on our way back to the States. We were ready for some relaxation after going nonstop for over a week in Australia & New Zealand. We spent 3 nights in Moorea in an overwater bungalow and it was fabulous! Here’s everything you need to know about Moorea!

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How to get to Moorea

Getting to Moorea requires a few transfers. We booked our Moorea portion through Tahiti Legends, who booked everything including our transfers from airports and hotels (we booked our own flights). We stayed at the Sofitel Moorea, in an overwater bungalow, which is something everyone must do in their lifetime! We flew via Air Tahiti Nui in business class (from New Zealand) using our miles, which was a comfortable flight with big seats and great amenities. Air Tahiti flies from Paris to LA to Tahiti to New Zealand and back. We didn’t go to Paris on this trip!

We had to stay in Tahiti overnight because our flight got in so late from New Zealand, there wasn't an option to get to Moorea after 8pm. We used our points to stay at the InterContinental. This was the view from an “average” room:

InterContinental Tahiti Room with Garden Views

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Day 1

Morning in Tahiti

We had a car pick us up bright and early from the InterContinental in Tahiti to take us to the ferry. Driving around in the daylight unmasked the island and certain areas were definitely not paradise.

Aboard the Ferry from Tahiti to Moorea

We boarded the ferry around 8 am and the ride was about 20 minutes to Moorea. On the other side, a car picked us up (previously arranged) and took us about 10 minutes down the road to our hotel, the Sofitel Moorea.

We were too early for check-in when we arrived in Moorea, so we wandered around the resort to get our bearings. We walked over to the spa to check it out and made reservations for a couples massage for the late afternoon.

Entrance to our Overwater Bungalow Room

After about an hour, our room was available and we were so excited to check out our overwater bungalow. The room was spectacular and unlike any hotel we had ever stayed in!

Sofitel Moorea Overwater Bungalow Bed

The room felt like a suite. Walking in, you first notice the giant windows leading out to the water, then the high ceilings making the room feel enormous and spacious. The bed was perfectly placed in the middle of the room facing the water with a fantastic view. It had mosquito netting to which Josh said, "It's like a fort!"

Once you step in front of the bed, there is a part of the floor that has a glass square, where you could see the fish swimming under the bungalow. 

Floor to see fish under our room!

 Afternoon - Swim and Snorkel

Although we REALLY wanted to, you can't really jump off the deck of the bungalow, since it's pretty shallow and there is a lot of coral below. BUT you can go for a swim and there is a ton of marine life to see if you snorkel.

Just a small fish in a big pond

After a leisurely snorkel, we decided to switch it up and go over to the main pool to do more swimming (more like wading) and grab a bite to eat at the bar-restaurant. 

Fish in Moorea in front of our Overwater Bungalow

In the late afternoon, we had our couples massage appointment. The spa room was huge, complete with a shower and bathtub. We only signed up for a massage but realized we could have spent an entire day at the spa. The massage was soothing and relaxing. After being in the sun all day, there was a slight burn to which aloe vera was offered. I was soothed and comforted, I could have laid face down on that table for the rest of the evening. 

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Day 2

 

WAKING UP IN MOOREA!

Sunrise in Moorea - View from Sofitel Moorea

Here's how to properly wake up in Moorea:

 Not a bad way to start the day! Am I right?! From the Sofitel Moorea, we could see sunrises but the us would set on the other side of the island.

 

Morning - Drive around the Island of Moorea

We rented a little 2 seater buggy through Moorea Fun Roadster, which was like a small go-kart that went faster than you would expect, zooming around the island in about 4 hours. The road was bumpy at parts, but overall it was a blast! Since the island is so small it was nice to take the time to experience it on our own, checking out all there is to do!

See our post all about our buggy ride here: How to Rent a Buggy in Moorea

Afternoon in Moorea

After returning from our island tour, we were ready for some relaxation. We jumped in the water from our patio, and cooled off. 

Patio stairs to the water

We spent the rest of the day on the patio of our deck playing cards with some fun drinks!

Pro tip: Buy alcohol at duty-free store at the airport and mixers if available. On our buggy ride, we stopped and bought concentrate (which we thought was juice) at the grocery store on Moorea. The concentrate was an ok way to go since you can get TONS of drinks out of it, but they get old after awhile.

Once we got too hot, we'd jump in the water, swim around, and come right back to our card game. I don't think I changed out of my swimsuit that day.

Sofitel Moorea - Overwater Bungalows

Once we needed a break from the cards, we decided to feed the fish under our bungalow which was great entertainment for at LEAST 20 minutes.

Evening in Moorea

We grabbed dinner at the bar restaurant and took it back to our room so we could do some star gazing. Since it is so quiet and so dark, there were thousands of stars to see. I don't think I've seen that many before in my life!

Stargazing in Moorea

On average, we seemed to go to bed when the sun went down (around 9-10 pm) and woke up as soon as it came back up (around 6:30-7 am). We weren't on any time zone in particular as we had been bouncing around so many places the previous week (we were in Australia and New Zealand).

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Day 3

Morning in Moorea

We got up early to catch the sunrise! Since we didn’t get many sunsets here, it was nice to catch the sun coming up!

Sunrise in Moorea - Sofitel Moorea

We might have gone back to bed and then got up just in time to catch the end of breakfast at the main restaurant. The food was delicious, they offered a large spread of almost anything you could think of - eggs, omelets, french toast, pancakes, juices, coffee... and the view wasn't half bad. The only problem was the birds would try to snatch your food if you looked the other way! 

Breakfast at the Sofitel Moorea

Afternoon

We packed up and checked out. Although we weren't hanging our heads quite yet, it was time to head to our next destination, Bora Bora!

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Don’t forget to pack some of our favorite things:

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More Moorea and French Polynesia:

HOTEL REVIEW: Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino

Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino

Address: L.G. Smith Blvd 82, Oranjestad, Aruba

Website: Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino

Flamingo Beach - Renaissance Island

The number one reason to stay here is to visit Flamingo Beach! After we were spoiled staying at the Hyatt Regency Aruba, the Renaissance was nice but we spent more time with my new pink friends than in the room! Read all about our days spent at Aruba’s Renaissance Island - Flamingo Beach . Many ask: Is flamingo island worth it? 1000% YES!

Find the best rate to visit these flamingos by booking your room through Booking.com Not only will you find the best rate out there but by clicking this link and booking a night, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you! PLEASE support our blog and bookmark this link! :-) Thanks! 

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Renaissance Adult Only Hotel in Aruba

There are 2 hotels at the Renaissance property, both right across from each other. The adults-only hotel is more inland but still in the marina. It’s also connected to a very fancy, high-end mall and casino! Check out rates here: booking.com

All-inclusive rooms in Aruba!

All-inclusive room rates at Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino are available. However, these rates tend to be higher because they include onsite food and beverages in the room rate.

How to get to Renaissance Island Aruba with the Flamingo Beach

The Renaissance owns a small island just a quick 10 minute boat ride away that they have named Renaissance Island. Booking your stay at the Renaissance guarantees you access to the island, there is a small chance you can buy a ticket the morning of, but there are very few if the hotel is not sold out. Here, you will find beautiful beaches with lounge chairs, a restaurant, hammocks, and FLAMINGOS. A water taxi stops every 15 mins in the lobby to head to Renaissance Island.

Read more here: Aruba’s Renaissance Island Flamingo Beach

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Things to do at the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino

1. Go to Renaissance Island for the Flamingo and Iguana beach

2. Rent a cabana on Renaissance Island - The cabana comes with 2 bottles of Voss still water, 2 bottles of Voss sparkling water, bottle of sparkling wine, refreshing food amenity, personalized cabana butler service, towels, 2 water floats, and 2 full face-snorkeling masks. Cabanas at Iguana Beach come with kids snorkels. Cabana 4001 at Iguana Beach has a water slide. Rates start at $300 - BOOK EARLY!

3. Go for a dip in the pool (there is a family pool and adult-only pool)!

4. Get a drink at the lobby bar - it overlooks the pool and ocean!

5. Go shopping! There is a little plaza to shop around for clothes and souvenirs!

6. Have breakfast on Renaissance Island! There is an amazing restaurant, called Papagoyo Bar & Grill, that serves a large breakfast that will fill you up for a day in the sun!

7. Go to the Spa Cove on Renaissance Island! Peaceful and serene, this spa only has ocean views!

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Arrival: Parking, Lobby, and Bar at the Renaissance Aruba

Valet parking is available under the lobby. We took a taxi and didn’t need a car to get around the island. The lobby was open air and the bar was located right next to the pool. Check-in was a breeze. Literally. The staff was really nice and when our room wasn’t ready, they stored our bags and we were allowed to go to the island.

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Renaissance Aruba Guest Rooms

Our room was a decent size. We booked a Guest room, 1 King or 2 Double, Limited view in the Marina Hotel. The design was fairly modern and looked like they had been renovated fairly recently.

Guest Room

The little booth was cute but not very comfortable. Our limited view was an inside view and we were located right above Starbucks. The most exciting thing that happened out the window: watching people board the boats for Renaissance Island.

The closet was small, our suitcases didn’t fit inside. The robes were nice, though!

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Bathroom

The bathroom was on the smaller side compared the Hyatt we had just stayed at, but was perfect for spending 24 hours there. SO many towels.

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Renaissance Aruba Adult Pool

The adult pool was so quiet and relaxing, perfect for honeymooners. With ocean and marina views, why would you ever want to leave!

The lobby bar and the pool bar are one and the same. I love how open and bright the bar area is!

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We basically paid $400 to see Flamingos, but they were worth every penny!

Find the best rate to visit these flamingos by booking your room through Booking.com Not only will you find the best rate out there but by clicking this link and booking a night, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you! PLEASE support our blog and bookmark this link! :-) Thanks! 

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MORE ARUBA!

20 Best Ice Cream Scoop Shops in Los Angeles - Ranked and Map Included!

20 Best Ice Cream Scoop Shops open and delivery options in LA (with map)!

It’s that time of year again! July is National Ice Cream Month and I’m here to celebrate despite the state of the world at the moment! Ice cream is my happy place and I think we all need a little happiness these days!

NATIONAL ICE CREAM DAY is JULY 19, 2020!

See our post on where to find FREE scoops and deals: National Ice Cream Day 2020

I’ve ranked my favorite shops (best to last), and have even included a map for you to access anytime, anywhere in LA! I’m also adding in where you can get pints to go, as it is still very important to wear masks and social distance. Find the “best ice cream places open near me” by using the map below!

Looking for vegan and dairy-free ice cream options? I have those too! Now let’s get scoopin’!

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Strawberry Rhubarb and Blood Orange

GINGER’S DIVINE ICE CREAMS

• Location: West LA - 12550 W. Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90066

• Website: gingersicecream.com

• Pricing: Great value for amazing homemade ice cream

• Dietary Restrictions: Vegan ice cream options available

• Take-out: Homemade cookies, pops, brownies, and pints to go are also available here as well!

I discovered the best-kept secret on the Westside called Ginger's Divine Ice Creams! Ginger herself creates all ice creams and is often found at farmer’s markets in the area for the best local ingredients that are California homegrown. So many fresh flavors such as Strawberry Rhubarb, Chocolate Covered Crack, Oaxaca Habanero, "The Dude" White Russian, Unicorn Cotton Candy, it’s hard to choose and you’ll want to return again and again! Her flavors are inventive and different from other scoop shops, see her latest mashups here: Gingers Divine Ice Cream Flavors.

I’m gonna call it the Best Ice Cream in Los Angeles and my favorite ice cream in LA!

See the full review here: Ice Cream Review: Ginger’s Divine Ice Creams

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Rainbow Buttermilk on top of Cream Puff

JENI’S ICE CREAMS

• LA Locations: Santa Monica, Larchmont, Calabasas, Los Feliz (see more on their site)

• Website: jenis.com

• Pricing: Great value for artisan ice cream flavors ($6 for a split scoop)

• Dietary Restrictions: Vegan and dairy-free ice cream options available

• Take-out: Pints are available to go or you can order online! NEW: You can even find some flavors in select stores!

Jeni’s flavors are out of this world! A true artisan ice cream confectionary that started in Ohio and has made its way to California! So many flavors to choose from including Blackout Chocolate Cake, Boston Cream Pie, Cream Puff, Frozé, Coffee with Cream and Sugar, and Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flecks… literally, try them all!

New flavors are featured each month (Jeni’s Ice Cream Flavors) and get this, you can even have an ice cream subscription and have ice cream delivered to your house monthly! Happy to help you eat them.

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SALT AND STRAW

• LA Locations: Downtown LA, Mid-city (Beverly near Fairfax), WeHo, Studio City, Venice

• Website: saltandstraw.com

• Pricing: On the higher side, but the ingredients are more complex

• Dietary Restrictions: Vegan ice cream options available

• Take-out: Pints are available to go or you can order online

I LOVE Salt and Straw! So many interesting Classic Los Angeles Flavors including Roasted Strawberry & Toasted White Chocolate, Honey Lavender, Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache, Black Olive Brittle & Goat Cheese, Freckled Mint TCHO-colate Chip, and Dandelion Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies & Cream).

They also offer about 6 new rotating flavors every month! Don’t forget to come back for their Thanksgiving series in November - try the mashed potatoes with gravy or the stuffing! Weird but good!

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Sloan’s Ice Cream with snowcaps!

Sloan’s Ice Cream

• LA Locations: Santa Monica and Woodland Hills

• Website: sloansicecream.com

• Pricing: Moderate price for a scoop and topping!

• Dietary Restrictions: Vegan ice cream options available

• Take-out: Try UberEats, Postmates, Doordash!

SLOAN’S IS GOALS! This place is pink, pretty, and has all the goodies! Not only do they have tons of different flavors of ice cream like Almond Joy, Mom’s Apple Pie, and Chocolate Cookie Cheesecake, but they have baked goods, chocolates, and candy too!

Bring some friends, and I dare you to eat TRACY’S KITCHEN SINK - ultimate sundae with everything including the kitchen sink – 18 scoops of ice cream, all of the deluxe toppings, 4 cookies, 4 brownies, gobs of whipped cream & cherries – all served in a real sink! Best ice cream in Santa Monica!

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SWEET ROSE CREAMERY

• Locations: Mid-city (Beverly near Fairfax), Brentwood, Palisades, Santa Monica

• Pricing: The sundae is the best bang for your buck

• Dietary Restrictions: Dairy-free ice cream options available

• Take-out: Pints and ice cream cakes are available to go!

I’ve loved Sweet Rose Creamery for a long time! Not only do they make their own ice cream in house, they make all their cones and toppings as well! Favorites include: Peanut Butter Fudge, Fresh Mint Chip (so fresh and made from mint extract - also, it’s not green!), Toasted Coconut. Check out their current flavors here: Sweet Rose Creamery Flavors

Ice cream pints, homemade toppings, ice cream cakes, party packs and other frozen treats can be delivered straight to your door through Postmates, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Doordash and Caviar!

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Frozen Rose

WANDERLUST CREAMERY

• Locations: Tarzana, Atwater Village, Venice

• Website: Wanderlust Creamery

• Pricing: Great value for your ice cream!

• Dietary Restrictions: Vegan ice cream options available

• Take-out: Pints are available to go

Wanderlust Creamery is literally my dream ice cream shop, combining my favorite things, ice cream and travel! Their motto is A DESTINATION IN EVERY SCOOP and flavors are amazing concoctions using ingredients from around the world. To give you a taste, you can try flavors like Vegan Sticky Rice Mango inspired by Thailand, Abuelita Malted Crunch inspired by LA, Japanese Neapolitan, Violet Marshmallow inspired by France. Don’t miss out on their Ube cone (made from yams, another weird but good combo) and their monthly flavors: Wanderlust Creamery Monthly Flavors.

Don’t miss them at Smorgasburg LA over the weekends in Downtown LA (when they resume after social distance rules have lifted). Hopefully, they come back this summer in time for Ice Cream Alley!

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MAGPIES

• Locations: Silver Lake and Tarzana

• Website: magpiessoftserve.com

• Pricing: A cone with a topping is decently priced!

• Dietary Restrictions: Vegan soft serve options available

• Take-out: Soft serve in a cup or pints, pies and more! Use Postmates or UberEats!

The owners of Magpies went to a Dairy Queen one day and came up with the idea to make a chef-y soft serve. They hit the nail on the head! Instead of chocolate or vanilla, you can get exquisite flavors such as Malted Milk Chocolate, Sweet Cream, Corn Almond (Vegan - Almond Milk), Brown Sugar Vanilla (Vegan - Oat Milk), Blueberry Pie (Vegan - Oat Milk), or Apple Pie! They even make soft serve pies which were perfect for birthdays at work! All toppings are made in house, including Butterscotch Rice Krispies, Chocolate Covered Honeycomb (Vegan), Brownie Bites (Vegan), and Graham Cracker Streusel - to name a few!

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Brown Sugar Vanilla Bean & Fresh Mint CHip

CARMELA ICE CREAM

• Locations: Mid-city and Pasadena

• Website: carmelaicecream.com

• Pricing: Get a split scoop in a bowl for your best value. The cones are really good too.

• Dietary Restrictions: Vegan ice cream options available

• Take-out: Pints, Quarts, and ice cream sandwiches - Uber Eats and Doordash!

This shop is classy, pretty, and feels like an ice cream parlor. They make all their own flavors (favorites include Brown Sugar Vanilla Bean, Intelligentsia Espresso, Salted Caramel, White Peach Vanilla Bean), and you can smell the fresh waffle cones once you step in the door! See their seasonal flavors here: Carmela Flavors

Get a cone, an ice cream sandwich, or try their delicious coffee, something for everyone! You can even take an ice cream class and make your own ice cream!

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Wild Berry Chocolate Crisp and Malted Milk English Toffee

RORI’S ARTISANAL CREAMERY

• Locations: Santa Monica, Century City, Long Beach (and up the coast)

• Website: rorisartisanalcreamery.com

• Pricing: Get a split scoop in a bowl for your best value. The cones are really good too.

• Dietary Restrictions: Vegan ice cream options available

• Take-out: Pints are available and you can find them in select grocery stores. See their website for more!

Rori’s originates here in California, freshly scooped from Carpinteria! Owner, Rori Trovato, makes all the ice cream, cookies, cones, and candy recipes, and try some of her great flavors like Biscoff, Black Pepper Pistachio, Fresh Mint Patty, Malted Milk English Toffee, Nutella, Peanut Butter Candy Swirl - mix a unique flavor with a classic flavor for the best combo!

Get shakes, floats, homemade cookies, brownies, What the Fudge bars and pints to go here too! They even cater parties, but you have to invite me if you hire them! ;-)

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Peppermint Stick

VAN LEEUWEN ICE CREAM

• Locations: Hollywood, Silverlake, Downtown LA, Culver City, and a Food Truck!

• Website: vanleeuwenicecream.com

• Pricing: More on the expensive side but really creamy exquisite ice cream.

• Dietary Restrictions: LOTS of Vegan ice cream options available

• Take-out: Pints can be delivered nationwide with Goldbelly or locally by delivery service (Doordash, UberEats, etc.)

I first tried Van Leeuwen ice cream in New York many moons ago! I was so excited when they first had a food truck and then shops started to pop up! I love their fun flavors which are pretty classic but mighty tasty: Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Cookies & Cream, Honeycomb, PB Marshmallow Crunch, Pistachio, and Salted Carmel to name a few. There are a lot of vegan options here! Seasonal flavors are also offered here, I love the Peppermint Stick during Winter, right now, keep up with their seasonal flavors here: Van Leeuwen Flavors.

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MILK SHOP

• Locations: Beverly and Silverlake

  • Beverly - 7290 BEVERLY BLVD., LOS ANGELES, CA 90036

  • Silverlake - 1639 SILVER LAKE BLVD., LOS ANGELES, CA 90026

• Website: themilkshop.com

• Pricing: Get an ice cream sandwich!

• Take-out: See their website for their delivery menu which includes cookies, cakes, pints, scoops of ice cream, and ice cream sandwiches

All ice creams and sorbets are made from scratch in their kitchen in LA from locally sourced products! You have to try their ice cream sandwiches! See all the best combinations here: Ice Cream Sandwich Flavors

Best ice cream sandwich combo: Fruity Pebbles, Grasshopper (mint), and California Strawberry - YUM!

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Coffee caramel and red velvet cupcake with sprinkles on top

LITTLE DAMAGE

• Location: Downtown LA - 700 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

• Website: littledamage.com

• Pricing: Great price for soft serve. Take a free picture in the photo booth!

• Dietary Restrictions: Dairy-free ice cream options available

• Take-out: take-out is available

This family-owned soft-serve ice cream shop is located in the heart of DTLA, known for its signature charcoal cones with an impressive rotating list of unique flavors. My favorite combo: Coffee caramel and red velvet cupcake with sprinkles on top. The cookies and cream flavor is really good too!

Their trendy ice cream is prepared daily in small batches, using local ingredients supplied by organic dairy farmers. The signature black ice cream cones are naturally colored with activated charcoal, and hand-rolled minutes before you get one.

See our full review here: LITTLE DAMAGE ICE CREAM REVIEW

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McConnell’s Ice Cream - Silver Lake

McCONNELLS FINE ICE CREAMS

• Locations: Downtown LA, Silver Lake, Studio City

• Website: mcconnells.com

• Pricing: Fair pricing for good flavors! I’ll get a pint now and again!

• Dietary Restrictions: Dairy-free Ice Cream Options Available

• Take-out: Pints are available for take-out and delivery. You can also find them in select grocery stores! See their site for more info! Join their Pint of the Month Club! You can get 3 of their best-flavored pints 3 months a year delivered right to your door!

McConnell’s has been serving creative fun flavors to LA since 1949! To this day, it is still family-owned, as the third generation is still scooping divine ice cream. So many great options here: Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Double Peanut Butter Chip, Salted Caramel Chip, Sprinkle Cake, Sea Salt Cream and Cookies, and my absolute favorite: Whiskey Pralines and Cream!

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Supercool Creamery - Entertaining and delicious!

SUPERCOOL CREAMERY

• Location: 4469 Sunset Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027 - CURRENTLY CLOSED!!!!!!!!

• Website: supercoolcreamery.com

• Dietary Restrictions: Dairy-free Options Available

• Take-out: Use a local delivery service or they deliver certain items nationwide!

With a name like SuperCool, I wasn’t sure what to expect! I was pleasantly surprised when we walked in and the ice cream artists were dressed like performers and put on quite a show! With the magic of liquid nitrogen, the cream I chose turned into ice cream. They have great flavor options such as Key lime with dark rum, Coconut Chocolate Chip, Coffee Toffee, and Berry Sorbet (dairy-free). I loved every moment of my visit here! They also cater events and spike their ice cream! Keep these cool scoops in mind for your next party!

See our full review here: SUPERCOOL CREAMERY REVIEW

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MANHATTAN BEACH CREAMERY

• Location: 1120 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

• Website: mbcreamery.com

• Pricing: Their Sundae has the best value!

• Dietary Restrictions: Gluten Free Options Available

• Take-out: Use a local delivery service or they deliver certain items nationwide!

Ice cream and ocean views? What could be better during summer in LA?! Check out why Manhattan Beach Creamery is one of the best places for ice cream in Los Angeles! Home of the artisan ice cream sandwich, the Cream'wich ice cream sandwich is a combination of artisan cookies from Katella Bakery, and their signature ice cream. Try the Super Sonic ice cream, a sweet cream taste, filled with lots of sprinkles!

See the full review here: Manhattan Beach Creamery

Manhattan Beach Creamery - Super Sonic Ice Cream

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Cookie Monster Ice Cream Sandwiches

THE BAKED BEAR

• Locations: Hermosa, Burbank, La Canada, USC

• Website: BakedBear.com

• Price and Value: Great price for 2 cookies and a LARGE scoop of ice cream!

• Take-out: Have your sweets delivered from a local delivery service, and make sure you get a dozen cookies!

Love cookies and ice cream? Get the best ice cream sandwiches at the Baked Bear, made fresh to your favorite combination! See my favorite concoction and where to pick up one of these bad boys!

Read the full review here: The Baked Bear

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MOTHERMOO CREAMERY

• Location: Sierra Madre - 17 Kersting Ct, Sierra Madre, CA 91024

• Website: mothermoo.com

• Value: Great value for a scoop!

• Dietary Restrictions: Dairy Free Ice Cream Options Available

• Take-out: Get pies, cookies, cakes, ice cream, and more, delivered to your door (through Postmates). Or you can do a contactless pickup in the alley behind them - it’s not as shady as it sounds!

MotherMoo’s ice cream is made in-store as small-batch, homemade ice cream using locally sourced ingredients, many grown within miles from the scoop shop. Favorite flavors include Salty Chocolate, Dutch Apple Pie Crumble, Pretzel and Caramel, Peppermint Stick, Fresh Coffee, House-made Peppermint Patty. Most interesting flavors: Roasted Fig Leaf, Organic Celery, Fresh Basil, Orange Peel & Szechuan Pepper. See all flavors here: Mothermoo Flavors

Not only do they have phenomenal ice cream, but they also have cookies, pies, and cakes!

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AFTERS ICE CREAM

• Locations: All over Southern California - find one near you!

• Website: aftersicecream.com

• Menu: Afters Flavors

• Value: Ice cream is priced a little higher than most shops (2 scoops for $6.50) however handcrafted ice cream usually is! They also have very pretty colored sprinkles! Worth every penny to me! 

• Take-out: Postmates delivers!

Afters is very trendy ice cream scoop shop with relatable quotes. Afters offers many unique flavors including Cookie Butter and Cookie Monster (it’s blue), also home of the Milky bun, which is a warm glazed bun (donut like) stuffed with ice cream! As they say, “Less talk, more ice cream!” My favorite location is the Venice creamery - ice cream on the beach, how cool is that?

Read the full review here: Afters Ice Cream

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Thanks Give Me a Cookie and Graham Central Station

HANDEL’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM

• Locations: Northridge, Long Beach

• Website: handelsicecream.com

• Value: SO MANY SCOOPS IN ONE CONE!

• Take-out: Handel’s delivers ice cream anywhere (limited for now), but use Postmates for now!

Great options here - cones, pops, ice cream sandwiches, smoothies, and pints! They even have a Hurricane which is similar to a McFlurry, ice cream blended with mix-in candies!

Lots of fun flavors that differ from store to store and many seasonal options. Huge fan of their Graham Central Station and Thanksgiving flavors! Thanks Give Me a Cookie is basically ice cream with a ton of different kinds of cookies!

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Dark Chocolate and Cookies & Cream

SAFFRON AND ROSE

• Location: West LA - 1387 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

• Website: saffronroseicecream.com

• Value: Great, a small comes with 2 scoops

• Dietary Restrictions: Vegan Ice Cream Options

• Take-out: Take out and contactless delivery available!

Saffron and Rose serve up Persian style ice cream in Westwood! It’s lower on my list because it has all of those weird flavors like lavender and rose... things that smell amazing but not fragrances I prefer in my ice cream. See all the florals, nutty, and chocolate flavors here: Saffron and Rose flavors

You get 2 scoops even for their smallest size, so I played it safe and went for the dark chocolate (that had brownie bites and walnuts in it) and cookies n cream! The guy at the register judged me for taking my picture and said “Nice picture” in a move out of the way tone. Judge away, I’m doing it for the gram, dude! Oh well, the ice cream was good, though!

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CREAMISTRY

• Locations: Downtown, Hollywood, Woodland Hills, Glendale

  There are many locations throughout California, Arizona, Louisiana, and Texas. Find one near you: Creamistry Locations

• Website/Menu: Creamistry Menu

• Price/Value: I thought it was a little pricy but you get a pretty good-sized serving!

• Dietary Restrictions: Non-dairy ice cream and Gluten-Free items

Creamistry ice cream makes you smarter! Well, you learn a little science lesson about liquid Nitrogen and how to make ice cream with it! Super creamy dense ice cream will fill you up and last a while! They have so many options, everyone will walk away happy!

See our full review here: Creamisty Ice Cream Review

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GO FORTH AND ENJOY NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH! TRY ALL THE ICE CREAMS!

Thanks for reading, please leave any thoughts in the comments section below!

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Need more ice cream?

Guide to Kaanapali Beach in Maui, Hawaii: Where to stay, things to do, and best restaurants

Everything you need to know about Kaanapali Beach in Maui, Hawaii: best hotels, what to do, and great restaurants

If you’ve booked your trip to Maui, I’m jealous already! We got engaged, married, and have celebrated our anniversary there every year since 2014! Maui is our favorite place and we ALWAYS stay on Ka’anapali Beach. If it’s your first time or sixth time, this guide will help you navigate the beach to make sure you have the best trip possible!

RELATED POST: How much does it cost to go to Maui in 2021? - Itinerary, budget, and more!

Sheraton Maui Kaanapali Beach Resort

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How to get to Kaanapali Beach - Map, Airport Transfers, and Parking Information

The best way to get to Kaanapali Beach from the airport is to rent a car. You’ll probably want to drive around the island at some point, it’s best to have your own vehicle. If you are planning on spending all of your time at the beach, check with your hotel to set up airport transfers. Uber and Lyft are available as well, it’s about $50-ish each way.

We ALWAYS find THE BEST rates through Booking.com. See deals of up to 50% off! You can save a bunch of money if you book a bundle flight+room+rental car! They even have apartments, lodges, and houses you can rent, just like AirBnB or VRBO! By booking through this link, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you! PLEASE support our blog and bookmark this link!

You can always park at a hotel but if you’re just coming for the day, there are a few lots but they are pretty pricy. There are 2 free parking lots but you have to get to them early - one is just before the Sheraton on Kaanapali Pkwy and the other is on Nohea Kai Drive before the Hyatt. See our Google Map for more info!

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Where to Stay on Kaanapali Beach

Here are some of the best resorts on Kaanapali beach! All resorts are literally located right on the beach and walking distance from each other. We often use our travel credit card rewards for FREE nights! Check out this helpful article from Money Magazine to see which card would be best for your needs. 

Sheraton Maui Room Views

Budget-Friendly:

Royal Lahaina Resort - great for your wallet and NO RESORT FEES! Rooms are spacious and a quick trot to the beach. This hotel is located north of Black Rock, so it is typically less crowded, but a bit of a walk to the other hotels.

Kaanapali Beach Club - might need an update, but the rooms are clean and the pool is huge! Located closer to Black Rock.

Mid-Range:

Flamingos and swans at the Hyatt Regency Maui on Kaanapali Beach

Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa - our favorite resort on Maui Kaanapali Beach! Located right in front of Black Rock, which is the best place on the island for snorkeling. See our full review: Sheraton Maui Hotel Review

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa - recently renovated rooms and an adult pool to have some quiet time! One of the best Kaanapali accommodations! There are multiple pools that families can enjoy as well, there’s even a waterslide! Their spa is the ultimate relaxation destination.

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa - lovely resort with penguins and flamingos (yes, I mean it). The Hyatt also has the best Lu’au on Kaanapali Beach. Their pool is pretty great too.

Condos and club hotels are also available in the area if you are looking to house more people! See booking.com for more options in Kaanapali, HI!

Need help packing? See our Hawaii Packing List for everything you’ll need! Check the weather before you go!

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Top 10 things to do on Maui Kaanapali Beach

Black ROck Jumping

1. Snorkeling at Black Rock Beach

   Black Rock is our FAVORITE place to snorkel! We’ve seen turtles, octopus, rays, and tons of tropical fish! See more snorkel info and our video here: Best Snorkel Spots in Maui 

2. Jump off Black Rock!

   Jump from the top of Black Rock to the plunge into the depths below! Do this at your own risk as it is hard to climb up Black Rock and it is, well, rocky.

3. Go Shopping at Whalers Village

   My favorite shop in Whaler’s Village is Sand People that is like Etsy in person, loaded with coastal decor, souvenirs, clothes, and jewelry. Other shops include Sephora, Honolua, Quiksilver, Kate Spade, and other designers.

Need a snack, beer or wine, souvenirs, macadamia nuts? The ABC Store is the best for all of those things!

Penguins at the Hyatt Regency Maui

4. Visit the Penguins and Flamingos

Yup, you heard that right! At the Hyatt Regency Maui, they have a menagerie of birds all over the resort. In the morning they have a penguin feeding and it’s just the cutest thing! You can hang out with the one-legged pink friends on the other side of the resort.

5. Go to a Lu’au

Drums of the Pacific Lu’au at the Hyatt Regency puts on a great show on Kaanapali Beach! With traditional Polynesian dances and a feast, you’ll be sure to have a great night! The Royal Lahaina Luau, Myths of Maui, will also have you dancing in your seat - it could be the music or the free drinks! Get a great deal on luau tickets with Activity Authority.

6. Have a drink at the pool bar (and maybe even whale watch)

We love to sit at the bar, have a drink, and enjoy the view! If you come between December and March, you are likely to see whales! If you look hard enough, you can usually see the whales come up and spout water. Keep a close eye because after they spout, they usually breach out of the water or you can catch a glimpse of their tales. There are tours you can take to get closer to them, and if you scuba dive or snorkel, you can often hear them!

7. Spa Day at Black Rock Spa

The massages at Black Rock Spa are my favorite. Get hot stones, and enjoy some relaxation! We usually get a basic full body massage for 50 mins (about $130 each), but this last time we went for the 80 mins (about $180) and it was worth every penny. The spa rooms are patio like with natural sunlight peaking from the top, complete with soothing Hawaiian tunes.

Water Activities on Kaanapali BEach

8. Water Activities - Go parasailing, take a surf lesson, rent a jet ski, or go paddle boarding!

You can arrange with your hotel or go to a stand on the beach to get your adventure on! Fly high in the sky and enjoy looking over Kaanapali Beach while parasailing, or skim the water with a surf board! Learn how to surf like a pro with Maui Surfer Girls. You can even learn how to scuba dive right on Kaanapali beach! See related post for scuba: Best Scuba Spots Maui

9. Golf at Kaanapali Golf Courses

You’ll pass this golf course as you arrive and want to take a swing with your club. I don’t know which one but Josh does. You can see the ocean from most holes!

10. Zipline with Skyline Hawaii - Kaanapali Zipline Tours

Just up the hill from the golf course is Kaanapali Zipline Tours! Check-in at the shop, then they will drive you up to the zipline course with breathtaking views - high in the sky! See related post, Best Maui Ziplines, for more!

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Best Restaurants on Kaanapali Beach

Here are a few of our favorites right on the beach that are fan favorites! See our full list here: Best Restaurants near Kaanapali and Lahaina

Monkeypod Kitchen - Kaanapali Beach

1. Monkeypod Kitchen ($$$)

Kaanapali Location: Whalers Village - 2435 Kaanapali Pkwy, Bldg I-1, Lahaina, HI 96761

See our full review: Best Restaurant in Maui: Monkeypod Kitchen

We first discovered Monkeypod in Wailea and were overjoyed when they opened a second location in Whalers Village, Kaanapali! We’ve found that it is the perfect spot for drinks and dinner. Get a Monkeypod Mai Tai with their fabulous honey foam! We love the Wood Roasted Chicken Wings (kiawe-roasted free range chicken, garlic, kula farm rosemary, tzatziki sauce) and the Bulgogi Pork Tacos (handcrafted kimchee, jalapeño, asian pear, sriracha aioli, locally-made corn tortilla). Jalapeño mashed potatoes ARE A MUST. They are green, but don’t let that scare you!

Dessert is a must! We loved the rich Chocolate Cream Pie, but they have other cream pies, such as Banana, available as well. Make a reservation in advance; we used Opentable.

Ice Cream Sandwich at Barefoot Bar

2. Hula Grill/Barefoot Bar ($$$/$$)

Location: Whalers Village - 2435 Kaanapali Pkwy, Lahaina, HI 96761

Located in Whalers Village with outstanding ocean views, these two restaurants are not only owned by the same company, they are connected to each other. Hula Grill is a little more pricey with delicious traditional Hawaiian entrees including many fish dishes (crab, snapper, shrimp) and land dishes (chicken, steak, short rib, emu).

The barefoot bar is more casual ($$) serving burgers, fish and chips, pizza. The fun part about the bar, your feet are in the sand. Usually, they have live music and entertainment. Regardless of which restaurant you try, I love their Mai Tai's which are served in tiki glasses topped with the umbrella!

Also, you MUST have dessert! Try the Hula pie - vanilla or macadamia nut ice cream with an Oreo crumble pie crust, with whipped cream and fudge on top (served at both restaurants)! OR get the ice cream sandwich (pictured). No words on that one other than YUM!

3. Cliff Dive Bar and Grill

Location: Sheraton Maui Resort

Located by the pool, great for lunch or an afternoon snack. Can’t go wrong with their burger or chicken sandwich. At sunset, the cliff diver lights all the torches around the pool and along the top of black rock, then jumps into the water. 

3. Ono Gelato Company ($)

Location: Whalers Village

Try some handmade artisan gelato by the beach! When in Rome… err, or Maui!

More restaurants can be found in our post: Best Restaurants in Maui

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We hope you enjoy Kaanapali Beach as much as we do! It’s the perfect vacation destination for families, couples, or a group of friends. Kaanapali vacations are the best vacations! Hope you didn’t miss our Maui Hotel Map Kaanapali Beach

RELATED POST: How much does it cost to go to Maui in 2021? - Itinerary, budget, and more!

Black Rock Snorkeling with a Turtle

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More Maui posts to help plan your trip:

10 Travel Bloggers & Influencers you should be following on Instagram 2021

I tried a few of those follow for follow groups and now I have a bunch of people I don’t know on my feed! I was looking for those amazing accounts with phenomenal travel photos to help add places to my bucket list. I lean towards accounts with bright colors, with influencers wearing clothes that I want in my wardrobe! That’s the point of being an influencer, right? I’ll give them some fun superlatives too!

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@spiritedpursuit

Followers: 226k

Lee Litumbe started her lifestyle travel blog, Spirited Pursuit, which is filled with guides and information on travel as well as creating content. She’ll teach you her secrets to influencer success!

Follow @Spiritedpursuit to find her on a giant swing in Bali or swimming with turtles in Tanzania!

Superlative: Most Authentic!

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@TheBlondeAbroad

Followers: 557k

Kiki is a beautiful blonde who travels the world managing to find fabulous seaside scapes! She left her corporate job for a life of travel and now has a successful travel blog with travel tips, or even advice on how to be a travel blogger.

Follow @TheBlondeAbroad for far off places and her pup, @goodbaileyboy!

Superlative: Most Popular!

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@thesweetwanderlust

Followers: 13.2k

Brittany is my spirit animal! Her wanderlust is inspiring and her desserts are drool-worthy! Her captions are hilarious and have the best puns!

Follow @thesweetwanderlust for pops of color and sweet treats in your feed!

Superlative: The Sweetest!

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@ticija

Followers: 69k

“That Ginger in a Dress” is her motto and she has a knack for finding the most colorful places in London!

Follow @ticija for her red hair, gorgeous floral dresses, and bright spots in London - It was so gloomy when I went!

Superlative: Best dressed!

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@TravelwithKwen

Followers: 11.8k

Kwen travels the world, but we share the same love for Disney Parks! Most of her destinations are tropical and warm!

Follow @travelwithkwen for dreamy vacations and for a Disney geek out here and there!

Superlative: Most likely to be found with Mickey

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@walltraveled

Followers: 36K+

This is a collection of travelers against - you guessed it - WALLS! Beautiful creative, colorful, street art walls can be seen from around the world on this feed.

Superlative: Best Sense of Street Art

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@icecreamsaroundtheworld_

Followers: 4400

I post ice cream almost every third post, but you can find ice cream from around the world in almost every single post! Sharing is caring, you might even have a chance to be featured using the hashtag #IceCreamAroundTheWorld.

Superlative: Most Likely to have Ice Cream

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@splendid_rags

HOLY BRIGHT COLORS, BATMAN! Leslie only posts the most vibrant backdrops and outfits from around the globe!

Superlative: Most likely to wear bright colors!

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@thecarryonchronicles

Followers: 13.4k

I LOVE Elena’s beautiful dresses and photos! Her preset is beautiful and the pops of color add instant joy to my feed! Her bio literally sums up her feed: Endlessly in search of storybook villages & fairytale moments

Superlative: Most like to find Prince Charming

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@emilyincolors

Followers: 10.8k

Emily is always traveling fabulous places and finding great eats! She has gorgeous clothes and an amazing appetite, sharing just the right amount of sweets! How do you stay so tiny!?

Superlative: Most likely to be a foodie!

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I have a lot to live up to following these ladies! I hope my posts bring light and color into your feed!

Follow us @thesweetestescapes:

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Disneyland food you can't miss - where to find the best food and sweet treats!

See our top Disneyland dessert picks!

Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlour

Two of my favorite things in the world make a perfect combo: Disneyland & ice cream!!! I am such a Disney nerd and have been to Disneyland (literally) hundreds of times since I was little. Josh and I have even ventured to Hong Kong Disneyland and Paris Disneyland. We still have Tokyo and Shanghai to visit!

We averaged going to Disneyland almost once a month for the past few years, checking out the treats the Food and Wine Festival offered in Spring, Summer specials, Halloweentime in the Fall, and Holiday specials during winter. I present to you my findings of delicious treats around the resort that you can find throughout the year and the seasonal specialties offered.

Note: Most seasonal treats come back each year, but not guaranteed.

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Mickey’s Cookies and Cream 90 Sprinkle Milkshake

Schmoozies!

Location: California Adventure - Hollywood Land

Let’s start with my favorite, the Mickey shakes at Schmoozies in California Adventure’s Hollywood Land are not only super cute to look at, but they taste DELICIOUS too! The shakes change with the seasons and are typically made cookies and cream style.

PRO-TIP: Order on the Disneyland mobile app. We’ve waited over 30 mins on a crowded day!

The Churro Shake (Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Ice Cream, Cinnamon Churro Cereal, Whipped Topping and Churro Toffee) can also be found here for you churro lovers!

If you don’t want a milkshake and want a more “healthy” option, there are also smoothies including our favorites Mango Madness and Strawberry Banana Sensation!

Minnie Witch Shake at Schmoozies Halloween

Sorcerer Mickey Shake at Schmoozies

Santa Mickey Shake at Christmas at Schmoozies

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Tropical Hideaway - Pineapple Raspberry Swirl

Tropical Hideaway

Location: Disneyland - Adventureland

Located directly behind the Tiki Room, the NEW Tropical Hideaway is open for ice cream business. Orange, Pineapple, or Raspberry are your options here.

Pro-tip: You can even add bacon bits as a topping, which is part of their Secret Menu!

You can even sit and watch the Jungle Cruisers come back from their journey.

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Dole Whip Soft Serve

Pineapple Dole Whip Soft Serve

Location: Adventureland Entrance - Disneyland Park

 So creamy and fruity, pineapple Dole Whip is the best soft serve around! Lines can be long for this sweet treat, but it is worth it. Makes me want to sing “in the tiki tiki tiki room…”

Pro-Tip: You can order via the Disneyland Mobile app! GENIUS!

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Funnel Cake Fries - Award Wieners

AWARD WIENERS

Location: California Adventure - Hollywood Land

Who doesn’t love a hot dog and fries? The key here is Funnel Cake Fries! From flavors like Apple Pie Fries (Coated with Cinnamon-Sugar, topped with Apple Pie Filling, Caramel Sauce, Whipped Cream, and Streusel) to standard funnel cake strips, the toppings are the game-changers.

Throughout the different seasons, toppings vary from Oogie Boogie themed with crushed Oreos and gummy worms at Halloween to cereal and condensed milk with whipped cream. No matter when you go, they’re always tasty!

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The CrazyShake

Location: Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beers Restaurant - Downtown Disney

Black Tap is known for their amazing hamburgers and their CrazyShake milkshakes! Dine in or hop in their shake window line to grab one to go!

I would enlist help taking these shakes down because yes, that is an ice cream sandwich hanging off the side of the shake in the picture (in case you were wondering)!

Pictured - The Cookie Shake: Vanilla cookie shake on steroids - vanilla frosted rim with cookie crumbles topped with a ‘cookiewich,’ crumbled cookies, chocolate chips, whipped cream & chocolate drizzle

Black Tap CrazyShake - The Cookie Shake Milkshake

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Blue Milk - Galaxy’s Edge

Blue Milk

Location: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland

Do you remember the scene from Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi when Luke squeezes gross milk from the udder of a female Thala-siren (basically an alien sea cow) and gulps it? Yeah, it was disgusting. Anyhoo, Galaxy’s Edge is now serving a Blue Milk and a Green Milk from a machine… not a creature.

Blue Milk: Plant-based Dairy blend of Coconut and Rice Milk with alluring fruity characteristics. 

Green Milk: Plant-based Dairy blend of Coconut and Rice Milk with zippy citrus and tropical characteristics.

The consistency is strange, it’s like a smoothie, or somewhere between a slushie and a milkshake! We preferred the Blue Milk, which had a sweet, dessert-like taste. The Green Milk tasted almost floral like as if it were lavender ice cream. These drinks are also one of the hottest commodities right now, so make sure you use the mobile order with the Disneyland app. It’s not worth waiting in line!

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Batuu-bon found in Galaxy’s Edge

Batuu-bon

Location: Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo

If you’re traveling to a Galaxy Far Far Away… Batuu is the last stop before entering Wild Space. You must try the Batuu-bon, a decadent chocolate cake with white chocolate mousse and coffee custard. The green sponge-like cake tasted fruity and the coin was a piece of chocolate! You’ll need nourishment before your trip into space, light speed ahead!

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Ghiradelli - Lands End Salted Caramel Brownie Sundae with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

Ghirardelli's Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop

Location: California Adventure - Wharf

The Ghirardelli headquarters can be found in San Francisco, but I'm not opposed to having some chocolatey goodness in California Adventure. This scoop shop is next to cars land, just as you are entering the wharf (where the food court is).

Their menu will have you drooling. With 10+ sundaes to choose from and 10 of shakes or ice cream scoop combos, you can customize to your tastebuds content.

Our faves:

Lands End Salted Caramel Brownie Sundae - Vanilla Ice Cream, a full-size Ghirardelli® Chocolate Brownie, Caramel Sauce, Sea Salt and handmade Hot Fudge topped with Whipped Cream, Caramel Sauce, Ghirardelli® Chocolate Sauce and a Cherry

Nob Hill Chill - a sundae you can sip (vanilla ice cream, fudge and chocolate chips on top)! 

Clockwise from left: Cookie Bits Sundae, Nob Hill Chill, Ice cream cone

Ghirardelli Chocolate, Rocky Road and Cookie Dough cone

This rich, creamy ice cream his the spot! But make sure you eat it quickly! Don't let this happen to you!

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Huge Chocolate Chip Cookies

Location: Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums on Pixar Pier at California Adventure

If you want a chocolate chip as big as your face, this is your place! Jack-Jack’s cookies are as super as he is! Choose from chocolate chip, shortbread and jam-filled, gluten-friendly cookies.

Pro-tip: Grab one of these to share with your friends and family while waiting for the Incredicoaster!

Jack-Jack and Edna on the Incredicoaster

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Pink Strawberry Ice cream!

Clarabelle's Ice Cream 

Location: Near Entrance of California Adventure

As you enter the park, Clarabelle's can be found at the end of the Buena Vista Street on your right (next to Starbucks). It isn't homemade but a nice selection of Dreyer's ice cream!

You can always get a chocolate-covered ice cream bar but at Christmastime, you can get a refreshing Peppermint Ice Cream Bar with your ice cream of choice!

Peppermint Ice Cream Bar from Clarabelle’s at Christmastime

At Halloweentime, they serve up a mean raspberry bat sundae, and by mean, I mean YUMMY! See more: Halloween Time at Disneyland

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Peppermint Soft Serve - Cozy Cone Motel

Cozy Cone Motel Ice Cream

Location: California Adventure - Cars Land

You can always get vanilla or chocolate soft serve at the Ice Cream Cozy Cone (HUGE PORTIONS) but at Christmas time, you can get also get the peppermint soft serve topped with holiday sprinkles and a star! It’s as pretty as a Christmas tree and VERY MINTY.

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Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats - Soft Serve

Location: California Adventure Boardwalk (Pixar Pier)

Formally known as the Paradise Pier Ice Cream stand, Pixar Pier took over and Abominable is serving up some sweet treats! Soft serve lemon flavored ice cream is the ticket here. You may have been warned not to eat yellow snow, but here, it’s perfectly acceptable. See the before and after:

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Señor Buzz Churros

Location: Pixar Pier and Carts

Buzz whips up some good churros over on Pixar Pier! Churros taste better while at the parks for whatever reason! Pick up some cinnamon sugary goodness with Buzz or any other cart in the parks.

Pro-Tip: Grab a churro while you wait in line for Midway Mania! It’s the BEST ride in the park!

Buzz’s Churros - Pixar Pier

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Cookies, Candies, and Sweet Confections

Locations: Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen on Main Street in Disneyland or Trolley Treats on Buena Vista Street in California Adventure

AP discounts offered

Fresh cookies and confections treats are made daily at the bakeries! Sink your teeth into a Cheshire Cat marshmallow tail or Mickey shaped candy apple. From cake pops to rice krispies, your sweet tooth will be more than satisfied.

If you go on the right day, maybe you’ll find a cookie that matches your manicure.

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Ice Cream Cones and Sundaes

Location: Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street USA in Disneyland

AP discounts offered

Cones are made fresh daily and seasonal sprinkles along with select flavors of Dreyer's ice cream!

Our favorite is the Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae with cookie dough ice cream! Comes in a Mickey shape, OF COURSE!

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Mickey Ice Cream Sandwiches

Location: Ice Cream Carts

Grab a Mickey-shaped ice cream sandwich to cool down at various ice cream carts and restaurants around the park.

A classic that I have loved since I was a kid! The ice cream sandwiches are so frozen at first, it is so hard to be patient to wait for it to soften! 

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Artisan Ice Cream

Location: Salt and Straw in Downtown Disney

I love Salt and Straw and I’m excited one has opened in Downtown Disney. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Salt and Straw has the best handmade ice cream made with local ingredients. Every month they feature a handful of unique original flavors.

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Experience World of Color from premium seats in Paradise Gardens Park!

After a day at the park, take a load off and enjoy some dessert with VIP waterfront views during World of Color! For $84 per guest (make sure you make reservations ahead of time - up to 60 days prior), make it a party and enjoy the following:

• A sweet and savory selection of desserts and appetizers

• Beverages

• Paradise Gardens Park reserved seating in the World of Color preferred viewing area.

Sounds like the perfect way to end your magical day doesn’t it?!

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I’m dying to get back to Disneyland now and craving sweets! Let me know if you get to try any of these!

Don’t forget these guys on your magical day:

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Need more Disney? Try these on for size:

Inside Tour of Walt Disney's Office Suite at Walt Disney Studios - Burbank, CA

Team Disney Building with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Insider Tour of Walt Disney's Restored Office Suite at Walt Disney Studios - Los Angeles, CA

Seeing that Disneyland might not open until 2021 breaks my heart. I hope everything can go back to normal soon. I’ve had these photos for a while and have been dying to put this post together. As a kid, my Mom would take us to the Disney lot to see Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs (that were 19 feet tall) hold up the now Team Disney building. Years later, who knew I’d be working for the company?! As an employee, I was selected in a lottery to tour Walt Disney’s office suite. Unlike other lots like Warner Bros, Universal, or Paramount, Walt Disney Studios doesn’t offer lot tours often, only D23 Members receive offers now and again. Well friends, I’ll give you the tour for free!

Hyperion Bungalow

I thought I’d give you a tour of Walt Disney’s office set up just as he had it when he worked on the Disney Studios lot from 1940-1966. Disney’s first office was over at Hyperion Studios in Silverlake. The original home of the Disney Publicity and Comic Strip Departments was moved from Hyperion Studios to the Burbank lot and is now known as Hyperion Bungalow.

Walt’s office was in the top left corner - Suite 3H

After the success of Snow White, Disney was able to purchase the land in Burbank to build a new campus. Disney moved into Suite 3H in the Animation building until his death in 1966. There were a few occupants in the office including Roy Disney, and even television producer, Marc Cherry. The office was restored in 2016 and now looks just as if Disney had walked away for the day thanks to Disney Legend and archivist, David Smith, who carefully catalogued and documented every inch of the suite after Walt had passed.

Walt Disney’s Office Desk

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Lobby and Secretary Area

Trophy Cabinet and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Oscar

When you enter the lobby area of Suite 3H, there is a trophy case including a replica of the Oscar for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This special Oscar was presented by Shirley Temple to Walt Disney and was a special statue made with the 7 little Oscars behind the main one! Walt Disney won 32 Academy Awards between 1931 and 1968, and still holds the record for most individual Academy Awards won (per Google). This replica was used in Saving Mr. Banks, the real Oscar is up on display at The Walt Disney Family Museum near San Francisco.

Walt Disney’s Secretary Desk

Walt had two secretaries to maintain his busy schedule!

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The Formal Office of Walt Disney

Walt Disney’s Formal Office Desk

Walt’s suite essentially had 2 offices, a formal office, and a working office (pics to come). This desk is part of his formal office which initially was his only office in 1940.

Here are 5 fun facts about his formal desk area:

1. MINIATURES - Walt loved to collect miniatures and had a collection from his travels as well as gifts from family and friends.

2. NORMAN ROCKWELL - Pictures of his daughters, Sharon and Diane, hang on the wall to complete his corner. Oh, and the pencil drawings were originals, drawn by Norman Rockwell. Most Dad’s have that in their office, right? Walt had his daughter’s shoes bronzed and made them into bookends.

3. GIANT BELL - The giant bell on his desk was presented to Walt by the United States Coast Guard, in recognition of a film Walt produced showing how icebreakers make their way through heavy Arctic icepacks. One day in the office, Walt’s secretary rang the bell to get his attention to remind him about lunchtime. He loved it so much, he asked her to do it every day at 12:30, so he would remember that it was time to go to lunch.

4. FURNITURE - Most of the furniture in the office was designed in a Streamline Moderne style by industrial designer and architect, Kem Weber. Disney loved the style so much, he made Weber the supervising designer of the original animation building, along with several of the original studio lot buildings.

5. CURTAINS - Those are the original curtains and blinds in the windows! What stories they could tell.

Walt Disney’s Piano

Many songwriters auditioned songs and score for features on this piano. Famous singers would also audition for Walt, accompanied by this piano. Disney songwriter Richard Sherman frequently played Walt’s favorite song from Mary Poppins (1964), “Feed the Birds,” on this 1914 Knabe grand piano. The piano was customized just for Walt by Kem Weber in 1940 to match the other Weber designed furniture.

The books on the shelves behind the piano were meticulously returned as Walt had them. Disney archive historians looked through many photographs to replicate the shelves as Walt once had them.

Guest seating and treasured trinkets

The birds in the cage were found on one of Disney’s travels and inspiration for audio-animatronics in Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted House. Do they remind you of the Enchanted Tiki Room? There’s a reason for that. ;-) There is also a Lady plush in the cubby under the table.

Panoramic View of Walt’s Formal Office

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Walt Disney’s Working Office

Walt Disney’s Working Office Desk

Here are 5 Fun Facts about Walt’s working desk:

1. SCRIPTS - On the right side, it looks ordinary stacks of paperwork. Those are actually original scripts that Walt read and would take home in his briefcase that you can see on the right behind his desk.

2. BAMBI - Up in the corner, below what looks like a figurine of a head, there is a little Bambi miniature figurine that Walt Disney made himself!

3. PLANES - There is a model of a Grumman Gulfstream which was the type of plane Walt would fly over Central Florida in to view the property that would become the Walt Disney World Resort!

4. SPACE - The desk here was lower and larger than the formal office as it was often used to layout large blueprints.

5. BROTHERLY LOVE - The window on the right looked across to Roy O. Disney’s office. He wanted to keep a close eye on his brother.

Aerial View of Disneyland

Walt had an aerial view of Disneyland in his office. The red markers represented completed projects and yellow markers were in progress. The in-progress markers included a New Tomorrowland and It’s a Small World!

There was even a full kitchenette! Meals were made here using famous products like V-8 and Spam. There are also engraved personalized glasses with WED - Walter Elias Disney.

Walt Disney’s Working Office

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Original Disney Animators Desks

Disney Animator Desk

Here is another Kem Weber furniture design specific for animators so they would be comfortable while working long hours.

Disney Animator Desk Drawer

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Walt Disney and the Olympic Games

 There was even an Olympic torch in the office! Why? For the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics, Walt Disney served as the Chairman of the Pageantry Committee.

Here are fun facts from WaltDisney.org:

1. As Chairman, Walt’s duties included staging the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, scheduling nightly entertainment for the athletes, providing decorations to enliven the valley, and taking care of a number of logistical details including parking concerns, security, and ticketing systems. He enlisted the help of a number of seasoned employees of WED, design and development of Disneyland, (and forerunner to Walt Disney Imagineering).

2. Veteran Disney artist John Hench designed the 1960 Winter Olympic torch. Though the design was modeled after the torches for the 1948 and 1956 Olympiads, Hench decided on a slightly smaller version that would be easier for torchbearers to carry. The earlier, taller models proved to be difficult to manipulate as they were top-heavy when filled with fuel. Hench also added black tape to the top part of the shaft to enable runners to pass the torch easily and ensure a stable grip. 

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Walt Disney Studios

And that’s our tour! For more fun Disney history, check out The Imagineering Story on Disney+! If you’re a die-hard Disney fan, you’ve probably already seen it!

5 Great Walt Disney Quotes:

1. “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”

2. “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”

3. “Why worry? If you’ve done the best you can, worrying won’t make it any better.”

4. “That’s the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up. They forget.”

5. “A man should never neglect his family for business.”

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Read more about our Disney Adventures:

Hotel Review: Andaz Napa - Our favorite hotel in Downtown Napa!

Andaz Napa is our favorite hotel to stay, located in the heart of Downtown Napa!

We typically head to Napa for my birthday and when we last went with my family, we stayed at the Andaz located in downtown Napa, the perfect location for shopping, dining, and WINE.

Evaluation (out of 5)*:

• Hotel: Andaz Napa (Hyatt Family)

• Address: 1450 1st St, Napa, CA 94559

• Location: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Price: $$$$ (always check Booking.com first!)

• Average Room Size: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(HUGE)

• Cleanliness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Staff: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Dining Options: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Quietness in Room: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Bed Comfort Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(soft pillowtop but firm enough)

*It’s always hard to judge other people’s opinions when you don’t know them, right? I like nice, clean hotels that are close to public transpo or an area close to main restaurants and attractions. I’m a fairly light sleeper and like softer beds. We typically like to use points for one or two nights and pay for more if we need to.

Looking for something more budget-friendly? We also liked this Bed and Breakfast: The Cabernet House

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Lobby and Staff at the Andaz Napa

Andaz Napa Lobby

The lobby was really cute and had great living room setups. We spent some time here since there were 6 of us. As we were checking-in, we were offered a complimentary glass of wine from a local winery! What a way to welcome! The staff was very accommodating and the valet took our luggage to our rooms. As it rains often in Northern California, there were large umbrellas by the door to borrow for the day. That was one less thing to pack… or forget to pack!

Right off the lobby, there was a lovely bar, Mercantile Social, which we would visit nightly. They also offer farm-fresh seasonal foods, from salads and smoothies to grass-fed beef burgers. Yum.

Napa Andaz Lobby Bar - Mercantile Social

Check out our favorite wineries to visit: 7 Best Kept Secret Wineries

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Inside the Guest Rooms at the Andaz Napa

I fell in love with the room! We didn’t have an upgrade but we felt like we did! Our boutique type room was large and had a living room/seating area with a fireplace diving the room with the bedroom on the other side. The fireplace could be seen from both sides. The furniture was modern and I felt like I was in a West Elm catalog. Also, notice the wood floors!? I worried we’d hear people above us, but it was pretty quiet!

The beds were very comfortable and cosy by the fireplace. I guarantee a great sleep after a day of drinking. ;-) I thought it was a little strange for the bath tub to be next to the bed, but it was nice that you could see the fireplace or even watch TV while enjoying a warm bath. Other rooms have the tub near the window.

Guest Rooms at the Andaz Napa have large tubs

Or the bathtub is located by the window

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Guest Room Bathrooms

My fave, the Bathroom Selfie

The bathroom was an ideal size for 2 people! 2 sinks with long counters gave me plenty of space to do my hair and make-up while Josh brushed his teeth. I liked the marble rain shower and the wood bench/seat to dry off on. I found it odd to put wood in a shower but the aesthetic was pretty!

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Mercantile Terrace

I thoroughly enjoyed our drinks on the second-floor terrace. We sat outside under some lovely warm heat lamps (it was December after all) and enjoyed some specially crafted cocktails. There are also cozy fire-pits or cabanas to sit and enjoy selections from a farm-to-table menu of locally sourced light bites. Even the cocktails had locally sourced ingredients!

Mercantile Terrace

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Final Evaluation

Overall, this 4-star hotel checks all the boxes. I appreciated their use of locally sourced ingredients at their bars and restaurants. Although it is a little pricey, the downtown location and room size make it worth it! We’d definitely come back!

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We ALWAYS find THE BEST rates through Booking.com. See deals of up to 50% off! You can save a bunch of money if you book a bundle flight+room+rental car! They even have apartments, lodges, and houses you can rent, just like AirBnB or VRBO! By booking through this link, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you! PLEASE support our blog and bookmark this link!

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More Napa and Northern California travel tips here:

How to Spend a Day on La Digue in the Seychelles - Full Itinerary, Packing Essentials, and Map

If you’re in the Seychelles, you MUST visit La Digue

Our trip to the Seychelles was spectacular! There are 115 islands to explore, Mahe is the biggest and main island, with the most resorts and a popular destination. We decided to go exploring and after asking the locals, EVERYONE said you have to go to La Digue and see the rock formations, it’s the reason most come people come to the Seychelles. Here was our itinerary on how we spent the day on La Digue!

Map provided by Wanderlog, a travel planner

Here is a map made with the Wanderlog Travel Planner, so you can follow along, add to your Google maps account, or create your own personal map! Wanderlog allows you to create great maps and guides for any vacation! 

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Purchase Tickets in Advance

We bought tickets a few days before through the hotel, just ask your concierge to help you arrange your trip. We booked through Mason’s Travel; They picked us up and dropped us off at the hotel making it super easy and convenient.

La Digue Island

What to Pack for a Day on La Digue

You don’t need much, here’s what was in our backpack/bag:

• Towels

• We wore our swimsuits and coverups

• Sunscreen - the sun is VERY intense! Make sure you reapply a few times.

• Sun Hat

• Credit card or cash for food. There is an ATM by the souvenir shops!

• Snacks and water

• Camera Gear - cameras, GoPros, batteries, memory cards

• Mophie - external battery

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Getting to La Digue

6:15a Mason travel picked us up to take us to the Cat Cocos ferry that went to Praslin. Our hotel had a continental breakfast available in the lobby, we stopped there while we waited for the shuttle.

7:30a Set sail to Praslin! We were apprehensive about the ferry as we read tons of reviews how horrible it is that the water is choppy and everyone gets seasick. It wasn’t too bad, but I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t a smooth cruise.

8:30a Arrive in Praslin to change boats to get to La Digue which only was another 15 mins to get there.

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Exploring La Digue

Anse Source d’Argent Rocks

9:30a As part of our package, we chose to rent bikes. We picked them up promptly on arrival and rode straight to Anse Source d’Argent beach which is most popular during the day. I had researched some beaches prior to arriving and took screenshots of them since I knew I wouldn’t have WiFi on the island (we didn’t pay for the international plan but had it set up in case of emergency).

https://en.seyvillas.com/html/la-digue-beaches was the best site with descriptions and how busy the beaches are. 

We recommend the following stops:

• Anse Source d'Argent - most popular and picturesque

• Anse Patates

• Grande Anse

• Petite Anse

La Digue - Anse Source d'Argent Beach

Anse Source d’Argent

We tried to beat the crowd and rode our bikes south straight to Anse Source d’Argent. As we were riding along, there were breathtaking views everywhere and watch out for the giant tortoises on the road, they look like big rocks! There’s even a tortoise habitat where they have tons of them protected in an area. That is close to Anse Source d’Argent, you’ll see them on the way past the Coconut Keeper. 

The weather was cloudy at first but cleared up right away! The rocks were amazing, we had a fun time wandering around and exploring through them. 

Anse Source d’Argent

We decided to head North and took the trail up and around until it ended at Anse Fourmis. Some of the hills were pretty steep, I walked my bike up at times! Biking is a great way to see the island because you can get around so quickly. There were also these cute buggies you could jump on.

Why did the tortoise cross the road?

You can pretty much stop anywhere and there is a beach. It’s ok to leave your bikes unlocked, just don’t leave your belongings in the basket. Also, there are swings and hammocks everywhere. 

Anse Patates

Anse Patates

Anse Patates was a nice beach, not too crowded off the main road. This is where we saw the tortoises crossing the road. 

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Lunch

We had read how expensive all the restaurants were and decided to stop at the supermarket and have a picnic on a beach. 

Josh stopped in the STC Supermarket, picking up ham, cheese, crackers, 2 juice boxes, and 3 bottles of water for 130 rupees or about $10! We biked over to Grand Anse to have a picnic and enjoy the view. We had the beach all to ourselves! We walked past the Petite Anse Beach Bar, serving drinks. There was also a restroom here.

Grande Anse

Grand Anse for lunch

Down the beach, we climbed through a hidden path between two rocks to climb up and over to get to Petite Anse beach!

Path to Petite Anse

We rode back to Anse Source d’Argent for a swim, then laid on the beach until the tide was too high. 

It was time to return our bikes anyway, so we dropped them off and went to the souvenir shops next door. The shops generally had all the same merchandise and we didn’t find anything we liked in particular. Some shops took credit cards, but others were cash only and in rupees. There were ATMs nearby. 

Ice Cream at Fish Trap

Since it was going to be a little bit of a trek back, we stopped at the Fish Trap near the dock for a beer and a snack which included french fries and ice cream. Might not be healthy, but it was tasty!

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Leaving La Digue

4:45p We boarded the Cat Rose boat and were on our way back to Praslin. 

6:00p Changed boats to the Cat Coco from Praslin back to Mahé. Our driver met us and drove us back to our hotel, the Hilton Northolme.

Anse Source d'Argent

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Watch our “Perfect Seychelles Vacation” video for travel inspiration and more on La Digue!

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Check out some of our other adventures:

15 Things to do when you're bored or stuck at home!

First off, I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well during this crazy time. I’ve heard the good, bad, and the ugly, I’m doing my part and staying home. That said, it’s been a full 2 weeks now since I’ve been at home, I need forms of entertainment and things to read and do!

I’m making the most of my time at home and after I’m done working for the day for my full-time job, I start new projects! Some are cleaning and organizing, others are blog related like making videos, new itinerary products and setting up posts for when the boom of travel comes back. It’s hard having a travel blog during this time.

Make Quarantine Cocoa

Here are 15 things that will keep you busy right now, which I divided into 3 categories:

5 Things to Clean and Organize

1. Clean out your closet. Shoes, sweaters, t-shirts, gym clothes are now in donation bags and my closet has never looked better. Let’s be real though, my main motivation is to get rid of things I don’t wear so I can go shopping online. 🤣

2. Go through your kitchen cabinets and cupboards. I got rid of some pint glasses, some vases that came with flowers delivered, jars that I had been holding onto and I now have so much more room!

3. Go through your cleaning supplies. Especially with the virus, I’ve been cleaning more than ever. I had some supplies in the kitchen and bathroom finding 6 bottles of certain products. I combined some that I could and made sure they were spread evenly under both sinks.

4. Clean off your patio or make a new space. Josh and I are both working in a one-bedroom apartment right now and space is limited at times. We cleaned off the patio, which also meant cleaning the barbeque, but now I have my own space where I am sitting in the sun typing to you.

5. Clean out your electronics and computer files. We have quite a few drives and some are so old we couldn’t remember what was on them. After that, going through old camera equipment and walkman, we decided we didn’t need some of these things anymore.

5 Catching-up type things to do:

1. Set FaceTime/Zoom/ Video Conference calls with friends and family! It’s been a lifesaver and something to look forward to! Download the Houseparty app and you can play games like Pictionary!

2. Make a new recipe! There are MILLIONS of recipes online, find something new to try. I’ve also started to organize my recipes. My Dad suggested using Recipe Keeper. Make quarantine cocoa, just try not to make a mess like I did.

3. Plan your next vacation! We have our annual Maui trip in October and I’m already checking out new things to do and restaurants to try! Make a bucket list Pinterest Board, it will give you something to look forward to.

4. Play a game! Cooped up with others? Make it fun and play a card game or board game.

5. Workout at home or go for a walk in your neighborhood! Just keep 6 feet away from others. I love the 7 Minute Workout app on my Apple Watch or any Fitness Blender workout on YouTube.

5 Things to Read and Watch

1. Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ - lots to watch! I hear Tiger King on Netflix is amazing. According to Vulture, here are The 40 Best Movies on Netflix You Probably Haven’t Seen. Try the Netflix party feature so you can watch with a friend.

2. Go on a Virtual Tour. Can’t go outside? Take a virtual tour to a far off place or an art exhibit, like somewhere in Paris. Check out this Lonely Planet article for great links! OR go on a Disney Ride!

3. WATCH MY NEW VIDEOS! Yup, putting in a selfish plug right here. I have had time to make videos from our travels so I started with Africa and I think I’ll move under the sea next! Check them out on our YouTube Channel

4. Learn a new language. Apps like Babbel or Duo lingo, or try the Learning Language with Netflix (LLN) tool. Yeah, I didn’t know that was a thing! Again, prepare for that next trip!

5. Read a book. I’m still working on Where the Crawdads Sing, but also try these great travel book suggestions from Lonely Planet or anything that Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club recommends.

If you want to spend time at home and get paid for it, then check online work-from-home vacancies on Jooble: https://jooble.org/jobs-online-work-from-home

^ Here’s one of the videos I’ve done in the past 2 weeks! :)

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What have you been doing this time? Any suggestions for me?! Let me know in the comments below!

If you liked this post please share it on your favorite social media site using the Share button below because we’d love to get the word out! Feel free to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board:

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More recent posts to read:

St Patrick's Day Ice Cream & Events in Los Angeles 2020

HAPPY ST PATTY'S DAY! Let's celebrate with a wee bit o' ice cream! 

O’Venice Sign in Venice Beach

I normally like to list the St Patrick’s Day events around town but it seems like they have all been canceled due to the Coronavirus. :( Instead, I’ll just share a few things that will require minimum social contact. Help stop the spread!

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St Patrick’s Day Ice Cream

Salt and Straw

Salt and Straw features many different unique flavors that you won't find in most ice cream shops. 

November Menu

Monthly, they rotate seasonal flavors relating to the season or a holiday! For instance, see the weirdest flavors we tried last November:

The buttered mashed potatoes and gravy flavor was uh interesting, to say the least.

For March 2020, here is a good flavor to enjoy in celebration of St Patrick’s Day per their website for Los Angeles flavors:

James Coffee & Bourbon We cold brew our favorite roast from James Coffee Co. and blended it with the warm, woodsy, sweetness of Greenbar Distillery Slow Hand Whiskey to make a new spin on coffee ice cream.

Made with James Coffee and Greenbar Distillery Whiskey

Pots of Gold and Rainbows - St Patrick’s Day 2019

Stop everything that you're doing and get to the nearest Salt and Straw! Locations and local flavors can be found: HERE

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Afters Tipsy Cream Boozy Ice Cream - St Patrick’s Day 2020

Afters Ice Cream

Locations: Southern California

Try Afters Ice Cream’s new Tipsy Irish Cream this St Patrick’s Day!

As luck of the leprechaun would have it, this ice cream is made with a whiskey-infused coffee liqueur ice cream and a Guinness Stout beer chocolate ganache swirl! It's available starting on Friday 3/13 at all 27 Southern CA locations for a limited time only. Don’t forget to lick responsibly!

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Shamrock Shake and Oreo Shamrock McFlurry - From McDonalds Instagram

McDonalds

The return of #ShamrockShakeSZN is back! Celebrate 50 years with the creamy Shamrock Shake or with the delicious new OREO Shamrock McFlurry!

I’m lovin’ it! Do they even say that anymore?

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Goldbelly Irish Cream Boozy Ice Cream

Goldbelly Delivers Tipsy Scoop to Your Door

Quarantined with the coronavirus? Thank goodness Goldbelly will deliver ice cream right to your door! Get St Patrick's Day Boozy Ice Cream - 4 Pints for only $99 + free shipping!

Flavors include:

• Vanilla Bean Bourbon – Vanilla bean ice cream infused with bourbon

• Spiked Mint Chip – Mint chocolate ice cream infused with creme de menthe and chocolate liqueur

• Irish Coffee – Ice cream spiked with Redbreast Irish Whiskey and Coffee Liqueur

• Dark Chocolate Whiskey – Dark chocolate ice cream with salted caramel infused with whiskey

PLEASE NOTE THAT AN ADULT SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED UPON DELIVERY. Package will not be left at the door. All flavors contain up to 5% alcohol by volume and can only be consumed by those 21 and over.

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Middle West Whiskey Pecans Spoonhead - from Jeni’s

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

Here’s a flavor to enjoy at Jeni’s for St Patrick’s Day:

MIDDLE WEST WHISKEY & PECANS - A classic returning for the season. Middle West Spirits whiskey-fueled ice cream laden with crunchy, salty, toasted pecans.

You can even order this one ONLINE!

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The Venice Beach Sign - St Patrick’s Day

The Venice Chamber has been in the holiday spirit, adding elements to the iconic VENICE sign at Pacific St and Windward Ave! The Venice Sign Committee is responsible for the maintenance of the sign and started the Adopt-a-Bulb program.

Venice Beach Sign - O’Venice

At Christmas, there were red and green bulbs, for Valentine's Day they added a heart with purple lights. See more holidays on their website, Venice Sign Committee. For St Patrick's Day, they add the "O" to the beginning and change the lights to green! So cute! 

Hope you enjoy your St Patrick's day! :) Be safe out there!

Hotel Review: Hilton Northolme Resort & Spa - Best Hotel in the Seychelles

See why the Hilton Northolme Resort & Spa is the best place to stay in the Seychelles

The Seychelles is a very magical and beautiful place. We’ve traveled the world and have been to many islands and tropical paradises, but this island is special! As soon as we checked-in at the Hilton Northolme Resort & Spa - Seychelles, we were ready for luxury relaxation. We were in need of some R&R after our African Safaris!

Pool Villas

If you’re literally flying halfway around the world, you might as well stay in style. We stayed in Room 305 which was a Pool Villa, meaning we had our own private pool off of our room.

Pool Villa

Pro-tip: if you request the 400s Pool Villas, you can shoot golf balls off your deck into the water. Don’t worry, the balls are made of fish food and feed the fish!

You can also order room service (and dranks) and have it delivered to your pool! We basically tried to figure out a way to never leave our room.

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Hilton Northolme Resort - Guest Room

Since we were in a villa the room was quite large! The bed had mosquito netting and every day housekeeping would make a different animal out of towels on the bed. 

Room highlights - Coffee maker included a nice Nespresso machine or a kettle for tea. There was a huge walk-in closet with tons of cubby holes and a safe to store all of our things. The living room had a large tv and a couch with a chaise lounge, perfect for relaxing at the end of a day in the sun. Did I mention there was a pool outside our room?

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Hilton Northolme Resort - Bathroom

The bathroom was gorgeous! A large tub with jacuzzi jets sat in the middle of the room with a shower on the side. The shower had the option of rain or handheld. 

The tub had a view looking outside over the pool. The doors provided easy access after getting in the pool. So one tip, the hot water didn’t quite fill the tub, it cooled off at some point. That said, do not turn on the jets unless the water is well above the spouts. Otherwise, water sprays EVERYWHERE. Again, just a tip, not like it happened to me.

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Hilton Northolme Resort - Pool in the Pool Villa

The pool attached to the villa has spectacular views and is very private. The water wasn’t heated but still warm enough to sit in for a long time. I won’t get in a cold pool and I could get in this one just fine. 

There is a board with rules that had been washed away so I broke rules instantly since it was hard to read and didn’t see them until afterwards. Oops! Don’t forget to pack your floatie!

There were 3 places to sit on the patio, in the shade on the couch, at the table, or on the chairs in the water. Our favorite was sitting in the water of course. Pro tip.. bring your towels out and unlock the door to the bathroom so you don’t drip all over the place like I did! 

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Hilton Northolme Resort

Spa

Our room came with a complimentary 15 min back and neck massage and we had to try it out! The tea they served afterward was really good.

Spa

Fitness Center

There was a nice gym overlooking the water and a hammock. I may have only spent time in the hammock, not the gym. 

Infinity Pool at the Hilton Northolme

Since we had our own pool we admired the lovely infinity pool and then ran back to our villa infinity pool.

Infinity Pool

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Restaurants and Bars

There were a few places to eat on the property. There was a fine dining restaurant, called Les Coutiers, but we just ate at the Ocean View Bar where they had amazing drinks like the Cannonball.

Cannonball drink - rum drink that won an award!

There was an awesome band that played reggae tunes like Bieber’s Despisito and Wrecking Ball as instrumentals. They also served Seybrew on tap which wasn’t bad for a local brew.

Josh had the red snapper and I had a chicken wrap with fries. Josh makes fun of me when I need American food at some point on our trips!

Ocean View Bar - Properly named!

Hilltop

For breakfast, we’d venture to Hilltop, which was at the top of the hill. It’s not a huge hill. Anyway, they had a fantastic breakfast spread with everything you could imagine as well as an egg station to get whatever you were feeling that day. I loved the eggs benedict and the mimosa bar!

Breakfast of champions

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They even had all sorts of fun rentals including paddle boards, kayaks, snorkel gear, etc. I liked this swing personally.

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You have to treat yourself every once and a while, so next time you’re looking for that island vacation, you must stay at the Hilton Northolme Resort & Spa!

We ALWAYS find THE BEST rates through Booking.com. See deals of up to 50% off! You can save a bunch of money if you book a bundle flight+room+rental car! They even have apartments, lodges, and houses you can rent, just like AirBnB or VRBO! By booking through this link, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you! PLEASE support our blog and bookmark this link!

If you liked this post please share it on your favorite social media site using the Share button below because we’d love to get the word out! Feel free to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board:

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See why we needed some R&R in the Seychelles after our trip to Africa!

Expensive Mistakes When Traveling with a Dog

Photo Credit: Pexel

Traveling with your pup can be expensive, here are some do’s and don’t’s!

My friends at OurBestDoggo.com assisted me with this great advice to avoid expensive mistakes for traveling with your pup!

Sometimes in life, it’s time to hit the road with your best friend. When that best friend is a dog, however, there are several important things to consider before you head out. Without proper planning, you can wind up spending a boatload on a trip with your pup.

Leaving them behind, however, isn’t always an option. Doggy boarding or hiring a sitter can be expensive. Plus, most people think of their dogs as family members, and you can’t leave family behind when you head out on vacation. Fortunately, a little forethought is all you really need to save money on a holiday you, your family, and your dog will enjoy. Here’s a look at a few of the pricier mistakes you should avoid when traveling with your dog.

Forgetting Feeding Essentials

When you’re on the go, you can pick up snacks and meals at nearly any destination. However, your pup can’t always enjoy the same on-the-fly access that you can. That’s why it’s important to bring along plenty of food and dog-safe treats and cookies so your pup stays satisfied.

Don’t assume you’ll find the food your dog likes wherever you’re going – since animals’ stomachs don’t adjust easily to new foods, grabbing a new brand may be pricey in more ways than one. Besides, no one wants to face that hotel cleaning bill, especially when you’re on a budget. Plus, if you have your pal’s favorite treats on hand, you can give them something fun to chow down on while you sample the great desserts at your destination.

Moreover, you need to have the right gear so your pup can eat on the go. Collapsible food and water dishes are a must-have for the canine traveler. These allow you to give your dog meals at rest stops, hotels, and anywhere else you might otherwise struggle to feed them. You can save money on these items by searching for special online deals and coupons so your best friend can eat in style no matter where you end up.

Leaving Without Vet Clearance

 Whenever you take your dog on a trip, it’s important to talk to your vet first to make sure they’re healthy enough to go on the road. Moreover, a veterinarian may be able to prescribe you with anti-nausea meds or sedatives than can save your car from a motion sickness disaster. Keeping your pal comfortable and safe on the road is a responsibility you take on as a pet owner.

However, your responsibilities don’t stop there. Depending on where you’re going and how you’re traveling, you may need a note from your vet ensuring your dog is fit for travel. Some states require that you have evidence with you that your pet is up to date on all shots. Travel without them, even if you’re just passing through, and you risk getting hit with a hefty fine.

Going on a Last-Minute Adventure

 Spontaneous vacations can be incredibly fun, but they’re the wrong call with a dog; there are simply too many details to consider when it comes to traveling with a pet. For example, there’s the aforementioned vet visit. Moreover, you need to make sure you’ll be able to find pet-friendly accommodations wherever you end up. Do you know where the nearest emergency vet is to where you’re staying? What about those on the way?

 Not only does heading out without this info put your dog in danger, but it also puts your pocketbook at risk, as well. After all, making a last-minute booking in a pet-friendly room is a surefire way to end up with terrible rates. The hotel knows you don’t have an abundance of options, so they have no real incentive to offer you a good deal. Of course, that’s assuming you’re able to get a pet-friendly room at all.

You need to think ahead when traveling with your dog, both to keep your pal safe and to make sure you’re saving money along the way. Keeping these things in mind will allow you to go on the adventure you and your pup deserve.

Looking for the right food for your 4-legged friend? Check out the best dog food here: How to Choose the Right Food For Your Dog

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More travel blog posts:

Best FREE Birthday Treats and Freebies/gifts on your Birthday!

Where to get free things on your Birthday or during your Bday Month!

I enjoy getting “FREE BIRTHDAY COUPONS” and special offers in my email or in the mail during my birthday month! I mean, who doesn’t like free things, especially on your birthday! Here are the best free treats you can collect for your birthday deals at some of our favorite chains:

PRO-TIP: Some require prior registration, so pay attention!

Applebee's

Free dessert for when you sign up for the EClub.

Arby's

Sign up for Arby's Extras for a free shake coupon! Also, even if they aren’t free, order a side of curly fries, calories don’t count on your birthday.

Baskin-Robbins

Enjoy a free scoop of ice cream on your birthday as a member of the Birthday Club.

Ben & Jerry's

As a Chunk Spelunker (does it surprise you they have a weird fan club name) you can get free ice cream on your birthday!

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

Make sure you sign up for the Premier Rewards Plus to get the coveted PIZOOKIE for free on your birthday! I just love the classic chocolate chip with ice cream… YUM!

Bonefish Grill

Free dessert when you become a Bonefish Grill Insider.

Boston Market

Be fancy and become a VIP at Boston Market for a free dessert with a purchase on your birthday. 

California Pizza Kitchen

Save your birthday dough as a member of the CPK rewards program and collect a free California dessert during your birthday month.

Carvel

Grab a free cone on Carvel as a Fudgie Fanatic. Tell Fudgie the whale The Sweetest Escapes sent you!

Checkers

Claim one free small milkshake on your birthday if you are a member of Checkers "Flavorhood" email club. 

Cheesecake Factory

Tell your server it's your birthday, and you'll get a free bowl of ice cream! I know, I wanted to say a piece of cheesecake too.

Chili's 

Chili's email club will send a coupon for a free complimentary dessert, good for two weeks.

Cinnabon

Club Cinnabon gives a free coupon for a birthday treat. Word on the street is the treat varies, and who doesn't love birthday surprises?

Cold Stone

What's better than ice cream with a friend on your birthday? A deal for your ice cream and your friend's ice cream on your birthday -- because you joined the My Cold Stone Club and collected your BOGO offer.

Cracker Barrel

A free dessert and a song? I know where my next birthday dinner will be.

Dairy Queen

Get your birthday dessert served upside down! Register your email with the DQ mobile app to get a BOGO Blizzard offer for your special day. 

Del Taco

On my birthday I like to collect a free premium milkshake with my coupon through the Raving Fan eClub. Tacos + Milkshakes = 💗

Dippin' Dots

Members of the Dot Crazy! Email Club can collect free Dippin' Dots on your big day! It is the ice cream of the future, start your new year off right.

GODIVA

Sign up for the GODIVA rewards program and get a free birthday offer that varies month to month. Surprises are fun!

Hard Rock Cafe:

FREE dessert and a song on your birthday. Maybe even Steven Tyler will make a special appearance. Seriously, let us know if that happens.

Jamba Juice

Maybe it’s not quite ice cream, but become an insider so you can sip a free juice or smoothie on your birthday. Sweet and healthy!

Krispy Kreme

As a friend of Krispy Kreme you get a free donut on your birthday.

Marble Slab Creamery

Download the Slab Happy Rewards app to get a $5 reward 7 days prior to your birthday. Get a $5 reward once you sign up and make your first purchase.

Morton's Steakhouse

If you sign up for Landry's Select Club, you can get a free dessert and $25 reward card on your birthday.

Olive Garden

Unlimited breadsticks and a free dessert as a member of the eClub? SIGN ME UP!

Outback Steakhouse

"Let's go Outback tonight," is what you should say if it's your birthday. Not really, but you might want to since it'll give you a free kids-sized vanilla sundae. Get a blooming onion to start, I mean you just have to!

Pinkberry

Sign up for a Pinkcard to get free frozen yogurt on your birthday.

Pizza Hut

Drop your birthday in your ordering account with Pizza Hut to get delivered free hot and fresh cinnamon sticks on your birthday.

Planet Smoothie

Get a sweet free smoothie as a Birthday Club member.

Quiznos

Q-Club members can pick up a free cookie to go with your sub. They have a pepper barrrrrr…

Red Mango

Join Club Mango for $5 off your birthday purchase.

Rita's Italian Ice

Head over to Rita's for a free scoop of ice cream, Italian ice, or custard. 

Rori’s Wild Berry Chocolate Crisp

Rori’s Ice Cream

Join their Birthday Club for a free scoop on your birthday. May I highly recommend the Wild Berry Chocolate Crisp!

Sonic

My Sonic rewards will get you a free birthday treat, which is chosen at random, so wish hard for ice cream.

Sprinkles

Sprinkles are small symbols of a celebration, so kick off with a free cupcake on your birthday.

Starbucks

Sign up for the Starbucks Rewards program for FREE drink on your birthday. Pro-tip: get a milkshake from a Starbucks Reserve location!

TCBY

Join myTCBY for free frozen yogurt on your birthday. Yum!

Wendy's

Get a free Frosty when you sign up for WendyMail, don’t forget to order fries for the salty-sweet combo!

Yogurtland

When you join Yogurtland's Real Rewards program, you'll get a 3oz frozen yogurt right away, and another one on your birthday. A real double-whammy. But, the good kind.

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Feel free to let us know if we’re missing anything. You’re a hero in my book if you can collect all of these freebies for your birthday!

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Hotel Review: Grand Wailea, A Luxury Waldorf Astoria Resort - Maui, Hawaii

The Lucky Mermaid Fountain - Grand Wailea

The Grand Wailea is the best hotel on Wailea beach!

Where to Stay in Maui

We typically stay at the Sheraton Maui in Kaanapali because it holds a special place in our heart, it’s where we got married! We stayed at the Andaz Wailea once, but we loved our most recent stay at the Grand Wailea a Waldorf Astoria Resort! Sitting atop 40 acres in Wailea, It was the perfect location to walk to other hotels and shops, but also had amazing views with large rooms!

Related Post: Packing Essentials for Hawaii

Getting to Wailea

Wailea is located on the southwest shore of the island of Maui in the state of Hawaii (United States). The Grand Wailea is a quick 35-minute drive from the Kahului Airport and only a 20-minute flight if you’re coming from Honolulu. We took a direct flight from Los Angeles to Maui. We rented a car and had to valet every night, there isn’t any self-parking.

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Grand Wailea Ocean View King Rooms

These rooms are 640 sq. ft. with gorgeous pacific ocean and garden views. The private balcony is large, and a wonderful place to have a cup of coffee in the morning or drinks in the afternoon on. You can also see what looks like a little island straight ahead, which is the Molokini crater. It is an excellent place for snorkeling and scuba diving! Also, if you look closely, you can catch a whale swimming by!

Note: Whale watching season is between November and May in Maui.

Ocean View Room - Private Balcony

The room had a nice plush, comfortable, king-sized bed, a private balcony, and a spacious bathroom with oversized bathtub and separate glass-enclosed shower! It’s large enough that you could do cartwheels in the bathroom (although I wouldn’t recommend it).

Grand Wailea Ocean View Room Bathrooms

In the room, there was also a Kurig with better than average coffee and tea options. There was also an empty mini-fridge, which was perfect to put our water bottles, leis, and Maui Brew Co beers! ;-)

Pro tip: Upgrade to the exclusive Napua Tower, so you can enjoy the best panoramic ocean views available! Napua has a private club lounge and other luxurious benefits.

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The Grand Wailea Resort

Just walking around the resort was lovely. There were ocean views everywhere you looked and for being open-air, the resort was spotless.

Other amenities with the Daily Resort Charge: guest internet access; beach umbrellas; admission twice-daily scuba clinics and daily snorkel lessons; 45-minute photography session; beach cruiser bikes; yoga classes; scheduled cultural, garden, and art tours; local/toll-free calls

Pro-tip: Get to Wailea beach around 7a to get a front-row covered beach chair to spend the day by the water. It’s free of charge for guests! We would jump in the water, go for a walk, snorkel, play cards, or even take a nap. It’s a nice way to spend the day! Just make sure you head back to the chairs every hour.

RELATED POST What to do in Maui?: 10 FUN THINGS TO DO IN WAILEA

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The Grand Wailea Pool

The Grand Wailea is like a waterpark and is known as Wailea Canyon including four jungle pools, five intertwining slides, a whitewater rapids slide, a Tarzan rope swing, a sand beach, six waterfalls, caves, three Jacuzzis, a water elevator, and a swim-up bar! Good enough for me and great for kids! The pool has the world’s first water elevator that takes you up to the waterslides! It’s technically the only one in the world, built for the owner’s son, who was disabled, this million-dollar elevator keeps you in the water the whole time!

Grand Wailea Maui Pool

There are quite a few water slides that connected smaller pools creating a lazy river feel! There were a few longer slides that went really fast, feeling like you were at a water park. The Tarzan rope swing is great for the kids to swing and jump into the water - big kids can do it too (I did!). The adult-only pool is the best way to keep splashing to a minimum and wade in the pool or spa with a tropical drink.

Grand Wailea Pool

Our favorite part of the pool was the swim-up bar! You can sit at the bar or there were a few booths where you can sit waist-high in the water! The boys liked the Grotto Bar to have a drink and watch sports without getting out of the pool. I liked it for the lava flows and cool pool booths!

Grand Wailea Grotto Swim-up Pool Bar

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Grand Wailea Luau - 'Aha'aina Wailea

No trip to Hawaii is complete until you have checked a luau off your list! Enjoy a Hawaiian feast while watching traditional Hawaiian dances and there is an amazing fire dance performance you cannot miss! Get a great deal on the best luau in Wailea with tickets from Activity Authority.

Grand Wailea Luau

Restaurants and Shops

Just off the lobby, there were beautiful shops for resort wear, home goods, art, a market, and more! You wouldn’t need to leave the resort. However, if you like shopping there is a shopping center next door (the Shops at Wailea) with an ABC Store, restaurants, and some of your favorite retail shops.

Breakfast at the Grand Wailea

Since we were Gold Hilton Honors members, we were able to get a free continental breakfast or upgrade to the buffet breakfast for $19 which was totally worth it! The Grand Dining Room offers an omelet bar, fresh fruit, waffles, vegetables, potatoes, parfaits, rotating breakfast dishes including favorites like eggs benedict, pretty much EVERYTHING! Breakfast is my favorite meal, and this spread did not disappoint.

HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUA'A

Easy for you to say! This was our favorite place to get a drink a fancy cocktail in the bar and watch the sunset. Humuhumnukunukuapua’a means triggerfish with a snout like a pig (it’s a reef triggerfish). Make reservations ahead of time for dinner here, the menu is fantastic!

HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUA'A Sunset Drinks Views

VOLCANO BAR & GRILL

Located in the middle of the pool area, we had lunch at their poolside tables one day with sandwiches, quesadillas, and burgers on the menu! They also have a full bar menu.

Bistro Molokini

We had drinks and dinner at Bistro Molokini. Located near the adult pool and above the other pools, there are great ocean views, drinks, and food. We liked their pizzas and sandwiches but I wouldn’t get anything beyond that. Their Mai Tai was good, but see our Favorite Maui Mai Tai list if you’re looking for the best Mai Tai on the island!

Bistro Molokini at Grand Wailea

Botero Lounge

The most beautiful lobby bar surrounded by fountains and garden sculptures, it’s nice to relax and have a drink here.

Spa Grande

Don’t forget to relax! There are 40 treatment rooms in this 50,000 square-foot award-winning spa, which is the largest spa in Hawaii (that’s including all of the islands)! Enjoy services such as the Exclusive Healing Waters of Maui, a Hydrotherapy Circuit, and a unique haven of water therapies featuring a Roman tub, saunas, cascading waterfalls, Swiss jet showers, a Japanese furo, and five specialty baths. AHHHHHH…

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New Years in Maui, Hawaii

Directly in front of the hotel on Wailea Beach, fireworks shot off for about 20 minutes from a barge in the ocean at midnight! It was a perfect celebration to ring in the New Year!

New Years in Maui - Wailea

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Bring the kids? GREAT!

There is a 20,000-square-foot “Recreation Outlet Center for Kids” for children ages five to twelve. The qualified staff (also offer nighttime supervision so you can have that one on one time), Camp Grande is equipped with a children’s restaurant, craft room, theater, game room, and outside play area. The kids won’t miss you when they are distracted by activities such as hikes, nature walks, special workshops, such as lei making, ukulele lessons, and t-shirt dyeing.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we enjoyed our stay at the Grand Wailea Maui and would recommend you to stay here! We loved the rooms and the staff was very accommodating. This is a Hilton property so keep that in mind for your points!

We ALWAYS find THE BEST rates through Booking.com. See deals of up to 50% off! You can save a bunch of money if you book a bundle flight+room+rental car! They even have apartments, lodges, and houses you can rent, just like AirBnB or VRBO! By booking through this link, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you! PLEASE support our blog and bookmark this link!

Please note this is not a sponsored post and based on my own personal experience, all thoughts are my own.

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