Month: March 2017

California Roadtrip: How to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium for FREE plus cheap eats!  

Published on by Insider Irene1 Comment

My friend and I took our rental and headed towards Monterey Bay – home of the world famous aquarium. I remember visiting the aquarium back as a child, but with adult admission circling the $50 range, I had a hard time convincing myself to make it a pitstop on this road trip. But I was able to kill two birds with one stone, by booking a local air bnb room with complimentary tickets! Sweet!

Just an FYI, many of the local air bnb lodging will provide this incentive to attract visiting guests.

After my friend and I checked into our airbnb space to pick up tickets we headed towards Cannery Row. There’s certainly a great deal of things to see, hear and touch and as an educator I especially loved learning about all the different sea creatures.

The aquarium is divided by themes spread across two floors. We were recommended to start on the west wing and work our way towards the east as it’s home to the new exhibit – Tentacles (yes!!! octopuses! :D).

Penguins, sea otters, sharks, sea turtles, you name it and they probably have an exhibit dedicated to it. My favorite was the jellyfish exhibits. They’re just so graceful and calming. Combined with the serene music that they play in the background you just can’t help but feel at peace.

We finished the aquarium in about three hours and spent the rest of our late afternoon and early evening walking around Cannery Row and enjoyed the sunset.

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Now a post wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t give a recommendation on a hidden gem and this one is definitely a must especially if you love carbs!

When we punched in directions and headed towards Palermo Bakery we were surprised by the industrial exterior. You would never think to go here as it looks like a warehouse. There was no cash register, menu, na-da! It’s straight up bread factory. Regardless, we went in bright and early in the morning to see their offering. They sold everything from sourdough, to dinner rolls to entire loafs. My friend and I each bought a loaf for $2.40 a piece since our next destination is considered the SoCal Napa Valley. Stay tuned for my next post to find out where!

What’s a must see local attractions in Monterey Bay?

 

XOXO,

Rockstar

California Roadtrip: Wake up San Francisco! 

Published on by Insider Irene1 Comment

Visiting the Golden State would be incomplete without a photo with the Golden Gate Bridge. However, capturing this iconic panoramic view from this perspective is one that out of town visitors seldom uncover.

I’ll be honest, this shot is a bit of hike (literally) and you can’t just drive here, but it’s definitely worth it – and that’s coming from someone who hates exercising! My friend and I left our rental at a local bart station and took Lyft to the beginning of the Lands End Trail. Be sure to stretch and wear comfortable shoes! Your thighs and calves will thank me later!

The trail is relatively easy for a novice outdoor girl like myself and the spectacular view makes it a noteworthy trip. The hike is about 1.5 miles and many moderately fit people can complete it within an hour. You could go here to relax and enjoy the scenery or watch the sun rise or set. Either way it’s a great place add on your travel agenda! To learn more about this trail click here.

What’s your must see attraction in SF?

 

XOXO,

Rockstar

California Roadtrip: Brunch and other hidden gems in Oakland! 

Published on by Insider IreneLeave a comment

I’m starting up my travel series again! Who’s excited?! 😀 This time I focused on some of the smaller cities in the Golden State (with some larger cities sprinkled in) and went from top to bottom. First stop Oakland…

Now when you think of Northern California you probably don’t think of Oakland as your first travel destination; however, if you’re looking for something off the beaten path and some really awesome locale fare you should bookmark the Lake Merritt area (aka “The Lake”). Grand Lake Kitchen is a popular brunch joint and for good reason. The wait time was a good hour and a half! Luckily the area has some great attractions to help pass the time AND they text you when your table is ready. Sweet!

Right across the street is Lake Merritt and the Lakeside Park, a great place to just take a stroll and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The landscape is breathtaking and my photos don’t do it justice.  Just imagine yourself walking your dog or going for a leisure jog.

Across the Lake there’s a small area called the Cleveland Cascade – the ideal place to complete all your staircase workouts. I saw a number of individuals in fitness gear running up and down the staircase. I wasn’t quite prepared for a workout, but my friend and I did one round before heading back to the restaurant.

After perusing through the menu, I ordered their signature Savory French Toast ($14) as it came highly recommended. Served with Rye bread, two poached eggs, fresh arugula, and assorted mushrooms this unique take on a brunch classic is a home-run. The bread was a perfect base for the runny egg yolk to soak into and the greens complimented the dish perfectly. Perfect way to start my morning and I highly recommend getting this dish!

I read some reviews on their orgasmic Pork Belly Hash dish, but heard that they no longer served it. *gasps* So my friend and I decided to try the next best thing – Pork and Polenta with an overeasy egg ($16). It was certainly a tasty dish with complex flavors but I can’t wait to try some of their other offerings!

Overall this area is a great family friendly one and I can’t wait to come back! What are some other Oakland destination must see and/or eat?

 

XOXO,

Rockstar

Miss Taiwanese World fundraises with former Miss Chinatowns at the CACP Lunar New Year dinner 

Published on by Insider IreneLeave a comment

As Miss Taiwanese World part of my duties is to connect communities and further support education initiatives. So when I was asked to help sell raffle tickets benefiting future professional development workshops for the Chinese American Construction Professional (CACP) organization I gladly accepted the role; the event was held on a Friday evening at 888 Seafood in Rosemead. When I arrived I was introduced to several former Miss Chinatowns and together we enthusiastically promoted some amazing prizes which included a big screen tv, wine, and more to maximize raffles sales.

During this annual fundraiser guests were served a 10 course meal featuring a traditional cold plate appetizer, lobster, a whole fish, etc. The attendees savored the family style meal and their eyes were entertained by local and international performances. Some government officials also made appearances including: Councilmen Ed Chau and Congresswoman Judy Chu. The evening ended raffle winner announcements and dancing.

It was a festive and delicious way to celebrate the new year! We raised a lot of money for future programs and had a great time doing it. I hope I’ll get more opportunities to work with these beautiful ladies and support a great cause!

What’s an important cause that you’ll support this year?

XOXO,

Rockstar