Not Another LA Blonde

Tag: Travel

Las Vegas – Weekend Trip

Good Morning!! For many Californians Vegas is a staple weekend trip. Planning a quick getaway? Go to Vegas. Turning a special age? Go to Vegas. Planning a Bachelor/Bachelorette trip? Go to Vegas. We were supposed to go to Las Vegas last March for hubby’s 30th Birthday but then COVID hit the US and we got a little nervous and ended up cancelling the trip. So I’ll fill you in on the details of our March 2019 trip when we took my brother to Vegas for his 21st Birthday.

Friday:

We took Southwest Airlines out of the Long Beach Airport (talk about an easy airport!) on a Friday morning. We grabbed some breakfast and a drink in the airport before getting on the plane.

We almost always stay at the MGM as hubby and I are both rewards members there. We like to stay in the Stay Well rooms (a little pricier but we feel that they are cleaner). We had to wait a while for my brother and his girlfriend to get in (they were flying in from Idaho) so hubby and I hit the pool for a while and grabbed lunch.

For dinner, we grabbed food from one of the hotel restaurants (TAP Sports Bar). They have classic American staples and it’s the perfect place to watch games on TV. According to the MGM website, it looks like they are currently only open Saturday & Sunday’s.

After eating, we went over to Top Golf where we had made a reservation for a bay. They have a lot of great options for booking and it’s fun for everyone! *They are currently open and taking reservations*

Saturday:

We rented a day bed (perfect for 4 people) on the edge of the lazy river pool. We spent the WHOLE day at the pool! (Cabanas/daybeds can be booked starting March 1, but be sure to read up on their Covid protocol when going to the pool)

We hit the Mexican restaurant (Hecho En Vegas Mexican Grill & Cantina) in the hotel for dinner and then decided that we were not going to join my brother and his girlfriend at the club. *Unfortunately, it looks like this restaurant is temporarily closed due to Covid regulations*

Hubby and I decided to go gamble a little bit and then enjoy the country bar, Losers Lounge (which is open!). Losers Lounge is a country themed bar (hubby and I love country music and have been to stagecoach multiple times).

My brother and his girlfriend went to Hakkasan Night Club located in the MGM and said they had a really fun time. *They are temporarily closed during Covid*

Sunday:

We all had an early flight out of Vegas on Sunday morning so we really didn’t do anything! We packed our bags and off to the airport we went.

Another fun thing to do if you’re up for it is the Wet Republic Ultra Pool Party. They are set to reopen for the 2021 season on March 5.

While there is sooo much to see and do in Vegas, I recommend only traveling if it is essential and done safely! Please be sure to check out the local Covid protocol to wherever you are traveling because it might be different than where you live. Stay safe and healthy everyone!

If you do plan on going to Vegas now or in the future make sure you save this post for your trip!

XOXO

March 1, 2021
Santa Ynez – Weekend Trip

Good Morning friends! Happy Tuesday, I hope y’all had a great weekend! Mine started a little rocky (woke up Friday feeling sooo sick, but still went into work since we are short staffed and then had to go to my high school football game to watch my girls cheer) but then got a little better. Robert and I woke up super early Saturday morning and drove up to Santa Ynez (a little past Santa Barbara) for his cousins 30th Birthday Bash.

Our weekend started by waking up at 4:30 and driving 2.5 hours up the coast of California to meet the rest of the family for a 30th Birthday. We arrived at the hotel and got settled in and then at about 10:30am the festivities for the day started. Our transportation included a private bus that took us to each stop and then dropped us off at dinner at the end of the day. The bus was a redone school bus that was super cool!

Our first stop: Babcock Winery

This winery had a super vintage feel to it. Anything in the winery could be purchased including the décor on the walls. Here we had a private tasting and sampled 3 whites and 3 reds.

Whites:

2016 Soulstruck, Grenache Blanc

Unfortunately, I can’t remember the other 2 whites we tried.

Reds:

2016 Pinot Noir “Ocean’s Ghost”

2016 Rita’s Earth Pinot Noir

2016 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

To be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of any of the 6 we tried, but in all fairness I really only like sweet wines and tend to shy away from anything too dry. The birthday girl got her own sample of a sweet wine and it was DELICIOUS! I had to buy a bottle for myself to bring home, it’s the 2014 Late Harvest Pinot Gris “Naughty Little Nectar” .

Second Stop: Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.

There are 5 locations for the is Brewery, we stopped at the one in Los Olivos. This is where we had lunch which was actually really good. We had the upstairs room all to ourselves with a private bartender. For lunch we had salad, tri-tip, bbq chicken, garlic bread, chili, and a potato salad. I’m not a huge craft beer kinda gal, so I opted for a flight of beers. My beers included:

Fig Mtn Light, FMB “101” Blonde Ale, Gibraltor, and Hoppy Poppy IPA

Third Stop: Beckmen Vinyards

We got to this stop at about 3:30 in the afternoon and to be honest, everyone was pretty much done. I think that everyone went a little too hard at lunch with the beers! This winery was a little bit different and didn’t offer a group tasting. We sat outside in a gazebo and someone from the winery came out with 6 different types of wines. He explained them to us and then left us to pour our own tasting. I didn’t really feel like this was a good sales tactic and no one from our group bought any wines here. The grounds were nice, and there were some late harvest grapes still on the vines.

Fourth Stop: Maverick Saloon

This was our last stop for the day. We went in for happy hour, then walked a few doors down for a private dinner (I can’t remember the name of the place we had dinner). This is totally a dive bar type place. They have dollar bills hanging from the ceiling that customers can put up themselves. After dinner we came back and there was a live band playing. Since it was the Saturday before Halloween, they were having a costume party!

Sunday morning we packed up, had lunch at Sandbar in Santa Barbara. The mexican food was actually pretty good and the watermelon margaritas were to die for!

I love being able to do quick weekend getaways like this one and would love to be able to go back up and stay the weekend in Solvang (super cute looking Danish town). I hope you all had an amazing weekend. Let me know if you have any questions about anthing I did this weekend; I’m happy to answer anything you might want to know!

XOXO

February 4, 2021
10 Things You Need in Your Carry-On Bag

Your carry-on bag is like your life on any flight. Once you’ve checked your bag, all your left with is your carry-on, so you better have the essentials packed in there to make your flight a little easier. Before you leave, make sure you have these things packed and ready to go.

Hand Sanitizer or Wet Wipes

The last thing you want is to turn up at your destination feeling sick. Ward off germs and viruses by always carrying a mini hand sanitizer or a pack of wet wipes in your carry-on. Airport bathrooms sometimes run out of soaps and airplane bathrooms are not always the cleanest. I am 100% that weirdo on flights that wipes EVERYTHING down before I sit down! I use travel Clorox wipes to wipe down the arm rests, seat buckle, and tray table/tv. I’ll even wipe down the head rest of the seat before sitting down.

Change of Clothes

This is important for many reasons, but the most important being that every time you check your bag, you’re putting your faith in a stranger that your luggage will end up where it’s supposed to. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out (knock wood, I’ve never had my luggage go missing). Keeping a clean set of clothes in your carry-on is essential. Also, if you are on a long flight or a red-eye, you’ll just feel more refreshed if you change after your flight.

Water Bottle

This carry-on essential is also environmentally-friendly. Keeping a reusable water bottle with you during your travels helps keep you hydrated throughout. More and more airports are installing water fountains or refill stations in departure halls so you can fill your bottle after you pass through security.

Travel Pillow

A bulky travel pillow may not seem worth the precious space it takes up, but you’ll be grateful once you’re on a long-haul or red-eye flight.

A Pen

You’ll need a pen to complete a customs form on an international flight or fill out a visa-on-arrival form in your destination. In a world where it seems like everything is digital, you’d actually be surprised how often a pen will come in handy when traveling.

A Shawl

Stay warm in over air-conditioned airplanes, airports, and buses by bringing your own clothing that can double as a blanket. If you’re traveling on the cheap, don’t expect budget airlines to dole out extra perks like pillows and blankets. Save yourself the hassle and bring a wide shawl or wrap to help you cover up, stay warm and sleep comfortably.

Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Headphones of any kind are an absolute must! Watch a movie or drift off to sleep in peace while listening to your favorite playlist without being disturbed by crying babies or conversations going on around you.

In-Flight Entertainment

Most flights I go on, have personal tv’s built in, but in the event that they don’t or if your TV doesn’t work, it can be a real bummer. Make sure to stockpile movies/books on your tablet or pre-download your favorite shows from Netflix.

Healthy Snacks

If airplane food doesn’t agree with you, then you’re stuck without anything to eat until you touch down. Instead of holding out for a “decent meal” at your destination, pack some snacks to get you through. Unsalted nuts, dried fruit, or oranges keep your tummy full without the bloat.

A Power Bank

Your phone/ipad/e-reader does you no good if the battery dies. Some airlines offer in-seat USB ports, but not all do. Nothing is worse than a long flight with nothing to do. Make sure you have a slim, light-weight power bank in your carry-on for emergency charging.

XOXO

February 13, 2020