jolenegoes: Travel blog + Reviews + TRAVEL Tips

Being a somewhat-native Angelo (I say somewhat since I'm actually from Long Beach), it's easy for me to breeze past activities or places I deem "touristy." This often causes some difficulty when I'm planning a day in LA, like the one I had planned with my friend Melody this past weekend. Melody currently lives in the UCLA area, so I tried my best to find something that wouldn't bore her in her own neighborhood. After a bit of searching, I came across a site that listed compli

The second day of our beach weekend began with a quick brunch at Urth Caffe in Laguna, then we were off to Dana Point for Ohana Fest! I had never really been conscious of Ohana Fest before this year; honestly, my reason for attending the festival was about 99% The Naked and Famous (TNAF). They are my favorite band, and I thought seeing them at a festival might be fun. That's also how Katie and I met - because of the band. My point is, I had basically zero knowledge of Ohana F

This year, I started the month of September by going on a little day trip to the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens for high tea. I'd made this reservation weeks ago, before the arrival of a nasty heat wave. Based on my previous experiences there, I knew we'd have a good time even if it was above 100 degrees. I made an 11:45AM reservation for a leisurely Saturday brunch, and with the heat wave, I'm glad we got to spend the earlier part of our day in a cool, air-conditio

I'd like to preface this post by stating that SDCC2017 was not my first Con, but my third. My last one was also in 2012 and I realize that a lot has changed since I was last there. I'd also like to note, for some of you who are not familiar with SDCC at all - this convention is not merely about comics. There is a broad range of topics, genres and aesthetics. You can read about its origins on the official site. Last year, 135,000 people attended, so that gives you an idea of h

Disneyland is one of my favorite places. For many years, I was an annual pass holder, and over the span of my life I have visited the park over 100 times. That being said, I want to approach this post with just a handful of highlights from my trip there earlier this week. I will admit - I am not a thrill-seeking ride junkie; I have a soft spot for the more classic, nostalgic Disney attractions. I thoroughly enjoy the details Disney puts into its parks to create an ambience an

Every year in Cherry Valley, CA, there is a glorious Lavender Festival held at Highland Springs Ranch & Inn + 123 Farm. This year, I finally got to go! Head over to my Lavender Festival Travel Blog for my full experience, but stay right where you are if you're ready to read about some delicious lavender-infused food and drink. We arrived close to lunch time, or what I like to call brunch time. It was the perfect time to starting eating and perhaps indulge in some lavender cha

If you know me, you know that lavender is my favorite color, scent, & debatably one of my all-time favorite flavors. As I type this blog, I am sitting on a lavender comforter against a lavender pillow... even my nails are lavender right now. So naturally, when I heard about the Lavender Festival in Cherry Valley, CA, I had to go. I'd heard of this festival a few years back, probably after seeing some whimsically romantic photos on Pinterest or something of the sort. I believe

Yesterday, I was privileged enough to visit the Museum of Ice Cream, a playful pop art installation that would make even Willy Wonka smile. Nestled in Downtown Los Angeles' Arts District, the Museum of Ice Cream is a playful, interactive take on the traditional idea of an art gallery. I attended with my friend and fellow girlboss Cathrine Khom, editor-in-chief of Local Wolves. I'm quite a fan of the publication and even more of a fan of Cathrine. I knew she'd appreciate this

Every now and again, I am reminded that exploring, having adventures, eating good food and going new places are not limited to the traditional idea of traveling. You don't need to go somewhere far to have a new and fun experience. My friend Chanzelle was visiting from Seattle, and I wanted her to have an enjoyable time down here in Southern California. Unfortunately I was not able to take time off work, so I didn't get to plan an extravagant day trip to a popular part of LA,

Being a Long Beach native myself, the Queen Mary has always been a familiar site. I've been going there as long as I can remember, but as I've gotten older, I've realized that I've taken the Scottish landmark for granted. Spending special occasions at the Queen Mary has been somewhat of a tradition in my family, especially amongst the women on my mom's side. This past Mother's Day was no different, but I found myself approaching the outing with a set of fresh eyes. I took it