EXPLORING THE MILE HIGH CITY! DENVER, COLORADO

Grabbing a Scoop at Little Man Ice Cream!

Welcome to Denver! I had the chance to visit the Mile High City this year and have to say I was thoroughly impressed! Denver, the capital city of Colorado, has created quite the name for itself with it's booming craft beer industry, it's amazing outdoor activities, weed dispensaries, and urban development. While in Denver I did come across quite a few fun places and thought I would share them with you here!

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THINGS TO DO IN DENVER COLORADO - LOHI NEIGHBORHOOD

Little Man Ice Cream - The cutest spot to get a delicious scoop of tasty homemade ice cream in Denver! I had the chance to check out Little Man Ice Cream while in Denver and believe me when I say it is a spot not to be missed! Their LOHI location stands within an iconic 28ft tall cream can that brings back vintage American nostalgia. Since opening in 2008 it has become a favourite for locals and visitors alike and their cookies and cream ice cream alone is definitely worth the visit. *Drool*

Root Down -  Denver locals take their brunch very seriously, so it was a little bit of a shock to Andrew and I when we found out how hard it was to get a table. We wandered around LOHI for a while before we were lucky enough to score a table in the bar area of Root Down (after hovering around two people occupying a high top that were paying their bill) and the rest is history. We easily enjoyed a couple hours of bottomless mimosas and brunching at Root Down! The restaurant scene in Denver may be super laid back, but I suggest if you want to enjoy brunch in Denver coming to this place early and hungry because the food is delicious and on weekends it's crazy busy.

Recess Beer Garden - located in Denver’s LOHI neighbourhood, this beer garden and eatery is a fun spot. My cousin who lives in Denver took me here after dinner at Linger to meet up with a bunch of her friends and it was packed. In the last 10 years Colorado has seen a huge boom in craft brewers and if you are a big fan of beer and are looking for a cool place to enjoy casual fare and sample a handful of local Denver breweries on tap - this is it! They also have a large patio area, serve more than just beer, and allow dogs, which to me, a dog lover, is always a bonus!

Enjoying a glass of wine inside Union Station

THINGS TO DO IN DENVER COLORADO - DOWNTOWN DENVER

Union Station - This iconic 100-year-old building has recently undergone renovations and has been elegantly and brilliantly refitted with a modern sensibility while still paying homage to its pioneer spirit! Definitely worth checking out, Denver’s Union Station houses numerous restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and even a hotel - The Crawford Hotel Denver! Every Saturday between May 12 and October 27 you can also enjoy live music, fresh produce, and cooking demos as part of the Union Station Farmers Market curated by Boulder County Farmers Markets.

Denver Union Station Address - 1701 Wynkoop Street Denver, CO 80202

Stoic and Genuine - Although Colorado is located nowhere near an ocean, Stoic and Genuine serves up fresh, sustainable seafood on the daily. I stumbled upon this restaurant in Denver Union Station while spending an afternoon getting some work done there and thoroughly indulged in their happy hour wine and oyster selection. If you are dining alone I definitely recommend snagging a spot along the seafood bar so you can catch all the action in their open-concept kitchen. Although I was eating alone, many people tried to chat with me throughout my meal and I never felt like I was actually solo. As a matter of fact, this spot made me feel like I received a warm Denver welcome from many friendly locals! Yay to good vibes all around!

Milk Market - North America seems to be obsessed with the new food hall concept so it’s no surprise that Denver’s Ballpark Neighbourhood recently opened its doors to the Milk Market - arguably one of the best markets in Denver.  Open daily from 11 am - 3 pm, the Milk Market houses a healthy mix of 16 local vendors ranging from take-away to dine-in restaurants concepts, and is considered a cornerstone of the historic Dairy Block. If you are travelling with a large group or are just an indecisive foodie, head to the Milk Market Denver and feast your eyes on some delicious food and drink options, all conveniently located under one roof.

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At the Red Rocks Amphitheater with Andrew Lovesey and Chris Heywood to see One Republic

THINGS TO DO IN DENVER COLORADO - OUTSKIRTS

Red Rocks Amphitheatre - OMG - this place is a MUST!! I don’t usually go on vacation and grab tickets to a concert but if you are ever in Denver, you need to go see a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Not only are the acoustics amazing and the venue outstanding from a bigger-than-life standpoint, but it is also the only naturally-occurring, acoustically PERFECT amphitheater in the world. Every musician aspires to play on this stage! If you are a huge music lover and want to hear the best acoustics of your life, you gotta check out a concert at Red Rocks!

Denver Botanical Gardens - a beautiful spot to snap some pictures and spend the afternoon, the Denver Botanical Gardens is a lovely spot to spend an afternoon while in Denver. Although it a little bit of a trek from the downtown core, if you are into biospheres and cool outdoor pieces of art you need to check this place out. Tickets are $12.50 for adults and $9 for students and children. They currently have a pixelated sculpture exhibit going on by the artist Mike Whiting called Pixilated. The sculptures remind me of characters in my favourite childhood vintage video games like Mario Brothers and PacMan! Very cool!

Exploring Denver Botanical Gardens

It is definitely safe to say that Denver has not seen the last of me. I had so much fun visiting and feel like I have only scratched the surface. It's a young city, it's a booming city, and it's a creative city. The people are warm, welcoming, and even on the days I was solo, I felt completely safe and had no problems getting around. I must say 3-4 days is not enough as Denver is also known for its amazing outdoor activities. If you want to explore both the city and take advantage of their amazing athletic activities you need at least a week! Although my time there was short, Denver definitely gets my stamp of approval and is DEFINITELY worth adding to your travel bucket list. 

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If you have any questions about my trip, have anything to add to my list of things to do in Denver Colorado or want to know more information about restaurants in Denver, feel free to hit me  up in the comment section below!

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FROM SANTORINI TO MYKONOS: ISLAND HOPPING IN GREECE WITH BOOKING.COM

Watching the sunset from Iconic Santorini - A Boutique Cave Hotel in Imerovigli Santorini

* Please Note - Some links in this post may be affiliate links *

Every spring a sea of travel Instagrammers I follow seem to flock to the Greek islands and fill my feed with beautifully white cascading buildings accented with the quintessential blue domes you associate with Greece. Frankly, it’s enough to send a girl into a fit of envy. I have always dreamed of going to Santorini and Mykonos and finally this last June I was able to cross another big destination off my bucket list once and for all!

Prior to going, I knew that the trip was going to be expensive. Both Santorini and Mykonos are only really ‘open for operation’ between May and October and even then if you’re not there in the peak summer months (June - September) it can be a little too cold/windy, or kind of ‘dead’. Nevertheless, I was looking to do this destination the right way and quickly accepted the fact that I may have to pay a heavy price tag for it - sometimes you just gotta treat yourself!

Exploring the village of Imerovigli Satorini, Greece

Although I knew this trip was going to get expensive from takeoff I started my accommodation search the way I always do, with a scroll through Booking.com. I used this website on my last trip to Italy and quickly appreciated the vast variety of accommodations they offer. From hostel stays to people’s apartments to luxury Santorini villas and boutique cave hotels, they seem to have every type of accommodation under the sun at a variety of price points. My goal, however, wasn’t to find cheap accommodations. I wanted to experience true Hellenic hospitality and so I sought out those hotels that provided the picturesque caldera views I was envious of when seeing those Instagrammers photos. Something quintessential of the destination that would give me the full, real experience. Also, another great thing about this website is that every once and a while you do come across a hilarious review that makes the research portion of planning a trip so much more fun - LOLz!

After a deep dive into the best places to stay in Santorini, I found and secured two perfect places (Iconic Santorini and San Georgio Mykonos) to stay and booking our flight - Adam and I were ready to go. We didn’t bother planning too much ahead in terms of restaurants and activities, because the hotel we were staying at in Santorini said it isn’t really necessary in June - reservations can easily be made the day of or a day in advance at the most. Going with the flow is not my usual style, but we decided to take their advice and see how it played out. In the end, they were right and I was still able to comprise Two ‘Eat, Stay, Play’ survival guides for you so HERE WE GO!

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A beautiful church I found in the town of Imerovigli

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SANTORINI, GREECE

Essentially Santorini is made up of 3 larger towns and villages - Fira, Imerovigli, and Oia. They are all situated on the steep cliffs of the island and face the caldera. To my surprise and what I didn’t know prior to visiting, is that Santorini is a volcanic island with all the beautiful towns you see in the photos are situated on the inner lip of the mouth of an ancient volcano! CRAZY RIGHT!?

Santorini Restaurants

Ammoudi Tavern in Oia - Recommended by the concierge at our hotel, Ammoudi Tavern is one of the best restaurants in Santorini. Adam and I had an absolutely sensational seafood dinner at this restaurant in Oia Santorini. Although it did involve having to drive there, we totally made an evening of it. We went early to catch the sunset beforehand (HOT TIP: Oia is the best place to watch the sunset in Santorini) and once the sun went down, made our way to the little cove below the city where the restaurant can be found. It was very romantic and I would have easily gone back again if we had the rental car for an extra day.

Argo in Fira - This restaurant was another beautiful hotel recommendation and I am so glad they did because it would not have been something I would of found on my own. It was one of the best meals we had while in Fira Santorini and I can still remember the delicious seafood plate for two Adam and I ordered. We spent the evening sitting on their second-floor deck overlooking the Caldera and tiny pathway filled with shops and people, drinking house wine and giggling. The food was spectacular and in very traditional Greek style. The service was friendly, fast, attentive and it easily became one of the best meals of our trip not to mention it’s a great spot to start if you want to experience the nightlife in Santorini or want to grab a bite before hitting up bars and clubs in Fira.

To Psaraki Tavern - A favourite amongst locals, this seafood restaurant gets busy at lunch and after eating there I can see why. The fish was fresh and very beautifully prepared. The restaurant was perched atop a cliff looking over the marina where the sailboat charters come in (you should definitely go sailing while in Santorini - more about this recommendation below) and provides a relaxing atmosphere away from the city crowds for you to enjoy your lunch. The staff was friendly and parking was easy. It is also smack in the middle of Eros and Perivolos Beach (more on this to come as well below) so it’s a great pit stop on your way from one beach to another.

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Ammoudi Tavern

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To Psaraki Tavern

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Argo Restaurant

Our Hotel in Imerovigli Santorini

 *use my discount code to receive 15% off your next accommodation reservation with Booking.com

Iconic Santorini - A Boutique Cave Hotel - situated in the small village of Imerovigli Santorini this hotel is what Santorini vacation dreams are made of. This 17 room boutique hotel offers comfortable, clean, cozy accommodations carved into the mountainside. The hotel recently underwent renovations in 2013 and has been completely modernized and redecorated in a  natural, traditional Hellenic style. Each room comes with its own private terrace and two day beds - a perfect spot to enjoy your complimentary breakfast.

Enjoying breakfast at my hotel - Iconic Santorini in Imerovigli Santorini

Although the hotel felt very luxurious, the staff aimed to make you feel at home and comfortable. They were so very accommodating, greeted you every time they saw you, and even allowed for special dinner menu requests from guests. Chef Mattheos - a Santorini native - makes special trips to the market each day to gather fresh ingredients for his dinner menu and was kind enough to pick up an octopus especially for me one evening. His menus often reflect what is in season and is prepared in a traditional Greek manner. Many of the recipes and techniques he uses have been passed down through his family for many years.

The food at the hotel was sensational and very reasonably priced. Although we ate out several times, the view from the dining area at the hotel was one of the best we experienced during our time in Santorini! It’s honestly one of those hotels you could enjoy being cooped up in your entire trip and feel totally content about it.

Since the hotel is perched upon the highest cliffs in Imerovigli Santorini, it does have a 'no children under 14' policy (mainly because a 1000 foot drop off the cliffside is a dangerous risk), but for those who are interested in a quiet, calm, adult-only atmosphere,  one will quickly realize it is the perfect honeymoon hotel. In the end, my stay here was hands-down the best hotel experience I have EVER had and I have nothing but great things to say about my stay at Iconic. I’ll definitely be going back!

Iconic Santorini - Room

Iconic Santorini - Coconut Bed

Iconic Santorini - Room Seating Area

Iconic Santorini - Private Patio with Day Beds

Iconic Santorini - Room Desk Nook

Iconic Santorini - Breakfast On Your Private Patio

Iconic Santorini - Living Room Space Within Room

Things To Do In Santorini

Santorini Sailing - one of the best activities we did while in Santorini was a 5-hour sail around the south side of the island. Adam and I were walking into Fira Santorini one night for dinner from our hotel (an easy downhill walk) when we passed the Santorini Sailing storefront and decided to step in out of curiosity to check out prices. At this point, it was 9 PM and we wanted to sail the following morning.  Usually, the rates start as low as 90 Euro per person however in our case that boat was sold out. Lucky for us they bumped us up to the semi-private boat which included lunch and unlimited drinks for the same cost! BRILLIANT! The sailing company picked us up from our hotel at 8 AM the next morning and we were sailing by 9! It was such a beautiful day!  The crew were so friendly and told us all about the different island formations and areas. The food at lunch was great and they were always offering to help take your photos, making sure you were having fun, and always had a cold beverage. If you are looking for things to do in Santorini Greece and you don’t get seasick, I highly recommend doing a day sail!

Tango Bar, Fira Santorini - If you are interested in experiencing nightlife in Santorini, this champagne and cocktail bar was recommended to us by a couple of people we met during our stay and so happy they did! Adam and I went and enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine at Tango after dinner one night (the party doesn’t really start to happen till after 11 PM so go late) and danced to some great house music. The bar to me has more of a nightclub feel but unlike many of the other bars we went to, it is cliffside and offers great views of the water and surrounding views of the city lit up at night. Most of the clubs in Santorini are located in Fira anyways so even if it’s not super busy, it’s super easy to walk from one club to another until you find one with an atmosphere to your liking.

Rent a car - Although our hotel was amazing and I could literally spend all day there (and be happy as a clam doing so), Adam and I wanted to explore all the island had to offer. The hotel was amazing at helping us arrange a car and for 60 euros and 24 hours of freedom we thought, why not. If you want to check out Eros beach or Perivolos beach - or even just go into Oia for dinner and watch the sunset, you are looking at a 40 Euro taxi ride each way so may as well rent a car for a day and do all of it! Navigation and parking isn’t difficult so it’s actually one of the best options if you want to be more mobile and explore the island further.

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Sunset in Oia Santorini

Oia - A lot of the Instagram photos you see of Santorini are actually taken in Oia. It is a beautiful town with many busy streets and is known as the best place to watch the sunset! Although it’s a bit of a distance from Fira and Imerovigli I definitely recommend checking it out at least once. There is a hiking path you can take from the hotel that is supposed to be about 2 hours walking or you can drive there within 15 -20  minutes. Since Adam and I rented a car, it wasn’t an issue getting to Oia Santorini and actually made for a nice drive. If you didn’t want to rent a car and just take a cab expect around a 40 Euro price tag for a taxi one way.

Eros Beach and Perivolos Beach - another great activity to do if you have the ability to move around the island and want to spend a day at the beach. Since we had a car for the day we were able to go explore both Eros Beach and Perivolos Beach (the black sand beach) and see the different landscapes of the island. These two beaches are both on the more flatter end of the island and are filled with beach clubs and restaurants - a much different vibe from the cliffside towns

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SANTORINI TO MYKONOS

The next stop on our Greek island hopping tour was Mykonos - the party island! Although we did look into flights from Santorini to Mykonos we figured the most viable way to make the journey was to swim. JUST KIDDING! We took a ferry for 70 Euro a person and within 2.5 hours we arrived in Mykonos! It was super easy and the hotel helped us arrange the booking of our ferry tickets and transportation to the Santorini to Mykonos ferry dock.

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Exploring Mykonos Old Town

MYKONOS, GREECE

So what we quickly learned about the island was that all the big beach clubs and the majority of hotels are all located on the south side of the island. The north side of the island has picturesque secluded beaches with lovely restaurants, but for the most part, everything is happening on the south side. Also, the BIG party day in Mykonos is Sunday so if you can work your itinerary to be there on the weekend like we did, you can really get a taste of the party scene. Lastly, although we did rent a car for a day while in Mykonos, navigating was not as easy as Santorini. We did get lost and had to turn around a handful of times, not to mention I’ve never experienced so many blind corners in my life!

Restaurants in Mykonos

When it came to restaurants in Mykonos, prices were all over the map! Some places were so expensive and a total rip-off, while others offered great value for amazing food. To help you avoid getting stuck in a tourist trap or spending your entire meal budget in one shot (one place we went to was charging over 100 euro for a grilled fish) here are two restaurants in Mykonos I highly recommend adding to your list!

Kiki’s Tavern - When it comes to Mykonos Restaurant, this place is no joke! It was hands-down one of the best afternoons Adam and I had the whole time we were in Mykonos and it wasn’t just because of the food. Picture a little wooden restaurant next to a secluded beach with their own private swimming cove. You show up, add your name to the list (which will typically already have an hour-long wait), help yourself to complimentary rosé while you enjoy the beautiful view of the cove. The wine will start to hit you quicker than usual because 1) you’re hungry and 2) you’re in the hot sun, so you walk down to the waters and go for a dip to cool off. You do this several times until your table is ready and then you enjoy a beautiful meal in the shade with a picturesque view of the water. Beautiful! Since Kiki’s isn’t in town you will need to either rent a car like we did to get there or take a taxi which may even be your best bet considering we did get lost…. a few times. LOL

Nikolas Tavern - Loved this place! Mainly because it was a family-run and owned business and you could really see how they put their whole heart into operating it. There are family photos all over the walls inside and they are so welcoming and ready to offer you something to drink. The restaurant is right on the beach so you can go early to watch the sunset and then hang under their illuminating overhead string lights while you enjoy some traditional Greek food. They also had 14 Euro half-liter pitchers of wine which was a perfect way for me to get a little tipsy before going out. Adam and I loved it here and since it was only a short walk from our hotel we ended up coming back several times during our trip. The prices were completely reasonable and allowed us to eat until our stomachs were full and heart content for under 70 euro! With drinks!

Our Hotel In Mykonos

*use my discount code to receive 15% off your next accommodation reservation with Booking.com

San Giorgio - What really attracted me to this hotel was the bohemian aesthetic. When you see pictures of Mykonos you usually see pictures of the town – all the white buildings with blue windows and railings. What you don’t see is that the island is actually very rustic and when you get out of town, more bohemian, airy, and minimalistic. The land around the populated areas are used for farming and every once and awhile you will see small herds of animals. My hotel San Giorgio was on a beautiful point between two of the best beaches to party in Mykonos – Paraga Beach and Paradise Beach – making it a great location for anyone looking for that Mykonos party experience.

Olive tree at my hotel - San Giorgio Mykonos

The hotel itself is beautifully laid out and upon arrival we were ushered down to the pool, given a welcome glass of prosecco, and a breakdown of the hotel. We were informed that our stay included a complimentary breakfast, a free 30 minute training session with the hotel trainer Panos, and were encouraged to participate in one of their many free workshops, talks, and meditations that happen daily. The philosophy of the hotel is to be a communal space where creatives can come to meet and inspire one another. We met a lot of interesting people while we were there and everyone was so friendly and open to chatting, making it super easy to buy into the concept and make new friends.

San Giorgio is a member of the Design Hotel Collection which made it no surprise that the rooms were beautiful. Although not as luxurious as the Iconic Santorini, there was beauty in their understated, earthy, and airy simplicity. It really emulated bohemian chic perfectly with earth-tone painted walls, straw hat decorations, and lights made from natural material. This boutique hotel has only 34 rooms, but each one comes with a little terrace adorned with at minimum a small table and a couple stools. Although you can hear the echoes of the beach club a short distance off it was definitely a nice close haven to escape to when you get sick of the parties.

San Giorgio Entrance

San Giorgio - Room

San Giorgio - Room Decorations

San Giorgrio - Room Lighting

San Giorgio - Bathroom

San Giorgio - Terrace

San Giorgio - Kitten

San Giorgio - Poolside Hammock

San Giorgio - Day Beds

San Giorgio - Lounging Area

San Giorgio Mykonos

Things To Do In Mykonos

Mykonos Town - Mykonos Town is picture perfect. This is where you will see all the white buildings and stone-painted (it’s not real stone) ground. A lot of pictures of Mykonos are taken in town, especially by the windmills in Little Venice Mykonos! Go for an afternoon and get lost down the winding alleyways, in and out of small shops, and restaurants and bars - you won’t regret it.

Scorpios - A contemporary take on the ancient Greek Agora, Scorpios is the best beach club in Mykonos and definitely more on the posh side. Drinks will run you between 9-12 Euros so unless you have money to blow come with your buzz already on. Since it can get quite expensive here I found that it attracted a 30+ crowd. Nevertheless, it was beautiful and I loved their ancient Greek tribal atmosphere. The music consisted mostly of techno tribal beats with it was a cool spot to hang out, dance, listen to music, and people watch. This place also happens to be the sister property for the San Giorgio Hotel so if you are staying at the hotel you get line bypass and priority access. A lot of the DJ’s that play at Scorpios also end up being put up at San Giorgio so don’t be surprised if you see them poolside at the hotel the next day ;)

Cavo Paradiso - If you want to party until the sun comes up then this is where you need to go. Scorpios and the beach clubs on Paraga beach usually close down around 1:30 am but the party is still going on at the beach on the other side of the hotel – Paradise beach. Cavo Paradiso is on the point just after Paradise beach (you can literally see it from the hotel) and takes about 15-20 minutes to walk to from the hotel. Here you will find a younger, hostel crowd who want to stay up all night and party! This is the only club we went to while in Mykonos where we had to pay cover (20 Euro) but we got what we paid for and were able to dance all night to a sick DJ (FULL DISCLOSURE: I was pretty tipsy and couldn’t tell you his name, but all I remember is dancing up a storm!) and had a great 'party night in Mykonos' experience. We ended up staying here until the sun came up and walked back to our hotel, totally ready for bed.

Faros Lighthouse - always a sucker for a good sunset, if you are interested in the best spot to watch it from, you just found it. Since it is located on the north side of the island though, you will only be able to do this if you rent a car because 1) there was no taxi stand so how would you get back and 2) it’s not walkable from town.

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Although Santorini and Mykonos were two destinations I was dying to visit I really could not have pulled this trip together without my partnership with Booking.com. I have used their site in the past for many of my accommodations reservations and am happy to pass on a 15% savings to you on your next trip with my discount code. No matter where you want to go, whether the US, Europe, a festival or a weekend cottage getaway, Booking.com has such an array of properties and accommodations to choose from they are easily my #1 site. Be a savvy traveler like me! Save on your next reservation and spend that money on a dinner or activity instead!

If you have any questions about my Santorini/Mykonos trip feel free to hit me up in the comment sections below!

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EAST HOTEL - MIAMI, FLORIDA

Brickell City Centre. Photo courtesy Swire Hotels.

Miami has always been known for its vibrant lifestyle. With its manicured beaches, delicious restaurants, fabulous nightclubs, colourful neighbourhoods and constant sunshine seven days a week there is no question why it’s a huge hotspot and a destination choice for many Canadians.

In the last year, Miami’s cityscape gained a newcomer to the U.S. hospitality scene.  With the development of the Brickell City Centre, a large-scale, mixed-use project in the Brickell financial district of Miami, came the East Hotel in Miami, Swire Hotels’ first U.S. property.

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Swimming pool at EAST Hotel in Miami. Photo courtesy Swire Hotels.

With 352 rooms (89 of which are residence suits) East Hotel Miami attracts young professionals who come to town for business and for pleasure. With two restaurants, a poolside bar lounge, 20,000 square feet of event space with phenomenal views of the Miami skyline, and a rooftop garden that makes you feel like you have stumbled upon a Balinese oasis there is no question that this property offers an unconventional experience for those interested in innovation, elegance and personalized boutique service.

A suite at East Hotel in Miami. Photo courtesy of Swire Hotels.

The best part about being a guest at the hotel is that you can ‘stay in’ to go out! With East Hotel in Miami’s two restaurants come some of the best food and nightlife scenes Miami has to offer. Conte Nast Traveler recently voted East Hotel’s Rooftop Bar and tapas restaurant Sugar as ‘The best rooftop bar in the United States!’ Occupying the top two floors of the hotel, East Miami’s Sugar is an Asian-inspired garden oasis in the heart of the city. With unimpeded views of the Miami skyline, delicious cocktails, and a well-curated Asian Tapas menu it is easy to lose track of time and spend a whole afternoon/evening eating and drinking under the stars. This rooftop lounge also features a wrap-around deck made of Brazilian teak and a Balinese bar carved out of reclaimed oak!

The bar at Sugar, EAST hotel in Miami’s rooftop bar. Photo courtesy of Swire Hotels.

East Hotel in Miami’s Quinto La Huella restaurant is also a ‘must’ when staying at the hotel or visiting the city. This Uruguay-inspired restaurant located on the 5th floor of the hotel features a large beautiful outdoor patio, elegant bar, and a wood burning parrilla. Since opening, the restaurant has become quite the urban sanctuary and caters to both hotel guests and local professionals working in the downtown core and Brickell center. Their menu is a mixture of sushi, seafood, and grilled meats that are cooked to perfection in front of you on their parrilla. The restaurant prides itself on featuring simple dishes with only the best ingredients. With that being said the food here is delicious; from the cocktails to the dessert everything I ate was made with great care and embodies the cultural cuisine the restaurant is inspired from.

Quinto La Huella at EAST Hotel in Miami. Photo courtesy of Swire Hotels.

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To encourage business travellers and first time visitors the East Hotel in Miami is offering special packages, room rates, and incentives to help you experience all that the hotel has to offer. Located in the Brickell City Centre it takes only 15 minutes to drive to the hotel from Miami International Airport. Built on top of the Brickell Plaza, East Miami is conveniently connected to a huge shopping mall and popular Miami districts like Wynwood, The Design District, and South Beach making it the perfect place for you to stay on your next trip to Miami.  To learn more about the East hotel in Miami, room rates and special offers please visit www.east-miami.com

Poolside Bar and Lounge at EAST Hotel in Miami. Photo courtesy of Swire Hotels.

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I hope you enjoy your time at East Hotel in Miami, Florida as much as I did! If you have any questions or comments about Miami East Hotel, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below!

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MONTREAL EN LUMIERE

Montreal has always been a city that had to be different from its other Canadian counterparts. If Montreal had a voice it would say, “show me your best and I’ll make it 10 times better!” and they do. Don’t get me wrong – there is no competition going on here but rather a touch of savoir-faire only a Montrealer can add to an outfit, an event, or even a lifestyle; and when it comes to Montreal’s 375 Anniversary you know they are throwing around their savoir fair like it’s pixie dust!

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Evolutions by Yann Nguema, EZ3kiel - Lyon, France

This year Montreal went all out for their 18th edition of Montréal En Lumière. With over three weeks of festivities 1.4 Million people descended upon the city to partake in special cooking events, attend musical performances, explore the art instillations that adorn the city and of course stay up all night to enjoy Nuit Blanche! With over 200 activities on Nuit Blanche alone there is no way you were going to run out of things to do.

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For this year’s edition of Montreal en Lumiere, Lyon, France (nicknamed the world capital of gastronomy) was the featured city and with it came their regional flare on French cooking! With over 29 guest chefs participating in 44 gourmet cooking events Montrealers and tourist alike came out in hordes to feast like kings at these unique tastings. For those who were unable to attend one of these special cooking events there were also 240 other food related activities going on throughout the three week long festival, some even free!

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 Some of the food related events I was able to attend included Le Bouchon Lyonnais at Balmoral where the restaurant was transformed into a traditional Lyonnais bistro to serve up incredibly tasty customary dishes that made you feel like you were transported in space to the capital of French gastronomy. Guest Chef Joseph Viola’s menu consisted of French specialties like ‘Le Pate en croute au fois gras de canard (pastry encased pate of duck foie gras and sweetbread) – a dish that takes approximately three days to make and won him a championship award in 2009! I also had to try the beef sirloin steak, flambéed with cognac and doused in a black peppercorn sauce (highly recommended by my waiter and happy that he did). This dish was quiet generous and was accompanied by thinly sliced fried potato’s, string beans and my very own side of mac and cheese!

The second food related event I was able to attend included a tasting at Montreal’s Ikanos restaurant where guest chef Neil Jewell teamed up with restaurant patriarch Constant Mentzas to develop a unique seafood menu just for the festival. Ikanos restaurant located in the Old Port of Montreal is housed within a brilliantly renovated and decorated old warehouse building. The ambiance alone would make me want to sit at the bar all evening eating and drinking. For a pre dinner palate cleanser I tried an item off their cocktail menu called ‘It's Spritz thyme!’ and as an appetizer I had their cured snapper with mountain tea gel, grapes, radish, horseradish and, lemon balm. My second dish was the samos and miso roasted black cod with turnips, porcini mushrooms and, mushroom flavored dashi. This dish was definitely my favourite! To add a little carb to my meal I also had the Saffron-butter poached lobster, chorizo, fennel, and orange tortellini in a bouillabaisse broth, rouille. Is it just me or was the red carpet rolled out for this special Montreal en Lumiere collaboration?!

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Ikanos Restaurant - 112 Rue Mc Gill, 514-842-0867

Nuit Blanch, a one night event full of art instillations, music and drinking, attracts 350,000 (let’s say between 300,00 and 350,000) to the streets of Montreal alone. On Nuit Blanch you could have found me in Montreal’s underground exploring 77 different projects and exhibitions from various contemporary artist. Each exhibition or project varied from interactive instillations, video exhibits, special enactments and performances to photography and sculptures. With hours of entertainment you could spend all night running around Montréal’s underground while also benefiting from free shuttles to different neighborhoods, extended Metro service and last call hours!

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As part of Montreal’s 375th anniversary Montreal en Lumiere also added Illuminart to this year’s event schedule. With over 25 works that fuse art, lighting and technology, these instillations were a must see! The urban installation spread over 3.6 km surrounding the heart of the festival, Quartier des spectacles. I ran around to discover some of the best pieces to show you below! Many of the artists that participated in Illuminart were actually from Lyon, which not so coincidently holds a big festival of lights annually that historically dates back to the 1700s called La Fête des Lumières de Lyon!

It doesn’t end there though! This year at Montreal en Lumiere came an eclectic assortment of musical acts ranging from DJ’s to Francophone to Jazz and Blues musicians. Even Vancouver’s own indie band Mother Mother and rock band The Tea Party performed during the festival. Needless to say there were plenty of shows to choose from, the hardest part being more about which ones to attend.

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To say that Montreal en Lumiere surpassed my expectation would be a massive understatement. They pulled out all the bells and whistles this year and pretty much threw a three week long party! Even as a non French speaker I found it very easy to navigate through the festival activities and city. With lots of fun events both outdoors and in, taking your loved one, friends or even family will end up leaving you asking yourself why you hadn’t done this sooner

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If you have any questions about the festival I encourage you to visit the Montreal en Lumiere website by clicking -> HERE

To see how else Montreal is celebrating their 375 Anniversary click -> HERE

Have you read my article about the newest boutique hotel in Montreal? You can now! Click -> HERE

If you have any questions you would like to ask me feel free to leave them in the comment section below!

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

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I recently arrived back from a short but sweet trip to one of America’s oldest cities – Boston. This was the first time I have ever really had the chance to explore Boston properly so you know I had to hit the ground running!!!

Ok so after arriving in Boston, looking for the best attractions and restaurants was a little hard. I don’t necessarily think that their food scene is that obvious meaning I have heard from others that it’s there, but still quiet underground so make sure to ask locals for recommendations if you can. A lot of establishments have been around for a while so finding the coolest new places can be a challenge, however I managed to find something for everyone!

SIDE NOTE: If you are flying into Boston’s Logan airport make sure to look out the window during landing! The Boston Logan airport is located on the waterfront and you get absolutely picturesque views of the city!!!!

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First things first! Things to do!!!!

Samuel Adams Brewery - 30 Germania St, Boston, MA

I made sure that I stopped by the Samuel Adams brewery. Not just because they have tours starting from 11-4 every day for a simple $2 donation (proceed go to one of their chosen charities), but you also get FREE samples!!!! Tours are about 45 minutes long and include a FREE sample tumbler souvenir as well!

Fun facts about the Samuel Adams Brewery:

-       They let you sample and review beer that isn’t on the market a.k.a. you get to give the ‘Gladiator’ thumb-of-approval
-       Boston is home to a Samuel Adams beer you can’t find anywhere else! It’s called the Boston Brick Red and its only available on tap and in Boston.
-       Boston water (as in PH levels, Dissolved Oxygen, Chlorophyll and other Fluorescing Materials levels, etc) is one of the most important components to the flavor profile you can find in their beer.  Samuel Adams does have breweries in other states and they will break down their local water content and build it up again to match Boston’s water profile before brewing.
-       Samuel Adams (a founding father of America) didn’t start the Samuel Adams Brewing Company - Jim Koch’s did in 1984
-       Their autumn seasonal Octoberfest beer is available August through October and can be purchased in the gift shop along with other small batch growlers! I grabbed their Blueberry growler and it was so YUM!

SAMUEL ADAMS BREWERY -> LINK

Isabelle Stewart Gardner Museum - 25 Evans Way, Boston, MA

This museum is better known for its gorgeous courtyard, which is ideal for amazing photo opportunities. The Isabelle Stewart Gardner Museum is the converted residence of Isabelle Stewart Gardner – an American art collector, philanthropist, and patron of the arts. She was a very affluent lady in her time and incorporated her property into the museum in 1900. Today, the museum hosts exhibitions of historic and contemporary art, as well as concerts, lectures, family and community programs, and changing courtyard displays.

Fun fact about the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum:

- admittance is discounted to those wearing Boston Red Sox memorabilia, and is free to anyone named Isabella!

ISABELLE STEWART GARDNER MUSEUM -> LINK

Quincy Market - 367 S Market St, Boston, MA

Quincy Market is a historic market complex near Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston (near the water). I loved this place and found it a great place to stop after you explore the Boston harbor. The market itself offers a wide range of food vendors and restaurants. The market can get a bit hectic on the weekend but is still a fun place to go if you want a family friendly activity. Also expect to see horse drawn carriages around the market/Faneuil Hall and street busker performances.

QUINCY MARKET -> LINK

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Place to eat! YUM!

Sorellina – Fine Dining $$$$ 1 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA

I loved the Italian-Mediterranean cuisine at this restaurant. I ordered the octopus appetizer with squid ink cous cous and it was a symphony of flavors in my mouth. This restaurant is super posh so it’s great for a nice celebratory dinner occasion or if you are looking to really impress someone. Wink wink nudge nudge.

SORELLINA -> LINK

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Saltie Girl – New Seafood Restaurant/Oyster Bar $$$ 281 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA

A new comer to the Boston restaurant scene, Saltie Girl is an oyster bar and seafood paradise. Boston is known for their lobster rolls and clam chowder and you can definitely get both of these staples here! I got their spicy tuna carpaccio, which was literally art on a plate. I also would recommend their Foie Gras with brioche as it was so decadent and delicious it brought tears to my eyes – ok not really but you get the point! LOL!

SALTIE GIRL -> LINK

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Kashmir – Indian $$ 279 Newbury St, Boston, MA

Located on Boston’s famous Newbury Street this place serves up some great Indian food. I had their version of Chana Masala and a side of their Dahl and had absolutely no regrets! You can also enjoy their patio and free WIFI if you’re in the area and are in need of refreshments or a break from shopping.

KASHMIR -> LINK

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Gourmet Dumpling House – Chinese $$ 52 Beach St, Boston, MA

I was recommended this place by one of my followers and I am so glad I went. This little dumpling house located in Boston’s Chinatown was packed full of people and served up some pretty awesome steamed dumplings. Expect very nice portions that are good for sharing.

GOURMET DUMPLING HOUSE -> LINK

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Other fun stuff to do in Boston

If the Red Sox are in town go to Fenway Park to see a game!!!! -> LINK

Keep an eye out for awesome acts at the House of Blues!!! -> LINK

Zip around the waterfront in a speedboat called Codzilla!!  - This looks like a lot of fun and I wish I could of done this! Be prepared to get wet! -> LINK

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