Travel Today

For people living in the U.S., Memorial Day is just a couple weeks away - which means an extra day off. Some people spend the day remembering loved ones who served the country during the wars while other people take a quick little getaway for the long weekend. Here are my top 3 picks for quick getaways:

1. San Diego - Of course, I’m a little biased because I live here, but it’s the perfect place for a long weekend. There’s the gorgeous weather, beaches, and all the fun things to do. There’s Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, and the myriad of parks to hang out and have a BBQ!

2. Miami - I’ve never been here myself, but I hear it’s about as gorgeous as San Diego. So many shops and beaches - plus great ethnic food too.

3. Yosemite - If crowded beaches are not your thing, why not take a drive up to the gorgeous mountains of Yosemite National Park? Rent a log cabin for the weekend and take in the serene waterfalls or go hiking along the many trails.

Being the spontaneous person that I am, I actually dread all the planning involved in taking a trip…Well, unless it’s a trip to a dreamy place that l have never been to before - like Paris or Italy, for instance. My next trip is next week and I’m heading to L.A. for a beauty blog summit. This kind of trip would be exciting for people who aren’t from California, however, for me, it’s just another trip. Nevertheless, I look forward to just getting out and meeting new people.

I already have the train ticket, but the challenge for me today was to find a motel/hotel in the $50 range. I don’t believe in paying more for a place that I’m not going to spend any time in except to sleep at night! Just when I was about to give up, I came across the LAX Westfield Inn which offers a $50 rate with no increase on Friday or Saturday nights. Sweet!

My trip is next Thursday, so stay tuned next week as I will be posting a review of the property!

San Diego is a gorgeous city that attracts thousands of tourists a year. People come for the weather, to hang out at the beach, or visit one of the many attractions that make San Diego “America’s Finest City”. Here are a few tips to help you when visiting this city…

• When traveling on public transportation, make sure to carry exact change at all times. Bus drivers don’t give change. However, the exception is if you’re traveling on the trolley (San Diego’s version of the metro train). The trolley stations have these red machines that dispense tickets and give change. You can also purchase day passes at these machines if you plan on using public transportation often. The tickets purchased at the trolley stations can be used on the buses as well.

• If you’re only planning a short weekend getaway, the best area to stay in is downtown San Diego because you’ll be close to many areas of interest. Downtown San Diego is home to the famous Gaslamp Quarter which houses numerous restaurants and boutiques that cater to tourists and the growing population of residents. Then there’s Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo which are a hop, skip, and a jump away from the heart of downtown. Downtown is also just a short 15 minute drive to Mission Beach which is the most popular tourist beach in San Diego.

• If you decide to rent a car to get around San Diego, make sure to bring a credit card with you if rent from any of the car rental companies in the downtown area. The only time they will accept debit cards is if you have a round trip airline ticket. The reason for this is because San Diego is so close to Mexico and there have been many incidents where people take cars over the border and never come back.

Have you ever visited San Diego? Have a tip to share? Leave a comment!