Travel To Go | All posts by valerie-chen

Been There, Do This: Preservation Hall in New Orleans

March 14, 2018 | By: Valerie Chen

Don’t let the barren, silent-looking room pictured above fool you — New Orleans’ Preservation Hall is anything but.

Been There, Do This: B Cellars in Napa, California

January 31, 2018 | By: Valerie Chen

There are ample opportunities to try wine in Napa, Calif., but for an extraordinary tasting that combines two of life’s greatest pleasures — sipping and supping — epicures should head to B Cellars.

Been There, Do This: Lunetta and Lunetta All Day in Santa Monica, California

December 20, 2017 | By: Valerie Chen

I lived in Santa Monica, Calif., for about a year in 2016. Had Lunetta and Lunetta All Day been around then, perhaps I would’ve stayed — and become a regular at this powerhouse duo of restaurants.

Been There, Do This: Gott's Roadside in St. Helena and Napa, California

September 27, 2017 | By: Valerie Chen

As my friend and I headed toward Wine Country Inn & Cottages, our hotel for the night in St. Helena, Calif., we passed by a throng of folks flocking a low, red-and-white, ’50s-style building. We were in a rush at the time, and though the fleeting scene had piqued our interest, we drove on.

Been There, Do This: Two Birds/One Stone in St. Helena, California

July 26, 2017 | By: Valerie Chen

I first learned of Two Birds/One Stone when perusing The New York Times’ “52 Places to Go in 2017,” which listed Napa Valley, Calif., as No. 31 and gave a shout-out to the yakitori-inspired restaurant. In that moment, I immediately thought to myself: I need to go there.

Been There, Do This: Idyllwild, California

June 28, 2017 | By: Valerie Chen

Having lived in Southern California all my life and having managed to find many excuses (birthdays, weekend getaways, ladies’ trips and the like) to visit Palm Springs, I can practically navigate the short road trip out to the desert oasis blindfolded.

Been There, Do This: Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon in Iceland

May 17, 2017 | By: Valerie Chen

It didn’t seem real. I remember rubbing my eyes, blinking furiously at first, then slowly. And I remember taking a deep, icy breath, letting the sharp chill swoosh through my lungs before exhaling a foggy steam into the frigid air.

Been There, Do This: Gustapizza in Florence

April 5, 2017 | By: Valerie Chen

Like with gelato, claiming that the best pizza in Florence can be found within your doors is a bold statement. But there’s no denying that the ooey-gooey deliciousness of Gustapizza draws many patrons — regulars and first-timers alike — who rave that the beloved local joint has earned such an impressive title.

Been There, Do This: Fridheimar Farm in Southern Iceland

March 1, 2017 | By: Valerie Chen

Bellies rumbling, we turned off the frosty road in search of something that could warm us from the inside out. The next stop on the roughly 190-mile Golden Circle — southern Iceland’s famed tourist route that includes Thingvellir National Park, Strokkur geyser, Gulfoss waterfall and Geysir hot springs — would have to wait.

Been There, Do This: Blue Temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand

January 25, 2017 | By: Valerie Chen

As a deeply spiritual nation, Thailand has no shortage of Buddhist temples. During my weeklong trip in the country, each temple proved more extravagant in design than the next. But the eye-catching beauty of these temples doesn’t come at the cost of humility.

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