What to Do: 30A

Hey Guys! So, we often get asked where our favorite place to travel to is. Well, that's a really tough choice, so we tend to go with where we vacation most often- 30A! We decided to put together a little travel guide for one of our favorite places, we hope you enjoy!

EAT:

1. the meltdown on 30A [seaside]

The meltdown has the most amazing grilled cheeses of anywhere. ever. They are so delicious, we usually end up eating two each. It is in Seaside, and it tends to get crowded around lunch, so we suggest going for a late lunch or early dinner!

2. the sugar shack [rosemary]

The Sugar Shack has every candy you can imagine + fudge and ice cream, so pretty much heaven on Earth. Stopping by the Sugar Shack is perfect for an afternoon snack after hitting the beach. We tend to go everyday (sometimes twice) when we are staying in rosemary.

3. the red bar [grayton]

The Red Bar has the best seafood, an awesome atmosphere, and great service. Not only are the seafood dishes good, they have the best chicken tenders! We usually check out their website before we plan when to go because sometimes they have bands that play, so it's a really fun experience. 

BEACH:

1. seacrest

We love staying in Seacrest because it is in the perfect location and it's not to crowded. 30A is a popular spot, and Seacrest is one of the less crowded beaches, so it makes for a great vacation. Also, it is only about a 10 minute bike ride away from Rosemary Beach, which has great shopping and restaurants. 

2. watercolor

Another great, quiet, non-crowded beach in a good location. Watercolor is so pretty and the beaches are pretty mellow. It is just a bike ride away from Seaside, where there are lots of gift and toy shops. It tends to be a bit more pricey, but it is worth it.

3. blue mountain

Blue Mountain is another awesome beach because the water is gorgeous and it tends to be less crowded, like Seacrest and Watercolor. There is also good shopping and food in Blue Mountain. If you stay there, we highly suggest Blue Mountain Creamery if you are craving house made ice cream!!

STAY:

1. magnolia cottages by the sea

We love to stay at Magnolia because the houses are so spacious and affordable, and it is a quick walk from the beach. There are different options for how large the house you stay in is, so it is great for anybody! There is also a pool, so that's a bonus.

2. check vrbo and airbnb for houses!

Whenever we don't stay at magnolia, we check these websites because they tend to have awesome deals on great houses in perfect locations. You can choose different options of places to stay and there are so many choices!

DO:

1. shipwreck island

Shipwreck Island is one of our favorite places to visit when we hit 30A! It is never to crowded and the water slides are epic! There is so much to do from giant slides to splash areas for little kids. We tend to spend the whole day here, so the cost really is worth it.

2. shop

We love to shop at the beach and there are so many great stores! Here is a list of a few favorites for a few beaches:

seaside: duckies, seaside shop, ono surf shop, frost bites, sundog books

rosemary beach: bombora, gigi's, willow, the hidden lantern, rosemary beach trading co

alys/ seacrest/ seagrove: golden seashell, 30Avenue, fonville press, george's

3. go to the beach

Well, your at the beach, soooo, go to the beach! The sand in 30A is gorgeous and the water feels so good, so it is like, the best place to be! All of the beaches on 30A are great, so we definitely suggest checking out more than one!

Well, that's all for now! Hope you guys enjoyed this new series we are starting, so comment down below where we should give an itinerary for next. Check back soon!

-g&aw

National Park Series: The Grand Canyon

Exciting News!!! We are starting a new series where we are showing our visits to National Parks, eventually reach all 59! So we decided to kick things off with the Grand Canyon:

We visited the Grand Canyon during our spring break trip around the west. We visited in March, so it was pretty cold in the mornings. We arrived on a Wednesday night and stayed all day Thursday and in the morning on Friday.

On Thursday, we headed off in the morning to the South Rim. We started off at the lookout, then we went for a hike down to ooh aah point. We later explored the visitor center, even attending a few nature and critter talks.

On Friday, we did the Bright Angel hike. It was so amazing because we got to watch the sunrise and the views were beautiful.

Any way to see the Grand Canyon is great because the views are great everywhere. We hope to go back soon to visit again and explore more trails, maybe even doing the donkey hike!
                                                                        -g&aw

Alaska: The Last Frontier

View from the plane over Alaska's mountains

Ketchikan was the first stop on the cruise

Skagway's population is a little over 700 people, but is home to one of the longest zip lines 

Juneau is the capital of Alaska

The Mendenhall Glacier is located in Juneau right next to Nugget Falls

In Seward we took a train up a mountain 

View from our room on the boat

We viewed Alaska by way of boat. Alaska is a great place to visit if you love nature and cold weather. Everywhere we went there was so much to do and see! We went kayaking, zip lining, up the mountain on a train, hiking, and explored the beautiful sights of Alaska. This place is totally sick and I would recommend it to anyone who loves to explore and go on amazing adventures. Helpful Hint: look out for moose or bears crossing the street or on the sidewalk because in Alaska they are everywhere!!

                           -g&aw 

Tips and Tricks: Getting Through the Airport

Getting through the airport can be a struggle. Sometimes it can be the hardest part of travelling. These 5 tips should help you get through the airport quickly and easily.

1. Use as few bags as possible
This one is pretty obvious. The fewer bags you bring, the easier it is to get through security. It is easiest to bring a carry-on as your bag. To provide more space, use your backpack's extra room to store socks and makeup/hygiene items. For more ways to pack lighter, be on the lookout for our Tips and Tricks: Packing.

2. Wear a large scarf
Not only will a scarf look fashionable, it provides comfort. Planes are always freezing, and blankets are pretty bulky to bring. A large scarf can double as a blanket for a chilly flight, or you can roll it up and use it as a pillow!

3. Put all your electronics in one pocket
To speed up time at security, put all electronics in one pocket, so when you have to remove them to put in the bucket, they are all in one place. This will save time usually spent digging through your backpack for your phone or tablet. This will also make loading your backpack again easier.

4. Pack all liquids on top
Even if you think all your liquids are small enough, do not bury them in your clothes or put them at the bottom! Make sure they are all in plastic bags and towards the top. This makes it easy if you have to get your bag looked through, and it makes it easy to know where your liquid make up or face wash items are if you need them immediately after arriving at your hotel.

5. Screenshot your boarding pass
Are you ever sitting at the gate, about to board the plane and worry that you lost your boarding pass? This has happened to us multiple times, so we always keep a screenshot on our phone. Always have your boarding pass printed out too, so that you have backup if you lose either.

Enjoy your vacation and be glad you made it through the airport! Until the ride home...

                                                                                                                                       -g&aw

California Dreamin'

California from the plane

Views from the pier

Surfers waiting for a set

Preparations for the US Open

Heading Home

A little while ago, we went to Huntington Beach to visit some friends, and it was so awesome! The vibe of HB is so cool, and we loved hanging around. There are surf shops and cool places to eat everywhere. If you want to hang around the pier, grab a bite from Ruby's or eat at Duke's. Surf lessons are super fun and a great way to spend time on the beach. If you would rather hang out in town, stop in Jack's Surfboards and Huntington Surf and Shop and eat at Fred's. We had so much fun shopping, surfing, eating, and hanging out with our friends. We cannot wait to get back to Huntington Beach, it is totally epic!

                                                                                                                                                 -g&aw