Alli Talley

March 7, 2016

5 Reasons to Book a Cruise Today

Alli Talley

March 7, 2016

We could tell you 500 reasons why you should book a cruise today. But we know it’ll only take minor convincing (if that!) for you to plan a trip. So, in order to give you enough time to book your cruise when you’ve finished this blog, we’ve narrowed down our very extensive list to 5.

WATER

We’re convinced that there is nothing better than being out on the water. It’s invigorating, peaceful, and calming all at the same time. One of our favorite parts of any cruise we go on is watching the sun set over the deep blue sea with a cocktail in hand. At that moment we don’t have a care in the world… Except for possibly grabbing a slice of pizza before dinner.

RELAXATION

In our book, embarking on a Carnival cruise is the epitome of relaxation. Stress and obligations go out the window from the moment you step onto the ship. It’s a go-at-your-own-pace, do-what-you-want-when-you-want kind of a trip. Mid morning brunch? Sure. Drinks on the Lido deck? Why not. Afternoon bingo followed by a dip in the pool? Yes please! We love the freedom of going at our own pace when we’re on a cruise. While there are certainly no limits when it comes to daily activities, there is also no shame in taking a nap. Or three.

FOOD

Our mouths are already beginning to water as we anticipate our next cruise. The food is THAT good. Even after seven days at sea we leave bummed that we didn’t get to try a certain dish because the options are literally endless. The Carnival team does an impeccable job serving up fresh, tasty, and exotic dishes day after day. It seems as though every night we’re trying something new - whether it’s escargot or a fish that’s unique to the region that we’re in! But our favorite and nightly staple has always been, and will always be, the chocolate molten lava cake. It’s what dreams are made of.

ENTERTAINMENT

We LOVE being entertained. From comedy that makes us belly laugh to a musician that makes us cry, we gladly welcome it all. And if there’s one thing that Carnival’s staff excels in, it’s making sure their guests are entertained! Some of our favorite cruising memories consist of late night karaoke, singing to our favorite tunes in the piano bar, and dancing under the stars to a live band.

SERVICE

The Carnival crew goes above and beyond to ensure that every guest is cared for to the best of their ability. From delivering 24 hour room service to leaving chocolates on your pillow… And how can we forget the towel animals! Their attention to detail is impeccable, and the crew’s smiles are contagious. We’ve loved getting to know our cabin stewards, dining room servers, and even the friendly on-board Cruise Director!

There you have it, five reasons to book a cruise today. If you need any more convincing, give us a call! We’ll gladly give you the other 495. Bon Voyage!

This post was created for Away We Go with Carnival, the destination for getting in the getaway state of mind. Head on over.

Alli Talley

February 26, 2016

USA, Nevada

Cirque du Soleil's Mystère at Treasure Island

Alli Talley

February 26, 2016

USA, Nevada

When it comes to entertainment, Las Vegas can be overwhelming. It’s kind of like picking a dinner restaurant in New York City - the possibilities seem to be endless, and everything looks good! Even as we were approaching the strip, we passed billboard after billboard showcasing magic shows, iconic concerts, theatrical productions, celebrity impersonators, comedians… How does one begin to choose?!

We’re so glad you asked. That’s what we’re here for. ;)

Mystère has been one of Las Vegas’ most popular Cirque du Soleil productions for over 20 years. You know that if anything has lasted in Vegas for THAT long it must be good.

(If you aren’t familiar with Cirque du Soleil, here’s a little backstory. They’re currently the largest theatrical producer in the WORLD. Over 90 million people have seen a Cirque du Soleil production. Each one is contemporary, unique, and features a synthesis of acrobatics and cultural themes from around the world.)

Located inside Treasure Island, Mystère is an enchanting circus-style show, with gorgeous sets, intriguing music, and stunts that will knock your socks off. It’s also incredibly funny, and had us laughing to the point of tears several times!

Make sure you get to the show early. One of our favorite elements of Mystère is the audience interaction - even before the show begins! And while there isn’t a bad seat in the house, we enjoyed being somewhat close to the stage. But be warned: you may involuntarily become a part of the show!

And while we could go on for days about the acrobatics, the humor, the live music, the jaw-dropping sets… we won’t. We want you to be as surprised and blown away as we were. So trust us when we say go to Mystère! You won’t regret it.

Alli Talley

February 4, 2016

USA, Hawaii, Photography

Capturing Maui with Fuji's X-T1 and 10-24 Lens

Alli Talley

February 4, 2016

USA, Hawaii, Photography

During a recent trip to Hawaii we were able to try out the Fujinon 10-24mm lens and Fuji X-T1. We want to take some time to reflect on these remarkable Fuji products, and show you some of our sweet shots too!

First, let's look at the Fujinon 10-24 lens. This small, sharp lens is an absolute dream for travel. It is amazing for hotel rooms and landscapes when it is zoomed out, and the tele end is good for a variety of other shots. While I haven’t quite become a photography guru, there are a few things that stood out to me that I really appreciate. First, with such a wide zoom, I expected a little distortion in the corners. The 10-24 surprises with extremely clean corners at 10mm. Check out some of these shots that look incredible!

I also like how you can control aperture with a built in auto switch on the lens. I know you can’t have everything right there on the lens for you, but I like that you don’t have to go digging through the menu to find the setting you want.

I thought I would have an issue with the aperture of this lens being limited to f4, but I found I was primarily using this for ultra-wide (and would switch to my Fuji 23 if needed). While the 10-24 isn’t super fast, it gives you some good low light controls to keep it valuable when you are without a tripod- which is often when you are traveling.

Overall, this lens is the most convenient that I have found for travel photography. It will definitely be the next lens I add to our kit. It is relatively compact (easy to pack) and it takes beautiful photos. Great job Fuji, may we keep it?

Next, the Fujifilm X-T1. When shopping for a camera, we were told this was the best mirrorless body out there. We opted for the X-E2 to save a little money, and because we didn’t think we would notice a difference. But we did. And we want one. (Are you seeing a trend?)

The Fuji X-T1 body looks pretty awesome at first glance. Compared to the X-E2, it has more controls, a more pronounced handgrip, and (like the X-E2) has amazing overall design.

While I was overwhelmed by all the dials at first, I quickly appreciated having more control on the body instead of looking through the screen menu (like the 10-24 lens). The dedicated shutter speed dial has a lock on it that keeps it in the automatic setting, but once taken off can rotate all around. I really value having the ISO dial on this camera, as I am prone to using Auto ISO on the X-E2 since it is more difficult to toggle with. My fear of all the dials turned to gratefulness, as every major function that I need to change mid-shoot is at my fingertips.

I didn’t realize how much I would love having the handgrip of the X-T1. The X-E2 has a minimal handgrip, but I figured since it is such a small camera it wouldn’t’ matter. I found that the X-T1 was much more comfortable, and the grip gave me peace of mind as I walked up and down the beach looking for the perfect photo.

The beautiful look of this camera is backed by a control scheme that is easy to navigate, and an image quality that is incredible. Combine it with any of the X-Series lenses (we want the 10-24) and you have a compact photo kit that is perfect to take with you on a journey to Hana, or to capture a breathtaking sunset from your Lanai! Aloha!

Alli Talley

October 15, 2015

USA, California, Weekenders

Quick Weekend Getaway: Historic Luxury at the U.S. Grant

Alli Talley

October 15, 2015

USA, California, Weekenders

This summer was full of jet-setting opportunities - from African safaris, to cocktails in Dubai, to hiking the Cinque Terre! While it's been a summer to remember, we're cooling down on our travel time and settling back into reality. That being said, we're all about the weekend getaways! Living in Orange County, the options are endless when it comes to pretty places to stay... This time around, we opted for a quick weekend trip down to San Diego. We wanted downtown luxury mixed with classic, San Diego charm. There's no better place to stay than the U.S. Grant Hotel!

If you are at all intrigued by hotels with history, this is the spot for you. Do yourself a favor and check out the U.S. Grant’s website and read about everything that has gone on there since they opened their doors in 1910. It was built by Ulysses S. Grant Jr. in honor of his father, the 18th President of the United States. We'll be the first to say that Ulysses S. Grant Jr did an AMAZING job - in more ways than one! The U.S. Grant was once famous for an incredible Palm Court above the massive grand lobby, which was literally an oasis of palm trees on the second floor - complete with a gorgeous view of the downtown. They have a Turtle Soup at the Grant Grill that is unbelievable… And don't let the word turtle scare you. It used to be turtle and now it’s mock-turtle, and is actually made with beef tongue! The hotel used to house a speakeasy during the prohibition era called the Plata Real Nightclub, where there was booze secretly brought into the hotel through underground steam pipes. Also, there was a sit-in at the Grant Grill in 1969 that carved the way for women’s rights in San Diego. We’re telling you… a lot has happened at this historic spot!

As for our stay… we arrived to find a elegant lobby with classic furniture and decor. There are beautiful chandeliers throughout the hotel, as well as numerous cozy nooks to sit, sip on a cocktail, and people watch. One detail we loved was that the U.S. Grant has their trademark “G” logo all over the hotel in really creative places. If and when you visit, make a little game out of it by walking around and seeing how many G’s you can find. Similar to looking for “Hidden Mickey’s” at Disneyland. (You know we love Disneyland!!)

Our room was AMAZING. We could really dedicate this whole blog to our room alone!. It had a big, cozy bed with the kind of bedding that makes you never want to leave. Ever. The headbord was a painted one-of-a-kind art piece by French artist, Yves Clement. It's touches like this that we have come to really appreciate… beautiful modern, abstract art fitting in wonderfully with an elegant, timeless bedroom.

We were excited to eat turtle soup at the Grant Grill and had also heard great things about their cocktail menu. It definitely did not disappoint. Our waiter, Brendan, started us off with a couple cocktails and a small loaf of bread, because that’s how all meals should begin right? Bobby had the most incredible Manhattan, while Alli had a tequila concoction that was torched with fire before she drank it. The turtle soup ended up being one of our favorite dishes - it was really tasty! And no turtles were harmed in the making of the soup!! We were stuffed with more amazing food including pork belly, halibut, and lamb loin (which is like the filet mignon of lamb). While our tummies were stuffed, we had to try some dessert. (Duh!!) Our server suggested we have the mango beignets with mint sauce, which ended up being a perfect light option!

We finished the night off with a short stroll of the Gaslamp and headed back to our room to enjoy a lovely air-conditioned night sleep (our home has been really hot with no AC - come on Southern California! Don't you know it's Fall?!). We slept in the next morning, and did not want to leave. The U.S. Grant was such a treat! It was a perfect weekend getaway and we cannot wait to go back!

Conveniently enough, today the U.S. Grant is celebrating their 105th anniversary!! Congratulations, U.S. Grant team!

Alli Talley

October 8, 2015

Europe, Denmark

The Best Breakfast in Copenhagen... And a Sweet Spot to Stay too!

Alli Talley

October 8, 2015

Europe, Denmark

We could dedicate our whole blog to Copenhagen. It's a design-crazed, up and coming foodie's paradise that's rich in history... and actually is rich in general! Deemed as both the "Happiest City in the World" and one of the wealthiest in Europe, it's definitely a spot you won't want to miss. And make sure you pinch your pennies along the way!

We recommend staying at the Axel Guldsmeden Hotel. The Axel is Green Globe and Gold-ø-certified (which is the Danish label for 90-100% organic produce), but it's also very green and organic - even beyond the food. Linens and towels are made from recycled materials, they have eco-friendly bath products, and they take recycling very seriously. It's amazing to see a hotel that has such a high standard when it comes to being eco-friendly, especially in Europe. But let's get back to our highlight at the Axel... the breakfast. Like everything else at Axel Guldsmeden, the complementary breakfast is completely organic... with so many options that you need at least two or three mornings to experience it all! There is an assortment of breads and croissants, eggs, amazingly crispy bacon (Bobby's in heaven), Danish hams and salamis, cheeses, fruit, nuts, yogurt, and cereal. We really cant do it justice. Let's just say that after 15 days in Italy and France, we honestly were not expecting such a fresh, healthy breakfast. Thank you Axel Guldsmeden, we can't wait to return!!

Also, after getting yourself to a Thanksgiving-esque fullness on breakfast, there are a variety of cozy places to relax and put your feet up at this hotel.

Or maybe you are in a food coma, so you should head up to your room. You'll be impressed with the decor and ultra-comfy bed here. Enjoy!

We really recommend that after you have this hearty breakfast, you take to the streets and start exploring Copenhagen. There is so much history, color, and culture to see in this incredible city!