Sensible Stylista: travel
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

Vacationing on the Harmony of the Seas: The Largest Cruise Ship in the World

Alright everyone, today's post is all about my latest trip to the Caribbean.  For 7 days, I was straight chillin' on the Harmony of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world.  At 66 metres, it's the widest cruise ship ever built, while the length's 362 metres - 50 metres longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower (!!!!) The ship houses up to 8,500 passengers and crew with ridonkulous features all throughout.
Let's start with the vessel itself.  It has 16 decks with onboard attractions like a 10-story slide (otherwise known as "The Ultimate Abyss"), a rock climbing wall, a freaking PARK (with over 12k+ plants), a rope slide, mini-golf, merry-go-round, surf simulator, casino, 1,200-seat hall, and bionic bar (with two robot bartenders)...and that's only the tip of the iceberg.  
The entertainment there was legit all day every day.  I reserved seats wayyyy in advance for their night-time performances because I wanted to make sure I was able to get in.  Thankfully, I got to see everything!  I attended a kickass comedy show, a production of Grease, Columbus (their own musical), a figure skating show, a cool aqua show (think Cirque de Soleil on water) and a headliner concert featuring Savannah Jack.  

On top of all that, they had singers and musical groups of all genres playing at different times all throughout the ship.  So much talent - seriously.  I had not-so-high expectations going in because, well, it was a cruise ship, but Royal Caribbean wasn't effing around.  I was completely and utterly blown away in the best way possible.
Now onto the food.  Oh. My. God.  Everything was so ridiculously nomtastic.  You could pay extra $$$ to dine at specialty joints, but why do that when complimentary options are bomb AF? Their main dining room had different dishes, apps, and desserts available each night, and Windjammer (their international buffet) always had amazingly yum options, like hundreds of options.  

I swear to god, I had some of the best Indian food I've EVER had on that ship - oh how I miss their lamb biryani. Anywho, in addition to the aforementioned restaurants, they had a free pizza joint, a hot dog joint (with gourmet sausages), room service 24/7, a SECOND buffet called Solarium featuring Meditteranian noms and a classy sandwich + dessert cafe.
Sorrento's aka free pizza joint where you could get a bajillion slices with toppings of your choice.
A nom Italian sausage with sautéed peppers on a fresh asiago bun.
Fresh pappardelle with peas and truffles for dinner at the Main Dining Room.
 One of my fave desserts from the week - a hazelnut cake with hot fudge, nuts, and vanilla ice cream.
 My dinner from the Solarium one night!  Steak with pesto and fries.
 Another dinner from Silk (the main dining room):  BBQ ribs with a baked potato and creamed corn.
Service was impeccable everywhere.  I had a suite with a private balcony (which was all sorts of awesomesauce) and an incredible attendant who cleaned my space twice a day and made sure I was comfortable.  AND (this is going to sound super nerdy but whatever) HE MADE ME TOWEL ANIMALS EVERY NIGHT!  I, of course, asked him how many he could make and was floored when he told me 20+.
During my trip, we visited 3 ports in Haiti, Jamaica, and Mexico.  I got to lounge around on gorgeous beaches and hit up cool artisanal shops.  I actually didn't end up buying much, but I left Cozumel with a bottle of delish kiwi tequila and two handcrafted wooden turtle magnets that are super cute.  
Handcrafted jewelry - so many vibrant pieces available for sale in Jamaica.
A Jamaican local working on another wood piece for his shop.
All the different tequilas available for sale in the store I hit up in Cozumel, Mexico.
An adorable friend I made while hiking in Haiti.
Soooo, there you go guys!  I hope you enjoyed reading all about my trip.  I'm traveling a bunch in April so make sure you guys follow along via instastories.  I always recap my adventures on Sensible Stylista, but I share a bunch of BTS shots + vids on instagram so stay tuned.
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Checking Out the Baltimore Aquarium

I can't even begin to tell you guys how much I loved exploring the National Aquarium!  It's hands down one of the most amazing places I've ever visited.  With close to 20,000 animals (including birds, frogs, sharks, and dolphins), you'll spend a good three hours just walking around.  
The building itself was super impressive - I was definitely a huge fan of their architecture.  I loved that they had a big area with "open water," and I may or may not have spent a good 20 minutes or so watching a giant 3-finned sea turtle swim around.
...this wasn't him, but isn't he ridiculously cute?
I totally found Nemo here, but he was swam away before I could get a good shot of him.  You can kind of see him at the bottom though!
The aquarium had SO many amazing exhibits, but my favorites were Blacktip Reef, Shark Alley, Upland Tropical Rainforest, and Jellies Invasion.  You can read all about them here if you'd like! They also live stream videos of their inhabitants so you can get a sneak peek from home if that tickles your fancy.
Here's a shot of the adorable jellies I got to touch!  For those of you interested, you can "pet" different animals here (ie. stingrays, crabs, and the like).
Fossilized creatures!
A golden lion tamarin (my new bestie) from the tropical rainforest exhibit!
I didn't get to check out the 4-D films this time around, but I hope to do so next time!  They're apparently 3-D films brought to life with multi-sensory effects like leg ticklers, scents, enhanced lighting + seat vibrations. They're currently playing Happy Feet and Coastal Predators.  

If you're looking to have a fun day with the fam or a date, head on over to the aquarium.  There's SO much to do, and you'll enjoy it regardless of your age/gender.  Tickets are $39.95, and they're open 10-4 Mondays through Thursdays, 10-8 on Fridays, and 10-5 on weekends.  For the best possible experience, visit before 11 or after 3 to avoid the rush.  
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Exploring Baltimore's American Visionary Art Museum

Pumped to tell you guys all about my latest adventure in B-more with Flow Zen.  Robby and I checked out the American Visionary Art Museum last week, and we're so glad we did!  It was a blast, and I was beyond impressed with the artwork and installations!  It was seriously one of the coolest museums I had ever been to.  Now, I hate copy and pasting, but I NEED to share this blurb with you guys - jacked from their site:

"The AVAM seeks to build upon the ancient Native American Vision Quest, and other similar self-revelatory journeys undertaken by visionaries in different times, cultures, and places.  We seek to draw attention to America's history as a mecca for forward-looking innovators, optimists, dreamers and doers - highlighting the sense that America is at her best when she actively remembers that many of her greatest citizens were very much self-taught, self-made pioneers."  Don't you just LOVE that?
Anywho, we started our adventure with a fab lunch at Encantada.  Located on the third floor of AVAM, this restaurant was truly exceptional.  Not only were their flavors out of this world, they were presented beautifully as well.  These culinary masterpieces were almost too pretty to eat! Click to see my recap in its entirety here.
After noms, Robby and I spent a good 2-3 hours exploring.  There was just SO much to see!  We started with the main building because we were already there - it housed three killer exhibits: YUMMM! The History, Fantasy, and Future of Food, Matt Sesow: Shock and Awe, and their updated permanent collection located on the 1st + 2nd floors.  I won't spoil anything for you guys, BUT I do want to share my favorite captures from the day.
Then, we walked over to the Jim Rouse Visionary Center and checked out pieces there! 
Anddd I couldn't resist sharing a snap of their shop, Sideshow!  Hands down, one of the COOLEST museum stores I've ever been to.  I seriously wanted to buy everything there - it all felt like such a throwback, and I mean that in the best way possible.  Original art, cool books, baller jewelry and accessories, you name it!  They have everything your heart could possibly desire, and the vibe reflects the spirit of the museum beautifully.
If you haven't checked out AVAM yet, you're really missing out.  Do yourself a solid and head on over stat for a fun day with friends or a SO.  They're open from 10-6 PM Tuesdays through Sundays and tickets are $15.95 per person.  If you're a student, remember to bring your ID to get a discount! Have any of you guys visited AVAM? If yes, what did you think? 
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My Naples Travel Diary: Part Deux

Alright guys, it's time for part 2 of my Naples, FL travel diary!  I know this is kind of belated, but I wanted to post other content first soooo that's why I'm sharing this late. Anywho, if you missed part 1, no worries - simply click here.  Now, without further ado, let's tackle days 3 & 4.

Day 3

I spent the entire morning + afternoon at the Waterside Shops with my mom.  This place is like the Rodeo Drive of Naples, FL.  It's an outdoor mall with designer stores that'll tickle every fashionista's fancy.  I spent the majority of my time at Saks Fifth sifting through their sales racks.  The Saks in PGH closed a few years back so I was indulging hardcore.  They had ALL of my favorite brands, and I ended up purchasing two fabulous pieces from Alexis:  a stunning B&W dress and a fancy lace top.  I can't wait to feature them both on here!

After our shopathon, we went to the fitness center to got our sweat on before heading to dinner at HobNob. Man, I can't even begin to tell you guys how awesome their food was.  Naples equals foodie heaven for sure!  We started with the most amazing seafood app.  OH, and I almost forgot to talk about the bread.  The waiter brought out a basket of house made cornbread, and I'm convinced it was blessed by Dumbledore's wand or something.  Oh my GOD, it was seriously magical.  I'd go back just to eat that!  And the honey butter that came with it? Um, yes x 100000.  What an amazing flavor combo!

Ok, I'm done.  I've gushed about the bread enough so it's time to move on to the appetizer.  We decided to split the octopus + white beans dish because our fabulous waiter recommended it.  We also got a cup of the crab & roasted corn chowder.  Both starters were absolutely phenomenal.  I was worried that the octopus would be tough, but it was the most tender octopus I've ever had.  The soup's flavor profile was also spot on.  It was just the right amount of rich and creamy.
For my entree, I went with the two way duck - it came with corn bread stuffing, watercress, and peaches.  The leg melted in my mouth, but the breast was a bit tough for my taste.  I really enjoyed all the different flavors though! It was definitely an enjoyable meal from start to finish.  My dad ordered the sea bass pictured above.  It was drizzled with coconut pesto, garnished with butternut squash, and came with a side of jasmine rice.  I didn't get to sample his dish, but he said it was quite tasty!  I think he preferred the USS Nemo preparation of it overall though. My mom got the crispy grouper, and it came with fries and coleslaw.  I didn't get to try hers either, but she said it was cooked to perfection.   
My parents and I were totally stuffed, but we wanted to try their dessert menu so we ordered a slice of carrot cake. It came with walnut brittle and house made vanilla ice cream.  I don't know what it was, but the ice cream tasted really unique, in a good way, of course!  I kind of wanted to order another bowl of it, but I refrained since I inhaled WAY too much food already.  Anwyho, I really can't recommend this place enough!  If you're in the area, make sure you check HobNob out.  Your tastebuds will seriously thank you.
Day 4

Since it was my last day in Naples, I decided to spend the day frolicking on the beach!  I ate breakfast & lunch at Baleen and then hit up Bistro 821 for dinner with my parents.  The evening started off well - we ordered two delicious appetizers:  Mussels (sautéed with root veggies and spinach in a lemon sake sauce) and a Chile Relleño (stuffed with garlic shrimp, spiced beef, and mozzarella cheese in a roasted tomato-chipotle sauce).  I absolutely loved the mussel's broth, and the chile was super flavorful.  The bread here was delish, too.  It was warm because it came straight out of the oven, and the accompanying oil dip was nomtastic.  
Entrees, however, were just ok.  I ordered duck, and it came with a roasted breast and a braised leg in a honey mustard glaze.  Sides were included as well:  mashed taters & grilled asparagus.  The duck here was actually way more tender than the meat I had at HobNob, but the flavor there was superior (for my taste at least).  
My dad got the snapper, and he thought it was way too sweet.  His fish was encrusted with coconut, lemongrass and ginger and came with jasmine rice and stir-fry veggies topped with a sweet and spicy thai chili sauce + crushed peanuts (pictured below).  I think he would've enjoyed it much more if the sauce came on the side!  My mom decided to try their sea bass because it was their no. 1 best seller.  It came glazed in a miso-sake marinade and was topped off with a lemon beurre blanc sauce.  Like my dish, it came with mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. She actually really enjoyed the dish so I recommend trying it out if you decide to come here!
We finished our meal with a cup of creme brulee.  This was probably the weakest part of the meal because it tasted kind of burnt!  I do have to give this joint props for its service though - our waiter was a total boss!  He was very attentive and helpful.  

So that's it, guys!  That pretty much wraps up my Naples trip - lots of shopping, food adventures, and beach time. Have you traveled anywhere recently? If yes, let me know where in the comment section below.  I'm always looking to check out cool new places so I'd appreciate the recommendation.
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Traveling to Naples, FL: Part 1

Alright guys, if you've been following me on instastories, snapchat or twitter, you know that I was recently vacationing in Naples.  I go to Florida every winter to escape the cold for a few days.  I usually go to Orlando, but I decided to go somewhere different this time around.  I went a few years back, but I didn't really get to explore much so I thought I'd give it another go.  It's not the most EXCITING place per se, but it's perfect for those of you looking to get some serious R&R, which I personally am all about.  I took a TON of pictures while I was there, and I'm really excited to share them all with you so let's get to it!

DAY 1

I got into Naples at around 10:30AM - I flew in early because I wanted to take full advantage of the entire day!  My family and I started by grabbing brunch at Goldies Restaurant.  I, of course, used yelp to find them.  They had REALLY good reviews so I was excited, but unfortunately, meal no. 1 was kind of a let down.  It took them forever to take our order, and when food came, it was just ok.  

I got The Club House, a triple-decker sandwich with turkey, bacon, lettuce, and tomato, with house-made coleslaw and sweet potato fries.  My mom ordered their Cobb Salad, garden-fresh greens served with chopped turkey, bacon, eggs, tomato, onions and crumbled bleu cheese, so I got to try a bit of that, too.  The highlight of the meal was definitely the coleslaw though.  I probably wouldn't go back, but I'm glad I got to try their food anyway.  I mean, that's how you discover local gems after all!
Our check-in time wasn't until 3 so we decided to explore the Naples Botanical Garden.  Tickets were $14.95 each, and they had a really cool origami exhibit going on in addition to their normal garden so it was well worth the money.  The weather was absolutely beautiful, too, so we went at the perfect time.  For those of you interested, the exhibit will be up until April 23rd so go if you have the chance!
I took pictures of my favorite pieces!  These fabulous works were created by artist Kevin Box, and the exhibition included large-scale installations, gallery works, his own compositions as well as collaborative pieces with his wife Jennifer and world-renowned origami artists Robert J. Lang, Te Jui Gu, and Michael G. LaFosse.
The garden itself had several different themes:  the Orchid Garden, Lea Asian Garden, Kapnick Brazilian Garden, Kapnick Caribbean Garden, Scott Florida Garden, and The Preserve.  In addition to the aforementioned ones, there was also a really cute children's garden with a beautiful butterfly house and water fountains.
Afterwards, we drove to LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort and checked in.  I was super tired so I quickly changed into my bikini and headed to the beach to get my nap on in style.  I literally felt like I was on my own private island, which was a nice change from Orlando.  It wasn't crowded at all so it was super relaxing!  I spent the next few hours drifting off to the sounds of the ocean.  

I woke up kind of late, and we had a dinner reservation at USS Nemo at 7 so I was rushing to get ready.  I threw on an LBD and sprinted down to the valet.  There was a HUGE wait at the restaurant so I was glad we made it on time. Now, onto the unbelievably amazing food.  We started our meal with their sauteed calamari, and it was straight up ridiculous.  It was served grilled in a tomato sauce with parmesan cheese, and it was quite possibly the BEST calamari I've ever had...in my entire life. It took a while for them to cook it because it was obviously made to order, but it was SO worth the wait. Plus, we munched on complimentary bread + a trio of yum apps (marinated cabbage, hummus, and seaweed salad) so it was fine.
For my entree, I ordered the Seared Fresh U-8 Jumbo Scallops.  It came with oyster mushrooms, roasted beets, grilled nasu eggplant, and crispy cheese polenta in a savory tomato lacquer.  The presentation was impeccable, and the flavor was absolutely amazing.  Like the app, everything was cooked to perfection, and the price was pretty reasonable, too.  $28.95? Not bad at all!  
My dad ordered their number 1 bestseller, the miso broiled sea bass, as his entree.  The fish was marinated in a citrus-ginger butter sauce, and it came with steamed rice, asparagus, and carrot tempura.  He had the option of upgrading to a risotto, but he decided to stick with good ol'-fashioned rice.  I didn't get to try this because I haven't been eating fish lately, but apparently, it was the best fish dish he'd ever tasted.  Coming from my dad, that means A LOT because he can be pretty picky about eating out.
My mom ended up ordering a vegetarian entree.  She got the Miso Glazed Tofu.  It came with asian veggie stir-fry (bok choy, edamame, mushrooms, green beans, and cashews) and apple steamed rice in a spicy but fruity ginger-soy sauce.  I tried a bit and wasn't really a fan - we both thought it was way too sweet. It would've been fine if the rice came on the side, but it was drenched in sauce so this was a no-go.
We were pretty stuffed but ordered dessert anyways because it was made in-house, and how could I possibly resist that? Ha.  We got the "73% cocoa" Chocolate Decadence, a flourless cake with white chocolate ganache and pistachio brittle, and split it between the three of us!  Each and every bite was heavenly.  If you like rich, chocolatey desserts, this is an absolute must-try.  I'm seriously drooling just thinking about it! 

Day 2
I started my day bright and early at the gym with my parents!  LaPlaya's resort is super nice overall, but their fitness facility definitely needs work.  There were only two elliptical machines available, and they were both in use, so I decided to run a few miles on the treadmill instead.  I ended up tackling 5, which is the most distance I've ever covered (!!!!) 

Afterwards, we grabbed breakfast at the hotel's restaurant, Baleen.  I wanted something healthy since I splurged the night before so I ordered a fruit cup and a spinach egg white omelet (made with turkey sausage, green onions, and avocado) with dry whole wheat toast.  The dish also came with potatoes, but I didn't eat 'em because they looked fried.
We decided to lounge by the pool for a few hours before checking out the Miromar outlet mall.  We ordered lunch poolside and enjoyed the breeze while eating our healthy turkey wraps before taking off.  If you're looking to score bargain buys in FL, you need to head on over to this mall.  It has over 140 stores and was voted the best factory outlet mall in southwest Florida.  I didn't actually end up buying anything here, but it was fun window shopping. 

When we got back to the hotel, it was time for dinner so we got ready quickly and drove to Campiello.  It was awarded "Best Restaurant" in Naples so I was really excited - I had been craving good Italian food so I was beyond pumped.  You know me! Pasta, especially homemade pasta, is always a do in my book.  Everything about the restaurant was so beautiful.  The atmosphere was amazing, and the interior was classy and elegant.  They did a great job with the decor! Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the ambiance.

Our meal was off to a great start!  We were seated promptly and greeted soon after by our wonderful waitress. She served us fresh italian bread with high-quality olive oil (which we loved), but things started going south with apps.  We ordered Spicy Fried Calamari ($16) and Bruschetta ($10) to start. The former came with a lemon parsley aioli, and its flavor was really good, but the batter was too thick.  The bruschetta was kind of a mess.  The marinade was tasty, but the bread underneath was burnt and super soggy.

We had high hopes for our entrees though.  We ordered three different pasta dishes, and I, being the foodie that I am, sampled all of them.  I ordered the tagliatelle with spicy lamb sausage ($24), my mom got the pappardelle with braised veal, tomato and oregano ($26), and my dad went with their spaghetti alla chitarra with marinara and campiello meatballs ($24).  

The pasta itself was REALLY something.  I loved the texture of the noodles; they were cooked to perfection - al dente, just the way it should be - but the sauces were bland.  All in all, it was an ok meal!  I'd go back to try their entrees (maybe those taste better), but I wouldn't get pasta again.  We ended dinner with dessert, which was a good call because it was probably the highlight of the meal. Their dark chocolate tiramisu tart was unique and delicious!  
Alright guys, that's it for today's recap!  Have any of you vacationed in Naples, FL before?  Comment below with a city you'd absolutely LOVE to visit!
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