When I travel, I like to let my foodie desires come out to play. I travel the world like a foodie. That means I enjoy trying unique cuisine, discovering local restaurants, and indulging in all the foodie experiences that make the destination shine. I like to eat the best of the best (in whatever form that is, not necessarily the most expensive) to get the best experience of the place. Here are ten tips to make the most of your travel eats and help you travel like a foodie.

1. Keep an open mind.

When traveling, you’ll encounter different traditions, cultures, and ingredients. Sometimes, they’re very different from what you are accustomed to, which can be uncomfortable. Understanding this, be ready to experience different flavors and unfamiliar-to-you ingredients. Try everything once. You can discover new favorite dishes and flavors and if anything, you can cross it off your bucket list!

2. Do your research on dishes.

This is especially helpful when visiting foreign countries. Learn what the traditional foods are, what ingredients are in them, and what they’re called. This will help you know what to expect and order off a menu, especially if a menu is in a different language. When my friends and I went to Spain, we knew we would be indulging in a variety of tapas, jamón, paella, and wine, and it helped to look out for what we knew at different restaurants. (Check out what we ate in Spain here.)

3. Do your research on restaurants.

Many food critics and foodies have done the work for you already! Thank you, Internet. Look up travel blog posts, Yelp, TripAdvisor, award lists, and news stories about a city. Rick Steves always has great restaurant recommendations in his guide books for Europe. I found this Eater list helpful for future trips. You can get recommendations from the Anthony Bourdain ‘Parts Unknown’ episode about the location. For the very popular restaurants, like anything on the world’s best restaurants list, be sure to make your reservation well ahead of time. If there are multiple restaurants you want to visit, make a loose schedule of your trip to make time for them.

4. Vary your options.

Fully explore your options, from high-end restaurants to street vendors, appetizers to desserts, and touristy restaurants to local hangouts. This gives you a scope of the cuisine. It might help to keep your restaurant list loose to have some spontaneity. Also, try new dishes at every place. It helps if your travel mates order different dishes and you all share them. When it comes to gelato in Europe, disregard this tip and eat it everywhere.

5. Ask the locals for recommendations.

Before your trip, you can find locals on TripAdvisor, Twitter, Instagram, and blogs. You should also ask locals while you’re exploring. We found our favorite restaurant in Tamarindo, Costa Rica because we asked our kayak tour guide where he loves to eat. If you don’t encounter any locals naturally, check with your hotel concierge before you go out to explore and he/she is sure to have recommendations.

6. Eat with a local.

One of my favorite meals in Barcelona and on my Spain trip wasn’t at a restaurant. It was with a wonderful family in their home. (Long story short, one of my travel mates knew someone in the family.) This experience allowed us to see the custom of jamón on the kitchen counter, taste a home-cooked and delicious meal, and learn more about Spain and its culture through conversation. An unforgettable experience! There are companies that help facilitate these experiences if you don’t already know a local. Research Traveling Spoon, EatWith, With Locals and ChefsFeed.

7. Take a food tour.

Food tours are great in foodie cities and a favorite activity of mine. They’ll take you to four or five different restaurants to try some bites while giving food and city history along the way. I’ve enjoyed food tours in Bangkok, Thailand; Cairo, Egypt; Mexico City; and Ubud, Indonesia. This tip also refers to tours at a brewery, winery, or culinary factory. I enjoyed Santorini Brewing Company in Greece and Platypus Wine Tours in Sonoma. You can also look up food tours specific to the location. For example, tour a coffee plantation in Costa Rica or a tequila distillery in Mexico. [Read more about why you should take a food tour here!]

8. Take a cooking class.

A way to experience the food in another place is through in-depth learning by doing. Get hands-on experience from knowledgeable instructors, taste dishes, and learn about the ingredients. This blog post has a lot of options for cooking classes around the world.

9. Go to a farmers’ market or grocery store.

Visit a farmers market or grocery store to get a free, exploratory experience. You’ll see the unique fresh produce and packaged items and even find cheaper souvenirs. What I like about doing this in the U.S. is seeing all the different kinds of craft beers the city/state produces. If you’re ever in San Francisco, their farmers market at the Ferry Building is definitely one you want to experience.

10. Bring back the memories.

Find food-related – perishable or not – souvenirs to bring your memories back with you. Chocolate bars, unique spices, a hand-made plate, and embroidered dishtowels are all great ideas.

I hope these tips can help you have a happy foodie trip! If you have any questions or additional recommendations, please comment below. Happy Eating!

P.S. Want to read more about travel eats?

• Why Take a Food Tour When You Travel
• Best Foodie Travel Destinations to Put On Your List
• I like visiting award-winning restaurants when I travel. Here are my experiences from Room 4 Dessert in Indonesia, Pujol and Quintonil in Mexico City, and Nahm in Thailand.

Keep up with my food adventures! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post How to Travel the World Like a Foodie appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

We’ve put adventure up on a pedestal. Adventure has become a nitty, gritty five-day camping trip in the Grand Canyon or a month-long backpacking trip across Europe. We forget that being adventurous doesn’t need to cost a lot of money, time, or distance. We think of ourselves as not adventurous when in reality, doing something new and unexpected, even a few miles from where we live, can have the same enlightening affect on our lives. You CAN be more adventurous wherever you are!

Adventure was that 2 a.m. donut run with a pit stop at a random person’s lawn that had red hearts spray-painted all over it. Adventure was running around the State Capitol grounds at night, peeking into senator’s windows. Adventure was a two-night camping trip at a state park 30 minutes away from home. Adventure was discovering a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with some incredible gyros. These were some of my real-life adventures back in college and it all happened within the city limits. When did my expectations for adventure become so grandiose?

I want to change our idea of adventure. It’s time to get out of our comfort zone, explore unknown territory, and try something new – all while making easy plans and keeping close to home! Adventure is available all around us, and we simply need to make time for it. Don’t believe me? Consider these adventurous suggestions.

• Make a bucket list for your hometown or state and accomplish it in a year.
• Cook with an unfamiliar ingredient or cook a dish you haven’t made before.
• Order something you wouldn’t usually order at a restaurant.
• Go see a music, comedy, dance, or art show.
• Go visit a nearby park.
• Take a painting, cooking or pottery class.
• Go dancing!
• Meet someone new at your workplace, grocery store, or networking event and strike up a conversation.
• Eat at a restaurant you’ve never been to. Bonus points for not looking up reviews before going!
• Go roller skating.
• Take a walk around your neighborhood.
• Bake and deliver cookies to your neighbors.
• Rent a bike and ride it around your city.
• Take a new way home from work.
• Visit that place you’ve always driven by and were curious about.
• Go kayaking, canoeing or paddleboarding.
• Go camping for the weekend or for a night.
• Attend a music or food festival you’ve never been to.
• Make a coffee date with an acquaintance to get to know him/her.
• Mark cities 30-45 minutes away from your hometown and plan a day trip.
• Get a group together and volunteer.
• Complete a DIY project. Use Pinterest or simply show up at a craft store for ideas.

I personally think adventure is best when shared and it’s a lot more fun and will keep you more accountable when you involve others. Whether you adventure with friends or your significant other, I’m sure your relationship will be stronger because of the shared experience.

How will you be more adventurous this year? What adventurous activities would you suggest?

The post How to be More Adventurous Wherever You Are appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

I took a return trip to San Francisco, with my boyfriend this time, to explore more of the city. We went out of the city to Sonoma and Muir Woods National Monument but also explored some new places in the city. Here are some additional San Francisco Sight-Seeing Recommendations.

Blazing Saddles Bike Rental
Riding a bike is a great way to see the city, though you’ll need to watch out for the hills in this city. The Blazing Saddles rental process went very smoothly and they have a 24/7 drop off location available. Riding around downtown in the financial district was not as scary as I thought it would be. From the financial district we headed toward the water and made stops at the Ferry Building, Fort Point, and The Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio before biking across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. We took the ferry across the bay to the Ferry Building. It was an 11-hour day and grueling at times but we checked the experience off the list.

Musee Mecanique (Mechanical Museum)
If you’re near Fisherman’s Wharf and love old-timey things, pop by the Musee Mecanique. It’s filled with antique arcade machines in working condition. It’s interesting to see what people enjoyed years ago and how arcade machines have changed. This large room is free to visit, though you’ll need your own quarters to play the games, and can be satisfied by a quick walk-through.

Fort Point National Historic Site
This place is a free gem. The views are architecturally pleasing to the eye with great spots for shots of the bridge.

The Walt Disney Family Museum
We made sure to come here after hearing about the current Disney and Dali exhibit from a friend. Disney and Dali were two artistic leaders of imagination and surrealism in their time. They built a friendship and created a specific artistic collaboration, though it came to life in a roundabout way. They also inspired each other, as seen in their work. The exhibit takes you through their careers, struggles and inspirations, and is a magical illustration of how they brought their work to life. The exhibit is $15 and available until January 3, 2016.

Sutro Baths and Cliff House, Land’s End, and Ocean Beach
All of these areas are within a five-minute walk from each other. I first came here on a quick stop with the Vantigo tour. It was chillingly cold and my interest in exploring the area wasn’t very high. Thankfully, the weather was better the second time around because this place was eerie, dramatic and inspiring. The area was engulfed by thick fog, Brandon Anderton (@frpart) had created his beautiful designs in the sand on the beach, and surfers could be seen trying to catch a wave far in the distance.

California Academy of Sciences
Our main draw to this museum was 40,000 animals, a rainforest, an aquarium and a planetarium all under one roof! We spent about three hours exploring every exhibit in this science museum. The admission price of $35 for an adult ticket is hefty but there is a lot to see.

San Francisco is an expansive city full of activities and things to experience. I’ve had a great fill and seen a lot in my two visits but it’s a city I wouldn’t mind returning to for its beautiful weather, fresh seafood, and cool vibes. Until next time, San Francisco!

Want more San Francisco tips? Check out my other posts about the beautiful city.

The post San Francisco Sight-Seeing Recommendations appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

On our way back to San Francisco from Sonoma, we stopped at Muir Woods National Monument to hug some trees! We were excited to see the beautiful redwoods and the awe-inspiring sight did not disappoint. Here are some tips to help you plan your visit.

When to Go
Get there as early as possible when the park opens at 8 a.m. and go on a weekday. There are a limited number of parking spots closer to the entrance and a high number of people visit each day. Hopefully going early will give you a quieter and more peaceful experience. The rainy season is late October to early May.

Getting There
It’s a 40 minute drive from San Francisco. You’ll drive on a long, narrow, and windy road in the last 15 minutes. Make sure you have a steady driver in your party or find a shuttle that will take you there. Speaking from experience, the windy roads may make you slightly car sick.

Can you see me hugging a tree?!

If you’re not visiting Muir Woods for a serious hike, stay on the boardwalk and don’t veer from it.

If you want to get into nature, there are several trails that will take you on dirt trails deep into the woods. Off the trail, you’ll be able to hug some trees. If needed, there are $1 maps of the trails at the entrance. If you want to be “extra” adventurous, don’t get a map because the trails will eventually lead you back.

In other words, our “seeing the redwoods” experience turned into an unexpected miles-long hike around the park because we decided to see what was on a side trail. It was a long and sweaty hike but a great workout.

You might even see some critters like this chipmunk.

Quick Details:

• Get there early (open at 8 a.m.) and on a weekday.
• They’re open 365 days a year.
• Parking is free.
• Park entrance fee is $7 per adult. Free for children 15 and under. (On January 1, 2016, the entrance fee will increase to $10 for adults 16 and older.)
• Weather is slightly cooler under the shade of the trees.
• There is no cell phone service in Muir Woods.
• Visit the official website here.

What national parks have taken your breath away?

Visiting San Francisco? See my recommendations for things to do and places to eat.

The post Muir Woods National Monument Travel Guide appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Fall is Here!
I was already over the influx of pumpkin spice everything, but when September 23 (first day of fall) came around, a switch flipped and now I’m all about fall. This is especially surprising because I only have two weekends from now until the end of the year that aren’t booked with something! AH! It’ll be a busy season but I’m excited about the State Fair of Texas, visiting San Francisco again, going to a Dallas Cowboys game, Fun Fun Fun Fest, my birthday party, Thanksgiving, cooler weather and fall flavors! What about fall are you most excited about?

Taylor Swift Sing-Along
I started the month out with a big bang – at Alamo Drafthouse’s Taylor Swift Sing-Along. Two plus hours of Taylor Swift music videos with lyrics and watching her grow up on the screen! There were all kinds of emotions.

Slip ‘N’ Slide Labor Day
You may have seen this short video of our Labor Day Shenanigans on Instagram. Well, I’ve been holding out on you. Boyfriend was filming all the action with his GoPro and we compiled and edited it into this fun video. Sometimes adventure is rolling out painter’s plastic in a friend’s yard, slicking it up with baby soap and just going for it.

Support Confituras
One of my favorite Austin companies is building a community kitchen and shop! Confituras, a company creating delicious jams and preserves is growing and is fundraising for a new space. This new place will serve as a retail shop, incubator for new Austin food companies, and bigger kitchen for more jams! Please consider supporting Confituras on Kickstarter.

Now Listening
I’ve got the new CHVCHES album ‘Every Open Eye’ on repeat!

I Left My Heart in San Francisco
I went to San Francisco! You may have read my San Francisco posts this week. I got to go to the brilliant Re:Make Conference and fall in love with the wonderful city. I’m looking forward to going back very soon!

Helping Refugees
This article lists five things you can do to help refugees trying to reach Europe.  If you want to hear more stories, Humans of New York is featuring some that will touch your heart.

Gloria’s Bachelorette Weekend
My friend Gloria’s friends came from all over the state to enjoy an Austin weekend of fun and celebration. We took a Segway tour (the first time for many of us, including me!), got our nails done, explored the HOPE Outdoor Gallery, danced, and ate lots of good food. I also hosted brunch at my place.

Being Present
Our lives have become very “busy.” We fill our time to the brim and mix up our priorities, leaving us wondering why we don’t truly feel fulfilled at the end of it. Give this thoughtful New York Times article a read. Maybe being present with the people in our lives is really what we need.

What’s captivating you lately?

The post Captivations v.15 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

One of the adventurous gems we have in Austin is the Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. It features the longest zipline in Texas and five different zip lines from 250 to 2800 feet long. Depending on your weight, you can go up to 70 miles per hour. We were able to see the beautiful Lake Travis and Hill Country in a fun way.

The inlet on the right didn’t exist two years ago. Lake Travis is filling up!

Here are some things you should know:

• Try to book the earliest tour possible (8:30 a.m.) since it gets warm out there.
• Each tour includes 12 participants at most plus two guides.
• They provide all the gear necessary. Wear comfortable clothes and closed toe shoes, preferably sneakers. Jewelry and hanging accessories such as scarves are not recommended.
• Don’t forget sunglasses!
• You are allowed to bring cameras and phones at your own risk. They do have helmets with GoPro mounts.
• Zipline tours happen rain or shine, unless there is lightning. I’ve done the tour twice and the first time it was rainy and cold in December, which is not a good idea. I believe they close during the winter season now.
• The industry standard for tipping the guides is 10-15% per person.
• They provide ice cold water bottles at four stops along the way.
• The tour does involve a good amount of hiking. You’ll have plenty of time to take it slowly so don’t wear yourself out.
• There is a concession stand with snacks, soda, beer and wine at the last zip spot.

Check out the video from our zipline adventure! Camera work by my boyfriend on a GoPro Hero 4. Video features our super guides, Reagan and Marc.

Have you ever done Lake Travis Zipline Adventures or where have you ziplined?

Lake Travis Zipline Adventures
14529 Pocohontas Trail
Leander TX 78641

512-614-1996

https://www.ziplaketravis.com/

The post Austin Adventures: Lake Travis Zipline Adventures appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

When I say adventure, what do you think of? Bungee jumping in New Zealand? Eating pig brains in Spain? Getting lost in a French neighborhood? Taking a year-long trip around the world? Those activities and situations are definitely adventurous but I believe adventure is more easily found and less “glamorous” than we make it. Adventure is unusual and exciting experiences and activities and exploring unknown territories. With that definition, you can count many things as adventure.

In following travel bloggers, I’ve found many who live a life of constant travel. As I explored my goals and desires, I realized that while traveling to new places is fun and exciting, I don’t think I want a life of being a travel nomad. I like my roots, coming home, and having a routine. Wanting those things doesn’t make me less of a traveler or less adventurous. There’s nothing wrong with keeping a full-time job and saving up to travel when you can take a vacation. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to buy a house and build a family who you’ll take to adventurous places. And there’s nothing wrong with being a travel nomad. Your idea of adventurous living is yours to choose.

Adventure doesn’t need to fit within someone else’s criteria. If traveling internationally to spend a week on a beautiful beach is your idea of an adventure, so be it. If you find adventure through a situation similar to the show Naked and Afraid, that’s your call. Don’t let someone take the joy out of what brings you happiness.

Adventure happens right where you are. We don’t need to go far or spend a lot of money for adventure. We don’t need to hop on a plane to get to it. It can be the park by your house where you’ve never taken your dog. Or trying the new Thai restaurant that recently opened. Or a 30-minute drive to a swimming hole you’ve never been. As long as you’re exploring new experiences in your life, you’re being adventurous!

Adventure is out there, and it’s good for you. It has the ability to inspire, bring happiness and open your eyes to new people, thoughts, and cultures. Go find adventure, wherever that may be!

What adventurous things have you done recently? What’s one adventurous thing you’ll do this month?

The post How to Find Adventure in Everyday Life appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Pura Vida. It’s a phrase I heard multiple times a day and is the only way to describe our amazing week-long Costa Rica adventure in the beautiful country. When you’re on vacation in Costa Rica, living your fullest life and feeling “real living” is easy in this adventure-rich, eco-diverse, and laid-back country.

Here are all the details about my trip to Tamarindo and Arenal.

Tamarindo

Tamarindo is a small town on the Northern Pacific Coast in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica. It’s about an hour and 20 mins away from Liberia (the nearest international airport). You can easily walk from one end of the main street to the other in 30 minutes. While it may not have the prettiest beach in Costa Rica, this beach is great for surfing, especially for beginners. I also loved the small-town vibe and their wide selection of restaurants. We spent four days here and while we were surprised they didn’t really have a late nightlife, it was perfect for beaching and relaxing.

Playa Tamarindo

The beach has great waves and is filled with surfers of every level. The beach is lined with restaurants, bars, and hotels. Board rentals are easily found and so are vendors selling souvenirs and coconuts. On the north end of the beach is the estuary and Playa Grande is on the other side. The estuary is a popular place for caiman and crocodiles, so pay a small boat to take you across.

Kayak Tour with Arenas Adventures

We did a 3-hr kayak tour in the Tamarindo estuary. Though we were bummed we didn’t see any monkeys or crocodiles, we did see lots of different birds and got a good workout! Our guide Eli was very informative, friendly, and funny. He even told us about a somewhat hidden restaurant where we had one of our favorite meals of the trip. More on that later!

Arenal / La Fortuna

The journey from Tamarindo to Arenal was long (4-5 hours) but it was cool to see the scenery change from dry desert and beach to the lush and green rainforest. We stayed near the Arenal Volcano, and La Fortuna is a small town 10 minutes away. While La Fortuna has many hotels and shops, the road in between is sprinkled with luxury hotels and resorts. La Fortuna is a good place to get the local feel and is within walking distance of many souvenir shops and restaurants.

Arenal Volcano

When we arrived, we were told by many locals that we were lucky to see the top of the volcano but we kept seeing it throughout our trip! It wasn’t until the last day when we were driving out of Arenal did we see the volcano as it usually is, half-covered by clouds. You can see the volcano from most spots in the area and I believe most hotels have a view of the volcano from their rooms and/or their public areas.

Sky Adventures Arenal Park: Sky Tram & Trek, Sky River Drift

Costa Rica has one of the top zipline experiences in the world, so we were excited to try it at Sky Adventures’ Arenal Park. We did a combo tour that first took us by tram up into the canopy. Then we ziplined on seven cables with the highest being 656 feet and the longest being 2493 feet. Depending on size, we could get up to 45 miles per hour! It was awesome zipping through the rainforest, enjoying the views of Lake Arenal and the Arenal Volcano. After a quick lunch, we enjoyed the Sky River Drift tour which included zipping on three carbon fiber lines (smaller and less intense than the previous steel lines), vertically descending into the river, and a tubing adventure powered by the rapids.

Pure Trek Canyoning

Recommended by another couple from our hotel, we decided to book this canyoning trip that had us rappelling into and down waterfalls. If you’ve ever rappelled before, you know how fun it is because we controlled how fast we went with one hand, though they did also control a safety rope in case we lost the rope. The three waterfalls ranged from 45 to 165 feet and the tour also included one free-fall drop and hiking through the rainforest. The guides were very knowledgeable about the wildlife and rainforest and we learned a lot about how plants help each other and fight to survive.

Hotels

Hotel Los Lagos Farms

While we didn’t enjoy the actual hotel as much, the wildlife farms at Hotel Los Lagos were fun to explore. They had different areas of wildlife including Blue-jeans Frogs or Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs, crocodiles, leaf-cutter ants, and butterflies.

Hotel Arco Iris

We loved this boutique hotel in Tamarindo. The hotel has around 14 rooms and is about a 5-10-min walk from the beach. Our room was very comfortable and roomy. One of our favorite things was our hammock on the patio, which we enjoyed in the mornings. The staff here is awesome and friendly. Francisco at the front desk helped us book tours and transportation and had lots of helpful information about the town. The breakfast buffet was top-notch and Coco makes delicious omelets! I would highly recommend this hotel.

Nayara Hotel

This hotel near the Arenal Volcano was a royal experience. It’s been voted the #1 resort in Central and South America and #5 hotel spa in the world, not to mention thousands of positive guest reviews. From the moment we stepped out of the car and onto the steps of the hotel, we could tell we would have a 5-star experience. The service was incredibly hospitable and helpful. The room, grounds, and restaurants were beautifully designed and maintained. The front desk helped us plan all our tours and transportation and they have a network of great drivers to take you into La Fortuna, to the airport, or wherever you need to go. It was a bit of a splurge to stay here but it was well worth it. For the location, it was very close to all our tours and a 10-minute ride to La Fortuna town. If you want a luxurious place to stay as you adventure in the Costa Rica rainforest, this is the place!

It was an incredible, adventure-filled trip and I haven’t even talked about the food yet! If you love outdoor activities and nature, you should definitely consider visiting Costa Rica.

Check out these posts for more information on Costa Rica:

• Costa Rica Travel Guide
• 10 Best Things to Do in Costa Rica
• Tamarindo, Costa Rica Travel Guide
• Eating and Drinking in Costa Rica

Want to read about my adventures around the world? Click here.

The post Costa Rica Adventure Trip: Tamarindo and Arenal appeared first on Fearless Captivations.