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Hali’imaile General Store, Maui, Hawaii
I’m just going to say it: Hali’imaile General Store is my favorite restaurant. Not just on Maui, not just in Hawaii, but anywhere. Bold statement, I know, especially when fan favorites like Mama’s Fish House are so good and so popular, but HGS has my heart. And here’s why. Pull up a chair and order a cocktail. HGS has a solid list of handcrafted cocktails that feature local ingredients and Hawaiian flavors. Their beer list includes local favorites from Kona Brewing and Honolulu Beerworks. The vibes are peak laid-back Hawaiian hospitality, with Upcountry flair. Keep in mind that you’re not at one of Maui’s world-famous beaches here. Upcountry is fertile…
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Surfing Goat Dairy
For two decades Surfing Goat Dairy has flourished with a herd of over 100 goats, making it Maui’s largest commercial dairy. Located in Upcountry, Surfing Goat Dairy not only raises goats and makes cheese, it also allows guests to get up close and personal with the herd and the milking and making processes. Casual tours of the farm where you can spend 30 minutes learning about the milking and cheese-making process while snapping some goat selfies. And trust me, your camera roll will be full of fun shots of these cuties! Play with Kids Kid goats, that is! Surfing Goat Dairy’s 30-minute Kid Goat Interaction, suitable for ages 8 and…
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Surfing Santas, Cocoa Beach, Florida
We don’t have snow in Florida, we have Surfing Santas! Every Christmas Eve since 2009, Surfing Santas have lined the shores of Cocoa Beach, Florida. George Trosset founded the event, which has since become a beloved tradition. What started as a family gathering turned into a Christmas tradition that has raised more than $300,000 for charity. Each year a growing number of costumed Santas (as many as 800) take to the waves on December 24 in Cocoa Beach and raise money for Grind for Life, a local cancer charity, and the Florida Surf Museum. I’ve been to the event a few times and wanted to share some of my top…
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Sedona Day Hiking Essentials
Go hiking they said, it’ll be fun, they said! And it is, but there are some hiking essentials you’ll want to bring with you to ensure that your hike is safe and fun! Osprey Daylite Plus Everyday Backpack You’ve got to be able to comfortably carry everything else on this list and I love this daypack because it has a padded back and roomy capacity without being bulky. It’s got a sleeve for a water reservoir (more on that in a minute) and adjustable straps that can make more space for your stuff. LifeStraw Go Series Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle Ever since I picked up E. coli while traveling,…
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Cherry Blossoms Washington, DC 2025 Bloom
Seeing the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC bloom has long been on my bucket list and I was so fortunate to be able to check it off a few years ago! Each spring these pale pink and white blossoms bloom on trees that were a gift from Japan in 1912. The cherry blossoms reached peak bloom on March 17, 2024. The gift consisted of 3,020 trees in 12 varieties and today there are 3,800 trees with two varieties being the most common: the Yoshino Cherry and the Kwanzan Cherry. The National Capital Parks-Central, specifically the Tree Crew, is responsible for caring for these beautiful cherry trees. There are mostly Yoshino…
