Spring/Summer Travels 2017

Here's the thing about travel posts: I like to write them but they're probably pretty boring to read. And unlike solicited travel advice that you MIGHT take into account, I understand that my unsolicited travel recs are even less likely to be of interest to the average reader.

Also, this post is now incredibly untimely since it's already November.

But sorry. This is basically the only way I remember where I went and what I ate and drank there, so this post is happening.

Let's do this.

Spring/Summer Travels 2017:

Las Vegas, NV
Occasion: Dance team ish
Travel Partners: Doug & Anna (& the dance team)
HHH Approved:
- Happy hour at Bardot Brasserie in the Aria (everyday from 5:30-7pm)
- Boozy milkshakes at Milk Bar in the Cosmo
- In-n-Out (delicious and can't beat those prices on The Strip)

Oakland, CA
Occasion: To visit Lauren
Travel Partners: Lauren & Nicole
HHH Approved: 
- Pale ales & ping pong at Lost & Found Beer Garden

Nashville, TN
Occasion: Work conference
Travel Partners: My mom
HHH Approved: 
- Mushroom tacos and margs at Bar Taco 
- For other recs, check out this post cuz we went to all the same places

San Diego, CA
Occasion: Doug's 30th Birthday
Travel Partners: Doug, Sarah & Chris
HHH Approved: 
- Tiki drinks at False Idol (opened by a former member of the Hale Pele team)
- The beers at North Park Beer Co. were decent but we were really all about Mastiff's sausages.
- Modern Times is always a must (except we're mad at them cuz they're taking over The Commons)

Portland, ME
Occasion: Annual Boston girls reunion
Travel Partners: Shannon, Anna & Erica
HHH Approved: 
- Scandinavian snacks & craft cocktails at Portland Hunt & Alpine Club
- I like donuts and I like potatoes so I was very into The Holy Donut's potato donuts
- Blyth & Burrows has a back bar behind a swinging bookcase, so obvs into that too

San Francisco, CA
Occasion: Work event
Travel Partners: Kel
HHH Approved: 
- We loved the laidback vibe, tiki drinks, and delicious Thai dishes at Hawker Fare
- The gin tonics are as big as your head at Bellota - and there are 3 different versions to try!
- The Saloon claims to be SF's oldest bar and it's a great option for Sunday night dance parties

Minneapolis, MN
Occasion: Summer trip
Travel Partners: Doug
HHH Approved: 
- All about the wood-fired eats (and free kitchen entertainment) at Young Joni
- Surley Brewing Co. might be the only MN brewery that makes a decent IPA; great beer garden too
-  It's hard to find, but we loved the speakeasy vibe of Volstad's Emporium
-  Fun, creative flavors at Milk Jam Creamery and can't beat soft serve + cookie dough at MN Nice Cream

Bend, OR
Occasion: Visit Parentals
Travel Partners: Doug
HHH Approved: 
- Bend is a beer town, but Barrel Thief does cocktails right
- Chow is always packed for a reason. Go on a weekday right when it opens if possible.
- It wouldn't be a trip to Bend without an ocean roll at Sparrow Bakery
- Barrio is our go-to special occasion spot in Bend

Olympia, WA
Occasion: Girls Weekend
Travel Partners: Kel, Jenna & Shelby
HHH Approved: 
- Most of the cute places on our list were closed for Labor Day, but not Olympia Oyster Bar!

Okay, now I miss summer. Bye!

Las Vegas: 10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Bachelorette Weekend

1)  Come prepared
Upon arrival in Las Vegas, we cabbed to Vons (their Safeway) to stock up on snacks, mixers, liquor, and Gatorade. Having a drink in the room gets you ready for the night and snacks that the hotel doesn't charge you for when you get back is crucial! 

2) Turn your bathtub into a fridge
At our hotel, the mini fridge was weight sensitive and automatically charged the credit card on file, so we created an alternative. We didn't plan to use our bathtub anyway (and if you even have time, you're not correctly experiencing a Bachelorette Vegas weekend) so it became the perfect place to store mixers and cream cheese!  Each floor has an ice machine for easy refills.

Helpful Hint: In order to get enough ice in one trip we recommend filling up plastic bags from your Von's trip. 

3) Work the bachelorette angle
Everybody gets excited about two people in love... and the possibility of lonely single bridesmaids (sorry boys, we all have boyfriends.) Regardless, it never hurts to flaunt the bride-to-be with a veil, sashes, pins, and over-sized fake diamond rings. People are always willing to buy a congratulatory cocktail, and promoters like offering free and expedited admission to girls traveling in groups.

4) Take advantage of the open cup laws
The liquor and mixers you bought at the store aren't only for pre-gaming. Here we are enjoying mimosas that we made in our room and took with us to the mall. Much cheaper than buying the yardstick drinks for $18 (though we may have done that too...).

5) Take a Stripper 101 class
Luckily for us, Groupon ran a deal on Stripper 101 classes two weeks before our trip, but I would say it's worth the full price. Not only is it a great group activity and an excuse to wear bachelorette themed clothing, it is hard! Our (real life!) stripper instructor taught us fun and challenging lap dance and pole moves, while getting us up to date on the Vegas stripper scene (though I don't think any of us plan on going pro!)

6) Make new friends
People go to Vegas in search of a good time and hoping to wake up the next morning with incredible stories... hopefully nothing as extreme as The Hangover though! Throughout our weekend, we talked up our fair share of party-goers ranging from London bachelor parties to girls we waited in line with for cabs. Some of us even found special friends on the dance floor... Just admit it, his silver shirt is amazing!

Helpful Hint: Don't forget to take your heels off before you hop up on a lounge seat. Bouncers encourage multi-level dancing, but that doesn't mean they want holes in that classy pleather! 

7) Ride the New York-New York Roller Coaster
Riding the New York-New York roller coaster is a must. It's short, but thrilling. They don't run it when it's too windy and we wouldn't recommend it hungover, so plan accordingly.

Helpful Hint: If you're wearing flip flops, don't get too excited! Jenna's flew off her feet and into the track while we were waiting, causing a slight hang up... she did offer to ride shoeless, but apparently that's against the rules. 

8) Attend a Cirque Show
There are only a few things you should spend money on in Vegas: one nice meal, cabs and a show. The Cirque shows are incredible. Between the two of us, we've been to Love, Zumanity, Le Reve and most recently, Mystere. All of them were totally different, but equally awesome!

9) Splurge on one nice meal (and good cocktail)
We all came from different cities to celebrate Leslie's future wedding, so we decided it would be nice to splurge on one nice meal (otherwise ladies, you shouldn't be spending much money.) We went to a restaurant in Treasure Island where we were seeing Mystere and enjoyed a nice dinner, a real cocktail, and reminisced about our first two nights. We suggest planning this dinner on the last night of the trip. It's a great way to wrap up the weekend and begin your final night on the town.

10.) Go with the flow! 
Most importantly, when in Vegas, let loose and have fun! We guarantee you'll have a better time if you don't over-plan the weekend. Just go with the flow and be ready for anything!

GOOD LUCK!