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Travel

Coachella Survival Guide

It’s Coachella season and I’m here to share my survival guide with you all to help prepare you for your festival weekend!

+Buying Tickets- You have several options for purchasing your Coachella tickets. You can check the http://www.coachella.com website for a countdown for ticket sales. Set up an account ahead of time so the day tickets go on sale you have everything set up and ready to go.

  • Pre-Sale Tickets– Pre-sale tickets usually go on sale in June of the year before. This takes some serious planning and commitment in knowing you will be attending the festival the following year, without knowing the line up before hand in most cases. You will however, get the best price for your festival ticket if you are able to score it during pre-sale.
  • General Ticket Sales- Ticket sales to the public usually happen in December. Tickets cost more during this sale, and there are fewer tickets for sale at this time. You will, however, know the line up for the festival! If this ticket sale is for you, use your countdown timer, and be online to buy tickets the minute they go on sale. I’m not kidding! The festival will sell out quickly and if you aren’t ready you won’t get tickets. You might also have to buy tickets for weekend 2, rather than weekend 1, usually the first weekend sells out most quickly.
  • Re-Sale Tickets– If you were not able to score tickets during the pre-sale or general sale event buying re-sale tickets may be an option for you. This option is definitely more risky, but it is completely possible. Do your homework, use social media sites you trust and make sure your tickets are legit before you buy them and it not a scam.
    My best advice is if it feels too good to be true, it probably is. You might pay more for tickets than face value and you might also be able to buy tickets for one or two days. It all depends on what is available at the time.

+Where To Stay- Once you have your tickets you need to start working out where you are going to stay. This is not something you can put off. Hotels and Airbnb’s book quickly, so the sooner you can book a place the better off you will be.

  • Hotels– There are many hotels in and around the Indio Valley available for the festival. Make sure to check if they have a shuttle from the hotel to the festival. You may have to purchase a shuttle pass to access this option.
  • Airbnb– Lots of Airbnb homes are available in the Valley and up to an hour out of town to rent during the festival. Depending on what size of accommodations you need, how early you book, and how much your willing to pay, your options will become more limited the longer you wait. Book early, you’ll thank yourself later.
  • Camping– Unlike other festivals, Coachella, offers the option of camping on the premises, in a designated area of course. You do have to rent a camping space ahead of time. There are bathrooms and showers available and all the rules regarding camping can be found on the Coachella website.

+Organizing Coachella Days- An important park of any festival is figuring out what bands you want to see, what stage they are preforming on and what time they perform.

  • Download the Coachella App to use before and during the festival. This will give you the dates, times and stage of each performance and will help you plan your days. This will also help when you have time after a performance to see what other performances are going on around the park.
  • Take a tour around the park when you get there to become familiar with the grounds. This will help you navigate the park between performances, knowing where each stage is and how much time you will need to get there.
  • Plan out your days based on the performances you want to see. Festival doors open at noon and the festival last till about 1am-2am, each day. Some concert goers are at the festival from the moment the doors open until the day is over. I’m not one of those people. I look and see what time the performances I want to see begin and I get to the festival a little before. Some days that is later in the day, but I don’t care to be in the hot sun if I don’t have to. With that said, I will say, some of the best performance I’ve seen are random acts I’ve seen waiting for a performer I’ve been looking for. So you will definitely catch new, awesome performances no matter what time you arrive.
  • Have a “home base.” This is one of the first things we always do when attending a music festival. Find a spot to meet in case you get separated from your group. We all have the intention of staying together but sometimes things happen and you can’t find your group. Cell phone service is spotty during the festival and you might not be able to call out and having a arranged place to meet with help you find your peeps.

+What To Wear-

  • Shoes-I cannot stress enough how important it is to pack closed toed shoes, boots or sneakers. I know, I know, so many people plan their perfect outfit, and want their shoes to match, but reality is, you’re are going to be walking, a lot! The grounds mostly consist of dirt and some small areas of grass, but for the most part you are walking in the dirt all day. Closed toed shoes help so much. Your feet will literally be covered in dirt at the end of each day. Not to mention not having to worry about getting your toes stepped on during packed performances, and trust me it happens.
  • Blanket– I highly recommend taking a blanket with you to the festival. The days get long and often times you are waiting for the next performance to start and having a blanket to throw on the ground to sit on comes in handy. Yes, lots of people sit or lay on the ground but having a blanket helps to not be covered in dirt by the end of the day. You can also use it to keep warm during the evening when the sun is down if you need.
  • Backpack-Taking a small back pack to carry your blanket, jacket, sunscreen and other necessities comes in handy during the festival. It is so much easier than lugging everything around in your arms and when you need something you have what you need.
  • Light jacket- Yes, the festival starts in the heat of the day, but by midnight it can get chilly. Pack a light jacket, sweater, hoodie, whatever will come in handy when the sun goes down and the desert wind starts to blow, you’ll be happy you did.
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Travel

Weekend in San Francisco- Travel Guide

Hi, everyone! I’m back!! February turned into a crazy month and I just couldn’t find the time to get everything I needed to done. After a few weeks of getting everything together, I am back on track, and planning some exciting, upcoming travel for the year. I’m so excited to share with you all a little bit of my time in San Francisco! This is one city I had wanted to travel to for a while and was so happy I was able to make a girls weekend out of it and explore the City by the Bay.

+ Golden Gate Bridge- I’ll start off with the biggest attraction in San Francisco, The Golden Gate Bridge. You certainly will not be disappointed when checking out this incredible structure on the bay. There are several different ways to view the bridge. There are several parks around the bridge you can walk, bike, drive to, and will get a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay. You can also, drive, walk or bike across. We opted for biking across the bridge. Let’s just say, this wasn’t a part of the plan, and we didn’t realize until after biking across the bridge, you either have to bike back to the bicycle shop or bike all the way to Sausalito Island and ride the ferry back!! Although, we thought it was crazy, biking to Sausalito was so worth it. It is such a cute area, with lots of shops and restaurants to explore. A complete change and feel from the city itself. We got a bite to eat and caught the last ferry of the evening back into town, with a peaceful ride on the bay, a glimpse of Alcatraz and back into the city.

+Fisherman’s Wharf/Pier 39-Another area to explore when visiting San Francisco is Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. Located on the bay, you can walk along the board walk, check out shops, restaurants, and the home of the world famous, Ghiradelli Chocolate. Not to mention, some great seafood, and a great location to sit and enjoy your meal by the water.

+China Town-China Town in San Francisco is also worth checking out and very popular in San Francisco. We were able to make our way over, walking, after some shopping at Union Square. You can easily walk the area in a short amount of time. There are many shops to buy trinkets, fresh groceries if you are staying in an Airbnb, or just enjoy the lively atmosphere .

+Painted Ladies & Lombard Street- One of the best things you can do in San Francisco is get lost walking around or riding cable cars. Pin point places you would like to see such as the famous Painted Ladies and Lombard Street. Along the way you will run into lots of great parks, places to eat, great views of the city and some awesome street art and murals. Trust me, there is not shortage of things to do in San Francisco and even 3 days may not be enough time to see everything this city has to offer, but if you plan it well you can cross everything I mentioned off your list.

Safe travels, everyone, and I’ll be back on the blog soon!!

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Travel

Traveling Mesa Verde National Park

One of my favorite neighboring states to visit for a quick weekend or road trip has to be Colorado. I’ve explored Colorado from North to South, and there are so many beautiful cities, big and small, I will have to share with you all over the next few months. One of my favorite places to visit when I’m craving a weekend away is Southwestern Colorado, about a 3 hour drive from Albuquerque. Durango, Pagosa Springs, Telluride, Ouray are all some of my favorite places to visit in the Southwestern area. Quaint towns, filled with tons of natural beauty, outdoor activities, food, shopping and events. You name it, you can find it anywhere in Colorado!

Mesa Verde National Park is located in Montezuma County, Colorado. Just between Durango and Cortez, Colorado. I, myself, had never heard of Mesa Verde until I spent an extended time visiting and exploring the area. Ever since the park has been placed on my recommendation list for anyone visiting the area. The park protects some of the best-preserved Ancestral Pueblo archaeological sites in the United States. The cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park, suspected to have begun construction at the end of the 12th century, are reported to be one of the largest protected areas in the United States, home to over 600 cliff dwellings. Trust me, it is an amazing site to see in real life and if you are in the area, is a place you definitely should visit.

There are several options for exploring the park. You can begin by stopping by the visitors center, where you can purchase tickets, usually running $15-$20, grab a map to take along with you, speak with park rangers and park employees, and explore artifacts located at the the center. To best explore the park you can decide what option is best for you and your group. You can purchase a guided tour or just drive around to different looking points off the map and explore on your own, which is what I prefer. There are also park employees at most of the dwelling locations to answer questions and give you more information about the site.

The cliff dwellings are amazing!! With different view points marked off, you can park and easily hike to the nearest cliff dwelling. Along the way you will get a glimpse of some of Colorado’s stunning views. It is a great experience. If you love history, national parks, the outdoors or just adventures in general, this is an adventure for you!

For more information about Mesa Verde National Park please visit the following website: https://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

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Travel

Sandia Peak Tram, Albuquerque, NM

There are so many things to do up and around Albuquerque and throughout New Mexico, many of which involve getting outside and admiring the beauty of the state of New Mexico. If you are visiting Albuquerque, road tripping through New Mexico, spending a weekend at the Balloon Fiesta, new to the area, or are just in town to experience what Albuquerque has to offer, the Sandia Tram is a must do in the city!

Sandia Peak Tram

Located at the feet of the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, the tram runs year round and is the longest tram in the United States and the third longest in the world. Ascending from 3,000 ft. to just over 10,000 feet, the tram provides the most spectacular areal view not only of the city of Albuquerque but the gorgeous Sandia Mountains. With a quick 15 minute ascent you can enjoy the view, explore the mountain trails up above, eat  at the High Finance restaurant, reopening in Spring of 2019.

During the winter months the Sandia Tram Ski Basin is open for skiing and snowboarding. If you own your equipment, you can purchase a lift ticket, take your equipment with you, ride the tram up and ski/snow board down. If you do not, you will need a vehicle to drive around the mountain, through the town of Edgewood, up to the Sandia Tram area. There are also several hiking trails, such as the La Luz Trail, which I will be writing about a little later, you can hike from the base of the Sandia Mountains to the top and ride the tram back down. Along with hiking trails there are many mountain bike trails open during the spring and summer months. You cannot take you bike and equipment on the tram so you will have to have a vehicle to access the mountain bike trails. 

However you choose to experience this amazing site in the Albuquerque area, riding, biking, hiking or skiing, it will be worth your time and an experience you will not forget. 

For more ideas about things to do in and around the Albuquerque Area, check out my blog posts on https://thecharmingjay.com/2018/11/20/hiking-the-kasha-katuwe-tent-rocks-national-monument-in-new-mexico/ or the https://thecharmingjay.com/2018/09/05/sunrise-springs-resort-and-spa/.

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Travel

Ensenada-Baja California Weekend Getaway

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I have to tell you all how surprised I was about our little weekend getaway to Ensenada! I had done my research, figured out how to get there, where to stay, things to do, but I was not prepared for what this little Mexican town had to offer. Let me start of by talking about the drive to Ensenada from San Diego. The entire drive, nearly 90 minutes, is entirely along the coast! It is beautiful, and something I did not expect. Driving along the coast line, seeing the waves crash up along the shoreline, took me by surprise and started our weekend getaway off right.

What I loved most about Ensenada, was the fact it felt like Mexico. It is hard to explain, but I have been to several Mexican cities, some more popular than others, and many more “Americanized” than others. Ensenada had an authentic Mexican feel, which I loved. The town is small, people were friendly, gave us recommendations on things to see, places to eat. There are plenty of shops, restaurants and attractions for travelers to visit. As almost all Mexican cities, Ensenada has a city sign for tourists to visit and take pictures at and enjoy a great look out point of the ocean.  Another popular attraction is the La Bufadora, a blow-hole spewing water up to 60 feet in the air. The city center is full of life, especially during the summer season, markets are open to buy fresh food, fish and any kind of good or trinket you can think of.

The food was outstanding, especially the sea food! There are many places to eat and drink in Ensenada, many locals and friends who have travel there before recommended Papas & Beers and Hussongs Cantina. However, of all the places we tried, Mariscos Bahia de Ensenada, by far had the best seafood we tried, not to mention the best mango margarita! I woke up the following morning contemplating if we should go back for more or try something new. The fish was fresh, especially the lobster, and delicious. A must do when traveling this area is indulge in some seafood, you will not be disappointed. Ensenada is lively town, there are many coffee shops and bars open into the evening to enjoy and get a feel of the town.

Another highlight of our trip was our stay at Hotel Lucerna. A new hotel to the area, Hotel Lucerna, is a great place to stay while traveling the area. The hotel itself is beautiful, with all the ammenities of  luxury hotel, including a heated pool. The staff was helpful, assisting us with finding a wine tour, places to eat, and attractions to see. The hotel provides a wonderful breakfast spread each morning and encourages the guests to sit and enjoy the hotel. It was a great places to relax and wind at after a busy day of traveling and sight seeing.

Lastly, if you are planning on visiting Ensenada you can not miss scheduling a wine tour  through the Valle de Guadalupe-Mexican Wine Country. The Valle de Guadalupe, located in Baja California, just a little more 30 miles from Ensenada, Mexico, you will find what people are calling “the new Napa” with miles and miles of beautiful landscape and more than 200+ wineries. We were lucky enough to book a private driver to take us to and from Ensenada to wine country, to several wineries and back to our hotel. It was such an amazing day and truly opened my eyes to the hidden treasures of Mexico.

 

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Travel

Valle de Guadalupe-Mexican Wine Country

I’ve been so excited to share this post about my wine tour through Mexican wine country with you all! Especially, my wine and travel lovers! The Valle de Guadalupe, located in Baja California, just a little more 30 miles from Ensenada, Mexico, you will find what people are calling “the new Napa” with miles and miles of beautiful landscape and more than 200+ wineries. You could spend weeks visiting each winery but I will highlight a few we loved on our visit.

If you are interested in a wine tour, there are several different ways you can book a tour for your liking. If you are not willing to venture down the coast to Ensenada, there are many tours willing to pick you up at your hotel in San Diego, drive you across the border and through the Valle de Guadalupe to and back to San Diego at the end of the tour. Other options are to rent a car, make sure you get insurance to cover you across international boarders and drive the wine route on your own. You will however, have to endure the very long line of vehicle’s attempting to cross back over to the United States upon your return. So pack your patience! Every day is different and you may be sitting in line for a few hours. Lastly, you can do as we did and take the San Diego trolly to the last, most southern stop and walk across the border on your own to the ABC bus stop, less than a mile from the crossing and purchase a bus ticket for $20 down the coast to Ensenada, about a 90 minute trip. We then, with the help of our concierge at Hotel Lucerna, booked a tour with a private driver to several wineries through the Valle of Guadalupe.

Our first stop, the oldest winery in The Valley, and in my opinion, with the best tasting wine was Santo Tomas Winery. Located on a beautiful estate tucked away in the rolling hills this is what wine country looks like. Vines as long as the eye can see, beautiful green rolling hills and a colorful, welcoming space to taste and enjoy wines. Each winery has their own cost for a tasting ranging from $10-$20 per person per tasting. Such a deal! Especially, if you have traveled to Napa, you know tasting can cost more than $50 per person. Santo Tomas, had the most wines of any other winery with a typical tasting including five different types of wine.

Our next stop was the Clos de Tres Cantos Winery along the wine route. This winery was chosen by our tour guide company we booked our tour with. Of the four wineries we visited, it was one of my favorites for the establishment and the scenery. It was very unique and rustic looking, with many places to sit and enjoy our rainy wine tasting day. Even the bathroom had cute details such as the neat window made out of bottles to swivel and open.

The wine was decent and was accompanied by a little wine and cheese, which was definitely appreciated as we still had two more winery to visit, and had started with a five wine tasted at the previous winery. The landscape overlooking the vineyards was beautiful, even on a rainy day, and they were kind enough of give me a small bag of wine corks to take home with me. They are expanding the building at this winery and there will soon be more to explore and see while on the property.

Our 3rd winery, the ATP Vinos y Familia, was the smallest and one of the best experiences of the day.  Family owned, ran by a husband and wife, this winery has won many awards for their wines. The wines available for tasting depend on the season and they it is well known they tend to run out of award-winning wines during the busy summer season. The wines were tasty, but more than anything, I loved the homey feel of this winery. We were allowed to walk through the vineyard, sample grapes still on the vines and see the cellar with the barrels of wine. It was spectacular and the most fun of the day! Getting to know the owners, learning about the history of the vineyard and entire Valle de Guadalupe was a great experience for the day.

The final winery on our stop is currently one of the most famous wineries in the Valle de Guadalupe, Bruma Winery. Bruma, known not only for thier wine but also for their modern casitas available and their beautiful structures and landscape. This is a great places to stay if you would like to stay in the valley and not have to travel back to Ensenada. It is a great way to travel to many more wineries during your visit! However, if you would like to stay at Bruma, you will need to email to make reservations as early as possible as the establishment is small, popular, and they book rooms quickly and months ahead. This is also one of the wineries you will need to have reservations ahead of time for a wine tasting. If you do not have a reservation you can wait up to an hour for the next available tasting. However, the wine is good and the grounds are beautiful and is worth checking out.

We finished up our day with a great dinner set up by our tour guide, lounging on hammocks, drinking more wine and enjoying the rain before our driver drove us back to Ensenada. It was a perfect end to the day.  Valle de Guadalupe wine country was such as great experience and so easy to access from San Diego, we will definitely be back to explore more wineries across the valley. If you love wine or have always wanted to check out Baja California, this is a great getaway for you!