How To Spend An Incredible Two Weeks in Japan: A First-Timer’s Guide

Without a doubt, the travel-related question I’m asked most frequently is “What should I do during my upcoming trip to Japan?” If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me this question, I could probably fund my next flight to Tokyo! Well, you asked, and we listened: hot off the press, we’ve finally written our Japan itinerary — full of glorious food, sights, and, of course, booze! Here’s how to spend an incredible two weeks in Japan.

Ahh, Milwaukee: I can’t get back to this magical land of top-notch beer and mouthwatering cheese soon enough. When I visited Milwaukee last October, I felt like I had been let in on some amazing secret (but if you’re a local, you know how awesome it is already). Wondering what to do in Brew City? Here’s how to spend an incredible long weekend in Milwaukee — because with a city as great as this, having two days just won’t cut it.

I can’t say enough positive things about the Azores. Really. Having visited São Miguel, one of the nine islands in the Azores, I can attest that this autonomous region of Portugal is as fascinating as you’ve heard. It’s a full on, head-over-heels kind of love I’ve got going on for this place, and it doesn’t show any signs of stopping.

Planning a week in São Miguel? As you’re plotting how to get to Sete Cidades or Furnas and booking tours galore, don’t forget to mark off time for São Miguel’s restaurants and bars. Need a little help? Let us help you figure out where to eat and drink in São Miguel, Azores!

There are certain travel destinations where I can recall exactly when and where I was when I decided I wanted to visit. The Azores is one such place: sitting on my parents’ couch in January 2009, my eyes were glued to the television screen as Anthony Bourdain navigated his way through this enigmatic archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic.

For years, visiting the Azores remained a distant dream of mine due to expensive flights with multiple stops. When I caught wind that Delta Airlines was launching a new route from New York City to the Azores in 2018, however, I was ecstatic. The inaugural nonstop flight between New York-JFK and Ponta Delgada — the largest city in the Azores — went out in May 2018, and we were on board to the islands a mere two months later.

From stunning scenery and soaking in hot springs to sampling the famous cozido das Furnas stew, here’s our epic Azores itinerary for how to spend a week in São Miguel, Azores.

Very few things can get me out of bed super early on a Saturday morning: avoiding long lines at Disneyland, unexpected parades down on the street below our windows, or overly excited cats demanding food. Turns out we can add one more crucial thing to the list: Circa Brewing Co.’s Passion & Pride IPA can release.

Circa Brewing Co. released their Passion & Pride IPA last Saturday, June 22, and we got an awesome sneak peak inside the canning process. Read on to find out what the beer tastes like and why you need to pick some up ASAP!

Game of Thrones madness is in full swing right now. The HBO show’s eighth and final season is currently airing, with an epic series finale scheduled for May 19, 2019. Sunday night socializing has ground to a halt for us as we huddle around our television set, hanging on every word and concocting new conspiracy theories.

But what if you’re itching to get your Westeros fix on the other six days of the week? Or what if your significant other keeps repeating “Winter is coming” and you think he’s crazy because it’s summer now, that fool? Whether you’re a hardcore fan or have no clue what a White Walker is, here’s why you’ll want to head to NYC’s Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Museum Hack Game of Thrones-inspired tour.

Pacific Grove is one of my favorite places in the entire world. Sure, loving Pacific Grove is easy ’cause it’s beautiful, but it’s more than that. Pacific Grove is a small town with an even larger heart, where locals’ pride in their institutions and their history swells just like the ocean that surrounds it. It’s full of gorgeous coastal landscapes, creative cuisine, and charming Victorian-style houses. And, most importantly, it’s the one place where I truly feel at home.

From exploring its scenic beauty to devouring local food and drink, here’s how to spend an incredible weekend in Pacific Grove.

At 11:52 PM on December 31, 2018, I had my last drink of alcohol. Not for forever, but at least for now: I was attempting my first Dry January, a completely booze-free time in the first month of the year. Gulping my last sip of spiked punch, I eyed the countdown clock with nervous anticipation: Could I pull this off?

After 31 consecutive days sans alcohol — spoiler alert, I did it! — here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly of my Dry January experience.

Year in review posts (like the ones I did for 2016 and 2017) are my favorite kinds of posts to write. It’s a chance to reflect on all of the experiences that enabled us to grow and change throughout the year, both the good and the bad. It’s also the one time I don’t feel guilty overloading the Internet with pictures of cute cats, because — *gasp* — they’re our cats now!

From Copenhagen and Canada to cats and craft cocktails, here’s everything that went down for us in 2018.

I’ll let you in on a secret: prior to this year, we didn’t have any New York City holiday traditions. Typically, Mr. Five O’Clock and I spend the last two weeks of December in California (and the first two rushing around wrapping up last-minute assignments and purchasing zany holiday gifts), so the festive air and holiday cheer tends to pass us by.

Not so this year. Our fabulous, NYC-savvy friends Lynn and Justin of Mad Hatters NYC invited us to carol the night away on Classic Harbor Line’s Cocoa and Carols cruise, and it was a true holiday offer we couldn’t refuse. Here’s why the Cocoa and Carols cruise is the perfect New York City activity for the holidays.

How To Spend An Incredible Two Weeks in Japan: A First-Timer’s Guide

Midwest Weekend Getaway: The Perfect Long Weekend in Milwaukee

Where to Eat and Drink in São Miguel, Azores

Azores Itinerary: How To Spend A Week in São Miguel, Azores

Circa Brewing Co.: Passion & Pride IPA Can Release and Drag Brunch!

Winter Might Be Coming: A Review of the Museum Hack Game of Thrones Tour

How To Spend An Incredible Weekend in Pacific Grove, CA

A Booze Blogger Does Dry January: Is It Worth It?

2018 Year in Review (Or: To 2019 and Beyond!)

Why Classic Harbor Line’s Cocoa and Carols Cruise Is The Perfect NYC Holiday Experience