We were introduced to Great Eastern Restaurant while we were shopping in Chinatown San Francisco. After getting our souvenirs (mostly magnets and stuff for you guys), we decided to ask the shop owner which restaurant would be a good one in Chinatown. After looking at the time (it was 9 plus in the morning), she thought about it for a while and said that Great Eastern Restaurant was open for dim sum. So we headed right over…
Great Eastern Restaurant Chinatown San FranciscoInside Great Eastern Restaurant with many locals!Tanks at the other end of Great Eastern Restaurant Chinatown San Francisco
What we ate at Great Eastern Restaurant Chinatown San Francisco
Beef Ball with special vinegar sauce at Great Eastern Restaurant Chinatown San FranciscoRice noodle roll with BBQ pork with yummy soy sauce (Great Eastern Restaurant Chinatown San Francisco)Pan fried pau – wanted to try something different (Great Eastern Restaurant San Francisco)Custard in fried sweet potato ballMenu of Great Eastern Restaurant Chinatown San Francisco Total damage of $17USD at Great Eastern Restaurant
The beef ball was taong and chewy yet tender and flavourful. Comparable to that of Tim Ho Wan. The other thing that you should try is the rice noodle roll with char siew. Looooooved the fatty bits with the shiok texture of the rice noodle roll.
The sauce was also not too salty, just nice 🙂 Try not to be too adventurous and steer away from the pan fried pau which had too much flour.
Conclusion
All in all, if you ask me where to eat in Chinatown San Francisco, I would say that Great Eastern Restaurant is a great place to visit for its dim sum. Seeing the number of locals visiting, you’d probably guess that the food is good and the price is reasonable. Even Obama visits…
Obama visiting Great Eastern Restaurant in Chinatown San Francisco
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So enjoy your trip to Chinatown San Francisco (a must visit!) and if you’re wondering where to eat, do check out the Great Eastern Restaurant located at 649 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94133!
The gold rush of 1849 has brought about tremendous development in San Francisco. After the great earthquake and fire of 1906, which wiped out 3/4 of the city, San Francisco was rebuilt upon its slopes, producing a city with one of the most amazing street views! This post is a tribute to the slopes of San Francisco!
Lombard Street San Francisco’s Crookedest Street attracting tonnes of visitors daily“Crookedest Street” in San Francisco Lombard StreetCars are advised to park perpendicular to the slope – Haight Park San FranciscoCastro San FranciscoBeautiful view of slope upwards in San FranciscoVictorian Style Houses built on slopes at Haight Ashbury San FranciscoBeautiful city skyline as a result of building on the slopes of San Francisco
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To describe how steep the slope was, as we were driving up Divisadero Street, Kate became scared. Even I was scared. You must know that I have conquered the roller coaster rides (Battlestar Galactica Cylon vs Human) of Universal Studios and that wasn’t as scary. Imagine the same kind of steepness without the safety inbuilt in a roller coaster ride!
Now…that’s scary. It’s almost like bungy jumping without the cord! We could feel as though the bonnet was gonna “lift off”! Ascending the steep slopes of San Francisco was more like ascending to the top of a steep roller coaster ride – really slowly… Enjoy the feeling of excitement on the slopes of San Francisco!
Lombard street IS the “Crookedest Street” in San Francisco and many local residents are annoyed by it. Because of the name “Crookedest Street” (who wouldn’t visit?!), Lombard Street has become one of the main tourist attractions in San Francisco – with it, tonnes of tourists and locals visiting each day!
“Crookedest Street” in San Francisco Lombard Street
How Lombard Street became the “Crookedest Street” in San Francisco
Well, Lombard Street has become the crookedest street in San Francisco simply because it has a very steep gradient. While many streets in San Francisco are steep, Lombard Street has a gradient which was deemed unsafe for traffic. To reduce the inclination of Lombard Street, a series of winding road was created so that cars could “snake” down Lombard Street without toppling over on a really steep road. Do note that Lombard Street is a one way street that starts at Leavenworth Street to the east and ends at Hyde Street to the west.
View from the top of Lombard Street – The Crookedest Street in San Francisco
As a result of this kind consideration for drivers and pedestrians, it has unknowingly created one of the most visited free attraction in San Francisco. Because of this, large numbers of visitors throng the streets of Lombard EVERY SINGLE DAY! As a result, you may see some of the residents posting things like “This is not the crookedest or steepest street in San Francisco” (they usually never state which is) in Tripadvisor or some travel forums. So the “kind consideration” has become an inconsiderate thing for the residents of Lombard Street…
Lombard Street San Francisco’s Crookedest Street attracting tonnes of visitors daily
Other views from the Crookedest Street in San Francisco – Lombard Street
Queues of car heading up to Lombard Street – Took us some effort to climb up the street!Coit Tower and Bay Bridge San Francisco as seen from Lombard Street (Crookedest Street in San Francisco)Alcatraz Federal Prison seen at the top of Lombard Street – Crookedest Street in San Francisco
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Whether you’re taking shots from the top or bottom of Lombard Street, you’ll definitely find many good spots to capture this “Crookedest Street” in San Francisco! Don’t be fooled by comments that it is not because Lombard Street IS the Crookedest Street in all of San Francisco!
During our drive from Vancouver Washington to San Francisco, we stopped by Eureka and this post will tell you what are some of the things to do and attractions in Eureka California!
1. Historic Buildings in Eureka California. With its beginnings in mining, logging and fishing, Eureka grew to become a significant sea port. Many came and established their homes here resulting in many beautiful historic buildings in this city…
Eureka Inn on the National Register of Historic PlacesFacade of Eureka Inn – Stayed here during this tripThe Eureka TheatreMorris Graves Museum of Art EurekaOld Historic Eureka Downtown – Resembles “wild wild west” doesn’t it?
2. Eureka Waterfront Promenade. Eureka has a beautiful waterfront promenade where you can enjoy a relaxing stroll and perhaps even get a glimpse of some wildlife…
Map of Old Town Eureka WaterfrontEureka Waterfront Promenade and Boardwalk
Video of the Eureka Waterfront
3. The Wooden Sculpture Garden of Romano Gabriel. Romano Gabriel was born in Italy but came to USA with his father to be furniture makers. After serving in WW1, he settled in Eureka and started to make wooden sculptures that filled his garden. As he progressed with the hundreds of sculptures he made, many visitors came from far and wide just to see his beautiful wooden sculpture garden. But he would just hide behind his windows and peer at his visitors as he was a little reserved. After he passed away, the garden was preserved and encased for future generations to enjoy…
Description of Romano Gabriel’s Wooden Sculpture GardenRomano Gabriel’s Wooden Sculpture Garden Eureka
4. Lost Coast Brewery. This seems to be the one restaurant that the entire Eureka city gathers at for dinner. While all the streets of Eureka were empty and quiet, Lost Coast Brewery was filled with people and we had to wait 20 minutes before we got to be seated!
Facade of Lost Coast Brewery 4th Street Eureka California – Seemingly quiet on the outsideNoisy and boisterous crowd inside Lost Coast Brewery
We tried the fruit beers at Lost Coast Brewery and totally enjoyed them! Unlike many other breweries that claim to have fruity-flavoured beers, they seldom taste fruity. But at Lost Coast, we tried both Tangerine Wheat and Raspberry Brown and they tasted flavourful and fruity! Yum!
Ordered Tangerine Wheat during our 20 minutes wait, therefore it was half full when we took this photo (3.75USD per pint)
As for the meal, we had the caesar’s salad, Lost Coast Brewery’s famous hot brown and 1 pound of its buffalo wings. Turns out that its buffalo wings were better than Anchor Bar’s original buffalo wings! It was tangy, juicy and tender! Shiok! And when we asked the waitress, she matter-of-factly said “Well, our buffalo wings are hard to beat!”
Caesar Salad $8.99USD (Lost Coast Brewery Eureka)1 pound of Buffalo Wings at $10.99USD (Lost Coast Brewery Eureka)Lost Coast Brewery’s Famous Hot Brown – Generous servings of beef with melted cheese between crispy sourdough bread!Total damage of $38.36USD at Lost Coast Brewery
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All in all, it was a wonderful stopover at Eureka. The food was great and the experience of walking through the historic old town of Eureka while enjoying the waterfront was relaxing as well. Therefore if you’re doing an Oregon scenic ocean drive, we’ll definitely recommend a stopover in Eureka. A visit to Lost Coast Brewery is a must!
First off, the scenic Oregon drive is not just any other coastal drive. If you are somehow on the West Coast of the USA, you have got to take this drive like the one we took from Vancouver Washington to San Francisco California!
The reasons???
We’ll let the videos speak for themselves…
Starting our drive from Vancouver Washington to Eureka California
First glimpse of the ocean at South Beach – see how the waves crashes near the shore!
Enjoying the view of the ocean on US 101 Highway
“12 Apostles” during our scenic Oregon ocean drive on US 101 Highway – Anyone know their actual names?
Driving through Redwood National Park
The entire journey takes about 7 hours on I-5 (Interstate Freeway 5 South) and is about 9 hours on US 101 Highway – the scenic route. We broke up the drive into 2 trips from Vancouver Washington to Eureka California (resting for a night at Eureka Inn) and from Eureka onwards to San Francisco.
If you type this journey and try to get directions using Google map, by default, the map will recommend to you the shortest way which uses I-5. This route is actually the fastest route but on it, you will be seeing nothingness.
So remember to take US 101!!!
There are 3 main reasons why we recommend this drive
1. Unbelievably Amazing Views. If you think that the videos are showing really beautiful views, the truth is that the videos don’t even start to do justice for the views that we saw. It was beautiful and much much more…the drive takes you
Scenic Oregon Drive (after tunnel through the mountains)Through forests – where you’ll smell the fresh redwoods (Redwood National and State Parks)Huge tree house!Scenic Oregon Drive: Views by the OceanScenic Oregon Drive: Breathtaking Sunsets
2. Beautiful Wildlife
During our drive it was the whale migrating season! Kate managed to see the whales as they moved along the coast! I missed it as I was driving 🙁 We managed to arrive at one of the viewing points along the coast. However, we waited for 15 minutes and still no sighting. Nonetheless, we heard “orh orh orh orh”. Lo and behold, we saw them…
Scenic Oregon Drive: Wild Sea Lions!
3. Drive through San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge
Driving through Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco
Finally, at the end of the drive, you’ll pass through the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. The thing about San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is that it is neither the longest nor the heaviest suspension bridge but it was considered an engineering marvel when it opened in 1937 (longest suspension bridge then) its biggest achievement was being able to build the bridge in the midst of the San Francisco fog and yet be able to withstand wind speeds of 100mph and earthquakes of 8 in magnitude!
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While you’re travelling on the West Coast of the USA, we hope you’ll also be able to rent a car and drive along the scenic Oregon coastal drive. It’ll be an experience you won’t soon forget!
In May 1804, Captain Meriwether Lewis and his good friend Second Lieutenant William Clark started an expedition, commissioned by then President Thomas Jefferson. Today, this trail is known to us as the Lewis and Clerk expedition (not to be confused with Clark Kent and Lois Lane of Superman).
Essentially these chaps were brave enough to cross the vast continent, not knowing what to expect and encountering perils (such as grizzly bears) along the way. Nonetheless, the journey was finally completed in 1806 and the expedition team not only opened up a route from Eastern USA to Western USA, but also discovered many economic opportunities (think natural resources) and most importantly, the Western side to the Pacific Ocean.
It was also on this journey that the original Vancouver (Vancouver Washington, not Vancouver Canada) was discovered and subsequently established several years later. With this long history, it is little wonder that the entire Vancouver Washington is sprinkled with many historic monuments, still maintained in excellent condition, to be shared with visitors like you and me!
Hilton Vancouver Washington with Bell Tower at Esther Short ParkSlocum House – Yes it was an ULTRA MISTY DAY!
Once considered the most elegant homes in Vancouver, this Italianate villa’s ornate details including a cupola, elaborate cornice, scrolled brackets, and a widow’s walk on the roof. Built by Charles and Laura Slocum, it was nearly lost to development in the 1960s. Activists saved the home from demolition by moving it a block north. Today the building is home to the Old Slocum House Theatre Company, which stages a number of theatrical productions annually at this historic site
Lloyd Dubois House Vancouver Washington
This Queen Anne-style home, originally owned by the editor and publisher of the city’s newspaper, features a broad, wrap-around porch supported by turned posts, jigsaw brackets and a balustrade.
Langsdorf House Vancouver Washington
This Craftsman Bungalow with its flat wall planes of brick, low pitched hip roof, and unusual porch is influenced by the Midwestern Prairie style rarely seen in Clark County.
Kettenring House Vancouver Washington
This residence is characterised as an American Foursquare with classic Craftsman elements and ornamentation and retains the original multi-paired windows and curved rafter ends. Fred Kettenring moved to Vancouver in 1901 to take charge of the Great Northern Railroad’s construction and later became the City Engineer.
Chumasero-Smith House Vancouver Washington
This American Foursquare is the oldest known home in Washington to be built by a Filipino-American. The structure features classic columns supporting the heavy cornice on the porch, diamond shingles on the front dormer and a steeply pitched, hipped roof.
Post Office Vancouver Main
This brick post office with front columns is representative of Classical Revival architectural style.
St James Catholic Church Vancouver WashingtonW. Foster Hidden House Vancouver Washington
Lowell Hidden’s son, Foster, built this two-story Colonial Revival home with Flemish bond brickwork, a columned portico, heavy corner quoins and an elaborate cornice with block modillions.
Lowell M Hidden House Vancouver Washington
Lowell Hidden, owner of the Hidden Brick Company, built this two-story Queen Anne-style home with ornamental brick patterns, stained glass windows and a corbeled chimney.
Kiggins Theatre Vancouver WashingtonUS National Bank Vancouver Washington
Tall, fluted columns on projecting plinths frame an arched entrace to this five-story building that is an example of early 20th century Commercial style.
Evergreen Hotel Vancouver WashingtonVancouver National Bank Building
Originally made of molded stone construction the facade of this building was covered with the current terra cotta design in 1926.
History of Officers Row Vancouver WashingtonOfficer’s Row Vancouver WashingtonGrant House along Officer’s Row – Now a restaurant
For more than a century, the 21 buildings along the north side of Evergreen Blvd housed soldiers, officers and military families stationed at Vancouver Barracks. Three of the more notable properties are the Grand House, built in 1849, the General O.O. Howard House, constructed in 1879 and the Marshall House built in 1886. The homes are characterised by high ceilings, large foyers, sweeping staircases, bay windows, multiple fireplaces and numerous rooms which housed company or field grade officers.
Vancouver Barracks in front of Officer’s Row
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Remember, Vancouver Washington was named “Vancouver” before Vancouver Canada. This also means that for a travel destination that is rich in heritage, history and monuments, Vancouver Washington would be a great place for you to explore. There’s also great natural formations in Vancouver Washington too!
Nature is one of the biggest draws in Vancouver Washington and in this post, we’re gonna show you what an awesome travel destination, Vancouver Washington (not be confused with Vancouver Canada) is! We knew that there are many natural formations along Columbia River and we were also told about some of the more famous ones such as Multnomah Falls and Beacon Rock, so we decided to start a drive from Vancouver Washington along Columbia River and cross at the Bridge of Gods ending with the visit at Multnomah Falls on the Oregon side…
Starting our drive along Columbia River from Vancouver Washington
Columbia River : Great River of the WestOur first scenic point – Cape Horn : Along the Lewis and Clark HighwayAnother shot from Cape Horn and the gorgeous gorgeBeacon Rock – the remaining core of a young volcanoBeacon Rock close up
Because of its height in the region of the Columbia River, it is often used as a navigation mark. Hence, the name, Beacon Rock. As we ventured closer, we also realised that there’s a trail up the rock. But Kate was startled by how eerie the path looked and we only managed a shot and left…yikes!
Path up the NW face of Beacon RockBonneville Dam
As we journeyed along, we came by Bonneville Dam. The dam served to generate sufficient electricity for the area while still keeping the balance of nature (including migration of fish) through careful planning…
Fish ladder allowing fish to migrate safely through the dams – but we did see a few sea lions lurking to feast upon the fish that passed through
Coming to the Bridge of Gods, we crossed the Columbia River (toll of 1USD), took a break and journey back towards Multnomah Falls…
Bridge of Gods as we drove on it, crossing the Columbia RiverColumbia River from Bridge of GodsMural depicting the past and present and how the original bridge of God was likeOriginal Bridge of Gods was formed from an avalanche which corroded away paving way for this man-made versionHood RiverAnother shot of Hood River Vancouver WashingtonPassed by Horsetail Falls before coming to Multnomah FallsArriving at Multnomah Falls – visited by 2 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR!Multnomah Falls with the sign – 2nd highest all year round fall in USAAwesome Majestic Multnomah Falls
Enjoy Multnomah Falls Oregon
Heading back, we finally got to enjoy a wonderful view along the River Columbia near downtown Vancouver
Interstate Bridge connecting Vancouver to PortlandBoard walk beside Columbia River – path we took from Beaches back to Hilton Hotel
View from Boardwalk of Columbia River at Vancouver Washington
Yay! First view of snow cap on Mount Hood in the distance!
Sunset at Columbia River with Mount Hood in the back!
But there was a shot that we didn’t manage to take and it was Mt St. Helens. We managed to only stay outside the visitor’s center because it was Christmas Day. On top of that, it was ULTRA MISTY which meant that we did not manage to see it. But to do it justice, here are some official pictures from Visitvancouverusa!
Mt St Helen’s Visitor Centre – Closed on misty Christmas Day
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We hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage of all the wonders of nature that you can enjoy as you travel along the Columbia River. Hilton Hotel Vancouver Washington makes a great base to enjoy all of these and remember to rent a car like we did to have the flexibility to visit all of these spots along Columbia River!
Catching Portland Winterhawks in action was an excellent story to tell. This is because it was the first time EVER that we watched an ice hockey match! But before we get to the match proper, we’ll talk about the meal we had at Burgerville first…
After parking our car at Rose Quarter for $8,
Parking Ticket at Rose Garden ($8USD) for Portland Winterhawks Match on New Year’s Eve
we approached the ticketing booth to find out how to get to our seats.
Winterhawks match at Moda Center also home to NBA team Portland Trailblazers
At the same time, we also asked where we could get our dinner. We were told to head towards Multnomah Street. As we headed in the general direction of where the cashier pointed, we started to see several Winterhawks fans walking in the same direction as well. After about a 6 minutes walk, we finally arrived at Burgerville…
Dinner at Burgerville Multnomah Street
Following a hawks fan to BurgervilleNope, we’re not stalking this hawks fanMenu at Burgerville
After much consideration, we finally settled for the half pound colossal cheese burger with a basket (which actually means a meal – with fries and drinks) for 9.89USD…
Colossal Cheese Burger from Burgerville ($9.89USD) – Tasty US Beef!
The fun thing about our trip to Burgerville was this machine…
Cool touch screen drinks dispensing machine at Burgerville
The really cool thing about this machine is that it actually dispenses over 100 different types of drinks! From this machine, we had coke lime and vanilla root beer! For each drink, you’ll choose the primary taste (i.e. Coke, Sprite, Root Beer etc.) then a secondary choice of raspberry, lime, lemon etc appears! With these combinations, you can enjoy over 100 different drinks through just this one machine! Cool huh?!
Pre-match Activities inside Moda Center
Before the start of the match, there were many things going on…
Waha 50 50 pot – 50% of the pot goes to the winner while the other 50% goes to support youth / hockey initiativesBought a ticket – Did not win though 🙁Watch a Portland Trailblazers match or buy a Winterhawks jerseyRose Bud Cheerleaders gave out posters to show which Winterhawks players graduated to play for NHL teams
Speaking of NHL, we then confirmed that we were actually watching a WHL (Western Hockey League) and not NHL (National Hockey League) game! Turns out that Winterhawks is made up of players from 15 to 20 years of age and this posters showed some of the past players that went on to play for NHL teams. The funny thing was that eventhough it was sort of like a high school match, there were more than 10,000 fans that turned up for the match! So much more than S-League! 😮
Crowds starting to fill the stadium in Moda CenterIntroducing the players of Winterhawks into the arena at Moda Center
Portland Winterhawks vs Kelowna Rockets
Teams warming up before the match
Into the thick of action between Portland Winterhawks and Kelowna Rockets
We really enjoyed the game because of the fast paced, adrenaline-filled, action-packed, testosterone-charged game! There were many occasions where the players really slammed each other into the glass and got into fights! But the game itself was really exciting…Watch…
Can you see the puck?!
Players changing during ice hockey match
The match that we watched was the New Year’s Eve 2013 match between the Portland Winterhawks and Kelowna Rockets. As we watched the match, we realised that we were actually surrounded by Rockets fans, in particular 2 really cute kids who sat behind us. Although the home team was the Winterhawks, the kids behind kept shouting “Go get ’em!”, “Go Rockets Go!” , “Fight Fight Fight!” …it was as if we had live commentary right behind our seats! The match was eventually won by the Rockets 9 to 3. However, on the few occasions that the Winterhawks scored, the stadium went crazy! Watch…
Portland Winterhawks Celebration
There’s also a funny side story going on here. Notice the boy in the video who turns behind while celebrating? He was particularly agitated when the Rockets scored against his team and especially so when the boys behind cheered really loudly. So when the Winterhawks scored, he turned and celebrated as if to say “Take that you Kelowna Rockets supporters!”
What you can expect during intervals of ice hockey matches
Chuck-A-Puck at Moda Center Portland Winterhawks
Chuck-A-Puck is a game where fans are asked to purchase rubber pucks and during this segment, they would have to throw their puck as accurately as they possibly can towards the bulls-eye in the middle of the ice hockey rink! The puck closest (or inside) the bulls-eye will win the cash prize!
The Kiss-Cam at Moda Center for Portland Winterhawks Game
Finally got to see the kiss-cam as well! The kiss-cam is actually just a little game whereby once the camera features a couple, they would kiss for the screens! As simple as that! If you remember, during the movie anger management, Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson kissed because they were featured on the kiss cam! This night, all couples except 1, kissed for the screens. The “couple” which didn’t? Was a feature of a young man sitting next to an old lady, the young man just shaked his head…
Rose Bud – Cheerleaders of the Portland Winterhawks
And of course, the Rose Bud – Cheerleaders of the Portland Winterhawks came on for performances during intervals as well.
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All in all, we had a wonderful experience of watching an American ice hockey match “LIVE”! The match itself was really exciting and the fringe activities also got the fans interested as well! We will definitely try to catch a NHL game if we can for our next trip to the USA (along with NBA and MLB games)!
McMenamins Brewery Or…Beaches Restaurant and Bar Vancouver Washington?
On our first night in Vancouver Washington, we originally wanted to visit McMenamins because of its brews. However, when we told by our concierge at Hilton Vancouver, that the service was not so good and the food was not fantastic either. Instead, we were recommended to visit Lapellah or Beaches.
We actually visited Lapellah first but as it was Christmas Eve, it closed at about 4pm. So we headed off to Beaches which opened till 630pm that evening.
Inside Beaches Restaurant and Bar Vancouver Washington
What to eat and drink at Beaches Restaurant and Bar
Although we did not make reservations that evening, we were thankfully able to quickly have a seat eventhough the restaurant was almost full. Seemed like we took the 2nd last table (table beside us was soon taken up as well). After browsing through the menu, we decided to go for the honey crisp apple wheat cider and Coor’s Light first…
Menu at Beaches RestaurantDrinks Menu Beaches Restaurant Vancouver WashingtonBar area of Beaches Restaurant Vancouver WashingtonHoney Crisp Apple Wheat (4.95USD) and Coors Light (3.95USD) in Beaches Restaurant Vancouver Washington
Kate chose the Shock Top Honey Crisp Apple Wheat while I had the Coors Light (to lighten the guilt since we’re having the “Guilty Burger”). Turns out that the crisp apple wheat cider was an excellent choice. Our waiter also told us that he preferred this version of the apple cider because it was not too sweet and had a soothing after taste – totally enjoyed it. For a dollar more, you should go for the cider as well 😉
Next, we decided on the food. We spared no expense as we were from thousands of miles away and we’re definitely gonna get some good food this evening. So we went for the Guilty Burger and the Baby Back Rib
Guilty Burger at Beaches Restaurant and Bar (11.99USD) Baby Back Rib of Beaches Restaurant and Bar (20.99USD)
The Guilty Burger really makes you guilty. It is just a monster of a burger! There’s pulled pork, grilled beef (seriously? 2 different heavy meats in a burger?!), loaded with cheese, eggs and veges. The part we love about the burger is its grilled beef. It was tender and had a flavourful smoky taste to it.
We noticed how the chefs do the burger patties. They would flip them and place sort of like a lid over it, allowing it to simmer with its own flavours, locking the juices in. That explains the tender, juicy bit of the grilled beef.
But the highlight has got to be the baby back rib. Probably the best ribs we’ve had. BETTER THAN CAFE CARTEL’S St. Louis’ Pork Ribs. It’s true. The meat literally FALLS OFF the bones just with a gentle flick. The smoky caramelised bits and lightly sweetened (not too sweet kind) BBQ sauce topped off this dish.
Did we mention, it’s probably the best ribs we’ve ever had?
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The last time we were in USA, we kept seeing Red Lobster’s advertisement on TV but did not get the opportunity to try it! This time…hahaha (sinister laugh for the lobsters) we finally got to savour some fresh seafood from Red Lobster!
Facade of Red Lobster – We went to the one near Westfield Mall in Vancouver WashingtonInside Red Lobster RestaurantAnother view inside Red Lobster
What we had at Red Lobster Seafood Restaurant
For starters, we had the mussels and the salad…
Salad from Red LobsterMussels as starters at Red Lobster USA
So we had the mussels with butter garlic sauce and the signature salads. While choosing the dressings for the salad, we were given a choice of about 8 dressings to choose from. In the end, Tom chose the most unhealthy ones (ranch and blue cheese) while Kate initially had the idea of just going light with vinaigrette dressing. Unhealthy Tom decides!
As for the mussels, it was baked a little too dry and we don’t think the mussels were “fresh out of the tank” fresh, though some of the mussels still tasted good. The other thing we didn’t like about this starter was that the bread was really salty! Have some drinks on hand to curb the overpowering toasted salty bread!
Red Lobster USA: Wood Grilled Lobster Shrimp and Scallop – $25.99 USD
As for our mains, we went for one of the signature seafood combos – the Wood Grilled Lobster Shrimp and Scallop. Recommended by our waitress, we decided on it since there was “lobster” in it. Can’t go to Red Lobster and not have lobsters right?
Turns out that the recommendation was spot on! Every single one of the seafood on this plate was fresh! The lobster and shrimp was succulent and firm, yet crunchy and bouncy on the bite. Same goes for the scallop and the taste was sweet and natural – YUM!
Pumpkin pie in a jar 5.49 USD (Red Lobster USA)
Since it was the holiday season, we went for one of the holiday treats – Pumpkin Pie in a Jar. We didn’t really enjoy this dessert simply it was too overpowering. Overpowered by the cinnamon, whipped cream and much too sweet for our liking. Didn’t really taste the pumpkin as well. Sad…
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All in all, we were happy that we finally got to eat at Red Lobster. The mains were really good but the rest of the dishes were sort of disappointing. If you ask us, we’d probably not return to Red Lobster again. But as for its neighbour – Olive Garden, we’ll definitely go try the other dishes when we return to USA.
Inn at the Market Seattle was our last hotel during our US West Coast trip and when we chose Inn at the Market, it’s all about location, location, location! Check out this video taken from Pike Place Market…
Inn at the Market highlighted in yellow in the video
If you take a look at the video, you’ll realise that we literally stayed AT THE MARKET!! Less than 30 seconds walk to be precise :p From the hotel, you can see the famous Pike Place Market, the fish throwing boys and of course the very first Starbucks in the world. The famous sea feast at Crab Pot is also a short walk away!
Map of Seattle with Pike Place Market in the backgroundFresh sea food at Pike Place Market SeattleEntrance of the original (aka very 1st) Starbucks Coffee in the World (Seattle)The Crab Pot – Home of the famous Sea Feast SeattleLocation of Inn at the Market circled out
In and around Inn at the Market Seattle
The first thing you should note is that parking in Seattle is a hassle. This is especially so if you’re parking at Pike Place Market. But there’s no worry at all if you’re staying at Inn at the Market. This is because there’s a special valet team that works round the clock for your convenience. So all you have to do is just leave your car at the side and your friendly “man in black” (yes, they’re in black uniforms) will whisk your car away – a little tip when you get your car again would be nice 🙂
Lobby of Inn at the Market SeattleFireplace and Christmas Decoration at Inn at the Market Seattle
The next thing we noticed was that the reception team at Inn at the Market is SUPER DUPER FRIENDLY!! Whenever we entered or left the hotel, they would say hi to us and would always be on hand to help when necessary. When we checked in, we were greeted by Noelle. She was so vibrant and lively and she welcomed us with such positive energy that you almost forgot it’s 5 degrees right outside!
Noelle – Friendly and Lively receptionist who welcomed us to Inn at the Market Seattle
The other place you ought to check out is the Roof Top Garden. From here, you can enjoy splendid views of the bay, Pike Place Market and of the Seattle Great Wheel (Ferris Wheel) too. Great place to chillax while soaking in the sun!
Roof Top Garden at Inn at the Market SeattleView of Pike Place Market, Seattle Great Wheel and the Bay from Inn at the Market’s Roof Top Garden
City View Room Inn at the Market Seattle
We really liked the colours of the room. Neutral colours with the bright orange arm chairs as the centre piece of the city view room. The toilet also comes with a bathtub (always a plus) and of course a pretty arrangement of toiletries.
Inviting King Size Bed of City View Room at Inn at the Market SeattleBright orange arm chair with views of the city streets from Inn at the Market SeattleBathroom in City View Room Inn at the Market SeattleArrangement of toiletries at Inn at the Market
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The San Remo was the 2nd hotel we stayed in during our recent visit to San Francisco. We were invited by the tourism board of San Francisco to 2 hotels – Palace Hotel as well as the San Remo hotel.
Facade of the San Remo Hotel San Francisco
History of the San Remo Hotel San Francisco
The history of San Remo hotel goes something like this…
On 18th April 1906, San Francisco was hit by a devastating earthquake and fire which literally levelled the city. Massive works were required to build the area. Hence, A.P. Giannini, founder of the Bank of America thought of an idea to build a hotel to house the men who were expected to rebuild the area. The New California Hotel was thus founded. Over the next few years, the hotel was home to sailors, fishermen and even chocolate makers from Ghiradelli’s chocolate plant. In 1922, the New California Hotel was renamed to San Remo Hotel.
Warm cozy yet rustic corridor of San Remo HotelPay phone with a retro looking sign above (San Remo Hotel San Francisco)
Instead of just staying in your room at San Remo, you should really take a walk about the hotel. Just wander through the stairs and its corridors, you’ll realise that there’s alot of history in store for you. There are pictures of the founding family, people who used to work in San Francisco and also the quaint rustic feel of the entire hotel.
In addition, the receptionists here are really cool as well. They know their stuff and can easily direct you to where you want to go or arrange transportation on your behalf. Alex was our receptionist when we checked in and he was knowledgeable in telling us where to go and what to do and when we needed an airport transfer the next day, he immediately made the arrangements. Quick as a jiffy!
Our friendly receptionist Alex when we checked in at San Remo Hotel San Francisco
Room of San Remo Hotel San Francisco
As the premise is actually quite small, you’ll need to know that toilets and common facilities are shared in this hotel…
Common toilets with shower areas in San Remo HotelWash basin near the toilets San Remo Hotel San FranciscoTV Lounge Area San Remo Hotel San FranciscoLittle chillax area with a massage chair (San Francisco San Remo Hotel)
You may also wish to know that there’s an area where drinks and coffee is available. However, do note that the water is not replenished in the evening. In the morning, it may run “dry”. Good to squirrel some away before you sleep! 🙂
Coffee Tea and Water close to the reception area (San Remo Hotel San Francisco)
Another thing which you may want to take note is that since the reception is located on the 2nd floor and rooms on the same floor or higher, you will have to carry your luggage up one flight of stairs. A relatively narrow one as well. So try to pack light if you’re staying at San Remo Hotel.
As for the rooms, we must say that they are well decorated. Beautiful bedsheets, traditional curtains and wooden furnitures really brings out the feel of a historic hotel. Our room came with a wash basin which was a plus! There’s also a portable heater which worked really well and kept our room nice and warm 🙂
One of the rooms with a painted mural window at San Remo Hotel San FranciscoOur room with a queen sized bed (San Francisco San Remo Hotel)Comes with an attached sink, toiletries and an actual window in San Remo Hotel Room
What we really loved about staying at San Remo Hotel San Francisco
1. Fior d’Italia, America’s Oldest Italian Restaurant is located at the ground floor. Upon arrival, we noticed that there’s an italian restaurant located at the first level of the hotel. It even has a sign that says “America’s Oldest Italian Restaurant”. With this sort of signs, you’ve got to try it right? Food must be good for it to survive this long. Sure enough, we did not regret our decision…
Facade of Fior d’Italia – America’s Oldest Italian RestaurantLinguini with meatballs at Fior d’Italia – Possibly the best pasta ever eaten! (17USD)Risotto Funghi at Fior d’Italia – Confirm the best Risotto ever tasted (16USD)Ricotta Cheesecake paired with Dessert Wine at Fior d’Italia San Francisco
Ok, the pics don’t really do justice to how good the food was (blame it on the romantic lightings! :p) The mains we had were simply some of the best italian food we’ve tried. No wonder it’s still around after so long. Pure simple, great tasting food. Yummy! Oh, you’ll also get a 15% “Neighbour Discount” for staying at the San Remo Hotel, remember to show your room keys when paying!
15% discount for dining at Fior d’italia if you’re staying at San Remo Hotel
2. PRIME LOCATION. What we really REEAAALLLYYY love about San Remo Hotel is its location. It is just 4 blocks away from Fisherman’s Wharf! We were even able to grab some supper from the wharf which is about a 7 minutes walk away (inclusive of waits for traffic lights). From there, you’ll be able to grab some of the freshest seafood around and see the sea lions at pier 39!
Steamed Dungeness Crabs at Fisherman’s Wharf San FranciscoSea Lions at Pier 39 – they just happened to be there one day and have been there ever since!
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Palace Hotel San Francisco together with San Francisco Tourism Board (SanFrancisco.travel) invited us for a stay at this gorgeous hotel while we were travelling in the West Coast of USA (yes, it was the Golden Gate Bridge that brought us back to USA).
Entrance of Palace Hotel San Francisco
We have to be honest here. Our first impression of Palace Hotel was that it could be just a normal hotel with the usual gym and swimming pool facilities. Little did we know that we were actually invited to a grand old dame of San Francisco!
Night view of Palace Hotel San Francisco
Established in 1875, Palace Hotel has undergone several restorations especially after the great earthquake of San Francisco in 1909 (although only 9% of the hotel was damaged) and after the 1989 earthquake of a 7 scale earthquake. When Palace Hotel reopened in 1991, its 1909 glory was restored at a cost of more than $150 million!
The cool thing about luxury hotels with a history is that
1. They are usually in the city centre. This is because cities build outwards from its centre and as it grows, the older buildings which are originally close to the city centre would then become prime locations! For Palace Hotel, it just a stone’s throw away from Union Square and the world famed, San Francisco Chinatown
2. Many famous people stayed here before. Famous personalities who stayed here before included Mark Twain, Thomas Edison (would you believe it?!), Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill (seriously?!), Presidents of USA (including Franklin Delano Roosevelt) and more recently actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg.
Due to the festive period, the lobby of the hotel was brightened up with some decorations of its own…
Christmas Decorations in the lobby of Palace HotelHuge Christmas Tree in the Garden Court of Palace Hotel San FranciscoEntrance to the Garden Court with 2 Nutcrackers DisplaysReception area of Palace Hotel San Francisco – Morey on the left who assisted us during check in
As with our stay at Hilton Vancouver Washington, we were actually anticipating a package from San Francisco travel. Although it was not there upon our arrival, our receptionist Morey, helped us by checking through the records again (twice) and going back to the storeroom (twice) just to confirm that our package was indeed late. In addition, he also gave us advice to get the package tracking number (if available) and to contact SF travel again. All this while, maintaining his professional attitude and service. With such great attitude and service, it is no wonder that Palace Hotel ranks highly in their reviews as well.
Before long, Morey passed us the room keys saying
“There you are. Enjoy your stay at the Deluxe King Suite!”
So we wondered to ourselves, a suite? Perhaps, we just heard wrong. Better not put our hopes too high just to let them fall smack down right? So we got our stuff and headed to our room, walking past this BEAUTIFUL hallway…
Beautiful Hallway of Palace Hotel San FranciscoStaircase of Palace Hotel San Francisco
Deluxe King Suite Palace Hotel San Francisco
As we entered into our room, we were pleasantly surprised by the sheer size. The room had an entrance area, living area, study area, bedroom, couch in the bedroom as well as a bathroom complete with bathtub. In one word – HUGE!
Here’s a video tour of the Deluxe King Suite at Palace Hotel San Francisco…
And so, our ears were not wrong when we heard Morey tell us about the Deluxe King Suite. A pleasant surprise for us indeed!
Study area in Deluxe Suite Palace HotelLiving area Palace Hotel San FranciscoKeurig Coffee Machine – Though coffee is available in the lobby in the morningsHuge King Size Bed in Suite of Palace HotelComfy Couch in the Bedroom Palace Hotel San FranciscoBathroom of Deluxe King Suite Palace Hotel San FranciscoBathtub in the Deluxe Suite Palace Hotel San FranciscoShower Gel and Bath Salts Palace Hotel San Francisco
What we love about the room is its privacy. Because of its entrance (small little area where you leave your shoes), you have a distance away from the other rooms, giving you tranquility in your room. The other thing we love about the room is of course its size. We had ample space on the desk for our nightly summary, snack and watch some TV in the living room and lie down on our bed, again with the TV on! Yeah, sometimes we wonder if we’re travelling or just going to US to watch TV :p
Facilities at Palace Hotel San Francisco
Gym and swimming pools are a common fare at classy hotels such as the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. But the cool thing about the fitness centre at Palace Hotel is its sunroof…
Gym overlooking swimming at Palace HotelSwimming pool on 4th floor of Palace HotelAnother view of the swimming pool with gym in the background (Palace Hotel San Francisco)
The sunroof also makes the entire pool area really inviting during the day time!
In addition to the facilities, Palace Hotel has 2 other cool hang out places at the ground floor of its premise. Known as the Pied Piper Bar & Grill, it is named among the 7 finest bars IN THE WORLD! This is along the ranks of Ritz in London, the 21 Club in New York and the La Floridita in Havana. In that respect, the Pied Piper Bar sets the standard in opulence and elegance, definitely a place you want to check out when you’re in San Francisco.
Of course, the other venue is the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company right round the corner of the building. We had the Sea Cliff “Treasure” Sundae (with cookie at the bottom) and it was definitely one of the best sundaes we’ve had. With the rich chocolate from Ghirardelli, it totally puts a different spin to the common term “Chocolate Sundae”.
Sea Cliff Sundae with warm Ghirardelli cookie at the bottom of the sundae
Created in 1852, Ghirardelli is today a familiar name for gourmet chocolate in San Francisco. Here’s a quick snapshot of the history of Ghirardelli…
History of Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Conclusion
After staying at the Palace Hotel San Francisco, you’ll realise that there’s really few places that can compare with this hotel that mixes history, class and luxury all in one. What’s more, the location of the hotel is simply unbeatable – walking distance to Union Square, Chinatown and along the Market Street where the historic F-line plies.
A hotel recommended for all visitors to San Francisco!
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Ok, straight up. Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington has got to be one of our best hotel stays EVER!!
We were invited by Visitvancouverusa.com and Heathman Lodge for a stay at their premise. Before our stay, we did a check online and found great things about the hotel (great environment, delectable food) and of course some funny comments such as “the fake ski lodge next to Westfield Mall”.
Well, as it turns out, this “ski lodge” definitely has more to offer and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay here…
Entering Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
Facade of Heathman Lodge Vancouver WashingtonA quaint sitting area outside the lobby of Heathman Lodge
It was a cold day (about 5 degrees celsius) when we arrived at Heathman Lodge. But with its warm, “wooden” facade, we kinda felt right at home as we entered into its cozy lobby
Lobby of Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington along with Christmas DecorationsA small gift shop named Trading Post at Heathman LodgeAnother view of the lobby, reception and Hudson’s Bar and Grill of Heathman Lodge
There was a slight hiccup as we were checking in at the lobby. Apparently, we were placed on a different name by the tourism board (no fault of the hotel’s) and it took a while before the air cleared and we were checked in.
Special thanks to Marcie from Heathman, who was ever so patient, putting on that great smile all the way and also to Jacob from Visitvancouver for confirming our stay almost instantly, after calling him at his desk. We were slightly concerned as we came in at about 3pm not knowing if Jacob was still in and when we heard his friendly voice on the line, we knew that this would be solved in a quick time and it was! 🙂
The team that received us at Heathman Lodge (Marcie in the centre)! Thanks you guys!
Deluxe Suite at Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
We were told by our friends at the reception that we were on the 4th floor business level where amenities such as the daily reception (which we’ll talk a little more later) were…
Level 4 with access to Hospitality Suite ReceptionCorridor of Heathman Lodge with birds chirping!
As we walked along the corridor to our room, we were surprised to hear birds chirping! At first, we thought (or at least Tom thought) there was some birds on the loose at our level! But upon closer inspection, it was a recorded sound projected through one of the speakers. The reason we’re mentioning this is because the sound was light and sounded at intervals – very surreal sounding. It was as if we had really entered into the woody redwood forests! Even as we left our room each time, these sounds from the birds really perked us up. A great touch by the hotel!
So as we finally approached our room at 408, we were still not sure what was in for us (good move by the reception team to only mention the room number and let us be surprised by what the room has to offer). Words cant really describe why we’re ranking the room as one of our top hotel stays ever and so here’s the video tour…
Video Tour of Deluxe Suite at Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
Did you see the fire place, the balcony, the space of the living room and of course the IN-ROOM JACUZZI!?!
Let’s check out what we saw as we explored the room before the “Oohs”, “Wows”, “Wahs” and “Bearbear, come see!” came a sounding…
Ice chilled water, snacks and welcome note at the deluxe suite of Heathman LodgeIn-room coffee machine, oven and sound system which we used as we rounded up each eveningSpacious living room, comfy sofa, balcony and fire place in Suite of Heathman LodgeCloser look at the gas-operated fire place (so it’s safe!) and balconyFirst view of the king-sized bed Heathman Lodge Vancouver WashingtonAnother view of the king-sized bed with tempur mattress Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
At this juncture, we want to ask you (our readers), which picture of the bed was a better taken one? We shall not skew your opinions by telling you who took which. But the thing we really want to mention is that the hotel spared no expense on luxury in this room with a king-sized TEMPUR MATTRESS! Yes, it is the foam-memory mattress and when we slept on it, we thoroughly enjoyed every inch of support on our bodies! Even as we were lying and enjoying programmes on TV (which is another story to tell), we could feel our joints being supported, especially my elbows, the feeling was great! Makes me want to get a Tempur in our place, sponsors anyone? :p
As we entered the final part of our “exploration”, this was where the real “Oohs” were let out… an IN-ROOM JACUZZI!
In-room jacuzzi in Suite of Heathman Lodge! Probably the most luxurious bathrooms we’ve ever been to!
Yes, because of the in-room jacuzzi, the room has almost immediately been bumped up to the top few hotel stays ever. With the attached TV and mirrors around the jacuzzi, no matter which side you’re facing (one or 2 people), you can still watch TV and enjoy the jets of water massaging you as you relax – all in the comfort of your room!
Perfect for honeymooners and couples who prefer a little bit more privacy!
Vintage wall paper with attached TV!Wash basin and hair dryer Heathman Lodge Washington Vancouver
Facilities of Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
As with all great hotels, there’s a gym which overlooks the pool area. A jacuzzi beside the pool as well. Yeah, we enjoyed our jacuzzi in the privacy of our room 🙂
Gym at Heathman Lodge overlooking the indoor heated poolIndoor heated pool Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
There’s also a business centre where we printed out our tickets to the Winterhawks Ice Hockey Match on New Year’s Eve. It was the very first time we caught an ice hockey match and boy was it cool! (We’ll talk more about it in our subsequent posts).
Our Tickets to watch the Portland Winterhawks live in action at the Moda Center
PLUS! It’s walking distance to the Westfield Shopping Mall with over 150 stores here! Yes, Kate had a great time shopping here!
Westfield Shopping Mall Vancouver Washington
As mentioned in many of our hotel staycation posts, we mentioned about afternoon cocktail receptions and Heathman Lodge offers its guests at level 4 entry to the Hospitality Suite (formerly a presidential suite) for breakfast and cocktail reception!
Hospitality Suite at 442 for cocktail reception and breakfast at Heathman Lodge
There were beers, wines for you to choose from. Finger foods included tacos (with a warm tub of cheese!), salsa, nuts and healthy celery and carrots. Though we have seen more exquisite cocktail receptions, the fresh celery (with blue cheese – yes alot of cheeses during this trip!) and carrots were a refreshing change.
Snacks at the cocktail reception of Heathman LodgeA good selection of wines and beers (both bottled and tapped)IPA with nachos and vege at Heathman Lodge Lounge
You can enjoy this in the common area, watching TV and sipping up good times or go to the next room for a more private conversation…
TV area during evening reception at hospitality suite of Heathman LodgeA small lounge next door for a more private conversation
Oh, we forgot to mention that when we first entered, the room had a fresh oven-baked cookie smell and there it was, the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies! We wanted to have more but we had a dinner at Red Lobsters which we were looking forward to that evening.
Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies!
Breakfast at Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
Breakfast at Heathman Lodge was interesting with the self-made waffles.
Freshly made waffles with maple syrup for breakfast at Heathman Lodge Vancouver
The key to making a good waffle is
1. Remember to spray the waffle spray next to the waffle machine. It helps to spread the heat a little more evenly and prevents sticking on the sides
2. Dont be greedy! If you put more than required, it will overflow and create a mess! (not that we did…) Just 3/4 cup full as the instruction says and you’re good to go!
Our self-made waffles with freshly baked breakfast bar with coffee and banana Heathman Lodge Vancouver WashingtonBagel with cream cheese and grape jamBreakfast spread at Heathman Lodge Vancouver WashingtonYoghurt, juice, milk, soy milk, parfait and fruits in the fridge
The best part of our breakfast was actually meeting Audrey. She was a friendly staff in the Hospitality Suite who attended to all our needs (also reminding us to press the blue button – guests here will understand what we mean!)
We started a conversation with Audrey and she told us all the beautiful sights that Vancouver had to offer. Told us all about Beacon Rock and Multnomah Falls which we visited the next day. Thanks to her great service, we had an enjoyable and informative breakfast! Thanks Audrey!
Audrey who was friendly and helpful when we had our meals at the Hospitality Suite!
Hudson’s Bar and Grill – Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington
If you’re staying at Heathman Lodge, you have got to visit Hudson’s Bar and Grill at its first level. Many people across town come here just for its food and after trying its brunch menu, we think you should too!
Hudson’s Bar and Grill at Heathman Lodge Vancouver – before dinner time. Yes it usually gets CROWDED!
As it was the festive season, only the brunch menu was available. But nonetheless, we were thoroughly surprised by the standards of the meals that we were about to have…
Dungeness Crab Cakes Benedict – 14 USD (Hudson’s Bar and Grill Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington)Smoked Salmon Skillet – 11 USD (Hudson’s Bar and Grill Heathman Lodge Vancouver Washington)
In terms of value, these must have been the best egg benedicts ever! How can 2 HUGE pieces of Dungeness Crab Cakes together with 2 perfectly crafted egg benedicts only cost 14USD?! The crab cakes were fresh and had a light crisp on the outside of the crab cakes. We’ve had crab cakes before and were thoroughly disappointed but with this, it totally revived our confidence in crab cakes once again! In one mouth, you can taste the crisp on the edge of your tongues and when you go in for the bite, fresh crab meat (meat only, no shells) just fills your cavities! Yummy! Simply the best crab cakes ever!
For the salmon skillet, we were quite skeptical that it costs only 11USD, the salmon must be no where to be seen right? WRONG! The salmon came in HUGE CHUNKY PIECES and coupled with the sauce and sourdough bread? Mamamia! Remember to let the yolk ooze unto the sourdough bread and enjoy it with a huge piece of that fresh grilled salmon yah?
Bloody Mary for 10 USD (Heathman Lodge Hudson’s Bar and Grill)
As for the drinks, we went for the Bloody Mary which was recommended by many patrons. When we ordered, we did not know it was 10USD! For us, it was a little too expensive, but the taste was great. You could taste the fresh tomatoes, lime and celery mixed into it. Very different from the BMs that we drank before. Tasted healthy actually 🙂
But truth be told. For the price, we would have gone for the beers on tab instead.
Conclusion
After visiting Heathman Lodge, we cannot imagine a visit to Vancouver Washington without visiting this quaint hotel.
Whether its for the stay, for the service, for its great location (for Westfield and Columbia River side trips) or simply for great food and company, Heathman Lodge has got to be your choice of stay during your visit to Vancouver Washington!
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Eureka Inn was our next stop after our stay at Hilton Vancouver Washington. We decided to take the Oregon Scenic Drive via US Route 101 to Eureka before continuing our drive from there to San Francisco. The drive time from Vancouver, WA to San Francisco would have taken 10 hours but we decided to take a stop at Eureka so that we could enjoy the scenic drive and really just take in the sights. To give you an idea of what you can expect on the Oregon Scenic Drive, check this out…
Beautiful Ocean view on Oregon Scenic Drive via US 101
We set off at about 8am in the morning and finally reached Eureka at about 5pm. The original 7 hours drive became a 9 hours drive because of the breaks we took along the way. Well, with such views, you’ve got to stop somewhere and take it all in right?
Inside Eureka Inn California USA
Facade of Eureka Inn – Stayed here during this trip
After parking the car in the carpark right behind the hotel (parking is complimentary for guests), we headed into the lobby of Eureka Inn
Christmas Tree and Fire Place of Eureka InnLobby of Eureka Inn with view of the 2nd FloorLynette who was the receptionist upon our arrival
We were promptly greeted by Lynette who was on duty that evening. She warmly welcomed us and introduced us to the facilities of the hotel including drinks and live music at Palm Lounge
Palm Lounge with Jazz Music from 9pm onwards
Offers at the Bristol Rose Cafe (drinks for a penny! – with some orders of food of course)
Bristol Rose Cafe Eureka InnInside Bristol Rose Cafe – notice its classy interior deco
And the ballroom which JF Kennedy once held a party…
Actual Chandelier in Eureka Inn ballroom since 1952
Not to mention an outdoor swimming pool, which was too cold for us to swim at this time of the year
Outdoor pool area of Eureka Inn which must be really cool to hang out at during summer months
There’s also alot of history that the hotel is famous for. In fact, when it opened in 1922, it was considered a very classy place, which is why it is now given the name “Grand old dame of Eureka”. We also saw several interesting items scattered in the hotel…
Actual Telephone Switchboard used to connect calls between rooms
You literally “plug and play” to talk to the next room…
A really cool retro phone in our roomOld lift with old buttons in Eureka Inn
Queen Bedroom of Eureka Inn
Corridor of Eureka Inn
When we were checking in, Lynette introduced us the newly refurnished room for an additional 30USD but we decided to stick to the “original”. Though we saw many bad comments on Tripadvisor about the rooms, we did not see the “cracks” and “dirty bathtubs” that were described. The room and toilet looked fairly clean as well.
Queen size bedroom in Eureka Inn – Non renovated roomsVintage arm chairs and curtains with cable TVClean bathroom and bathtub of Eureka Inn
Everything was above expectations, possibly because we lowered it due to what we saw on Tripadvisor. But there were some small things we noticed…
1. It took a REALLY LONG TIME before hot water came out of the taps. 2. If you look REALLY CLOSELY, there are indeed some parts that were old and needed to be changed (unless its intended to be there for the “rustic” feel which we do not think so) 3. The bed was too springy and whenever I rolled, Kate rolled too.
But nonetheless, for 90USD (including taxes), the room was really decent along with a great location. Within walking distance to the historic downtown and of course Lost Coast Brewery.
Why stay at Eureka Inn?
Historic Old Town of Eureka
Eureka Inn on the National Register of Historic Places
Eureka Inn is placed on the National Register of Historic Places and from here, you can check out all the historic landmarks of the city…
Old Historic Eureka Downtown – Resembles “wild wild west” doesn’t it?Morris Graves Museum of Art EurekaThe Eureka TheatreRomano Gabriel’s Wooden Sculpture Garden Eureka
Romano Gabriel was a carpenter from Italy who settled in Eureka after WW1 and built at least 6 houses in the town of Eureka. His greatest “marvel” was building wooden sculptures that covered the front yard of his Eureka home. As time went by, he built more little objects and visitors came by just to see his front yard. Being an introvert, he would peer from his home, happy to see these visitors enjoying his work of art.
Map of Old Town Eureka WaterfrontEureka Waterfront Promenade and Boardwalk
Lost Coast Restaurant and Brewery
Facade of Lost Coast Brewery 4th Street Eureka California – Seemingly quiet on the outsideNoisy and boisterous crowd inside Lost Coast Brewery
The other highlight of our stopover at Eureka was our visit to Lost Coast Restaurant. That evening, the restaurant was PACKED! We had to wait about 20 minutes (which is a long time considering the size of the town) before we were seated down. But the wait was well worth it. Let’s first talk about the beers…
Ordered Tangerine Wheat during our 20 minutes wait, therefore it was half full when we took this photo (3.75USD per pint) Lost Coast Brewery Eureka
Unlike some brewery at some well-known microbreweries in Singapore, you can ACTUALLY taste the fruity flavours of the fruit beers here. The tangerine and raspberry tastes were very apparent, much to Kate’s delight. But the highlight for us was the food…
Caesar Salad $8.99USD (Lost Coast Brewery Eureka)1 pound of Buffalo Wings at $10.99USD (Lost Coast Brewery Eureka)Lost Coast Brewery’s Famous Hot Brown – Generous servings of beef with melted cheese between crispy sourdough bread!
We decided to have some vegetables to aid the “you know what” so we ordered the Caesars. Turns out that the portion was HUGE which really helped the “you know what”, if you know what I mean…
Well, that is true. But truth be told, this was MUCH BETTER! The meat was tender, chunky and juicy. The sauce on the other hand was tangy and appetising. When we told the waitress that it beats Anchor Bar’s original Buffalo Wings hands down, she just replied a humble
“Yeah, our wings are pretty hard to beat!”
By the time we reached the hot brown, we were already very full. But the beef was really juicy and packed in so much flavour that we didnt mind bloating ourselves up that evening. The sourdough bread made the sandwich all that more unique.
Total damage of $38.36USD at Lost Coast Brewery
Well, the best part was that the total damage was less than 40USD (tips not included yet)! At this juncture, if you are vexed about how to tip in the USA, our rule of thumb is 10% + 1USD. This means that for this meal, we tipped 5USD. Do note however, that 10% means that you don’t really like the service but is still ok. Which means that our general rule of thumb doesn’t really please the waiter/waitress but don’t piss them off as well. Which makes it a good balance 😉
Breakfast at Eureka Inn
Inside small dining area of Eureka Inn for breakfast overlooking the poolBreakfast at Eureka InnCoffee juices and milk at Eureka Inn
Nothing much to shout about for breakfast. It does keep you full and provides you with coffee to kick start the day. One gripe we had was that the microwave oven was not working and we were not able to warm up the cakes and croissant which would have made the breakfast more enjoyable.
Eureka Inn California USA
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All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our stopover at Eureka during our Oregon scenic drive. It is afterall the largest city between Portland and San Francisco on the west coast. If you want to have a nice place for stopover during this drive, do check out Eureka Inn!
Hilton Vancouver Washington was one of the hotels that we were invited to during our visit to USA. It is important to note that this Vancouver is the one in the state of Washington, in the United States of America and not the one in Vancouver Canada. But here’s a little known fact, Vancouver Washington was in fact the “FIRST Vancouver” to be founded in the West of the continent of America. Which is why the tourism slogan for the city is
“Discover the Original”!
Hilton Vancouver Washington with Bell Tower at Esther Short Park
We arrived at Hilton Vancouver Washington on a cold Christmas’ Eve. However, as we entered the lobby, the ambience perked us up almost immediately and soon we forgot about the bitter cold right outside the doors of Hilton…
Lobby of Hilton Vancouver Washington
Our receptionist Leesa made our first impression of the hotel even better with her warm smile and kind gestures (she introduced us to this really great restaurant called Beaches, which we will talk a little bit more about later). Before long, we received our key and made our way to our room at level 6
Friendly Staff of Hilton Vancouver Washington – Leesa in the middle provided us with helpful info about VancouverLift Lobby of Level 6 in Hilton Vancouver WashingtonHallway down to our room at Hilton Vancouver Washington
Hilton Vancouver Washington’s Deluxe King Bedroom
Hilton Vancouver Washington is actually the only 4 star hotel in downtown Vancouver. Hence, it was no surprise to us that the room had all the amenities that we usually see in a 4/5 star hotel room.
Large inviting King-Sized Bed in Hilton Vancouver WashingtonSpacious Interior with Cable TV an executive deskToilet with Bath Tub – Hilton Vancouver Washington Deluxe King BedroomNeat Toiletries of Hilton VancouverCoffee machine with coffee bean powder Hilton Vancouver
Video tour of Deluxe King Bedroom of Hilton Vancouver Washington
There were 3 really cool things that we liked about the room.
1. The Coffee Machine. Kate and I are coffee people and coffee, especially in the mornings, help to “kick start” our day. The coffee machine (with coffee bean powder no less) gave us fresh coffee each morning that brightened our day (and also kept us warm on a cold winter’s day)
2. The Executive Desk. For most people, the executive desk seemed redundant. Afterall, you’re on a vacation right? But for travel bloggers like ourselves, it gives us a proper place to go through the photos of the day and jot down comments on our computer so that we can blog about them when we return. Otherwise, we would have to sit on the floor and type which may result in backaches, especially for oldies like us ;p
3. Room with a View! When we first drew our curtains, we were greeted with this view…
First look outside our room from Hilton Vancouver
We were like “Whaat?!”
From this view, what do you see? Nothing except buildings and perhaps even a factory right? At that point in time, coupled with the mist, we were pretty sure we were surrounded by factories!
But as the skies cleared up the next morning, we soon realised why we were given this corner room…
View of the Columbia River from our room at Hilton Vancouver Washington
We had marvelous views of the Columbia River and the bridge that leads to Portland!!
Facilities at Hilton Vancouver Washington
In addition to the in-house restaurant, Gray’s at the Park and Esther’s Coffee Bar, Hilton Vancouver Washington offers the usual facilities such as the gym, swimming pool and jacuzzi…
Fitness Centre opens 24hrs Hilton VancouverSwimming pool Hilton Vancouver Washington opens from 6am to 10pm dailyThere’s even a Jacuzzi by the Swimming Pool at Hilton Vancouver
What we really liked about Hilton Vancouver Washington
Besides it being a 4 star hotel, there are 2 things that we really liked about the location of Hilton Vancouver Washington
1. Proximity to the Waterfront Park. Hilton Vancouver Washington is just a short walk away from the Waterfront Park. From there, you can have easy access to the relaxing board walk by the river as well as the excellent restaurants such as Beaches, Mcmenamins and Joe’s Crab Shack
2. Proximity to Historic Venues of Vancouver. If you’re into the history of USA, Hilton Vancouver Washington offers a great base from which you can visit historic locations such as the Officer’s Row, Fort Vancouver Historic Site, Pearson Air Museum as well as the many historic Monuments of the City (such as Slocum House built in 1867)
All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Hilton Vancouver Washington and here’s a sneak peak of the marvelous views we enjoyed along the Columbia River…
Can you see the snow-capped Mount Hood in the distance?
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Related Posts
This is part of our coverage of San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver USA. Check out these posts if you’re visiting the West Coast of USA!
* Thanks to Visitvancouverusa.com for making the trip possible. Special thanks to Natalie and Jacob who assisted us endlessly through the planning phase of our trip!
** Special thanks also to Leesa of Hilton Vancouver Washington, who told us up front to visit Beaches Restaurant where we enjoyed great service and food that was MAMAMIA!
There are so many things to do and attractions in Philadelphia and it has got to be one of our most favourite city in the United States! You can find history, a modern city and best of all good food all right here in Philadelphia!
What to do in Philadelphia, USA?
Philadelphia is the bed rock of American History. Follow the heritage trails and you will be able to visit world renowned attractions such as the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. But if you prefer modern buildings, a few blocks down and you’d be in the Comcast Center. And if food is your thing, Reading Terminal Market boasts of some of the best foods in the city. So there is definitely no lack of things to do in Philadelphia!
1. Heritage Trail / Historic District in Philadelphia
The best thing we liked about Philadelphia is that its history is intertwined with its modernity. The heritage trail (and Historic District), located near to the modern buildings boasts of the most significant monuments in American history. The Independence Hall and Liberty Bell tells of the story of America’s road to freedom while the Betsy Ross House flew the first flag of the United States of America!
Independence Hall PhiladelphiaThe Liberty Bell PhiladelphiaBetsy Ross Flag with 13 stars
2. Philadelphia – A Modern City
Besides being rich in history, Philadelphia is also a modern city in its own rights. An excellent example is the Comcast Center which boasts of screens on its walls that look as though it is painted in the same colour as the rest of its wall…
Comcast Centre Screen as part of the wall….Animation at Comcast Center Philadelphia
What to eat in Philadelphia
If food is your thing, look no further than the Reading Terminal Market! It boasts of the best French-dipped sandwich and ice cream with a rich (in both sense of the word) history! While you’re in Philadelphia, dont miss out on the best nachos ever @ Elvez! Last but not least, what would a visit to Philadelphia be without trying its world famous Philly Cheesesteaks!
Dinic’s Roast Pork and Beef @ Reading Terminal MarketBeef Sandwich topped with Roasted Pepper and Pork Sandwich with Spinach @ DiNic’sBassetts Ice Cream – America’s Oldest Ice Cream CompanyPeanut Butter Swirl with Rum and Raisin @ Bassetts Ice CreamChocolates Galore at Reading Terminal Market PhiladelphiaOriginal Elvez Guacamole NachosPhilly Cheese Steak
Other Attractions in Philadelphia
There are other attraction in Philadelphia such as the City Hall, Rocky Statue & Museum of Art (Rocky ran up and down the steps here at Museum of Art).
Another view of the City Hall PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Museum of ArtRocky Statue Philadelphia
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There are indeed so many things to do and attractions in Philadelphia! Do take your time to enjoy these attractions and unforgettable photo moments the next time you visit these attractions in Philadelphia!
There are so many things to do in New York! Here are the top things that you should do right here in New York!
New York Attractions and Things to do
1. Times Square New York
You know when they talk about “a city that never sleeps”? Times Square in New York City is exactly that place to feel the pulse of the city. You can really feel the live of the city even at 2am in the morning! The city is just full of live and raring to go!
Times Square New York City
Hey, if you’re lucky enough (and have Bieber Fever), you might even catch one of the stars such as Justin Bieber at the Ruby Red Stairs of Times Square!
Justin Bieber Flash Mob NYC
2. Statue of Liberty – Liberty Island
The Statue of Liberty as seen from the Ferry
How can you say that you have visited New York, in that case USA, if you have not visited the most iconic symbol of freedom – the Statue of Liberty! It is really surreal when you finally lay your eyes on her as you have heard so much about her and seen so many of her image in the movies and US shows. This is especially so after contending with the throngs of tourists at the ticketing office and the queue up the ferry to Liberty Island!
Long Queues for Ferry to the Statue of Liberty
3. Visit to the Rockefeller Center’s Top of the Rock
Dont believe them when they say that you must visit the Empire State Building for the best views of New York! Instead, head a few blocks down to Rockfeller Center’s Top of the Rock! In addition to the splendid views of New York City, you can also have ESB (Empire State Building) in your pictures as well! Imagine going up ESB and not being able to have ESB in your photos…
Central Park from Top of the RockView of Empire State Building from Top of the Rock
4. Visit actual scenes from Hollywood Movies!
In New York, you will be able to visit MANY actual sites of scenes taken out of the movies! Remember Serendipity Cafe in the movie of the same name? How about Tom Hanks in the movie “BIG” playing chopsticks on the Big Piano @ F.A.O Schwarz , 5th Avenue? You can reminiscence many a movies right here in New York!
Actual Big Piano from the movie “Big” that starred Tom Hanks
5. Breath Taking Niagara Falls
Approaching Horseshoe Falls Niagara Falls via Maid of the Mist Ferry
Need we say more?
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There are indeed so many things to do and attractions in New York! Do take your time to enjoy these attractions and unforgettable photo moments the next time you visit these attractions in New York!
There are so many top things to do in LA! Let’s find out what are some of the things to do right here in Los Angeles LA! For our readers, we have listed this top things to do in LA in no particular order…
Top things to do in LA: Enjoy the sights and sounds at Santa Monica Pier
View of Ferris Wheel and Roller Coaster at Santa Monica (With Light)
That’s right! One of the top things to do in LA is just to kick back and relax along the beaches of Santa Monica. If the kids are with you, you can simply let them have a ball of a good time at the amusement park complete with ferris wheel and roller coaster. For couples, a stroll along the beach at sunset would be unforgettable!
Top things to do in LA: Watch an LA NBA match at Staples Center.
Statue of Magic Johnson at Staples Center
Another one of the top things to do in LA would definitely be to watch an NBA match at Staples Center. The world renowned Staples Center is home to the LA Lakers and LA Clippers. If you prefer ice hockey or WNBA, Staples Center is also home to LA Kings and LA Sparks!
Top things to do in LA: Catch a celebrity at Hollywood
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre Hollywood Boulevard
With premiers often held at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, you can be sure to catch a glimmer of these stars as they attend their gala premiers!
Top things to do in LA: Live the high life!
Rodeo Drive
You can really live it up and enjoy the high life at Rodeo Drive. Luxury items abound along this road for the rich and famous. You may also want to take a ride to Beverly Hills and see how huge these mansions can really be!
Top things to do in LA: Do all the Hollywood Touristy Staff
There are so many things to do and attractions in Los Angeles California! Let’s find out what are the things to do right here in LA! If you have been following our posts, we did mention that we sneaked a short tour out of Las Vegas to visit Los Angeles California!
Road Trip to Los Angeles California!
For a Singaporean, it is not common to see deserts or mountain ranges. So it was really a different experience as we rode across the desert terrain…
Desert Terrain on route to Los Angeles California
The distance from Las Vegas to Los Angeles was about 400km and it took us about 3 hours or so to reach there. Hmm, just a thought…wonder how long it would take for people to shift stuff from your house from Vegas to LA and vice versa…
Arriving in Los Angeles
Santa Monica
Our first stop in California is Santa Monica! Kate and I (well…mostly Kate) wanted very much to visit Santa Monica because of the many many times this venue has been featured in movies and partly because of the Savage Garden song of the same name. The following should be some familiar views of the Santa Monica Pier…
View of Santa Monica Beach from end of Santa Monica PierView of Ferris Wheel and Roller Coaster at Santa Monica (With Light)
There, we had a romantic walk down the beach and of course along the Santa Monica Pier and to see the iconic ferris wheel. To end the day, we enjoyed the sunset along with corn dogs (excellent creation btw) and drinks…
Breath Taking Sunset @ Santa Monica
Hollywood Sign
The following day, we set out to see the famous Hollywood Sign. We did some research on our own and found out that great views could be seen from Mulholland Drive.
Hollywood Sign as seen from Mulholland Drive
From this picture, it seems a little small. This is mainly due to our not so professional camera (any sponsors out there?) However, with the naked eye, the view was breath-taking. There was also excellent views of the LA city skyline…
View of Downtown LA from Mulholland Drive Scenic Point
Hollywood Boulevard
Since we were at Hollywood, the most famous street there has got to be Hollywood Boulevard. There we visited the famous Kodak Theatre where we had a good view of the Hollywood sign as well. The Kodak Theatre is also home to the Oscars as well as the American Idol…
View of the Hollywood sign from Kodak Theatre
The nearby Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is also a famous tourist attraction not only because it is a prime venue for Hollywood movie premieres but also of its tradition of imprinting the hands and feets of celebrities at its fore court.
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre Hollywood BoulevardMovie Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
We also managed to catch a glimpse of some B list celebrities (Basically those whom you know are celebrities as you have seen them in movies but cant really pin point there names because they just played that odd role in the movie you’ve watched. ) at the movie premiere of Going the Distance (starring Justin Long and Drew Barrymore). Nope, we did not see either of the stars but we did see many limousines picking up well dressed people (directors, producers and rich people we reckon) and of course screaming fans.
Walking along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, we managed to also identify familiar stars of our favourite celebrities. Here we found out that celebrities were classified according to the 5 categories namely; Movies,TV,Radio,Theatre and Music
The Hollywood Walk of Fame and its 5 categories
There are also other sights that you ought to catch when you’re here in Hollywood…
Beverly Hills Sign
Where the rich and famous live. This district was made famous by a TV series of the same name Beverly Hills 90210
Sunset Boulevard California
A great hangout place to just chill and enjoy the sunset.
Rodeo Drive
Luxury brands can be found here. Though many shopping belts like Oxford Street, Champs Elysees and even Orchard Road carry these luxury brand names, Rodeo Drive offers a classy feel and even a hope of a glimpse of celebrities!
Los Angeles California
Kate then planned a walking tour of Los Angeles city. I just told her that we have got to visit the Staples Centre, the rest was up to her.
First, we visited Chinatown
Chinatown from the station (Los Angeles)Map of Chinatown Los Angeles, California Shops in Chinatown Los Angeles, California
Passing by a cantonese dim sum shop, we dropped by to have some egg tarts and char siew bao. They tasted nice, but in a different way.
Char Siew Bao from Chinatown LA
A short walk away was the famous Philippe Original French Dipped Sandwich which we saw from Man vs Food on Travel Channel. We had to try it not only because it was recommended on MVF, but also because we had tried another version at Di Nic’s @ Reading Terminal Philadelphia.
Counter of Philippe – The Original French Dipped SandwichPork Sandwich from Philippe
After the food tasting, we pronounced Di Nic’s the winner. The sandwich from Philippe was quite tough even after the dip. The roast was also not as tasty as that of Di Nic’s as well.
Next begun our city tour!
Fountains Los AngelesLA City Skyline
We also armed ourselves with Starbucks coffee which tasted really good at an affordable price as well (slightly less than 3 bucks a cuppa)
Java Chip Frap and Ice Coffee with Milk
We then arrived at the Staples Center…
Staples Center Los Angeles California
We were at the home of the LA Lakers! (think Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson).
Statue of Magic Johnson at Staples Center
At the souvenir shop, we realised that the Staples Center was home to 4 teams – the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks!
We also popped by the Grand Central Market
Grand Central Market Los Angeles California
and Little Tokyo…
Streets of Little Tokyo Los Angeles CaliforniaTower at Little Tokyo Los Angeles California
When you see this tower, you know that you are at Little Tokyo. Here, you’ve got to try some Japanese food. We had a salad, the Char Su Ramen (Extra Large at 9.7USD) as well as the Pork Curry Rice at 8.20USD. The servings were huge and the taste was great! The Char Su was full of flavour and had a succulent texture to it! Yum!
Yummy Salad Little Tokyo Los AngelesCha Su Ramen Little Tokyo Los AngelesPork Curry Rice Little Tokyo Los Angeles
We also had a nice stroll through the Mexican Market at Olvera Street where you would see mexican souvenirs, small guitars and traditional costumes. The walk through was shaded and had some lanes that you can visit and explore as well…
Mexican Market at Olvera Street
Nearby was the Union Station
Union Station Los Angeles CaliforniaInterior of the Union Station
Verdict
There are so many things to do, places of interest as well as attractions in California. The city of Los Angeles can provide nice walking tours while Hollywood exudes a different class of its own.
Be it the beach, the high life or the city, Los Angeles certainly makes a great visit for tourists and locals alike!
P.S. Did you know that Los Angeles means “The Angels” which is why the city has also a nickname of “The city of Angels”
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The Hollywood Walk of Fame stretches for about 2km it consists of mainly a star bearing an artiste or celebrities’ name that formally comes from these 5 categories
1. Movies
2. TV
3. Radio
4. Music
5. Theatre/Live Performance
The Hollywood Walk of Fame and its 5 categories
Turns out that as we walked along the Hollywood walk of fame, we were so distracted and kept looking at the floor, thinking which celebrity would be next! Sometimes we would barely avoid oncoming pedestrians who must have thought, “What are these crazy tourists doing? Dont walk and look down at the same time!”
But that’s what we did!
It was fun to find stars that we know (because there were so many of them!) and these are just a few that we spotted…
Eva Marie’s Star on the Hollywood Walk of FameStar of Elvis Presley along the Hollywood Walk of Fame
The next time you are at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, try to locate the stars of your favourite artistes/celebrities. BUT! Be careful of oncoming (pedestrian) traffic!
Tourists on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
P.S. You may also like to know that you need not travel all the way to Hollywood to see the walk of fame. There are also replicas at your nearest Universal Studios!
P.S.s. Did you know that stars are given only nominated artistes and these artistes can be nominated by anyone. However, there are 2 catches. 1. Groups or people who nominate must pay about $30,000 for the fabrication of the stars. 2. The celebrity must attend the ceremony. If deceased, family members must attend on his/her behalf. No one really knows how the selection goes (done by a selection committee) after the nomination…
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The Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was built in 1927 and resides along Hollywood Boulevard. It is actually a movie theatre and today still holds premiere for many of Hollywood’s most anticipated movies!
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre Hollywood Boulevard
The Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was built by none other than Sid Grauman. He is also credited with the building of the Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre just further down the road.
The reason why the Chinese Theatre is alot of more famous and popular than its Egyptian counterpart is not only because of its uniquely classy traditional Chinese structure, but also because its fore court is home to the various handprints, footprints and signatures of artistes and celebrities.
Donald Duck’s Footprint at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Famous characters such as Donald Duck also got their chance to leave their mark at the fore court of the Chinese Theatre. This means that now, not only real life celebrities get to imprint their mark on the fore court of the Chinese Theatre, as long as your’re famous, you might have the chance to do so! *The Kind of Pop, Michael Jackson will also be immortalised on 26 Jan 2012.
Julie Andrews Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
At the fore court of the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, there is usually a HUGE crowd gathered there. Most are trying to take a photo with the imprints of their favourite celebrities while others are on tours of the Chinese Theatre, listening intently to the stories of their tour guides.
There are several stories as to how this tradition of immortalising handprints/footprints/signatures of celebrities/famous people started. The more common one often refer to a female celebrity who happened to step on the cement of the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre during construction. Sid Grauman thought that this was a good idea for famous people to leave their mark, then started this tradition.
The other version says that Sid himself made the mark and started the tradition. Whatever the story, today, it is a well loved tourist attractions for fans and tourists alike to get “close” to their beloved celebrities.
The huge crowd also presented a problem for Kate as she went about to take the photos. People were everywhere! Hence, this Harry Potter imprint had other avid potter fans in it as well…
Main Casts of Harry Potter Imprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Besides trying to haunt and hound your favourite celebrities in Hollywood, you might like to try catching them at the movie premieres at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. An easy way to do so is to look up the dates of upcoming premieres at the Chinese Theatre’s website and be there really early to get a good spot. Premieres are usually star studded events and fans will not be disappointed.
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The Kodak Theatre is one of the largest live theatre in the USA. The theatre was designed by David Rockwell and since 2002 has been home to the Academy Awards aka the Oscars.
The Kodak Theatre is also home to the American Idol due to its ability to function at the highest level for live shows.
There are only a few things that we would like to point out about the Kodak Theatre, in addition to the fact that it is a venue for shows as well as a shopping mall.
1. The Kodak Theatre Elephant
The Kodak Theatre Elephant at Kodak Theatre Hollywood Highland Center
The Kodak Theatre elephant is synonymous with the Kodak Theatre. The pair of elephants are so huge and tall that you simply cannot miss it as you see them stand guard over the fountains within…
2. Pillars inscribed with Best Pictures at the Academy Awards
Within the Kodak Theatre are pillars that are inscribed with the names of the Best Picture at the Oscars each year.
Best Picture Kodak Theater (Slumdog Millionaire)Best Picture Kodak Theater (1990s)
Notable winners (translates to films that we’ve watched and enjoyed) in recent times include Million Dollar Baby, Slumdog Millionaire as well as the King’s Speech.
3. Hollywood Walk of Fame
From the Highland Center as well as the Kodak Theatre, you can see the Hollywood Walk of Fame right beside it. There will be able to see “STARS” belonging to your favourite artiste and celebrities.
Hollywood Walk of Fame beside the Kodak Theatre
You’ll just have to take time to spot them…
Star of Elvis Presley along the Hollywood Walk of Fame
So take time to enjoy this world famous destination, who knows, you might just bump into a celebrity or 2…
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You know how the lyrics “Santa Monica, in the winter time” by Savage Garden always conjures an image of a cold chilly city in our heads? Especially when it’s coupled with a hypnotically slow beat tune?
However, this trip changed all that and more!
Iconic rides @ Santa Monica
From our hotel, we keyed in “Santa Monica” into our GPS and reached our destination in about half an hour. We took some time circling the vicinity before deciding to park at a public carpark, placing 2 hours worth of coins into the meter.
The first thing we noticed about Santa Monica were the quaint little shops lining the inner streets from the beach. They range from pubs to convenient stores to shops that sell cute little items. It was quite enjoyable walking down the street not knowing whats in store at the next shop.
As we approached the sea front, we were greeted by the sound of the waves as well as this set of instructions to comply with…
Rules at Santa Monica Beach
As we walked along the beach, we enjoyed the fine sand sifting through our feet as we headed towards the iconic Santa Monica Pier.
Before long, we reached the Santa Monica pier and as we walked along the board walk of Santa Monica pier, we saw sesame characters such as Elmo and Oscar…
Oscar and Elmo at Santa Monica Pier
Kids were given the opportunity to take photos with their favourite sesame street characters.
On the board walk, endless throngs of people traverse along this scenic boardwalk enjoying rides (such as the historic carousel, iconic ferris wheel) from the amusement park, eateries and restaurants along the pier or even just laying back and enjoying the sights and sounds…
Throngs of people passing by the Santa Monica PierIconic solar powered Ferris Wheel at Santa MonicaRoller Coaster @ Santa Monica Amusement ParkBumper Float @ Santa Monica Amusement ParkView of the Santa Monica Beach from Santa Monica Pier
Along the way, we also passed by a shop that is dedicated to the famous Route 66…
Outside of Route 66 shop @ Santa Monica
Here, you can take home some souvenirs and learn more about the history of this iconic and historic route.
At the end of the pier, we took a shot (pictorial) back towards the beach…
View of Santa Monica Beach from end of Santa Monica Pier
As the day drew to a close, we indulged in a cone dog (the person who invented this is a genius!) and enjoyed the breath taking sunset…
Breath Taking Sunset @ Santa Monica
With that, we concluded a leisurely yet thoroughly enjoyable visit to Santa Monica. And with regard to the Savage Garden song, it totally changed our perception altogether. The gloomy image has transformed into a cheerful and family oriented destination!
We’ll leave you now to decide which of these iconic ferris wheel you love best. With lights or without lights?
View of Ferris Wheel and Roller Coaster at Santa Monica (With Light)View of Ferris Wheel and Roller Coaster at Santa Monica (Without Light)
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The sun? The beach? The people? Or just the image of chilling with a drink while taking it slow?
Well…for many people, California is the state of the movie capital of the world! Hollywood! (Hollywood, California – Rings a bell right?)
And when you think about Hollywood, you would want to see the famous HOLLYWOOD sign!
Hollywood Sign as seen from Mulholland Drive
Today, we are going to share with our readers, the best spot to see the Hollywood sign and that is Mulholland Drive!
Mulholland Drive Scenic Point – Best view of the Hollywood Sign!
Do a quick search on google and you will be able to find Mulholland Drive scenic point. Not only does this lookout point provide splendid views of the Hollywood sign, it also gives breath taking views of Downtown LA!
View of Downtown LA from Mulholland Drive Scenic Point
From Mulholland Drive, you can also have a clear and unobstructed view of the Hollywood Bowl…
View of Hollywood Bowl from Mulholland Drive
The Hollywood Bowl is the largest natural amphitheater in the United States of America!
However, if you are one who just wants to have “been there done that”, the Kodak theatre also provides a good view of the Hollywood sign…
View of the Hollywood sign from Kodak Theatre
Other than that, the Griffith Park Observatory also has an excellent view from the right side of the Hollywood sign.
However, the recommendation from 2bearbear.com is that if you are able to, make a trip to Mulholland Drive and enjoy the scenic, breath taking view that Hollywood has to offer!
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As usual, Kate did ALL the planning! But it is important to note these few points as they can really help you stretch your buck…
Hotels
Did you know that the price differs ALOT if you stay in the same hotel on weekdays compared to weekends? Prices can differ by as much as up to 50%! Usually, hotel rates are cheaper from Sundays to Thursdays (mondays to thursdays for some hotels) and the prices sky rocket over the weekends (for obvious reasons – weekend getaways!)
Also, there are many fabulous hotels that do not cost a bomb. Try searching for hotels in Vegas and list them according to price. You will realise that cheap hotels that have excellent hotel facilities do exist in Vegas. This is because they usually attract tourists with low priced stays and free tickets to headline shows so that you will spend at their “you know what”. So try to snatch those good deals but dont fall prey to “you know what”!
Car Rental
It is advisable to rent a car in Las Vegas, simply because walking in the hot Nevada sun is not what you want to do, especially in the summer months.
In addition, with the mobility of a transport, you can visit hotels and restaurants outside of the strip which Kate and I were able to do.
Plus, parking is usually free at the hotels!
You can do so by visiting the car rental companies online and look for cheapest rate available. Also, you can just pop by the car rental booths when you land at the airport. Booking online could be cheaper given that there are deals going on every now and then. You could also save the hassle of wondering whether there are cars in the cheaper categories available.
Btw, it would be good to download USA maps to your GPS so that you would travel easy as well.
Tour Packages
If you are visiting Vegas for the first time (and probably the last time if you are from a distant land), make sure you sign up for the visit to Grand Canyon/Hoover Dam! The prices are relatively acceptable and they offer you a hassle free option to visit these world-renowned locations!
Having given some tips before hand, this is the low down of where we visited…
The Lowdown
Kate and I landed at the McCarran International Airport and got the keys to our car at the car rental booth. It’s a breeze if you have booked it online in advance.
We tried several hotels this time round and spent our first night at Hooters Hotel…
Room at Hooters Resort Las Vegas
The view from our room was awesome as well…
View of New York New York and Excalibur from Hooters Hotel
As it was the summer season, the water in the pool was exceptionally cold! We think it was purposely chilled to make sure that the guests were not chao ta (smelly dry or burnt in hokkien) under the hot sun…
Swimming pool of Hooters Hotel Las Vegas
After a nice refreshing swim and some drinks by the pool, we headed out to see the sights on the Strip…
M&Ms World Las VegasHarley Davidson Cafe Las VegasView of the Strip – Paris and Planet HollywoodAnother View of the Las Vegas Strip Fountains of BellagioExterior of the Hooters Hotel at night
We returned back and enjoyed the famous hot wings from Hooters
Yummy wings with Hot Sauce from Hooters Hotel
**After the first night in Vegas, we actually drove to California before returning back to spend a few more nights in Vegas. We will talk about LA,Hollywood and Santa Monica in another post…
The next day, we headed out to Hash House a Go Go to check out this restaurant as introduced by Man vs Food on travel channel.
Big O’crispy hand hammered pork tenderlion sandwich with Macaroni and Cheese on the side (Hash House a Go Go Las Vegas)
For more about the whole experience, check out the entire post here.
The following day, we checked into the Excalibur (increasingly better hotel each day; and thus the cost)…
Room of the Excalibur Hotel Las VegasView from the room of the Excalibur Las Vegas
At this juncture, we should remind our readers to always try to “negotiate” with the receptionist for a better/higher room with a good view of the strip. They are almost always able to do so on weekdays and off peak periods when occupancy is low.
View of the pool of the ExcaliburExternal View of the Excalibur
At various hotels, they have various affliation with shows about town. At the Excalibur, we were able to get half priced deals for the stand up comedy “Defending the Caveman”…it was pretty much enjoyable although we dont really recall much about the show today…really one of those shows where you want to have a good laugh and let your hair down…
Defending the Caveman by Kevin Burke
The next day, we took the option of going to visit the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Along the way, there was an opportunity to visit the Hoover Dam as well…
Iconic Hoover Dam on route to Grand CanyonHoover Dam SignMajestic Grand Canyon – South Rim’s Widest and Deepest portion
For more about what we did at the Grand Canyon tour, click here.
The last hotel we visited was the MGM. The best of the 3 hotels on our list this time round…
Room of MGM Hotel Las Vegas
There was even a day bed in the room which added to the chic factor…
Spacious living space at MGM Hotel Las Vegas
MGM Hotel has the best swimming pool on this trip to Vegas. It boasts of a 6.6 acre swimming area!! That is about 6-7 football fields!! We had an enjoyable time in the lazy pool and visiting different themed pools which was really cool…
On the way back, we were invited to rate an upcoming TV serial and vouchers were given to us in return. So we set down and were greeted by this…
Device to rate TV serials
It was really quite simple, all of us would watch the show (this time it was Hawaii Five O!) and rate it by turning the knob according the how good each part of the show was.
We recalled that the show was quite raw in that not all the special effects and sound effects had been added in. There were some parts that were quite boring as well (that was when we turned the knob to 0). However, the show eventually screened and is into its second season! 😮
Remember at the start of every MGM movie, there was a lion bursting unto the scene? These are his grandchildren at MGM!
Grandchildren of the original MGM Lion
We understand that they do not reside there but at a nearby facility and brought over to the hotel…
In the evening, we caught a magic show by Nathan Burton…it combined magic with comedy and was pretty much enjoyable.
Magic Show by Nathan Burton
On our last night, we enjoyed the famous fountain show at Bellagio…
Fountains of Bellagio
For more details of the Fountains of Bellagio, click here.
Overall, Las Vegas is a great place to spend your holidays. Food and stays are relatively cheap and plenty of international shows and musicals abound. Just make sure that you limit your time at the tables and you’d surely enjoy the holidays at Vegas!
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As with all famous eat outs, there was a queue at Hash House a Go Go. We waited for about 10 minutes and got our own seats, being shown to our seats by the friendly waiter at Hash House a Go Go.
The first thing we noticed about this restaurant was that there was no pretense and was totally casual. Everyone was having fun, enjoying their food and the company they had.
We browsed through the menu and laid our eyes on the
Big O’crispy hand hammered pork tenderloin sandwich ($13.95) as well as the Sage Fried Chicken stacked with bacon waffle, hot maple caramel reduction and crowned with fried leeks ($16.95).
We waited in anticipation as we saw huge portions of food being served to the other tables and we were not disappointed when ours arrived…
Big O’crispy hand hammered pork tenderlion sandwich with Macaroni and Cheese on the side (Hash House a Go Go Las Vegas)
Have you seen this piece of pork tenderloin? It is HUGE! Have you ever seen a piece of patty that exceeds its bread buns by this much? Check out the portion of the macaroni and cheese as well!
Taste: Just as the name suggests, the pork tenderloin was cripsy and juicy. There was something about the flatness that made the whole sandwich that extra palatable. The mac and cheese also went well as a side. Yum!
Man vs Food Las Vegas – Hash House a Go Go and Nascar Cafe
Our first thought (could be yours now) is that “How can fried chicken go with waffles and sweet maple syrup?!” The answer: YES!
Taste: Again, the fried chicken was juicy and cripsy (telling us why its famous) and the waffle had bacon in it! Take a look at this!
Sage Fried Chicken stacked with bacon waffle, hot maple caramel reduction and crowned with fried leeks (Close Up at Hash House a Go Go Las Vegas)
The maple syrup blended well (not too sweet) with the fried chicken. The fried leeks was for us, the secret ingredient that brought these sweet and savoury food pieces together! Each mouth brought out the aroma of the fried leek (unlike anything we’ve tried) while the tastes of the bacon waffle and fried chicken sort of explodes in your mouth as you chew! Wow!
We’ve got to say that Hash House a Go Go is one of the best restaurants we’ve visited in the states. We were pleasantly surprised by the ingenuity and innovation that the restaurant has placed into its food. Needless to say, the taste also had the ‘wow’ factor and we thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience there.
Nascar Cafe – Closed
Nascar Cafe at Sahara Hotel (Closed)
The Nascar Cafe used to be located at the Sahara Hotel. However, the hotel has since closed and hopefully the cafe has relocated as well. (if our readers do know of the relocation, leave your comments below)
The main reason why we popped by at the Nascar Cafe was because of the challenge introduced in Man vs Food Las Vegas!
In each episode of Man vs Food, there would be a food challenge for host, Adam Richman. In this episode of Man vs Food, the challenge was to finish eating “THE BOMB”!
What is “THE BOMB”? It is actually a 2 feet, 6 pounds burrito…
The Bomb at the Nascar Cafe – MVF Challenge
Coincidentally, we met with a challenger of the MVF challenge and there was even a table allocated just for the challenger. This challenger had finished about a quarter of the bomb and we could see that he was totally “bombed”…and here’s the reason why…
Fillings of “The Bomb” at Nascar Cafe
“The Bomb” is filled with loads of ingredients including fillers such as rice (rice?!), beans, meat and the wrap. On the top, it is covered with cheese, dressing and olives!
Although the price of “The Bomb” is just $19.95 (good for many), we decided to go with the baby burrito (the smaller version of the bomb)…
Baby Burrito @ Nascar Cafe
We were really really glad that we didnt take up the challenge. Not only because if we did not complete the challenge we would have to take a picture wearing a pink T-shirt that says “Weenie”. BUT because we even had trouble finishing this quarter of the bomb! Kate and I both at that!
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Of course, if you can finish the challenge, the prize at that time was to have unlimited rides on the now defunct roller coaster of Sahara Hotel.
Overall, thanks to MVF, we were able to experience 2 unique and memorable restaurants in Las Vegas!
The Fountains of Bellagio is definitely a must see attraction in Las Vegas!
Fountains of BellagioFountains of Bellagio Las Vegas as seen from a distance
Pictures do speak a thousand words doesn’t it? The lightings of the Fountains of Bellagio synchronises with music and the sound of the water jets to create an unique viewing experience!
Take a look at this video of the Fountains of Bellagio and enjoy the front row seats of the Fountains of Bellagio! (We were so close that we could feel the water mist from time to time!)
Fountains of Bellagio Show – Viva Las Vegas
Show Times of the Fountains of Bellagio
Monday – Friday
3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
show every 1/2 hour
7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
show every 15 minutes
Saturdays, Sundays* and Holidays
12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
show every 1/2 hour
7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
show every 15 minutes
*On Sundays Fountain show times begin at 11 a.m. and run every 15 minutes for the Fountains Brunch at Jasmine.
Even before one sets foot in Las Vegas, the fame of the Fountains of Bellagio must have preceded! The Fountains of Bellagio is so majestic and massive! It makes a statement from a distance away and even from the aerial view! You would thoroughly enjoy the Fountains of Bellagio if you were taking a helicopter ride down the Las Vegas Strip as well!
However, the best part about the Fountains of Bellagio, is that its FREE!! Visitors can just take a look at the timings of the Fountains of Bellagio and be there about 5 minutes before the start of the shows to enjoy!
The Fountains of Bellagio dance to many different tunes. Famous tunes such as “Fly me to the Moon” as well as “Viva Las Vegas” are favourites of the Fountains of Bellagio. The water jets of the Fountains of Bellagio time their bursts according to the tune of the music and synchronises the sounds and the lightings to create an unique and captivating water show!
The Fountains of Bellagio is definitely a water show not to be missed when you are in Las Vegas!
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There are actually several options to tour Grand Canyon…
But first, to whet your appetite, this is what you will get to see when you visit Grand Canyon!
Majestic View of Grand Canyon
South Rim Tour of Grand Canyon
This was the tour we took, primarily because it is usually cheaper and the weather is usually better on this tour to Grand Canyon. This tour also allows you to make a stop at Hoover Dam to take some picturesque moments before moving on to see the majestic Grand Canyon!
Majestic Grand Canyon – South Rim’s Widest and Deepest portion
The bus ride from Las Vegas was about 5 hours. Of course Kate slept along the way. I even got to snap pictures of her drooling!
Our first stop was at Hoover Dam.
Iconic Hoover Dam on route to Grand Canyon
The ride around the dam was amazing. It seemed as though you are transported into “Transformers” and imagine this futuristic structure (Hoover Dam does look futuristic doesnt it?) sitting right in the middle of a vast desert.
We also managed to grab a magnet at the souvenir shop there. Remember to take a picture with this Hoover Dam sign as well!
Hoover Dam Sign
We were also told by our guide that Boulder City was actually built for the workers so that they could continue with the construction of Hoover Dam.
We made a stop over at the Grand Canyon visitor centre where visitors can watch an IMAX film of the Grand Canyon. We also had our chinese takeaway lunch here. Not bad for food out in the desert 🙂
Next was the Grand Canyon itself!
Grand Canyon – South Rim
We were given 2 hours to walk ourselves. It was different. You get to find a spot, enjoy the vast range of the Grand Canyon and really just feel the tranquility. At times, you might even hear the call of the eagle!
West Rim – Sky Walk
The West Rim offers the world famous Sky Walk which is a horse shoe shaped platform allowing you to “hang over the cliff” of the Grand Canyon. With a transparent platform, you can have that feeling of walking over the Grand Canyon as well. We didnt choose this option because of the price and also mainly because Kate did not like the transparent floors. But Im sure visitors on this tour would have a great time as well. ______________________________________________________________
Other Options – Helicopter and Boat Ride
There are also other options to see Grand Canyon. The Helicopter ride offers you an aerial view and also descent into the valley whereby you can enjoy a boat ride on the famous Colorado River.
Of course, the helicopter ride, sky walk and boat ride will cost a little bit more.
However, whatever your choice may be, a visit to Grand Canyon will surely be one of your most memorable moments you’ll have.
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Through our travels, we have noticed a few outstanding McDonald’s restaurants…
Broadway McDonald’s
Iconic McDonalds with many light bulbs at its entrance NYC
This McDonald’s was featured on the travel channel’s McDonald’s special. It is easily recognised by the light bulbs used to show the red and yellow colours of McDonald’s. When you actually stand below these bulbs, you can really feel the heat! We wonder what’s the cost of lighting up these bulbs annually…perhaps its time to switch to LED for energy savings!
The Original McDonald’s
The replica of the Original McDonald’s @ Downey, California
This particular McDonald’s has 2 stories to tell. For one, if you look closely at the top of the M, there is a mascot that most people do not recognise and associate with McDonald’s today (unlike Ronald McDonald). His name is Speedy and was the first mascot used by McDonald’s before he was replaced by Ronald McDonald.
The other thing particular about it is that it is a replica of the original McDonald’s at Downey, California. This was taken along the way on one of our trips around USA. Immediately, we stopped by and had to take a photo of it. Again, this was also featured in the Travel Channel’s McDonald’s special where the arches, if you notice, have not yet combined to form the golden arches (M) we know today. Although from a distance, when the arches overlap, the golden arches can still be seen.
If you have seen other outstanding McDonald’s restaurants, do share it with us through your valuable comments below!
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There are so many things to do and attractions in Las Vegas! Let’s find out what are the things to do right here in Las Vegas! Las Vegas is really an amazing place and should be one of your places to visit if you havent been there. It is quite literally an oasis, an entertainment capital right smack in the middle of a desert!
There are of course many things to do (besides the obvious which we at 2bearbear.com do not advocate) in Las Vegas, so check out what we have recommended here…
1. Las Vegas Strip aka The Strip
Things to do and Attractions in Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Strip itself has become an icon synonymous with Las Vegas. Affectionately known as The Strip, the main street in the city of Las Vegas boasts of many well known structures around the world such as the Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower and even the Pyramids. All these right in the middle of a desert!
2. Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
If you are a fan of nature, the Grand Canyon will not disappoint. The majestic combination of ridges and ranges is a beautiful sight to behold. You can also have the option to walk over the Canyon @ the Skywalk or even descend to its valley via a helicopter tour.
3. Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam – Side Trip from Las Vegas
The Hoover Dam is one of the most well known dams in the world. Having appeared in movies such as “Transformers” and “Superman”, it gives you a sense of familiarity. Yet you would be awe-struck by its sheer size.
4. Fountain Show at Bellagio
Fountains of Bellagio
At the front of the Bellagio Hotel, there is a fountain that comes to life and dances with the music daily! Enjoy the spectacular fountain show that has captivated the many visitors to Las Vegas.
5. Good Food
Man vs Food Las Vegas – Hash House a Go Go and Nascar Cafe
There are so many buffets, good eateries and fine dining here in Vegas. Take your pick and you’ll be spoilt by the choices the city of Las Vegas has to offer.
6. Musicals and Performances
Banners of Musicals and Performances in Vegas
Not to be outdone by Broadway, Vegas regularly brings in international acts and musicals to be at the centre stage of Las Vegas. Remember to check out the discounted tickets and discounts from the hotels you stay with when attending these shows!
There are of course many other attractions and things to do in Vegas such as visiting the MGM (descendants of the world-renowned MGM lions – the one that roars when you watch movies), ridiculously huge swimming pools / man-made beaches (described in hectares!) and even rides such as that at the Stratosphere hotel!
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