food — The Keenan-Blogger — The Keenan-Blogger

San Miguel de Allende City Guide: The Best Small City in the World?

Stepping into San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, felt like walking into a dream I'd been planning forever, (or at least since we booked the trip on a whim last November). This place has been on my must-visit list ever since Condé Nast Traveler crowned it the best small city in the world. From everything I’d seen, I expected to step onto a movie set with Rothko-esque painted walls and cobblestone streets — almost too picturesque to be real. But San Miguel is far from a manufactured marvel. It’s as breathtaking and cinematic as it looks, but the vibe remains authentically Mexican and the people are some of the friendliest we’ve met in any of our travels. From marveling at the stunning architecture of Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, indulging in rooftop sunset dinners and drinks, and immersing myself in its vibrant art scene, I 👏 WAS 👏 SOLD 👏.

Ojai: Your Guide to a Perfect Day Trip from Los Angeles

So, I decided to take a break from the never-ending buzz of Los Angeles and head out on a day trip to the dreamy town of Ojai. This little gem, just a 90-minute drive from LA, is often called the Shangri-La of California. Think chill vibes, mouthwatering cafes, quirky local shops, and seriously gorgeous scenery. Let me take you through my perfect day in this charming mountain valley town.

“Beignet, done that.” — Four Days in New Orleans

When choosing our birthday destination this year, we had three criteria: 1) A place that was close enough to NYC that we could make a long weekend out of it; 2) A place we’d never visited (or in my case, had only visited as a child); and 3) A place that was gay friendly.

Chiang Mai – Thailand’s Culture Capital

When we first started planning our honeymoon, the first thing we agreed on was that we wanted to meet elephants. We’d both had fantasies of seeing an elephant up close — and were pretty sure we would both burst into tears.

Koh Yao Noi – Desert Island Paradise

Visiting Thailand for the first time, we decided to stick pretty close to the tourist guidebook, but we wanted at least a couple days off the beaten path. Searching for some more remote destinations in addition to Phuket and Bangkok, we discovered the island of Koh Yao Noi, just east of Phuket, which remains mostly untouched by tourist operations.

Phuket — Dream Beach Destination

After leaving the bustling metropolis of Bangkok, our first stop was the popular beachside island of Phuket. Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, is the rainforest-covered home to many of Thailand’s high-end seaside resorts. Our first stop was the Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa.

Bangkok – The Pearl of Southeast Asia

Flying to Thailand from the United States is not for the faint of heart. Even with a nearly direct flight, it is a seriously long trip — about 23 hours door to door from New York City. Our biggest splurge of the entire honeymoon was booking business class seats on Philippine Airlines.

Honeymoon in Thailand

When Scott and I got engaged in the fall of 2017, we had our mind set on planning the wedding ceremony, but we were just as excited to plan the big trip we would take after. Scott and I love traveling — we always say that we’re happiest as a couple when we’re exploring a new place together.