​1. Eat street food  ​

Street food is a cheap, quick and easy way of getting your necessary daily dosage of nutrition. You’ll find vendors throughout the country lined up along roadsides in busy areas. Aside from being inexpensive and tasty, these spots are also very handy – as they don’t force you to go out of your way to find somewhere for dinner.
 
While it’s a natural concern to worry about food poisoning, stalls are often safer than some of the smaller restaurants you’ll find. As this TripAdvisor forum points out, the nature of the on-the-spot prepping, cooking and serving means food doesn’t sit around for a long time.
 

2. Avoid tourist traps  ​

You’ll find places like this dotted throughout the world. Once a location gains some notoriety, tourists begin flocking there in a desperate attempt to feel like they’re not missing out. Unfortunately, cunning locals are ready and waiting to make the most of what is, for them, a golden opportunity.
 
Some of the biggest tourist traps in Southeast Asia include the likes of Vang Vieng (Laos), Kuta Beach (Bali) and most of Phuket in Thailand. Prices are being hyped up in these regions to account for the influx of visitors.
 

3. Save and budget ahead of time   ​

Make sure you’ve got the funds before you go. If you know you’re heading off on a holiday which is going to prove costly, you’ll need to have money set aside which you can draw from. If the trip is a way off, you can move a certain amount of money aside every month and keep it in a dedicated savings account.
 
From there, work out roughly how much you want to spend every day. Times this by the number of days you’ll be away, and you should have a total for how much you’ll need for the trip.
 

4. Think about how you’re going to manage money  ​

As 1Cover wisely point out, you’ll need to have a rough idea in mind when it comes to how you’re going to manage your money when you’re actually abroad. For example, you can avoid currency exchange rates by putting all your cash onto a travel money card. These work in much the same way as your actual bank card, minus the fees for conversion.
 
If you’re worried about your expenses, make sure to keep these top tips in mind. They could make all the difference when it comes to your next trip to Southeast Asia. 

Now there are tons of hidden beaches in Southern California, but the one I want to share with you today is literally concealed. We had a hard time finding it the first time we went here, because the beach is obscured by houses and not visible from the road. Now the stairs on the way to the beach is not really 1,000 but it feels like it, especially when you’re climbing back up. There are only around 300 steps and I’d say this will give you a good cardio and leg workout even if you only pass by it once. Also, the fact that this is in Orange County, which is famous for some of the most amazing beaches in the US, make this more of a secret gem than a tourist spot.
 
This is one of those places where you had to exert effort to get there, both in planning and finishing the long walk up and down the steps. You will see a few people challenging themselves to go up and down several times. It’s a great workout spot, especially since you get to see the spectacular views of the ocean while running up and down. Once you get to the beach, you’ll realize that every step is actually worth it. My wife bought a lightweight blanket with her to lay down on the sand. It was sunny when we went but the cool breeze and the sound of the ocean waves made it the perfect spot to relax, to read a book. I don’t recommend bringing tons of items as this will just make it harder when climbing back up. I also do not recommend taking small kids as the steps are pretty steep and you’ll end up having to carry them as I see most families do.
 
Unlike the other popular beaches in California like Santa Monica Beach, Newport Beach and Venice Beach, just to mention a few, this is not crowded at all. It looks like most of the people who hang here are locals, maybe the ones who own the beautiful houses in the area, each of them having their own private steps to the beach, enough to make anyone jealous. And they’re not small beach houses, most of them are huge, lavish mansions - another reason to go here. Pretty sights are always a bonus, am I right?
 
Now the beach I’d say is dramatic because of the rock formations, and most importantly because of the cave at the Southern part. This is such a cool area to explore during low tide, but very dangerous when tides are high, so please be careful. Please note that there’s usually no lifeguard on duty.
 
So how do you get here?
If you’re driving down Pacific Coast Highway south bound, park at 9th street or along PCH.
The public entrance to the beach is located directly across the street from 9th Street and PCH.
 
Where to park?
Unfortunately, this beach doesn’t have a dedicated parking. You park on the street but you have to be cautious because there are tons of areas not allowed for public parking. If you’re going during the Summer time, that makes it even more difficult to find a spot. You can also park at the hospital if there are spaces available. Now we’ve been here a few times, and the perfect time for us at least, is to go really early in the morning around 7am or after lunch between 2-3 pm.
 
You can park in residential areas but please be careful not to park or block in someone’s driveway because streets are regularly patrolled and you will get a ticket. (Free)
 
You can park in the hospital’s parking lot if there’s any space. (Free)
 
You can use metered parking at a rate of $1.50 per hour in PCH.

Ready to bask in the splendor of Seattle? It’s our favorite city not just in the US, but in the world. Period. This is where my wife and I plan on staying in the future and our first blog post is actually about Why We Want To Move To Seattle.
 
Yes, it is a city, an urban jungle, but it’s not as chaotic as Manhattan, NY. The endless beauty of mountain views and charming gardens all scattered throughout balance out the busy lifestyle in the city. We’ve been to Seattle about three times, the first couple of times it was just me and my wife, and the third time we took our son with us. We plan on going back soon so our daughter can see and appreciate what Seattle is all about.  

So now, I just want to share with you the top things I recommend whether this is your first Seattle trip or you’re visiting again to see some of the places and attractions you missed the first time. 


​1. Pike Place Market

Can you really go to Seattle without seeing the Space Needle? I guess not. You can take photos of the Space Needle from the ground, but the beauty is actually going up the observation deck for the panoramic view of the city. I took photos of every direction when we were on top as every view is different from North, East, West and South. I recommend going both during the day and evening if you have the time.
 
 
20. Go on a day trip and enjoy the outdoors.
I will be writing a separate blog post about this in the future but I recommend the following:

1. Mount Rainier National Park
2. Snoqualmie Falls
3. Twin Falls
4. Franklin Falls
5. Olympic National Park
6. Deception Pass State Park
7. Whidbey Island
8. Fidalgo Island

Ocean Drive in Miami Beach is the best place I think to people watch. Everyone is just so diverse and the place is so vibrant with bright lights, loud music and exotic cars. I used to play Grand Theft Auto when I was younger and walking down this street felt like I was in GTA. There were a few crazies we encountered and things got creepy real fast, but that’s what made it fun ‘coz we can just talk and share a good laugh out of it.
 

 
2. Enjoy the famous South Beach in Miami Beach

Whatever you like, you will find something that will interest you in South Beach. Whether you’re into night life, water activities, dining in restaurants or just relaxing in the long stretch of white sand while sipping on a cocktail, there’s something for everyone here.
 
 

3. Shop at Lincoln Road Mall

Shopping is not something I really do when on vacation especially that I try as much as possible to only pack a carry on, and also because I live in Southern California where shopping centers are literally everywhere. But this open mall here is such a nice area even if you just want a nice stroll.
 

 
4. Ride or drive your dream exotic car

Renting out exotic and luxury cars is a big business in Miami. I’m not a fan of flashy things so I didn’t rent one, but if you’re into this, Miami is just the perfect city to drive that dream car of yours. During our stay here, we didn’t rent a car and just opted to utilize Uber. We always use UberX, the cheapest option, and I don’t know if most residents here really own luxury cars or it was just a coincidence when we were in Miami because we were mostly riding in BMWs, Lexus, Range Rovers and the like and that was really nice.
 
 

5. Appreciate art in Wynwood Walls

Going to Wynwood Art District I think is my favorite part in our quick Miami trip. Whenever we’re in a new city, I always take Kristine to an art gallery or exhibit, whenever the time permits. This Miami neighborhood has one of the largest and diverse mural art collections I have seen.
 
 

6. Try Latin Cuisine Particularly Cuban Food

My wife and I love Cuban food and if you haven’t tried it yet, you’re definitely missing out. The best place to sample this flavorful cuisine is none other than in Miami, Florida. The best part is, there’s always a restaurant nearby that will suit any budget. 

I’m sure there’s so much more you can do in Miami especially if you’re staying longer. We went there for a weekend and stayed at the beach mostly. The things I’ve mentioned above are more than enough activities for us to have a very relaxing visit. Have you ever been to Miami? What’s your favorite spot in that city?

I always hear how great sunset is in this part of the world. When they said Santorini has the most beautiful sunset, they weren’t kidding.
 
As the sun made its descent, the sky put on a color display of orange, yellow, blue, pink, purple and red. That final luminescence turned the white houses into subtle hues of pink and orange against the deep azure water. And then one by one, you see those houses lit up as residents turned on their lights for the evening. When the sun became that one small dot sinking into the ocean, an uproar would ensue, followed by clapping of hands. It’s quite a performance actually, and we had the front row seat to that ravishing show in the sky.
 
Seeing the sunset from our room was spectacular, but I think the best part of the island to catch a sunset is in Oia, the northern part of the island. I just want to give you a heads up that tourists come here as early as 4pm so they can save a good spot. Although there’s nothing like seeing it in person, prepare your camera to take snapshots of one of the best sunsets you’ll see in your life. And where else on earth can you experience a rousing round of applause as the sun makes it final descent?
 
 
 
It oozes romance. ​

This overused expression did not just come out. This is not a myth and this is not a phrase to emasculate men. It is the truth (at least for me), and I live by it. I know not everyone will agree when I say, “Make sure your wife is pleased and you can always guarantee she’ll give you a blissful life.” Of course a person with poor disposition is a different story. You can’t be a miracle cure for your partner if she has underlying issues that are unresponsive to outside force like your effort to make her happy.
 
Last year, I originally wanted to visit Japan, but Kristine has always wanted to see Santorini. We kept going back and forth on this. Ever since she saw it in a magazine, she always tells me that it’s her dream to go there. Finally, it dawned on me that she wanted to go to Santorini more than I’d like to visit Japan and there’s no reason why we should go somewhere else. It made me realize that there are things you would do not for yourself, but for your loved ones, and that there’s nothing wrong with it.
 
I read someone said this Happy Wife, Happy Life maxim is not sustainable because all you’re creating is a barter system. And I beg to disagree. When you put your wife’s needs and wants ahead of your own, you make her recognize your true value - that you are there to provide her deepest needs, and you are her greatest support system. Naturally, she would then want to do the same thing for you, sometimes even more. And then you create an unending cycle of giving and loving. And suddenly it’s no longer about returning the favor because your partner did something nice, but about making sure your partner is satisfied and happy because you simply just want her to be.
 
No one has a perfect relationship, but after this trip, every aspect of our marriage has become 10x better. She tells everyone how I make her dreams come true, but really it’s the other way around.
 
 

Dreams don’t have to stay dreams. ​

This trip just made us realize this is what we want to do. We want to travel the world, and visiting other countries is possible if you put your mind to it. It’s the catalyst that made me understand that dreams don’t have to stay dreams. Before this Santorini vacation, my wife and I have this mentality that our traveling is only limited to the continental USA. We thought going abroad is not so much of an option because of financial responsibilities like house payments, bills, and now kids. But when we planned to go to Santorini, we made a conscious effort to make this possible.
 
We didn’t have a few thousands dollars just laying around. We had to actually work for it. For several months, we took on side gigs, and we pinched every penny to make sure we can fund this trip. Budgeting is the name of the game, and I can’t thank my wife hard enough because she made sure we stayed on top of it. We were able to splurge on this trip because of the sacrifices we had to do back home.
 
When I was relishing that world famous landscape of white washed buildings and royal blue domes set in the deep blue Aegean Sea, I got that satisfaction knowing that this sweet view I was enjoying right from our room was something we worked hard for. On our first night in Santorini, my wife and I watched that celebrated sunset while enjoying Vinsanto from our balcony. I’ll never forget it when she said, “We are here, because we earned it.”
 
Now almost a year of visiting this island, the memories still linger. Seeing and experiencing Santorini is a dream. You don’t believe me? I guess pictures speak louder than words. 

When my cousin sent us an invite for her wedding in the Philippines, we got excited that our son Parker will have the chance to meet some of our relatives in the PI. This was also the perfect opportunity to show my then two-year old the beauty of the tropical islands. My wife and I were originally planning on visiting Palawan but we decided that tons of island hopping might be too much for our toddler.
 
The Philippines is an archipelago made of up more than 7,000 islands, and it is world renowned for the most beautiful beaches you’ll ever see. After going back and forth deciding which island to visit, we agreed to Bohol, which is one of the main islands in the Central Visayas Region. We wanted to do a lot of sight seeing and enjoy kid-friendly activities and Bohol fits the bill. During this trip, we also decided to hire a tour guide which made our vacation much more fun and relaxing.  ​

I highly recommend doing the Countryside Day Tour on your first day which will take around 6-8 hours to complete. When traveling to Bohol by air, please make sure you take the earliest flight of the day so you’ll get to Tagbilaran Airport in the morning. Arriving in Bohol early is important so you’ll have enough time to enjoy all the tourist attractions in your Bohol Day Tour.
 
​
Day 1

Our flight from Manila departed at 6:00 am. We arrived in Tagbilaran (Bohol’s capital) before 8:00 am and our driver/tour guide was already waiting for us when we landed at the airport. The Tagbilaran Airport is pretty small so you’ll have an easy time finding the person who’s supposed to meet you. If you have no plans hiring someone ahead of time, there will be taxis at the airport to take you to your hotel or wherever it is you need to go.

​
1. Baclayon Church

Our first stop is the oldest stone church in the Philippines. In 2013, an earthquake with a 7.5 magnitude struck Bohol and its surrounding area causing great damage to the Baclayon Church. This is being continuously rehabilitated for both locals who come here for worship and for tourists who visit the area as an attraction.

​
2. River Cruise Floating Restaurant ​

A really relaxing cruise to what looks like an Amazon river in Loboc. There’s a performer on the boat to entertain you the entire ride and the boat will also stop at a riverbank so guests can watch performers showcase traditional song and dance. Audience participation was also encouraged. During the cruise, you will also see locales swimming in the river. You will be served traditional Filipino food buffet-style. I’d say the food is average, but it didn’t matter because we came here for the river cruise experience, and being able to eat lunch while on board was nice so we didn’t have to make another stop to eat somewhere during our day tour. They served water and iced tea, but they made it using the cheap, powder mix. This is actually a pretty common drink in the Philippines but just want to notate here for tourists coming from the USA and other parts of the world that it’s not the usual brewed iced tea you know and love. Please remember that they appreciate tips.

​
3. Chocolate Hills 

This is the most iconic attraction in Bohol. Our tour guide took us to some amazing lookouts, allowing us to take great snapshots of these unique rolling hills. The hills change their colors depending on the season. We went on April and they have their famous chocolate color which is what I was hoping to see. But I must say that riding the ATV is the best way to explore Chocolate Hills. Just let your tour guide know if this is something you want to do and he will bring you to an ATV rental center.


4. The Tarsier Sanctuary ​

Tarsiers are the world’s smallest primates known to be nocturnal in nature. This one I saw is about 4 inches long. Tarsier is actually what inspired Steven Spielberg when he created E.T. While we were there, we were advised not to get too close to these cute creatures and to never poke nor touch them. We also have to make sure our camera’s flash is turned off if we plan on taking pictures. One interesting fact I learned about tarsiers is that they will commit suicide by holding their breath or banging their head on a tree if they’re too stressed out. My wife got really worried upon learning that but it’s still good information to know so tourists can be more respectful. This is the best time to utilize the zoom feature of your camera so you can still take good shots without getting too close.

​
5. Bohol Manmade Forest ​

It was rather hot when we went to Bohol, so stopping by in this man made forest was a sweet treat to cool down. It is very well shaded and a nice area to take some great photos and breathe in some cool, fresh air. As for the scenery, I think it looks just ok, not really mind-blowing, especially if you’re an outdoorsy type of person who’ve seen tons of other forests. But what made this place special is the fact that volunteers all planted these trees more than 50 years ago as part of the reforestation project. Just the thought of that made me feel really good on how much of a difference people can do if they really want to rehabilitate, save and protect nature. And how something beautiful can always come out with persistence, dedication and hard work. A word of caution: Please be careful when taking pictures. Be considerate of vehicles passing by. We were able to take pictures in the middle of the road because not many cars were passing when we went and there were other people in our party who were on the lookout on both ends of the road to warn us of any approaching vehicle.

​
6. Butterfly Garden ​

Just like any toddler, my son loves butterflies and he really enjoyed the Butterfly Garden in Bohol. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and he was funny too so it was a unique experience. My son learned a lot about butterflies because of this trip and up to this point, he still remembers all the cool trivia about them. Our tour guide also helped us take some cool photos as nice remembrance for this trip. We were initially thinking of skipping this during our Bohol countryside day tour because we’ve been to other Butterfly Gardens, but I’m so glad we didn’t. You can swing by and be done in 10-20 minutes and have a great experience in that short amount of time.

​
7. Xzootic Animal Park ​

 
Hiring a Bohol Tour Guide
Now that you’re thinking of going to Bohol when visiting the Philippines, I believe you’re trying to decide whether you’ll do all the sightseeing on your own or you’ll hire a driver/tour guide like we did.
 
Let me just tell you that hiring Joseph of JPB Bohol Tours is the best decision I made for this Bohol vacation and I highly recommend for you to do the same should you be visiting this scenic island. It was just great not to worry whether I’m driving on the right direction, or which way is better to pass through, etc. I didn’t have to drive and review the maps on this trip and those are enough reasons for me to hire someone to take us places. Remember, this is the Philippines and your dollars will go a long way here. This is not Europe or US where hiring a driver/tour guide will cost you an arm and a leg. The price for this tour depends on the number of people in your party and I paid for two adults and one kid. There were six people in our group so we rode in an L-300 van which can accommodate 10-12 passengers. The more people in your group, the cheaper it will be per person. It is also worth noting that all the entrance to the attractions will already be covered when you hire JPB Bohol Tours.
 
I can’t really give a quote here as I don’t want to give out any wrong info about tour pricing. It will be better if you contact Joseph of JPB Bohol Tours. But all I can say is that it was cheaper hiring Joseph compared to me and my family going to Disneyland for one day. I live about an hour and a half from Disneyland and taking my family of four (not paying for my youngest kid yet since she can still get in for free) costs me $300 for three tickets for one day and this does not include gas, food, parking and souvenirs.
 
Here is the contact info for JPB Bohol Tours. Let Joseph know you found him through My Next Flight Home to get a discount.
 
JPB Bohol Tours
boholjpbtours@gmail.com
+63 917 905 1130
+63 947 428 3885
 
All underwater GoPro pictures provided by my brother in law, Neil. Follow him on Instagram @neil_pico for amazing adventures from around the world.

I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of Venice Beach as it’s one of the most popular beaches in Los Angeles, but do you know about Venice Canals? It’s a peaceful and charming neighborhood about 15 miles East of Downtown LA. Whenever you want to take a break from the activities at the beach or just want to get away from all the craziness of Los Angeles, I highly recommend taking a morning or afternoon stroll in Venice Canals.​

A friend of mine from out of state sent me a message and asked about Venice Canals because he’ll be staying in Venice and he’s looking for things to do around that area. I started to research and I was quite surprised that I never knew about it considering I am in LA at least once a month.
 
My wife and I already planned to go to Anaheim last weekend so we decided to check out what’s this thing about the Venice Canals. I checked my GPS and it was actually quite easy to get to the area. The first thing I noticed was that it felt I was in a completely different place… nothing about it reminds me of Los Angeles. The canals made it feel like I was in some kind of European city, like I was transported. The lawns and bushes are also well maintained which contributed a lot to the overall nice feel of the neighborhood. Maybe it’s summertime but the flowers are so vibrant here, there's a lot to see and I wasn’t expecting that.
 
But the best thing about it I think are the houses.
 
You know when people ask you, “What kind of neighborhood is it?” Usually you can give them a nice picture by describing the houses like, oh that area has tract homes, they have Colonial houses, etc. Not in this area though; each and every house in Venice Canals is unique. I’ve never seen a neighborhood that includes all kinds of houses design-wise. There are a lot of traditional houses, Colonial homes, Spanish style, glass houses, contemporary homes, Arabic-style home, you name it, you’ll find it here. And that’s the real beauty of it. When you think you’ve found a very distinct house, you’ll walk several meters out, and there’s another house that will tickle your fancy.

If you’re a tourist, I want to let you know that this is not some kind of an adventure trip. It’s a peaceful and nice stroll I recommend including at the end of your LA itinerary. The houses are beautiful but not in a grand way. Most are cute and charming and very modest, but keep in mind that the smallest and oldest houses can still cost you around two million US Dollars --- and that’s the cheaper end of the price spectrum. After all, this is Venice and staying here means high-end living.
 
Also, I just want to note that it was pretty hot last weekend. It was 98 degrees F (37 C) in Los Angeles but when we were in Venice Canals, the temperature was just in the mid 70’s F (24 C) so it was a pleasant day. I’m not sure if it’s because of the canals itself or maybe because the neighborhood is in walking distance from the beach. Either way, the experience made it really delightful.
 
It is summer in the US right now, which means all tourists attractions are packed. Just to prove my point, my wife and I tried to stop by in Malibu to catch the sunset before heading home but we didn’t find any parking spot after spending a long time stuck in traffic. I understand it is summer time and it’s a Saturday and everyone is at the beach, but there’s barely any tourist when we were in Venice Canals. There were maybe about two families we saw and about three couples, and that’s about it. Most of the people we saw were residents. We have the place pretty much to ourselves so we had an easy time taking pictures.
 
So, what do you think of Venice Canals, would you come visit here? If you’re going to LA, I highly recommend checking out this area. It’s a breath of fresh air if you’re staying in or around Los Angeles and it’s free! I am positive that Venice Canals is the only place in Southern California where you can be transported to experience the charm of Europe without spending big bucks on a plane ticket.

So you have finally decided to visit Kiwiland and I’m sure you’re looking forward to seeing the vast array of landscapes and long miles of beaches that are very unique to this country. Every vacation needs to have some basic preparation; knowing what to expect can save you from confusion and allow you to focus more on creating memorable experiences in this breathtaking country. Before you get too excited planning how to explore Middle Earth, here are some important things I wish I knew before our NZ trip.

​This can be a challenge at first especially when you’re used to driving on the right hand side of the road. Make sure you brush up your driving skills and read up on New Zealand traffic laws and policies before you pick up your rental car or camper van.


4. Roads, most especially outside of the city can be narrow.

​When I was researching about the temperature in New Zealand, I’ve read somewhere that you may experience all four seasons in one day. And it’s true, there have been times we checked the weather the night before and we’re expecting clear skies but then woke up to a very rainy morning. The weather can change from being cold to hot in an instant or vice versa depending on where you are and when you’re visiting. The good thing is that the temperature is not really extreme so outdoor activities can be done whatever the season is.
 
Ultimately, the weather was really nice when we went April of this year. It was sunny during the day so we’re able to wear shirts, tank tops and shorts. It got  cold really quick though as soon as it got dark so we made sure we have a sweater or a jacket just in case we stay out late.


10. You don’t get taxed on your purchases.

Unlike California and many other areas around the world, there’s no surprises when you get to the cashier to pay for your items.

Edit: I was informed by a New Zealand resident that you still get taxed in this country but the tax is already included in the price. You will not notice the tax as it is not added as a separate item on the customer price. 


11. Tipping is not customary.

I never really realized how true this is until we ate at a restaurant, particularly a Korean restaurant. We paid by cash and a few minutes later, the waitress came back saying we paid too much. We told her it’s her tip, and she said we just have to pay the exact amount. We still insisted on her taking the tip, and the Korean waitress was just too embarrassed, she was thanking us nonstop. We were honestly dumbfounded because most people will not turn down a tip. I highly suggest still leaving one if you had a fantastic service, but you’re not obligated to leave a tip in this part of the world.

​
​22. Outlet is Plug I.

There’s not enough words to explain how stunning the sceneries are in New Zealand. Pictures can better portray what I’m talking about here and a simple Google search can show you what I mean, but there’s nothing like seeing with your very own eyes the spectacle that is New Zealand.

Our first trip to Seattle back in October 2013 was the first time my wife and I went on a vacation after having our first born child… so this was quite special. We instantly fell in love with it mostly because of the weather. It is rainy and gloomy - the perfect weather for us. We have talked about moving here numerous times because we just felt we belong here. We took our son with us on one of our trips back here a few years ago. This time we checked out some of Seattle’s real estate as the thought of moving in this city gives us some sort of buzz. Maybe some day we will move here. When the kids are all grown up, I see myself living here and enjoying the gloomy, rainy weather of this city. For now, I can only share with you some reasons why Seattle has become our favorite.

​Seattle averages about 150 rainy days a year, but the amount of rain that falls is not that much which is the perfect weather in my opinion. After living in Southern California for a decade now, my wife and I still can’t get used to most people considering rain as if it’s a natural disaster. People taking out their phones to take pictures and complaining about it on social media is pretty common here. A celebration would finally seem to ensue as soon as the sun comes up --- I still can’t figure this out but this happens all the time.
 
If you haven’t seen this video, this is exactly how people react when it rains in my town.

​
 
​2. It is overcast most of the year.

It gets cloudy in the Emerald City about 225 days per year (woohoo!) and about 58 days of sunny skies. Most people move to SoCal because they like it sunny. Although there’s a lot of other reasons why I love SoCal, getting too much sun is not one of them. My wife even told me one time that she doesn’t like Summer that much because I get short with her. I never really noticed it but when she told me, I just realized that yes, the hot summer days make me hot tempered. Seattle is the exact opposite of sunny. My wife and I love to take long walks especially when it’s cloudy, and when we were in Seattle, all we did mostly was enjoy long walks. 

​

3. ​It’s not just a Metropolitan Area.

Yes Seattle is a city, but you’re not limited to just seeing concrete walls all around. You can easily walk to amazing parks and community areas if you want to take a break from your office cubicle.

​

4. People in Seattle are cold, but that never bothered me.

Maybe it’s the weather, but I’ve heard so many people say that they can’t stand Seattle because people are mean. Most people who say this I assume are from the warm regions of the country like SoCal, where everyone is friendly and likes to small talk. I never find people in Seattle to be mean nor rude. They’re just not that warm and I don’t see it as a bad thing. When you walk into a store or hop at an Uber, there are times you just don’t want to chat. And this is why not making a lot of small talks in Seattle is something I don’t consider a problem.

​

5. Freeways are not just gray concrete sightings

​It felt good driving around here because the display of multi colored trees surrounding the highways makes the drive great. The scenery is just spectacular.



6. World renowned National Parks are just several minutes to a couple of hour drive.

It doesn’t matter the season, you can visit national parks outside of Seattle and you’ll find yourself always staring in awe. That’s how I felt the first time I went to Mt. Rainier National Park. We went there again after a couple of years, and I still felt the same feeling of wonder. 

​

7. Museums are everywhere.

Everytime we’re in a new city, I make it a point to take my wife to at least one museum or art exhibit whenever the time allows. Spending time in these places goes back way when we started dating. Seattle has tons of museums that will appeal to all audiences. 

If California has the most delicious Mexican food, Seattle has some of the best Asian cuisine. I really find this strange and I haven’t really found any explanation but I’ve tried Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Korean food in this city and they are always on point. There are times my wife would tell me she wants to fly to Seattle just to have an order of combination fried rice from Golden Singha up in Cedar Street.


​
9. Fresh seafood.

Being in a coastal area allows everyone to enjoy fish, oysters, clams, mussels and all sorts of yummy shellfish. 

​

10. Caffeine central.

​Seattle residents consume the most coffee than any other city in the US. According to Wikipedia, people spend an average of $36 per month on coffee in this city. The first Starbucks location is in Seattle and this store in Pike Place is a tourist spot on its own, but it is also important to note that there are other very good (mostly better) coffee shops in this city. Walking through the streets of Seattle, I’ve realized that it is nearly impossible not to see at least one coffee shop in every block. If you love coffee, you will be in heaven living here.

I know some people who don't share the same views as mine and that's totally fine. I personally know someone who told me Seattle is his least favorite city. Have you ever been to Seattle? Let me know how you like it.
 
***Pictures taken during our first trip to Seattle on October 2013.