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United Arab Emirates – A Dream

Tay Explores

It’s about time that I share one of the most epic international trips I did a few years back in 2010. Being a lover of interior design and architecture, I was always in awe of the structures and designs found in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and it was one of my dreams to go there. I had been planning on going for several years, but having traditional Pakistani parents it was almost impossible to get permission to go. After trying to convince them for two years, my mom finally agreed and convinced my dad to let me go as a graduation present.What helped was that I had made a really good friend who was from the UAE. Her father still lived there so we would be going and staying at his apartment. This trip was like a dream (#blessed). It was the first time I was going somewhere internationally with a…

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New Orleans, Louisiana Part 2

Eating Out

*This post contains affiliate links. Clicking on them will not cost you anything.* My NOLA adventures continued the next day with starting the morning off by getting more beignets from another place I had researched called Cafe Beignet. And let me tell you, these were so good! They were light and airy and fluffy just the way I like them. So glad we found this place otherwise I would have left NOLA feeling incomplete. Then, we headed back to the Garden District via the streetcar. The ride was enjoyable and it felt like we got a tour of the whole area because we saw all the beautiful mansions that the district is known for. These magnificent Greek Revival and Victorian style homes were laid out in 1832 by Barthelemy Lafron after the Louisiana Purchase. We got off by Audubon Park to take a walk and look around. The live oak trees here were so…

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New Orleans, Louisiana – Part 1

Eating Out

*This post contains affiliate links. Clicking on them will not cost you anything.* Imagine walking on streets that were full of vibrant colored architecture and ornate wrought iron balconies that were adorned with flowers. Every corner you turned, had something interesting for you to look at. Sometimes, your ears would fill up with the sound of someone playing the saxophone and all you could do is get lost in the music. This place is known as New Orleans and it’s one of the most colorful and alive cities I have ever been to. I went in May of last year with a friend and it was a blast! We went everywhere from the French Quarter to the Garden District. Wherever I went I felt like I needed to snap a bajillion pictures. So brace yourself because this post is going to be focused on the beautiful facades of the French Quarter. We reached NOLA (New…

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Sunken City – San Pedro, California

Beaches

*This post contains affiliate links. Clicking on them will not cost you anything.* In 1929 a landslide caused a community of homes to sink into the ocean. What remained was broken sidewalks and cracked roads. All of which have become a canvas for graffiti artists and a place to hang out for the adventurous. Sunken City is located in San Pedro, California (near Long Beach) and is fenced off with a “No Trespassing” sign. When I realized that you weren’t really allowed to go there, I kind of questioned it a bit. But once you see the pictures, you’ll understand why it was necessary that I went. Hopefully I won’t get into some sort of legal trouble for this post. I can see why it’s blocked off though. It looks a bit dangerous and if people aren’t careful they can easily slip and fall over the cliffs. So, how do you get there? It’s…

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Mt Rubidoux Riverside California

Mt. Rubidoux – Riverside, CA

Hiking

*This post contains affiliate links. Clicking on them will not cost you anything.* Yes, a California post! I went there again for a wedding a few weeks ago. Just like my last visit, the weather was perfect and I enjoyed it to the fullest! Whenever I was free, I took the opportunity to be outside. This post is about a very cool hiking trail on Mount Rubidoux in Riverside. A friend suggested it and I was ever ready to check it out! This mountain has some history behind it and is the site for Easter Sunrise services. There has been several historic markers placed here much like the big cross at the very top which is dedicated to Fray Junipero Serra. He was a Roman Catholic Priest who founded the California Missions. Booking.com There are giant steps to get to the cross, so be careful climbing them. But once there, it is so peaceful and beautiful. We sat…

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Maggie Daley Park – Chicago, IL

Tay Explores

Two weekends ago, Chicago did a weird thing. It was 55 degrees on a Saturday in February! So, of course I had to be out! I had family over which meant there were 3 kids in the house that needed to be entertained. I had been hearing about the Maggie Daley Park for a while since I moved here because people have suggested I take my nieces there. So naturally I looked it up but haven’t had the chance to go check it out yet. I took that beautiful Saturday to do so. So glad I did because it was such a cool place. Not for the kids only but the adults enjoyed it too! You get to it by crossing a bridge that is next to the Jay Pulitzer pavilion in Millennium Park. Once on the bridge, you immediately start to see various fun things like a rock climbing wall…

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Waterfall Glen – Darien, IL

Hiking

**Edited on January 5, 2017** I have no idea what happened to this blog post, but I recently noticed that it was blank! So because of that, you will only be seeing pictures from a hike I took last winter when the weather finally lit up. It was a gorgeous 40ºF after being below freezing for several days. Enjoy! 🙂

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A Day in Philadelphia, PA

Tay Explores

If you’ve been following my posts, you will notice I had a very eventful summer last year. Continuing with that awesome time in my life, this post is about a day that I spent in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I had been to Philly a few times before too, but this time it was to show a friend around. Luckily, because of my previous few visits I had been acquainted enough with the city to be somewhat of a tour guide. We were staying at my sister’s in Harrisburg which is 2 hours away (not bad for a day trip) from Philly. If you click on this link, you will be directed to a google map guide of the route we took on foot to see the city. I usually use the Park-Me app on my phone to find the cheapest parking in and around cities I visit. So far, it’s been really helpful…

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The Milwaukee Domes – Milwaukee, WI

Tay Explores

Last summer, when my friends were here, we ventured out to Wisconsin. They had already seen most of the touristy spots in Chicago, so I thought we should explore another state. One of the great things about being in the mid-west is that states are driving distance. Milwaukee, Wisconsin takes about an hour and a half from Chicago which is not bad for a day trip at all. When looking up things to do in Milwaukee, I found Mitchell Park Horticulture Conservatory AKA The Milwaukee Domes. (I told you I had a thing for conservatories.) This one was $7 dollars per person (or $5 if you have a student ID). It features three domes each with different themes, Tropical, Desert and The Floral Show Dome. We got there an hour and a half before closing and that was just enough time for us to see everything and take some selfies! I really…

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Portage, Indiana

Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk, IN

Tay Explores

I posted about the Indiana Dunes State Park last week and decided I wanted to share just how I decided I wanted to explore this area. When I first moved to Chicago, I met someone who lived in Valparaiso, Indiana (which is about an hour and a half from Chicago). She told me she also moved here pretty recently, from Canada (about four months before me). Another person who just moved here from a different place? YAY! We can connect and talk about how much we miss where we used to live and hate on the Chicago winters! (These are the first thoughts I had when meeting her…lol) Well, she is from Canada so the whole winter thing doesn’t really bother her as much. Moving is something that I’ve done a lot and each time it’s not easier than the previous time. If anything, it gets harder. For some people, it isn’t the biggest deal in…

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