Day Tripping at Treasure Island Flea

View of the Bay Bridge from Treasure Island.

The quirky Treasure Island Flea market opens up the last weekend of every month on Treasure Island. It’s an eclectic mix of hipsters, local entrepreneurs and traditional flea market finds. Most of the displays/booths are so well done, you’ll feel like you are at an upscale street fair or high-end pop up market rather than a traditional flea market. The event features live music and some of the Bay Area’s Best food trucks. No fear, drinks are near, they have a roving drink cart with mixed drinks available…yes, I’m talking Bloody Marys, Mimosas and a variety of concoctions available while you peruse and find your treasures. It’s a perfect way to spend your Saturday soaking up some sun whether you’re single, have a sweetie, hanging with friends or with the family. 

Traditionally I look for unique used goods or antiques at flea markets but on my last visit to the market I fell in love with several of the local business vendors. Here are a few of my favorites, check them out;

The Little Things by Sarah Marie; Vintage Inspired Guitar & Camera Straps

Let’s face it, if you are carrying around a camera or guitar you already ooze coolness, so why not add some more style and up your cool factor even more. I want one.

T-We Tea

One of my favorite Korean food trucks at the market, HiYaaa! 

This collection of witty named teas will attract you with its slick packaging but it doesn’t stop there, the teas are tasty too. Try the Hipsters in Wonderland, Sexpot and Bad Bromance...there are plenty of other blends to choose from too.

Waffles & Honey; Jewelry

This Etsy jeweler uses raw cut stones and natural elements to create stylish and earthy pieces. 

Papier Vintage; Handmade Cards Invitations and Gifts

These handmade goodies utilize the look of a Polaroid and vintage pictures to create unique handmade cards. Little art pieces in themselves, I want a collection.

RegGrained

They take the leftover products from brewing beer and use the healthy ingredients to create snack food, think bars and granola. How’s that for efficiency?

Now go, it's your turn. Let me know what treasures you find!

Click here to see upcoming dates and events for Treasure Island Flea. Note events have free parking and are dog friendly. Also It gets windy and cold, especially now that we are in the winter months. Layer up with jackets, warm socks and beanies.

Like this market…but wait there’s more!

The same group just launched the Jack of all Trades Market at Jack London Square in Oakland, which is held every second Saturday of the month.

Other things to do on Treasure Island…

If you are looking for more to do on Treasure Island there are several wineries you can visit there as well, so make a full day of it. Wineries include; Treasure Island Wines, Fat Grape Winery, The Winery SF, Bodega Wine Estates.

Don’t forget to take a pic of the great views of the Bay Bridge and Port of San Francisco. Check out the view of the new span of the Bay Bridge and see the mysterious Google Barge.

Venice Photo Essay - A Day in Venice, Italy

The photos below are some of my favorites from wandering around Venice this past September.

Gondeliers taking a break

The back side of the Doges Palace

A waterway in Venice, Italy

A woman begging for money

Produce market on a boat

Actors in costume

Venice delivery service

The crowds in St. Marks Square

Get Lost in Venice, Italy

I love Venice. When I talk to most people they either love it or hate it. Those who hate it rattle on about the high prices, crowds and heat. To a certain extent they are right. The main attractions, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doges Palace, had a steady line of at least 100 people when I visited in September. The soaring mid-day temperatures and crowds sent me steering clear of all the packed alleys, streets and tourist sites. Of course I wanted to see the sites, they are spectacular, but what I realized is that the true romance and beauty of Venice is found when you simply wander the city and get lost.

No city map seems to be exact or to scale. Streets are alleys with hidden twists, turns and dead ends. It’s an open labyrinth that’s big enough to get lost in but small enough to always find your way back. The labyrinth of Venice has endless bars and eateries offering one of a kind wines, prosecco, and small bites of delectable food around every corner. The city's unique romance and magic truly comes alive when you are wandering. I'm not suggesting that you skip the famous sites, but be sure to plan on spending a day just getting lost.

A few recommendations for getting lost:

Bring a map – it’s always nice to be able to find your way back when you truly have no idea where you are. I consider myself good with directions and Venice had me all turned around. It’s fun but you’ll need a map to reference when you want to get back home.

Bring your Camera – the beauty of Venice is more apparent then ever in the quiet alleys and waterways. Bright colors and aged walls, it’s a photographers heaven.

Wear comfortable shoes - I know, you are in Italy and everyone around you is in designer heels and boots. It’s tempting to join in, but trust me if you are going to put in three to six hours of exploring this city, wear your tennis shoes. Save the heels for dinner.

Know anyone visiting Venice soon? Please feel free to share this article with them. Here are a series of photos from my time getting lost in Venice. 

Hitting an unexpected dead end

Wandering

Bridge and waterway in Venice, Italy

Signs leading to Piazza San Marco are throughout the city

Aged walls in Venice, Italy

I love the color of the boat in this picture

For more pictures from my adventures in Venice visit my Venice Photo Essay: A Day in Venice.

Tips for Visiting Mostar, Bosnia Herzegovina

View of Stari Most or the Old Bridge in Mostar

Mostar is a lovely city with a rich and turbulent history. I was excited to be visiting for the first time and for the opportunity to get a better understanding of the region and meet the people that live there. Prior to visiting, the only thing I knew about Bosnia Herzegovina was through media reports and images I saw during the war.

I had a wonderful time, the trip opened my eyes and heart to the region. I met wonderful people and heard powerful first person accounts of love, life, war and survival. I visited while on a road trip through Croatia. Here are some suggestions if you are planning to visit the city

If you are visiting from Croatia, rent a car and drive to Mostar. I’ll be honest from what I had read about Bosnia Herzegovina we were somewhat cautious and a little bit concerned about driving in the country. Once we arrived I felt like our concerns were a misconception. The roads were fine and it was nice to have the freedom and flexibility of having our own car. Many day tours are offered from Split and Dubrovnik but it’s a long and twisty trip for a bus tour. It was an interesting drive and the border crossings were easy. If you are staying overnight make sure secured parking is available.

Hire a tour guide so you can get a more detailed and local view of the cities rich history. Private car tours are available for a broader experience or you can arrange for a walking tour. We booked our walking tour through Fortuna Tours and they were wonderful.

Mostar Old Town

Stay overnight so you can enjoy the city as it truly is, not just the tourist aspect during the day. There are plenty of day trips offered here but in my opinion it’s a long way to come just for a day. I'd recommend staying at least one night. The Old Town can easily be seen in one day but if you stay overnight you can enjoy the surrounding area to see how people are living every day in the city.

The evening we stayed, we came across Mostar's Summerfest, a summer concert series. We could see the lights and hear the music from our hotel, so we met up with a fellow tourist and simply followed the lights. We had a blast, mingling with the young locals of Mostar and watching The Beat Fleet a popular reggae and experimental Croatian band for around 10 Euro a person.

Where to stay

We had a lovely stay at Villa Fortuna a Bed & Breakfast and a travel agency. The rooms were clean, spacious, pleasantly decorated and well priced. Above all the best part was the simple touch of good service. It’s a quaint spot where you will feel right at home and within easy walking distance to the Old Town. They have a lovely courtyard where you can enjoy a local glass of wine or beer after a day of sightseeing. In addition they have a secure parking area.

What to Eat

Cevapcici is the local tourist thing to try. It's a grilled meat dish often served with flatbread, chopped onions and ajvar, a roasted red pepper sauce. There is an overwhelming number of places that offer the dish so ask your guide which place they recommend or go with your gut and try a place on your own. 

Sit down and enjoy a Turkish coffee from one of the cafes.

Other Thoughts

No regrets but looking back if I could have adjusted my itinerary I would have scheduled a few days to go to Sarajevo.

Have you been to Mostar before? Do you have any tips to share?

Series of Sunsets

Yesterday we had strange summer weather in Northern California, warm humid rain. It produced an amazing sunset with brightly lit clouds, creating a new canvas in the sky every minute along my two hour road trip home. I couldn't stop snapping pictures, I got a little carried away. But hey what's wrong with taking the time to notice the beauty around you? It was like a live show just for me. Here are some of my favorites...

Kelsey Creek Brewing

Kelsey Creek Brewing in Kelseyville, CA is a great stop for a hot day. We just happened to be driving through when it was 102 F. I tried the New Blonde on the Block...it was a little hoppy for me but I'll confess I'm not really a beer drinker, so I don't know what I'm talking about. I can tell you the the beer was ice cold and was great in the moment, so I thoroughly enjoyed it.

For me the real winner was the atmosphere, small town, casual, laid back. I loved it. The only food they serve is popcorn and peanuts but it works.  I believe you can bring your own food in as well. It's a great addition to Kelseyville where normally I wine taste. I will definitely stop back in on my next getaway to Lake County. 

We also stopped in at Main Street Bakery across the street looking for french bread. They were sold out which is a bummer because their french bread looks amazing and fresh baked french bread from a bakery is one of my favorite things on earth. We did grab some cookies, chocolate chip and snicker doodles along with a fresh baked zucchini bread. All of it was super tasty and I don't say that lightly...with the exception of french bread I rarely buy baked goods at a bakery. Nothing beats home made cookies in my opinion but I was spoiled by my loving Grandma who made the best cookies ever.

Road Trip

Heading off to Lake County in Northern California for a quick road trip. Swimming, sunning, spa treatment, wine and food...can't wait to report back on my adventure.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Above is a picture I put together after visiting the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, one of my favorite day trip spots in Northern California. I have so many great memories here. In high school I got to participate in the Guiness Book of World Records attempt to have the longest country line dance on the beach. I had summer crushes and fun times pretending I was a surfer girl (even though I've never surfed in my life). If you have never experienced a traditional oceanside boardwalk theme park, you've got to stop in for an afternoon.

Must See/Do
Go On the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster
The Giant Dipper is the best classic roller coaster ever in my opinion. With a rickety wooden structure it's a traditional coaster not to be missed. If you only ride one ride here, this is the one.

Get a Cajun CornDog from Surf City Grill
Every time I visit I grab one of the cajun corn dogs from the Surf City Grill, located near the main entrance of the boardwalk. If you enjoy corn dogs YOU MUST TRY THIS ONE. They are hand dipped, delicious goodness. I mean so good that I may have at one point taken a random day trip, driving two and a half hours just for the corn dog, only to find out that they were closed. I'm not willing to officially confirm that I wasted that much time and money for a corn dog, just know that they are damn good.

Go Watch Surfers
There are surfing spots throughout the area, the easiest place to watch near the Boardwalk is a place called Cowell's north of the wharf. Here is a guide to other surf areas in the Santa Cruz area.

Enjoy a Summer Concert on the Beach
On Friday evenings in the summer they host free concerts on the beach. For a complete list of events at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk click here.

What are some of your favorite summer or beach memories?

Why You Should Travel Solo

For years I used the excuse that I couldn’t find anyone to travel with, so I couldn’t go.

This forced me to make a decision, either I waited until others were on the same page as me (this could be an entire lifetime) or I took some responsibility for my dreams and made it happen.

Up until that point I was afraid to travel alone. The moment I went out on my own my life changed. I got dropped off at the train station in California to start my journey to Germany, I cannot think of a more exhilarating and empowering experience. From the beginning to the end of the trip I can honestly say I met more people and had more memorable experiences then any other trip I have been on. I found that when I was alone I was more likely to challenge myself, think outside of the box and interact with others. As a result I encountered so many wonderful new experiences and made new friendships.  

Traveling alone opens up opportunities and connects you to people and experiences that you may not have noticed if you were with a travel buddy. If not having a travel partner is holding you back, I encourage you to clear away this mindset and change your view. Once you do it, I’m betting you will never look back. I know I haven’t.

What fears do you have about traveling solo?

Traveling is a Mindset #12: Don’t Wait

If you want to see the world, don’t wait. If you have the opportunity, take it. Travel tends to be one of those things that people think they can put on a shelf until later in life. If you are truly passionate about it, you need to come up with a plan to act on it sooner rather then later. Postponing is simply a waste of time, unless you are following other goals in life that take precedence.

Start to put some money aside on a regular basis. Whether it’s $1, $5, $20 or $100 a month, anything is better then nothing. I can honestly say that if I waited to have enough money to travel, I never would have traveled. 

My point is not to suggest that you go broke to travel but take note of what you really want in life. If you are waiting for the day you get rich to travel, you may never do it. You may get rich; you may not, either way you don’t want to regret not living your life to the fullest in the moment. If you want to travel, make it a priority whether your bank account is overflowing or not and make it happen. 

What first step are you going to take to make your travel dreams a reality? Know someone who is spending their life waiting to do all the things they want, send this to them for a little inspiration to get moving now!

Traveling is a Mindset #11: Be Prepared to Travel

Prepare like you are getting ready for your dream trip. Create a list of things you will need so you can start to prepare and acquire the necessary items needed. 

If your dream is to travel abroad and you don’t have a passport yet, get one right away. Find out if there are any inoculations you will need for the trip, if so plan to get your shots. 

Prepare as if you are ready to go. If you are thinking about backpacking, start to look for good deals on backpacks and a solid pair of travel shoes. Tell people where you want to go, you will be surprised by the connections you can make and it may open up a door or opportunity you never knew existed. Research and start to create a potential itinerary or list of places you would like to visit on your trip, ask others for their recommendations as well.  

All of these steps are part of the process to propel you forward towards your next trip or opportunity. It may feel like you are not doing much but preparing in any way sends a powerful message to your subconscious that you are going to make your trip a reality.  

Maybe you don’t know how you will get there or when you’ll have the money to do it but start to prepare today. Believe that you will make it happen even if you don’t know how. Trust that you can pull it all together in time and you will start the momentum to make your dream a reality.   

Where do you want to go?