Local Travel Tip

Snorkeling is ok, but scuba diving opens up a whole new world as you go underwater! There are so many places that you can scuba dive including places like California, the Caribbean, Australia, and Indonesia.  It is a fun activity to explore the new places you visit. Not to mention, easy to rent equipment on the go and offers truly unique experiences.

Getting scuba certified is a simple process. Find a company that runs the course (businesses, universities, etc.), sign up, take the class, learn the material, take a test, and go on at least two practice dives with your instructor. It is quick and easy and some courses only take a few days.

Scuba Dive

However, scuba diving may not be for everyone. If you easily get claustrophobic, get motion sickness (it can be especially bad when on the boat just getting to the diving location), or have other fears- you may want to evaluate if scuba diving is right for you.

When you get certified, make sure that you understand all the safety measures and hand signals to keep you and your dive party safe. Also, ensure that you feel comfortable in a pool before doing other dives. Ask if your dive shop has refresh classes where you can go and “practice” if you haven’t dived for a couple of years.

Scuba diving is a blast and will can bring you many great memories over the years!

While in the glamour and gleam of the Las Vegas Strip you can find some excellent places to dine and wine, with a variety of other things to do. Here are my favorite things to do when in Las Vegas.

If you need a break from the strip restaurants and dining experience, I would highly recommend trying In-N-Out Burger. They make all their food with the freshest ingredients. This burger joint has a really basic menu but once you try it once you’ll be addicted and want to go back again and again. Here is a little secret- this is not on the menu, but it is my favorite- you can get sautéed onions instead of regular uncooked onion on your burger, all you have to do is ask! It is soooo good.

Another restaurant I would recommend is Macayo. This place has delish Mexican food- that is muy beuno! It offers more of a traditional style Mexican flavor. Lots of their dishes are smothered with the famed Macayo Sauce that you can buy in tubs from the restaurant, so you can dress up Mexican dishes even at home.

My favorite thing to do on the main strip is to watch the Bellagio fountains. The last time I was there it just a few days before Christmas and it was raining/sloshing/snowing. Wearing a coat in Vegas is one of the most bizarre feelings because normally in Las Vegas it is so hot you literally are running from building to building just to stay in the air conditioning.

I would also like to recommend my favorite hotel on the strip, which is the Marriott. It is rad because there are no slot machines or places to gamble inside. The whole environment feels a lot cleaner and more relaxing.  Plus, there is a pool on the roof- what more could you want!

Capitola is a small beach-front city located at the base of the Santa Cruz mountains. Capitola is a charming place for a relaxing day trip, to stop at on a road trip down the California coast, or to spend more time on a vacation. This charming city features the Capitola Mercantile located right on the beach front. You will have a wonderful day while visiting shops and boutiques, getting some taffy from Carousel Taffy, looking at some paintings at the Thomas Kinkade Gallery, and grabbing a bite to eat from Pizza My Heart- all located right on the beach. Don’t forget to end the day with a  walk up along the cliffs as you watch the sun set over the ocean, but be careful- because it will take your breath away!   I have been to Capitola more times than I can count but every time is better than the last- it definitely keeps me coming back for more.

Capitola Beach