Giordano's Pizza

I love Chicago.

I flew into The Windy City last month on a trip to Michigan. I managed to spend half a day walking around town and finding things to write about. Of course, I had to try a slice of Chicago style pizza to call my day a success.

I walked around the shopping district of Chicago, where I felt safe and in a well populated area.

I must have arrived during the lunch rush, because Giordano's Pizza was slammed when I arrived. It was an hour long wait for a table, or an hour wait for a pizza to-go. If you have the energy to walk around while you wait, and you don't mind carrying your pizza in a box, order to-go. The counter to order at is behind the host's counter, but it isn't too hard to find. I ordered a small Chicago Classic Stuffed Pizza Pie, which supposedly serves two, but in my opinion that pizza could feed a small family.

The pizza was delicious. I've never had authentic New York style pizza, but Chicago style will be pretty hard to beat. The dough was thick and buttery, filled with cheese, green peppers, and mushrooms with pepperoni and sauce on top. I was full after two slices of the ooey cheesy goodness. I wound up taking a few slices back to the airport with me, which held up well in the pizza box with Derrick Rose's face printed on top.

Giordano's allows you to order from anywhere in the United States and will ship a partially baked, frozen pizza to your mailbox.

You can find out more at http://giordanos.com/ where you can sign up for email coupons, or order The Derrick Rose Special: A thin crust pizza with sausage and roasted red peppers.

Lulu California Bistro

This was my favorite restaurant that I dined at during my stay in Palm Springs. This restaurant has a front that draws customers in. The modern design of the building sets Lulu apart from other restaurants. The restaurant is both indoors and outdoors at the same time. Roll up doors provide fresh air and sunshine throughout the restaurant without the sweaty Palm Springs heat. I sat near the roll up doors to get the best experience and to watch the downtown sidewalks.

Lulu's menu is well thought out and has many choices. There is a gluten free menu, along with options for vegetarians. Customers can chose from pastas, salads, burgers, sandwiches, seafood and more. I decided on angel hair pasta in a light tomato sauce with shrimp for $17. It was awesome. The shrimp were huge and well worth the few extra dollars.


The service was also great, my server was friendly and willing to help with anything I needed. My experience at Lulu was extraordinary, the atmosphere is what sets this restaurant apart from others. Dining here makes you feel special and the brights colors of the restaurant make it modern and appealing to the younger crowd. Lulu California Bistro should be your first stop in Palm Springs.

LG's Steakhouse

Last week I had dinner at LG's Steakhouse on the downtown strip of Palm Sprnigs. LG's is a beautiful restaurant with outdoor patio and indoor seating. Two giant wooden doors grace the entrance, walking into this building felt like a milestone in my life. As we walked to our table, I saw a glass door refrigerator with steaks dry aging to perfection. This restaurant specializes in prime cuts, so show up hungry and ready for a great steak.

We were seated outside, it was a clear night and eighty degrees even after sunset. Although LG's has a dress code, I wore jean capris and a pretty shirt with nice sandals and no one gave me a second look. As long as you are not in dirty clothing or your bathing suit, there is no need to worry about the dress code.

The menu's focus was on LG's famous steaks. Steak choices range from T-bone to prime rib and filet mignon. The biggest steak on the menu is the Gold Strike 49er, weighing in at 30 ounces with a $55 price tag. I chose a smaller steak, an 8 ounce filet mignon for $30. Side items are on a different menu page and priced separately at around $7 a piece. Make sure to chose the caesar salad, as it will be made freshly table side and watching the server prepare it is a great show. I also chose four cheese mac n cheese, along with mashed potatoes with a peppercorn gravy.

Every dish served to me was delicious and more than filling. The flavor of the steak was phenomenal, eating a bite gave me enough determination to finish college so that I could eat a steak every night. I also had a bite of the pork chop with apple, which was amazing as well. The side dishes were equally as impressive at the meats, but in small portions. Keep in mind that the main course will be your steak, so the sides are petite.

This restaurant has a great atmosphere and high quality food that is reflected in the check at the end of the meal. Sharing a steak and side orders is a good way to cut down on cost and still have a great experience. Even so, LG's gets a thumbs up from me.

Simba's Restaurant

Last night was my first night in beautiful and sunny Palm Springs. After driving through downtown and finding every restaurant packed, my party and I decided on Simba's Restaurant.

When we pulled in, the parking lot was completely empty despite the blinking 'open' sign. This should have been our first clue to turn around. We were greeted at the door by a friendly waitress who sat us at a table in the eerily empty dining room. There was one other couple having dinner besides my party of five.

The restaurant used to be a buffet for Southern soul food, but is now a made to order Southern food establishment. However, Simba's hasn't been remodeled for the change, meaning that the buffet counters are still set up, making the environment awkward and unappealing. Throughout the course of my visit, there was a man sitting behind me on a couch drinking coffee and wandering through the restaurant. The owner and waitress knew the man and allowed him to peruse around as if there weren't customers around. This made the restaurant feel very unprofessional, along with the disconnected TV and empty garbage bags on the couches.

The menu was limited and very expensive. I decided on a BBQ pork sandwich with potato salad for ten dollars. I cannot sum up my disappointment when I received my dinner. I had expected a slow cooked, pulled pork sandwich on a hamburger bun with coleslaw, in traditional Southern fashion. Instead, I was served three small slices of grilled pork on a hoagie bun with lettuce and tomato. I highly dislike tomatoes. The BBQ sauce was served in a bowl on the side, but was too runny to be put onto the sandwich. My side order of potato salad was warm, not the desirable temperature of a perishable dish. What was served to me has no place in the world of Southern food.

As I choked down my dinner, the waitress went and sat on the couch next to the man behind me. Our table was not checked on during the meal, I had no refill on my water glass, even though I ran out before dinner.

I will never eat at Simba's again, the meal and environment are not worth the price tag. Higher wait times are worth sitting through for a better meal. I hope I will find a restaurant over the next few days that will redeem Palm Spring's local eateries.

Spring Break Trip!

I am excited to announce that I will be taking a Spring Break vacation to Palm Springs!

Yippee!

Over my stay, I will be blogging and keeping everyone updated on things to do in Palm Springs. The road trip will take me through most of California as well, meaning more posts for you! I will be reviewing the condo I stay in, restaurants I eat at, nightlife, and more.

If there is anything you want to hear about as I travel through the Golden State, send me a message!

Happy Travels!
-Mariah

Mexico: Riviera Maya- Barcelo Maya Palace

Choosing a hotel can be the most crucial element in a vacation.

The Barcelo hotel chain features resorts around the globe, with five situated in Riviera Maya.
The five resorts are: Barcelo Beach, Barcelo Caribe, Barcelo Tropical, Barcelo Colonial, and Barcelo Maya Palace. All five resorts are located on the same 500,000 acre stretch of sand between Cancun and Playa Del Carmen. The resorts share an entrance as well, making it a safe area and easy to travel from one resort to another, especially with a complimentary tram service. The greatest thing about this resort chain is that you are able to use the restaurants and pools at any location, no matter which you chose to book with. For example, if you book a room at Barcelo Tropical, you are still free to eat at Barcelo Maya Palace and swim at Barcelo Tropical.

Upon my arrival at Barcelo Maya Palace, I was given a bracelet that identified our all inclusive package. I wore this bracelet at all times, because it was my meal card for my entire stay. With the all inclusive package, you are provided with all meals and snacks, non alcoholic beverages, and some alcoholic beverages at the hotel you booked through.

Since I was traveling with my family, we had two adjoining rooms with garden views. The rooms were wonderful and very luxurious, with a large bathroom, sitting area, balcony, and two double beds or a king bed. Although the garden view rooms are seen as less favorable than ocean view, the upgrade is not worth it. Chances are, you will be spending more time on the beach than in your hotel room, so save your money for a trip to Tulum and stick with the Junior Suite, which is beautiful.

The staff at this resort are very friendly and willing to help you however they can; I did not encounter problems with the staff at any of the resorts in the Barcelo area. Try to be understanding and courteous to the staff, and do not expect them to understand everything that you say. You are in a spanish speaking country after all. However, I did not have trouble speaking with the resort staff.

Dining at the resort was great. As I said, you can eat at any of the buffet style restaurants within the resorts. A la carte restaurants are a little different and depend on which resort they are located. I loved being able to get ice cream late at night at the buffet and take a dip in the pool right after.

The beach is beautiful, but can get crowded during the day. Of course, who doesn't want to be sitting on the beach by the turquoise water? Beach chairs are available, as well as towels. However, motorized water sports and snorkeling gear are not, so bring your own mask, snorkel and flippers.

This is a great resort for kids with numerous activities to keep youngsters busy. An exciting kids pool with slides and fountains is sure to be the favorite. However, if your tike isn't a water dog, the supervised Barcy club may be better. The Barcy club is part of the all inclusive package and has activities throughout the day. For older children and teens, snorkeling and the large pools are the most drawing.

Night shows are fairly entertaining if you aren't into the party scene, since the discotheque Jaguars Nightclub is available for those 18 or older.

The only major complaint I have of this hotel is the lack of Wi-Fi. With the all inclusive package and price tag, Wi-Fi should be available to customers in most areas of the resort. This is a failure of the resort to be a bit more modern, but it does keep work at bay and relaxation in focus.

Below is the link to book your vacation at one of the Barcelo resorts. If you are on Facebook, I recommend liking the Barcelo Resorts Facebook page and receiving a discount code that may be useful in booking. When deals or specials are already being offered, the discount code may not be valid.

http://www.barcelo.com/BarceloHotels/en_GB/hotels/Mexico/Riviera-Maya/hotel-barcelo-maya-palace-deluxe/general-description.aspx

6 Tips on Safety in Cities

As a woman, traveling in a big city alone or even with a friend can be intimidating. I have traveled in cities from Seattle to Washington DC, picking up tips along the way. Here are key things to remember when traveling anywhere:

1) Walk with confidence. Seems simple, but when you're in an unfamiliar area you may forget to project your confidence. Don't act timid, keep your head up and look people in the eye as you walk past them. Stand up tall with your shoulders back, take each step with an objective in mind.

2) Go to places with purpose and act like you have a reason to be in an area, even if you're lost. Don't pull out your map or phone and act like a tourist, this will make you a target and show people that you don't know where you are. Wait until you are in a coffee shop, store, or restroom and then check your map so you know the direct path from one place to another.

3) Always know your surroundings. Cities are constantly changing, it is important to be aware of the situation you are in. What neighborhoods are unsafe? Is there a certain festival going on this weekend? Do a little background research before exploring.

4) Go with the crowd. If you're walking back to your hotel and you see a large crowd waiting at a crosswalk, speed up and go with them. Traveling in a crowd of people who are going the same direction as you is a smart way to not single yourself out. Power in numbers holds true, you are less likely to encounter trouble when walking amidst a slew of people rather than alone.

5) No texting while walking! Put your phone in your purse and refrain from checking it. Having your eyes glued to your phone means you won't be paying attention to your surroundings. This means no updating your status or exploring pinterest, that cute DIY tube top can wait.

6) Use the buddy system. Bring a friend with you who will also be alert and aware of changing situations. Having a friend is the extra step that keeps you safe. Even if you part for a few minutes, tell each other where you are going and when you plan to be back.

Mexico: Riviera Maya- Tulum

If you are staying on the Yucatan Peninsula between Cancun and Playa Del Carmen, visiting an ancient archaeological site should be a top priority. Although Chichen Itza is probably the first ruins location to pop into your head, I highly recommend visiting Tulum.

Tulum is located on the East coast of Mexico, about fifty minutes south of Playa Del Carmen in Quintana Roo. Tulum means fence or wall, fitting to the wall that protects the jungle side of the city. The back side is protected by the ocean, with Templo Dios del Viento (God of Winds Temple) protecting Tulum's sea entrance.

Once you have decided to check out Tulum, arrange for a taxi to pick you up from your airport early in the morning. Although the ruins are open 8 am to 5 pm everyday, the mild temperatures in the morning and small crowns will make for a much more enjoyable trip. Be sure that you understand your cab driver's fares and try to befriend them, currently the exchange rate is 1 Mexican Peso to .08 US Dollars. Wear a swimsuit under your clothing and bring plenty of sunscreen along with a hat and sunglasses; there is little shade on the beach of Tulum and around the buildings.

When you arrive at the site, you will need to walk about a half a mile to the actual entrance where you pay your fee. Along your walk you will find what looks to be five death-defying acrobats swinging from a blue pole. These men are performing a ceremonial ritual in which they climb this pole and then descend with ropes tied to their feet so they spin around the pole. They eventually touch the ground as the ropes unwind, and donations for their performance are always appreciated. 

The entrance fee to Tulum is 38 pesos per person( about 3 dollars), with a 30 peso addition for video cameras. Children 13 and under are free, so bring the kids along too!

Inside the site you will find magnificent stone buildings and architecture similar to Chichen Itza but on a smaller scale. The beach sitting just a stairwell below the ruins is the most spectacular of views, with clear turquoise water. Unfortunately, this beach can get crowded so you may want to go swimming somewhere else afterwards. After a half-day exploring, the best way to end your excursion is with a Coca-Cola by the pool.