Category Archives: travel

Prague, Czechia

Posted on by
2
Prague Old Town Square; Image from Arch Journey, https://archjourney.org/projects/old-town-square/

Prague is a vibrant city in eastern Europe that has a wide range of unique experiences and sights like no other. Recently, as a part of a trip to Europe, I spent two days exploring what this city has to offer. Known as “The Golden City” or the “Heart of Europe” to some, this city was truly a unique experience.

Prague is famously known for its Old Town district, centered around a bustling market square with local produce and other products, as well as most famously, an intricate astronomical clock tower containing an intricate timepiece distinct to the city. Installed in 1410, this clock is the subject of a local legend. It is rumored that if the clock is neglected or stops running, the city will suffer. Keeping with this legend, the centuries-old clock is remarkably well-preserved and still runs perfectly, restored most recently in 2022.

Prague is also known for its architecture in the baroque style, as evident by the Charles bridge, which I visited on my second day in Prague. This city is known for its unique classic architecture, as I witnessed when I visited Prague Castle, a massive complex of historical buildings that includes the castle itself, as well as the St. Vitus Cathedral.

Overall, visiting Prague was a unique and wonderful experience, and I would definitely recommend visiting this city in a trip to Europe. The unique architecture, culture, and atmosphere is definitely something I have never seen in the United States before. Travelling the world outside of the U.S is definitely a great way to widen one’s understanding of the unique cultures and ways of living across the globe.

Image Sources:

Left: Charles Bridge, Sergey Ashmarin, 2007, Wikimedia Commons

Right: Prague Astronomical Clock, Steve Collis, 2012, Wikimedia Commons

Books about travel to Prague are available to download for free from Libby.

My Cruise Vacation 

Posted on by
Reply

While on summer break, my family and I wanted to do something fun and exciting. After much thought, we decided we wanted to go on a cruise ship. The cruise ship we ended up going on was called the Carnival Firenze. The ship had an Italian theme, which included plenty of Italian art. The cruise ship lasted from July 21st to July 25th for a total of four days. In those four days, the cruise went to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico. We were also able to explore much of the ship and experience most of its activities in those four days.

When we first stepped on board the ship we headed toward our muster station where they told us what to do in an emergency. Right after that, we went to our room which had a total of three beds, two bathrooms, and a television that had thirty-five different channels and a selection of free movies and some that you can buy. For the rest of the day, we explored the ship and did activities such as watching a show called Dear Future Husband and going on a ropes course. When I woke up the next day we were at Catalina where we just walked around and went shopping for most of the day. The next day we were in Ensenada. While in Ensenada we were on a tour that went to the second-largest blowhole in the world called La Bufadora and went to La Riviera, which is a historical place where celebrities would go to gamble. The next day was a day at sea. While at sea for the entire day, we played mini golf at the Sports Square, watched a gameshow that you could participate in called Deal or No Deal, and played a whole bunch of trivia games. On the final day, we ate breakfast at a restaurant called Michelangelo’s and then got off the ship. 

I had a ton of fun while on this cruise. They did a great job with entertaining guests. I highly recommend it for your next family vacation. I particularly liked the shows they put on such as an interactive Deal or No Deal game show and the constant trivia games, which include superheroes, movies, and music trivia, that anybody could participate in. Every worker on the ship was friendly and nice, which added to the overall enjoyment. The cruise also included a great selection of food options such as Guy’s Burger Joint and a buffet with a variety of food called the Lido Marketplace. Every meal I had didn’t disappoint since all of the food I had was very tasty and high quality even though most of it is free and included with the cruise. The two destinations we went to were also intriguing to me. Even though we didn’t do much at Catalina it was still nice to walk around and explore the island. Going on a tour in Ensenada was much fun since I learned about some history and saw many things that are new to me such as a blowhole.

In conclusion, the Carnival Firenze was a great experience and I recommend it to families who can afford it. The cruise has lots of activities to enjoy with your family. Some of these activities include going into some souvenir stores and listening to music played by many professionals for hours each day. The cruise ship even has multiple restaurants that provide free food such as a restaurant called the Medici where my family and I ate dinner every night. Once you leave the cruise you’ll be thinking about all of the memories you’ve made and you’ll miss being on the ship.

-Matthew R.

Lisbon Summer Vacation

Posted on by
2

This summer, my family and I went to visit Lisbon. Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal and one of the oldest cities in the world. Its history is rich, and the city is filled with enriching museums and dazzling churches. The city is home to brightly colored buildings and the iconic Portuguese tiles that line the charming streets. 

My family and I spent a week in Lisbon, traveling from LAX to Montreal and then to Lisbon. We stayed at the Hotel NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade, located on the famous Avenida da Liberdade. The hotel offered a beautiful view of the city, including St. George’s Castle and the vibrant buildings. After unpacking, we explored the city center and enjoyed a delicious meal at McDonald’s. We then dined at Rubro, a restaurant that I would rate 9/10 for its filet steak and fries.

On the second day, we visited Belem, a historic district in Lisbon, where we saw the Marques de Pombal statue, the Estrela basilica, and the Empire Square Garden. We also visited the Jeronimos Monastery, famous for its intricate architecture and the resting place of Vasco da Gama. The Church of St. Maria of Belem was also a visit. We then visited the Monument of Discovery, where we took photos of the Tagus River and Ponte 25 de Abril bridge. We also visited the Belem Tower, which was closed by the time we arrived. After sightseeing, we returned to the hotel for dinner at a restaurant that served Fado, a traditional Portuguese music genre with a melancholic essence.

On the third day, we visited the Royal Jewelry Museum and the Royal Palace Museum, where we observed the royal palace’s unique rooms and tasks. We then took a hop on hop off bus to Lisbon, visiting the historic Águas Livres Aqueduct, the national park (Parque das Nações), and the National Tile Museum. The tile museum showcased detailed tiles, primarily blue and white, influenced by the Qing Dynasty. We then visited St. George’s Castle, built in the 12th century. We ended the night with dinner at a small restaurant called Taberna Anti Dantas, where we enjoyed sea bass.

On the fourth day, we visited the Lisbon Earthquake Museum, where we reenacted the 1755 devastating earthquake. We had lunch at Pastéis de Belém, a pastry shop known for their famous cream tart, Pastel de Nata. We also visited the National Museum of Ancient Art, which took about 3 hours to explore. We also took the Santa Justa lift to enjoy the stunning view of Lisbon. Lastly we ate dinner at Cafe Niccola, where I had a salmon filet with roasted potatoes.

If you are looking to take a vacation, I highly recommend looking into traveling to Portugal, as I enjoyed my stay heavily!

Travel books about Portugal are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. They are also available to download for free from Libby.

Walt Disney World: Things to Know and Places to Visit

Posted on by
Reply

In May of 1965, Walt Disney Productions purchased almost 28,000 acres of land in an area southwest of Orlando using multiple dummy corporations. On October 15, Disney decided to announce its creation by asking the Governor of Florida to confirm the rumors of a new location, calling it “the greatest attraction in the history of Florida.” This resort, opened officially on October 1st, 1971, is what we now know as the Walt Disney World Resort. It includes 4 different parks – Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. The now 50,000-acre property also includes various other locations, including water parks, a sports complex, and various golf courses.

Some things to know

  • Stay hydrated. The Florida weather, especially during summer, can be pretty extreme, due to high humidity and heat, and staying hydrated can help visitors withstand the conditions.
  • Stay cool. Find air conditioning, or even use a portable fan to avoid the weather and reduce the risk of heat stroke.
  • Plan ahead. On average, around 160,000 people visit the resort, so making reservations and knowing where to go can make visiting easier and faster.

In addition to these 3 tips, guests should also know that Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios both have a thing called virtual queues. Enter the queue online with the My Disney Experience app, which will provide a group number and an estimated time for getting in line. When the provided number is displayed on the screen above the ride’s entrance, visitors can scan their tickets and step in line. This system was implemented in 1999 to reduce the chances of overwhelming wait times.

Places to visit

Disney World is a place filled with many different and unique experiences, but some stand out among the rest. Some rides, for instance, are quit exhilarating and are worth riding such as TRON Lightcycle / Run. TRON is a unique ride located in Tomorrowland, strapping in riders as if riding a motorcycle, and hitting a top speed of 60 mph. Riding TRON at night is even more of a spectacle, as more of the lights illuminate to increase the thrill. Also an equally thrilling ride, the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Featuring Aerosmith accelerates to a top speed of 57 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds, catapulting straight into multiple twists, turns, and loops.

In addition to those two rides, Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, located in Asia at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is also very exciting. The ride is portrayed in a Tibetan village, where riders board a train and travel up and into Mount Everest. The ride features many loops and turns, but the fun starts when the train stops and plunges into the depths of the mountain at 50 miles per hour.

In addition to rides, Disney World features a very wide variety of restaurants. Epcot has 11 pavilions representing different countries around the world, allowing visitors a large pallet of places to enjoy. One example is Shiki-Sai, located in japan. Shiki-Sai offers some of the most delicious sushi one could ever taste. In addition to Japanese cuisine, Italian dining at Epcot is equally superb. Via Napoli features delicious lasagna, pasta, and their specialty Neapolitan pizza.

In all, Walt Disney World is a very exciting place, with many different opportunities and experiences for visitors to enjoy.

Books about Disney World are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Marrakesh, Morocco

Posted on by
Reply
Image from https://dunesdeserts.com/en/top-7-things-to-do-in-jemaa-el-fna/

Marrakesh is a vibrant tourist attraction that differs from many other cities worldwide. I spent 6 days in the city in early June and explored its unique culture. Marrakesh is known as the “Red City” due to all of its buildings being red, a distinctive aspect of the city that does not exist anywhere else. The Marrakesh experience greatly differs from other wealthy countries, such as the United States, but is equally enjoyable.

The Big Square, also known as Jemaa el-Fnaa, is the main tourist attraction in the city. It is famous for representing Moroccan traditions and having vibrant street performances throughout the day. Many small shops are close together, unlike anything in the United States. At nighttime, the lights and colors are a spectacular view, my favorite part of the trip. Since Morocco is a developing country, the city is a bit cluttered and dirty at times, including in The Big Square. However, this only gives a different experience to give tourists a new perspective on the world.

To conclude, Marrakesh is a wonderful city to visit and I would highly recommend it. Its lively environment and rich history make it a unique place for tourists. The Moroccan culture, building style, and stray cats are aspects I have never seen before in a country. Traveling helps visitors understand different ways of life in certain areas, and the Moroccan way of life is no short of astonishing.

California National Parks Ranking

Posted on by
Reply

So I tend to travel a lot, and some of my favorite adventures have been to our Californian national parks! I’ve been to all 10 of them except for Channel Islands National Park, so I’m going to rank the other 9! It will be in order from worst to best, although none of them are bad.

8. Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles National Park isn’t a particularly interesting national park. It’s very small and far from here, but it’s still nice. It has some good hikes, but the competition is so steep that it just gets pushed down to the bottom of this list. If you’re in the area, I’d recommend checking it out, but it’s hard to justify driving all the way up there just for Pinnacles.

7. Joshua Tree National Park

I love Joshua Tree and it’s a huge jump up from Pinnacles, but it’s just the least amazing out of the parks. It’s a lot closer, only being about 2.5 hours away, and is a lot bigger. Joshua Tree also has some very diverse and interesting hikes. There’s a lot of shorter trails and there’s almost no, if any, hikes longer than 2 hours.

6. Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park is a great national park with good hikes, but the scenery is, in my opinion, nicer than Joshua Tree’s. It is a lot farther, but it’s very nice.

5. Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon is essentially the same as Sequoia but it has Hume Lake. Hume Lake is just a really nice place with nice walking trails around it and a lot of ducks. Otherwise, it’s the same thing pretty much, and they’re right next to each other.

4. Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park is maybe the most unique of the Californian national parks. There’s a lot of geothermal activity in this park, like mud pools and geysers. It also has some nice forest hikes. The only reason this isn’t higher is because it’s hard to get to. The closest real hotel is in Redding, which is an hour away and can get extremely hot in the summer.

3. Death Valley National Park

Death Valley is a beautiful national park. It has some of if not the best hiking trails out of any of the parks. There’s a lot of trails with climbing too if you enjoy that. This park is also huge, almost the size of Puerto Rico, so I can really only talk about what’s around The Oasis resort properties. Speaking of which, they’re pretty nice and close to a lot of the more popular areas, including Badwater Basin and Artists Pallet

2. Redwood National Park

Redwood National Park is essentially a better Sequoia National Park. It’s much more coastal and has some of the best biking areas I’ve ever experienced. It also has some amazing scenery and some pretty great hiking trails. Redwood isn’t even that isolated compared to the other parks, and is a great stop if you’re doing an RV trip up the west coast.

1. Yosemite National Park

This shouldn’t be surprising if you’ve ever been to Yosemite, there’s a good reason it’s ranked as the best national park on many online rankings. It has by far the best scenery of any of the national parks and also some of the most enjoyable trails. Yosemite is also huge and has much more to offer outside of the main Yosemite Valley, which gives you so many things to do on its own. The campgrounds are also excellent, with a good hotel if that’s not your thing. Overall, it’s definitely worth the visit.

So there you have it, a ranking of (almost) every Californian national park. Have you been to any of these parks? Would you agree? What would you change?

Books about California’s National parks are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Reasons Why You Should Chose Philippines For Your Next Vacation Destination

Posted on by
Reply
https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/ultimate-guides/boracay-white-beach-guide

Imagine letting go of all your stress and letting yourself get engulfed in the feeling of relaxation as the sun beams its violent rays. I can guarantee you that this is one of the feelings you will experience in the beautiful country of the Philippines. The Philippines is a country located in Southeast Asia with a population of approximately 106.7 million people, and it is especially known for its breathtaking tropical beaches that draw in visitors worldwide, especially during the summer. You should consider going to the Philippines for your next vacation because of its popular tropical beaches, its dangerous but mesmerizing volcanoes, and its friendly citizens. 

One of the reasons why you should travel to this beautiful country of the Philippines for your next vacation is because of its very well-known tropical beaches. Because the Philippines is an archipelago, it consists of more than 7,000 islands, resulting in a vast variety of beaches in the Philippines. The Philippines has over a hundred beaches that all capture the beauty of the country. Many of these beaches have scorching sand due to the summer heat of the Philippines, but it is very soft to the touch. Not to mention, the oceans of these beaches are mesmerizing just by themselves. The beautiful teal and turquoise color of the shallow ocean as it transitions into a deep blue as the ocean gets less shallow is just a great sight to see. Some examples of these beaches are White Beach in Boracay, Nacpan Beach in El Nido, Palawan, Alona Beach in Nohol, and many more. 

Adding on, consider adding the Philippines to your next vacation destination because of the volcanoes there. The Philippines lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is where most volcanoes are, which is why there are countless volcanoes in the Philippines. Although harmful and dangerous, the volcanoes of the Philippines are a sight to see. One of the most popular volcanoes in the world and the most famous volcano in the Philippines is Mount Mayon in Luzon. Since this fury-active volcano is dangerous to be near, you could stay at a hotel near Mount Mayon and still be able to take in the sights of this marvelous volcano.

Lastly, you should visit the Philippines because the people there are very friendly! Despite most Filipinos not being able to communicate with tourists because of the different languages, they still show their hospitality and kindness. The people of the Philippines are very sweet and very festive, whether in the Philippines or not. Filipinos are very full of love, and they are mostly very joyful. Even if they are not living the best life, they try to make the most of what they have and remain hopeful. It is unlikely that you will have a bad experience with the people of the Philippines during your vacation. 

In conclusion, you should keep the Philippines in mind for the next time you go on vacation. The beautiful tropical beaches of the Philippines are like magnets that attract people worldwide, and the various volcanoes in the Philippines are very dangerous but also alluring, just making the Philippines very beautiful. The people of the Philippines are so kind and warm-hearted that they make the Philippines more beautiful than it already is. Thus, you should go to the Philippines, or at least consider it for your next vacation.

Books about the Philippines are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. They are also available to download for free from Libby.

Exploring Arizona’s hiking trails.

Posted on by
Reply
Image from https://horseshoebend.com/horseshoe-bend-the-initmate-grand-canyon-experience/

During my winter break, I went on a road trip to Arizona with my sister, her two Frenchies, and her cat; it was a fun and exciting experience. Arizona is a unique and intriguing destination, with many trails and landmarks that provide an unforgettable experience. However, if you plan on visiting Arizona in the winter, pack layers and warm clothes. Arizona can be surprisingly chilly, with temperatures often hovering around forty to fifty degrees.

The most popular thing to do in Arizona is hit the trails for hiking adventures. I’ve explored various hikes, and let me tell you, it’s not a walk in the park, especially when I’m carrying my sister’s British English cat on my back. Koda, the cat, is bigger than the typical cat, making those uphill treks a bit more of a challenging workout.


One trail that stood out was Horseshoe Bend. The hike was surprisingly not too hard, and the top payoff was worth the effort. The view? Absolutely stunning. The only downside was that it was freezing up there, and my skin felt extremely dry. I would pack some lotion next time I go to Arizona. The hike back down was a lot easier, and the slope helped lighten some of the load on my back.


Then, there was the Soldier Pass Trail. Supposedly a leisurely hike, but it turned out to be more of a medium-level challenge. We aimed for the Seven Sacred Pools, a hidden gem with seven water pools that attract hikers and tourists alike. The uphill part of this hike was a bit more demanding, but the way down was a breeze. Remember to stick to the trail – nobody wants to get lost in the wild! So, if you want to up your hiking game, the Soldier Pass might just be the ticket.


The last four days of our trip, we wanted to change it up and explore other places. For a change of scenery, we headed to the West Fork Trail in Sedona, surrounded by towering red rock formations. This trail meanders along Oak Creek, crossing crystal-clear streams and offering glimpses of vibrant fall foliage. It’s a relatively easy hike, perfect for those who want to immerse themselves in nature without breaking too much sweat. It’s a relief since I’m still hiking with my sister’s cat.


During the last two days, we were eager for more excitement; we tackled the Devil’s Bridge Trail in Sedona, known for its iconic sandstone arch. The hike was a moderate challenge, but the anticipation of standing on the bridge motivated all of us. When I reached the destination, the feeling was nothing short of awe-inspiring, with the natural arch providing a stunning backdrop to the surrounding red rock landscape.


Arizona is an absolute blast for a short vacation, but if you’re considering extending your stay for more than a week, be prepared to face the scorching heat with an arsenal of moisturizers! As my sister drove into the heart of Arizona, we were greeted by many stunning landmarks and sights that left me utterly captivated and speechless. The unforgettable experiences along some out-of-the-box trails made every mile of the journey worthwhile. To all the intrepid souls gearing up to witness Arizona’s winter wonders, brace yourselves for the adventure of a lifetime! Have a safe trip, and soak in every moment!

Happy Hiking!

Bella H.

Paris Museums Review

Posted on by
Reply

Recently, my family and I went on vacation to Paris in France! Over the week we spent there, we went to many attractions, some of the main ones being the museums. There were so many museums available, and because I am under 18 I got in for free for all!

What I think is the most interesting in Paris is the support of the arts by the government. For all citizens of France, the museums were free until you turned 26, and for outside visitors 18! I thought that this was an amazing way to get youth interested in art and the value of it.

Although there were so many museums to visit (and we obviously couldn’t see all of them), here are some of my favorite museums we visited and my reviews (as well as tips):

The Louvre

One museum that I really enjoyed was the Louvre. We got there early in the morning when it first opened and it was still so busy! It was such a large museum with way too much to look at! Some notable things to look at were the Mona Lisa and so many other famous works of art! Personally, my favorite piece was the Winged Victory sculpture, but there were so many other pieces of art that were amazing! I would recommend taking it slow because there is so much to take in and it will be a long walking day because it is so big.

Musee d’Orsay

One of the notable museums in France was the Musee d’Orsay. With its beautiful architecture and its location along the river, it was definitely one notable building! (Fun fact: It was originally built as a train station for the World’s Fair before it was turned into a museum). I thought that this was a good museum especially because it did not require the same amount of walking as the other ones while still showcasing lots of art. While I was there, there was an exhibition of Vincent Van Gogh, which I enjoyed!

Palace of Versaillies

The Palace of Versailles was my favorite museum in Paris. Because it was in the countryside, I had to take a train there since it was farther away than the other attractions. However it was very fun with so much to do! My favorite part was walking around the gardens in the afternoon because all the plants were blooming and there was so much to see. Inside the palace was also huge, with so many rooms to walk through. My favorite room was probably the hall of mirrors because it was filled with gold and had great views of the gardens. One thing to prepare for is to bring a lot of water and wear comfortable shoes because this will be one of the biggest walking grounds because it is so big!

Overall, I think that all the museums in Paris I went to were amazing and what was especially cool about them was that I was able to get into all of them for free. I would recommend everyone to go to these museums whether you like art or not, because I think with the robust art and architecture there is something for everyone to enjoy!

Disneyland Paris Review

Posted on by
1

Over spring break, me and my family made a trip to Paris and one of our days we spent at Disneyland Paris. I very much enjoyed my day, but beforehand would have liked some guides, so in case anyone is planning to go there, or just wants to know a little more about Disney Paris, here are some tips and my reviews.

Quick Overview:

Disneyland Paris has 2 parks, the main park (Disneyland Paris) and the Walt Disney Studios Park. The main park is much larger, featuring more of the classic Disney rides, similar to the park in Anaheim, with their own little twists. The Walt Disney Studios has some of the newer developments, like Toy Story Land and Avengers Campus. There are also many hotels near the parks.

My review:

I think that Disney Paris was super fun and a great place to spend a day at and even though I only spent a day at Disneyland Paris, I was still able to get on all the main rides at both parks, even being able to re-ride my favorites.

There were many rides ranging from super thrilling to pretty relaxed, and even though some were the same as the Disneyland Anaheim park, many were changed and different in their own ways. Some of my favorite rides were:

  • Hyperspace mountain: This space mountain was super thrilling and one of my favorite rides of the day! This coaster began with a launch uphill, giving great views of Discoveryland, and went  through many turns and a couple inversions. These exciting elements combined with the star wars graphics created an amazing experience.
  • Big Thunder Mountain: This was possibly my favorite part of the day. Through the whole coaster you got great views of the park because the roller coaster was located on an island, and although what some might consider a “tame” ride, it provided great thrills, and the ride itself was very long. I would recommend going on this at both day and night, because both provided great views of the park during the day, or lit up at night!
  • Avengers Flightforce: Flightforce was the most thrilling ride I went on all day. It was launched coaster themed Avengers where you went through many loops and sharp turns. All along the ride you were greeted with graphics of Captain Marvel and Iron man as you made your way through the indoor coaster. This was a super fun coaster overall, but one of the most surprising things about it was how short the line was. All day this line was under 20 minutes, and it may be because it was at the far end of the park, or it just didn’t have the audience in Disneyland Paris. Either way this was a fun packed coaster that I would recommend for anyone who wants a quick thrill.

Tips:

Going in, I did not know too much about the park, so here are some helpful tips for someone on their first visit:

  • Go to the rides you want to go on first: If there is a specific ride that you really want to go on, make sure to head there first to avoid long lines. Then, also, maybe later in the day you can be able to ride it again. To do this, you can go on the Disney Paris website, and see their attractions list in search for what you may be interested in
  • Go to Disneyland Paris, then Walt Disney Studios: If you have a park hopper, what I would recommend is starting your day off at Disneyland Paris (the main park), and then heading around halfway through your day to Walt Disney Hollywood Studios, where the lines are generally shorter. Once you have done all the desired rides at that park, then I would recommend going back to the main park to do the nighttime festivities, and ride any rides you want to repeat. For me this looked like getting to the main park at opening, around 2-3 pm going to Hollywood Studios, and then around 6-7 pm going back to the main park. This allows for you to have some time in your day at Hollywood studios, which has significantly less rides.
  • Preplan your day: Although you don’t need to know your exact agenda maybe before your trip look at the Disneyland Paris website for maps and attractions lists. Then remember some certain things that you want to do. But remember to keep it flexible because something will workout and some things might not, and especially do not overpack your schedule so you have time to just relax and enjoy the park

Overall, I think this is an amazing park! I would recommend this to people of all ages because there is so much to do for all ages.