Whenever someone mentions Florida what's the first thing you think about? Disney World? Miami? Alligators or manatees? A place where old folks go to retire? While all these things may have some truth to them there is a hidden gem in Florida that not everyone gets to see or has even heard of. The Florida Keys.

The Florida Keys are a group of islands that make up the southern tip of Florida. These islands do not seem like they are part of the United States. When walking down the streets or along the shore you'll think you're somewhere in the Caribbean, not in Florida. The most popular island in the Florida Keys is, wait for it, Key West. This little island has so much to offer whether you're staying for a week or if your cruise ship is docked for a couple hours. Here are the things you must do while in Key West!

If you love nature, wildlife, and learning something new then taking a trip down to the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory would be right up your alley. The conservatory is a butterfly park that houses different species of butterflies from around the world in a glass-enclosed habitat. Inside the habitat you will also find several different species of birds and even some pink flamingos on the premises. Tickets are $12 for general admission and the conservatory is open from 9am to 5pm. Located on the ever popular Duval Street, the conservatory is a nice peaceful and tranquil point of interest in Key West.

For all of you literary lovers out there, Key West is the best travel destination for you. Many writers throughout history visited and resided on this tropical island to gain inspiration. The most famous of them all was the one and only Ernest Hemingway. In fact, one of the best things to do and see in Key West is to take a trip down to the Ernest Hemingway House. The house is filled with history and the tour guides are extremely knowledgeable about Hemingway's work and his overall life. Not to mention the house itself is a gorgeous piece of architecture with stunning views and gardens all around. Plus the house is home to hundreds of cats who are descendants of Hemingway's own polydactyly cat, Snow White. So even if you're not interested in Hemingway whatsoever, you can still appreciate the environment and find some entertainment on the property.

If exploring a fortress in the middle of the ocean is on your bucket list (or something you want to add now) then taking the trip down to Dry Tortugas National Park is a definite must! This national park is located 70 miles west of Key West and has an 100-square mile park that is mainly open water with several small islands surrounding it. The national park is home to Fort Jefferson, which is the largest masonry structure in the western hemisphere. Surrounding the fort is the beautiful bright blue ocean, coral reefs filled with marine life, and a variety of topical birds that frequent the area. This island is only accessible by sea plane or boat so signing up for a tour is your best bet. However, there is a ferry from Key West that travels to Fort Jefferson daily.

Although Florida technically is not the most southern point of the United States (Hawaii obviously takes the cake here), it is still home to the Southernmost Continental Point. In fact, there is a buoy to mark it in Key West. From this buoy it is only 90 miles to the island of Cuba. The buoy is a perfect spot to take pictures, not only because the buoy is so iconic but because behind the buoy is the gorgeous blue ocean. Be aware that there will be a line that forms to take pictures in front of this very popular spot. If you don't want to stand in line (which moves surprisingly fast) be sure to get their early! However, the buoy was damaged after Hurricane Irma last year. But have no fear! The buoy has been fully refurbished and looks even better than ever!

If you're a big history buff and enjoy learning more about the United States Presidents then taking the time to visit the Harry S. Truman Little White House will be right up your alley. The Little White House indeed looks like a miniature tropical version of the White House. In fact, Truman spent some of his time as President at the Little White House, which was known as the Winter White House during that time. But prior to that it was actually a naval base. Today, it is the only Presidential museum in the state of Florida and it is stilled used today as a Presidential Retreat.

If you want to get the full Key West experience, taking a stroll down Duval Street is a must do. Duval Street is full of shops, restaurants, and home to Key West's nightlife. Here you can find your classic cheesy souvenir shops and even some really cute boutique stores. At the end of Duval Street you'll find Mallory Square, it faces the Gulf of Mexico and is next to the cruise ship port. Here you'll find more shops, restaurants, some museums, the trolley, and Conch Train. The best thing to do in Mallory Square is to check out the Sunset Celebration. The celebration begins two hours before sunset, every day of the year, and offers arts and crafts exhibitors, street performers, and food carts. Plus a killer view of the sunset.

If you plan on driving down to Key West or renting a car (which is not necessary since the island is so small) the number one thing you have to experience is the Overseas Highway. This famous route is a 113 mile highway that goes through all of the Florida Keys. Fun fact, most of the highway was built over the Overseas Railway. The Overseas Highway offers stunning views of the water, coral reefs and is home to many animals. If you love nature and stunning views, this is a must do. Plus if you want to check out some of the other islands in the Keys, this is the road that will take you there.

Key West may seem like just some little island town in Florida, which it is, but there is so much more to it. This island has so much to offer, no wonder it is such a perfect getaway. Not only is it paradise, but there is a lot of history and culture present. Key West has a special spunk and it makes sure you will never forget about it.

Until next time.

During the holiday season, everyone is on the go. People are going home for the holidays to spend time with their loved ones. Others go on winter vacations while they have the time off. Needless to say, getting where you need to go can be a complete nightmare. Back in November traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday was heinous especially in Southern California. Traffic was backed up on all the freeways and lines at LAX were out the door. Needless to say, it was pretty much the same throughout the United States. Most likely, it will only get worse with the upcoming holidays.

With Christmas and New Years rapidly approaching, it’s safe to say more and more people are going to be on the go. In order to survive the chaos and make sure you get to your destination without any hassle follow these tips for stress free traveling during the busiest time of the year.

Pack What You Need. Some experts advise travelers to pack light and only bring a carry on to avoid the long lines for checking a bag. But sometimes that doesn’t always work out. Most of the time, the influx of carry on items makes security lines even longer and there is never enough air bin space available. At LAX, some TSA agents will not let you bring bigger “carry on” luggage through the line and will make you go check it anyways. If you know you can’t fit everything in a tiny carry on bag, then do not force it. Do what works best for you and your travel needs.

Don’t Wait Until The Last Minute. Get everything you need all together at least the day before you leave. The more time you have to pack your bags and wrap up presents, the less stuff you’re likely to forget. Make a list of everything you need at least week before so you give yourself enough time to get everything together. If you need to add more items to your list, you have plenty of time to think as you go. This will relieve some of the travel day stress, and make your journey easier on you.

Dress For Comfort. When you’re going to be traveling for a long period of time, dressing for comfort rather than style is the best case scenario. Wearing something tight and uncomfortable while you’re traveling is only just going to make getting to your destination more miserable. Wearing stretchy material will make you feel more relaxed during a stressful period of time. If you want to be extra comfortable during your travels bring a blanket and pillow so you can reach the ultimate comfort level.

Be Prepared. No matter how long or short your travel time may be it’s always best to be prepared for any possible scenario. According to Murphy’s Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong. You never know if your flight will get delayed or even cancelled. There could also be a major traffic accident, you never know. It’s best to be prepared for any possible outcome. Sometimes all you can do is make the best out of the situation. Make sure you bring a snack or get food for your journey so you don’t get hangry. Also remember to charge all your devices for your journey and download all the necessary apps and movies/shows before you leave! Finding an outlet at the airport will be a mission especially with all the extra amount of people traveling. If you’re driving or plan on getting a rental car make sure your car charger is coming with you! With any delays or getting their early, you’ll have a decent amount of time just waiting and hanging around so bring a book or magazine to occupy your time.

Check Traffic Before You Leave. With today’s technology fighting traffic and avoiding it in anyway possible is actually a reality. Apps like Google Maps and Waze help drivers get to where they need to go on the quickest route possible. Waze even has the option to plan ahead for your drive. All you have to do is put in the time you want to arrive and Waze will let you know what time you need to leave.

Be Early. Especially if you’re flying, you’ll want to get to the airport as early as you possibly can for your flight. Lines for checking in and security are going to be long no matter what so it’s best to have more time rather than less. If you can, check in for your flight online to save time, most airlines let you check in online twenty four hours before your flight departs. But if you’re checking in a bag, you’re going to have to check in again in order to get your baggage tags so it might be pointless to check in twice. If you don’t want to have to get to the airport super early and don’t want to wait in the super long lines, invest in TSA Precheck, an expedited screening that has a way shorter security line.

Relax! The only way to successfully get through traveling during the holiday season is just to relax. Take every moment as they come, and control your emotions and stress. Look around at the holiday decorations at the airport and on the road. Don’t be mad if things don’t follow though exactly how you planned. Take a deep breath. Sometimes things are just out of your control and there’s nothing you can do. Just remember where you’re going and why you’re headed there. Every little obstacle will be worth it once you get to your final destination.

This is the busiest travel time of the year so keep in mind you’re not the only one headed somewhere important during this holiday season. If you follow these tips, you’ll survive holiday season traveling this year. Make the best out of the situation and do the best you can to try to make it enjoyable.

Safe travels to you all this holiday season!

Until tomorrow

Las Vegas, also known as Sin City, is home to all your favorite vices: drinking, gambling, smoking, clubbing, and etc. But what most people do not know is that Las Vegas has so much more to offer! There are a bunch of other fun activities and sights to see in the city of sin. Here are some of the best things to do and see while in Las Vegas.

Shopping! Las Vegas actually has some of the best shopping experiences. On the strip, several hotels contain malls and various amount of luxury shopping opportunities. Caesar's Palace has the Forum Shops which includes popular retail shops like H&M (which is actually the largest in the world), Victoria's Secret, Sephora, and etc. The Forum Shops also has almost every high end luxury retailer you can dream of, like Fendi, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and many more. While Planet Hollywood has the Miracle Mile, which is filled with 200 different shops and restaurants. Also in Las Vegas, there are two outlet malls nearby, the South Premium Outlets and the North Premium Outlets. Both are very similar, however, the North Premium Outlets have more luxury stores like Burberry, BCBG, DVF, Tory Burch and more. While the South Premium Outlets have your standard shops like Kate Spade, Coach, Gap, Nike, and more.

Sightsee! Las Vegas is one of the very few cities where the points of interests are the hotels themselves. The extravagantly themed hotels have a lot of things for tourists to see and do. The Flamingo has the flamingo and bird habitat, the Venetian has the canals, the New York, New York has its Roller Coaster, the Paris has the Eiffel Tower, just to name a few. But each hotel has an attraction that makes them standout. Take a walk down The Strip and see all the hotels, especially when they are all lit up at night, it's such a glorious sight. If you're feeling very adventurous, make your way down to the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign which is at the southern end of the Strip. There's not much around it, but it is a great photo spot!

Take Advantage of the Free Entertainment! If you want to catch some free entertainment plenty of hotels offer free little shows throughout the day. Some of the best complimentary hotel shows are: the Bellagio's spectacular fountain show, the circus performers at the Circus Circus, the Fall of Atlantis at Caesar's Palace, or even the Volcano at The Mirage. These shows are no longer than five minutes and are just some quick things to do and see. But if you have a little more time to spare and you're a huge TV fan, check out Television City at MGM Grand. It h is a television research center where you can sign up to test watch a TV pilot for some upcoming TV shows. All you have to do is watch the pilot they provide and complete a survey. It's fun and free activity to do! Plus they give you a little coupon book at the end as a thank you gift.

Chill By The Pool! During the summer time, Las Vegas can get scorching hot. Now while all the hotels are air conditioned, one of the best ways to stay cool is to relax by the pool. Some of the hotels in Vegas are known especially for their amazing pools. The Go Pool at the Flamingo has a big party atmosphere, but getting to relax in one of their Flamingo inner tubes is a real game changer. However, if that's not your scene the Flamingo has several other family pools filled with waterslides and lagoons. But hotels like Wynn Encore, the Mirage, MGM Grand, the Cosmopolitan, the Hard Rock Hotel and The Cromwell have some of the best and exclusive pool parties. But based on pools alone, Mandalay Bay has the best pool options out of all the other hotels. It's not even a pool. It's an actual beach filled with sand, a wave pool, and even a lazy river. At Mandalay Bay's beach it feels like you've been transported out of the Nevada desert and into a tropical paradise.

Be A Foodie! Las Vegas is home to buffets and five star restaurants. Getting a good meal in Las Vegas is never a problem. Chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Bobby Flay, and Guy Savoy are some of the many famous celebrity chefs with their own restaurants in Sin City. But if exquisite dining is not your style or out of your price range, don't worry there are plenty of other affordable places to catch a bite to eat. Las Vegas is also home to some restaurants that can be hard to find based on where you live like Wahlburgers, In N Out or Shake Shack. If you want to get the full Las Vegas experience, then a buffet from is your best bet! Some buffets can be ridiculously overpriced, so do some research before and pick what works best for you!

Grab A Drink! If you are above the age of 21 and you didn't get an alcoholic beverage in Sin City, were you even there? Las Vegas is known for its cocktails. Each hotel bar and restaurant has their own signature and special cocktail. What's most popular is getting the frozen yard drinks from places like Fat Tuesday, which indeed are very delicious.

Catch A Show! Las Vegas may be known for all its hotels and casinos, but it is also known as the Live Entertainment Capital of the World. If you're all about the theatre and big productions check out some of the musicals that are currently running or a famous/classic Las Vegas production, like the Blue Man Group or a Cirque du Soleil show. Or check out a magic show, you are in Vegas! Penn & Teller, David Copperfield, and Criss Angel are some of the many magicians that have residencies in Las Vegas. However, one of the most popular things to do is see a Las Vegas headliner show/concert. Tons of performers like Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, and many more stars have residency shows in Vegas that perform almost daily.

Test Your Luck At The Casinos! One of the biggest draws to Las Vegas is the gambling. Every hotel has their own casino, and even the airport has their fair share of slot machines. In every hotel you'll find card tables, slot machines, live bingo and keno, and even sports books. Any way you want to gamble, there's definitely a way in Las Vegas. So if you're in Sin City, why not give it at try? Who knows, there's always some beginner's luck there!

If you're still having a hard time deciding what to do in the city of sin, have no fear. Websites like Groupon offer a variety of experiences at low prices. You can find just about any activity, tour, or even event tickets at a discounted rate. Especially in Las Vegas, Groupon offers some amazing experiences like tours to the Hoover Dam or Grand Canyon, club crawls, and even thrilling experiences like zip lining and ATV riding!

From the gambling and nightlife scenes to the extravagant shows and picturesque views, Las Vegas has a lot to offer those who visit this infamous city. With a city that has so much to offer, you'll have a fun and exciting time no matter what you decide to do.

Until next time.

The temperature is heating up and that can only mean one thing, summer is just around the corner. But there are a few places in the world where summer is the season year round. One place that comes to mind is Miami, especially Miami Beach.

If you are from or familiar with Miami you would know that Miami and Miami Beach are two separate cities. Miami is the main land while Miami Beach is one long island. Most of the main attractions that tourists want to see are in Miami Beach (aka South Beach), but Downtown Miami is growing thanks to the hipster and fashionista movements in the Wynwood and Design districts, as well as all the success of the sports teams like the Heat and Marlins.

But if you plan on visiting Miami and staying for only a short amount of time, don't worry about missing out. Start with the basics and most importantly you must see South Beach. If you go to Miami and do not step foot in South Beach, did you really go to Miami? Here are some of the attractions you have to see and do, especially if it is your first time there.

Go To The Beach! Miami Beach has some of the best beaches in the United States. The sand is white, and so soft, it feels like your feet are walking on powder. The water is a bright blue, that kind of bright blue you fantasize about in the middle of winter. To make it even better the water is also the perfect temperature, not too warm and not too cold. The temperature in Miami is always hot and it can get very muggy, so the best place to spend your time is on the beach. Air conditioning may feel nice, but a dip in the Atlantic Ocean is much more refreshing. Everyone goes to South Beach for their beach time in Miami, especially if their hotel is inland. So if the beach is your main priority check out Mid Beach. It's not as crowded as South Beach and just as nice, plus some hotels are significantly cheaper. You can find a great deal for a hotel on the ocean in Mid Beach.

Shop or Eat at Lincoln Road. Some locals will call this Lincoln Road Mall, but it is nothing like your standard American mall. It is an outdoor road filled with all your favorite stores and a variety of restaurants to try! There are several fruit stands and venders to check out and see as well. If you want to do a little souvenir shopping, Lincoln Road is your best bet. It is also a great place to spend the day, walk around and do some people watching. There's always something interesting going on at Lincoln Road.

Take a Stroll Through the Art Deco Historic District. If you love to admire bright and brilliant architecture from the 1920s-1940s, then the Art Deco Historic District should be on the top of your list. There are over 800 historic buildings with a variety of architectural styles. The pastel colored buildings shine bright at night with all their neon signs. Admire all the historic and one of a kind architecture, snap a couple pictures, and maybe grab a drink at one of the famous hotels in this ever popular district!

South Beach is the perfect destination for a little rest and relaxation with some excitement on the side. It has a little bit of everything, an fun urban city with tropical beaches. The weather is gorgeous, the people are friendly, and the city is colorful. It's easy to fall in love with this city. Then again, what's not to love?

Until next time.

If you have booked a room on the Crown Princess and are expecting to be treated like royalty, you're dead wrong. I have been on my fair share of Princess Cruises and have been a loyal customer, hence the Ruby status, but after my latest experience on the Crown Princess, I have decided to take my business else where. Why you ask? Let me indulge you.

This past January I was on board the Crown Princess for the 2016 Angels Fan Cruise. Since I have been on this ship before (for the previous Angels Fan Cruise), I had high expectations and was very excited for this trip, but from the moment I stepped on that dreaded ship, everything seemed to go downhill.

The Crown Princess just isn't known for all the amazing destinations that it travels to, it is actually an infamous ship. This ship is known to constantly make passengers sick due to the norovirus. The norovirus is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans. In simple terms it is a stomach bug that can give you abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. The norovirus can be spread through contaminated food or water and it can also be spread by food handlers, people who touch contaminated surfaces and from person to person transmission. Princess Cruises has experienced the most (over 20) gastrointestinal outbreaks in the last decade, according to Cruise Law News.

Right before my cruise date, the Crown Princess was infected with the norovirus yet again. Our departure time was delayed a couple hours due to this outbreak. The ship itself needed to be cleaned and cleansed of its sins, which is totally understandable, because I did not want to catch this stomach bug. When I was on the ship, it was the cleanest it has ever been. But that still did not help a lot of its problems. My bathroom and some of the public restrooms on the ship had some plumbing issues. Also due to the norovirus outbreak, you were required to sanitize before every meal and you were not allowed to serve yourselves. You could not even go get a pack of sugar for your coffee without someone doing it for you, and when you tried to do it yourself, you would get scolded by the crew.

What that tells me is that the problem is coming from somewhere or someone on the ship. The ship clearly is not being taken care of, in fact, it only gets a good cleaning when the passengers get sick. Since this is a common occurrence, I don't think it can be blamed on the passengers or the itinerary, which some of the Crown Princess crew members tried to do. Because several other cruise lines travel to same destinations and they have not had as many problems as Princess.

Speaking of the Crown Princess crew members, the ones I had encountered this past January were some of the rudest people I have ever met. Some crew members went out of their way to insult me and embarrass me because of my appearance. Never in my life had I ever been treated so horribly, especially while I was on vacation. Several crew members made me cry in public which led to some of my fellow passengers feeling sorry for me.

The crew on the Crown Princess is one of the worst crews I had ever seen in my entire life. Besides their disrespectful behavior, their complete lack of knowledge was astounding. It seemed like not one person knew what was happening on the ship. On our first day, assigned seating for dinner was cancelled and not one person knew. Everyone in the Botticelli dining room had to wait in front of the restaurant and along the stairs for almost an hour until someone told us that our dinner was cancelled, and if we wanted to eat there we would have to wait another hour or so. This is not the first time the dining staff had no idea what was going on, on my first trip on the Crown Princess, my family of five was seated at a table for four. The staff on this ship are not the brightest crayons in the Crayola box.

Disorganized is the best way to describe this ship and its staff. If you're looking to book a cruise, go with Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Norwegian, instead of Princess. Princess has lost their prestigious and regal reputation because now they cut corners when it comes to quality. They do not care about your needs, all you are is another dollar sign to them.

Until next time.

Arizona and Florida are popular destinations especially during the spring time. And it is easy to see why, warm weather and most importantly Spring Training! Spring Training is every baseball lover's paradise. You get to see the players up close and personal, see the future prospects, get some autographs, and get to enjoy some baseball games.

While it's always fun to hop on a plane and travel to a new or familiar destination, it can have its ups and downs. The worst part of traveling for most people is packing. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I dread it. It all depends on the amount of time away and the size of the suitcase.

Last week, I spent some time in Tempe, Arizona to check out the Angels' spring training camp and even watch a game. I was gone for three days and somehow managed to fit everything (I thought) I needed in my little carry on suitcase. Learn from my mistakes and follow these tips and tricks when it comes to packing for Spring Training.

When it comes to clothing, pack clothes that are light and breezy. Think about how you would dress for a warm summer day. Think of light skirts and shorts, or maybe even jeans. But jeans and leggings are better when it's cooler. Light short sleeved shirts or t-shirts or even tank tops are the best bet for a hot day.

But the first thing you should do before you pack is check the weather before you go! Checking to see what the average temperature will be will make your packing a lot easier and will make it easier to eliminate items you really do not need, like maybe a jacket. Also, don't forget your necessities like underwear and comfortable clothes to sleep in or relax in. Also bring a bathing suit, odds are the place where you are staying will have a pool. Plus nothing is better than taking a dip in the pool on a hot day.

When deciding on what shoes to bring, pack for comfort. Whatever your feet are comfortable in that will be the best bet. Whether they are your favorite pair of sneakers, sandals, or even flats, think about how your feet will feel at the end of the day. Plus remember with the heat, you'll want shoes that will keep your feet nice and cool. You won't need any dress shoes, heels, or wedges unless you're going somewhere fancy or downtown. Everything around the ballparks is pretty casual.

For all your toiletries you'll need the basics: shampoo, conditioner, soap, makeup, lotion, razor, deodorant, perfume/cologne, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, and anything else you need for daily use. Also a very important note, bring sunblock. Don't be like me and make that rookie mistake the first time you go, I came back as red as a tomato. Also don't stress out if you forget any toiletries, hotels normally offer some complimentary toiletries. And if you're not staying at hotel have no fear, you're not traveling to Mars and you can buy what you need at any nearby pharmacy or store.

A hat, a bag/purse, and a pair of sunglasses is all you'll need for your accessories. A hat will help you stay cool and help shield the sun from your face. The same thing goes with sunglasses, your eyes will be protected from the sun and it will help you see the game better. A purse or bag is nice to have so you can bring snacks, sunblock, your wallet, a camera, a baseball glove, or anything you want signed into the stadium. Also most stadiums allow you to bring one sealed water bottle inside.

Since Spring Training is the best place to get autographs from your favorite players, bring whatever you want to get signed along with some markers or pens! Most players will sign anything like hats, balls, bats, posters, baseball cards, and etc. Others are particular and won't sign some items such as jerseys (cough Michael Nelson Trout cough). Players will sign autographs before they start playing and after they finish playing. A spot by the team's dugout is the best place for autographs.

There you have it! Follow this little guide and it should make packing for Spring Training a little bit easier. What are you waiting for? Get packing already! Happy traveling and happy Spring Training!

Until next time.

Here's a little vlog from my recent trip to New York City. Here you'll find some places you've already seen and some hidden gems. I hope you enjoy!

Thanks for watching and if you want to check out more of my videos check out my Youtube channel! Until next time.

Back in March I was lucky enough to go to Arizona and attend a couple Spring Training games for the Angels! It was a lovely weekend getaway to Tempe filled with baseball! My two favorite things: baseball and traveling, what could be better? So I went down the street to the Long Beach airport, yes I live right by the airport, and I hopped on one of these tiny two seater US Air Express planes to Phoenix! Look at how tiny that plane is! You should see the inside!

Oh wait you can, with an airplane selfie! Maybe you can't really see how tiny it is but you get the idea.

So I went on this lovely Spring Training getaway with my family, and once we landed and grabbed our bags we headed to the rental car area. A car is a big necessity in Spring Training, especially if you're going to several different stadiums. So we got in the rental car, and headed to our hotel in Tempe. Our hotel was The Buttes, which is a Marriott resort, and this hotel was beautiful!

Just look at that pool and scenery! Settled on top of a hill, The Buttes overlooks Phoenix in one direction and the other direction you can see the Tempe Diablo Stadium, the Spring Training home for the Angels. The Angels' home away from home is settled down the hill from the Buttes and is in walking distance. But fear not there are golf carts located in front of the lobby to take you down and up the hills when needed. And I indeed took a golf cart down to the bottom of the hill to get to my first Spring Training game. My mom actually booked this trip with Angels Vacations, the same people who organized my Boston trip. And by booking with Angels Vacations we received: three nights at the Buttes, the rental car, tickets for two games, a tour of the Tempe Diablo stadium and a meet & greet and dinner with some Angels players and staff!

The real fun (at least for me) is waiting outside the stadium over by the field where the Angels workout and do their warm ups, before the game starts. This is where the players come out to walk to the stadium and some even stop to sign! I got to meet a lot of players, some I knew, and some that I still don't know to this day. For example, Mike Morin, Cam Bedrosian, Grant Green and Drew Rucinski all signed my hat! Others did too but like I said, I still can't figure out, mainly because I can't read their signature.

So I got to watch the Angels play the Giants at both Tempe Diablo Stadium and at the Giants' stadium in Scottsdale. It was great to watch both of the teams get ready for the upcoming season and see the new emerging talent. What I like best about Spring Training games is getting to see the guys who don't get to play everyday or even the ones who may not make the team try to earn their spot. Personally, I liked Tempe Diablo better, but that's because it's my teams stadium and I got to sit in the shade. When I was at the Giants' stadium, I sat in the sun and got burned, tip and friendly reminder, always wear sunscreen and don't forget to reapply. That desert sun burns with all its might. After the game at the Tempe Diablo Stadium, I got to attend the Angels Vacation dinner which included a Q&A with Angels Vice President Communications Tim Mead, bullpen coach Steve Soliz and catchers Chris Iannetta and Drew Butera (now on the Royals). Honestly, I didn't really like who I got meet. If you read my twitter, you'll already know about my feelings towards Chris Ianetta, and Drew Butera was new and now is gone. And honestly, it seemed like they really didn't want to be there, it felt more like it was an obligation they had to fill rather than an appreciation for the fans. However, Tim Mead is a wonderful and very nice guy! After the meet & greet, Tim Mead took us down onto the field and we got to go into the dugout, which was ver cool! It was fun to walk on the field and climb into the dugout and sit where all my favorite players sit! Seeing the Angels get ready and prepare for the upcoming season was a truly amazing experience, also seeing the Angels sweep the World Series Champions, the San Francisco Giants was pretty awesome as well. Even though the Spring Training games don't count, it's still nice to see my favorite team win, and it makes the season ahead much more exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed Spring Training, and I can't wait to go next year!

As I sit here thinking about what to pack for my upcoming Angels Fan Cruise vacation, I can't help but recall my last Angels Vacation: Boston. Over the summer, I was lucky enough to go to Boston to see my favorite baseball team, the Angels play the Red Sox at the legendary Fenway Park. Now how and why did I get to do this? Well every year, the Angels host a vacation package for fans to go see several games in one city. The Angels also put on a Fan Cruise (which I'm going on this week!) and a trip to Spring Training (I'll be there too!). Anyways, with the package, you get a certain amount of days (you can also extend your stay), a tour of the city, tickets to baseball games (the amount varies), a tour of the stadium, and a brunch with Angels players and staff. How awesome is that?

So because of Angels Vacations, I was able to go to Boston, a city I have always wanted to see! Boston has a certain charm to it, it's modern yet still old fashioned. Boston, is indeed America's oldest city, the Puritans settled there in 1630 and Boston was home to many historic events like the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party. If you think about it, Boston is the place where the Revolutionary War started.

With my package, I was given the chance to take the "Duck Tour" to see the city, which is a tour that goes on land and water. However, I decided not to do that. I was lucky enough to have my boyfriend join me on this trip, and he had been to Boston plenty of times and he suggested we should walk The Freedom Trail. The Freedom Trail is a red line on the sidewalk leads you throughout Boston. It's a 2.5 mile, self-guided tour of Revolutionary sites, which starts at the Boston Common park and ends at the Bunker Hill Monument. Personally, I'd rather walk through a new city than take a bus tour, plus it's a free tour and free is good. I got to see everything I wanted from Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, and even the Old North Church.
Walking the Freedom Trail will take up most of the day and be very tiring, but the best was ending the day at the harbor and watching the sunset. Now I don't know about you, but it was always a dream of mine to throw some tea into the Boston Harbor. Unfortunately, the Starbucks near the harbor ran out of lemonade, so my dream of dumping the rest of my passion tea lemonade did not happen. Sigh. So the main reason why I got to go to Boston this past summer was to see the legendary Fenway Park, and to see the 2013 World Series Champions, the Boston Red Sox take on my team, the Angels. If you're a huge baseball fan, you know that Fenway Park is the oldest park in the MLB and is full of history. It was opened in 1912 and since the park is so old it has been renovated many times and has some quirky features, like the Green Monster, a 37 foot high wall in left field. When I toured the stadium, they took us up to the seats in that area and man those are nice. Since Fenway is an older ballpark, there's a lot of poles that can cause an obstructed view. I highly recommend taking a tour of Fenway, but the reason I enjoyed taking the tour was because I got the chance to watch the teams take batting practice. Let me tell you, watching Albert Pujols, Big Papi and Yoenis Cespedes take batting paractice was definitely the coolest thing I'd ever seen. Watching three games at Fenway was unbelievable. Fenway definitely is America's ballpark.

Now here's the actual reason why I love to travel with Angels Vacations, at the end of the trip there is a brunch with Angels players and staff! This year I got to meet Bench Coach: Dino Ebel (who I've met several times already), and Relief Pitchers Kevin Jepsen (Traded now. Waahhh) and Mike Morin! At the brunch we get food (yum!) and there is also a Q&A, so you can ask them everything you ever wanted to know. Personally, I think Dino tells the best stories.

I love traveling and Angels baseball, if you want to have a vacation that combines both I suggest booking a trip with Angels Vacations! The next trips coming up are for Spring Training and a trip to Seattle to watch the Angels take on the Mariners. I'm not sure if any other teams do things like this but go and check out your favorite team's website to see if they do!