#jolenegoes

I am a Southern California native with a taste for adventure. When I was younger, I was privileged enough to travel with a sports team. This opened my eyes to all of the different places just within the United States. In the early 2000's, I fell in love for the first time - not with a person, but with a city. Boston stole my heart. Then in 2008, I visited Europe for the first time. This, partnered with the realization that I could love a city, began to fuel my desire to see the world.

As a working person in my thirties, I try my best to balance a normal life - work, friends, love, art - with my adventures.

Keep following along to see where life takes me next.

Nov 30, 2020

Photo Diary: Jolene goes to Long Beach

In the same vein as my recent brunch blog, I spent the weekend introducing my dear friend Mariah to my city. I've written this many times in my 2020 blogs, but the pandemic has really pushed me to explore locally and redefine the the idea that adventures take place only in faraway, unfamiliar places. I've lived in Long Beach for most of my life, but I am constantly revisiting its quiet corners and colorful crevices. Day 1 Pit stop at Hilltop Park for city views and peaceful v

Oct 26, 2019

Jolene goes to Copenhagen (Again)

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller After one of the hardest years of our lives, Jennifer and I were off yet again, on another adventure abroad. This time, we began the first half of our 10-day trip revisiting one of our favorite cities: Copenhagen, Denmark. The last time we visited was two years prior, almost to the day, at least according to our passport stamps. As I stepped off the plane onto Danish soil, I felt something sp

Sep 25, 2019

Jolene goes on a very los angeles Staycation

Most of us are not blessed with a disposable income and unlimited time off from our 9 to 5 daily grind, but that doesn’t mean we can’t squeeze in an adventure here and there. This one goes out to my fellow Weekend Warriors. Instead of planning an expensive trip to go somewhere far and exotic, Cathrine and I decided to have a staycation, choosing to venture out into our local Los Angeles labyrinth instead of boarding a plane to go elsewhere. Our staycation began on Friday nigh

Jun 18, 2019

Jolene goes to the Lavender Festival 2019

It was an overcast Saturday morning, a perfect match for the new, melancholy album by Bastille. I relished some “me time,” even if that meant encountering traffic on the 91-E as I drove past the sweeping hills and developing communities out near Corona. For the third consecutive year in a row, I cleared an entire day’s schedule to drive down to Cherry Valley and enjoy all things lavender at the Lavender Festival. After picking up my friend from Riverside, we were on our way b

May 14, 2019

Jolene goes to Stars on Ice 2019

If you've been following along with my adventures since last year, then you already know at least a little bit about my figure skating past and my ever-living love for the sport. This year, I chose to attend Stars on Ice again, since my experience last year was so positive. While the cast wasn't as large this year (I definitely missed Adam Rippon's sass), the show still did not disappoint. The skaters performed a variety of routines, ranging from dramatic and contemporary to

May 7, 2019

Photo Diary: Jolene goes to Pop Up Disney!

Over the weekend, I decided to splurge and attend Pop Up Disney: A Mickey Celebration, located at ESPN Zone's old home in Downtown Disney. Pop Up Disney! is Disney's an Instagrammer's heaven, composed of a number of themed rooms celebrating everyone's favorite mouse. Please note that for the first time ever on this blog, these photos were NOT taken by me! They were taken by my friend Monte Dobbs. Please message me if you'd like her contact info, or you can find her at @montef

Apr 24, 2019

Jolenegoes: 7 Instagram-Worthy Spots at Knott's Berry Farm

While Disney may be taking over our social media feeds, Knott's Berry Farm has its own kind of vintage California charm, complete with some great Instagram-worthy photo spots. Visiting Knott's is not all about the rides - you can get some great photos there too! 1. Fiesta Village Windows I absolutely loved all of the bright colors in Fiesta Village! As we were wandering, we noticed some very cute, very colorful windows, perfect for a cheery Instagram photo. 2. Boardwalk SURF

Apr 22, 2019

Jolene goes to the Boysenberry Festival 2019

I'm sure by now it's no secret that I practically bleed Disney, so attending another Southern Californian theme park is not normally on my radar. However, I started following various theme park blogs last year to help me plan my Disney World vacation and have subsequently found myself unable to escape the numerous social media posts and ever-growing popularity of Knott's Berry Farm's Boysenberry Festival. I already had a lot of fun plans in the month of April, but when one of

Apr 15, 2019

Jolene goes to the Carlsbad Flower Fields

Even though my Instagram feed has flooded with super bloom photos, I decided to take up my friend Stefani's invitation to a different kind of spring outing - the Flower Fields in Carlsbad. I'd never been before, and I couldn't see any reason not to go. Photos? Flowers? Day trip? Sign me up! We arrived in Carlsbad Village after a traffic-laced 2.5-hour drive from Long Beach. It was around 1PM and we grabbed coffee and lunch first. For coffee, we visited Sleeping Tiger Coffee -

Apr 14, 2019

Photo Diary: Jolene goes to Disney California Adventure

Sometimes, a mental health day means going to Disney California Adventure in the middle of the week! My cousin Caleb invited me as one of his guests to be signed into one of my happiest places, so of course I couldn't say no. Please enjoy this collection of photos in lieu of a review... after all, a picture is worth a thousand words, right? My aunt was visiting from Virginia, so my priority was making sure she had the best time, especially since I really love DCA and it was h

Mar 21, 2019

Jolene goes to Griffith Observatory: A Mental Health Day

Famously depicted in Hollywood favorites such as Rebel Without a Cause and La La Land, the Griffith Observatory is an iconic Los Angeles landmark that draws tourists and locals alike. So, when I found out one of my besties of 13+ years (Christine) would be in that area, I suggested we include it in our LA-day. Recently I've been battling with some mental health issues, all triggered by recent negative personal and professional experiences. I got to a point where I basically

Mar 4, 2019

Photo Diary: Jolene goes to Downtown LA

“The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land.” – G.K. Chesterton Until next time, Happy wandering! #jolenegoes #Jolenegoes #DowntownLA #DTLA #TheBroad #WaltDisneyConcertHall #LosAngeles #LA #BottegaLouie

Mar 2, 2019

Jolene goes to Costa Rica: Brasilito, Conchal, and Tamarindo

After our very adventurous time in the cloud forest, it was time for us to make a trek to the Pacific Coast. Even though I am a Californian, I am seriously not a beach person, so a big part of me was sad to be leaving such a magical place. I had plenty of reservations and, if I'm being honest, expectations of disappointment. I booked a private shuttle to take us from Monteverde to Brasilito, where we were staying. After our rough beginnings, both Melody and I were concerned a

Feb 26, 2019

Jolene goes to Costa Rica: Monteverde

Over the past few years, I've created a secret mental list of destinations in my head, based on my preferences, interests, and what I've read. Costa Rica has popped up in that list a few times, but the timing was never right, and traveling there seemed quite a ways outside of my comfort zone. An opportunity presented itself when my dear friend of almost 10 years invited me to her wedding in Costa Rica! Several months, much preparation and one personal crisis later, I was on a

Feb 25, 2019

Jolene Stays in Monteverde, Costa Rica

Monteverde, Costa Rica is a high-altitude region known for its luscious cloud forest, adventurous activities, and plentiful wildlife. Perched in the Puntarenas Province, Monteverde is the cloud forest equivalent of an oasis amidst a mountainous horizon. When approaching where we were going to stay, I used trusty booking.com, one of my favorite resources for accommodations, mostly due to their flexibility in cancellation. I skimmed the options available for our dates, and ulti

Jan 30, 2019

Jolene goes to Disney's Hollywood Studios

Perhaps I've been clinging onto the last bit of pixie dust in my Disney trip, but I am unreasonably late in this write-up on the last park of my Disney World adventure. During my research period, I read countless posts deeming Disney's Hollywood Studios as a "half-day park," with very little to do compared to the other Disney Parks. However, like the rest of my trip, I was pleasantly surprised at my positive experience, and hold a different opinion from most of what I read. I

Dec 21, 2018

Jolene goes to the LA Zoo Lights

While I do not celebrate Christmas, I still find myself engaging in seasonal, ~festive activities such as this one. Last year, a good friend of mine wanted to do something festive for the holidays but our schedules didn't work out. This year, I knew I had to make her a priority this season, and oblige her holiday-themed craving. We settled on visiting the LA Zoo Lights, an after-hours event that skips out on the animals but brings plenty of sparkling lights and holiday cheer.

Nov 20, 2018

Jolene Eats at Epcot

If you read my Epcot blog, you know I was pleasantly overwhelmed with everything Epcot has to offer, from its futuristic rides and emphasis on progress, to its spectacular 11-country World Showcase. However, in this post, I will be addressing the other significant aspect of Epcot: the food. In every other Disney World park, I made a point to make one reservation per day for a sit-down meal, ensuring that we'd have at least one big meal. After all, it's hard to find time to si

Oct 30, 2018

Jolene goes to Tanaka Farms

Since delving into the world of blogging (and also owning a small business), I've acquired very faint social media sensibilities; I am more aware of Instagram trends, filters and destinations alike. This year, it seems, my timelines and feeds are flooded with pumpkin patches galore, fueling my ever-existing love affair with autumn. When previous plans fell through, I recruited my future-journalist and New University editor-in-chief companion, Caitlin, to visit a farm/pumpkin

Oct 13, 2018

Jolene goes to Epcot

We visited Epcot on the fourth day of our Disney World trip, after one day in Animal Kingdom, then two days in Magic Kingdom. Our stomachs and wallets were ready, and we were willing to overlook our tired feet and humidity-tormented hair. Epcot stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Originally, Epcot was built to be a living, functioning community focusing on progress and technology. Although that vision was never brought to life in its truest sense, it is o