#travelblog

#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.

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

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 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 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 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

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

Aug 12, 2018

Jolene Goes to Venice Beach

Sometimes it's nice to be a tourist without going too far! My girlboss friend Cathrine (who I have mentioned in several posts before) spent the day exploring Venice Beach, CA, with no particular plans. We meandered through alleyways, drooled over the canal homes, and ate some pretty yummy food. Blue smoothie bowls at Great White Exploring the canals "Youth is in a grand flush, like the hot days of ending summer; and pleasant dreams thrall your spirit, like the smoky atmospher

Apr 4, 2018

Jolene goes to Disney California Adventure Park

If you've read my previous Disney blogs (Disneyland + Disneyland Paris), you know I am definitely a Disney enthusiast. Despite having visited the Southern California Parks countless times, I've not yet exhausted the Disney magic during my trips. This particular time, my goal was to maximize my time and save as much money as possible - both of these can be difficult feats in a place like Disney California Adventure Park. However, I found some wonderfully thought out day plans

Jan 19, 2018

Jolene goes to Amsterdam

STAY: Hotel Ibis EAT: Bulls & Dogs GO: Anne Frank Huis NOTE: I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE FOR THE LENGTH & WORDINESS OF THIS POST. I DECIDED TO MAKE THIS ONE QUITE PERSONAL; IF YOU'D SIMPLY LIKE TO READ ABOUT WHAT I DID, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN. If you've been following along with my Europe posts, you've probably noticed the long gap between this one and my last. The truth is, I've been struggling with how to approach this blog, how to write about my short experience in Amsterdam. I alwa

Jan 15, 2018

Jolene goes to the Walt Disney Concert Hall

Being a somewhat-native Angelo (I say somewhat since I'm actually from Long Beach), it's easy for me to breeze past activities or places I deem "touristy." This often causes some difficulty when I'm planning a day in LA, like the one I had planned with my friend Melody this past weekend. Melody currently lives in the UCLA area, so I tried my best to find something that wouldn't bore her in her own neighborhood. After a bit of searching, I came across a site that listed compli

Dec 24, 2017

Jolene goes to Seattle

EAT: Mora Ice Cream STAY: Greenlake Airbnb (Use my referral link if you book!) GO: Seattle by Foot Coffee Crawl SHOP: Churchmouse Yarns & Teas Although my instinct is to meticulously plan trips far in advance, occasionally I make minimal arrangements, purchase flights on a whim, and see what happens. This was the case with my most recent weekend in Seattle, WA. I've been to Seattle about 7 times in the past 3 years, so it's safe to say that it's one of my favorite cities. Tha

Nov 12, 2017

Jolene goes to Copenhagen

For the past couple years (or at least close to 2 years), I've had an uncanny desire to visit the city of Copenhagen, Denmark. I'd seen Copenhagen mentioned on a travel show that I don't even normally watch, and I was hooked. There was something about the colorful buildings in Nyhavn, Dutch royalty, and overall look of the city that peaked my interest. Everywhere I went, it seemed Copenhagen popped up! So of course, you can imagine my excitement when we were actually on a fli

May 16, 2017

Jolene Goes to the Queen Mary

Being a Long Beach native myself, the Queen Mary has always been a familiar site. I've been going there as long as I can remember, but as I've gotten older, I've realized that I've taken the Scottish landmark for granted. Spending special occasions at the Queen Mary has been somewhat of a tradition in my family, especially amongst the women on my mom's side. This past Mother's Day was no different, but I found myself approaching the outing with a set of fresh eyes. I took it

May 4, 2017

Jolene goes to Albuquerque

Welcome to my first official #jolenegoes travel blog! I will do my best to put readers in my shoes so to speak. I would like to share my personal experiences with you all, related to my trips. Food and lodging blogs will be written and posted separately, so keep an eye out! Trip dates: 4/27-4/30 Departing: LAX Arriving: ABQ Trip purpose: My cousin's wedding LAX to ABQ Honestly, I should have foreseen how the weekend would go. A series of seemingly insignificant obstacles aros