Feature

No matter how far or where you travel, a new exploration awaits. For me, it was a little less than two hours away in a place called McCall, Idaho. When COVID hit and was spreading fast, my family and I questioned if we were able to still take our yearly summer trip up to McCall. We decided to still go and mindfully keep our distance from crowds of people and hot spots in town. McCall offers so many things from boating, hiking, skiing, and so many other outdoors activities. My family and I stayed the week in our time-share cabin. It was our last trip together before me and my brother had to head back to school. We brought my dog Max along as he loves hiking and finding hidden lakes to jump in the water. A trip to McCall allows us to spend time together as a family and enjoy living in such a beautiful state.

The town itself is mainly centered around Payette Lake as cabins line every shore as well as hotels. Docks are stretched into the water filled with boats and jet skis. Restaurants and stores are in walking distance from the shores and the beauty of the town is indescribable. When taking the boat out for my family, our dog usually doesn’t come along so its just the four of us. Usually when we decide on taking the boat out, it becomes our entire day. Wakeboarding, kneeboarding, and swimming are just some of the activities me and my brother do. My parents relax and around halfway through the day we shore the boat on the north end of the lake, right on the beach. My mom sets up a make-your-own sandwich station and we enjoy our lunch together on the beach in the warm sun. Later in the afternoon, as our skin is feeling the bright sun’s effects, we decide it’s time to pack up and head back to the cabin. Days on the water with my family are my favorite as I get to relax in the sun and take in the lake’s beauty.

Payette Lake

My parents have owned a ski boat since I was born and to this day every summer we take it out on the lake. But when we head to McCall, it’s the one time a year we are presented with the opportunity to rent jet skis. Jet skiing is a different kind of high especially when your full throttling towards the wake of another boat trying to catch some air. My and my brother are always excited when coming to McCall because we are able to rent the jet skis.We spent all day, and I mean all day, out on the lake until my jet ski was almost out of gas. Driving around on the lake, you feel so careless and free with the wind blowing past your face. It’s truly exhilarating.

Boating on Payette Lake

Hiking through the mountains of McCall, Idaho is one of the greatest ways to capture its full effect with the beauty of the nature that surrounds it. There are so many trails just surrounding the town and even more in the mountains with trails of all levels. I recommend grabbing a local trail map and researching which are right and your desired skill level. For a more of a beginner and family oriented hike, the trails around Payette Lake are the best option while still containing stunning views. This was one of the many trails my family and I embarked on and we decided to bring my dog Max along too. I’ve personally hiked this trail the most and it will never get old.

My dog Max

Towards the end of our trip, my mom had to drive back home a couple days early for work and took our dog, but my dad, brother, and I stayed an extra day. We decided to explore one last trailhead before the reality of going back to school and dealing with a global pandemic set in. It was one last exciting adventure to share for the summer. We researched a more difficult hike than the previous but also wanted one with a view. Leaving at 8 a.m. and driving around 30 minutes straight towards the mountain led us to Lake Louie and its trailhead. In order to actually make it to the lake and see the water, we were in for a treat. By “treat” I mean a solid uphill climb, with boulders sticking out and not another human in sight. We had to stop many times before we reached the lake as we were all drenched in sweat and chugging water. I didn’t think the climb was ever going to end, until around an hour later, we finally made it. It was so worth it as the lake was so clear and clean. A few fly fisherman lined the lake, but if you stood and stopped to take a breath, it was silent. You could hear just pure nature and your heavy breathing. We continued to hike around the lake until we reached a rock that stuck out across the water. We decided to eat our lunch in peace and took in the beauty that surrounded us.

 

 

Lake Louie

This last summer adventure before the virus picked up was nothing short of perfect. It was the best way to end the season and in the company of my family and dog made it so much better. It was also the last adventure that I was able to experience with my dog Max as he would pass away a month later. It was end for many things like having to be sequestered in my house for months, but it also brought new beginnings. Heading back to school and entering another year of life. Every summer, my family ends with our trip to McCall and it brings me peace in doing so. Traveling with people you love while exploring and experiencing new places and things is something truly special.

How To

Traveling internationally is an experience of a lifetime. During a global pandemic, it may be harder to book flights, but once it’s over, the world is waiting to be explored. Adventuring to different countries and cultures is eye-opening and life changing. It allows you to over all immerse yourself in a completely different world. Travel requires a lot of preparation, but don’t let this overwhelm you as it will all be worth it in creating an enjoyable trip. Here are some things to allow for an easier trip overseas:

  • Passport

When traveling outside of the United States you will absolutely need a passport. If you don’t have one then you can’t leave. When applying for a passport, make sure to do it in advance before your trip to eliminate excess stress. The process doesn’t take too long, but doing it at the last minute isn’t the greatest idea. During  your trip, keeping your passport safe is crucial as it will be your ticket in and out of the country.

  • Basic Flight Etiquette

Knowing the basic rules of international flying is a key piece of information. For example, many countries allow you to stand up and grab your bags before the plane has even touched down. This process causes lots of anxiety so be sure to bring a bag that can go underneath the seat in front of you to avoid searching the upper compartments. Many international flights serve main meals like breakfast, lunch, or dinner when flying because of time changes, which is great so you don’t have to pack an entire meal, but maybe keep some snacks handy in case you get hungry.

  • Research, Research, Research

Learn about the culture of your destination. Knowing the rules of a specific country can save you lots of trouble when conversing with locals. Creating an itinerary is also another helpful way to bring out the best of your trip instead of wandering aimlessly. Some companies, to alleviate even more stress, provide city and countrywide tours. Rick Steves, Trafalgar, and more provide educational experiences when exploring your destination. Educate yourself on different locations and where tourists are most safe too adventure. Researching different restaurants and sites before your trip will simplify everything to avoid unneeded stress.

  • Currency

Many countries around the globe have different currencies and methods of paying. Be sure to learn more about your destinations primary currency. Some will take the U.S. dollar as well as their own money, but be sure to have your credit or debit card handy as this is the easiest method to pay anywhere you go. Knowing the best method of payment is a great way to avoid confrontation and sticky situations with locals.

When traveling to our desired destination we hope for an enjoyable time with friends and family. Keeping these things in mind and having a passport ready means you are well on track for you international flight. All that’s left is for you to go explore.

Informative

The city of Paris, is amazing and is truly something that one should see for themselves. The “City of Light” is something indescribable and is a trip you’ll never forget when living like the French. If you have never been to Paris, it can be overwhelming trying to fit everything in as there are so many sites to see. COVID has definitely impacted Paris, as with the rest of the world, but as a tourist if you can follow all the safety precautions a quick trip can allow you to escape reality and explore everything the city has to offer. Here’s one itinerary that might give you a feel of the city even as we fight through a global pandemic.

Waking up in the morning, well to be honest you don’t wake up on your own time, the noise will have you wide awake before you want too. The sound of cars honking, people chatting, and the smell of the bakeries that line the streets hit you bright and early in the morning. This encourages you to get ready and head down to the coffee shops and try their baked goods with a morning cup of joe. Matamata Coffee is one of the best shops to try. Any coffee you fancy and any type of way, it shall be made. Grabbing an authentic French croissant to go along with your morning coffee while sitting at a table in the street people watching is no better way to start your morning.

MATAMATA COFFEE BAR, Paris - Mail - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor
Matamata Coffee Bar

Once finished with your breakfast, exploration of everything the city of Paris has to offer is waiting. Of course you could head to the Eiffel Tower and the vast park surrounding the cities beloved monument, but why not dive deeper into the rich history of the Sainte Chapelle. A royal gothic chapel within the medieval section of the city. This chapel was the residence to kings of France until the 14th century. The stained glass windows depict biblical stories and are a beauty to look at. The chapel has been through ongoing reconstruction, but there is no shortage of awe. Be sure to check the schedule of the days it is open; due to a weeks worth shutdown because of COVID.

Sainte Chapel

Throughout the rest of your afternoon, the site seeing might have eaten into your late day nap. However, you don’t need to walk or stand while cruising the Seine River on an open-topped boat. As the boat takes you down the river and under multiple bridges, you are able to see the city from a different angle. The buildings and architecture are on full display as you a fair distance away to see the full beauty of the French style buildings. Of course in the distance the Eiffel Tower looms as the sun shines providing a great way to spend an afternoon in Paris.

Seine River

Hungry yet? I have the perfect place: Le Petit Chalet. This French cuisine restaurant, located right across from the Notre Dame Cathedral, provides only the best dining experience. They offer fresh made dishes with meat entrees and more. As most shops and restaurants in the city, you are seated outside in a fenced area of the street, right next to other customers. The service is unmatched as they speak English very well and can help you with any questions about the menu. When finishing your meal, of course you can’t forget about the dessert. Now since you are in Paris, the cities famous creme brûlée is calling your name. Le Petit Chalet makes them homemade each day and will leave you speechless. Enjoying your dessert, accompanied by the ringing bells of the cathedral, is a dining experience you’ll never forget.

Le Petit Chalet

Ending your day in Paris, of course you can’t help but walk around and explore a little more. The city contains so many sites to see and visit. Due to COVID, it might be more of a struggle finding sites that are open to large groups of people. Temperature checks, sanitizing stations, and masks are required before entering any building. However, don’t let this stop you from exploring the City of Light and its wonders. Lots of places are motivated to keep businesses up and running even through this global pandemic.

Personal

Thinking back to when times were simpler and the world wasn’t suffering through a pandemic, there I stood so young and care-free. I wasn’t bombarded by assignments or classwork as it was the middle of summer break of junior high. My family and I were off to Cancun, Mexico for the next couple of weeks. This was my first time traveling outside of the country and it will be one I won’t forget.

As we arrived and exited the small aircraft, I was immediately hit with the blazing humidity. I could only bare it for so long as I craved the air conditioning inside the airport. Shortly after grabbing our luggage, we made our way to the Mayan Resort Palace where we would be staying for our trip. I couldn’t contain my excitement as younger Meghan was incessantly talking and starting arguments with my brother about who would get to do what first. Once my parents had just about had enough of us, they dropped us off at the resort pool the next day and we all went our separate ways. The rest of the day we hung around the resort and relaxed as we got used to the time difference.

Although the resort was lovely, we also planned activities that required us to leave and explore. Our first destination was famous Mayan ruins, Chichen Itza. This complex of ruins contained historical architecture and in the middle of it all, an enormous towering step shaped pyramid. The geometric buildings were a sight to see and this landmark is one of the 7 Wonders of the World. I was truly blessed to be standing on such sacred ground and to see these monuments for myself.

The next day was also filled with adventure as we headed to the cenotes. Cenotes are underground caves that contain fresh water and allow for tourists to go swimming and see its beauty. However, these attractions are very hard to find and must be accessed through a tour guide company. My family and I were a part of a tour group that provided dune buggies to these remote locations that contained the pools. The drive was around 15 minutes through thick, dry bush, and by the time we arrived I looked over at my Mom and she was covered from head to toe in dust. We then took a large flight of steep stairs down into the first opening to the cave of the cenote. We were told not to touch any of the limestone that covered the walls as the oils from our skin could damage the stone and could ruin this beautiful landmark in the future. However, my brother and I had the time of our lives swimming through crevices and deep into the water.

This was just the start of the many trips to Mexico that my family would eventually embark on. Traveling is an opportunity I never take for granted and being able to experience new cultures and places with the people you love makes it all worth it.

Multimedia

My family and I took a trip to McCall, Idaho for the weekend and found some cool hiking spots! Here are some clips from our hikes and time on the lake. Hope you enjoy!

https://youtu.be/vmveHZIEryE

Travelogue

The summer before coronavirus hit, my family and I had arranged for plans to explore the best of Europe in 14 days. We were a part of a travel guide company in which they took us through France, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany. This was my first time traveling across the Atlantic and to say I was excited was an understatement.

Our first destination was Paris. On the plane, all I could think about was the movie Ratatouille and that was my only envisioning of Paris. It was however, a completely different experience. For one, Europeans act like air conditioning was never invented so each night was a sweat fest. That didn’t matter to me as much as my brother because I would sacrifice being uncomfortable for Paris any day of the week. The food, city, and people were amazing as we stayed a few nights in the art district. Our tour guide was able to take us to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and many other art museums. Watching people live their daily lives immersed in a different culture was the greatest thing pulled from my trip.

My second destination was Switzerland. I was able to see the towns of Stechelberg, Wengen, Mürren, and Lauterbrunnen. The waterfalls were amazing. No, really, I’m serious. My family and I ventured inside a mountain that contained over 20 waterfalls flowing inside. We were also able to hike in the Swiss Alps and reach the Swiss Skyline, it was also where one of the James Bond movies was filmed. The only way to reach this 10,000 ft landmark was through cable car. The views were spectacular. The country of Switzerland was by far the prettiest of my whole trip.

Italy was the third stop of our tour and it, did not disappoint. Venice, Rome, Florence, and Tuscany were the cities I got to visit. Venice was by far my favorite as the whole city was its own island with no roads. We were able to ride the gondolas at night through the Grand Canal. Going inside St. Mark’s Basilica was another check off the bucket list and we were able to go all the way to the top. After Venice, we made our way to Rome where we were able to see the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain, and ride Segway’s through the streets. Seeing the ancient ruins was like looking through an in-person history book. Once, leaving Rome we made our way to Florence. Florence was filled with pure art as we saw the Statue of David and the Florence Cathedral. Then to top off our tour of Italy, Tuscany was the last stop. Staying in the countryside, the local inn made our entire group a home cooked meal that was to die for. Tuscany was by far the most relaxing destination of the trip before we headed to the big city of Munich, Germany. As a group, Tuscany was a great way for all of us to slow down and appreciate everything we had seen as each day was filled with new sights.

Munich, Germany is one of the more westernized cities in Europe. Munich after WWII lost a lot of culture and historical monuments and traveling there today looks very similar to an American city. As a group, we headed to the Marienplatz on the first afternoon which is the central square of Munich. Shortly after we headed to the famous beer halls and had a traditional German dinner. The city was filled with loads of tourists as Munich is a hot destination spot because of Oktoberfest. Local shops and restaurants are lined all throughout the plaza for all to find souvenirs and tasty food. Munich was the last top to our journey of Europe before we headed home.

Traveling to each of these countries helped me discover a newfound respect for different cultures. Even diving into the different cultures of each country within Europe was refreshing in itself. In America, we take a lot of things for granted (like AC) and I had a blast emerging myself into a different world. Trying new foods, languages, and activities allowed me to live like a European for two weeks and journey outside my comfort zone.

Listicle

Between Aurora and downtown Denver, top ranked doughnut shops can be spotted along streets with many coffee shops and shopping centers. Many local business thrive through selling all kinds of different variations of doughnuts to satisfy each and every customer’s sweet tooth. Finding the perfect combinations when creating a doughnut can be complicated, but the shops around Denver find new and innovative ways to wow every doughnut lover. For a doughnut lover, such as myself, I recommend these shops below for finding the perfect doughnut to devour.

1. OMG Donuts

OMG DONUTS & BAKERY | Charlottes Got A Lot

Located in Arvada, this donut shop provides endless combinations, making it hard to make any decision on what to order. You can find cereal or fruit topped or cake doughnuts and doughnut holes. But if you love to keep it simple and sweet they also offer favorites such as original chocolate and maple glazed. The assortment of donuts keeps you coming back each week to try all the different variations. Not only do they serve donuts, but also refreshments and breakfast sandwiches. OMG Donuts provides top notch customer service and even accepts delivery.

2. Voodoo Doughnut

Voodoo Doughnut opens a second Denver location soon - Eater Denver
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenver.eater.com%2F2019%2F5%2F15%2F18623450%2Fvoodoo-doughnut-second-location-opening-soon&psig=AOvVaw0iyXinPpP9CwkrbwNwmsp_&ust=1602131050884000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCIDzoLXRoewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

Possibly one of the most famous doughnut shop chains operating in many states like Oregon, Colorado, and Texas, Voodoo provides a spin on almost every signature doughnut. They take pride in every specialty doughnut created for example their PB & J inspired doughnut or my personal favorite of the season, dashing pumpkin.Walking into the Voodoo, you can see each assortment inside a spinning case with each variation of doughnut easily labeled. This eye-catching piece to the store, along with the overwhelming smell of dough, will make you never want to leave. Not to mention, the shop stays open until 10 p.m. so if you’re craving a late night treat, Voodoo can provide.

3. Beet Box Bakery & Cafe

Beet Box Bakery & Cafe - Denver Colorado Restaurant - HappyCow

Located in the heart of Denver, Beet Box Bakery & Cafe provides a plethora of mouth-watering items to choose from. Ranging from: breakfast sandwiches, pastries, cake, and bread. Not to mention, they provide a great list of gluten-free or vegan options to choose from when ordering things of the such. The sophisticated spin on their doughnuts show as they provide pumpkin, maple, chocolate, and vanilla options for doughnut toppings. This small cafe keeps it simple and exciting as they provide endless options to choose from off their menu.

4. City Donuts

City Donuts of Denver, CO - City Donuts
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.citydonuts.net%2Fdenver.html&psig=AOvVaw0ss6zXdI4_qtakEuInbjvs&ust=1602131116228000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCNjjhNTRoewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

With three locations in Colorado, this donut shop receives high praise from its customers. They provide the signature: coffee and doughnuts to start your morning off on the right foot. French style and cake are two variations of doughnuts on their menu, along with the jelly-filled, cinnamon rolls, and fritters. This shop is a great place to enjoy a delicious treat with your friends and family as the environment resembles the service of the employees.

Review

If you’re looking for a sophisticated brunch eatery, this is the place! Located on E 17th St. and Franklin St. it’s easy to locate for the naked eye. As you walk into the restaurant you first notice the large patio nicely decorated with lots of seating. Two steps further, inside the lingering smell of fresh pastries, recently pulled from the oven, waft over you. The environment inside was very clean and an enthusiastic staff made it an all around exuberant setting. The menu made it hard to make a decision on what I wanted as there were so many different mouth-watering options ranging from french toast, omelettes, hashes, and brunch sandwiches. I ordered a basic breakfast consisting of two eggs made over-easy, two strips of bacon, golden sautéed potatoes, and a side of assorted fruit. Don’t even get me started on the delicious beignet along with an iced vanilla latte. The coffee and food were made all in under 15 minutes and just the way I had asked. The portions weren’t overly filling, but just enough to feel the satisfaction of an excellent meal. Sitting on the patio, enjoying the companionship of friends and eating my breakfast was a great start to my day. I will definitely be finding my way back to Olive & Finch in the near future!

https://goo.gl/maps/L9AGqxZENNnBvspA9