2021 Travel

In the last year, even through COVID, we’ve been able to take a few trips. I’m so grateful for science and our vaccine which allowed us to get back to a semi-normal life. Also, please get your vaccine, both COVID and flu, to save lives and end this pandemic. If you have questions or are scared, reach out to a medical professional or the CDC and get FACTUAL answers. Back to travel, during this weird time some attractions are not possible, but with a face mask and hand sanitizer, exploring a city and getting a feel for what it has to offer is completely possible. I thought today it would be fun to compare a few cities we’ve been to, and give a few recs.

Boston:

We will kick it off with my most recent trip, and the one that is my current favorite. I came to Boston for a conference, but made sure to take some time to explore the city. I barely scratched the surface of what this city has to offer, and was still really busy. I ventured around the city on lunch breaks and evening strolls. First of all, Boston is truly walkable. It is clean, and easy to navigate with Google Maps. I spent most of my time walking around alone and did not have any issues. Second, Boston has amazing food. From seafood, to Chinatown, to specialty coffee shops, you will certainly find something to satisfy your cravings. Lastly, the academia. I spent an afternoon at Harvard square and really enjoyed being around the collegiate atmosphere. The energy around young, collegiate students is encouraging to keep growing and striving. I highly recommend visiting this town. I’m already planning a return.

Genes Noodles: Right outside of Chinatown, is Genes noodles. They were not offering dine in, so I ordered mine to go (cash only if ordering at the restaurant!). I ordered the original hand pulled noodles, which comes with scallions, chili oil and garlic. The best thing I’ve eaten in a long time. 10/10

Neptune Oyster: This was rated as the best lobster roll in the city, so of course I had to check it out. The restaurant is very small, slightly cramped eating, but really pretty decor. There was a wait to put your name down, 10-20 min, then a wait to get a table. The average wait was 1.5 hours at lunch. I ordered the hot lobster roll with butter, And 1 oyster. This sandwich is sooo large, its a ridiculous amount of lobster. I was full all day. Classic and delicious.

Caffe Nero: a cute coffee shop, serving up a range of pastries and delicious coffee. I ordered my classic Americano and really enjoyed it. They seem to have several locations around the city.

Denver

Denver is probably my second favorite city for the outdoor lifestyle. We love to hike and be in nature, and this definitely delivers. Boulder, red rocks and skiing are all short day trips away from the city. I also really liked the amount of vegan foods, and the focus on being environmentally friendly. The biggest downsides to Denver are the homeless situation and the vastness. Living in Denver feels very isolating as everything outside of the city is super far.

Seattle

The last major city we made it to this year was Seattle. And this was my least favorite. I’m not sure how much COVID affected our stay, but it was not my vibe. I thought it would be more outdoorsy? But it’s a very busy metropolis, and you really need to venture outside the city for the greenery and hiking you may have heard about. Similar to Denver, it is super progressive and environmentally friendly which is a huge plus. But also similar to Denver, I did not find it to be walkable and tent camps are quite jarring. We rented a car the first day. They did have some neighborhoods that were walkable and had local restaurants, but to venture outside of those areas would require a car. There was a lot to do within the city, including museums, the Mariner’s stadium (which had amazing food!), the Observation deck, and a lot of food. But there was also a lot outside the city, including trips to B.C. and Everest. I think it’s worth checking out this city, as it has so much to offer, but I’m not itching to make it back.