What I did: Manuel Antonio National Park- The Manuel Antonio National Park is home to a variety of cool animals including monkeys, sloths, birds, and frogs. There are walking paths that allow to walk amongst the animals, and there are also nice beaches to swim in or just relax at. Playa Jacó- Jacó offers a great beach. The waves are usually good to surf, and sand is good for laying out and relaxing or playing sports. Surf- I am not an expert surfer, but it was great to have the opportunity to surf in Jacó. The hostel I stayed in offered surf board rentals (or surf board storage if you want to bring your own). For beginning surfers they also offered surfing lessons. Hostel pool- The pool at Room2Board, the hostel I stayed in, was a great place to relax. They also had a hostel bar located next to the pool. Where I ate and drank: Ohana Sushi Tapas Bar- Ohana is a very nice sushi place in Jacó. It was also the highest ranked restaurant in Jacó on trip advisor. The staff was very friendly and the food was great. The Beer House- The Beer House is a great hole in the wall place that offers some good craft beer. The location is slightly off the main street, and the environment is laid back and friendly. Cafe Bohio- The best cup of coffee I had in Jacó was at Cafe Bohio. I also bought a couple bags of coffee beans to take with me when I left Jacó. Green Room- The Green Room is a very good restaurant. They had a nice selection of food and drinks. They also feature live music at certain times. Restaurante and Sports Bar El Sol (Manuel Antonio)- After leaving Manuel Antonio National Park I got a bite to eat at El Sol. The food was very good, but the best part of the restaurant was the view. The restaurant sits across the street from the beach, and the views from the restaurant were excellent. La Cocina (Quepos)- Quepos is the location for the main bus terminal on the way from Jacó to Manuel Antonio. La Cocina is a great little place in Quepos. They serve great food at great prices. Where I stayed: Room2Board Hostel and Surf School- Room2Board is one of the best hostels I have ever stayed in. It was located right next to the beach, and the hostels facilities were very nice. They even had a swimming pool with a slide! Surfboard were available to rent for $10 a day. How I got around:
I used local busses to travel around Costa Rica. Jacó is a small town, so while I was there I walked everywhere I went in town. My favorite thing: There were so many things to love about Jacó that it is tough to pick one favorite thing. The hostel was great, the waves were good, the beach was beautiful, and the food was inexpensive and tasty. My least favorite thing: Costa Rica has a fairly good craft beer scene. As a fan of stouts, I tried to order them at many of the places I visited. Although they were listed on the menu, many of the places I visited were out of their stouts and porters. For next time: Next time in Jacó I would like to do more of the same. However, as mentioned earlier, I would like to try some Costa Rican craft stouts. I would also like to go zip lining and check out some waterfalls.
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What I did: Laguna de Apoyo- Laguna de Apoyo is a volcanic crater lake. The water is great to swim in, paddle board over, or canoe over. The views are amazing, and there are various beach resorts located around the lake. Iglesia de la Merced- The Iglesia de la Merced offers excellent views of Granada from its bell tower. After paying just one dollar, you can climb the spiral staircase to the top. Masaya Volcano- The first time I saw active lava in person was at the Masaya Volcano. I went on an evening tour leaving from Hostel Paradiso. It was incredibly impressive to see, but we were only allowed to stay for 15 minutes at a time. ChocoMuseo- The ChocoMuseo teaches the process of making chocolate, from the growth of the tree all the way to the purchasing of the chocolate bars. Also, I was able to roast my own chocolate beans and make my own chocolate drinks based on ancient recipes. I was also able to make my own chocolate bar to take with me. Parque Colon- Parque Colon is a major park in Granada. There were various food vendors set up while I was there. It had a nice, family environment. Catedral de Granada- The Catedral de Granada, while not as impressive as some Cathedrals in places like Italy or Spain, is still worth checking out nonetheless. Where I ate and drank: Spanglish Craft Cocktail Bar- Spanglish is a great cocktail bar just off the main town square in Granada. I was there during US Thanksgiving, and they happened to be serving turkey for the occasion. I had the opportunity to celebrate and give thanks with some Canadians (who have a different thanksgiving), Australians (who got to have their first thanksgiving experience), and a couple others from the United States. Taco Stop Granada- Taco Stop is a nice place to get a quick, good meal for a very good price. Hostel Paradiso Restaurant and Bar- While Hostel Paradiso did not have a guest kitchen, they did have a restaurant and bar on site. It was very well priced, and the food was very good. Where I stayed: Hostel Paradiso- Hostel Paradiso, which sits on the edge of a volcanic lake (Laguna de Apoyo), was an amazing place to stay. It had previously won the "Hoscar" award for best hostel in Nicaragua. The view from the hostel was beautiful, and the hostel had its own beach with kayaks and canoes available. Hostel Oasis Granada- As a precaution due to an incoming hurricane, we were evacuated from Hostel Paradiso and moved to Hostel Oasis. It was a very nice place to stay for the short time I was there. I met some really cool people while I was there. The hostel had a pool and a better breakfast than most hostels. They also had a full kitchen and free filtered water. It was an "oasis" from the incoming hurricane (couldn't resist). How I got around:
While in Granada I walked throughout the city. When entering and exiting the city I used the "chicken busses," which are a very inexpensive (although not incredibly comfortable or luxurious) way to get around the country. I also used taxis when traveling between Granada and Laguna de Apoyo. My favorite thing: My favorite thing to do in the Granada area was swim in and relax by the lake at Laguna de Apoyo. My least favorite thing: There was not much that I disliked during my time in Nicaragua. It may not have had all the luxuries of some other places, but my least favorite thing was probably not having more time to spend there. For next time: Next time I am in the area I would like to explore the Islets of Granada. What I did: Easton Town Center- The Easton Town Center has a variety of shops, restaurants, and bars. It is a nice, clean area to explore and enjoy. Ohio Stadium- Know as "The Horseshoe," the football stadium for the Ohio State University football team is one of the largest stadiums in the United States. On my most recent trip I was only able to drive past, but on a previous trip I had the opportunity to attend a game there. Scioto Mile- The Scioto Mile is a nice park in Columbus. It offers nice views of the city skyline, and there are often festivals that take place in the area. Short North- The Short North area has a number of bars, restaurants, theaters, shops, and cafes. When I was there it tended to draw a college crowd from nearby Ohio State University. Gahanna/John E. Bickley YMCA of Central Ohio- The John E. Bickley YMCA was a very nice facility to work out in. The staff were very friendly, and the equipment was well maintained. They had everything I needed to get a great workout in. Where I ate and drank: Condado- Condado is an excellent taco spot in the Columbus area. Natalie's Coal Fired Pizza and The Light of Seven Matchsticks- Natalie's Coal Fired Pizza is a quality pizza place in the Columbus area, but the real gem is downstairs. After going down the unmarked stairs you enter a speakeasy known as The Light of Seven Matchsticks. While waiting for a table you can order drinks by writing your order on a library card and putting it in a mail slot. The menus are hidden inside various books, and the drinks are high quality. Fado Irish Pub- Fado is a great Irish pub just north of Columbus in Easton Town Center. Graeter's Ice Cream- Graeter's Ice Cream black raspberry chip ice cream is the best thing I have tasted so far in my life. The dark chocolate "chips" are more like chocolate bars. The ice cream is made in small batches, and although the company is based in southwestern Ohio, their ice cream can be shipped on dry ice throughout the United States MOD Pizza- MOD Pizza offers customizable pizzas and salads. You can select one of their suggested recipes, or choose to build your own from scratch. Seventh Son Brewing- Seventh Son Brewing is a quality brewery. Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream- Jeni's would be the top ice cream in most cities in the world. However, they are also in Graeter's ice cream country. While very good and worth a try, it wasn't quite as good as Graeter's. Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace- Dirty Frank's is not very healthy, but it is worth checking out when visiting Columbus. They serve hot dogs with a variety of interesting toppings depending on your preference. Fox in the Snow- Fox in the snow is at or near the top of the list of coffee/breakfast spots in the Columbus area. The coffee was very good, and the breakfast sandwich was delicious. It also had a very good atmosphere in a renovated garage. First Watch- First Watch is a nice breakfast cafe with many healthy options. Java Central Coffee Roaster- Although it was not the best nitro cold brew I have ever had, Java Central did serve a very good one. Where I stayed and how I got around:
I stayed with family in nearby Gahanna, and was able to travel around with them. My favorite thing: Besides having the opportunity to spend time with family, my favorite part of Columbus was the ice cream. Jeni's would be the best ice cream in most cities, but it is situated in the same area as Graeter's, my favorite ice cream in the world. My least favorite thing: Although the weather was very nice while I was there, for much of the year the weather is very poor in Columbus. Also, I prefer to be near the ocean, and while Columbus has some riverfront area, it is far from any saltwater. For next time: Next time in Columbus I would like to drink coffee at Impero Coffee, Mission Coffee Co, Crimson Cup, and the Angry Baker. I would also like to try cocktails at the Watershed Distillery, Curio at Harvest, Dick's Den, Pins Mechanical, and the Bottle Shop. Additionally, I would like to check out Land Grant and the North Market. I visited Puerto Rico before it was devastated by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria. These hurricanes were devastating to the island in a number of ways. A large part of the Puerto Rican economy is tourism, and tourists have not been visiting recently due to the damage done by the hurricanes. It should be a great time to visit Puerto Rico for two reasons: you can be a boost to an economy that desperately needs it, and you can get some great deals. What I did: Castillo San Felipe del Morro- The Castillo San Felipe de Morro is located on the San Juan National Historic Site in Old San Juan. It is a fortress that was built on the waterfront in the 16th century. It was built as a way to defend San Juan Bay from people trying to attack from the ocean. The six story fortress has a variety of things to explore such as ancient dungeons, cannons, ramps, and towers. It also offers some great views. Bacardi Factory- The Bacardi Rum Factory is in San Juan. They offers tours of the facility and rum tastings. They also sell rum bottles and blends that can be personalized and only purchased directly at the factory. Condado Beach- Condado Beach was a nice place to relax a bit and kick a soccer ball around. Where I ate and drank: La Cueva del Mar- La Cueva del Mar is a nice, authentic, local restaurant in San Juan. Bebos Cafe- Bebo's is another authentic Puerto Rican restaurant in San Juan. The food and the prices were both very good. La Fonda del Jibarito- I visited El Jibarito on the recommendation of a local Uber driver, and I was not disappointed. The restaurant gets its name from a type of sandwich made from plantains. The authentic Puerto Rican food there was very good, and the portions sizes were generous. Cocina Abierta- Cocina Abierta serves excellent, high quality food. However, it is somewhat expensive, and the portions are relatively small. If you don't mind spending a bit of money, Cocina Abierta is a great option. Where I stayed: Mango Mansion- My stay at Mango Mansion was very nice, but I unfortunately did not have my time to spend in Puerto Rico. Located in Condado, it is close to the main sites and a short walk to some great restaurants. And of course they had mangos (my favorite fruit) as part of their free breakfast. How I got around:
While in San Juan I walked to get around for most of my time there. I also used Uber at times, especially when traveling slightly longer distances when with a couple other people. My favorite thing: I really enjoyed the laid back culture in Puerto Rico, similar to much of the Caribbean. The people I met there were extremely friendly. My least favorite thing: Unfortunately due to time constraints I was only able to spend a couple days in San Juan. I would have liked to have spent more than that limited time there. For next time: Next time I visit the San Juan area, I would like to visit their bioluminescent waters. At nights, the water in some areas appears to glow. I haven't had the chance to experience something like that before, and would really like the opportunity to do so. Unfortunately, last year's hurricanes may have irreparably damaged the bay. As mentioned in a previous post, hostels can be a great resource when traveling. Usually, the first place I check when searching for hostels to stay in is Hostelworld.com. They offer a number of resources to assist in the search for hostels.
"Hoscars"- Every year Hostelworld announces their "Hoscar" awards for various categories. Some awards categories include best small hostel, best hostel by continent, best hostel by country, best atmosphere, and best new hostel. I will sometimes even use these awards when deciding which city I want to visit next. Search filters- Hostelworld allows you to limit your search by specific categories such as price, rating, room type, facilities offered, and type of accommodation. Ratings- The ratings are one of the best things about Hostelworld. I usually look for hostels that are rated 8.0 or higher, although I will make some exceptions from time to time. The ratings are based on the opinions of past guests. After I stay in a hostel I booked on Hostelworld I will rate it. The rating is usually a good indicator of the overall quality of the hostel. Reviews- Reviews are another one of the great features of Hostelworld. Each time I (and many other travelers) stay in a hostel booked from Hostelworld we leave a short review about our experience at the hostel. This can be a good way to see the strong and weak points of different hostels. Also, in addition to the hostel's self written description, this can also give great clues as to the type of hostel (party, relaxing, hipster, modern, historic, et cetera). This can be used to not only determine the quality of a hostel, but to know if it would be a good fit for you. Thumbs up recommendations- Hostelworld will give certain hostels a green "thumbs up" if they have been consistently rated high by guests. This can be another great way to determine potential hostel quality. Pictures- Although using certain angles and lighting can make some pictures deceiving, pictures can provide great insight into a hostel. The can be a great way to get a feel for the hostel, especially when combined with the ratings and reviews. Facility details- Hostelworld will also list the facilities and resource provided by various hostels. For example, some hostels will provide free breakfast, outdoor terraces, swimming pools, individual reading lights, and self catering facilities (kitchen). Maps- Hostelworld can also show where hostels are located on a map. This can be very useful if you are trying to stay close to a particular point of interest such as a beach, stadium, airport, or train station. |
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