Hello Faraway Files Community, it’s been ages… It seems like it was just yesterday I was headed to England for our summer adventures, and now here it is mid October and only two weeks until Halloween. I hope you all had wonderful summer holidays, and are settling into autumn.
Did you know that beyond my love traveling and art I am also a lifelong baker? It’s true! I’ve combined my love of art and baking into a custom cookie business, and of course it’s important to do research, so this week I’m linking my post about our London adventures, and more specifically our search for all things sweet.
Corey was our host last week and her favorites were:
Welcome to Faraway Files, the travel link up hosted every Thursday by Erin from Oregon Girl around the World, Corey from Fifi + Hop, Hilary from Hilarystyle and Clare from Suitcases and Sandcastles.Faraway Files is a weekly file of the best travel ideas on the web. We want to dream of faraway places, make new travel plans and share our travel secrets. We hope you’ll link up and inspire us to travel to new places or revisit a place we thought we knew. We know that you can feel faraway even when close to home, so share your experiences of travels near and far wherever you are in the world.
Don’t forget to comment on the hosts’ posts as well as any others that catch your eye. The more links you read and share the more fun and successful our community will be, so please join in.
We’ll try to read and comment on every post and we’ll share them on social media too. Each week we’ll choose our favourites and highlight them on our blogs and social media channels using #FarawayFiles. How it works:
Link up one travel-related post and add the Faraway Files badge onto the post or your blog (code below) or link back to the hosts.
The link up will go live every Thursday at 8am, UK time, until midnight on Friday. It will alternate between Suitcases and Sandcastles, Fifi + Hop, HilaryStyle and Oregon Girl around the World. This week’s link up is right here.
Link ups work best if everyone shares so please comment on all of the marked hosts’ posts and at least one other.
Tweet us your posts (@suitandsand, @oregongirlworld @fifiandhop @hilarystyleme) using the hashtag #FarawayFiles and we’ll retweet to our followers.
Love Instagram? Share your favorite photos from your posts with us, tagging #FarawayFiles and we’ll add our favorites to our Faraway Files Instagram feed.
Only 50 miles from London, and easily accessible via train, Cambridge makes the perfect day trip. While you’re there visit the colleges, go punting, stroll The Backs, enjoy a pub lunch and of course some sweet treats. If I’m being completely honest, we skipped the pub lunch and went straight for the chocolates.
First things first…
One of the most unique and idyllic ways I’ve ever celebrated my birthday, was punting on the River Cam. Even if it’s not your birthday this is a most relaxing way to spend an afternoon. Its even better if you’re lucky enough to have friends who will do all the hard work while you sit back and relax.
The River Cam
We may have skipped the pub, but we didn’t miss lunch. We picked up sandwiches from a local grab and go and enjoyed them on the river, and if you’re so inclined and have a good handle on steering your boat, you can grab a Pimms cup from the Floating Cam Bar to go with your picnic! Only £5!
We loved the ducks, and other water fowl, on The River Cam in Cambridge, and they loved us, or at least they loved our lunch, especially the popcorn. At one point I thought they might get right in our punt!
The River Cam
The River Cam
The River Cam
The River Cam
The River Cam
Punting on the River Cam and visiting colleges are essential to any Cambridge visit, but do make sure to take the time to walk across The River Cam, for an alternative view.
Punting on The River Cam
One of the most iconic buildings in Cambridge is Kings College Chapel. You’ll need a ticket to enter, but its worth the price of admission, building started in 1446, just four years after the college was founded with finishing touches completed by King Henry VIII, is there anything in the UK that he didn’t have a hand in?
SAMSUNG CSC
Lucky for me my dear friend, Clare, who is an alumni and a perfect guide joined us for our day out. She made sure we had a lovely day. Check out her guide to Cambridge for more about those pub lunches I mentioned above and other valuable information on how to spend your day in Cambridge.
You’ll feel like you’re on the edge of the world, or at least I did, while exploring the White Cliffs of Dover. Visiting the White Cliffs and the surrounding area was a highlight of our summer vacation, and I know that our experience there will stay with me forever.
White Cliffs of Dover
We spent hours wandering the grassy paths high above the English Channel. Afterwards we made our way to Dover Castle where we explored centuries of fascinating history.
Dover Castle
The White Cliffs
There are various trails of varying difficulties all with breathtaking views, and on a clear day, which we were lucky to have, you can see across to France. Thankfully the trails are just far enough back from the edge, so you won’t feel nervous.
White Cliffs of DoverWhite Cliffs of Dover Trails
If your visit coincides with the low tide you can take the trail, which includes stairs, 350 feet down to the beach below, but keep in mind you’ll have to get yourself back up.
White Cliffs of Dover Trails
White Cliffs of Dover Beach
There is a lighthouse at the end of the trail, and if you’re so inclined they offer a lovely afternoon tea right inside the lighthouse. However we had the castle in mind, so we opted for an ice cream cone to go instead. We were joined by a park ranger along the way who chatted with us about the area’s fascinating history.
Dover LighthouseDover Lighthouse
There is no fee to walk on the Cliff trails, but there is a fee for parking as well as some of the area’s other attractions. Check the official website for more information.
Dover Castle
For over 9 centuries Dover Castle, in one form or another, has stood sentry on the cliffs overlooking the Channel, the gateway to the United Kingdom.
Dover Castle
Exploring inside the castle walls, was one of our favorite part of the day, in some places they are 21 feet thick. You’ll learn about castle life in the 11th century from the wonderful staff who work there, and they’ll share castle secrets and other fun tidbits with you.
Dover Castle Interior
This is the view of the Roman Lighthouse, as seen from atop Henry II’s Great Tower, at Dover Castle. The lighthouse is one of three surviving Roman Era lighthouses in the world and dates back to the 2nd century AD.
Roman Lighthouse &Saxon Church Dover Castle
A visit to Dover Castle is a fascinating journey, which will have you traveling through time as you learn about the Castle’s important defensive role throughout England’s history. You’ll want to allow as much time as possible so you can really explore all the exhibits and the underground war tunnels.
Check the Castle’s official website for opening hours and special events.
Banksy’s Brexit Mural
The search for public art, wall murals and graffiti often plays a large role in my travels, but I admit I practically stumbled upon this very large Banksy piece, while on the road to Dover Castle. As you can imagine I was really excited to see the Brexit inspired piece up close. You’ll find the mural on the Castle Amusements building near the Ferry Terminal in Dover.
Have you been to London? If you have, then you’ll know that in London there is simply no such thing as having been there done that. For every item you cross off your “London List” two more will be added. Neighborhoods, museums, parks, restaurants, and… Treats.
Afternoon Tea at Biscuiteers Notting Hill
We spent three days roaming the City’s neighborhoods in search of treats both sweet and savory. We found this was a perfect way to tour the city enjoying a comfortable feeling of familiarity when we walked by old favorites and a feeling of excitement when we discovered new ones.
Eine Signs LOVE
We did a big loop which took us past many of the city’s most famous spots including: St. Paul’s, the Millennium Bridge, The Globe Theater, The Tate Modern, The London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, and so many more. Stopping periodically for a treat was a great incentive and the 8 miles we walked helped to assuage any guilt we may have felt eating all those treats.
Southbank London
Here, for your convenience, is a list of sweet spots including all the new locations and old favorites, which have been grouped by neighborhood:
Belgravia
Peggy Porschen
Touted by multiple sources as having the “best cupcakes in the world” we decided a visit to Peggy Porschen Cakes, would make our list. We sampled cupcakes and cocoa, and both were delicious. The pretty pink building with its candy colored decor and beautifully decorated deserts has made it a very popular Instagram photo location.
Festive Winter Cupcake Peggy Porschen
Peggy Porschen Cakes Belgravia
Festive Winter Cocoa Peggy Porschen
Brick Lane
Dark Sugars Cocoa House
Hot chocolate is a travel tradition in our family, and no trip would be complete without it. My younger son and I made sure that a visit to Dark Sugars Cocoa House, on Brick Lane, was the number one stop on our recent sweets and treats tour of London. The tricky part was getting a photo of all that delicious chocolate before it melted… Also on offer, bowls of decadent and beautiful chocolates and creamy gelato in bright candy colors.
Dark Sugars Hot Chocolate London England
ChinaTown
Taiyaki – Various Places
Stopping in Chinatown for Taiyaki, fish shaped cream filled buns, is another London tradition, and this visit was no exception. The texture falls somewhere between a waffle cone and a pancake, and they are traditionally filled with red bean paste, but custard and Nutella are other popular options. Larger taiyaki are filled with soft serve in traditional asian flavors like ube and black sesame.
Citywide
Warm Caramelized Peanuts
You’ll find cart vendors selling warm caramelized nuts all over the city. We’ve often stopped at the one at the foot of the Millennium Bridge just outside the Tate Modern. Sticky sweet and warm makes for a nice combination on a cool evening by the river.
Caramelized Peanuts London
Mayfair
Sketch
This delightful Pink Panther Mousse was the perfect end to our Sketch experience. Sketch, located in London’s posh Mayfair neighborhood, is one of The City’s trendiest dining spots, but it’s not just a pretty face with Insta worthy decor (though it has plenty of that in spades), the food is also beautiful and more importantly delicious. Each of the multiple dining areas, all with different themes, has its own menu and price point making this fun and quirky spot accessible to everyone.
Pink Panther Mousse Sketch
Notting Hill
Biscuiteers
Not that I ever need an excuse to sample delicious sweets and treats, but as I’ve recently opened my own cookie company, @cookiesareeverything, (yes, a shameless plug), we made sure to include cookies, or as they say across the pond biscuits, to our list of must try treats. We discovered @biscuiteersltd and were delighted to find that they don’t only sell their beautiful creations, but offer an afternoon (sweets only) tea as well as private icing lessons and parties. Yes please!
Biscuiteers Notting Hill
Bubbleology
We’re big fans of bubble tea (boba) and apparently so are Londoners as there were long lines at every bubble tea spot. Bubbleology in Notting Hill was a perfect place to stop and take a break. I chose the more traditional Milk Tea with boba, but they offer many unique flavor combinations including, grape, lychee, and even Nutella boba, which was my son’s choice.
Bubbleology Notting Hill
Piccadilly
Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum and Mason has been a London institution for over 300 years, so when I told friends I’d never been they were shocked! How could I have missed such a special place? I knew I had to remedy this situation on my very next visit and so I did.
Fortnum & Mason Biscuits
Fortnum & Mason Biscuits
To say we were not disappointed is an understatement. Pastry cases filled with the most decadent treats, dark wood shelves lined with the prettiest biscuit tins you ever saw, tea, coffee, jams, picnic hampers, iced biscuits, and chocolates, and that was just the food hall. The interiors are as decadent as the offerings and we spent ages admiring everything and doing our best not to put everything we saw into our basket. Fortnum and Mason is now on our permanent London List.
Fortnum & Mason Picnic Hamper
Shoreditch
Rebel’s Alliance Motorcycle Club
Raise your hand if you’re a coffee lover! If so, you’ll want to stop in at the Rebel’s Alliance Motorcycle Shop on Sclater Street in London’s Shoreditch Neighborhood. Enjoy a cup of coffee surrounded by vintage motorcycles, art and vintage style clothing.
Rebel’s Alliance Coffee Shop Shoreditch
Grab a coffee at Rebel’s Alliance Motorcycle Club
Eine Signs
Although our recent whirlwind day out in London was mainly about where to find the sweets, that didn’t mean we couldn’t make time for some treats too. In my book that means street art, and we were delighted to visit @einesigns most recent addition to the Shoreditch neighborhood.
Eine Signs LOVE
E For Elliot
SoHo
Maitre Choux
It’s good to have a delicious destination at the end of a long walk, or if you’re like us stop at 5 along the way! @maitrechoux has multiple locations, but their SoHo shop was on our route and turned out to be one of my favorite stops as not only were the eclairs beautiful, but they were delicious as well.
Maitre Choux SoHo
Southbank
Borough Market
London’s oldest food market has been serving the people of Southwark for over 1000 years. You’ll find stalls, shops, cart vendors and restaurants selling everything from the freshest produce, fish and artisan breads to Indian food, meat pasties, dumplings and so much more. The Borough Market has something for everyone.
Borough Market
What fun treats have you found in London, have you visited any of these spots? Let me know in the comments below.
Summer projects have become a tradition in our household. Previous years, have included make your own longboard, and paint your own skateboard deck. Most recently we gave my younger son’s room a complete makeover. Elliot graciously let me choose the design, and looking for a way to incorporate all the photos we take on our family adventures we decided on a travel photography theme.
Elliot and his drums
He’s a tween, so we wanted something that would take him through the next few years, and still feel “cool” or at least until he decides to move into his older brother’s room, when he leaves for college in (sob) 2 short years. We gave it the full Do-it-yourself treatment. We made own shelves, painted the walls, created a mural, and applied decals, photographs and a DIY bulletin board.
Tween Room Makeover
I should mention that Elliot’s room is tall and narrow with the sleeping area below and the hang out space above, (which makes it difficult to get great photos). The upper portion of the room has a long narrow walkway, and that seemed like the perfect spot for our world map mural.
Where in the World Photo Mural
Having done years of extensive travel both separately and as a family we were looking for a fun way to display where we’ve been. Unable to find exactly what we had in mind we created our own.
Deciding which photos to hang up was probably the most difficult task. My family takes bets on how many photos I’ll take in any given location, so you can imagine that narrowing it down to just one per destination was near impossible, but I almost did it.
layout your photos
Tip: Order the photos before you start the painting process as they will both take a few days to be ready. My favorite online photo company is: MPix.
Elliot chose the paint color, mega blue, a perfect representation of oceans, but I swear I didn’t influence this choice. Here are the before and after photos of the wall:
Before
Mega Blue
Tip: Prime the wall first, and wait until the paint is completely dry before the next steps. Depending on the time of year, and the weather, this could be days, we waited four.
Once the wall is completely dry its time to hang up or apply your map. Although any map, or even paper cut outs would work, we chose a vinyl world map from Wall Need Love. In our case we planned to add a lot of photos, so I really like the simplicity of the map silhouette*.
Use a flexible pieces of plastic to push out any bubbles in your vinyl
Again your photos can be any size and mounted directly to the wall. I mounted ours to 1/4 foam board, which gives them a little punch and allows me to remove and replace easily, should we change our mind.
Foam board makes a great photo mount.
The photos were printed with destination labels.
#hello
Your chosen destinations might seem obvious to you, after all you took the photos, but I thought it would be fun to have the location printed onto each photo.
Tip: Use photo mount to apply your photos to foam boards. Use double sided foam tape to apply them to the wall.
Use paper scraps to lay out your design
Tip: Practice your layout using scrap paper and painters tape.
Map Pins
We opted not to string lines between the photos and their corresponding locations, but we did use map pins. We assigned a color to each family member, which we stuck directly into all the destination photos that each individual had personally visited. Red pins representing the countries and cities we stuck directly into the map.
Each family member is represented by a color
Would you like to make a world map photo mural? Here’s what you’ll need:
World Map Photo Mural Supplies:
Blank wall
Indoor Wall Paint
vinyl map decal (or any map)
String (we opted not to use string)
Map pins
Photos
Foam board
Photo mount
Double sided foam tape
Exacto knife
Graffiti Prints
Because Elliot’s room is two stories tall we needed some fairly large prints. This time we chose street art and graffiti photos from around the world. We had them printed 20 x 20 and mounted onto 1/4 foam board.
Graffiti Prints
Tip: Use double sided foam tape to hang your prints.
Pipe Shelving
Because the room is narrow it was difficult to find furniture that fit between the bed and the wall, so we made shelving that works as both night table and storage.
Fill the Shelves
This next project does require some power tools, and an outdoor space to work in. We purchased the wood, the pipes and all the supplies at a local hardware store. If you don’t have power tools you can have the hardware store cut and drill the wood for you, and finish the project at home. Here are photo directions to the DIY Pipe Shelves:
Sand the shelves
Get ready to stain the shelves
Stain the shelves
Let the shelves dry.
Clean the Pipes with Acetone
Mount the shelves
Pipe Shelf Supplies:
Wood
sandpaper
stain
rags
gloves
pumping pipes
acetone
Fill the shelves
I used a plastic wire tie to attach the charging cords to the shelving, as this seems to be an item that is easily lost. The lower bar, started out as nightlight storage, but has since become a place to hang headphones, and I’m sure it will evolve again over time.
Banksy Mural
We finalized everything with a custom bulletin board and some “graffiti style” vinyl murals.
Are you a city mouse or a country mouse? I’m most definitely a city mouse, but even a city mouse needs to escape the hustle sometimes, so this week I’m sharing my recent adventures at Malibu State Creek Park, which is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon. Not only is it a lovely scenic spot, but its close proximity to LA made it a prime filming location and for the better part of a century many of the films and television shows we know and love were filmed there. Where else in the world can you combine Hollywood with hiking, What about you, do you, where do you go to escape? Is it somewhere close by, or far from home? Either way, I hope you’ll share it with here on this week’s edition of Faraway Files.
Speaking of country mice, Elliot and I are getting ready for our escape journey to England in a few days, where we’ll be spending some quality time with friends exploring outside the city. See you next month… In the meantime Clare was our host last week and her favorites were:
Stargazing in a Shepherd’s Hut by Le Coin des Bobby
Welcome to Faraway Files, the travel link up hosted every Thursday by Erin from Oregon Girl around the World, Corey from Fifi + Hop, Hilary from Hilarystyle and Clare from Suitcases and Sandcastles.Faraway Files is a weekly file of the best travel ideas on the web. We want to dream of faraway places, make new travel plans and share our travel secrets. We hope you’ll link up and inspire us to travel to new places or revisit a place we thought we knew. We know that you can feel faraway even when close to home, so share your experiences of travels near and far wherever you are in the world.
Don’t forget to comment on the hosts’ posts as well as any others that catch your eye. The more links you read and share the more fun and successful our community will be, so please join in.
We’ll try to read and comment on every post and we’ll share them on social media too. Each week we’ll choose our favourites and highlight them on our blogs and social media channels using #FarawayFiles. How it works:
Link up one travel-related post and add the Faraway Files badge onto the post or your blog (code below) or link back to the hosts.
The link up will go live every Thursday at 8am, UK time, until midnight on Friday. It will alternate between Suitcases and Sandcastles, Fifi + Hop, HilaryStyle and Oregon Girl around the World. This week’s link up is right here.
Link ups work best if everyone shares so please comment on all of the marked hosts’ posts and at least one other.
Tweet us your posts (@suitandsand, @oregongirlworld @fifiandhop @hilarystyleme) using the hashtag #FarawayFiles and we’ll retweet to our followers.
Love Instagram? Share your favorite photos from your posts with us, tagging #FarawayFiles and we’ll add our favorites to our Faraway Files Instagram feed.
You’ll feel a world away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles when you visit the Malibu Creek State Park, which is tucked away in the Malibu Canyon. Part of the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, and only 25 miles from Downtown Los Angeles the Park features swimming, hiking, fishing, bird watching, mountain biking, camping, and horseback riding. Of course being so close to LA it’s no surprise that this scenic area was once used to film many of the famous television shows and movies that we know and love.
Malibu State Creek Park
The 20th Century Fox film How Green Was My Valley was filmed here in 1941 and shortly thereafter Fox Entertainment purchased the property, which became known as the 20th Century Fox Ranch. Moves and television shows continued to be filmed in the Park after the State of California bought the property in 1974 including: M*A*S*H, Planet of the Apes, Doctor Doolittle, Pleasantville, Batman, Anchorman and so many more.
20th Century Fox Ranch
There are hiking opportunities for all fitness levels, including 15 miles of stream side trails, and along the way you’ll be treated to views of the valley, canyon and scenic pools.
Malibu State Creek Park
Century Lake was named in honor of the Park’s former owners.
Century Lake Malibu State Creek Park
Although many areas of the park were damaged in the tragic wildfires that tore through the area in late 2018, the area is well on its way to recovery.
Malibu State Creek Park
Tips and Useful information
Malibu State Creek Park
Bring Water and wear appropriate foot attire. Trails on the easy hikes are wide and smooth, but appropriate foot attire is a good idea.
The Visitor Center is open Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4:00 pm.
All day parking is $12.00 per car, per day, or there is an hourly rate.
Restrooms and a drink machine are located in the parking area.
Dogs on a leash are allowed in the park’s day use areas and campground. Dogs are not allowed on the backcountry trails or dirt roads.
The park is on Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon Road, and can be located from the Pacific Coast Highway via Malibu Canyon Road, or from Highway 101. The Address is: 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, CA 91302
We visited Batuu, a planet located at Galaxy’s Edge, or at least we really and truly felt like we did. Okay, so we weren’t really at Black Spire the last outpost before Wild Space on the planet Batuu, but rather in Disneyland, located in Anaheim, California.
View of Galaxy’s Edge from the top of Big Thunder Mountain
In true Disney fashion no detail was spared, and we all agreed that our visit to Disneyland’s new Star Wars themed land was the most immersive theme park experience we’ve ever had.
Galaxy’s Edge Disneyland
During our visit we flew the Millennium Falcon, explored the market place, sampled the food and met the citizens of Black Spire, who very impressively don’t break character. Careful, you don’t want to catch the attention of a stormtrooper.
Stormtroopers questioning a citizen of Black Spires
Galaxy’s Edge
Located within Disney’s Magic Kingdom, you’ll need a theme park ticket to visit Galaxy’s Edge*. Access points are just next to Critter Country and Frontier Land. From the moment you walk through the entrance archways you are transported to another world, complete with two official languages, Aurebesh and Huttese.
Galaxy’s Edge
If you listen carefully you’ll hear the citizens using them and see that many of the signs and items for sale are also labeled in these languages. English translations are posted, but if you’re interested in learning the native tongues you can download a handy app which will translate for you.
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
There is one ride attraction within Galaxy’s Edge, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, with another attraction set to open later this year.
Smuggler’s Run is an interactive ride experience where guests (the minimum height requirement is 38 inches) will work together to pilot the Millennium Falcon on a smuggling mission.
While you’re waiting in line you’ll be treated to stunning views of both Black Spires and the Millennium Falcon. Decide whether you’ll be the pilot, the gunner, or the engineer, but remember you’ll need to work together to ensure a successful mission.
Once you get through the line you’ll find yourself walking through the passageways of the Millennium Falcon. Next thing you know you’re onboard!
Dining
Food choices in Black Spire (Galaxy’s Edge) are plentiful including, vegetarian options, unique snacks and even a cantina, which serves alcohol. If you are at all familiar with Disneyland you’ll know this is big news.
Kat Saka’s Kettle
Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
Shopping
The market place includes multiple shops including, a toymaker, a creature shop, and an outfitter. If you’re in the market for a light saber or a droid you’ll have the opportunity to build your own, but you should know that these items are a hot and expensive commodity.
Dok Ondar’s Den of AntiquitiesDroid Depot
Keep your eye out for Planet Batuu’s many mysterious and unique creatures.
Creature Shop Galaxy’s Edge
If your tastes run to the Dark Side you’ll want to visit First Order Cargo, which you’ll find just to the left of this Tie-Fighter.
Tie Fighter Galaxy’s Edge Disneyland
Stick around to see Galaxy’s Edge after dark:
Galaxy’s Edge After DarkDok Ondar’s Den of AntiquitiesMillennium Falcon: Smuggler’s RunGalaxy’s Edge Disneyland
*Galaxy’s Edge officially opened on May 31, 2019, and as you can imagine its a popular destination. Access will be limited to those with a reservation until June 24, 2019.
Summer is here, or almost, technically it’s not for another few weeks, but here in the United States, Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of the summer season. For many of us that means vacation time, beach days, and of course that sweet summer staple in a myriad of flavors and colors: ice cream. Do you have a favorite summertime treat? This week I’ll be sharing my list of spots to get the sweet cool stuff as well as other delicious treats around the LA area.
Black Tap Anaheim
Corey was our host last week and her favorites were:
Welcome to Faraway Files, the travel link up hosted every Thursday by Erin from Oregon Girl around the World, Corey from Fifi + Hop, Hilary from Hilarystyle and Clare from Suitcases and Sandcastles.Faraway Files is a weekly file of the best travel ideas on the web. We want to dream of faraway places, make new travel plans and share our travel secrets. We hope you’ll link up and inspire us to travel to new places or revisit a place we thought we knew. We know that you can feel faraway even when close to home, so share your experiences of travels near and far wherever you are in the world.
Don’t forget to comment on the hosts’ posts as well as any others that catch your eye. The more links you read and share the more fun and successful our community will be, so please join in.
We’ll try to read and comment on every post and we’ll share them on social media too. Each week we’ll choose our favourites and highlight them on our blogs and social media channels using #FarawayFiles. How it works:
Link up one travel-related post and add the Faraway Files badge onto the post or your blog (code below) or link back to the hosts.
The link up will go live every Thursday at 8am, UK time, until midnight on Friday. It will alternate between Suitcases and Sandcastles, Fifi + Hop, HilaryStyle and Oregon Girl around the World. This week’s link up is right here.
Link ups work best if everyone shares so please comment on all of the marked hosts’ posts and at least one other.
Tweet us your posts (@suitandsand, @oregongirlworld @fifiandhop @hilarystyleme) using the hashtag #FarawayFiles and we’ll retweet to our followers.
Love Instagram? Share your favorite photos from your posts with us, tagging #FarawayFiles and we’ll add our favorites to our Faraway Files Instagram feed.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Summer is here, or almost, technically it’s not for another few weeks, but here in the United States, Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of the summer season. For many of us that means vacation time, beach days, and of course that sweet summer staple in a myriad of flavors and colors: ice cream.
California Adventure
This isn’t a best of list, because although some spots do stand out as being exceptional, is there really such a thing as bad ice cream, or for that matter dessert? I’m an equal opportunity dessert eater, so this list won’t just include the cool sweet stuff, but some other fun treats as well. I’ve shared a few of these before, but how nice to have all of these delicious options in one convenient spot.
Mickey’s 90 Birthday Marcaron Disneyland
You’re welcome!
Black Tap
While not technically in Los Angeles, I am starting with my most recent ice cream discovery, Black Tap, which is located in Downtown Disney in Anaheim, so almost LA. I’d been hearing about and seeing photos of Black Tap’s gigantic milkshake concoctions for years, and as soon as they opened I made a beeline straight for it. There are multiple combinations available, and there were three of us, so we decided to share…
Black Tap Anaheim
Somi Somi
Taiyaki is a fish shaped pastry with a texture somewhere between a waffle cone and a pancake and we do our best to enjoy it whenever possible. Traditionally filled with red bean paste, custard and Nutella are other popular options. Somi Somiin Koreatown is a great place to enjoy Taiyaki.
Tayaki
Stray Cat & Poke
Another great place to enjoy taiyaki is Stray Cat Poke & Dessert, which is located in Old Town Pasadena, a great place to spend an afternoon.
Milk Shop
The Milk Shop, located in Silver Lake,is an old fashioned ice cream parlor and bake shop with a modern day twist. Not only were the treats Insta worthy, but they were delicious. Even though I enjoyed my macaron ice cream sandwich immensely I couldn’t resist the cookie dough to go, yes please!
Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich
Smitten
Churned to order and paired with delicious toppings we are smitten with Smitten. You’ll find Southern California’s only Smitten location in El Segundo.
Cookie dough with caramel
Salt & Straw
Salt and Straw’sice cream is delicious, but don’t take my word for it, the ever present line around the block should speak for itself. One reason the line is so long… you can sample as many flavors as you want!
Salt & Straw
Rori’s
Rori’s has multiple locations around town, and lucky for us, one of them is within a mile of our home. If I had to pick a favorite Rori’s would be very near the top.
Rori’s Artisanal
Sprinkles Cupcake ATM & Ice Cream Shop
Wait, what?A 24 hour ATMthat only sells cupcakes and cookies? Where can I find that? Beverly Hills of course! We discovered that Sprinkles also has an ice cream shop, and we couldn’t resist. This was some incredible ice cream, and the red velvet cones were amazing. You’ll find theSprinklesice cream shop just next to the Cupcake ATM.
Little Damage
Little Damage is a family owned soft serve ice cream shop in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. With trendy black cones and unique flavor choices, Little Damage, is not your average ice cream… its ice cream with a Goth twist. We sampled Unicorn Tears, a lovely blue color, which actually tasted like vanilla birthday cake. A scoop is $6 and comes with one free topping. The trendy black waffle cone (made from activated charcoal) is $1 extra.
Sidecar Doughnuts
Sidecar Doughnutsis one of our favorite Westside doughnut shops. We aren’t the only ones who love them, so be prepared for a long line. I promise you it’s worth the wait their uniquely original and very delicious flavors are baked fresh all day long.
Pina Colada
Astro Doughnuts
We love Astro Doughnuts, and their fried chicken is delicious too. They recently opened a new location on Main Street in Santa Monica, so now we can bike there.
Passion Fruit & Guava
Birdies
Pictured here is a cream cheese champagne glaze 24k gold donut, which if you’re feeling spendy will set you back $100!! Yes, $100 for one donut! At a mere $3.50 the other donuts seemed like real bargains, so we got two… Elliot chose a panda donut, because… panda! The strawberry donut was so delicious we wasted no time on a proper photo.
Gold leaf donut
Blue Star
Offering unique flavors like Habanero PB&J, trendy flavors like maple bacon, and the more traditional like lemon poppyseed you’ll find something for everyone at Blue Star. Elliot loves the Meyer lemon & key lime curd, but the crisp edges of the lemon poppyseed make it my personal favorite. Maybe it reminds me of the crisp edges on beignets?
Canter’s
Canter’s, an LA institution, has been serving up their award winning pastrami sandwiches and other deli fare since 1931. Beyond pastrami, other favorites on my list are the Mish Mash Soup, and the High Hat, which is basically a cupcake married to a ding dong! Delicious!
High Hat Cupcake
Georgetown Cupcakes
Would you like a free cupcake? Georgetown Cupcakesis giving you one! All you have to do is check out their online fridge cam for the secret cupcake of the day. Tell them the flavor when you walk in and they’ll give each member of your group a complimentary cupcake!
Pie Hole
Whether you like it savory or sweet you’ll be guaranteed a unique and tasty treat at the Pie Hole. With 5+ locations throughout the greater LA area you have no excuses!
Lark Cake Shop
We stopped in Lark Cake Shopat the request of the kids, and thankfully we were in the mood to say yes! The Ice Box Cake was so delightful we considered going back for a second round.
Eat Cake Be Happy
Milk Tavern
The Milk Tavernis my kind of bar with unicorn crepe cakes, cotton candy burritos, rainbow grilled cheese sandwiches, and ping pong! Video games too, if you fancy them. Not only is it an instagrammers dream, but the food is delicious too.
Bottega Louie
Bottega Louie is known for it’s colorful and photogenic macarons, but it isn’t just about the sweets and treats, it’s also a full service restaurant, bar and gourmet market. @laweekly listed Bottega Louie on their 10 best macarons in LA list! We enjoyed chocolate mint, raspberry, salted caramel, birthday cake and coconut. My favorite was coconut!
Cookie Good
Cheetos flavored cookie anyone? Trust me, it’s delicious. Not your thing? Don’t worry Cookie Good, has “normal” flavors too. The cookies here are so delicious we bought a dozen different flavors and took a bite of every single one
We took a bite of every one!
Compartes
Comparteschocolate bars are literally bursting with deliciousness. An LA institution since the 1950s these fabulous chocolate bars are a mixture of art, style, and design. Often partnering with other iconic LA brands these are some of the most luxurious and fashionable chocolate bars you’ll ever have the occasion to eat.
Dark Graffiti
Snow Monster
If you love bubble tea (I do!) and cute things, then you’ll want to stop in atMini Snow Monster, with locations at Universal City Walk and Koreatown. Their delicious boba is served in your choice of unique and reusable jars in various fun shapes, and if you fancy it a halo of cotton candy and fruity pebbles.
Mini Monster Bubble Tea and Strawberry LemonadeMilk tavern
Disneyland and California Adventure
There is no way I can put together a list of Los Angeles area treats without including Disneyland. I love Disneyland, the rides, the cheer, the gorgeous surroundings and most especially the TREATS!
Mickey Mouse Macaron
We do our best to limit our treat intake in our everyday lives, but this is most definitely not the case when we visit the Magic Kingdom, where we do our best to cram as many treats into our faces as possible. We especially love the seasonal treats, which often have a fun twist.
Do you have a favorite dessert? Have you been to any of these places? Have I missed any must try dessert spots in the LA area? Let me know in the comments, so I can add them to my list. Happy Summer!
