On a recent trip to Maui, we tried to stop at as many coffee shops as we could while on the island to find the best coffee in Maui. We went around most of the island and hit some good spots! I primarily ordered the same drink each time, my favorite, an iced mocha. Here is where we went:

Anthony’s Coffee Co., Paia
https://www.facebook.com/Anthonys-Coffee-Co-187666802077/

At Anthony’s, I ordered the ice blended version of the mocha made with ice cream. Yum! It was a super hot day and if I remember correctly it was snack time so it felt so right. This place was super close to the Kahului airport and super convenient for a coffee break. As soon as we got the rental car, we found this place and it felt so welcoming, like home. The atmosphere was great and they also sold the cutest coffee bean bags that were turned into purses.

Kama Hele Cafe, Haliʻimaile
https://www.facebook.com/KamaHeleCafe/

This cafe is a food truck as well as a coffee bar. They are parked in busy a location to serve locals who are on their daily commute as well as many tourists passing through, like us! We stopped here during our tour with Maui Downhill after we rode down the Haleakala volcano on bikes. It was a great way to cap off an amazing adventure. It was also our lunch break so we did eat and I opted for a iced mocha to wash down the food. Check out the fun curly straw in the photos below… I was so excited! It’s the little things… I think the coffee here was pretty strong and totally satisfying.

Lava Java, Kihei
Lavajavamaui.com

Lava Java was so cute and had plenty of retail options. They sold everything from their bagged coffee, of course, to t-shirts, mugs, postcards and other novelties. Its truly a one stop shop for your coffee break and your souvenir shopping needs. I didn’t get to try any of their snacks but they had assorted pastries to choose from to go with your coffee. I once again ordered an iced mocha, and I probably should have asked for more chocolate or added a shot as it seemed that the coffee was not super strong. It was still a delightful beverage.

Maui Coffee Roasters, Kahului
https://mauicoffeeroasters.com

Maui Coffee Roasters was also super convenient near the airport in Kahului and is very unassuming on the outside (in a strip mall) but so cute inside. It is a comfortable place to have a seat and wind down with some coffee or to hang out and use the wifi. I have to say, I think this might have been my favorite hand crafted iced mocha. They used the perfect amounts of espresso, chocolate and milk. They also roast their own local beans in a separate facility on the island. In the retail section of the store the were lots of home goods to assist you with making the perfect coffee drinks at home.

Grandma’s Coffee, Keokea
http://www.grandmascoffee.com

Grandma’s Coffee is a staple in Maui off Kula Highway, just past Kula in Keokea. This no-frills coffee shop has been in business since 1918. Their coffee is grown on the slopes of Haleakala and they still use their over 100 year old roaster to roast their coffee beans on site. This is truly a great place to stop for lunch and a cup and we did just that. We ordered the barbecue chicken, rice and pasta salad. The coffee was just iced with milk, no chocolate, and not what I usually drink but it was satisfying. I remember reading a lot online about Grandma’s Coffee and people seem to love it and believe they have the best coffee in Maui.

Wailuku Coffee, Wailuku
http://wailukucoffeeco.com

We stopped here for breakfast one morning, I think our last morning in Maui. The croissant breakfast sandwich was great and their iced mocha was amazing, probably a close second to the one at Maui Coffee Roasters. I remember that there was so much sunlight that it kept the room bright without any lights on and the customer service stood out. They had great suggestions for first timers like me, but of course I went with my usual. Creature of habit, I guess. They also sell bags of Grandma’s Coffee that you can pick up if you don’t have a chance to make it down to the southern part of the island.

I am so glad we found the best coffee in Maui! I can’t wait to go back to discover the shops we missed.

I came in at night and was immediately impressed by the atmosphere that seemed to attract lots of people to come in for dinner in the restaurant (Dirty Laundry) and drinks in the lobby at the Ludlow Hotel NYC, on the Lower East Side. All of the lights are dimmed to set up the scene. The crowd was well dressed and it looked like everyone was having a great time. It seems that they’ve found a great balance between being a great place to socialize and a comfortable place to rest your head.

Inside the Ludlow Hotel NYC:

And here is the restaurant and bar:

The covered outdoor patio:

Finally, I was even happier when I got up to the 5th floor and all of the noise disappeared. The rooms are super quiet, aside from a little classic NYC street noise if you’re on that side, but that is expected here.

Views from the 5th:

Magnetic keys:

I likely had one of the smallest rooms in the Ludlow Hotel NYC but I can’t complain here. It seemed that it was meant for a single person but still had everything I needed. The king bed, fitted with an extra blanket for the winter weather, fit in just right and it even gave way for a small sitting area.

The sales team left some welcome gifts on the wooden rectangle coffee table (thanks!).

Also, the closet, mini bar, safe and umbrella fit into the wall nicely but was also out of the way once you shut those doors.

Furthermore, the restroom was a great size for a small room and I love all of the bronze hardware that pulls it together. The small touches are what stand out here. Maison Martin Margiela robes and bath mat?! Really nice. I also liked the small tile design in the bathroom. The comped Devotion shampoo, conditioner, and lotion had a beautiful Moroccan rose scent. The only thing missing was a full length mirror but I got by without it.

I always like to take photos of the room service dishes as they’re different everywhere. Their menu comes from the restaurant downstairs. I was lucky enough to get a few meals in… trout with apricot and a side of green beans, tuna tartare (spicy) with a green salad (ask them to go easy on the dressing) and an egg white omelette, potatoes, avocado and berries. The food is great and I was impressed by their presentation.

In addition, I also got a chance to do a short stint at the hotel’s gym. It’s super small with a few machines and a rack of free weights, but it’s just what I needed for a quick pick me up. It was winter, about 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside, give or take a few. A jog or even simply walking around outside for fitness proved difficult so the gym came in handy. The water and bowl of apples was also a life saver!

I would rate the all around experience and service at the Ludlow Hotel NYC with an A! My stay was great and it’s in the perfect walkable neighborhood to stay in. Most notably, Lower East Side coffee, shopping, dining and more are just steps away!

The Ludlow NYC
180 Ludlow Street, NY 10002
Ludlowhotel.com

In anticipation of the upcoming race this year, we just wanted to post a few quick photos from the time we got to attend the Daytona 500 race in Daytona Beach, Florida!

The whole experience was amazing. Here’s what it looked like before all of the fun began. A hazy morning in Daytona Beach…

Inside, the stands were jam packed and the crowd was so lively. There was a stage set up for entertainment outside of the race and we also enjoyed all of the activities and vendors who were out there. There was a ton of food, dancing, and more! We made a whole day out of it and being there was a ton of fun!

Before the race, I was lucky enough to ride in the Grand Marshal’s pace car for a few laps! For those who don’t know, that is a car that is driven on the track prior to the start of the race. It essentially drops the Grand Marshal off at the stage to deliver that signature racing phrase we all know… “Drivers, start your engines!” That was totally a once in a lifetime experience for me! It was so crazy to be in a car that was going fast enough to make you forget that the track was not flat because it totally feels that way once you gain enough speed!

And they’re off!

We watched from the pit with team Jimmie Johnson and the Lowe’s crew. He was a great guy and answered all of our questions about racing and such. Here’s a quick sneak photo of him before the race…

Here’s a pic of our pit passes and some of the other racer’s pit boxes.

Here is Jimmie’s pit box and crew. They were great guys! I tried to stay out of their way but was so into it that I took photos of everything they did.

We were lucky to watch it all from the pit and see the inner workings of the race. They gave us devices to keep track of the top few drivers in real time. I had no idea before then that so much goes into driving and winning those races!

This is Chad Knaus, Jimmie’s long time crew chief, who does a lot of the heavy lifting during a race. He was in the zone and not to be bothered!

Need gas?

We were also so amazed at how fast they changed tires and how they all worked together so quickly to get the drivers back on the road. I had seen it on TV before but something about being there to see it in person was just amazing. I don’t think they even went 15 seconds changing the tires in this pit stop. It was all so exciting!

Getting the next tire ready.

And just like that… our guy Jimmie Johnson ended up winning the Daytona 500 that year! Perhaps we brought him some good luck?! We’d like to think so, but he is a pro and an amazing driver!

The whole Daytona 500 experience was completely surreal and I would recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to go see a race!

Attention food truck lovers! We LOVE the Kogi BBQ food truck in Los Angeles! We had to do a post about one of our favorite trucks that has stood the test of time. At one point it seemed like there were so many food trucks all over LA but now the trend feels like it has finally subsided a bit and the strongest have survived. There are still amazing food truck festivals to attend on almost all days of the week and they make appearances at special events but it is beautiful to see a great one with a regular schedule like Kogi BBQ. I could go every week!

The brains behind the Kogi BBQ food truck is Chef Roy Choi (who also has a few other LA based restaurants to try). He has truly made the trucks his own by allowing people to put stickers on otherwise plain white trucks that make them completely stand out.

The real magic is in the food. Some call it a Korean-fusion truck but it feels like so much more than that. The menu is a mix of tacos, burritos, quesadillas, burgers and more. Here are a few of the menu items that we have tried:

Chilaquiles: (A go-to fav!) Chicken, cheese, egg, chips and red/green sauces.

Tacos: Chicken, Short Rib, Tofu or Spicy Pork with a mix of lettuces, sauces, and love.

Quesadillas: Take your pick! This one is the Blackjack Quesadilla. You can change the meat if you want.

Short Rib Sliders: Another yummy choice where you can change the meat.

Chocolate Tres Leches Cake: For dessert, if you can get your hands on one! These are super decadent and you’ll need a break.

Drinks of course!

Everything is really a treat so catch up to them if you have a chance while in town!

You can find the Kogi BBQ food truck schedule on KogiBBQ.com or follow them one Twitter @KogiBBQ where they post their locations daily.

Quick tip: Get there at least 15 minutes before their posted closing time. There is always a chance that they may run out of what you want or decide to close up a few minutes early. Oh, and also, have some fun an put a sticker on the truck!

Kogibbq.com

Headed to Park City this winter? Check out Hotel Park City. They’ve got the perfect accommodations for your snow trip in Park City, Utah!

The Hotel Park City is so comforting. Hot tea and hot chocolate are available for guests in their lobby and they also have a beautiful piano to be played. Anyone know the ‘Heart and Soul’ duet?

We stayed in one of the cottage rooms on the property. The cottages are not connected to the rest of the hotel and you do have to walk or drive to access them. They are not too far away but when it is cold a walk can be tough! You can also find limited parking in front of the cottages.

Here are some shots of the interior of our cottage suite. The living area and kitchen were spacious and there was enough room to fit 4 people comfortably. The separate bedroom had a king bed, its own fireplace, and an arm chair. The bedroom opened up to the private outdoor patio that you can access from the living room as well.

Oh, and yes, please to the walk-in closet, robes, and the washer and dryer for our in-room use. The room came complete with mini detergent packs for our washing needs!

The restrooms included luxury products from Bulgari and a deep jetted bath tub. Yes!

The best part of the cottage suite is the outdoor private hot tub on the patio. Are you daring enough to use it when its freezing out? Also, the small outdoor sitting area next to it is super cute.

Other amenities at Hotel Park City included an outdoor pool, gym, golf, skiing on site, a spa/gift shop and so much more. If you forgot your winter coat you can pick one up from the gift shop. The Hotel Park City makes everything super convenient for you. You don’t ever have to leave the hotel as they have room service available as well as a Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse restaurant on site. Yum!

Hotel Park City is such a great place to stay. Everything was clean and the service was excellent. I loved waking up early in the morning to these views and you will too! Ski practice, anyone?

Quick tip: If you are headed to Park City towards the end of January, make sure to double check rates, availability and cancellation policies. Park City holds the Sundance Film Festival around this time of year and rooms are more expensive and sometimes scarce. Book well in advance!

Hotel Park City
2001 Park Ave, Park City, UT 84060
435.200.2000

A Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel