My journey now takes me to the big, bad United States of America. The US is somewhere I have spent a fair amount of time over my life, but I wanted to see some places that I am yet to visit.

minneapolis

Minneapolis is not often on travellers Must Visit lists, but for me, it’s my American Hometown. The shops, the freeways, the landscape, everything always feels very familiar. This is somewhere I have spent a lot of time throughout my life. But every time I come here, someone from Immigration makes a remark “why are you going to Minneapolis?” Not in an ‘ensuring America’s security’ kind of way, but in a ‘why would you go to Minneapolis?’ kind of way. And I resent the question. Minneapolis is a really beautiful spot. It may not have to attractions of the big cities like New York or Chicago, but getting to experience the ‘Minnesota Nice’ way of life is a real treat.

sovereign estate winery

I spent my first night in Minneapolis at the Sovereign Estate Winery, enjoying the Vintage Concert Series, with a Billy Joel tribute show. I love me a good Billy Joel sing along. The demographic of the concert was a little above my own age range, but it’s hard to not enjoy a Billy Joel tune or twenty.

The wine was ok, but the outdoor areas are what you come for. The Winery is nestled along Lake Waconia, which is another throwback to my younger days. My American Family had a house on Lake Waconia, where we spent some time draining the battery to the boat on the Fourth of July, listening to music and tubing and swimming.

cov wayzata

To celebrate a birthday, we went for lunch at the gorgeous Cov at Wayzata. Overlooking Wayzata Bay and Lake Minnetonka, Cov is perfect for a lunch on the patio on a sunny day, or an intimate date night, snuggled up inside. Cov has an American coastal vibe, and you could be mistaken for believing you were in the Hamptons.

We ordered a couple of share plates, choosing the Buffalo Cauliflower, a Mexican corn dip in served with corn chips and a cob bread loaf, and some crab sushi. For drinks, we both had the cocktails Shake your rum rum, and a cucumber gin cocktail. All food and drinks received rave reviews.

reve studios

After weeks of travelling and enjoying the local delicacies, it was time for a workout. Reve Studios brings a combination of pilates and treadmill cardio in the most instagram worthy way possible. But don’t let the aesthetics fool you, this is a killer workout. A Reve Studio workout is a 50 minute experience, alternating between a strength and conditioning reformer pilates portion, and a high intensity treadmill set. You are guided the whole time by encouraging trainers, who come and check on your form. As I was a newby, Samahra checked on me a few times.

Located in downtown Wayzata, there is plenty of parking and after-workout cafes within walking distance.

This workout was a lot of fun. I love reformer pilates and I love the treadmill (if you could ever really love a treadmill), so the combination was right up my alley. If I lived in the area, I would have signed up in a heartbeat.

local breweries

While I was in town, the Minnesota Vikings, the local NFL team, were playing the New York Jets in London, of all places. Seeing as we couldn’t go to the game itself, we went to a couple of local breweries to partake in the action. Need I mention that due to the time zone difference, we were heading out at 8:30AM. The first brewery we visited was Northern Tap House. If you are looking for a good time, Northern Tap House will not disappoint. This place throws down a pretty great game day experience with an in-house DJ, a pretty tasty bloody mary menu and free shots when the home team scores. I ordered the breakfast tacos and a breakfast bloody mary, and had no regrets.

Next stop was Back Channel Brewing co. It was towards the end of the game and the atmosphere was pumping and the outdoor set up was perfect for a moderate Minnesota morning. While we didn’t eat here, they had a broad range of locally brewed beers on tap and bottled, beers infused with THC and CBD, as well as plenty of non-alcoholic options. In fact, I think I had the best creaming soda of my life here in the form of a Grays Cream Soda.

minnehaha falls

One of the charms of Minnesota is definitely what it offers outdoors. Minutes from downtown Minneapolis is Minnehaha Falls. We took a leisurely stroll past Minnehaha Falls, through the forest along the Minnehaha Creek, before ending at the Mississippi River.

The hike is a round trip of just under 2 miles, and is mostly flat. The only thing to consider is that it gets a little muddy in the shady parts of the trail. There is a little bit of storm damage to keep an eye out for, but mostly, a pretty easy walk. Again, there is plenty of parking close by.

miami

I’m not totally sure how I feel about Miami. I got there at a weird time, just as Hurricane Milton was making his way across the Gulf of Mexico, threatening communities in South West Florida. A Tropical Storm warning had just been issued for the Miami-Dade area, which meant that all museums and the majority of outdoor activities, including tours, were suspended. I was supposed to be going to the Everglades, but that was cancelled because of a LITERAL tornado in the area. A cruise on Biscayne Bay was cancelled, dinner reservations were cancelled. 

With the storm came prohibitively hot and humid weather. I’m talking 31 degrees Celsius with 90% humidity. I thought the pilot may have taken a wrong turn and dropped us off in Singapore. It wasn’t until the last day I was there when the temperature and humidity dropped, and it turned out to be the most glorious of days. This was the Miami I was expecting.

I spent most of my time on South Beach, which isn’t a bad way to spend your holiday. But when you’re in a city with so much to offer, you can feel a little disappointed. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, I just didn’t feel like I was given a real opportunity to fall in love with this city.

Nonetheless, I was still able to explore a number of neighbourhoods, which were delightful. On my last evening, after having my dinner reservations cancelled, I took a stroll down to South Pointe. This was a gorgeous, a probably exceptionally expensive, part of Miami. The sun was setting and there was a breeze coming through, reminding me how lucky I am to be able to travel freely and enjoy all these different parts of the world.

avalon hotel – ocean drive, south beach

The neon-lit street along Miami Beach is an iconic sight, and the Avalon Hotel is a jewel in this crown.

It is a three star hotel, so you shouldn’t expect the five star experience, but it has everything you need. The rooms are comfortable, the location is hard to beat, but the best thing about the Avalon Hotel are the staff. Julio welcomed me warmly when I arrived, presenting with an invitation to the hotel’s happy hour. There is also a restaurant attached to the hotel, A Fish Called Avalon, which served a fresh seafood menu.

For the location, you’d be hard pressed to find a better deal. If you book directly through the hotel, rooms start from $150US per night.

little havana

Miami is one of the most culturally exciting cities in the world, thanks to communities like Little Havana. My visited really only consisted of the Calle Ocho area, which was a shining example of the vibrancy. Linen Guayabera shirts, cigar shops, mojitos, dominos, Celia Cruz, this place is magic.

While in Little Havana I was lucky enough to take a walking tour with Faruk from Food Tours World. I started off my tour at Old’s Havana, which is famous for their Cuban sandwiches and mojitos, both of which were sampled and enjoyed. Then off to D’asis Guayabera to learn about the influence of Cuban fashion on Miami. This place is full of so much character, I would recommend a visit, even just to have a chat with Big Poppa, an icon of Calle Ocho.

A trip to Little Havana would never be complete without tasting a guava and cream cheese pastry, which I had at Party Cake Bakery. I’m not usually a fan of guava, but these were amazing. I tried some croquettes from Esquina De La Fama, just around the corner. I also made a quick stop in for some guava juice with the street abuela at LOS PINARENOS FRUTERIA, the oldest shop front in Little Havana. We made a stop by the Cuban Memorial Park to learn about the history of Cuba and the USA. To finish off my Little Havana adventure I visited the El Nuevo Siglo Supermarket for some empanadas, and Churro Mania for a massive churro.

This tour was fantastic. So much food, so much history, so much culture. Highly recommended.

wynwood walls

While away from South Beach, I took a quick trip to the famous street art museum, Wynwood Walls. Established in 2009, this ever evolving modern art museum showcases the best of the world’s street artists. Wynwood is one of the world’s most celebrated urban revitalization projects and an oasis for cutting-edge creativity.

After speaking to a few of the locals, Wynwood has really become a victim of gentrification, which, I guess, is one of the risks with projects like these. It’s a shame, considering how vivid these murals are.

azteca south beach

You really are spoilt for choice for great food options in South Beach, but my absolute favourite spot was Azteca. Amazing food, thirst quenching drinks, incredible decor. I would have loved to have seen this place at night, because the vibe is very cool.

I ordered a couple of tacos, the street corn and a blood orange margarita and there were no complaints from me. The black beans that come with the tacos were the best black beans I have had in my life.

los angeles

Los Angeles is a funny place. I’ve had some good and bad experiences here, so I felt like this visit could be a decider. I was going to be exploring a different part of Los Angeles to what I had experienced before. I spent most of my time in the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hollywood areas, and they’re almost exactly what you’d expect, which made it really weird.

By the end of my last day here, I had decided that LA is not for me. I get the feeling that if you don’t work in the entertainment business, it’s a very strange place. It feels like Netflix has bought the city, with what seems like an endless parade of billboards of their latest offerings down Sunset Boulevard.

While it’s a weird place, it’s definitely worth a visit. But just keep your wits about you. This isn’t a town for the naive.

pendry west hollywood

When deciding on where to stay in Los Angeles, roof top pools seemed to be the deciding factor for me. I had booked the W Hollywood, which is right in the centre of the chaos and calamity of Hollywood, but thought better of it. After perusing an issue of Goop, I found the Pendry. And better yet, my credit card would give me a free night’s stay.

The Pendry West Hollywood is one of the most gorgeous properties I have ever had the pleasure of entering, let alone, staying in. The design of this place is next level. The Pendry Plaza, which is where your car drops you off when you arrive, is a great indicator of how stylish this place is. To match the beautiful interior, the staff are as accommodating and helpful as they come. And of course you can’t have a fancy LA hotel without a fancy LA restaurant attached. Wolfgang Puck’s Merois is positioned at the top of the building (more on that later).

I said earlier how fond of roof top pools I am, and the Pendry’s is a sight to behold. Bright and inviting, with views out to the Pacific Ocean. I could have spent all day here, and I would have if I had more time.

Word of warning, this place is expensive. But if you’re looking for a cool LA experience, the Pendry West Hollywood has you covered.

merois

For dinner in LA, I didn’t have to leave my hotel to experience some world class dining. Merois, Hollywood favourite Wolfgang Puck’s Asian fusion offering, was worth taking the elevator up for. The entrance to the restaurant is very cool, and with the moody lighting, and trendy lo-fi music, there is no mistaking that you’re in LA.

To start with I was brought some soft, buttery, garlicy bread, followed by miso beef skewers, and the fanciest Pad Thai I’ve ever had. For drinks I had a rum and grapefruit tipple named Highway to Nowhere, and a limoncello to help everything go down.

This restaurant is very nice. The staff here are as lovely as can be, the interior is very warm and cozy. It was a lovely dining encounter. But again, if you’re dining in a restaurant with Wolfgang Puck’s name attached, you’re going to pay a premium.

the comedy store

As a fan of Comedy, I couldn’t come to Los Angeles and not spend an evening at The Comedy Store (especially when my hotel was directly across the road). Sunset Boulevard is sort of a mecca for American comedy, with The Laugh Factory just slightly up the road.

The Store was founded in 1972 by comedian Sammy Shore, his wife Mitzi and comedy writer Rudy DeLuca. It started out as a place for stand up comics to work out new material, but has since become world famous due to comedians from Richard Pryor, to Robin Williams, to Arsenio Hall, to Dave Chappelle and Ali Wong, popping in and doing a set. There is still a certain dingy, dark charm, with the dark lighting and two drink minimum. Comedians the world over see this place as the opportunity of a lifetime.

An important thing to remember about comedy clubs is the audience is almost as important as the act on the stage. You have to go in wanting to laugh. It’s just not an enjoyable experience for anyone if the crowd is sitting in stone-faced silence, regardless of how talented or untalented the comic is. And I was lucky to have a good set of comedians and a good audience. There was a group of guys sitting near me that were just there to laugh. Everything was funny to them, which really energised the comic on stage, and everyone had a great time. Out of the 15 comedians who showed their acts, I recognised two, Kirk Fox, who may be best known as Sewerage Joe from Parks and Recreation, and SNL alum, Finess Mitchell.

I would recommend a visit to the Comedy Store. It’s a West Hollywood icon, with as much cultural contribution as venues like the Viper Room or Chateau Marmont.

sunset ranch hollywood

Los Angeles is well known for its canyons and views, but if you’re not interested in getting hot and sweaty hiking up a trail, why not let a horse do all the hard work for you? That’s what I did, with a trip to the Sunset Ranch. Tucked away in the foot hills of Griffith Park, one of Hollywood’s most iconic locations, is Sunset Ranch. I lost count of how many horses they had. Opened in 1929, Sunset Ranch offers riders the opportunity to take in the sights of Los Angeles and Hollywood, including the Hollywood Sign, all from the comfort of horse back. We wandered along the Hollyridge and Mulholland trails, learning about the landscape of the park and the city.

This is a very, very safe experience. You are given all the riding gear you need, as well as thorough safety and horsehandling instructions. I was assigned the horse, Zeus, who was the best behaved horse I have ever encountered. He responded to my every command, and at no point did I feel unsafe, or in danger. I was very grateful for him after after my experience in Mexico (come back next week to read about it). Anyone could do this, regardless of their riding history. It does get pretty dusty around the stables, so don’t wear anything you’re concerned about getting dirty.

That’s all I have for the USA. Come back next week to hear of my adventures across Jamaica and Mexico.

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