CALGARY, CANADA CONFERENCES AND CANCELLATIONS

I am flying back from an eventful work trip to Canada, and oh boy, do I have some memories to share with you! I was there for BCW's SMART Growth International Business Expo 2024, which brings together business communities from Western Canada, Africa, the USA, and the Caribbean. KNOW was there as media partners. My CEO and partner in this high vibe life, Sarah Benken Foushee was there to moderate a panel and gave the closing keynote. Plus, we were podcasting onsite, capturing stories from global leaders.

Calgary was out destination, and I have a whole post I need to share on obtaining my Expedited Passport 5 days before my trip! Our tip was originally scheduled for four days, but thanks to a last-minute airline strike, we got stuck for an extra two days, making it a six-day adventure. Honestly, all I could think about was getting back home to my boy and hubby. Why did the airlines have to strike at the worst possible time?

The conference was packed with panels, keynotes, and carbs. After a day full of brain + stomach food, we hit up rooftop bars, private social clubs, and some swanky hotel bars. I even stumbled upon the cutest thrift shop called Good Neighbour and did some sightseeing in Chinatown and the vibrant 5th street scene. Drinking my way through Calgary’s IPAs! I fell in love with the 88 Wave Pool Tropical IPA and Banded Peak Microburst Hazy IPA. But honestly, what made this trip bearable was getting closer to my boss and her husband, who are like family to me. They’ve got my back, both personally and professionally.

But let’s talk about the challenges. Finding out our flight was canceled due to a WestJet strike was a nightmare. Navigating a new country and its laid-back culture was another hurdle. I mean, who knew patience was such a virtue in Canada? Everything is a bit off from the hot sauces to the iced teas to everything in between.

It was an honor to represent KNOW Women and connect with global leaders and add international podcast producer to my resume, but I’m so ready to be back home to the states.

Happy Canada Day!

XoXo Britt

BABY MOON + 1ST YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TRIP

Jose and I were set to celebrate our first year wedding anniversary, but I am also 26 weeks pregnant. So we decided to take a baby moon and a wedding anniversary trip at the same time. For those that don’t know- a baby moon is a trip where new parents take a vacay together to enjoy their time together before the baby comes. We did however take our fur baby, Winter and we were so glad we did. 

During the pandemic we didn't want to travel too far, or require a location that we would have to get on a plane, so I pitched the Central Coast of California. It is where I went to college and where time “SLO”s down. San Luis Obispo and the surrounding area is filled with breathtaking beaches, vineyards, green landscape and of course amazing beef. 

We started off in Pismo Beach, then up to San Luis Obispo and finally ended up in Morro Bay. I’ll be sharing where we stayed, what we did and most importantly what we ate. You have to visit this gorgeous area and be sure to check out some of the recommendations we have. Can’t wait to go back in another 10 years, but with our growing family. 

PISMO BEACH

Where to Stay

We picked the Ocean Palms Motel. It is pet friendly and walking distance to the beach, shops and restaurants. They have beautiful, spacious rooms, a comfortable bed and upon arrival the room was sanitized. They have a pool, but we spent most of the time at the beach. Its a 2-3 block walk to anything.

What to do? 

The beach is right there! Tourists were lining up early for parking spots on the same street of our hotel, but we were lucky enough to just be able to walk . A lot has changed in the last 10 years I was there. The pier is filled with outdoor entertainments from jungle gyms, a slide, cornhole, and plenty of outdoor tables for seating. Restaurants and bars popped up and beautiful street art fills the alleyways. There are plenty of photo ops and a huge stretch of beach to be able to enjoy, but still keep socially distanced. 

Where to eat? 

Splash Cafe- where else would you dine when in Pismo? I don’t eat seafood, but I do eat clam chowda. Crowds line up day and night for this award winning dish and it didn't disappoint. Joe got the fish and chips and loved every crunch. Plenty of places feature oysters on the half shell - which are caught locally in the area. For breakfast though, you have to check out Surfside Donuts. The menu changes daily with specialty donuts like animal cookies, maple bacon and cookies cream. Don't forget the fritters- so delicious. There will be a line and they do sell out so line up early. 

SAN LUIS OBISPO

Where to Stay

This college town sIts inland from the touristy beaches and is a short drive from Pismo to the South or Morro to the North. We chose to stay at the beach and travel to SLO- Most of the hotels in the area accommodate prospective students or parents of attending students. If you want a special stay, the Madonna Inn is a short drive from SLO and has amazing decor and themed rooms. They are not pet friendly so we opted for an AirBnb a little north of SLO and instead just spent the day exploring the downtown area and campus.

What to do? 

Starting off in downtown, you can park anywhere and explore the streets. Shopping is plenty- from mom and pop shops ( sadly, a lot are now closed down from the pandemic) to your well-known brand stores you can find everything you need within 3 blocks. The food is great and restaurants, for the most part, have accommodated to outdoor seating. Tucked behind the streets you can find the San Luis Obispo Creek which is very peaceful and gives you a break from the “city life.” Don’t forget about Bubblegum Alley. Tucked away in the heart of downtown, decades of gum is stuck to the walls of a narrow alleyway. It is nostalgic for those that have attended school in the area and a sight to see for tourists. 

Next, we explored the college campus. Cal Poly got some major upgrades since I attended. Beautiful buildings, fancy student living and dining centers and new roadblocks to accommodate pedestrians. We explored Orfalea College of Business, where I spent many days and nights and then north of the campus took a hike to the Architectural Graveyard. This hidden gem is a nice long hike through Poly Canyon. You reach a large field filled with horses and amazing lifesize structures built by students them selves. We got some incredible drone shots and hiked back. The downtown streets, campus and the Poly Canyon hike was all dog friendly and wore us, and Winter out. 

Where to eat? 

For breakfast I highly recommend Louisa’s Place. We didn't go this time, but from what I remember and smelled as I passed by it is an incredible home cooked breakfast and brunch. The line was around the block for tables, but well worth the wait. We build up an appetite for Firestone Grill- the best tri-tip sandwiches in the area. The burgers and chicken tenders are good too, but when in Rome… We also opted in for some onion rings and they were delicious. Half for now and half for the later- the meat is so tender and juicy and the BBQ sauce is the perfect combo of sweet and tangy. I would also recommend Woodstock Pizza if you have a craving for pizza or are accommodating a large party. Also, if you didn't get to go to Pismo for chowda, there is another Splash Cafe location in SLO where you can get your fix. 

MORRO BAY

Where to Stay 

AirBnbs are the way to go. You get the privacy and amenities of your own place, plenty of parking and you can accommodate small to large travelers. Check in and communication was easy with the app to our host and the place was beautiful, spacious, well decorated and had a comfortable bed and couch. We did have to drive to get to the beach, but it was under 3 miles. 

What to do?

To the south is the marina featuring the famous Morro Bay Rock. To the north you can find miles of sandy beaches including where Winter had her most fun, a dog beach. This off-leash beach allowed her to chase waves and birds, run in the sand, and interact with other four legged friends like her. The fog was heavy and dense most of the trip and when I was hoping it was would burn off by morning, it actually stayed and cooled down the whole trip. One morning we took a drive to Montano De Oro- a state park featuring sand dunes, beaches and plenty of hiking and biking trails. We saw tons of wildlife - turkeys, deer, horse and cattle. Aside from more amazing drone shots, we took some spectacular maternity photos that we can treasure forever. 

Where to eat?

For breakfast/brunch we found this amazing place- Carla’s Country Kitchen. Call ahead to get your name on the list to cut back on the wait time. They have plenty of outdoor seating to accommodate parties of all sizes and are dog friendly. Their food was to die for. Delicious scrambles, hash and home fries was what we indulged in, but their pancakes, waffles and muffins looked just as good too. We are definitely returning back here on our next trip. For dinner we wanted to try a local pizza favorite- Pizza Port. We ordered to go and enjoyed a fire in our AirBnb, but the restaurant was beachy and stylish and accommodated outdoor seating too. The cheese was fresh mozzarella and you could taste it came from some happy cows. 

BONUS- STOP IN SOLVANG

The drive home allowed us to pass through one of my other favorite little towns- Solvang. Known for its Danish-style architecture, this amazing town features some great food and sightseeing. We stopped for breakfast at Mortensen’s Danish Bakery and had a cream cheese and chocolate almond danish. So buttery, light and flavorful- it was the best danish I have ever had. The entire city is also pet friendly with plenty of water bowls and treats given out by many business owners. After driving a few blocks to take in the architecture, it was back on the 101 to head home. 

I know this was a lengthy breakdown, and I still probably missed out on a few details, but we at least have these amazing photos and memories to look back on and share with our baby boy to come. He was there with us from the 8 hour car drive to the 8 hours of carb eating. I know he is going to love the beach, like his mom and his furry big sister. I can’t wait for family vacations just like I was blessed to take with my family growing up and the photos and stories that will come from them.

Once the Vlog is done, I will post it here.

Thanks for following along.

XoXo

Britt

ACEVEDO ADVENTURES: HONEYMOON IN MEXICO CITY

Were back from our honeymoon- or luna de miel as we learned and we are ready to share our Finding Arizona experience in the one of the largest populated cities in the world. Our trip was short and sweet but we covered everything we wanted and more. Well be divulging all the deets from our three day two night stay in this beautiful city during a phenomenal part of the year: Dia De Los Muertos.

Why Mexico City?

Jose and I didn’t “plan” on honeymooning for time, budget and various other reasons. Honestly planning a wedding, designing and constructing it ourselves in our backyard took priority as it should. Briefly, we talked about taking a trip to San Diego maybe a trip up the coast, but nothing was for sure. But, in January of this year I wanted to surprise Jose with an amazing trip we deserved. I have traveled to Mexico many times but only the beaches. On the bucket list has always been experiencing Dia De Los Muertos in Mexico City since before Coco and before Spectre. To me a honeymoon seemed like the perfect time to check it off the bucket list. I am very comfortable flying domestically in Mexico. A few years ago the City of Tijuana Mexico built a border bridge for travelers using the Tijuana Airport from San Diego. For a small fee you have speedy access across the border through customs and through duty free get to enjoy the domestic prices of flying in Mexico.

What to pack? What to Wear?

I looked on blog after blog of what to wear in this colorful city and got so many mixed reviews. Then, after stalking the weather reports showing thunderstorms and rain we packed accordingly, but never once used our umbrella. Words for the wise: anyone traveling in October / November bring moisture wicking material. The humidity was high for us Zonies and although we tried to dress in layers we regretted most materials. The only other major item I was thankful for packing was walking shoes. Taking the perfect insta photo may require a H2T looks and I was nervous I didn’t pack any “cute” shoes but but the end of the trip looking at my filthy Nike’s I was thankful I had them through the dirty streets and muddy parks. For the festival I took a flowy black mid length dress but it was covered in jacket layers. For the bike ride I wore jeans that were too big for my britches and I wish I would have just worn leggings. For the flights I had my neck pillow and a soft, small blanket to remind me of home- the best thing I packed.

What to do?

Again, we researched. We asked friends, family, neighbors, hell I even put up an Insta Story suggestions box. The night before we made an itinerary based on the neighborhoods we would be visiting, a AirBnB Experience we booked and of course the museums and monuments we had to see. I won’t include it but if you want the play by play email me and I’ll send you our doc! Instead heres our Day in the Life in Mexico City.

Cuauhtemoc

I would consider this old mexico city. Its historic Aztec then Spanish now Mexican rule is seen throughout this neighborhood. Our AirBnb was perfectly located here. Meters from Avenue Reforma (the main road to take to the city square) it was quiet enough to get some sleep but also 3 minutes walking distance to tacos. We walked to Zocalo saw the Catedral Metropolitana  and the National Palace and a few more government buildings. In preparation for the holiday big stages and alters were being erected but of in the streets many families already started blessings and sharing their loved ones in pictures from film to gigantic bean mosaics. My favorite was Avenida Francisco I. Madero where people crowded the walkway but this time in costume, face paint and (of course) an ear of corn smothered in Mayo, cheese and chili. We stopped to get a full face paint and my night was made.

Coyoacan

The next morning was the only activity we had “scheduled.” AirBnb features experiences in the area you are traveling to and we took full advantage of the Frida VIP one! It started with a bike tour around the neighborhood. We learned it was the first original capital and saw a church from 1520 La Iglesia de San Juan Bautista. We biked through the Hacienda de Cortes, cobblestone streets, “Avocado Alley” and ate churros and drank Atole a drink made from corn. After dropping off our bikes the group walked through an indoor market where we stopped for aguas frescas and tostados. Finally we were off to the Blue House. Our VIP experience allowed us to skip the line, something we would highly recommend. Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera lived in the famous Casa Azul and presently the house serves and a museum and a personal inside look at how they lived, worked and played. My favorite was the bedrooms: the day bedroom where the mirror hung above her bed to paint on her casts and the night bedroom which featured her ashes. After taking a million photos and wandering the courtyard we were off for some ice cream- made from the Aztec marigold fower Cempasuchitl seen throughout the holiday.

Roma

This neighborhood is the boujeist in the city. The restaurants, bars and even architecture have a different look and feel. It is not the place to wander the streets and jump from eating and drinking. I was recommended to visit antique stores and see street art but they were few and far between. We did however see the fountain featuring a replica of Michelangelo’s David at Plaza Rio de Janeiro surrounded by hundreds of year old trees. Because of the holiday a beautiful offenda for our furry friends was set up and being admired. We were told about the best taco shop in the city and found it to be very close to this area so we walked the 7 minutes and can agree. They were bomb. Taqueria Orinoco is authentic. Dont expect asada or adobada instead, trumpo, bistec, and chicharon. The variety of salsas were so good too I wanted to take them as souvenirs. On our walk home we discovered an almost glow in the dark bar serving Pulque. This drink was on our list too! Coming from a kombucha lover this is how it was described online but we describe it as egg white consistency with your flavor of choice: pina, melo, jamaica, etc. I ordered a 40 ounce Michelada and enjoyed every sip.

Anzures

Our final day we had to see two things in this area: Bosque de Chapultepec and the Museo De Anthropologia. After grabbing capuchinos, again, from Cucurucho (we had to go back) we ubered to Chapultepec. The park was gorgeous- peaceful and almost fantasy like with the early morning fog and 1700 acres of trees. But the museum was breathtaking! From the towering fountain when you first walk in to each exhibits’ thousands of artifacts we wish we could have spent all day there. After grabbing a Guajolotatamal (Torta de tomal) and an uber it was time to head back home.

Other things to know:

Cellular data and talk and text on our American plans did not get us an data in the actual city but the entire city has free WiFi! Yes, you read that right. You may have to login every neighborhood but being able to call an Uber or look up walking directions to a new spot was

Your American Dollars are not any good you must exchange- but remember it costs more to buy a dollar than sell it.

If you want to go back I am so down! I hope you enjoyed this guide. You can watch the video version here.

XoXo

Britt