It used to be a running joke in our family that after every trip, M had to upgrade something in our gear kit. Sometimes it was the camera, sometimes it was a lens, sometimes it was the computer. I think we’ve finally reached a happy stopping point, but who knows?

My husband and I have bought and tested a lot of gear, spending a lot of time refining this gear list. The best part is that it and all fits in one backpack.

Traveling to so many different places with various climates, cultures, and technology, I’ve realized that my “Cannot Travel Without” list needs an update. If you’re looking to travel in the coming year, I hope this helps you!

Ever since I watched Clare Smyth judge on Netflix’s The Final Table, she has become one of my chef crushes, and I have wanted to visit her restaurant.

Lisbon isn’t the biggest foodie destination in the world, but the coastal city has its fair share of delicious foods, including a world-famous pastry, tinned seafood, and specialty liqueur.

At the top of every Lisbon restaurant list sits Belcanto, the Portuguese food jewel of the city. Run by Chef José Avillez, and awarded 2 Michelin stars in 2014, Belcanto was 42nd on 2021’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and 46th on 2022’s list.

This Lisbon City Guide covers everything you’ll need for a great time in the capital of Portugal.

When we decided we were headed to Lisbon for two weeks, the first thing I did was look for must-make restaurant bookings. Alma came up time and time again, as a 2 Michelin-starred and 50 Best Discovery restaurant.

Given that it was our first spring in the city, and we hadn’t yet visited the New York Botanical Gardens, we decided to make it out there to see spring flowers in all their glory.

Since moving to New York City, one of the things I’ve most enjoyed has been watching the leaves change — they just don’t change the same way (or at all) in California. But we’ve been in and out of town a lot, and I was worried we’d miss peak autumn.

When we moved to New York City, we got an apartment where M could have his own office, as he’s now full-time remote. And the first thing he did was research the best of everything for an office setup: desk, monitor, webcam, lighting, keyboard, storage, printer, etc. These are the results of his research, guest-written by him!

Cinque Terre is a stunningly beautiful place, filled with colorful homes, crooked stairs, and startlingly aqua waters. I’ve focused this post on a few of our favorite photos, but also included a few tips at the end in case some of them are helpful!