Travel Blog

I'll Follow You Anywhere

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I’ve been all over California thanks to a West Coast upbringing and parents who love to chase the sunshine as much as I do, but there are a few cities I have yet to revisit as an adult and really experience. As the years ticked by, San Francisco remained one of those unexplored sections of the state, so when my friend Tegan invited me to come stay with her in the heat of The Mission I couldn’t say no.

What started as a short visit to one small city quickly snowballed into a total exploration of Northern California, from Tahoe to the Sonoma Coast, but for now I’m just going to focus on SF itself, because seriously, it’s AWESOME all on its own!

With the help of Tegan, some newfound local friends, and a lot of blog research, I managed to hit an almost outrageous number of amazing spots in the Bay Area, and like most trips I still left with a list of places to visit the next time around.

From vegan sushi and flaming tiki drinks to abandoned bath house ruins and sprawling beaches, here’s what made my must-see list in the city of pastel houses, hills, and expensive toast (seriously, they love fancy toast!)

Scroll down to see the full list!

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Sips //

Trouble Coffee
Tonga Room
Sightglass Coffee
Pagan Idol Tiki Bar
Samovar Tea

Sweets //

Mr. Holmes Bakehouse
Bi-Rite
Dandelion Chocolate

Snacks //

Shizen Vegan Sushi
St Francis Fountain
Leo’s Oysters
Souley Vegan
Tartine
Flour + Water

Shops //

Voyager
Le Point
Cove
Little Paper Planes
Heath Ceramics
Case for Making

Adventures //

Sutro Baths
Walt Disney Family Museum
The famous Painted Ladies
Mission Cliffs Climbing Gym
Love Story Yoga
Urban Putt Mini Golf Bar
Fisherman’s wharf
Ferry building
Burnell heights Hill
Land’s end park
Ocean beach

On the list for next time //
Garden Creamery (vegan ice cream shop that opened right when I left!)
Academy of Sciences
Conservatory of Flowers
Alamo Theatre
Mt. Tam Hiking
Baker Beach

I'll Follow You Anywhere

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The last time Johanna and I visited Montreal, we really felt like we’d seen it all. Practically running from cafe to cafe, we discovered so much more than we had ever planned to, and our guide list when we returned home proved to be pretty expansive.

But believe it or not, there’s more.

My week in Montreal with my best friend from Vancouver was a truly magical experience. It helped me get back on my feet and make some scary life changes (more on that in the coming weeks), but it was also just a really fun time! We stayed in the gorgeous William Grey Hotel, and literally ate our way across the city. By the time the trip had ended I was shocked to find I had a whole new list of additions to my original pastel city guide.

Here are some of our favourite picks, plus a few we spotted but didn’t get the chance to enjoy:

Rooney // All thing minimalist and luxe.

Away Spa // Best pedicures of our lives! There are heated beds… it’s incredible.

Mlle Catherine // Located across from our hotel, this tiny pink gem was the perfect place to grab a coffee and girl talk.

Le Petit Dep // A gorgeous little general store in the heart of Old Montreal, perfect for all the gift shopping you could ever desire.

Cafe Olympico // Hands down the world’s best hot cocoa. THE BEST. There’s also some great “eye candy” if you know what I mean.

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Ristorante Beatrice // We didn’t make it to this one, but it looks like total paradise in the warmer summer months.

Bird Bar // Vegan popcorn chicken! Need I say more?

Beige // All things cozy, homey and shiny.

September Surf // A little slice of California surf shop in Griffintown

Annex Vintage // The holy grail of patches, pins, and general flair!

Deux Lions Jewellery // A great little nook of clothing and accessories.

Vertuose // An Epic plant shop that gave me the amazing idea to stick pom poms on cacti!

Vertu Bar Sante // Healthy, delicious, and pastel – this is our kind of juice bar.

I'll Follow You Anywhere

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I haven’t had as much of a chance to explore Ontario as I want to, so when Sophie offered to give me an adventure as my birthday gift, I suggested we get out of town. The KATB crew has totally fallen for Prince Edward County over the past few months (check out their guide here), so it was the obvious choice when deciding on a final destination. Sophie booked us a tiny cabin at Lake on the Mountain just steps from the water, and we roped in Jaymi from Good Day hair as well – mostly because she’s an awesome mutual friend, but also a tiny bit because of her cottage hair styling skills (love you Jaymi!)

Early Sunday morning we settled in for a long drive on the open road and after about three hours of horrible car sickness (thanks to those beautiful winding country roads) we had arrived in Ontario’s tiny island heaven. Separated into a handful of smaller towns and communities, like Bloomfield and Picton, PEC is full of amazing restaurants, wineries, and adorable shops, and we couldn’t have asked for a better tour guide than Sophie to show us the best of the best.

The possibilities for #RAOPplaces were seemingly endless, but I’ve rounded up some of my absolute must-see picks for you next time you visit!

Scroll down for my pastel PEC travel guide!

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Slickers //

The best homemade country-style ice cream in all the land. Try the chocolate orange and the campfire!

County Cider Company //

Serving up amazing pizza and just about every flavour of cider you can imagine, this is the perfect place to load up on local sips to take home to your friends (or hoard for yourself.)

Vicki’s Veggies //

You know those farm stands in the olden days where you write down what you take and leave cash in a jar? Well, this tiny family-run farm is just that!

Coriander Girl PEC //

A Toronto favourite, Allison now lives in PEC and has opened up the prettiest little county coriander girl florist you ever did see.

Miller House at Lake on the Mountain //

This restaurant was part of the complex we stayed in, and I’m surprised we ever left. It was essentially a cheese board-only eatery that overlooked the ferry crossing, and if the sun sets weren’t worth a visit, the food definitely was!

Norman Hardie Winery //

Open air dining, an adorable shop filled with local goods, amazing wine and an oyster shucking bar? What else could you ever want?!

The Courage //

The decor at this spot is a perfect mix of minty old and new, and the brunch is on point! Don’t forget to snap a photo of their perfect neon sign between bites.

I'll Follow You Anywhere

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- 2016 is our year of TRAVEL! Unfortunately we’re already over halfway through the year and we haven’t been that many new places, but a girl can dream right? I’m a big proponent of dreaming, whether it’s daydreaming or snoozing off for a long night of imagination exercise. Visualization can get you places right? So maybe if I spend enough time gazing at other people’s amazing adventures all over the world I’ll end up someplace special sooner rather than later too…

The problem with “travel visualization” is the list of places you want to see can very quickly become crazy overwhelming. Greece! Mexico City! Singapore! My pastel list goes on and on, and I thought it might be helpful to try gathering a few images from some of my top contenders as a sort of mood board for where I want to be at some point over the next few months.

Bahamas, Caribbean //

If visiting a pastel beach paradise wasn’t enough, the Bahamas has also been deemed ‘the official home of swimming with pigs’! On the uninhabited island of Big Major Cay you can wade through crystal clear blue waters with some of the cutest creatures around!

Bahamas

Burano, Italy //

This small island located in the same lagoon as Venice looks like the single happiest place in the world. The island still follows specific colour rules dating back to the ‘golden ages’ when the island was first established. If you wish to paint your house you send a letter to the government and they send a reply outlining which colours you can paint your lot, like a rainbow lottery!

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Hong Kong, China //

We instantly fell in love with Designlovefest’s Hong Kong photo diary and knew it had to be added to our Pastel World Tour. We can’t wait to wander around snapping pics of the towering sun faded buildings, neon lights and market-lined streets of Soho.

HongKong

San Franciso, U.S.A. //

I’ve been all over California but haven’t done anywhere near enough pastel hunting in San Francisco.Steep rolling hills lined with colourful row houses and some of the best food on the coast! Mr.Holmes bakery would obviously be an essential stop.

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Tokyo, Japan //

The idea of travelling to Tokyo seems a bit intimidating because there is so much to see and do, again with the help of Designlovefest’s travel guide we’ve narrowed down our must-see spots. Including but not limited to: Cat cafes in DAIKANYAMA, the bright neon lights of Shinjuku, and of course all the sights of Harajuku (have you seen this rainbow cotton candy magic?). When we get tired of walking around there’s always a swan boat ride in Inokashira park!

Tokyo

Havana, Cuba //

The architecture of Cuba definitely what initially drew us to add it to the list- an eclectic mix of bright colourful buildings, this colonial city seems to have a sort of romanticism about it, complete with vintage american cars and even a ‘car-free’ zone in Old Havana.

Our idea of a perfect day? Food in El Barrio Chino (Havana’s China Town), Mojitos on Espacio’s back patio, and a sunset drive along the sea on The Malecón!

Havana

I'll Follow You Anywhere

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I have deemed 2016 my big year of travel, so when my boyfriend Josh went away for 10 days and left the car in my custody I knew I had to take advantage. Jo and I debated where to trek to- Bruce Peninsula? Hamilton? Prince Edward County? We were torn, but then we got to talking with Anabela at her baby shower a few weeks ago, and the answer became clear: Buffalo!

I’ve swooned over Anabela’s pastel views from Buffalo road trips time and time again, and both Jo and I have always been curious to make our way down there, but never really found the time. Armed with a massive list from Anabela (thanks again lovely!) we made a totally spontaneous decision and jumped in the car.

When we told the border guards we were crossing just to explore Buffalo for the day they seemed to suspect we were joking, but I honestly have NO idea why. Buffalo is full of green space, old charm, and treasure just waiting to be found. Bonus- it obviously also has American favourites like Target and Trader Joe’s, so you can get your fill of adorable housewares and coconut cashews too! Am I the only one who finds “American Shopping” way too fun?! (Sorry American readers, I’m a lame Canadian, I know.)

Scroll down for our list of favourite pastel spots!

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RAOP Places in Buffalo //

Fowler’s Chocolates // By far our favourite find in Buffalo, Fowler’s is home to CHOCOLATE ORANGE COVERED SPONGE TOFFEE, the best thin mints I’ve ever tasted, and a signature chocolate bar called the “Truffalo Bar” which is as pretty as it is delicious. This company is *very* pink, and there are locations all over the city so it’s hard to miss!

Parkside Candy // A beautiful old-timey candy shop, the Main Street Parkside Candy is the perfect place to pick up classic sweets, or cozy up for an ice cream sundae.

Cherry Blossoms // We had a horrible blossom season in Toronto this year, but luckily we were able to catch the last few in bloom trees near the Buffalo History Museum. Located in a gorgeous spanning park, this is an enchanting spot to visit even if it isn’t Cherry Blossom season.

Target // Our hearts broke when Target closed in Canada, but thankfully there are a handful just over the border in Buffalo. We came home with flamingo print bedsheets, glittery pink iridescent party plates, and all sorts of other treasures! There’s also a Trader Joe’s nearby if you need your cookie butter fix…

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Premier wine and spirits Close to Target and Trader Joe’s, this is a great spot to pick up local foodie finds, rare liqueurs, and all sorts of fancy kitchen supplies too. Warning- my Canadian Visa wouldn’t work here, so come prepared with cash in case! Also beware of alcohol duty at the border.

Lake Effect Diner // One million heart eyes for this place! The vintage baby pink and grey decor is in perfect condition, and the menu is filled with so many veg options (not to mention everything was crazy delicious.) We recommend creamsicle milkshakes and anything with the house smoked veggie bacon on top!

Other recommended spots that we didn’t have time to visit:
Botanical Gardens
Deep South Taco
The Lafayette Hotel
Public Espresso + Coffee

Did I miss anything?