Travel Archives - missy christine

March 14, 2023March 14, 2023

Albuquerque’s International Balloon Fiesta

I’m not sure why, but something that has been on my bucket list for a while was Albuquerque’s International Balloon Fiesta. It is the world’s largest hot air balloon festival where over 700 hot air balloons come for the week long fest. This fest generates the bulk of the revenue for New Mexico and hundreds of thousands of people visit during the event.

This was my first time in New Mexico. I got there on a Thursday and the first day of the fest wasn’t until Saturday so I was able to do some exploring during my trip. The first day I was there, I visited Old Town Albuquerque. It was a charming little town with beautiful architecture. There were tons of shops and street vendors selling handmade items.

Old Town Albuquerque San Felipe de Neri Church

Some of our family friends who have been to New Mexico told us there was nothing to do in Albuquerque and that we should make our way to Santa Fe. There’s even a train that will take you there from Albuquerque for $9! So we headed there for the day. And honestly… I wasn’t impressed. Santa Fe was too tourist-y for me. So we took the train back in hopes of getting to see the sunset from the tram back in Albuquerque. Unfortunately, the line to get on the tram was over an hour long, so we had to view the sunset from the visitors center.

Santa Fe, New Mexico Sandia Peak Tram

Now for the Albuquerque’s International Balloon Fiesta, you need to choose AM or PM tickets. I chose the PM because of this thing called a Glowdeo. So we didn’t have to be at the shuttles until 3PM. Since the rest of the group arrived, we went back to Old Town so they could see it, too. When the time came, we got in the lines to take the shuttles (school buses) to the event. It was incredibly organized and we were there in no time.

The balloons were spectacular. So many colors and shapes. ALl of them lighting up in unison to put on a beautiful show. However, they were all on the ground instead of in the air. We all decided we wanted to see the Mass Ascension so even though we were leaving Sunday afternoon, we purchased tickets for Sunday morning to see the balloons in the air. Back in the security line at 4:30AM to see the balloons go up at sunrise.

What we witnessed was something I couldn’t explain if I tried and I would recommend it to everyone. There’s something about hundreds going up at once that makes it feel like magic. I’m thankful I was able to share the experience with my family and cross another adventure off my bucket list.

If you’re interested in learning more information about the fest, head to https://balloonfiesta.com/

January 23, 2023February 13, 2023

Arizona Dining

Every time I visit Arizona, I love going to fun restaurants and coffee shops. As someone who grew up in Chicago, I didn’t know what to expect from the Arizona Dining experience. Needless to say, I have been pleasantly surprised with numerous establishments. I have rounded up some that I personally love in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area to share with y’all.

The Canal Club – 4925 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Located inside of The Scott Resort. As someone who loves that plant bohemian vibe, this aesthetic was so pleasing. Honestly, I would decorate my future home like this place. Although there is a pool outside and a cute dining area, we opted for a quick coffee at the bar and some cute photos. You can never go wrong with an oat milk latte and some selfies, right?

Postino Kierland – 7030 E Greenway Pkwy Ste 185, Scottsdale, AZ 85254

This is a chain wine café, but we honestly just came here for the boards. At any given time, they have 12 varieties to choose from. You can choose up to four per board. I decided on the following (top to bottom):

Prosciutto Di Parma, Fig & Mascarpone
Sweet n’ Spicy Pepper Jam & Goat Cheese
Burrata, Bacon & Arugula
Salami & Pesto

Press Coffee Roasters – 15257 N Scottsdale Rd Scottsdale Quarter Mall Building F, Ste 160, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

An Arizona staple for coffee. They believe in giving back to communities by not only supporting local charities, but supporting coffee farmers too. They definitely have one of the best vanilla oat milk lattes I have ever had.

Prep & Pastry – 7025 E Via Soleri Dr #175, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Located in Old Town Scottsdale. Not only did they have a fantastic selection of juices for the mimosa brunch, but they also had a wide variety of pastries and all of their food items on their menu had me salivating. I ended up ordering the Chicken & Toast which was a playful spinoff of Chicken & Waffles. It was chicken with herbed brioche french toast topped with fresh blueberry preserves. And the portion was HUGE!

prep and pastry — Chicken and French Toast

Daily Drip Coffee and Desserts – 6027 W Bell Rd Suite B, Glendale, AZ 85308

This. Place. Is. So. GOOD! I tried something a little different here – a honey lavender latte. And, if you download the app called Ripples, you can add fun art to the top of your coffee drinks. How fun?!

The Henry – 4455 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018

Another fun, sophisticated place to dine. It is both elegant and also super industrial. Furniture is mismatched, beams are exposed and yet somehow everything works so well together. For lunch I got the Harvest Bowl which I highly recommend. It is full of sweet potato, ancient grains, cauliflower, snap peas, artichoke, asparagus, avocado, marcona almond pesto, cashew harissa and I added chicken. Still need to attempt to recreate this. It was seriously THAT good.

Yutaka Japanese Restaurant – 751 E Bell Rd #9, Phoenix, AZ 85022

If you are a true sushi lover, you know that the little hole in the wall places beat out the big fancy places any day. This is a true hidden gem. I recommend the Jalapeno Bomb appetizer and the Spicy Garlic Albacore Roll. I. am. drooling. just thinking about them.

Hush Public House – 14202 N Scottsdale Rd #167, Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Hush is an upscale dining experience in North Scottsdale but has a way of being incredibly inviting. The chef takes classic dishes but makes them more unique. The flavor combinations are insane and this place is a MUST try.

Humble Bistro – 5415 E High St, Phoenix, AZ 85054

Humble Bistro is not your ordinary Italian cuisine. Fresh, homemade pastas, artisanal pizzas, and dishes crafted with an undeniable passion. The restaurant is the perfect atmosphere for a date night or a night out with friends, family, or colleagues.