Food first. I plan trips around meals and remember places by what I ate.
✈️ Cindy's Travel Adventures
Exploring, photographing, eating, and collecting memories.
🏛️ the expeditions wing — 48 pins of proof
🧭 How I Tend to Travel
Memory collecting. Photos, albums, reviews, little notes. A trip isn't over until it's documented — that's the Preserve theme doing its thing.
Side quests welcome. The best stories are the unplanned ones. A detour isn't a detour; it's the highlight.
Anchors + slack. A reason to be somewhere, plus plenty of room to wander, snack, and change the plan.
🌎 Travel Map
Every pin comes straight from the trip log below — same data, so the map and the timeline can't drift apart. Click a pin for trip dates.
Been there
📍 The Trip Log
Complete 2013–2026 — cross-referenced against my Google Drive itineraries and dated Google Photos albums, covering nearly every recorded trip. Phoenix day trips included.
2013
December — New York City, NY. First NYC trip: Fifth Avenue, taxi-cab street scenes, Madame Tussauds wax museum, and Cinderella on Broadway.
2014
May — Chattanooga, TN / Lookout Mountain, GA. Ruby Falls and Rock City.
August 16 (approx.) — Lynchburg, TN. Jack Daniel's Distillery, Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House.
September (approx.) — Atlanta, GA. Anime Weekend Atlanta: cosplay, artist alley, convention halls, and Korean BBQ dinners.
2015
February 14 — Florence, AL.
May — Gulf Shores, AL. Gulf Shore Welcome Center, Craft Farms mini golf, Gulf State Park & Pier, Gulf Shore Beaches, The Pelican Place, Original Oyster House Boardwalk, Alvin's Island, Tanger Outlet, Souvenir City.
Dining in Gulf Shores
Kitty's Kafe, LuLu's, Pink Pony Pub, Sea-n-Suds, Gulf Shores Seafood, The Flying Harpoon, Lambert's Cafe, Shrimp Basket, Bahama Bobs, Mojo's Seafood & Chicken, Blalock Seafood, Freddie Stewart Fresh Shrimp, Billy's Seafood.
2016
2017
Mar 11 — Phoenix, AZ. Day trip.
Mar 14 — Phoenix, AZ. Day trip.
July 1–2 — Page, AZ. Antelope Canyon's light beams and Horseshoe Bend's beautiful vertigo — fear of heights noted, faced anyway. 😌
July 3–6 — Las Vegas, NV. Fourth of July weekend: Lotus of Siam (declared ‘best Thai food ever’ on the spot), a Bellagio fountain-view dinner, a Game of Thrones slot machine, and Chinatown noodles.
July 20–22 — Los Angeles, CA. Harbor seafood, Din Tai Fung soup dumplings, and boba from Half & Half Tea Express — rated best boba ever at the time. The bar was set early.
August 5–6 — Albuquerque, NM. A Triple D pilgrimage to Nexus Brewery (Guy Fieri approved, Cindy confirmed) plus Cajun seafood, Yelp-guided as always.
October 12–15 — San Diego, CA. Hilton Garden Inn, Hotel del Coronado Beach / La Jolla Cove, USS Midway Museum, Seaport Village, Star of India, San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park.
Dining in San Diego
Phil's BBQ, Point Loma Seafoods, Manna Korean BBQ, OB Noodle House, Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill, Rei Do Gado (Brazilian steakhouse + king crab legs), Kula Revolving Sushi Bar.
December 18–31 (approx.) — Georgia → New Orleans, LA → San Antonio, TX. Two weeks of holiday roaming: family and bún bò Huế in Georgia, a first-ever New Orleans (oysters, Jackson Square, the French Quarter with Dug, beignets at Café Du Monde), and gumbo at Pappadeaux in San Antonio.
2018
March 3–10 — San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Flew TUS→SJC; Hilton San Francisco Financial District; Alcatraz. Ghirardelli Square (caffe mocha + salted caramel brownie sundae), SF Chinatown dim sum.
April 26 — Phoenix, AZ. Bar-association event near Grand Canyon University
May 30 — Phoenix, AZ. Day trip
July 23–28 — Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ. Week-long trip.
August 31 – September 1 — San Diego, CA. A mini-vacay with Dug: froyo runs and morning dim sum, chicken feet and all. 🐶
November 17–23 — Las Vegas, NV. Flew Southwest; stayed across Delano, Aria, Cosmopolitan, Bellagio. Backstreet Boys concert, Las Vegas Comedy Club, 'O' at Bellagio, Piff the Magic Dragon. Plus a Lyft ride in the driver's Model X Tesla and a run-in with a self-proclaimed famous national blackjack player. Vegas delivers.
Dining in Las Vegas
Hell's Kitchen, DELLA's Kitchen, Sage / Jean Georges Steakhouse, Lago by Julian Serrano, Lotus of Siam, Spago.
December 21 (approx.) — Atlanta, GA. Flew TUS→ATL, home for Christmas. 🎄
2019
March 10 (approx.) — Miami, FL. Flew in to dock for cruise departure.
March 10–17 — Royal Caribbean Eastern Caribbean Cruise. Allure of the Seas — our first cruise ever! Ports: Philipsburg, St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Labadee, Haiti. Onboard theater shows, the Promenade, sunsets at sea, formal dining.
May 24–27 (approx.) — Las Vegas, NV. Memorial Day weekend — Harrah's; flew AA PHX↔LAS.
July 2–6 — Las Vegas, NV. Harrah's, Fremont Street Experience, Las Vegas sign, High Roller, zip line, escape room, Madame Tussauds.
Dining in Las Vegas
Tacos El Gordo, Lotus of Siam, Hell's Kitchen, Texas de Brazil, Bacchanal Buffet.
July 6–13 — Tucson, AZ. Korean BBQ trip.
October — New York City, NY. Flushing Queens, New World Mall, Asian Jewel, Kung Fu Xiao Long Bao, Szechuan Mountain House, Xian Famous Foods.
November 25 – December 2 — Hong Kong. Hilton Garden Inn Mongkok, Central District, The Peak, Wan Chai, Aberdeen, Kowloon, Temple Street Night Market, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Tian Tan Buddha. Thanksgiving dinner in Hong Kong with awesome people — pho-giving, but make it dim sum.
December 2–7 — Taipei, Taiwan. DoubleTree by Hilton Taipei Zhongshan, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Fuhang Soy Milk, Bao'an Temple, Dihua Street, Ningxia Night Market, Longshan Temple, Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle, Maokong Gondola, Raohe Street Night Market, Elephant Mountain, Taipei 101, Tonghua Night Market, National Palace Museum, Shilin Night Market.
2020
January 17–20 — Chicago, IL. Holiday Inn Express Chicago Miracle Mile; flew in Friday morning, out Monday night.
2021
August 2–8 — Seattle, WA. Hyatt Regency Seattle, Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Museum of Pop Culture, Pike Place Market, Original Starbucks, The Gum Wall, Chinatown-ID, Seattle Great Wheel, Harbor Cruise, Amazon Go.
Dining in Seattle
Von's 1000 Spirits, Piroshky Piroshky, Daily Dozen, Dough Zone, Pike Place Chowder, The Butcher's Table, The Crumpet Shop, Biscuit Bitch, Toulouse Petit Kitchen, Nana's Green Tea, Matcha Cafe Maiko.
September 25 – October 3 — New York City, NY. Hyatt Place Flushing/LGA, Crowne Plaza Midtown, Flushing Chinatown, Queens Botanical Garden, Grand Central, Bryant Park, Times Square, Wicked, Circle Line cruise, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge.
Dining in New York
Xiang Tian Xia, Omakase by Korami, Yakitori Torishin, Victor's Cafe, Minca Ramen, COTE.
November 10–14 — Austin, TX. Holiday Inn Express Austin South, Texas State Capitol, Sixth Street, SoCo District, Mayfield Park, Mount Bonnell, Lady Bird Lake, Zilker Park, Congress Avenue Bridge bats at night, River Place Nature Trail.
Dining in Austin
Franklin BBQ, Uchi (happy hour!), Kura, DipDipDip Tatsu-Ya, Ramen Tatsu-Ya, Seoulju Korean, Odd Duck, Elizabeth Street Cafe, Bouldin Creek Cafe.
November 24–27 — Las Vegas, NV. Thanksgiving week — Harrah's, then Bellagio. Red Rock Canyon.
Dining in Las Vegas
Hwaro, Texas de Brazil, Chubby Cattle Hotpot, Garionban, and Tea Maison desserts on repeat.
2022
March 9–13 — Houston, TX. Holiday Inn Westpark, Hermann Park, McGovern Centennial Gardens, The Galleria, Water Wall, Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary.
Dining in Houston
Lotus Seafood, Taste of Texas, Shabu Zone, Soto Omakase, Breakers Korean BBQ, PappaRich Malaysian, Jang Choong Dong Korean, Feng Cha and Muse Tea for dessert.
April 30 — Chandler (Phoenix area), AZ. Day trip.
May 28 – June 2 — Southwest Road Trip.
- May 28: Valley of Fire, NV & Virgin River Gorge, AZ.
- May 28–29: St. George & Zion Area, UT — The Advenire, Red Hills Desert Garden, Pioneer Park, St. George Narrows.
- May 29–30: Page / Lake Powell, AZ — Hyatt Place Page / Lake Powell.
- May 30 – June 2: Las Vegas, NV — The Delano.
June 18–25 — Dallas, TX. Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront, then an Airbnb, then the Ritz-Carlton Dallas. Tommy joined June 22. Dallas Farmers Market, the JFK assassination site, and serious pool time.
Dining in Dallas
Uchiba Dallas, Cattleack BBQ, Ricky's Hot Chicken, Pappadeaux, Gloria's Latin, Rodeo Goat, Niwa Japanese BBQ, Nurungji Chicken.
November 10–16 — Washington, DC. The Waldorf Astoria for three free nights. Monuments and memorials, the Holocaust Museum, a Capitol tour, the Spy Museum, the Library of Congress, Eastern Market.
Dining in DC
Rooster & Owl, Thip Khao, Rasika, Cranes (Spanish kaiseki), Fancy Radish, Makan, Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, Ottoman Taverna.
December 22–26 (approx.) — Cancún, Mexico. Christmas at the resort: delicious food, holiday lights, and Cindy's first-ever impromptu tarot reading. The cards said ‘book more trips.’ (Probably.)
2023
January 22 — Las Vegas, NV. Omega Mart / Meow Wolf adventure.
March 4–13 — South Korea. Hilton Garden Inn Seoul Gangnam, InterContinental Grand Seoul Parnas, Grand Hyatt Seoul. Jeongneung Royal Tomb, Myeongdong Night Market, Namsan Park, N Seoul Tower cable car, Konkuk University / Common Ground, Noryangjin Fish Market, Lotte World / Lotte World Tower, Banpo Han River Cruise, DMZ tour, COEX Mall & Starfield Library, Nanta Theater Show, Four Palaces / Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon Hanok Village, Bukhansan National Park. Seonjeongneung Royal Tombs, Myeongdong Cathedral, tteokbokki street-food markets, convenience-store snack hauls, and a train ride through the countryside.
April 30 — Sonoita, AZ. Wine-tasting day trip: Dos Cabezas, Deep Sky, Rune, plus a mead stop. Arizona wine country, officially sampled. 🍷
May 26–30 — San Diego, CA. Memorial Day road trip from Tucson; Airbnb on C Street. San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Seaport Village, La Jolla Cove, Ocean Beach Dog Park, Sunset Cliffs.
Dining in San Diego
Menya Ultra, Yakyudori, Woomiok, Flama Llama (Peruvian), Shan Xi Magic Kitchen, Little Sakana (all-you-can-eat sushi), Formosa, Fire Spot, Bud's Louisiana Cafe, Hui Lau Shan desserts.
June 28 – July 4 — Toronto, Canada. AA flights on points; Sheraton Centre / St. Regis / Hyatt Regency Toronto.
August 5 — Bisbee & Tombstone, AZ. Queen Mine tour, Tombstone's OK Corral energy, and Puny John's BBQ. History with a side of brisket.
August 18–20 — Las Vegas, NV. BLACKPINK: Born Pink encore at Allegiant Stadium. A whole weekend, a whole fandom. 🖤🩷
November 23–24 — Las Vegas, NV. The Palazzo.
December 29–31 — Phoenix, AZ. New Year's stay — great food, great company, and a hike to close out the year.
December — Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Secrets Moxché resort. First time in Mexico — off the wishlist.
2024
January 20–21 — Las Vegas, NV. Mac King's comedy magic at Excalibur plus claw-arcade victories. Vegas, but make it whimsical. 🪄
March 16–31 — Japan. Flew Alaska/JAL Business Class via SFO to HND; returned via NRT. Hotels: Shibuya Granbell Hotel, Conrad Osaka, Daiwa Roynet Hotel Hiroshima, Sheraton Miyako Hotel Tokyo.
- Tokyo: teamLab Planets, Toyosu Fish Market, Shibuya Crossing, Harajuku, Shinjuku Gyoen, Meguro River cherry blossoms. Ate sushi wearing a sushi shirt and sushi earrings — commitment to the theme. Visited a capybara-and-cat café AND an otter café, because of course.
- Osaka: Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Universal Studios Japan / Super Nintendo World.
- Day trips: Kyoto, Nara deer park.
- Hiroshima: Peace Memorial Park & Atomic Bomb Dome, Miyajima / Itsukushima Floating Torii Gate.
- Only in Japan: 10-yen bread that cost 500 yen, the Nintendo Store in Osaka, Nara in kimono (deer, chicken-broth ramen, yakiniku for dinner), and a man walking 17 dogs at once in Tokyo.
April 26–28 — Sedona, AZ. Hyatt Vacation Club at Piñon Pointe, Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, Trolley Tour, Pink Jeep Tour Scenic Rim.
Dining in Sedona
SaltRock, Mariposa, The Vault Uptown, The Hudson.
May 4 — Phoenix, AZ. Day trip.
Jun 28 — Phoenix, AZ. Day trip.
August 30 – September 3 — Chicago, IL. Labor Day weekend — Pendry Chicago + Waldorf Astoria. Jazz Festival, Garfield Park Conservatory, Shedd Aquarium.
Oct 22–23 — Phoenix, AZ. Overnight trip.
November — Las Vegas, NV. Off-Strip this time — Springs Preserve, Mikiya, Tonshou, Kabuto. Vegas without the Vegas-ness.
Dec 21–22 — Phoenix, AZ. Overnight trip.
2025
Jan 17 — Phoenix, AZ. Day trip.
February — Las Vegas, NV. Anniversary weekend. Vegas again, because of course.
March 16 – April 1 — Singapore & Thailand.
- March 18–23, Singapore: Conrad Singapore Orchard. Newton Hawker Centre, Chinatown, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Singapore Botanic Gardens / National Orchid Garden, Orchard Road, Clarke Quay river cruise, Little India, Supertree Grove / Cloud Forest / Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay, Sands SkyPark Observation Deck, Marina Bay Segway Tour, National Museum of Singapore.
- March 23–26, Chiang Mai: Wat Phra Singh, Three Kings Monument, Sunday Walking Street Night Market, Warorot Market food tour, elephant sanctuary visit, Chang Phueak night market, Muay Thai fight.
- March 26–31, Bangkok: Hyatt Place Bangkok Sukhumvit. Chinatown food tour (Wat Traimit, Wat Mangkon), Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha, Kod Kret Talay Seafood Buffet, massage at Let's Relax / Health Land Spa. Felt the March 29 earthquake tremors at the Grand Palace — some of the lucky ones.
- Also: a pug café, a Segway tour, and a Muay Thai fight.
May 31 – June 9 — Canada, Denmark & Norway.
- May 31 – June 2, Montreal: Hyatt Centric Montreal. Old Montreal, Notre-Dame Basilica, Vieux-Port, Mount Royal Park. Dining: Ma Poule Mouillée, Restaurant HÉLICOPTERE, Sammi Soup Dumpling.
- June 3–6, Copenhagen: Fairfield by Marriott Copenhagen Nordhavn. Tivoli Gardens, Rosenborg Castle, Nyhavn Harbor, The Little Mermaid Statue, Freetown Christiania. Dining: Reffen Street Food Market, Bæst Pizza, Grønttorvet.
- June 6–9, Porsgrunn & Oslo: Porsgrunn Airbnb & Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre Oslo Airport. Wedding events at Nes Church and Eidanger Farm / Tollnes Clubhouse — a family wedding in Norway.
- Food notes: sushi hidden inside a pink flower shop in Montreal, chicken-and-chorizo poutine, Juno Bakery’s cardamom bun in Copenhagen, the Round Tower, Kastellet star fortress, Danish hot dogs and smørrebrød.
Jun 21–22 — Phoenix, AZ. Birthday weekend: Into the Woods at The Phoenix Theatre (where Spielberg’s first movie premiered!), skewers at Chubby Skewers, karaoke to close. 🎂
Jun 29 — Phoenix, AZ. Day trip.
August 30 – September 3 — Boston, MA. Labor Day weekend — Southwest TUS↔BOS; Canopy by Hilton + Hyatt Regency Boston.
Oct 5 — Phoenix, AZ. Dave Cox magic show — came home with a deck of cards and an “evil hypnotist monkey” sidekick for Cindy’s own tricks. 🪄🙃
December — Las Vegas, NV. Lotus of Siam, Bavette's steakhouse. A very good eating weekend.
2026
February — San Diego, CA. Weekend trip with the Zhangs and Dug.
April — Flagstaff, Sedona & Williams, AZ. Old Town Shops, Bearizona, Grand Canyon Deer Farm, Walnut Canyon, Elote, Black Bart's Steakhouse, haunted tour.
Apr 26 — Phoenix, AZ. Day trip.
May 22 — Las Vegas, NV. FlyOver, The X Pot.
June — Chicago, IL. Kinky Boots at the Nederlander Theatre, Pokemon Fossil Museum. Shedd Aquarium, the Obama Presidential Center.
August — Portland, OR. Multnomah Falls, Willamette Valley, Voodoo Doughnut, Kasbah, Pinot Noir grape picking, ferrets, banana slugs. Powell’s Books, the Shanghai tunnel tour, Pittock Mansion, the Rose Garden, Kann (Haitian-inspired), the Saturday Market, an arcade, and Moroccan food on day one.
September — College Park / Atlanta Area, GA. Labor Day weekend, Charkor Guys, boba, paint place.
September 18–19 — Phoenix, AZ. Weekend trip, visited a friend — and the important part: first-ever Buc-ee's. When in Arizona…
🗺️ Still on the Radar
Places I haven't been yet — no dots for these, just dreams. Yet.
United States: Orlando, FL; Detroit / Ann Arbor, MI; Santa Fe, NM; Asheville / Western NC, NC; Upstate, SC.
International: Mexico was on this list — checked off twice: Cancún (Dec 2022) and Playa del Carmen (Dec 2023). Next: everywhere.