#ElCafeDe2013 Coffee tip of the week: Checkout the Entrance!

Posted on May 24, 2013 | 3 Comments

I was hanging out at Groove Coffee House in Covington, Kentucky on a day road trip, enjoying a good latte. Part of my routine while enjoying a coffee is to check out the signage, entrance and surrounding area (neighborhood) out front.

In this case Groove Coffee House sat right along Main Street. I got the coffeehouse signage and colorful looking downtown street in one shot. Beautiful!

Groove Coffee House, Covington, Kentucky

It gave me goosebumps and made the coffee that much better. I’m in a scenic town, in a state I hadn’t been in a while, on a day road trip and enjoying a new coffee spot. What could better?! By looking around out front you also might spot somewhere else to go and explore.

Tip #8: When enjoying your coffee make sure to checkout the entrance.

The aforementioned latte.

Groove Coffee House, Covington, Kentucky, latte

Another photo from the entrance, looking straight down the sidewalk.

Groove Coffee House, Covington, Kentucky

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Posted in coffeehouse, day trip, Kentucky, Road Trip, travel

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California’s Capitola Beach.

Posted on May 21, 2013 | Leave a comment

I’m in San Francisco last summer. I’m hanging out along the coast. Where to go? Where to go? It shouldn’t have even been a question. It was time to head an hour south on the PCH, the Pacific Coast Highway, to Capitola and the beach. It’s a beach town and place I have spent a lot of time at in my youth.

Parking is usually very hard to come by close to the beach and in town, so when I arrived I parked up-top alongside Cliff Dr. a few blocks away. The beach, village, house and coastline straight ahead.

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

The view is definitely worth the extra walk. Up above you can also see people stand up paddle boarding along the shoreline. Looking out you can see Capitola Wharf and Monterey Bay.

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

Capitola sits along the bay with the Pacific Ocean not far past. Lot’s of people boating on the open blue waters too.

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

Almost there beach! Always love seeing the colorful umbrellas.

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

Arriving in the heart of town you’ll see the sand bar and Soquel Creek as it flows towards the bay. The beach sits opposite.

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

You’ll find outdoor food, drink and entertainment options along the creek including Margaritaville, Mr. Toots Coffeehouse, Pizza My Heart, Paradise Beach Grille…

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

…and Zelda’s on the Beach. Lot’s of people having a good time while soaking in the sun. Antique stores, galleries and ice cream shops dot the streets as well.

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

The beach!

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

Lots of people were taking advantage of the warm, sunny summer day.

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

Of course I’m going to gravitate towards a park bench. Low and behold, its facing a scenic panoramic view. While sitting and looking down…

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

…you can checkout the colorful, hand-painted sea wall tiles, part of a community art project back in 2008. Lots of stories on that wall. :)

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

Alongside the beach is the aforementioned Capitola Wharf where you’ll find fisherman, views of the beach and surrounding areas and the Wharf House restaurant at the end, which I’ve yet to checkout.

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

I captured some close shots of people playing in the water and…

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

…stand up paddle boarding.

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

Palm trees and…

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

…colorful Mediterranean style housing are also part the of the Capitola picture.

Capitola Beach, California, PCH

It was great a day at my favorite beach town. I’ll be returning for sure next time I’m around San Francisco. :)

For more Capitola, checkout my time that day hanging around the colorful Mediterranean style housing along the shoreline and at Mr. Toots Coffeehouse.

What is your favorite beachtown? Any California beach town recommendations?

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Posted in beach, California, day trip, travel

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Photo(s) of the Week: On the Path to a Skyline.

Posted on May 20, 2013 | 3 Comments

On an early winter morning I sat out on the path to a skyline, Chicago’s. These shots were on Chicago’s lakefront bike path that runs alongside the Lake Michigan shoreline. I was near North Avenue Beach just outside of downtown. You’ll usually find bikers and runners covering the pavement, but the early morning and cold meant I had an open path straight ahead!

Chicago, Lake Shore Drive bike path, Lake Michigan, skyline

Chicago, Lake Shore Drive bike path, Lake Michigan, skyline

Chicago, Lake Shore Drive bike path, Lake Michigan, skyline

Before hitting up the bike path, I spent some wintry times on the beach. You can check them out in Chicago + Winter + Beach = Beautiful.

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Posted in Chicago, day trip, Road Trip, travel

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#ElCafeDe2013 Coffee tip of the week: A Unique Mug? Do it!

Posted on May 17, 2013 | 2 Comments

Going to lot’s of coffeehouses and cafés, I’ve had my coffee served in all kinds of cups and mugs. If it’s a mug, a lot of the time, it’s of the generic white or glass variety.

Tip #7: If you can get your coffee served in a colorful, unique, individualized mug from somewhere, do it!

At that moment, your drinking your coffee in something completely different to anyone else there. Checkout this mug that my latte was poured into at Common Grounds Coffee Shoppe in Flowery Branch, Georgia.

Latte, Common Grounds Coffee Shoppe, Flowery Branch, Georgia

Another unique mug I thought I’d share from a while back at Brewtopia in Bay City, Michigan. A perfect compliment to a Peppermint Latte. :)

Peppermint Latte, Brewtopia, Bay City, Michigan

I don’t know what it is. I just feel more like at home with unique mug.

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Posted in coffee, coffeehouse, Georgia, Michigan, travel

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TBEX Canada: My First Travel Conference.

Posted on May 16, 2013 | 20 Comments

A couple of weeks to go until my first travel blogger conference, TBEX Canada in Toronto. Excited does not begin to describe it. I will be traveling for starters, taking the train, VIA Rail Canada, in to town in style. I have met some fellow travel bloggers in person, but this will take it to another level. Having the chance to meet, talk, hangout with and see Toronto with other travellers I have connected with online is unbelievable.

Join me at TBEX

Business cards and a media kit will be along for ride as well as an outgoing and upbeat attitude ready to learn from some of the best in the industry. I’ll soak in as much as I can. If I have the chance, giving an idea or tip to someone would be cool too.

elATLboy.com business card

Besides travel blogging, I also do web development professionally which takes up a lot of my time. Mornings, evenings, weekends, vacation days, working remotely, wherever I can squeeze some time in, I enjoy what I am truly passionate about, traveling. I’m good at the web dev and pick up technology quickly, but my heart is in writing, photography and being out on the open road experiencing everything this world has to offer. Who knows what this trip will do in turns of The Adventures of elATLboy. I’m ready to find out!

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Posted in Blogging, Canada, Ontario, Toronto, travel

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San Francisco: 360 Degrees from Coit Tower.

Posted on May 14, 2013 | 6 Comments

Coit Tower is one of those places that attracts tourists in San Francisco and for good reason. Up-top it provides three hundred and sixty degree views of the city.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

Coit Tower has stood on top of Telegraph Hill within Pioneer Park since 1933, named after Lillie Hitchcock Coit and was built as the result of her wanting San Francisco to be beautified. I have great memories coming here as a child, so it’s a place I keep coming to when in the city.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

You can take the windy Telegraph Hill Boulevard up the hill, but traffic can be backed up at peak hours because parking is limited at the top. A bus or walking up the Greenwich or Filbert stairs are other popular options.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

Once up-top, after taking the old-school elevator for a nominal fee, you’ll gravitate right away towards the observation windows. There she is, the San Francisco skyline, centered by the Transamerica Pyramid.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

Rotating to other windows there is Washington Square Park, the Russian Hill neighborhood and the fog and marine layer off in the distance.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

Fisherman’s Wharf straight ahead and Alcatraz is sitting out there in the bay.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

Looking at Nob Hill and beyond that is Twin Peaks.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

A couple more skyline shots focusing on the Transamerica Pyramid.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

Coit Tower, San Francisco

IF you look straight up, there is the clear, blue open sky.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

Now stare down at the bottom of one of the observation windows. Opposite the window on the outside lies change and other items. I wonder how that stuff got out there and how many different currencies are represented. :)

Coit Tower, San Francisco

Scenic views can also be had within Pioneer Park outside of Coit Tower. San Francisco Bay, Fisherman’s Wharf and the fog and marine layer straight ahead.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

Washington State Park and the Russian Hill neighborhood again with lots of greenery in the foreground.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

There sits the Transamerica Pyramid beyond the greenery and trees. I was chilling on the grass as well when capturing this shot.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

Hello the beautiful San Fran skyline.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and open waters of San Francisco Bay with a palm tree along for the ride, perfect! :)

Coit Tower, San Francisco

Can’t capture enough of the open San Francisco Bay and all the blue.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

I mentioned it was a spot I came to (quite a bit actually) as a child. Found a couple of shots up-top from back when. :) Just as scenic.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

Coit Tower, San Francisco

It was great early afternoon checking out the city from up-top Pioneer Park and Coit Tower. What places do you like to checkout San Francisco from up-top?

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Posted in California, day trip, San Francisco, travel

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Photo of the Week: Put-in-Bay Straight Across Lake Erie.

Posted on May 13, 2013 | 4 Comments

A day trip brought me to Port Clinton, Ohio and the surrounding area hanging out along Lake Erie. I stopped at the Miller Boat Line where ferries take passengers to and from Put-In-Bay on the South Bass Island, which is straight ahead, along with the vast waters of one of the Great Lakes.

Put-in-Bay, Lake Erie from Port Clinton, Ohio

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Posted in day trip, Ohio, Road Trip, travel

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