Cocktails in Monaco

Monaco might be one of the most elusive, small, yet most prominent city-states in the world. Not only does it host the Monaco Grand Prix, but it is also home to the legendary Monte-Carlo casino.

From Cannes, we took an Uber to Monaco and had an amazing (yet surprisingly—very quick) dinner at Buddha Bar.

After a quick stroll through Monaco, we arrived at the Monte-Carlo casino. Although everyone was dressed to the nines, the number of luxury cars in front of the casino was nothing short of aspirational.

As amateur gamblers, my wife and I always agree to a low number where we’d be willing to cut our losses at the casino. Unfortunately for us, that happened fairly quickly at the blackjack table. However, it was all in good fun, and we didn’t mind a bit. We sipped on some espresso martinis and then strolled around the perimeter of the casino – admiring some of the cars and grabbing a fresh ice cream from a nearby creamery.

Since Uber is not permitted in Monaco, we hiked to the neighboring town of Beausoleil in France and took a car back to our hotel in Cannes.

Overall, a very luxurious evening in Monaco left us wanting much more.

Flying Seaplanes in Alaska

As a pilot and photographer, Alaska is a dream destination for someone line me.

The Alaskan wilderness is vast, stretching out in every direction as far as the eye could see.

During my time in Alaska, I had booked a seaplane training course at Alaska Float Ratings. While the training didn’t progress as I had anticipated due to a combination of maintenance and scheduling, I was able to hop on a scenic seaplane flight for 2 hours.

As we flew deeper into the interior of Alaska, I couldn't help but be struck by the remoteness of it all. The only signs of human life were the occasional small cabin or fishing boat dotting the landscape. It is a world untouched by modern civilization.

Over the course of the two hour flights, the plane landed on small lakes. The air was crisp and clean, and the silence was broken only by the sound of the wind, fish swimming in the water and the occasional bird call.

And as I gazed out at the vast, untamed beauty of Alaska, I knew that this was a moment I would never forget.

Best Pizza: Anchorage

As a gateway city, Anchorage is my favorite city to explore the beautiful state of Alaska.

However, no trip to Anchorage is complete without Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria. During my trip over the summer, I had a meal their twice and it was worth the wait along with some delicious brews while waiting for a table.

If you’re in Anchorage for a meal - definitely don’t miss out on the beer, pizza or the garlic bread.

Chefchaouen: The Blue City of Morocco

One of our favorite things as a family is to try and explore some of the smaller tourist destinations in popular countries. We had our fair share of Marrakech, Casablanca and Fes in Morocco - the big 3 cities for tourists.

We really wanted to go off the beaten path and learned about Chefchaouen from a few people.

Located against a stunning and scenic mountainous backdropped and blue in every direction that you can see – it ended up being one of our favorite stops during our trip to Morocco.

Since we made our decision fairly last minute to visit the city, we weren’t left with too many hotel options and ended up staying in a fairly cramped local hotel room that barely fit in 2 beds and our suitcases.

We also had to lug our bags up through steep stairs – which was exhausting without having to push around a toddler in a stroller.

After our first mountainous climb, we settled in to our room and shortly after started venturing out for dinner. We were in awe of the city and the people. Over the next 2 days, we enjoyed every single bite of every single meal. Given the peak travel time in May, we also had to hop into a lot of different smaller cafés to cool down with a bottle of water or an ice cream.

While we did enjoy our brief 48 hour stint in Chefchaouen, we likely couldn’t have spent any more time in the city as we somehow managed to walk the city more than twice in the two days we were there. Some people even visit the city as a day trip and if you’re a rapid walker, that may be a better option for a lot of first-time travelers.

Sidecar Tour: Marrakech

Morocco is a vibrant country. The colors, the food, the spices and the smells add so much depth and character at every turn. However, after spending a week across three cities - we wanted to do something different at our last stop in Marrakech. After a bit of looking around, my wife found a sidecar tour in Marrakech.

As we signed up for the Marrakech Insiders tour, we couldn't help but feel a bit taken aback by the high cost - almost $600 for three of us, and that included our toddler. It seemed like a lot to spend for just a few hours of exploring the city.However, it ended up being one of our best experiences during our entire stay in Morocco.

It was clear that the guides were passionate about showing us around the city and its nearby surroundings.

Our tour started in the morning, right after breakfast. We met at a café, not too far away from our hotel where we met our guides. They were both incredibly friendly and immediately made us feel comfortable as we strapped on our helmets and began our journey.

As we rode through the bustling streets of Marrakech, we were able to see a different side of the city. The old buildings, narrow alleys and traditional markets gave us a glimpse into the local way of life. It was refreshing to see beyond the hustle and bustle of tourist attractions and immerse ourselves in the everyday life of locals.

Another highlight of the tour was riding through lush gardens outside of the city walls. It was peaceful and serene, a stark contrast from the chaos of Marrakech's medina.

The best part was that the guides were honest and only did this for fun. They treated us to coffee and snacks, even going out of their way to get orange juice for our young child. Despite our attempts to pay, they kindly refused and marched on, showing their true passion for sharing their city with others.

My only regret was doing this on the last day of our trip rather than prioritizing this unique activity at the very beginning of our trip.