eat like an orlando local
70 places to try during Hispanic Heritage Month
One of my new favorite restaurants that is worth the drive - The Daley Trade.
Five places I recommend for Chicken Katsu around Orlando.
Having a hard time finding lunch under $20? Here’s a list!
Happy National Coffee Day! This is MY PERSONAL coffee guide to Orlando. If I am treating myself to a cold brew or latte, these are my top picks of where I go and where I take friends.
Zaru - a Japanese noodle shop is now open in the Mills 50 district. Order cold and hot Udon bowls and customize them with add-ons while enjoying other small dishes including tempura and other savory items.
Seafood, Thai, Trinidadian, Noodles, Vietnamese, and Pizza.
Cheap eats around Central Florida for under $15 (without tax + tip).
From Szechuan, Taiwanese, BBQ, Indian, a Vegan Deli and more these are eight places you should try around Orlando.
From food truck to brick-and-mortar, get the info about OverRice’s new location serving up Filipino and Hawaiian favorites.
MAPS + ILLUSTRATED GUIDES
Looking for Pumpkin Spice, Sweet Potato, Maple, and Apple at your local coffee shops? Here’s a fall craft coffee drink guide.
Find a new spot, or just use as a reminder of where to get doughnuts in and around Orlando with a checklist.
The most up-to-date look at the local coffee shops and cafes are in and around Orlando.
National Ice Cream Day is July 18th, but why let classic ice cream get all the attention. From paletas, Halo-Halo, Patbingsu, Limbers, and more, there are lots of options for a frozen treat in Orlando.
Find local bakeries and donut shops where you can try the best donuts Orlando and its neighboring cities has to offer.
Check each boba spot off your list as your explore Orlando’s booming and delicious boba scene. Three more probably opened as I typed this.
With more coffee shops than ever before, here is a list of my personal favorite independent coffee shops around Orlando.
shop small + support orlando local
This list might be handy if you want to impress out-of-town guests with an authentic Orlando experience that you curate just for them.
Check out Oh Eco in Ivanhoe Village, the first community-based sustainable store in Orlando.
Orlando’s newest boutique hosts artisan made goods from all over the globe, vintage, and gift items.
Thrifting is an art form and one of my favorite activities. I’ve been traveling well outside of Orlando visiting different antique malls, so this is an updated list of my favorite thrift stores around Orlando, but also some cool antique malls I’ve found throughout Central Florida.
If you love buying plants, flowers, cacti, and the like, here are some places in Orlando that you can support from local nurseries to trendy shops.
My guide to shopping local in Orlando. With close to 100 stores and more online local makers, this list of almost 200 places to shop is a great way to shop small all year round.
The Neighbors, a new local hang with drinks, local merchandise, and a chef’s experience is opening upstairs at the East End Market.
A new multi-experience retail space has opened up in the Mills 50 District. The House on Lang offers retail, art, and community gathering.
Warehaus has moved into College Park! Their shop has a rotating collection of unique statement pieces from boho to mid-century modern furniture and goods.
This list that will continue to be updated, has over 65 local businesses, bloggers, restaurants, and creatives you can support. Support Orlando’s black-owned businesses and creatives, always.
Shopping online and want to support local? Here are some ideas that will satisfy your urge to indulge in retail therapy while keeping it local to Orlando businesses.
Shop an Orlando virtual mall. A one-stop shopping online resource to find local people you can support with the click of a button.
Support local makers during these uncertain times. Find over 100 local Orlando makers you can choose from to support and shop online.
Orlando’s first candle pour bar is now open in Thornton Park. This DIY bar offers a fun experience of creating your own signature scent for a candle, linen spray, or reed diffuser. With close to 100 scents on hand, the possibilities are endless.
Shop Small this Saturday with a list of local retailers by Main Street District and over 100 local makers that sell online!
Thrifting is an art form and one of my favorite activities. If you are looking for some of the best shops to hunt vintage treasures these are my favorite. From digging through racks of second-hand clothes or looking for home goods and furniture that need a new home, this is guide to my favorite thrift shops and antique malls in Central Florida.
The Florida Local Market is now open in New Smyrna Beach! It’s the perfect spot to shop local after a day at the beach, or sip a coffee in the ultimate Florida “living room”.
If you love buying plants, flowers, cacti, and the like, here are some places in Orlando that you can support from local nurseries to trendy shops.
Having a hard time keeping up with local makers? Here is a list of some of my favorites and some new kids on the block.
YAY! Tiny Shop is now open in Ivanhoe Village. Meet Stacy Coon, the owner of one of the tiniest retail shops in Orlando.
A new shop is coming to Ivanhoe Village. Miscellaneous Market will be a home to gifts, goods, home decor and furniture.
New shop alert! If you are a plant lover you should check out Piante Designs in Winter Park.
One of the oldest vintage shops in Orlando has a new home. Check out the new space in Winter Park!
unique things to do
If you've recently moved to Orlando this neighborhood guide for you! Get a breakdown of the areas you need to familiarize yourself with, with handy lists of businesses to check out and things to do.
The newly redone Gatcha Orlando is bigger and better and officially opens November 16th.
Crane games, pinball, retro games, classic games like Skee Ball, and the World's Largest Pac-Man.
If you are a fan of Japanese Crane Games and Plushies, check out Gatcha USA in the Florida Mall.
Photos may be taking a second place to video, but pretty spots to share are still as hot as ever. Here are over 40 Aesthetically Pleasing Spots Around Orlando to shop, eat, or just go see.
If you've recently moved to Orlando this neighborhood guide for you! Get a breakdown of the areas you need to familiarize yourself with, with handy lists of businesses to check out and things to do.
This is the most comprehensive guide for Orando murals, with locations, artists, and local businesses nearby to support. If you love local street art, this is a great guide to keep handy.
Trader Joe’s has so many items it’s hard to know which to try and add to your regular shopping list. I created a list of my favorites that are always in my shopping cart each visit.
Micro weddings are here to stay for the foreseeable future. Find what event venues in Orlando are offering special packages to accommodate intimate and safe ceremonies.
More Orlando Photo Spots are here! Orlando Photo Spots Vol. 7 spans the City Beautiful showcasing old and new places to take pictures.
Going stir crazy and starved for Florida sunshine? Need some outdoor locations to exercise during quarantine? Here are some helpful links and locations for places to walk or bike ride around Orlando.
Sometimes it happens. You get bored in Orlando. So what is there to do when you aren’t eating, drinking, or going to a theme park. This list is full of experiences, arts, shopping, and yes some restaurants because we aren’t crazy.
Fall in Florida is unique and wonderful. Download the illustration capturing some of the positive aspects of our cooler months in the Sunshine State.
Orlando photo spots volume six is here! From Sanford to Kissimmee I’ve been scouting more murals and iconic Florida landmarks to capture while you explore your city.
If you are looking for a local hang outside the comfort of your own couch to play video games, these are some of my favorite gamer spots in Orlando.
They say malls are dead. Well, my last few trips to the Altamonte Mall made me think twice about where we are spending our rainy summer afternoons. Here are a few of my favorite spots in the Altamonte Mall.
Looking for a space to hold a party in Orlando? Say no to corporate spaces and large ballrooms, here are some local businesses that can host moderate sized parties, showers, and other celebrations.
New photo spots around Orlando are here! Brand new murals and random hidden finds, perfect for your next shoot.
Did you know you can enjoy the Disney theme parks once they have closed and enjoy zero wait times for rides? Get the details from my hosted adventure during Disney After Hours.
Orlando has a colorful new mural in College Park thank to artist Chris Uphues.
Street Art Alert! There are new murals downtown in Thornton Park waiting for your selfie.
Owners of Collective Kindness have expanded into a beautiful historic home in Oakland. The new space offers home decor, workshop space, and will soon be a hub for the community with the mission to always giving back.
Heading to Miami for the Museum of Ice Cream? I've got some tips and things to know before you go.
My personal thoughts on 2017. A review of the digital and human balance.
Let them take pictures. Here is a list of over 30 of Orlando's most instagrammable spots.
If you are looking for potential photo shoot locations around town, here is my latest list of Orlando photo spots.
road trips in the SUNSHINE STATE
Check out the spots I visited (and a list of places I didn’t make it to) to help guide your next visit.
Staying mostly off the popular St. George Street, you can find a days worth of activities in St. Augustine that strike a balance of touristy and seasoned local.
A 3-day trip to Jacksonville loaded with places to eat, shop, drink, play, and hang.
Polk County doesn’t get a lot of love, but you just might have an enjoyable day trip if you follow this itinerary to Lake Wales and Winter Haven.
A low-key weekend where more time was spent in the Airbnb than going out, but here are the places we checked out.
A new immersive playground has opened in St. Pete and I have all the details to know before you plan your day trip.
The entire state of Florida is at your disposal for an amazing summer vacation. Here are some ideas spanning the whole state of state parks, museums, food destinations, and iconic photo spots.
A week at the beach on the West Coast of Florida led me to explore some towns like Safety Harbor and Dunedin, while making pit stops in Tampa and St. Pete.
Bok Tower Gardens is a contemplative garden, and bird sanctuary outside of Orlando that makes for a peaceful day trip outdoors.
A trip to Plant City! Don’t scratch your heads. Between a park, hikes, strawberries, and creating your own outdoor walking tour, you can spend the day here and enjoy one of Florida’s small, charming towns.
A colorful drive down A1A led me to Canaveral National Seashore. Trails, overlooks, and lagoons offer more than just the beach and popular launch watching site.
We headed almost two hours north of Orlando to explore some parks. This includes Silver Springs, Rainbow Springs, and Cedar Woods Lakes and Gardens.
There are some new places to explore in St. Pete right now! Visit the St. Pete Pier, the new Van Gogh exhibit at the Dali Museum, and watch the sunset at Fort Desoto Park!
Looking for a new Florida State Park to explore? Head down to Sarasota and explore the Myakka River State Park and take a walk on their popular Canopy Walkway.
Tired of being cooped up? Visit any of these local parks around Central Florida and enjoy all the natural beauty we often take for granted.
North of Orlando is a beautiful state park with both a beach and gardens to enjoy. Washington Oaks State Park in Palm Coast offers the best of nature in an accessible day trip.
A great activity to get out of the house is sunflower picking at the Stanley Pond Adventure Farm in Astatula.
Downtown Sanford is packed with eateries, bars, and breweries you’ll need to visit a few times to try them all. This city guide highlights a few of the local businesses that can make any day a good day for “Sanfording”.
Lakeland has a brand new modern food hall called The Joinery! This repurposed space is home to eight vendors, a bar with local beers, and plenty of places to enjoy the views of Lake Mirror.
An updated city guide for Deland, Florida. A sweet town north of Orlando, with local businesses and makers at its heart. Visit their recurring Friday night Farmer's Market or their seasonal Indie Artisan Flea Market.
Visit Dunedin, just North of Clearwater when you take a trip to the West Coast. Just 30-minutes from St. Petersburg you'll find a charming beach town filled with breweries, restaurants, quaint attractions, and hidden oranges to search for while you visit.
My latest trip to St. Peterburg is here. It’s loaded with places to eat and drink, fun things to do, and of course some of the newest street art in the city.
Eager to get out of Orlando for something new? I'm sharing more fun spots to try when you visit Tampa including coffee, sweets, and different cuisines for all the eating your stomach can handle in a day trip.
destination guides
A quick trip to Greenville, South Carolina! Find eats, coffee, local shops, and a little bit of nature.
Four days in and around Charleston, SC. A full breakdown of food, coffee, and things to do.
If you are looking for a sweet southern city with plenty of outdoor activities, check out Chattanooga.
A comprehensive guide to D.C. museums, restaurants, and fun things to do, including the popular Cherry Blossom bloom.
Visiting historic Philadelphia? Here are some travel tips and suggestions to make the most of any Philly trip.
Planning a weekend trip to Nashville? I’ve got a full city guide breakdown for you.
Summer travel plans? I've got list for 10 cities to help you with your research and vacation prep.
Finally made it to Colorado and explored Denver and bits of Boulder. Here is my Denver City Guide.
My recent trip to New York was filled with delicious food all over Manhattan and a quick hop to Brooklyn.
Don't listen to anyone's opinions when it comes to travel. Exploring Houston was the perfect lesson in that. This city has lots to offer including an abundance of great food.
Asheville is a pretty charming city filled with glimpses of nature, art, lots of beer and good food. See where I explored on a four-day weekend.
Toronto is a huge city with lots of food and sightseeing to tackle. See my favorite spots in one incredible city you should have on your travel list.
women-owned spotlights
A new female-owned natural wine shop has opened up in Baldwin Park.
Deli Desires, an unkosher deli, in an interview with owner and Chef, Hannah Jaffe.
Piante Designs in Winter Park is going on three years of business here, and now the owners Gary and Grace Li are opening up a second concept, Fledge. Get to know this local entrepreneur and how she became a plant lady.
Get to know the owners of the Naked Bar Soap Co. In a candid interview, they discuss marketing tactics, being a female-owned business, and why even though they’ve been in business for seven years, success isn’t something they aren’t ready to celebrate just yet.
A new art studio has opened in Winter Park that is focusing on art for kids. Becky Vlaming opened Creative Jane Art Studio so kids had a place to explore and get messy and begin their love for the arts at a young age.
Grace Garay, the owner of Nomad Bakehouse, is focused on bringing good sourdough bread to Orlando. She explains the process her bread goes through that allows us to get the proper vitamins and nutrients from it, and how she plans to offer it to local in Orlando that are searching for good bread.
Three Orlando women are adding more color to the city beautiful. Meet the local artists behind WISP Orlando and how they are bringing more murals to our city.
Sue Chin is a local restaurateur and designer. Get details about the popular sitting room inside Reyes Mezcaleria, how she came to run three concepts in Orlando with her husband, and some insights into the life of hospitality.
Get to know Lindsay Duensing, owner of Orlando’s most photographed coffee shop, Craft & Common.
From New York to Portgual, Carla Poma has now rooted her family in Orlando and is now bringing her handmade jewelry to markets and retail shops in Orlando and on the West coast. Get to know this local Orlando maker.
A listing of over 150 women-owned businesses in Orlando and Central Florida. Happy International Women’s Day!
Jennifer Smurr, owner of Born and Bread Bakehouse sat down with me to talk about her wildly popular bakery and how she started her journey as a baker just a few years ago.
Meet the local maker behind Bloomwolf Studio. She sells her paper goods online and travels all over Florida (and beyond) doing pop-ups at local markets.
Meet a Maker! Arist Brandi Monard owns a whimsical design business called Brandelane with heavy Disney and theme park influences, ready to transport you to a fantastic escape.
Meet local plant lady, Land of Alice. When she’s not slinging greens at markets she has created a beautiful retail space in Orlando.
Orlandos’ first flower truck is here! Get the budding news on Dahlias Flower Truck.
One of Orlando’s most beloved mobile trucks has a new home in College Park. Check out Gratitude Coffee’s new space.
Check out the Till Plant Company, the newest mobile shop in Orlando, helping our green thumb one plant at a time.
Meet Stephanie, owner of Little Wild Bloom. Find out how she took her talents on a more earthy route and where you can find her blooms around town.
Joysticks Arcade and Bar is open in Downtown Orlando and is a feast for all the 80's kids who love to game.
Meet Sarah, owner and Chef behind Orlando's wandering food pop-up, The Wandering Wonton.
From pop-up life to owning three local brick + mortar businesses, Celine has showered her communities with vegan treats while being an inspiration to any women in the food space.
Pass on the International Food & Wine Festival and travel from country to country at your own pace, all over Orlando.