cliktrips - Tumblr blog

[cliktrips]

The Spooky Seven: NOLA Edition by Celeste Peterson

Cover photo: Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral

New Orleans is a town known for its fantastic food, but it also claims to be the most haunted place in The States, so if you're hungry for a little scare this is the list for you.

1. Jackson Square

Located along the riverbank within central placement in the city - Jackson Square has long been one of the most popular tourist attractions in town. With Cafe Du Monde's delicious beignets across the way, horse drawn carriages waiting to take you on a tour of the French Quarter, and a handful of souvenir shops down the road, it might be hard to believe that Jackson Square was once a place ripe of truly heinous activity: slave trade, bloody lynchings, criminal punishment. This was the site of many violent and public displays of physical harm - shown for all to see as a warning to the city's residents. Nowadays this part of the city's history is hush-hush.

Spooky NOLA (not the cathedral)

2. St. Louis Cathedral

In the distance from Jackson Square you'll see St. Louis Cathedral, which many don't list as their most haunted places in New Orleans, but quite haunted it is! This, the oldest church in Louisiana (and among the oldest in the US), has been rebuilt twice and no doubt repaired countless times. On its grounds lives (?) a small cemetery and the church's website even lists those who are laid to rest here. This was news to me, but famed Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau, was known to be a devout Catholic who frequented this church. However it is the lesser known ghost of Pere Antonio who has been known to slink around the church grounds. A devout friar, he even supposedly baptized Marie Laveau and her children. You may see his ghost - a black-robed man with long white beard - walking beside the church grounds. Just about everything is haunted at this place of worship - the bell tower is haunted; the organ has a weeping ghost; Madame LaLaurie stops by to try to confess her sins; and even another Catholic - a monk named Pere Dagobert - is said to appear at various times during the day or night!

Photo by Chad Peterson

3. Cemeteries

It's safe to say that all of New Orleans' cemeteries are quite a popular attraction. Since the city is built on a swamp, it has too soft of ground so you cannot bury the dead underground. The solution of course was to entomb their dead above ground in mausoleums and crypts, making each cemetery look like beautiful little cities themselves. (Little cities with lots and lots of dead bodies in them, just read about unlimited internment.) St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the city's most famous graveyard, is so well-visited that you cannot enter without a tour guide because of all the erosion visitors have caused over the years. It is said that Marie Laveau is buried here and you'll know her tomb by the markings of "xxx" all over it. They say if you would like her to grant a wish, you should visit and write three x's on her tomb. Anne Rice also has her character from Interview with the Vampire, Louis, "buried" here. However, there are two other cemeteries worth visiting in the Garden District, Lafayette 1 and 2 that you can enter on your own (if you dare) without a tour guide. You'll find crypts just as intricate, but be warned - these above ground graves stand tall and you can get lost fairly easily. Almost too easily.

French Quarter

4. The LaLaurie Mansion

You can't explore New Orleans' haunted history without finding out about how haunted the French Quarter is, and you'll surely discover Madame Delphine LaLaurie. She was a rich divorcee who brutally and gruesomely tortured dozens of people whom she owned as slaves. When she was finally caught and chased out of town, it was (still is) largely agreed upon that she and her children (except one) went to live out the rest of their days in France. The mansion has been converted to apartments and then was a girls' school. It was also owned by Anne Rice (famous for The Vampire Chronicle books), but of late the most scary thing to happen here was that Nicholas Cage owned it until recently. Still, I would not put myself through the mental anguish of staying there even one night.

5. New Orleans Streetcars

No, that's not a banshee you hear - it's the streetcars of New Orleans. The St. Charles Line is the oldest operating streetcar in the world, and much like nearly everything the locals tell you about - it's secretly haunted. Many people are interested in the evil and menacing ghosts when they go on many (many!) of NOLA's ghost tours - but this spirit-heavy town attracts specters both good and evil. One friendly local unsolicitedly told me as we were waiting for a streetcar, that sometimes ghosts like to ride the trolley just like us, "You'll know it's them when on a hot day you feel a sudden cool breeze as someone walks by... Us humans are warm! If you feel cold, it's a spirit." Her words still haunt me today.

6. Oak Alley Plantation

This antebellum site built in 1837 (restored in 1925) is not without its apparitions, much like many plantations in the area. Understandably, they keep the haunted information pretty light on their website, but it seems that only friendly ghosts frolic around these grounds. For you vamp tramps and fang bangers, you might recognize it because its 25 acres were featured in many films including spooky ones like Interview with the Vampire and 1964's Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte starring Bette Davis, but unlike many movie locations, you can visit this historic, beautiful and sprawling mansion! Tickets are available on-site, not in advance, and it's about an hour away by car from New Orleans' city center. If you consider that drive too far for just a day trip - you're in luck since you can spend the night!

7. The Brucker Mansion

The great thing about taking the St. Charles streetcar line is that it takes you from downtown to the Garden District (which will help you knock out #s 3, 5, and 7 on our list). Known on American Horror Story: Coven as "Miss Robichaux’s Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies," this location is actually haunted and not just counting the lookie-loos and AHS fans popping by on their visit to New Orleans (myself included). The building was built in 1856 by cotton entrepreneur Henry Sullivan Buckner, it also housed the most prestigious and best business school in the south, Soule Business School, from 1923 until it closed in 1983. A ghost known only as Miss Josephine, a loyal slave who stayed on even post-Civil War, has been said to float around the house doing housework. Not a bad ghost to have, if you ask me. A couple sources also state that the chandelier has moved on its own for an hour, doors will creak and close, and lights will flicker on and off on their own! You can witness all this grandeur (spooky and non) first-hand because you can rent this home!

Shout out to Ace Hotel New Orleans where we had a really comfortable room and Stumptown Coffee brewing in the lobby, plus a couple great common rooms for working and witnessing live music, and a really great rooftop pool and bar.

All photos by Celeste Peterson, except where noted. 

Follow Celeste Peterson and her travels on Twitter @dearceleste and Instagram @helloceleste.

[cliktrips]

13 Spooky Filming Locations in Los Angeles by Celeste Peterson

Cover image: The Charmed House c/o The House Designers

If you're in L.A. but don't quite feel the chill of Halloween (thanks 90º day in October!), we'd like to help with that! Here's a list of 13 spooky places within Los Angeles' city limits which might've haunted you from beyond the screen that you can visit for free:

1. Halloween (Hollywood) and Nightmare on Elm Street (Hollywood)

There are four houses in the film Halloween, but let's stick to the ones where Jamie Lee Curtis was babysitting because that's where the real horror happened! What is also great is that these two houses are right across the street from one another at 1530 and 1537 N. Orange Grove Avenue... But don't fall asleep... Nightmare on Elm Street heroine Nancy's house is super close to the houses from Halloween at 1428 N Genesee Avenue, just two blocks east and just across Sunset Blvd to be exact!

Photo c/o: Wikipedia

2. Drag Me To Hell - House (Echo Park) and Mansion (South LA)

In this Sam Raimi film, poor cursed Christine spent her time in this cute Echo Park house (1031 Everett Street) trying to figure her way out of a gypsy curse. She eventually and desperately went to a medium's gothic mansion to get some help, which you might recognize as Mount St. Mary College's beautiful and historic Doheny Mansion at 8 Chester Place. Bonus: Some others things also filmed at the Doheny Mansion: Mad Men, Catch Me If You Can, and Shop Girl. 

Photo c/o: Wikipedia

3. American Horror Story -  Murder House (Country Club Park) & Hotel (Downtown)

The real "Murder House" where AHS Season 1 was filmed is called The Rosenheim Mansion. Located at 1120 Westchester Place, its history is pretty interesting outside the show; it used to be a convent with an adjoining chapel and it had (maybe still has, we can't be certain) a recording studio! Back in Feb 2016, there was an Airbnb listing for this place, but now that's gone… for now?

Though the interior of the show's Season 5 hotel is actually built on a soundstage within Fox Studios, the façade is located at The Oviatt Building at 617 S. Olive Street. If you're a fan of urban ghost stories you probably know Season 5 was inspired by the real-life hauntings of Hotel Cecil, which is now called "Stay on Main," but what many people don't know is that the building right next door, P.E. Lofts, is haunted too! My friend Annie lived there and in her opinion the place was definitely haunted (she had to move out because her floor flooded) and here's an account of a resident who counted FIVE deaths in the building at the time of this post which has many comments from other residents probably searching the web for WTF is happening in their building. None of the comments say that the place isn't haunted. This post even states that countless dogs have committed suicide from the building too. Terribly sad and scary as...!

4. Six Feet Under (West Adams)

This show took horror to the next level by way of family issues, boring normalcy, and the scare of growing up. The T.V. funeral home attached to the house was much less scary than dealing with the characters' real lives! You can visit Six Feet Under's "Fisher & Sons Funeral Home" at 2302 West 25th Street.

5. Charmed (Angelino Heights)

Yes, you were glamoured. The house from Charmed is not located in San Francisco like the show had you believe. Instead The Innes House is sandwiched between the 101 Freeway and Dodger Stadium at 1329 Carroll Avenue. This neighborhood is unassuming from any busy streets and everyone who discovers it feels like they're transported to another dimension; it is a street full of preserved Victorian manors from end to end. Bonus: 1345 Carroll Avenue was the house in Michael Jackson's Thriller!

Photo c/o Wikipedia

6. Ghoulies (Hollywood)

The Wattles Mansion located at 1824 N. Curson Avenue is actually a city park that you can rent for a photoshoot or party, and you can even get married there. Adjacent is the Wattles Garden Park which runs next to the popular trails of Runyon Canyon... just don't mistakenly conjure up tiny demons there when jokingly casting a spell.

7. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the movie (Los Feliz)

Buffy wasn't the first famous character to attend this school (Marshall High School at 3939 Tracy Street), but she was certainly the only one who could fight evil! (Well, if you don't count that one scene from A Nightmare on Elm Street.) These are the school grounds in the original Buffy movie where she discovers that she was The Slayer. Here are just some other movies with kids who went to high school here: Rebel Without A Cause, Grease, Pretty in Pink, Zapped!, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Can't Hardly Wait, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Grosse Point Blank... and those are just the movies. If you count TV shows, this post could get out of hand… just check out this post and this one too. Bonus: Van Halen's “Hot For Teacher” video was also filmed here!

Photo c/o Ennis House

8. The House on Haunted Hill (Los Feliz)

Frank Lloyd Wright's Ennis House is famous in its own right. Located at 2607 Glendower Avenue it is intricately decorated and famous for many parties over the years. With its design based on ancient Mayan temples and its iconic role as the house in 1959's horror film The House on Haunted Hill, it takes on a new darker part in its fame. Bonus: Blade Runner was also filmed here.

9. The People Under the Stairs (West Adams)

I don't remember much from this 1991 movie, except that this house was a funeral home in the film, there were people under the stairs and it was frightening! IRL, this house is known as the Thomas W. Phillips residence at 2215 S. Harvard Boulevard.

10. Mulholland Drive (Franklin Hills)

There's actually tons of filming locations for this movie in the City of Los Angeles, but we're only highlighting this fascinating location. (I mean you can find Pink's Hot Dogs on your own, right?) In the movie, these cottages are called The Sierra Bonita apartments, not to be mistaken by the real Sierra Bonita apartments, but in actuality these apartments do not have a name at all. These cute cottages are at 2900 & 2904 Griffith Park Boulevard in Franklin Hills on the cusp of Silver Lake and Los Feliz. No spoilers on this David Lynch film, but once you see the movie these cottages will really stand out! Bonus: These cottages and their story are attached to the Disney animated classic, Snow White. This post claims that these cottages were inspiration for the animated film, but all the local lore I've heard states that these cottages were built for the animators of the film. Disney's original lot was right next door where a Gelson's Grocery stands today which is across from the Silver Lake Trader Joe's and it’s spooky parking lot possessed by impatient people who lose all sense of driver's etiquette upon entering. Debunk: Though Elliot Smith once was rumored to live here, this is not where he died.

11. What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (Hancock Park)

This suspenseful classic continues to live on as one of Bette Davis' and Joan Crawford's best films. The actresses' delicious depictions of bitter sibling rivalry served to perpetuate the negative vibes these women had toward one another. Stop by the home where it all went down, but pray you don't see anyone menacingly peering at you from the window at 172 S. McCadden Place. Bonus: The next door neighbor's house in the movie, is the next-door neighbor's house on the street as well at 166 S. McCadden Place.

12. Donnie Darko (West Adams)

The high school from this film is actually an all-boys Catholic high school and it's the oldest educational institution in the region. You can visit the facade, just do your best to avoid any portals into other dimensions and conversations with a strange being in a bunny costume. Bonus: There's also the Rosedale Cemetery across the street, where you can take a tour.

Photo c/o Student Reader

13. Eraserhead, Dark Shadows (circa 1991), Flowers in the Attic, Ghostbusters II (Beverly Hills)

Much like Doheny Mansion (from #2 on our list) this property was also owned by oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny. The Greystone Mansion is so famous and its filming location list so long that I'm just going to mention more horror and horror-ish films below and tell you that it's a public park you can visit during 10a to 5p PST daily except holidays and when there are private events. This amazing site is located at 905 Loma Vista Drive.

Also filmed here: X-Men, The Witches of Eastwick, Death Becomes Her and Dead Ringer (aka Who is Buried in my Grave?). Check out here and here for a list of more films and shows filmed here. Bonus: Meatloaf's “I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)” video was also shot here!

Follow Celeste Peterson and her travels on Twitter @dearceleste and Instagram @helloceleste.

[cliktrips]

The Best Of Helsinki Finland Report By Lawrence Lui

I red-eyed over to Helsinki during the dog days of summer, trading NYC heat for bright days with bracing breezes off the sea, late sunsets and stir-crazy locals making the most of their outdoor #partytime before the Arctic chill of the Nordic winter set in. Here are some cool spots to stumble upon if you ever find yourself in this unique corner of the world.

Best End Of Summer Celebration: Flow Festival

Situated in a striking industrial park in the hip Kallio section of Helsinki, the carnivalesque Flow Festival has something for every taste: from the experimental drones of William Basinski to the soaring pop of Sia, from a bar serving only champagne to a foodie’s paradise of vegan options. The festival is compact yet filled with an eclectic range of activity and music. Highlights this year included a pummeling and precise warehouse set from techno legend Jeff Mills, the arena-sized art rock of M83, the electro-prog of Floating Points and the incandescent jazz of Kamasi Washington.

Best Modern Art Museum That’s Not Kiasma: HAM (Helsinki Art Museum)

Somewhat bizarrely tucked away above a multiplex film theater across the street from the Kamppi metro station, HAM is a gem of a museum is filled with fascinating and thought provoking exhibits with an emphasis on overviewing modernist and contemporary Finnish artists.

Best Newly-Accessible Island: Vallisaari

A short and picturesque ferry ride from Helsinki harbor, Vallisaari Island was until recently an off-limits military base. Now opened to the public, the place is filled with ghosts and history, woodsy hiking trails, rocky fortifications and breathtaking vistas of sea and land. All in all, a detoxifying experience for the soul and well worth a visit.

Best Lunch: Holiday Bar

Newly opened foodie hotspot Holiday delivered everything fresh and inventively prepared. Highlights include sweet potato fries with mayo dip, oysters and a raw veggie plate. Plus co-owner Richard McCormick DJed some cool tunes to cleanse the palate.

Best Block Party: Kallio Block Party

Well actually this was the only block party I went to, straight off the plane and into a jetlagged haze. Finns will use any excuse to celebrate decent weather and the Kallio Block Party is an example of this: just a constant rotation of DJs on a makeshift stage playing to a friendly crowd unwinding, smoking, sitting, dancing, drinking and chatting on the street.

Best Day Trip: Porvoo

Just an hour from Helsinki by bus is the quaint riverside village of Porvoo. The second oldest town in Finland, Porvoo is nicely preserved with cobblestoned streets lined with charming shops and restaurants. Make sure you walk up the hill to the rough-hewn and imposing cathedral that dominates the landscape. With not many tourists around, the windy courtyard is a great spot for a meditative moment, as you can imagine the unforgiving wind of the centuries bearing down on the rock of human perseverance. Another highlight: Paahtimo, a docked wooden boat converted into a bar perfect for both people and sunset watching.

Best Sauna That’s Also A Swanky Boîte: Loyly

Loyly photos by Helsinki Feelings

The newly opened Loyly was all the rage during my stay, with many people suggesting I check it out. An ultramodern juggernaut situated right on the water, the wood-infused complex has something for everyone: a posh restaurant bar that could be the setting of a James Bond film, with an expansive outdoor patio and roof. But the centerpiece of the place is a full Finnish-style sauna where locals bake themselves into a stupor before cooling off in the invigorating waters of the Gulf Of Finland.

Best Night Club: Kaiku

An obvious choice: this multiroom wonderland is to Helsinki what Output is to New York or Berghian is to Berlin; Kaiku is the place to be for the international clubbing cognoscenti, and ground zero for nightlife in Helsinki. The music is tastefully thumping techno and house, there’s a main floor for dancing, a bar for socializing, a spacious outdoor rooftop, and huge lines on the weekend, so come early. Yes, the place gets almost uncomfortably packed around 2 AM. But those who enjoy being in the heart of things will have a ball.

Best After Hours: Stidilä

Like most things in Finland, even bleary-eyed after hours joints are civilized and organized (drinks at the bar, not on the dancefloor please). Stidilä is part of the same complex as Kaiku but only open after other clubs close. Great for late night schmoozing for us demimonde insomniacs who just can’t stop partying once the wee hours get a bit more strapping.

Best Club Night For The Younger Set: Wednesdays at Kaivohoue

I stayed about 20 minutes here, but the kids seemed to be having a blast painted in day glo colors and dancing to some breezily cheezy EDM. At Kaivohoue, the space was well laid out with multiple bars and nooks and crannies plus an outdoor area.

Best Candy Store: Karl Fazer

A bit touristy and stodgy, and situated on a main shopping drag in the city center, Karl Fazer is the one stop shop to grab all the gifts you need for friends and family. For who can resist fancy chocolate bars in a variety of weird and delightful flavors from raspberry to saltwater taffy? They also have good coffee and snacks.

Lawrence Lui works in music and goes places. Follow him here on instagram.com/lawrencelui.

[cliktrips]

A cute retreat in the Catskills 

Last year, I spent a long weekend in Livingston Manor, NY in the Catskills and quickly fell in love with it’s small town vibes, swimming holes, rolling hills and one of my favorite area restaurants The Arnold House. It’s certainly not a place to be seen, and it’s certainly not a place to cram in a bunch of activities, although there’s plenty of outdoor fun and breweries nearby. It’s the type of place you visit to spend time with friends and family and take it slow for awhile.

Earlier this summer, I was invited back to Livingston Manor to stay in this cute and relaxed rental home called The Hill House. It’s situated on a quiet 12 acres, and tucked back in the woods away from any main roads, and there’s only one or two neighbors nearby. It even has it’s own koi pond right off the back deck, and a fresh spring running through the woods behind the house!

The house has three bedrooms and is set up comfortably for a small family (the owner has two small children) or a small group of friends, plus it comes fully equipped with all the important things like WIFI, a big back porch, a grill and a canoe for the pond. And rates start around $175/night so it’s super affordable, especially if you’re sharing with friends.

Check out their listing on Airbnb and read my weekend guide to Livingston Manor for fun stuff to do when you visit!

[cliktrips]

10 Years of Awesome Tapes From Africa 

One of my favorite music blogs turned label, Awesome Tapes From Africa turns 10 this year! ATFA started out as a blog in 2006 when it’s founder Brian Shimkovitz needed a way to highlight and digitally share all the rad African music he was discovering amongst the cassette based music community in Africa. I’ve discovered countless African gems from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and more thanks to ATFA, and spend way too much time listening to their tunes and mixes on Soundcloud, especially their recent mix for Resident Advisor. 

Check out their “10 Years of Awesome Tapes From Africa” mix up now on Spotify. 

[cliktrips]

A Trip Through Rio, Ilha Grande, Paraty in Brazil with Laura June Kirsch

This past winter I spent 2.5 weeks exploring Rio De Janeiro, Ilha Grande and Paraty in Brazil. Here are my top recs on where to beach, eat and sightsee!

RIO DE JANEIRO

Rio is a large sprawling multifaceted city. The beach scene kind of resembles Miami, while the inland neighborhoods are hilly and reminiscent of LA. The main beaches in Rio are Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. Copacabana is definitely tourist central - think of it as the Times Square of Rio. The neighborhoods of Ipanema and Leblon are more chill and hip. I would recommend staying in the latter as they are all very close and it’s easy to get around.

Hanging at the beach in Rio is a trip - various vendors will come around and offer you all kinds of goods. You can buy a bikini, a beer and a coconut without even leaving your chair.

The most memorable meals I had while in Rio were at Lasai, Mee, Aprazível, Sushi Leblon and of course a classic churrascaria. Brazil has the second largest Japanese population in the world outside of Japan which explains why there are two sushi spots in my top favorite list - it's authentic and excellent in Rio.

For sightseeing I did all the highlights: Christ Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Jardim Botanico (botanical gardens) and Escadaria Selarón. Personally, I feel like going to Christ Redeemer is a necessity, but the experience is unpleasant to say the least. Be prepared to wait in lines and have the site swarming with tourists. While Sugarloaf Mountain is a huge recommendation, I personally didn't find it all that worthwhile. The views are very nice, but much like Christ Redeemer, this is a total tourist trap experience. PRO TIP: Before doing either of these activities call ahead to the box office and check if a cruise ship is in port that day. If so, do not go that day. The lines will literally be hours longer to see these sites. I highly recommend visiting Escadaria Selarón which is on the mainland in the neighborhoods of Lapa and Santa Teresa. The restaurant Aprazível is very nearby so this is a good dinner and sightseeing combo.

ILHA GRANDE

Ilha Grande is a large underdeveloped island off the coast of Rio. It’s an incredibly beautiful island with debatably some of the best beaches in the world. Ilha Grande is definitely a more rugged backpackers destination. If you aren't down with lots of physical activities and meager accommodations, than this isn't the place for you.

While the food, town and lodging on Ilha Grande leaves a lot to be desired, the beaches and hikes are wonderful. My main recommendations for this location would be to visit Lopes Mendes beach and Dois Rios beach. Lopes Mendes can be reached by boat taxi and is definitely the more scenic of the two. Dois Rios is only accessible by a five mile hike (ten miles round trip). However, it is near an old prison with lots of beautiful old buildings and other interesting sites. The river also meets the sea on this beach which creates an awesome super warm, half salt swimming hole. Totally worth the trek!

PARATY

Paraty is a very cool colonial port town with access to many beautiful beaches by either boat or bus. There are plenty of small, independent hotels (pousadas) to pick from, but I would recommend staying somewhere close to the city center. Since it’s a less developed area of Brazil, you should know that accommodations here won’t always be the same quality as Rio or US, even if they have four stars and the prices seem high.

While in Paraty I highly recommend chartering a private boat and scoping out some of the private beaches on the little islands nearby. It's very inexpensive and a super fun way to spend the day. If you go down to the main dock, boat owners will be waiting around and offer competitive prices for the day. You can also arrange this through your pousada or a travel agency in town.

If you like Italian food, be sure to eat at Pippo and meet Pippo himself. He's an awesome character and a bit of a local celebrity down in Paraty. Pippo moved to Paraty from Italy many years ago and has been opening incredible authentic restaurants in town ever since. Try ‘em all!

Another highlight of Paraty is the Shambhala day spa. This place is incredible and super affordable, a fraction of the cost of what it would cost for a spa of this quality in US. It's a little bit off the beaten path so make sure you leave time to find it and book in advance as reservations fill up quickly.

Lastly, definitely visit Cachoeira do Toboga which is essentially a natural waterslide down a huge smooth rock.

Laura June Kirsch is a photographer based in New York City. Follow her on Instagram at @laurajunekirsch.

[cliktrips]

Going Green in Nosara, Costa Rica 

Nosara is a small surf town on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. I spent a week there in June which is the beginning of the rainy, or green, season, so the town was half empty and the vibe very mellow and laid back. The locals told us it gets crazy during the high season, but I’m not sure what they consider “crazy” since the town is really only a few dirt roads with small hotels, restaurants and private homes tucked here and there in the jungle.

I was a little worried it would be too rainy, but all that really means is it rains once a day either in the morning, or afternoon or at night. I still managed to get plenty of beach and pool time and I also got my first sunburn in ages… total amatuer move!

The best part of going during the rainy season is the hotels and flights are cheaper. I stayed at The Harmony Hotel which is a chill, eco luxury resort right on the Pacific Ocean for about $200 per night. The hotel is one of the best in the area and the rooms are simple with nice linens, fancy natural bath products and huge private patios with outdoor showers. The grounds are beautiful with little paths lined with tropical plants that you follow to your room, pool, beach, restaurant, juice bar or healing center. They also offer daily yoga classes in a cute, thatched roof hut in jungle. (For more yoga options, check out the Nosara Yoga Institute or Bodhi Tree Resort).

Costa Rica has a rep for having lots of options for the adventurous traveler (surfing, zip lining, snorkeling, hiking, sup-ing, kayaking) and Nosara is no different, but other than one very buggy hike through a biological reserve (not recommended in the rainy season!), I was happy to hang by the pool and beach. The Harmony Hotel is located on the best beach in the area called Playa Guiones. It’s also a popular surf break, so you can spend the morning and early evenings watching other people surf. I’d also recommend taking some beers to the beach to watch the sunset. It’s stunning! If you head north from Playa Guiones, you end up at Playa Pelada which is more like a collection of large beach coves and awesome tidal pools you can sit in like a natural hot tub. This is also a fishing beach, so there’s a little more locals action and a beach bar called Bar Olga that’s good for a beer and a snack. Both beaches are connected by a jungle path, so you can easily visit both in the same day.

In Nosara the Costa Rican mantra of “Pura Vida” rings loud and clear and most of the restaurants I tried all seem to pride themselves on fresh, local food made from scratch. Also, weirdly they love tacos and pizza there, probably due to the large ex-pat community. For breakfast or lunch, hit up Rosie’s Soda Tica for traditional Costa Rican fare in a diner like setting; the Beach Dog Cafe for eggs, fish tacos and burgers apres surf; Al Chile for some tacos with homemade hot sauce and fun tonics and juices; or you could go super healthy and visit the Go Juice food truck for an acai bowl and ginger shot. Also, the coffee in Costa Rica is on point. I didn’t have a bad cup anywhere, but I did like the strong cold brew at Nosara Coffee House.

For dinner, 10 Pies served the best fresh fish and chips (their wood fired pizza oven was out of commission because of the rain); Il Basilico was a more traditional Italian style restaurant and served great pasta dishes and thin crust pizza; El Chivo was good for Mexican food and cocktails, but I kind of prefered Al Chile; Harbor Reef was fun and cheap for Taco Tuesday; the restaurant in The Gilded Iguana was nice and casual and the fresh fish of the day was great; and for a more Brooklyn-style experience, try the ½ lb burgers and a local Costa Rican draft beer (they have a lot!) at Burgers and Beer. And lastly, you have to eat at La Luna. It’s the most popular spot in Nosara because it’s the only oceanfront restaurant in the area and the sunsets are insane. It’s a bit pricey, but worth it to make a reservation for an outside table, get a bottle of wine, and have a two or three hour Mediterranean-style dinner.

P U R A V I D A

Follow @Cliktrips on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat.

[cliktrips]

A Bit About Curaçao by Jify Shah of Cameo Gallery

I was born and raised in Curacao and moved to NYC 15 years ago. Every time I go back home, I'm forced to ask myself why I'm still in New York, but that's another story. So let's dive in….

There's a few theories to how the name Curacao came about. One theory dates back to the Spaniards who discovered the island and decided to leave their sick crew members there to die. When the ships returned to the island a year later, not only were the crew members still alive, they were healthy and healed. After that, the island was baptized as "Isla de la Curación" (Island of the Cure, or Island of Healing). Another theory says the name of the island is derived from the Portuguese word for heart (coração), and refers to the island’s key role as an important center for trade. I think the first theory is very interesting. For me, a big part of going home to Curacao has been literally to heal; mentally, physically and even spiritually. I find it quite interesting to learn that this is part of its history.

Despite it’s history, Curacao is still a fairly unknown island. This is a bit surprising considering its rich history and culture. For example, while still a part of the Dutch Kingdom, it is now considered its own country. Its population is extremely diverse; with over 50 different ethnicities and a relatively small population of 140,000 people, you can imagine the melting pot it has become, resulting in its own unique culture.

Everyone can at least understand and somewhat communicate in a minimum of four different languages: Papiamentu, Dutch (the official language taught at school), English, and Spanish (due to all the neighboring Latin countries). The language I grew up speaking is Papiamentu, which literally means "talking". Papiamentu was just made an official language only a few years ago and reflects influences from Latin and Germanic languages, among others as well.

The islanders are bold and vibrant people. We're considered the most LGBT friendly island in the Caribbean, and we love to party, which could explain why I ended up in the hospitality/nightlife industry here in NY. While the people generally are proud and protective, we do love socializing and, therefore, hosting visitors. Over the past few years, the island's tourism has been really blossoming and so has its nightlife scene. We now have our own blues festival, the Curacao International Blue Seas Festival, and this year a few talented friends of mine from NY were invited to perform: The London Souls and Daddy Long Legs. This past year the festival was held in Curacao's most upcoming area Pietermaai. Pietermaai is made up mainly of old colonial type buildings that have been recently renovated and now is home to lots of new restaurants, bars and boutique hotels. The same people who produce this festival also started the Curacao North Sea Jazz Fest (not exclusively Jazz though) which is now considered the biggest festival in the Caribbean and in it’s first five years, it has already hosted some of the world's greatest talents: Prince (R.I.P), Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Sting, Alicia Keys, Enrique Iglesias, Santana, Bruno Mars and this year Lenny Kravitz, Tom Jones and more. There are also numerous electronic music festivals throughout the year focussing on House, Techno, and EDM.

Well, I can keep going here, but I think part of the fun is to read and learn for yourself!!! Here are some of my own personal tips for your visit:

The island is only 171 square miles and can be broken down in two halves: Bandariba (Up Side) and Bandabou (Down Side). Bandariba is the more populated/city life half and Bandabou is the more rural half with most of the island's untouched beaches (note: we have over 30 beaches to choose from). If you’re looking for a more social and cultural find a place to stay in Bandariba. For those, who want a more relaxing vacation find a place in Bandabou.

Christoffelpark and Hill is a great hike to the island's highest point, where you can enjoy a priceless view, and on a clear day you can see all the way to Venezuela!

Captain Goodlife (aka Juni at Santa Cruz Beach) is the ultimate survivor kind of guy; eccentric yet charming. He has built his house right on the corner of the beach and offers the ultimate raw island life experience for those looking for an adventurous treat: boating, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, amazing fresh caught fish meals, as well as the opportunity to visit some of the island's most private natural spots like the "blue cave."

We love our street food, and especially it it’s prepped in a truck on the side of the road. I recommend BBQ Express on Caracasbaaiweg Street. They have a whole lot of sauces, which you've got to pour all over your meal - all of them. We're all about the sauce, and one of the island's all time favorite and original recipes is the "pinda" (peanut) sauce. It's different that the Asian versions, more savory.

Walk around in the old towns from Otrobanda and Punda, separated by the Western Hemisphere's greatest natural harbor, St. Anna Bay. To cross this, you will have to take our very own floating pontoon bridge, called the Queen Emma Bridge. Walk around and enjoy the beautiful colonial architecture with its Caribbean colors; sit down at a cafe and enjoy an Amstel Bright; and try some local favorite snacks like pastechis (cheese pastries filled with the best cheese on the planet) and bitterballen (Dutch-style meatballs); and visit some tourist shops. Lastly, stop by the Venezuelan boats that bring fresh organic fruits daily (it’s illegal to import chemicals or pesticides from America).

If you want to go diving, Tugboat  is one of the world's best diving spots. Ask for Jaime, and tell him I sent you. He will take care of you and he's a great person to talk to about anything! The man has been around. Occasionally, you can find some of the best underground parties here as well!

Jify Shah lives in Brooklyn and is the owner of the (former) music venue Cameo Gallery.

[cliktrips]

A Journey Through Oahu with Max Pask of Throne of Blood. 

Oahu is one of the eight islands that make up the State of Hawaii, and where it’s capital city Honolulu is located. Although it’s probably the most “city-like” island, it’s still has plenty of natural beauty to offer. I strongly recommend you rent a car as it’s the best way to get around. For lodging, I would avoid the very touristy Waikiki Beach area, with its high rise hotels and big brand stores. Instead, the town of Kailua, a 20 minute drive away, has a chill small town feel and you can find plenty of places to rent that are just a few minutes walk from beautiful beaches, grocery stores and restaurants.

BEACHES

Hanauma Bay @sharkysugar

There are beaches all over the island: Kailua, Lanikai and Waimanalo are all on the south-eastern tip of the island and are all beautiful and the water is quite calm to swim or canoe in. At the very southern tip of Oahu is Hanauma Bay, which is a great snorkeling spot where you can swim among hundreds of fish just a few feet away from the beach. It’s not open every day, and there’s an entrance fee and you have to watch a 10 minute instructional video before getting to the beach, but it’s all worth it. If it’s closed you can head just up the road to a spot known as Cockroach Cove, where I swam with a big turtle for a while until it disappeared back into the sea. Further up the road closer to Honolulu is Kaimana Beach, a perfect spot to watch the sunset. The North Shore is worth visiting as well, head to Waimea Bay and pipeline to watch surfers ride giant waves. There is no swimming on those beaches however, unless you want to get crushed by 25 feet monsters.

Lanikai Beach @opticalhi

HIKING 

Diamond Head Hike @wataru1002ito

There are also plenty of great hikes to go on all across the island. Diamond Head is the most famous one, but you can also head up to the lighthouse at Makapu’u. The views are beautiful and if you own binoculars, bring them to watch the many whales who jump out of the water less than a mile offshore. You can also hike down at some point to a spot where waves crash into the rock in spectacular fashion. The Pillbox Hike (named for the old bunker lookout you find at the top) is on the other side, but unlike Makapu’u, there is no paved road so don’t do it in flip flops, and if it has rained recently it might be a bit muddy getting up there. Up top you’ll be rewarded with more stunning views and humpback whales playing in the surf. More breathtaking landscapes are on display at Pali lookout.

Makapu'u Beach Park @miike.brady

FOOD

There is so much good food in Hawaii, and the best thing about Hawaiian food is poke, which is fresh ahi tuna marinated in different types of sauces. It’s delicious, quite cheap and available in every grocery store. One of the best ones I had came from the back of a liquor store called Tamura’s Fine Wine and Liquors.  Another Hawaiian classic is garlic shrimp served from roadside food trucks. I tried Fumi’s Kahuku Shrimp and it was great. Pineapple is a staple of the island and the best pineapple ice cream is at the Dole Plantation on the way up to the North Shore (warning: the place is swarming with tourists). More sweet treats can be found on the North Shore at Ted’s Bakery. Diamond Head Grill is a great spot to get lunch to go and they also make amazing blueberry scones. Some excellent brunch can be had at Scratch in the Chinatown section of Honolulu. Also in Chinatown, is The Pig and the Lady, an outstanding Vietnamese restaurant. It’s a popular spot so expect a bit of a wait to get a table. Another popular restaurant where the wait is worth it is Helena’s, where all the classic traditional Hawaiian dishes are made to perfection. Highly recommended! I also had an amazing Japanese dinner at Tokkuri-Tei. Try the monkfish liver, beef tongue and finish yourself off with a shot of Habushu, a Japanese snake wine with the viper still in the bottle (if you can handle it).

NIGHTLIFE

There aren’t many options for nightlife in Honolulu, but Bevy is one of the best choices you can make. They have great food and cocktails, plus some excellent DJ’s on the weekends. Talking about DJ’s, if you’re up for a late night party, Asylum is where you’ll find weekly bookings of international talent. Get there late and stay even later. If you’re more into live music, check out who’s playing at Republik.

SHOPPING

I did not do any shopping while in town except for Barrio Vintage and there was a lot of cool stuff in there and even some records!

There is so much more to Oahu and Hawaii that I could not see or do in my eight days there, so I encourage you to explore, and talk to the locals who are always willing to share their knowledge of the island. I can’t wait to get back to see more of this little paradise!

Max Pask is a DJ and the label manager of Throne of Blood records. He lives in Brooklyn and loves the nightlife. Follow him on Instagram at @maxpask.

[cliktrips]

Island Vibez 

If you’ve been reading Cliktrips for awhile, you know there are two things I really like: tropical islands and good vibes. I even named one of my Spotify playlists “Island Vibez” which always seems to make people laugh at me, right before they ask me to share it with them. It’s a mix of roots, reggae and dub that’s perfect for CHILLIN.

Which brings me to this accurately titled Balearic Reggae compilation. It’s a well-curated mix of disco-inspired roots and reggae tunes primed for the dancefloor or a beach party near you. My faves include Peter Tosh’s “Dubbing-Buk-In-Hamm Palace; “Oriental Taxi” by Sly Dunbar; and the funky “Too Expensive” by Keith Hudson. 

It’s part of an extensive 11 volume Balearic series that EMI released back in 2012 highlighting the Balearic sounds of leftfield dance, house, rock, pop, ambient, electronic and more. I’m still combing through the series, but Wondering Sound did a pretty extensive review of each volume. 

Check out the full Balearic Reggae comp over on Spotify. 

[cliktrips]

(Not) Surfing in Barbados with Agatha Kulaga of Ovenly

I’m not a surfer and never really felt compelled to travel to Barbados (Sorry, Rihanna!). I do love lazy beach vibes though, and my friend Heather (who surfs) convinced me the southern part of the island would be a dream for us both. And it was.  

It’s definitely worthwhile to rent a car and explore the island. Warning:the roads are bumpy and the street signs are scarce. Sleeping dogs and weird statues are often the most reliable street markers, so take mental notes and hope the dogs don’t move.   

Our home base was an ocean front suite at the Silver Point Hotel, which is actually a serious kite surfing destination. It’s laid back, the staff is incredible, and it was sorta romantic (despite our totally unromantic friend vibe). We took a night swim the day we arrived, which was magical. There is a lot of coral reef around, which we managed to miraculously avoid while swimming drunk in total darkness. It’s probably best to see it during the day in snorkeling gear.

If you want to take surf lessons, definitely check out Zed’s surf school. They will make you feel like you’re a pro, regardless of your experience.

Head to Surfer’s Point on the south east coast of the island to, wait for it… surf (or throw down a blanket, soak in the sun, and watch your friends surf instead). Also check out Freights Bay or try South Point for a more advanced break (i.e. not for beginners).

As for food and drink, there were a few things I quickly learned upon arriving to Barbados:

No matter how much you want to deny the rum punch, you will drink a lot of it, and you will learn to love it. Embrace the rum punch.

This also applies to fried fish sandwiches.

This also applies to macaroni pie.

Cole slaw is often categorized as a fresh vegetable.

If you’re staying on the south coast and eating out, you’ll likely end up at Surfer’s Bay Beach Bar a lot. It’s what every beach bar aspires to be, complete with open-air seating, toasty bonfires, live music, and a friendly mix of locals and tourists.

It’s worth grabbing breakfast at Surfer’s Café in Oistins. If you walk to the back of the cafe and circle around, you’ll find a hidden table with a pretty phenomenal ocean view. Across the street, you can stock up on papaya, melon, booze, hot sauce, and other snacks at the grocery store before you hit the beach.

Miami Beach is great for a relaxed day of swimming in calm, sparkly blue water and snacking on cutter sandwiches from Mr. Delicious Food Truck.

If you can make it to the Fish Market in Oistin’s, definitely eat at Chillin’ and Grillin’. It was one of my favorite meals in Barbados, along with the option of mild or strong rum punch (naturally).

If you have the time, drive north and check out the Animal Flower Caves. Skip the formal tour but check out the caves, and enjoy the views from up top, which are stunning. Do not miss the baby sheep running around the property. They are cute as hell and complete that trip. Stop for a drink at Juju’s (next door to the Lone Star Hotel) for drinks on the beach before heading back south.

Agatha lives in Brooklyn and is co-owner of the awesome Brooklyn-based bakery, Ovenly. Follow her travel and food adventures on Instagram at @agathakulaga. 

[cliktrips]

What to do in Durham during Moogfest by This Is Music’s Oli Isaacs

Founded in honor of synth pioneer Robert Moog, Moogfest celebrates the synthesis of music, art and technology. This year’s lineup includes Gary Numan, Laurie Anderson, Blood Orange, The Orb, Oneohtrix Point Never, Bicep, DJ Harvey, Health, Laurel Halo, The Black Madonna, and Veronica Vasicka and takes place in Downtown Durham, NC from May 19-22.

We asked current Durham resident, booker of Moogfest and all around festival expert Oli Isaacs from This Is Music to give us the low down on where to stay, drink and eat in Durham during the festival. See you guys there!

A photo posted by The Durham Hotel (@thedurhamhotel) on Mar 23, 2016 at 12:13pm PDT

Where to Stay

Durham has two relatively new boutique design hotels, and there are two more on the way. This is simply a sign of the recent tech and cultural boom taking place in the city. 

The Durham has a good restaurant and a swanky rooftop bar, and it’s home to Moogfest’s monthly disco brunch party. 

21c is another hotel housed in an old bank and includes a cutting edge gallery space.

A photo posted by Ponysaurus Brewing Co. (@ponysaurusbrewing) on Apr 14, 2016 at 12:40pm PDT

Where to Drink

For a small city, Durham has its fair share of bars and breweries. Full steam is a progressive brewery in a spacious and friendly environment. Ponysaurus is many people’s favorite of the four local breweries with an outstanding and uncomplicated menu of beers. Surf club is a local hipster hangout with a great outdoor patio. Attached to the Motorco venue (and adjacent to the Moogfest main stage), Parts & labor has chill vibes and a large bar and outdoor space. It’s also a local favorite serving a good selection of beer, cocktails and snacks. A central fixture on the local scene, Pin Hook is the spot for underground and DIY sounds and they’re hosting a ton of shows for Moogfest. And Bull McCabes is an Irish pub with the best Guinness in town and home to Moogfest’s reggae soundsystem.

A photo posted by @scratchdurhamnc on Jan 12, 2016 at 6:10pm PST

Where to Eat

Similarly to the bars and breweries, there’s a ton of great places to eat in Durham. Nanas opened in 1992 and serves high end cuisine in a smart, but not too formal setting. They also just opened a downtown steakhouse called NanaSteak. Gocciolina is a hidden treasure serving Italian delights. Reservations required. Pizzaria Toro is super tasty wood fired brick oven pizza spot with a hip bar. Mateo serves the best tapas in town. Dashi is a ramen shop downstairs and an izakaya (Japanese pub) upstairs serving awesome small plates. India Gate is an outstanding, family owned Indian restaurant in the Research Triangle Park. Thai Cafe serves incredibly fresh Thai food, including good vegetarian options. Luna is a new empanada and rotisserie spot that serves a mean selection of grain bowls as well. Vegan Flava is the best vegan spot in town, plus it’s family owned and really tasty. Scratch is a bakery, breakfast, brunch and lunch spot in Downtown Durham. Cosmic Cantina is a good late night spot serving up solid tacos and burritos. It’s also popular with students. Monuts serves southern style donut and biscuits and there’s usually a line out the door on weekends. Cocoa Cinnamon is the place to go for coffee in Durham. They have two locations, including one right on top of the Moogfest festival site). Only Burger is the best burger in the city--both beef and veggie patties are off the hook-- think In N Out. Yes, it is that good.

A photo posted by Carolina Soul (@carolinasoulrecords) on Dec 29, 2015 at 7:27am PST

Where to Buy Records

Carolina Soul is the place to hit up for classic and obscure vinyl records. And School Kids is great for more mom and pop indie record store stuff.

Follow Oli Isaacs on Twitter and Instagram.

Follow Moogfest on Twitter and Instagram.

[cliktrips]

Music Festivals Worth Traveling For in 2016 

Traveling to see music is nothing new (that’s what this whole site is based on!), but thanks to the increasing number of smaller, well-curated destination festivals catering to the more experienced travelers, it’s increasingly becoming more popular and easier to combine your loves of travel, music and chill vibes.

Here’s a short list of my recommended festivals to attend in 2016...

Moogfest | Durham, NC | May 19-22, 2016

Moogfest may have moved from his home in Ashville, NC to downtown Durham this year, but you can still expect a nice lineup of music weirdos, synth aficionados, and mind bending talks about Afrofuturism, Technoshamanism and Transhumanism.

Lineup Highlights: Gary Numan, Blood Orange, The Orb, Bicep, DJ Harvey, HEALTH, Laurel Halo, Silver Apples, The Black Madonna, Veronica Vasicka

http://www.moogfest.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/moogfest/

Movement | Detroit, MI | May 28-30, 2016

Movement is the OG of techno festivals. The main event is downtown in the heart of Detroit, but there’s also tons of spin off events and insanely late night parties with big name talent that pop up around town all weekend.

Lineup Highlights:  Art Department, Caribou, Carl Craig, Ellen Allien, Four Tet, Guy Gerber, Heidi, Honey Soundsystem, Kraftwerk 3-D, Magda, Matthew Dear, Nina Kraviz, No Regular Play, Richie Hawtin, Tale of Us, Tiga

http://movement.us/ | https://www.instagram.com/movementdetroit/

Primavera | Barcelona | June 1-5, 2016

After 10+ years in the game, Primavera continues to curate perfectly balanced lineups of the best established and up and coming names in indie and dance music. Plus, it’s in Barcelona so it’s a win-win!

Lineup Highlights: Chairlift, Dave P, Floating Points, LCD Soundsystem, Maceo Plex, Moderat, Neon Indian, Optimo, Pantha du Prince, PJ Harvey, Savages, Tame Impala

https://www.primaverasound.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/primavera_sound/

Love International | Tisno, Croatia | June 29-July 6, 2016

Love International is the new festival from the people behind the now defunct Garden Festival. Expect lots of seaside sets, boat parties and beautiful swimming coves to explore.

Lineup Highlights:  Axel Boman, Bicep, Fort Romeau, Horse Meat Disco, Hunee, Jackmaster, Joy Orbison, Midland, Red Axes, Jennifer Cardini, Manpower, Paramida

http://loveinternationalfestival.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/loveintfestival/

Obonjan Island | Croatia | July 18 - September 18, 2016

Obonjan isn’t a festival, it’s an actual island some nice people have turned into a summertime music, arts and wellness destination! You can rent a fancy tent or cabin for a few days, chill on the beach, hear some tunes, eat some healthy food, or go on a magical journey if that’s your thing.

Lineup Highlights: Talaboman, Manpower, Lovefingers, Red Axes, Pearson Sound, Four Tet, Midland, Floating Points, Lindstrom, Erol Alkan

http://www.otokobonjan.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/obonjan/

Into the Valley | Dalarna, Sweden | July 29-30, 2016

Into the Valley takes place in an old limestone quarry outside of Stockholm and is certainly one of the most unique festival destinations I’ve ever heard about. Looks insane!

Lineup Highlights:  Axel Boman, Bicep, Black Madonna, Daniele Baldelli, Ellen Allien, Four Tet, George Fitzgerald, Hunee, John Talabot, Kim Ann Foxman, Kink, Nina Kraviz, Tornado Wallace

http://www.intothevalley.se/itv/ | http://www.instagram.com/intothevalley_festival/

Dekmantel | Amsterdam | August 4-7, 2016

Dekmantel has risen to the top of many techno tourists lists due to it’s stellar line ups year after year. I’m also a big fan of their great podcast series on Soundcloud.

Lineup Highlights:  Antal, Barnt, Beautiful Swimmers, Daniel Avery, DJ Harvey, Intergalactic Gary, Lena Willikens, Midland, Nina Kraviz, Optimo, Ron Morelli, Tale of Us, Veronica Vasicka

http://www.dekmantelfestival.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/dkmntl/

FYF Fest | Los Angeles, CA | August 27 & 28, 2016

The little festival that could! Booked by some of the same minds behind Coachella, FYF continues to deliver solid indie and punk lineups year after year.

Lineup Highlights: Tame Impala, Hot Chip, Kelela, LCD Soundsystem, Grace Jones, Bicep, Gold Panda, The Black Madonna, Honey Soundsystem, AIR

http://fyffest.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/fyffest/

Dekmantel Selectors | Tisno, Croatia | September 1-5, 2016

Selectors is an offshoot of the Dekmantel festival in Amsterdam, but this one’s set on the sunny shores of Croatia and features a bit more balearic and psychedelic techno vibes.

Lineup Highlights:  Awesome Tapes From Africa, Daniele Baldelli, Intergalactic Gary, Lena Willikens, Juju & Jordash, Antal, The Black Madonna

https://dekmantelselectors.com/

The Oasis Festival | Marrakech | September 16-18, 2016

Set at the foot of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, Oasis has found the perfect mix of festival and vacay vibes. The venue is a sprawling high end resort with multiple pools and lounge areas so you can soak up the sun during the day and dance all night to expertly curated lineups without having to leave the complex.

Lineup Highlights: Bicep, George Fitzgerald, Hunee, Jennifer Cardini, Lindstrom, Maya Jane Coles, Midland, Omar Souleyman

http://theoasisfest.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/theoasisfest/

Sustain Release | The Catskills, New York | September 16-18, 2016

Sustain Release is the smallest festival on our list and you need a special invite or referral to attend (it’s based on past attendees), but that just makes it all the more special. It’s held at an old summer camp in The Catskills and you can camp on site or bunk in a shared cabin. It’s also cheekily referred to as Techno Summer Camp.

Lineup TBD, past lineups included: Veronica Vasicka, Beautiful Swimmers, Mike Servito, Aurora Halal, Blondes, Ital

http://www.sustain-release.com/

HONORABLE MENTION:

Levitation | Austin, TX | April 29-May 1, 2016

Lineup: Brian Wilson, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Oneohtrix Point Never, Caribou, Slowdive, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Black Mountain, Shabazz Palaces

http://levitation-austin.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/levitation/

Rainbow Disco Club | Shizouka, Japan | April 29-May 1, 2016

Lineup: Andrew Weatherall, Hunee, Antal, DJ Funk, Egyptian Lover

http://www.rainbowdiscoclub.com/

Form | Arcosanti, AZ | May 13-15, 2016

Lineup: Bonobo, Four Tet, Julianna Barwick, Empress Of, Autre Ne Veut

http://experienceform.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/experienceform/

Tropico | Acapulco, Mexico | December 2016, TBD

Past lineups Include: 2manydjs, Apparat, The Juan MacLean, Red Axes, Hot Chip DJs, Rebellodo, Superpitcher, Blonde Redhead, William Onyeabor

http://www.tropicomx.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/tropicomx/

Mareh Festival | Ilha De Boipeba, Brazil | Christmas/NYE 2016/17, TBD

Past lineups include: Tim Sweeney, Eric Duncan, Cosmic Kids, Young Marco, Greg Wilson, Joakim

https://www.instagram.com/marehoficial/

[cliktrips]

A Chill Weekend Guide to Miami  

I love Miami and all it’s weirdness. I love the fake fancy vibes, the over the top design, the insane people and the pure fantasy of the place. I’ve been there many times over the years and it still doesn’t seem like a real place where real people live and work. Maybe that’s why I love it so much. It’s an escape from New York, and even though New York is the realest fantasy world there is, Miami still seems like a dream.

Like any major city, there’s a ton of new places constantly opening (and closing) in Miami. We’ve covered Miami pretty extensively on Cliktrips before for WMC, and if you want a big, giant guide about the whole city, check out the nicely curated Vice Guide to Miami.

In the meantime, here’s a quick guide of places to check out during your next non-party Miami weekender.

Where to Drink

The Broken Shaker is the outdoor cocktail bar in the back of the Freehand Hotel on the beach. It’s huge with lots of cute seating by the pool and tropical corners to get lost in, plus a well curated cocktail menu. We made the mistake of going to there on a Friday night while we were waiting for our table at the restaurant 27 in the same building. Don’t do that. It was a madhouse and pretty annoying, but I can imagine it being a sweet place for a drink during the week.

Sweet Liberty is a low key cocktail bar and restaurant on South Beach. In fact, it’s so low key, you kind of forget you’re even on South Beach which has made it my go to stop when I’m wandering around the area trying to figure out where to go next. Nice drinks, a big, long bar and plenty of seating.

The Corner is a great neighborhood bar in Downtown Miami. It kind of borders on being a dive bar or a cocktail lounge and I’m cool with that. Lots of Miami locals hanging out on this not so busy corner downtown. It’s good spot to meet up with friends for some casual drinks.

Lagniappe House is a jazzy, New Orleans style wine bar located in between Wynwood and Midtown. Fun, casual vibes all around and they serve lots of grilled meats and gigantic charcuterie plates that you order at the bar, along with a massive wine list. A great place to go with friends and grab a big table in the backyard and share a few bottles of wines.

Where to Eat

Joe’s Take Away is the easier way to actually eat Joe’s Stone Crabs in Miami. I have to confess I’ve never eaten at Joe’s Stone Crab mainly because I never wanted to wait for a damn table. Then my friend turned me onto Joe’s Take Away. It’s literally right next door to Joe’s and you order at the counter, then grab a table and wait for them to bring you your food in about 20 minutes. Brilliant! It’s not the same fine dining experience as the main restaurant, but perfect after a day of chilling at South Point Park beach.

Mignonette is a casual oyster bar and seafood restaurant in Edgewater. We popped in for a fancy brunch and some lobster deviled eggs and conch fritter benedict. I also recommend checking their daily specials to see what’s fresh.

27 is the locally sourced, internationally inspired restaurant located in the Freehand Hotel. The building use to be someone’s actual house and they’ve kept the communal vibe with all the original rooms intact with small tables and couches tucked into corners and hallways. They serve a mix of Floridian and Cuban favorites plus dishes like kimchee fried rice and short rib. This place gets super busy, so reservations are recommended.

Nautilus is one of the newer hotels on Collins Ave right near the Shore Club, Delano and The Raleigh. It’s been revamped and renovated by Thompson Hotels, but still maintains its groovy Art Deco vibe with a big, white, open lobby with tons of contemporary art on display and an indoor/outdoor restaurant with a nautical vibe. It’s worth popping into the lobby for a drink or a small bite in the restaurant. Tres chic!

La Carreta is my go to Cuban spot in Little Havana where I take friends when they say they want to try Cuban food in Miami. Sure, there are other probably more authentic places, but there’s something about La Carreta that makes everyone happy when they’re there. I love the big, old diner feel and the wooden wagon wheel out front. Plus there’s always some cute, old Cuban ladies drinking pina coladas and mojitos in a booth that just feels right. It’s worth the drive!

Panther Coffee is a Miami based, small batch coffee roaster. The coffee is pretty good and strong, but I think I’m really drawn in by their awesome logo of a black panther draping itself over the name! They have a few locations in Miami, including one in on NW 2nd Ave in the heart of Wynwood, and it’s served throughout the city at various places. Worth seeking out!

Where to Beach

South Pointe Park is a public park and beach at the very southern tip of Miami Beach. The park is large and well maintained with plenty of walking paths, ocean views and grassy areas, bathrooms and a small food stand. There’s also a small promenade that juts out into the ocean where you can watch tons of Instagram chicks posing for sexy pics along the side. On the beach is a lifeguard stand that looks like a lighthouse where you can see tons of awkward newlyweds getting their photos taken. And I kid you not, we also saw a very pregnant lady posing for photos in the surf like some sort of Greek goddess. The people watching alone is worth a day at this beach!

Follow @Cliktrips on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

[cliktrips]

A blissed out, loved up, exotic mix from Lovefingers 

From the Dekmantel Soundcloud: As you would expect of someone called Lovefingers, American DJ and producer Andrew Hogge has a very special touch when it comes to making, playing and releasing emotionally involving, blissed out music. Hailing from LA, he runs the magical ESP Institute label and is also half of The Stallions as well as being a self-proclaimed hippie. That always comes through in the organic, loved up music he works with, and visual aesthetics always seem just as important to him as musical ones.

The romantic and intoxicating mix he serves up is dedicated to Red Light Records owner Tako Reyenga and Mule Musiq affiliate Kuniyuki Takahashi. It is a loose-limbed, love-fuelled and fully horizontal delight made up of underlapping grooves, oriental motifs and gluey pads. The second half touches on more physical drums but also offers up yet more heavenly ambiance, bird song and jumbled percussion that will have you reaching for your shades and dreaming of summer.

[cliktrips]

An Insider’s Guide to the South Of France by Elise Marie

I’m a half Frenchie; my family is from a small town in the South of France called La Croix Valmer. I’ve spent 2-3 months there a year for most of my life so here is a small, but authentic insider’s guide to The French Riviera. (You’ve probably heard of St Tropez which is a seven minute drive from La Croix Valmer and is included in this review).

PARIS

Since most people fly into Paris before heading South, here is a very basic and quick guide to Paris:

IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IN MOST OF FRANCE, EVERYTHING IS CLOSED FOR MIDDAY AND EVERYTHING IS CLOSED AFTER 1 PM ON SUNDAYS. This can really fuck up your day if you plan to leisurely go buy a bottle of wine on a Sunday for the park. You will not be able to and you will weep into yesterday’s bread and cheese so prepare yourself.

Now let’s talk hotels: the most well-known and classically French hotel is Hotel L’Amour. You’ve probably been there so let’s move on (although it is great for drinks on the terrace). Mama Shelter is not centrally located but the rooms are funny and people like to go have drinks there. The best hotel IMO for a drink is called L’Hotel Particulier. It is NOT easy to find. When you map it in the St. George district (a very cool neighborhood), you will be super confused, as the entire block appears to be residential. You enter a black gate and walk down an alley and voila, there is a lovely little hotel with a lush garden terrace, amazing wine and cheese and French waiters waiting to ignore you! This is the French way! (If you speak French you get ignored 5x less so try to have a French speaking person in your group). I also recently stayed at Nell Hotel. It is adorable and the neighborhood is walkable and cobble stoned.

If you plan to Airbnb (which is a good option), St George is a great neighborhood as well as the Marais. St George is essentially the new cooler Marais and there are tons of great restaurants there. If you love Italian food, great cocktails and libraries, check out Le Professore. You don’t need a reservation to eat at the back bar and it’s made up of walls of books and hidden doorways. For a fun fake Brooklyn vibe, but way better food, go to Homies.

Le Richer is walkable from Hotel Nell and is part of Le Fooding. They serve very interesting and unique dishes and they custom made vegetarian items for my vegetarian dudefriend. Candelaria is a taqueria with a speakeasy in the back. The drinks are amazing and it’s very cute and the food is pretty good too. Mexican food in Paris = not weird at all.

THE SOUTH OF FRANCE

The best time to visit is Spring/Summer. I recently went as late as September and it was lovely, but a little too cold for the ocean. If you fly into the airport in Toulon-Hyeres, you will be very close to a baby island called Île de Porquerolles. I HIGHLY recommend catching the ferry and going to this island for the day. This place is one of my favorite place I’ve ever visited. You can rent bicycles when you get off the ferry and ride them to all of the various beaches on the coast. We found an amazing jumping hole and brought a bottle of rose and spent the afternoon in the bluest most beautiful waters there. For lunch there is a main square and ALL the restaurants are highly regarded and amazing and they mostly serve French small plates and great wine. At the end the day ride over to one of the various gelato spots and get some brown butter gelato. When you get back on the mainland the drive to La Croix is about 40 minutes.

Once in the South, here are some restaurants you need to visit:

Coulours Jardins: This is a restaurant right on Gigaro beach. It has a tree growing inside and is absolutely beautiful. You will need a reservation.

Verdoyante: This is a restaurant in Gassin that is on a vineyard. It is SO beautiful.

Creperie Bretonne: This is in St. Tropez right in the middle of all the shops and yachts. It’s a classic galete style creperie where you should drink French cider and walk through the cobblestone streets.

Grand Marnier: This is a crepe stand in St. Tropez which is AMAZING.

Pizza House: It’s a well-kept secret in the French Riviera (unless you’ve seen the Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown about the region where he recently said what I’ve been saying for YEARS), the South of France has AMAZING brick oven pizza EVERYWHERE. The Pizza House is an energetic partially outdoor/indoor hut with amazing pizza and funny beers.

Beaches

As a child my favorite beach was this tiny nudist beach that took HOURS to hike to. Luckily for you, this once-secluded locals only tiny beach has been found out by quite a few people and now you can drive almost up to the sand here. The beach is called L’escalet and is about four beaches down once you park and walk along the pathway. You will know it by the small patch of sand nestled between two large rock formations, protecting it from the wind. When you park, there’s a few stands where you can buy some sandwiches, bottles of wine and ice cream. Go early--French people CAMP OUT when they get there and you want a good spot. More popular beaches worth a visit are Gigaro and Heraclee. Both offer beach chairs and drinks on the beach and are within walking distance from restaurants, but are very busy and energetic.

Follow Elise-Marie’s travels on Instagram @tiny_bones.

[cliktrips]

13 Things To Do In Rio… When You Want To Do It All by Lawrence Lui

One of the most fabled destinations on earth, Rio De Janeiro can make even a seasoned traveler feel a bit overwhelmed. As an outsider, how does one approach this richly multifaceted sprawl of a city, filled with sensory delights in music, food and people? I took a whirlwind 9 day trip there that straddled the city’s New Year’s celebrations, reputedly the largest in the world, with nearly 4 million revelers on the beach enjoying fireworks and music. Here are the 13 things to consider if you choose to scale the heights of cidade maravilhosa.

1. First off… prepare!

Get a visa: yes, you’ll need one if you’re from the US. Which means paperwork, a fee and a consulate appointment. All doable, but give yourself plenty of time or you will be freaking out.

Also essential: tank tops, suntan lotion, sunglasses, flip flops. Rio in the winter months is almost psychedelically hot, especially if you are coming from the frigid north. So the less clothes the better. And do yourself a favor: download the free Duolingo app and bone up some basic Portuguese, it’s a fun and lyrical language to learn, plus an ounce of effort is worth a pound of goodwill from the cariocas.

2. Go up high at least once

Rio is one of the most uniquely picturesque urbanscapes in the world, carved like a jeweled necklace of lights between the ocean and the mountains. There are plenty of stunning lookout points, but the higher up you go, the more breathtaking it is. I went up Pao de Acucar (Sugarloaf Mountain), but the view from Morro Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers) is even more vertiginous. If you don’t fancy a hike in 100 degree weather, cab it to the hilly Santa Teresa district and check out Parque das Ruinas, a gutted mansion with a panoramic view of the city. Pro-tip: nothing beats drinking chilled coconut water directly from the shell after a long day in the rainforest.

3. Street parties

To get a feel of Rio’s unique vibe from ground level, hit one of the weekly blocos. The balmy weather and fun-loving culture give the streets an electric air of adventure. Each party has its own particular flavor and flow. Baixo Gavea on Thursdays is casual and laidback, with students, locals and tourists buying drinks from vendors on a street filled with traditional eateries. Check out Pedro Do Sal to experience samba in a charming historic setting; it was packed even on a rainy Monday. And then there’s Lapa, where every weekend is like 6th Street during SXSW, aka a bit of a shit show but worth experiencing to cross off the bucketlist. I also went to some great one-off parties that were almost hard to find, until you suddenly found yourself dancing amid hundreds of your new best friends. Music can range from Baile Funk to the more traditional sounds of Forro, Brazil’s accordion-heavy “country music”.

4. Jardim Botanico

The lush tropical flora of Rio’s botanical gardens, Jardim Botanico, provides a meditative respite nestled in the shadows of the nearby mountains. Watch out for the gangs of monkeys swarming the trees like exotic squirrels.

5. Gilda no Cantagalo

To get to this semi-hidden spot, you need to find an unmarked van on the edge of the Cantanglo favela, and pay the driver a few reals. He then takes you on a steep and narrow ride through the area, a fascinating journey in and of itself. You are dropped off in front of a vast indoor basketball court, where you climb up a warren of alleys, ruined underpasses and stairs to the entrance of this sunset club with a spectacular view, great music and exceptional pork sanduíches. There’s something about sipping a caipirinha with friends old and new as the DJ drops Claptone’s remix of ‘Liquid Spirit’ while the sun dips into the ocean, sparkling over the dancers. It’s the kind of moment that makes all the jetlag and hassles of getting there worth it.

6. My Thai:

A peaceful antidote to the wear and tear of full-tilt tourism, I came here at lunchtime for a nice plate of green curry veggies to detoxify the body and soul. Located in the pleasantly residential Botafogo area, My Thai’s meals were also hearty enough to jumpstart my disco nap.

7. Arpoador Rock

Was here once for an impromptu bit of night swimming and again at twilight on another day. Located on the elbow between Ipanema and Copacabana, Arpoador is one of the best spots to experience sunset over Rio and the lights from Vidigal twinkling in the distance. Don’t forget to check out the statue of Tom Jobim, the patron saint of bossa nova, where I felt a pang of the lineage of musical culture vibrating through the world and coming up to the very point where I stood, like ocean waves crossing space and time.

8. Void General Store (locations in Ipanema & Botafogo)

A solid pre-game spot, Void is a tiny clothing boutique…with pizza…and beer. Everyone just hangs outside on the sidewalk, plotting the evening’s coming shenanigans. I randomly met an Irish MMA fighter here and we gabbed about Conor McGregory’s recent win. All part of my strict venue policy: always befriend the toughest guy in the joint. Just in case.

9. Comuna Burger

A hipster greasy spoon with wonderfully bespoke burgers, Comuna is pure balm for the jetlagged soul, with a convivial outdoor alley and a more intimate indoor space.

10. Carioca da Gema

Carioca da Gema is a small, bustling club in the heart of the Lapa nightlife district with live samba music. The crowd here seemed evenly divided between curious tourists, and locals who knew every word of every song. An important stop for anyone with even a passing interest in the breezy and infectious rhythms of samba, Brazil’s national music.

11. Instituto Moreira Salles

A quiet art gallery and cultural center on an unassuming street. The starkly modernist architecture housed some fascinating Brazil-centric exhibitions, as well as a sleek outdoor garden. Entry is free.

12. Bar Bukowski

A club of contradictions, Bar Bukowski attracts a young crowd dancing to hoary indie classics (think Blur, Morrissey, Iggy Pop). It’s a weird hybrid of sticky-floored dive bar and super-club, a  multi-level maze with suited bouncers that is also as grotty and unkempt as its namesake, featuring jukebox music played by serious DJs. Packed to the wee hours, Bukowski is a bit dazed and confused, with an anything goes energy that most clubs kill for.

13. Bar do mineiro

One of Brazil’s signature dishes is feijoada, a rib-sticking bean and meat stew, and Bar Do Mineiro, a rustic cantina in Santa Teresa is supposed to have the best. Everything was delicious here, making a seat here worth the wait.

Lawrence Lui works in the music industry and loves doing stuff. Follow him here on instagram.com/lawrencelui.