What is Amangiri Like? – At First Glance

Since we live in Las Vegas, we took a four-hour road trip here. Past a call box and through a discreet gate, we followed an unmarked private road for several miles.

When you finally reach the property, rather than entering into a grand lobby, it almost feels like you’ve stumbled upon a secret society or fortress in the desert.

Friends have asked me if it has White Lotus vibes. At first glance, no. They are all about understated luxury, rather than opulence. Think Zen minimalism meets nature.

That said, it could easily be the setting for a future season.

See More: Your Ultimate Utah Bucket List

Amangiri Pool + Desert Modernism

The resort blends seamlessly into the backdrop of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and was co-designed by three architects: Marwan Al-Sayed, Wendell Burnette, and Rick Joy. The pool wraps around a striking sandstone monolith, nicknamed the “Praying Monk,” and looks like a work of art.

See More: The Ultimate Utah National Parks Road Trip

Amangiri Desert Pool Suite

There are 34 suites total. Between staying for four nights or opting for a larger suite for two nights, we chose the latter, which included a plunge pool and a sky terrace for stargazing. Our Aman junkie friends told us the sky terrace was their favorite part.

Since we visited in March instead of during peak Milky Way season, I created a composite using an astroshot I took in Bryce Canyon.

See More: 11 Breathtaking Things to Do in Kanab Utah

Amangiri Food vs Camp Sarika Food

Our friend’s first piece of advice? Have dinner at Camp Sarika every night. It’s a prix fixe menu and a better dining experience. We ordered room service for breakfast and had lunch on the main property, either by the main pool or overlooking Grand Staircase-Escalante.

The food was good, but not exceptional. If you’re expecting three-Michelin-star food, your expectations are too high. The gem salad was my favorite item on the lunch menu, and I didn’t find the Camp Sarika courses particularly memorable. Still, I was content and thought everything fell within my expectations.

Pro Tip: Make reservations at Camp Sarika every night. Seats may fill up.

See More: 15 Best Hikes in Zion National Park

Amangiri Spa

We didn’t end up getting a spa treatment this time, but we enjoyed the facilities.

See More: 11 Things to Do in Lake Powell

Wellness Class

We participated in a candle-making class. The night before we arrived, they held a dreamcatcher weaving class. Even though we didn’t take the dreamcatcher class, they left one in our room as a surprise.

See More: 15 Best Things to Do in St George Utah

Artist in Residence – Ulrike Arnold

Since I’m in my art era, I loved meeting Ulrike Arnold, who paints with pigments from the land. Her pieces sold at Amangiri were made from materials found on the property.

Currently, I’m experimenting with various mediums and styles, but her work inspired me to explore beyond traditional mediums. I can’t wait to discover what I can call my own art style in the future.

See More: Bryce Canyon National Park Guide

Things to Do near Amangiri

Since we had already explored this part of Utah on past trips, we stayed on property the entire time to soak in every amenity. I treated it like a luxury wellness retreat, spending my day painting the view from our room and learning sashiko, a traditional Japanese hand-stitching technique.

If you’ve never been to the area, these are our favorite places:

• Horseshoe Bend (19.2 mi SE, 30 min drive)
• Toadstool Hoodoos Trail (19.6 mi west, 25 min drive)
• Antelope Canyon (22.9 mi SE, 35 min drive)
• Lake Powell & Glen Canyon (14.4 mi SE, 25 min drive)
• The Wave (36.2 mi west, 60 min drive)
• White Pocket (60.5 mi west, 2 h 10 min drive)
• Kanab (64.6 mi west, 1 h 5 min drive)
• Zion National Park (94.7 mi west, 1 h 40 min drive)
• Grand Canyon National Park (128 mi south, 2 h 15 min drive)
• Bryce Canyon National Park (141 mi NW, 2 h 30 min drive)

They also have hiking trails and a via ferrata on site.

See More: 15 Best Day Trips from Las Vegas

Was it worth the Price?

This is not your average hotel stay. It’s a bucket list destination in itself, at least for us, who are not the Kardashians or the Zuckerbergs of the world.

Whether it’s worth the spend depends solely on you. I saw photos of it years ago and knew I would want to take photos here someday. Having worked in the travel industry for over 10 years, staying here was aspirational.

While chatting with some friends, the consensus was that after a certain price point, the returns on services or tangible upgrades diminish a lot. After that, you’re paying for more privacy and exclusivity. However, staying here felt like I was living in a James Turrell art installation.

With your room rate, pretty much everything is included except alcohol, spa treatments, and private excursions. It includes all your meals for two guests, in-room refreshments with snacks, guided group hikes, group fitness classes, use of the fitness center and water pavilion, internet, self-guided hikes, and custom itinerary planning services.

Amangiri was an absolute dream for me.

For Jacob? He would not pay for it if it were just him, but he told me it was worth seeing me happy.

Would we stay here again?

There are plenty of other places we want to see and stay at before considering a return visit. But that’s with most places.

See More: How to Hike to Toadstool Hoodoos

How to Get to Amangiri

Since we were within driving distance, we drove there ourselves. Other travelers arrive via Aman’s private car service from the nearby airport, rental car, or private jet.

The closest international airports are Las Vegas, NV (LAS) and Phoenix, AZ (PHX). Both are roughly 4.5 hours away.

For domestic flights, you can look for flights into Page, AZ (PGA) from Phoenix, which is only 25 minutes away from Amangiri. Amangiri offers complimentary airport transfers from Page, AZ. You could also look into St George, UT (SGU) or Flagstaff, AZ (FLG) but will still need to rent a car from these airports.

What are the hotels or resorts on your bucket list?

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About West Glacier Montana

West Glacier is the western entrance of Glacier National Park, where most people enter the park. It’s close to Lake McDonald and the starting point for the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. The town also has the most amenities in the park, like rustic lodges, dining, outdoor rec outfitters, and scenic train stops.

See More: 9 Incredible Things to Do in Glacier National Park

Paddle Ridge

We stayed at Paddle Ridge, a great home base for our adventures in and near Glacier National Park. They have cabins and lodge rooms with beautiful mountain views. We had a suite in the lodge with a bedroom, bathroom, living room, and full kitchen. If we had stayed longer, we would have cooked some of our meals.

The location was so convenient, less than a mile from the west entrance of Glacier National Park. West Village, Apgar Village, and Lake McDonald were less than 10 minutes away.

Book a Room Here

Paddle Ridge Address: 12400 US 2 West Glacier, MT  59936 (map)
Phone Number: 406.888.5454

Pro Tip: If you’re whitewater rafting or fishing, Paddle Ridge guests can get 10% off at Glacier Raft Co. and Glacier Anglers Outfitters.

Where to Eat in West Glacier

These are the food options we checked out during our stay. If you want to go overboard on huckleberry foods, our favorites were the huckleberry cobbler from Eddie’s Cafe, then the huckleberry/honey/cinnamon shake at the ice cream shop attached to Golfing to the Sun, and lastly the huckleberry shrub at either Belton Chalet or Eddie’s Cafe. I’m not much of a pie person, but people rave about the huckleberry pie at Glacier Highland.

• Belton Chalet – If you’re looking for a nicer meal, this is the spot. We enjoyed the rib-eye steak and shishito peppers.
• Eddie’s Cafe – We had breakfast and dinner here since it was right in Apgar Village near Lake McDonald. My favorite dish was the Guacamole Toast, a spicier version of avocado toast with eggs on top. For dinner, I liked the smash burger better than the fish and chips.
• Freda’s – A cafeteria-style spot in West Glacier Village. They serve burgers, sandwiches, ice cream, and have a full-service bar.
• Glacier Highland – Felt like a diner. We had breakfast and lunch here. We heard the pancakes are good, but I was in the mood for something salty that day. For lunch, they have sandwiches and pies. USA Today ranked Glacier Highland’s huckleberry pie number one in Montana, so we tried the huckleberry and peach pie.
• Glacier National Pizza – We wanted to eat here since Owen, our rafting guide, told us this was his favorite spot, but it wasn’t open during the week we visited.
• Logan’s Bar & Grill – If you’re spending time in Whitefish, stop by Logan’s Bar & Grill in Grouse Mountain Lodge. They have patio seating and are only open for breakfast and dinner. Our fave was the Golden Beets, Sauteed Trout, and Wild Game Bolognese. The smash burger was a regular burger instead of a smash burger.

Have you been to Glacier National Park? Where did you stay?

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We’re On Kickstarter

If you want to skip the rest of this post and jump straight to the Kickstarter, you can find it here. With the help of our incredible backers, we reached our initial funding goal within the first 24 hours.

But we don’t want to stop here! We still have discounted Lens Jackets available in limited quantities, so if you carry glasses, sunglasses, or readers but hate bulky cases, then check out our campaign and get it at a discounted price.

See More: The Bristow Lens Jacket Kickstarter

The Lens Jacket: A Slim and Soft Glasses Case You Didn’t Know You Needed

We hate carrying bulky glasses cases, so we tend to throw our glasses in our bag or purse without them. But that results in scratched lenses. Then we thought, what if we protect the part that matters most: the lenses?

The Lens Jacket is made with a real leather exterior, a plush sheepskin interior, and a magnetic closure that is super satisfying to snap shut.

It’s a slim and soft glasses case that, after you try it, you wonder why it didn’t exist before. Plus, we have a patent on the design!

See More: Get The Bristow Lens Jacket on Kickstarter

The Best Magsafe Wallet

We also dropped a second product as an add-on on Kickstarter.

We haven’t carried wallets in years and have used small card case attached to our phones, but we were never happy with any of the designs so we decided to make our own.

See More: Get The Bristow Mag Wallet on Kickstarter

What are some of your travel essentials?

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Date Ideas That Start with A

The alphabet dating examples are open to interpretation. For instance, tacos can be going out to compare your city’s best tacos, staying in and making tacos together, or simply eating at your favorite taco joint.

Our Top 3: Afternoon Tea, Apple Picking, Archery

• Abroad
• Abseil
• Acrobatic Classes
• Acting Classes
• Aerobics
• Afternoon Tea
• Agate Hunting
• Airboat
• Airplane
• Airport
• Airstream
• Aliens (Area 51 Road Trip)
• Alpine
• Amazon Wishlist
• Amusement Park
• Animals
• Anime
• Apple Cider Brewing
• Apple Picking
• Aquarium
• Arcade
• Archery
• Arctic Cruise or Antarctic Cruise
• Aroma Therapy
• Art Gallery
• Astrology
• Astronomy
• Astrophotography
• Astrology
• Auction
• Audio Book
• Author Talk or Signing
• Auto Race
• Aurora
• Autobiography
• Aviation

See More: 13 Stargazing Events You Won’t Want to Miss

Places That Start with A

If you can travel, here are some destinations that start with the letter A. If not, you can also consider doing a themed night. I included major cities with large populations or popular travel destinations.

• States Starting With A: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas
• National Parks Starting With A – Acadia, Arches
• US Cities That Start With A– Albuquerque, Anaheim, Asheville, Aspen, Astoria, Atlanta, Austin
• Countries That Start With A – Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Austria, Azerbaijan
• International Cities That Start With A – Addis Ababa, Alexandria, Amsterdam, Ankara, Athens
• A Regions – Africa, Americas, Antarctica, Asia, Australia

See More: 17 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Antarctica

See our daily adventures on @estherjulee and @jacobthefu.

Can you think of any more date ideas that start with A?

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Are there any others we need to add to our best carry-on luggage post? What do you currently use? What features do you look for?

More Travel Duffels to Check Out

What are your favorite travel duffels, and which other ones do we need to add to the list? Here is a list of our retired duffle bags, plus popular travel duffle bags that didn’t make our favorites list.

• Aer Duffel Pack (full review)
• Golla Weekender Bag
• North Face Base Camp Duffel
• Osprey Transporter Duffel
• Thule Chasm Duffel
• Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel
• Herschel Supply Co. Novel Duffel
• Filson Medium Rugged Twill Duffel Bag
• Patagonia Black Hole Wheeled Duffel
• Timbuk2 Quest Duffel
• REI Co-op Roadtripper Duffel

What do you look for in a travel duffle bag? Are there any more we must check out to add to our best duffle bags for travel list?

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What to Do in Berkeley California

I love how walkable Berkeley is, and it’s easy to get to and from the OAK or SFO airports on BART. Once you get to town, you can explore on foot or short ride-share rides. You probably already know that Berkeley is best known for the UC Berkeley campus, but don’t miss the great food, music venues, and, if you rock climb, the climbing scene.

1. UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley

200 Centennial Dr, Berkeley, CA 94720, map

The UC Botanical Garden spans 34 acres and houses more than 10,000 species of plants. We especially loved the Redwood Grove, which is easy to miss. It’s next to the parking lot, across the street from the main entrance. You need to ask for a gate code.

The rest of the botanical gardens had peaceful trails and bay views with the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

Local Tip: If you plan on using ride-share to get here, schedule your ride home since the service can be spotty. You can also take the bus to and from town.

See More: The Ultimate SF Bucket List

2. Have Brunch at The Thai Temple, Wat Mongkolratanaram

1911 Russell St, Berkeley, CA 94703, map

I’m so glad the Visit Berkeley team suggested we go here; otherwise, we would have missed out. Wat Mongkolratanaram is a Thai Temple that serves a cash-only brunch every Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm to the public.

When you arrive, exchange cash for tokens at the token booth ($1 = 1 token). Don’t worry about getting too many tokens; you can exchange unused tokens back to cash. Afterward, you line up for food.

Dishes range from $11-13, and drinks are $1-3. We tried the pad thai, pumpkin basil, pork basil, mango sticky rice, and Thai tea. Everything we tried was delicious! If we lived near here, we would be visiting every Sunday. We need to come back to try the beef noodle soup.

Local Tip: Get here by 10 am if you want to avoid long lines, and maybe even before, if you’re getting in the beef noodle soup line (it was the longest).

3. See a Show at The Greek Theatre →

Hearst Greek Theatre, 2001 Gayley Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720, map

The Greek Theatre is one of our favorite venues for a show. It’s an outdoor amphitheater on the UC Berkeley campus, and we saw the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs here. We especially liked hanging out on the lawn.

Berkeley has great venues for music acts and live theater. During our recent visit, we were introduced to the world of psychedelic Cumbia at Freight and Salvage. They also host open mics and other community events.

4. Dine at Chez Panisse

1517 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709, map

Chez Panisse is arguably the most famous restaurant in the Bay. Alice Waters, who opened Chez Panisse, is responsible for the farm-to-table movement and what we now know as California cuisine.

I’ve been dreaming about eating here for a while, and we secured a spot at the Cafe upstairs for a 9:45 dinner.

The Cafe serves from an a la carte menu, and the Restaurant downstairs has a pre-fixe menu with two seatings (5:30 PM and 8 PM).

Local Tip: Reservations are a must at Chez Panisse. It’s easier to find openings at the Cafe and during late hours.

5. See the Art at BAMPFA (& Make your Own Art)

2155 Center St, Berkeley, CA 94720, map

BAMPFA, or the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, is one of the nation’s leading university museums. They have multiple exhibits featuring works from the 20th and 21st centuries.

Since I’m in my art era, I have spent most of my time downstairs in the BAMPFA Art Lab. It’s open Friday through Sunday and the first Thursday of the Month. They provide paper, collage materials, glue, scissors, colored pencils, markers, and more.

Local Tip: Every first Thursday of the month, BAMPFA is free to visit.

6. Visit the Local Urban Wineries

1350 Fifth St, Berkeley, CA 94710, map

In West Berkeley, you’ll find a one-block radius of warehouses taken over by urban winemakers. They also have a nice outdoor area to enjoy wine and beautiful weather.

Since I love bubbles, we started at Hammerling Wines, which specializes in sparkling wine. We then went over to Donkey & Goat to try their natural wine..

Local Tip: On the First Friday of each month, Berkeley Wine Block throws a block party from 3-9 PM. They also bring food trucks, music, and local art.

7. Climb at The Oaks

1875 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707, map

The Oaks is the newest climbing gym in Berkeley. We knew we had to check out the gym built inside a historic theater. They preserved portions of the theater, including the stage frame and arch. It makes the space truly special.

When you arrive, you’ll see the marquee with climbing puns (James and the Giant Boulder on one side and Backflag to the Future on the other). Let us know if you see something different when you go.

It’s part of the Touchstone family, so the setting is fun and on par with their other gyms.

We also love the setting at Benchmark Berkeley, where we usually climb when we’re in the area. Next, we need to climb at Indian Rock, the local crag. It also has nice views if you’re not a climber.

See More: 5 Best San Francisco Climbing Gyms + Bay Area

Map of the Best Things to Do in Berkeley

What to Eat in Berkeley

• Artis Coffee (, Coffee & Tea) – Cute and spacious coffee spot. Try their cold brew.
• Cafenated (, Breakfast & Brunch) – Delicious breakfast/brunch foods and drinks. The back patio is beautiful and has a lot of seating.
• Chez Panisse (, New American) – put California cuisine on the map. Click here to see our tips on how to get a reservation.
• Henry’s Bar & Restaurant (, Burgers) – This is a popular spot to tailgate before a Cal game. Try the Golden Bear.
• Iyasare (, Japanese) – Great Japanese spot. We loved the bento. It was massive and could have fed both of us.
• Jupiter (, Pizza) – A local favorite. They have a special pizza and salad each month, which we enjoyed.
• Peet’s Coffee, The Original Location (, Coffee & Tea) – This is the original Peet’s Coffee. Don’t miss the small museum in the back. Did you know Peet’s is responsible for the second wave of coffee in the US?
• Pizzeria da Laura (, Pizza) – you can choose New York style, Sicilian, or Grandma.
• Zino (, Mediterranean) – in the historic Hotel Shattuck, where we stayed. It’s a beautiful space that serves Mediterranean-inspired food.

Where to Stay in Berkeley California

We stayed at the historic Hotel Shattuck during our visit to Berkeley. It’s the perfect location, only two blocks from the Berkeley campus and steps away from great restaurants. Plus, it was right next to a BART station, which made it a breeze to get to and from the airport. We stayed in the Bay Suite, which had beautiful bay views.

Getting To and Around Berkeley

Berkeley is easy to explore without a car. For our visit, we flew into Oakland International Airport and hopped on BART, which took us to Downtown Berkeley (and our hotel).

AIRPORTS: There are three international airports to fly into.

• Oakland International Airport (OAK) is the easiest and closest to fly into. You can hop on BART and get off at one of three stations in Berkeley.
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – Another good option if flights are more accessible from your home. BART will also take you to town.
• San Jose International Airport (SJC) – You won’t be able to make it to Berkeley via BART, but it’s another option if you rent a car.

BART, or the Bay Area Rapid Transit, has three stations in Berkeley: Downtown Berkeley, North Berkeley, and Ashby Stations. If you’re flying into OAK or SFO, it’s a great option since you can ride it to town. It’s also a great way to get to and from San Francisco, Oakland, Walnut Creek, and Concord.

We didn’t use it once we arrived in town, but it made transferring to and from the airport easy. PRO TIP – If you have an iPhone, add the Clipper card to your wallet to quickly reload your card.

GETTING AROUND BERKELEY: Berkeley is a walkable city. Once we arrived, we mainly explored on foot and used ride-share for a couple of further away places.

Essential Tips For Your First Visit

• Stop by the Berkeley Visitors Center (2030 Addison St, Berkeley, CA 94704, map) to pick up maps and get tips from the locals.
• If you use BART during your visit and have an iPhone, add the Clipper card to your wallet so it’s easy to scan in and out of public transit, and you can quickly reload the card.
• Pack layers! It can be warm during the day and cold in the evening.
• Pay attention to the university schedule. Hotel prices are much higher during move-in, graduation, and home games, and the area is crowded.

Planning Checklist

Are there any things to do in Berkeley that we missed? What other spots do we need to check out?

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Date Ideas That Start with B

The alphabet dating examples are open to interpretation. For instance, burgers can be going out to compare your city’s best burgers, staying in and making burgers together, or simply eating at your favorite burger joint.

Our Top 3: Beach, Brewery Tour, Broadway

• Baby Names
• Backpacking
• Bagels
• Bake or Bakery
• Ballet
• Balloon Animals
• Balloon Ride
• Bamboo Forest
• Banana Boat
• Band
• Bar Crawl
• Barista
• Barre Class
• Basalt Columns
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Bat Flight
• Battlefield
• Bazaar
• BBQ
• Beach
• Bed and Breakfast
• Belly Dance
• Bender
• Benefit
• Bento
• Berry Pick
• Bike
• Binge
• Bingo
• Birding
• Bistro
• Blimp Ride
• Blog (Learn How to Start a Blog)
• Board Games
• Boat Ride
• Boba or Bubble Tea
• Bodega
• Bonfire
• Books or Bookstore
• Boomer
• Boonies
• Botanical Garden
• Boujee
• Bouldering
• Bourbon Trail
• Bowling
• Boxing
• Brail
• Brasserie
• Breakfast
• Brew Beer
• Brewery Tour
• Broadway
• (Boozey) Brunch
• Bubble Bath
• Bubbly
• Bumper Cars
• Bungee Jump
• Burgers
• Burlesque
• Burritos
• Busk or See Buskers

See More: How to Get Started as a Home Barista

Places That Start with B + Themes

For those who can travel, here are some destinations that start with the letter B. If not, consider a themed night.

• Badlands National Park
• Bahamas
• Bahrain
• Bali Indonesia
• Baltimore
• Bangladesh
• Bangkok Thailand
• Barbados
• Barcelona
• Beijing China
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Belize
• Benin
• Berlin Germany
• Bhutan
• Big Bend National Park
• Biloxi MS
• Bishop CA
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
• Bolivia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Boston MA
• Botswana
• Boulder CO
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Budapest
• Buenos Aires
• Bulgaria
• Burbank California
• Burkina Faso
• Burma
• Burundi

See More: 15 Amazing Things to Do in Bryce Canyon National Park

See our daily adventures on @estherjulee and @jacobthefu.

Can you think of any more date ideas that start with B?

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About Seattle Neighborhoods + Why Trust Us

Seattle is more than just coffee, rain, and the iconic Space Needle. Lately, our favorite way to explore a city is by its neighborhoods. Not only does it help us travel slower, but it means having more time to appreciate each area rather than spending time in a car hopping between places.

Below, we highlight our favorite Seattle neighborhoods for visitors to explore with the help of our local friend, who has lived here for over a decade. Each of these Seattle neighborhoods has a unique vibe, so you can see why locals love their pocket of the city.

Whether visiting for the first time or planning a weekend getaway, here’s a guide to the best Seattle neighborhoods to explore using public transportation.

Downtown Seattle & Pike Place Market

If you’re new to Seattle, you’ll likely start at Pike Place Market in downtown. This area is close to the waterfront, and even if we’ve been multiple times, I always discover a new corner of Pike Place. Our latest favorite find was Osara Commissary, a shop downstairs featuring local artists and Japanese goods collected on their travels in Japan.

We also finally got to eat at Pink Door. Every time we tried for dinner, the wait was too long, so we dropped in for lunch and got seated immediately.

What to Do in Downtown Seattle

• Pike Place Market – See the fishmongers tossing fish, grab some Beecher’s cheese, visit the gum wall, get clam chowder, or explore the unique shops. You can also take a food tour.
• Seattle Art Museum – SAM is the city’s largest museum.
• Seattle Central Library – beautiful architecture.
• “Original” Starbucks – the original one no longer exists, but this shop is the closest to the original. If you’re a Starbucks fan, we recommend visiting the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Capitol Hill as well.

Where to Eat in Downtown Seattle

• The Pink Door (Italian, ) – a beautiful outdoor patio during the day that transforms into a whimsical space in the evening with a trapeze lady, jazz ensembles, cabaret, and more. We liked the vibe more than the food, but it’s worth noting that my vongole pasta had the most clams I’ve ever seen on a single dish.
• Sushi Kashiba (Sushi, ) – Chef Shiro is known as the Sushi Sensei of Seattle, and this omakase spot is perfect for a fancy dinner out.
• Biscuit Bitch (Breakfast & Brunch, ) – There’s always a line out the door.
• Pike Place Chowder (Soup, ) – one of the popular spots in Pike Place Market.

Where to Stay: We stayed at Hotel 1000. The rooms were beautiful and spacious (loved the tub layout), and it was an easy walk to Pike Place and the Symphony Link light rail station.

See More: Weekend Trip to Seattle – How to Spend the Perfect 3 Days

Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill is a lively neighborhood with international restaurants, lots of green space, and beautiful city skyline views. We spent an afternoon here walking around Jefferson Park before catching the sunset at Dr. Jose Rizal Park.

What to Do in Beacon Hill Seattle

• Clock-Out Lounge – a great spot for drinks, Stevie’s Famous pizza (we loved the Normie Macdonald), and a show. They have themed trivia nights, musicians, and comedians.
• Dr. Jose Rizal Park – one of the best spots for sunset with views of south Downtown and Elliott Bay.
• Jefferson Park – a large park with big grassy fields, a skate park, and one of the region’s best public golf courses.
• Seattle Bouldering Project – if you climb, this was our friend’s home gym with fun route setting.

Where to Eat in Beacon Hill Seattle

• Stevie’s Famous inside Clock-Out Lounge (Pizza, ) – delicious pizza! We got the Normie MacDonald.
• Milk Drunk (Ice Cream, ) – Ice cream and chicken sandwiches, though it’s not worth a long wait for me. I would go if I didn’t see a line.

Belltown

Belltown, just north of downtown, is where you’ll find cafes, nightclubs, boutiques, and galleries. We took a glassblowing class and a barista class in Belltown. We all know Seattle is the coffee capital of the US, but did you know that Seattle is also the heart of North America’s studio glass movement?

What to Do in Belltown Seattle

• Learn to Be a Barista at Coffee Tab – if you’ve ever been interested in learning how to be a barista, take a class with Coffee Tab. This unique coffee shop works with underserved youth, often homeless, by training them with employable skills and access to the coffee community. The cost of a class goes directly towards these kids’ salaries.
• Try Glassblowing at Seattle Glassblowing Studio – take a glassblowing class where you’ll learn the basics and take home the pieces you make. They can even ship them to you, so you don’t have to pack them in your suitcase meticulously. You can stop by and watch them blowing glass as well.
• The Moore Theatre – On our previous visit, we saw Atsuko Okatsuka here on a whim after seeing her name on the marquee. It’s a beautiful theatre!
• Olympic Sculpture Park – a SAM extension located about a mile away at the waterfront that is free to visit.

Where to Eat in Belltown Seattle

• Cedar & Spokes Coffee (Coffee, ) – not my favorite coffee of the trip, but they had a beautiful interior space with a water view.
• Shaker + Spear (New American, ) – we enjoyed all the dishes here!

Where to Stay: During our visit last year, we stayed at the Kimpton Palladian. The location was convenient for exploring downtown and we always enjoy seeing how unique Kimptons are.

See More: 11 Amazing Museums in Seattle You Can’t Miss

Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill is an eclectic and artsy neighborhood filled with bars, well-curated boutiques, and restaurants.

Even if you’re not a Starbucks fan, it’s worth being a tourist at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery once. It’s a massive roastery where you can try flights of coffee and fresh baked goods. We also tried Vitrola and Caffe Vita, if you want to try one of Seattle’s independent coffee shops.

What to Do in Capitol Hill Seattle

• Neko Cat Cafe – visit the local residents of Neko Cat Cafe, where you can get drinks and spend time with the cutest, adoptable cats. During the summer, make a reservation at least a day in advance since they limit the number of people per hour.
• Twice Sold Tales – a bookstore with cats roaming around.
• Elliott Bay Book Co – Seattle’s most famous and largest independent bookstore.
• Starbucks Reserve Roastery – not your normal Starbucks experience. This shop is huge and you can have flights of coffee and fresh-baked goods.
• Seattle Asian Art Museum – a SAM satellite location focused on Asian art.
• Glasswing Shop – cute clothes and even cuter plants.
• Glossier – an aesthetic store where you can try their products.

Where to Eat in Capitol Hill Seattle

• Rondo (Izakaya, ) – best happy hour specials. I highly recommend the Tasty BB noodles and their appetizer special, where you get a bunch of apps, a large glass of sake, and a beer for $10.
• Caffe Vita (Coffee, ) – decent coffee with lots of seating.
• Canon (Cocktail Bars, ) – fun drinks and a huge whiskey list! We got ones served in rubber burgers presented in a grill.
• Frankie & Jo’s (Vegan Ice Cream, ) – a great vegan ice cream option.
• General Porpoise (Donuts, ) – popular donut spot! We went years ago and loved them.
• Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream (Ice Cream, ) – yummy ice cream!

See More: Ultimate Seattle Bucket List (101 Things to Do in Seattle WA)

Columbia City

Columbia City was one of our favorite new neighborhoods to explore. It was the first place we could see ourselves living in Seattle. The main street is filled with restaurants and shops and is very walkable.

Things to Do in Columbia City Seattle

• Hill City Tap House & Bottle Shop – we did trivia night here and got second!
• Third Place Books – a local bookstore with Chuck’s Hop Shop attached to it (huge selection of rare beers). This is in Seward Park, but not far from here.
• Royal Room – live music.
• Lottie’s Lounge – stop by for a Columbia City tradition: jello shots! Now, I need someone else from this neighborhood to verify if this is a neighborhood tradition or just our friend’s tradition here. He somehow convinced us to take one for the first time since college.

Where to Eat in Columbia City Seattle

• Island Soul (Caribbean, ) – our fave was the Jerk Fried Chicken Burger.
• Coffeeholic House (Coffee, ) – iced Viet coffee. We liked the black sesame one best if you’re in the mood for a dessert.
• Olympia (Coffee, ) – where I usually buy my beans in Seattle. They have several locations in Seattle and Olympia, so you don’t necessarily have to go to the one in Columbia City.

See More: 15 Best Day Trips from Seattle Washington

Chinatown-International District

The Chinatown-International District in Seattle is one of the nation’s oldest Asian-American neighborhoods. Every time we’re in Seattle, we’ve done snack runs at Uwajimaya, but this time, we also explored the surrounding neighborhood.

Things to Do in International District Seattle

• Wing Luke Museum – a museum focused on the way AAPI cultures have settled and shaped the Northwest. If you want to join their free tours (with admission), check the times and arrive early, as they have limited space.
• Sairen – a shop that carries clothing and items from local designers.
• Kobo Shop & Gallery – a gallery-style shop with crafts and decorative items from Japan and regional artists.
• Uwajimaya / Kinokuniya Bookstores – a Japanese grocery store and a Japanese-based shop that sells collectibles and books.

Where to Eat in International District Seattle

• Hello Em Viet Coffee (Vietnamese Coffee, ) – Viet coffee and yummy banh mi sandwiches.
• King Noodle (Noodles, ) – no-nonsense, build your own noodle dishes.
• Phin Coffee (Cafe, ) – the pandan waffles are so good.
• Saigon Deli (Vietnamese, ) – they have my favorite banh mi in Seattle so far!

West Seattle

West Seattle is just across the water from downtown, and you can take a water taxi across from Pier 50. Once you arrive, there is a free shuttle that runs two routes. Alki Beach is one of the main attractions, but you get beautiful city skyline views all along the water.

We took the shuttle to check out Easy Street Records before returning to the shore to enjoy the beach and have a memorable dinner at Driftwood. We can’t recommend it enough.

Things to Do in West Seattle

• Alki Kayak Tours – rent a kayak, go on a guided tour, or pick up some bikes to explore Alki Beach. They provide free lockers for anything you want to leave.
• Alki Beach – a great spot to sunbathe, picnic, barbecue, play volleyball, and swim.
• Easy Street Records – a big vinyl shop with lots of character, a coffee shop, and a bar (they have Caffe Vita coffee here).

Where to Eat in West Seattle

• Marination ma kai (Korean/Hawaiian, ) – we had the kimchi fried rice and spam musubi next to the water.
• Driftwood (Seafood, ) – our standouts were the beets and oysters, but the menu changes daily based on what fresh ingredients they can source locally. Everything we had was delicious, and this was our favorite meal.

See More: 15 Best Weekend Getaways from Seattle WA

Where to Eat in our favorite Seattle neighborhoods

We highlighted our favorite spots in each neighborhood, but if you plan your travels with your stomach, we’ve compiled all the spots we ate at on this trip.

• Caffe Vita (Coffee, ) – decent coffee with lots of seating (although it was still very full when we went).
• Cedar & Spokes Coffee (Coffee, ) – not my favorite coffee, but they had a beautiful interior space.
• Coffeeholic House (Coffee, ) – iced Viet coffee if you want a dessert. We liked the one with black sesame!
• Canon (Cocktail Bars, ) – fun drinks and a huge whiskey list! We got ones served in rubber burgers presented in a grill.
• Driftwood (Seafood, ) – the menu changes daily based on what fresh ingredients they can source locally. Everything we had was delicious; this was our favorite meal on this trip.
• Frankie & Jo’s (Vegan Ice Cream, ) – great option for Vegan ice cream with unique flavors.
• Hello Em Viet Coffee (Vietnamese Coffee, ) – good coffee and yummy banh mi sandwiches.
• Island Soul (Caribbean, ) – our fave was the Jerk Fried Chicken Burger.
• King Noodle (Noodles, ) – no-nonsense, build your own noodle dishes.
• Marination ma kai (Korean/Hawaiian, ) – we had the kimchi fried rice and spam musubi.
• Phin Coffee (Cafe, ) – the pandan waffles are so good!
• The Pink Door (Italian, ) – a somewhat hidden pasta shop with a beautiful outdoor patio during the day that transforms into a whimsical space in the evening with a trapeze lady, jazz ensembles, cabaret, and more.
• Rondo (Izakaya, ) – great happy hour specials and delicious Japanese food.
• Stevie’s Famous inside Clock-Out Lounge (Pizza, ) – delicious pizza! We got the Normie MacDonald.

Where to Stay in Seattle

On our most recent visit, we stayed at Hotel 1000. The rooms are nice and spacious, and it’s a short walk from the Symphony Link light rail station. They have a spa, fitness center, a Topgolf Swing Suite, and are dog-friendly.

If you’re looking for more options, check out the map below:

Essential Tips for visiting Seattle neighborhoods

• Locals don’t use umbrellas. We also find this true about other PNW cities while living in Portland. Most people use rain jackets rather than umbrellas. It gives you a free hand to hold onto your warm coffee.
• Waterproof shoes are our go-to for any trip, rain or shine. To be ready for any weather, we love our Vessi shoes. They are comfortable to walk in and waterproof.
• Carry a backpack. Most places do not have plastic bags, and it’s easier to throw anything you buy into a backpack to carry with you.
• Layers are always key, especially if you plan to be out all day. It can be beautiful and warm during the day but gets chilly as the sun goes down.
• Get an ORCA Card or sign up for the app if you use public transportation. You can use it on the Link light rail, buses, and even the water taxi. Plus, you get discounts (i.e., the water taxi is $5.75 cash/debit or $5 with the ORCA card.
• Use SEA Spot Saver to skip the line if you do not have TSA Precheck or Clear when flying home. Sign up to five days before your flight or when you arrive at the airport at the ticketing level of the terminal. Go to your assigned checkpoint at the preassigned time and go through screening.

Planning Checklist

We’ve explored bits and pieces of these Seattle neighborhoods: Bainbridge, Ballard, Beacon Hill, Bellevue, Belltown, Capitol Hill, Central District, Columbia City, Denny Triangle, Downtown Seattle, Fremont, Hillman City, Industrial District, International District, Issaquah, Lower Queen Anne, Phinney Ridge, Pioneer Square, Rainier Beach, Seatac, South Lake Union, Vashon Island, Wallingford, Waterfront, West Seattle, Westlake, and Whidbey.

Any favorites that we missed that we should check out next time? Which Seattle neighborhoods have you explored?

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Your Packing List for Burning Man if you are Free Camping

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A common trap for people who come year after year is wanting to bring more comforts until you eventually need to rent storage for your Burning Man gear and a trailer to tow. We wanted to fit everything in our Subaru Ascent for our first Burn, which is still large compared to most vehicles.

It’s wild to think that when we moved to a new city every year, we fit all our belongings in our car. But on our drive up, we realized our car was completely filled with only Burning Man gear.

First, you need to decide which camping route you will take. You have two main camping options at Burning Man.

1. staying with an existing registered camp

They offer some infrastructure and benefits (like showers, power, and new friends) in exchange for a fee and/or volunteering to work at the camp.

2. Free Camping or Open camping

The other option is to free camp. In this case, you must bring everything to survive for the week. If you’re going with friends, you can share resources, but you should always be prepared to be self-reliant.

If we were going solo, we might have considered a camp, but since we went with friends, we enjoyed the free camping experience. It allowed us to be further away from the parties, meaning we could get better sleep at night.

Although an RV is an option, we wanted to simplify our first experience at Burning Man, so we tent-camped.

See More: 21 Car Camping Essentials – Everything You Need to Pack

Most Important Items

Let’s start with the most important items, so you won’t get turned back at the gate after waiting hours to get there.

• Tickets – Don’t forget your tickets. For those of you who opted for will call, they will direct you there once you arrive.
• Car Pass – Similarly, have your car pass ready and stuck on the bottom left of your windshield.
• ID – Nearly everything is gifted on the Playa, but they will still ID you at certain camps when alcohol is served. Some people have copies of their IDs taped on their cups, which we’ll do next time.
• Extra Keys – Things can get lost on the Playa. It’s always smart to have a spare set with you, whether for your car, bike lock, home, or anything else. If you traveled with a group, stash it in a friend’s car. Otherwise, you can buy a magnetic box to hide extra keys.

Shelter for Free Camping

Should I tent camp or RV at Burning Man?

We noticed the sentiment that Burners are not as fond of RVs because of the mess they sometimes cause, the noise from generators, and the people in them being less approachable. I agree that it felt more communal being in tents, and we were less likely to bother people in RVs, but we always say, you do you. There are plenty of RVers.

Tent Camping

We’ve had most of our camping gear for many years. If you’ve camped before, you can most likely use what you have, but you need additional items specific to Black Rock Desert.

• Tent – We had a spacious Takenoko Bell Tent that was easy to set up. We planned to use it as our shade structure and the inner tent as our bedroom. We also wanted a hangout area if a huge dust storm came in. It also becomes a great base to set up the aluminet.
  • Takenoko Inner Tent – Gave us an inner tent that we used as our bedroom.
  • Takenoko Ground Sheet – Helps protect the tent from direct contact with the playa.
• Stakes / Lag Screws – Because wind can get serious, rather than using regular stakes, you need to get lag screws that drill into the ground. I bought two of these for the base and straps.
• Ratchet Straps – Just like the regular stakes, you also want to use ratchet straps to connect the tent to the lag screws. The thin ropes on the tents aren’t made for serious dust storms.
• Impact Wrench – Don’t forget an impact wrench with the proper adapter to drill your lag screws. We had to buy an additional size for this particular set.
• Aluminet – Because the playa provides no shade, most people create a shade structure, even for tents. We used three 10×16 aluminet sheets between our two cars and tent. Using the car roof racks and tent frame as anchor points, we created a large covered hang-out area. Even if we were camping solo, we would do the same thing. In the future, we need to figure out how to cover more of our tent.
• Bungees – Since aluminet is flexible and allows wind to pass through, bungees are the perfect way to attach them to your stakes or anchor points. It has more give, so they won’t rip or snap. We used all of my bungees and additional ball bungees our friends had.

Lessons Learned: Overall, we were happy with our shelter setup, but the tent got too hot during the day. For our next burn, we will integrate more aluminet to shade our tent. We mostly kept a regular sleeping schedule, but the shade structure is especially important for those who plan on sleeping during the day.

Camp Packing List for Burning Man

Your camp can be as primitive or boogie as you want. Since it was our first time, we focused on the necessities and tried to pack as minimal as possible.

• Chairs – We have Sugoi Chairs, and we love them for napping. We didn’t bring our lighter REI camping chairs, which pack smaller but are less comfortable.
• Misting Fan – this portable misting fan was great for hot days. It’s powerful and great for groups (we plan on replacing the mister nozzle with a finer one). It’s battery-powered, has a large water tank, and you can use the fan without the mist (use code: LOCALADVENTURER for 10% off your order at Turbro).
• String Lights – we used two rechargeable string lights to light up our tent and shared spaces.
• Area Lights – We arrived past midnight and had to set up in the dark, and our Devos Lightranger 1200 came in clutch. During the week, we used it inside the tent, and only had to charge it once using it on single light mode.
• Headlamp – A headlamp is necessary when leaving camp or looking for something in camp. We prefer ones that have a red light. Bring extra batteries (if not rechargeable).
• Storage Boxes – We’ve stored our camping gear in this storage box at home for years, and it became our food storage for the trip. We bought two additional 12-gallon storage bins. One of the bins held all our tools and miscellaneous items, and the other was for our toiletries.
• Garbage Bags – You must carry out all the trash and gray water you create. For our garbage, we bought heavy-duty contractor bags so we wouldn’t have unexpected leaks. Luckily, we didn’t generate much trash. Between the four of us, we didn’t even fill one bag, but we used our extras to wrap dusty items.
• Extra Batteries – We brought 24 AA batteries for our lights and wished we had more by the end of the week. The lights noticeably dimmed mid-week. I’ll buy a 40-pack for next time. Don’t forget AAA batteries for your headlamp as well – two extra sets per hand lamp is plenty! We brought alkaline batteries vs rechargeable ones since they last longer.
• Paper Towels – We brought three rolls of paper towels and used 1.5 of them. Rather than washing dishes, we wiped down our bowls and utensils with a vinegar spray. We didn’t have as many dust storms as in previous years, so I would still pack three, just in case.
• Vinegar Spray – We made a vinegar spray (1 part vinegar: 3 parts water) at home and put it in a spray bottle. After wiping down the solids on our dishes with a paper towel, we sprayed them and did a final wipe. Vinegar also neutralizes the alkaline playa dust, useful for spraying metals to prevent rust.
• Table – We got so much use out of our Good Luck table. It packs up small, has different height options, and has zip-up shelves. It became the centerpiece of our hang-out area, where we cooked our meals and stored our kitchen items.
• Extension Cord – I brought one in case I needed it but didn’t end up using it. I’ll still pack it for future burns.
• Hand Warmers – Some nights, we wished we had our hand warmers.
• Powerbanks – Powerbanks are a great way to charge your phones at camp or out and about. We had a couple with us that we never had to recharge.
• Charging Cables – Don’t forget all the cables for charging your devices (if you plan to use them).
• Battery Generators – To ensure we had enough power, we brought our Jacker Explorer 300, which we used 60% of charging our phones, headlamps, and lights, and our Jackery Explorer 1500, which we didn’t end up using at all. I thought we would use more power, but we kept it minimal only charging our phones and a few lights.
• Solar Panels – We also had two sets of solar panels to charge the Jackery Explorers but didn’t use them.
• Pee Bags – We always have a few TravelJohns stashed in our car and they are perfect for Burning Man. There are plenty of porta potties, but they’re great for emergencies like during a dust storm or if you’re stuck in traffic on the way in or out. It solidifies your pee and neutralizes the smell.
• Folding Table – Our friends brought a folding table that was helpful at camp. We kept our waters on them so that it was easy to use the spouts since they were higher off the ground. It’s also a good place to unpack some of your items from the car when you arrive without putting them on the ground where everything gets dusty.
• AC Unit – We have an Ecoflow Wave that we considered bringing to cool down our tent, but after testing how much power it would consume, I opted not to. If you have a generator, you won’t have issues running one, but we only wanted to use our solar battery generators.
• Carabiners – A handful of carabiners are always useful at camp. We used them to attach our trashbags, hang our clothes, carry our cups, and more.
• Rug – This felt like a luxury. Our friends had an old carpet rug, which was comfortable to sit on. If you have any old rugs, it’s the perfect place to find a second life, and we’re on the hunt for one to use for our next burn. We also had a few thin rugs/mats, like this Rumpl one. It took up less space in our car, but we could still get another layer on the ground.

Lessons Learned: We’re glad our friends brought a plush rug and folding table, and we’ll add those to our setup in the future.

Food / Kitchen packing list for burning man

When we camp, we try to keep it simple. We prefer easy meals like Mountain House, ramen, or protein bars to minimize packing and cleaning.

• Mugs for Sharing – Many camps gift drinks and food, and you need a container to receive them. We liked our mugs with a handle, a carabiner attached to our backpack, and a lid to keep out the dust.
• 2x Water Jugs – It’s important to have enough water. They recommend 1.5 gallons per person daily for drinking, washing, and cleaning. We brought two 7-gal Aquatainers and 3 frozen 1L water bottles as our initial ice. We only used one of our 7-gallon containers since it wasn’t as hot this year, and we also wiped instead of washing. We also bought ice a few times and drank the melted water.
• 2x Grey Water Jugs – We brought two collapsible water jugs for grey water but only used a quarter of one. Again, we challenged ourselves to be as minimal as possible.
• 3x Ice Bags – This was a last-minute purchase, and we’re so happy with them. After buying the ice, we moved them to these bags so we could drink the melted ice.
• Food – We primarily packed four types of ramen and bars for our meals. Most of our ramen was dry, so we would not have to deal with leftover soup. When we got sick of it, fortunately, our friends had more variety and shared.
  • Fresh Foods – we brought some prewashed grapes, pre-peeled clementines (I wanted to reduce trash, but in retrospect, we should have left half of them unpeeled), and cherry tomatoes. They were delicious, and we wish we had more. By mid-week, we had finished them.
  • Warm Food – Our friends brought some rice, eggs, and spam they made in their Jetboil Genesis. The bread was a nice addition to make spam and egg sandwiches.
• Cutlery – We brought a reusable cutlery set but ended up using chopsticks the whole time. Our friends’ Snow Peak ones, though over-engineered, are amazing! If you bring wooden disposable chopsticks, you can ask registered camps to let you burn them in their fires.
• Jetboil – Since we mostly brought ramen, we used our Jetboil MiniMo to boil our water, but our friends convinced us to get a Jetboil Genesis for next year. It gives you more food options.
• Fuel – Get the right fuel for your stove. Our Jetboil MiniMo uses the butane fuel, while the Genesis uses propane.
• Electrolytes – We brought Liquid IVs for each day.
• 2x Coolers – one for food (and some drinks) that we rarely opened and one for easier drink access. You can buy 16 lbs of crushed ice for $10 or 10 lb blocks for $5. We bought crushed ice every other day to keep our drinks cool. Our friends also had a powered cooler/mini fridge, which plan on buying to have more fresh food at the end of the week.
• Funnel – Rather than using a makeshift sink, we used a metal 4-inch funnel on top of our collapsible grey water jug to brush our teeth. It worked fine, but we want an 8-10 inch for washing up next time. Ours already rusted from the playa dust.
• Bowls – We picked up two plastic bowls to use for our food. After each meal, we would wipe it down with a paper towel, spray the vinegar solution, then wipe it down again.
• Snacks – Bring any snacks that make you happy! We had tropical dry fruit snacks, candy, cheeze-its, crackers, and more. Our friends also brought vegetable and fruit puree pouches, aka baby food for adults, but made eating easy and helped cool you down in the hot afternoons.
• Drinks – We brought some sparkling water and Diet Coke for the week.

Lessons Learned: We got sick of ramen and bars mid-week. We found gifted food at other camps, and thankfully, our friends shared some of theirs with us. For the next burn, we plan to vary our meals more after adding the Jetboil Genesis. Our priority will still be simple meals, so we’ll add more fresh foods, bread, spam, eggs, rice, and sassy pickle snacks!

Bedding

• Bed – We use our Hest Mattress for all our car camping adventures. It’s comfortable, but you must lay on top of an insulation layer (we used a puffy Rumpl blanket) on cold nights since it doesn’t have an R rating like some of our other outdoor gear.
• Pillows – I used this Rumpl The Camp Pillow, and Esther brought a regular pillow from home.
• 3x Bed Sheets – We brought three sheets but only used two since we didn’t have as many dust storms. One is for the bed, one to cover the entire bed set up during the day (in case of dust storms), and one extra in case you want to change it mid-week.
• Blankets / Liners – It was cold at night! We had a Therm-a-Rest Insulated Blanket to keep us warm and these Cocoon Dual Liner TravelSheets under. This allowed us to use it by itself during the day when it was warmer.
• Booties – Esther brought her down booties, which she used every night.
• Ear Plugs – Ear plugs are a must if you want to sleep. We had squishies and loops for music but mostly used loops for both.
• Eyemask – If you have trouble sleeping with light, bring an eye mask. We didn’t use ours.

Lessons Learned: The only thing we would add to our sleeping setup is a light blanket option when it’s hot.

Transportation

Most people use bikes to get around the Playa. From our camp, it took us 30 minutes to the Man (center of the clock) and another 30 to the trash fence (outer edge).

• Bicycle – We found 20-inch cheap folding bikes on FB marketplace to fit inside our car (we don’t have bike racks). Some guides mention having fat tire bikes or e-bikes (which is a pricey option, considering the playa dust will likely destroy the battery contact points).
• Bicycle Lights – This two-pack of bike lights was perfect for our headlight and taillight.
• Bell – A bell is nice to have to notify people in front of you.
• Basket – Having a foldable basket on your bike is great to help carry items. I might try to add some saddlebags next time.
• Light Up Lights – Besides your headlight and taillight, you want to light up your bike uniquely so it’s easy to spot at night among hundreds of other bikes! We used these LED strips for the main frame (bring an extra set – mine broke mid-week). We also had EL Wire Lights for our backpacks, baskets, and flag. One of our friends had wheel lights, which was nice too.
• Flag / Identifier – Having a tall identifier was helpful because the lights were not enough. We added EL lights to our flags. The quality sucks, and they kept breaking, but it served its purpose.
• Bike Lock – Whether on purpose or by accident, bikes get stolen. We locked up our bikes anytime we were leaving them for a while.
• Repair Kit – You can find repair stations throughout the city, but it’s good to have a kit if they run out.
• Pump – Bring a bike pump in case you need to fill up.
• Spare Tire Tubes – A spare set of tubes is also smart to pack, especially if you have irregular tire sizes.
• Zip Ties – These are handy to attach lights and other items to your bike. We always had a few with us.

Pro Tip: Start biking a few weeks before Burning Man. Otherwise, you’ll be sore all week. Esther was hurting all week.

Lessons Learned: The foldable bikes were convenient, but the small wheels hurt later in the week when the roads became more washboardy. We also want to add a sturdier flag, more lights, and decor to our bikes to differentiate them. We lost them a couple of times in the sea of lit-up bikes.

See More: Recap of Our Endless Caravan

Clothes

Burning Man is all about radical self-expression. However, the people you see with elaborate outfits posted on social media are not the majority. You can wear whatever you want (or nothing), and there is no judgment. You’ll see a lot of rave wear or outdoor gear.

For our first burn, we focused on practical clothes survival and a few fun items for themed days. This means clothes to keep you cool during the day and warm at night. The temperature swing is extreme. Otherwise, have fun with it!

We didn’t want to buy new outfits, so we tried to pull from our current wardrobe. Also, in the spirit of no commodification, avoid clothes with logos. I covered up small logos with tape.

• Clear Goggles – Clear goggles or ski masks are a must for sandstorms and something you’ll always have on you. If you get steampunk goggles, make sure they seal well on your face. We got these, and functionally they were great. Next time, we may want to try something more stylish.
• Sunglasses – We brought our ombraz armless sunglasses, which we love for the outdoors. They were nice to hang on our necks when not in use. These cheap ones or fun-shaped glasses (with UV protection) are also great.
• Buff – Another item you should always have on you is a buff. It’s a great way to cover your face when sandstorms come and protect you from the sun. We each brought two to switch to a fresh one midweek.
• K95 Mask – We didn’t use our masks but also didn’t experience crazy dust storms like in previous years. Since they are light and small, pack them just in case.
• Hats – Hats protect you from the sun during the day. We picked up a straw hat at a gas station on the way up for Esther. I also carried this DOD hat on my backpack since it folds up. Just make sure it has chin straps in case of gusts of wind.
• Boots – If you’ve started to do research, you probably have come across accounts and warnings of playa foot, which is a chemical burn caused by alkaline dust. To avoid that, we always wore boots or shoes when we went out, but I also wore slides around camp. If you’re good about wiping down at night, you likely won’t get playa foot. It’s more for people who like to be barefoot all week.
• Daypack – Some people had water bladder backpacks, and others wore fanny packs. For us, a day pack (+ Esther used a fanny pack) made the most sense. You always want to have water, so we brought small daypacks for our bladders, extra layers, snacks, a cup, and a MOOP bag (matter out of place, aka trash). We also put lights on it to light us from behind. I used this Exped Summit Hike backpack with EL wire light through the loops. I also liked having the two pockets on the straps to stash things for easy access. Esther carried her trusty Flashpack.
• Jacket – Bring a warm jacket; fuzzy ones are popular. Esther wants one of these light up ones for next year, but many people have them, so it won’t be unique.
• Kimonos – Kimonos are popular on the playa since it’s comfortable during the hot day. Esther had a white kimono and yellow kimono. I had this white one and brought another oversized white shirt I wore during the day.
• 10x Shirts – We each brought a fresh shirt for each day and two extras if it was extra dusty. It can be nice to have a clean shirt at night. Esther wore bikini tops or sports bras during the day and covered with layers at night.
• Underwear – We only brought one per day with a couple of extras. Some people bring two pairs of underwear daily.
• Socks – Many packing lists also suggest two socks per day. If you sweat a lot or like changing out your socks, bring more, but we were fine wearing one per day.
• Warm Clothes – It can get really cold at night (down to the 40s and 50s). We each brought 2-3 pairs of long johns/leggings. We slept in one at night. Then we had two pairs for going out that we switched mid-week. These were our bottoms for most nights, and we didn’t sweat much since it was cold. For next year, we’ll try to get fun ones that have pockets! We also brought two thermal tops each, but only needed them if we stayed up all night or went out to deep playa.
• PJs – Often, we wore the same clothes day after day, but it was nice to have fresh clothes to change into for sleep.
• Themed Clothes – There are some themed days throughout the week, but not everyone participates. The three we prepped for were Tutu Tuesday (our friend had one with lights built in), White Wednesday (wear white), and Fishnet Friday. Some camps also have themed outfits or days.
• Clean Clothes for the Drive Home – Bring a clean set of clothes that stays sealed in a ziplock bag (we used dry bags) that you can change into on the last day.
• Rain Jacket – It doesn’t typically rain, but it did in 2023. We brought our rain jackets just in case.

Lessons Learned: People spend a lot on their outfits while others wear comfortable clothes. We want to find a happy medium next time and have fun with themed group outfits. Our friends gifted us light-up cat ears, which we all wore one night.

Toiletries

• Sunblock – Bring lots of sunblock to protect yourself during the day. We had a larger bottle for camp and small ones to carry to reapply.
• Lotion – If you’re not used to the desert climate, your skin will feel extremely dry.
• Body Wipes – We used body wipes all week to clean up each night. Having this huge jug of wipes was nice at camp. People also recommend having witch hazel for the playa dust, and these wipes have witch hazel.
• Toothpaste – We like using these refillable tubes.
• Toothbrush – We brought our electric toothbrush with two heads and used these to protect them.
• Mouthwash – We always travel with this concentrated mouthwash (we use it at home, too, since it’s more affordable and sustainable. One tiny bottle equals ten standard mouthwash bottles).
• Towel – We brought pack towels but didn’t end up using them. Oddly, the playa dust keeps you feeling clean. We also didn’t notice anyone smelling like BO. So strange. It’s good to have in case you want to shower.
• Lip Balm (with SPF) – your lips need sun protection too.
• Toilet Paper – bring porta-potty-friendly TP ( single-ply or eco-friendly toilet paper). They were mostly stocked in the porta-potties, but occasionally would run out near the end of the week.
• Eyedrops – If you’re not used to dry climate or your eyes get irritated.
• Allergy Meds – We brought some allergy meds in case the dust bothered us. Since we didn’t get many dust storms, we didn’t end up using them but we’ll pack them for our next burn too.
• Saline Nasal Spray – A saline nasal spray is great if the dust bothers you. We didn’t use ours but will still bring one next time just in case.
• Moleskin – If you’re not used to walking a ton or your shoes hurt, you might get blisters. We didn’t use them but ended up gifting some to our neighbors with blisters.
• Medication – Don’t forget daily medications, painkillers, and tums.
• Neosporin – Useful for any cuts or scrapes.
• Liquid Bandaid – Regular bandaids are handy, but the dust can make it hard for them to stick, and they may fall off and become MOOP. Just remember, some liquid bandaid hurts like a MF.
• Aloe – to soothe sunburns.
• Hand Sanitizer – The bathrooms had hand sanitizer near them, but sometimes ran out. You’ll also want some when you’re out. We had a large bottle for camp and small travel ones in our backpacks.
• Bug Spray – There usually aren’t many bugs on the Playa, but more showed up near the end of the week, most likely hitchhiking in with people. We brought bug spray in case they have unseasonably wetter seasons that bring more bugs.
• Pee Funnel – Esther brought this pee funnel for extra gross porta-potties. Practice using it at home before you go. The first time she tried using it during a backpacking trip, it was challenging.
• Moisturizing Wipes – We had our body wipes but also brought moisturizing wipes for our face.

See More: Recap of Our Endless Caravan

Miscellaneous – packing list for burning man

Here are some random items we packed that don’t fit into the other categories.

• Ziplock Bags – Large storage bags are nice to keep things clean and one for if you come across MOOP. Some people put every outfit in separate ziplock bags, but we didn’t.
• First Aid Kit – some emergency services are available on the Playa, but come prepared with a first aid kit just in case.
• Zip Ties – helpful when securing lights on your bike or anything else. Carry extra ones in case they break.
• Tool Kit – A basic tool kit is good if you need to fix anything in your camp.
• Disinfecting Wipes – We brought two bottles of disinfecting wipes but only used one. It was helpful to clean random items.
• Duct Tape – in case you need to repair or secure anything.
• Work Gloves – if you have a lot of setup and breakdown.
• Scissors – We almost didn’t pack these but used them often and even lent them to neighbors.
• Multi-tool – We also used our leatherman a couple of times.
• Gas Can with Fuel – We had an easy entrance and exit compared to previous years but waits can be 6-8 hours on both ends. Bring extra fuel if you think you’ll run out of gas waiting in traffic.
• Bluetooth Speaker – If you want to play music while hanging out at your camp or have the option to play music while you’re riding around, bring a Bluetooth speaker. We loved this one! I also strapped it to my basket one day, riding around on the Playa.
• Personal Mister – We had amazing weather in 2024, but I used this personal misting fan on the hotter days.
• Walkie-talkies – If you are caravaning to Burning Man, having these walkie-talkies helps when you don’t have service. You can use them on the playa, too, but we didn’t.
• Umbrella for Shade – great for sun protection, especially while walking around the city.
• Art Supplies – If you love doing creative things, bring some supplies for your downtime.
• Fire Extinguisher – Fires don’t happen often, but they do. Be prepared.
• Brush – It’s easier to blow or brush dust off than wipe. When moisture gets on it, it turns to clay.
• Blanket for the Playa – You’ll sit for a while during the man and temple burn. Some people sit on the playa, but it’s nice to have a blanket that packs down small.
• Painters Tape – At your last fuel stop before the Black Rock Desert, you should tape up the outside of your intake vents for your AC system. Dust will get in the vent, and when you turn the car on, the AC will push it into your car. Some people also tape any cracks and seams on the car’s exterior if they don’t need to get in during the week.
• Car Jump Starter and Air Compressor – Both our neighbor’s car and our car batteries died (we didn’t notice our trunk opening, and it drained the battery). Fortunately, our friend had a car jump starter. If camps are tight, it might be difficult to get cars next to each other, so having a battery-powered jump starter is ideal. Plus, having the built-in air compressor helps you deal with flat tires.

Lessons Learned: We’re adding a brush and a car jump starter to our BM collection next year.

Additional Tips

• Focus on the essentials for your first burn. The outfits and themes are fun, but if you don’t have what you need to be self-reliant in the desert, you may become what Burners call a sparkle pony (a drain on everyone around you).
• Keep important documents easily accessible in your car (tickets and car passes).
• Don’t be a darkwad. Be well-lit at night from the front and back. Accidents happen when people can’t see you.
• Pack out everything you pack in. That includes all your garbage, personal items, and gray water. Leave space in your car to haul everything out.
• Trash services outside the Playa will take your garbage for a fee ($5 a bag). We had a rooftop box where we stashed our garbage and drove it home.
• Prepare for extremely hot and cold weather. The weather swings in the desert.
• Get to know your neighbors if you’re free camping. They are your support system and can help you out. Also, offer to lend a hand if you see them needing anything.
• Don’t try to do it all. Rest! It’s exciting when you arrive with hundreds of daily activities to pack your schedule, but treat it like a marathon rather than a sprint, especially if you’re there all week.
• Sleep when you can. Some people flip their schedules and sleep during the day, while others sleep at night. Do what works for you.
• Porta-potties tend to be cleaner on the city’s edges than closer to the center.
• Camps gift food but do not rely on them for all your meals. It’s important to have enough food and water for yourself.
• Load up your car in the reverse order. I made the mistake of loading up randomly and had to unload so much to get to our tent. Also, if you arrive the first night, bring lights to set up.
• Remove packaging beforehand to minimize the trash you have to deal with.
• Always carry supplies with you in case of dust storms. Some last for hours, and you will be staying put. We always had a bladder full of water, snacks, goggles, face covering, headlamps, TP, lip balm, hand sanitizer, cups, layers, and gift items.
• Customize your bike so it’s easy to find at night. Also, park your bike next to stationary objects on the Playa, not art cars, which will eventually leave.
• Staying in a hotel after? Pack a separate sealed bag with what you need so you don’t have to dig through all your BM stuff.
• Stay hydrated!

Anything else we need to add to our packing list for Burning Man? Let us know in the comments below if you have any questions.

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