Get a Taste of the Arizona Fresh Foodie Trail®
Ready to embark on a culinary adventure? The Arizona Fresh Foodie Trail® makes every bite something to savor. Discover the hidden gems and culinary hotspots that make this trail a must-visit for foodies visiting the area. Don't miss out on this gastronomic delight - read the full article now!
The Mesa area is vast, sprawling area that's developing with every passing second, even as you read this article. While I was there it was a unique experience to see the development and land and the area's ability to spread out and have space. Step out on the Fresh Foodie Trail and take a bite at a new adventure!
Driving into Mesa
Drive to Mesa with your own car from wherever you are or you can opt to fly. Mesa visitors flying into Phoenix can easily rent a car from Hertz or Enterprise at the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport. Then you can explore Mesa, Queen Creek, and Gilbert as desired. You can pick up and drop off at the airport so you don't have to drive willy-nilly around town.
San Diegans looking for a close trip can find a foodie haven in Mesa, Arizona. The flight from San Diego to Phoenix takes under 90 minutes, then it's a modest drive from Phoenix into Mesa. Mesa is similar to San Diego County in that it's spread out and covers a large area. You might go from Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert, or Queen Creek at any given point, just like you might have brunch at your favorite spot in Downtown San Diego, hike in Torrey Pines, and then drive up north to walk the pier in Oceanside.
Exploring the Arizona Fresh Foodie Trail
Visit Mesa has a full brochure and information you can check out on their website.
Queen Creek Olive Mill
Address: 25062 S Meridian Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
If you enjoy high-quality extra virgin olive oil, then you have to pay a visit to Queen Creek Olive Mill, a blossom-to-bottle agritourism destination in Queen Creek, Arizona. Queen Creek Olive Mill has a radiant rainbow of extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars that you can both sample and purchase. Take the Olive Oil 101 class while you're there to learn how the special process they use to make extra virgin olive oil and they'll also teach you how to correctly taste olive oil, which I found really interesting!
Schnepf Farms
Take the family for peach picking at the Schnepf Farms peach orchards while in season during May. Visit in autumn for The Pumpkin & Chili Party, an epic fall festival.
The Cozy Peach at Schnepf Farms
Address: 22601 E Cloud Rd, Queen Creek, Arizona 85142
Schnepf Farms has been growing peaches for over 50 years, offering a 8 varieties of peaches to the Queen Creek area. Now Schnepf Farms added glamping in restored vintage trailers to its repertoire. Guests can camp in style in one of the trailers, each has its own theme and designated decor.
Agritopia
Agritopia is huge, it's quite impressive. The idea of Agritopia started back in the 1960s when the Johnston family purchased the land and built their home. They nurtured the farm into what it is today, a thriving hub that brings the community together. Agritopia has a residential portion, a farm, Joe's Farm Grill, a coffee shop aptly named The Coffee Shop, and Barnone, which houses a dozen local artisans.
Barnone
Address: 3000 E Ray Rd, Gilbert, Arizona 85296
Barnone has a range of makers selling their work, from woodfire pizzas at Fire & Brimstone to ice cream at Cream of the Crop. I visited Garage-East for a wine tasting and their meat and cheese board. Sit around the table to chat at this bright wine bar. The wine tasting at Garage East has six wine tasters of your choice; they come in cool little test tubes. Take a moment to savor the art on the walls as you sip your wine.
Hayden Flour Mills at Sossaman Farms
Address: 19101 E Ocotillo Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
Hayden Flour Mills is on a mission to bring the art of stone milling to the foreground. Tour the mill and learn more about the ancient and heritage grains. They have a pretty epic shop with items like purple barley berries, gazelle rye flour, pancake mix, emmer farro crackers, and more, so you can get a taste of ancient grains yourself.
Cider Corps
Address: 31 S Robson Suite 103, Mesa, Arizona 85210
Cider Corps, a veteran-owned and family-operated business, has two taprooms in Mesa and Gilbert, Arizona where they sell craft cider and canned cider. Thirsty patrons can come to Cider Corps and order a taster flight to sample a few of their options like the Mango Foxtrot with mango and rosehip or the 40 Myke-Myke, a collab with Myke's Pizza made with honey, as well as ancho and arbol chiles for a spicy kick.
Jalapeño Bucks
Address: 3434 N Val Vista Dr, Mesa, Arizona 85213
People come to Jalapeño Bucks for the bbq and burritos. They have a bunch of burritos to pick from, whether you're into the Green Chili Shredded Beef, Red Chili Shredded Pork, or the Brisket, Bean, and Cheese.
True Garden Urban Farm
Address: 5949 E University Dr, Mesa, AZ 85205
True Garden Urban Farm is the first and only facility of its kind in Phoenix where they grow living produce vertically without soil or rainfall. Only solar power and water are used. You can buy commercial or residential aeroponic tower farms, seedlings, or take a class to learn how it all works.
Proof Bread
Address: 125 W Main St, Mesa, Arizona 85201
Spare yourself the 11-hour flight to Paris. Instead, you can enjoy a delightful array of pastries from Proof Bread in Mesa, Arizona. So flaky and flavorful! Take a look at their website to learn more. 🥐
Other spots to check out:
The Orange Patch
Address: 3565 N Gilbert Rd, Mesa, AZ 85213
Steadfast Farm at Eastmark
Address: 5111 Inspirian Pkwy, Mesa, AZ 85212
Superstition Dairy Farms
Address: 3440 S Hawes Rd, Mesa, AZ 85212
Vertuccio Farms
Address: 4011 S Power Rd, Mesa, AZ 85212
The Windmill Winery
Address: 1140 W Butte Ave #48, Florence, AZ 85132
Arizona's Fresh Foodie Trail allows travelers to try fresh food from local farms, locally grown produce, wine tasting, live music, agritourism attractions, and everything you need to have an enjoyable time in the Mesa area. Visit Mesa has loads of information on different eateries on the Fresh Foodie Trail so you don't have to spend hours researching destinations, what's there, and why it's good.
If you're already based near Mesa and Scottsdale, then you might have time to pursue, taste, and get to know the nooks and crannies and morsels of the area. If you're a tourist or out-of-towner like myself, then save room because there are a lot of great places to check out. There's a lot to experience.
3 Years as a Remote Worker: Blogging Coach, Social Media Manager, & Travel Writer
Read my updates from Year 1 & Year 2!
Blogging + Influencer Events
Interested in social media management, help, or consulting? Fill out my Discovery Questionnaire & I'll get in touch with you within 48 hours.
Freelance Writing & Remote Work
Travel Influencer
What is a Blog Coach & Consultant? What is a Blogging Coach?
Interested in social media management, help, or consulting? Fill out my Discovery Questionnaire & I'll get in touch with you within 48 hours.
Press + Media
Read my updates from Year 1 & Year 2!
Q&A with SoundSnobz
Age:
Troy: 26
Troy: London
Photo by Skyler Greene Photography |
Best Places to Stay in Porto, Portugal
The view of Porto, Portugal & the Douro Valley. Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel is the yellow building. This is one of the best places to stay in Porto as far as location! |
About Carmen
Planning Your Trip to Porto
If you’re considering where to stay in Porto, Portugal, first ponder about what you want to do while you’re visiting. Porto tourism continues to grow, so there may be some crowds depending on the time of year.Create a list of 10 or more things to do in Porto. How far are you from those things? Ideally, I try to be within a 30-minute transportation ride away from the bulk of my to-do list/what I want to do; the occasional outlier is fine. Ultimately, you don’t want to be commuting for an hour each way every day- that’s a waste of precious time.
What Are Some of the Best Places to Stay in Porto?
Decide if you’re more of a hotel person or an Airbnb person. Porto tourism means there are plenty of choices. I have options for both, so read them all or scroll down to find what you’re looking for. Based on actual reviews, these are some of the top-rated, best places to stay in Porto.Homes with a view of the Douro River. |
Best Hotels to Stay in Porto
InterContinental Porto - Palacio das Cardosas – Stare at the beautifully restored interiors. InterContinental Porto Palacio das Cardosas overlooks Liberdade Square. You can find the famous Livraria Lello bookstore & São Bento station within a close walk of the hotel.
Pestana Palácio do Freixo, Pousada & National Monument – Pestana Palácio do Freixo has gorgeous views overlooking the Douro River. The 18th-century palace was built by Nicolau Nasoni. Pestana Palácio do Freixo is part of the "The Leading Hotels of the World." This is easily one of the best places to stay in Porto.
Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa – Reviews show that past Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa guests appreciate the hospitality, the rooms, & the amenities (sauna, fitness center, Wi-Fi) but felt as though it might be out of the way for the average tourist. It's modern decor & facilities make it a popular choice.
Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel – Eat breakfast with waterfront views of the Douro River at Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel - World Heritage Site. The Pestana hotel building & location date back to the 16th century. This is a seriously stunning area if you're wondering where to stay in Porto, Portugal!
Infante Sagres – The Hotel Infante Sagres is a historic luxury hotel. It underwent renovation & reopened in April 2018. Notable decorative features of the Infante Sagres include ironwork, carved wood detail, & stained glass panels.
Spot Apartments Porto – The hip, cool rooms at Spot Apartments Porto feel homey, unlike your a boring, sterile hotel room. Spot Apartments Porto guests seem to love the location, clean and spacious apartment, & the friendly staff.
There are so many hotels & accommodations in the area. Scroll down to search the map to find where to stay in Porto, Portugal.
Blue & white azulejo tiles in Porto - if you look closely, these are all individually painted tiles! |
Search for Hotels in Porto
Best places to stay in Porto, Portugal - Hotels, Airbnbs, & other accommodations. |
Airbnb Accommodations
Sign up for Airbnb with my link & get $40 off your booking. That could be a free night's stay somewhere! I stayed in Airbnbs in Amsterdam, Netherlands; Oslo, Norway; Tijuana, Mexico, & manyyyyy more cities/countries.Other Sources of Information on Porto
Visit Portugal - Information on Porto tourism & Portugal.Visit Porto & the North - News, events, things to do, & information on Porto & the area north of Porto.
Visit Porto - Information on Porto Card transportation, trip planning, entertainment in Porto.
Why are Diptyque Candles so Expensive?
The Diptyque candle set comes with five fragrance favorites:
Baies - featuring notes of blackcurrant & Bulgarian rose.
Figuier - featuring notes of the fig tree
Feu de Bois - featuring woody notes
Roses - featuring notes of changing roses
Tubéreuse - featuring notes of the tuberose flower
Size & Value
The 5-count set is an excellent way to test Diptyque candles without committing to the bigger, ultimately more expensive sizes. Each candle is 1.23 oz, about the size of a shot glass, so that's $11 per shot glass-sized candle. For reference, a 2.4 oz Diptyque candle retails at $35, & the 6.5 oz candle retails for $65. So, unless you find a Diptyque sale, the $55 Nordstrom Sale price is a fantastic value.Where To Buy Diptyque Candles
My candle care tips (for any candle brand)
The first light is the most important; be sure to keep the candle lit until the wax melts across the entire first layer. This will help you avoid the dreaded tunneling effect or memory ring. Once the ring is formed, it doesn't go away. Always burn until the entire top wax layer is melted. Always trim your wick before relighting.The One Thing to Keep in Mind
There is no denying that Diptyque is a luxury scented candle brand with quality, powerful ingredients. However, don't expect these little guys to fill a big room. Because the candle surface area is small, there is less wax melting & thus, less scent to be dispersed. If I had gotten a larger candle, I believe there would be more scent emanating throughout the room.Worth the Money? The Verdict
Is Diptyque Worth It? The candles smell incredible. When cared for, they burn evenly. The packaging is chic. They last long. They look gorgeous in photos. They make me feel fancy. The candle set makes a thoughtful gift for a candle lover. If you value candles, this is a great value.San Diego Influencer: What is Influencer Marketing? What Do Social Media Influencers Do?
I'm a blogger.
I'm an influencer.
I'm a social media manager.
I'm a blogging coach.
I'm a freelance writer.
I'm all of the above!
There are so many buzzwords these days - blogger, influencer, influencer marketing, engagement - but what does it all mean? Well, some have different meanings, some are similar, & some are industry words much like you'd view on a resume. I don't go around introducing myself as a San Diego influencer in all instances.
I've written over 500 blog posts & hundreds of posts on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, over the years. I've had a blog since 2011, long before I ever had an Instagram page. I majored in journalism & decided I didn't want to spend my life at a newspaper, the next best thing was a lifestyle blog. In 2011, it wasn't about followers, it was about finding a place on the internet where you felt at home. What a different time! In 2017, I quit my corporate job to find the next step for me: freelancing, remote work, writing, social media management.
Read my yearly freelancing anniversary updates from Years 1, 2, & 3!
Hanging out & hiking in Julian, California. |
When I do social media management for small local businesses & other clients, I'm a social media manager. What does a social media manager do in a day? Read here. When I'm completing contracted writing for magazines, I'm a freelance writer. If I'm invited to a restaurant opening in San Diego, it's probably because of my blog or social media accounts, so in that case, I'd call myself a San Diego influencer.
I remember attending a press trip for Visit El Paso in 2018 & talking to a man in his 50s. He was on the press trip too, but more on the event planning side, I was on the blogger side. He asked me about the term "influencer" & asked if that's what young people refer to themselves as these days. It was a good question.
Click here to contact me. I'd love to learn more about you & your top business needs.
Related reading: Life in Quarantine as a San Diego Blogger + Social Media Manager from April 2020
What Are Influencers vs. Bloggers?
Influencer marketing isn't just in San Diego or the United States, it's all across the world. There are influencers everywhere, from San Francisco & Los Angeles to New York & Paris & Warsaw, Poland. Overall, being a top blogger, influencer, etc. really depends on the person & what they want to be called. Generally, a blogger has a literal blog. Whether on WordPress, Wix, BlogSpot, SquareSpace, what have you, a blogger is a blogger because of a blog.
Someone who blogs is a blogger; someone who knits is a knitter; someone who plays basketball is a basketball player. It's more about the action, not about semantics.
Read this post for a whole exercise on how to find blogging inspiration & blog ideas.
An influencer might not have a blog but instead has a social media presence, such as Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, the list goes on. PS, read this blog post for tips to increase your Facebook reach. So because an influencer could be on any/all social channels, the term influencer is a general description of what we do. Social media influencers have influence because of the followers & online presence they've created, similar to a blog, but in a different capacity.
For example, at one point in May 2020, I had up to 2.2 million monthly viewers on my Pinterest profile. Is Pinterest social media?
A blogger might also have an active social media presence, & an influencer could have a blog. Because there isn't a magical exact preciseness to it all, each person might refer to themselves as something different! You can view examples of what a person calls themselves on their blog or social media channels, sometimes in their email signature.
Have questions about influencer marketing in the city of San Diego? Click here to contact me.
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What is Influencer Marketing?
Both the top influencers & bloggers create content, write (whether it's captions or blog posts), take photos, negotiate, & so much more. Whether you are a therapist, beauty brand, or a beach towel company, there are ways to improve engagement, get a follow or two, increase visits, increase page views to your contact page, & more.
Influencer marketing is basically like user-generated marketing for the brand; they essentially hire the influencer to do work, ie. content or photos & then share it with their family, friends, audience that they personally developed.
Sometimes I'm a lifestyle blogger, travel influencer, travel writer, social media consultant, the names change because I'm all of them. It depends on who I'm speaking to or what I'm doing! When I went on that press trip in Texas, it makes sense that I'm a California blogger/San Diego influencer since I'm coming in with a California perspective & California viewers make up one of my biggest percentage of followers.
Want to contact me? Click here.
What Do Social Media Influencers Do?
Lifestyle influencer marketing revolves around things people use, eat, or experience on a regular basis, such as tea or a toothbrush or a short trip with family. After the Texas press trip, I created content on my blog. I found a particular aspect about El Paso that I loved & felt my followers & Google searchers would be interested in or would search for later. I wrote a blog post about Franklin Mountains State Park & then shared that content on my social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TripAdvisor).
Going on the press trip gave me content to write about; it gave me experiences, memories, & furthered my own blogging/influencing career by being part of a full-on fly me out, pay for my hotel room type of press trip! In return, the influencers/bloggers create content, take photos, or tag the brand, link to the website, generate interest, views, website clicks, or bookings, etc.
A lot of times a top influencer becomes an influencer by being themselves. For example, I wrote a post about rainbow eucalyptus trees in Balboa Park, San Diego (which you can read here) & it started getting organic search traffic from people Googling fun things in San Diego or where to see rainbow eucalyptus in San Diego.
As an influencer or blogger, you don't work for someone else, it's your platform to use as you wish. As an influencer, it becomes a business that the person chooses what's best. They can choose if they want to work with fashion & style, news, beauty, travel, food.
And remember: it's not always about the number of followers, how much reach do they get? How much engagement?
For example, I had a campaign with Del Taco to promote the Beyond Meat range of burritos & tacos. As someone who has been meat-free for 15 years, I was already buying this product. It made sense to me when the email popped in my inbox about doing a sponsored post on Instagram to talk about it. Make money talking about something I already used, ate, tried? Yes, please. Take a look at my Instagram post!
If you'd like to contact me, click here.
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Examples of San Diego Influencer Marketing Events I've Attended
- I went to an event at Home & Away Encinitas for Thorn Beer. They invited foodie influencers to attend. These are regular people. Most of them have a day job, a life other than influencing. These are people who love food & probably post about it frequently, perhaps they use certain hashtags to find new followers. Take a look at my Instagram post about the event & experience here.
Related reading: Encinitas Coffee Shops: Searching for the Best Coffee in Town
- I was invited to the opening of the Scripps Ranch location of Juneshine. View my Instagram post from that event. This event was a bit younger, more modern, & fresh. Most influencers were young, under 40. It's all about the brand, Juneshine is a hard kombucha, which might have a fun, fresh young audience compared to a craft beer brand. The influencers you invite to your event should reflect your brand!
- I attended a mindfulness app launch party in San Diego a few years back at the start of influencer marketing. There was a range of professionals - not just bloggers. Each professional might have a different niche & audience, whether influencer or other local business representatives.
Is Influencer Marketing Free? What Does it Cost?
I've been invited to events across San Diego County. Sometimes a public relations company contacts me via email or sometimes you get a quick Instagram message about something from a brand itself. Each company or event is different. Sometimes there are no requirements for a particular event, they just invite you to feel free to post or not post. Sometimes they want you to post a couple Instagram Stories & other times it's more involved. This is where certain influencers have the leverage to have sponsored posts, posting fees, or other requirements, especially if a lifestyle influencer has a large following/reach. And yes, sometimes there is payment, depending on the campaign or type of sponsored collaboration.
Contact me or see about Coaching, Consulting, & Management for your small business.
On a press trip in Lompoc, California with Explore Lompoc. I wrote Fun Things to Do in the City of Lompoc, California on my blog. |
Finding an Influencer for Your Business
From La Jolla, Balboa Park, Del Mar, all the way up to Julian, there are events, restaurant openings, local businesses all around San Diego that could use lifestyle influencer marketing. It's all about finding the correct person for your brand. One influencer might offer daily posting on Instagram about local eateries to try in San Diego County while another might share home decor tips. Follow a few to get a feel for who's out there.
Related reading: How to Set Effective Personal & Business Goals So You Actually Get Things Done
You made it all the way to the bottom so what's the next step? Sometimes you have to take a leap & see what happens. If you need some help, I work with businesses on their engagement, blog writing, social media content, & more.
Whether you live in the city of San Diego or somewhere else, your business might benefit from influencer marketing. Have a question about social media influencers or small business influencer marketing? Contact me. Interested in social media management, help, or consulting? Fill out my Discovery Questionnaire & I'll get in touch with you within 48 hours.
Testimonials
“Very good job going above and beyond my request for stats. Appreciate you putting your critical thinking hat on when looking at the data and extrapolating actionable insights. This is excellent as we continue to test and tweak.” - R.W.
"Carmen helped me prioritize my goals for my brand as a whole. She provided me with skills to improve my decision-making in everything from blog topics, gauging my audience, and making my personality really shine through in my work." -K.S.
"I have so much more clarity about the direction we are headed in--and we are already seeing results! I implemented her SEO strategy a few weeks ago and in the past week we have started to see more referrals through Google. Most importantly, these are quality referrals that have booked with us right away and been eager to pay our full fee. Carmen keeps me accountable to my goals and also provides feedback on my marketing. I send her 90% of our content before it goes out, and she always thinks of ways to make it better." - C.A.
Want to hire me for social media management, consulting, or something else? Fill out my Discovery Questionnaire & I'll get in touch with you within 48 hours.