Hawai`i was my home for 5.5 years. The Aloha State is abundantly gorgeous, the weather is nearly perfect, and the aloha spirit is truly unique. 

My nieces are visiting Hawai`i for the first time next week so I'm finally gathering my thoughts and photos to create something useful for them, and for you, if you're planning a visit to Hawai`i. Enjoy this post on Hawai`i {What to See}, the previous post on Hawai`i {What to Say}, and keep an eye out for the third and final post on Hawai`i {What to Eat}.

There are three very specific things that I want you to see while you're visiting Hawaii. It doesn't matter if this is your first and only trip or your 90th, each visit to the islands is different and these three specific categories are always relevant.

​Of course you'll see all of the gorgeous sun, sand, creatures, and nature, but I challenge you to take a look into the past of Hawai`i and to learn a thing or two about the United States' history there as well as Hawai`i's own unique history.

The three specifics that you should see in Hawaii`i are:

1. See the history of the US in Hawai`i
2. See the unique history of Hawai`i
3. See as much of Mother Nature's offerings as you can

Finally, a recipe post! It's been quite some time since I've shared a recipe and this one has been years in the making. 

Tortellini Soup with Lemon and Dill is comforting, warm, delicious, and makes a lot of soup. It's best served with garlic bread and shared with many friends or relatives. You are going to LOVE it.

If you're looking for more recipes, click here and search no more. 

Five years, and five winters ago, I moved from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Seattle, Washington... in November. Then, now, and for every cold and rainy winter, my winter wish list consists of soft blankets, tall socks and good boots, snow on Christmas, hot cups of coffee, and bowls and bowls of soup.

This is my absolute favorite soup recipe. I've made it at least 20 times and have changed it up over the years to make it just right. It's damn near perfect now! The key ingredients are, as you might guess, the tortellini, dill, and lemon. Feel free to add and remove veggies to your liking, just be sure there are a TON. The cheesy tortellini float around like rafts on a warm summer lake (OMG clearly I love summer and just want it in this bowl!) and the lemon and dill add so much brightness and flavor. 

It's so easy to make, just be sure to keep those tortellini separate if you're not eating it all at once. I've made this for friends many times, for my husband and I at least once a month in the winter, and my favorite instance - after snowboarding all day!

​Please enjoy this lovely soup on your favorite cold wintery day. It would make a perfect lunch on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day between cookies and hot cocoas!

Hawai`i was my home for 5.5 years. The Aloha State is abundantly gorgeous, the weather is nearly perfect, and the aloha spirit is truly unique. 

My nieces are visiting Hawai`i for the first time next month so I'm finally gathering my thoughts and photos to create something useful for them, and for you, if you're planning a visit to Hawai`i. Enjoy this post on Hawai`i {What to Say} and keep an eye out for the accompanying posts: Hawai`i {What to See} and Hawai`i {What to Eat}.

Aloha! A visit to Hawai`i is something remarkable regardless of if it's your first trip or your 50th. When you arrive to the islands, some words you'll hear won't be what you're used to. Some things that you may have learned to say from Hawai`i via TV shows and movies may not be just right once you're there. There will be a few phrases and words on this list that you won't know you need until you're in Hawaii, with your day to day life across the ocean behind you! 

Fav 5 Travel Guides are a short list of the best things I've found to do, see, eat, or drink in a particular location. This guide is for Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure Park, both located in Anaheim, California. 

For more on these two parks see the Fav 5 Disneyland and Fav 5 Disney's California Adventure. If you just can't get enough we've got a whole Disney section here at Figs and Flights.

My husband and I met in Honolulu, Hawaii, where we both used to live. I couldn't have wished for a better hometown for a spouse than one that's within an hour's drive to Disneyland. The first time I traveled home with him he obliged me with a trip to Disneyland. 

That was 9 years ago and he and I will both tell you that the addition of my Disney-loving sister-in-law, Renee, to the family has made the Disney situation better for both my husband and I. I visit the parks with Renee at least once, often times twice, every time we come to town while my husband and his brother get quality time with their immediate family and away from the parks. It's a win-win situation for us all. 

During our Thanksgiving visit this year we managed two trips to the parks: on the Monday before the holiday and on Thanksgiving Day! Most people thought we were crazy for going on Thanksgiving and those doubters even had me worrying that the parks were going to be similar to an overcrowded zoo. Luckily the Thursday crowd was just slightly more noticeable than that Monday. It was actually more fun to be surrounded by other kids-disguised-as-adults who threw tradition to the wind and prioritized MAGIC over turkey and football. Disney decorates for Christmas just after Halloween so the parks were decked out in their holiday best for our November visits.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is my hometown. I visited twice last summer and gave you two Fav 5 Travel Guides (part 1 and part 2) plus a little tour of my favorite hometown park, Kennywood! 

This year I visited "da Burg" again and now you're looking at Part 3.

On this year's trip to Pittsburgh we checked so many good spots from the list. You'll enjoy my hyper-local favorite bakeries, plenty of regional coffee, some South Side spots, a celebratory dinner, and an Italian meal to remember. 

1. Regional Coffee - Sheetz and Dunkin Donuts
2. Neighborhood Celebrities - Mancini's Bread and Better Maid Donuts
3. A sober South Side Morning - BYS Yoga and Doublewide Grill
4. Celebrating in Station Square - the Grand Concourse
5. A visit to Sewickley - dinner and dessert Mambo Italiano