Destinations and Delish - Travel & Restaurant Insights with Krisha Chachra

The word Aulani in Hawaiian means "messenger of the chief." In the case of the Disney Resort on the southwest side of O'ahu, Hawaii, the chief is the Hawaiian culture itself and the messengers are the people of the island speaking through the intentional design, decor and art of this thoughtful layout. The towers are shaped as boat houses and mirror the misty Ko'olau Mountain Range behind the resort. In the middle of the water features (including a lazy river, splash park and tropical "rainbow reef" fish lagoon perfect for snorkeling), rises a volcano with two water slides. Many of the rooms have washers and dryers - typical of Disney vacation club resorts. Finally, the calm cove spills out to the Pacific Ocean and offers opportunities for guests to paddle board, swim safely, snorkel and take an outrigger canoe ride out to sea - channeling your inner Moana! Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

🙊 Kids can look for small statues of the Menehune, shy, mischievous people of the Hawaiian mountains, all around the resort - and don't skip the scavenger hunt. It's magical!
🏄‍♀️ Sign your children up for the kids club beforehand to meet Disney characters, including Moana, without the lines! Adults can relax at the adult-only hot tub or visit the spa.
🥑 The resort has two main formal dinner areas including the intimate AMA'AMA and breezy Makahiki - where you can also book a character breakfast. Other quick cafes are located around the resort or you can walk across the street for local food and Starbucks.
🌺The Olelo Room is a bar and lounge serving Hawaiian cocktails and appetizers - and is the only establishment on the island where everyone on staff speaks Hawaiian. Shadow boxes of images - such as animals, rainbows, numbers, household items - are carved around the bar with the Hawaiian names under them so you learn some new words!
🎨 The resort boasts the largest collection of Hawaiian art in the world. All artists featured are native Hawaiians.
🖼️ Sign up for make your own Mickey Ears, painting or stargazing (The Hawaiians were wayfarers and voyagers who used the stars for navigation) at the activities desk.

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Have you dined at elegant Limani yet? With an aura of Mediterranean flair and faux olive trees blooming in the middle of the restaurant, it's easy to trick your mind that you are experiencing a moment on the Amalfi.
This new restaurant has found its sea legs with a variety of fresh fish, lobster, octopus, and other delicacies from the ocean that may be handpicked from their ice-case display. Open for lunch and dinner in the heart of Phillips Place in South Park, diners can choose a 3-course prix-fixe menu or select a variety of Greek meze including vegetarian plates of grilled mushrooms, zucchini, peppers, eggplant, arugula and halloumi cheese.

Order: Try the tomato salad, spanakopita and Limani chips - delicious fried zucchini and eggplant served with kefalograviera cheese and tzatziki. You can't go wrong with picking a fresh seafood entree.

Seating: Ask for a table in the back of the restaurant so you can see the beautiful, expansive dining area. Or one facing the glass toward the kitchen to watch the chefs at work.

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I've been on a lot of exciting boats in my lifetime - but without doubt, this sail down the Panama Canal was unforgettably thrilling. We started cruising South from Gamboa (about Midway down the Canal) after the last boat headed north at noon cleared us. From 85 feet above sea level we took a ship's equivalent of stairsteps down to the ocean. Everyone knows what a scientific and engineering feat this structure is - and how many years, lives and financial deals it took to build. But the thing that stood out to me was how massive these ships are that carry our commerce all over the world 🌎 - Delivering our items: food, natural gas, petroleum, cars and other goods and services on time.

What's in it for Panama? These gigantic ships pay upwards of $200k - $500k just to pass through the canal. The cost is determined by size and weight. Records show the highest paid for passage for one ship is $1.3 million. But a lot of money is being left on the table, especially this year as the rainy season doesn't produce as much water as before. In Panama, the rain is on everyone's minds. And here's why:

☔Since the locks operate on natural, fresh rain water and runoff from the mountains that gets recycled, lower levels of rain mean curbing the frequency of higher weighted ships as drag is needed for safety.
⛴️ On average, 35 ships pass through the canal a day. But this season, only 25-29 ships can pass daily due to lack of rainfall.
💲 With ships paying $200k-$500 a pop to pass, that's millions of dollars in potential revenue lost a day, just because of rain (or lack thereof). And the shipping companies also can't load the containers at efficient levels in fear of being overweight - based on the water levels.

It's not only the wildlife that depends on the rainy season here in Panama (see crocodile picture!). It's the economy too.
🙏🏽🦜🌿🐊☔🌎💲⛴️

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Speaking of independence 🇺🇲, have you ever dreamed of traveling solo? Without your kids, spouse or anyone to tell you where they want to go? Or maybe you're a seasoned solo traveler and now you prefer it that way. If you've ever wanted to go somewhere but couldn't find anyone to go with, don't let that stop you - in my article in July's SouthPark Magazine, I explore the benefits (mental and physical) of solo traveling and give you tips on how to dive in and try it for yourself.
🌎Traveling solo does not mean traveling alone.
❤️ You're more than likely to meet friends and helpful locals while traveling solo or in a tour group as an individual.
✈️ Explore what you want, try new foods, and push yourself out of your comfort zone when you travel solo. You never know what you'll discover about you!
👏🏽 Charlotte-based solo travelers Achint Patel and Nesha Pai share why they love solo traveling - and hope it unlocks their creativity, productivity and passions.

Read more in the link below or pick up a hard copy this month.

https://southparkmagazine.com/the-soulfulness-of-solo-travel/

Destinations and Delish - Travel & Restaurant Insights with Krisha Chachra

Brew time🍺: Open tap. If the stretch on 51 - Pineville Matthews Road in South Charlotte needed anything it was an elevated beer bar for young-at-heart parents to hang with their friends. Enter Open Tap. A refreshing afternoon outing choice where the choice is yours on what you drink. Owner and real estate investor Scott Thorne sums up the vision for his pour-your-drink concept by telling us he wanted to bring the "outdoors inside". The family-owned business used locally made wooden tables sourced from trees in Charlotte and included Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) panels from Austria for the roof - a first of its kind in Charlotte. Other highlights include the turf grass lawn with putt-putt holes which provides outdoor fun for the kids; the treehouse-like mezzanine in the middle of the gathering space, and a thoughtful space specifically designed for food truck parking.

Order: Show your ID and credit card when you enter to get a wristband and then taste the variety of hand- selected beers, sours, wines, and prosecco by the ounce. When you're done, simply drop your wristband in the drop box on the way out and your credit card will be charged for what you consumed.

Seating: Arrive at noon when the place opens and secure one of the "hell yeah tables" (when it came to design, the family used its motto - "If it's not a hell yeah, it's a no"). Kids like to play in the fenced-in, outdoor area so grab a long bar table by the artful centerpiece tree or the patio picnic- style tables outdoors to keep an eye on them.

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Brew time 🍺: Suffolk Punch in South Park. This welcomed new edition to SouthPark Mall in the back of the food court that spills out to a new patio section between Dick's sporting goods and The Container Store, is a perfect respite during your shopping hours. Treat it as a destination if you're looking for an adult beverage and have your kids in tow. The 11,000 ft² tap room houses an all-season outdoor pavilion - and once the garage doors are thrown open the kids can run around in the turf grass patio area, the playground with slides, and the mini stage - as long as no organized trivia games are going on.

Order: Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner - and brunch on the weekends - patrons can try a variety of beers and cocktails all ordered by QR code from the table. The menu mirrors the original sister location in South End. The salads are well- portioned and made-to-order. You might have to ask for extra sauce on the wings - but the sandwiches and appetizers are filling, and made with fresh ingredients.

Seating: They don't take reservations on the weekends, but if you can get there before the dinner crowd, snag some shared seating on the long picnic tables in the outdoor pavilion. It's the best place to keep an eye on the kids playing outside.

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