The Next Somewhere Travel Blog | The Next Somewhere

TheNextSomewhere-MeetMillette-2022

A DIGITAL JOURNAL FOR THE DESTINATION PREOCCUPIED

The Next Somewhere is the travel, food, and lifestyle blog of Millette Stambaugh. Browse through my wanderlists for the top five things to do in cities around the world, cool digs for a good night’s sleep, and the best food finds for those who travel to eat.

Select a country on the interactive map to get inspired!

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Destinations and Places

〘ON THE BLOG〙

Venetian Hotels

TOWNS ON HIGHWAY 1

9 CALIFORNIA COASTAL

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IN TULUM

BACHELORETTE PARTY

Mexico-Oaxaca

TO OAXACA

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

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STREET FOOD IN SAIGON

TW-HappyJumper

TO TAIPEI

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

A dimsum spread best places to eat in SF

IN SAN FRANCISCO

BEST PLACES TO EAT

YOUR WHERETONEXT AWAITS

Use these destination guides to inspire your upcoming travels. Slurp steaming bowls of pho from tiny stools in Vietnam, discover underwater paradises in The Philippines, and take a shot (or two) of soju as you party the night away in Korea.

Destination Guide Vietnam on The Next Somewhere

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Vietnam

Budget-Friendly Food History Nature

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Destination Post The Philippines

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The Philippines

Budget-Friendly History Nature Party

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Destination Guide South Korea on The Next Somewhere

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South Korea

Food History Nature Party

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WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

DIFFERENT STORIES IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

A journey through all the places I’ve lived and loved.
Hold and drag the interactive path left to reveal the full timeline.

1992

Immigrated from the Philippines

2008

Went on Exchange in Thailand

2011

Studied abroad in Italy

2014

Taught in South Korea

2015

Backpacked Around Asia

2016

Moved to Vietnam

2017

Moved Back to the USA

2019

Got Married in Mexico

2022

First Trip Overseas with a Baby!

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《 7 Days in Seoul, South Korea 🇰🇷 》 Seou

《 7 Days in Seoul, South Korea 🇰🇷 》 Seoul, Korea’s glamorous capital, is having a moment! This is a city where modernity and tradition collide.

The question I was asked most about visiting Seoul is where to even begin!? This is part one of my South Korea travel guide, covering my one week to-do list in Korea perfect for any season. While not an exhaustive list, this one-week itinerary in Seoul sums up all the musts for first-timers… all while affording a little extra for those feeling ambitious. Armed with a good pair of walking shoes and the Citymapper app, you can go just about anywhere! Now are YOU ready to do some Seoul searching?
 📍Day 1: Dongdaemun Plaza, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Gwangjang Market, and N Seoul Tower afternoon hike 📍Day 2: Insadong and Imun Seolangtang (oldest restaurant in Seoul). If time permits, check out Ikseondong and the Ihwa Mural Village 📍Day 3: Gangnam for COEX Starfield Library, Han River bike ride to Banpo Bridge (evening rainbow fountain)
📍Day 4: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village
📍Day 5: Ingwangsan Hike, Hongdae shopping and partying
📍Day 6: Myeongdong for shopping and street food eating, more nightlife in Itaewson
📍Day 7: Check out a Koran bathhouse (called Jimjilbangs). Budget and authentic: Sparex in Dongdaemun OR luxury: Cimer Spa at Paradise City in Incheon… don’t miss out on the pool pass 
…. Stay tuned for places to eat while in Seoul 🤤

#southkorea #korea #seoul #korean #koreatravel #koreanstyle #visitkorea #seoulkorea #travelkorea #nextsomewhereinkorea

【SOMEWHERE IN LAOS】 Celebrating my 33rd birthd

【SOMEWHERE IN LAOS】 Celebrating my 33rd birthday with country #53: LAOS! 🇱🇦 Tbh, Luang Prabang was never on my list of places to visit. But I also believe in divine timing and if I never met @sillylittlekiwi on IG, whose love of LPB convinced me to book the trip, I would’ve never discovered a now favorite city.

Birthdays are a time of reflection for me and this birthday especially has been a joyful reminder that I am where I am because of the goodness of others. I am a sum of many big and small moments of kindness, of people who have believed in me and continue to support me near and far. Leo season is a season of sunshine and I feel so very ✨blessed✨ today and all days that I am living a life I love. 2023 has been one of my favorite years of adventure so far and I still have places to go! Now onto my Luang Prabang musts and 1000x credit to @sillylittlekiwi for gifting me with all her favorite places and spaces in her home away from home and my mom for these 🔥📸

◉ Secret gem 🔹 @ockpoptok Living Crafts Centre where you can discover the magic of Laos through textiles. I hand-dyed the blue scarf in this photo using natural plants as part of their treasure hunt activity that I can’t wait to share about.
 ◉ On my plate 🍽 The butterfly pea flower sticky rice and mango at Ock Pop Tok and the fried river weed and jeow tasting plate at Bouang, a French meets Lao restaurant, were *chef’s kiss!*

◉ Do Good 🙏🏽 If you’re interested in learning about Buddhism in Laos, check out @orangerobetours founded by my friend @ltavvy. They employ former monks who are your cultural guides around temples, like Wat Xieng Thong, the most beautiful temple in Luang Prabang (and where I took this picture!)
 ◉ Somewhere Nice 🌞 Catch the sunset from atop of Mount Phousi, a sacred hill situated right next to the Luang Prabang Night Market. Make sure get there an hour early if you want to see the sunset over the Mekong River.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ◉ Cool digs 🛏️Le Bel Air Resort near the Old Bridge is a luxurious and quiet riverside property with a lovely infinity pool, colonial-style rooms, and spacious grounds.   #TheNextSomewhere #PostcardsOnTheRoad #laos #laostravel #nextsomewhereinlaos

【SOMEWHERE IN SOUTH KOREA】 A little bit of Seo

【SOMEWHERE IN SOUTH KOREA】 A little bit of Seoul searching✌🏽🇰🇷
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I finally made the return to South Korea after 6 years to show my daughter Sella where her parents real-life kdrama unfolded, and my whole fam joined me! For those who didn’t know this: I taught English abroad in South Korea in 2014, a year that changed my life forever. Now in 2023: there was soju and samgyeopsal, kimchi and kpop, partying in itaewon and sunset walks up Namsan. But I also did things I never got to do even though I lived there for a year, like hiking Ingwangsan and seeing Bukchon Hanok Village for the first time!! I also discovered this phrase from a famous Korean poem: “I’ll scatter flowers on the road for you (꽃길.)” 🌸 It means wishing for someone to have only luck and happiness along their way. I’ve come to the epiphany that my Korea chapter was the beginning of a life of scattered flowers. Can’t wait to show you all the things (there’s so much!) but here’s the quick guide:

◉ Watering Holes 🍸 Bar Cham ranked the 28th best bar in all of Asia is set in a traditional hanok and serves up a gimbab cocktail. Make a reservation since seats are limited.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ◉ On my plate 🍽 Gwangjang Market gets a lot of love and if you visit, pair the bindaetteok (mungbean pancakes) with makgeolli (fermented rice wine). But I can’t get enough of all-you-can-eat bbq spots in Hongdae. They never disappoint!   ◉ Somewhere Nice 🌞 I loved Bukchon Hanok Village as you can see by the above pic! But specifically visit O’sulloc Tea House for their Jeju teas and Granhand for their fanciful scents.
 ◉ Secret gem 🌊 Everyone knows about N SeoulTower and Lotte Tower, but the best views of the city are from Ingwangsan Mountain. The hike there is sublime walking alongside the ancient city wall. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ◉ Cool digs 💫 Myeongdong keeps you central and the L7 by Lotte Hotel is right next to the subway and has a rooftop foot spa!   #TheNextSomewhere #PostcardsOnTheRoad #southkorea #seoultravel #koreatravel #travelkorea #nextsomewhereinkorea

《Where to eat Crawfish Boil in New Orleans, LA 》 Get your hands dirty while eating crawfish out in the courtyard of Seafood Sally’s (@seafoodsallys ) a favorite spot for a crawfish boil recommended by @wallah_wallah and @nourlibourli . A crawfish boil goes like this: freshwater crawfish are steamed and tossed in butter with roasted garlic, corn, and potatoes, seasoned generously with cajun spices. 🦞 The result: a briny flavor explosion that is as addicting as it is spicy! Order the chargrilled oysters and honey butter cornbread and if you make it for happy hour, expect $1 oysters, $5 wine glasses, and $6 cocktails. Bon appetit!  📍8400 Oak St, New Orleans, LA 70118 | Happy Hour 4-6 pm
 #nolaeats #nolafood #neworleans #nolafoodie #followyournola #eaternola #eatingnola #cajunfood #nextsomewhereinnola

【SOMEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA】 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY

【SOMEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA】 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER, CELEBRATING YOUR BIG 3️⃣0️⃣ IN ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN THE WORLD!! I have had the biggest privilege to see so many places with my equally intrepid sister @yung_murrz ! From eating 2 AM bifanas outside the club in Lisbon, racing through Bangkok on tuk-tuks, scaling active volcanoes in Antigua, zipping through crazy Saigon traffic on the backs of scooters, and spontaneous karaoke sessions out in London Town, I am thankful + blessed to have experienced life and many of its small and great wonders with you! Can’t wait to tick-off another bucket list item in less than a month as we takeover KOREA!!! Love you SEOUL SISTER, enjoy Malta✌🏽🇰🇷

Here are my travel tips for Big Sur—Sad news: as of early April 2023, there is some storm damage to the Highway 1 so you cannot directly reach Big Sur for at least two months on Highway 1 but there are alternative routes to get there:
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ◉ On my plate 🍽 @coastbigsur near Seal Beach Overlook is my favorite little treehouse-inspired eatery. I make the long drive just for their sourdough pizza.

◉ Somewhere Nice 🌞 Hit the Cypress Grove Trail in the early morning at Point Lobos State Park for some moody shots of the cerulean waters with the famous Cypress Trees framing the ocean.

◉ Secret gem 🌊 @refugespacarmel in nearby Carmel, the first co-ed outdoor relaxation spa, is an electronic-free sanctuary with hot and cold dipping pools and surprisingly affordable! You can get a day pass for $67 including bottled water and a robe. But for something truly unique to Big Sur, visit the Esalen Institute for their midnight hot springs open to the public. The reservations are currently closed but if you can plan in advance to score a spot, it doesn’t hurt to reach out. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ◉ Cool digs 💫 @carmel_mission_inn is your gateway to Big Sur, a boutique hotel with a heated pool and an excellent onsite restaurant, Shearwater Tavern, with fun cocktails and a Short Rib French Onion soup that is an ooey, gooey, peppery treat! Also very pet friendly!
  #TheNextSomewhere #PostcardsFromHome #bigsur #californiatravel #creativetravel

《 The Next Somewhere in… San Juan, Puerto Rico

《 The Next Somewhere in… San Juan, Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 》
My creative cup is overflowing after my first experience attending the Women in Travel Summer by @sheswanderful. I’ve been wanting to attend WITS for years now and would have never done it without @theawkwardtraveller jumping into the experience with me! This was also my first time in Puerto Rico despite being a direct flight away from the East Coast. The days were so focused on the conference so I’ll be needing a return trip to “La Isla de Encanto.” Special shout-out to @blindishlatina for teaching me about digital accessibility at WITS — invest in captioning your reels, do those voiceovers, and capitalize your hashtags so transcripts can be read easily by smart readers.

✻ Mural Spotting 🎨 Walk down Calle Cerra in Santruce, a street art paradise. On May 26th, the mural festival @santurceesley is taking place so add that to your itinerary if you’re in town!

✻ Watering holes 🍹 In Old San Juan, @antiguo26 is reimagining the Puerto Rican cocktail, the piña colada. The “Monchito 2020” pays homage to its creator, Ramon “Monchito” Marrero, with a clarified version of the classic drink.

✻ On my plate 🍽️ Chef Natalia Vallejo opened @cocinaalfondo to celebrate Puerto Rico’s culinary heritage and spotlight the seasonality of the island’s ingredients. The food was stunning… I’m still thinking about the alcapurria (frittered plantains) with tuna sashimi and the goat cheese and beet root starter.

✻ Cool Digs 🛌 My friends @theawkwardtraveller @thesojournies @adventuresabound opted for an intimate boutique hotel away from the chaos of the conference and found that solace at the Tropicalia apartments by @dreamers.welcome. There were so many thoughtful touches like a hand drawn map of San Juan and murals decorating the walls.

#LiveBoricua #TheNextSomewhere #VisitPuertoRico #DiscoverPuertoRico #SanJuanPuertoRico

《 First and Only Vietnamese Speciality Coffee Ro

《 First and Only Vietnamese Speciality Coffee Roasters in Philadelphia, PA 》 Happy #AANHPI month! One of my favorite Asian-owned businesses in the USA is @capheroasters . You get a real taste of the Vietnamese cafe scene not only through the specialty beverages like egg coffee and bac xiu, but also through their Vietnamese-influenced dishes. You cannot go wrong with their classic banh mi. This place was born from the Vietnamese expression, “đi uống cà phê” meaning “let’s get coffee!” and I loved sharing that with my friends @thereshegoesagn and @adventuresabound . Founders Thu Pham and Raymond John are transforming the Kensington neighborhood, one cup of cà phê at a time. ☕️ 🇻🇳

📍3400 J St G1, Philadelphia, PA 19134 | Wednesday - Monday from 8am - 4pm

#phillyfoodie #philadelphia #visitphilly #asianowned #coolcafes #cafesofinstagram #phillybucketlist #phillysupportphilly

【SOMEWHERE IN ENGLAND】 Happy Asian American Pa

【SOMEWHERE IN TENNESSEE】 My first visit to Nas

【SOMEWHERE IN TENNESSEE】 My first visit to Nashville left me a believer. If you’re a traveler looking for the good time, even it’s not for a long time, you’ll find that in Music City, the songwriting capital of the world 🎵! Here, music is a religion, barbecue is an institution, and queuing in line for the best music and best food is a given. Shout-out to our local host @tbiggsgorman for all her Southern hospitality! Save this post for a quick guide to this US capital ↠↠

◉ Mural spotting 📷 The “I Believe in Nashville” mural is on 2702 12th Avenue in the 12South neighborhood.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ◉ Watering holes🍻 Honky-tonks are known for three things: country music, dancing, and drinking. Make your way to Lower Broadway and line up early if you wanna get into the iconic honky-tonks, like Tootsies Orchid Lounge. Note: most are kids-friendly before 6 pm when it becomes an adults-only venue. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ◉ On my plate 🍽 As a first-timer to Nashville, it’s contentious for me to say Edley’s (@edleysbbq) is Nashville’s best bbq but their brisket makes a strong case. If you can spare the extra calories, get the fatty brisket for that that melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ◉ Cool digs 🛏️ The Graduate Hotel has a whole lot of personality on display. Make your way to its rooftop bar, the White Limozeen for outrageousness done right and some killer views.

◉ Secret gem 🌮 Never in a million years did I think I would find the best taco I’ve ever had outside of Mexico in NASHVILLE of all places but Mas Tacos Por Favor (@mastacos) is somewhere I will never forget. Special thanks to my girl @sillylittlekiwi for sharing her secret spot with me and @wildsam guides for confirming it as a best.

◉ Somewhere nice ☀️ Take a stroll on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge to capture a view of the city skyline.  ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ◉ In my suitcase 🧳 Woodblock letter press prints from Hatch Show Print (@hatchshowprint), cowboy boots from Boot Barn, and Goo Goo Clusters, Nashville’s official candy.  #nashville #tennessee #musiccity #ustravel #ibelieveinnashville #thenextsomewhere #whenintennessee