Travel

Detroit Travel Guide | Where To Eat, Stay, & Play

By Esperanza on June 16, 2025

Detroit, Detroit hotels, Detroit restaurants, Detroit boutiques, Detroit coffee shops, things to do in Detroit, where to eat in Detroit, where to shop in Detroit, travel guide, travel blogger, family travel, family style, family blogger, travel blogger, The Urban Darling.

We recently got back from a trip to Detroit, a city I have always wanted to check out. The reason we traveled to Michigan was to attend a funeral for Andrew’s grandparents. I am really glad we were able to go, and it was so nice being able to meet more of Andrew’s family. We decided to tack on a few extra days onto our trip so we could explore “motor city”. Sage was going through something which made it a little tough, but we still had a lot of fun touring the city, and making fun family memories. Both Andrew and I agreed that we really like Detroit. It’s highly underrated, and we were so glad we got to check it off our list of U.S. cities to visit. In this blog post, I will be sharing all of the things we did, where we ate, shopped, and where we stayed!

6 Things To Do In Joshua Tree, CA

By Esperanza on June 9, 2025

Joshua Tree National Park, Joshua Tree Travel guide, travel guide, mini travel guide, Joshua Tree coffee shops, Joshua Tree boutiques, Joshua Tree, family travel, family style, family trip, family vacation, travel style, California, California style, national parks, family blogger, travel blogger, lifestyle blogger, baby boy style, dad style, men's style, mom style, women's style, boho style, The Urban Darling.

Joshua Tree had been on my radar for a while thanks to all the unique boutiques and desert charm I kept seeing on social media. When we finally made it out there—during a jam-packed California trip—we only had one day to explore, but we made the most of it! From browsing adorable local shops to checking out some must-see spots around town, we packed a lot into a short visit. In this post, I’m rounding up all the fun things we did during our day in Joshua Tree so you can plan your own quick but memorable trip.

San Diego, California, USA | Travel

5 Things To Do In San Diego

By Esperanza on June 5, 2025

San Diego, San Diego hotels, San Diego restaurants, San Diego boutiques, San Diego coffee shops, things to do in San Diego, where to eat in San Diego, where to shop in San Diego, travel guide, travel blogger, family travel, family style, family blogger, The Urban Darling.

We had the best time in San Diego during our California trip! Of all the destinations we visited, we spent the most time in San Diego, although we both agreed we could have used at least one more day because there is so much to do. Andrew had always wanted to go to San Diego, and I was eager to explore more of the city, especially since my previous visit with my parents only allowed for a quick day trip. We managed to check off so many things on our list, though there were still plenty of experiences we couldn’t fit in. We’ll definitely have to plan another trip there in the future! In this post, I’m sharing five things to do in San Diego based on our itinerary while we were there.

Baby | Travel

Our Minimalist Must Haves For Traveling With A Baby

By Esperanza on

Baby travel essentials, travel essentials, baby must haves, travel essentials, family travel, family style, travel style, family travel must haves, baby style, must haves, essentials, travel, travel blogger, The Urban Darling.

We’ve been doing so much traveling together as a family this year, which we absolutely love, although traveling with a baby certainly comes with its challenges! We just got back from our trip to Detroit, which was our first flight this year, and we have another trip coming up to Colorado in June, which we’ll also be flying for. We drove to our other travel destinations earlier this year, so we were able to bring a bit more with us. But when you’re traveling through an airport, it’s definitely easier to pack lighter. This inspired me to share our minimalist travel essentials for flying with a baby. I hope this blog post is helpful for other jet-setting families!

Malibu, California, USA | Travel

5 Things To Do In Malibu, CA

By Esperanza on May 29, 2025

Baby, beach, baby boy, Point Dume, El Matador, Malibu Pier, Malibu travel guide, Malibu, California, California trip, California travel, California beach, Malibu beach, family trip, family travel, family photography, dad style, mom style, family style, baby boy style, beach style, family blogger, travel blogger, The Urban Darling, travel guide, Malibu travel guide, Malibu Farm.

Malibu is popular beach town west of Los Angeles, known for it’s beautiful beach front properties, surfers, and world class dining and shopping. We visited Malibu for a few days during our California trip. It was my second time visiting, and I loved it so much that I really wanted Andrew to experience it as well. It was such a great trip for us because Sage got to go to the beach for the first time, and Andrew proposed to me there! In this blog post, I am sharing the things we did while visiting Malibu.

Joshua Tree, California, USA | Travel

5 Cute Boutiques To Shop In Joshua Tree

By Esperanza on May 23, 2025

I love unique local shops, and Joshua Tree had a large number of them for such a small town! Whether you are looking for vintage clothing, handcrafted home decor, or sundries, there is a shop for everyone. Plus, the aesthetic of all of these shops is super cool! I always get design ideas for my own home at spots like these. In this blog post, I’m sharing 5 cute boutiques we checked out in Joshua Tree.

San Diego, California, USA | Travel

5 Cute Boutiques To Shop In San Diego

By Esperanza on

After exploring Balboa Park, we headed to the nearby North Park neighborhood, where there is a ton of amazing shopping and dining. We checked out this adorable boutique Pigment, and then stopped at Lovesong Coffee for our afternoon coffee. Afterward, Andrew stayed there for a work meeting, and I explored more of the local boutiques in this area with Sage in his stroller. I love checking out local boutiques, and there were so many cute ones on the same block as the coffee shop. I am highlighting the boutiques I popped into in this blog post!

Malibu, California, USA | Travel

A Mini Travel Guide To Malibu, CA

By Esperanza on May 22, 2025

I loved visiting Malibu a few years ago with my sister, and I knew it was somewhere I wanted to take Andrew and Sage when we were planning our family trip to California. I’m so glad we were able to squeeze it in! The scenery in Malibu is absolutely gorgeous, even on overcast days like the ones we had when we were visiting. We made so many amazing memories during our time in Malibu, like Sage’s first time on the beach and our engagement at El Matador. It’s a place we will always remember! In this blog post, I’m sharing what we did, where we ate, and where we stayed in this beautiful beach town.

Los Angeles, California, USA | Travel

Our Stay At The Gjelina Hotel In Venice Beach

By Esperanza on May 14, 2025

Venice Beach, Los Angeles, Gjelina Hotel, Los Angeles hotels, Venice Beach hotels, hotel review, hotel stay, travel blogger, family travel, family style, hotel style, hotel design, hotel lobby, modern hotel, modern design, Southern California travel, boutique hotel, family blogger, The Urban Darling.

Andrew and I loved this boutique hotel in Venice beach, Gjelina Hotel. The eclectic interiors felt like art deco style meets French countryside, and we were obsessed! With beautiful courtyard areas, a balcony with an ocean view, and a gorgeous lobby, it felt like we were stepping into a different world. It was such a dreamy hotel, and we had an amazing time during our stay there. We wished we could have stayed for at least a week! I will be sharing more of our experience at Gjelina in this blog post.

San Diego, California, USA | Travel

5 Cute Restaurants To Eat At In San Diego

By Esperanza on May 13, 2025

During our trip to San Diego, we ate at some fabulous restaurants! Andrew is a chef, and I have always been a foodie, so we really enjoy trying new things together. Sage loves to eat too, so it’s super fun for us to experience it together. I love visiting restaurants that have amazing interiors. It makes the atmosphere and experience so much more enjoyable. We are both Italian, so we had to dine at some Italian restaurants, and I am a sucker for a cute coffee shop. In this blog post, I am highlighting the 5 restaurants that we ate at in San Diego!