Hawaii opens its doors to vacationers. However, there are still several protocols that tourists need to follow.

On 15 October, Hawaii started providing visitors an easier alternative. Instead of requiring tourists to undergo a 14-day quarantine, would-be visitors must undergo testing, at least 72 hours before mainland departure, proving that they are free from the COVID-19 virus. Although this new Safe Travels protocol was supposed to start on the first day of September, the State of Hawaii had to suspend the program due to the sudden spike in cases. Yet, does Hawaii really want visitors now?

“I want people to come if they are fully prepared to test, know that they are healthy and are prepared to wear a mask,” mentions Lt Gov Josh Green, one of the leaders of the program. “If they do all those things, we are excited to resume our relationship with old friends,” he continues. He adds, however, that “…we are very mindful of risk, and we’re just trying to begin the process of a healthy restoration of our economy. We are not pushing for any large numbers. We just want to begin to kind of shake off the rust.”

To participate in the program—and to be given the chance to enter the state, all would-be visitors are required to undergo testing. This is a mandatory protocol that includes testing children who are aged 5 and above. Aside from the tests being done at least 72 hours before leaving the mainland, they should also be undertaken by accredited testing centers or health care agencies.

Green advises travelers to consult their chosen accredited testers regarding their own testing protocols. He mentions that some of these testing centers do not provide testing for children. Some merely offer COVID-19 tests to children who are 12 years old and above.

Nevertheless, the COVID-19 home testing kits from Hawaiian Airlines can also be used for testing purposes. Vault Health mentions that children can do their saliva-based COVID-19 test, as well. Big airline companies that provide Hawaii flights also offer travelers the option to take the test at the accredited clinics or have them done at the airports. They can also opt to do the home tests, as well.

A few of these airlines provide faster test results, too. For a fee of $250, United Airlines offers rapid testing at the San Francisco International Airport. For this kind of test, results are provided in a few minutes. Travelers can also obtain the tests from Walgreens and CVS.

However, the tests may only allow travelers to enter Hawaii. Traveling between islands may require vacationers to undergo additional COVID-19 tests, though. This is a protocol that applies not only to tourists but to Hawaiians, as well. They will also need to do the necessary 14-day quarantine each time they reach a new island.

Additionally, a second COVID-19 test may be requested from visitors, four days after arriving in Hawaii. This allows the government to make sure that visitors are, indeed, negative from the virus. Records suggest that 1 out of 1000 visitors are known to have come up positive during the retesting.

If you want to get away for a relaxing Mexican vacation, there’s no better place to do it than Valle De Guadalupe.

Known as the “Napa Valley” of Mexico, Valle De Guadalupe is situated in the northern part of Baja California, just a short trip from Tijuana. If you live in Southern California, it’s the perfect place for a weekend trip, but people from all over should consider it as a vacation destination.

Today, we’re going to talk about 5 unforgettable things you need to experience in Valle De Guadalupe. Whether you’re looking to lounge on the beach or visit some world-class wineries, Valle De Guadalupe has got you covered.

1. Let Your Inner Wine Lover Out

The main reason Valle De Guadalupe is such a popular tourist destination is becuase of its nickname – the “Napa Valley” of Mexico. It’s one of the largest producers of world-class wine in the world (the Baja California region produces 70% of Mexico’s wine), so oenophiles flock from all around to visit the amazing wineries in the region, take tours, and even visit museums.

There’s no shortage of wine tours available to keep you busy for your entire stay, if that’s what you’re looking for. The wineries range from small family owned establishments to world-renowned wine brands, so you’ll be able to experience the full breadth of the Mexican wine industry.

2. Try Some World-Class Restaurants

Where there’s wine, there’s usually fine dining, so you won’t be surprised to find some of the best restaurants in Mexico in Valle De Guadalupe. The best thing to do is get some research done ahead of your trip and pick the restaurants you want to try, becuase you won’t be able to visit them all.

If you want to play it by ear, you might benefit from asking some of the locals where they eat. There’s no better way to experience Baja California than by doing as the locals do.

3. Enjoy An Excursion Through the Country Side

Once you’ve got your fill of great food and wine, you might want to see some of the natural beauty that surrounds the area. Fortunately, there are a couple of unforgettable sightseeing options available to you.

Fans of offroading will enjoy both the ATV or Moto Tour of Valle De Guadalupe. These allow you to experience a fun jaunt through the countryside with a trained guide. Just remember to go before you’ve had too much to drink.

Another important aspect to consider when preparing to go on an atv trip is maintenance. Take your atv into an atv repair shop to make sure it is in tip top shape before going out. There’s not much worse than getting out on the trail, sometimes miles out, and having engine trouble.

4. Or Fly Over It

If you’re not an offroad lover, then you’ve still got one amazing sightseeing option. Try out a hot air balloon ride over the valley and you’ll be treated to some truly unbelieveable views of the town and the surrounding country side, which is covered in expansive wineries. This is a serious bucket list experience.

Enjoy Your Trip to Valle De Guadalupe

So, why not make Valle De Guadalupe your next vacation destination. Not only will you be able to cross a few things off your bucket list, like taking a hot air balloon ride or visiting a tiny Mexican winery, but you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the natural beauty as well. There’s enough to do for a longer vacation, but it’s close enough for a weekender as well, which is what makes this Mexican Napa Valley so special.

If you enjoyed this post, come back again for more on travel, food, and wine.

Are you one of those people who ends up eating more the colder it gets? Studies have shown that many of us are guilty of eating more in the winter months. That’s why eating healthily during this period is more important than ever.

You’ll need some vegan fall recipes to keep you warm and healthy! 

Read on to find out the scoop on the best vegan comfort food which is delicious and full of vitamins.

1. Pumpkin Soup With Toasted Pine Nuts

Perfect for the spooky season! You will need:

• 4 cups of roasted pumpkin
• 1 can of coconut milk 
• 1 cup of onion
• 3 garlic cloves
• 2 cups of vegetable broth 
• 1 cup of pine nuts 
• Salt and pepper to taste 

1) Sweat your onions in a large pan for 10 minutes until golden.

2) Toast your pine nuts in an oven whilst the onions sweat.

3) Add in your roasted pumpkin, garlic, coconut milk, and salt and pepper to the pan.

4) Boil for five minutes. Blitz with a blender until a chunky consistency.

5) Toss pine nuts over soup and serve!

2. Vegan Chilli 

Tasty and ideal for a crowd. You will need:

• 1 cup of onions
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 cup of carrots
• 1 cup of squash 
• 1 cup of peppers
• 1 cup of mushroom
• 1 can of chopped tomato
• Paprika, cumin, chili, salt, and pepper 

1) Sweat the onions for 10 minutes.

2) Add the spices and garlic, stir for 2 minutes.

3) Add the vegetables and sweat for 10 minutes until they start to get soft.

4) Add in the chopped tomato and cook for 30 minutes. Top up with water if it gets dry.

5) Add a dollop of plant cream and serve!

If you fancy amazing vegetarian and vegan food akin to these recipes, check out True Food, a vegetarian food restaurant that has locations across the country. 

3. Vegan Mug Cake 

Perfect for a quick fix when you want a sweet treat. You will need:

• 1/4 cup of dairy-free milk
• 1/4 cup of self-raising flour
• 1/8 cup of sunflower oil 
• 1/8 cup of caster sugar 
• a pinch of bicarbonate of soda
• frozen fruit such as strawberries or raspberries

1) Combine all the ingredients in a mug.

2) Put the mixture into the microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds.

3) Take out and eat!

4. Creamy Squash Pasta 

When you fancy something indulgent. You will need: 

• One-pot of dairy-free cream
• 2 cups of roasted squash
• 1/2 cup of onions
• 2 garlic cloves
• Chilli flakes
• Squeeze of lemon
• 3 cups of pasta 
• Salt and pepper

1) Cook the pasta in boiling water for 10 minutes.

2) Sweat the onions and garlic in a pan.

3) Add the pasta to the onions pan and add the squash, chili, and lemon.

4) Pour on the cream and season. 

5) Warm up the pasta mixture in the pan and serve!

5) Stuffed Squash With Lemon and Sage Quinoa

If you want an impressive dinner party main, look no further! You will need:

• 2 squashes, cut in half
• 3 cups of quinoa 
• 4 cups of vegetable broth
• Fresh sage 
• 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper

1) Roast your cut in half squashes in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour.

2) Boil your quinoa in the vegetable broth for 5-10 minutes until fluffy.

3) Add the juice of the lemon and sage to the quinoa and season well.

4) Remove squash from the oven and place the quinoa on top to serve.

6) Mushroom and Leek Gnocchi 

Something a bit special for the midweek dinner rotation. You will need:

• 2 cups of porcini mushrooms
• 1 cup of leeks 
• 1 cup of dairy-free cream or creme fraiche 
• 3 cups of gnocchi 
• 3 garlic cloves
• Salt and Pepper
• Pinch of nutritional yeast 

1) Boil the gnocchi in water for a couple of minutes until they rise to the surface.

2) Saute the leeks, garlic, and mushrooms in a big pan with some oil.

3) Add the cooked gnocchi and cream to the big pan and combine.

4) Sprinkle on the seasoning and nutritional yeast and serve.

Vegan Fall Recipes: What Next?

We hope you enjoyed these delicious vegan fall recipes that are perfect for those people who want to try out something new but not too challenging.

And if you enjoyed this article, check out our other blog posts!