Elizabeth Gonzalez

As an American married to a Tahitian, I first experienced French Polynesia as a wide-eyed traveler—and now, as a local. Mo’orea is a place where nature, culture, and community intertwine beautifully, offering travelers something beyond paradise and luxury. Curating journeys here allows me to share the magic and everyday wonder I’m lucky to call home.

I grew up in Houston, which means Austin is the place we drove up to for birthdays, long weekends, and any excuse to round up the group. Over the years, I have learned that the Austin worth visiting lives a few turns off the tourist trail: in spring-fed swimming holes, in East Austin taquerias grinding their own masa, and out where the Hill Country wine country begins. This guide is built for crews, because Austin is at its best when you take it on together. Bring your people, and let’s make it a proper Texas weekend.

Montrose is where I grew up, and it is the beating heart of LGBTQ+ Houston. This is the neighborhood I am proudest to share, and it is built for groups: friends marking a milestone, a chosen family reuniting, a Pride weekend, or anyone who wants to feel completely at home away from home. Whether you have a weekend or a week, I want you to experience Montrose the way locals do—slowly and with a healthy appetite, with great art, even better food, room for one more plate, and ready for a beautiful day in the gayborhood.

I spent three magical years living in Portland before moving across the world, and the city left a permanent mark on me. This is a place of people who hone in on their craft and make it exceptional, whether it is coffee, beer, wine, food, or gardening, and you feel that devotion everywhere you go. For friends, families, girls’ trips, bachelorette weekends, and milestone celebrations, the magic is in the proximity: world-class rose and Japanese gardens, the pinot noir of the Willamette Valley, standout restaurants and breweries, and natural wonders like Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge, all within easy reach. Between the great outdoors, the wine, the brews, the funky karaoke bars, and the quirks that keep Portland weird, there is something here for every kind of traveler and every kind of celebration.

Growing up in Houston, New Orleans was THE road trip, the place my friends and family drove to for birthdays, festivals, and celebrations of every kind, and it is still one of my favorite cities in the country. The birthplace of jazz blends French, Caribbean, and Creole flavors into a culture you can hear, taste, and feel the moment you arrive, whether you come for Jazz Fest, the French Quarter Festival, Mardi Gras, or a Halloween and Christmas you will never forget. It is also one of the best group destinations in the United States, suiting friends, families, girls’ trips, bachelorette parties, and milestone celebrations alike. New Orleans gives every group its perfect night, from a rowdy karaoke set on Bourbon Street to a white-tablecloth jazz brunch in the Garden District. I built this guide to help you gather your favorite people and celebrate the way locals do, with great music, even better food, and plenty of room to wander.

When people ask me where to go in France beyond Paris and Provence, Annecy is always my first answer. I am admittedly drawn to places where the water is the center of everything, and Lake Annecy does that in a way that almost defies description. The lake is one of the cleanest in Europe, its color shifts from jade to deep turquoise depending on the hour, and the Alps rise so sharply behind it that you genuinely feel held by the landscape. So much more than “the Venice of France,” Annecy offers cobblestone canals and a medieval old town right beside some of the most serious mountain adventure in France, all wrapped in a dining scene that holds more Michelin stars per square kilometer than almost anywhere in the country.

FIFA World Cup 2026 is bringing the world to Houston, and I cannot think of a more fitting host city. Houston is the most ethnically diverse major city in the United States, and that diversity lives loudest in its food. You can eat your way through a dozen countries in a single afternoon without leaving the city limits. This guide covers the Downtown and Midtown corridors closest to match activity, with a few well-worth-it detours. These are the places I take the people I love most when I am in the city that raised me.

Argentina holds a special place in my heart. As a young Latina woman, I studied abroad and lived in Buenos Aires, where I fell in love with the warmth of the people, the richness of the cuisine, and vibrant culture. This itinerary reflects the spirit of that experience—designed to help you connect with the true spirit of this beautiful country.

Holbox is where I celebrated my own honeymoon, sharing long swims, incredible tacos, and beautiful pink sunsets with my person. Sharing the water with whale sharks by day and paddling through bioluminescent seas by night felt like a magical way to honor the once-in-a-lifetime experience of getting married. This Holbox honeymoon itinerary highlights the places and moments that made our own trip unforgettable.

Huahine is one of the places in French Polynesia where daily life, culture, and landscape still feel deeply intertwined and untouched by mass tourism. As an American living in Mo’orea with strong family ties to Huahine, I have spent meaningful time on the island and maintain personal relationships with many of the people who shape its hospitality scene. This allows me to design trips that go far beyond logistics, offering travelers access to the quieter, more authentic Polynesia of yesterday. Huahine is not about spectacle, but about presence, heritage, and connection.

There’s something wonderfully immersive about London: rich history, modern energy, and neighborhoods that each feel like their own little world. From free museums to tucked-away markets and beautiful parks, the city invites you to wander. It’s a place best explored slowly, with room for detours.

Guadalajara, the soulful capital of Jalisco, is where my heritage, my love of food, and my love of mariachi all collide. I created this Guadalajara food guide to spotlight the restaurants I dream of returning to, the chefs reimagining Jalisco’s classics, and lively spaces where every meal feels like a celebration.

Often regarded as the cultural heart of Mexico, Jalisco holds a special place in my life thanks to my family roots there. Guadalajara, its vibrant capital, is the birthplace of both tequila and mariachi music—two icons of Mexican heritage. This region is a phenomenal destination for groups, immersive cultural experiences, exclusive access to world-class distilleries and festivals, incredible cuisine, and pure fun. Just an hour from Guadalajara lies the Pueblo Mágico of Tequila, where cobblestone streets and agave fields invite you to slow down and savor the essence of Jalisco. Book to discover the dynamic and soulful spirit of Mexico.

Years ago, I arrived to French Polynesia as a wide-eyed traveler. Now, I bring local insight and lived experience to help you explore the magic of these islands. Curating journeys and bespoke escapes to Polynesian paradise allow me to share the vibrant energy of the islands that I feel privileged to call home.