Coming soon to a theater near you, "WE MET ON A PLANE"

Happy February, my fellow localphiles! Love is officially in the air (pun intended). Just in time for V-Day, cue the launch of a great new site, We Met On A Plane. Think Craigslist's "Missed Connections," but much more practical! According to the Huffington Post, 4,400 people search for "met on a plane" on google each month, so there's clearly a market here.

Sometimes you're having a great conversation with your seatmate, but then that xanax kicks in and you're out like a light! By the time you wake up, you can't even remember where you are, let alone your flirty banter from 5 hours ago! He asks for your number, and you hear "Did you have a good slumber?" Just me?

Anyway, in true localphile spirit, we encourage you to chat with your fellow travelers. If this tool helps connect you with your future husband/wife/life travel partner, what icing on the cake!

Get ready for plenty more Valentine's themed posts this month. As you know, travel is my Valentine. For now. January was a tough month for travel, but our bank accounts are finally recharged and begging to see some foreign transaction fees!

Until next time,

Lindsey

IN LOVE WITH SAN FRANCISCO

Want to fall in love with San Francisco? In less than 3 minutes you will. Thanks to Jaunted for the great clip.

I'm moving.

-Justin

A BETTER LA BRUNCH

More often than not, we living in Southern California are often at brunch on Saturday and Sunday mornings. It's basically drinks, or catching up dinner for the weekend...it just happens only on the Saturday or Sunday. Ok, enough with that.

My friend Noah, suggested that Lindsey and I, prior to the LA Times Travel Show, grab breakfast at Nickel Diner. Noah makes pretty great suggestions (i.e. Cliff's Edge, Street), so I followed his word and Lindsey and I headed downtown Sunday morning to see what we'd been missing. Cutting to the chase here...Nickel Diner is exceptional. One of the best breakfast experiences I've ever had in Los Angeles.

It maintains it's charm from the 1940's with the old menu still painted on the wall. Re-opened in 2008 after extensive renovation, Nickel Diner doesn't cease to amaze. From their homemade pop-tarts (they had apple or pumpkin when we went), to their famous Maple-Glazed Bacon Donut...all the fare is great. Refills on coffee, mimosas offered the minute you sit down, and probably the best bacon I've ever had in Los Angeles. The kicker is this...it's priced like breakfast should be. Two meals, two drinks, a homemade pop-tart and Lindsey and I were splitting a $22 breakfast. $11 breakfasts in LA seem almost non-existent.

So next time you're looking for a great breakfast and you don't want to weather the lines on Melrose or 3rd, and you have a real craving for a homemade pop-tart (cause who doesn't), you should head to the Nickel Diner for an old fashioned breakfast.

-Justin

I HEART NY

This video has been making the rounds this morning. It's well worth 5 minutes of your time. Andrew manages to capture the true local flavor of New York City - no easy task! I love how authentic and unexpected some of his images are. You really get a sense of everyday New York, and the people who make up that wonderful city. Take a look:

A Year in New York from Andrew Clancy on Vimeo.

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

-Lindsey

A CASE FOR MOONLIGHT

When most people think about skiing adventures, they think Tahoe or Vail or Wintergreen...when I think of skiing, or just getting away in general, I would have to side with Montana. Most people aren't aware of how surreal and breathtaking (no hyperbole there at all) that Montana is. The great thing is, that most don't know about Big Sky or Moonlight Basin, and due to that fact, they both stay real local. Also, when combined with Big Sky's runs, it's the biggest skiing in America...so, there's that.

Moonlight is above Big Sky on the mountain, so you're lodging at around 9500'...and it's apparent. The balconies on the cabin that I stayed in over looked the entire mountain, valley and surrounding areas. The picture to your left was taken looking off the balcony of our cabin. Postcard? Alright then.

Moonlight Basin is probably one of the most nostalgically lodge-y places I've been to. In that I mean that it's what you think of when you think of skiing, log cabins and luxury. Every cabin is different, employing the same basic feel/look.

"Choose from cozy cabins to ski chalets, or spacious and secluded mountain homes." Moonlight Basin really does have it all, and they provide so much to their guests...it's truly a flawless mountain experience. We're talking outdoor hot tubs, grills on the balconies, stocked wood supplies for their wood burning fireplaces, satellite TV in every room and heated tile floors so you don't freeze your toes off in the mornings. Oh...and boot warmers. No big deal. But yes.

The lodge is just as inviting. With ice skating, a heated out door hot tub, the classiest bar on the mountain (they're one of the only places with Hendricks Gin) and an incredible restaurant.

Getting up to Big Sky is a bit of a hassle, but it's well worth it. There are daily flights in via United, Delta and Frontier. The trip is pretty short if you're flying one way, but there are only 2 one way flights from LAX a day. Nevertheless, it's an amazing experience that shouldn't be forgotten about just because of the air travel.

So next time you are looking for a ski resort that is more locally focused, a bit more homegrown and with the biggest skiing in America, look no further than Moonlight Basin.

Who's going with me?

-Justin