#Sixteenbefore16: 1 of 16

To start things of, we decided to get buck wild and venture out to one of the top (if not THE top) craft cocktail spots in San Diego… on a Monday – don’t you judge us! This wasn’t exactly the first time we’d been to Polite Provisions but we threw it on our list anyway since we hadn’t shown face there since early 2014!

Lets just go ahead and say what we’ll likely be saying about every single thing on our #Sixteenbefore16 list: “IF YOU’RE EVER IN SAN DIEGO, PUT THIS ON YOUR TO-DO!” We promise you, we’re genuinely saying it for Polite Provisions – let us tell you why.

Top 3 Reasons we Love Polite Provisions (and you will too!)

1.       Polite Provisions is unlike any other bar

The bar is set up to remind you of a visit to an old school apothecary. From the Menu to the design of the bar (inside and out), you feel like you’re at an old drug store. We have a soft love for places like this and we’ll forever appreciate places with history based set ups – for multiple reasons. In this case, we loved the feel because it takes you back to the late 1800/early 1900’s when soda pop was 5 cents and everyone would gather in shops or in the street to actually SPEAK to each other, intellectually and genuinely. You can’t beat personal interaction, we don’t care what anyone says (sorry Social Media addicts), and Polite Provisions encourages just that. Which brings us to our next reason

2.       Their bartenders are AMAZING, TALENTED, and are actually willing to CONNECT with their customers

You do not find this everywhere. The first time we visited PP we shared an actual intellectual conversation with our bartender and it made us appreciate their business even more. Nothing says “we care” more than a company that actually allows and encourages their employees to take the extra time out to connect with their customers. And on top of that, neither one of us are self-proclaimed craft cocktail drinkers so walking in to places like this, can easily overwhelm both of us. But it turns out, it’s not a bad position to be in here! You can either pick something that strikes your fancy from the detailed menu or you can hit the classic, “what do you recommend” with your server. We highly encourage the latter - let your bartender know your likes and dislikes in the world of cocktails, note if you like it strong or if you like it sweet and then sit back and watch closely while your bartenders creativity takes over. These people don’t just pour the standard Jack & Coke every day, they’re craft cocktails connoisseurs so chances of you actually enjoying your drink are higher – so are the chances of your taste buds doing the cha cha in your mouth!

3.       They have (delicious) drink options (aplenty)

With a 46-custom tap system hosting anything and everything (craft soda, red and white wine, spirits, cocktails, champagne, coffee and beer) alongside the handcrafter libations that are created on the spot using house made bitters, syrups, and tinctures you really do have options for DAYS! Their menu boasts a plethora of amazing options and you may even recognize some of their names: For example: The Johnny Utah is a nod to the movie Point Break (Keanu Reeves character), Mr. Brownstone (Guns N Roses Song), Five-Point-Palm Exploding-Heart-Technique (Kill Bill Reference), and also Troy Baker (For our true gamers. For everyone else, he does a lot of Voice Overs in Video games)

Our Picks for the Night:

Johnny Utah: Tequila, Celery, Absinth, Lime, Simple Salt

Pine Street Sour: Rye Whiskey, Lemon, Grapefruit, Pineapple, Campari

Megs Special: Tequila, Grenadine, Lime, Absinth

Fun Fact: The 2 light posts located in the bar are the only 2 in the country // 1 From New York & 1 from Hotel Del Mar

Top 6 Things to do in Bora Bora... FOR FREE

Bora Bora is one of those places you see pictures of and think “Wow, that looks fake!” or “I really wish I could vacation there…” and you are caught dreaming of all the adventures you would embark on during your dream vacation.  We had the same thoughts about it when we first started looking at honeymoon destinations.  With some good research and planning (all Tey) you can definitely make this trip a reality!

The activities in Bora Bora are seemingly endless with fun in the sun which really makes planning out a day super easy!  When we first got to Le Meridien we were welcomed with a local musical greeting, and yes, it was my first “concert”... sadly enough... but it was a great concert! After the music stopped, we and our bags were swooped up for check-in and off we went into the wild dream of Bora Bora!  Once we checked-in, we were driven out in a golf cart to our overwater bungalow and on the way there, I already had the GoPro out filming everything from sand to the sky, this place is beyond words. It's truly something you must experience. Though pictures and video don't do it justice, we were snapping pictures and recording video as often as we could when weren't too busy picking our jaws off the sand.

Once we arrived into our beautifully set-up overwater bungalow with gifts everywhere, I went straight out back, disregarding the room (and my wife’s comments on how amazing the room was), to look at the water for signs of animal wild life…which I FOUND!  “Shark!!”  Tey thought I was just being a clown but when she walked out to back patio, she saw the 8ft. shark swimming right by our ladder to the water!  One would assume that after the sighting of a shark I wouldn’t get in the water but instead my maniac mind instantly told me to strip into my swim trunks and dive in the water and swim with these beasts…so I did.  Think before you act people! (Disclaimer: Almost every local we talked to about the sharks claimed that these beasts were “just like dogs”. HOWEVER, we do not recommend or encourage you to go swimming with these legless, wild, probably rabid, water “dogs”)  The good news is, after that, it was smooth sailing.  Following my “near death experience” (according to Tey), we ate lunch at the resorts lunch restaurant and decided to grab water gear on the way back to our room and went off exploring. 

Here are our Top 6 picks for FREE things we did in Bora Bora. | SIDENOTE: Please don't judge us off of the pictures and lack thereof. We went on this trip previous to deciding we wanted to share our travel journeys with others so most pictures that we captured were for the purpose of filling our "Honeymoon Photo Album". |

1. Snorkel

For starters, if you can stay in the overwater bungalows, we encourage you to do so as it gives you quick and easy access to the lagoon right off your patio!  Jumping right off the back patio into 20ft of crystal clear water to swim/snorkel with sharks, stingrays, and fish I can’t even describe, is something to take full advantage of.  The snorkeling in Bora Bora is some of the best in the world and I must say we did our fair share (mostly me because Tey only likes her fish dead and on a plate and not alive and in her face)!  The snorkeling is 100% free and 100% amazing.  If you stay at Le Meridien, All you need to do is walk down to the rental shack on the beach and check out the gear.  Once you do that, the gear is yours to keep until you leave the resort!  This allows you to snorkel whenever you want and wherever you want during the day without needing to get the gear over and over again.  If you are a morning person like myself, (because I’m the morning person between us, while Tey thoroughly loves her sleep) I recommend getting in the water with the sunrise and really get the experience of all the activity that happens that early.  Don’t forget your GoPro and don’t worry, the water is super warm!

2. Paddle Boarding

Another one of the great activities that came free with our stay at Le Meridien.  This is the same concept as the snorkeling where you check the gear out from the beach shack. Only difference being that you’ll have to turn your board in after you are done.  After only a couple visits to the beach shack, we basically became best friends with Mataeo who works there.  Mataeo, along with everyone else at the resort, is super friendly and is always able to answer all the questions you may have about good areas to go snorkeling or kayaking at.  If Mataeo is not talking with anyone, he most certainly was playing ukulele, soccer or volleyball on the beach (what a job!). 

Paddle boarding in Bora Bora is an amazing experience.  You get to freely navigate the lagoon area chasing eagle rays, turtles, fish, and if you really want to brave the adventure like I did, look for some sharks and hop in with them!  This was one of our favorite activities - get some sun while exploring and get great pictures and videos on your GoPro.  Although I hadn’t been paddle boarding before, it seemed fitting for my first time to be in Bora Bora!

3. Kayaking

The kayaking we did at our resortwas top of the line all around!  Sign out a kayak from the beach shack and off you go!  You can go wherever you want in the lagoon (outside of the “highway” on water, of course. Unless you really want to play chicken with the commercial boats and Jet Skis that are always passing.)  We recommend circling whatever island you are staying on, unless you are on the main island which would take you all day, and exploring all the beautiful hidden beaches and corals all around.  If you love snorkeling coral reefs, packing your snorkel gear is an absolute must.  You will find amazing color at every stop and turn!  If you have a GoPro…bring it!  We snagged one of the GoPro sticks for snorkeling before we left and it made taking pictures and video so much easier!  

4. Volleyball and Soccer

If you are a fan of sports in the sand…then what better beach to do it at than Bora Bora?!  During our stay, there was usually game going on at the beach with a few guests and employees having some fun.  My only recommendation is to drink tons of water if you play (don’t be like me and almost die from heat exhaustion)!

5. Relax (Island Style)

Hammocks, Infinity Pool, massage.  These may seem like the all too familiar “activities” to do on vacation…but let me tell you, nothing beats hitting the salt water pool then getting a deep tissue massage right after.  I don’t know about you guys, but after I get a massage, a nap is in order and taking a quick snooze in a hammock is the only way to do it!  Be sure to purchase your massage before you get to the resort and it will save you some cash! Another one of our favorites was grabbing chilled coconuts from the resort and chugging like there's no tomorrow. Don't ask us how, but we didn't even think about ordering these bad boys until our final days at the resort and to this day we regret not thinking of these as soon as we arrived. Best coconuts we've ever had!

6. TURTLE LAGOONARIUM

The Sea Turtle in Bora Bora (also called the honu) is considered a sacred animal.  They are believed to be an emanation of the powerful ocean gods.  Our specific resort, Le Meridien, developed a preserve for Sea Turtles to live in 1991.  They rescue injured Sea Turtles from the wild, nurse them back to health and release them back.  They do morning feedings for the Turtles every morning at 10:30 a.m. which is a MUST see!  You can even sign up and get in the water with these magnificent animals for free (if you choose to stay at this resort) so be sure to take advantage of it all you can!

Moral of the story? Take full advantage of all the amazing and free stuff they have at the resort you choose to stay at…it surely poses many adventures!