At this point, I could be busy just writing about everywhere I’ve been in Mexico. I’ve done Guadalupe Valley, Cancun, Tulum, Cabo, Tijuana, Cozumel, Punta Cana…the list goes on. So when I say Mexico City is different, trust me I’ve done the research (and have been more than once).

San Francisco buzz that once was all about Tulum as the travel hotspot has now shifted to Mexico City. If you want romance, Michelin-star food (at all ends of the price spectrum) that will alter your brain chemistry, and a city that feels like something out of a Spanish fairytale…Mexico City is it.

Let me paint a picture for you. Leafy shady green streets, old architecture, plenty of museums, those coffee and pastry mornings you daydream about while at your 9-5, and candlelit dinners that feel so romantic without even trying. We even got massages one afternoon between wandering and eating, which just made it feel like the kind of trip where you can actually breathe (when you finally unzip your pants from eating so much).

How Long to Stay

Even though I have a lot of great things to say about Mexico City, would I recommend it for a full week? Probably not unless you want to do some serious adventuring like the hot air ballooning or ATV’ing around the pyramids (or take the uber scooter like we did haha- SO MUCH FUN). But for a long weekend? 100% yes yes yes yes yes yes.

My boyfriend and I after dinner at Pujol

My favorite place I’ve stayed in Mexico City was the St. Regis! FYI: St Regis Mexico City is all about princess treatment. They tricked our room OUT with roses and chocolate and the rooms come with a personal butler who will pack your suitcase for you… like OKAY YUP WE LOVE THAT YES.

My hotel recommendation: St. Regis in Mexico City. Extremely central to everything and unmatched service. The spa was incredible and the buffet was top-notch.

Let’s Talk Food (Because That’s the Whole Point)

Disclaimer: If you are trying to diet do not come here. Like I am not even playing with you HAHA. This city is the epitome of “we eating gooood tonight!” Guac until I feel sick, full loaded margaritas, fish, corn—corn especially. Corn. The C-O-R-N. THE CORN!

I fear if anyone has a hot take on the Mexico City corn scene it will be me. The best I had was at a spot called Em. They served the corn with salt rubbed into the husk which was laid in a fat pool of yummy yuzu butter sauce. I could’ve actually drunk the sauce. The chef watched me go feral for this, literally acting like a fool eating the sauce so he sent over extra corn HAHA. I sat in the chef’s counter seats which sits two, you absolutely need to request this as a couple. Like if you guys had a Saturday prime time dinner res in the normal seating or a Sunday kind-of-off reservation time.. I would go with the Sunday “weird time” just for these seats. And yes, I’m about to commit a food sin: I liked it more than Pujol’s corn. Which.. has been featured in Netflix’s “Chef’s Table.” Don’t cancel me. pls.

The Chef’s counter at Em

We also hit the world’s cheapest Michelin restaurant, where I literally got to make tortillas by hand and flip the beef with them sooooooo for about 0.5 seconds, I was technically a Michelin chef.

Between that and hitting one of the top-rated bars in the city (and the world) it felt like a trip made for people who love food and want the option of nightlife without having to go hard. And trust- you got the option and the nightlife is nightlifing.

A mix of different foods, including the iconic mole from Pujol and guava pastry from Panadería Rosetta

The Slower Side of CDMX

Both times I’ve been to Mexico City I did things on the slow side. My favorite was all of the museums. They’re so good we actually bought basically an entire exhibit of artwork from a prisoner whose art was featured in Roma Norte and then flew back again just to pick it up… only to realize the museum is closed on weekends. Oops lmao. Guess that means trip number three is in the cards, but honestly, we were excited to have an excuse to come again.

Artwork around Mexico City

I do think a lot of people are attracted to the vintage shopping and there is plenty. To be honest, I wasn’t as impressed with the vintage clothing scene as much as I was with the jewelry. The pieces in the shops are beautifullllll, mostly from metals, some clay.

One of the more off the beaten path activities we did was the Lucha Libre wrestling match. We were in total awe the entire match and could not stop laughing. Yes, some of the wrestling acting is *bad* but it’s truly just the experience that makes it so much fun. There were a group of guys next to us on a bachelor party getting rowdy and chanting. We loved it.

One of the craziest videos I have ever taken hahahah this was Lucha Libre.

And on that note of lively groups and fun crowds- we happened to catch the Oasis Concert when they toured September 2025. The stadium was ROARING and the traffic was not bad coming to and from albeit there were 65,000 concert goers.

The crowd at the Oasis concert

Highlights from past trips including the Oasis concert(!) and visiting the famous Biblioteca Vasconcelos

I’ve also stayed at two different hotels, and spent an entire day at the Soho House Mexico City pool. I could write a whole piece just on that property.. Soho House as a brand may be dying (I said it!), but this membership feels worth it for this spot alone.

My favorite Soho House is Mexico City. THE BUFFET IS CRAZYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.

The Romantic Details

So here is where I could lose you guys but I do romanticize everything. So when it rained one afternoon, having a glass of white wine and listening to the water hit the leaves with the LOML at Contramar, and then later the whole city glowed candlelit at night having dinner at Maximo and playing street chess… I was in my feelz.

Add in the fact that Mexico City was the first weekend trip my boyfriend and I ever took together, and Mexico City for that reason will always be special for me.

I found the beauty in everything in CDMX

Corn

I’m just kidding but just know I could write a novel.

The corn I will talk about for the rest of my life, from Em

Final Word

So, bottom line? If you’re a foodie who loves a lowkey vibe, loves art and walking but still wants nightlife as an *option*, Mexico City is the moveeeeee.

Instead of planning your weekend trip rummaging through Tiktok blindly trusting an influx of CDMX info and asking ChatGPT (who no offense has never been LOL) I recommend subscribing to my blog and getting my entire weekend itinerary! I write about places to stay, museums to see, daytime activities if going with a large group, restaurants to book, etc. I go day- by day so that you don’t have to!

Full Mexico Itinerary here: (posting on 9/16/25).

✈️

Until next time,

Goinggonemadd

Yes, I recently delivered my first DoorDash.

Not for money.

Not to start a side hustle.

It was for 5900 American Airlines flight miles.

American Airlines and DoorDash are currently running a promo (for new drivers only) where you can earn up to 5900 AAdvantage miles by delivering your first DoorDash. All you need is to complete one. And listen, I’m not saying I’m willing to do anything for a business-class seat to Asia but I would rather wear my headphones in first class for 11 hours if it meant wearing a pizza bag for 2 hours delivering fast service.

How it works

Sign up and get approved to deliver on DoorDash and go into the AAdvantage shopping portal in your American Airlines account. Just googling American Airlines 5900 miles for DoorDash should do the trick.

My experience

Attached is a video I posted online that got nearly a million views across TikTok and Instagram. I talk about how fun the experience was with my partner and that we ended up doordashing beyond the 1 dash requirement. Spoiler: You will do some self-reflection about your tipping habits.

Would You Try It?!?!

A lot of users commented that this was their first time hearing about the promotion. Which made me wonder- was I the first to take advantage of it too?! How many other travel smart flyers would go this far for points as well?

✈️

Until next time,

Goinggonemadd

Quick Overview

• Dates: Thursday – Sunday

• Homebase: Alyeska Resort, Girdwood (request the 8th floor- recently renovated)

• Flights: Alaska Airlines SFO → Anchorage (evening departure)

• Transport: Uber from Anchorage to Girdwood (~45 minishh) + booked tours with transport to/from included in the pricing

• Best For: Scenery lovers, DINK’s, adventure without the camping

💡: If you only want an overview of Alaska (not a full itinerary) check out my previous article: Goinggonemadd: my Alaska trip overview

Photos of the rainforest and glacier

Day 0 – Arrival in Alaska (Thursday)

• Flight: Alaska Airlines evening departure from SFO (~6:45 PM), arriving in Anchorage around 4 PM local time.

• Transfer: Uber to Alyeska Resort in Girdwood (~45ish minutes). Uber’s are available around Anchorage but you’ll need to call ahead for them in Girdwood.

• Stay: Alyeska Resort. Recently renovated. Hosts a Nordic Spa, ski resort in the wintertime and is surrounded by mountains.

• Dinner: Hotel bar for a drink then robes and room service (ideal night for me after travel).

💡 Pro Tip: The sun stays up surprisingly late in Alaska during summer, so even an evening arrival still feels bright… like I am talking golden hour until 11pm vibe haha.

Day 1 – 26 Glaciers Cruise & dinner at Seven Glaciers (Friday)

• 7-9am- Hotel buffet or cafe breakfast at Alyeska Resort. ( I loved the coffee and burritos at the cafe on the second floor by the gift shops.

• 10am- transfer: Boarded a tour bus to Whittier, passing through the largest tunnel in America (Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel). They should make sure you take the 10:30am tunnel to reach the dock on time.

• 12pm- Main Activity: 26 Glaciers Cruise: Full day tour with Prince William Sound Cruises runs (May 3 – Oct 5, from 12 PM – 5:15 PM).

  • Scenic cruising through Prince William Sound with views of 26 named glaciers

  • Chance to spot wildlife! You will pass one of America’s largest salmon hatcheries, get glimpses of the wild seals, bears, otters and birds. The cruise has binoculars to rent for $5. Also onboard is a full bar, restrooms, A/C, and food. I recommend making sure if you are in a couple or a small group to get window seating.

  • You get to see the Harvard Glacier (and 25 others lol) with tons of photo ops.

  • Bring dramamine, layers and cameras.

  • Seven Glacier's full day boat tour LINK! ($199 pp)

💡 Pro Tip: Dress in layers, even on sunny days on the water can feel chilly around the glaciers.

6:30pm- Relax by the outside fireplaces or bike/walk the property before dinner.

• Even though you took a cruise, it may have taken energy out of you. Relax by the outdoor fireplaces or freshen up in your room before dinner.

• OR you can opt to walk or take a bike rental to ride around the property if you are wanting to maximize your time staying at Alyeska.

7:30pm- Seven Glaciers Restaurant, Alyeska’s award-winning mountaintop dining experience.

• Accessed via a scenic aerial tram (cable car) ride to the summit. This was so much fun to take even if you choose not to have dinner at the resort.

  • In summer, the surrounding peaks very green and it’s almost like looking out over the Swiss Alps!!!

  • Menu was incredible. The bar alone is worth the trip for a drink at golden hour.

    💡Must Book: Reservations highly recommended if you’re staying at Alyeska.

  • Seven Glacier's reservations LINK!

9:30pm- Fireplace S’mores-

• Now you decide! I think it should be bedtime because of Day 2 plans.. but it does not get dark though until midnight. If you are feeling restless you can always make s’mores outside.

Photos from the 26Glaciers cruise

Photo taken outside of the Seven Glaciers restaurant at Alyeska resort

Day 3 – Alpine Helicopter to hike + Glacier Rafting and Alaskan trail Train ride (Sunday)

• 8:30am- Your private guide will pick you up at Alyeska to take you to the Alpine Air helipad for the Alpine Helicopter Tour to Spencer Glacier.

• 9am- Helicopter take off to landing. 20-30 minute scenic helicopter flight over Alaska’s wild, untouched terrain. You climb over rivers, bank through the mountains, and eventually flying up close and above the glacier.

• 9:30am- LANDED right next Spencer Glacier!!! In complete wilderness, no crowds, just you, the ice, and the mountains.

• 9:45am Guided Hike: Private guide (mine was Noah) who shared local history, facts, folklore and glacier science with views of bush pilots flying above.

  • The hike was not for beginners and not meant for experts. I would call this a happy vacation hike. I would not recommend this necessarily for someone who has recently had an injury, surgery or someone elderly who is not good on their feet. You will get plenty of Glacier photo ops and to soak in the scale of the ice field.

  • Your guide will have bear spray and you will not have cell service. The bears were the only thing that really concerned me during this hike. (You seriously are in the middle of nowhere and the only way out in case of emergency is by helicopter).

• 11:30am Rafting on Spencer Lake: Drifted effortlessly (our guide did all the rowing) through MASSIVE glacier ice chunks toward Spencer Glacier.

  • Snacks are provided: carrots, pretzels, rice krispy treats, hot chocolate, green tea, sandwiches.

• Private Helicopter Hike and Raft LINK!

• 2pm: Two Return Options:

  • Raft to the train station: I did not do this but it sounds adventurous and immersive. You’ll be exposed to cold air off the water.

  • Ride the Alaska Railroad: a bougie, warm, relaxing alternative lol. We chose this and rode in Cable Car A, which has glass ceilings, booths, and a snack/drink bar below. (Don’t judge, we were spiking our hot chocolates the entire time).

    • The train is EPIC. It makes impromptu stops if wildlife or unique views appear. We visited the engineer driving who was a complete chiller. It was a charming, thoughtful touch.

    • Stops at Grandview Station allow you to hop off and hike for an hour.

    • Our guide joined the train after finishing a rafting trip with another group then personally drove us back to Alyeska Resort.

  • Alaskan Railroad tickets LINK!

💡 Pro Tip: If you want time to relax, recover, be lazy and prefer to stay warm, choose the train. For more adventure you should stick with the rafting.

• 6pm- Alyeska dinner at Sakura:

  • We were beeeeeeeeeeeat after such a long day. We decided to stay at the hotel and go to Sakura. They have great sushi and of course, awesome salmon.

  • Sakura restaurant LINK!

• 8pm- Bike rental or walk.

  • If you’re feeling adventurous and haven’t gotten the chance then I recommend doing the bike rental or walk around Alyeska’s property.

• Before bed: You MUST book an Uber for tomorrow before going to bed. Most of the Uber rides (mainly all of them) are people in Anchorage which is 45 minutes away. Do not get stuck at Alyeska and miss your flight out.

Photos from the helicopter tour

Photos from rafting Spencer Lake

Day 4 – Nordic Spa & Optional Wildlife Sanctuary (Monday)

• Morning & Afternoon: Alyeska Nordic Spa.

  • The first Nordic Spa in Alaska! This is co-ed which I appreciated. It has multiple outdoor hot pools, cold plunges (we live in SF so of course we got excited for this), and steam/sauna barrel houses surrounded by mountain views. Soooooo cool.

  • Perfect way to end the trip feeling restored after such an eventful weekend. It has a restaurant inside too with a good cocktail menu lol.

    💡pro-tip: This spa is for a day pass. A hack is to book a couple’s massage because for relatively the same price you will get that and the day pass comes with purchase.

• Alyeska Nordic Spa LINK!

• Optional Add-On: Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

  • Home for bears, moose, bison, and other native species.

  • Buy tickets ahead of time and pre-arrange an Uber(!!!). Most drivers come from Anchorage, which is ~45 minutesish away and last-minute rides are relatively impossible.

  • Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center LINK!

5pm- Flight home: We opted for a later departure time since the flight time to San Francisco is relatively short. Plan your day accordingly to where you are based.

Photos from Nordic Spa at Alyeska

Alaska Itinerary

• Day 0 – Arrival in Alaska (Thursday)

• Day 1 – 26 Glaciers Cruise and Seven Glaciers dinner (Friday)

• Day 2 – Alpine Helicopter, Spencer Glacier Rafting and the Alaska Railroad Scenic Ride (Saturday)

• Day 3 – Nordic Spa & Optional Wildlife Sanctuary (Monday)

  Thanks for reaching and please follow my Tiktok @goinggonemadd for more footage!

I imagined overcast skies, icy waters, and retirees with binoculars bundled on cruise decks. Instead, I found lush rainforests, glass glacier waters, and the freshest salmon I’ve ever tasted all in just 72 hours.

The ultimate weekend adventure for the West Coast

I’m based out of San Francisco, and even though there is so much to do in the city I still love to get out of it to explore. Yosemite or Tahoe were always my top contenders for weekend escapes if I was feeling adventurous. This is because I always built up Alaska in my head to be a place where you go for complete solitude, soul-searching due to it’s remote location. BUT flying to Alaska will take less than 5 hours, goes nonstop and is easy to get around once you’re there.

Getting there: fly into Anchorage

Anchorage gets a lot of mixed reviews. I suggest flying into Anchorage but you aren’t going to use it as your home base. Instead, you are going to be staying 40 miles away at Alyeska Resort which is in Girdwood, Alaska. You’ll be able to get an Uber to take you to Alyeska. It’s also close enough where you can land, take a car to the hotel and grab dinner before bed.

Activities to do in 72 hours

You’ve made it to Alaska! Now what’s on the agenda? Here is my quick debrief but I also have a full day-by-day itinerary that goes into specifics including cost breakdown and specific tours and companies I have used and recommend.

• Helicopter tour. One of the most surreal experiences was taking helicopter from Girdwood to Spencer Glacier. On a beautiful day, we flew through the mountains side by side with bush pilots, getting views of the rivers and after 20 minutes in flight we eventually LANDED ON A GLACIER. Once we touched down, our private guide took us on a mountain hike with views of the glacier until we eventually made it down to the lake.

• Raft among the icebergs. After our hike, we made it down to the lake where we got to go rafting next to the glacier in Spencer Lake. I got to sit back and enjoy the scenery while my tour guide did the rowing (vacation mode= activated). This was one of the highlights of the trip because of how wild the whole experience felt. There were NO OTHER TOURISTS because we had to helicopter in and it was fully remote. You get an entire lake, glacier.. honestly an experience with this whole new world to yourself. In the water you can pick up fallen chucks of the glacier ice and see how crystal clear glacier water can be. It’s too bad you can’t take any home with you.

• Nordic Spa. Visiting a Nordic Spa in Alaska was not on my bucket list, simply because I did not know they exist, but since I am telling you about it- it should be on yours. There’s a Nordic Spa in Girdwood that has an exfoliation room with Alaskan sea salt scrub, multiple wooden barrel private sauna “huts”, cold plunges (SF people are gonna love this), multiple heated jacuzzi’s, steam rooms and massage rooms. I visited in August so it was still warm but this looks EPIC in the wintertime. I will attach a photo of the multiple heated jacuzzi’s below. This had a whimsical, romantic vibe and I loved that everything was co-ed so you could spend the afternoon with your partner.

• Go white water rafting. Stillwater rafting not exciting you? There’s Sixmile Creek which has class IV–V rapids (serious whitewater, not beginner-friendly), so it’s for thrill-seekers who want more adventure.

• Take a boat cruise. I think this is a must-do and one of my favorite things I did over the weekend. Aboard one of Alaska’s famous boat cruises you can see 26+ glaciers, jumping salmon, lazy sunbathing seals, fishermen, multiple JAW DROPPING waterfalls and rainforests in the comfort of a large boat with A/C and a full bar available. If you’re lucky, you can spot a bear with or without binoculars. They will also serve salmon chowder while you take a scenic tour next to one of America’s biggest salmon hatcheries.

• Alaska Railroad train ride. I say this with my chest, this is the coolest train ride you can take in America. The train will physically stop for riders to get the most scenic photography spots. It feels like the ultimate adventure since you get amazing views of the glaciers, a guide who narrates what you’re looking at from the windows, and a relaxed ride. I suggest sitting in the A car since there is an upstairs with glass window ceilings, booths instead of chairs and a snack/drink bar downstairs (get the Mac n cheese).

• Dog sledding. I decided to do the helicopter to hike to raft to train day trip instead of dog sledding but this is still an option. You can take a helicopter to a remote part of Alaska to go dog sledding. I visited in August and the weather was impeccable but if I were to visit in the wintertime I would’ve chosen to do this.

Ready for the full itinerary?

I wrote out an hour by hour playbook on how to spend 72 hours in Alaska covering lodging, specific tour companies, logistics and what to pack for your trip etc. PLUS, I decided to share my itinerary for FREE here:

Below are images from some of the activities mentioned:

Rafting through icebergs and up to Spencer Glacier.

Helicopter to hike and over Spencer Glacier.

The boat tour offered binocular rentals for $5 if you forgot yours at home.

PLENTY of seal watching near the salmon hatchery.

Watching the fishermen work in the height of salmon season.

Pieces of the glacier would break off and it sounded like thunder.

The Alaskan Railroad.

One of the Alaskan Railroad stops were for the Grand View station. You’ll have around 45 minutes to explore here. I suggest taking the left path to see the waterfall and have an intermediate, short hike.

One of many barrel saunas available to relax in at the Nordic Spa.

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I’m Madison,

but online (here, hi, hello lol), I go by GoingGoneMadd.

I didn’t grow up traveling much. In fact, I was the kid who skipped recess just to sit in the library and read travel books, imagining the places I might see one day. The first time I made it to Asia and Europe was in college, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Forty+ countries later, travel has become the crux of my existence and identity.

What I’ve “gonemadd” for:

traveling right matters. Nothing frustrates me more than watching people spend their savings on an overhyped destination or a “dream hotel” that turns out to be… just okay. I’m confident in my taste of hotels, restaurants, hidden gems, etc., and I want to share that eye with you so your trips feel memorable, NOT regrettable.

For the record: I love boujee travel. Hostels are not my lane (so if that’s yours, I’m not your girl). But I’m also not exclusively chasing Aman resorts and six-figure $$$$ price tags. My sweet spot is the best of the 4–5 star range and boutique properties that feel thoughtful, stylish, and something I’d go mad over not experiencing at least once.

I’m obsessed with all the things to do!!! The excursions, adventures, and experiences that actually make a trip unforgettable. Every time I travel, I’m the person Googling “best things to do in [city]” only to see the same tired lists recycled over and over again. The reality? Some of the most incredible memories I’ve made came from taking a chance on experiences that weren’t plastered across the first page of search results (some of the worst places I’ve been have been from doing this). Here, I want to share those hidden wins and all the tours, activities, and offbeat finds that deserve way more *deserved* hype.

GoneMadd Community

I know what it feels like to be the planner in the relationship. I’ve been in the situation before where someone has handed me a credit card and has said, “Book the trip..surprise me/us.” On the surface, that’s the dream, right?!? But it’s also a curse because suddenly the world is at your fingertips *LITERALLY!!!!* and you’re left staring at endless options, wondering where to even begin. That’s another reason I started writing here: to cut through the noise, share real recommendations, and help you know where to start and how to end.

What you’ll find on GoingGoneMadd’s substack

So what can you expect from GoingGoneMadd? Twice a week, I’ll share the kinds of posts I wish I had when I first started traveling seriously:

• Travel Hacks & Itineraries – how to maximize your time and money at my tried and tested itineraries.

• Hotel & Experience Spotlights – my honest takes on the properties, restaurants, and excursions that actually deliver. I REFUSE TO PROMOTE ANYTHING I DON’T LIKE AND WILL NOT SELL MY SOUL TO REVIEW A PLACE I DON’T LIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Highlights From My Trips – the must-do activities, hidden gems, and the things I’d do differently next time.

• Beauty & Skincare on the Go – routines and product recs that survive jet lag, red-eyes, and new climates.

• Travel Accessories & Style – sharing my travel hauls, resort wear and accessories that make traveling easier.

• DINK-Friendly Getaways – 36–72 hour trip itineraries designed for couples who want to see more of the world without burning all their PTO (Lame, but it’s the real-world a lot of us live in).

So, where to next?

Whether you’re here to plan your next trip from a REAL POV and not ChatGPT or just daydream into story times about amazing places from your couch, I’m so glad you’re here. I hope GoingGoneMadd becomes your go to for the kind of travel that makes you feel something and the kinds that make you go mad to try.

If you’re ready to travel smarter, skip the overhyped Tiktok recommendations, and go mad over the moments that matter, hit subscribe. Let’s get you planned or daydreaming about our next unforgettable trip together!