For Part One of my 2015 Travel Recap, click here. You can access all of my travel blog posts here. In addition to week-or-longer trips to Africa, Ireland, and California, we took plenty of great weekend getaways in New England this year.

In April we enjoyed sunsets and oysters in one of my favorite New England towns, Newport, Rhode Island. After a long winter, being able to sit outside even for a little while felt like heaven. Despite winter, I fell even more in love with New England this year.

Oysters at Midtown Oyster

2015 also included two visits to Mystic, Connecticut. The beautiful Inn at Mystic was kind enough to host us for the first visit in April, and we returned with family for dinner in August. We would have stayed there, but they didn’t have three rooms available at the time! Book early if you want to visit in the summer!

In Mystic Seaport we toured boats and took in blue skies, and we discovered, in general, that Mystic is quite the foodie town.

Brunch at the Engine Room is not to be missed! It was the one recommendation we received over and over, and we had brunch there on both trips.

Our travels around Connecticut also introduced us to some great local wine and beer.

The Connecticut Chardonnay from Jonathan Edwards Winery won out over their Chardonnay from California, and their property was truly a delightful spot to visit.

We loved Saltwater Farm Vineyard and were able to visit in both April and August.  Wandering around the fluffy warm grass barefoot on a hot summer day with a glass of wine in hand is a favorite memory from the season.

Exploring New England was one of my goals in 2015, and that wouldn’t have been complete without a trip to Portland, Maine, another favorite New England town.

We spent the night on a ship, ate a late dinner at Fore Street (one of my favorite restaurants of all time), sunned ourselves over  breakfast at The Porthole, and window shopped through Portland, wishing we could afford everything!

Our Maine weekend didn’t end there though, as we made our way to Kennebunkport and the Colony Hotel then to Kennebunk for a perfect lobster roll, and finally to Crane Beach for one of the best sunsets of the year. It was a weekend of coastal New England perfection.

Closer to home, we visited Westport a few times this summer, dunking ourselves in the sea in our clothes (a theme with me in 2015. . . I should just bring a bathing suit everywhere next summer). A perfect summer weekend including bubbly at Westport Rivers with friends and the Hull Harbor Illumination with family. I absolutely love both Westport and Hull for swimming in the ocean and can’t wait until it is beach time. While our winter travels might include a warm destination, nothing compares to New England beaches!

And last but not least, there was a visit to beautiful Ipswich for rum cocktails at Salt and seafood at CK Pearl, along with the discovery of a beautiful,, quiet locals beach for sunning and swimming.

There was a lot more of New England in our 2015 travels, and these are just a few of the highlights. I feel so lucky to live in such a beautiful place with so much coastline, great food, great people, and nice weather, 3/4 of the year.

Technorati Tags: beaches, coastal living, Food, Maine, Massachusetts, New England, Newport, Travel, wine

With family all over the place, we tend to travel for just about every holiday. While I love seeing family and mixing things up, it can also be a bit of a slog to always have to hop in the car for a traffic-laden ride or to deal with airport crowds during the holiday season. Making fun little stops along the way on road trips can make them feel a little less like a chore and more like an adventure.

On our way home from Christmas in New Jersey, we found ourselves hungry just over the border in New York state, and when I say hungry, I actually mean my blood sugar dropped and I needed to EAT now or harm someone. That happens to everyone, right?

We pulled off the highway in Newburgh, New York expecting to land at a Dunkin’ Donuts or diner, something that would be quick so we could be on our way again. Instead we drove right past North Plank Tavern, a sweet old house with a bright, friendly OPEN flag flying from its doorway.

The cheerful outside against the gray December sky called to us, and since we had plenty of time before dinner plans in Boston, we decided to have a sit down meal and to take our time, something I am not very good at.

We walked inside and were instantly charmed by the narrow doorways and dark wood. We popped our heads in the dining rooms first and finally settled into the empty bar, where we were soon welcomed. My photos aren’t great as I was trying to not have my phone out during a meal, something I want to get better at, but they do give an idea of this historic tavern’s look and feel.

According to our host and the North Plank Tavern website:

The Tavern has a storied past.  It was  originally built as a hotel along a plank road, and became a Tavern and boarding house.  During prohibition, the Tavern continued to serve alcohol and operated as a speakeasy.

The boarding house was owned by Mrs. Sauer, whose name and photo can be seen in photos above. The space was enchanting; I love history and trying to imagine what things were like in different periods. It also felt a wee bit creepy; I am a strong believer in lingering spirits and always hope to encounter them in old houses! Except my own that is. . .

I love the above photo from the restaurant website, a trap door with Prohibition-era liquor underneath.

For an old tavern, I expected the menu to match, with classics and pub-type food. We were pleasantly surprised at the gourmet aspect of the restaurant.

The brunch menu featured an INCREDIBLE truffled Burrata salad with oven-roasted tomatoes. It was absolutely to-die-for and even better because it was NOT what I expected when we stopped for food.

My husband had the slab bacon (naturally) with eggs and home fries, all also excellent. The North Plank Tavern has a big smoker out back, where the bacon was made, it the bacon was delicious. So smoky, meaty, tender, so much better than regular old bacon.

The service was lovely, and the vibe was relaxed. We’ll be planning drives around meals here in the future. I can’t wait to check out the dinner menu,

Technorati Tags: Food, historic restaurant, history, New York, New York State, North Plank Tavern, speakeasy, tavern, Travel

Rosé is always in season in this house. While I curse the weather outside, I can sit by the fire with a glass of summer, cozy, warm, and dreaming of boating and wine country. It doesn’t hurt that Rosé is so good with food. This past long weekend we made tuna steaks with a delicious ginger sesame sauce (recipe to come) and I thought a bottle from the Dry Creek Valley would be a nice throwback to our last visit to Sonoma County.

This 2014 Martorana Family Winery Rosé of Zinfandel was the perfect pairing for the tuna. Dry, with lots of fresh mineral/stone notes and a hint of strawberry, for me this was the perfect style of Rosé. Not only was it delicious, but it went really well with the hearty tuna steaks and the spice and saltiness of the marinade.

The wine also brought back great memories of visiting their friendly tasting room on a scorching hot late summer day, a day where we also visited Truett Hurst for a glass of wine by the river. Bliss.

For other Dry Creek Valley wine posts:

Lambert Bridge Winery

Amista Vineyards

Dry Creek Valley (a VERY old post!)

Technorati Tags: Dry Creek Valley, Healdsburg, Sonoma County, Travel, wine, wine of the week, wine tasting

The Other Side of Massachusetts is an often-overlooked location when Boston residents are planning getaways. We often look to Portland or Newport or the Cape, and all of those are amazing, but when you want something new and different, I would heartily recommend checking out Amherst, especially during times when UMASS and Amherst College are not in session.

Full disclosure: I work with the Hampshire County Regional Tourism Council on their PR, and I am a Western Massachusetts loving UMASS grad, but my love of the area really comes from all that it has to offer, including history, quaint inns, incredible restaurants, farms, breweries, wineries (Black Birch is a must-visit), outdoor activities, walkable little towns, and a vibe that I just can’t describe. The shopping is great; you can find many locally made products along with great book stores, music shops, wine shops, and boutiques.

I visited Amherst and Northampton this past week to give a presentation on PR for the region to tourism partners, and I stayed at The Lord Jeffrey Inn. During my years as a student at UMASS, I had always wanted to stay at the inn, so I was excited to finally have an occasion to do so and to receive a rate that worked with my budget.

Located in the center of downtown Amherst, right on the Common, The Lord Jeffrey has welcomed guests as an inn since 1926. I arrived just before sunset, and I received a warm welcome at check in.

My room was cozy and comfortable, decorated with a nod to the inn’s historic nature but with all of the contemporary touches you could want, including a gas fireplace, Wi-Fi, and an amazing shower.

I want to return to the inn just so I have more time to hang out and enjoy the room!

Since I only had one night, I quickly headed back out to take a look around at the rooms that make up the common areas.

Little seating areas are perfect for reading or getting work done, or enjoying a cocktail by the massive fireplace. The inn has a number of fireplaces, giving plenty of opportunities to warm up and relax. The entire place feels very laid back and welcoming, ideal for a getaway for a couple of days.

I ate my way around Amherst that night, trying some of the new-to-me places for cocktails and apps, and I will share all of that in a separate post, because, much like Portland, Amherst is a town you can visit just to spend the day eating and drinking.

My last stop of the night was 30 Boltwood where I sampled some of the cocktails on the menu along with a cheese board. The restaurant sources many of its ingredients locally, as many restaurants in the area do, and they are particularly interested in locally-driven cocktails. 30 Boltwood is the perfect place to end the night or even to stay at if you just want to take in the ambiance of the inn.

The event I presented at was a hospitality industry exchange where local hospitality partners can learn about each other, the Hampshire RTC, and working together to promote one another and the region. They have SO much to offer, so it was fun to be a part of this.

I left with a ton of new knowledge and ideas whirling around in my head, surrounded by beautiful scenery on my way out, and excitement to book my next visit. Outside of work, I hope to bring my husband back for a few days of brewery visits, farm visits, rafting, and hiking this summer. I can’t emphasize enough what a great getaway Hampshire County makes. And at only two hours from Boston, it’s an easy and pleasant day trip. Give it a try, and you will want to return!

Technorati Tags: client, Hampshire County, hotel, hotels, Massachusetts, Travel, Western Massachusetts

Welcome, new readers! You can read all about my travel here. http://traveleatlove.com/travel/

My perfect Massachusetts getaway in Hampshire County of Western Massachusetts included just a fraction of the amazing restaurants and cafes in the region. It’s the most productive farmland in New England, and Hampshire County is a foodie paradise.

After I checked into the beautiful Lord Jeffrey Inn, I decided to check out Amherst Coffee, which I had heard great things about, for a cocktail. Amherst Coffee isn’t just a coffee shop; it’s also a whiskey bar after 3:00 p.m., making for a space that is multi-use, and it is one of the coziest places ever. I loved all of the dark wood, the friendly and warm staff, and the craft cocktail menu.  I ended up visiting two days in a row, opting twice for the Walnut Old Fashioned, the perfect balance of sweet and bitter.

I had a hard time deciding on dinner, because Amherst has so many great restaurants, but since The Lumber Yard was new-to-me, I decided to wander  in the cold, starry night down to this cozy restaurant, located near the railway station I used to travel through as a student at UMASS. It was the perfect choice.

The Lumber Yard mixes Amherst country charm with everything a cocktail lover and foodie would want, including a full bar with great wines by the glass, charming service, and delightful locals at the bar.  While sipping a penicillin at the bar and chatting with some local ladies, I felt the need to move to Amherst ASAP. Truth be told, I feel that every time I visit. There’s a relaxed free feeling about the place, and at my core, I am the nose ring decorated, backless shirt wearing, Phish following hippie I was in college, molded into a more conventional life in the city.  I like the old me, and that nose ring may make a reappearance.

But back to the cocktails and food. . . everything at The Lumber Yard was SO good. The cocktails were so perfectly made, and my fries with dips and the warm lentil dip I had were both amazing. The Lumber Yard was one of the best dining experiences I have had lately, and I wish it wasn’t two hours away. It is well worth a visit.

On my way back to the Lord Jeff, I spied a live music session happening at one of my favorites, The Black Sheep Deli.  I had plans to have breakfast the next day at The Black Sheep, but I couldn’t miss the music so stepped inside for some toe-tapping fun for a few minutes.

The Black Sheep has always been one of my favorites, and I loved seeing their window signs welcoming refugees and got a kick out of their Brooklyn Bernie sandwich.

I only made a few stops in Amherst due to the limited amount of time I had there, and I am so grateful I get the chance to work with Hampshire County and to visit the region on a regular basis.

And of course, no visit to Amherst is complete without a stop at Bueno y Sano for a taco fix and Atkins Farms for their famous cider doughnuts and other local products.

In the interest of full disclosure, I do PR  work for the Hampshire County Regional Tourism Council, but I chose to arrive early and stay in Amherst after my work was done and paid for all of that myself just because I love it there so much.

It’s a special place, and I am thrilled I get to share even a little bit of it with my blog readers.

Technorati Tags: Amherst, Dining out, Food, food blog, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, Travel, travel blog, Western Massachusetts

We fell in love with Puerto Rico on a visit there this past week, and this is the first of many posts on this enchanting island. Warm and vibrant, welcoming, and stunning,  Puerto Rico was exactly what we needed after some very stressful work months and losing our cat and having a car accident in the same week. My car is going to take almost two weeks to fix!

With winter creeping back in here in the Northeast, I thought that a peek at Old San Juan’s colorful architecture would be a good place to start. Old San Juan offers colorful facades, catchy music, smells of food and tropical flowers, and a variety of accents, languages, and more around every corner.

As I catch up on work and life I hope you enjoy a bit of a mental getaway through travel photos. More to come!

Technorati Tags: architecture, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, san juan, Travel, travel blog, travel blog posts

I have so much to tell you about Luquillo, Puerto Rico.  While planning a warm winter getaway, we looked at tons of places, including Panama (still  a dream trip for me), Anguilla, Antigua, and many others. Puerto Rico kept popping up as a good option because of the direct flight from Boston to San Juan and our JetBlue points.

After our very exciting safari travel adventure last year, this year I wanted a quiet, relaxed beach vacation. When someone on Twitter mentioned that Luquillo was a “sleepy beach town” I started looking into it, and I was sold. Not only did it look beautiful and affordable, it was a 45 minute drive from San Juan, about a 15 minute drive from all of the boat and island excursions to Icacos, Culebra, and Vieques, and about 10 minutes to the El Yunque National Forest. The more I read about Luquillo, especially about its kioskos (more to come on this stretch of 50+ restaurants and food stalls) the more I wanted to BE THERE RIGHT NOW.

So that’s where we went. Our flight from Boston to San Juan was easy; typically it takes about four hours, but due to the winds we got in over half an hour early and were in our rental car with the windows down and the music pumping before we knew it. I LOVED the music in Puerto Rico.

The drive to Luquillo was super easy and took maybe 35 minutes. When we are traveling for more than a night or two, we tend to like houses or apartments as opposed to hotels. We’ve gone with Flipkey in the past for a Sonoma rental (which was AMAZING) and this time we decided to try Air BnB and after lots of research went with a condo in Bello Mar Apartamentos in Luquillo. If you’re traveling to Puerto Rico, I would be happy to share the name of the owner and the details.

The owner kindly met us with the keys and the remote for the gate to park, and then she drove ahead of us to show us where the grocery store was. She texted us tons of restaurant recommendations and also had a binder in the apartment with all of the information we could need.

The apartment was beautiful; the cleaning person was finishing as we arrived, and it was immaculate. It had two bedrooms and two bathrooms, along with a kitchen, sitting room, washer/dryer, and a to-die-for deck.

  The apartment was also stocked with everything you could ever need: beach umbrellas, beach chairs, plenty of beach towels, DVDs, books, magazines, coffee, oil, sugar, all of the cooking basics, etc. We were amazed at how much was there.

Since we had an apartment, we bought groceries to have breakfast and cocktail hour on our balcony every day. It’s a great way to save money when traveling but also to relax and keep a chill pace. Our schedule would be to have a leisurely breakfast of tropical fruit and vanilla yogurt, avocado dressed with fresh lime juice, and extra strong coffee on the balcony, then head out to the beach or for an excursion.

Also, we had passionfruit mimosas every day. Vacation.

At night, after plenty of time seeing the sights or swimming, we returned to the condo for sunset and sundowners, as we started calling drinks on safari. We made up plates of cheese and crackers and enjoyed local beers and Capri Sun like pouches of rum punch until the sun went down, then headed out for the night.

When we returned home from dinner, we usually spent time sitting on the balcony listening to the roar of the waves. One night we watched a movie, but mostly talking and staring out to sea was how we spent our time.

Luquillo itself has some areas that look basically like anytown USA, with a WalMart, KFC, etc. But once you are off the main route and onto the side streets, you find some gorgeous beaches, including our favorite, Playa Azul.

Parking was free, and the beach was not at all crowded. It had a great surf for riding waves and a man who sold rum in coconuts.

Slathered in sunscreen, wearing hats, and occasionally draping ourselves in towels, we also found a perfect grove of palm trees to retreat under when the sun felt too hot. Every day was around 89 degrees, and we definitely felt it!

Besides sitting on the beach, we did tons of swimming and floating and riding waves. Being a Jersey Shore girl, I love big waves and a strong current. Luquillo definitely had that. The only regret I have is not taking surfing lessons. . . but I was just too busy relaxing with my rum-filled coconut.

Luquillo is a dreamy getaway, if you are looking for something a little off the beaten path and not super fancy. It does have a couple of resorts, but for me, when I am at the beach, I like to be a little sandy and salty and dressed as down as possible. Luquillo was the perfect place to let out that beach bum that resides in me.

Technorati Tags: beach, islands, Luquillo, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, Travel Tuesday. Puerto Rico, vacation

We could visit Puerto Rico 10 times and not to or see it all. We discovered that there’s so much to do on this enchanted island, and in between beach days and lazing on our balcony, we set out for a few adventures on land and at sea.

First there was hiking in El Yunque National Forest, a must-do while visiting Puerto Rico. It’s the only rainforest in the National Park system, and it is pretty spectacular.

El Yunque has some great, paved trails for hiking and beautiful waterfalls and pools for swimming and relaxing. The air smells so fresh and green, and the sounds of tropical birds and frogs fill the space. Even though there was a steady stream of tourists, the forest felt so peaceful and far away from the rest of the world.

While the park feels remote, it is also super well equipped with great roads and a visitor’s center with a helpful staff and information on the flora and fauna you might find.

And the views were simply stunning.

The other adventure we took was a snorkeling and sailing trip to Icacos, a magical island off of the coast of Puerto Rico. We debated spending timing in Culebra, which we decided to do for a few days on a future trip. Culebra is apparently one of the best places in the world, and I can’t wait to get to know it.

We went to Icacos with East Island, and I recommend them highly. The boat was beautiful and clean, and the staff was so much fun.

The cost of our tickets included delicious local pastries, fresh fruit, and a sandwich and salad bar at lunch, along with rum. All of the rum. We headed first to a reef for snorkeling, followed by a really delicious lunch, then the trip to anchor at Icacos for swimming and sunning.

 The sky was blue, fun music was blasting, the water was warm, and it was basically the best day ever. Oh yeah, and there was a slide!

 We met a bunch of fun people, there was dancing, and I didn’t want the day to end. If you head to Puerto Rico definitely check this company out. They also do Culebra day trips.

And finally, after some sunset swimming, we headed to Fajardo pier for a night time boat tour with BioIsland to the Bioluminescent Lagoon in Las Croabas. We originally considered doing a kayak tour, and I was SO GLAD we went with the electric boat option. It was very, very dark, and the route requires navigating water with thick growths of mangrove trees and plenty of iguanas. It appeared many of the kayakers we passed were having difficulty with the trip.

Maybe it’s lazy of me, but I enjoyed just being able to sit back and enjoy the beautiful star-filled sky and the glowing organisms in the water, which we saw, but not as well as we would have if it had been warmer. It was a really beautiful experience though, to be out in the pitch dark on the lagoon with just the water and sky and the quiet

Technorati Tags: outdoors, Puerto Rico, Travel, travel blog

Other than the occasional snowstorm and too-cold winter days, we love living in New England so much. I’m partial to warm weather day trips from Boston (Hello, coastal living at its best.), but wintry getaways like my visit to Amherst this year can also be beautiful. This past weekend for my birthday we took advantage of blue skies and sunshine despite the cold and visited some favorite coastal Massachusetts towns, Newburyport and Essex.

After a traffic-free drive, we kicked our day off with brunch at The Poynt, which is  beautiful, must-visit Newburyport spot. Seriously, I love it. It’s spacious and bright and friendly, with excellent food.

We couldn’t decide what to order and ended up sharing two of the best looking dishes, the Roasted Chicken Chilaquiles, which was smothered in the most amazing smoky red sauce, and the Cajun Bennie, another smoky, slightly spicy dish topped with blackened shrimp.

All washed down with Piper Heidseck Champagne because it was my birthday weekend, after all.

We left brunch absolutely stuffed, and I needed a long walk. We tried our best at a few seaside locations, but the whipping winds were freezing our faces off, so we turned into Newburyport and enjoyed sunny sidewalks sheltered from the coastal winds by stone buildings.

And then we went in search of beer. We discovered two great breweries with tasting rooms and delicious, free beer tastings. RiverWalk Brewing Co. was our first stop, a delightful little tasting room with some killer beer, including a sour I loved. The only downside was that our arrival coincided with a brewery bus tour full of REALLY loud drunk women. As in, my ears actually, physically hurt. We left with a half growler of Gnomad, an American farmhouse ale we both loved.

At Newburyport Brewing Co. our favorites were the two stouts we tried, especially the Joppa Stout.

We couldn’t believe tasting flights were free, and we plan to return to hang out and order pints (and growlers!) again soon. We’re going away again soon and didn’t want to have the fresh beer go bad.

Post-beer-tasting led to more wandering, including checking out some of the great shops in Newburyport, waking ourselves up with a giant coffee, and then hitting the road for Essex for an early light dinner at CK Pearl.

Oysters and rosé led into fish tacos and an almost bowl-lickingly amazing scallop sabayon, a slightly sweet, creamy soup. We couldn’t get enough of the views, and stayed until the sky turned as pink as the wine in my glass before heading home, not wanting the day to end.

Technorati Tags: brewery, Essex, Massachusetts, Newburyport, oysters, Travel, wine

Take me back to Puerto Rico, please. I have had enough of rainy spring and am well ready for summery temperatures and sunshine again!

For  Puerto Rico travel blog posts check these out:

Outdoor adventures in Puerto Rico

Luquillo, Puerto Rico is paradise

Colorful Old San Juan

Boardriders in Luquillo was one of the highlights of our stay trip to Puerto Rico. Its laid back surfer vibe, great music, and gorgeous ocean views made it so good that we went three times, once for dinner, once for drinks, and once for brunch. Being there made my shoulders drop and the more relaxed, less anxiety-laden me come back for just a little bit. I miss that girl.

Boardriders had a pretty extensive menu of bar-type food featuring great local ingredients, along with rum cocktails to spare. I kept it simple for the most part with a Cuba Libre or three while listening to the crashing waves.

We enjoyed simple but incredibly delicious dishes like shrimp tacos and spicy tuna bites. Food just tastes better at the ocean!

On our first night there, the moon was so amazing that all of the patrons in the restaurant got up to admire it. It was a special kind of moment seeing people from all over come together, wowed by the power of nature. There was late night dancing, at least on my part!

Brunch at Boardriders was extra special because it started with passionfruit mimosas and overlooked that view. Breezes kept us cool, and hearty breakfast sandwiches and burritos fueled us for our next round of swimming (after 30 minutes, of course).

Boardriders is really a must visit in Luquillo, and I suggest you visit on your first night to help set the tone of a relaxed beach bum vacation.

Technorati Tags: Food, Luquillo, Puerto Rico, Restaurants, rum, Travel, travel blogger

Looking through my phone’s camera roll, it appears I have been eating, drinking, and being pretty merry (and eating and drinking some more). It’s time for a roundup of all of the greats of late that somehow haven’t made it into the blog!

I learned all about the natural beauty of Germany and German tourism over an incredible steak salad lunch at Abe & Louie’s. This was the second Germany Tourism event I attended, and just like the first one on travel to Bavaria, it made me want to plan a trip to Germany soon!

Cidergeist launched in Boston! I was in Puerto Rico for the launch, but they sent me samples, and I loved the Semi Dry Hard Cider.

We went to a new local Dorchester spot, Dorset Hall on their opening night and fell in love.  Their cocktails, raw bar, pork chop, and shepherd’s pie are all awesome, the space is huge and beautiful, and the staff is great. They nailed it so much on that first night we have been back three times since. It’s a nice addition to our Dorchester restaurant lineup!

We went to the New England Boat Show and bought a boat. Oops.

It wasn’t spur of the moment though. We went two days in a row did hours of research before we decided on a brand new Stingray. I can.not.wait to get back on the water. The new boat is completely different than the old one. It’s a bowrider, which means the front is open and perfect for sunning and jumping into the sea. Not having a cabin means it is shallower in the water, easier to beach on islands out in Boston Harbor for lazy days, and yet it still has a bathroom (my requirement).

Spring wine clubs starting arriving. We love Two Shepherds Wine, and now that Massachusetts laws have changed, getting our favorite wine is so much easier!

I started working with two new clients, Hotel Northampton in Hampshire County Massachusetts and gardenUP, a turnkey solution for design, delivery, and installation of gardens.

gardenUP exhibited at the Boston Flower and Garden Show. Between the media preview of the show and visiting the gardenUP booth, I went to this beautiful event twice!

It inspired me to get planning for my own garden, which is one of my favorite activities to do all year. I can’t wait to see things growing!

I made a visit up to Arlington for a friend and business dinner at Tango, steak tips, seasoned veggies,  and Malbec, which was basically all I was craving. It was so simple and flavorful and perfect.

We visited family in NJ for Easter and made another stop at the amazing gem of a restaurant, North Plank Tavern, which we found at Christmas. I had the Applejack Manhattan, made with Laird Applejack, which was once made in this historic building! Sitting at the bar is always my favorite, since we like to chat. At this place, every time we visit we learn a little more about the tavern, which has such an interesting history. And we confirmed it also has a few ghosts.

My family put together some amazing meals including our Saturday dinner of a 13 pound prime rib and vegetable sides, paired with a bottle of incredible Le Sage Merlot from one of our visits to Michel Schlumberger in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County. I miss Sonoma something fierce these days.

And finally, we have enjoyed some outdoor bubbly (in glasses we picked up at Shanga in Tanzania). This was from a Sunday night at the yacht club where it was just the two of us around watching the sun sort of set on a cloudy evening. Perfection.

What bits of this and that have you been enjoying?

Technorati Tags: boating, Boston, business, clients, cocktails, flowers, Food, gardening, Travel, wine

The one night we spent in Old San Juan was an absolute delight, thanks in part to the gorgeous Monastery Art Suites. Being in the heart of Old San Juan, it was definitely different than our beach paradise in Luquillo. The colorful architecture of Old San Juan, along with restaurants, art, and more surrounded the location, and we were a short walk from the sea on all sides.

We arrived at the hotel early for our reservation and received the warmest welcome while our bags were whisked away and stored for us. We had to return our car to the airport (definitely don’t need it in the city) and when we got back to the hotel, we explored the stunning, artistic lobby and events spaces.

The building has a long history and was at one point a Masonic lodge. Thick stone, high ceilings, decorative windows, and beautiful staircases make every corner worth inspecting. There are beautifully detailed surprises everywhere.

When we were whisked to our room by the friendly woman at the front desk, we discovered our bags had already been brought up for us. The warm and artsy theme of the rest of the hotel carried into our room, which had beautiful colors and little touches.

And while the hotel is historic, we enjoyed many modern touches in our room, including excellent air conditioning that cut through the brutal heat, Apple television, a fridge, coffee maker, and a wonderful shower. Our shutters opened to overlook the sunny lobby area and the umbrellas we saw from the other side when we arrived.

The hotel’s location near government buildings meant that there were officers right at the end of the street at all times, making it feel complete safe at all hours. From here we were able to walk everywhere we wanted and to retire in utmost comfort at the end of the day. I slept so well and felt so rested after our night here.

I can’t recommend the hotel and its lovely staff enough. Monastery Art Suites will be our Old San Juan home base going forward, and let’s face it, with snow in April, all I am doing is dreaming of going back.

Technorati Tags: art, hotels, Puerto Rico, san juan, Travel

Our home base in Old San Juan was exactly what we wanted in terms of location (and everything else). It was so close to many restaurants and beautiful spaces that it encouraged us to walk and explore all over, burning off some of the rum drinks that we enjoyed while relaxing in Luquillo.

Casa Melaza was the cute rum bar just around the corner from our hotel. It was a lovely space with door open to the street and a healthy selection of rum. We enjoyed all of the rums we tasted, but we weren’t thrilled with the service. There was no menu or tasting list with prices, and when I asked the staff member got an attitude. I’m not sure what it was, maybe a little arrogance, that just got to us, and we agreed we would hesitate to go back.

Aside from that, everything was perfect, with delicious food and lovely people.  One of the staples of my Puerto Rico diet (and half the reason I need a real diet now) was my love for Mallorca Paninis, thin pressed sandwiches stuffed with ham and cheese and sprinkled with delectably messy powdered sugar. The salty ham and cheese paired with the sweet? Heavenly.

Also heavenly? A salon/spa/cocktail lounge in one. We discovered Anam Cocktail Spa in the evening as it was about to close and had a quick cocktail on their terrace in a beautiful, dusky setting overlooking the city and the sea.

And we vowed to return the next day for cocktails and spa!

Massages were $1/minute, and anything above $20 included a glass of sangria.

Our massages were done side-by-side in an airy room with light music playing in the background, and I swear I would fly to San Juan just for this massage. It was blissful. I was in a sleeping/awake state the whole time, and then gazed out the door with a strong and delicious sangria after.

We spent a good chunk of our time in Old San Juan visiting El Convento, an iconic spot in the city, and for good reason. This was one of the only places we visited on our brief layover on the way home from Grenada, and we knew we wanted to go back. It was our first stop, for a morning mojito in their gorgeous courtyard.

And then we went back later to El Picoteo, a practical tapas institution that was recommended by many people, including Molly.

We had rum drinks and a couple of tapas, followed by a long walk for the sunset.

Followed by another walk and then a return to El Picoteo for more rum drinks and tapas. It actually felt really good to stretch out the meal and drinks with some movement and fresh air.

We loved the bartender at El Picoteo, who had moved from Michigan (or Wisconsin?) with his fiance, gotten married there, and stayed. It made me want to pick up my life and move there too!

We had some amazing sausages in wine and classic gambas al ajillo, in addition to Manchego with truffle honey. Yum.

And we loved El Convento so much we returned for breakfast the next day, and you guessed it, a Mallorca Panini (with mimosas).

Our final day in Puerto Rico was super hot (even for me), so in addition to lots of wandering, we also sought cool breezes in shady courtyards with cold drinks. You can’t go to San Juan without a trip to Barrachina for a Piña Colada where they were created!

We talked cocktails with the fun bartender while sipping slushy, coconutty deliciousness and loved it. The only downside of that experience was the arrival of throngs of cruise ship passengers in town for the day. They basically fit the stereotypical American tourist bill; loud, pushy, rude, unwilling to try new things. We had a chuckle and bushed it off, too happy with our cocktails and relaxation to let their takeover bother us.

All good things must come to an end, so before we left for the airport we had one last taste of the flavor of San Juan. Nono’s was another open-air spot with a huge menu, and we went for a tangy ceviche and lobster-stuffed empanadas. Delicioso!

San Juan has so much to see, do, and taste, and we only got started on making our way through this magical little city. We fell in love with Puerto Rico, and I hope someday that you get to as well.

Technorati Tags: cocktails, Dining out, Food, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, rum, Travel, travel blog

Hello from Portland, Maine! I am working here today before heading north for a little weekend getaway. Stay tuned to this spot for a full recap!

We headed up to Portland after work yesterday and visited two favorites, Central Provisions and The Porthole, and every step, bite, and smell reminded me of our last visit here when I started working with Nova Star, just about 11 months ago.

Nova Star was the first freelance client I had in my soon-to-be-new adventure at the time.  I had given my two weeks notice and had a fresh start ahead. It was a beautiful, misty Portland evening, and my heart was full of excitement and anticipation of taking the leap back to self-employment. Last night when we were walking the cobblestone streets, I felt that same excitement, remembering the journey this year has been, soaking up the sea air and the feeling absolutely giddy that summer is coming.

I guess I am writing this post as a reminder that possibility is around every corner. If there’s something big you’ve been wanting to accomplish, go for it. Whether you chip away at it bit-by-bit or take a huge leap, you never know until you try.

Have a great weekend!

Past trips to Maine:

Scenes from a Coastal New England Weekend

Eating in Portland, Maine

Technorati Tags: career, Maine, motivation, Portland, Travel

I say it all the time, just how lucky we are in Boston to have access to so many beautiful New England locations for weekend getaways. There are SO many beautiful areas to explore, and I want to see them all.

This past weekend we did a getaway in Camden, Maine with some friends, and I can’t recommend it enough. On the way up we stopped at the outlets in Freeport, Maine for some L.L. Bean action (and Sperry and Bass and Vineyard Vines. . . ). I had never been to the Freeport outlets and was overwhelmed by great stores and deals. The outlets are an easy two hour ride from Boston and totally doable for a day trip.

The friends we traveled with visit Camden every year and have their own set of stops they make, including Red’s Eats, a lobster shack in Wiscasset, Maine. It’s cash only, with a few outdoor tables and a long line, but it is so worth it!

Lobster rolls are served naked, an entire lobster stuffed into a buttered, toasted roll, and served with butter and mayo on the side, just the way I like it. We also shared fried scallops, the best I have ever had.

Camden was a short drive away; breaking it up with a few stops made the drive more bearable and definitely more delicious! We stayed at the Hartstone Inn in Camden, which I will cover in a separate post.

Our first order of business, after some wine and snacks, was a walk down to the harbor, which is quintessential New England.

We got some gorgeous weather over the weekend, and it felt SO good to wear flip flops and a dress. Being outdoors and by the sea makes me positively giddy, especially with the whole summer stretching out ahead.

  Because the weather was so nice, we got to spend a lot of time outdoors, including a hike up to the top of Mt. Battie. It was a fairly easy 1.4 mile hike up, and the views were outstanding. Having a mountain that close to the sea is just about perfection for me. Hike in the morning, and boat in the afternoon!

Isn’t it stunning?

Post-hike, we did some wandering around Camden, including some shopping and indulging in deliciousness offered by local pubs. The Drouthy Bear was just across from our inn and the perfect place for a Pimm’s Cup, hand cut fries, sausage rolls, bacon butties, and live Celtic music, which brought my husband back home for a couple of hours. Such a sweet bar!

Our wandering also included the newly opened Vintage Lounge at 16 Bayview, a new luxury hotel right on Camden harbor. Cocktails and local smoked salmon filled us up, while the lounge vibe made us cozy and relaxed.

Half of our group works in hospitality, and we ended up taking a site tour of the hotel, including checking out the stunning roof deck, which I could sit on for days, just staring out at all that blue. Seriously, I may have some mermaid in me.

The suites at 16 Bayview were gorgeous and so impressive. I especially loved the giant soaking tubs in them! We definitely are bookmarking the hotel for a future stay!

All in all, Camden is a place you could easily fill a weekend, with cute boutiques, plenty of restaurants, spas, outdoor activities, and more. I could even see spending a week and exploring other neighboring towns like Rockport.

Stay tuned for my review of the Hartstone Inn, coming soon!

Technorati Tags: cocktails, Food, Maine, New England, Travel, travel blog, weekend getaways

Our magical time in Puerto Rico seems like it happened years ago. . . I am craving warmth and sunshine in a big way, and Boston is not delivering! The trip was full of relaxation, beach time, and lots of local food, which we tried in all sorts of places, including at Los Kioskos, the kiosks in Luquillo, a must-visit for anyone traveling to the area.

The kiosks are a long stretch of roadside food stands, some small storefronts and others more upscale restaurants, all facing a beautiful beach. The kiosks give you access to about 60 different eating and drinking options with some shops and even a piercing and tattoo studio mixed in!

If you’re visiting Luquillo, you’ll want to visit the kiosks more than once to sample the variety of food there. We loved fresh, tangy ceviche at the Ceviche Hut, along with their peek out at the ocean. This was always a packed spot; you can tell it’s popular and that the seafood flies out of there!

After our hike at El Yunque National Forest, the burgers at the El Jefe kiosk were calling our names, as were their delicious rum cocktails! I loved my Caribbean BBQ Burger with avocado, red onion, and pickles and hand cut fries as much as I loved my rum punch. This would definitely be a spot I would visit again; the menu offered burgers stuffed with chorizo and short ribs, which both sounded decadent and delicious, perfect for a slightly cooler day.

We also loved that many of the places had happy hours. Tattoo Tavern was great for this as well as for live music later in the evening. I almost got my nose pierced again, but the tattoo/piercing part of the business was closed when we went back. Next time!

One of our favorite kiosks for a more sit down dinner was Terruno, where we found incredible local music, dancing, and dinner, along with really friendly and welcoming service. We didn’t stop smiling the entire time, as we chowed down on fried cheese with guava and shrimp mofongo with a garlic sauce.

Seriously, this shrimp was pure heaven. Sharing an appetizer and a main course was enough to fill us up and to get us ready for a night of moving to the music. Such warmth and local flavor to be found by visiting the kiosks!

On another night, we did a couple of appetizers at Mata de Platano where again we went with seafood; crab empanadas and salmon skewers, again delicious and served with true Puerto Rican hospitality.

Our final stop at the kiosks was Edelweiss, known for their extensive beer selection and, you guessed it, friendly staff. Edelweiss is the perfect post-beach spot to start your wandering of the kioskos; most places allow you to take your beer to go as a refresher while you browse the other kiosks.

We really only visited a small handful of the kiosks but spent a lot of time wandering up and down the stretch, seeing families enjoying meals, friends out dancing, people on dates, and lots of people just relaxing after work. It’s a great spot to see how the locals enjoy life, one another, and good food.

Technorati Tags: adventure, Dining out, Food, Puerto Rico, Restaurants, Travel

Our weekend in Camden, Maine was one I would love to repeat over and over. It involved great food, gorgeous New England scenery, and fun friends. The Hartstone Inn was our home-away-from-home for the weekend and is the coziest little retreat for a relaxing weekend. Our friends have been going for a few years, and when they invited us, we jumped at the chance. We booked way back in September, and when the weekend finally came in April, we were so excited.

We booked the Manor Suite, which was spacious and beautiful, with two bedrooms, a big Jacuzzi soaking tub, a fireplace, and a little foyer. It was in the same house as one of the couples we were traveling with, so we were back and forth all weekend, hanging out for snacks and drinks in the living room in their suite and enjoying their sunny balcony. 

Our room included a half bottle of wine and chocolates and some cute welcome literature like a recipe for one of the inn’s delicious cocktails.

Downstairs, a sunny, enclosed porch welcomed us. Everywhere we looked there were beautiful little touches and cute details. I want the Hartstone Inn to come and decorate my house.

The main house of the inn was home to reception and the dining room, along with some cozy little rooms for reading and relaxing. Our package included breakfast each day and a credit toward the tasting menu. Food is carefully prepared, creative, and focused on being fresh and local. And it was amazing.

Happy Hour featured $5 specialty cocktails and small bites to get us ready for a feast.

One at the table, we started with a little seared tuna amuse, which we paired with bubbly and a toast to the weekend.

While others made some substitutions, I went straight off of the tasting menu.

MAINE SEAFOOD TIMBALE with  citrus aioli, pickled red onions, rye toast points
SWEET POTATO, RUTABAGA AND GREEN APPLE SOUP with maple cream
SORBET – Maine blueberry
PAN SEARED BISTRO STEAK with roasted fingerling potatoes, blue cheese butter
BLUEBERRY-ALMOND SOUFFLÉ with amaretto crème anglaise

It all looked so good to me, and I ended up devouring every delicious bite.

You can’t go wrong with Maine seafood, and I love pickled onions. Tart, tangy, refreshing, and light, this dish was a perfect starter.

Temperatures had dropped during our walk around Camden, and this rich and velvety soup was a yummy way to also warm up and get a dose of veggies. My eating has been terrible lately, especially when I travel, and I appreciate any way to eat vegetables that also tastes really good!

Maine blueberry sorbet cleansed our palates and gave us a taste of summer.

As it got darker, my photos did the food no justice. The bistro steak was perfectly cooked, and you really can’t go wrong with blue cheese butter and potatoes.

And then there was dessert. Swoon. The soufflé was hot and fluffy, and the decadent sauce poured over as the top was cracked open was just the icing on the cake, so to speak. Heavenly.

Breakfast at the inn was just as good. I only ate the first morning as I had some work to do the second day during breakfast hours. We started the morning with a cup of coffee in the parlor, enjoying the super cozy vibe. I rarely feel truly relaxed, and this was one of those moments.

Once at our breakfast table, I had a mimosa in hand and a fruity breakfast starter with a home baked scone followed by an egg strata with the best homemade chicken sausage ever.

The Hartstone Inn Chef was not on property, but the food was some of the best I have had. I’ve heard that it’s even that much better when Chef is there. When not actually at the inn, you can find the Chef/owners leading culinary trips in Europe, which look like complete dream getaways.

If you’re looking for a lovely weekend away, I can’t recommend the Hartstone Inn enough. We’re looking forward to next year’s visit!

Technorati Tags: Camden, Food, getaway, Maine, New England, Travel, travel blog, vacation

Welcome, new readers! This post has definitely gotten a lot of interest! For actual travel blog posts, you can visit my travel page.

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The Press Trip that Wasn’t. . .

Or that time I was so done with an airline I walked off of a plane before going anywhere. . .

If you’ve been reading lately, you’ll know that I was getting ready for a press trip to England a couple of weeks ago. Over the course of the month or so where the planning was supposedly taking place, the communication was pretty intermittent, a week here, several days there. I honestly wasn’t 100% sure it was happening, even up to the morning of my departure. I was excited for the destination; Bristol, England looks like a really cool place to visit. I soon learned that WOW Airlines, the airline getting me there, is a mess.

Three weeks before departure: First, I receive an invitation,  then I get asked about my blog traffic and social media handles. In my PR experience, you do all of that first, before inviting people. But I let that piece go.

After the initial few emails, I heard nothing for about nine days, so I sort of put the trip out of my head. I knew that if I was going I had to move some work and social events, told the contact that, and still didn’t get any concrete information. And despite being told multiple times by them that I would have my ticket in 24 hours, days and weeks passed, and nothing.

Friday afternoon, six days before departure: I receive an email that the trip is happening and I will get my ticket and itinerary on Monday. Being less than a week out and still having no idea where I am going or how I am getting there doesn’t sit great with me but I am still excited to visit Bristol! Be spontaneous, right?!

Tuesday, before a Thursday departure: I finally receive the itinerary. At this point, I am more than annoyed at how last minute everything is, but the itinerary looks amazing! I start to get really excited, but I still don’t have any airline details. I then receive four blank emails from WOW Airlines. I start to feel not-so-comfortable with their competence.

Wednesday, before a Thursday departure: I finally am able to open one of the ticket attachments. It has me leaving from Baltimore. I’m in Boston. I’m promised another ticket the next morning.

Thursday, day of departure: I start to feel REALLY wary of the trip when I still don’t have a confirmed ticket. I let my contact know that, and I receive a ticket in response. Okay, I’m going!

Four hours before departure: I get ready to go! WOW doesn’t have online check-in, but I leave with plenty of time to get to the airport. A truck fire in the tunnel means it takes me two hours to go seven miles. Maybe this is an omen.

Arrival at the airport: I finally make it to check in! I hand my passport to the desk attendant, and her first question is “Are you sure you’re traveling on WOW?”

Maybe not? They finally find my reservation and then try to force me to check my small bag, which is under the weight limit. The service was incredibly rude and off-putting, and with the disorganization that had already taken place, I am starting to lose patience.

You’ll note that my departure time, above left, is 1900, where boarding is 1940.  They couldn’t even get the ticket right.

Once, I got through security, the delays, without any information, began. I had a glass of wine at Vino Volo and learned from my fellow passengers that none of the WOW customer service numbers they called were connected. Comforting.

We eventually start boarding after the third delay, and everyone around me was worried about connections. WOW is a big connector from Keflavik, Iceland, to other places in Europe, but after looking at their reviews, I now know that people usually miss those connections.

I get to the door of the plane and am told I only have a ticket to Keflavik, but not to Bristol and that I would need to deal with that when I get to Iceland. Except with the delay,  the time to do that and make my flight would require a miracle.

I get on the plane anyway. No TV’s. The tiniest seats I have ever been in. I learn we have to pay for water.

And then the pilot announces another delay because we don’t have the needed paperwork to depart.

All of the above frustrations came together at that moment. I felt sick, extremely uncomfortable, and I used something I learned at the Boston Business Women’s Conference.

I stood up for myself and I got off the plane. It felt like the only think I could do. I felt so unsure about the trip and the lack of planning and I couldn’t take another mishap.

I had my passport checked to make sure I didn’t leave luggage on board, and I was walked out of security. And I went home. I emailed my contact who was planning the trip and emailed again the next day, outlining all that went wrong. I never heard back. . .

This wasn’t a decision I made lightly. It was more than a little embarrassing to be the person getting off of a full plane. I wanted to go on the trip. I had cancelled meetings, plans with friends and family, and rearranged my life to be away for four days.

I’ve told the story about 10 times now, and every single person I have told has said they would have given up way before I did. I told many PR colleagues who were horrified at the lack of communication. They encouraged me to blog about it.

I work in PR. More specifically, I work with travel and hospitality clients and have planned and executed dozens of trips for press.  Timing sometimes gets off, there are miscommunications. People don’t show up when they are supposed to. But the job of the person planning is to communicate and to make the guest feel excited about the trip and comfortable; otherwise you really aren’t doing a great job of selling your client!

In summary, 1) WOW Airlines failed to impress on every front.

If you enjoy good service, comfort, organization, and any sort of attention to detail whatsoever, you might be best avoiding WOW, at least based on my experience.

2) Trust your gut. I should have turned down the trip earlier in the week. It would have saved me a ton of time, worry, planning and about $100 back and forth to the airport.

I travel a good amount; I think I got in 26 flights last year, that included a trip to Africa, two trips to Sonoma, and three trips to Ireland. I’ve never gotten off of a plane before. I guess there’s a first time for everything! I’ve learned that if something feels really wrong, trust that. This experience is, of course, just that of one person, but I felt strongly enough about it to share. It was upsetting to say the least!

Have you ever walked away from a situation that put you in a bad position? I would love to hear your thoughts on what happened!

Technorati Tags: PR, Travel, travel mishaps

I dream of Puerto Rico around once a week since our trip to Luquillo and San Juan. Island time agreed with me, and the trip felt like truly getting away, which is really rare with me.

When planning, I asked around to friends who had traveled to Puerto Rico, and my friend Megan sent me the most amazing roundup of places to visit. La Estacion was one of the restaurants on the list, and once we read about it, we knew we had to make it part of our itinerary. On our outdoor adventure day, between our sailing trip to Icacos and our boat trip to the bioluminescent bay, we made sure we had time to visit La Estacion, which was conveniently close to both. It turned out to be the perfect plan , giving us just a little time after sailing to drive around and some time after dinner to grab a beer and walk  on the beach.

As the name alludes to, La Estacion is on the site of an old gas station, which definitely gives for an interesting atmosphere. The cool space is sought-after. Definitely get a reservation if you can!

They’re big on local ingredients, beautiful outdoor space, strong and yummy cocktails and a good time.

It was hot when we arrived for dinner, and while frozen drinks aren’t my normal choice, I enjoyed a piña colada or two while in Puerto Rico! Sipping on this slushy treat while smelling the smoky air and feeling the heat was just amazing. I love being hot.

In addition to putting a lot of time and care into food and beverage, La Estacion also has nice little touches throughout, including lots of beautiful flowers and accents, and great service.

Since I was on vacation, I decided to go with the special grilled stuffed whole lobster, sweet potato fries, and coleslaw. How good does that look?!

I ate most of it and wanted to roll out of the restaurant. Buttery lobster with tropical flavors of the salsa made it just out of this world.

My husband went for the BBQ side of things with ribs and chicken and mac and cheese, also amazing. I am always glad that we love to share; here it allowed us to taste a little bit of both the seafood and BBQ food La Estacions is known for.

If you are headed to the Fajardo/Luquillo area in Puerto Rico, La Estacion is really a must-visit. From warm welcomes to delicious, satisfying cuisine, they have it all. It’s really quite the experience! We’re hoping to visit again next winter.

Until then, we’ll hope for summer weather in New England and dream of Puerto Rico sunsets. . . .

Technorati Tags: BBQ, Boston blogger, cocktails, Dining out, fajardo, Food, food blogger, lobster, Puerto Rico

Do you make a summer bucket list? We’re working on ours lately and it involves lots of time outside and on the water, farm fresh produce, grilling, outdoor movies, concerts, and a lot more. It’s my favorite season by far. Being barefoot and salty makes me happy down to my soul. Unlike last summer where we traveled a ton, we only have one trip planned this summer. Otherwise I plan on soaking up the amazingness that New England dishes up in this season.

We kicked off summer as early as we could and despite some very rainy Sundays (Seriously, why has every Sunday been rainy? It’s my favorite boat day!) have some weekend favorites to share.

There’s so much to do and see near Boston. A few weeks ago we visited Scituate for a beach walk and brunch at Atlantica, which is fancy and a little pricey but totally incredible and great for a special occasion.

A window seat, hot donut holes, and a fruit cocktail started brunch off perfectly.

A Blood Orange Old Fashioned. . . because it’s brunch!

Brunch at Atlantica is a giant buffet featuring all sorts of stations like prime rib, pasta, fish, omelets, salads, seafood, and a huge dessert table. I piled my plate high with grilled vegetables, shrimp, quiche, short ribs, bacon, and salad and ate every bite. It was heavenly.  Sometimes I steer clear of buffets because I assume the quality won’t be great, but that was not the case here. Everything was so good!  I decided I want to have brunch here again during one of my Chicago Marathon long run weekends so I can really try everything and not feel bad about it!

My sister got me these cute Lilly Pulitzer wine glasses; they’re plastic, making them perfect for boating! I plan to fill them with lots of pink wine this summer. While people have starting going bananas for rosé in recent years, we’ve been fans of dry rosé forever (one of my very first blog posts covers one of our favorites, from Travessia Urban Winery, right here in Massachusetts) way back when everyone thought White Zinfandel was the only rosé out there. We continue to find favorites; follow this space for tasting notes!

Speaking of boating, we’ve been doing as much of it as we can. Saoirse is smaller than our last boat, making it easier for us to dock without help. As a result, we’ve had a few relaxing dates by boat, including one to Legal Harborside, a perfect place in Boston for sunning, sipping (and slurping) away a summer day.   

Getting outdoors has been a ton of fun, and we’ve been trying for more active evenings. Instead of just appetizers and cocktails, we add a walk in. Walking around Lower Mills in Dorchester is so pretty and gives us the ability to visit several bars and an ice cream shop all on foot. I love the small town feel of where we live and the access to water that we have so close by!

I also love my garden. Having a yard so close to the city has been a game changer for me. My garden brings me so much joy and peace. The raspberries are on their way! Also planted: zucchini, acorn squash, hot peppers, tomatoes, string beans, arugula, peas, shallots, strawberries, and basil. Stepping outside into that space grounds me so much.

Since we do live near so much green space, we finally bought a soccer ball to kick around. Neither of us are World Cup bound  anytime soon, but we get in some good exercise chasing each other around and dying laughing. It’s the perfect time of year to behave like a kid again, which is why soccer is followed by ice cream.

We plan on lots of day trips from Boston to places like World’s End in Hingham, beaches in Ipswich, dockside dining in Portland, and so much more. What are your summer plans?

For some ideas on day trips from Boston, check out these posts:

Day Trip to New Bedford

Visiting Ipswich

Brunch and Beer in Newburyport

Wine and Beer Tasting in Southeast Massachusetts

Hingham and Cohasset

Spectacle Island

Chatham, Cape Cod

A Day Trip to Martha’s Vineyard (a little more difficult, but do-able!)

World’s End State Park

Technorati Tags: Boston, brunch, New England, summer, Travel, travel blog, weekends