Travel Tips & Adventures

In no particular order, I plan to review places I’ve been, things I’ve seen and restaurants where I’ve dined that have stuck with me – favorites.  Some of the places already reviewed are favorites, but I’ll be highlighting some new places, as well as adding new details about those we’ve already shared.

First up – Ogunquit, Maine

Although I have a great fondness for many places on the East Coast of the US, I returned to Ogunquit, Maine several times.  I loved the mix of sun, sand, waves, theater, seafood and a certain peaceful attitude you don’t find in every resort town.

Walking on the beach, looking out over the Atlantic Ocean was a restful, meditative experience.  Choosing lobsters, then sitting down in a very easy-going way to enjoy our food was another fun experience.  The arts community’s work in Ogunquit is a pleasure to see.  (more…)

Oregon is a state of mind.  Everywhere we went when we visited years ago, we found ourselves trying to figure out how we could live in that particular locale.

I love the ocean; my husband loves the mountains.  Oregon has both ocean and mountains plus waterfalls, hiking, and scenery that truly makes you want to stay.  So, Oregon has absolutely charmed us.  The Convention and Visitors Bureaus would be proud of us!

Haystack Rock with friend, Cannon Beach, Oregon

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Traveling to New Orleans is a treat. The sights, the food and the people make the “Big Easy” an irresistible destination for families and adults. Mardi Gras, well known for its festivities, is not the only time it is fun to be in New Orleans.

French Quarter street scene, early in the day

Although, I’ve been to New Orleans twice, I haven’t seen everything yet. But, even though I’ve been there, any visit is not complete until you visit the French Quarter, which is the quintessential place where everything comes together. There is music, excess, great food and amazing architecture. (more…)

Continuing our full week of recipes, we head to Annapolis in the Mid Atlantic US —

Even if you don’t play football, or even care about the game,  you have probably heard of the annual Army-Navy football game, an intense rivalry that goes back to 1890.  It might be even more intense as the location of the United States Naval Academy is actually founded on the site of an Army fort in 1845!

But don’t expect to see the famous game on campus, as only two of the first four games were ever played in Annapolis.  Today the majority are played in Philadelphia (half way between Annapolis and West Point …). 

But Annapolis, Maryland is more than just a military school for officers.  This is a city founded in 1649 that saw the likes of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson pounding the pavement, as this was once the Capital of the United States (for one year).  It is possible to see the original homes of four of the Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence. (more…)

Since some of our readers visit us from ww.recipes (a terrific site that I’ve been on for 10 years!) , I thought it was time to offer some regional recipes as we tell about our travels around the USA.

We’ll start on the East Coast and hit some major cuisines as we move around the country.

Today, we’ll revisit adventures in New England.  Up and down New England, the food and the scenery are exceptional. The cuisine stems from resourceful use of the available fruits of the ocean and the stony earth.  The cold winters and very hot and humid summers contribute to the Yankee character – a determination and clever use of what is available.

RECIPE

Boiled Lobster

One of the easiest recipes to prepare is fresh lobster.  Purchase a live lobster from a market or – better yet – a lobster fisherman, take it home and cook it for six to 10 minutes in boiling water.  Once it turns bright red, it is done. 

Depending on your taste and how intrepid you are, you can find edible lobster meat in every part of the lobster.  I have been in a fancy restaurant where they offered to pull out the meat for me.  Since I had seen them remove only the tail meat, I refused their offer and had a lot more lobster for my dinner.  

You can pull out or suck out the meat from the various parts.  You might want to avoid the “somali” – some greenish innards, but some people eat that, too. Dipping the results of your efforts in warm lemon butter is a treat you never forget.

When I was a child, we visited friends in Massachusetts who covered their kitchen table with newspapers. Everyone was offered two lobsters to enjoy!  That was one of the most informal and festive dinners I’ve ever shared.  We were messy, but the camaraderie we shared was terrific!

Maine Lighthouse

If you’re visiting in Maine, some of the seaside restaurants have daily deliveries and let diners choose their dinner from a tank. 

Portuguese heritage reflected in food

Cape Cod, the curved extension of Massachusetts, has Portuguese heritage that is reflected in some of the cuisine.

At the very tip of Cape Cod in Provincetown is a restaurant, the Lobster Pot, that served a Portuguese Kale soup/stew that I’ve never forgotten.  I reconstructed the recipe so anyone can make it at home.

RECIPE

Portuguese Kale Soup

1 – 1 LB. sausage – whatever variety you prefer

1 bunch of kale – or cabbage – if kale isn’t available in your market, shredded in small pieces

1 onion or several scallion, chopped

6-8 cups of beef and or chicken bouillon

1 large potato – red-skinned preferred – cut in small cubes

1 cup of red beans, kidney beans preferred

salt and pepper to taste

1.    Cut the sausage in thin rounds and brown it in a large pot on a medium flame, turning the rounds so both sides get browned.

2.    Add the chopped onion, cook for a couple of minutes.

3.    Add the potato cubes, bouillon and kale and reduce the flame to medium low.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

4.    Cover the pot and let cook until the potatoes are tender – at least 20-30 minutes.

5.    Serve in a bowl with some crusty bread on the side and ENJOY!

Serves 4-6 people, depending on how hungry they are.

http://www.ptownlobsterpot.com/

www.wwrecipes.com

For over 75 years at Third and Fairfax, the L. A. Farmer’s Market has been an institution.

Just west of downtown L.A., and just south of Hollywood on what was formerly a dairy farm, the Farmer’s Market has grown from farmers selling their products from the back of their trucks to a mostly enclosed building offering groceries, shops and restaurants.

LA Farmer's Market

The atmosphere is festive and busy, but there are so many choices that is difficult to decide what to choose. Everything from a farmer’s produce stand to sit down locations, delis, Asian options and much more tempt the hungry shopper. There are 35 restaurants and drink choices with over 20 grocery and specialty food outlets.  You can’t decide what to eat?  Well, try a few!

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Continuing our Los Angeles dining options, we are going to look at a couple of establishments where we had dinner. Both of the following restaurants serve lunch also, with one open for breakfast.
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When we were in L.A. a week ago, we detailed some places to go, and people to see. Actually, we didn’t give you any people to see, but that won‘t be hard in a city of 4,010,000 (if you really can’t find anyone to see there are 11,000,000 in Los Angeles County).

So there are things to do, and people to see, but, also, you’ve gotta eat …

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For most people, a trip on an ocean liner is not something they would consider. It takes longer to get places that way and delays arrival at a destination.

Since The Queen Mary is now docked in Long Beach, California, the Queen Mary Hotel can provide an approximation of what it would have been like to travel the Atlantic in style.

Queen Mary from Long Beach

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Looking for an Old West experience that’s fun for the family? Then, head to Rawhide, if you’re in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

"Come and Get It" greets visitors at Rawhide's entrance

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