Travel Tips & Adventures

Every piece of travel material on Vancouver mentions Granville Island as a great place to go.  We agree.  Even on a rainy day, we found Granville Island with its Public Market a great opportunity to eat, see and experience.

The Public Market has several large buildings where the same vendors have been for years.  The variety of products sold range from gorgeous produce to cheese to flowers to pastries to  tea to – well, you name it!

Gorgeous produce arrayed at Granville Island's Public Market

There are also food stands where you can purchase burgers and other food, ready made, even from buffalo. Almost every ethnic food variety is represented.  Bagels, pizza, teriyaki, fish (fresh and cooked) and almost too many choices! (more…)

Wander into the funky, eccentric, artfully scattered and humorous décor of Cranky Sue’s in Cannon Beach and you’ll find some chuckles and great food.

Why is Sue cranky? After all, she has a successful restaurant in its third year and is going national with her clam chowder, Caesar dressing and crab cakes. (more…)

If Cannon Beach is like Scottsdale without water, then Seaside, Oregon is like an upscale Coney Island with all of its family amusements.

Lewis and Clark statue at "Prom" turnaround

(more…)

We all have to eat. That’s a basic need, but we don’t always eat the best food. In Eugene, Oregon, anyone who eats at Adam’s Sustainable Table in the downtown area can truly say they have had a choice of some of the best food available.

Cozy, inviting Adam's Sustainable Table

(more…)

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

(more…)

Next on our recipe week tour of the USA is Santa Fe -

Red adobe and old world charm make Santa Fe the city you envision when you think of the old Southwest.  Artists find the area inspiring and most visitors will, too.  There are shops galore, history around every corner and artists displaying their wares, even on the street. (more…)

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…)

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!

(more…)