This post contains affiliate links. You do not pay additional by making a purchase through an affiliate link, which helps to support this blog’s livelihood.
Move over James Bond, if you’re a fan of The Great British Baking Show (aka Great British Bake Off or GBBO for Brits) like I AM 🙋🏻♀️, then you’ve probably taken an even stronger liking to London recently.
The Paul Hollywood show actually takes place in the outdoor big white tent off the beaten path in the country, but the baking adventure definitely has brought modern appeal to the historic city. And it’s a massive one at that! If you like sweets, you’re definitely in for a treat.
If you’re in London to take a ride on the London Eye to check out the city views, come for Wimbledon tennis, to museum hop, and check out the Rosetta Stone or portraits of famous Brits, you will not be bored!
…OH, and expect a huge shopping or window shopping selection (…have you heard of the 8-floor Harrod’s Department Store?). Plus, the foodie scene. It’s not just Fish & Chips anymore if you check out Insta photos. And one boutique-y area with tasty foodie food and free outdoor entertainment I’d recommend is Covent Garden.
London can actually be very overwhelming if you’re coming and going for the first time even if you do speak English. You’ll quickly learn to speak Brit with afternoon tea and get from place to place taking the Tube or London cabs. 💂♂️
And this Park Plaza Westminster Hotel is central modern to your visit. Not only does it have amazing views of the London Eye wheel 🎡that you can eye throughout the hotel and maybe even your room, you can see the other iconic architectural wonders London is known for like Westminster Abbey … And you can try to keep track of time looking out at Big Ben. Now that’s a Wow-za and a one-of-a-kind city view you don’t want to miss. 🇬🇧
Plus… the hotel has its own onsite restaurants that serve French cuisine… and sushi anyone? Having worked in the hotel foodie scene (I’m a former hospitality catering sales manager) I know the inside scoop behind-the-scenes. It’s not easy to run a hotel kitchen with all the moving parts and departments. Just sayin’ you won’t be disappointed with these efforts.
Don’t forget to fit in your Great British Baking Show dessert time and afternoon tea… and a visit to Fortnum & Mason before you leave. Cheers! 🫖
This post contains affiliate links. You do not pay additional by making a purchase through an affiliate link, which helps to support this blog’s livelihood.
If you’re looking for a heavenly thermal spa mineral-rich experience, then Bath could be your place. It’s a wonderful hidden gem town that has many year-round events.
If you go during the Christmas season, you’ll get to experience the outdoor Christmas Market that’s not crowded like other ones that are more known. You can sometimes find good holiday deals.
But a must-do anytime is the Thermae Spa that the town is known for and has an outdoor rooftop thermal pool and indoor pools. If you’ve ever wanted to try mineral spa waters like the Romans did 2,000 years ago, but in a controlled environment, then this is the place to visit. And the 2-hour body therapeutic experience is affordable.
With the savings of going to this spa over one in a larger city, you’ll comfortably be able to have a nice stay at the Abbey Hotelthat’s just a 4-minute walk to the Thermae Spa and Christmas Market in the City Centre (and less than 2 hour drive from London).
The hotel is convenient and the rooms are unique. You can stay in the Cinematography Room with a modern design or the Gallery Room with a soothing green color wall.
And the hotel has one of the best afternoon teas you don’t wanna miss! 💕 When you’re ready for brunch and art-deco inspiration, head over to The Ivy Bath Brasserie for a unique Bath dining experience, the foodie kitchen sink with anything from Shepherd’s Pie to Lobster Prawn Free-Range Eggs Benedict.
And if you want a ‘lil history you can visit the Roman Baths and appreciate your modern spa bath even more in this quaint town and what it has to offer.
This post contains affiliate links. You do not pay additional by making a purchase through an affiliate link, which helps to support this blog’s livelihood.
National Ice Cream Day is a favorite for young and old alike, and everywhere around the world.
Every day in summer.
Some of my favorite memories are below. They’re not your typical Baskin Robbins, Friendly’s, Ben & Jerry’s or Dippin’ Dots. They’re the international ice cream flavors.
My earliest favorite memory was spumoni ice cream (cherry, pistachio, and chocolate) 🍧 that was so different than even Neapolitan (strawberry, vanilla, chocolate). Except for the similar ingredient… chocolate!
Those were the days when the Ice Cream Man used to drive by the neighborhood with its famous truck jingle 🎶
And these 2023 ice cream days we have every kind of ice cream imaginable 💭…
And hazelnut sauce for 2023 ice cream in Italy 🇮🇹 is as common as ketchup for burgers and fries in the States.
And if you’re like me you like vanilla too as a good base to start with in Bologna🍦. Like this one that never melts ⛔️ And along those lines, I like ice cream in a cup so you’re not playing the lick faster than you get a chance to enjoy game.
And of course… the famous Gelato mounds… is it ice cream worthy? For me, you bet… Yes, please. 🙋🏻♀️ But, you and your inner child or critic decide.
And spin the wheel of gelato fortune at the chic seen-and-be-seen Fountainbleau Hotel (Miami, Florida 🌴). Anywhere the scoop lands is a win! Nice how they even added a few sorbet selections, especially if you’re overheated… raspberry, mango, and coconut pina colada.
Variety is the spice of life at Foutainbleau’s Bon Bon and the grocery store.
Mascarpone is an Italian flavor. I think it’s repuprosed from a tiramisu dessert because some cheeses are the new dessert. 🧀
If you’re feeling a bit wanderlust, you can re-energize with a reset by visiting a local zen garden. Maybe they’re low on your bucket list, but they’re an easy checklist item for this week.
And if you take a look at flora and fauna in your area, you realize that it takes more than a green thumb gardener to grow plants. There’s a level of expertise needed to have a community of diverse plants that get along and grow together. And well… patience and a ‘lil TLC. 🌱
We know that we breathe better when the oxygen in the room is fresh. One source is plants that take in our CO2. And from a global view, a reduced carbon footprint and emissions help our global warming effects that impact every part of the globe today. The hottest temperatures on record have been recorded in July 2023.
So preserving trees is one way to shade the unwanted weather effects for the livelihood of both the human and the animal kingdoms.
The Botanical Gardens Conservation International reports that 30% of the world’s trees today are at risk for extinction. The BGCI is an organization on a mission to make a positive impact in all-things plants. They have a green initiative that includes an accreditation program for plant diversity, conservation, and sustainability.
And in the garden domain, The Univerity of North Carolina makes noteworthy news besides sports and free tuition announcements. Their sister school in Charlotte has a shaded zen garden all are welcome to appreciate and to help keep summer cool.
Adding a waterfall and pond feature is not only visually zen appealing, it also adds to a soothing zen listening experience. This Asian zen garden is found at the University of North Carolina campus in Charlotte.
If you like rose gardens then these pink ones around the world are bucket list worthy.
You can have your own Arby’s Deal Roast Beef Classic Sandwich Picnic Party Table for $5. Kick up your roast beef table and you have an elegant buffet in 10-minute prep time. No kidding! ⏲️
Party table featuring Arby’s roast beef classic (5 for $5 deal)
Arby’s deal with the fixings prepared here: homemade rolls, feta cheese, capers, radishes, pickles, horseradish, and homemade au jus. You can always use Arby’s sauce or horsey sauce, but using your own sauces help to kick up the spice and flavor level if that’s what you want (giving a luxury catered party vibe 🎉… for the $5 price). That’s something to smile about!
And instead of North Carolina barbecue you can have roast beef with your own North Carolina-style vinegar barbecue sauce using white vinegar (or any vinegar you have on hand), Worcestershire sauce, cayenne or red pepper flakes, onion powder, salt and pepper. And who doesn’t love Dijon mustard!?
This Arby’s deal: 5 classic roast beef sandwich deal for $5 is good until 7/2! Just in time for July 4th 🇺🇸 and keep your eyes out for other weekly deals!
You can’t beat the roast beef classic sandwich that has been around as long as I have been around (and longer!)… and maybe you have been too.
And since we’re talking history…
The Arby’s chain started the same 1964 year as the Beatles landed in New York. It’s a true classic with the horsey horseradish sauce. And with the 5 sandwich deal, you can share with 4 other individuals… OR you could make a party smorgasbord like I did where you add your gourmet picnic cheeses like brie. And your fancy cornichons and capers. And voila! you’ve got a sharing platter good for a small party of 3 or more.
PLUS… you’ve got leftover buns for your next holiday 🧨 or other celebration. I mean, c’mon! It doesn’t get any better than this for fast food. And actually lemme give you the skinny on what happened (the fast food part).
Rewinding back my steps… I did the rigamaroll of downloading the Arby’s app in the morning and paying for the sandwiches which came to $4.79 for 5 sandwiches. Umm… isn’t that like 1964 rollback prices? Or what you pay for one sandwich in 2023 inflationary costs?
…When I pulled up to the drive-thru, they couldn’t find my order. Oops!
I saved the confirmation receipt sent to my email and took a photo… I didn’t want to take any chances having never ordered from them this way before. AND I double-checked the location before I left. Boy, that’s a classic #1 mistake: people making reservations at the wrong location. Not tragic but imagine if it’s for a restaurant reservation with others.
I’m a planner so that’s just not me. I wouldn’t want others to have to deal with my lack of planning on their dime. Time is money.
…So, they had me pull up out of the drive-thru and a few short minutes later, handed me a fat brown bag full of these sandwiches. They didn’t even check my confirmation. But of course, that’s because I had it on-hand just in case. And they even apologized for the delay… um, what delay? 😊 Just sayin’.
Then I smiled and drove on my merry way. I took those roast beef beauties home, and enjoyed one as a snack. I disassembled each one probably as carefully and systematically as they were assembled. We took a field trip in kindergarten to ooh and aahh over fast food operations at a local Mickey D’s (but that’s a story for another day! 😅).
I digress, but my inner child remembered.. and I stacked the buns on top cookie-cutter style onto one of the foil paper wrappings that could be reused, and put them in my freezer for a later day. Hey, they are good sesame buns (never eaten) and good for re-purposing on any meat or burger occasion. 🍔
And I took the thinly sliced roast beef and fluffed them up out of their round compactness.
Arby roast beef $5 party table
And here we have a delightful picnic you can take along outside or enjoy indoors on a hot summer day. 🧺
Blue Duck Tavern – a Michelin star hotel restaurant that was one of over 30 brunch places I tried with DC Metro groups.
Since 2020, many DC Metro brunch restaurants said their goodbyes. But some have weathered the storms and withstood the test of time. Which ones?
All 30 of the ones below that I enjoyed.
All were memorable (company more than food), but one Michelin-star restaurant in the Park Hyatt in Georgetown stood out.
My DC Metro brunch group made brunch a weekend event for almost a decade and this one was a highlight (although most of the food served and service was great!).
Growing up in the area, Georgetown was an area full of bars, and you maybe remember… “The Brat Pack” movies. A scene from St. Elmo’s Fire was from a restaurant group that I worked for in the way-back machine, mentioned further below.
Let me back up a little and fill in some details…
From 2010 to 2020, I was booking groups in my foodie restaurants where I managed parties and events (one location mentioned below).
And, on my free weekends and with my DC metro brunch group of friends, we were trying out brunch-friendly neighborhood restaurants. These are some of our favorite tasting place finds I’m sharing with you… that are still around!
(Even the ones that weren’t historical are now captured in history.)
1. Blue Duck Tavern (L’Enfant) – 1201 24th St NW, Washington DC, 20037
2. Le Diplomate – 1601 14th St NW, Washington DC, 20009
3. DBGB (City Center) – retired but you can still dig into the to-die-for Baked Alaska in the Big Apple.
4. Bastille (Parker Gray) – 606 N Fayette St, Alexandria, VA 22314
5. Founding Farmers & Distillers DC – 600 Mass Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
For a buffet, I was impressed with the spread. I’m not a buffet fan as I don’t think they’re all that hygienic (pre-pandemic included), but this one was one I would recommend. They even had classy bruleed grapefruit halves. The other Founding Farmers have a mix of buffet or plated options.
6. Medium Rare – Capitol Hill/Barracks Row location closed, but Arlington is open – 3601 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22201
Unforgettable steak frites (…need I say more!)
7. Virtue Feed and Grain – Alexandria on the Potomac River – 106 S Union St, Alexandria, VA 22314
The view of the Potomac River is worth the visit! If you book an event, upstairs is the way to go!
8. Oyamel -401 Seventh St NW, Washington, DC 20004
More mole? This is a Tex-Mex institution. And it’s one of a few Chef Andres’ famous restaurants in the exciting Chinatown/Gallery Place block. It’s just around the corner from the Theater District (think DC’s version of Time Square).
8. China Chilcano – 418 7th St NW, Washington DC, DC 20004
This Jose Andres’ newest restaurant addition, that’s just as the exotic name implies… it’s a mix of Chinese, Japanese, and Peruvian cuisines. It’s a great place to stop in before a concert across the street at the Capitol One Arena. You can choose from ceviches, dim sum, and noodles. Yes, please!
9. Tabard Inn – 1739 N Street, Washington, DC 20036 (Dupont Circle)
This is the oldest running hotel. You’ll feel it when you realize you’re sitting on modern antique furniture and floors. Don’t let that intimidate you as they serve traditional DC metro brunch foods like their version of chicken and waffles and Eggs Benedict.
10. Birch & Barley – 1337 14th St NW, 2nd Floor, Washington DC, DC 20005 (Logan Circle)
11. Columbia Firehouse – 109 S Saint Asaph St, Alexandria, VA 22314
12. Hen Quarter (Old Town) – 801 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
13. Del Ray Cafe – 205 E Howell Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301 (Del Ray in between Alexandria and Arlington)
14. Vermillion – 1120 King Street, Alexandria, VA
15. Blackwell Hitch – 5 Cameron St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Your choice of sitting outside or inside makes this a great DC metro brunch place.
16. Rosa Mexicano – National Harbor location is the busiest- 153 Waterfront St, National Harbor, MD 20745 – fresh guacamole made tableside
17. Fiola – 601 Pennsylvania Ave. DC 20004
Best restaurant week experience and Italian food 🇮🇹
18. Officina – 1120 Maine Ave SW, Washington DC, DC 20024-2417
When I was a kid, this used to be where we bought live crabs. This under developed area is now the popular Wharf area with concerts, restaurants, and the outdoor seafood-fish market spruced up.
19. Sequoia – 3000 K Street, Washington DC 20007 (Georgetown Harbor waterfront)
20. Mia’s – 100 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Busy corner of south King Street (Old Town Alexandria) where Mia’s sits (formerly Carluccio’s)
21. Al Dente – Chef Roberto Donna used to run this restaurant. He was the one who put foodie restaurants on the map.
22. Chop Shop Taco – 1008 Madison St, Alexandria, VA 22314 – tex mex
23. Clyde’s Gallery Place/– 707 7th St NW – related to the bar from the St. Elmo’s Fire movie reference I made above, Clyde’s is a DC metro eating institution. Old Ebbitt Grill is one of their well-known restaurants in the country just a few steps from the White House. If you don’t know what to order, you can’t go wrong with the fresh crabcakes or Eggs Benedict.
24. Aqua al 2 – 212 Seventh St SE, Washington, DC 20003
25. Lebanese Taverna (Westover location) – 5900 Washington Blvd., Arlington – this one is neighborhood-friendly. The other locations you can find in big shopping areas like Tysons II Galleria, Adams Morgan, and Pentagon Row. So this quieter neighborhood location (you’ll probably never heard of unless you’ve lived in the area) is a great place to start a meal.
Of course I’m a ‘lil biased because I planned all the parties for these restaurants for a few years when I wasn’t brunching. I don’t mind the adventurous eating once in a while when I’ve tried everything else…
Westover Lebanese Taverna
26. Nat’l Press Club/Fourth Estate Restaurant – 529 14th St. NW, 13th Fl., Washington, DC 20045
This was a fun DC metro brunch place to find once you’re in the building. But after sat, we’re happy and see that they do serve good food!
This is a typical brunch, but the Fourth Estate Restaurant at the Naional Press Club is not a typical place as many famous people (think kings, prime ministers, and media) have dined here.. Notice the old-fashioned carpeting ubiquitous for historical venues, i.e. The White House blocks away.
27. Compass Rose – 1346 T Street, Washington, DC 20009 (U Street Corridor)
28. Commissary DC – 1443 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
29. Carlyle Grand Cafe – 4000 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206 – this is a well-known DC metro brunch in Shiriington Village, a quaint shopping center. You’ll also find some boutique-y places like Cheesetique that has its own brunch menu with charcuterie and mac-n-cheese.
30. Brabo – 1600 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 – inside the Lorien Hotel and Spa in the north end of Old Town’s King Street
If you’re coming to town for leisure, brunch or a convention, the best time to come is fall when you can appreciate the fall leaves or spring when you catch the cherry blossom display.
This post contains affiliate links. You do not pay additional by making a purchase through an affiliate link, which helps to support this blog’s livelihood.
Lake Placid Lodge
Do you know anyone looking for a romantic and safe U.S. destination wedding hotel venue location to marry? You can make this year one of your best.
Indeed…people are still getting married in 2020, that will go down history as an unforgettable year.
If you want to elope, the U.S. has many great places to consider. Upstate New York is actually a great place to have a summer or fall wedding.
Maybe as surprise to hear, like it was for me, New York produces some of the best wines in the U.S. The state of New York used to compare to California wines. One of my favorites is Adirondack Winery’s Baco Noir Pinot Noir. The winery store is located in Lake George across from the Sagamore Hotel. And probably one you wouldn’t notice as a small shop tucked in the middle.
In the New York Adirondacks, ritzy Lake Placid Lodge and the Sagamore‘s sister property, is open. They’re taking reservations for weddings as small as 10 guests as long as you stay at the lodge, which is a real romantic treat.
It has a beautiful rustic backdrop and upscale tree top feeling on Lake Placid. You can still make this year a great one!
How does this sound for menu items? Lobster bisque, King Crab Crusted Halibut with Lobster Beurre Blanc, Pan-seared Chilean Sea Bass, Two-tiered wedding lemon cake with blackberry layer, lemon buttercream. …those sound delicious to me.
All are part of several wedding hotel packages to choose from including a cocktail reception and wedding dinner.
If you had your mind set on summer international travel or a destination wedding, since the U.S. has been banned from traveling to Europe and many countries around the world, Mexico is one of the few places open to Americans you can still visit.
Having been to Mexico a few times, the best are Playa del Carmen, Cancun, and Cabo San Lucas. They’re great beach oceanfront cities to hang loose in and relatively inexpensive compared to other places to visit. Value for the money is good as you can find all-inclusive deals!
I wouldn’t want to make the individual U.S. decision whether to let my kids go back to school in a month during a pandemic. Escaping all the chaos sounds like a great idea! But instead of making those decisions, I am actually helping a friend with weddings (or what’s left of weddings) at this beautiful Lake Placid Lodge property. My hotel catering contract and paperwork (but paperless) handling is coming in handy 😉.
I think that would be a kid’s dream and music to their ears to get to have a travel adventure. That’s like skipping school for daily playing adventures.
(Florida West Coast Beach includes Tampa, Clearwater, Saint Petersburg)
This post contains affiliate links. You do not pay additional by making a purchase through an affiliate link, which helps to support this blog’s livelihood.
West Coast Florida Tampa map
Who says you can’t find culture in the Tampa area?
The Florida west coast beach side has that.. Besides beautiful beaches with sugar fine sand and aqua color ocean that goes on for miles, the Tampa area is filled with museums.
If you appreciate art, you’ll be intrigued with the Dali Museum located in Saint Petersburg (Salvador Dali was one interesting surreal painter).
And the Chihuhly Museum known for the inspiring colorful glass art pieces you’ve probably seen all over the world (like the famous glass flowered ceilings in the Las Vegas Bellagio Hotel).
In that area, I recommend a boutique hotel, Treasure Island, just footsteps from the Florida west coast beach. It’s perfect for a romantic or solo getaway. The room is modern and has a convenient kitchenette and turndown service (with chocolates 🙂
Tampa area is known for fresh grouper and this hotel serves a delicious grouper meal.
turn down service with chocolates 🌺kitchen inside roomFresh grouper salad at Treasure Island
If you want to be closer to Clearwater, known for its clear waters and awarded beaches (where you can almost go as far out as far as the eye can see), there are 2 hotels I love.
If you are looking for opulence or a hotel with a nice spa, the Sandpearl is recommended.
Opal Sands Hotel is a modern hotel with matching kitchen in the suites. It has a nice pool with pool drinks. And has free bikes you can check out to ride to the market or along the pedestrian/bike path to the pier with beautiful sunsets.
…and Paris neighborhoods you don’t want to miss out on!
This post contains affiliate links. You do not pay additional by making a purchase through an affiliate link, which helps to support this blog’s livelihood
If you are like me, you’re not afraid of going to exciting places with cultures where they don’t speak your native language. And as a solo person or a first-time visit. It’s the vibe of the modern traveler who enjoys trying, tasting, and seeing new places. 👀
Paris is one of these great exploring cities. It’s a great walking city, and flooded with tourists and visitors who don’t speak french. Walking from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower is exciting.
My favorite is walking through posh neighborhoods like Saint Germain du Pres, and having a cafe.
And then visiting Ile Saint Louis, Sacre Coeur, and walking through the Tuileries Gardens (not necessarily in that order ;-). And you’ll want to know how to get an inside look at best food options with no reservations (great if you don’t like to plan!).
And of course, with so many Paris neighborhoods (arrondissements), you want to know where in stay…
even the shower head is cool 💦
If you want to save money, near the Latin Quarter (close by to Sorbonne University and Luxembourg Gardens), you can achieve that. I stayed at the coolest vibe boutique hotel, The Five Hotel. The shower had different lights. Each of the rooms were painted different colors, like this teal color room…
I was kinda intrigued by the black painted room and actually moved out of the beige room (too boring for me!). I like the cuh-lahs! And I had a beautiful view of the courtyard.
The best feature of the hotel is that they will hold your bags for you for FREE. This is convenient if you’ve checked out and still want to explore the city before you have to leave. Wifi worked great in the room and I could Facetime without hiccup 😊
Their service was exemplary and I left a tip for the maid as I felt the room was cared for. When I got back home and realized I left my small personal pillow behind, I wrote them and they wrote back that they found the white pillow and could ship it back to me. Most short-stay venues wouldn’t be that thoughtful.
This post contains affiliate links. You do not pay additional by making a purchase through an affiliate link, which helps to support this blog’s livelihood.
I got the best of Spain working in event management in a “foodie” Spanish restaurant chain in DC, and that inspired my vacation to Spain.
Also, the idea that Spain had such a big historical influence on Europe and the rest of the world, like northern Africa.
My suggestion is if you’re going to Spain, do it right and visit the big cities (Madrid and Barcelona) and the hillside towns (Granada, Sevilla, and Cordoba) so you can get a full flavor of the architecture and styles that influenced the world.
Seeing Christopher Columbus’ tomb is a memorable event. I’d seen photos of the Alhambra in Granada as a child (since my architect dad owns hundreds of travel books).
In Barcelona, the freshest fish can be caught right off the Mediterranean Sea. Port Vell is the area where most of the restaurants are that you shouldn’t miss. Skip the tourist traps and go for the real deal seafood if you like fresh Mediterranean salmon.
You’ll taste what fresh really means! Tapas and paella for the most part is like fast food in Spain (that’s popular and delicious in the US).
In Madrid I found memorable the solomillo (tenderloin) with patatas bravas (fried potatoes). In Cordoba, I had salmorejo (gazpacho specialty) that was very unique. Jambon (ham) is famous there, especially the bellota (acorn) ham.
This menu I worked with in the States, is a food and language lesson all in one.
There is so much to see in Spain, that I wouldn’t go for the most expensive hotel. I’d go for a great value hotel that’s city center in Agumar Madrid and Abba Sants Barcelona.
These are the ones I stayed at that were nice and I was happy at.
Abba Sants Hotel, Barcelona
At Agumar, even a pleasant hotel chatbot named Velma pops up on the site. While that may be good or bad in some cases, for hotels that are often decades behind in tech, this is a futuristic move up.
If you’re checking out all of Spain, you may not remember the hotels, but you will remember the best of what Spain has to offer, and finding a nice stay will help you enjoy your vacation.