Recently my husband and I went on a beach trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. After spending a few days in OBX, we decided to head up to Norfolk/Virginia Beach for a day. The Tidewater area of VA was only an hour’s drive from the Outer Banks so it made for the perfect day trip!
Strategically situated at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, Norfolk makes a great start for exploring coastal Virginia. Norfolk is a mid-size city with about 235,000 residents and covers 66 square miles. It has seven miles of Chesapeake Bay beachfront and 144 miles of shoreline along lakes, rivers, and the Bay (info provided by the City of Norfolk website). Norfolk is home to the largest Naval Base in the United States, and the city is also the headquarters of NATO’s Allied Command Transformation. The rich military history of Norfolk is reflected in its many monuments and memorials throughout the city.
While the Navy is a significant employer and contributor to the local economy, Norfolk is a city that offers something for everyone. The downtown area is full of great restaurants and shops, and the beautiful waterfront is an attraction you don’t want to miss!
Norfolk is a city with a rich history and age (it was founded in 1682!) and it’s full of unique sites. Here are some fun places to check out during your visit:
For our trip to Norfolk, we decided to stay downtown and opted for The Main Hilton Norfolk. This beautiful hotel is in a great location and within easy walking distance of all the downtown sites, including the vibrant Waterside area. The rooms are reasonably priced and well-appointed. I enjoyed sampling the different restaurants and bars located on each floor of the hotel.
Now that you’ve got your activities planned and you know where to stay, let’s talk about what to eat! Here are some of my top favorite places to eat in the city…
I enjoyed trying my first “real” cannoli during my recent trip to Boston. My experience with cannoli so far has been the frozen type you find at catered events, so needless to say I was blown away by an authentic cannoli!
Mike’s Pastry has been located in Boston’s North End since 1946 and they are known for their one-of-a-kind cannoli. Just touring the streets of Boston I passed so many people with the famous Mike’s Pastry boxes in their hands. Going to Mike’s is something of a tradition when you visit Boston and I’m certainly glad I didn’t miss out. You aren’t just limited to Boston’s North End to enjoy Mike’s Pastry, they have 3 other locations in MA, and they ship their famous cannoli (and other pastries) worldwide. Check out their website here!
The cannoli shells at Mike’s Pastry are handmade in-house and there are so many filling options to choose from. My husband and I kept it simple and went with Plain Ricotta & Chocolate Ricotta. They were both finished with a light dusting of powdered sugar. While I don’t have the biggest sweet tooth, these pastries were delicious! I couldn’t make it through a whole one, it was so good but just too much for me.
I highly recommend you check out Mike’s Pastry on your next trip to Boston. I’m no cannoli expert but I do know good food when I taste it, and these are not to be missed!
Inn by the Sea is a beautiful hotel right on the water in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I had the pleasure of staying here during my summer trip to Maine and I loved it!
Upon arriving at the Inn by the Sea, the first thing I fell in love with was the pristine lawn dotted with Adirondack chairs! It was my fantasy Maine hotel in person! My favorite feature of the hotel is how it’s located on the beach. You simply take a walking trail from the hotel right down to Crescent Beach.
The coastal views and beauty of the Inn by the Sea make it a hotel to remember. The hotel is pricey but well worth it. All of the hotel amenities you would expect are available (free Wi-Fi, free parking, on-site gym, Spa services, poolside patio, etc.) and there is a fabulous in-house restaurant, Sea Glass, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I tried Sea Glass for breakfast and the Avocado toast was so good! During our stay at the hotel, there was a s’mores bar set up on the patio which was fun (and delicious).
The accommodations match the luxuriousness of the Inn. My husband and I booked a King loft suite. Loft suites are two-level accommodations featuring a king-sized bed on the upper level. The first floor of the guestroom offers a wet bar kitchenette including a mini-refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, glassware, and dishes. The kitchenette opens into a large living space with a full-size pull-out sleep sofa and executive desk.
A balcony opening from the living space features ocean views and seating for two. On the second floor of the Loft Suite is a lofted bedroom and oversized bathroom. The bathroom offers an air jet tub, a glass walk-in shower, and a heated floor.
A great feature of the Inn by the Sea is its proximity to Portland, Maine. It was so convenient to stay at the Inn and then only have a 20-minute drive into Portland. Most of the activities and dining I had planned for Maine were in Portland, so a conveniently located hotel was key for me. Stay tuned for the full blog post I have coming on things to do in Portland, including a sunset cruise with Portland Schooner Co. Until then, rest assured that Inn by the Sea is close to all Portland, ME has to offer!
Crescent Beach is located just a short walking distance from Inn by the Sea. Simply exit the hotel and follow the delightful little wooden walking trail that turns to sand as you get closer to the beach. The hotel provides umbrellas and beach towels for your use, all complimentary!
Crescent Beach is a mile-long crescent-shaped beach with saltwater coves, wooded areas, beachgrass-studded sand dunes, and lots of rock ledges. The beach is perfect for picnics, nature watching, walking, swimming, boating, and fishing.
Thanks for joining me and I hope that you’ll get keep Inn by the Sea on your list for your visit to Maine. It’s always fun getting comments and feedback for you all, please keep them coming!
Hey guys! Wilmington, NC is one of my favorite cities to visit. It’s convenient to my hometown of Durham, NC, it’s got the beach, plenty of charming hotels, and lots of activities for the whole family. Most importantly it’s full of great food! Here are some of my favorite spots in Wilmington!
Bagel King & Donuts offers the most delicious bagel sandwiches ever, and the donuts are pretty good too! The shop is open early (6:30 am most days), so it’s perfect for breakfast. You can purchase freshly baked bagels individually, by the dozen, or go for a sandwich like I did. There is a wide variety of bagels, spreads, fillings, and toppings to choose from so be prepared to study the menu for a bit. I definitely recommend Bagel King for a quick breakfast in Wilmington.
Located in Wilmington’s historic downtown district, Brooklyn Cafe & Market is a small cafe serving some delicious fare. Brooklyn Cafe serves scratch-baked pastries, coffee, beer, wine, and more. I stopped in for an order of their famous beignets and my favorite drink, a London Fog. Both were delicious and the service at the Brooklyn Cafe was top-notch!
After a fun-filled day at Kure Beach, I was ready for some tacos and margaritas and Los Portales Taqueria hit the spot for both! Los Portales is just a short drive from Wilmington Beach and was super close to my hotel, The Hive. The menu features fresh Mexican fare, with lots of unique margaritas to pair with it. The taco fillings go from your standard asada, pollo, carnitas, and chorizo to beef stomach, beef cheek, and tripe. Depending on how adventurous you’re feeling, there is something for everyone. I enjoyed the food but I LOVED the margaritas. They were made with fresh fruit puree and were perfect after a hot day on the beach. Please give Los Portales and try when you’re in Wilmington and need your taco (and margarita) fix!
For a classic seafood dinner in Wilmington, I highly recommend Elijah’s. Elijah’s is located right on the Wilmington Riverwalk and they offer some al fresco dining. It was so relaxing sitting on the patio, watching the sunset, and enjoying a great meal! The menu is your standard seafood restaurant fare, crabcakes, seafood platters, oysters, and a fresh catch of the day. The menu also features some land items if you’re not a seafood lover. My husband and I really enjoyed the crab dip as our appetizer and we both got a fried seafood platter with flounder, shrimp, scallops, and oysters, fried to golden perfection! Elijah’s also offers a wide variety of alcoholic beverages and I highly recommend you make a reservation before you visit.
I appreciate you joining me at some of my favorite Wilmington restaurants! I’d love to hear what some of your go-to spots are…be sure to leave a comment!
Hey! Welcome back to my series on Portland, Maine! During my visit to the Portland Head Light Lighthouse, I had the pleasure of lunch at Bite Into Maine. It was such an experience enjoying an authentic New England lobster roll in the park with the famous Portland Head Light behind me. For me, it just doesn’t get any better.
Bite Into Maine has several locations in Maine, and I dined at the Food Truck in Cape Elizabeth, right inside Fort Williams Park (home of the Portland Head Light Lighthouse). It’s such a lovely drive into the park and immediately behind the parking area, you’ll see the Bite Into Maine Food Truck.
The food truck features a full lineup of sandwiches, sides, drinks, and of course some Whoopie Pies for dessert! My husband and I ordered two Maine lobster rolls and two Connecticut rolls and a side of freshly made chips to share. The lobster rolls are available in 4.5oz and 6oz sizes and all rolls are priced at $29.50 (4.5oz) and $37.50 (6oz). My total for 3 4.05oz rolls and 1 6oz roll and chips was $134.00. Yes, pricey for lunch for 2 but it was well worth it! Bite Into Maine’s Connecticut-style roll is just warm lobster meat with butter and the Maine-style roll is chilled lobster meat tossed with mayo and chives.
Not sure of the difference between Maine-style & Connecticut-style? Here’s how to spot the difference.
Maine
In most cases, a Maine lobster roll is served cold and usually tossed with mayo, celery, and seasonings before it’s stuffed into a bun. The bun itself is called a “New England” or “Frankfurter” and it’s very similar to a hot dog bun. The only difference is that the sides of the “Frankfurter” are flat making them easy to butter & toast (or grill). The buns are typically the same for either style. Since most people associate lobster rolls with Maine, The cold Maine-style version is the most common to come by on your search.
The key takeaway, Maine lobster rolls are typically cool and lightly tossed in mayo on a butter-toasted roll.
Connecticut
While Maine-style lobster rolls are cold, Connecticut-style rolls are served warm and only dressed with butter. There is usually no dressing, just lots of melted butter to douse your sandwich in!
The key takeaway, Connecticut lobster rolls are served warm and only dressed with melted butter, still served on a butter-toasted roll.
I absolutely loved both versions and I’d happily pay the high price tag for either version, but if I must choose a winner I’ve got to go Connecticut-style! Hold the mayo for me and BRING ON THE BUTTER! That warm claw and tail lobster meat drenched in butter…on that butter-toasted roll WITH a squeeze of lemon…ABSOLUTE PERFECTION! I’d love to hear from you all, what is your preferred style?
When your travels lead you to Portland, Maine, do yourself a favor and check out Bite Into Maine. Whichever style of lobster roll you prefer, Bite Into Maine does it to perfection and you won’t be disappointed!
On my recent visit to Maine, I enjoyed visiting the famous Portland Head Light Lighthouse. Portland Head Light is located in Cape Elizabeth Maine, on the shores of the beautiful Fort Williams Park. Portland Head Light looks out over the Portland Harbor which is within Casco Bay in the Gulf of Maine.
In addition to the lighthouse, Fort Williams Park offers ninety acres of hiking, picnic facilities, sports & recreation views, and the most stunning ocean views!
In 1787, construction on the lighthouse began (for the UNBELIEVABLY low cost of $750!), and was completed in 1791. The first lighting of the tower was on January 10, 1791. Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. During the American Civil War, raids on shipping in and out of Portland Harbor had become commonplace, and because the lighthouse was so necessary, the structure was raised an additional 20 feet.
Today Portland Head Light stands 80 feet above ground and 101 feet above water. The light station is now automated and the tower, beacon, and foghorn are maintained by the United States Coast Guard. Portland Head Light Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
The current keepers’ house was built in 1891, and up until 1989, it was home to lighthouse keepers. The keepers’ house and grounds are owned by the town of Cape Elizabeth and are now operated as a maritime museum.
Fort Williams Park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. There is NO admission fee to the park, but some parking areas do have a small fee.
I visited Portland Head Light in June and the weather was unexpectedly chilly (for me anyway, I’m a NC native and June means HOT). Be sure to dress in layers during your visit to the lighthouse, I’m told the temp never goes above 70 degrees!
While there were plenty of visitors to the park, it was never overwhelmingly crowded, with more than enough room for everyone to see and enjoy the sights. As always, I do recommend arriving early to get the best photographs!
For food, don’t miss the Bite Into Maine food truck! The food truck is parked at the top of a hill right inside Fort Williams Park and they serve the most delicious lobster rolls! Don’t worry, my next blog post is all about Bite Into Maine so you’ll be able to see and learn more about their awesome food. In addition to Bite Into Maine, there are Gelato carts and other food options in the park, and with all of the picnic areas, you can certainly bring and enjoy your own food!
Looking out at the water and seeing the colored lobster buoys in the water felt like such a quintessential Maine experience that I’ll forever be grateful for! Please be sure to stay tuned for my next post, all about the delicious lobster roll truck inside Fort Miller Park!
After enjoying the sights at Millennium Park and getting some mandatory pictures at The Bean, we headed to the Chicago Riverwalk.
The Chicago Riverwalk is a 1.25-mile-long path located on the south bank of the Chicago River. The pedestrian-friendly riverwalk stretches from Lake Michigan to Lake Street and it is free to the public (current hours are 6 am – 11 pm). A true waterfront oasis, Chicago’s Riverwalk offers so much to do, from simply enjoying waterfront views, to boat tours, to dining al fresco at top-notch restaurants, your options are almost limitless!
There is so much to see and do on The Riverwalk, it can almost be overwhelming! To help you navigate and make the most of your time, I’ve put together a list of all the top activities I think you should try and experience on The Chicago Riverwalk. I’d love to hear if there are any of your favorite activities I may have missed!
Millennium Park is located in the heart of downtown Chicago and it is the home to the iconic Cloud Gate, more commonly known as “The Bean”. In addition to The Bean, Millennium Park features interactive fountains, gardens, skating rinks, rock climbing, public art, and tons of green space. It’s mind-blowing just how much there is to see and do in this free, public park!
The Bean is one of Chicago’s most famous icons. It was created by the famous artist Anish Kapoor in 2005 and it is one of the largest outdoor sculptures of its kind in the world. You don’t want to miss a photo opp at Cloud Gate on your visit to Millennium Park!
Pro Tip – Be sure to plan your visit to The Bean early! Because it’s such a tourist attraction, crowds can gather quickly. Come early!
Located in the southeast corner of Millennium Park, Lurie Garden is an unexpected tranquil garden in the middle of Chicago! Lurie Garden is home to wildlife, birds, and insects, and the botanical landscape has won numerous (WELL-DESERVED) awards. I had so much fun exploring the gardens and of course, taking photos in the beautiful green spaces!
Be sure to check back for my last Chicago blog post where we’ll visit the beautiful Chicago Riverwalk! I hope you’ll leave me a comment and let me know what some of your favorite Chicago spots are!
During my recent visit to Chicago, I stayed at the ultra-luxe hotel, LondonHouse Chicago. Initially built in the 1920s, the London Guarantee and Accident building is one of Chicago’s most visible pieces of real estate. The building is located at the corner of North Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive right in the heart of all Chicago has to offer. In 2013 the historic building was transformed into a 452-room luxury hotel. LondonHouse is genuinely a one-of-a-kind destination in Chicago.
I couldn’t have picked a better hotel for my first visit to the Windy City! Not only is LondonHouse a gorgeous hotel, the location is perfect. The hotel is directly across from the Chicago Riverwalk and just a short walk to Millennium Park, both of which were on my must-visit list. I can’t even begin to list the shops and restaurants located near the hotel as well! My favorite part of my time at LondonHouse Chicago was viewing the city from the rooftop. The views were truly a sight to behold and it’s an experience I’ll never forget! I definitely recommend LondonHouse Chicago for your next visit to downtown Chicago.
Thanks for reading and please be sure to check back for my next posts, where I’ll talk more about my time in Chicago. I’ll have in-depth posts about The Chicago Riverwalk, Millennium Park, my visit to “The Bean”, and my time in Lurie Garden!
My recent New England trip started in Boston, Massachusetts, and while I only spent a few days in the city, I fell in love! One of the oldest cities in the US, Boston is the perfect blend of history and modernity. I enjoyed strolling the streets and seeing the colonial-style buildings right beside modern buildings. Boston provided the ideal first stop on my New England tour. The city satisfied my history buff side, my foodie side, and my adventurous side!
During our brief time in Boston, we stayed at the beautiful Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf. Boston Harbor is a 5-star luxury hotel located right on the waterfront, overlooking the Boston Harbor. The hotel was an easy commute from Logan Airport and it’s centrally located to numerous Boston attractions. The rooms were spacious and well-appointed and the service was everything you would expect from a 5-star hotel. At check-in, the front desk agent asked if it was my first visit to Boston, and upon learning it was, he kindly and generously upgraded my room to a harbor view suite! Be sure to check my IG page for views from my room!
Did you know the nickname “Beantown” came as a result of a love among the city’s earliest settlers of baked beans in molasses? I was able to discover so many fun facts about Boston during my time. I’ll share some of my favorites with you!
We were able to squeeze in a visit to Old State House and stand on the spot of the Boston Massacre. Old State House is where the Declaration of Independence was first proclaimed on July 18 from its balcony. I continue to be blown away by how much American History there is to discover in Boston. I was also very pleased to see that Boston features African American History heavily as well. There was an awesome Black History display in Faneuil Hall that was very moving. I was deeply touched by the New England Holocaust Memorial as well. With no prior knowledge of the Memorial, I discovered it just by walking the streets of the city! It was so special to “accidentally” discover the memorial. I wish I had more time in the city to explore even more historic sites!
Thank you so much for joining me on this brief tour of Boston, Massachusetts. Be sure to come back for more of New England, I’ve got lots to share!