New York City

New York City

I know that when I grow older and look back on my younger years one of my favorite memories will be going to NYC with my dad and mom in the summer time.  I think we are on our 5th year of going to the city for a long weekend where we literally eat and drink our way through Manhattan.  My dad is a New York rock star, he knows the entire subway system like it is second nature to him so I just plan places to eat and see, and he takes us there on the sub. Best of both worlds!

Where we stayed: Jaggs hooked us up once again with his Bank of America rate at our favorite place to stay in the city, The Warwick Hotel. It is in the theatre district and about a block away from 5th avenue. It is also most importantly next to the best food truck in New York (Haula). The rooms go for about $250 a night and they are huge with the comfiest beds. It is hard to find a great deal in the city because you get what you pay for (location and a nice room). It is going to be noisy no matter where you go so dont think that you are going to wake up on your own, you will for sure wake up to a cab driver honking his horn or some 21 one year old girls coming home at 7 a.m.

Where we ate:

• Match 65- This little gem is on the upper East Side and is French cuisine.  It has cute tables outside and a feels of Paris as soon as you drive up.  It looks a lot like Rue De Jean (In Charleston) and the menu is very similar (minus the sushi).  The waiter we had was named Nemo and he was from France and quite a delight to add to our wonderful meal.
• Eataly- Biggest game changer of all my time in the city. This place is Gods gift to my Italian heart. It is just a big Italian market/restaurant/booze fest/rock star of a place. We ate at the stand up cafe where we had a meet/cheese board and some rose' that rocked my face off. We wanted to go up to the beer garden on the roof top but didnt know you needed reservations to go up there so make sure you put that on your list and call ahead. I could have spend hours upon hours there (and next time we will go during the week and not on a Friday!)
• Fortino-The reviews about their pizza said it was the best in Brooklyn, I thought it was great, but not the best. It is a cool vibe, kind of like a contemporary Italian kitchen. The sangria was the jam!
• Wine 30- Great wine bar with a hell of a wine list and fun little apps!
• The Mason Jar-Want sports? Coming right up! This is the official My Carolina NYC Alumni Club bar where all of the Cocks sports watching happens. And to be honest, it felt like all Mets, Yankee, you name it, sports fan was there to watch other games. The menu states it is a "bourbon, beer, and BBQ" joint and it is. The BBQ is not half bad (coming from a southerner) and the atmosphere is kicking with pretty good looking dudes who know their sports!

What we did:

• Eataly- Yes we ate there but there is so much culture too. They have cooking classes that you can take or you can read up on Italian culture. Plan for a day here!
• Brooklyn- We made our way to 176 Lafayette Ave to the Saturday flea market and had a blast there. There are food trucks galore and finds that any antiquer or lover of cool shit would want! We could have spent the whole day in Brooklyn but it rained a lot so if it is pretty weather plan for a day in Brooklyn. It is very chill!
• Central Park- Always fun to just stroll in Central Park on a Sunday. We watched some older men play baseball and have the time of their life, people are out playing volleyball in the sand, and bikers/walkers are everywhere. Dont miss out on a good time in the park, you will be happy you were in one of the most happening place sin the world but surrounded by green trees and grass.

Looking back:

I have to be honest, there is nothing I love more than spending time with my dad. When he is around I feel like the world could learn a thing or two from his love and comfort. I look forward to this trip every year and some years we do the exact same thing as the year before (Jones' tend to love to repeat history) or like this year we did things that we had never done in the city.  It is always great to be in NYC because there is so much culture, things to do, things to see, places to eat, and the cocktails always taste better (I got on a Gin & Tonic kick while I was there, yes!) Already planning our trip for later in the summer because we cant get enough of what NYC has to offer :)

                       Eataly with the family

Heaven, yes please



NYC in the summer



Match 65






Flea Market in Brooklyn



                                                     Forinios' in Williamsburg, Brooklyn


                                                                  Wine 30


The Mason Jar



                                                              My Carolina Alumni Club of NYC


                                                         5th year of our Love picture


                                                                   Sunday stroll in Central Park

Portland/Freeport, Maine

Portland/Freeport, Maine

I have waited my whole life to see light houses in Maine and eat their lobster and trust me, it did not disappoint in the slightest!!! We decided after staying in hotels most of the trip that we would rent a cottage outside of Portland and get to enjoy cooking and enjoying all that Maine has to offer. BINGO. A decision I will pat myself on the back for the rest of my life!!!

Where we stayed: Talbot Way Cottage #8 owned by Susan Murphy (if you want her contact info email me or you can find the house on VRBO). Biggest game changer move of the trip was me finding this house. It has everything that you would ever want in a Maine cottage. It is 100 years old, on the water, has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, wrap around porch, amazing fire places, and your soul smiles when you realize where you are. The price to stay was about $1000ish for 4 days and I would have paid more. We cooked, laughed, relaxed, read, partied, drank, and loved life every day we were there. Down the road is the Lunch & Lobster where you can get fresh lobster from he days fishing or their are markets down the road for other treats. The cottage is 5 min. from Freeport (shopping and small town) and 15 min to Portland.

Where we ate:

• Ductfat, best fries of my life, duh because they are fried in duck fat. Hip new restaurant with farm to table food. Very small so dont think that you can get a big party in. Drinks are served out of mason jars and do yourself a favor and get the truffle ketchup with the fries.
• Paimenmiyke, noodle town USA. Best sushi some of the travel family had every had and the ramen noodle dishes will make you want to be a different person. Great vegetarian options!
• Maines Best Food Truck, if you do anything while in the Portland area find this truck, order the lobster roll, and get it picnic style. Dont even need to thank me because you are welcome in advnace. Voted best lobster roll around you will want to order another. Dare you to just eat one.
• J's Oyster, if it is good enough for Anthony Bourdain then it is good enough for me. A dive oyster bar with the clientele to go with it. On the water with good food!
• Top of the East, fun bar with a great view of the entire city!
• Shipyard Brewery, just FYi dont be fooled that this is actually a place where you can drink beers. FALSE. But you can take a tour however we did not
• Fore Street, best place to eat in town. WOW. Total farm to table, you can see every thing being cooked and I had one of the best meals of the trip here. Make sure to get your wallet ready because it is pricey but make this your one big splurge

What we did:

• Fort William Head Light House, the "Maine" event of the trip for me. Most beautiful and stunning light house I have seen in all my years. Pictures galore will be taken here and you can fly kites and let kids play (that is if you have them which I suggest not travelling with them on this trip)
• Freeport Outlets, the little town of Freeport is really sweet with the LL Bean head quarters housed here with outlet prices galore that will blow your mind!
• Bow Street Market, if you are staying at the cottage do your shopping here, great selection of food, seafood and banging wine selection!

Looking back:

• If I had to say anything for anyone travelling to the cottage or the area, enjoy your surroundings. I liked Portland but I was glad we only did it for a few hours. Having down time to enjoy the cottage was what made the trip a vacation. We cooked two great meals at night and had breakfast in the morning with coffee on the deck. It was kind of out of a movie. We had the fires going in the mornings and at night! Maine is so beautiful and taking time to enjoy what you are seeing is part of the trip. The only thing I would have changed, to stay even longer in the cottage!!

Fries from Ductfat

Living the Dream on the porch

Tony enjoying the fire

Mussel Meal

Damn

Head Light House

Lobster Roll

J's Oyster Bar

Fore Street

Life changer Foie Gras

Outlets in Freeport

Lunch & Lobster to get our meal

The travel family on our porch

The Talbot Way Cottage

Ready to go in the water

Lobster Bake

Inside of the cottage

Burlington, VT

Burlington, VT

Visit 1: The only reason I ever thought in my life I wanted to go to Vermont was to eat cheese. I love cheese. But, one of our travel family members spent some time up there during school and thought it would be a great place to visit! And that we did. The lake, farm to table restaurants, the cheeses, the beers... it had everything a little hippy/city girl could want.

Visit 2: Honeymoon Part III

Where we stayed: Hilton on Lake Champlain. The view is what you pay for, it looks out over the lake and is in a perfect location to walk everywhere. The parking is $10 a night so know that ahead of time if you have a rental car. Make sure to take advantage of the balcony overlooking the front of the hotel so you can enjoy some cocktails and the lake around sunset. The rooms, okay, nothing fancy but really you shouldnt be doing much time in them since there is so much to enjoy!

Where we ate:

• Ben & Jerrys, make sure to stop in to the factory on the way into Burlington. It just makes you feel like a kid again and the Flavor Grave Yard is just fun times no matter what age. And you can get ice creams!
• Vermont Brewing Company, good beers. We got the sampler and tried 9 different locally brewed beers. Very cool.
• American Flat Bread, get into it. You will not be sorry and it seems that everyone in Burlington has the same idea. And when you get a pizza ask for a side of the garlic oil and put it on your pizza. Youre welcome.
• Nectars, cool hippie bar where Phish got their start.
• The Farm House, used to be an old McDonalds and the only trace is the old floors. Total authentic farm to table restaurant with amazing, everything.
• Penny clues, do your breakfast mouth a favor and get involved. Everything is good. EVERYTHING. Local, organic, goodness gracious.
• Muddy Waters Coffee, gooood coffee
• Honky Tonk Bar, that is not the name, but we for the life of us could not remember the name but ask a local. They have Honky Tonk music on Tuesday and the worlds most delicious apple cider!!! VERY VERY VERY cool bar and local dive.
• Pizzeria Verita- remember that amazing square pizza you had when you were in elementary school, well this is the queen version and tastier! 
• Single Pebble- This was featured on "Best Thing I Ever Ate" which I watch religiously, the food is good, but there is lots of it. Like lots. So if you want good food and good prices but LOTS then go here. It is pretty busy place so dont expect relaxation however the food is killer
• Shelbourne Farms Brunch- do it. period. 

What we did:

• Shelbourne Farms, cheese (king of kings) tasting. You get to try fresh off the farm local cheeses that will not disappoint all FOR FREE. Then you get to take your car over to the barn (which look like a medevil castle) and play with the animals FOR FREE. THEN, you keep going on the road and you literally cross over into what seems like the Italian coast line to the bed and breakfast on the property. Literally we just enjoyed the farm for hours and had the best time. Take your camera!
• Shelbourne Vineyards, a fun vineyard with some unique wines. Also there is a brewery right across the road where you can sample their beers. The tasting is $5 and totally worth it and you can get a glass and enjoy their porch and the view
• Magic Hat Brewery, a must go. Free tasting of 3 beers of your choice and a free self guided tour that is just really, different and mysterious.
• Shopping, lots of it on the main street where no cars can come through and you can just stroll and enjoy consignment shops and chain stores
• Fiddlehead Brewery- Good local beers and a restaurant attached but I would not eat there, better options (Check out The Bearded Frog Pub)
• Saturday Farmers Market- it is in the center of town and will have everything your heart desires, for real 

Looking Back:

• Wish we would have had time to check out the campus. Very beautiful, green, and students look cool.
• Would have waited to go there around May because a lot of the shops/places to eat close for the winter but most of those were down by the water.
• Wish I would have written down the name of the Honky Tonk Bar!!!!

                                                     Ben & Jerrys Flavor Graveyard

Lake Champlain

Vermont Brewing Company

Honky Tonk Bar

Penny Clues

Shelburne Cheese Farm

Shelburne Farms

Freckles the Llama

Shelburne B&B

Shelburne Vineyards

Magic Hat Brewery

Our hotel balcony

The Farm House