Wanderlust Wednesday

Where do you go when you day dream? A quaint European city? A beautiful island? The mountains? Wanderlust Wednesday gives you the opportunity to drift off to where ever your heart desires...

I stumbled upon this picture today. Isn't that beautiful? As Liz Lemon would say " I want to go to there." The funny part about me wanting to go to there? I hate trains (I have gotten car sick on quite a few), and I am afraid of heights. But isn't that one of the most beautiful scenes you've ever seen? The crystal blue ocean, the white smoke of the engine encircling the train and the tall magnificent cliff it has obviously just wound around.

This is the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe Train, in South Africa.

Crossing the Indian Ocean 118 feet in the air as you explore the Garden Route. No doubtedly being I hate traveling on bridges...I will be terrified (it is named one of the scariest train rides in the world), but

  

it's so epically beautiful. According to the Travel & Lesiure slideshow, once you pass this breathtaking bridge you move on to pass beautiful and picterous resort towns, a light house and soothing, sleepy rivers. All beautiful sites.

I mean, I'm all about Europe...but today I want to go to South Africa!

Where do you go when you day dream? A quaint European city? A beautiful island? The mountains? Wanderlust Wednesday gives you the opportunity to drift off to where ever your heart desires...


 
 
So, on Monday I put a bunch of photos up that showed picteresque images of Europe...and said I would reveal today what they all have in common! Well, I will be going there this summer!
 
Yes, I realize this itenerary is almost identical to the trip I took last December/January with my best friends with the addition of Switzerland and Germany, but, dang I'm excited. I am a proud new member of people2people. An organization started by Dwight Eisenhower in order to show the people of America that we are more alike the rest of the world than different.
 
I am super excited to be chosen as a teacher leader and cannot contain the excitement of what an awesome trip I was chosen to lead! First year delegates are NEVER asked to lead a delegation, I think my travel expertise helped! I will be leading a group of middle schoolers to England, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany and ending in Switzerland for a total of 20 days.
 
The best part? I get to cross white water rafting in Switzerland off my bucket list! The second best part? I get to travel for free!
 
I am super excited and can't wait to share with you as I prepare for this adventure!
 
Also, this weekend I'll be dashing off  to Charleston for a quick trip before my Birthday and the arrival of my niece! I have lots of exciting things ahead of me and can't wait to get back into the blogging mode and share it with you!

Wanderlust Wednesday - Camden Town Edition.

Where do you go when you day dream? A quaint European city? A beautiful island? The mountains? Wanderlust Wednesday gives you the opportunity to drift off to where ever your heart desires...




Okay, so life lately has been a bit hellish. I've been working essentially every day from 5:30am-7:30pm...most of the time even later than that if you count grading papers, and the over night swim trips. So, it is fair to say that a vacation has been on my mind. But more than a vacation a move.
 
With that being said this colder weather has left me longing for London. The above picture isn't that glamorous or exciting but it's from my trip to London and my Camden Town excursion. Today I'm dreaming of a Camden Town lifestyle. The kind of lifestyle where everyone is themselves and no one cares what other thinks. Where you can buy authentic homemade amazing art on one street and original doc martens (photo of The Boot Company above) on the next. Where you can wander the famous Camden Stall's Market and see where the Clash lived and played.
 
Where creeping up on Dylan Thomas's house, The Clash's stomping grounds, Amy Winehouses's home or Europe MTV isn't even odd it's part of the experience.  If you're lucky enough to hit up Camden Town make sure you go at all times. Sunday is the busiest day, and not all booths are opened on week days. Make sure when you go you take in the surroundings....and check out the people. Check out the vibe. Music is alive and well in Camden Town so when you go bring your own soundtrack. Listen to music, bop along as you shift through the wares and haggle over prices.
 
Record stores are the gem's of Camden Town....go see what you can find.
 
This is what I'm dreaming of today. This is where my wanderlust is taking me...to a neighborhood in one of my favorite cities...with my headphones in and my own personal soundtrack playing...because as The Clash famously sang "London's Calling."

Wanderlust Wednesday

Where do you go when you day dream? A quaint European city? A beautiful island? The mountains? Wanderlust Wednesday gives you the opportunity to drift off to where ever your heart desires...

Today I'm dreaming of....the best bars in the world.

Today on the MSN.com homepage I stumbled across an article that claimed "The World's Best Bars." Well, if you know me, or you've been following this blog you know I love to travel and I love drink...and I love to drink while I travel.

Well, my oh my. This is the perfect list...and in fact I'm already dreaming that when I have money again I am going to attempt to knock all these bars of my list. Hmm....new goal to accomplish before thirty?

Anyways, enough of the dreaming here are the bars!

1. Connaught Bar- London. This Bar is known for its famous mixologist and it's martini trolley. The servers are famous for their white-glove service. The Connaught Bar is located in the Connaught Hotel which underwent a renovation in 2008 that came to the cool sume of 120 million dollars. The bar which was always known for it's Art Deco style was updated too. With the updates came the luxury liquor's including the Italian Gancia vermouth, and a Michelin-starred chef oversees the bar snacks.

Going to the Connaught Bar could happen within the next year, but I'll have to save up some money with all that luxury I'll be sure to be dropping pounds!

 

2. Rickhouse - San Francisco

 

I can't believe that I missed going to this place when I was in San Francisco last Spring. But make no mistake after my wonderful trip in March, I definitely plan on returning!

 

Anyways, the Rickhouse is the newest brain child of the owners of the the Bourbon & Branch, and it honors the Kentucky warehouses where Bourbon is aged. The Rickhouse has over 300 bourbon barrels that decorate the ceiling stresses the importance the bar places on whiskey drinks. A special at Rickhouse are their punches. One of their punches is a gingery Pimm's with gin and lemon. It's served in a milk-glass bowl with a blocks of berry-studded ice. This sounds like pure HEAVEN on a hot day. Rickhouse is definitely on my list of places to go!

 

 

3. Paris- Curio Parlor

 This comes directly from MSN.com "In 2006, Romee De Goriainoff abandoned a career in finance to open the Right Bank's Experimental Cocktail Club. Curio Parlor is on the Left Bank; it has the same terrific cocktails in a more elegant setting, with chandeliers and taxidermy. His Strawberry Fields combines vodka and Champagne with a garnish of "slapped" mint, while the Copa Verde is a more unorthodox mix of tequila, honey, and avocado." Avocado? Honey? Tequila? Sounds like an amazing Mexican dish. I'm ready! I wish I had known about this place this past New Year's or even when I was there in 2007. But make no mistake...I will travel to Paris again and I WILL find this bar!

That's the top three and the top ten is pure amazing; from a bar in Tokyo described as the Galapagos Island's of bars to Amsterdam, Berlin and back to Paris...all the bars sound amazing and I hope I can one day have the privilege of ordering a drink!

Check out the rest of the article here!
http://www.delish.com/food-fun/best-bars-world?gt1=47061

Wanderlust Wednesday - San Francisco Style!

In two weeks I'll be going here....for free

flying on this airline...for free.

and staying at a hotel here for free...

Now for this wanderlust Wednesday...who can give me suggestion for my San Fran trip? I know we're going to drive down to Pebble Beach for a day, Ride a cable car, do a tour of alcatraz (hopefully at night!) and I'm supposed to eat a hot fudge sundae at Gharidelli, what do you suggest I do?

Wanderlust Wednesday

I won a three night trip to San Francisco including air fare! Woot. Woot.!

Wanderlust Wednesday

So I stumbled across this website (http://www.travelzoo.com/vacations/europe/968518/?conf=1&source=cnnhv519&sc=) this week and it has AMAZING travel deals. Right now they are offering a $749 vacation to Ireland including airfare and hotels! Now, they have a disclaimer that if you change the offering dates and fly from a different location the price may change. BUT, 749.00 for both is an amazing deal! Go ahead and check out Travelzoo.com!  Maybe you'll find a great deal on the vacation of your dream!

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” - Susan Sontag

Wanderlust Wednesday

                                It's Wednesday, where in the world do you want to go today?

Wanderlust Wednesday

Today is Wanderlust Wednesday and for the first time in a long time I am semi-stumped. Not because there aren't a million places in the world I want to travel too but mostly because the trips I am planning all are places I've been before. How many times can I tell you guys about Charleston, Colorado or Arizona before you want to shove me out the window?

Anyways, I do have the dates set for the Colorado part of my trip....and by the dates being set...I mean that I know when I'll be arriving on June 17th....and I'll be staying at Valdoro Mountain Lodge!! The Valdoro Mountain Lodge is a rather pricey (and worth it!) place to stay but for cheaper options you can check out The Great Divide Lodge (http://www.rockiesguide.com/hotels/Colorado/Breckenridge/greatdividelodge/).

The Valdoro Mountain Lodge is nestled into the base of the mountains in Breckenridge, Colorado. Breckenridge is approximated 87 miles West of Denver, Colorado and offers some of the best skiing/snowboarding in the Winter and is an ideal location in the summer. In fact the slogan of Breckenridge is "A Real Town with Unreal Skiing." Whether you visit in the summer and rent bikes to bike around the small town, or you are there in the winter to ski there is always something to do.

Some of the best stops in Breckenridge include Downstairs at Eric's(http://www.downstairsaterics.com/) - Where everywhere else just sucks! It's a great sports bar with amazing food that is ideal for both singles, families and the alike! My personal favorite is their grilled cheese with soup in the winter but I would be amiss if I didn't mention their amazing pizza and the simple fact that I have never had anything bad there. Plus, in a town where finding your favorite game on tv may be difficult Eric's is always willing and able to put your game on!

This year I am also going to attempt to not Kayak. I've been white water rafting in Colorado plenty of times and have done everything from a Class I to a Class V, but this year I want to attempt Kayaking. We'll see how it goes! Kayak Park (http://www.townofbreckenridge.com/index.aspx?page=1059) is free to all and accommodates everyone from beginners to experts (think...those who belong on the bunny trail to the black diamonds). However, those who are bunny kayakers (like me!) might want to take a short drive out to Lake Dillon and test their skills there! You cannot rent kayaks at the Kayak Park but there are plenty of places near by that rent Kayaks. In fact if you're interested in biking (or attempting the bike ridge from Breck to Vail (no thank you!). You can usually find a Kayak and a bike in the same place!

After Kayaking a must is to hit up a Brewery or Pub! There is a Marina Bar on Lake Dillon (http://www.yelp.com/biz/lake-dillon-marina-dillon) that offers amazing specialty drinks and a great locale! Just don't worry about sharing your seat with an oversized puppy, as Dogs are more than welcome. However, if it's an actually brewery you want Breckenridge Brewery (http://www.breckbrew.com/) I recommend Agave Wheat or Oatmeal Stout and countless other breweries in nearby Frisco or Dillon are absolutely to die for! Locals are usually great about offering advice and being friendly so don't be afraid to ask questions or to belly up to a bar!

Also, last but not least is Mary's Mountain Cookies (http://www.marysmountaincookies.com/webstore/). These cookies are to DIE for! In fact after my brain surgery last year my aunt over nighted me some to cheer me up and I believe they are the reason I recovered so quickly! But, seriously, these cookies are absolutely delicious and huge (1/4 pound!!!!!)! While I would suggest sharing one no one would judge you if you kept it all to yourself! You can get a variety of flavors as well as an ice cream sandwich stuffed with delicious creamy super sweet frosting. Another extra guilty and amazing option is the raw cookie dough! That's right you can just buy a souffle cup of raw cookie dough!

I realize this is a cluster of information about Breckenridge that skips from topic-to-topic and may or may not be of help. But I hope that you like me get a chance to experience the wonderful world of Breckenridge!

Wanderlust Wednesday

So lately, I've been thinking about taking a road trip. Yes, a road trip. This is a huge departure from my usual wanderlust wonderings....because usually I dream of Europe, or places far, far, away. But recently I've realized there is a LOT of this country I have not seen. So, I am thinking about road tripping. My family is taking a family vacation to Breckenridge, Colorado and I'm considering driving out there (from Kissimmee, FL) and then driving to visit a friend in Las Vegas, and my brother in Phoenix, Az.

I also, want to go to South Carolina and I may take a class in California....but do I want to road trip the whole thing? Am I insane? Or is this a great idea? Anyone out there no a website that calculates how much a route will cost in gas? Anyone know of a cheap way to find places to stay along the way? Just looking at the photos makes me want to go! The question isn't should I stay or should I go, the question is.....should I fly,  or drive?

Anyone have any road trip suggestions? Been on one? Have a route the recommend?

Wanderlust Wednesday

Doesn't that picture just make you want to go? I have a busy day today, so I thought I'd just show you a photo that might make you get the travel bug itch!

(Editors Note: I thought I had posted this yesterday, but apparently I had saved it as a draft...so Wanderlust Wednesday, is a day late.).