South Dakota

Hubby and daughter are getting ready to leave South Dakota this morning to trek across Wyoming in anticipation of my arrival tomorrow in Jackson Hole. I planned them 3 nights in the Badlands/Black Hills region after their stints in Tulsa and Omaha. They stayed at the Fairfield Inn in Rapid City, for which I used up some Marriott points for their stay (pause to pat self on back). They shared some of their experiences and photos with me, which I will share with you as succinctly as possible.

Day One: Drive thru Badlands National Park... gorgeous (most beautiful thing Taryn's ever seen). Visit to Mt. Rushmore... awesome. Time at Crazy Horse Memorial... truly unbelievable (Did you know that the face alone is so big all 4 presidents on Mt Rushmore could fit inside it?). Buffalo burger at Crazy Horse... delicious. The Buffalo drive through Custer State Park... a little disappointing (more sleeping buffalo than walking near car).

Day Two (taken directly from Taryn's Facebook status yesterday): Deadwood... lame. Spearfish... lame. (Interjection: my family aren't gamblers) Devil's Tower... pretty sweet (They took the long hike around it and Gene said it was just incredible). Indian tacos... yummy.

Day Two Grand Finale: The evening lighting of Mount Rushmore program with Smoky the bear and the Park Rangers... spectacular.

As for me who was back at home: Father and daughter bonding during a once-in-a-lifetime trip... priceless.

Traveling Vicariously through the Midwest

The cross country trip we have been dreaming of taking our daughter on since she was very young has finally arrived. Unfortunately, the first leg of the 3 week trip began without me. On Saturday, Gene and Taryn flew to Kansas City and drove a rental car to Gene's Uncle Jack's in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There, Taryn met her great Uncle Jack (her grandmother's brother) for the first time, as well as her dad's 3 first cousins and all of their children. These cousins are the same to Taryn as her cousins Devon and Bryce are here in Florida that she is so close to, so Gene felt it important she finally meet this part of his family. While there, they took a 4-mile walk at a park on the river Gene said was gorgeous, and then enjoyed a Father's Day bbq at Jack and Misty's with the whole fam. Taryn told me the town reminded her of quaint Wellesley Mass.  

Next, they were off again back thru KC and onto Omaha, where they again visited family Taryn had never met. This time, the other side of Gene's family - his father's brother Wink and wife Paulette, Gene's first cousin John Paul and his partner. From the ride, they mentioned many fields of corn and wheat, more corn and more wheat. Another object of interest, mostly to Gene, is the fact that the blacktop is pink. Not sure about that one. My family said John Paul's friend was a great cook, and another highlight of their night in Omaha was Taryn finding out they were staying at the same hotel as the Texas Longhorns, who were in town for the College World Series. College boys, oy!

On day 4, they headed north yet again (today). This time, the destination is Rapid City, South Dakota - where they will spend the next 3 nights. It's been a long ride, and I just hung up with them as they were driving through Badlands National Park. Taryn said it was the most beautiful place she's ever seen. Gene called it God's Country. Along the way, they made spontaneous stops at a Corn Mansion and a Prairie Dog Farm. Taryn took a roll of b/w film for her Senior photo class for next school year of the prairie dogs. The farm was attached to a family's home, and just 50 cents got them a bag of peanuts and access to feed the dogs. Their plan for dinner when they get settled in, Buffalo burgers. They want to eat local.

I promise to post more of their pics when I get them, and plan to follow along on the rest of their first week. Check back soon.

Anniversary on Anna Maria

I started this blog last Spring, just after my 20 year wedding anniversary trip to Charleston. This is blog post number 89, and it's about my 21st anniversary trip to Anna Maria Island. We went with Christine and Mike Bolebruch, our oldest friends in Florida (longest, not actually oldest). We met them shortly after we moved here, we were newlyweds and they were married a year. We have had countless good times with them over the years - both at home and on the road, including Marco Island, New Orleans and Vegas, to name a few.

It was a perfect trip for an anniversary, a quaint island only 7.5 miles long with 3 fishing piers and beautiful white sand beaches with the most Caribbean blue water. We explored the piers, shopped at my favorite Sanddollar and Ginny and Jane E's, swam in the pool and the ocean, and bicycled to Longboat Key. We saw two incredible sunsets and the guys took turns cooking dinners under the pergola next to our cottages. We stayed at Tradewinds Resort, a sister property to my favorite Tortuga. My first time staying there and I loved it. The cottages are adorable and convenient. The pool, which overlooks the bay, was literally 10 steps from our door.

This post wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention food. Gene did steaks on the barbie the first night, and Mike did shrimp, tuna and mussels the second. For lunch, I had my new favorite sandwich at Bridge Tenders on historic Bridge Street, a blackened grouper reuben, and black bean chili at Cha Cha Coconuts in St. Armand's Circle. Overall, the weekend was perfect, just like my marriage.

Ok, you can laugh now.

Happy Birthday To My Blog!

I just realized it has been a year since my first blog post! What made me think of it was when one of my employees came into my office today and told me that she saw one of my blog posts on a destination website under, "In the news." I thought, wow... I've been published! Second thought... it only took, what? A year? So I looked back, and there it was: last May 20th my little baby blog was born. 

Why the blog? Love to travel, love to eat, love to drink, love to spend time with family and friends, love to share about it. Out of curiosity, I checked my google analytics account. This past year, I had over 3,100+ visits, 1,600+ visitors and 5,400+ page views from 50 countries and 48 U.S. states. My Top 3 U.S. states: Florida, New York (shout out!) and Rhode Island (thanks Sue R). My Top 3 Countries: U.S., Canada and United Kingdom. Not bad for a little Italian girl from "Westchesta."

My goal for the blog this year? I would love, love, love to have more of you leave comments (preferably nice ones) on my blog posts. It makes me all warm and fuzzy. And, if I haven't said it before... thanks for reading.

Two Days in the Country

As I toured Loudoun County, Virginia, I couldn't help but compare it to other parts of the country. Flashing through my mind were memories of Westchester NY, Northern Connecticut, Norwich and Woodstock VT, Dutchess County NY, Old Bridge NJ, and so on. There are bits of all of those places in the Towns & Villages of Loudoun. But this place is uniquely its own. 

It's Sonoma in the early days, its Colonial America in the olden days, its suburban DC, its the rolling hills of Virginia. The County itself transitions from meticulously planned neighborhoods and communities to the east to quaint village and rural farm life to the west. Common to the whole County is a sense of heritage, regalness and friendliness. 

My whirlwind tour took me to a historic inn, a cheery B&B and a bucolic country resort. I met the most amazing locals and transplants, like JoAnn, Innkeeper of the Middleburg Country Inn, who even shared the recipe of her mom's Lemon Pound Cake she served us with a glass of local wine; and Chef Becky, the trendsetting head chef of the Red Fox Inn, recent graduate of Johnson & Wales. The awesome pastoral scenery at the Goodstone Inn & Estate took hold of me and I found myself frolicking in a field like the Sound of Music. 

The flowers were blooming all over the county; magnolias, azaleas, amaryllis, lilacs. With a backdrop of thoroughbred horse farms and sprawling vineyards, Loudoun is a visual dessert. Historically significant, we visited Ball's Bluff Battlefield and Cemetary, where 54 Union casualties of the Civil War lie in rest; and Oatlands House and Gardens, built in 1798 by a descendant of one of Virginia's first families as a wheat plantation.

A visit to Loudoun wouldn't be complete without exploring its bourgeoning food and wine scene. This, as you know, is my favorite topic! With nearly 2 dozen wineries in the Northern County, Loudoun proudly claims its title of DC's Wine Country. In keeping with its welcoming nature, visiting a winery here is a heartwarming experience. The owners are more than hospitable, sharing the histories of their families and their vineyards. At Bluemont Vineyards, Loudoun native Bruce and his wife tend to their vineyards as well as their U-pick farm across the road. They grow grapes, peaches, strawberries, and more. The view from the porch of the tasting room is a spectacular scene of fields, barns, orchards and meadows. Jennifer, owner of Breaux Vineyards, poured us tastings of the wines her vineyard produces, many of which are charmingly named after family members. A second generation vintner, Jennifer and her family live on one side of the 400 acre estate, while her dad lives on the other. As one of the largest producers in the County, they recently took home some impressive accolades for their wine, competing on the international wine scene.

There's a story in every corner of this County, and the gracious residents are ready and willing to share theirs with you. I can't wait to take my family to Loudoun... its the kind of place that beckons you back.