La Bastide B&B - We loved the two-course breakfasts and location of this B&B during our trip last fall, so when it was available, we jumped at the chance to stay here again. Thankfully our friends Dave & Jake were able to get a room in the same place for two nights as well so carpooling to all the wine tastings was a breeze! We visited several wineries during the pick-up party weekend so it was a sip and snack weekend for sure. ... continue reading...
Oregon: Cannon Beach
For our overnight on the coast Cannon Beach was a good spot since it put us within walking distance of several restaurants. We had a free Hotels.com night to use, and one of the few places that had availability was Inn at Haystack Rock - that was a warning that we ignored to our chagrin. Our room was between the check-in area and a multi-room unit and given the incredible thinness of the walls you could easily hear the conversations in both... thankfully it was only one night. Food + ... continue reading...
Oregon: the coast
After a leisurely drive from Portland we reached our first stop along the coast, Ecola State Park. The road through the park takes you through a lush green forest before ending at Indian Beach and gorgeous beach views! From the parking lot made our way down to the beach, then walked to the large pile of rocks at the southern end. Tillamook Rock Lighthouse Returning to our car we drove back to the large parking lot at Ecola Point lookout. Views were also great, but ... continue reading...
Summer 2018: North Fork food + drink
Since we spent half of July on Long Island we had plenty of opportunities to try out a variety of restaurants, breweries and wineries. Food Porto Bello - Eric's parents had eaten here during a restaurant week event, so we decided to give it a shot. All the outdoor tables were booked so we sat inside looking out at the harbor while listening to Jimmy Buffet and other island-type tunes - a strange selection for a "white-cloth" restaurant. A quick look at the menu and it was clear that all the ... continue reading...
Alsace: an afternoon in Luxembourg
To avoid French toll roads, we took a route through southwestern Germany that reminded us of North Carolina with rolling hills, farms and small towns. This routing also took us right through the town of Schengen, where the agreement on the Schengen zone for borderless travel was signed in 1985. These terms were then incorporated into European Union law by the Amsterdam Treaty in 1999. In addition to all the factoids, passport displays, and literature, the Schengen Museum had these ... continue reading...
Alsace: Strasbourg
Using our parking ticket / tram pass we took the train into town and disembarked at the central Grand Rue stop - less than a ten minute journey from the hotel. We needed a snack, so our first order of business was a Croque Monsieur sandwich from Au Pain De Mon Grand-père. After that we caught our first glimpse of the massive Cathédrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg just around the corner. It was next to impossible to get the whole church in one shot. Here is Leandra's best attempt from a ... continue reading...
Alsace: Colmar food + drink
It will come as no surprise that we ate well across Alsace! Thursday After settling into to our apartment we walked over to the Casino Supermarket for some groceries - orange juice, milk, granola (with Belgian chocolate!), comte cheese flavored chips and a $6 bottle of Alsatian Riesling. Next, crossed the street to visit the Sezanne shop that was full of cheese and meats where Leandra picked up a piece of pelardon fermier (an aged goat cheese). Drinks @ Vins Fins D'Alsace In the heart of ... continue reading...
Alsace: Day 3 – Riquewihr + Obernai
Riquewihr This little village really looked promising on the drive into town... However, once we parked (car lots were 3€ for two hours with no option for less time) and noticed bus loads of (mostly American) tourists being dropped off at regular intervals, the town lost a bit of its charm. It's entirely possible that our brains were tiring of the multiple flower villages we had visited in the last few days but we found Riquewihr to be among the most touristy of the lot. The scenery was ... continue reading...
Alsace: Day 2 – Eguisheim, Munster, Ammerschwihr, Kaysersberg
Eguisheim Another item on Eric's must-see list was this small village ringed by roads with names like Rue de Riesling, Rue de Traminer, etc. Luckily we found a free parking spot near a park just north of town so it was only a five minute walk and didn't have a time limit. Even with the cloudy skies we were both taken in by the town's charm, including the main chapel dedicated to Pope Saint Leo IX (who was born here). Educational plaques were located all over town to let visitors ... continue reading...
Alsace: Day 1 – Haut-Koenigsbourg, Saint-Hippolyte, Rorschwihr, Ribeauville
Haut-Kœnigsbourg Our first day in Alsace was predicted to be the sunniest, so we decided to start explorations here to take advantage of the views. It was one of the top three items on Eric's must-see list and did not disappoint with amazing views both inside and outside the castle walls! We got there right around opening so our visit was not too crowded. Things were definitely picking up (including large groups of school kids) as we were leaving. An amusing ... continue reading...
Alsace: a brief stop in Metz
After sailing through customs, collecting our luggage (that we were forced to check for no good reason due to an inconsistent/jerk BA gate agent) and picking up the rental car in Luxembourg, we headed south into France. Based on research the night before, we decided to stop in Metz—about an hour south of Luxembourg City—to stretch our legs, grab some lunch and explore the town. After some one-way street driving we found parking in an underground lot right next to the Metz Cathedral. Our first ... continue reading...
Euro summer trip 2018: overview, maps, and where we stayed
For summer 2018 a trip to the UK for work materialized, meaning a return to London and the Berkshire county area last visited in January. Since Leandra could travel with me we decided to tack on a weekend in Europe - but where? From London there are hundreds of options. After investigating travel times and prices we narrowed down options to hiking in Wales, wine tasting in Alsace, or exploring southern Norway. In the end, cheap tickets to Luxembourg (and a good rental car price) sealed the deal ... continue reading...
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