February 26, 2016 on Fodors.com || The best way to get to know Washington, D.C. is to take a bipartisan approach. At the city’s downtown core are grand tributes to American history and government that create an aura of power and diplomacy. But don’t forget that this is a city where people live, work, and play—and there’s a side of D.C. that thrives beyond the marble columns and museum galleries, so don’t delegate all your time to one aspect of the city. Add these top experiences to your list and you’ll cross the aisle between essential visitor sights and hotspots that locals love.
Category: USA
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8 D.C. Food Trucks You Need to Follow
February 8, 2016 on Creator by WeWork || Like other cities with a large population of car-free young professionals, D.C. is riding the food truck wave. Hungry lunchers can find them parked around places like Farragut Square, Metro Center, and Union Station, while other trucks bop around the city and require some sleuthing to track down. A few roving vendors have grown so popular they’ve opened brick-and-mortar outposts in trendy hoods—Shaw, we’re looking at you. You can follow the trucks individually on their websites or Twitter, or on Washingtonian’s food truck blog. Here are some of the city’s best.
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10 Things NOT to Do in Washington, D.C.
February 3, 2016 on Fodors.com || Washington D.C. is one of the country’s most visitor-friendly cities. It’s easy to get around, the major sights are concentrated in a wonderfully walkable area, and the city has an enviable mix of history and new offerings. But to do the nation’s capital properly, there are a few no-nos that you should avoid. For example, don’t buy one of those 3-for-$10 FBI T-shirts. And don’t try to pick the cherry blossoms. Most important of all, don’t do any of these 10 things. See full slideshow>>
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D.C.’s Best Bars for Closing Business Deals
January 20, 2016 on Creator by WeWork || Meeting clients for drinks? Your late night Fireball-soaked bar isn’t going to cut it. These D.C. power spots are great places to impress your colleagues—with views, booze, and a history of making deals.
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How to See Maui in 48 Hours
November 3, 2015 on Fodors.com || The rule of thumb when visiting Hawaii is you need one week per island—so if you have a week to explore Maui, use it—but most travelers don’t have that much time. You might be overnighting on a multi-island cruise, or maybe you’re on a quick side trip from another island, or perhaps you found a great deal from the West Coast and are only there for the weekend.
Whatever your reason for a short visit, you can get a good taste of Maui in just 48 hours. Follow this itinerary, and you’ll check off two of the island’s top activities, see stunning beaches and waterfalls, discover some lesser-known local gems, and still have time to kick back with a Mai Tai. Buckle your seat belt, because this tour covers many (unbelievably scenic) miles of road. Read more>>
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15 Reasons You Should Pick Maui For Your First Trip To Hawaii
October 23, 2015, BuzzFeed || If it’s your first time visiting Hawaii, you’ll probably want a bit of everything: Instagram-worthy scenery. Volcanoes. Waterfalls. Beach resorts. Maybe even whales. Maui, the second largest Hawaiian island, covers all these bases, plus more. Here are 15 reasons you should go here if you’re a Hawaii first-timer. Read more>>
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Urban Escapes: Best Places to See Fall Foliage without a Car
October 1, 2015, Creator by WeWork || Fall: a time for football, pumpkin-flavored everything, and, of course, fall foliage. Leaf peepers are tracking peak date predictions in hopes of timing their pilgrimage just right. But what if your job is so demanding that you don’t have the time to drive out to soak in the changing countryside?
The solution: an urban foliage adventure. Many cities offer fantastic fall colors, and all you need is a bus or bike to get there. You just need to know where to look. Whether it’s a city park that ignites into a rainbow of hues, or a trail that transforms a run into a leaf peeping expedition, here are the best places to take in an autumn landscape—no car required. Read more>>
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What to Do with 2 Days in Chicago
In August I traveled to Chicago for 2 days. While much of it was spent in meetings, I was able to eat, drink, and see some of Chicago’s finest. Here’s what I did:
How I Got There
I snagged a great Wanna Get Away fare on Southwest Airlines. Flew DCA to Midway for $98 round-trip … and only booked it two weeks in advance. (Guess that’s what a Tuesday — Friday schedule gets you!)
Where I Stayed
JW Marriott Chicago: The hotel is about a 10-minute walk from Millennium Park, and is blocks from the Willis Tower. It’s a nice upscale city hotel. There’s a large lobby with a bar and lounge area (though it didn’t stay open all that late). It’s in the Loop, so surrounded by businessy spots like Starbucks and take-out lunch restaurants. Rooms were cool, clean, and have those wonderful Marriott beds.
Day 1
The Bean: My favorite place to photograph in Chicago. I snuck a visit in before work and snapped some pics of the buildings and blue sky reflections.
Tortas Frontera: From chef Rick Bayless, this Mexican quick-lunch spot serves hand-crafted sandwiches and a salad with lime-avocado dressing that I never would have ordered had it not been recommended by a colleague. Now I can’t wait to get back and order another one of those salads…
City Winery Chicago Riverwalk: This whole Riverwalk district is brand new, with bars, restaurants, and more kayak rental shops than I’ve ever seen in a city. The winery was bursting with post-work happy hour-ers, and since you can’t take your drinks beyond a certain point, I just sat on the steps and watched the boats chug along the river a few feet away.
Parlor Pizza Bar: Pizza in Chicago means one thing: deep dish. Except not at this West Loop hotspot, where Neapolitan pies are as creatively topped as they are named (check out the Cheesus, Mary & Joseph).
RM Champagne: This West Loop champagne bar has a great outdoor patio. Twinkle lights, exposed brick, and 12 types of bubbly all help you forget the fact that you’re kind of drinking in an alley. (There’s also a large indoor space.)
Three Dots and a Dash: My colleagues and I closed out the night at this underground tiki-style bar. It’s known for its cocktails, but I’m even more of a fan of the ceramic tropical mugs that the drinks come in.
Day 2
Wrigley Rooftops: 3643 n. Sheffield: After a day of meetings we took a trolley from the Loop out to Wrigleyville for a Cubs game at the Wrigley Rooftops. New updates to Wrigley Field (a big jumbotron and more public space) has spoiled the view from some of the rooftop venues, but we could see everything but the deep outfield. The rooftops aren’t so much about the baseball, but more about the all-you-can-eat-and-drink deals. The menu included dogs, brats, and some ballpark sides, plus a good selection of wine and beer.
Cindy’s Rooftop: The rooftop bar and restaurant at the Chicago Athletic Association has a prime view overlooking the Bean, Millennium Park, and Lake Michigan. The place has an industrial-chic style and a cocktail menu called the “Potions & Elixirs” list.
Hangge Uppe: A go-to late night dance party bar, apparently any night of the week. Come here if you want to keep the party going until 4 a.m. Think college dive, not techo club.
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Philadelphia Weekend Travel Guide
In November 2014 I took a 2-day food-centric trip to Philadelphia. The visit was sponsored by Visit Philly, who gave me a budget $400 to eat my way through the city. Here’s what I did:
How I Got There
Philadelphia is an easy Amtrak ride from D.C.; it takes about two hours.
Where I Stayed
Lowes Hotel: A luxurious hotel set in a historic 1930s skyscraper. The building used to be the old PSFS bank, and is centrally located in Center City (right at Reading Terminal Market and a 15-minute walk to Independence Hall).
Friday
Bank and Bourbon: The restaurant in the Lowes Hotel has a farm-focused menu and a lot of bourbon. The decor and theme plays up the building’s past as a bank. Try the Secret Knock cocktail, which is a blend of bourbon and milk.
Reading Terminal Market: Food bazaar full of colorful stalls and vendors. You can get grocery items here, as well as to-go food, like pork and beef sandwiches at Dinic’s. I tried one of the classics: a roast pork with provolone and broccoli rabe sandwich.
Independence National Historic Park: This square is steeped in history. Start at the Visitor Center to get your bearings, then head over to Constitution Hall, which has a fabulous circular exhibit detailing the constitutional and political history of the U.S. From there it’s an easy walk down a central lawn to Independence Hall. Nearby is the Liberty Bell (likely with a line of people waiting to catch a glimpse). Rangers tell stories about the bell, like what’s the difference between the crack and the gap.
McGillin’s Olde Ale House: The oldest operating bar in Philly (since around 1860). Around the holidays it’s decked out in pubby Christmas decor and they have a few house beers on tap.
Percy Street BBQ: A go-to spot for beers and BBQ. It’s a super lively spot (I got a seat at the bar) and claims to have the largest selection of craft beer cans in the country.Saturday
Philadelphia Museum of Art: On the river, near some of Philly’s other art museums. There’s a solid collection of Impressionist art. But the main attraction may be what’s outside the museum: the Rocky Steps and Rocky Statue. Go ahead and run up the stairs — you won’t be the only one doing it.
Vetri: Namesake restaurant for one of Philly’s top chefs, this place is warm and inviting and churns out food that’s just artful. Try the chef’s table — you’ll feel like you’re hanging out in the chef’s kitchen eating some of the best Italian food in the city.
Magic Garden: A labyrinth of mirrored mosaic walls and reclaimed stuff like bike wheels and bottles. I nominate this spot as the best place to Instagram in the city. Only 7 bucks to get in.
Dirty Franks: A cash-only real Philly dive bar (including a piñata and stuff hanging from the ceiling). Cash only. Pretty sure the bartender only heard alcohol orders; water did not compute.
Kanella: Fantastically accommodating and homey Cypriot restaurant. Everything on the menu was authentic and delicious (my Greek friend and dining companion approved). Best of all, it’s BYOB.Sunday
Supper: Nothing says brunch like a 3-level burger and red velvet waffles. (Uh oh, looks like this place is now closed. Too bad!)
Cheesesteak wars: Tried Pat’s and Geno’s, the two Philly cheesesteak rivals that sit cady corner to one another. We got a cheesesteak (wit wiz) at each and did a taste test. The verdict? Geno’s for the win, thanks to its better meat and bread.
