It’s my final post for 2018! Since the end of the year is a good time for reflection, I’d like to look back on the past year. 2018 has been a busy, wonderful year filled with new adventures and unexpected ventures, like starting my own blog. I visited places I never expected to and met new, lovely people.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about where my travels will take me in 2019. There are so many places I want to visit, I’m just itching to get out there and explore more of the world. For now, here’s my year well traveled.
JANUARY – VERMONT
By the time January rolls around, we’re all so exhausted by the hectic holiday schedule, getting away from everyday life is much needed. And, what better way to start your year than a mini break! That’s exactly what my long weekend in Vermont was – days pottering around my friend’s log cabin, drinking wine in front of the fireplace with his dog Archie by my side. Ah, heaven!
As a special treat for my friend, we all huddled in a sleigh, covered ourselves in blankets and made our way up the snow covered mountain trails to have dinner in a yurt. The Ledgewood Yurt in Killington is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. Candlelit communal dining tables, an amazing five course meal comprised of local ingredients and beverages served in chalices – just like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade! It really is a magical experience.
APRIL – TUSCANY
For our birthdays this year, my mom suggested we go to Italy. Who am I to say no to that request? From driving through the amazing countryside, to shopping the busy streets of Florence to whiling away the afternoons having lunch and people watching in the Piazza del Campo in Siena, it was an amazing week. Spending it with my mother made it that much better.
One of the highlights was our trip to the Antinori Winery in the Tuscan countryside. Family owned and operated for over 6 centuries, I just can’t recommend Antinori highly enough. We opted for the Barracaia Tour which consists of a tour of the winery complete with its history and wine making process followed by a tasting of 3 of their estate grown wines. We followed that with a wonderful lunch paired with Antinori wine, of course, at Rinuccio 1180 – the winery’s glass enclosed rooftop restaurant overlooking the rolling hills of Tuscany. Truly a memorable day.
MAY – ORLANDO
Come May, the birthday celebrations were in full swing. Included was a long weekend getaway with some friends. After much deliberation, I decided this might be a good opportunity to finally take my first ever trip to a Disney theme park. Eating and drinking throughout all the countries in Epcot always sounded like a fine idea to me. Plus, I’d been absolutely busting to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios. So, off we went to the land of Mickey…and HARRY POTTER!!!!
It should come as no surprise to anyone what my favorite part of the trip was – the full English breakfast, fish and chips dinner, magic wand wielding, broomstick riding world of pure unadulterated wonder that is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The attention to detail is extraordinary! It looks like you’re in London – well, almost! We went for the 2 park pass so we could ride the Hogwarts Express from King’s Cross Station. Popped by Ollivanders to choose our wands, or should I say, let our wands choose us. Stayed for the nightly light show at Hogwarts Castle. Honestly, if they rented flats right in the theme park, I’d be one of the first to sign up.
JULY – CAPE COD
Every fourth of July weekend for the last several years, I’ve made the trek up to Cape Cod for my friends’ annual barbecue extravaganza. It’s always a wonderfully indulgent weekend of food, friends, beverages, beach, boats, fireworks, stunning sunsets, fire pits, more food and so much fun. This year started off with a personal pizza straight from the outdoor pizza oven upon my arrival.
The weekend really is packed with so many amazing things, it’s tough to choose one highlight. For the sake of the blog, I’ll choose 2! My friends have a Boston Whaler boat which they take fishing. On this weekend though, it’s for scenic rides around the bay – a group of friends, a cooler, the wind whipping through our hair on a warm summer day. If you think nothing can beat that, how about this – pulled pork that’s been cooked in a smoker for 17 hours? This may in fact be what I look forward to the most. Like I said, tough decisions.
SEPTEMBER – AMSTERDAM
September was a busy and wonderful month for me travel-wise. It brought me back to Amsterdam for the first time in 8 years. That’s way too long to stay away from this beautiful city. In fact, I forgot how much I liked it until I was back again. Our memories can sometimes romanticize moments or places from our past, so it was nice to realize my memories hadn’t betrayed me. It really is just as amazing as I remember!
This trip was my first visit to Foodhallen, Amsterdam’s international indoor food market. Looks like I found my new favorite place in Amsterdam! I know, the canals are beautiful, the museums are some of the best in the world, the restaurants are outstanding but right now, I only have eyes for Foodhallen. My friends and I proceeded to spend the afternoon there feasting on a smorgasbord of food from different countries – an incredible mezze platter, jamon, dim sum, Vietnamese rice rolls – before we went back to our hotel and got ready for dinner. Oh, this was a good day.
SEPTEMBER – LONDON
This is the destination I looked forward to all year long. So much so, a few blurbs about it don’t seem sufficient. For now, that’ll do until I write a future blog post where I can expand on my London adventures further. This trip came at just the right time – work was insanely busy in August and I was desperately in need of a break. Plus, I’ve come to loathe the oppressive heat of New York City summers so the cooler temps were refreshing to say the least.
My time in London was the perfect balance of me having time to wander around and explore and me spending time with dear friends. One of my favorite days was spent in Hampstead in Northwest London. It really is one of the most beautiful, quaint, charming neighborhoods in London. I started the day with a leisurely walk around. Then headed to one of my favorite pubs, The Holly Bush, for a lovely Sunday roast and just as lovely Gin and Tonic. It was there I met an adorable French Bulldog and had pork scratchings for the first time. After a trip up to Hampstead Heath to catch a look at that spectacular view over London, I ended the day with a glass of wine at an outdoor table on the High Street. If only every day could be like that.
SEPTEMBER – WINDSOR
Choosing a day trip from London is always a difficult decision for me. I want to go everywhere I haven’t been! And I want to go back to all the places I’ve already been! It’s usually a decision that’s months in the making with me vacillating between locations up until the very end, then finally making a game time decision a day or two before the day trip is to take place. This year, there was so much buzz around Windsor, I decided to see for myself what all the fuss was about.
A quick 40(ish) minute train ride from London, Windsor is a delight to visit. I picked an absolutely perfect day, the sun was shining, the town was hopping and I was enjoying every bit of it. I started the day with a visit to Windsor Castle and stood where my fellow American, Meghan Markle stood a mere 4 months prior. Then on to tea and scones with clotted cream in the afternoon sun. Followed by a stroll along the pedestrian only shopping streets where two young men thought I was much younger than I am – flatterers! I ended the day sitting outside at The Boatman along the Thames enjoying snacks and Gin and Tonics. As day trips go this one was practically perfect in every way.
OCTOBER – NASHVILLE
My final trip of 2018 was a girls weekend for a dear friend’s birthday. Once again, it came at the perfect time! I know, I was only back from my European adventures less than a month but I was definitely ready for another break! This long weekend was spent with a great group of girls, most of whom I had never traveled with, in a city I knew very little about. How’s that for an adventure?
I’d hate to be too predictable but one of my favorite days in Tennessee was spent at Arrington Vineyards – not just for the delicious wine tasting. It was one of the most beautiful, relaxing atmospheres made even better surrounded by a great group of people. Gathering around with a bottle of wine, a charcuterie and snacks while surrounded by beautiful scenery – that’s a great way to reset after a crazy busy month. Actually, I could use that right now!
2018 has been an amazing year! Let’s hope for more of that to come. I wish us all a 2019 that’s happy, healthy and full of adventures. I’m excited to see 2019 bring me to new and interesting places that I can share with you. Any suggestions on where I should go next? Leave a comment!
Adventures of a New Yorker traveling the world.
Adventures of a New Yorker traveling the world.
