Four Seasons Spa Chicago

On March 13, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Illinois, US Travel2 Comments

Last year, my dear friend Amber and I started a tradition of enjoying a spa day in the bleak winter months. This year, it took a little extra planning but we finally made it happen. We found a great Groupon for a massage and exfoliation at the Four Seasons Spa in Chicago that we couldn’t pass up, so that’s where we ended up this past Thursday evening.

We met after work and ran into some bad rush hour traffic, which means we didn’t have a ton of time to relax prior to our massages. However, as soon as we walked off the elevator into the spa, we were instantly calm. We rushed into our cozy robes and slippers and quickly utilized the steam room and showers. The locker rooms, as you’d expect from a five-star hotel, had every amenity we could possibly need.

After only a few minutes in their small but peaceful relaxation lounge, my massage therapist, Leslee, picked me up for the massage. After a quick consultation, I chose the lavender oil (please, help me relax!!) and the massage began. My wonderful massage therapist sought out every knot in my back and worked them out. I felt like a new woman afterwards.

I met Amber back in the relaxation lounge, where we sipped the fruit infused water and melted into the couches. Once we could finally move again, we made our way to the locker rooms to change and then on to the pool area. Let me just say, the pool at the Four Seasons is absolutely gorgeous.

There’s a large hot tub nestled into one end of the pool, lounge chairs all around the perimeter, and a view of Michigan Avenue through the windows. The pool area was mostly empty, save for a family of three and us. It was a beautiful setting to sit and catch up. We wanted to order dinner by the pool and were provided with the “Spa Menu”, which included much healthier options than the cheeseburgers we were craving.

Even though we were forced to eat healthier than we wanted, we were still happy to be able to eat poolside. The food was just alright, the setting made the dinner much more enjoyable. We ended the evening after polishing off our meals, and wandering serenely back through the hotel lobby. It was a perfect spa night, and a great antidote to a long week of work.

How do you treat yourself? Have you ever been to the Four Seasons Spa?

My Ten Favorite U.S. Hikes, RebeccaWanderlusting

My 10 Favorite U.S. Hikes

On March 5, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Top Ten, US TravelLeave a comment

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of the State and National Parks and all that they offer, so I think it’s high time I share a round-up of my favorite U.S. hikes within these parks. As you may or may not know, the National Park Service is offering ten free admission days this year to celebrate its centennial.

I’ve written about this momentous occasion before, but was reminded of it by Cotopaxi, the socially-conscious, Gear for Good creators that specialize in adventure-wear, like these backpacks, and donate some of their revenue towards making the world better. This inspiring company reminded me of the upcoming free-entry days for the National Parks. The next free days are on April 15 & 16 and on April 22 & 23, so hopefully my favorite U.S. hikes will inspire you to get out and find your own.

Clingman’s Dome, Smoky Mountains National Park: The top of this steep hike and cement overlook features one of the best views in the Smoky Mountains. We visited Gatlinburg, TN last summer with my family and it was one of my favorite trips. All of the hikes we took through the park were fantastic, but this one stands out in my memory for its view and its crossing of the Appalachian Trail.
Matthiessen State Park: Any hike at Matthiessen State Park is guaranteed to give you beautiful views and at least one waterfall. This state park is about an hour and half outside of Chicago and gives a much needed dose of natural beauty to us city dwellers. The trails wind through canyons and over bridges suspended over creeks and waterfalls, and sometimes hopping over stepping stones to clear pools of water filled by yet more waterfalls.
Starved Rock State Park: Starved Rock is very close to Matthiessen State Park and equally as pretty, making it possible to visit both in one day. There are sixteen different trails, but the Lover’s Leap hike and view are my favorite. We tried a good number of the trails and each held their own beauty. There’s also a beautiful lodge on one end of the park that is the perfect spot for a well-earned, mid-hike meal.
Muir Woods: On a visit to San Francisco, we rented a car and drove to Muir Woods to hike for a day. This beautiful park includes multiple amazing hikes, and we chose the Fern path. The hike was steep and we had to stop to catch our breath more than once, but the view from the top was so worth it. Fun fact: Muir Woods also served as the set of the film Return of the Jedi, so if you hike here, you’re hiking through Endor.
Kettle Moraine State Park: Every winter, the Wisconsin State Parks host candlelit hikes across the state in which they line the paths with candles in white paper bags. I enjoyed one of these hikes at Kettle Moraine State Park, which is just a little ways north from Lake Geneva. The hike, with the candles and sporadic bonfires along the way, is gorgeous and unique.
Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park: My family and I visited this area when I was young, driving from San Francisco up to Seattle and stopping at National Parks in between. This rainforest was the most exotic thing I had seen to date and it instantly captured me. I did not love hiking when I was a kid, but this particular hike amazed me.
Wave Organ to Baker Beach, Golden Gate National Park: One of my favorite memories of San Francisco was walking from the Wave Organ (just pass the Yacht Club on the harbor) to the Golden Gate Bridge and then on to Baker Beach and Presidio. This hike took much longer than we had originally planned, and it started to rain halfway through, but the beauty of the ocean and the bridge and the area surrounding it made it perfect.
Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Forest: Located near New Orleans, LA, this mystical boardwalk crosses over the home of alligators, lizards, snakes, egrets, and the biggest spiders you’ve ever seen. We traipsed through the humid swamp, searching through the mossy surroundings for a gator. We eventually spotted one, which made our whole trip. This park is other-worldly and provided a scenery like I’ve never experienced before.
Chimney Rock State Park: This state park is a little ways outside of Asheville, North Carolina and holds a special place in my heart as my first solo travel hike. The park is famous for its fantastic view from the top of the rock, which shows the canyon below and a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I also hiked the trail that leads to Hickory Nut Falls; the scenic waterfall and it’s cool, clear water were the perfect cure for after the hot, tiring hike up the many, many steps to Chimney Rock.
Donut Falls, Big Cottonwood Canyon: Utah is chock-full of beautiful parks and scenery, but this hike will forever be my favorite. I visited this particular trail in November, when there was snow on the ground and falls were frozen, which just so happened to be the best time to see it. The trail to Donut Falls was gorgeous in of itself, but the main attraction was breath-taking. We climbed up the frozen waterfall and inside the cave at the top to see the actual “donut”. It was so worth the treacherous trip back down.

What are your favorite U.S. hikes? Which National Park do you love most?

Cindy's Rooftop Bar, Chicago Athletic Association, RebeccaWanderlusting

Girls’ Weekend at The Chicago Athletic Association

On February 27, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Chicago, Illinois, Uncategorized, US Travel5 Comments

This past weekend, a group of friends and I enjoyed a marvelous staycation at the historic Chicago Athletic Association. We, Jennifer, Jessica, Adrienne and I, were there to celebrate our beautiful friend, Sarah’s birthday with her. I have to say, it was by far one of the best hotel experiences I’ve had in a long time. I checked in first, as the room was under my name, and as soon I walked in I was lost.

The building is full of nooks and crannies and staircases leading to somewhere you’re not quite sure you’re supposed to be. I had to ask where the check in desk was, because it was not immediately apparent to me, at the information desk on the first floor, which also housed a Shake Shack, a gift shop through a labyrinth of hallways and a long, long line up to the famed Cindy’s Rooftop (more on that later).

Upon check-in, I received five tokens (one for each of us) for champagne in one of the six restaurants/bars at the Chicago Athletic Association, the Cherry Circle Room. After I got lost once again trying to find the elevators up to the guest rooms, I dropped off my bags in our double-bedded room and went back downstairs to get take some photos of the beautiful property.

Lo and behold, I was lost again and ran smack dab into one of my roommates for the evening, Adrienne. Gleefully, we made our way back up to the room together to set up for an evening of champagne and relaxation in our Wes Anderson meets your hip rich uncle’s spare bedroom room. We had snacks and booze and spa supplies and cards, all of which make for a perfect evening.

However, we did not get to much of what we planned in the room, as the Athletic Association had other plans for us. Once everyone had arrived, we left the room to get our free champagne and plan our evening in the Cherry Circle Room, which is adjacent to the Game Room, a bar with bocce ball and foosball and shuffleboard, on the second floor.

The Cherry Circle Room was fully committed for the evening which was fair, seeing how it was a beautiful, wood-paneled dream of a restaurant. They accommodated us in the small lounge just outside it’s doors, where they served us champagne in pretty flutes. We sipped and schemed; all of us agreed that we needed to see their ballroom before we did anything else.

After finishing the gratis bubbly, we took the elevator to the eighth floor and barged in on the set up of the evening’s event. As the staff graciously guided us back towards the elevator, we snuck peaks of the beautiful White City Ballroom. The gentleman who was ushering us good-naturedly back to approved areas overheard us talking about going up to Cindy’s and stopped what he was doing to personally escort us up via the back elevator, effectively saving us a good thirty minutes waiting in line on the ground floor.

That was the start of our good luck. Once in the bar, we ran into one of my old friends from work and the rest is a haze of champagne and charcuterie. We took the requisite photos on the terrace and marveled over the view from the top. We sipped champagne and cocktails and got a light dinner to share. It was amazing, and it was said more than once how unbelievable the service and libations were.

After having more than our fair share of expertly mixed cocktails, we made our way back to the room to continue the evening. After face masks (by Crude), nail polish, more champagne, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, and drunk snacks, we all fell asleep in our cozy hotel robes.

The next morning, we awoke early to headaches and the need to see the sunrise from the ballroom we only got a small glimpse of the night before. The trip was a secret mission through the employee entrance but it was successful. The pink sky from the east facing windows was too pretty for words; it shined over the glass front buildings and the bean, with the turquoise lake in the background.

The ballroom was just stunning; a perfect mix of modern touches and classic architecture. We also peeped into the Madison Ballroom, which featured city views and grand chandeliers. When we got back to the room, we fell back asleep for a morning nap, then took turns enjoying the luxurious shower.

After pampering just a little bit more, we worked our way down to the Milk Room for a satisfying breakfast of toast, bacon, and the best hash brown cakes I’ve ever had. They were crispy on the outside and creamy with sliced green onions on the inside. The Milk Room was located in the hotel lobby, and was a warm collection of wood, mismatched chairs and colorful pillows.

The food, along with the restaurant’s amazing coffee, brought us back to life enough to pack up he room and check out. I think we all needed this weekend, it was perfectly restorative and fun and we enjoyed every minute of it.

Have you stayed at the Chicago Athletic Association? Which restaurant was your favorite?

My 10 Favorite U.S. Hikes, RebeccaWanderlusting

Top Five Friday #16

On January 20, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Top Five Friday, US TravelLeave a comment

US Bucket List

This year, I would love to explore new areas of the United States. There are so many fantastic destinations in my own country, it makes for quite a long list of need-to-visit places. I know I’ve said it before, but I think it’s worth noting again: every destination has it’s merits, and you don’t need to travel far to find a worth-while vacation. This also speaks to my need to be on a tighter travel budget this year, as traveling within the United States tends to be a bit cheaper than internationally. While this list could go on and on, here are the five destinations that top my US Bucket List:

Grand Haven, Michigan: I love Michigan. Ever since we visited Grand Rapids, I’ve been looking into other Michigan cities to explore. Grand Haven seems to fit the bill perfectly with its delicious looking restaurants, antique shops, and not to mention its beaches and lighthouses. We can sail on Lake Michigan, bike along the boardwalks and relax in the evening at one of the many breweries in town. It’s the perfect weekend getaway.
(photo via)
Adirondacks, New York: The Adirondacks is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States. I would love to rent a cabin in the wilderness there and hike, kayak and browse through the local artist galleries. I would also love to take the Amtrak train from New York City to cross “take an Amtrak trip” of my list of to-dos for the year. Overall, this destination seems like an excellent place to de-stress and enjoy the surroundings.
(photo via)
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Hot air balloon rides over the desert! What else do I need to say? That has always been on my bucket list, and I would love to travel to New Mexico to experience it. In addition to that, Albuquerque has hiking, rock climbing, rafting, and tons of other outdoor activities. Not to mention the numerous wineries, breweries and wide variety of restaurants to enjoy. It would be the perfect long weekend to get into nature and away from the city.
(photo via)
Charleston, South Carolina: What’s not to love about a picturesque, Southern city with history to spare?? Charleston has been on my list so long that I need to visit soon if only for the satisfaction of checking it off. I want to tour the old houses, enjoy the coast, and eat so much seafood. Charleston has so much to offer, and I would love to explore every little bit of it.
(photo via)
Olympic National Park, Washington: There is so much beauty to see in and around Olympic National Park, this trip would need to be at least a week or so long. The rain forests within the park alone, are worthy of their own trip. But then there’s Crescent Lake, numerous beaches and waterfalls… it’s such a gorgeous destination. I would love to fly into Seattle and drive to Olympic National Park, stopping at all of the parks and landmarks.

(photo via)

What’s on your US Bucket List? Do we have any destinations in common?

Neighborhood Spotlight: Chinatown

On January 17, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Chicago, Illinois, Uncategorized, US Travel1 Comment

This past weekend, Mike and I hitched a ride over to Chinatown to get a little color in this dreary Chicago January. We took an Uber there, but it is also easily accessible by the Red Line Cermak-Chinatown stop. Both of us hadn’t visited this area since college, so it’s been quite a few years.

Though the sky was cloudy, it wasn’t too cold out and there were plenty of other people milling about, so we were in good company. We walked down towards the main drag and under the telltale red and green gate. The street beyond it is lined with shops and restaurants, bakeries and grocery stores.

Some of the shops had already started decorating for Chinese New Year which is in a couple of weeks; the red lanterns were in bright contrast to the grey sky. We popped into a few stores, especially liking the candy stores. When I was in Shanghai a few years ago, I fell in love with a taffy like candy called White Rabbit, which they had in abundance in each of the stores. Also in abundance was all kinds of seafood and vegetables in each of the grocery stores we passed.

We also visited Chiu Quon, a bakery and dim sum joint, for a couple of fried red bean paste cakes. The bakery had lots of other sweet treats, including moon cakes and fortune cookies by the bag, and of course a wide selection of dim sum and dumplings.

We also visited the Buddhism Friendship Association, which has beautiful statues inside and a gift shop with jade jewelry and prayer beads and Buddha statues. When we were passing through, they were starting to put out food on a long table in the middle of the temple, so, not wanting to disturb them, we moved on.

We decided to go to the Phoenix Restaurant for dim sum, and wound up having to wait thirty minutes for a table. The waiting area was crowded with people, and more kept coming through to put their name in for a table, which we took as a good sign. The food was worth well worth the wait though, and we ordered plenty. As soon as we sat down, we were served a delicious green tea and presented with a large menu complete with pictures.

We ordered the xiao long bao, barbeque pork buns and turnovers, fried rice, shrimp and chive dumplings, spring rolls and red bean dumplings. They brought the food out a few dishes at a time, serving them with a chili sauce and another reduced soy sauce. The women pushing the carts full of food presented the dishes with a flourish and crossed each item off our receipt as they came. I loved the xiao long baos and the steamed barbecue pork buns.

After eating far too much, we walked around to work off the dumplings. Across the street from the restaurant is a beautiful square flanked by foo dogs and filled with Chinese zodiac statues. Many people were lined up to take photos with the rooster statue, as this coming Chinese New Year celebrates the year of the rooster.

The sidewalk just past the square was lined with yet more restaurants and stores (especially candy stores!), and we wandered through admiring the sights and smells. A lot of the storefronts on the top level were closed down, but the ground floor was still bustling. Once we got our fill, we walked back to the red line, first stopping to take pictures of the amazing street art just outside of it. All in all, it was a wonderful afternoon, and I’m so happy that we got the chance to explore a different neighborhood in our city.

Have you been to your nearest Chinatown? How about Chinatown Chicago?

Luminaria at Lamberson Guest House, Galena, RebeccaWanderlusting

A Weekend in Galena – Part 2

On December 18, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Illinois, US Travel4 Comments

Our first full day in Galena was jam-packed with activities, all leading up to the Night of the Luminaria. We met Rose, of Visit Galena, and the last additions to our group, Max and Natalie, that morning at the Lamberson Guest House before Rose drove us all to Victory Cafe for breakfast. It was a perfectly cozy, small-town diner kind of place, with things like plate-sized pancakes and biscuits and gravy (my favorite) on the menu.

We all sat at a large round table in the window, having at least three different conversations at once at any given time. Though we were still all strangers, it felt comfortable to be sitting at a diner sharing a meal. After breakfast, we piled back into the van and took tours of both the Chestnut Mountain Resort and the Eagle Ridge Resort, which were both bustling due to the snow.

Both properties were gorgeous and catered to their own kind of clientele; Chestnut Mountain being more of a ski resort and Eagle ridge speaking more to the golf/spa/luxury crowd. In the summer, Chestnut Mountain has a unique zip line experience that I would absolutely love to come back and try.

After the resort tours, we moved on to Galena Cellars for a tour and a tasting. Our tour guide was a feisty, knowledgeable woman, who, once we were about to go outside, casually threw on a fur coat the size of a small car. She walked us through the vineyard, despite the snow and empty vines, and gave us some history on the winery and it’s owners.

We also got to see where the wine is fermented and barreled, and the bottling room. Once we were back inside the tasting room/store, she taught us her 5 S’s of wine tasting: see, swirl, sniff, sip and slurp. We were tasting their Seyval Blanc, which I would be happy to take more than one sip of!

From the winery, we moved on to lunch at Fried Green Tomatoes, an Italian Restaurant, which was in a building that used to house Ulysses S. Grant’s family’s leather shop. They sat us at a table in the middle of their main dining room, beneath a beautiful chandelier.

We could see the snow really starting to come down outside, making the street, in all it’s holiday cheer, look like scene from a postcard. They started us out with some wine and bread with olive oil and I knew we were in the right place. Mike and I shared the prime rib wrap and the Tuscan Mac and Cheese, and both options were fantastic.

After lunch, we had a few hours to ourselves before the Night of the Luminaria began. We browsed through the other half of the Helluva Half Mile, stopping into most of the shops and doing some Christmas shopping. On this side of Main Street, the stores we liked the most were Peace of the Past North, Stamp and Ink, and the Galena Garlic Company.

We ran back up to the Lamberson Guest House to drop off our bags, and ended up falling asleep for an hour which caused us to miss wine and cheese hour this time, much to my disappointment. We rushed out to see the living windows displays and all the candles, which lit up the town.

There were candles in their white bags lining every surface in town, and that coupled with the snow made everything look so beautiful. We walked across the pedestrian bridge to Grant Park to admire the statues and canons in the candlelight.

The park was a perfect winter wonderland with a beautiful view of downtown across the river. We walked back to Main Street and met the group at the DeSoto House, first for a drink in their Green Street Tavern and then for dinner downstairs in the General’s Restaurant.

Desoto House was built in 1855 and is the state’s oldest operating hotel. The restaurant was downstairs from the lobby and through an open courtyard with a beautiful Christmas tree in the center. In the restaurant, we sat down to order, starting with a couple bottles of wine for the table. I ordered the scallops for dinner, and they were so good that I forgot to take a picture until I was about half way through (whoops!).

Everything was cooked so perfectly and it was so good. I’m pretty sure everyone in the group was a member of the clean plate club, despite all the other meals we had that day. Everyone was in good spirits and talking animatedly. This was my first trip of this kind, and I am very grateful that I was enjoying it with such a fun group. After dinner, the group dispersed, with most of them heading back to Lamberson, and Mike and I going out to a bar called Gobbie’s for karaoke.

The heavy snow made it a slow night at the bar, but the karaoke was still going, and it was quite the sight to behold. The drinks there were good and decently priced. Rose met us for a drink before heading back home, and it was really nice to get to know her better, especially because we are both apart of the Bey Hive. After our drinks, we headed back to our respective homes (or temporary homes).

The Lamberson Guest House has a good library of DVDs to borrow, so Mike and I headed up to our room for some Captain American and a game of rummy and called it a night. The next morning, we awoke to the sounds of breakfast being made and came downstairs to find that our hosts had made us a three course meal for breakfast. From scratch. The menu included, a homemade gingerbread muffin with whipped cream cheese butter, a fruit salad with lemon poppy seed dressing (atop which sat a kiwi in the shape of a pine tree), and an omelet torte (which I was assured there was only eggs in the bottom and I could eat the top of).

The food was so good, and Brian and Michelle were very attentive while serving it. I was so tempted to stuff a few of those delicious muffins in my purse and run. I need to get the recipe. I don’t know how Michelle had time to prepare such a feast, but I hope she knows that it was the best breakfast we’ve had in a while! After we finished, Chris from Visit Galena showed up and had to roll us out to the van, one by one.

We drove over to the Ulysses S. Grant House for a tour. It was still snowing, and the big brick house looked so pretty. The inside of the house is filled with items that once belonged to the former president, or were replicas of things he had once owned. Our tour guide was sweet and had her presentation down to a science.

My favorite part of the house was the carpet/wallpaper combo, and the statue of Julia Dent Grant out front. Mike and I ran through the deepening snow to take pictures of it, and consequently, got the best view of Galena from where she stands.

After the tour, we decided to head back to Chicago because of the weather. We made the very snowy drive home at a snail’s pace, giving us more time to gush over our time in Galena. Who knew that this little city just three hour’s drive from Chicago would make for such an amazing trip.

Thank you to Visit Galena and the Lamberson Guest House for giving us such a wonderful, relaxing weekend!!

A Weekend in Galena, Illinois, RebeccaWanderlusting

A Weekend in Galena – Part 1

On December 17, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Illinois, US Travel2 Comments

The drive to Galena is relatively short, three hours, and pretty typical up until about the last half hour or so. That’s when the road (route 20) starts curving up and down the hills that make this part of Illinois unique. We had been this exact same way before, on our way to Dubuque, which is just across the Mississippi from Galena, so we knew what to expect. Even so, the view still amazed us.

Our accommodation for the weekend was the Lamberson Guest House, which was perched at the top of a hill in the historic district, overlooking the city. We were invited to stay as their very first guests with a group of other travel writers from around the Midwest. The house was beautifully renovated and is run by a wonderful couple, Brian and Michelle.

The B&B has four suites, each with its own color scheme and décor. We had the Mary Room, at the top back corner. It was a cute, private nook with its own walk-in closet and bathroom. Our hosts graciously gave us a tour of the house, and we loved all the thoughtful touches throughout. I especially loved the homemade shower bombs (lavender scented, and later when Michelle found out I was getting sick, eucalyptus) and makeup remover wipes in the bathroom.

We wanted to go out and explore, so they gave us a brief explanation of the layout of Main Street and reminded us to be back at 5pm for wine and cheese hour. The guest house is in a perfect location because downtown is literally just down the stairs from where the house is, the catch is that there are 220 stairs to go down.

The “Helluva Half Mile” is chockfull of cute boutiques, antique stores and restaurants. We decided to explore the south half of the half mile, saving the other half for the next day. We popped in and out of the cute stores, admiring the window displays and Christmas decorations along the way.

One of our first stops was to pick up some delicious coffee to go from Kaladi’s Coffee Bar to keep us caffeinated while we shopped. We particularly liked the Celebrity Hat Shop, Gustafson & Grey (for their beautiful antique jewelry), and Peace of the Past antique store (for their stacks and stacks of used books). What was so great about this main drag was that each of the stores were so unique, which was a fun departure from the strings of chain stores on other main streets we’ve explored.

After a while of wandering, we headed back up the stairs to the guest house to freshen up for dinner. We came down from our room for wine and cheese at 5pm on the dot and found a beautiful spread of cheese, crackers and dip. Brian and Michelle served us glasses of wine and we met another couple in our group, Denny and Tracy.

Soon after meeting them, we knew we would be in good company for the duration of our trip. As we chatted and enjoyed the cheese, our guide for the evening, Chris (the CEO of Visit Galena) joined us for introductions and then ushered us into a huge Mercedes van to head to dinner. Our destination was the Log Cabin Steakhouse back on Main Street, a Galena staple and the oldest operating restaurant in the city.

The restaurant had supper club vibes with dim lighting and wood paneling on the walls; I felt right at home. Log Cabin is a Greek steakhouse, so of course we started out with saganaki (and onion rings), which came to the table in a blaze of glory. It was delicious.

While we were deliberating over the menu, two more joined our group, Michelle (different from the B&B owner) and her husband, Robert; they blended into our conversation seamlessly. Our meals came with soup or salad and a “relish tray”, which consisted of fresh vegetables and homemade beer cheese that was amazing. Though Chris had warned us that the steaks were huge, it was still a shock to have a plate-sized T-bone placed in front of me.

The food was so good and so filling. After we finished, we all just had to sit for a minute. Once we could move without groans of pain, most of the group went back to the guest house, and Mike and I headed to Miss Kitty’s Grape Escape. This wine bar is located just down the street from the steakhouse, which can be said about almost every other place on the half mile, making it easy to navigate. The bar was so cozy, especially with all the Christmas decorations. There was live music provided by the Aaron Kelly Band.

The music was great! During their break, Mike and I went to say hello to the band and found out that he and the lead singer have some friends in common. Small world, huh? We continued our little bar crawl at the Galena Brewing Company, and had a beer at the bar. There was more live music here, a gentleman with a twelve-string guitar. The beer was fantastic.

I had the Miner’s Treasure, their Amber Ale, and we liked it so much that we got a small growler of it to bring back to the B&B. The bar was very laid back, with friendly bartenders and a jovial crowd. It was a nice place to end the night. I will say, climbing back up those stairs after a huge steak and a couple of drinks is no small feat. We made it to the top and collapsed into bed, looking forward to another great day.

To be continued…

A Weekend in Milwaukee, WI

On October 24, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn US Travel, Wisconsin2 Comments

Our first stop in Milwaukee, WI was the Art Museum, housed in the iconic, postmodern building right on Lake Michigan. The fee to get into the museum is a little steep, at $17/person, but it’s also pretty worth it. The entryway is beautiful, with a view of the lake through a convex wall of windows.

The best part for me was the collection of contemporary art and the special exhibit of Rembrandts on the top floor. The museum was having a used book sale while we were there as well, which was fun to browse. As we walked back along the lake to our car, the sun finally started to peak out, highlighting the beautiful and well-maintained parks.

From there we drove to Lakefront Brewery to meet up with our friends Colton and Sarah, who were en route to Green Bay for the Packers Game. The brewery tours were sold out for the day (learn from our mistake – buy tickets ahead of time!), but we were happy just to partake in the beer and food at the brewery.

Between the four of us, we ordered pretzel bites, cheese curds, fish tacos, smothered fries, pulled pork flatbread and fresh, delicious, Wisconsin-brewed beers. The food was excellent and everything you could want in Wisconsin food: fried, cheesy, comforting and indulgent. The dining room was open with long tables filled with guests. Brewery tours ran through every half hour, with the guide riling up the crowd loudly. I was a little bummed not to be participating, but we taste tested quite a few beers on our own.

Our next stop was the Riverview Antique Market, a ten minute drive away. The store was huge and full of a curated collection of antiques, split into stalls by vendor. My favorite feature were the large Barnum & Bailey circus posters hanging from the walls throughout the warehouse. The four of us had a blast walking through the store, picking out memorabilia and antique home goods.

The staff was friendly and willing to point us in the direction of more antique stores in the area if we felt so inclined to keep shopping. After we left the store, it was time to go our separate ways; Sarah and Colton heading to Green Bay and Mike and I going to check into our hotel. The Hilton City Center was a little outdated but still glamorous, with ornate chandeliers and gold accents.

Our room was small, but comfortable, with a view of the lake and the soft, white bedding that I love so much. When we were looking for somewhere to go for dinner, we did some research and stumbled upon a list of “Essential Milwaukee Restaurants”. One of said restaurants was one I had read about before, famed for their great Friday fish fry. And although it was Saturday, we decided to try it anyways; their German menu fit in nicely with the Oktoberfest celebrations around the city. Kegel’s Inn was a ten minute cab ride away, across the highway.

Milwaukee is interesting because the highway bisects the city, which makes it not all that walkable. This means that we spent a pretty penny on uber rides that evening. The restaurant was in a residential neighborhood and when we walked in, the locals sitting at the bar gave us the stink eye. That to me, seemed like a good sign, but I could tell by the look on Mike’s face that he wasn’t so sure. The host sat us at a table in the corner, where we ascertained that we were the youngest patrons in the place by about 20 years. We ordered “traditional” German food, which came with soup and salad and bread with herbed butter.

Definite supper club vibes here. The soup and salad were good, but the entrees… were not delicious. They were unappetizing looking and didn’t taste any better. We did our best to push the food around the plate and make it look like we ate some of it to appease our very sweet waitress. We got the check and hustled out, keeping our heads down. Perhaps next time, we’ll stick to the fish fry. We went to the Rave next for the main event, the Thrice concert. The show was fantastic and the venue is very pretty, but it’s not run very well.

After ordering $9 Bud Lights, we decided this would not be a show we would drink during. Luckily, Thrice is amazing live, and that made up for the expensive drinks. As soon as the band started playing their encore, we high-tailed it out of there to catch yet another cab to the Cactus Club, a bar that I knew both Mike and I would love. It was a long cab ride there and the place was mobbed with people, so by the time we got into the bar, Mike was not a happy camper.

But! Once we were seated at the bar with a couple of New Glarus beers, there was punk music playing and Star Wars on the TVs. I could see that Mike was trying hard not to smile. This was so his type of place. They had live music playing in the back room (with a cover charge), but we were perfectly happy sitting at the bar. The beer was cheap and the bartenders were friendly and attentive; it’s easy to say that this was our favorite stop of the evening. We made our way back to the hotel (another uber) happy and a little drunk.

The next morning, we checked out early and headed to Café Benelux for breakfast. The area the restaurant was located in, the Historic 3^rd Ward neighborhood, is super cute and fun to explore. We sat on the amazing rooftop terrace where you can enjoy your brunch in the sunshine and with a view. Mike got the Hodge Podge scramble and I got the waffle with berries along with our coffee.

Both entrees were delicious, but Mike’s was the best and of course I snuck a couple of bites. We walked across the street to the Public Market next, which was very similar to the one in Grand Rapids, MI. There was a mixture of shops and food vendors, selling everything from fine cheeses to handmade jewelry to local brews (both coffee and beer).

We particularly liked the t-shirts and magnets at Brew City, where we bought a Milwookie Chewbacca t-shirt for my niece. The market deserved more attention, but we were determined to keep moving.

We went to Downtown Books, where it was entirely possible to get lost amongst the stacks. The vast variety of genres would make any bibliophile very happy. I ended up getting a Hunter S. Thompson book before we went on our way.

Our last real stop of our Milwaukee trip was the County Clare, a family-style restaurant with an Irish theme and a bar on one side. Mike and I sat at the bar and both ordered one of their famed Bloody Mary’s, his spicy and mine not. The drinks came with a beef stick, string cheese, a pickle, a potato and a small glass of Harp beer to chase it all down. I had never had a Bloody Mary before and wasn’t sure how much I’d like it.

It turns out I don’t have to wonder anymore, I definitely don’t like them. They’re just not my cup of tea, I guess. But the bartender serving us was so sweet that I drank the whole thing, gulping beer or water after each sip. We caught some of the Packer’s game before rolling out, thanking the kind bartender profusely as we went. We grabbed coffee at the hip Collectivo before starting the drive back to Chicago.

The café was warm and welcoming, with tables filled with people working on their computers contentedly. The coffee was just what we needed to propel us home. Thank you for a fun weekend Milwaukee!

Have you ever been to Milwaukee, WI? What did you like most about the city?

Favorite Travel Memories, Top Five Friday, RebeccaWanderlusting

New Orleans, Louisiana – Revisited

On August 30, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Louisiana, US Travel1 Comment

The city of New Orleans, Louisiana had captivated me long before I ever visited it. I had romanticized the city so much that I knew it needed to be my next trip. Enter Michael. On something like our fourth date, I mentioned my obsession with New Orleans, and he simply said, “well, let’s go then.” I didn’t really think he was being serious, but a few weeks later we were booking our hotel and planning a road trip there. We drove to New Orleans with an overnight stop in Nashville, TN, arriving in Louisiana just in time for dinner. That was two years ago today. Our time in New Orleans was amazing, and though we encountered a few bumps along the way, we didn’t fight once, which is no small feat for a new-ish couple during a 16 hour drive!

Each day was a new adventure, and each night was spent wandering on and around Bourbon Street, Big Ass Beer in hand. My favorite memory of this Louisiana trip is our first full day there: we walked all day, in the rain, popping into stores and bars to try to get dry and toasty. In my humble opinion, New Orleans is prettiest in the rain. While we were there, it was also Southern Decadence, which is NOLA’s pride celebration. This meant that in addition to rain drops, beads and small tubes of lube also fell from the sky. It was a fun festival to partake in and I am glad that our time there fell on the same weekend. This trip is among my all-time favorites for a lot of reasons, but here are nine places and activities that made it so great:

Omni Royal Crescent Hotel: This hotel is a real class act. We ~~lied~~ told them it was our anniversary and they upgraded our room and sent champagne up right after we checked in. Their beds are the comfiest clouds of white linen and their bathrooms are huge. Plus, the location was perfect for us – out of the excitement, but close enough that we could walk almost everywhere we wanted to go.
Cochon Restaurant: We had our first meal in New Orleans here and it gave such a great first impression. Everything we ate was delicious and the atmosphere was very warm and inviting. The restaurant is in the Warehouse District of the city, so it is the perfect place to start out your night if you plan on going out in style. Fair warming: make reservations!
William Faulkner House: Located in a cobblestone alley next to Jackson Square, the William Faulkner house sits perfectly preserved in time. The first floor is a charming bookstore, featuring beautifully bound copies of all the classics. Faulkner wrote his first novel here and it’s a very inspiring place to visit.
Verti Marte: This hidden gem is about a ten minute walk from Bourbon Street and makes the most amazing sandwiches. We had the All That Jazz Sandwich which featured shrimp, deli meat and veggies and was easily one of the best meals we had in New Orleans. The sandwich shop is within a small market and tends to have a line running through it. Be patient though, it’s worth it!
Barataria Preserve: I touched upon this in last week’s blog, but I really, really loved this portion of the Jean Lafitte National Park. We took a four mile hike through the swamp in search of gators and it was amazing. BUT! Learn from our mistake and bring water, not coffee, to quench your thirst while you hike.
Mango Mango: I know, before you say it, I know these slushie/pizza joints or one like it are on every other corner in New Orleans, but hear me out. After hours of drinking and wandering, the pizza at Mango Mango is a lifesaver. It’s perfectly cheesy and thin-crusted and just greasy enough to give you a second wind.
Louis Armstrong Park: If you want to get away from the drinking and debauchery of Bourbon Street, or just want a quiet place to drink your Mango Mango hurricane slushie, Louis Armstrong Park is the place to do it. The park is beautiful and peaceful with well-maintained grounds, ponds and statues of Jazz Greats, like Mr. Armstrong himself.
Carousel Bar: Located in Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter, the aptly named Carousel Bar is truly unique. They offer classic cocktails that are freshly made in the center bar as you rotate slowly around it. The drinks are delicious and the bar is gorgeous. The spinning may cause a tiny bit of motion sickness, but I promise it is worth it.
City Park/Lake Pontchartrain: Both of these must-see spots are just a short drive from downtown, and are so, so pretty. You could easily spend a whole afternoon at either destination, but we visited on our last day of our trip which means we were rushing a bit. Both locations would be perfect for a picnic. We strolled through City Park, enjoying the gardens and then moved to the lake to soak in the Louisiana sun on the concrete steps surrounding it.

There were a couple things we missed during this trip that we really wanted to see, including Preservation Hall, Longue Vue House and Marie Laveau’s grave that definitely would have made this list had we been able to visit them. Hopefully that means that we can go back soon and check them out!

Have you ever been to NOLA? Which are your favorite places there?

Mystic Blue Cruises, Chicago, RebeccaWanderlusting

Boats & Blogs

On August 19, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Illinois, US Travel1 Comment

This past Tuesday, I was lucky enough to take part in a Lake Michigan Cruise with Mystic Blue Cruises. This event, which was put on by The Windy City Blogger Collective, was attended by some amazing Chicago Bloggers. I was so happy to take part in it for a multitude of reasons, but the top two reasons were: 1.) I was able to chit chat and network with some bloggers I admire, and 2.) this was one of the items on my 26 in 26 list (and I gleefully check marked it as soon as I got home).

I rushed to Navy Pier after work, afraid I was going to quite literally miss the boat, but I just made it. The boat departed at 6:30pm, pulling away from the pier and headed out into the lake. It was an absolutely gorgeous evening, a gracious departure from the gloomy clouds that hung over the city in the morning.

The wonderful Mystic Blue staff provided us with delicious snacks and libations, which were enjoyed on the upper deck of the massive boat. The cruise moved south first, towards the Museum Campus. We cruised along, unhurriedly, parallel to the skyline.

As we moved, the sun set behind the buildings, and the sky changed colors in a slow, beautiful transition. Once we reached the area around the Museum Campus, the Mystic Blue boat turned around and headed back the way we came.

The views were stunning, and, being the bloggers that we are, every single person on the boat had their cameras and phones trained towards the skyline or out towards the lake.

Once we passed Navy Pier on our way towards North Avenue Beach, the sun had almost fully set. The group was enjoying the snacks and drinks, playing giant jenga and mingling.

As we made our final turnaround to return to Navy Pier, it was full dark and the city lights were on and welcoming. We returned to the pier and went on our own ways. It was a wonderful event and such a beautiful evening. Thank you to Mystic Blue Cruises and Windy City Blog Collective for hosting!