We headed to Eugene to see Umphrey’s McGee in concert Friday night.  I’d never really listened to the band before, but I didn’t let that dampen my enthusiasm for a show my friends promised would be amazing.

We hit Eugene right around dinner time and checked into the Timbers Motel for the evening.  The Timbers was perfectly located about two blocks from the concert venue and maybe five blocks from the downtown restaurants.  It was clean and surprisingly nice for a doors-on-the-outside establishment, and it was priced right.

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On the recommendation of a Eugene local, we walked over to Cornucopia for dinner.  I neglected to take any photos, but the atmosphere of the restaurant reminded me of an independently owned TGI Fridays.  The food was good but not great, and we all enjoyed their wide selection of local beers.  After dinner and a few more beers, we walked over to the McDonald Theater for our concert.

Umphrey’s McGee put on a killer show – It sounds like an oxymoron, but they are a hard rocking jam band.  Each song turned into a 20-minute riff with the band members improvising, playing off of each other and basically demonstrating that they are amazingly talented musicians.  The music was perfect for dancing. The crowd was way into it and there was some pretty stellar people watching to be had between songs, plus quite a light show.

I had figured I would enjoy the concert despite never listening to the band before and I was right.  There’s not much that can beat great live music.

The show was as long as it was good – around four hours of music – and we were totally beat by the time it was over.  We briefly considered going out for drinks before deciding that collapsing at the hotel was a much more appealing option.

The next morning we woke up at a decent hour (five people sharing a hotel room doesn’t usually lead to sleeping in, in my experience) and went out for coffee followed by breakfast.  Breakfast at the Keystone Cafe was one of the highlights of our short time in Eugene.

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We were seated on the heated outdoor porch right away and all really enjoyed the cozy atmosphere.  Keystone has an awesome menu with lots of vegan and vegetarian options, along with plenty to tempt us meat-eaters.  Plus, most of the items on their menu were organic and made from scratch.  I really appreciated the focus on organic food, and found everywhere we ate in Oregon pretty vegetarian-friendly and open to those with dietary restrictions. It was feel good food you could actually feel good about!

I chose the pan-fried polenta cakes topped with eggs, and enjoyed every bite without feeling stuffed.  Upon finding out that they also serve fresh-squeezed juice, I ordered a small grapefruit juice that came in the most adorable baby glass.  It was delicious – for some reason I love fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice but can’t stand the bottled stuff.

I was glad I saved room for the massive and amazing pancake that we impulse-ordered upon seeing one delivered to a table next to us.  This Oatmeal Sesame Pancake with Blueberries and Bananas stole the show.  The sesame seeds in the batter gave it a nice savory flavor that the fruit balanced out perfectly, with a substantial texture that I loved.  Plus it was big enough for all five of us to share and still have some to get boxed up to go.

If you ever find yourself in Eugene, please do yourself a favor and stop by the Keystone Cafe for pancakes.  I promise you won’t regret it.

After breakfast we piled into the car to head back up toward Portland, with plans to stop on the way for some wine tasting (!) in the Willamette Valley.  Wine tasting was one of the highlights of my trip and I can’t wait to tell you about it!

Our host (with the most) for the weekend picked us up at the airport late Thursday night and took us back to his apartment in the Alphabet District of Northwest Portland to crash.  It was a late night so we didn’t go out, but the darkened view of the city on our ride from the airport was enough to get us super excited to explore the next day.

We awoke pretty early Friday to a nice Portland morning – cool but not cold and pretty clear – and jumped in the car to rendezvous with a couple of other friends living in the city.

The views from our friend’s balcony were beautiful, and apparently on a really clear day you can see all the way to Mount St. Helens.

On our way out I noticed that Spring is already, well, springing in Portland.  Like most parts of the country, they are way ahead of us and I was tickled to see my first dafodils of the year.

We headed straight to Pine State Biscuits, a breakfast spot we were dying to try due to some Yelp research and the fact that it was on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

It’s a tiny spot where you wait in line to order at the counter and then hope to find a seat.  We got really lucky and snagged a table for 4 to enjoy our breakfasts.

Pine State is famous for amazing biscuits, which happen to be one of my favorite foods in the world.  On those biscuits you can get anything from a classic bacon, egg and cheese sandwich to ridiculous fried chicken concoctions.  I decided to go somewhere between traditional and crazy and ordered a fried chicken, egg and cheese.  Holy fat kid special.  It was delicious.

Everyone in our group raved about their breakfasts, which included a veggie option with collard greens, a steak and egg sandwich, and a bacon, egg and cheese. If I ever make it back to Pine State I might try something a little more adventurous – check out their menu and prepare to drool.

Pine State is by no means a healthy breakfast spot, so I was glad that we already had active plans lined up for after brunch – hiking Multnomah Falls.  (Does the “Falling for Portland” pun make sense now? Is it too late?)  Multnomah is the most famous of the many waterfalls located right outside Portland in the Columbia River Gorge.  It is the tallest waterfall in Oregon and by far the largest falls I’ve ever visited.

It took us about 40 minutes to get from the city to the falls, and on our way to Multnomah we could see Wahkeena Falls from the road, so we decided to pull over and check it out.

It only took us a few minutes to hike to the viewing area of the waterfall and check it out.  I use the term “hike” loosely because the path was short and mostly paved, but it was pretty slippery from the mist so shoes with a good tread were crucial.

One of the things that struck me most was just how green everything was.  The moist climate around Portland keeps all of the vegetation so vibrant.  Coming from the arid Colorado climate where winter is white and brown, I was a bit awestruck by the bright green moss covering everything.

At the top, we stopped to take in the falls and snap some photos.

It was gorgeous, but I had no idea what was in store for us at Multnomah.

Multnomah Falls has a visitors center at the base complete with restrooms, a gift shop, restaurant and even an espresso stand (how Portland is that?).  As far as a beautiful scenic area with hiking options, it’s about as accessible as it gets.  It was definitely more crowded than a typical hiking trail, but I really didn’t think the crowds were that bad and they didn’t take away from my experience.

Like Wahkeena, there is an asphalt trail winding up toward the falls.  The first stop on the trail is a foot bridge where visitors can snag a great view of the falls.  I wasn’t paying that much attention to our timing, but I’d say it took us less than 5 minutes to walk up to the bridge.  It seemed very sturdy but I still got a little woozy looking over the side.

I was amazed at how powerful this waterfall was.  The roar of the water and the spray that drenched us even at a distance showcased just how much force the falls carried over that sheer cliff.  Wow.

Most people seemed to stop at the bridge, or you could hike about a mile to the top of the falls or beyond to connect with other trails. We really wanted to hike to the top but we were running short on time, so we went about halfway up before grudgingly turning around.

I was extra careful on the way down the slippery trail.  Along the way, we caught glimpses of the Columbia River opposite the waterfall.

The Forest Service takes great care of these areas, even putting up this intense fencing to keep out velociraptors falling rocks.

There are few things I enjoy more than hiking through a place of spectacular beauty with friends, and I loved every second of it.

Back in the city, I grabbed my first of many lattes that weekend at The Clearing Cafe.  I chose a Honey Cardamom Latte (another great Yelp tip) that was subtly sweet and spicy.

Then it was time to pack up the car and head two hours south to Eugene, Oregon for a concert and some more good eats – stay tuned for a recap tomorrow!

Delhi is a central place which makes it close to the several holiday destinations in Northern India such as Nainital, Shimla, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Dheradun, Agra, Jaipur, and many more. Every place has its own significance and tourist attractions that compel tourists to visit these places on weekends. Though these places are located a distance of a few hundred kilometers, it is not possible to visit these places when you have only two days in your hands to enjoy your tour.

At the time of planning holidays most of us end up with no options in spite of so many places to go due to long distance and overnight journey which leaves you tired. Holidays are very important to freshen up mood and rejuvenate; the purpose of going on vacation can be solved when you do not return with the extra baggage of huge bills and tired bodies. If you want to go some holiday destinations near Delhi, Which worth the money and make you feel light, then visit holiday Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida – specially created for those who want to get escape from the daily hustle-bustle of the city’s life.

Jaypee Green Resort is a beautiful holiday destination where you can find huge verdant areas around the resort. It has a large golf course, which is spread over in more the 450 acres. The golf course is made as per the requirement of professional golfers and can be used by anyone. It has a world renowned spa parlour called The Six Senses Spa, which provides a holistic treatment for beautifying your entire body. It also has a swimming pool, where you can enjoy a great day with your entire family. This holiday destination near Delhi has everything that you needed to spend your holiday in the fun and comfort.

Several weeks ago, I had a chance for a getaway to Savannah. This time my mother flew down to join me. It was a spectacular weekend, but honestly, it wouldn’t have been a very “jen” weekend had we not encountered several ummm…interesting mishaps?

I will hit upon the highlights. And this will still have to be written in two parts.

First things first. We head downtown. For those that have never been to Savannah~ what the heck? Get there!

Downtown is bustling, way more than I anticipated. Parking is a you-know-what. We drive around and around. Around some more. And a little more. Finally, we spot a parking spot along a circle drive. While there are No Parking signs, we decide that since everyone else is parking there, we will too. Don’t worry~ the mishap in this little event is not a parking ticket. Or a tow. It’s the twenty minutes it took me to park my Yukon in a small parallel parking spot. Yeah. Not good. A few onlookers even stopped to watch. And laugh. What could I do? I smiled and laughed with them. And, somehow managed to grease up the truck and fit it in.

Oh, and while I was working on this, my mother was in the passenger seat on the telephone making Ghost Walk reservations for us that night. Savannah ghost walk! (For the record, we went with Chase Alexander tours and he was awesome! A little history, a little ghost stories, and a ton of fun!) I was pumped…

We shopped for a while and… well we bought stuff.  As we headed down one of the cobbled pathways, we really wanted to find the candy shop. Savannah’s Candy Kitchen is to die for. My mom thinks it’s to the right, so we start walking. And walking. And walking.

Guess what?  It was to the left.  So we turn around and walk back. And walk. And walk. We finally reach the store, excited and anxious to go buy one of their way-overpriced tins, so we can fill it with candy. The deal is, you buy a tin, you can fill it with candy for free. They have barrels full of all kinds of candy. It’s heaven.  We take 45 minutes picking out the perfect tins for the kids. My mom wants to get tins for each of the grandkids. We browse. We debate. We try to decide. Finally, almost an hour later, tins in hand, we walk over to the barrels of candy. That’s when I noticed the sign.

FILL YOUR TINS WITH TAFFY.

Taffy? Not the regular barrels of candy?  My mom asks a woman working there. She confirms. No candy, only taffy. I told my mom we needed to ask someone else. I didn’t like her answer. We find another worker, ask him, and he too, confirms. I am not happy about this rule. The guy just shrugged and said, “Budget cuts”. My mom and I look at each other, make disgusted grunts and groans.

“Should we still get the tins?” My mom asks. I shake my head.

“No. The fun part is stuffing them with candy. Who cares about those over-priced good-for-nothing tins.”  We put them back and leave.

Next stop? Dinner at the Pirate’s House. After a delicious meal of Pecan Fried Chicken (Yum-O, even if I picked off all the pecans), we leave for our ghost walk. In search of Johnson Square, our meeting point, we drive around for 30 minutes looking for parking, only to find one RIGHT AT Johnson Square! It was our lucky day. Not only that, Starbucks was one block over. After getting a coffee, we head off in the night to meet our Ghost Guide, Chase Alexander.  Let the ghostly times begin!

As we arrive at one of our first stops, Moon River Brewery, the hostess stops us at the door. Apparently, the building was overcapacity and there was an art show on the second floor. We could not go in. Chase was devastated but did his best to move on. Moon River is one of the most haunted Savannah places- has been on TV many times. Especially the unfinished second floor (which has never been remodeled even though several owners have tried. The ghosts stop will them.)

We move on down a dark alleyway, and Chase begins to tell us of Little Gracie. Being the Savannah obsessed person I am, I already knew the Little Gracie story, but that doesn’t stop me from hanging on his every word. Suddenly, our story is interrupted.

Some very, very, very intoxicated people are heading our way. To keep this blog G-rated, I won’t go into detail. It was crazy. They were crazy. But it only lasted a minute or two, and again Chase handled it like a pro, even making jokes about them as we moved on.

A couple stops down the road we are told the story of an old building in which the 3rd floor is vacant. No one has ever been able to live there. No one. As we are engrossed in his story, we don’t quite notice the middle-aged creepy man watching us. He is standing at the doorway of building and glaring at us all. For a moment, I wonder if he is real.  I get my answer as we start to walk down the street.

“Hey, man.” Creepy guy says to Chase.  Chase takes a deep breath.

“Yes?”

“Whatcha saying about my building? There’s nothing wrong with it. You trying to say it’s haunted? Cuz, it ain’t. I never saw nothin’.”

“Look, I’m just doing a tour here. You don’t have to do this to me every time I come by. And, you don’t even live in the building I am talking about. You live next door.” Chase keeps walking. The creepy man follows us. I laugh.

Next stop, is a haunted lock shop. As he begins to tell us the story of the lock shop, we notice the apartment above has their light on. And a half-falling-down curtain. A young man notices us through the window, and starts dancing. Curtain promptly falls down as he dances. Like really, really dancing in the window. It is too funny not to laugh at this shirtless, bad-dancing. young mad and poor Chase is telling a serious ghost story. When Chase looks up to see our dancing man, he too, cannot help but chuckle.

“Low self-esteem folks. Low self-esteem.” We crack up.

At the end of the tour, Chase apologizes for all the crazy stuff that has happened.

“In all my years…” he shakes his head, clearly embarrassed and apologetic. He offered us all a free ghost walk in the future for us or a friend, and offered to meet us tomorrow morning if we wanted to get inside Moon River Brewery.  Honestly, I felt bad that he felt so bad, because it was an awesome ghost walk. Of course, my mom and I really wanted to see Moon River so we planned to meet him in the morning.

As we head back to the truck, we jump in, exhaustion and sore feet tormenting us, when my mom shrieks. I jump out of my skin.

“You have a ticket! You have a ticket!”  She is frantically pointing at my windshield wiper. Again, although I should be upset I have a parking ticket, my mom’s reaction is too funny not to laugh. I laugh until my stomach hurts, while my mom grumbles obscenities under her breath. This make me laugh even harder.

The next day will find us fighting with coffee cups, going on wild-goose chases, dealing with the homeless and searching for lost graves. The next day was even better.

Stay tuned for Day Two in Savannah.

For all you road warriors out there, I would absolutely recommend this drive.  As you can see from the map above, I left Edwards and headed south on Highway 24 through Minturn, Leadville, and Buena Vista before turning west on Highway 50 toward Gunnison.  A word of caution – if you’re not experienced driving on mountain roads, I would definitely save this drive for the summer when it will be equally beautiful but you won’t have to worry about snow and ice.  It would probably be particularly gorgeous in September when the aspens are changing.

Heading toward Leadville over Battle Mountain Pass, the views started to wow me.

And they just kept getting better.

After climbing steadily for almost an hour, I made it to Leadville.  At over 10,000 feet in elevation, Leadville is the highest incorporated city in America. It is also a charming town with an old-fashioned main street.  It’s somewhere I’ve passed through dozens of times but never stopped and explored.  I need to remedy that soon.

Despite one of my friends’ comments that Leadville reminds her of a place where old men with ponytails hang out (a weird thing to say, but I can totally picture it), I’d love to at least grab lunch and spend an afternoon walking around one day.

Also, perched so high in the Rockies, the views of the surrounding mountains are stunning.  As I left town (it’s the kind of place you drive through in under 5 minutes), the sky opened back up and it seemed like I could see forever.

After climbing for so long, the road levels out on a high plain and descends slightly toward Buena Vista.

When I hit Buena Vista (about half way through my journey, it was time for a rest stop.  I hung a right when I saw the sign for Cool Beans Coffee proclaiming “Lattes and T-shirts!”  If the lattes hadn’t sucked me in already, the name surely would have.

The small store was filled with interesting knickknacks and souvenirs, and the latte was right on.  And for $2.40 for a 16 oz. latte, I knew I wasn’t in Vail anymore.

Back on the road, I passed through the least exciting portion of the drive.  Snow-covered ranch and farmland on the right, the Arkansas River sparkling on the left, and 14,000 foot peaks flanking the valley.

After hanging a right on Highway 50, I started up Monarch Pass.  The pass was still snow-packed from the previous day’s storm, so I took it nice and slow and pocketed the camera for a while.  Approaching Gunnison the landscape flattened out again, but you can still see the mountains in my rear view mirror.

Gunnison is a small town located between Monarch Mountain and Crested Butte ski areas and is also home to Western State University.  From my short visits, it seems like a place with plenty of character and a warm small-town atmosphere.

I had a productive meeting in Gunnison and lunch at Farrell’s Restaurant, a delicious bakery and cafe with a character for an owner. (Picture a man in his 70s with a major white mustache wearing a t-shirt, apron, short shorts and tube socks – and from what I heard, the shorts he was wearing that day were his “long shorts.”)  A few hours later, I put Gunnison in my rearview and hit the road once again.

Heading back up Monarch Pass, most of the snow had thankfully melted and it was an easier drive.  I pulled over toward the top to take in the views and snap a few photos.

Right near the summit where I pulled over there was an aerial tram advertising scenic rides to the top of Monarch Ridge.  It was closed at the time, but has a sign that said something like, “The views from the top are like nothing you’ve ever seen. Bring your camera.”  I’d love to come back in the summer and take a ride to check out the views, which would probably be spectacular.  Better yet, I wished I had brought snow shoes or my skis to skin up to the ridge.  Based on tracks leading up the ridge, those looked like  popular options.

The towers you can see at the top of the ridge are for the tram ride to the top.  The views must be epic.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that they had SO MUCH SNOW on top of the pass.  It looked like they got pounded during the most recent storm.  I was wishing I had my skis and gear in the car!

After taking in the sights, I got back in the car and headed down the pass, back the way I’d come.  In the late afternoon light, the views I’d passed through early that morning looked new again.  After stopping in Leadville, I made my way back toward home.  I pulled over at the Point of Interest sign pointing out Camp Hale about midway between Leadville and Red Cliff.  Camp Hale was the training camp for soldiers in the 10th Mountain Division, the skiing soldiers of World War II who later went on to start skiing as a recreational activity in the United States.  A few of the soldiers even founded Vail ski area.

A beautiful high valley, Camp Hale is supposed to be a great place for nordic skiing and snowshoeing.  There are plaques near the highway explaining the history of the area.  Yesterday, the snow was too deep to get close enough to read the signs.

After stopping at Camp Hale, I made my way back home and arrived in Edwards just before sunset.  I regretted having to drive straight through and am already thinking about how fun the drive could be on a long weekend.  My imagined itinerary would include leaving early, stopping in Leadville for breakfast and walking around, then on to Monarch Pass where we could hike Monarch Ridge or do a little skiing at Monarch Mountain.  From there we would continue on to Gunnison for lunch, then continue on to Crested Butte to spend the night, explore town, and ski or hike depending on the time of year.  Who wants to go with me?

I’m finally getting settled into our new place and have loved every minute of the decorating process…even the throws of living out of giant storage boxes! While we still have a number of items to purchase (and build), it’s finally starting to feel like home.

Here are some of my favorite pieces so far:

]]> http://jaclyna.com/2013/02/26/roadtrip-with-no-toilet/ Tue, 26 Feb 2013 02:56:12 +0000 JP http://jaclyna.com/2013/02/26/roadtrip-with-no-toilet/ http://nysocialstatus.com/2013/02/25/ny-wine-expo/ Mon, 25 Feb 2013 02:04:36 +0000 Ashley Massis http://nysocialstatus.com/2013/02/25/ny-wine-expo/ http://amybakerwrites.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/mini-break-inspiration/ Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:55:12 +0000 writeonsister http://amybakerwrites.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/mini-break-inspiration/ The start of the year always sucks so what better way to combat those blues than with a mini-break. In my latest article for Waegook-Tom, I provide some inspiration for your weekend getaway…

“No matter how much of a positive person you pride yourself on being, January and February can be a rather depressing time of year for the best of us. Leaving home in the dark and leaving work in the rain can really take its toll and that’s why many people choose this time of year to get away from it all”. Read more.

Jaypee Greens, a perfect place for weekend holidays, is located at a distance of 24 km from New Delhi. The resort has deluxe suites, golf course, and a spa parlor along with lots of options for entertainment and recreations. The resort has unique and plush backdrops for spending leisure time in solitude. The resort is a perfect place for those who want to have fun and relax in a peaceful environment. The resort has a swimming pool with dedicated kid’s corner, where people of any age group can have lots of fun. All in all, it is an ideal place to be for spending time with the family and friends.
Ambience across the resort near Delhi on any day remains peaceful and calm creating an ideal backdrop for a peaceful vacation experience. The golf course around the resort has its own charm; its lush green bed creates a beautiful environment and connects the guests with nature. The subtle amalgamation of comfort and nature has won over many hearts, and being attracted by its bewitching beauty, many tourists consider it a perfect place to spend their time in a serene environment. The tranquility of the resort is carved by exotic location, luxurious interiors, modern amenities, impeccable hospitality, etc.

The resort has multi cuisine restaurants, café, and bars, where you can taste delectable food and tasty wines. All these fun and entertainment facilities have made it an ideal weekend spot for all age groups. This weekend you do not have to waste your time while watching television, just visit this resort and make the most out of your holidays.

While Valbella, which means ‘beautiful valley’ in Italian, and its larger neighbour Lenzerheide are renowned for their ski slopes, my visit to the region was marked purely by rest and relaxation. Having hardly experienced the snow before, let alone gone skiing, I figured my precious two days there were not the time to learn to ski, or learn how to do anything in the ski family, given what I imagine would be an arduous and frustrating, maybe even painful, learning process. Two days were just not going to cut it.

So in favour of rest and relaxation, I instead took off my clothes, put my feet up and entered the famous world of wellness and spa, a Swiss institution that seems to be the hallmark of nearly every ski resort across the country. Now, being a prude Australian, I’m not usually one to go “European” should I say, but apparently leaving your clothes on is a big no-no for the sake of a full, au-naturel spa experience. Fortunately for the sake of my modesty, we had the place to ourselves and I could completely relax.

And relax I did, with four storeys of herbal steaming, sauna, salt and ice peeling and meditation, while just through the windows in the big, white world outside, I had a lovely view of the hoards of skiers and snowboarders careening down the slopes at hair-raising speed. I must say though, in the safety and warmth of my sauna bliss, I could imagine how this pampering process would top off a frosty and physically-demanding day on the mountains, complemented nicely with a mandatory session of aprés-ski drinks.

So, after two days and two sessions of wellness and spa, a snowy walk through the forest, a delicious dinner and wine, I descended from the mountains feeling rested, pampered and incredibly smooth and soft. And maybe, just maybe, next time I will finally don a pair of skis and try my luck in this other pass-time the Swiss seem so crazy about…

Valbella

Snow walking from Valbella to Lenzerheide

Before taking the bus up the mountains we spent a few hours exploring Chur, the main gateway to the slopes and the region’s business centre complete with a picturesque Old Town.

In the Old Town of Chur

Chur

It’s easy to imagine Lady Mary and the Downton Abbey set swanning around Skytop lodge back in the 1920s when it was first built.  Thankfully, not much has changed since then at this grand Poconos hotel.  One dresses for dinner (which means a jacket for men) and spends the day doing invigorating outdoor pursuits on the grounds which span 5,500 acres.

Winter brings skiing on their own mountain, tobogganing on old-fashioned red leather sleds down a huge purpose-built track, which ends with you being shot far out on to their vast iced over lake. There’s also ice skating, snow shoeing, swimming, or just relaxing in the spa.

When the snow melts there’s golf, archery, mountain biking, fishing, croquet and water sports. At just 2 hours from New York City, Skytop lodge is a whole world away.  Once there, you think of nothing but the great outdoors and when your day is done, there’s cocktails followed by dinner in the grand old dining room, before retiring to your room exhausted.

Hiya Dolls!! I’m back from my lovely weekend getaway. In case you haven’t indulged in one of these, I highly recommend it. Great way to rejuvenate your soul and spend much needed quality time with your loved one .

We absolutely enjoyed our stay at the Residence Inn.. very cozy and close to everything..shopping and entertainment!

As a foodie, I truly enjoyed the Italian cuisine from Bravo..especially their chocolate cake – sinfully sweet

As you know, all good things eventually come to an end and with that said, back to work tomorrow .

Hope you all had a wonderful long weekend!

Hugs,
Skylah

I just love the charm and grandeur of the Basel’s old town

The stunning Basel parliament building

On the weekend we took the 40 minute train journey to Basel, Switzerland’s second largest city. With only 200,000 residents, to me Basel feels like a large village rather than one of Switzerland’s biggest cities,  with so much character and charm, but still having the offerings of a major city. Separating the city through the middle is the beautiful Rhine river running all the way from the Netherlands. The weather was so beautiful and sunny, we spent the afternoon riding bikes and walking through the streets of the Old Town, with a small respite from the cold with a much-needed stop for espressos.

]]> http://traveldestinationbucketlist.com/2013/02/13/montreals-intercontinental-hotel-hotel-review/ Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:03:58 +0000 Anita Mac http://traveldestinationbucketlist.com/2013/02/13/montreals-intercontinental-hotel-hotel-review/ http://switzerlandinlove.com/2013/02/12/a-day-trip-through-alsace/ Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:10:27 +0000 switzerlandinlove http://switzerlandinlove.com/2013/02/12/a-day-trip-through-alsace/

The main square in beautiful Colmar

Walking the streets of the old town in Colmar

Wine cellars in Riquewihr

A frosty walk to the top of the magnificent Chateau of Haut-Koenigsbourg

Haut-Koenigsbourg

Haut-Koenigsbourg

One of the great things about being in Zurich is its central location in Europe and proximity to France and Germany. The beautiful province of Alsace in France is just an hour’s drive from Zurich and culturally one of the most interesting in Europe, fusing French and German traditions, architecture, food and language from its long history going back and forth between the two European powers at different points in time. This stunning region is famous for its food and wine, which I took the time to sample both of last weekend!

Enjoying traditional Alsacienne lunch of tarte flambée and a delicious potato and meat dish with some local riesling at a small bistro in Riquewihr

I can’t get enough of French window shutters!